Family

We were blessed to have Matt's parents and younger sister Emily come out to visit us for a week at the beginning of April. (Thank you to Shelly and Christina for letting us borrow beds for them!) It was so much fun to visit all the sites with them. Here's a TON of pics of our time together.

The first day they were here we went up to the heart of DC and watched the Blessing of the Fleets. Its a time when an Admiral in the Navy speaks (this time it was about the SeaBees (CBs - Construction Batallions) which is what Matt will be on our next tour) and blesses the Naval fleets. Water is collected from the 7 seas and then poured in the fountains that line the Navy Museums in DC. It was a really neat experience. We then went into the SeaBee Museum and had yummy free navy bean soup (I'll post the recipe later). Luke got to play in this cool fort.

The SeaBees symbol is a Bee w/ a gun and a construction worker drilling. Their motto is Can Do. We build - We fight. Matt is very proud to be a SeaBee and we are too!

Left to right: Me, Matt's younger sis Emily, Matt, Luke, Matt's mom Gwynn, Matt's dad Dave.

Another day we visited the SeaBee Memorial which is right across the street from Arlington National Cemetery. Its a beautiful memorial and Matt's favorite thing we did. ;)Thank you SeaBees for all you do!

We rode around all day on bikes with Luke in a trailer. Dave (Matt's dad) was sweet to walk with Lydia half of the time because she was too young to go in the bike trailer. Thanks dad!
Washington Monument
Beautiful view of the Cherry Blossoms. The National Cherry Blossom Festival was the same week that they came into town and it was seriously PACKED everywhere! We had to walk our bikes half the time because it was so packed.

Lukey was kind of nervous riding in the bumpy trailer. Oh yea, it was SUPER windy that day too. Annoying. Luke just wanted to get out and run. Poor guy was stuck sitting down or being dragged along while we all looked at the "boring" (to a not yet 2 year old) sites.
Taken on the steps of the Lincoln memorial.
Lincoln Memorial. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. Did you know that the guy who made this statue was deaf. When he made it he made Lincoln's hands in the shape of his sign language initials. So one hand is doing an A and the other is doing an L. Pretty cool huh? Thanks for teaching me that one mom! ;)
WWII Memorial. Very beautiful and humbling. WWII Memorial

Changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. For those of you who don't know (like me before I went) the Tomb of the Unknown is where they keep those individuals who have died in combat and were not identified. They stand guard at the tomb 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. During tourist season they change the guard every 1/2 hour (Normally its just once every hour on the hour). Its an amazing ceremony. Definitely a must see. They ask that you all remain standing, even young children during the about 10 min ceremony. One young boy was sitting down and they stopped the ceremony and the guard said "young man, please remain standing". Once he stood they resumed the ceremony. So humbling. Seriously we need to remember to respect those who have died in combat fighting for OUR freedom!Arlington National CemeteryThe eternal flame at John F. Kennedy's tomb. I believe this was at Arlington National Cemetery.

We also hit a lot of other sites. A lot of the different Smithsonian museums, a tour of the Capital building, the Naval Academy (which is GORGEOUS) in Annapolis, etc. It was SO much fun. Thanks mom, dad, and Emily for making it a fun one! Please come back soon!

Elders

We had the missionaries over for dinner 2 weeks ago. Lukas just immediately bonded with, get this, Elder "our last name" (no relation that we know of)! Then they came over again tonight for dinner and once again it was all about "the" Elder. haha. Luke wouldn't sit on Matt's lap. He had to sit on "the" Elders'. Anyways, we had to take a pic of the Elders with Luke and "the" Elders' extra name tag pinned on him. ;)

"the" Elder, Luke, Elder Swain

Seriously he was being so stinky and wouldn't smile for me. Yet 2 seconds later "the" Elder took a pic of him and he smiled like an angel for him! haha.

Been A While...

I got a text from my good friend a couple weeks ago that said something to the effect of "Its been too long so post pics of your cute kids now!".....sorry Luce that its taken me this long to finally heed your order, er advice. ;) I took these pics yesterday. Lydia is growing up so fast and is our cute, yet very chunky monkey. She is now 3 1/2 months. Luke is our spaz and is currently 21 1/2 months. *Sigh* I just love my kids.

Chunky, chunky thighs. Hmm sorry hon you get those from your mommy.

Look at them beautiful baby blues!

This is Luke being stubborn and not wanting to smile...& yet Lydia not being able to contain hers.

And finally he gives in and does his cute cheesy smile. Oh yea both smiling and perfect!

Craft Fair & New Products

Did a pretty big craft fair this last Saturday. Unfortunately it was stinky weather so it didn't have as good of a turn out as was expected. Although we only sold a couple items we (me and my new business partner, Christina! ;) ) still think it was good to do because we got our name and websites out there. Even a pretty big order was placed so it was great. I will say though that I think craft fairs are too much of a hassle to get ready for, set up, sit through, and then take down. It just doesn't have enough of a return for all of that hassle. Our products tend to focus more on mothers and babies and I don't think we get enough of that kind of audience at these craft fairs. I think we will start focusing more on word of mouth and internet sales. So if you guys can help spread the word that would be GREAT! I think we will be having a raffle soon for a free product of your choice (a bag, apron, nursing cover, or baby flip flop - specially made with any material you choose that you see on any of our products). You will just have to put our business blog button on your blog which will get you one entry into the raffle. Then for every other person you refer who does the same on their blog will get you one more entry per person as well as that person will then get one entry for doing so on their blog. Make sense? Anyways, let me know if you guys would be interested in that. If so, we will probably do it in the next week or so.

Here's pics of my booth. I sold my Mary Kay stuff as well as my Lucky Button Designs stuff. I also shared it with my friend who sells BEAUTIFUL glass jewelry here. Christina and I had a blast sharing our stories of how we met our spouses, the courting experience, and then on through the engagements. It was fun to reminisce about that time of our lives. It made me realize yet again how much I love my man! ;)



Here are some new products we have. We have an unlimited amount of the baby flip flops in sizes 1-3. We have a couple of the pink cream flower bags (also a cute blue, red, & yellow one that I will post soon) and one each of the apron and various nursing covers. Check out the business blog if you are interested in ordering some. Lots of new ideas in the making so check back often! Thanks!