1st Birthday Party Pt. 1

Okay, so, gave the teaser yesterday... and here is the real thing!

The weather started out not so great...and ended up as really yucky and gloomy, and wet. Yep, it hadn't rained in South Texas for forever, and the day we decide to have Landon's party, DOWNPOUR. But, we made the best of our outdoor party, and were thankful for the giant pavilion we had it under. Aaron and his dad went out early in the day to decorate and get the grill set up for the hamburgers and hotdogs. Cause we all know it isn't a party without those!

The kiddos had a good time with the two pinatas and the sidewalk chalk. We had planned on having Yankee Golf (or Redneck Golf) and washers for all the adults to play while the kids played on the playground, but the rain kept us under the pavilion instead.
   
 
 
 
 
    
    

     

     

And that's enough for now... All about his presents and smash cake next time :).

Birthday Party Teaser



Presents!!





Pinata!



The birthday boy!



Okay, so, I should have time to blog about Landon's birthday tomorrow, but we all know about my promises for posts and how those go. :) So, I'm not promising, just hoping.

Just call me Slacker :)

Okay, so I know I have STILL not posted about Landon's party... Gonna try to do that this Friday...

But, I just had to get on and mention how excited I am to be doing my first "show" for my Forever Treasures business! I'm doing a craft/home sellers show with my mom, sister, and quite a few other vendors on November the 13th.

Now I just gotta get busy and get a bunch more blocks made!

I am also thinking about creating an "order scrapbook" so I can display all the blocks I have made so far -- then people can either choose one of those, or they can make a special order for a new and different one. So, I have A LOT to do between now and the show -- I want to have at least 20 - 25 blocks to display. Here are the two newest ones I've done...

For my Grandma -- so she can display pictures I send, and change them out easily!



For my Gigi to display Landon's pictures too. :)

The blocks can be personalized with anyone's name of course, or can have something generic like "Hope" or "Love" painted in. I just went shopping this weekend for more ideas for blocks, and I am so excited about the ones I am working on or will be working on soon! Should have more pictures to post by the end of the week.

Don't forget, if you see a block you'd like to order, you can email me at theforevertreasures@gmail.com -- or if you'd like to see the items my mom or my sister (or my Aunt) make, you can visit our page on Facebook -- http://www.facebook.com/groups/241886392501056/?id=272734732749555&ref=notif&notif_t=group_activity#!/pages/Victessa/217162541657388

(or just search "Victessa" on Facebook).

Okay, that's all for today-- check back sometime this week, and HOPEFULLY I will have Landon's birthday party pictures up!

Picture/Video Dump Day



Like Father



Like Son :)

He has such a great time playing with that ball! Best $2.50 ever spent hehe!

His football. Yeah, apparently he sleeps with it now :)

Shopping for birthday party supplies. Needless to say, we did not buy the hat.

He looks like a turtle stuck on his back. Either that or he is trying to break dance.

 

Brand new jammies! Trying them on at Great Grandma's house.

That's right, he's a cool kid.

I'm sensing a theme with these car-seat pictures. This is on his first birthday, after he got his shots. And after his first haircut the night before! He looks so grown up!

YUM! Comfort food - Went to see THE HELP, and it was sold out! Grr. We even tried again in Odessa a couple weeks later, and guess what, we ended up eating chocolate cake and ice cream at Casa Ole again. Must be a spectacular movie!

I will be adding a post *hopefully* sometime this week of Landon's first birthday, with pictures/video from his party, all of his stats and everything. If not this week, I'll get around to it eventually! HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!

Nothing profound...just living.

UPDATE TIME!

Landon is now taking steps! Oh okay, before I get ahead of myself.... He turned 11 months this past Monday, and on Wednesday evening, Aaron was playing with him and decided to put him a few feet away from him. Normally, Landon would just plop down and crawl back to Aaron... but this time, he took 3 (unassissted) steps! We got all excited and I got my phone out to video -- we practiced until he started getting mad at us. The most he took in a row that night was 6. I'm sure he will be "taking steps" for at least a week or two before we can consider him full on WALKING, but still... my baby is growin up! *Tear*

If this video doesn't work for whatever reason, I have a video of it on Facebook...so, go "friend me" on Facebook if ya wanna see it! :) If it does work, consider yourselves in deep trouble, cause I'm going to upload all my videos of this adorable kiddo :)

We also have teeth! Just a few weeks ago he got the first one (bottom middle right tooth) and then this past week, he has gotten both of his middle top teeth. His new favorite past-time is grinding them. EESH! I hate that noise!

He is outgrowing all of his sleepers, and we are putting him in shorts and t-shirts for bedtime now. Another sign that my baby is turning into a toddler. I cannot believe he will be a year old in less than a month. I know this is cliche, but time has just FLOWN by. (flown...that's a funny word. like fork. fork is funny too. *random thought over now*) Well, you know I can't resist tossing up a few pictures of my kiddo...brace yourself, he gets cuter by the day!:

Road trip to Houston - on the search for a new tent!

Po wearing his hat

Nonna wearing his hat



My patriotic boy on the 4th of July

 Wow. after looking at pictures, I realized it has been a while since I updated. Landon had a great time on the 4th of July. We went early (like 5:30pm) to get a spot for the fireworks, cause it fills up quick. The spot we really wanted was taken by like 9am. Crazy people :). We actually ended up with an even better spot if you don't count the whole waiting an hour after the "show" to get out of the parking lot. We had "front row" seats, and I was a little worried that Landon would be scared of the noise. Quite the contrary! The first few seemed to scare him for a split second, but then he was pointing at them and babbling away. I'm sure in his own way, he was exclaiming over the colors, and telling us which "style" was his favorite! (I like love the ones that look like huge willow trees!)

We also went on our first camping trip since he was born. I don't have those pictures "on me" to upload, but here is one of him with his Popo and all of his cousins by the river:


Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Landon, Popo, Korbin, Emma, AJ, Kadyn, Malachi, and Zoe

We all had a really great time -- and it is an "annual" trip, so Landon will get to enjoy this spot every summer growing up. I'll try to remember to add some more pictures (and commentary) of this trip later on.



I got new boots!



I love getting new shoes. I've been wanting some nice brown boots for a while, and since they were on sale, Aaron let me I decided to get them. :) They are comfy too! I'll be "stylin" this winter hehe.


Best. Husband. Ever.

In case you can't tell, that is a dozen roses, with a gift card to the Woodhouse Day Spa. For a 2 hour massage. Aaron is already an amazing husband and daddy. But add this to the mix? Again: Best. Husband. Ever. I came home from work one day to find this on the counter. Just because. I love my husband. :)

And just a few more pictures, etc.:





This kid is always pointing at ceiling fans/light fixtures. We could probably take him to Lowes to look at fans for his birthday, and he'd be a happy camper :)

Milk face! But check out those eyes. I know, I know, I'm his mom, but I think he has gorgeous eyes!

Okay, that's all for now. I know you will all be on pins and needles until my next post. I'll try to be a little more consistent. But, no promises! Oh--wait, I do need to add pictures of my latest Forever Treasures... maybe you'll "see me" sooner than you think! 



Forever Treasures and more...

So, finally got some of my stuff done, and I'm ready to share! I am hoping that this business will get off the ground and that eventually it will bring in enough money for me to be a stay at home mom. I would love nothing more than to be with my awesome kiddo all day every day. Let me know what you think of them.


The first Forever Treasure I made. This one sits on my desk at work.







The first Forever Treasure I made at a customer's request :)



This one is ready to be personalized!



This one could be yours!





The first picture frame I covered. Picture frames will start at $8.

I am so excited about my little creations here. I've already gotten some more orders, so I am getting busy! I'm also going to try to get some "generic" ones completed to sell at Market Days. If you would like to order one, you can let me know here by leaving a comment, or you can email me at theforevertreasures@gmail.com and let me know what you might want.

Anywho... I appreciate any and all feedback.

*On a side note, SUPER excited to go watch the last Harry Potter movie tomorrow night!

How does that saying go? (Food for Thought)

Ya know... the one about people only being in your life for a season?

I thought for the longest time that that was just hype. I KNEW that my family and friends would always stay close. Our relationships would only grow stronger.

Well, that whole "You live and you learn" saying is true--as is the one about people only being in your life for a season. I've learned a lot since graduating high school -- as you "grow up" -- your friends can grow distant. Life takes you to different places, and people go their separate ways. You get told to "roll with the punches."

Why roll with the punches? Why not just avoid them altogether? I mean, who wants bruises?

Unfortunately, those "bruises" build character. They make YOU who YOU are. When your "friends" choose to find new friends when you get married and have kids, it probably isn't because of who you are... they are just in different lanes of this road we call life. When your family fights and argues, or doesn't talk at all... ya just gotta try to remember that "they'll come around" (or maybe they won't, in which case, you gotta remember you weren't given a choice in who your family is - but ya gotta love them anyway).

I have "lost" more friends than I can count throughout my life, just due to circumstance. But you know what, I'm still happy. I don't NEED those people in my life who don't want to be there. And if they wanted to be there, they would call. My number hasn't changed. In the past few years, I have learned that I can be content just where I am. With who I am.

Don't get me wrong, I miss those friendships and the "good ol' days" from my past just as much as the next person, but that's what they are -- "from my past." It's okay to look in the rearview mirror every now and then, but my focus is now on my future--what lies ahead. If you don't focus on that, you're likely to crash and burn.

This "season" of my life may not contain as many "friends" as I thought it would way back when, but that's okay. I have an amazing husband, the greatest kiddo ever, and my family -- which is even better than all the friends in the world. I didn't get to pick my family, but God did. :) Thank goodness!

All this to say... ummm.... "Don't Worry, Be Happy" -- I know, kind of random today... but...love me anyway!