the one bad thing about fall...

...it has to end sometime. The air is starting to bite and from the looks of our backyard today, the leaves have stopped hangin' on to the trees.

Raking the leaves...the last hurrah of autumn...is very muched loved around here (although I'm never the one with a rake...so I won't speak for Jeff). Lauren is especially fond of a giant pile of leaves and Sarah seems to have grown into it this year as well (she's cried about it most other years). And Julia was just a trooper as usual.

No, she did not break any bones on this jump. In fact...this was not the highest she got. Our little daredevil. I just thought of this...do you think they have leaf-raking as a Wii sport? That would be sweet.

put a gift certificate in someone's stocking (or get one in yours)...

Thought I'd let you all know about something going on with the biz. I am now offering Bellflower Design Gift Certificates!!! These are handmade and include a coordinating envelope. You may purchase them in any amount at all. What a great Christmas gift! So tell everyone you know about this (even if it's just because you want them to get one for you!). Contact me for details on how to order.


You'll see the same message over at the photoblog...if you're someone who travels over there too.

feeling the love...

Due to her tight schedule requiring her to attend school every day, our lady Lauren does not get as much face-time on the blog. Well, this still isn't face time...but I wanted to share a bit of her heart.

She makes little notes for people from time to time and we get notes on our pillow most every night. After spending some time with her baby cousin, Brandt, this weekend...she felt like making him a card. We did not help her with the spelling...most especially the spelling of his name (which does not describe this sweet boy in the slightest bit). She is also a huge fan of the music from The Lion King...and she has quoted Elton John here. Enjoy taking a peek at this card of a heart...from my little girl.

rub a dub, three julias & a sarah in a tub...

Bath time is like a box of chocolates in our house. Yup, you never know what you're going to get. We go from thrills to spills to tears and back again in less than a minute. If there's ever a lack of something to do in the house, just toss on the faucet and the girls come running...if you're not careful, Julia will climb in clothes and all (only happened once).

This (picture below) is called the "jelly bean face" in our house. When she does not get what she wants, she makes this face and the most piercing wail. The first time we witnessed it was after we pulled the plug on her eating fistfulls of jelly beans. Hence, the name. Here...she is torqued that she does not have the "front row" in the tub, where the faucet and apparently better seat is.

Time to get out.

the first snow...

The cozy season is upon us here in Michigan. Time to snuggle in front of a fire, light up the smelly candles (creamy nutmeg is my personal favorite), make comfort food, eat comfort food and just plain lounge.

Yes, the first snow has fallen. And for the kids, that means none of the above. It means spending an hour piling on snow gear from head to toe, stomping outside, staying out for anywhere from 10 minutes to 3 hours and always coming in for hot cocoa afterward.

Lauren rolled around in it like a puppy after a bath, while she waited for her ride to school. Later, it was awesome heading out with the younger two kids. Sarah barely remembers the snow and Julia absoutely doesn't know what it is. She just looked at it and touched it and laughed...she may have even eaten it. You can tell from the pictures that snow angels weren't happening today. But, any snow is "first snow" as far as we're concerned. But now that they've seen it, we're saying "Bring it on, Old Man Winter!!!"

Wii have a new toy...

Yes, it's been a few days since I fed the blog...I know. I'm afraid my time has been occupied by playing in my new bowling alley, baseball field, tennis court and boxing ring. No, I did not get a palatial estate for my birthday. I gots a Wii. Which is a wee bit fun...that Wii. Yes, my time has also been spent making really lame Wii statements (I can't call them jokes, because nobody laughs but Mii.)

Lauren has commandeered our new toy. After three rounds on the punching bag yesterday, she had to change into her soccer "workout" clothes to continue playing because she was "getting too sweaty". My Tai Bo experience proved worthwhile after I smoked Jeff in boxing. That's right...I'll be the one leading the path down a dark alley (or not). I'm really quite bad at tennis, which I knew before...but thought the imaginary land would somehow make me better...it's amazing how real the Wii really is.

guess what day it is....

It was 33 years ago today that this little bundle o' joy bounced into the world. That's right folks...it's my birthday! Enjoy a few pictures I dug out to celebrate the day.

When I arrived, my brothers loved me for about 3 years...then they cared less for about 13 years. But it's all been good for the last 17. It would be irresponsible of me not to draw your attention to the clothing here. Pretty swanky, huh?

I'm not sure I see any of my girls resemblance in my baby pictures. By the way, that birthmark faded, but was ultimately covered by a chicken pox scar (a little trivia de la me).

Check it out...even with a not-so-fantastic hairstyle (no offense, mom)...I'm still remarkably cute. This picture was taken in front of the grapefruit tree we had in our backyard in Florida...and my grandma gave me that dress :-).

So, there's a little walk down memory lane. I hope you all have a fantastic day...