National Bankrupcy Day....Again....

More information and links about how you can help in this article....

http://www.boutiquecafe.com/home/2008/12/17/1943/

National Bankrupcy Day

This is very near and dear to my heart since I do make handmade items for sale...

"February 10, 2009 has been dubbed "national bankruptcy day" because of a new law that will take effect that day. It will require ALL businesses to do lead testing on EVERYTHING that is made for children 12 and under -- even small, artisan businesses.

If you buy or sell handmade toys, clothing, cloth diapers, or babycarriers the following is really important information for you. As of February 10th, 2009 ALL items sold in the US that are meant for children 12 years and younger will be required to have third-party lead testing done by the manufacturer. This sounds great in theory since we all want to protect our children, right? This law will only force small businesses to close (or operate illegally) when the problem lies with large companies making cheap items in foreign countries.

DO YOU MAKE OR SELL THESE ITEMS? If you own a small home based business crafting these items, these requirements fall on YOU. You will be required to test each and every component of your items for sale and label them with a batch# and date of manufacture. If you do not comply you will be in violation of federal law and could be subject to fines up to $5,000 . Anything children's items made before this date that are not tested and cerified lead-free are considered banned hazardous waste and cannot be sold after February 10th, 2009. Even if you use materials such as fabric that were tested by their manufacturer not to contain lead, you must still have third party testing done. This is obviously not an option for most artisan businesses! Please call or write your representatives regarding the new CPSIA legislation that has already passed and will be put into effect in February without any thought for the `little guys'.

DO YOU BUY THESE ITEMS, OR VALUE THE ABILITY TO BUY THEM? Then you need email or write your representatives today as well. If this legislation is not changed to offer some sort of clarification regarding handcrafting businesses in the US, then many if not most of the items I've discussed will no longer be available. No more wood cars crafted by a retired grandpa, no more children's handmade clothing and cloth diapers on Hyena Cart, Etsy and sites that encourage us to buy handmade. I don't know if you feel the same but if I had to choose between a handmade item made by a work at home mom vsa "certified lead-free" item made in China and sold at Target, I'd choose the former.

We must act soon and get some changes made or February 10th will mean the end of the "Buy Handmade" movement! Stand up for small businesses everywhere as this legislation effects each and every one of us, our businesses, our children and even our economy.

Let your representatives know that as much as we value keeping our children safe by testing items for lead, this is the WRONG way to accomplish that.

You can read more about the CPSIA legislation at:

http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/
http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/c...must-be-tested/
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.html
http://www.toyassociation.org/AM/Template....;ContentID=6275
http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

The Pirate Party

After a lot of planning and getting the house ready for a ton of kids we had a blast putting on a pirate birthday party for Jacob!

We had a lot of pirate decorations...

A pirate ship cake made by David...

Pirate cupcakes made by me...

and pirate themed games and crafts for the party guests!

The kids played:

• "Walked The Plank" - I divided them up into two teams for a relay race. I then put a 2x4 down on the floor for each team. Following this was a large box to crawl through...this was "The Cave", then I had tossed out over 100 pieces of pirates gold. The kids had to balance across the planks, crawl through the cave, gather some gold, and go back the way they came and tag the next person on their team! It was a blast!
• "Pin the Flag on the X" - I gave the kids a small piece of paper and explained that pirates always had their own flag with a special design on it. I gave them crayons and they designed their very own pirate flag. Then we used those flags to play a pirate version of pin the tail on the donkey. David had made a pirate map and we hung it on the wall, blindfolded the kids, spun them around, and let them try to hit the X with their flag! We had a huge tie!
• "Canon Ball Stomp" - We had blown up a ton of black ballons and used these as our cannonballs. We tied them on the ankles of each child and then they played a game of tag. The object was to protect your own cannonball while trying to pop everyone else's ball!
• "Treasure hunt" - Before the party started I came up with a list of clues, printed them out on paper, cut them up and placed them all over our yard. We started in the party room and the first clue took them outside. The kids all got their jackets and shoes on and out we went.....to the patio, then the mailbox, then the swingset, then the front porch, the a tree in the back yard, then back inside to the sunroom, then the dining room where they hung there coats back up....then back to the party room where my husband had set up the "treasure".... cake, ice cream, and punch!

We even had shark's blood for our punch! To make this I took a punch bowl and had poured 7-up in it. Then with the kids watching I explained that my fruit punch was really sharks blood and I poured that into the 7-up. The punch swirled around like blood and mixed into the pop and then we served it! The kids thought it was great!

It was such a nice day for late November that we played outside after the food and gifts were opened! This was very helpful because they were all ready to go when their parents arrived and I passed out the treat bags for them to take home!

My birthday boy!

Jacob, my little man!

He's such a cutie!

Gotta have the cool pose!

From the mouths of babes....

Just a cute little story to tell....

The other night we went to The Lodge for my grandma's 85th birthday. It was a wonderful dinner, great food, and good times with the family. After dinner, we went back to my grandma's house for cake and ice cream. At some point during the night it was decided that we wanted to watch the video from my grandparents 40th wedding anniversary party. This video was taken about 20 years ago...maybe closer to 25....I'll have to do the math...but not now.

Anyway, while we were watching I was pointing out to my kids who I was in the video. I was in about 8th grade. My little Emily wanted to know where she was. I said, "Oh honey, this is before you were born. You weren't even thought of yet!"

The next day my mom came over to watch the kids while David and I went to a meeting. Afterwards, I drove her home and she told me that they had been talking about being born first. They were referring to my brother and I and Jacob spoke up and said that he was born first. He then said, "I was thought of and then I was born!"

My mom asked him why he thought that and he said he had just learned it the night before because he heard us talking about it. I just think that is so cute!!

Later, I asked him about it also and he expanded by saying that he was thought of and then God put him in my tummy so he could be born......I love my little ones!

Thanks for letting me share!

Check out my photo editing skills....

Before

After

Waves of Grace

Here is a cute video of the kids singing in church this morning!

Love it!

A Mom Song! Too Funny!

My sweet little pickle!

He is such a little camera ham....

The world just wouldn't be the same without Ellie!

Such a cool little poser!

I've been tagged....Seven Random Facts About Me!

Michelle has tagged me for a MeMe:

Here goes with the list....

1. I worked at a truck stop for 4 years and then later owned my own trucking company.


2. I am 4 classes away from getting my MBA but I just don't wanna finish! Although I am still continuing my education. I am taking programming classes right now.


3. I once worked as a Field Service Office (meter maid).


4. I love watching the Food Network but I don't really like to cook. Now, if I cooked like they do I would love to cook.


5. I very much dislike it when people use there, their, and they're incorrectly.


6. If I could do any job in the world I would be a photographer!


7. I love to listen to Hall and Oates so much that I wore out my greatest hits cd. David if you are reading this, there is a xmas gift idea for you. :)

Halloween Pics....

Everyone got into the Halloween spirit, including daddy! LOL

The kids decided to do a theme this year.

Speed Racer, Racer X, and Trixie!

Racer X (Jacob) at the school parade!

Speed Racer (Caden) at the school parade!

Trixie (Emily) getting ready to trick-or-treat!


The spookster in all his glory!

I voted today....

David and I decided to take a drive this morning and exercise our right as American's....we voted! We took Emily along for the fun! Go 'bama!!

Two Prayer Requests today....

First, please pray for my mom, Connie, who is having knee surgery today. It is scheduled for 1 and should be done by 3.

Also, BT is traveling from Texas to California to report to his first duty station. Prayers for safe travel and guidence on this new chapter in his life.

Thanks!!

Could she be any more adorable!

Gotta love boys but sometimes it just melts my heart to look at my adorable little girl!!

Memory Lane...

Here are a couple cute pics of Halloween a couple years ago. Jacob was a dog, Caden a dragon, and Emily a pink kitty!

Predator's Preview

I am just catching up on posting some fun stuff we have done. A few weeks ago, I took the kids to the Putnum for the preview of a new exhibit that was opening up....Predators!

The boys and I drank snake venom and Emily drank some blood (green and red soda, of course!)

We had fun with the interactive exhibits too....

Kids in the shark cage watching a video

Fun in Chicagoland!

Last weekend we went to the burbs of Chicago for a fun family trip in celebration of 10 happily married years together!
We had a blast and here are some cute pics of the part the kids loved the most....the pool! I loved the shopping part but didn't think pics of that would be too interesting for anyone to see. LOL

We've been FLAMINGOED!!!

I woke up one morning and imagine my surprise when I looked outside!! I thought perhaps we had moved to Florida overnight! We were suddenly hosting a flock of bright pink birds in our front yard thanks to the graciousness of some friends.

The kids LOVED their new pets!

Our Newest Soccer Star!

Emily was so excited to start soccer.....finally! She has been patiently waiting for 2 seasons while her brothers got to play and now she is old enough!

Check out the cute pics of our little purple princess playing!

I stepped in horse poo....

We went to a friends house yesterday afternoon for a hog roast and had a ton of fun even though I stepped in horse poo. Luckily for me it was hard and didn't get on anything but it's still funny since I was warning the kids and David was like, "Maybe you should pay attention yourself since you just walked in some poo!" LOL
I forgot my camera yet still snapped some cute pics with my phone....

Little posers think they are sooo cool!

Pickens Plan

Prayer Request for David....

My darling husband is having a serious procedure done on his knee this morning and I would love it if you all could keep him in your thoughts and prayers today and over the next six weeks of his recuperation!

Thank you and Blessings for a beautiful day!

My newest Flair....

I just have to share my newest Flair button! It's too funny! LOL

and while I'm sharing Flair...here is a few more I just LOVE!!

Zero

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqqyTcdCzc8&feature=user


Zero is also the number of times that McCain looked at Obama during the debates. It's time to stand up and work for America instead of against it....America is all about the hard working middle class.

Fireproof....

Just wanted to post a quick note about this movie being AWESOME!

It's a must see in the theaters....

http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/

Fall Soccer 2008

The boys started soccer for the fall season and we had beautiful weather for it. Jacob and Caden are on the same team this year and it was fun to watch a lot of action with them both in there playing!






Emily will start next week and I hope to get some more great action pics!

Cub Scout Launch

The whole family had a great day at Jacob's cub scout launch!

We fished for a couple hours this morning. Jacob caught two little ones! I thought that was a great job and he also thought it was cool that he let 7 get away! LOL I guess he was also counting the times he thought he had one only to find out the little fishy just ate his worm.

Then we had a picnic lunch...gotta love PB&J!

Finally, we checked out all the other stuff the had going on at the park!

The weather was perfect, we couldn't have asked for a better day!