I'm still alive :O)

It's been too long!

When ever I feel my plate is a bit too full, life inevitably decides to test just how full it can get! The last month has just been crazy, with all 6 kids progressively coming down with the flu a day or two apart each, then two got double ear infections and the rest caught croup. All while daddy and I were trying to get over the flu as well.

It's tough when any of them get sick, but it always pulls on my heart most to see the baby so sick and miserable.

Thank goodness everyone is healthy again!

While I was gone tons happened but some of the highlights.....

The baby turned 1!!!!!! Nathaniel now officially has a #, before if anyone would ask the kids their age they would all chime in with their respective numbers and then inform whom ever asked "but my little brother is zero"

Our oldest two brought home outstanding report cards.

Kaiya is reading through books faster than I can find another good series for her to enjoy (any recommendations for a good series is appreciated!) She can finsh a 700+ page book in a week or so.

Thomas is thrilled to have passed the test so he can read chapter books now. He is enjoying the adventures of the Magic Tree House.

Gabriel is as energetic as ever, still doing wonderfully in Kindergarten, and loving having the opportunity to have play dates with someone other than his brothers.

Alexander has taken it upon himself to learn how to add and subtract. He still doesn't know that he wont be old enough to enter kindergarten next year. We know he will be a bit heart broken.

Megan is feisty as always full of life and love. She is almost 3 now.

Nathaniel loves to crawl at full speed to chase everyone else. He stands, waves, says hi and hiya, momma, dada, and gama. He hasn't shown any interest in walking yet, I think he know to keep up with his brothers and sisters he needs to be fast.

Rob has been busy as ever, he was elected vice president of his Teacher's union( I think maybe that happened in February but dates are blurred now), he joined our church counsel board, and started playing soccer again. He has also been hired on as my official packaging department. All those pretty little bow tied on the jewelry boxes are courtesy of my honey. He also tapes labels and does all my international mailing! I never would have been able to mail out Mother's day orders on time with out him :O)

Life remains mostly the same for me. I won an award for jewelry design over on Journal Modiste. Rob and I are preparing to become a presenting couple for World Wide Marriage Encounter (an awesome ministry!) We are almost done writing all out talks and due to present our first weekend over the summer. I finally got my veggie garden planted, one of my very favorite things to do each spring. I also dug out most of out front garden and all of our back garden and planted lots of new rose bushes.

On a business end, I partially closed my shop to get the kids healthy again and to get caught up.

I am finally caught back up and feeling less stressed. I will be working this weekend on some new designs that I am really excited about! I am learning to make bezels and set stones, I have some new unique mother's jewelry designs, and I am learning about enameling. So keep an eye out!

Now that I am back in full swing and life feel somewhat normal again, I will be having a sneak peak at a new mother's design and I will be giving one away tonight!

Come back by late to check it out and for a chance to enter!!!!!!!!!

Hope all is well in everyone's world

Cheers!

Canela