Taking Back Christmas

As a family, we've decided to take back Christmas. You know, really focus on the reason for the season and put Christ back into Christmas. I've thought for a while now that we needed to do something about inviting the spirit of Christmas into our home and make that the tradition, or the major part of our traditions - especially as we now have a little guy that is learning from us and picking up on everything little thing we do (good and bad!). 

I'm came across this post the other day from The Small Seed and that's when I decided we were going to start making changes. I really love Christmas and all that goes with it, but I needed something to motivate me to do better at remembering our Savior, especially at this time of year.  

Another dear friend and fantastic graphic designer, Mandi, also posted an advent that she made last year and was so kind to share. You can download it for free here.

So, my first thing was creating a new nativity for this year. I had so much fun making this and it made me wonder why I've never really drawn one before. And, to help you - wallpapers of my first nativity to hopefully help you remember Christ a little more this season as well!
[click link (not picture), download, save and set.]

Phone

iPad

**for personal use only.

Full of Thanks

I am truly blessed and so thankful for good friends and family, a roof over my head, delicious food to devour and time to spend with those I love, among many, many other things. 

I love the holiday season, and in the spirit of thanksgiving, here are some wallpapers for your electronic devices!

[click link (not picture), download, save and set.]

phone

iPad

**for personal use only.

The Greatest Work We Will Ever Do

What a great man, that David O. McKay. His words are wise and true.

A good friend commissioned me to create a handout, as well as digital download, of this quote by Pres. McKay [and, it just so happens to be one of my favorites!].

Here you can have a wallpaper for your phone and iPad. 

Go ahead and download and read it every day.

[click on the link (not picture), save to device, set as wallpaper.]

phone

ipad

please remember these are for personal use only.

Trick or Treat

Hey all! Halloween wallpapers for your phone and tablet are up and available.

Happy almost October!
[click on the link (not picture), save to device, set as wallpaper.]

phone

tablet

please remember these are for personal use only.

let freedom ring!

independence day is one of my very most favorite holidays! and, it's coming soon!
to celebrate, i've created a background for your phone and iPad/tablet devices. 

hope you have a very happy 4th of july!

[click on the link, save to device, set as wallpaper.]

phone

iPad/tablet

please remember these are for personal use only.

10-11-12

and, so here i am, again, playing catch-up on my sweet little boy and his growing.

he's now 12 months - 1 year old! what?! yeah, i can't believe it either. nevertheless, he's one and still makes my heart so happy! although, i do feel like he changed into a little boy right before my eyes, which i love and hate all at the same time. 

i guess babies/kids do that to you. one minute they're snuggled up, sleeping in your arms and the next they've developed their own attitude, go wherever they want and like to bite things/people. little ike is still such a sweet little guy - willing to blow kisses, give hugs, high-fives and smiles! i love watching him learn and grow and express himself!

10 months
already learning wrestling moves from his dad - the power bomb! [don't quote me on that, i may have called it the wrong move]
he also decided to start crawling this month, which made us all very happy!

11 months
he loves his dad, his basketball and sitting on the couch

11 months
he was content to sit on the grass and play with the new balls (easter eggs) he found, while all the other kids participated in the egg hunt

these next few photos were taken by my good friend, ashley. she gave brian and i our own little photo shoot here. she's a great photographer and the mother to the most darling twins that are just a few days younger than ike! 

i had a hard time picking some to post, so here are a few.

12 months
a&g photography

12 months
a&g photography

12 months
a&g photography

picking carrots

when i got back from the market i realized i hadn't made backgrounds for easter - and it's this month!

so have at em!

*click the link, download and save, then set as wallpaper.
**for personal use only.

iPad

phone

Raspberry Robin Market

you may have noticed the new little photo on the sidebar for the raspberry robin market. this will be my first official gig selling my cards and i'm a little excited about it ("little" because it's exciting and nerve-wrecking at the same time)! 

it will start off with a grand opening (with treats!) at 6 pm the evening of march 6 at the red barn at the linden nursery. the market will run from wednesday night to that saturday (march 9). if you get a free minute, and happen to be in the area, you should definitely stop by. there's talk that there are going to be lots of really great products and terrific vendors. i would be very ecstatic and grateful if you stopped by!

be my valentine

 here is a background for your iphone or ipad to show your true love this valentine's season. have at em!
*just a note: if you download the file, then save to your device, you won't get a pixelated image.

iPhone

iPad

please remember these are for personal use only.

7-8-9

apparently i'm in denial because i haven't posted anything about my baby turning 7, then 8, then 9 months old! really, it's almost too much for me to handle. i love this little guy with everything i have and he still is growing and becoming more independent. it will be a sad day when i really can't call him "baby ike" any more. but, until that day, i'll call him that all the day long!

here are some photos of my little man:

ike in his spot on the couch; accompanying dad watching his favorite show (nba basketball)7 months

waiting for another mouthful of chocolate shake! he loves his ice cream as much as his mom!8 months

Christmas Eve 2012; with gma kaphy
8 months

he loved his little people nativity set!8 months

he wants to crawl so bad-he just can't figure out how to go forwards
9 months

my happy baby; he melts my heart
9 months

happy black friday!

in honor of black friday, i'm posting a Christmas pic for your iphone or ipad!
hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving and a merry time shopping!

iPhone

iPad

please remember these are for personal use only.

thanksgiving wallpapers

i'm a few days behind when i really wanted to post these, but nevertheless, here they are!
hope thanksgiving finds everyone well this year.

iPhone

iPad

please remember these are for personal use only.

so three and a half weeks ago...

this little dude turned six months, oh, just about three and a half weeks ago! i'm so on top of it.

he loves his tongue. it makes it into most pictures.

but don't you even worry, we've been busy having fun while neglecting any sort of update around these parts.

here are a few highlights of being six months...

workin on sitting up. almost there, but he still has his fair share of face plants.

his first pumpkin, lovingly carved by his dad.
(his dad can't wait for a little pumpkin-carving helper!)

pixelated ipad wallpaper

it was brought to my attention that the wallpaper i posted for the ipad was a bit pixelated.
i've fixed (hopefully) that problem and have uploaded a different jpeg below.

a halloween treat!

here's a little halloween treat for you - just in time for halloween!
i've made a wallpaper/background for the iPhone4, iPhone5 and iPad.
take your pick, or take one of each. just download and save to your photos and set as wallpaper.

iPhone 4

iPhone 5

iPad

please remember these are for personal use only.

squeezable

one of my dear friends, tiffany, was nice enough to take a few photos of my little guy about a month ago. i love them all, so i had to post a few. there were so many that brian and i kept saying,"that is so him!" i'm glad we got these! thanks for sharing your talents, tiff!

please excuse my baby's crazy, homeless hair! i didn't have time to get it cut before the photos, but it has since been cut and he no longer looks like a ragamuffin!

ikey, 4 months

ps yesterday ike was being very kranky after church. i had been suspecting he was teething this past month, but nothing had happened - until yesterday. the sharpest little tooth i have ever felt has now made its grand appearance. things are happier today!

cinco

this little boy makes me happier than anything.
there's just no way to explain the joy and happiness that he exudes. 
he sleeps well, eats well, plays well, and almost rolls well. i'm afraid i'm going to have a mover before too long.
he loves chewing on his tongue, watching football and reading/looking at books. and, if you ever do find him in a slightly grumpy mood, just take him outside and he'll be happy as a clam.
here's to my chubby little bub!

a little 5 month photo shoot

4 months and 4 years

brian and i celebrated our fourth year of marriage last month by going to see a movie and grab an early dinner. it was great to have a little date and spend some one-on-one time. 

the next day we celebrated ike's four month birthday by visiting the doctor and getting shots (just for ike). the little trooper cried for a minute then decided to take a long nap. what a great little boy!

i'm still amazed at how fast four years went, and now four months for ike. where does the time go?

celebration of fours

those cheeks

for some reason my brother thinks ike's cheeks are fat and he looks asian!
i just love him and his chubbiness!

mama-hood and another month gone by...

disclaimer: yes, this is another post about my baby ike. yes, i know that's all i post about any more, but really, he pretty much consumes my life and i really kind of like him. a lot. no need to read if you don't want to.


i really liked this post today. she explains mama-hood so well -- you just can't explain it, but it's the greatest/most wonderful thing! i'm truly so grateful for the opportunity i've had to stay home with baby ike and watch him learn and grow. i think i would be a nutcase if i went back to work! and, it's true what they say -- it does keep getting better!


watching and hearing him "coo" and "aww" at his mirror. so cute!
seeing him smile, especially all his smiles after he wakes up from a nap. my fave!
him sleeping through the whole night (a lot of the time!)! another fave!
laughing at his faces he pulls when i change his diaper -- kind of like "i wouldn't do that if i were you!" pretty awesome!


before i know it he'll be laughing, then climbing trees, going off to school and getting embarrassed by his mom! i don't want that day to EVER come, though i know it will. i better get on making him a mobile -- he's really starting to look at and talk to things. he loves the bunting i recently hung in his room. by the time i get him a mobile, he'll be pulling it from the ceiling!


baby ike is another month old today, which means he got to go visit the doctor and get his first shots!:( [those of you that know me -- don't worry, i stayed out in the hall! we didn't need a mom passed out on the floor with a baby crying!] he's a champ though -- cried just a bit and then came home for a long nap.


here are some recent photos (no, i'm not a photographer and don't claim to be one, so please excuse the blurriness):

 a face he pulls often

 ike -- almost Nike (his dad would love that!)

 a slight smile i caught on camera

his bathtime hair! yep, he's still got it!