Happiness is....our Christmas Tree!

We were a bit late this year getting our tree but we got it. We went the Monday before Christmas up to the Jemez for our annual tree cutting. We were met with lots of snow! YEA! AND it snowed at least 3 inches while we were there making the ride home a challenge. Thank goodness Ted is from Ohio and can drive in the snow...my job is to freak out:0)
We all had fun playing in the snow...Alec was freezing, Evie loved the sled, and we couldn't get Becca back in the car she was having so much fun. We are off to the mountains again this weekend to play once again.
We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Happiness is....Stampin' Up!

Well, I am determined to get a positive post out today. Despite the fact that it is raining and that Ev was at the doc yesterday....
Most of you know that I LOVE to scrapbook/make cards! So I thought I'd post my favorite layout. This one is of Evie a few years ago. We try to go to Jack's Creek at least once a year and this was Ev's first time there. I love the colors in this layout! All the products are of course Stampin' Up as that is what I sell!
The card is my Christmas card this year so all you family and friends act surprised when you get it in the mail:0) It also is made with Stampin' Up products...just LOVE the stamp set. Actually, it probably is my all time favorite! Check out my website to purchase products or see when I have classes. And to all my out-of-town relatives, you can still purchase from me, direct or at my website! Today is a scrapbooking kind of day so maybe I'll get busy and post some more tomorrow!
P.S. click on the scrapbook page or card for a better/closer look:0)

Happiness is...Alec!

Well, Alec is happiness but...Alec in the ER is not so much. That's right, just when we started to come down from the whole ordeal with Bec we had to rush Alec to the ER today. He was skating when he, well we think as he can't remember much, fell and cut his lip on some metal his dad had in the truck. Slit his lip right open. 13 stitches later we are home. He is in pain. Pain meds have been given and of course the poor guy is starving! So I'm going through all the soft stuff I have in the kitchen.
We have pictures so I'll post one soon. Don't look if your faint...like me:0) The funniest moment was when we called Garett, his friend he was skating with, and the first thing Alec said to him was he couldn't believe he didn't get in on film! Are you kidding me???:0)
Anyway, good thoughts and prayers are appreciated once again at this household and let's hope our next posting is a good one!

Happiness is....Becca!

Posting this is so much easier than repeating it a thousand times. I know it is much less personal but it will have to do. As most of our close family and friends know (but just in case you don't:0) Becca was diagnosed with having an SVT (rhythm problem) last week. It was scary to find out as I took her to the doctor with a pulse rate of 230! The doctor, of course, took it very seriously and called the peds cardiology office right away. We went straight down to Pres hospital were she was hooked up to machines and given an ultrasound of her heart. Thank God her heart is not enlarged and no deformities were found. They gave her meds (a beta blocker) to slow down the rate...which did its job. Monday she wore a monitor for 24 hours and today we went in to see the heart doctor (the one who would do the surgery.) They did confirm she is in the 'early stages' of WPW...Wolff Parkinson White syndrome. The good news is that we caught it before it did lasting damage to the heart. There are 4 options to control it: 2 include meds, one surgery and the other is an 'as needed.'
I went in thinking I wanted the ablation...which is the surgery or procedure that basically burns or freezes the extra pathway in the heart. I left feeling that meds may be a better choice for now. So...she'll be on meds, the atenolol, until she is older and the risk of surgery is less...and of course they (and we) will monitor her. So there you have it!
Can you believe my last post was her cheerleading competition? Incredible how life can change in only a few days! I want to thank, thank, thank all of you who have been praying for Becca. We greatly appreciate you! (Edie, Jane/Gram Faber, Grandma & Papa, the women Jane works with at the prison, Michelle...and anyone I missed-You are wonderful!)
Feel free to leave Bec a message and I'll make sure she gets to read it...It will make her happy:0)

Happiness is....First Place!

After weeks of practice, cheerfest was Sunday. AND....Becca and team won first!! We are so proud of all the girls. They worked so hard for this and it shows. They also won the technique ribbon (the hardest ribbon to win!) It's hard to tell which one is Becca but when the stunt goes up she is the one doing the 'high V' behind the little one doing the splits and high V.
Feel Free to leave a comment for her:0)

Happiness is....a new government!

Okay, I know I'm going to get some crap for this one but ya know what??? I really don't care.
If your ready for a new America...Vote Smart!

NADER for President!

Happiness is....the State Fair!

Well, we did it. This year I decided to take the kiddos to the State Fair. Although we spent a darn $40 and only got in, ate, and both girls got a simple face painting it was great fun. No rides for us as the midway is a scary place...thank goodness my kids feel the same way (even Alec.) We took in all the exhibits and loved the McDonald's Farm (but don't eat at McDonald's...yuck!) We also got to dance with the Aztec dancers...a friendship/peace dance. Evie loved the horses and the Aztec dancers. Becca enjoyed the farm and the dancers. Alec, of course, just loved missing school:0)
Although we didn't stuff our mouths with cotton candy and carry around enormous turkey legs I kept thinking of Templeton the rat on Charlotte's Web running around in delight at all the food everywhere. I love that movie so we are watching it tonight!
It was a fun day for us all and nice to spend it together...we missed Ted though. He has grades due soon so spent the day working.
Here are some pictures...Enjoy!

Evie was so patient getting her face done.

She's a natural...just give her a lasso!

Milking a cow

Alec milking a cow

a tractor ride...for a 3 year old
I wanted one of these tractors but the lady said they are $300
I change my mind pretty quick...but they ARE cute!

He doesn't quite fit...but he's still cute!

Check out those faces!

The Girls with Giggles

The Tractor

Happiness is....Trains! and Grandpa!

My dad... is a train fanatic! Over the weekend he and his train club set up at a fun event in Santa Fe. So after cutting wood in the Sandia's on Sunday (Jane, that's right we are doing it now to spare you in February:0) Evie and I headed up to Santa Fe to visit Papa and Grandma at the train show. I had no idea what to expect. It was amazing! We had so much fun! Evie was so amused by all the trains. The one on the floor was a bigger one and had characters like Harry Potter, Ariel, Pooh Bear on the cars. Evie really enjoyed that one. I liked the smaller trains that had fun towns and landscapes to go with them. My favorite, of course, was the Hogwarts Express.
My Dad's display was certainly the best. No, I'm not biased! It really was! His water looks real and the hogon was lifelike with puffs of smoke coming from it.
I'm so glad we decided to go! We can't wait till the next one!

Happiness is....being able to help others.

It's a long story how I came upon this opportunity....a friend of mine, Perdoozy, received a convo from another etsyian asking for a donation or reduced price item to auction off. The auction is for her friend, Carol. After reading the blogs I was so emotional that I contacted Erica (the woman running the auction) and donated a smock. Here are the links if you are interested in participating in anyway...bidding or donating. There are some wonderful items and it is for such a wonderful cause. I just can't imagine going in to have a baby and ending up having to go thourgh all that Carol has had to endure.
Anyway...read blog, donate or bid. It's a good feeling to help others in need.
Carol and Scott's blog
Silent auction for Carol and her family

Happiness is...Having little ones wear my smocks!!

Happiness is also having their mommies write about it in their blogs! Check out: http://rosescarlett.blogspot.com/2008/08/first-day-of-pretty-school.html
This mom bought one of my favorite smocks of vintage cowboys then posted a pic and story in her blog!

Yippee!!

Happy Birthday Evie!

She's Three!
And is she ever...cute, fun, curious, sweet, a terror, messy, loving, determined, cranky, funny, precious, innocent, interesting, independent ...and the list goes on.

Circle Of The Sun and The Kids Are Alright

My smocks are selling! Yea! I'm so excited that Angie from The Outfit (that's her ETSY store) has included me in this incredible adventure. She has worked really hard to gather moms that create handmade baby and children's items and display their things at TWO stores in California. One store is in Long Beach and it's called "The Kids Are Alright" and the other is in Santa Ana and it's "Harvey's" ...So if you are ever around either area please visit them (and my smocks!)
I love the idea of the supporting individual crafters! Think about that next time you need to purchase a gift or something for yourself...shop Etsy or purchase from a LOCAL store.

Are you really reading this???

Yippie! I just found out the people really DO look at my blog! Thanks Portia!
So....here is an update on What's up in the Stearns (Sedillo) home.

Alec has graduated.....from middle school. Amazing how quickly it went. We are happy to be out of Hoover but it is hard to see my son move on to HIGH SCHOOL! Him and his friend Garret have joked that it may be like 'High School Musical'...HA! He plans on joining the tennis team again...yea! I'm sure between that and homework he'll stay busy.
This picture is of Alec and his tennis buddies at the rewards banquet. They did extremely well in the city! Go Hawks!





Becca will be in 5th grade next year...thank goodness she has one more year in elementary school! She is doing YAFL cheerleading this year instead of soccer. We are sad to see soccer go but she is a natural at cheerleading so we welcome the change. She needs braces soon so our pocket book is feeling the pain but we' ve seen with Alec what a HUGE change it can make:0)
Here's a picture of her at the start of 4th grade...btw it was the BEST year she has had! She had an extremely patient, kind, giving, and talented teacher. Thanks Mrs. Casias!






Ahhh, now for Evie. She's two almost three. What more can I say. It truly is a wonderful stage BUT very tiring for a parent. She is into EVERYTHING! She's very curious and easily distracted. She's into saying "What time is it?" and "You're my best friend!" Of course she is super cute! She is very loving. Another 'fun' thing she likes to do is unroll all the toilet paper, dump out food from bowls, and smack her sister when she doesn't get her way...ahh, being a toddler is so much fun!



Ted is getting ready for hip surgery on Wednesday...keep in in your prayers/good thoughts:0) Hopefully it will make a huge difference and he'll be back running normal again. By normal I mean his 'normal' like running 10 miles with NO worries...wow! He is still teaching at Sandia and will have TWO Latin classes next year! Yea! He has wanted to do it for quite some time so I'm glad he is giving it a shot.
I'm still staying at home with the kiddos and selling on my ETSY store (circleofthesun.etsy.com) and my art smocks are in TWO stores in California! They are at Harvey's and The Kids Are Alright (thanks to the outfit...check out their store at www.theoutfit.etsy.com) ALSO I am currently working out a 'deal' with delight.com for them to carry my art smocks (actually Angie from The Outfit is helping:0)
I'm still selling Stampin' Up! and LOVE to scrapbook... If you need any scrapbooking supplies let me know!

Well, I think that covers all of us here in the Stearns/Sedillo home. Keep checking back for updates and LEAVE A COMMENT so I know you are reading....that makes me think I'm not waisting my time.

Much love to all our family and friends..near and far...

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry!! Visit Cookie!

Okay, I haven't posted in quite some time but....I must share this will you all! I found this woman on ETSY who creates the most amazing prints!! She has a contest going on and you have to register to win by tonight! SO HURRY!
I just traded her a print for a custom letter and just loved her work so much I bought one! So now I have TWO.
But...I hope to win several more...I'm so greedy:0(

Click below to read all about it:0)
Cookiesunshine

Check out her etsy store too: www.cookiesunshine.etsy.com

Good luck:0)

Remember the 70's???? Here is my 3rd grade class picture. So fun to see the kids I grew up with . I am still in touch with Michelle! And just look how cute we were...ha ha! I also remember just how much I wanted to be like the 'Jenny's' in this class..... Ms. Chapman was my teacher and really the most memorable of all my elementary school teachers. I remember her teaching us John Denver's 'Sunshine on my Shoulders' in sign language. Recently, I taught my students it as well then we preformed it for their parents. I hope it is as memorable for them as it was for me!



Ahhhhh.....Remember the toys when you were young??? I recently came across this 70's Fisher Price Little People house at a thrift store and couldn't resist. So now Evie has the house and the barn! I so remember these sets and enjoy playing with them...oh, I mean Evie enjoys playing with them. I'm sure they are full of lead and dangers that could cut your fingers off but what the heck, they're so fun!!

Evie's other favorite toy...trains! She's making my Dad proud... When I found the house above I also ran across these Thomas (and other trains) items and had to get them! Of course Ted is convinced they all contain lead...ugh! She is amazed by the magnets and loves pulling them all over the house. Not to mention she went through a phase were she HAD to have one when she left the house. Glad that's over!
Anyway, Dad hurry and come home! Evie needs a playmate!

Taco Salad Dinner!

Here's a new recipe! The kids loved it and it was soooo easy.

1lb hamburger meat cooked and drained. Add 1 packet taco seasoning (cook as instructed on package)

1/2 cup of each dried pinto beans, kidney beans,and black beans
Clean and wash then cook (boil with garlic salt 1 tbs) for 3 to 4 hours

** This is what makes the meal for the kids!!
**flour tortillas: to make into 'edible bowls' crumble large sheets of foil into balls and place tortilla over it. spray with cooking spray then cook for 6-8 min until golden brown...oven temp should be pre-heated at 425

sour cream

shredded lettuce

salsa

Italian dressing

cheese

diced tomato

Okay, it think that is it. I put the meat, beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream all in separate bowls on the table and a shell on each plate then everyone made their own taco salad! I used Italian dressing on mine and love it but the kids and Ted just used salsa.

Happy New Year!

A new year is here! Time to get all sappy with resolutions and all....

My resolutions this year are: to get the house in shape and keep it that way, spend fun time with each kiddo (lots of it!) and most importantly to spend quality time with Ted every day! Even if that time is 10mins cuddling in bed! (actually that sounds like some wonderful moments!)

All of us went to the firewood hunting in the mountains today and I just kept thinking how lucky I am to have my husband. He brings me so much happiness....he is a wonderful son, brother, friend, father, and incredible husband. He works so hard so I can stay home with our children and do what I love best. Thanks honey! I am so glad we have another wonderful year to look forward to!

Happy New year!!