Dry Ink Sneek Peak

Ethan helps make dinner

Ethan served himself some pumpkin pie and cool whip.
I made the from scratch red beans, rice, and sausage. 
Then Ethan felt he needed to make himself a more meaty main course.  Pig with an apple?  Heck no, not in our house.  ALLIGATOR with a rubber ball!

Santa Visits MyOmahaMommies

Story time with milk and cookies for Santa.  It is a great event and the boys had a blast.  If you are in Omaha, check out MyOmahaMommies.com and join today!

Jackson gave Santa a picture.  It was very cute and I wish I could have kept it.

Brennan was sweaty from playing a game with his friends, but he's still not too old to sit on Santa's lap, though I bet Santa wishes he'd not sat...Brennan is heavy.

Ethan did NOT want to hang out with Santa at all...who could blame him?  Go hang with a total stranger?  No thank you.

All three of my little elves.  They had a great time listening to stories, playing games, making cards for the Red Cross, and seeing all their MOM friends.

Neil Diamond Winner!

Loriann WINS...random.org was her friend this morning (just days after I said I'd pick a winner!)

 Here's her comment:

I absolutely love Girl, You'll be a Woman Soon. It takes me back to College. All my friends and I had a mixed tape (yes I'm old enough to have had mixed tapes in college) with that song on it. A lot of happy memories...

I will email you to get the ball rolling!  Thanks for entering everyone.



And, all the Christmas/holiday neck ties are just $7.50...order by Thursday to get it in time for Christmas Day services!

0.25 cent shipping in my etsy shop!

Yep, one quarter gets you shipping!
Code: JOLLY25 gets you 25% off.

We have a visitor at our house. Flat Crovan (google Flat Stanley if you need more details on that), visiting us from Denham Springs Elementary School in Louisiana.  We made him help shovel the driveway today and plan on having him help decorate birthday cakes tomorrow!  I wonder if he is good at dusting?

The Very Best of Neil Diamond...SO GOOD, SO GOOD, SO GOOD

How many of you have been at a wedding and heard the first few notes of "Sweet Caroline" and instantly perked up, knowing what was coming next?  I remember that one song being played at my friend Jamie's wedding, a few years ago.  I can't tell you a single other song that was sung, but I know THAT one was.

Or maybe you are flipping channels and you accidentally land on the "soft rock" station and hear the smooth voice of Neil singing "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" and instead of continuing your channel searching, you stop and listen, loving every second of it?
I remember my mom and dad attending a Neil Diamond concert when I was young, maybe five.  We lived in Utah.  I thought that was by far the coolest thing they could have done.

I still think concerts are the coolest thing to do, lol...and wish Neil Diamond was coming closer to Omaha (or Louisiana so my parents could go again!)

Neil Diamond was in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade...anybody get to see him?  We did!  It's funny how some singers stay classic and loved pretty much forever, and ND is one of those voices.  He's had 16 top ten albums and 37 top ten singles...not too shabby.  He was even inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame this year!

Neil will release his new c.d. "The Very Best of Neil Diamond" on December 6th...and it really is his best hits!  Considering he's been singing and writing songs since the 1960's, he's really achieved a great track record.  (get it, "track" record.. ;) )

Check out this playlist:

1. Forever In Blue Jeans

2. Beautiful Noise

3. Love On The Rocks

4. Cherry, Cherry

5. I Am…I Said

6. Sweet Caroline

7. Cracklin’ Rosie

8. Play Me

9. I’m A Believer

10. Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon

11. Holly Holy

12. Solitary Man

13. Song Sung Blue

14. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers

15. Hello Again

16. Red, Red Wine

17. If You Know What I Mean

18. Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show

19. Pretty Amazing Grace

20. Kentucky Woman

21. Shilo

22. America

23. Hell Yeah

Not a song on there that I don't love!  I am so excited to get a copy of my very own, thanks to Sony Music.

You can win a copy, too!

All you have to do is leave a comment with your very favorite Neil Diamond song.

Extra entries: 

1. Visit his website and tell me the closest concert coming your way.
2. Leave a comment telling me of a memory you have involving Neil Diamond.  You know you have one!
3. Follow @neildiamond on twitter
4. Follow me on facebook.  Leave a comment telling me you are there from this giveaway.

Contest runs through December 9th.  Winner will be notified via email and has 72 hours to claim the prize before we draw a second name.  Winner to be chosen via random.org

The title on this picture just made me giggle :)

I was not paid to write this review.  These are my own thoughts and feelings and I am so happy to get to share them with you!

Brennan's First BIG School Project

Brennan had an assignment over Thanksgiving break.  He had to make a poster on a holiday selected by his teacher.  It was a social studies project to teach the children about various celebrations around the world.
Brennan got Cinco De Mayo.  He did his research and answered each of the 6 topics.  Luckily it was all in bullet form so it was easy for him to organize on his own.  He did 95% of the work.  Me?  I found the red paper (already cut that size), thought that the index cards would be easy to use for the topics, and showed him how to use my Silhouette. 
Brennan was so proud of his poster and his teacher said his oral presentation went really really well!
It was really hard to sit back and let him do the poster on his own.  I wanted to help because it would have been so fun and easy to do.  :)  However, I am very proud of myself because I sat back and just gave some suggestions on how to better do things (or do them at all...he'd never used a tape runner).  I did not take over, which is a big deal for me, haha.  I think Brennan was most proud that he did it on his own, and it wound up looking so great!

Black Friday SUPER Sale Details!

Check out the Black Friday thru Cyber Monday sale at Confetti Creations on etsy!!!!

Neck ties for your little guys!

· Tie bundles: 3/$24
· Use code JOY20 to get 20% off entire purchase (even those tie bundles, saving you more money!)
· Free gift with every order (while supplies last, mustache tie tack or hair clip)
· For every $5 you spend, you will be entered into a drawing to win a $20 gift certificate to Confetti Creations. No limit on total chances. This giveaway ends on 12/31/2011.  (Omaha winner?  You can put your gift certificate towards a cake if you would like!)

Hair clips that coordinate with some of the holiday neck ties!

Snowman or reindeer iron on kits!

So, what are you waiting for?  Check out Confetti Creations today!  Hurry while supplies last!

Happy Thanksgiving

I am thankful for my family, our health, our home, and our happiness.  I am thankful for my family, my friends, my bloggy friends who read this blog from time to time, and for heaters.  (Ours is on the fritz right now).  I am thankful that today the temperature is in the 70's which is really bizarre for Nebraska this late in November.  I'm so thankful for these three silly boys, who put up with their mama's silly picture taking desires.  They are great sports about it and even love to come up with funny things to say to get each other to laugh.

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving, whether you spent it with lots of friends and family, or as a smaller unit, as we are this year.

Love, Jessica

2011

2010

2009

2008

Jesus is everywhere

Ethan and I made a trip to the Dollar Tree on his birthday to get some crepe paper, candles, and balloons.  We walked down the snack aisle so I could restock our snack box and Ethan grabbed a bag of cheese balls. Well, being as it was his birthday, and they were just a buck, I let him slide.

 When the boys were eating them at home, Bart discovered that try as hard as the government might to remove Christ from our lives (holiday tree anyone?  I'd hate to offend you by calling a Christmas tree a Christmas tree. That whole pledge of allegiance thing, although I don't think that really went anywhere.) they can't remove Christ from our bag of Dollar Store cheese balls.

Full back view of the bag.  See below for close up.
Oh, and I just KNOW these people are LSU fans...
look at the coloring of the packaging.

Amen.

Is that GRANDMA CUPCAKE!?!

My mom came to visit for a few days at the beginning of November.  Her visit was smack in the middle of craft fair prep and cake orders, but since I was SOOOOOOO prepared and she was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO helpful, it was easy as pie!  She even sewed a skirt for my friend Eliana's newest fashion line and gave some tips from a seasoned seamstress while she was at it.
We ate out for lunch both days:  Catina Laredo one day (YUM) and ingredient the next (Bart joined us that day).  We learned a new skill using the Silhouette.  But, we did not ONE TIME go to Dress Barn (Megan and my dad know what I am talking about).  I was a tiny bit disappointed.
My mom slept on an airbed in the basement (thanks RS) and didn't complain.  She's cool like that.
I think she planned her trip to be on November 1 on purpose:  She arrived one day after Halloween, right in the middle of Reese's and Snickers open season.
Next time she comes, she can sleep in Ethan's room, as he FINALLY got a "big boy bed" and will gladly give it up for Grandma.
Now, let me tell you this:  the boy did not know she was coming.  I checked them out of school about a half an hour early to get to the airport on time.  I told them that a client was coming for Dad's work and couldn't get a rental car b/c they were all rented (white lie...I need to repent for that).  Therefore, I had to go get the client.  We drove very slowly down the lane at the airport, them looking for a man in a brown suit with blond hair and a red bag, me for my mom.  When I spotted her I pulled over and got out my camera so I could film what happened.
It was really funny.  I said, "Oh, I see him!"
Brennan says, "Is that GRANDMA CUPCAKE?"
It was too funny to hear the disbelief in his voice.  The boys were very excited to see her, and I think we had a nice little visit.
Grandma Cupcake or Papa Jeff, feel free to come visit any time!
We love you!

Happy 3rd Birthday Ethan Pierre

THREE!
Yes, many say it is worse then the terrible two's, but I think we will break that old saying.

Ethan was an adorable 9 lb addition to our family.  Since each baby seemed to come out a little bit bigger, we are calling it quits!

Ethan's first movie:  TWLIGHT, part 1.  He was less then a week old

Ethan was BORN an LSU Tigers fan!

First Birthday

Second Birthday

Third Birthday!

Ethan has been a pleasure to have as part of our family, even if some days are rougher then others.  :)

He has a temper unlike either of his brothers, and a nasty foot stomping habit, but when he is being cute, he is so adorable, all the frustrating moments where you want to go all 1950's country mama on him melt away.

I am so thankful that Ethan was able to come join our family and help us be complete.  WE LOVE YOU ETHAN!

Drowning, and then not

Do you ever have one of those weeks where you feel like you are drowning?  Last week was mine.
NOT the week before the craft fair with three cake orders and my mom visiting, but the week after.
I feel like I've barely been able to keep on top of things. 
But, when I got home from my cake club meeting this afternoon, I just felt relief!  All I have to do next week is party hard to help my littlest man turn three, do one cake for a friend, and relax.
YAY for easy weeks, to catch my breath before I go under again.  :)

My littlest man, all ready to turn THREE!  Can you believe it?

 

 

 

And FYI:  turkey kits for sale in my esty shop!  24 hr ship out time, so you are sure to get them before Thanksgiving week!

Etsy Shop Updated

Confetti Creations on etsy is updated and ready to fill your holiday needs.  Check out the girls skirts and pillowcase dresses, neck ties (there are three sets of prints!), and iron on kits.
Iron ons ship within 24 hours, all the rest within 72 hours!
Send me a convo to set up listings for multiple listings and get reduced shipping today!

LOVE the reindeer iron on kits!

Burke High Craft Fair tomorrow! 9-3, Come see me!

 Some of the ties that will be for sale tomorrow.  Plus there will be jewelry, hair accessories, and turkey and reindeer iron on kits.