I have an addiction...

The other day I received three orange packages in the mail. It was like Christmas. I was so excited to open them up and display my products. And then each day for the following four days, I continued to receive an orange package in the mail.  It was then I realized - I have an addiction, and my addiction's name is Shutterfly.

I was first introduced to Shutterfly when I decided to create and design my own wedding book. I created this book while having down time at work. I then didn't think about Shutterfly for years.

... until I decided to make Baby Books for my children. And my world has exploded!

Since these books, I've organized all my pictures (well.. all my pictures since little girl was born), and I've ordered two additional books to the ones pictured here. Plus, I have several projects "in the works" so that I'm always prepared for when there is a good deal to be caught through Shutterfly's website!

Eventually, I'd like to go back and organize everything from the time we got married, and then maybe even from earlier in my life. I'd also like to create a book for each major trip we go on, or maybe from the time we lived in Poland and did so many things and saw so many places together. (It will just be one very thick book, so I have to decide how to break it up accordingly).

I've set a limit of only working on Shutterfly for 15 minutes each day. 

So, eventually, I'll get all the following done:

* Study Abroad in Europe

* Study Abroad in Israel

* Mission Book

* Poland Book

* Family Yearbook - 2009

* Family Yearbook - 2010

* Family Yearbook - 2011

*Family Yearbook - 2012

*Michal's Mission Book

* College Book

* High School Book

The only problem is, once I go back pre-digital photos, I need to make each photo digital through scanning. This seems super complicated to me, so I'm not planning on getting all these things done next week, or even in the next few years, but at least they are on my radar. 

Books aren't the only thing that Shutterfly offers.  Here are some of the other sweet treats I've ordered from Shutterfly:

16x20 print (Frame purchased at Michaels)

2x2 Magnets

 

I've also gotten Mugs, 8x10 prints, 11x14 prints, calendars, and there have been a couple of other items that have caught my eye, but not ordered yet. The possibilities are endless!

If you'd like to sign up with Shutterfly, here's a free code to get 101 free 4x6 prints.

https://invite-shutterfly.com/x/CjqSd7

Everyone loves Marco

As hard as it is to remember to take pictures of others holding my babies, I try so hard to accomplish this so that my children can look back and see how many people held them (and love them) the first year of their life.

Here's some previous posts of others who love Marco, (and of who love Lily here and here).

Marianne Dunn

Sharpe Family

(Emily and Eliza)

Dazey Family

(Chellie and her dad)

YSAs 

(Joseph Schmit and Katlyn Keaton)

Marin Shreve

Simpson Family

(Chris and Tracy)

(and sign by the kids)

Henderson Family

Marsh Family

(Chris and Anna)

(Keri Marsh)

Rachel McClung

Paren

Michelle Jaramillo

Great-Grandpa Dunham

Grocery Store Clerk

Big 'Thank You' to everyone who has loved my little boy!

Other October Outings

During October, I felt like all we did was go shopping. However, when I went back and looked at pictures from this month, it seems like I did a few more things than just shop. 

We had a few playdates (well, Marco did).

We went to a sorta-science day at Old Salem with Asher

When we pulled up to Walmart (to go shopping), we were approached by a Colgate RV and the kids got their teeth checked and free teeth cleaning items. I didn't trust a word they said, but the kids had fun.

Lily had fun exploring the movie theater when I went to get some popcorn for our Halloween Party.

We ventured out to Lexington for their annual BBQ Festival. It was the largest festival (not carnival or fair) that we have been to yet.

Lily had a Preschool Halloween Party. When I came (for the last 30 minutes that parents were allowed to attend), Lily was so eager to name all of her friends and asked me to take her picture with all of them. The only two who were willing to get their picture taken were the teachers, and Colton. 

Overall, October was a great month. Kids had fun, kids were happy and their faces in the pictures prove that.

Halloween

We were invited to Allie Tucker's Church for a Trunk-or-Treat and Halloween Festival on Halloween Day from 5-8 pm. We were excited to jump at the opportunity, but were blown away at how extravagant everything was!

We pulled up to the church and it was a Mega-Church, and once we made it through the entrance - we were welcomed with rows of bounce houses, pony rides, rows of trunk-or-treat and dozens of extremely large pots of various types of chili (along with hot dogs). It seriously put our church's Halloween Party to shame. These guys sure do know how to throw one heck of a party. 

Now that Lily knew what trick-or-treating was, and how to go around asking for candy - she quickly became a pro. And everyone giving out candy thought that she was the most adorable little monster. (They also appreciated our family themed costume.)

I was very impressed with the amount of work that these church members went to in decorating their car to make for a fun trick or treating experience. And I was very impressed with the amount of service that they gave by freely giving of all of this candy to thousands of little children who attended this Halloween event. This was probably not cheap, and they didn't seem to bat an eye. They were more than happy to serve. While many of the people passing out candy told us, "Jesus lives" or "Jesus saves" or "Jesus loves you" it didn't bother me at all, because the love they had behind their statements was so genuine and so humble. It was an outreach on their part, and one that I noticed and warmed my heart that there are people out there that are so full of love and so willing to serve and do so without batting an eye. Thank you so much Allie Tucker's Church!

While we were at the Halloween Festival we received a text from Anna Marsh asking us to come over and go trick-or-treating at her house. Once we got there, Lily was in heaven! In fact, both of our children were in heaven. They loved the attention that they received from the Marsh family, and we enjoyed chatting with them and getting to know them better. 

Thank you Marsh family for having us over and letting us relax. We had a wonderful Halloween evening!

We rounded out the night by trick-or-treating at the Connor's home down the street. Lily came home telling me she was so scared of the skeleton. So, naturally, I had to head down to their home and check out their set up. It was awesome! We have such great neighbors. 

When it comes to friends, we really seem to always get so lucky!