My Parker-man...and family

Here are a few random pictures from the past few months...I have no idea how to make the pictures look nice and put captions...so enjoy!!

Once I'm not so annoyed at uploading pictures, I may upload more! Or maybe I should just regularly update...either way, I hoped you enjoyed!

R+J Handmade

I am TERRIBLE about blogging...I did not get the "high-tech" genes I should have from my dad... so I am living my life struggling with even loading pictures onto Facebook. Aren't I supposed to be good at that sort of thing?? I'm not... so any free lessons are welcome!

With that said, I am going to attempt to keep up with the goings-on of my family and my sister's and my new Etsy shop R+J Handmade. I have to give my sister, Roxanne, most of the credit for this Etsy shop and our recent success in a "Holiday Shopping Party" a great friend, Whitney, hosted for a group of aspiring "business women" like ourselves. We had a great time hanging out, seeing old friends, and meeting new ones! I didn't take any pictures of the amazing event, but I did want to make a plug for some of my handmade products! :) Some of these are still available in our shop, but let me know if you do not see the items you like! I accept custom orders!

Don't forget that a huge part of R+J Handmade is ROXANNE! She makes the cutest hand towels and distressed picture frames!

Holiday Cards!

'Tis the season...for HOLIDAY CARDS! I can't wait to receive and send out these special cards. I love the simplicity of a current family picture and a Holiday greeting! I need some help deciding, though... which is YOUR favorite?? Shutterfly has so many different options that I can't decide on my own! (I may even order a personalized mug or wall calendar, too!) I could see my family's picture on ANY of these Christmas cards...

Pretty Package:

Vintage Merry:

Warm Wishes:

Love and Laughter:

Maybe I'll get them all! :) Let me know what YOU like... maybe I can make a decision from there!

I would love to order from Shutterfly for other photo needs! I have so many ideas for birthdays and parties that Shutterfly could help with! Let me know what you have used Shutterfly for or what you plan on using Shutterfly for in the future!

Purple Shoes.

I thought I could show you a little bit of what I get to do during naptime...mind you, I am not usually this productive (or unproductive...depending on how you look at it...). I also have loads and loads of laundry looming over me. It's pretty bad when your husband has to search high and low for a clean shirt. Anyway, on to today's project!!

I can't tell you how many times I have swooned over fun, colorful shoes only to pass them by to look for the more practical colors...I can't tell you how many pairs of black and brown shoes I have in my closet!! NO MORE, I tell you! I decided PURPLE is calling my name. Here's what you need:

A pair of black heels (or flats...) - Mine are from Target, 3 or 4 years ago

Paint - "Violet-Pansy" from Wal-Mart craft section

Mod Podge - Wal-Mart or craft store (I used Matte finish, but I think Glossy would be great, too!)

Paint Brush

I painted 3 coats of purple paint. (You could do more, but I was worried that more paint would mean more to scratch off.) I let each coat dry for at least 30 minutes before continuing. I didn't use any painters tape, but I did have to occasionally wipe the excess paint off the part of the sole that shows. That was pretty easy to clean up. If it drys, it's pretty simple to scratch off!

Once the paint is dry, grab your Mod Podge and paint a good layer. Remember that even though the Mod Podge dries clear, the texture stays. I wanted my strokes to look pretty uniform so I was careful to paint in the same direction.

Once the Mod Podge dries, you're done!! You basically have a new pair of shoes!

I have also made a "statement" necklace to wear with these shoes from scraps of fabric and buttons. I will try to post a picture and a "how-to" soon!

I hope you've enjoyed Naptime with Jessie. Tune in next time...well, maybe not. I will be doing our laundry...not quite as exciting as purple shoes.

-Jessie

California, Here We Come!

Well, we are home from an ADVENTUROUS journey to the great state of California!! It was sad to not wake up at Grams and Gramps' house on Saturday...but we had so much fun while we were there! For those of you who don't know, ALL of my extended family (on my mom's side) lives in Northern California near and in Yuba City. My grandparents just recently celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary, and we got to be at their party!!! It was an amazing time with friends and family.

This is ALMOST the entire clan of GREAT grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. (We barely missed Aunt Chris, Kira, and Jade...we will photo-shop them in!)

FIVE generations!!! What?! Awesome, huh? (Kyle, Parker, Jessie, Gramps/JD, Grams/Susie, Mammy/Mom/Tammy, Grandma Dyer/Dot, and Grandpa/Doc)

My mom's parents, and my grandmother's parents (They celebrated their 72nd anniversary in January!!!!)

Luke (cousin) and Grams; Luke's wearing his "I'm the best" smile.

Oh, yeah. Somewhere between these two pictures, we ALL got sick. All except the Parker and Jude. We passed it to a few aunts, uncles, and cousins...and Grams and Gramps. Talk about HORRIBLE timing.

After we recovered, we took a trip to the redwoods! Kyle had never seen them before, and it had been awhile for the rest of us. These pictures can't even capture the size and beauty these trees truly contain!

INSIDE a redwood! We also have pictures somewhere of a redwood tree that was cut down and made into a DANCE floor...that's how big around they are!

Aly, Misha (cousin), and Jude; Misha is due with her first baby, Kara, in about 3 weeks!!

My beautiful Grams and my chunky guy (Nicknamed "Munchkin" by Gramps!)

Aly and my awesome Gramps!

And just because he was being fun, bath time when we got home!

My cutie pie loved his bubble bath in the sink!

I HOPE Rox and Aly have some more good pictures I didn't even get to capture all the fun times we had with all of our family!

Until next time...BYE!

The Routh's Lately...

I said I would keep up with this...I guess posting every month is keeping up! Parker is now 6 months (today!) now so life is getting a little bit easier! The past couple of months have been so busy that we have barely been able to breathe! I'm excited to show you a small portion of our crazy life...

Parker's 5 month picture...so happy!

Aly (sis), Ashley (best friend/basically sis), and me

Whitney (friend/basically big sis) and Roxanne (sis)

Stone Girls and Rieves Girls...used to be at least! Amy Katherine (in the gorgeous blue dress) was on homecoming court at SBEC, and we all came to SCREAM for her! She is/was/always will be beautiful!!

Parker lets us know when he is ready for another bite by opening his mouth as wide as possible!

We also like to eat our toes...

Parker and his cousin, Jude! (Roxanne's youngest)

We spent a few days in Jackson and caught the snow! (Parker was not too fond of being bundled...)

Our CRAZY dog, Copper...LOVED the snow!

Me and my little guy!

My little family!

Parker with his Doc and Nanna (Kyle's parents)!

Pablo (my dad) and Parker - singing a kid's book to the tune of the Beverly Hillbillies theme song...hilarious.

Sleepy boy...fell asleep watching the Olympics.

Valentine's Day!

Being a dork in the snow...it actually stuck!

Continuing our tradition of caramel apples on Valentine's Day! Yum...

Long post? yes. I apologize...but I enjoyed sharing with you! Have a loverly, yes loverly, day!