Last week I had fun going through some old gallery posts over at the Fiskateer site…  I found some old layouts that I really love and thought that I might pull them up and share them with all of you.

So, this might be a repeat, but here are some faves from the past…

I just love these and it is fun to see how much the boys have changed in just a few short years!

Happy Monday everyone!!!

I have to admit it…  I am a dork when it comes to new products!  I am always excited, like a kid counting down to Christmas, before CHA.  I start to look at my favorite places for what is coming – papers, tools, products, etc… 

I am attending and hanging out in a few booths while I am there and then also hitting the show floor for some exploration as well.  I cannot wait to see all of the new goodies and have already started my list of “must see’s” before I arrive…

Look out Chicago…  I am heading your way…  in like 2 1/2 weeks…  but still…

WOOHOOO!!!!

feels like Monday, but it is already Tuesday…

Time to get my emails up to date and get a ton of stuff done at the office today. 

CHA is only a few weeks away and I am soooo excited. 

I am also excited because some of my best friends on the planet will be here this week in Madison – the Lead Fiskateers! 

I cannot tell you how happy getting to see them again makes me.  It is hard in a business like this one.  You make friends from all over the country and world, but then you only get to actually see them a few times a year.  Email and phone is great, but there is nothing better than sitting together to eat, laugh, and just hang out in person.  This will mean a lot of late nights, but I cannot wait to see them!!!

Other than that, there are a few other things on the horizon…  I have almost finished the class portion of my Master Gardening class.  I still have a TON of volunteer hours to do, but it will all come together, I am sure.  My own lawn, well let’s not go there.  Currently the bunnies and the bird-sized mosquitoes are winning the battle over my garden.

Hope you all had a great 4th – I forgot my pics at home, so I will have to load them later…  the boys did great, until the fireworks.  Needless to say, Jake and I spent the evening locked in the bathroom, avoiding the noise.  Maybe next year…

Ok, back to work, but I just wanted to check in!!!

Oh yeah!!!  Totally forgot!  Last week I got to take the boys to swimming lessons on Friday and got to see Owen jumping off the diving board.  It is amazing to watch your kids blossom and change right in front of you.  There is something almost magical about it.

Ok…  now I am really done…

Happy Tuesday!

sunshine on my face

rising up on the horizon

greeting me at the door

4 days in a row of sunshine and grace

amazing morning

awesome day

here we go thursday

today will be full of sun and happiness

full of light and love

full of surprises and delight

sun shine down on me

fill me with your warmth

make a way for me today

to feel peace

strength

joy

creative

Wow.  Last week I had the privilege of doing another Project Orange Thumb project for work.  It was amazing and wonderful and the best weather we have had in two years. 

What was even nicer was that, due to some scheduling stuff, I had an extra day to actually see the city and to drive up to Whistler with Nicole.  We had a great time hiking, driving, and just checking it all out.  It was beautiful and I would go back with Matt and the kids for a week in a heartbeat. 

Here are just a few of the pics I took…

For those who are unaware, this is a big deal for me.  I hate heights with a passion and what you can’t see is the drop off right behind me that goes down into this river.  Needless to say, this was a moment for me…

The amazing Shannon Falls…

And me, with a GIANT order of nachos…  typical.

Anyway, just wanted to share!

Well, I told you I felt it…  it was there…  and now, we have change!!! 

Next Monday, Matt will be starting a new job.  After 18 months of being a stay-at-home dad, he is heading back to work.  We are both excited.  He is ready to be back at work and I am so happy to be letting go of the stress that this has caused me.  It has been a long, rough time for us, so this is a very welcome change.

One change I am NOT ready for, however, is putting the kids back in daycare.  They did great where they were before, but it has been a long time at home now, so trying to sort that aspect out is hard.  I was really sad to walk in and look at a place for them.  We have found somewhere we like, but I am not looking forward to their first day.  We will be able to keep them at home, thanks to some family help, for a few weeks this summer, but they will be heading back soon…  That makes my heart hurt a bit…  I know it will be fine since we have done this before, it has just been so nice to have them at home with a parent. 

Anyway, I am sure the winds of change are still blowing, as there is still that feeling in the air, but round one of change has occurred…  just wondering what round 2 will be.

In the year of Awesome, change is bound to happen.

we might not see it, but we feel it. 

Change.

I feel the winds of change a-blowin’, but I am not sure what they mean.  The little hairs on the back of my neck are up and I am suddenly acutely aware that something is in the air…

I am not sure what it is, if anything, but when my gut talks and the hairs are up, I tend to pay attention.  It might take a while to figure it out, but I usually do. 

And, you know what, I am okay with it – a year of Awesome often means a change…

I was lucky enough to be able to create a fun project for the Art in Garden section of the Fiskars website this month.  I was inspired by a wind chime I saw in a store and knew, as soon as I saw it, that it was something that I would have to create!

For directions and information, **click here**

Well, in the last two weeks, I have travelled, been somewhat sick, and crazy busy for work.  I have crafted, installed a garden in Columbus, OH, and spent some time with my kids!

Today I had the privilege of being Cool2Craft with Tiffany Windsor to show off the brand new Fiskars Everywhere Window Punch – it was soooo much fun!

To see the demo on tape…  you can go to their site and watch the taped version of today’s episode.  www.cool2craft.com

I also had the joy of creating something else super fun, but I will be sharing that later!!!

Happy Monday!

Lots of travel and big things happening, so it will be quieter than normal here for a few weeks.  I will try to pop in, but your best bet is to catch me on facebook or twitter…

Hopefully it will all quiet down soon and I can get back here, business as usual!

Thanks and I promise I will come back!