Things I Love About My Sis and Josh

Do you have someone in your life that just makes everything ok? I mean they are that Band-aid of a friend? Josh and Becca are like that for us. I was really thinking the other day that it wouldn't be the same if they weren't here. I mean I really would be in trouble and I am just not sure how I would make it. Since we all have been in the habit of making lists (thanks a lot Tammy!) here is mine about how Josh and Becca have helped us these last few weeks...

1. Becca kept me sane by coming over in the middle of the week to hang out with Lil' E and me.

2. Josh called to see if we needed any groceries when I was without a car for two weeks.

3. Becca took me to town to "get out" when I had cabin fever.

4. Becca calls me almost every day during her lunch break so that I can get some words in to an "adult" during the day - plus to make sure Ethan didn't tie me up and take over the house.

5. Josh came over and fixed the garage roof that was dry rotting.

6. Josh drove me to the DMV to get new registration when Dave was at work.

7. Josh took care of Ethan while I was filling out paper work at the DMV.

8. Josh said that Ethan's screaming in the back seat didn't bother him (even when it was bothering me).

9. Becca's emails during the day to keep me connected with the real world.

10. The meals that Josh and Becca have brought over so that we can hang out.

11. Josh went to the printers to get One Bright Spot's business cards printed since he knew it would be too much for me and Ethan to go to town.

Don't Lick the Soap Off Your Hands!

I think God knew what he was doing when he created man vs. woman, but dearie... I didn't know the difference would be noticeable at such a young age. I am so thankful for having a boy vs. a girl at the moment. We went to Walmart yesterday to get some things to fill our Operation Christmas Child boxes and I realized that girls toys cost way more than boys! Ethan just gets excited over a toy car that is only priced at 96 cents! Whereas, the pink aisle, is not only not as fun but totally expensive!

There are disadvantages to being female raising a little man. You get grossed out more... This is my list of things Dave has caught me saying lately:

1. "Don't lick the soap off your hand!"

2. "Please don't bite the rubber seal on the car door!"

3. "Smiley stickers are not candy."

4. "Yes, eating that leaf is 'yucky'."

5. "Please don't wipe the car with your hand and lick it!"

6. "Rocks are not food."

7. "Please stop biting the sink."

8. "Yes, we wash our hands after catching flies."

Wow, when I look at this list I realized that Ethan sticks everything in his mouth and/or is teething. Maybe that explains the last two sleepless nights...

An Encouraging Word

How encouraging today's Bible reading was. It came from Proverbs 16:31, "Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life." I don't know about you guys but that was the most encouraging thing I've heard in a while...

Oh boo... here it goes again...

So, I guess I have been unaware that I have to do six MORE random things...

1. I bite my nails. I know. But I do, so get over it.

2. I love Cadbury's chocolate. When I was in England I went to the factory. I would of been ok if they just left me there. I could sooo live at Cadbury's World.

3. The dentist recommended that I use a baby toothbrush. I have Winnie the Pooh right now.

4. I loved Christian Bale before he was Batman. Waaaay before. When I was a teenager, his picture hung on my wall, door, closet, and under my pillow... huh, was that too much information?

5. When I was young my mom bought me this poster of Michael Jackson and I swear when I went to sleep his eyes were haunting. Almost like he was staring at me. Ironic, isn't it?

6. When I got in trouble as a teenager, my mom use to punish me by making me stay up instead of going to bed early.

Now I'm done.

I'm it... no really, I'm IT

Ok, I'm probably not the best person to "tag" in these blogging games. "Why?" you might ask. Well, I don't know anyone else that blogs besides Becca, Kati, Tammy, and Jessica. So... if you all have been tagged, I can't make you do it again or we could be going at this for a really loooong time. Plus, all those random things that I might not know about you before - I now know. Is that good or bad? Well, I guess not too bad- unless I was a vampire ( read Jess's blog ;) ) Anyway, here are my six random things about myself:

1. There are 5 things I dislike doing: going to the doctor, going to the dentist, roller skating, swimming and foot fungus. The last two go hand-in-hand.

2. I failed the Tad-pole Swimming Class four years in a row. Let's just say that I wasn't a preschooler in the class either.

3. I only WON'T eat 3 things: peas, Lima beans, and gooseberries.

4. I have always wanted to be a tap dancer. Sigh...

5. I am a walking radio- I can make up a song about anything. Any way to get a toddler moving or to stop screaming - I will do it.

6. I have had gray hair since I was 20... well, maybe even before that...

Eight Minutes of That

Have you ever had one of those moments, where you know you should go get the camera but don't for fear of losing the moment all together? Those of you that spend time behind the camera instead of in front of it might understand my meaning. Seeing life through a view-finder instead of living it to the fullest has kept Dave away from the camera at home for a while. Today, I wanted to run and grab it but knew that would start the pattern of - turning it on, looking at settings, take a picture, notice that the card is still in the card reader, grab the card, put it in, take a picture, all for the batteries to die before the photo was taken! Then where is the moment? Gone! That's what!

So, Dave has this thing about the song American Pie right now. He was out with a friend and heard it, realized that he has always liked that song, went to the computer and downloaded three or four albums with the song on it to his Zune, and now a new ritual is born. In the evening, Ethan yells around the house looking for his blanket (yeah, we talk to inanimate objects in this household). "Blank-ie!" he yells until he finds it. Then he tugs at Dave until Dave picks him up and plays the song. Dave rocks Ethan cheek to cheek during the slow beginning. Then, as the song picks up pace, Dave starts dancing and Ethan just chuckles and snuggles - then chuckles again. Where am I during this new evening pow wow? I am sitting in the living room chair with tears in my eyes at how blessed I could be to deserve it all? There's no way I could tear myself away from my chair and miss eight minutes of that...

and yes, American Pie is over eight minutes long.

New One Bright Spot Blog

Becca and I thought it would be a good idea to start a One Bright Spot Blog so that we can keep all those projects that we are working on separate! Take a look. I designed the banner myself! Ha! I love Creating Keepsakes! They showed how to do a non-digital banner in this month's issue.

It's Signing Time (updated)

Take a look at Signing Time's photo gallery to see Dave's pictures! Check out our family pictured last in the slide show. :) What a blessing it was to be able to take the photographs for the Signing Time concert benefiting Willamette Valley Down Syndrome Association! Most of you know that we were there with Ethan just as a family, when we were asked if we would take the pictures of the event! Ummm... of course! Didn't have to ask us twice! We had a blast meeting Cory, with the WVDSA. She has such a heart for what she does! The concert was amazing and Rachel's voice is even more beautiful in concert. I love her down-to-earth personality. These are a few of my favorite photos that Dave took. I think he captured her personality, spirit, and heart! Check out the rest of our favorites at our website!

Also, don't forget to check out the new Baby Signing Time website. The new volumes just came out and I can't wait to teach Ethan some new songs!

These are a Few of My New Favorite Things

Ok, I have to say that I am totally excited about our new listings! Click over to our store to see the new rings Becca and I have been designing! Man-oh-man-oh! I love them so much I wish I could keep them all! :) Heehee.

To All P&P Fans!

Ok Kati... I couldn't help myself. I had too much fun making these Pride and Prejudice sets. We have a new update on One Bright Spot, so check it out! Becca said that she found really large pebbles and I would love to make magnet sets of the best P&P quotes ever! Kati, you know which ones too!


Can't wait to show you more soon!

On a Serious Note...

One of the blogs that I follow is Ali Edward's blog called {A}. This week she has a week long project that she has been challenging people to join with her and do. It is looking at the everything we do in the week and just journaling the well... every day. Just capturing the every day moments. Then, at the end of the week she encourages us to make a book. She got her camera and supplies ready and has shared the everyday with us on her blog. She is also answering questions if anyone has any.



I have to admit that I wanted to do this project. You may have noticed that there hasn't been any posts about Ethan for a bit. Sometimes it is hard to capture the...well, not so good. Ever since Monday, Ethan has been in and out of the doctors office (they know us by name now). Sunday he had a runny nose, Monday the barking cough started, Tuesday the unproductive cough, and Wednesday the unable to breathe. So, they had us go into the doctor's. It was great cause Dave met us there. He was great in asking all the important questions while I run after Ethan. (He kept on taking his cracker and trying to write the letter "A" on the wall - impressive, but gross). Dave had to hunt down a medical supply store to get a nebulizer while I took Ethan home. We put Ethan down for bed and he kept waking up through out the night. I was hoping to get to read the manual before using it but Dave woke me up at 5:30am and said that Ethan needed the nebulizer. So, I guess I really am a visual learner because I remembered everything the doctor showed me and gave Ethan his dose while half asleep.

Thursday we continued our doses at the right time but I realized that a one year old will not sit for 20 minutes - so in went Signing Time! We had a lot of TV/meds and Ethan wasn't getting any better. So, called the doctor again and they had us go in. Dave met us again. We now have a steroid to help as well. The good thing is that we can put the two meds together and do them at the same time in the nebulizer.

As I was thinking yesterday about Ethan and his sickness and Ali Edward's project, I realized that this is our everyday. At least for now. Why erase his life? Why not have pictures of it? When he is better we can look back and give glory to God for healing.

So, I am a little late but decided to start just a day journal for now (instead of a week). Here's my list:

1. Woke up before Ethan
2. Checked emails and etsy
3. Got Ethan milk
4. Got Ethan up
5. Got Ethan dressed and started a load of laundry
6. Made cereal for breakfast. Cut an apple from Mom and Dad's tree to share between the two of us.
7. Batteries died on the camera. Started to charge them.
8. Dried and washed dishes
9. Got Ethan down from breakfast and did laundry
10. Brushed Ethan's teeth/washed his face
11. Signing Time/meds. Free play while Mom took a shower.
12. Play time upstairs/switched toys around upstairs and downstairs. Dug out cars and trucks from storage closets. Found alphabet games and toys that he would love!
13. Played downstairs with magnets on the fridge.
14. Lunch - potato soup and milk - Dad made it last night Didn't eat it.
15. Tired and ready for nap
16. I ran about cleaning the house: picking up, laundry, dishes, table.
17. Becca called on her lunch break
18. Packaged items for etsy.
19. Packaged Kati's page pebbles.
20. Worked on the site as Becca asked
21. Cleaned bathrooms, took out trash
22. Ethan woke up and we had snack: bread sticks and milk and a couple of crackers while we waited for them in the oven. Raisins too but Ethan fed them all to me instead of eating them himself.
23. We did craft. Nature collage with items he collected last week. He was so NOT interested.
24. We got our puddle jumpers on and rain coats and went to the post office to mail Kati's package.
25. Tried to teach Ethan how to puddle jump at the post office and he looked at me like I was crazy. I am sure people who drove by thought the same.
26. Listened to the postmaster go on about financial advisers since I told her about etsy. gave me some number for free advice.
27. Went home and had free play.
28. Dinner with potato soup, left over bread sticks, and an apple. Wow, we need to go to the store. :)
29. Dave calls and says his car broke down on his way home and he is waiting for Paul to come and help him look at it.
30. Super Why!/meds
31. Ethan finds my book cart and is wheeling it around with his blocks.
32. Dave comes home by driving in 1st gear the whole way.
33. Ethan and Dad play
34. Ethan gets ready for bed with a bath. Introducing the potty - screamed. Got down and peed on the front of the tub.
35. Played with cars in his room by himself!
36. Brushed teeth, cleaned cars. Bible time read Samuel and he was calling out "Samuel! Samuel!" with hands over his mouth like I was!
37. Prayed, Dave got pacifier out of basket, and Ethan turned out the light. When we left he was yelling "dog" about his Spud stuffed animal.
38. Peace.

Thompson Designs

Take a look at our designer's blog. She has our banner listed!

http://thompsondesigns.blogspot.com/2008/09/samples-of-my-custom-etsy-banners.html

Couldn't Resist!

Couldn't help myself and did these cards tonight. I am going to make prints of these and save the originals, of course. :)

Can we talk?

Spill it Sister!

Seriously!

Good Finds

Oh dearie. Today was the Stayton Library sale (can't wait for next week's Salem Library sale). Of course I wasn't looking for books for school this year. I was looking for books for Ethan and for art! I found some really great books - check them out! Most of them are 1949-1953. Davy and Roy are first additions.

Congrats to Kati who won the page pebbles in our drawing! Hope you love them!