Small Business Month

In Arizona, a ton of small business blogs got together for a giant month long giveaway on Happy Sunshine Photography. There are tons of giveaways and it gives you a chance to find out about some small businesses, that you otherwise wouldn't know about. Go check them out! I may not be in Arizona but I have loved getting updates from this blog everyday! Enjoy!

July 4th and seeing Grandpa do his "soldier" thang!

I haven't really posted regularly lately. Trying to fill my etsy shop, prepare for a craft show in August, take care of 4 kids, keep the house in a liveable state, and deal with the drama that surrounds me is exhausting. I am hoping to get life under control this week (like I can control crazy!) and get back to tutorials and other projects. Anyway, this is what we did for Independence day.


My father is in the Texas State Guard. On July 4th, a friend of his asked him to swear her in. I have never seen my father do anything with the state guard, much less see him in his fatigues. My girls, I realized the day before, didn't even know the Grandpa was a soldier. That what they kept saying anyway. My father was actually in the Air Force as a young man. Flying huge planes into Vietnam to drop off supplies for troops. He has always loved to fly and would always tell me what type of plane it was when one flew over. My father is just a wealth of information. So, as my father got older, he still wants to help his country. We have a joke in my family that my father is determined to "save the world." He was in the air force, then later he joined our community volunteer fire department, then later he went through major school to become a paramedic. Then he was in the Texas Task Force, rescuing people during national disasters. Now he is in the state guard. My Dad has a great heart for his fellow man.

Anyway, so as a family, we went to Washington on the Brazos, the birthplace of Texas. If your born and raised in Texas this is definitely some history you, if you don't already know it, should know. This is where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed. There are historical markers all over this gorgeous area. It is right off the Brazos river and just a beauty to behold. Elena was our little tour guide for the whole trip. Apparently she learn Texas history in the last month of school. The words "a Plethora of information" comes to mind. She knew so much, it was ridiculous. She is 6.

Elena and Kiera in front of the Texas Declaration of Independence

We and my girls. Gabriel was more interested in his drink than joining in. 

 

So we toured the grounds while waiting for the swearing in ceremony. It was lots of fun. It was hot though, it is June in Texas. So, we took it slow. Gabriel especially. G-Man was going to go his own pace and would not let anyone rush him.

So, then it was about time for the ceremony. We watched the troops march in. Gabriel thought that was cool. Well, he was really paying attention. Sort of started marching with them at one point. Then they marched to the spot where we watched my father swear his fellow guardsman in. It was kind of cool seeing my father in this role. I have never seen him look so official. I was a proud daughter.

 

So, then we hit McD's with Grandpa and Elaine and headed home. The minions were so tired. Most of them fell asleep in the car on the way home. But we just bought a new pool for them and we were not going to get away with not going in the pool. Its nothing big, but its bigger than last years pool. I think we are slowly graduating to needing one with a pump next year. But they had a blast.

Apparently we did a good job of keeping the kids busy this independence day. NO ONE made it to the fireworks. We were going to take them to George Bush Library to see the fireworks, but Nevin and Gabriel were out before we even had a chance to see them. Elena and Kiera were upset, but so tired that they didn't put up much of a fuss. We watch multiple fireworks on TV and they went to bed happy and tired and let Mommy and Daddy have some alone time. It was a great day! Hopefully next year they will all be old enough to last till the fireworks. I love fireworks!

Friday's Music of the week: Dead Sara

I am a rocker chic through and through. Girl Rockers rank right up there. And this girl rocker is completely insane. I saw Dead Sara at a concert at Harry's in College Station. They were playing with Chevelle and New Medicine. She put these guys in their place. Don't get me wrong, NO ONE rocks like Chevelle, but she ripped it up. She was jumping off of speakers, screaming (singing) as loud as she could with the songs and it was amazing. I want to be her when I grow up!!! The lead singer is Emily Armstrong, and the guitarist is Siouxsie Medley, two girls that will forever be in my books as Kick Ass!! Here is one of their latest videos and my favorite song from them.

"Weatherman"

"Sorry for It All"

July 4th link up party

Today I am partying hard and not just because it's July 4th. so far Elena lost her first tooth and the tooth fairy came! My baby is not a baby anymore. and some of my favorite blogs are having a blog hop party. check it out!

 

Today we are headed to washington on the brazos! My father is in the state guard and is swearing a friend in. The kids are excited to see grandpa do his "soldier" thing, as they put it. Then if they aren't to tired, we will go get in the pool we got them recently, which Daddy so graciously blew up by himself! Then just when they are ready to pass out, we will go see fireworks! Tomorrow is going to be awesome too, the dsl is getting turned on! woo hoo! can you believe I have been doing most of this blog on my phone! Later Peeps!

Photo A Day : July

So, I keep seeing all of these "Photo of a day" posts for July and I thought I would join in. Being that July has already started. I will post two today to catch up.

Day 1: Self Portrait

Day 2: Busy

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Designy Tuesday!

Its that time again. What have you designed this week? 

Rules:

1) Please follow my blog through GFC, blog lovin, or linky. 

2) You can post as many as you want!

3) Check out at least 3 other posts. 

4) Add a back link to my site! (Grab the button on the left!!)

5) Have fun!

What a day, New Sponsor

So, Saturday was fun, let see. I think I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I was not in a good mood when I got up. I had to run to the store to get food and milk and diapers for the day because the hubby was taking the car to work. Yes, we have one car, and yes, he works EVERY Saturday! Meaning, I am with all four of them from 7:45 to about 6:25. I love my kids, but they're a handful. So, the hubs goes to work, and I look around the house and I swear I can feel the walls start closing in. Not from claustrophobia, but because of the mess. This is my "unhappy the state of the house" face.

What you need to understand is, the girls got new captains beds. The bunk beds they had before were becoming hazardous to Nevin's life. I couldn't keep her off the top bunk. I even took the ladder off at one point. What did she do? She figured out how to get up on the top bunk by using the window sill next to the bed. Smart girl, but not good!!! She is fearless, and likes to give Mommy a heart attack. So we got captains beds. This is what their room looks like now.

So much better, but she can still get on the beds and cause havoc. This is my crazy life.  Oh, but what I was getting at was in order to put these beds in their room, we had to empty their entire room to set them up. Meaning my living room, that I try so desperately to keep clean and free of toys, is now littered with every doll, stuffed animal, kitchen set, barbie,and littlest pet shop in their room. I work 40 hours a week and we did this on a Wednesday that my husband had off. So the house was a wreck until Saturday. House a wreck = Not a Happy Momma!!! The minions didn't want to clean either. So I spent the rest of the day trying to keep the house in one piece and clean at the same time. I was not happy. Luckily the Hubs had Sunday off (He works a lot, which is good, but not much family time together, boooo) and the house was spic and span by Monday Morning.

Anyway, now that I have ranted, I want to tell you about a new sponsor. I want to thank Maria-Isabel, aka the Mommy, from Mommy Made for being my first sponsor.

Not to sound like a blog stalker, but she is a big inspiration to me for this whole blogging world. I follow both her sites and love everything she does. Mommy Made is her blog about being "the Mommy" to her three adorable children. She is a great photographer and has really great pictures of the kiddos. She has crafts and activity ideas as well. My favorite is Girls Be Mine Valentines Day Shirt. Honestly, I have seen this time and again and thought, why didn't I think of this, but at the same time, don't want my girls to see it because I want to make them a surprise for next valentines day, and they will make me make 40 of them well before that if they see the tutorial. So, go check her out.