Fall is here!

Today was my first time doing a real photo shoot for Chrissy with at http://www.dottiestripelayne.etsy.com/ . Emily got to model some clothes which was fun but the other two girls are wonderful models. I couldn't believe how they could just pose on key. Here are some of the pictures. Chrissy makes the cutest outfits and these pictures just show a few of them. You have to check out her site to see the rest!

My favorite outfit is the Carolina Gamecock one and Emily just looked too cute in it. All the girls loved dressing in their Halloween costumes that Chrissy made, I couldn't pick a favorite out of those! The girls did great. They changed clothes and took pictures for 2 and 1/2 hours and still had energy to run around! It was a fun afternoon.

Just In...

Here is a new bracelet I just made. I love this new design!

I am not posting much of my jewelry on my Etsy site right now because I have so many shows coming up, however I would love to know what you think of this new bracelet!

Spider in the window

My husband left the window down to his truck last night and you won't believe what was in there this morning...a SPIDER. I huge Spider! The web takes up the whole drivers seat. I just had to take a picture. Needless to say I won't be riding in that truck for a very long time!

Life changing trip

Yesterday I went on a trip with my mom to Duke, we just got back today. My mom is a survivor for those that didn't know. She was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago and everything turned out really good for her, for all of us. She survived it! She has been going to Duke now yearly for her check ups, as they are the best around. This time I went with here. Emily stayed at home with my dad. (I know weird ugh, he actually did a great job)

Anyway, if you don't know, Duke is in Durham, NC and let me tell you...it is a long drive. My mom drove the first part and I drove the second part. We decided to go to Raleigh to see my cousin Jennifer and my new baby cousin Charlotte and of course Sam and Tim. Needless to say this made the trip longer because we had no idea where we were going but it was worth it.

I finally got to hold another of God's miracles...Charlotte. She is around 2 months old and so full of life. A short version of their story...When Jennifer was pregnant she was told that Charlotte had aortic stenosis, a congenital heart defect that caused her aortic valve and her aorta to be too small. As if that wasn't enough, one of her heart chambers was also enlarged. So Charlotte is really a true blessing from God, and she is as healthy as ever. She just smiled at me and laughed with me. (I guess I am pretty funny to look at) You would never know by looking at her, that she wasn't just like any other child. We are so grateful for all God has done for Charlotte and her family. I must say being a mother is hard but Jennifer and Tim have not only done a great job with their almost 3 year old son Sam but they have done one amazing job at helping keep Charlotte healthy and alive. It takes special people to go through what they did for 9 months and now the rest of Charlotte's life. To trust so much in the Lord, to not ask why, just accept it and move forward. They are so strong, I only dream of being that strong.

I was going to go back to see them on Friday while my mom was at Duke, but I knew I would get lost so I decided to accompany my mom to her doctor appointment. Her appointment was 3 1/2 hours, maybe longer. We got there just before 8am and left a little after 11am. You wouldn't believe how big this place was and how nice everyone there was. People in North Carolina are really nice.

First we went to a waiting room to register and then they called my mom back and took her blood. Then they sent us to another waiting area where she registered for a mammogram, then we waited for some lady to come and get us to walk us to yet another room. (the worse room of all) Picture this...a small room with 11 chairs, in those chairs are women from ages 18 to 80 and each women has on the same washed a million times too big or small gown. Yep, this room is full of women waiting to get a mammograms. Needless to say I was the only one not in a gown, thankfully. My mom waited about 35 minutes before she was called back and then she was in the back about 15 minutes and then she waited another 20 minutes for her results. This whole time I watched those 11 chairs fill up 3 times. With every person that sat down, my eyes went to them, curious as to what their story was. I couldn't help but to look at the chest of everyone women in their, as was everyone else. At least I wasn't doing the obvious, acting like I was reading only to glance around the room as I turned to the next article. Nope, I just glanced around while I made jewelry! You really did wonder if everyone of those 33 women in about an hours time had cancer or had had it. Then you wondered too, why hasn't someone determined where cancer comes from and how can we stop it from happening. It really makes you grateful when you go into a place like that. So grateful for having breast and being healthy and alive, and so grateful my mom is here with us.

After the results came back we went back to where we started, the first waiting room so that mom could see the actual doctor. That really only took about 30 minutes and it went by really fast because I sat there and talked to people. I was making jewelry so everyone wanted to know what I was doing. This one lady came up to me and she had no hair and a hat on to cover it. I couldn't help but to melt. I mean you hear of cancer but until you actually are around people that are showing signs of it, you don't really realize how bad it is. My mom caught hers early and didn't have to go through Kimo, she was really lucky so to speak. Unless someone told you , you would have never known that she had cancer (she was so strong through it all and still is). When I looked into the eyes of this lady, I realized how thankful and lucky I am to have my mom healthy and here. I just wanted to hug this lady. I felt so sorry for her but as I felt sorry, she smiled. I knew then that she had to have faith in God. I know that was what made my mom so strong during it all and I could see that strength in this lady's eyes too.

I was so glad that I went with my mom this weekend. We haven't been able to spend much one on one time together since Emily was born. If you know how grandparents are...it's all about the grandchild but the last 48 hours it was about my mom and me and I am so happy to call her my mom.

Almost

Alivia's tutu was made by Chrissy at http://www.dottiestripelayne.etsy.com/.

Today was a big day for Emily. She was going to start dance class with her friend Alivia (in the picture here with her) however it didn't work out like we thought it would. I found out about 2 hours before the class that Emily was too young, she needed to be 3. The lady at Miss Marion's didn't tell me that yesterday when I went up there and signed up instead I get told right before class. I wasn't very happy that I had spent money on shoes and clothes and then was told she couldn't take the class. I asked the Miss Lori at Miss Marion's if Emily could at least come today since I had already promised her she would get to wear her NEW TAP shoes and NEW BALLET shoes and see Alivia. (crazy I know, I just have to keep my promises to everyone even a 26 month old) Miss Lori agreed that she could come today but she didn't seem happy about it. (it was their mistake)

Once we were there Miss Lori didn't speak much to me at all and didn't say anything to Emily. Emily did great, she walked in the room with Alivia...holding her hand, it was so sweet. Once the door shut we ran to the window to see what would happen. Emily stood in line with Alivia and actually did some of the steps...she was late on them but it was her first dance experience and as any mother would say about their child...SHE DID GREAT, except there were two times when she walked out of the line to go climb on the red mat (I mean why even have that in there:)) so besides that she was good. However, the story doesn't end there.

Miss Lori corrected another kid that wanted to follow Emily over to the mat by saying..."no we don't do that, she is a baby (meaning Emily was a baby) and we don't do that." Well I had to hold down my lips to keep from screaming and plant my feet on the ground to keep from running in there and pulling Emily out of the class. She was the youngest out of 4 kids but she was no baby, she was actually only a few month younger then the child Miss Lori corrected. I know it doesn't sound like much but the way she said it...just got to me.

I was so upset for Emily. I know she didn't know that Miss Lori didn't want her there and she didn't know that she was the youngest nor did she know or understand what Miss Lori had said but I knew and I didn't like the way she was being treated. She was for the first time in her little life..THE OUTSIDER.

A few minutes later it was time for the girls to change shoes and Alivia took Emily's hand and gave her her shoes and Miss Lori helped put them on, only to find out the new shoes were too small so Miss Lori called me in there to inform me they were too small. I just told her I would take them back. She said Emily was welcome to stay in there the rest of the class but she really needed to be in another class called the Mommy and Me class....which no one else had told me about when I called up there yesterday. So I just told her since her shoes didn't fit we would just go. So we left.

I want to do the Mommy and Me class for Emily, because she has been dancing all day since class and she was so confused when we left and the other girls didn't. I felt so bad for her. On the other hand I don't want to take the Mommy and Me class because I really don't like the way that Miss Lori treated Emily. I can see people having a bad day and especially when you are trying to teach something to 4 toddlers but when you have bad days you can't take it out on children. When we are upset or angry they can feel that. I know Emily felt it. As a mother we can feel their pain, they excitement. I just feel such a bond with Emily that I know what she is thinking most of the time. She shouldn't have been an outsider. No child should be especially at 26 months!

So if anyone reads this and knows of any dance place that takes children age 2 and up please let me know. I really want her to have this opportunity but I don't want it to be at Miss Marion's in Spartanburg, SC.

For what it is worth she looked cute!

A new friend

Today Emily played with Alivia. Alivia's aunt Chrissy made Emily's Birthday outfit and now has made another outfit for Emily that you will see soon. You can see more of her items at her etsy store - http://www.dottiestripelayne.etsy.com/. Since both girls stay at home we figured it would be a great idea to get them together to play. They had so much fun. By the end of the morning you would have thought they were sisters. Emily followed Alivia everywhere. I couldn't help but take my camera and I was so glad I did. Alivia is so photogenic I got some great shots of her. Thanks Chrissy and Alivia:)

Watching her boyfriend play soccer

Yesterday Emily got to watch her boyfriend Grant play Soccer. It was so much fun. If you have never seen 3 and 4 year old play soccer, you must. After the game Grant came over and hugged Emily and then he shared his snack with her. There was another boy there named Blake who also wanted to share his food with Emily. She already has boys giving her gifts. She was so cute though she went and sat down beside Grant and ate his cookies with him. Such a cute couple!

Picture day

Emily got to see her boyfriend today. We took some great pictures. Here are a few. They really are a cute couple! It's been awhile since I Emily and I have had picture day. It was worth the wait she did great!

Party time

We went to Ally's birthday party today and had so much fun. Emily loved the little playground there. Of course she didn't eat any of the cake and only a few bites of ice cream. I wish I could turn things down like she can! Here are a few pictures, you will see she played hard, she was hot!

Check out my latest cake

It's almost finished! I just had to put a picture up of this one. I made this cake for my neighbor's little girl's 2nd Birthday. I love it!