here comes halloween.... eek!

I wanted to share some of my newest Halloween paintings with you!

But FIRST, here are the ones from last year:

Witch's Night Out

Pleasantly Plump

Candy Corn

Last year we didn't have the capabilities to do prints for the Halloween/Fall stuff.  So this year's holiday season is very exciting!

And introducing...

The 2010 Halloween additions:

Buford Bat

Gary Ghost

and Silly Pumpkins

It's so fun to do holiday specific stuff!  Maybe that's just because I love the holidays so much!  Particularly Halloween!

All six of these new prints are available for purchase in the SHOP right now!

And I may or may not have more spooky goodness coming soon... depending on my energy level!  This bitty in my belly is sucking my will to paint!



cookoo-ness explained...

If you read THIS POST, you'll know I mentioned I had some wonderfully fabulous news that was making me go cookoo.

And if you read THIS POST, you'll know why this news is extra special!

Here is my excuse:

A baby!!  Yay!!

If you click on the image, it may (or may not) be a little more clear.  I labeled the parts I could make out as "leg", "face" and "head".

I am 12 weeks pregnant! 

My due date... Noah's birthday!  April 1, 2011. 

Hopefully it really won't land on the same day so they can each have their own special day.

It took 15 months to get pregnant this time, as opposed to the immediate conception of Noah.  At the year mark, we had a few very embarrassing tests done, took some prescribed antibiotics and 3 months later... this little bitty!

Who knew that's all would take??

I have been soooo super sick!  I've officially decided this pregnancy is way worse than my first.  I've been battling ALL DAY nausea, serious fatigue and tailbone pain!  What the???  My doc says the tailbone pain is due to where bitty baby is resting and will probably get better.  Let's hope!

And this nausea!!  When all my favorite foods and treats are sitting untouched in the fridge for weeks until they go bad, then you know I really am sick.  I mean, we're talking homemade chocolate fudge sauce, mint chocolate chip icecream, cheese (some of you may know of my love affair with cheese) chips and salsa, watermelon, brownies, popsicles, you name it!  And so when I'm shopping, if it sounds good I buy it in hopes of eating something.  And as soon as I get home, my stomach churns at the thought of it. 

And with all this aversion to food, you'd think I'd lose a few LBs.  No such luck.  My weight has stayed the same, and now my silly chub covered belly is already sticking out!

BUT...

even with all the sick and tired and complaining, I'm one of the happiest gals around!  We are so excited to add this little bitty to our family.  He/she (won't know the sex for another month or so) was moving around and kicking so much it looked like he/she was running in place! 

And when we got home, Noah told me, "Mommy, Noah have a baby in my belly too!" 

I said, "You do!  That's wonderful!"

He said, "And baby comes out outside and play outside."

I thought that sounded like a good plan. 

Later he said, "Momma, Noah a baby!"

I said, "Really?  Are you sure?"

He said, "Noooooo!  Silly Noah!"

He's such a funny kid.  He keeps looking under my shirt for this baby that we talk about.  I wonder what he'll think when my belly really starts to grow!

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Well, I have much to catch up on!  A camping trip from August, a trip to the state fair with Chocolate and Vanilla, new paintings and silly Noah-isms.  AND.. I will do my best to add a little creative inspiration here and there for you with all these holidays coming up!

Hope you're all well and happy too!



happy birthday to me (31!) and a camping trip

Abe's family has had a long tradition of camping at a little place called Lyman Lake hidden in the Uintas.  They do this every year over Labor Day weekend.  Well, being as my birthday is the 5th of September, it always lands on or around Labor Day weekend.  So...  I get to have a new birthday tradition!  I get to be surrounded by Abe's family, extended family and family friends in a beautiful mountain hideaway all the while being serenaded with "Happy Birthday" and feasting upon lovely cake experimentations.  (last year was a twinkie cake, this year a half smashed lemon cake... both delicious!). 

And while I don't particularly enjoy freezing my tooties off (it's cold up there this time of year) in a tent on my birthday, I wouldn't trade the experience!  It has truly made my last few birthdays very memorable and it always brings a smile to my face when I think of them.

I'm very lucky to have such wonderful in-laws.  And I don't say this just because they might read this.  I truly mean it.  They are sweet, kind, loving, supportive, fun, silly and I really feel so lucky to have them in my life!

With that said, here are some pictures:

(click to enlarge)

Dirty faces are a must while camping

Abe, Noah and cousin Charlotte out on the lake

Fun with cousins

Some of the group

More cousin fun

Noah and I getting warm by the fire

Jumping on the air mattress in the tent in hopes of warming up!

A fun and very short little camping trip!  We ended up leaving the next day, cutting our trip short, due to plummeting temperatures.  So I spent the night of my birthday in my warm, comfy bed at home!

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In shop news, get ready for a super fun Halloween series of prints coming very soon!