Exciting things...

Exciting things are happening around here, my business is starting to take off! I just got this (among others) photo back from an amazing photographer at House of James. I am taking this new adventure one day at a time and letting the Lord lead...it's SO fun. :-)

I'm trying to finish up some projects for Anna's birthday on Wednesday. Two days until my girl is 4..oh my!

Is anyone sick of seeing cupcakes yet?? ;-)

Fresh this morning...

I won't always be posting pictures of cupcakes, but I had to share this one with you. The smells in my house this morning are too good not to share. This is Cocah- Coconut cake, filled with coconut cream, topped with coconut buttercream and coconut shavings. If you close your eyes and take a bite, you almost feel like you are on a Hawaiian vacation...minus the sand in uncomfortable places..ah hem.

Happy Tuesday friends!

Projects and Preperations

Next week, my girl will be 4! I can't believe it. I know it's so cliche to say 'my how the time goes' but it really does. It feels like just yesterday I was holding her sticky, chubby little hands while she learned to take her first steps.

Anna wants a kitty cat birthday this year, kitten decorated cupcakes and all.

I love Soule Mama and her fabulous creativity. Some projects I have taken from her books and have going right now are:

A (shabby chic) birthday banner, a birthday crown, and a pretty tablecloth for the party. Because of copyright, I can't post the images, but go to the links and check them out; SO cute!

I'm also working on some projects for my new business, Cocoa. I can't wait to share the new site with you when it's ready. I am making some pretty tablecloths and ruffly borders for the market stand. I love these fabrics by Amy Butler:

I'll start sharing my progress and the many tiny hands that like helping along the way. :)

What are you working on around your home?

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
My first cupcake order went out today; new business up and running soon. Details to come! Happy weekend friends!

Climb

Today we enjoyed a beautiful hike with my dear childhood friend Julia. It was stunning out! Not a cloud in the sky, gorgeous views as far as the eye could see, and lovely company. The kids did great, it was a very steep hike, and they kept right along. Tyler did lay in the middle of the trail a few times. haha I packed Aiden on my back and he still managed to grab a few sticks to swing around. So much to explore! Gods glorious creation! Breathtaking! Top of the mountain! And this lovely is growing quickly before my eyes. She will be four in less than two weeks.
We are still adjusting in this new place, but God is teaching us daily that He is our home and comfort. And with each day brings more goodness, beauty and surprises. xo

Christmas 2010

In the midst of our move, we got to enjoy the simplicity of time with family, delicious food, and laughter that filled the air. Just the encouragement and rest we needed to adjust to our new home and community.

What a full year 2010 was- so much change. Through all the change, God remains; He is our constant, steady provider. Welcome 2011 and all the goodness to come!

Look for pictures and stories to come, my typing fingers are ready and my camera is charged!

Still here

It has been quite a busy month for our little family. Aaron has started his new job at Harry and David and is loving it. The only major requirement was that we moved four hours South to take the position. We left that sweet little house that we loved (and had just moved into), boxes boxes boxes again. The company paid for our move and we even had movers to lift, pack, and drive all of our stuff. What a blessing that was!

We are slowly getting settled into a new community. Change is not easy, but we are excited to see what this new chapter brings. We miss our friends, church, house, community- the familiar. At the same time we are so happy to live near our family.

This past week I took all four kids to Arizona to visit family and oh- the lovely sunshine! Two airplane rides each way and lots of time spent at the Seattle airport; we came away with some pretty funny stories of our adventures. A LOT of people stopped me to say how crazy I was for traveling with four kiddos by myself, but even more stopped me to say that the kids were so good and well behaved. I don't know if those people really know how much those comments meant at just that time. Our village grew ten fold on that trip. :-)

I have pictures to share and even more stories to tell of this past month, but for now, just a quick hello on this little blog- about the only familiar piece of my day right now.

xo, Jolene