Vashey Fam

Silas Luke Vashey

2011-09-27T18:48:00.000-07:00

Here he is at 6 months! He's the sweetest baby ever...so kissable and he never stops smiling!

Woodland Wedding DecorationsI

2011-09-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

I have an awesome sister-in-law who let me design her whole wedding, including the flowers! Such a break from my usual world of changing diapers and wiping runny noses! Each table had one of three settings: flowers on a wooden disk (chopped and sawed by my husband) pictured above or paper butterflies attached to branches, or a birds nest with a tiny bird attached. The eggs inside have the names of their children painted on them)

I added queen Anne's lace and black eyed susans from our mother's garden. She really wanted something that looked like it was picked froma field of wild flowers.
Lovely Fairies

Woodland Decorations II

2011-09-08T19:06:00.002-07:00

The handsome man in the mirror is my husband and the photographer! I love the way the Billy Balls make the bridemaid's bouquets look whimsical.

Welcome sign my husband made from some old wood.

Each table had a wooden disk from tree. I used a wood burning kit to burn their initials into them

Woodland Wedding Decorations II

2011-09-08T19:03:00.000-07:00

Woodland Wedding DecorationsIII

2011-09-08T18:51:00.000-07:00

Ring bearer

Fairy Crown for the flower girl

The corsages I made for the guests ended up being the boutonnieres for all the guys. The true Billy Ball Boutonnieres were accidentally left in the fridge at home.

Moss runner/moss mushrooms/paper butterflies

My hubby and I dancing and celebrating a Success!

My family

2011-08-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

Ahh, I love those ties...I love my boys!

Silas(age 5mo) and his mama!

This is what Zane(age1) did all night!!

Wyatt(age4) danced with his little cousin Dylon (age3) all night. The whole room was in awe of these two who were so cute and so serious. At the end of the song, he spun her and everyone broke out into applause....so then he spun her again. I was a proud mama!

Woodland Wedding Rings

2011-07-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

No, these aren't the ones worn by the bride and groom....they're for the bridemaids and flower girl. I just thought I'd make them for fun.

Woodland Wedding

2011-06-23T13:04:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law is getting married this August and asked me to help with the decorating. Of course I said, "Yes!!" Here are a few of the things I've done so far. I've just had a 3rd baby so it takes me quite a bit of time to do anything....so I'm starting in June. I'll keep posting things as I finish them!

For the brides hair: handmade silk rose on a bed of twigs, and flowers

Quirky corsages for persons important to the bride and groom

Whimsical wreath made especially for the flower girl

cousins

2011-06-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

Blueberry Season

2011-06-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

Well it's blueberry season and our freezer is full to capacity with those small, delicious orbs. Here is a recipe I just made for my wonderful out-of-town family. Everyone loved it and it was perfect for breakfast....not too sweet.

Blueberry Coffee Cake

Serves 12

This coffee cake relies on a healthy portion of blueberries for sweetness, almonds for richness and yogurt for moistness.

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray
2 tablespoons plus 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour, divided
1/4 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup nonfat plain yogurt or blueberry yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups fresh or frozen, thawed and drained blueberries, divided
1/3 cup sliced almonds

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray; set aside. Put 2 tablespoons of the whole wheat pastry flour, sugar, butter, cinnamon and cardamom in a medium bowl and mix together with a fork or your fingers until well combined and mixture is in large clumps; set streusel aside.

Put remaining 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl and stir to combine; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together yogurt, vanilla and eggs then pour into bowl with dry ingredients and stir until combined. Gently fold in 1 cup of the blueberries.

Spoon batter into prepared pan and sprinkle reserved streusel over the top. Scatter remaining 1 cup blueberries over the streusel then top with almonds and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center cake comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Once cooled, loosen edges of cake and transfer to a plate. Cut into slices and serve.

New Flowers!

2011-05-25T13:00:00.001-07:00

Shop Update!

Silas

2011-05-21T14:38:00.001-07:00

My sweet little inspiration.....you don't let me sleep but you are my dream come true!

Such a good idea!

2011-05-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

I think I might have to try this!!

http://icingdesignsonline.blogspot.com/2011/01/fabric-corsages.html

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-10T18:53:00.001-07:00

Small Polaroid magnets!
My husband's gift to me!

Silas' gift to mama

My gift to my mom made from various scraps!

Flowers

2011-05-05T12:31:00.000-07:00

Things are super crazy here! I did make some new flowers, though....I think it was just to prove to myself that I could do something other than change diapers!

New Son

2011-04-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

Silas Luke Vashey
3-26-11
6lb-12oz

Finished Portrait

2011-02-09T08:01:00.000-08:00

The nice and polished final piece!

So do artist ever get scared of a painting? Yes! This particular painting was a challenge mentally for me. I was so nervous when I first started b/c I knew that once I had drawn it and begun to paint it would be very, very hard to change anything and more than likely I would have to start over. In the past, I've always used more forgiving mediums for portraits like pastel. Pastel is chalk that you can rub off if the nose is looking a little crooked or the eyes are little too far apart. This wasn't my first watercolor portrait but it was my first with 3 subjects! I bought the best paper I could find, 300lb cold press for $20.00. Yes, that does seem expensive for paper, but if you've ever painted using this kind, it's really hard to go back. It's kind of like the difference between the taste and texture of a homegrown tomato compared to store bought......or dull scissors to cut fabric..... Anyway, I eventually got over my mental hurdle and dove in.....and I really loved it! I still can't believe how much I loved it. I'd turn on my music, turn off the part of my brain that thought about money, bills, whether Wyatt was outgrowing his shoes and what in the world was I going to make for supper? It was pure bliss and once the the eyes and lips started taking shape, I got that little tingle in my heart that said, "Go Leigh! You've still got this in you girl".....that piece of God that is able to create something new and relevant. It's hard to explain but it feels really amazing and I thank Esther for commissioning me and prodding me. Below is the pastel portrait I did for her a few yrs back of her two sweet daughters.

Portrait and Baby countdown!

2011-02-03T12:35:00.000-08:00

Sorry my blogging has been lacking personality lately......must be that I have just 8 wks to go before baby number 3 decides to arrive! So, this may not get anymore interesting than pics here and there. I am in a race to get this portrait done before baby Silas? or baby Luke? gets here!!!

Portrait Progress

2011-01-15T09:18:00.000-08:00

Coming along.....time for some hair.

Watercolor portrait in process

2011-01-10T13:20:00.000-08:00

When I started painting portraits at the age of 16 I thought the hardest things to paint were hands and ears. Now almost 20 yrs later they still take more effort but I have to say it's open mouths and teeth!
I love to paint and these three children have been a joy to try and capture. I did a pastel portrait of the two girls 4yrs earlier as babies. I have never attempted 3 people in watercolor....because you can't erase it and you can't paint over it. So, this is slow going.......I will be done before my own baby gets here for sure!

Chicago Fabrics

2011-01-08T12:28:00.000-08:00

Today meant putting Christmas away. It's always a little sad....but then it makes everything look so less cluttered. Less clutter is so much better when you have small children, but I will miss my vintage Christmas collections.

A sweet prairie rose that I sorely wanted to keep after I made it!

While I was in Chicago, my husband dropped me off in the fabrics district for about 30 min. I felt like a kid in a candy store. I only had $10 to spend but I found some treasures....1 WHOLE yard of pink silk....pure silk, not satin! A bit of green silk for leaves and some super soft turquoise linen. That probably isn't too exciting to most of ya'll but I usually have to buy my silk in the form of thrift store pajama bottoms and piece things together. The fabric stores here carry very little and it's about $20 a yd. Next time I go to Chicago, I need to plan a little better and spend a little more time.....and take my fabric loving mother! I think she would be in heaven!

Christmas Bells

2010-12-18T07:28:00.000-08:00

From CountryDreaming

Christmas Bells - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
Written during the civil war but I thought it was applicable now. Merry Christmas!-Leigh

I HEARD the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."

Indulgence

2010-12-09T18:54:00.000-08:00

From janethillstudio

I know that this is not a Christmas picture, but hey, it doesn't look much like Christmas here in East Texas! I'm very pregnant right now, so indulge me a little fantasy please.........I've always wanted to pull an elegant sofa out of doors, under the sky and just lie there in a beautiful dress and.....sketch, drink tea, eat a pretty cake.....and have small animals peek at what I'm doing. Actually the last part would probably be a bit disturbing. ....a soft breeze, maybe a gardenia bush nearby and absolutely no car sounds....just birds and leaves rustling. My eyes would slowly close from the warmth. Lazy, lazy, lazy and then....a raindrop. Looking up, I'd notice the sky becoming dramatically dark, with the wind picking up and whipping my hair across my face. But no worries, magically everything appears back inside and then I am in front of a roaring fire holding hands with my husband in a very, very clean house.

Yes, I have a party tonight...

2010-12-02T12:31:00.000-08:00

...but I just thought I'd take a moment from preparation to notice that the boys are really starting to play together.....a 3 and 1yr old playing Legos....amazing.

PARTY!!!

2010-11-29T09:27:00.001-08:00

Party at my house this Thursday 7-9 come and go.
I'll have all my Silly's out for you to Christmas shop to your heart's content!
Plenty of flowers, stuffies and holiday things!
If you want to come then email me and let me know!
portrait4you@yahoo.com

Blue Boy and Pink Bathroom

2010-11-16T07:11:00.000-08:00

It's official! Vashey #3 is a boy!
He'll be born in the beginning of April...that's coming soon!
We are very excited to be raising three sons....an honor and a responsibility. I'm a little outnumbered but that's ok....b/c I have a pink bathroom!

Sillyturnip Christmas

2010-11-16T07:06:00.000-08:00

So many super cool vintage pins and clips made for Christmas.
Now I just have to get them in my shop!

2010-11-12T17:54:00.000-08:00

Sillyturnips will be at
3901 Bill Owens
in First Lutheran Church
Saturday 10am-4pm

Lots of new Christmas items!

Sillyturnip booth

2010-11-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

Last chance to see my booth!
Downtown Longview (Methvin and Green)
10am-1:30pm
P.S. everything is on sale!

more b-day pics

2010-11-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

Zane's Snoopy cake and a special mini one just for him....
which his big brother decorated for him.

Zane with all his cousins

Zane is 1

2010-10-30T06:10:00.000-07:00

Oh, I love him so much!
Thank you God for my little son!
Zane Daniel Vashey
October 30, 2009
8lbs 6oz
21"

You're so adventuresome now! You walk and climb. The climbing scares me to death. I have found you in so many precarious places! You play ball too! I throw the ball and you throw it back to me. You can say:
"Mama, Dada, Dat (that)"
You have quite the temper and are very stubborn!
I love nursing you in the morning and kissing your sweet neck. You make mama's heart glad and I will love your strong soul forever.

Fox lamp

2010-10-28T06:45:00.000-07:00

Ok, I love this! This opens up so many possibilities. You're looking at a stuffed animal turned into a lamp! I found it on the Matsutake site, which has the full tutorial here. "It's Stiffy Fabric Stiffener from Plaid! (Picture me holding the bottle up next to my face and smiling maniacally). In a nutshell, you can brush Stiffy onto a plush animal, pull out the stuffing, and stick a string of LED lights inside."

I'm thinking an owl?

Lake Cherokee Painting

2010-10-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

I finally finished this 4'x4' acrylic painting for Lake Cherokee. It took a whole month (kids, sickness, guests, you name it), but I think it turned out really nice. It's supposed to look like an old map....with a bit of a folk artist twist.

Olly and Oscar

2010-10-18T08:01:00.001-07:00

s
I have a lot of projects pending.....but these little owls were hooting at me to be made. I simply started cutting and this is what emerged. Meet Oscar and Olly!

Renee's Visit

2010-10-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law came to visit all the way from Kentucky. She has loved on my kids like nothing else!
"Auntie Ne, auntie Ne!!!"
My 3 yr old thinks the sun rises and sets on her and my almost-one-yr-old just grins and comes running when she's in the room. She gave them new clothes, new shoes, new toys.....but most of all she gave them love and attention. She will be missed here in our house.

Pretty Bird Find

2010-10-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

Before

After

I love Goodwill finds! This one cost me $1.99 and will grace my wall with beauty!

Kid's are my art work

2010-10-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

Life with two kids is really hectic and a bit hair-raising...and now we are bringing a 3rd baby into this Vashey chaos! But, when I reflect in those odd peacful moments.....I really wouldn't have it any other way. Sure I don't have time to do my art like I used to but look at the beautiful, beautiful artwork of my son's lives. They are becoming men right before my eyes and I get to daily mold them and train them to be amazing ones! It is not an easy task but one that I think will have a lasting impact on generations to come. Of course they will have to make their own choices and decisions but I am giving them the skills to do that: self control, discipline, prayer, kindness, empathy, manners, healthy eating habits, creativity, self esteem......putting on your clothes correctly, flushing the toilet.......a little overwhelming but a task I am up for with God's help and my husband's love and loyalty.

Bass Monsters

2010-10-04T07:17:00.000-07:00

God has really blessed me lately through art. You would think I would be too busy and tired...and really I am. But, if I had to choose what I could make money at it would definitely be this way rather than selling Tupperware down at the dollar store. Here is a commissioned painting that I am working on for Lake Cherokee. It's rather large 4'x4'. I'm only 5' tall so you can imagine....thank goodness I am not 4' round...at least not yet!
Anyway, it's going to look like an old map when I am done. Yes, my bass fish is rather long, but I am going for the sea monster look. Everything will make more sense as I keep going.

It's official!

2010-09-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

So I realize I haven't been blogging much lately......but you have to understand that the first trimester of pregnancy is just soooo yucky! But today I got to see our little one on the dopplar. Baby Vashey was pumping his/her fists and legs and you could see the heart beating. So, I am really feeling so much better seeing the reason for this season of nausea. And, I can now announce it as official and no longer a secret!

meantime

2010-09-27T05:48:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I've been gone so long but blogging has been the last thing on my mind. In the meantime Zane has learned to walk and I sold some puppies to a shop in Bath England. http://www.sassyandboo.com/ Lot's of excitement!

Car Church

2010-09-08T19:38:00.001-07:00

My 3 yr old Wyatt, has been so ill and this is the first thing he built when started to feel better. I told him to play quietly in the living rm while I nursed Zane and put him to bed......and this is what I came back too. It's not his usual tower monstrosities that he creates. This is simple but thoughtful. He actually worked out a design instead of just stacking bocks together. He called it his "car church". Notice the floor. We go to a church that looks like a normal building so I'm not sure where he came up with the idea of this. I am so glad my Wyatt is better. The circles under his eyes are disappearing and he's acquiring his quirky personality once again.

Last Summer Art Camp!

2010-08-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

Such great students. I think they all did an awesome job. The spent 4, 2hour days working on a study of this Van Gogh painting.

Everything Art Camp 2010

2010-08-11T07:06:00.000-07:00

These were my youngest students yet! Ages 5-7. What amazing talent!

Having fun with clay!

Avery was sick the first day, so she didn't quite finish but I'm really liking the purple umbrella!

She worked very hard mixing colors to make sure her dress was a different blue than her sky.

This was her favorite drawing and I think it's because of the eyes. Look how realistic they are!

Check out the drawing of the bunny ! She did that all on her own!

2010-08-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

I've been playing around with birds and butterflies..... I just received some red and white handmade mushrooms in the mail today and I can't wait to have fun trying those out! Time to go take a nap with my boys. My 9 month old has really been a night-owl here recently!

A few of my favorite things.....

2010-08-04T07:03:00.000-07:00

I've been sewing and sewing and sewing and here are a few of my favorite things. This little mouse was supposed to be a "bear" and done in all neutral colors. Well.....it turned into a mouse and I just couldn't seem to keep the color away. I think I must have some kind of disease that doesn't allow me to do neutral. :o)

Puppy love.
This precious couple are in love and frequently steal kisses when no one is looking, but I caught it on camera! See how they dress to attract each other? She wears a flower and he dons his best tie. Ahhh, sweet romance.

This little felt bouquet is only the size of a quarter!

Friday

2010-07-31T18:14:00.000-07:00

Most of the time I'm pretty ok with some of the lesser liked responsibilities of motherhood. I mean, I have bright, healthy and happy boys. We have the best days full of discovering bugs, the knee bone (Wyatt asked me what that thing was under his skin. I said it was a knee bone and he got excited and said, ""there's a doggy bone in there mama?"), and how water flows differently out of different shaped containers. Lot's of fun.....but sometimes when I see what is before me it just makes my little heart shutter..............

t

Drawing Art Camp

2010-07-31T18:10:00.000-07:00

I have the best students!

Classy Art

2010-07-30T07:22:00.000-07:00

Dressmaking

I found this painter recently and love her style.
The dress in front is exactly what I would wear if
Jon took me somewhere sophisticated.

Maiden Voyage
Can't you just smell the salty air? Listen closely, you can hear the seagulls call, and peek in on the beautiful lady's daydream of her sailor taking her in his arms and dancing.
Check out Janet Hill's etsy shop here.

Sale!!!!

2010-07-23T18:49:00.000-07:00

Sale in my shop thru August 14th
Sillyturnip

We're Home

2010-07-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

We are home from our 20 hour road trip! Thank you Vashey family for your love, food and hospitality!

Sewing and Sushi

2010-06-30T06:39:00.000-07:00

duc tape purses!

I invited some young ladies to come over and create flowers with me. I asked each of them to bring sewing scissors and chocolate to share. One mom brought sushi. The last time she was over she had drunk coffee out of my sushi mug(in the background there) and she'd been craving it ever since. So, we sewed and chowed down on chocolate and sushi! So fun!

5 Year Anniversary!!

2010-06-24T20:02:00.000-07:00

Oh I wish I could express to you how much I love my Jon Vashey! He is the most amazing man. He plays harmonica for me under the stars, kisses me goodnight every single night........for 5 yrs now. When taking his pregnant wife on a camping trip and discovering that he forgot the air pump for the blowup mattress, he then proceeds to blow it up himself. Does he love me? I have no doubts.

Three and a half yrs of raising sons together and I know how solid and loyal he is. He hardly ever lost his cool diaper changing at 3am. In fact he would get mad at me if I didn't let him. I listen to him talking to Wyatt and Zane when he thinks I'm not. What do I hear? Giggles, "wesling", car noises, phrase like, "Son, I am so proud of you." and "Daddy loves you so very much".

He is so tender hearted and generous that he notices every single homeless person he passes. How many people can say they even look at those less fortunate? He always has a smile or wave and most of the time food. Half the time we have just enough money for bills and food for our selves but he will always share....and God always provides for us.

This is a man who is so hard working that I don't believe that even when we are old will we sit on a porch and just rock. I'm sure he will be tending his garden or fixing something. I love that about him. I hate when he is under appreciated. I see all the hard work, blood, sweat and tears and I wish......I wish I could give him some kind of medal or accolade to show him how wonderful he is. I can't........ but I know God sees and will reward him.
God, thank you for our marriage! Thank you for giving me this man to care for. I feel truly blessed beyond what I deserve. Protect him. Protect our marriage. Let us make it to our 5oth with smiles, giggles and as few wrinkles as possible.
It is true..............
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. -James 1:17

Summer

2010-06-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

handsome

2010-06-20T21:11:00.001-07:00

Happy Father's Day!

Silly Turnip Shop

2010-06-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

More updates in my shop. I wish I had a real shop!

Passionate Zane

2010-06-11T06:50:00.000-07:00

How are we doing? Well, let's just say it's a love and hate situation.

Sillys to Sell

2010-06-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

Shop update! I'll be putting in new creations all week!

Alley Fest, Oh Alley Fest

2010-06-06T07:04:00.000-07:00

"HOT!" is a very good word to describe Alley Fest! New Friends and Lovely Visitors are also descriptive. I loved getting my creations out there and interacting with the public..........not really loving the 98 to 100 degree weather (NOT exaggerating) but it's been fun. One more day!

The last flower

2010-06-03T18:07:00.000-07:00

I just finished sewing my last flower!!!! Hallelujah! My tender fingers can now relax! Alley Fest here I come!
Friday 6:30pm-midnight
Saturday 10am-midnight
Sunday 11am-3pm

True story!!!

2010-05-24T06:14:00.000-07:00

Please keep reading till the end. I didn't make any of this up!

About 6 months ago my pastor told a story of a woman that he knew. She had grown up in a very run down house with an alcoholic father. Her childhood was poor, awful and very lonely. She felt like her whole life she was a mistake and there was nothing good in it. Later in Jr High she was befriended by some girls in her school who let her stay at their house on the weekends and took her to church with them. There she was loved unconditionally. She gave her life to Jesus and although the circumstances that she lived in didn't change, her heart and mind did. She determined to do well in school, received a scholarship and went to college. There she met her husband and proceeded to have a life rich in love and faith. With Jesus she battled cancer and lived. Despite being well off, and cherished by her husband and kids, there were still moments that she still felt like that poor and ragged little girl on the inside. She felt like the house she had grown up in, peeling paint, broken windows. How could her husband love her? How could her children, God, anyone?
Her sister encouraged her to go back and visit the house they had grown up in. Her sister said it had been remodeled and looked nothing like it used to.
She didn't really believe her and didn't want to.......but she went and looked. It was so changed! It was completely remodeled. It was beautiful! She looked at that house and she knew that what had been done to that house was like what God had done for her life. She was a completely changed person and when others looked at her they didn't see the sad and run-down poor girl who lived in the shack, but a beautiful person inside and out!

I heard that story and it moved me. In my head popped two paintings. I had them stuck in my head for a few months before I finally told my pastor about them. He listened and encouraged me to paint them. Well,um, life happened. You know, new baby, dirty diapers, laundry etc. About a month ago, my pastor came up and said,
"Leigh did you ever do those paintings you had talked about?......"
Hem and Haw"Well... no."
"....because she is coming! She's coming here to speak and I think you should really do them!"
"Wow, ok, I guess I will."
Then life happened again. You know, 6 mo old baby, 3 yr old, dirty diapers, laundry making dinner etc.
Two weeks before she was sceduled to come I finally bit the bullet and started painting. It went super quick until I start on her adult face. Keep in mind I had never seen her. I knew nothing about her appearance except that she was female. I think I painted her face 5 times and no matter what I did to it, it just kept looking the same. You can ask my husband, I was frustrated. I wanted her to look generic. I wanted her to look like she could be any one of us.....but she kept looking specific. Wide set eyes, strong bone structure and chin, high forehead. So, I finally gave up and left it.
Sunday morning dawned bright and early and I was nervous. They were going to display my paintings on stage and on the big screens while she spoke. I hope she wouldn't feel intimidated by having these paintings by a stranger and about her life, literally surrounding her. I hope they didn't look completely different than her. I mean she could be short, blond and chubby for all I knew. I even said out loud in the car, "Honey, it doesn't matter if they look like her. It's the message that matters." But really inside, I thought, well couldn't she at least have brown hair? Please God?
So, when it finally happened and she finally walked up on that stage I melted. My insides literally went soft and I started to cry. It looked like her! The hair color and style, the features. It all looked like her! And when I went up to her later and looked in her face it was the face in my head that I tried so hard to change! I just couldn't stop crying. I hugged her and she spoke to me. I told her, "God loves you!" and she told me, "Well God loves you!"
It was a miracle plain and simple. God wanted me to do those paintings for her. She is not a mistake and she is very loved. He wanted me to do those paintings for me. I am loved, He is real and He can use me even in my ordinary life of babies, laundry and doing the dishes. And oh how I will do my normal, ordinary tasks with joy and passion! Because I know that I am loved and usuable right where I am. And when God had something else in mind for me, then I know he will let me know!

Verses on the paintings:
Isaiah 41:17
The poor and needy search for water,
but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the LORD will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
Isaiah 41:18, 20
I will make rivers flow on barren heights,
and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water,
and the parched ground into springs....
...so that people may see and know,
may consider and understand,
that the hand of the LORD has done this,
that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Summer Art Classes!

2010-05-23T19:51:00.001-07:00

June
Flower Fun!
When? June 9th &10 3pm-4:30pm (sign-up deadline June1st)
What? Learn to make your own flower clip or pin! In this class, you will learn the basics of sewing. Don't worry if you have no experience. If you're a pro already, then you can create as many flowers as you want. No supply fee, just bring your own sewing scissors and iron. Boys are welcome!
Who? ages 8-adult
Price: $25

Stuffed Fun!
When? June 23rd &24th 3pm-4:30pm (sign-up deadline June14th)
What? Learn to sew your very own stuffed animal! In this class, you will learn the basics of sewing and using a pattern. Don't worry if you have no experience. If you're a pro already or took this class in the past, then you can create as many stuffies as you want. No supply fee, just bring your own sewing scissors. Boys are welcome! Come make a creature!
Who? ages 8-adult
Price: $25

July

Acrylic Painting
When? July 12-14th 10am-12pm (sign-up deadline July 5th)
What? In this class you will learn the basics of drawing,acrylic painting, and some color theory. We will study Vincent Van Gogh the artist and his painting "Red Poppies".
You will go home with a fabulous finished painting.
Who? ages 7-18
Price: $50 +$14 supply fee (includes canvas and one brush to take home)
View the painting we will be studying here:
Vincent van Gogh Red Poppies

Drawing
When? July 27th-29th 3:00pm-4:30pm (sign-up deadline July 19th)
What? In this class you will learn how to draw realistically with pencil. No experience necessary. You will have a new sketchbook and art pencil to take home and practice your new skills!
Who? ages 7-18
Price: $40+ $10 supply fee (includes sketch book, pencil and eraser) ages 7-18

August

Everything Art!
When? August 9th&10th 10am-12pm (sign-up deadline July 26th)
What? In this class you will learn to draw realistically with pencil, paint with watercolor and work with clay. No experience necessary. You will have a new sketchbook, art pencil and water color kit to take home and practice your new skills!
Who? ages 5-7
Price: $25 + $15 supply fee (includes sketchbook, pencil and watercolor/clay supplies) a

Stuffed Fun!
When? August 11th& 12th 3pm-4:30pm (sign-up deadline August 2nd))
What? Learn to sew your very own stuffed animal! In this class, you will learn the basics of sewing and using a pattern. Don't worry if you have no experience. If you're a pro or took this class in the past, then you can create as many stuffies as you want. No supply fee, just bring your own sewing scissors. Boys are welcome! Come make a creature!
Who? ages 8-adult
Price: $25

Acrylic Painting
When? August 16th-19th 10am-12pm (sign-up deadline August 2nd)
What? In this class you will learn the basics of drawing,acrylic painting, and some color theory. No experience necessary! We will study Vincent Van Gogh the artist and his painting "Boats of Sainter Maries". You will go home with a wonderful finished painting.
Who? ages 7-18
Price: $50 +$14 supply fee (includes canvas and one brush to take home)You can view the painting we will be studying here:
Vincent van Gogh Boats of Sainter Maries

New Painting

2010-05-18T06:42:00.000-07:00

I started a new painting......

2010-05-18T06:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, I realize that post didn't work. Technical difficulties, sorry!

Renegade 2010

2010-05-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

Renegade Craft Festival was so absolutely wonderful,
my pictures don't even begin to do it justice! These are
not your grandma's crafts! I have never been to a fair
like this where I liked every single booth. I was so inspired
that I couldn't sleep that night. My brain was trying to
process all that I had seen and learned. I didn't see anything
like what I make so that was encouraging.....because someday
I would like to have a booth there!
My mom and sister-in-law came with Zane and I and it was perfect.
Jokes and great company.......Zane was the only dependent.
And guess what this little dependent did while we were gone?
He learned to crawl! What a stud!

My Silly Shop

2010-05-12T18:22:00.000-07:00

Market Day's booth

A new Blue Flower corsage

Ok, I decided to do Longview's Alley Fest the first weekend in June. If you don't see me for a while, just know that I am at home sitting in semi-darkness, stitching until my fingers bleed...........no not really, but I DO need to hustle to have enough Silly Turnips for a whole 2 day festival!

Renegade

2010-05-11T07:11:00.000-07:00

Renegade it!

I can't wait for this!!! I've been wanting to go forever and finally they have one here in Texas! I am sure I will come back so inspired you won't know what happened to me!

Flower, flowers, flowers

2010-05-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

I love, love, love making millinery flowers!
I'll be in downtown Longview tomorrow (Friday) selling my Silly Turnips!

2010-05-03T06:23:00.001-07:00

Thank you for your prayers. If you want to know more about Elizabeth then you can look up the story on facebook by searching "pray for Elizabeth Manley". Today is a critical day and her husband will probably have to decide whether or not to keep her on life support.

Wyatt's blankey returned! Most of you knew that from my husband's post on facebook but I thought I'd put it here on my blog. Our churchs secretary is so sweet and loved Wyatt. She heard about how he's been praying and asking God for his blanket back. Actually it was, "Gooo-od, thank you my blanket. I sad. Thank you my blanket. Aaa-men." Oh so sweet. Anyway, she heard about that and got tears in her eyes and decided she would pray and search herself. She said something led her to the nursing room. Now, this is a room on the complete other side of the church. There is no reason of Wyatt's blanket to be there....but it was, sitting on the rocker. We went to pick it up that night and I have never seen my son so happy. He did body twirls and kept rubbing his face all over it. We all had big smiles on our faces!

It interesting that when he prays at night now he is so much more serious.......and they are so much longer! I mean, he prays for every ingredient that was in the meals he ate for the day (thank you for the cheese, thank you God for the meat, thank you for my pickle, thank you for Kaywa, thank you for mama's car...) God loves my little Wyatt and I am so glad that he answered his prayer.

***I just found out my friend died this morning. Oh, this is so unbelievably sad. God, I am so sad.

prayer for Elizabeth

2010-05-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here praying and feeling so sad, crying actually. I am praying for a miracle. One of my friends is in surgery right now until 1 or 2 in the afternoon. She is a mother of three little ones....well four now. She was 27 weeks pregnant with baby Megan when they found a cancerous tumor in her lung. She went in to have it removed on Thursday and ended up going into cardiac arrest. They delivered the baby who is awake and doing ok for what happened to her. Elizabeth, on the other hand has not woken up from this. She is on life support. God, I don't know what else to do but ask for a miracle here! She is so needed here on this earth! I don't even know how to wrap my mind around this. The last time I saw here she was just as cheerful as could be. She is such a sparkly, alive person.

Where are you Blanky?

2010-04-26T18:19:00.000-07:00

Wyatt prayed just now saying, "Dear God....thank you my blanket......I'm sad....thank you my blanket. Amen"

Oh, I feel like crying! We have been missing his blanket since Saturday. We have been hunting nonstop and simply cannot find it. Any of you who know Wyatt personally know what a friend his blanky is to him. What breaks my heart even more, is how brave he's being. He doesn't cry but he just keeps telling me he's sad.

"I so sad mom." Oh Wyatt, mom's so sad too.

Wednesday Quotes

2010-04-21T14:14:00.001-07:00

Jon did the first diaper change of the morning and I heard,
"Hey Leigh!! Zane's got brown poops! It's really brown!"
Thank you sweet potato for changing our son's poops from bright yellow to brown. :o)

I was putting on Wyatt's shoes to go outside when he said with a grin, "I got cool stacks mama!"
Who taught him that? Jon said he's never referred to shoes as stacks........
Yes, Wyatt, you got cool stacks.

Vashey GTT Part II

2010-04-15T17:35:00.000-07:00

Luna and Zane

Caddo Lake

Horseback Riding Check out the guy's mustache! Go Mya!I didn't get to horseback ride. I hung out here, with Zane and the smelly goat and chickens. :o)And everyone not pictured here is at home hanging out with the stomach flu.

Vashey's GTT

2010-04-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

Caitlin

Nina

We played games every night!

Mya and Wyatt the superstar

Jon has 4 older sisters! Here are two..... Julie and Debbie

So our house was taken over by 7 Vashey women from Chicago. I had a few moments of panic about where to put everyone, but it worked out perfectly. There were 3 blowup mattresses, a cot, 1 double bed and 1 twin. Whew! There were blankets and pillows everywhere......and pots. Yes, they came all the way here and caught our East Texas stomach bug. It was terrible....there are only two toilets in the house which is bad when so many people are sick at once. Jon joked, that we should have a game of "steal the pots"( we ran out). It did bring us all closer however and we played card games, board games and made up games. You can imagine the amount of giggling that went on! :o) What a blessing they all were to have. Before the sickness, Debbie and Julie and I (plus baby Zane) went to my "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed" Women's Bible Study together and lunch afterwards. It was a blast........the study was very powerful and then we ate delicious food at Nanny's Goats in downtown Kilgore. What a spectacular place!! It will definitely be on the Food Network Channel before long. Down town Kilgore is turning into a pretty happening place. I really enjoyed the "sister time".
I was a little nervous about the amount of people staying in our house but it really was fun. It didn't matter what we did, there were book-oohs of laughter and joy in just being together. I love you beautiful ladies!
I am working on Vashey's Gone To Texas Part II, so if you didn't see your picture here, then it will be coming!

Texas

2010-04-15T14:12:00.000-07:00

For all the flack we get from having state pride, I have to say.... I do love Texas. My family is here and what would I do without my pine trees, and bluebonnets? I guess it's just in my blood. Here are some happy images..............

Mineola Nature Preserve. You have to go!

This was such a sweet night of sitting on the porch listening to my brother and dad. Caleb is actually teaching himself violin by watching youtube videos.

Today is NOT the day!

2010-04-08T06:53:00.000-07:00

Ok, so potty training did not go so well. In fact it was downright gross. Wyatt peed on the floor and on himself all morning. I let him marinate as much as I could without it being disastrous and then.............when we were playing outside he pooped without telling me (and somehow I didn't smell it) He was swinging and said, "mama, I need pee pee." "Alright!", I said. I thought, ok now we're cooking! He actually asked to go! SO I had the bright idea to take him behind a tree and let him try. He's a boy after all. Well in the process of pulling his soaked pants down, poop just squirted out everywhere! All over me and all over Wyatt. He stood there looking at my yellow smeared arm in horror. I think he thought I was going to be mad. I was a little mad, but what can you do? So, I carted everyone back inside and changed us............putting him back in a diaper. Not 5 minutes later Zane made a funny choking sound and looking down I saw my whole shirt front covered in spit up. He really unloaded a massive quantity on me. What a cutie, he just looked at me grinning, his sweet cheeks covered in something not so sweet. Ahhh!

Needless to say, Jon and I have decided to wait a few more weeks and try again. Wyatt seems almost traumatized by the whole thing. He gets a scared look on his face when you mention big boy underwear or anything related to the potty. He is very, very happy in his diapers. I am ok with him being in them right now........

Today's the Day!

2010-04-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

Wyatt is potty training today..............it's already been fun......more to come.

Awaken

2010-04-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

I am so behind! So, I'll just start with now and work my way backwards. I painted at a college retreat this weekend. While the worship band played and even while the speakers gave their messages, I was on stage with another artist, Darlene, painting on 4'x6' canvas. Mine, were on sin and the Holy Spirit. The other 2 were suffering and redemption. At the end they bolted the 4 together and it became a cross. Oh it was so cool!!! Painting on stage while singing..... It didn't even bother me that people were staring at me. I was worshiping through my brush! When Deb started talking about the power of the Holy Spirit, I started shooting the lightning bolts out from the figure's fingers and toes. I had goosebumps in that moment. The title of that one is "Everyday Hero". My thoughts behind it were, that through the power of the Holy Spirit, each of us can be super heroes in our everyday lives. We can have the power of the Living God flowing through us and out of us if we'll just allow it.
I called my sin painting, "DrinkMe"........Alice in Wonderland? I had the thought that if you drink from this, you grow and became too large to go through the door leading into Heaven. I was going to paint all that.....but it was a little complicated for only a 2 hr session. :o)

dust

2010-03-25T06:03:00.001-07:00

I'll slowly but surely get pictures up of Wyatt's Birthday party. I don't remember the last time I was this busy. My family from Chicago is coming to visit this Sunday. Seven people will be staying with us. I think it will be fun....but cleaning will not be. My house is dusty and I just have too much clutter. Don't we all! :o) There is no where to hide clutter and dust when there are that many people in the nooks and crannies. Plus Wyatt has been one to contend with lately. I turned around yesterday and he had Zane by the feet and was dragging him across the floor. He had him halfway to the living room before I noticed. Zane didn't seem to care. He didn't make a peep, even though his little head was dragging. He was probably thinking, "Oh, this is a new way to get around!" Anyway, bare with me. I have more pics to post soon.

His eye is on the sparrow

2010-03-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

So have you ever had someone say something to you that really hurt and stayed with you for years? Something you just couldn't get rid of.....like a thorn or a bruised spot that every once in a while you pushed on to see if it was still sore? I was still living in Chicago at the time and I had a friend say something hurtful through email 3yrs and 10 months ago. Yep, I know the exact time.....and it still bothers me. He said I wasn't a Christian and even went so far as to call me a "daughter of Satan". I won't go into too many details except to say that we stopped emailing. My husband even asked me to stop b/c it upset me so much. It didn't seem like anything I said mattered anyway. He had his agenda and would not be deterred. Of course he hadn't seen me in years and he had no way of knowing what was in my heart. I prayed and prayed about and it didn't seem like the hurt or anger towards him would go away. I mean, how dare he! It felt like God just didn't hear me on this matter. In fact, if I admitted to it, I felt mad at God too about the whole thing. That sounds silly but it's true. I've had two babies and moved twice since then, but it still bothers me.

The last few months or so my next door neighbor and I have been walking partners. She's really a neat lady and I always enjoy talking with her. We were talking about her old job one day and through the course of the conversation I find out she knows my friend that I am talking about in the above paragraph. Not only does she know him but her best friend of many years is his wife. Oh my goodness!! I moved next door to their best friend! She looked at me strangely like somehow I set this whole thing up. Nooo! Oh no. Suffice it to say, that this has got to be a God thing. I mean, it's too weird. I laid in bed that night and couldn't sleep for thinking about it. God heard me! God knows how that hurt and he didn't just ignore it. I thought I would never have contact again with my old friend and that I would just have to get over it.......but I guess it isn't over. Out of all the places in town, we would move here.......circumstance? I don't think so. It feels so strange when things like this happen b/c you realize that God sees you. Then you look at other things in your life and realize he sees those too.....and on one hand it holds you in awe and makes you feel loved but on the other it makes you uncomfortable b/c you know he knows every area of your heart and mind.
God, I am amazed that you saw my hurt and listened. I'm not sure what you have in store for me now, but my arms are open to it. I am so grateful that I am not alone....that I don't have to figure this life out alone. Life is not easy and it's so confusing. Thank you for giving me joy and peace in the midst of my confusion. Thank you for caring about my daily struggles.

why should I feel discouraged
and why should the shadows come
why should my heart feel lonely
and long for heaven and home

when Jesus is my portion
a constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
and I know He watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
and I know He watches over me

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow
and I know He watches me
He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow
and I know He watches
I know He watches,
I know He watches me.

Do the Zano

2010-03-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

ChooCHoo

2010-03-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

All Aboard!
Isn't this train set neato bedito?
Wyatt has played with it non stop.
I can barely tear him away to eat!

Wyatt's THREE

2010-03-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

Wyatt Ezekiel Vashey
March 18,2007

Your first fish!

Your first signs of imagination
"Cake Mama?"(rocks)

Lego Towers
Your first signs of genius

People always ask me, "Is he this happy all the time?" I say, "Yes, yes he is."

Wyatt, I love you. You are my little man. When you turn and say, "Hear-n mama. Want coffee?" and hand me a pretend cup, my heart melts. Every kid on the playground is your friend and you pray for a list of friends a mile long (Avery, Audrey, Claine, Reecy, Josh, Ivy, Kayla, James, Zachy...etc)

You are so excited about the world around you, and I am very excited to be your mom. God has blessed me indeed.

Poppies and Peas

2010-03-12T07:03:00.000-08:00

This is what I made right before the sickness overtook us. I thought I needed a happy picture for this post. I've been making quite a few of these wool flowers, none have made it to the shop. They've all been gifts, sorry. This is my first poppy and I love it! I just learned how to do it and it's so amazingly simple, I can't believe I never figured it out before. It's red linen and I plan on making 2 more of a smaller size and then using all 3 to make a "It's Spring and I'm Happy because I'm Wearing a Red Poppy" pin. :0)

Wyatt climbed up into the pantry this morning while I was unloading the dishwasher and pulled out a jar of babyfood peas. "Mommy, I want this. I want peas!" 'Yeah, right.' I think in my head.....but he persisted so I sat down at the table and watched him eat, with absolute relish, a whole jar of mushy peas. He even scraped the jar! Why am I blogging about this? Because this is SO WEIRD! Not to mention all I could manage this morning was a piece of toast and a glass of 7-up. I can't even drink coffee yet and here my son sits eating something the color of how I feel and loving every minute of it. I really must be slacking on my mom duties, in fact I can't remember the last time I made a vegetable. I know it wasn't this week.
In case you were wondering, half of the Vashey house is doing better but still a little under the weather. Zane nurses well, but he's fussy, sleeps more and has a slight temp. I'm just sore, sleepy and have no appetite. Wyatt and Jon are great, just great, never better. My husband is doing exceptionally well. If you know us, then you know why but I won't say here. Jon, I envy you right now.

SIck

2010-03-11T14:15:00.000-08:00

Ugh.
Now the mama has the stomach flu
and the baby too.
Chicken soup, saltine crackers and 24 hrs of
television ensue.

I'm achey, icky and very, very puckey
and what do I do? Laundry
so Zane can have back
his vomited on blankey

Up Chuck Chopped Suey

2010-03-09T07:24:00.000-08:00

I made chopped suey for the first time last night. It's apparently one of my husband's favorites that I wasn't aware of. His mom made it growing up and I have her recipe. Actually I think I have all her recipes. She graciously gave me a box full of them before we got married. How many of them have I tried to make? 2.....yes, only two in 5 years. Chocolate pie and now chopped suey. Why? Because I think I have this fear that anything of hers that I make just won't measure up. I can't even seem to get my own mom's recipes right. They've both been practicing for years and years!

*Ok, potty break. Zane has pooped through his clothes and onto the swing. Yuck!*

Anyway, I got to try out this special sauce pictured above! The ingredients called for 1- 1/2 tsp of bouquet and I knew that we weren't talking about flowers here. I was able to locate it in the grocery store pretty easily. This stuff is really good! I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I think it's been around forever. It brings up memories of my Nana's kitchen. I'm not positive but I think she used it....it kind of reminds me of her wallpaper.

So, midway through chopped suey, I heard Wyatt make a gurgling sound in the living room. I turn from the stove and see him standing in the doorway with red stuff streaming out of his mouth. I didn't have my glasses on, so at first it looked like blood. My heart stopped and I ran to him. Thankfully it wasn't blood, but pasta coming up. He just stood there and just kept heaving out massive quantities on himself and the floor. There were no sinks or toilets within a mile of us so I just kept him there until he was done. Poor, poor thing! He'd never thrown up before and I think it was traumatic for him. I know it was traumatic for me, not to mention that it was all over the couch, throw pillows and the floor. He managed throw up again as I led him to the bathroom and then again ON the toilet and the wall. Chunks people!! Chunks! I have never seen such chunkiness or such quantity (maybe b/c as adults we usually get most of it in a contained location) and the color was so red. Not orange but red.......... He is doing fine today, thankfully. My couch, not so much. Any suggestions besides soap and water? It stinks pretty bad! Help!

Well, if you're still interested, here is my mother-in-law's recipe, which was delicious by the way and not overly complicated. I am renaming it here, but you don't have to call it..............

Up-chuck Chopped Suey

*upchuck is optional

Saute: 1 large onion diced and celery 3 to4 stalks diced in large pot

-when soft add 4 lbs of cubed meat (usually 2 lbs of pork and 2 lbs of beef but I just used beef)

-brown and add about 2 tsp of kitchen bouquet while browning

-add 1-1/2 TBS of bead sauce (I used molasses)

-add 1/4 bottle of soy sauce

-fill pot with water to cover meat 1"

-cover and simmer 1-1/2 hours till meat is tender

-before serving add 1/2 cup of Argo Starch that has been dissolved in water

-pour over rice (with slotted spoon)

Spring!

2010-03-06T20:25:00.000-08:00

Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

The Engineer Arguing with the Architect

2010-03-06T20:15:00.000-08:00

This picture makes me laugh! I love that my cousin LeeAnn is on the floor playing with my son!

7 minute frosting

2010-03-05T08:05:00.000-08:00

7 minute frosting
(The best frosting I've ever had in my life!)

3 egg whites, unbeaten
2-1/4 cups sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup water
1 TBS light corn syrup
1-1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine egg whites, sugar, salt, water and corn syrup in top of 2 quart double boiler. Beat about 1 minute. Then place over boiling water and beat constantly with rotary beater (hand held mixer) at high speed for 7 minutes or until frosting will stand in stiff peaks. Remove from boiling water. For a very smooth satiny frosting, pour at once into a large bowl for final beating. Then add vanilla and beat 1 minute or until thick enough to spread.

This stuff is delicious!! Ever so much better than butter cream even pretends to be! It's amazing that out of these few ingredients you get this fluffy, beautiful pan-full. I wish it only took 7 minutes to make, but alas, you will be standing in front of the hot boiling water much longer than that...hmmm maybe 15 minutes? You have to cook and beat it long enough or it will kind of melt off the cake. If your making a sheet cake, then maybe you want it this way. I prefer it crunchy on the outside and gushy on the inside. Nobody makes this stuff anymore. We're all so used to store bought things. If you're in an old-fashioned mood and want something different, then make it! Make it! You won't be disappointed.

daily attitude

2010-03-04T09:40:00.001-08:00

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

The things I feel terrified of:
Someone close to me dying.
Car accident
Things I feel discouraged about:
Money
my lack of energy

I need to remember that God is with me and that I do not have to feel terrified or discouraged. He will work it out. He will help me cope, work through or change the circumstances. Yesterday, the rabbi at the funeral said some things that pierced me. I've heard them before, even from the man sitting behind me(Bud my pastor) but yesterday I felt convicted of my selfishness......of wanting God to follow MY life instead of me following after HIS. Now, I believe he has given me responsibilities in my children and in my husband. I think these two things are a given, but in my attitude about my day is where I am selfish. I have the control to change my attitude towards it, especially in how I spend my time and thought patterns. When I am driving somewhere, instead of worrying about getting there, I should be looking around me and asking God to show me His will for the day. Instead of worrying about getting the food on the table and trying to just get it done, I should be opening my heart up to my son while I'm preparing it. My attitude isn't overly bad but it isn't overly good either.
God be with me. Please be with me when I am waking in the morning unrested, nursing my baby, changing diapers, wiping the stickiness off the table, playing cars with my son, nursing, walking to the park, talking to the people I meet there, preparing lunch, nursing, washing dishes, playing puzzles, cleaning up toys, preparing for nap time, emailing, cooking dinner, nursing, cleaning up toys, greeting my husband, washing dishes, preparing my sons for bed, nursing and then finally spending time with my husband, nursing and then when I lay my head on the pillow. Please help my daily chores not be a competition for attention with Wyatt, but help me blend him into the work so that he feels loved and needed. Give me the wisdom to teach him your ways and please, please make me an example of how to live your ways......daily.

So, I just have to say that in the middle of writing this, I have nursed, changed 2 diapers and saved my baby from Wyatt's torture. I hear Wyatt laughing loudly in the living room while I am changing out of my pj's. "I wonder what is so funny?" I say to myself. I peek around the corner and see Zane with a big metal pot on his head. It is covering his head and half his torso. All you can see are legs kickng and Wyatt sitting beside the kicking legs, laughing. Zane is absolutely quiet. I don't know if that is out of fear or because he likes having a cold, metal pot on his head. "Wyatt, you are in trouble!"

Pink Weekend

2010-03-01T07:43:00.000-08:00

What did we do this weekend? Well, Jon spent Friday-Sunday in the pink bathroom. What started off as a new grouting/caulking job on the tub turned into a let's-fix-the-toilet.........into the pipe cracked and then broke off inside the wall.....into let's cut a hole in our closet wall to be able fix the pipe (instead of ripping out tile in the bthrm wall).......into let's learn how to sweat pipes. But my hubby did it! He bought a blowtorch to sauter and a electric saw to cut a hole in our wall. What a renaissance man! Needless to say, he is sick of being in our pink bathroom!
.Meanwhile, I am making this cake, which took ALL day Saturday. It was the most complicated thing I have ever baked in my life! 3 layers and 7 minute frosting. Anyone made 7 minute frosting before? I took my life in my hands making it, let me tell you! It required a double boiler, which I don't have, so I improvised and boiled water in a giant pot with a little pot floating in it. Then, I used a hand-held mixer and beat the frosting for ,um, 15 minutes. What happened to 7??!! The whole time, Zane is screaming and water is jumping out of the pot trying to burn me! I was sorely disapointed, too when my cake turned out looking like a giant zinger or a character off the muppets!
I think it looked better after I tucked in my little signs........
Isn't she beautiful? All, for this tiny little Madeline Mae! .......so worth it!

Natural Disasters and kids

2010-02-26T07:35:00.000-08:00

Why is it that when I leave the room I always feel like something bad is going to happen? Maybe it's b/c it almost always does..... Why do I have to leave my sons alone at all? Well, I don't take them to the bathroom with me and Wyatt usually does his own thing while I nurse in the bedroom (why I nurse in the bedroom is another long story). Today his "own thing" was salt. Before we even had breakfast, this is what I was faced with! Have you heard of people having an "eagle eye"? Well, I possess an eagle ear. I can usually asses what's going on in the other rooms with my super sensitive hearing. These two situations surpassed even my super human powers .
Note to self: Never let your toddler see you throw away old mascara in the trashcan. He will most assuredly dig it out and wreak havoc. Yes, he wrote on his baby brother's head. He also wrote on the table, which I don't have pictured here.

Eye of the Tiger

2010-02-22T18:06:00.000-08:00

I forgot to caption this pic before......we're all singing Eye of the Tiger....and really getting into it. :O) Sing it with us now...........and put some feeling into it!

Risin' up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast
You change your passion for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

Chorus:
It's the eye of the tiger, it's the cream of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all in the eye of the tiger

Face to face, out in the heat
Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry
They stack the odds 'til we take to the street
For we kill with the skill to survive

chorus

Risin' up, straight to the top
Have the guts, got the glory
Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop
Just a man and his will to survive

chorus

The eye of the tiger (repeats out)...

cartography

2010-02-22T08:15:00.000-08:00

This is a watercolor rendering to go along with a proposal for a Lake Cherokee mural. This is just to give them an idea of the style I would paint in. It would be about 4'x10' acrylic on canvas. I think I would really enjoy working on this. It's big and would take forever but a little more exciting than dirty diapers, dishes and laundry right?

My Valentines

2010-02-19T18:32:00.001-08:00

Wyatt and Zane's 1st Valentines party.

This little girl, Kinsey, is so cute! She and Zane just kept looking at each other.

Family Visit II

2010-02-19T18:17:00.000-08:00

"Wyatt, can I have some of your ice cream?"

Family Visit

2010-02-16T12:20:00.000-08:00

Baths in the winter can be cold! We try to keep Zane covered with warmth while he bathes.

Snow view from Wyatt's window

Samuel played Legos everyday with Uncle Jon

Yummy! Renee made a homemade cheesecake.

Uncle Brian did a mean "bucking bronco"!

Of course, we had to make homemade pizzas!

Wyatt was with his Aunti 'Ne wherever she went. They had so much fun together. I overheard Wyatt today saying "Bye, bye Auntie 'Ne, Uncle Brian, cousin Samuel and Auntie Tyne" I looked into the room and saw that he had his cars lined up and had named them after some of his favorite people.

Cousins! We really miss you Samuel!

Snow!!!

2010-02-15T14:10:00.000-08:00

The first snow in YEARS! 5 to 6 inches

My Swiss Chalet

2010-02-12T08:46:00.000-08:00

view from my kitchen window

This is one of the most wonderful moments. I am standing in my swiss-chalet kitchen heating up hot chocolate for my family. There is snow outside my window and my sweet baby is fast asleep. "The Boys" (cousin Samuel, my husband Jon and Uncle Brian) are playing Legos and Wyatt is playing games on the computer with his Auntie 'Ne. (My relatives are visiting from Kentucky and brought 3inches of beautiful snow with them!) There is nothing half so fun as being snowed in with family, games and creamy cocoa. What a peaceful, happy moment sent from God. All is well in the Vashey Home.
P.S. More pics of family and snow coming soon!

Milestone

2010-02-09T12:57:00.000-08:00

Zane turned over from front to back 3 times in a row! Go Zane!

Beautiful

2010-02-03T13:16:00.000-08:00

Yes, Zane is sitting in a pink Bumbo.....

I haven't posted this week b/c I've been trying to get our spare room cleaned out. Why is this interesting? Has anyone seen the show Hoarders on TV? Yep, everytime I walk in there I feel like that's what I am becoming. There used to be boxes stacked to the ceiling. Those are finally gone and there is just random stuff that I don't know what to do with and don't know where to put, don't want to throw it away, or sell it in a garage sale......like my 3rd grade elephant scultpture or my bins of fabrics? Wyatt thinks it's his personal playground and that really, really doesn't help my cause. My relatives will be staying in that room over the next weekend and I want it to be beautiful! Yes, beautiful! .....with curtains on the windows, a vase of flowers on the bedside table that we don't have, dust free, box free, random elephant scultpture, cool rocks from africa, art magazines, strange toadstool from one of my doll photoshoots, and lots and lots of red pipecleaners(not sure why I have so many red ones) free! beautiful, beautiful, beautiful beautiful.....maybe if I chant that to myself softly over and over, the next time I enter the room it will just be SO. The power of positive thinking? :o) Yep, I'm a hoarder!