Thank You!

We are almost at the close of the auction and I am so grateful to all those who have participated! I will announce tomorrow who won. As I look through all the auctions that have been held for this family, I can't believe what a difference people can make, you can make. So thank you old friends and new ones. I know that every bit helps. I am going to be putting these two prints up for auction in Sept. for a family a friend told me about. They too have had a recent tragedy that would would be benefit from financial help. I will tell you details in Sept.


Anyone interested in purchasing these prints they are on my etsy site, http://www.peekabooprints.etsy.com/. All my prints are can be customized.

P.S. Strange small rash-like itchy, stingy bumps are appearing all over my legs, my husbands too. We think it is from jellyfish in Mexico since my husband saw several and says he felt one sting. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Nie Day

Nie Day!

Please join today's effort to donate to the Nielson family by bidding on one or all of these three prints! I can change the children's skin and hair coloring , (and dog), to your specifications and can personalize with names. Please forgive my Etsy site, it is under construction and most of my prints aren't on there right now! All of these prints are printed on beautiful museum etching, 100% rag paper. They turn out really nicely. They are 8.5 by 11" which leaves a nice margin for framing.

1. Dreams of a super Nature

2. Little Friend

3. Brothers

I will start the bid at $5 on each of them.
Write your next bid in the comments section along with the name of the one you are bidding for. Keep checking to see who is the highest bidder.
Only bid in increments of dollars, (not pennies!). If someone out bids you, keep adding your bid in the comments section. When I close the bidding on Sat. night at midnight I will email the winner. And once you have won the bid, I will have you send the money to the Stephanie and Christian Neilson Fund.

Check out my sister's awesome handmade tree shirts at http://www.cwelton.blogspot.com/ for auction for the same cause. You will love them, (very hip)!


When I was in Mexico I wrote about a sweet family that has experience a terrible tragedy. I a few blocks away from Stephanie's family and have followed her blog for some time. I love seeing the love she has for mothering and the devotion she and her husband share for their family. You will be touched by them too if you go to http://www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com.%20last/Last Saturday she was in a terrible private plane crash with her sweet husband and they both have terrible burns and are in critical condition. Her four darling children are living with family in Utah while Stephanie and Christian are in an Arizona hospital. You can read their story http://www.cjanerun.com/. Today I am joining in an effort to raise money for their recovery and the needs of their children. There will be silent auctions on blogs everywhere. You can auction on these three prints and all proceeds will be given directly to the family.

nie images taken from nieniedialogues

ooohhh Mexico!

para sailing

giving my Spanish a shot with the locals

sweaty and hot searching for the chapel on Sunday

snorkeling

touring around

Of course the last time we went to Puerto Vallerta we were on our honeymoon. No children. We didn't take them but we didn't' anticipate how much they would affect our trip. We had such a hard time leaving them. We left them with my amazing sister Carrie and niece. My sister has three children of her own. My niece is the oldest of nine, but I am not sure she know what she as in for! They were both so great!

But after the first couple days of talking about how much fun they would have if they had come, we really had a blast. We relaxed and played all week. We snorkeled, para sailed, hiked around, ate and, relaxed on the beach and played in the ocean.

When we reurned at 11:30, but I coud'nt resist bring the kids in bed with us. It was so good to see them!

visiting my grandmother, she is 100 years old and such a strong woman.

When we picked up the boys, my brother was visiting from India so we had a chance to see him

It is can't believe eight years have come and gone. It was so fun to visit the same place and stay in the same condo. It made me realize how happy I am to have many more years ahead.

Visit tomorrow to participate in an auction benefiting Nie and her family. I will be aucitoning three prints. See you tomorrow.

prayers for nie

I went to high school with a girl named Stephanie Nielson, then Clark. I didn't know her well but I did know her brother Jessie and her cousins Nick and Jayne that were my age. Jayne is a friend of mine. And a few years ago I stumbled on to Nie's website, www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com. I loved reading it because even though she was two years younger than me, she has had 4 kids and she is an example of a loving mother and wife that is truly happy. She is creative and sweet.

Recently I emailed her and she we emailed a bit. She was going to do a spread on my art and I was so excited but held back when I had computer problems and recently even had to order a new printer. But I was excited to finally be featured on nie as I recently took my Etsy Site off hold. Anyway, I am writing today from beautiful Puerto Vallarta to ask for prayers for this dear person and her beautiful family. She and her husband were in a private plane crash and she is in critical condition. Find out how you can help on www.cjanerun.com. I will write more when I return.

Love, Jen

failed resolutions

Why- why do I do this to myself? I just had a frightening experience. It is a reoccurring one. I was missing library books. Now one reason I blog is so that I don't feel alone in my stupidity. So please, help me out here.

I finally found the blessed books and I was so thrilled. They are always in really strange places that my kids have put them. One was in between the guest room mattress and box spring. Why would I look there? I had to pay a hefty fine. A fine which I can not put into print for fear that my husband will read this. Anyway- I paid the fine and told my children, "just look today and we will read here". Because, of course, I was recommitted to no longer checking out any books. Of course moderation is not the answer, no. I can't just check out 4-5 books. Not even 10-12. So I just ban myself, (and my children), from getting any. Well I start to wander the library with my three little ones in tow. They, like me, pick up anything that strikes their fancy. Soon I have gathered up all I, the stroller and my six year old can carry. I move to check them out when my oldest reminds me of my resolution. I quickly talk my way out of it. He, of course, lets me. Why do I do this to myself? Why, why? I have that syndrome that people that survived the great depression have. You know where they hoard food because of their survival instinct? Of course I was never deprived of books. My dad was a professor. My house was lined with bookshelves brimming with them.

I guess the more appropriate example is those people that go to receptions or all-you-can-eat events and they feel compelled, because they can and its available, take a napkin with a few of the snacks to go. Why? They are full? You can only eat so many mint and chocolate brownies? I have a loved one who does this. But she shall remain nameless because she raised me so I don't want to give her up. I hope I didn't give anything away there.

I get into that library and there are no limits! I feel the need to check out any and every children's book I see. I try to tell myself, like I do my children, I can get it next time. But like my children, I pretend not to hear me. Unfortunately, I am a very slow learner. I better start saving my change.

hmmmm.....

This morning as my oldest drank his protein, peach and banana smoothie, he observed in dismay that a smoothie can never be a milk shlakie. Shlakie is my husband's word for milkshake, I have no idea why we have an alternate name for everything. I agreed with him. Indeed a smoothie never can be a milk shlakie, just as I can never be 5'9, our outside cat can never be an inside dog, and our pond can not, despite our best efforts, be a hot tub. "hmmm," he pondered for a moment, "well there is something we can do about the smoothie."

Happy Birthday Carrie

Carrie(top left), Katie, (top right), me, (bottom right), Mitch, (bottom left)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARRIE! Today is my amazing sister's birthday. I actually have 5 amazing sisters, this is the one just older than me. I always aspired to be like her. Carrie- sings like a diva, cooks and bakes like a pro, plays the guitar and piano beautifully, has a solution for everything. She is a person that would and does anything for the people she knows,(twice has driven 6-7 hours to pick up my kids when I was desperate). She is a patient and gentle mother to 3 children 3 years old and under. Carrie- I love you!