Corn Maize - FINALLY.. and a Christmas Parade too!

We did eventually make it to the Maize before they closed for the season! And it worked out great. It was chilly but not freezing, so not too stuffy in the tall Maize Maze (ha!).. and that day happened to only be open by reservation for Scouts, Homeschooling, etc.. there was our group, one older Scout group, and one small homeschooling group. No crowds! Plus they threw in the hayride and barrel train for free!

JoAnn has the pictures since I was using her camera to take photos, but I will add those when I get them from her.. :)

They did get patches, they say "I survived the Maze!" hehe


Last Saturday was the Bandera Christmas Parade - the scouts (not just our troop, the whole Bandera Service Unit) rode on a float singing Christmas Carols (if you could call that singing! lol) and throwing candy.. turnout was decent considering it was FREEZING. (it was 20* when I took McCayla to the Legion to start decorating the float, my windshield was covered in ice which is RARE around here!)..

James was shooting the parade for the Bandera Bulletin and got a few photos of "our" girls :) The group of littluns up there in front is our's, and the red hat is Mrs. A. I'm the pale faced one next to her. HA!


(That's my little girl behind the post - long hair, looking confused.. hehehe)
They got awesome patches from a wonderful eBay store (TroopMoore) and I can't wait to put her's on her vest!

We started their Christmas craft at this week's meeting - we'll finish it next week, and we're also doing our holiday party. Sounds like fun! More updates soon!

She does so many giveaways, I have a new favorite blog to follow!

Yep, Mama B is doing a Kissaluvs giveaway too! And these looks SO nice! I didn't know KL made prints but these sure are adorable!

http://www.mamabee.net/2009/06/product-buzz-kissaluvs-marvel-fitted.html

I love the Mocca Swirl, I'd love to own that! (hey is there a :drool: icon here?!?)

Booroi covers anybody?

So I keep seeing posts on "Booroi" covers on Diaperswappers.. so I looked into them and they look SO awesome - like PUL cover meets gDiapers, in a way - you can reuse them if they're not soiled, but they have INNER gussets to hold everything in! How cool is that? And they appear to fit well..
I broke down and ordered one from Diaperlicious and can't wait for it to come, but honestly - it looks like something that's going to make me want to convert my entire hodge-podge of a stash into nothing but Booroi covers and prefolds! (eeeek!) Unfortunately you can't even find the dang things on FSOT because everyone wants them, though!

Anyway I entered a giveaway on Thrifty Mama B's blog, hopefully I win! I'm using all possible entries hehehe but you guys aren't allowed to go enter, because **I** I have to win!! I WANT THAT BOOROI!!!

http://www.mamabee.net/2009/06/product-buzz-booroi-reusable-cloth.html

Custom Camera Strap Cover Giveaway at Swanky Straps!

Swanky Straps Giveaway





I love the one strap cover that Mandy made me, so I'd love to try one from Swanky Straps. I entered. Hope I win. LOL


In other news, the Outlaw Studio is almost up and running! Just waiting on "lit up EXIT signs" before they'll issue our Certificate of Occupancy. Sigh. There used to be signs here.. a previous tenant must've thieved them. Gah!

I've been MIA, I know! :/

I've been so focused on Lil' Outlaws and Outlaw Photography (Lil' Outlaws division) that I have totally slacked on the blog! Eeek I'm so sorry!

I have been blogging lightly over at Lil' Outlaws, though!

I'll try to make some time to come post new pictures and stuff soon.. a lot has been "missed" - including a broken arm on my 2 year old son!

The latest updates - including babies and soap!

First of all, I'd like to say that I am SUPER excited and proud to announce.. I'm being interviewed for WAHM Wednesdays on Heidi's blog !! I sent her some soap in a swap, and she liked it so much that she decided to review them on the blog.. I am THRILLED! My interview will be February 4th, you guys make sure to go check it out!

Next up, new "soap porn" - AKA photos of some of my latest soaps :)

Blueberry Pomegranate (now sold out!)
Fredericksburg Peaches & Cream (Part of the Local Soaps Project)

Special "Inauguration Day" soap, scented with "Democrat" - limited edition

and one more, so I don't hog up the post with pictures..

Tomato Basil Salt Bars

Also I want to thank Jennifer from Jennifer Morais Photography, she sent me some photos she did in some Lil' Outlaws Baby Leggies - how sweet of her!

aaaaand finally for the pictures today.. my last maternity shoot, Barbara, came back yesterday and brought their beautiful 7wk old daughter, Ellarie. Here are a couple of my favorites :)





and last but not least, the few updates on the kids:
I've finally switched both kids around to forward facing carseats. McCayla hit the rear-facing limits on her's, and Canon hit a growth spurt so that even though he has a few pounds on the limits, the straps didn't fit anymore. So we saved and saved and bought them two very nice, SUPER safe carseats. We went with the Graco Nautilus - it's a 5-point harness up to 65 lbs and then a belt positioning booster to 100lbs, so basically the last carseat the kids will need. I only wish it were rear-facing as well, so that if we ever had another baby we would be able to get by with one carseat from infant to 10 years old! Oh well, it's still the safest carseat we could get, and we couldn't be happier.. and the kids are pretty happy too, I might add!

(just noticed that McCayla had her chest clip pushed down.. we were parked though LOL)

Everything else is going well here.. still trying to sell the houses and move, but who isn't? Housing market is pretty much shot right now.. Oh well!

Thanks for checking in!

-Jacklen

Miscellaneous Updates and a fun contest!

Contest first!
My friend Holly's company was reviewed on MySentiment Exact Lee - and how cool is that!??! She makes pendants using breastmilk, preserved in a resin bead. I know some of you think "okay, that's a bit nuts" but as a mother who breastfed my children, I think it's beautiful. Making human milk is a special gift, and once your children are older and that gift is gone.. well, you have nothing left but memories of special bonding moments with your babies. Her pendants are a great way to hold on to a bit of that :) And MySentiment Exact Lee is having a giveaway - just post a comment to be entered, but it ends tonight at midnight! So act fast :) Holly has graciously offered to give one lucky winner their very own pendant! I entered - will you?

http://www.mysentimentexactlee.com/2009/01/hollydaydesigns-breastmilk-pendant.html



and I'll be back later with more updates - Canon has a doctor's appointment today for a weird rash and stuff so I need to go get him a bath and get the diapers folded :)