Etsy Store

I am working on a project with a potter (more on that later) and the direction this project has taken leads me to the conclusion that I do, in fact, enjoy making focal beads! I've opened the Etsy store...at this point I'll list focals there and keep the sets on eBay, and we'll see how it all plays out. I've added an Etsy showcase to the blog so you can click it and it will take you to my Etsy store. Thanks for checking it out!

My Sweet Little Pea...

...is not so little as of yesterday/last night. He spent his first night away from us (we have been apart before, just never because HE went somewhere) and while it was nice to have some alone time with John, it was very strange to not have Sam here. He spent the night with his grandparents.

When I took him to their house, as soon as I stopped the car he opened the door and said "Goodbye Mommy!" He seemed a little put off that I was actually going to walk him in and not just dump him in their driveway.

We'd tried this before and he made it to 9:00 p.m. at which time he said, "I'm ready to go home now," so we weren't sure whether he'd stay this time or not. When the phone rang at 9:30 last night I thought, "Oh nooo..." but it was just him telling me goodnight.

He seems to have had a great time. I told him that I missed him, and he said "I missed you too Mommy." I continued, "But you had a lot of fun," to which he replied, "Yes, I missed you but I can have fun without you Mommy."

Ouch and thank goodness, all at the same time.

New Beads

Just listed these on eBay...

Hmm.

We've been really busy here the last week, with special orders and other projects taking most of my bead time. I hope to have two new sets on eBay soon! We had a nice visit from my younger brother, who came to go to an all-boy's 4-day weekend with my Dad (and five brothers) in the mountains. I wondered aloud if the younger generation of boys was going to be able to go this year, but I think their trip would have been pretty short with a 4 year old and 2 year old.

Tennis Withdrawal

For at least eight weeks every year I am glued to either NBC, ESPN2, Tennis Channel, or CBS watching the Australian Open (January), French Open (June), Wimbledon (July) and the US Open (August-September). And when I say glued I mean I watch it from the moment it comes on in the morning until it goes off, usually after midnight. I have even been known to get up at 3AM in January to watch the Australian matches live.

So let's just say I am extremely bummed that the US Open has been rained out for two days now! Holding out for Serena vs. Kim tonight...looks like the weather is clearing.

Anyway, for those who didn't come for a tennis update, here are some new beads up for auction tonight!

First Day(s) of School

Sam and John started school this week - Sam yesterday, John today. It's good for all of us to get back to the routine of school in the mornings. Sam is there all five days this year, in preparation for the long days of kindergarten next year. John is in class with older kids finally, which is where he needs to be! They were both so excited they didn't want to eat breakfast, no matter how many times I implored that their brains needed food to be able to think. Sam said "Brains don't eat food!" and then when I asked him where his brain was, he pointed to his foot. I guess it's time to throw some more anatomy lessons into the mix - he has all the parts he can see covered, but not so much the ones inside.

John Hides, Sam Rides

I love playing Hide and Seek with the boys. I am usually the Seeker, and I love hearing John count back as he runs to hide, and then hearing him laugh as I go from room to room saying "Where oh where could John be?!" Their laughing always gives them away...that, and well, John's choice of hiding methods:


As I mentioned yesterday, Sam rode his "new" bike for the first time on Saturday. He got the bike for Christmas but I think - having just turned 4 - he was too young. I was surprised that his Daddy got him a bike (during a without-Mommy shopping trip) but, it was cute to see him excited about getting his first son his first bike. Sam loved the idea, not so much the reality.

Lately he's been watching in awe as our neighbor kids ride their motorized scooter (the skateboard on wheels kind) up and down the street. He says he wants one. I tell him that he has to learn to ride a bike before he can get a scooter, and voila! Sudden interest in getting on that bike. He said, "Okay, let's go out right now! I'm ready to practice riding my bike!" Tom wasn't home at the time, and he was amazed at my ability to get him on the bike, after all this time. Oh, a little bribery goes a long way.

Celebrations

Yesterday we celebrated our 11th anniversary and Sam rode his bike for the first time (pictures later). Tom said it was the perfect anniversary gift...I agree.

I was able to squeeze in some beadmaking time this weekend. I was trying to "stretch" my use of colors to several I don't normally work with, and I'm very happy with the results. I'm not sure the pictures do them justice but they are perfectly delicious in person (in fact, John pointed to them and said "Mommy, Eat!").

They are up for auction, ending Wednesday afternoon...

New Auction

New auction just listed...running through Monday. I almost didn't list these because they are so hard to take a picture of, and I don't think the picture does them justice...the colors are gorgeous.