I see this face a million times a day, and there’s always a story behind that look!  In this picture, she said she couldn’t show her teeth because her Twizzler would fall out!

This update is long overdue.  I love making bracelets that are sparkly and fun for little girls.  I recently made these bracelets for the flower girls in one of my friends’ weddings.  However, I decided to stop selling my bracelets on a larger scale.  I got really nervous going to craft shows and visiting with other jewelry makers about the liability issues that could go along with selling children’s bracelets to strangers.  The bracelets hold up to 30 pounds of pressure before they will break, but still, I can’t be there to make sure a mother doesn’t put her baby to bed with one of my bracelets on.  I feel perfectly safe with my children wearing them, but I don’t let them wear them unattended. 

Funny thing, when I bought bracelets on Etsy for Noelle (before I started making them), one of the bracelet packages literally said, “Size: 0-6 months, Not intended for children under 2).  I thought it was weird at the time but now I totally get it.  So, I decided against the website and to exclusively sell to friends and family.  I have great clients who keep coming back that I trust will be safe and responsible with the bracelets. 

If you ever want a fun, custom Swarovski crystal bracelet with sterling silver components, let me know.  I’d love to create with you!!!  My most popular bracelet is the keepsake initial bracelet for newborn, colors pink and white, with cursive sterling silver initial, gift-wrapped in a white sashet, $18.00.

This was the most incredible kids museum we have ever visited.  If you are ever in Tyler, TX, plan all day to stay and play.  We didn’t even have time to dig for fossils, try out the shadow room, make our own newscast and be on TV, or enjoy the real live bees making honey.  We can’t wait to come back!!!

We spent most of the day letting Noelle try out different occupations.  

 

She was a nurse to start off the day!

  

She would pretend to get a 911 call and run to tell us to get ready because a baby will arrive soon who is going to be hurt really badly.  She made this up on her own… we do watch a little TV on the side.  🙂

Next she was a construction worker.  She loves playing with tools!

 

She was a great shopper next.  Both girls enjoyed shopping and checking out at the store.  I think the picture to the right looks like paparazzi caught her at the store, funny.

 

I can’t tell you how much fun they were having!

 

Checking out.

Noelle was the cashier for several children.  It was pretty cute watching all of them pretend together.

A pretend waitress brought Anna Kate food at the local diner.  She loved this!

Noelle was an ER doctor next.  She saw this dad sitting here and came up to him with her clipboard and said, “So, I heard that you were hurt?”  He totally played along.  It was the coolest thing to watch.  She’s so brave.

 

They had a real ambulance with lots of doctor toys to play with!  Noelle was going nuts!

 

Next, we headed over to the theater where Noelle hammed it up!  She even took a bow at the end.  I couldn’t help clicking away.  She was so creative, and I was having a blast watch her enjoy so many different things.

Noelle’s play went a little something like this, “I’m going to eat you up?”

“No, please don’t.”

“Too late, you’re so yummy!”  

After that, Noelle wanted to be a pilot.  When we got home, Noelle saw Chandler (our neighbor) in his pilot uniform packing up his car in his driveway and went crazy.  We stopped, rolled down the window, and let her admire the real deal.  She was in awe!

Love the pearls in this picture! 

This is what Noelle wants to be the most (right now) when she grows up: a veterinarian.  She loves animals in a way that I admire.  She is so caring! 

Brushing the teeth.

 

They even had animal x-rays the kids could change out and study.  Noelle thought that was cool!

 

Next, Noelle served coffee and treats at the internet cafe.  The older kids were playing games on the computers in the cafe, but Noelle was busy serving a great afternoon snack.  In the meantime, Anna Kate was playing at the grass seed table with her new friend.

 

This little guy played with Anna Kate for about 30 minutes.  He was so sweet and gentle, and they were really communicating.  It was so cool to see her growing up and making her own friends (like her sissy, who doesn’t meet a stranger).

 

The firegirl took her job very seriously!

 

We headed over to the discovery room next, where they had caves, and pretend earthquakes and tons of learning stations everywhere.

I wish I had audio on this pic.  She was going, “Oh oh oh!”  She loved watching the fish!

Noelle got to steer the big boat!

In the caves, they had neon, glow-in-the-dark rocks.  Super cool!

 

One last pic before falling asleep on the way home.  I’ll remember this day for a long time!

How cute is this?  She was just relaxing in the bench after bath time.  I pinch her cheeks all the time b/c she’s just so so cute.  How could God dream up a baby so sweet?  We’re blessed!

We had a blast swimming with Breckin and Jett last week in J’ville.  

Breckin didn’t really want his picture taken (hence the adorable face), but Noelle really wanted to have their picture taken so that she could remember him on the computer once we got home.  When we left, she gave him a really big hug.  Kids are so cute!

Jett with the girls!

Later that evening back at Poppa and Rara’s.

 

Poppa and Rara put up swings for all their grandchildren this summer.  Anna Kate was quite the dare-devil and even let me run under the swing while I pushed her.  Noelle was more interested in the water!  She said, “I had no idea it would be this much fun!”  They loved being a part of the great outdoors!

 

 

 

What a fun night, thank you Mr. Barry and Mrs. Karen!!!  Ended with an old lady wobbling up the hill to the car!

Has your kid ever gotten in a fight with a Happy Meal toy?  As of today, mine has.  First of all, we NEVER get Happy Meals.  I think they are a rip-off, however, I used a coupon and got one free, so that’s a pretty good deal, toy and all… or so I thought. 

Noelle was so excited to get a Littlest Pet Shop puppy with a bed and stickers.  To sort of sour things up a bit, the stickers wouldn’t stick on the bed, so that got Noelle irritated, but I didn’t see what was coming next.  Once the little puppy was connected to her bed, making her sturdy, her head started bobbling…  which led to her demise.  Wrong move girlfriend!

Noelle’s frustration turned into tears which turned into a rage of rants including the following:

“Stop moving your head!  Other animals walk.  You look crazy!”

“You’re the worst pet ever.  I want to throw you away and never ever see you again!”

“What are you doing?  I’m harmless.  You’re mean, and I don’t like you!”

She came crying to me about how horrific her Littlest Pet shop puppy was and how devastated she was that the puppy wouldn’t stop moving her head.  Seriously, tears streaming down her face folks.  Seriously, you’re thinking?  Yes, seriously!

I told her we should all take naps, and it will be better after nap time.  So, the drama has subsided for now, but when they wake up, Round 2, ding ding!

*On another note, Mike showed me this cool blog today, and I LOVE it!  Check it out:

http://milasdaydreams.blogspot.com/

 

 

As you can see, we had a really great day of shopping with Rara!  Thank you for everything… our Tyler shopping spree, the homemade meals, and helping me bathe and take care of the girls, so that I could get some rest, while working at the office on top of all of that.  You’re twice my age and can seriously run circles around me.  I don’t know how you do it!  I love you, Mommy dearest!  (and of course, Poppa bear too, who had to be out of town for a tennis tournament half the time we were home… it was pre-planned but a big bummer)

Noelle loves dressing rooms, and shopping is one of her favorite things. 

 

Rara took Noelle to Build-A-Bear (Bunny) for the first time last week, and of course, she loved every minute of it!

This is a picture of her washing her new baby.  She named her “Little Lucy” and came up with the name all by herself.  She even got a little birth certificate with her name on it!

 

Anna Kate digging through the hearts, while the bear stuffing churns in the background.  Noelle is about to dress Little Lucy and can’t wait!

 

Anna Kate played on the computers while Noelle dressed her bunny!

 

That was a huge success.  Anna Kate had a ball playing with all the toys, and Noelle *LOVES* her new furry friend!!!