Full Swing!

We are now into the full swing of the school year, and I'll tell you what--this getting up at 6:30 everyday is just GREAT. (insert sarcasm) I have never been a morning person. Let me stay up until 2 or 3 and get up at 9 or 10 and I'm happy. However with a 4 and 5 year old now attending school every day, that just isn't an option for me (OK, it wasn't an option before school started, but I wasn't getting up at 6:30!). I can go back to sleep once they go to school, but then I feel like I've wasted valuable time---and, I have.

So, I am working on re-adjusting my personal schedule. I've been trying to move back my bedtime, because no matter what time I go to bed, I still have to get up at 6:30...and I'm getting tired.

I am getting quite a few things accomplished in the mornings. I'm seeing the bottom of my long orders list. ALL (yes, all) of my kids laundry is washed, hung-up, folded, and put away. Two mornings this week, I've spent time on my treadmill. So, I'm getting into the swing of things.

The kids absolutely LOVE school--everything about it! We have soccer practice on Monday nights and dance classes on Wednesday nights. They, too, are adjusting to the new schedule and are pretty much zonkin' out when their heads hit their pillows.

When I finally reach the bottom of my orders list, I have about 3 things I am just itchin' to get made: something for your Princess, something for Fall/Thanksgiving, and just something pretty.....check back soon!

Celebrate!

I just listed two new things on ebay. You can find them both HERE!

This fun set, perfect for your trip to Disney!


This skirt Made to Match Gymboree's Birthday Girl shirt.

Time With Grandma and Poppy

This weekend The King was out of town on business. His parents called and asked if they could take me and the kids to the zoo--SURE! We are so blessed to live in the same area as ALL of our immediate family. All parents and siblings and their kids are here. Our children have the opportunity to grow up and have close relationships with their family and I realize how rare that is! They love their Grandma and Poppy and had a great day just hanging out with them, while I hung back as the picture taker.

Going into the zoo:


Feeding the birds:

New Toys

I finally broke down and bought some much needed photography equipment....a mini lighting studio. I've worked really hard on my photography this year and hated the thought that the winter months would bring me back down. So, I bit the bullet (the BIG bullet).

One of the best ways to showcase clothing like I make and sell is with "High Key" photographs. Basically (since the basics is all I know), it's photographs with an ALL white background. This is harder than you might think to accomplish--believe me, I've tried various "cheap" methods...without success.

Anyway, my equipment showed up today and I set it all up. OK, that sounded too easy because it WASN'T. There were NO directions and for a photography infant, like myself, directions would have been nice. It took me a LONG time to figure out how to put everything together, and I know for sure that one thing is still totally wrong! One nice thing is that the majority of it fits into a nice black canvas carrying case that was included and the breakdown only took about 15 minutes.

Here's how it looked set up in my front living room today:

Now, for those of you who may be high-key pros....I know that it's not set up right. I have a little adjusting and tweaking to do. However, feel free to leave tips in the comments! I'll take all the help I can get!!

After it was all set up, I asked the kids to come in and pose for me. These are the kinds of shots I ended up with:

Yes, I did edit them a bit, but nearly as much as I thought I would have to. Overall, I'm pleased and *think* I will view the whole thing as "money well spent."

***Edited***

I thought I'd add this information for anybody else who was interested:

I ordered from B & H Photo.

1250 Watts 3-Light Mini Boom Kit #IMFL1250MBK
****It's on sale for $204.95 and you get all this:
-3 Porcelain Sockets with In-Line Switch
-1 5" Floodlight Reflectors
-3 8' Light Stands
-1 Mini Boom Arm
-2 43" Translucent Umbrellas
-2 Umbrella Brackets
-2 ECT 500 Watt Bulbs
-1 ECT 250 Watt Bulb
-1 Light Kit Bag 2 (which I love, because you can pack it all up to put it away!)

I also ordered Super White background paper and an economy paper stand.

Changes

After 5 1/2 years of having at least one additional person with me, requiring things of me, sharing time with me...every...single...day, it has all changed.

Today BOTH of my kids started school. The Prince is going to school ALL day from 8:15 - 3:00, and the Princess is going half-days from 8:15 - 12:00. It was a bittersweet day for me. It is almost incomprehensible to me that I will have 3 hours to my self 5 days a week----unbelievable. On the other hand, that time has come when a period of my kids' lives has passed and I can never get that time back. The Prince now spends more of his waking hours away from me than with me, and it breaks my heart....just a little. The Princess (AKA "my baby") is gone.

Mostly, however, I've been excited for them...and that's all they've seen from me. They were more than excited for the first day of school and barely looked at us to wave goodbye when we left them this morning. This is a good thing! I am more than thrilled with the teachers they have this year--actually have NO concerns in that area, whatsoever. This, I know, is a blessing!

Here they are this morning:

Yes, we send them to a private school. It's the same school that the King and I attended, met at...we fell in love there. I also taught 2nd grade there for 8 years. We know many people there, and thanks to our alumni status (and the "Grandparent's Discount" since my dad works there), it is an affordable option for us. Not that it's really an "option." We'd do whatever we had to in order to make sure our kids could receive their education there.

Hmmmm....what else?

Last week, we took a short family vacation to Branson. We had a great time!! The kids have reached an age where travel is more fun than work. We shopped, went swimming, visited the King's sister and her daughter, went to Celebration City, and the Dixie Stampede. We've decided we can try something a little bigger next year, just not sure what.

The King has had to travel quite a bit for his job, and he is missed. Here he is reading to the kids the night before a recent trip.

I'm still sewing, and continue to be thankful that enough orders are coming my way that I can continue this work!

It will not be as long a wait for my next post...promise. After all, I have ALL this time on my hands, now! I did spend pretty much ALL my time with them these past few days, and I don't regret it!