Kids say the funniest things.....

My kid is no exception. I really should be writing it all down but he just hits me with zingers all the time.

Look, he's 2 1/2 and he says things 2 1/2 year olds shouldn't be saying. No, I'm not teaching him bad habits. An occasional bad word slips out but thankfully, he hasn't repeated those yet. I'm getting better about catching myself.

Life has ways of throwing you curveballs all the time and my life is no exception. I was handed a wonderful opportunity at the end of January that I couldn't pass up. It might even lead to something better but my lips are sealed for now. No, it has nothing to do with the business but it will only make it better, I promise.

With this recent change, I needed more time during the day so I sent my son back to daycare. He's been home with me for most of the 2 1/2 years with the exception of a 6 month period where he went to daycare.

He's reached the point in his life where he needs other kids to interact with and a 'school' setting. I didn't want to be the parent who dropped their kid off at kindergarten and said 'have fun!' I wanted to ease him into this.

Well, 4 weeks later, he pretty much runs the place. They don't know what to do with him in his room. He's a handful which is pretty much what I told them when I registered him but they poo-poo'd me. Anyway....

So in these 4 weeks, the kid has managed to take over Tutor Time and the Twaddler room. He's ready for the 3 year old room but he isn't potty trained yet and shows no signs of ever wanting too. I've been warned that boys are tough so I'm prepared for the long road ahead. His teachers, however, are not.

Just the other day, he tells me he has a girlfriend. But he pronounces it 'gawrlfred'.

Nick: Mama, I hab gawrlfred.

Me: What?!?

My Mom: What did he say?

Me: I think he said he has a girlfriend.

Nick: Mama, I hab gawrlfred.

Me: Really? Whats her name?

Nick: Gigi

My Mom: Is GiGi pretty?

Nick: Yeah!

My Mom: What color hair does she have?

Nick: Red

My Mom: Red? Is she prettier than grandma?

Nick: Yeah!

So the next morning, I drop him off and inquire about GiGi. Her real name in Genevieve and she's there on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She has curly brown hair and really big brown eyes. She's cute. I guess she's in Nicks Circle Time group and they sit next to each other. How sweet.

Now I get twice a week reports when I pick him up about the fun things he and GiGi do together. I guess she's the only one he lets cut in front of him on the slide and he holds her hand on the playground.

Watch your daughter! My son is on the lose!

Hoping for Gold.....

Well, my hoping paid off and Canada won the Gold medal for mens hockey. Before you go off calling me a bad American and all that, hear me out. I'm part Canadian. Its in my blood. Its why I love this sport as much as I do.

I would have been happy if either team won but......

Seeing this kid with his GOLD medal just makes me happy. And hopefully thats the last time he's forced to hug Niedermeyer. Gag.

Don't know who Drew Doughty is? You will in a couple of years. He's on everyones radar now and he's being compared to players like Bobby Orr. Not a hockey fan? No worries. It'll all be about Drew-nation in a few years. This kid is a natural. Not many players can just relax and play the way he does. He doesn't get all worked up during games. He says it stresses him out. Here are a couple of interviews with Mr. Doughty.

Okay, no more hockey for a while. I promise. At least until the playoffs start......

Right Now.....

Wishing, hoping, praying for a finals game between the US and Canada....

Would love to see Drew Doughty get the gold at 20 but then Dustin Brown should win too.....

Love watching him compete.... (and I'm not a snowboarding fan)

I'm totally craving some of this...

I love listening to him....

I really want one of these...

I'm reading this....

Just finished this...

and this...

I love all of his books.

Finally somewhat caught up with the business. Those orders just never stop! But I love it. It means the changes I made this year were needed. Fresh faces, fresh products...just a breath of fresh air.

Had a scrap date last Saturday and another one on the 27th. Looking forward to it.

On the Homefront.....

January was not just about CHA...okay so it was but I did spend some time with family. Made some changes for the better. My word for 2010 is ME. I know it sounds kind of selfish but it seems like I'm always doing stuff for others whether its at work, in my personal life, for Nick, for the business etc. I have to beg and steal an hour away to get a pedicure. Ladies 8 weeks is just TOO long to go between pedicures - especially when you're on your feet as much as I am!

I hardly scrap anymore. Someone who owns a scrapbook store told me that when I first opened and I believed her - to a point. I knew I'd have a lot LESS time to scrap but there was no way it would disappear entirely. WRONG.....

Other than the few things I did for the booth, that was pretty much it. The last time I sat down and worked on something fun, for ME, was December 19th with Cori and Lisa. I know, right?

Now that the madness of the expo and CHA are over with its back to ME.

I have an all day crop this Saturday and another one on the 27th. I need to be doing more than blog banners......

Some cute pictures of Nick from January:

Washing lemons with my dad. Meepaw. Check out the jammies and the boots. Best. $7. I. Ever. Spent. At. Target. Seriously, he wears them all the time. Just kills me when I see him clopping around the house in them. They were the smallest size they had so he needs to grow into them a little but he keeps them on somehow.....

Is this the start of his NHL career? I've got these saved just in case he makes it big. I want to show everyone where he started....

Learning to ride the trike he got for Christmas. His feet don't really reach the peddles yet....

At the Tip a King event. These guys are the greatest! Really took time to talk to Nick about hockey. He was just impressed that they played and liked to ask them 'you play hawkee?' They added a new thing to the even this year with 'experiences'. You could face off against Jarret Stoll or take a couple of shots on the goaltenders. Kind of cool and Nick got to 'play hawkee'.

P.S. - Aren't they the cutest? I love my boys!

CHA Pictures

Pictures as promised.....

The CHA Supershow

CHA Trade Show pictures can be found on the site in the CHA Gallery.

Nothing crafty goin' on here......

Well, I did do one small thing. A new blog banner for January and one more for February. That is all.

Sad right? I own a scrapbook store! That should be illegal. Never fear, I intend to rectify that this weekend at a crop. 12 hours of craft time.

I also sent Nick back to daycare so that will free up some time for me to work during the day AND possibly get some fun things done. He's almost 3 and needs that contact with other kids. In just the 3 days since he's been back, I can see a difference in him. I found a new place that is SO much better than the last one. Don't get me wrong, I love Kindercare but for what they charged me weekly and what Nick got out of it......not a good match. So I found Tutor Time and I'm so happy!

For a little less, he's able to develop more. He gets to cut and paste, paint and play with playdoh. They are big on making stuff form scratch - like homemade playdoh and flubber. Best thing is, they send the recipes home so I can make it for him here too. Nice right?

And the craftiness? LOVE LOVE LOVE that. Right? Kindercare just kind of let them roam around the room playing with playskool toys all day long. They couldn't color - not until they got to the 3's room and there was definitely no scissors allowed.

I had to teach him how to use them at home. So this week, he's stamped, cut and pasted to make a cute Valentines bag for their exchange on Friday. Being the crafty mom I am, I have a handmade valentine to get ready and less than 2 days to do it in. I can do it. I think. And they are doing a smoothie party for them so my first parent participation will also be then when I show up with oranges for the smoothies! Its like he's in school!

Okay before I get all weepy about him growing up too fast, lets rewind a bit. Here's a recap of January.

I decided at the last minute to do the CHA Craft Supershow. After a lot of planning and a LOT more money, nothing really came of it. People were there looking for steals and deals and not something cute or fun. The make n takes were a hit but thats about it. Kind of disappointed but it was a lesson learned.

I had about 8 hours in between cleaning up my booth before I had to be at CHA to see all of the new product. This was the first show in a while where I was amazed by each and every booth I walked into. Seriously wanted to take it all home with me. That usually never happens. There are always some that wow me but never like this. Even the pink stuff caught my eye!

I'll post some pictures from that crazy adventure this week.

First post of 2010

is about resolutions. I never usually set them but this year, I feel I need to set goals for myself. Not the usual 'get this done' type of goals, but life goals. So much happened in the last half of 2009 and its time for me to take control of 2010.

From a challenge on the WhoGAS? boards.....

My 2010 Resolutions page.