Stephanie Howell

wednesday randoms

1.My sweet biggest is letting me take LOTS of pictures of her lately.

She's such an awesome juxtaposition of girly:

 

 

 

and not quite so girly. even though she did want to wear pearls and princess shoes to her team photos last night:

 

 

2. Notice the littlest is nowhere to be seen?

That's because she's a blur. Invisible to the naked eye.

Always going, running, doing. Never stopping.

I wish i had a tenth of her energy:

 

3. I'll be teaching a class at the Scrapbook Shoppe in Columbus on May 22. I'll be using Hello Sunshine products from Lily Bee. Also thickers, border punches, and some other fun products.

Please consider coming if you are in the Columbus/Atlanta/Alabama area! The shop phone is 706-321-0202 if you'd like to reserve a spot. I'm teaching two one page layouts and will have samples up soon!!!

class cost is 25 dollars and you must pay ahead. i SO hope so see some of you there!

4. Remember a few months ago I talked about doing a challenge a week? One that y'all came up with? Well, being Scatterbrain McGee over here, I completely forgot about it, but I decided last night that every now and then I'm going to pick a challenge from y'all's comments, and use it for Scrappy Sunday.

It can be a challenge for topic, supplies, design...anything. So if you'd like to share an idea for this sunday, leave a comment here.

You don't have to contribute, if you want to leave a  comment without a suggestion, that's totally cool.

I just know I have the best readers out there, and thought some of you might like this idea!!

5. Sic 'em Lady Bears!!!! FINAL FOUR!!!! still mourning over the men (but so proud).

so BEYOND proud of my alma mater this season.

 

that's about it. happy wednesday!

xoxo

s

somebody's got a case of the mondays

**winner to the shimelle giveaway is posted below, make sure to take a look, it could be you!!**

blaahhhhhh.

the house is a mess, sadie coughed all night, harper's sneezing, and i'm achy.

WHOOHOOOOOO!!!

nevertheless, i'm thrilled for a new week and all of the possibility it holds.

i actually love mondays. blasphemy, i know!! but i do. it's like a surprise gift just waiting to be unwrapped. and the older i get, i really savor each gift.

and i think i'm relieved that i don't have to watch lame-o jake&vienna sausage on the bach tonight. if i hear on the wings of loooooooooooooooooooove one more time, i might upchuck. for real.

i've always disliked that song, but thanks to that show, it's now activated my gag reflex. hope i don't hear it in an elevator or something. blech.

wow, this post has taken a random turn, hasn't it!! heee!

i wanted to share that i was asked to host the Scrapbook and Cards Today Blog this week. 

Go check it out, won't you??

Today I posted a challenge. I'm asking you to use a bow on your project or layout. SHOCKER, right? ha! If you head over, I also did a simple photo tutorial on the way I make a bow. Nothing earth-shattering, but something lots of you have asked for.

Moving on...we had the laziest weekend EVER known to man. I mean, really.

We did get out of the house to go downtown to have lunch and walk around.

And wouldn't you know it? I think spring might be here!!!

 

sweet story- right before we saw this tree, harper and sadie threw some coins in a fountain.

sadie loudly wished for A BATH!!!! (way to aim high, sadie bug- thank the Lord she didn't just jump in).

and harper wished for THE FLOWERS TO BLOOM!

and then we started walking and saw gardenias, and pansies, and all sorts of flowers in bloom. and she FREAKED OUT...

she was screaming at the top of her lungs:
I CAN'T BELIEVE!!! MY WISH CAME TRUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

and you should have seen how big i grinned at j.

don't you just LOVE kiddos and their view of the world? it's so precious. and magical. and it makes every little mundane thing more beautiful and special.

and i love that he's here to experience everyday moments like that.

this weekend i was reminded all over what a wonderful father he is.

sunday i heard him say to the girls "GUESS WHAT IT'S TIME FOR NOW?? PEDICURES!!!!!!"

and i giggled, but boy i savor that about him. he is such a wonderful father to them. such a strong role model, but not afraid to be a tiny bit girly.

to clip their nails, have a tea party, read fancy nancy, or play their favorite songs on the guitar.

see? they will know what they deserve from a man. i knew that. i was blessed with that gift. not to settle for less than the best.

and now i have the best, and he is teaching them the same.

and they think he hung the moon.

i do too. ;)

 

have a beautiful monday.

xoxo

s

fist pump!!!

**go hybrid giveaway still open in the post below!**

so j's promotion party is today. his good friend is throwing the party at his house, and asked j and another friend to be a part of the celebration as well.

anyone want to guest the theme based on the photos below??

 

 

that's the situation.

and i LOVE theme parties. LOVE. i still dream of having a Great Gatsby themed party. one day!!!!

i need a bump it. not sure how to do snooki hair without it. lots of hairspray, teasing, and a clip. we are going to look HOT.

and if you have no idea what i'm talking about, look here.

one more thing- a BIG fist pump for the fact that today is Studio Calico's Quilting Bee Reveal! 

noon EST for subscribers, and midnight EST for non subscribers. The gallery will also go live at midnight. Can't wait!!

I will be sharing all of my layouts here tomorrow for "Scrappy Sunday". Wheee!

Okay, off to tease my hair and to find some pickles and gold chains.

Love to you all, happy Saturday!!

xoxo

mama musings

Three years ago:

 

Two years ago:

 

 

One year ago:

 

Now:

 

edited to add: hats from heartsmiles

And we know we want more. Well, one more.

A boy? Maybe. Or maybe we are destined to a lifetime of tears, pink, tulle, theatrics, high heels, broken hearts, dancing, tea parties, emotions...and we are more than fine with that.

we love having little girls. part of me longs to be a mama to a boy. part of jimmy yearns to have a boy.

but if that isn't what we are given, we will be just fine. we LOVE little girls.

so i've been thinking. and we've been talking. is it time?

sadie just turned two...we want to be young enough when they leave the house to be able to enjoy and explore, and have dates again....

we want them to be close in age.

but sadie has done me in. a tiny bit. i kind of feel like she needs to be ohhhh, 16 or so? before we have another. just kidding. kinda.

it's a back and forth.

i love being able to give them the attention they so crave. i love feeling good. i'm not looking forward to the barfing. i am just NOW starting to really believe in myself as a mama. believe that i'm actually good at it (most days). able to have fun, laugh, not take everything so seriously. feeling good about myself, how clothes fit. we are sleeping at night (all of us!!). not locking myself in the bathroom with a glass of wine and crying. not saying NEVER, just not much. ;)

i know i...WE...want another baby with all of our hearts. i love being pregnant. i love being a mother. i love babies, children, i even love changing diapers. i love snuggles. and feeding my babies. and nurturing them. and teaching them how to be kind, and love the Lord. my children make me laugh. and cry. and praise the Lord.

will i ever be "ready"?

i certainly wasn't ready when harper was 12 months old and we found out about sweet sadie bug.

but oh, what a wonderful maddening trip it's been.

and i 'm so glad she happened the way she did. b/c i very well may have never felt ready.

i might just have to jump in.

fingers crossed, praying, holding on...letting go

of my fears and worries. 

and trusting that my future is already chosen and designed. and handing over my anxieties.

and concentrating on being happy...and believing.

xoxo

a small addendum (if you will). i am super sensitive to all of my beautiful, amazing friends who have fertility struggles. i would never want to seem callous or insensitive to their problems at all. i always measure my words very carefully when i'm speaking about motherhood, pregnancy, etc. on this blog. b/c the last thing i would ever intend would be to hurt feelings. regardless, this is a struggle i'm having right now.

i am soooo aware of the fact that it's a blessing to have ANY children. let alone to debate whether to have more than we have already been blessed with. i know i'm lucky to have a choice, but i still want to be responsible with that choice. i think a lot of it has to do with what J does, how often he is gone, the fears i have for his safety and how i feel like his mortality is SO fragile sometimes.

and i wanted to share my thoughts. i hope you will take them as they are intended...honest thoughts.

love you all.

so sweet

there's something so sweet about watching pure joy on the face of your child.

example a (at breakfast):

 

i mean, how could she not be excited with a breakfast like that? let's just say i saw the effects of said breakfast while we were grocery shopping.

cause=birthday breakfast effect=gyrating on the floor and running in circles whilst quacking like a duck.

but hey, it was her birthday. not the day to deny a girl sugar.

 

example b: dinner

 

 

 

 

that last one kills me. look at her little eyes.

i have to say, it's days like yesterday that give ME pure joy. i'm so happy j is home for milestones like these this year.

it's just so nice having him in our everyday lives. the newness of it still hasn't worn off. sometimes i walk into scenes like the one below, and it just makes me teary.

 

and right at that moment (well, right before this moment), i closed my eyes and said a silent prayer. it only had two words...

thank you.

i hope you have a sweet moment in your day today.

xoxo

s

proof that kindness means something (corrected the link- sorry!)

hey guys- just a SUPER quick post w/ something i forgot to mention the other day.

you may remember that we went to NYC back in october and on our trip happened to get a chance to meet the NBC gang that covered the Viper Company story during jimmy's deployment

everybody was beyond nice. but the biggest surprise? brian williams.

he was down to earth, kind, and there were NO walls around him  like you expect with a "famous person". he was just lovely. with us AND the girls. he told me all about his children and what they were doing..and asked about us. and really listened.

and the whole team was like that. they have our christmas card framed on the desk there.

genuine...nice people, you know?

regardless of political affiliations or opinions it's possible to be friends. to carry on an intelligent discussion.  and some people don't seem to understand that. but it's true.

so anyway, brian did a fantastic blog the other night on the topic of obituaries, how he writes them, and his belief in respecting those who have passed.

i left a comment, i was compelled to do so. mind you i've NEVER done so before and i did not in any way, shape or form expect a response. i just felt like saying something.

Brian-
I knew you were a good egg before I met you. You and your team covered Viper Company with such thoughtfulness and compassion. The time my family spent with you confirmed this. This blog entry doubly confirms my feelings. Thanks for your sincerity, kindness, and integrity.
stephanie howell

Then I went about my merry way and a day or so later i got an email from ML Flynn, a producer at NBC who has become a friend...and she sent me a link.

A LINK TO THIS.

and then? i peed my pants. not really, but i freaked. and then i calmed down and realized "Hey! maybe this kindness stuff really does work!" even with someone like him- it doesn't go unnoticed. glad i made that choice. and glad that i'm sticking to it.

brief sidenote- i never handed him a picture of j, not sure what that's all about?!?!!?!?!? myyyystery.

alright. random post over.

thanks for your sweet words on the post below. a friend told me that the wife always out-ranks the husband b/c of all the hard work they do at home,

so i'm signing this

LTC Howell heeeeee

xxoox

with all of my heart

the Lord is so good.

and i am so very grateful with all of my heart...

for his grace

for his unconditional love.

for the gift of two little girls

one dark-headed one who is beautiful and talks ALL the time, and who can make me laugh until i cry.

who can frustrate me in one second flat (she knows how, and LOVES pushing my buttons...j says watching the two of us together when we are frustrated is realllly funny- we are cut from the same cloth)

who wants, with all of her heart, to please us. who is a shining example of the love and grace i speak of a few lines above.

one light-headed one who is wild and crazy.

doesn't talk much, but can climb to the top of her changing table or snatch something out of the dishwasher in less than the time it takes me to turn my back.

who cries like her heart is breaking, with her cleft chin quivering and her bottom lip wavering.

who  makes me question if two babies are,after all, enough...yet makes me never want to put her down. sometimes when she cries in the middle of the night i just hold her and smell her hair.

grateful with all of my heart for the year i shared with these two girls.

i look at them and still can't believe we made them. they are beautiful!

they made me stronger, crazier, more sane, wiser, stupider, more grey-haired...

and we DID it. together!

 

and then he came home! and this year, above all...that is what i am MOST grateful for.

He came home.

so many didn't. and lots of times i was terrified he wouldn't.

but he did. and i am grateful with all of my heart

that we have him here this year. and i can look at his handsome face across the table (or give him "that" look when the girls are out.of.control...and there will be someone here to give me that look right back)>

here to help me give baths, to hold my hand during church or during a scary movie,

to protect us and lead our family.

so grateful.

 

grateful for our family. their support, love, and encouragement.

grateful for the gift of life. we are healthy. i thank the Lord for this every day. 

grateful for a wonderful, amazing hobby that keeps my hands busy and my heart full. for the community of friends and the opportunities it has brought me.

grateful for YOU.

thank you for all of the support you have given me over the past year. thank YOU for your love, your prayers. Every sweet comment, encouraging note meant the world to me. i am so very thankful for you and your presence.

happy thanksgiving, everyone!

xoxo

s

Exercise, I hate you.

I do. You are not fun. You make me look like a red-faced spaz.

Anything that makes me yak in the front yard like a high school boy

on his first day of two-a-days is NOT cool.

CrossFit I curse your name.

I've always been slightly bitter with you b/c sometimes I think my husband loves you more than he loves me. 

Not really...but you kind of ARE the other woman.

I mean, a few weeks ago , J talked longer and more excitedly about you

than he EVER has evereverever talked about anything else.

I zoned out after 10 straight minutes of gibberish (or is it jibberish?!?!?!) nonsense. 

I'm pretty sure he'd make out with you if it was possible. 

So what did I do?

I gave in.

I am on night six of the hell that is CrossFit.

I can hardly walk. Sadie has to cling to me like a small monkey whenever she wants a ride somewhere.

Harper tells me I "wook funny".

and that my face is "wed".

Today she said

"Daddy is a swave dwiver he makes you essercise toooooo much!!".

Hmmm. I have no.earthly.clue. where she might have heard that.

odd.

Yet, as much as I hate to admit it, I'm kind of starting to love you too, oh essercise.

I feel better about myself after only a week of you.

I feel happy when I exercise with my husband.

It has been good for us.

He's a wonderful motivator and I don't want to embarrass myself in front of him.

Oh, but don't get me wrong, I do.

I almost hit myself in the head w/ the dang medicine ball he was making me do squats with today.

SPAZZZZZY.

I give him full credit. He made a really funny face at me, but didn't laugh.

He also didn't laugh at me when I asked why my behind bounces so much when I run.

I'm truly starting to detect less bouncing.

So as much as I despise you, exercise, I am starting to come over to the dark side.

That is, until tomorrow morning, when I can't lift my damn coffee cup.

hmmmph.

I really don't know where she heard that. Really. She must have made it up by herself. She IS very observant.

hehehehe.

xoxox

ETA: I love you, my sweet readers. But PLEASE do not fear about me dropping a dress size. I promise I am setting realistic, healthy goals. =) xo

and also- i am NOT running 5k and doing 1924893858 reps. this is my first week. i'm doing a very beginner's version of CrossFit. last night I ran sprints, did kettle bell squats, and did wall ball squats w/ a medicine ball. i linked the site so you guys could see what it is...i am NOT doing that stuff that they have listed there. HA!

p.s. since I am spending time with J and his other woman without complaining  

(except for the eye-rolling i miiiiight do when j tells me to do some ludicrous exercise that i simply KNOW i can't do. I mean it's not like i'm one of his soldiers. GAH. and yes, i do them anyway)....I will be treating myself to this lovely once I drop a dress size.

stop the insanity.

***ETA: Texas girls, I'll be teaching make and takes from 1-3  on Saturday, June 13 at Crop Paper Scissors in Waco. I will be using Jenni Bowlin Studio, October Afternoon, and Lily Bee products. I'd love to see you there!! ***

being trapped in a teensy house with two sick, coughing, tired, grumpy babies is NO fun. i think i'm slowly going crazy.

for example, harper and i made this this morning.

she calls it her "pet parade". the only way i could get h and s to stop fighting for 5 seconds was to get them to get all their animals out. i lined them up as slooooowwwly as i could. this kept their attention for precisely 5.5 minutes and then the screaming started again.

moving on. last week i got a comment by a reader on one of my posts.

they wanted to know if i could share my very first layout and also my favorite layout.

so i went and got harper's baby album out of her room. 

i looked through it and couldn't remember what the very first layout i made was.

technically, i made J several scrapbooks when we were dating. but i am NOT sharing those. teehee.

here are a couple of the first things i made once i really got into scrapbooking.

i remember being SO proud of these. so proud.

they took me so long to make!!

and as for my favorite layout that is such a hard question.

they all mean so much to me. my favorite changes with regularity.

but if i had to pick just ONE, i guess i'd say this one.

there was so much going through my head when i made this.

so much fear and uncertainty.

so much i wanted to tell him and i just didn't know how.

i remember him picking up this layout and reading it and saying thank you and just hugging me. and i was so glad that he found it and read it, b/c these were things that i just couldn't get my mouth to say out loud.

i'm so grateful for this question, it gave me the idea for an entire blog post!

if you have anything you'd like to see me blog about, please ask!!  i'm always looking for new topics and creative things to share.

hope you are having a beautiful Sunday and that you are not trapped in a teeninsy house with two snotty sneezy babies. b/c it's about as fun as it sounds!!

on to do something else faaaascinating, like making another pet parade.

good times.

xoxo

here's a super simple layout i did last night. 

it was for a challenge at 2peas to scrap a page with a one word title.

it didn't photograph well, sorry about that. the b/w photo is not dark like this on my page. i need to become a "flat scrapper" so that i can scan my layouts!!

journaling label and tag behind title- my minds eye andreavictoria line

chipboard flowers- basicgrey

paper flowers (layered on top of chipboard)- sassafras blossoms

alphabet- american crafts thickers

cardstock- bazzill swiss dot

pen- american crafts precision pen (.01)

hope you have a fabulous weekend!!

my brother is home visiting (from Guam, where he is stationed)

and my friend Cathy (the one who introduced me to scrapbooking!!) is here visiting. i won't be around much until Monday evening, when I plan to do a Memorial Day post.

i hope you all have a beautiful weekend filled with lots and lots

of laughter and love and blessings.

and if you get a chance, pop over to sweet Jennifer's blog, she is participating in a blog hop for Cards for Heroes. 

xoxo