Meet Our New Family Member

After thinking about it for well over a year, and putting it off, then thinking about it some more, Kyle and I decided to add to our family. But not in the way that everyone around us keeps asking about- no, we are not having a new baby. Or at least not a new HUMAN baby- yet. We have added a new kitty baby to our family, and we could not be any more excited about her. 

Meet Alice.

She's the sweetest thing since candy. Her spunky, playful personality fits in so well with our family.


We brought her home last weekend, and we have spent the week loving her, and allowing her to adjust to her new forever home.

Our first baby, Jasper, who is about 4 1/2 years old, has had the roughest time getting used to her. However, to our surprise, he has adjusted must faster than we thought he would. He went from hissing at her every time he saw her, and hiding upstairs all day, to running through the house with her, and playing kitty games half the day- all in a matter of 4 short days.

It's almost like instant friends.

We can't wait to watch her grow, and see how the dynamics between Jasper and Alice develop. (Does anyone understand where their names come from?) ;)

8 years down. Many more to go.

Today is the 8 year anniversary of when Kyle and I started dating. 

Want to hear a story?

I'll tell you how it all began...

(2005, I was 17! Holy Moly!)

I was the photo lab girl at Eckerds Drug Store when Kyle was hired as our new cashier in June 2005. 

I wouldn't say it was love at first sight, but when I saw him for the first time, I knew something was different. I like to think I knew that he would have a very special meaning to me.

4 months later, we had our first date at the movie theater- we saw The Exorcism of Emily Rose (awful movie, BTW). He was a gentleman. He came to pick me up, and met my mom for the first time.

It was a night I will never forget. I remember the next morning walking around school with a permanent smile plastered to my face all day long. I seriously could not take it off. I had had my first date. Little did I know, my first date would eventually become my husband.

(You can see the tutorial on how to make this graphic here)

This all happened 8 years ago, and I still remember every detail like it was yesterday. Not many people find a love like ours, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to spend a lifetime with an amazing man, who loves me for who I am. He's supportive, and kind, and just perfect for me.

In the last 8 years we've been on quite the journey together.
In 2008 we moved into our first apartment together.
Shortly after that, we added Jasper, our first fur baby to our family.
In 2009, we were married.
In 2010, we moved into a house, and welcomed our first baby, Jackson, into our family.

We've laughed, we've cried, we've worried, and we've dreamed. But through it all, we were together, holding each others hand, and supporting one another.

I couldn't have found a perfect partner in life.

Family Time + September Savings

This long weekend we had the privilege of being able to visit my parents in Ohio. It's always a treat when we get to spend time with them. We've spent the weekend catching up, laughing, and enjoying our short time together. It makes me truly happy to be with my parents, who have lived hundreds of miles away from us for the last two years. They moved from our home town two long years ago for work for my dad. Fortunately we only have to deal with them being away for another 7 months, when my dad retires, and they are able to move back to Delaware. It's been extra hard having them away because of Jackson. Having a child makes the realization of passing time that much more noticeable. My dads birthday is in a few days so we will celebrate today with them and then leave for home late tonight or early tomorrow. 

Want to save money on Hoot & Bumble products? This entire month of September you can save 15% on all orders by using the coupon code SEPT15 at check out. 

A Week at a Glance

We had a good week. A hike in the woods,

 A break while hiking,

Practicing some letters,

A new neighbor friend for Jackson,

Jackson dressed up for a visit to Yiayia and Papou's house. The second outfit was the next day.

Being goofy,

A casino, and game date night with my handsome hubby,

& a Sunday morning spent crafting with my little guy. 

Life couldn't get any better than this. <3 Enjoy your week!

{Our Weekly Family Recap}

We had another great week. We had a lot of adventures and "firsts". 

Earlier in the week we visited the Grand Opera House and saw a showing of Pinocchio. It was Jackson's first trip to the theater, and he loved it. We also visited a local wild life refuge with friends. We had the most perfect weather for it, and we were able to learn some pretty awesome facts.

Kyle's family is very musical, and many of them play instruments. They love getting together to play bluegrass music. Saturday night we had a super fun family gathering that included live music, dancing, singing, laughing, kids running everywhere, and great food.

Even our little Jackson played music. He has a guitar, and he loves to sit in the circle with the other musicians and pretend to play. He actually keeps a pretty good beat. I see lots of music lessons in his future. 

I even played a little. Well, not really, but I tried. {One day I hope to learn to play too, so I can play with the family}

***

Sunday Kyle, Jackson, and I spent a few hours at Lums Pond State Park. We took Jackson on his first paddle boat ride, and we got to watch the zip liners fly across the pond over our heads. 

Kyle also spent some time teaching Jackson the fun of disc golf, a sport his family loves to play. Jackson loved the concept and enjoyed throwing his frisbee while Kyle and I played a few holes. This was Jackson's first disc golf experience of many.

Some more photos of our visit to the state park.

Words can not express the joy I feel when I get to spend time with my family, doing the things we love. It doesn't get any better than the days we had together this first weekend in August. 

The Best Wake Up Call {Ever}

I have the sweetest boy in the world. 

At some point in the night, Jackson sneaked into our bed, right in the middle of Kyle and I. I normally hear him come in. Last night, I did not. 

He likes to some times sleep with out a shirt on- like Daddy- and waking up to see his little bare arms with their disappearing baby fat pockets in the middle of the night was priceless.

Around 7:45am, I was woken by a soft sweet kiss on my neck, and the words "hi mamawuv".

I call him babylove sometimes, and one day he responded by calling me mamalove. It melts my heart every time. I adore it. 

Please, let him stay as sweet as he is now. 

First Dance + Song Lyrics Wedding Picture Tutorial Part 1: How to create a photo graphic

November 28, 2009. 

A day that changed my life forever. 

In one of the best ways possible. 

The day I became Mrs. Kyle Leahy.

I will never forget our first dance as husband & wife. We were both so nervous, in a smiley, embarrassed kind of way. We aren't great dancers + we don't like to be the center of attention. But when I walked up there to the dance floor- with the most handsome man alive- my husband{!} all of that nervousness I felt melted away. It was just me and him. Forever. Always. My Endless Love.

We chose Endless Love as our song because it's a song that we both love. We chose the Mariah Carey and Luther Vandross version. We feel the lyrics of the song fit our relationship perfectly. I just love everything about the song, and it is even more special now that it is our song. 

I found this picture of a couples first dance  with the words from the song printed it on pinterest, and knew I wanted to make one. For most of my graphics, I use PicMonkey.com to create them. It is fun, and easy to use, and can turn most pictures into something amazing with just a little creativity. My only complaint is that sometimes the editing and saving is a little slow. But as long as I don't have many pictures to edit, I can handle it.

So for this project, I found our cds with our wedding photos, and took a little trip down memory lane, getting distracted a few times before deciding on this picture to use.

I uploaded it into picmonkey, using the edit a photo button, cropped it to the size I wanted {in this case, 8x10}, and began editing. 

First, I took all the color out of it using their colors tab on the left side. Then, I adjusted the exposure so it was a little darker. I wanted the shadows to be darker than normal so the white words would stick out on it a little better.

{On the left side of the screen there are basic edit buttons. For most of my photos I use exposure, color, and crop.}

Next I started the process of adding the text. To get text options, click on the "P" on the left side of the screen. There you will find an add text button, and a vast variety of font options. Play around with the fonts to see which one you like.

Click the "add text" button at the top left, and a box will pop up on the screen. From there you can adjust the size, placement, orientation font, and color of the text. While making mt picture, I used a different text box for every phrase, or size of the text. This made it easy to adjust and move the text around to be how I wanted it. I also used the circle above the text to rotate some of the words for variety. There were some words I left out too. This project is completely flexible, and easy to personalize.

When everything looks how you want it to look, click save at the top of your screen. This will allow you to download your file back to your computer. I usually just click "download it" under "Having trouble saving your photo?" because the other saving option doesn't always work for me. 

I have made so many graphics and great pictures using PicMonkey. There are so many ways to use the website to create amazing things. There is even a Royal, or paid version {like a membership}, but so far, I haven't needed it. I use all of their free options. 

Here are some of the other graphics I have made using PicMonkey.

Now, I will upload the wedding lyrics picture file to my favorite photo printing website, and order an 8x10 picture. When I receive it, I will show you how I plan to make a photo canvas out of it for our wall.

I'd love to see your photo creations, if you make any using PicMonkey. Please share them with me on Facebook, or email them to me at HootandBumble@gmail.com

**Updated to add the link for Part 2 pf this project: how to create a photo canvas**

{Sunshine Sunday}

This past week we've been on vacation. We spent 3 days at Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, our home state. It was our first hotel stay with Jackson, and our first extended beach vacation, just the 3 of us.

We had so much fun, and we enjoyed the time we got to spend together as a family. We really felt like we had to make the most of it before things get crazy the next few months when school starts for me, and as I look for a new job. 

We left on Wednesday morning, and had breakfast in Dover with MomMom Peggy, Kyle's grandmother, since her house was halfway way to the beach. We decided after that to spend a few hours at Killens Pond State Park, and visit the water park they have. It was really crowded with camp kids, but Jackson loved the little water slides they had for his age. 

Thursday wasn't a great beach day. It was cold, windy, and overcast with a constant threat of rain. We spent some time on the boardwalk playing mini golf, and enjoyed some arcade games. Jackson won an armful of stuffed animals, and couldn't have been any happier. Thursday evening we decided we didn't want to waste any more beach time, so after dinner we packed up chairs, and some beach toys and set up on the beach even though it was a little chilly. The sun was starting to peek through the clouds even though it was almost sunset. We hung out on the beach for a while, and had a good portion of the beach to ourselves. We didn't swim, but spent time relaxing, playing in the sand, and flying our kite.

On Friday, we had great weather, and we were on the beach by 9:30am, before most other people arrived. We got a great spot up front near the waters edge, and spent hours playing in the sand, and jumping waves. It was an amazing day. Kyle has never been much for the beach, but has recently started enjoying it. I was so happy to see him loving the ocean, and not wanting to leave. The rest of the day was spent having lunch, riding rides at Funland, and then stopped for dinner on our way home.

I am so happy, and grateful that we had those few days together at the beach, and the entire week together as a family. I love my little family so much, and can't imagine my life without them. Any
time spent together with them is time well spent. I hope I never take them for granted.

** 

This week we will be getting back into our daily hustle of work, and everyday life. I am working on some new designs for the Hoot & Bumble shop, so I'll be excited to show you what's coming next.

Don't forget to use the 10% off a purchase of $6 or more with coupon code VACATION2013. Ends Tuesday July 30th. 

Being Mommy

Today is Tuesday, so this is my first parenting post. {Yay!}

I thought it would be fitting to tell all my new readers a bit about motherhood from my view in the world.

//I am the mother of a 3 year old little boy, named Jackson. I'm sure any mother can relate when I say my son is my world. He's my biggest on-going project, and I fully intend to get a good grade on this roller coaster of a project. He is an amazing little boy, full of wonder, and more life than I've ever seen in a person.

//We spend all of our days together, playing, exploring, and learning new things about each other. Jackson is so much fun, and keeps every day different and interesting.

//I never know whether to describe myself as a working mom or a stay at home mom. I work part time as a nanny, but I never have to leave my son. He gets to come to work with me! How cool is that? We really do have the best of both worlds. For now at least.

//During the school year I go to school somewhere in between full time and part time depending on the semester. I major in Elementary Education. Hopefully I will be starting my first year teaching the same year Jackson starts kindergarten. Then we can still enjoy summers together. 

//Some days being a mother is HARD. But I was put on this earth to be a mother. I always knew it & most days I can't get enough of it. It is the hardest, most rewarding job I have ever had. I can't wait to see what kind of person he grows to be. 

I'd love to know what your thoughts on this post are. I'd also love to hear any suggestions for posts you'd like to read about. Please give me you suggestions.

xxxx

Elizabeth

Sunshine Sunday- family updates

The countdown to my vacation is down to the final 5 days. I work through Thursday this week and then I'm off for 10 days. To start off my vacation I get an entire girls weekend in Charlottesville,VA with my best friend- kid less! The hubs has the minion to himself all weekend. I've never been away for a weekend, and I'm sooo looking forward to it. We have a lot of amazing things planned for the weekend. I will update when I return :)

My parents went back to Ohio a few days ago, and we are still recovering from spending so much time with them. We miss them so much already, and can't wait to go visit them. {We are anxiously awaiting and counting down until they come home for good in April or May of 2014}.

I am spending my weekend cleaning up the house {to prepare it for a weekend of Daddy and Jackson next weekend}, spending time with family, relaxing, and of course, sewing, sewing, sewing!

In the mean time, I am finishing up the stocking of my shop for launch this Thursday night! Go ahead, be excited! I can't wait to give the grand opening announcement!

{my thoughts for today}

Here are my thoughts for today: 

//One thing I feel like I am constantly being reminded of is to cherish the healthy relationships I have with the people who are there for me, and who are the positive influences in my life, and to spend less time with the negative ones, the people who bring me down, the black clouds.

//I think most everyone has those people in their lives that for some reason or another just have negativity all around them. Distancing yourself from these people is the best thing to do.

//For me, I try to always remember the people who have been there for me unconditionally, throughout the years no matter what. These are the people I put my energy into.

//On that note, I am going to bed tonight thankful for the loving and supportive family and friends we have. We are so blessed to have such great positive people surrounding us and cheering us on. 

Weekend fun!

                     The weekend has just begun and we are already making the most of it.

//We woke up early this morning and went to our local orchard to pick fresh blueberries. This is one of my favorite things to do in the summer. Have you ever tried blueberries straight from the bush? They are amazing! So tasty and complete goodness. One of the best tastes of summer. 

//After picking blueberries we went over to the orchard market for some farm fresh eggs, green beans, and apple cider donuts! Yummy! Later we will make blueberry muffins, and zucchini bread from a giant zucchini my father in law grew!

//We plan to spend the rest of the weekend with my parents, soaking up our time with them as much as we can before they go back to Ohio. Oh, and in between all of that I am taking little breaks to work on Hoot & Bumble :)