Big Paper Doll Sale Today

Big Paper Doll Sale Today at Very Jane! 

Please note: They forgot to add that I am including TWO outfit lines: Fall and FairyTale (both girls and boys).  

They will be changing this soon, hopefully...but just so my faithful readers know, if you order you'll be sure to get $28 worth of outfits alone, not to mention your Custom Doll, membership to the Outfit of the Month Club and All About Me pages!

Huge Pattern Sale Today

You are getting all four patterns for less than the regular price of the Pod Pattern.  I use the Pod every single day and night for Ollie as well as the Better Burpies.  The other two patterns are so fun and easy and useful!

Go HERE to see the deal!

Pictures and an Update

Hello Friends,
Are you wondering if we are still alive over here?  I would be if I were you.  I haven't been the best at keeping you updated.  I know I don't have to tell you why.  Four little ones ages three and under sounds challenging and frankly it is.  Sometimes I feel like a gerbil in a wheel cleaning, changing, cleaning, loving, cleaning, changing, etc, never getting ahead.  I feel like I have given up any hope of sanity or "free time" and that I may never be able to really get my hopes and dreams for my business off of the ground.

Then I look down (Ollie's on my lap right now...cooing and smiling) and think WHO CARES!  I am so beyond blessed to have these precious children in my life...so blessed to know that there is no way I could ever do this alone and to know that I have an amazing man at my side helping me and making me laugh every step of the way (how is that for a run-on sentence?!).  When I think about it and am in the right frame of mind, I remember that this time is so fleeting and in a way, sacred.

So, I've decided not to worry about the hopes and dreams for the business right now...and enjoy what I've spent most of my life dreaming about...this man and these children!   Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to throw in the towel altogether, I'm just giving myself the permission not to stress about advertising, blogging, etc., just doing the minimum to keep things going but not necessarily growing.

Wanna see the people I am so blessed to live with and love?  Eden Thome has photographed our family at every stage and never disappoints.   Thanks for indulging me:

On the house front, we are still here in my parents home.  It continues to be an overall great experience and I know it will be a sad day when we say good-bye.  We have enjoyed my parents and Great-Grandma Dahl so much and have had lots of quality time with cousins, aunts and uncles and friends.

But we are getting really excited about purchasing a new home in a few months.  We plan to move to the Boise, Idaho area. I dream of the space we will have...a place for everything...even (hopefully) a small studio for me!  We are narrowing down areas and homes and will head that way probably in September.

So that's the update! Thanks so much for your continued support and kind words. I truly enjoy the relationships with those of you who take the time to comment and email.

Ollie's Blessing Day

"A little bit of heaven

Drifted down from above
A handful of happiness,
A heart full of love.
The mystery of life,
So sacred and so sweet
The giver of joy
so deep and complete.
Precious and priceless,
So lovable too
The world's sweetest miracle,
Baby boy, is you."
- Unknown

Our precious Oliver Bradley was blessed by his dad on Sunday May 29, 2011, surrounded by the love and devotion of so many friends and family members (including four grandparents and four great grandparents). He was blessed to be a light to those around him and an example to his family.  He was also blessed to learn from his sisters "the good things of this world".  And my favorite, that he will find a sweet girl to marry and that together they will do great things.  

I love the priesthood, I love that I will now have a boy to raise.  I already see things so differently, thinking about how the world and the gospel of Christ will affect my boy.  I want to be a good example of what a wife and mother should be so that he will seek out someone who will have those attributes. 

One thing is for sure, this boy is LOVED

He wore the hat and shoes/socks that all of his uncles (my brothers) wore when they were blessed.  The blanket he was wrapped in was a gift to my mom from my Great Grandma Egbert.  I and all of my siblings were blessed with that blanket around us. So Ollie used the blanket that was a gift from his Great,Great Grandmother. :)  

I found his little linen romper online.  It is vintage, I'm guessing from the '60's. I loved the charming embroidery detail  on the front.  It is a size 6 months so I was worried that it would be too big but it fit him perfectly!

We are proud parents. :)

One of the thirty pictures we tried to get of all of us together with three very tired, very crazy girls.  This one made me laugh.

I loved this one.  This is Grandma Stevenson with her twins (Jeff's dad is on the left) holding our twins!

Four generations 

 These two were so cute!  They talked and talked.  They are only a few years apart in age and seemed to just really enjoy one another. 

 Loved this shot

Aren't they the prettiest Great-Grandma's ever? I hope I look half as good at their age.  Just think of the wisdom they have in all of those years to share!

Britta snuck in some pictures while I soothed Ollie ...I loved this one.

Jeff's mom has made a sweet little name bracelet for each of our children on their blessing day.  I love this little tradition. 

It was my sister Britta and her husband Clint's 13th Anniversary that day as well.  We had a great time celebrating with them the night before.

My sister.  I wish I could just reach through the screen and hug her!

Found Britta's Elsa and my Laurel snuggly sleeping that night and couldn't resist...seriously so cute!

And I loved this one of Ollie and Abby...so sweet

Basically this boy has brought us even more love and even more happiness than we could have ever imagined.  I'm always amazed at the miracle and beauty of a new life.   Sometimes I literally feel like I have to pinch myself.  I am living my dream...I can't imagine being happier...really.

Favorites on Friday...Facebook

source

(haha get it, face....book?)

Well I finally did it.  I finally created a page in Facebook that will be totally dedicated to all things Lily&Thistle.  It was time (past time).  I've always liked Facebook because it is a great tool to connect and reconnect with people who mean something to me. Like friends from my childhood and people I taught and served my mission with years ago and heck even people who live down the street.  It is so fun to see what people are up to and thinking.

But since Ollie was born, I don't just like Facebook, I love it.  Why? Because it is a lot easier to write a few short lines about what is happening with life and with the business then it is to do a whole blog post and right now, that is a welcomed way to stay connected!  After all, wouldn't you rather spend time cuddling with this guy?

 (the small one...the big one my friends, although I know is tempting, is taken)

So, I hope if you have a Facebook account, you will go right over and "like" Lily&Thistle!  

For two reasons:

1. You can get lots of great deals/promotions that will only be available there!  
2. We can have more of a conversation then we can here.

So, go HERE and "like" me will ya (you can also just go on the left hand side and click the "like" button)?!  Oh and don't forget to enter to win a free ULTIMATE package by leaving a comment HERE.  I will be choosing winners on Monday!

New Outfit Line...Girls in Sports

These outfits are about a year in the making!  I will be posting pictures soon but couldn't wait to show you.  What do you think?  Do any of these outfits remind you of sports you participated in as a girl (or do you still do any of them)?  What about your favorite girl?  

Reminder: this whole month you get a free Outfit of the Month membership with any purchase over $10!

To order the printed version click HERE

To order the print-it-yourself version click HERE