Lily & Thistle

Almost Forgot...

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:37:00 +0000

Groopdealz asked to feature the dolls! They will be on sale all weekend so if you have been waiting for a good sale, this is your chance! For those who already have the outfits offered, you can trade for some that you may not have and also extend your Outfit of the Month membership. Happy Weekend!

Chronos and Kairos

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:01:00 +0000

The twins just had a birthday...four years old now. I will spare you the "I can't believe they have grown up so fast" commentary...because it has gone fast but, it has been slow too.

I have been thinking a lot about what my life has been these last four years. It's easy to sit here in my quiet studio and reflect when all of my kidlets are in bed and it is calm. It's easy to feel that overflowing feeling in my heart and savor their beauty and love and remember all of the little joy filled moments we have had today. I can feel my breath being taken away just at the thought of how beyond blessed I feel when I really think about this life of mine.

But, frankly, all of the moments haven't been joyful. Sometimes they are downright HARD, frustrating and exhausting.

Most of the time on this blog, all you see is the uncluttered, light filled parts of our life over here. I do this on purpose because I want it to be an inspiring, beautiful place for you to visit. We all have clutter in our lives...(and that clutter/mess piles up very quickly over here!). There is beauty in the clutter, I know I'll miss picking up coloring books and doll house accessories someday. But it is nice to have places to go that are clean, pretty and clutter free.

A while back I read parts of a journal I kept during the time I was a missionary 15 years ago. As I was reading, I felt a little disappointed in myself that in almost all of my entries, I didn't talk about what was hard or frustrating for me. I just talked about the good things that happened and what I believed. I think it is important to focus on the positive and I'm glad I didn't let the negatives crowd out all of the positives, but, I kind of wish I would have at least taken a line or two to write about my struggles. Because man alive I had struggles!

It was hard to talk to complete strangers about something that means so much to me and then to have them reject me and my message. It was hard for a very athletically challenged girl like me to ride a bike everywhere, everyday in a skirt no less! I wish I would have documented the struggles...mostly so that I could see how I had the courage to overcome them and how I grew stronger and stronger as I kept getting back up and trying again.

I just finished re-reading one of the best, most honest commentaries on mothering that I've ever laid eyes on. Have you read the article "Don't Carpe Diem" by Glennon Melton? I have had so many other moms recommend it. I only read half of it until finally one day after having it recommended again thought, "Sheesh, what is all the fuss about?!" and read the whole thing. Now I know what the fuss was about...it's like Glennon went into my jumbled up mind/heart and articulated perfectly, exactly how I feel about motherhood.

In the article Glennon talks about two kinds of time: Chronos and Kairos. For clarity, I'm going to just quote an excerpt here (but you'll be so glad you read the whole article...it is so good):

"There are two different types of time. Chronos time is what we live in. It's regular time, it's one minute at a time, it's staring down the clock till bedtime time, it's ten excruciating minutes in the Target line time, it's four screaming minutes in time out time, it's two hours till daddy gets home time. Chronos is the hard, slow passing time we parents often live in.

Then there's Kairos time. Kairos is God's time. It's time outside of time. It's metaphysical time. It's those magical moments in which time stands still. I have a few of those moments each day. And I cherish them.

Like when I actually stop what I'm doing and really look at Tish. I notice how perfectly smooth and brownish her skin is. I notice the perfect curves of her teeny elf mouth and her asianish brown eyes, and I breathe in her soft Tishy smell. In these moments, I see that her mouth is moving but I can't hear her because all I can think is -- This is the first time I've really seen Tish all day, and my God -- she is so beautiful. Kairos."

"Like when I'm stuck in chronos time in the grocery line and I'm haggard and annoyed and angry at the slow check-out clerk. And then I look at my cart and I'm transported out of chronos. And suddenly I notice the piles and piles of healthy food I'll feed my children to grow their bodies and minds and I remember that most of the world's mamas would kill for this opportunity. This chance to stand in a grocery line with enough money to pay. And I just stare at my cart. At the abundance. The bounty. Thank you, God. Kairos.

Or when I curl up in my cozy bed with Theo asleep at my feet and Craig asleep by my side and I listen to them both breathing. And for a moment, I think- how did a girl like me get so lucky? To go to bed each night surrounded by this breath, this love, this peace, this warmth? Kairos.

These kairos moments leave as fast as they come- but I mark them. I say the word kairos in my head each time I leave chronos. And at the end of the day, I don't remember exactly what my kairos moments were, but I remember I had them. And that makes the pain of the daily parenting climb worth it." - Glennon Melton: Don't Carpe Diem, Huffington Post, Jan. 25th 2012

Are you still reading?! :)

And so now I can measure what kind of time I'm in. When I am feeling overwhelmed by the two stinky diapers and the accident on the bathroom floor or the daunting task of loading and unloading four car seats in the middle of winter. When I'm feeling like less of a mom because three of my four children need to sit on my lap at the same time, I can remember that it's OK to feel frustrated, tired and spent. This whole parenting thing is hard work! But I can also remember that I haven't given up and that I keep trying and I can relish in those Karios moments and thank God for both!

Chronos Moment of the Day: As mentioned above, two major poops with an awesome accident waiting for me on the bathroom floor all at the same time...funny how that happens all at once!

Karios Moment of the Day: Laying by Laurel at bed time, then feeling her wet little lips on my face kissing my cheek after she thought, I was asleep.

Thank God for the Chronos and the Karios !

A Peek at My Studio...Art and Sewing Table Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Welcome to my sanctuary...

Laurel loves it too. She's my little buddy in here most of the time.

Pens and pencils make me giddy.

I love the view and the natural light. I'll show you how to make this table in a second...

When I was unpacking I found a folder full of "just for fun" sketches I had done...brought back some nice memories. The bottom two pictures (the raccoon and the snail) were pre-drawings for a some murals I did years ago.

So, do you want to know how to make a nice, big work table and not spend a lot of time or money doing it? I'd bet that you can figure out what I did just by looking at them...but I'll tell you the steps anyway.

Items purchased for one table:

Two cabinets from Lowes ($30 each)

One 28x80 inch interior hollow slab door unpainted ($28) also from Lowes

One bottle of Linseed oil (or any oil for wood finishing)

Bag of small "L brackets" (I didn't end up needing these but I put heavy things in my cabinets and on my table top so it wasn't going anywhere)

Step one: Build your cabinets

Step two: Place the cabinets where you'd like them in the room and put your slab door on top. Make sure they are centered under your new table top.

Step Three: Fill them with heavy things like books (or beloved Martha Stewart mags that may or may not have moved with you seven times now), also great for printer paper storage!

Step Four:

Oil your table tops. We had a wood counter top island in our previous house and I adored it. So easy to take care of and it felt so warm and beautiful. I feel like I have that counter top back but for literally 1/8th of the price. I used linseed oil but a mineral oil would have worked great too. It just sucked up the oil and gave me a nice natural finish. If you get a mark and want to remove it, just sand it away and re-oil!

The closet still needs some work but this is what I've done so far:

Having this much space just for supplies is a dream. The End.

Love having all of my fabric where I can see it...very inspiring!

Laurel loves cutting "Arn" and decorating her favorite little dog a dear friend (Hi Lori!) made for her when she was a tiny baby. I love that we can all create together in here..plenty of light and space.

I'll show you my computer desk area soon and keep you updated as I actually put things on the walls (why is that so intimidating?!)

If you have any questions about the table just ask. 'Til next time!

Blogging My Passion

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:42:00 +0000

Passion: 1. A powerful emotion such as love, joy, hatred or anger.

a. Ardent love

b. Boundless Enthusiasm

What is my passion?

Art.

What is art in my eyes?

Everything that is beautiful and that is creative.

My family is art, my home is art, my paper dolls are art, my love for Jeff is art, the perfection of imperfection...that is art.

The picture I have in my head of our family rushing into church late, all dressed in our best with hair still wet and a hole in Norah's tights. Jeff carrying the shoe and sock-less baby in one hand and two overstuffed diaper/activity bags in the other. Me guiding the girls through the doors shushing them and smiling with pride at the same time...this to me is art.

I really love this quote I found a while ago:

via Board of Wisdom

This year my goal is to blog my passion more regularly. I am not a writer (as I'm sure you have noticed!) but, I can still in my imperfect way share the art that I love with you.

So this year, I hope you will find some perfection in my imperfections and that we can get to know one another a little bit better. Please always know that your comments are welcomed and that I really do enjoy hearing from you.

That, my friends is ART!

Share your art with me will you?

I can't wait!

Let Us Catch Up...

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:20:00 +0000

This poor blog has been neglected lately but I have big plans for updating more regularly this year. I thought I'd start by giving you a quick update:

Update No. 1: We are here in Idaho!

We are here and loving it. SO much still to unpack and do but we are making progress and living here is a delight even with half of our stuff still in boxes. The neighborhood is quiet and the neighbors seem friendly. I'm looking forward to getting to know them all better...maybe when it's a bit warmer outside.

Update No. 2: Jordan and Ruthie came for a visit!

My brother's family came about a week after we got here for a quick visit. It was so fun to see familiar faces.

Watch out, these kids are on a mission. Destination: PARK!

Growing up with four brothers wasn't always easy...but they made up for it with the women they chose to marry! I seriously have the best sisters-in-law. It was so nice to catch up and hang out with Ruthie.

Massey!

The only picture I snapped of my brother Jordan. The biggest teddy bear you will ever meet. I miss him already. That's Rebeca born just after Norah.

Pure Joy.

Update No. 3:

Christmas!

Gathered round our Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

I knew making nightgowns this year was not happening so I looked and looked online for classic nightgowns...what a disappointment! If I didn't want Dora, Barbie or Disney Princesses on their gowns, I was out of luck (unless I wanted to pay $40 or more). I posted my woes on Facebook and my good friend Sara responded asking if she could make gowns for the girls! I sent her fabric, notions, etc. and they arrived at our doorstep from Minnesota a few days before Christmas. She did a beautiful job don't you think?

Everything is ready...Ollie got a little peak. :)

Jeff started this tradition. He tells the Christmas story in toddler terms with our Nativity Set. I love this tradition.

Ollie had plenty of helpers!

The big gift, a play kitchen. I made the aprons a while ago...as you can see Norah is thrilled to be wearing hers for this picture. :)

There's the update. Hope your December was full and happy too. I'll be seeing you again soon...promise! :)

So, We Bought A House Today...

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:43:00 +0000

I don't think I've written here that we decided that instead of just doing the easy thing and buying a house in Boise, Idaho, we'd hire someone to build one!

This is what our lives have looked like for most of the summer. Jeff, me and usually my mom looking at house plans, making decisions and planning, planning, planning.

It's no easy thing, building a house hundreds of miles away from where it will be but thanks to our friends, Tara and Dave Neilson (they convinced us to move there in the first place, along with a lot of prayers of course), we had weekly updates and all the pictures we could ask for.

Finally today, the house is done and it is ours! I don't have all-the-way-done pictures yet (I'll take some when we get there next week) but these will be nice to remember and will give you an idea.

Looking down from the second floor

The view from the back...the main reason we decided on this plot. I hope that neighbor never moves and always keeps his yard looking that awesome.

Entry way view

So excited to have a fireplace, even more excited that we will be there in time to hang stockings on it this year! :)

Most exciting thing about the kitchen? Subway tiles! Least exciting thing, counter tops. We just couldn't stomach spending double what we should on counter tops through the builder. My plan is to redo all of the dark counter tops in a deep walnut and then do a nice marble looking slate/quartz for the light counter tops...someday! Until then, I think they look fine.

2nd most exciting thing(s) about the kitchen: window cabinets and walk-in pantry!

My favorite thing about the outside = SHAKES...love them. I used to dream of a house with shakes when I was in Connecticut and Rhode Island. I just love the texture and depth. Oh, and notice the bottom window in the right hand side of your screen. That's the window seat we had put in...so glad we did that.

Master bathroom...don't know what was going on with that drawer on the right and have no clue what I'm going to do with the space in the middle. :)

There are many more photos but they are all in PDF form so I'll have to do a house tour when we get there. I must say that it is all such a dream right now and I can't believe we are actually going to live here. But we are...next week!

In the meantime, I'd better get back to packing!

P.S. My parents have been so amazing through this whole process. They have loved us and taken care of our girls while we traveled to and from Boise to make important decisions, spent long hours helping us make plans and listened to endless conversations about kitchen cabinets, paint colors, etc. Oh yeah and WE HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH THEM FOR ALMOST 9 MONTHS! That was definitely not our plan when we came but none of this could have ever happened without that fact. Their support, love and confident encouragement have really made this dream of ours come true.

More to come!

Dear Santa, Some Merry Elves and Free Printables

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 07:52:00 +0000

It's that time....time for a special letter to go to the Jolly Old Saint and all of his Elves in the North Pole!

This is the first year that the twins remember a bit of the magic from last year and are aware of the concept of Santa and his elves. So far, so fun! They loved "writing" a letter to Santa.

After their letters were done, we put them in an envelope and made sure to attach two Santa stamps (one stamp will only get the letter half way there, you know).

Soon this little guy will appear with a very important letter from Santa himself! His job, to help Santa with his list of good boys and girls. He is kind of a mix between the Elf on The Shelf and The Elf Magic Elves and my own imagination. I have found so many great ideas of what to do with our Elf on Pinterest.

We know it's from Santa, it even has a "seal of excellence" on the back...and says, "Santa Express" on the front. It must be pretty important! Here's what the letter says:

And who are these three little elves going to?

The year the twins were born, three of my siblings had babies too...so there's a group of five (I call them the Fantastic Five) cousins all the same age. All of the cousins will meet their magic elves soon!

I had such a great time creating this for my family, I thought it would be fun to share it with you! I'll list all of my sources and then all you will need to do is click on the pictures below to get a PDF version of all the printables.

I found our elves HERE (the prices were awesome and I LOVE the dolls...they are a great size and have a vintage feel and wired bodies so you can pose them, etc. and I literally had them two days after I ordered them).
The gold seals I found at Office Max...they were the perfect touch to make the letter from Santa look official. They were over by the stationary...I'm assuming they were for awards, certificates, etc.
I have created labels to and from Santa, official stamps from the North Pole, a blank letter head from Santa (in case you have something specific you'd like to write), the official letter from Santa about his special elf, and a guided letter to Santa.

Just click on the pictures below to print your PDF's. I hope you will enjoy!

Click on the Picture to print

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

November Outfit of the Month...and Huge November Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:48:00 +0000

“When all the leaves are off the boughs,

And nuts and apples gathered in,

And cornstalks waiting for the cows,

And pumpkins safe in barn and bin,

Then Mother says, "My children dear,

The fields are brown, and autumn flies;

Thanksgiving Day is very near,

And we must make thanksgiving pies!"

-Author Unknown

I will be posting a little update about our new home but wanted to let you know that I will doing the majority of the holiday discounts this month as we will be moving to another state in December. My hope is to have most of the Christmas orders done before we go. So to encourage you, we have some FABULOUS discounts this month. Take a look!

All Print-it-Yourself packages will come with THREE outfit lines of your choice (just indicate what you'd like in your "notes to merchant" section, yes this includes party packages).
All Print-it-Yourself party packages come with THREE extra dolls (eight dolls total) plus THREE outfit lines (this is a great way to cover a lot of little girls/boys gifts...even if you don't do a party).
All Print-it-Yourself outfits are buy one get one (of equal or lesser value) free (again just mention this email in the "notes to merchant" section and let me know which outfit you'd like for free).
All printed products shop wide are 25% off (just type NOVEMBER1 in the discount section as you check out, this includes everything that is printed and shipped to you).
If your subscription to the Outfit of the Month is expiring, make any purchase (even just an outfit line) and mention this email for a FREE one year membership for another year!

The Necessary Halloween Report

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:46:00 +0000

Candy was gathered (first time for all three girls...twins loved it, Norah was done after the first four houses).

The Family Photo....DONE (even though it is a horrible photo) Jeff, Ollie and Me = Popeye, Olive Oyl and Swea'Pea. The girls= Princesses, of course.

Twins, such gracious little princesses...Who is that crazy kid in the corner?

Oh, Norah. She is the two-iest two year old I've ever known (and I've known some)!
She loved her dress, hated her gloves.

Great Grandma checking them all out. :)

Hope your night was full of fun! Happy Halloween 2011.

Very Jane Invited Us Back...

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:52:00 +0000

If you missed out on the awesome deal a few months ago, now's your chance to snatch up paper dolls at an extremely great price! You will get a custom doll, 16 outfits plus a free membership to the Outfit of the Month club...all for $10. The deal will not be repeated this year so if you are thinking of Christmas or birthdays, now is the time! Click Here to get your deal.

Busy, Busy, Busy...

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:26:00 +0000

The "Princess Dress" making is under way. Very serious business, you know.

Speaking of princesses, remember this free printable from a few years ago? I think it's pretty appropriate, don't you?

It Finally Happened...

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:24:00 +0000

When I started this whole paper doll idea, the twins were two...just barely two and Norah was a little cherubic one year old. I laminated the dolls so that they could play with them without eating/ripping appendages off, etc.

But, their attention spans were lacking (what was I expecting??) so I put everything away and just thought I'd wait 'til the dolls were a bit more age appropriate. And the day came! It finally came. We all played together for over an hour. I have to admit, it was pretty satisfying watching their little imaginations take flight and listening to them play with and like something I created.

Even Grandma got in on the action. I can now honestly say that these dolls are appropriate for children ages 3 - 93. That wouldn't be a stretch, right? :)

October Outfit of the Month

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:40:00 +0000

If I were a witch upon a big switch

A-riding through the air,

I'd fly all around then drop to the ground

And give you quite a scare!

-Unknown

The crisp feeling of Fall is in the air here, up in the hills of Sparks, Nevada. The last few days we have heard the wind whipping against the house. It is howling right now as I type. I keep thinking baby Ollie is awake because it sounds a bit like a crying baby. :)

Today the girls and I discussed what everyone would like to be for Halloween. They keep changing their minds. We have discussed butterflies, Disney characters, mummies, flowers. But I think over all they want to be princesses. Not a big shocker. Laurel especially spends most of her day rearranging baby blankets into elaborate princess dresses. Maisy spends most of her time coloring or drawing princesses. Norah has been the official "Prince" and is usually willing to play the role. She walks around proudly saying "I'mna Pince!" Ollie, I'm afraid will have no choice in the matter when he reaches an appropriate age. :)

The days are getting shorter and the nights a bit longer. I know there are many who hate for summer to end but for me, it is always welcome! I LOVE AUTUMN. Everything about it. The most beautiful autumns in my life have been while doing a church mission in Connecticut and Rhode Island. The trees looked like they were on fire. I still have the vivid picture in my mind of riding my bike with the cool autumn air against my rosy cheeks and fallen leaves flying up on each side of me. My life was full of physical work, service and love. That, was heaven.

What do you love about fall? Do you have any fun Halloween costumes planned? Tell me dear readers.

September 2011 Outfit of the Month and September Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:38:00 +0000

Can't believe it is September!!! Baby Ollie is five months old and is rolling all over the place, he just had his first taste of rice cereal tonight...I could go on...did I mention he has completely stolen my heart? Anyway, here is September's outfit:

The breezes taste of apple peel.
The air is full of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
     Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
     Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
     Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
     Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
     With suds, the days
Are polished with
     A morning haze.

John Updike

I couldn't get this out of my mind while working on this month's outfit:

Jeff and I got to go to the Norman Rockwell museum about five years ago...seriously so fun! Did you know that the "models" used in most of his illustrations are members of his hometown, Stockbridge, Massachusetts? When touring his restored studio we even got to meet one of the children he painted (now in her 90's). Pretty cool.

OK, now for what you are waiting for, September's Deals:

Buy any Print-it-Yourself outfit line and receive another outfit line (of equal or lesser value) FREE!

All Print-it-Yourself Party packages this month are coming with two extra dolls (eight dolls total), an extra outfit line of your choice (Fairy tale, Girls in Sports, Girls in Literature, etc.) AND a free membership to the OOM club for all party participants! This is a HUGE deal...you may want to order now even if your party isn't for a few months...or if you have eight little girls to buy Christmas gifts for...this is a REALLY good deal and won't last!

To get your deal, just mention this post in your notes to me during checkout!

OK that's it for now! Hope September has been great for you so far. :)

XXOO,

Hannah

Big Paper Doll Sale Today

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:34:00 +0000

Big Paper Doll Sale Today at Very Jane!

Please note: They forgot to add that I am including TWO outfit lines: Fall and FairyTale (both girls and boys).

They will be changing this soon, hopefully...but just so my faithful readers know, if you order you'll be sure to get $28 worth of outfits alone, not to mention your Custom Doll, membership to the Outfit of the Month Club and All About Me pages!

Huge Pattern Sale Today

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:49:00 +0000

You are getting all four patterns for less than the regular price of the Pod Pattern. I use the Pod every single day and night for Ollie as well as the Better Burpies. The other two patterns are so fun and easy and useful!

Go HERE to see the deal!

Pictures and an Update

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:09:00 +0000

Hello Friends,
Are you wondering if we are still alive over here? I would be if I were you. I haven't been the best at keeping you updated. I know I don't have to tell you why. Four little ones ages three and under sounds challenging and frankly it is. Sometimes I feel like a gerbil in a wheel cleaning, changing, cleaning, loving, cleaning, changing, etc, never getting ahead. I feel like I have given up any hope of sanity or "free time" and that I may never be able to really get my hopes and dreams for my business off of the ground.

Then I look down (Ollie's on my lap right now...cooing and smiling) and think WHO CARES! I am so beyond blessed to have these precious children in my life...so blessed to know that there is no way I could ever do this alone and to know that I have an amazing man at my side helping me and making me laugh every step of the way (how is that for a run-on sentence?!). When I think about it and am in the right frame of mind, I remember that this time is so fleeting and in a way, sacred.

So, I've decided not to worry about the hopes and dreams for the business right now...and enjoy what I've spent most of my life dreaming about...this man and these children! Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to throw in the towel altogether, I'm just giving myself the permission not to stress about advertising, blogging, etc., just doing the minimum to keep things going but not necessarily growing.

Wanna see the people I am so blessed to live with and love? Eden Thome has photographed our family at every stage and never disappoints. Thanks for indulging me:

On the house front, we are still here in my parents home. It continues to be an overall great experience and I know it will be a sad day when we say good-bye. We have enjoyed my parents and Great-Grandma Dahl so much and have had lots of quality time with cousins, aunts and uncles and friends.

But we are getting really excited about purchasing a new home in a few months. We plan to move to the Boise, Idaho area. I dream of the space we will have...a place for everything...even (hopefully) a small studio for me! We are narrowing down areas and homes and will head that way probably in September.

So that's the update! Thanks so much for your continued support and kind words. I truly enjoy the relationships with those of you who take the time to comment and email.

Ollie's Blessing Day

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 06:33:00 +0000

"A little bit of heaven

Drifted down from above
A handful of happiness,
A heart full of love.
The mystery of life,
So sacred and so sweet
The giver of joy
so deep and complete.
Precious and priceless,
So lovable too
The world's sweetest miracle,
Baby boy, is you."
- Unknown

Our precious Oliver Bradley was blessed by his dad on Sunday May 29, 2011, surrounded by the love and devotion of so many friends and family members (including four grandparents and four great grandparents). He was blessed to be a light to those around him and an example to his family. He was also blessed to learn from his sisters "the good things of this world". And my favorite, that he will find a sweet girl to marry and that together they will do great things.

I love the priesthood, I love that I will now have a boy to raise. I already see things so differently, thinking about how the world and the gospel of Christ will affect my boy. I want to be a good example of what a wife and mother should be so that he will seek out someone who will have those attributes.

One thing is for sure, this boy is LOVED

He wore the hat and shoes/socks that all of his uncles (my brothers) wore when they were blessed. The blanket he was wrapped in was a gift to my mom from my Great Grandma Egbert. I and all of my siblings were blessed with that blanket around us. So Ollie used the blanket that was a gift from his Great,Great Grandmother. :)

I found his little linen romper online. It is vintage, I'm guessing from the '60's. I loved the charming embroidery detail on the front. It is a size 6 months so I was worried that it would be too big but it fit him perfectly!

We are proud parents. :)

One of the thirty pictures we tried to get of all of us together with three very tired, very crazy girls. This one made me laugh.

I loved this one. This is Grandma Stevenson with her twins (Jeff's dad is on the left) holding our twins!

Four generations

These two were so cute! They talked and talked. They are only a few years apart in age and seemed to just really enjoy one another.

Loved this shot

Aren't they the prettiest Great-Grandma's ever? I hope I look half as good at their age. Just think of the wisdom they have in all of those years to share!

Britta snuck in some pictures while I soothed Ollie ...I loved this one.

Jeff's mom has made a sweet little name bracelet for each of our children on their blessing day. I love this little tradition.

It was my sister Britta and her husband Clint's 13th Anniversary that day as well. We had a great time celebrating with them the night before.

My sister. I wish I could just reach through the screen and hug her!

Found Britta's Elsa and my Laurel snuggly sleeping that night and couldn't resist...seriously so cute!

And I loved this one of Ollie and Abby...so sweet

Basically this boy has brought us even more love and even more happiness than we could have ever imagined. I'm always amazed at the miracle and beauty of a new life. Sometimes I literally feel like I have to pinch myself. I am living my dream...I can't imagine being happier...really.

Favorites on Friday...Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:30:00 +0000

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(haha get it, face....book?)

Well I finally did it. I finally created a page in Facebook that will be totally dedicated to all things Lily&Thistle. It was time (past time). I've always liked Facebook because it is a great tool to connect and reconnect with people who mean something to me. Like friends from my childhood and people I taught and served my mission with years ago and heck even people who live down the street. It is so fun to see what people are up to and thinking.

But since Ollie was born, I don't just like Facebook, I love it. Why? Because it is a lot easier to write a few short lines about what is happening with life and with the business then it is to do a whole blog post and right now, that is a welcomed way to stay connected! After all, wouldn't you rather spend time cuddling with this guy?

(the small one...the big one my friends, although I know is tempting, is taken)

So, I hope if you have a Facebook account, you will go right over and "like" Lily&Thistle!

For two reasons:

You can get lots of great deals/promotions that will only be available there!
We can have more of a conversation then we can here.

So, go HERE and "like" me will ya (you can also just go on the left hand side and click the "like" button)?! Oh and don't forget to enter to win a free ULTIMATE package by leaving a comment HERE. I will be choosing winners on Monday!

New Outfit Line...Girls in Sports

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 04:15:00 +0000

These outfits are about a year in the making! I will be posting pictures soon but couldn't wait to show you. What do you think? Do any of these outfits remind you of sports you participated in as a girl (or do you still do any of them)? What about your favorite girl?

Reminder: this whole month you get a free Outfit of the Month membership with any purchase over $10!

To order the printed version click HERE

To order the print-it-yourself version click HERE

Favorites on Friday...Chickpeas

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 23:03:00 +0000

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I am officially on the Chickpeas (garbanzo bean) wagon! Do you know about these little beans and how delish they are (and how healthy they are)?

If you want to see just how good for you they are, you can read all about them on an awesome site, a non profit with the mission of promoting healthy eating called "The World's Healthiest Foods"

Anyway, I've been experimenting with a bunch of different recipes and have found some gems to share with you. My food motto is: "Good for you can taste good to you" (I know, pretty catchy). I am not one to eat something just because it's good for me...it has to taste great too. So with that in mind, I wanted to share some yummy/healthy recipes with you that have me feeling full and fantastic!

The first comes from one of my new favorite blogs "Chocolate Covered Katie". She makes healthy deserts..no seriously, like spinach ice cream and zucchini chocolate grasshopper pie. Well...this one is AMAZING! I served it for dessert last night and everyone loved it (even my husband who can smell "healthy" a mile away). After they finished I told them it was primarily made of chickpeas! They were shocked and happy! She calls it "Blondie Batter Dip". It is just like a bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough. We dipped apples and graham crackers in it. Divine!

Here's the link (you're welcome): Blondie Batter Dip

Next up...Hummus! We love it on our sandwiches, crackers, as a dip for carrots...well really any veggie and just about anything else we can think of to put it on. I particularly love it with sun dried tomatoes, so this recipe is my new favorite.

Last but not least...my new snacking addiction. Roasted chickpeas! Yummy...they kind of remind me of the corn nuts I had every once in a while as a child...but not as hard. So good. I found this recipe for Salt and Vinegar Roasted Chickpeas and found that I like them a bit more if I leave them in the vinegar for about 15 mins. instead of 30. YUM.

Hope you try at least one of these...if you do, let me know! Do you have any great chickpea recipes?

June Outfit of the Month

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 04:53:00 +0000

"I wonder what it would be like to live in a world

where it was always June."

- L. M. Montgomery

Is it as cold where you are as it is here? It actually snowed this weekend here in the northern Nevada desert! I'm ready for summer weather...or at least a nice spring day. That's why I had so much fun creating this outfit. It reminds me of strolling down a boardwalk on a warm evening...no jacket needed!

Have you signed up for the Outfit of the Month yet? If you haven't, now is the time! I'm actually offering a free membership this month with any purchase over $10. Just write "Free OOM Offer" in your notes to seller at checkout! Enjoy!

The View from Here...

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 05:37:00 +0000

This really is the view from where I am sitting right now...

Great Grandma loves to play "Match" with the girls

...and Ollie gets at least one long holding session every day.

On our way to the Green House after church....

This is how you grow a garden in the middle of the Nevada Desert :)

Maisy loves to go "Hunt for Strawberries".

Two words: "those cheeks".

Life is good...

KCWC Girls Nightgowns...the Lazy Version

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Tue, 10 May 2011 21:47:00 +0000

Well I am excited to say that the girls now have nightgowns for the summer. They are something an accomplished seamstress would probably talk about behind my back but they were fast and they are done and let's face it...these girls make anything look good! ;)

Want to know how I cranked 12 nightgowns out in 3 hours? Here's a short tutorial:

About a month ago I was in Old Navy looking for something to fit my post pregnant body and was happy to discover that all of the clearance items were an additional 50% off. I found a huge stack of long sleeved, striped shirts and about fell over when I saw they were marked at 97 cents! That meant I only paid 49 cents for each shirt....I looked for the biggest sizes I could find knowing I'd be using them for something for the girls and came away with 12 shirts for $6.

Here's how I transformed them into nightgowns:

I ordered these crocheted flowers through Etsy. You get 24 awesome little flowers for $6...I'm planning on using the rest for other projects or perhaps for hair clippies.

I just gathered the band in the front and hand-stitched the flower and Voilà!

Three happy girls with a whole bunch of new nightgowns!

I'm linking to Elsie Marley's Kids Clothes Week Challenge

Favorites on Friday...Kids Clothes Week

noreply@blogger.com (Hi, I'm Hannah.) — Fri, 06 May 2011 20:44:00 +0000

Click on the picture to see what it's all about

I've been debating whether I should sign up to take part in this challenge...I mean I'm lucky if I get a shower in these days! But the girls need nightgowns and I think this will be my motivation to get at least a few easy nightgowns done.

I thought I'd post what I would make if I had all of the time in the world for your enjoyment today:

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Are you participating? Making anything for yourself or your kidlets these days? Please share!