A sneak peek into 3 Craft Chicks shop progress...

Saylah was with us this past Saturday as we were all up at the shop working and she wants to give you a tour of the progress we're making...

This room will have die cut machines, rubber stamps and other tools for hours of scrap booking and paper crafting fun!!!

After cleaning up this room, Saylah had the best time running around and playing peek-a-boo through the door that wasn't put back together yet...

It doesn't take much to make this munchkin happy!!!

Oh yea...by the way...don'tcha just adore these chubby 2 year old hands???????????

Where oh where will I be putting a couple of my amazing awnings???

It still makes me SMILE when I see the awnings and realize they are MINE!!!

It's also a great reminder that if you don't ask the question, you won't get an answer and what is the worst that can happen??? The answer could be "no" however in this case it was "yes"!!! {Remember I had seen these advertised on Craig's list a couple months before beginning 3 Craft Chicks and didn't have a need for them BUT  THEN after starting our little business wondered if they had sold...so I contacted Serena Thompson and they were still AVAILABLE!!!

 SO. GLAD. I. ASKED...RIGHT?????

A great example of sisterly love...

We decided to totally re-do the bathroom too so got the crow bars out and began that big task...

This is before...

DURING...

Saylah wasn't allowed to go into the room but she would just stand in the doorway and watch NatNat go to work!!!

SHEER CUTENESS RIGHT HERE...

She kept going around with her hands on her cheeks...saying..."OH MY gooTness..."OH MY gooTness!"

Can't imagine where she picked that up at??? 

Loving how the kitchen is turning out...

KNOCK KNOCK...

who's there?

One very sleepy 2 yr old and her baby doll...

Be still my heart!!!

Apparently Saylah thought baby doll needed another nap...

IN THE KITCHEN CUPBOARD!!!

{At least she left the door open}

SAYLAH ~ SIGNING OFF FOR NOW...

Going back home for dindin and then after Saylah's mommy comes to pick her up,

WE'RE HEADING BACK TO THE SHOP!!!

yippee!!!!

We wanted to work on putting up slot-wall in the crafting area

Here's the before bare wall...

The way to a perfectionist mans heart at Christmas...

A LASER LEVEL!!!  

Put up slot-wall in the back room that will hold supplies & machines...

LOOKIN' GOOD!!!

Ok...sooooo...ya have to have alittle fun in the midst of work ~
right?
I was in the bathroom PAINTING! and hear the YMCA song come on and Lauren tells me
 I NEED TO GET OUT THERE. N.O.W.
This is a site to behold!!!

These ARE the MOMENTS I LIVE for!!!

This is the next day...

I LOVE.LOVE.LOVE this vintage 50's table...
Kinda like my awning story...I saw it last spring at Funky Junk and seriously coveted it but knew I didn't NEED a ginormous table such as this!!! It's HUGE!!! After signing the lease for the shop...my mom reminded me of this table and how perfect it would have been! It helps to be best friends with Jennifer {who owns Funky Junk} and she contacted the lady who had the table to see if it was still for sale.
INDEED IT WAS!!!
SOLD!!! to 3 Craft Chicks!!!
It's incredibly sturdy and the chairs are comfy and there is still room on either end for another table if we need it!!!
PERFECT!!!

Can't wait for this week when Jim is putting lighting up!!!

SO...I found the BEST spot for one of MY awnings...

Going into the kitchen!!!
Scotty's popcorn machine will be on the right side of that doorway...
I THINK IT WILL BE GAAAREAT!!!!

HE'S JUST A TAD BIT EXCITED TOO!!!

I think you will agree it is coming together nicely and that there a couple valuable lessons to remember:

1. Don't be afraid to ask a question ~ the worst that can happen is the answer is no & that only hurts for a minute.
{Sidenote to that lesson: My mom always says though not to ask the question if you're not prepared for the answer!!!
 That's good advice ~ TRUST ME {& HER}!!! 

2. Even while working hard, take time and stop and enjoy life's moments & laugh & sing & dance & whatever your little heart desires!!!

  

2 {of Jim's} concerts in 2 days = one HAPPY Scotty

Scotty has been so excited for a few days now since Jim told him that Tuesday & Wednesday night he could go to his choir & world drumming concert!!! My mom invited Scotty to something at her church Wednesday night however he said he could not go to that because he was going to Jim's concert at the college!!!

Concert #1 ~ College Choir/Men's Chorus Concert

My mom went with us to the concert however Scotty made sure we knew he was riding home with Jim in his TRUCK!!!
That's one of his favorite things to do! :)

Concert #2 ~ World Drumming

This was AMAZING!!!
FYI...
Jim is a phenomenal drummer ~ I'm not just saying that cuz he's my husband
REALLY ~ it blew me away!!!

Nat went with us to the drumming concert

Can you tell Scotty loves Natalie?!?!? So sweet!!!

After the world drumming concert, various jazz ensembles put on a fantastic concert.
Let me tell you ~Scotty was in 7th heaven!!!


Jim is taking him today to college so the chamber choir can sight read an African mass choir song Jim wrote for his theory class!!!
REALLY JIM???? :)
 It just is beyond me how he can write music like that!!!
{I'm just a tad bit proud of my husband}
So blessed!!!

My daughter is an OFFICIAL CHAPS girl!

I will readily admit that CHAPS here in Spokane, WA is my all time favorite place to not only eat but also hang out and enjoy time with friends & family! Now I'm most excited because my Natalie is working there! Her dad & I went to have lunch there today & yes to see her "at work".  She loves it & they all love her! 

This mama couldn't be any prouder!

~ me & MY CHAPS girl ~

~ Nat & her DAD ~

One of the many things I love about Jim & how he parents is how he has taught & instilled in all 3 of our children the importance of hard work & having a good work ethic!

We had such a wonderful surprise today as we went to Chaps ~ our dear friends Nathan, Jennifer & Glenn were also there! We had not planned it at all and in fact were going to go to Chaps earlier in the a.m. but then decided to go for lunch! It ended up being the best afternoon ~ it was beautiful outside so we got to sit outdoors and enjoyed  probably one of the last warm days of fall. Glenn got to just play & play...Celeste {owner of Chaps} was able to join us as it had finally slowed down at the restaurant. Sundays are their busiest days! It was absolutely wonderful! Yes...and so fun also watching Natalie in action! :)

~ Me, Celeste & Jennifer ~

Love the friendship we all share!

Look at this lil' cutie pie!!!

Glenn Kelly turned 2 the end of May and he is such a joy and sure can bring a smile to my face & heart!

At one point he asked his dad Nathan if he could get something out of their van. He returned with his {toy} chainsaw & began trimming the trees!

Okay...let me tell you about these 2...

Glenn absolutely adores his Uncle Jim!
Whenever we spend time with them all I hear is..."Uncle Jim this....or Uncle Jim that..."...he talks to him and refers to him constantly. Jenn says that he does that even at home if he hasn't seen Jim in awhile! It is absolutely the sweetest thing! So can you imagine his sheer delight when we ran into each other at Chaps today! It was pure heaven for this little boy! Broke my heart as we went to get in Jim's truck...Glenn was saying..."Uncle please come home with me...come sit by me..." Oh the love of a 2 year old! I just KNOW it is the best! Jim loves Glenn to pieces too!

~Me & my dear friend Jennifer~

I was thrilled to see her today. I have been gone for 3 weeks and had missed her so! I think she may have missed me too because as we hugged she whispered in my ear...
"Don't EVER EVER go away for that long again"! :)
Sometimes we may not see each other for weeks however it's different when you know someone is HOME and not 3,000 miles away! My daughter Lauren said the same thing as Jennifer! I have lots to blog and post about my 3 week excursion!

Today's visit to CHAPS started out as having a yummy lunch and spying on Nat for a bit yet turned into more than that as we were able to have a purely {unplanned} delightful afternoon with dear friends whom we love with all our hearts! I will say the only thing missing today at lunch was my Lauren ~ she was hard at work at her job at Supercuts!!! So proud of both of my girls!!!