Collective Artwerx Design Team!

It has officially been announced that I am a member of the creative design team for Collective Artwerx! Be sure to stop by and have a look around Tracy's shop. She has lots of great things to choose from.

Not much going on around here. We are having a pretty relaxed weekend just hanging out and taking it easy.

Have a great weekend!

New Journey

Well, I have already done what I told myself that I wouldn't, and that's neglect my blog. It has been rather busy around here and my blog has kind of taken a back seat. I'm back on track now, so hopefully I can keep up better.

A lot has happened since my last post - let's see...I have been very busy with my online painting class "All About Faces" with Paulette Insall, I registered my baby for Kindergarten, I have been chosen as a member of the design team at Collective Artwerx, and oh yeah - turned 35.

Probably the most exciting thing that has happened was being chosen as a member of the design team for Tracy Webster's online store Collective Artwerx. I am so excited about this new venture! I saw her posting that she was looking for people to be on her design team. I almost didn't do it thinking that I probably wouldn't get chosen, but I did! I just decided to go for it and it paid off! I cannot wait to get to start designing for her. This is a new creative challenge for me and something that I have dreamed of doing at some point. I just realized that I had to just go for it, put myself out there and see what happens. I am honored to have been chosen for this.

On a much more sad note - I turned 35! The dreaded birthday arrived April 10 way too soon! I have dreaded this one for a long time thinking that it sounded so old! The worst part of it all though, and the worst present ever...I had to sign my baby up for kindergarten that day! What a sad day it was for me because it was hard enough signing my oldest one up for school last year, but now my youngest just makes me realize even more that they grow up way to quickly. I don't know where the time has gone. It seems like all of the sudden they are little girls and not babies anymore!

I did make a revelation to myself, however, regarding my being the big 3 - 5. It hit me that I am now in my mid 30's cruising full speed ahead to 40! Unfortunately, I feel almost robbed of my early 30's. I have had so many health issues that have taken over my life since I was 30, that it all seems like one big giant blur when I look back. I had an emergency hysterectomy two weeks before my 31st birthday, and from that point on, my body has protested immensely! Since then I have been through so many doctors, tests, and health problems that it has been a rough few years. They are still trying to determine a definite diagnosis, but as of now they say I have Sjogren's disease (a form of lupus), severe arthritis, chronic fatigue, chronic mono, fibromyalgia, and a skin disease that they are not sure if it is psoriasis or dermatomyositis. Basically it is all auto immune and it all tends to run together, so making a specific diagnosis is hard to do. All of this gradually started while I was in the hospital recovering from the hysterectomy. To make a very long story short, I realized that I am finally at terms and peace with the way my life is now. So what if I have health issues - I just have to learn to live with them and to adjust my life accordingly. I refuse to let it "rob" me of any more of my life as much as I possibly can. What is important is my family and children who depend on me to be there regardless. I can't succumb to it, and have gotten really good at adjusting my life to everything day by day. I have realized that I will have days or even weeks where I am in a flare and don't feel well, but at least I am still breathing - it could be worse! Anyways....I don't like to talk about my health issues much, so this was another obstacle to overcome and that is facing it and I feel like I have finally done that. Our 30's are supposed to be some of the best years of our lives anyways, right?!



The bluebonnets here in Texas have really been blooming lately. A couple of weekends ago, my parents came up to visit and we stopped on our way back from lunch and snapped a few pics in a beautiful patch of them. It's funny around this time of year, at least some where along the road, you will more than likely see people taking pictures of their little ones in the bluebonnets.

One Proud Mama!

I am still bursting with pride for Ashlyn this weekend. Out of all of the kindergarten students at her elementary school, she was one of four students whose art project was chosen from the art director to be on display at the "Celebrate the Arts" exhibition this weekend at the high school with all grades from kindergarten to seniors. Imagine my excitement when I received the letter that her work had been chosen! I couldn't have been more proud, and being that it was an art piece made me even more excited. All of those countless hours we spent together painting, drawing, scrap booking, and doing crafts paid off. She does so well in her art class, and the teacher is amazing too. Every time she brings home something she has made, I am just in awe at what these kindergarteners are doing in class now! I just can't believe it, and that my baby is such an amazing little artist already at such a young age. This is the second time already that she has been noticed for her artwork.

The art show began Friday evening, and my parents and Doug's Mom and step dad came up so that they could all see her exhibit. Doug and I had not seen her work before the show, so it was a surprise to all of us. She did an oil pastel piece of the ocean with starfish, a turtle, and a sting ray in the water with Memphis on the beach. I just couldn't get over her detail of everything even down to the sea weed on the bottom. She was so proud describing her work to us. I couldn't be a more proud Mommy either. I think I have been beaming all weekend (actually, since I first got the letter!).


I have a couple of pieces that I have done over the last few days and will post them within the next couple of days. I just don't want to take anything away from her special post.

I am taking an online painting class from Paulette Insall called "All About Faces" that starts tomorrow. I am so excited, I cannot wait. I have been admiring her work for some time now, and am thrilled to be able to take her class and learn from such a great artist. If you are not familiar with her work, you should check her out - her work is amazing!

Well I am ready to enjoy a little quiet time with my husband before the crazy week starts now that the girls are asleep.

Spring Break

It is Spring Break for the kids here, and for me as well. My Mom and Dad graciously offered to keep my girls during Spring Break to give me one as well. Unfortunately, I wound up coming down with a terrible cold at the beginning of the week. It sure has helped being able to rest, though. With a 5 and 6 year old, that is a rarity around here! Thanks Granna and Gramps!

I have spent most of the week resting, but I have managed to squeeze in some creative time as well. I was inspired by my morning cup (more like cups) of coffee. This is the first one-

I wasn't too pleased with how my letter stamps turned out, so I will probably work on it some more. Anyway, here is the second one -

I was much happier with this one. I am working on a couple of other things that I will post when I have completed.

The most amazing thing happened today! My Dad found what he believed was some form of butterfly pupae in their backyard a few weeks ago. He made a tall cage for it and brought it up here so that the girls could watch it to see if anything happens. Needless to say my husband, Mom, and I have to admit, myself were all a little skeptical. It didn't really look like anything we had seen, and we sort of gave him a hard time about it. Well, earlier today, my husband came out of the room where we are keeping it and said, "You have got to come see this - it is absolutely the most beautiful thing I have seen!" I couldn't imagine what it might be, in fact, honestly I thought he was playing a joke on me and going to show me a "prize" that maybe our new puppy, Memphis, had left. Imagine my surprise when he shows me the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! It is a Luna moth with some amazing colors. It is lime green with purple and fuchsia tipped wings, and brightly colored "eyes." Here is a picture which can't possibly do this amazing creature justice, but here you go:


This beauty is totally inspiring me to make an attempt to paint him. We will see - I am working on it now, but I am not too pleased so far. I will post it if it turns out o.k.

For now, I am going to finish my Ben and Jerry's "Karmel Sutra" - YUM! and enjoy the rest of my quiet evening while my husband is at the Mason's lodge.

Have a great Spring Break!

Two in One Day

O.K. I am actually creating two entries in one day - a lot can happen since 5:30 am when I first wrote my other post. Seems like my daughter is somehow miraculously better - no more red throat. I think it must just be allergies. I know mine and my husband's are bad right now. She still is very inquisitive in whether or not she will have to have a shot if she has to go to the doctor.
My husband came home early from work today and spent some good quality time with Megan and Memphis playing the Wii. I was actually able to paint a little bit while they did. It's just something I made rather quickly, so it's not that great because I was experimenting with the tree. I seem to be fascinated with painting (or wanting to) trees lately. Actually, trees have always been my favorite things to paint. There is such beauty that can be found in trees, and I can always find a way that they symbolize something in my life at any given point. This time, it symbolizes growth because I feel like I am at a point in my life that I am growing - I think we all are at all times in some way or another.
Anyways, here's the picture I have been working on and also a picture of my girls and Memphis.