Anthro Love

My friend Genette is talented. So talented it's intimidating. Not that she wants you to be intimidated, of course, but she's amazing--it can't be helped. She designs purses and handbags for a high-end company named Lockheart. Before Lockheart she designed for Isabella Fiore (I liked them better before she left). Her designs have been featured in magazines and carried by celebs.

Here are a couple of purses she designed recently. Anthropologie loved them and ordered them en masse. You can find these in your October and November Anthro catalog. Aren't they gorgeous!

Frill-Seeker Satchel

Embroidered Heaths Bag

Vintage Love

We didn't do much today, what with the kids so sick and all, but I did have the chance to go with my mom and Katelyn to the Orland craft fair. Katelyn had a blast. She went from vendor to vendor, touching every piece of jewelery and interesting craft. She would've bought it all if she could...even the wooden snowman in the camouflage scarf that read, "Proud to Serve".

I fell in love with the old fashioned wooden cars, trucks, trains and planes. They were handmade and painted by a cute old man who was there with his adorable old wife, selling their adorable toys. I loved it all! Katelyn chose a Red Baron fighter plane for herself and I chose a blue logging truck for Littleman, with real (mini) logs.

They both love their new toys...

...but I still think I love them more!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had an excellent Thanksgiving yesterday with family, friends and about a half dozen LDS missionaries. The weather was just warm enough that we were able to eat outside in my parents beautiful back yard. The trees were bursting with leaves in all shades of brown, yellow, orange and red. I feel like I am finally getting my fall. (Did I mention the weather was in the 80's when we left SoCal Wednesday? We're experiencing and endless summer!)

After dinner, the boys all gathered for a game of frisbee golf. My brother-in-law set up a course around my parent's 25-acres a couple years ago. It is one of their favorite pass-times when they are here. I also ventured out and caught a couple pictures of my Littleman, who LOVES all the space to run around at grandma and grandpa's. Sadly, all the cold air did him in. He and Katelyn are both coming down with something nasty, and are no longer allowed outside. :(

Today we ventured out for a little Black Friday excitement. Kohl's was a madhouse. There were people everywhere and the lines wound throughout the whole store. Katelyn got lost. She was with her grandma. One second she was there and the next second she was gone. Because it was so crowded and Black Friday, my mind was in a panic. I thought the chances were good that someone had snatched her. Code Yellow was announced over the speakers. I told the workers her description. I could remember every single detail of the clothing she wore that day. I had helped her pick it out myself. I doubt more than three minutes had passed (but it felt like an eternity), and they had found her. She told the worker who found her that she was looking for her mom, and that she was very brave. Then she helped herself to another complimentary candy cane.

After that big adventure we headed to the mall, where Katelyn met Santa Claus. After some hesitation and waving from a distance, she went up and told him that she wanted a princess doll for Christmas, and that was all. He gave her a coloring book and a hug, and she decided that Santa was a nice guy and not at all scary like she had thought.

Tonight my kids have fevers and barking coughs. Zach has rosy cheeks, which has my mom convinced that he has 5th Disease. That sounds scary to me, but she says that all kids get it and it's no big deal. Either way, I have a feeling that tonight is going to be a LONG night!

SIRIUSly Rad!

We spent all last night and on into the morning driving from the south of California to the north. It is a drive that our family is all too familiar with. When we are lucky, our children sleep, and Adam and I are left to our own long, deep conversations. We look for shooting stars and drink Rockstar to stay awake. Once the Rockstar kicks in, my husband's mind goes into overdrive, and then the conversation gets REALLY interesting! Ahhh, fun times!

Last night's trip was going along quite as usual as ever. We were struggling to get some fuzzy AM radio reception somewhere between the Harris Ranch and Coalinga, when all of a sudden I noticed the dash button on our rental car--a button I had never seen before.

SIRIUS, it said.

I was excited. I immediately pushed it....It worked!!

The rest of our trip was anything but normal. We tuned in, exploring this completely new (to us) world of satellite radio. We found the 80's channel and stayed there. The Talkingheads, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, U2, the Cure...it was a blast (from the past)! We both agreed that it was totally rad! And when we arrived in Orland at 5 am I was wearing a side pony and Adam was wearing high tops. (Okay, I made that part up.)