Well...I've Done It!

I am so excited and so nervous at the same time! I took a huge step tonight! I actually purchased a domain name for my new business! I will be setting up my website over the next few weeks, and will hopefully have it up and running in three to four weeks!

For those of you who don't know, I have decided to take my craftiness to the next level. I have been selling my creations on Etsy for awhile now, but you have to pay a fee every time you list an item. It's minimal, but I hate paying them. My sales have really picked up recently, and the demand for my products has increased! I actually have a wholesale order for my magnetic boards and altered clothespin magnets! This is huge, and could be a great source of income for our family!

I know I haven't posted recently, and for that, I apologize, but I have been really busy trying to figure out the best web hosting company, website designer, and overall business plan. I have to say, I think I have found the greatest web hosting company around. It is MiaShops, and their plans are really affordable and you get a lot of extras for a minimal price. If any of you are interested in learning about this host, I have placed their button on the right side of this page...just click on it, and it will take you directly to the site! I now have hosting for my website for the next year!

I am now the owner of www.thriftytrendsetter.com! It's not up and running yet, but it will be soon-I'll be sure to let you know when I have it running!

If you want to see an example of some of the items I will be selling, click on the pictures of the items I have made on the right side of this page, and it will take you to my Etsy shop. Thanks for looking and for all of your support!

It's like riding a bike...

Chris and Jayden getting ready to ride!

It was such a nice Friday evening, that we decided to take our first ever bike ride as a family a few minutes ago! I purchased one of those seats that you put on the back of your bike for a child to ride in last week from a lady at work, and I've been dying to let Jayden try it out! Chris already had a bike, and I had bought one from Aunt Betty a few months back. Uncle Mark and Aunt Denise have been kind enough to let us store the bike in their shed until we needed it. Chris went an picked it up today, and he attached the seat to his bike. We got Jayden's helmet on him, got him all strapped in, and we were off! I was beyond excited...when I was young, this is what I always pictured that I would do with my family when I grew up! I was a little concerned that I would have difficulty riding because I haven't even sat on a bike since I was sixteen years old, but Chris said not to worry....he said that's why they say "It's like riding a bike....you never forget how."

So excited for his first bike ride!

Well....WRONG!!! You should have seen it! Chris and Jayden were off...riding about 100 miles an hour on his very nice, newer model bike. I didn't even make it out of the driveway without having to throw my feet down to the ground about four times to keep from scraping my nose across the pavement! My bike is what I like to call a "vintage model," and it creaked and shook at every timid move that I made. I couldn't remember that the breaks were in the handles, so I would go barreling across peoples yards and just barely missed about twenty curbs. I was so afraid that I was going to fall, that my arms, shoulders, and neck were completely tense. I would look up and see my loving husband a quarter mile ahead of me looking back smiling and hear Jayden yelling, "Mommy....Where are you? Are you coming?" I finally caught up, and things started to go a little smoother. We decided to venture away from our neighborhood and go a few streets over....

Awwww...just how I always pictured my life would be!

Now I consider our neighborhood really nice, and I feel so fortunate that we are able to live in the house that we live in, on the street that we live on, and in the area that we do. Needless to say, there are many other areas a lot nicer than ours. We decided to go to one of those areas...

Struggling on my vintage bicycle!

As we rode our bicycles further South, we started to notice something. The cars gradually got nicer, the yards were greener, the flowers bloomed a little brighter, and the houses got much, much bigger. And then we reached it....the epitome of wealth in Norman...Smoking Oak Road. This is a street so wonderful, they have spirally trees in front of the houses...lion statues that guard the front door to their homes, and beautiful shutters painted pretty colors. The street is tree lined with very old, beautiful trees, and the landscaping is abundant. The air smells richer on Smoking Oak Road.

What more can I say...

Houses actually have shutters and well landscaped lawns!

Lions guard their front doors!

Look at the pretty spirally trees!

Chris and Jayden riding on Smoking Oak.

And then it was time to ride back towards home. Gradually, as we moved towards home, the cars got older, the yards got browner, the flowers were wilted, and the houses got much, much smaller.

The cars got older and rustier...not something that would be seen on "the Oak!"

The grass is mainly weeds and dirt.

The way to our house...

And then we reached our house. Our cars are average, our grass is nice and green, we do have a few pretty flowers, and our house is small. But you see, none of this matters. This is our house, and we love it. We don't need a big, beautiful house on Smoking Oak Road with a luxury car, the lushest of landscaping, and beautiful shutters painted pretty colors. And I am totally fine with my vintage bicycle. I don't need some fancy-shmancy model. I would wobble and shake on a new bike as much as I do on my current one. All we need is God and each other and the love that we all share. A million houses on Smoking Oak Road couldn't replace that!

One happy boy after his bike ride!

Monday Night Fun!

This past Monday night, we had so much fun! This was my early week, so I got off of work at 3:45, and was home by 4:15, so we got to have a great evening! We packed a picnic and went to Reeve's Park. We ate and then we let Jayden play on the playground for about an hour. He had so much fun! His favorite things to do were to run across a bridge made out of black canvas, and go down the slide.

After the we left the playground, we headed over to the ball fields, and Chris played on the church softball league for the first time. He had a really good time, and had a hit. He made it to first base with no problem. After someone else hit another ball, he almost made it to second base, but guy on second base caught the ball before he made it there. Our team lost horribly, but it was tons of fun!

Jayden and I got to talk with a bunch of the girls from church who were there to support their husbands and boyfriends. It was really fun to get to know them better! For the first time though, I actually felt really old. I know that I'm only 27, but these girls were between the ages of 18 and 22. There is a seriously big difference in what goes on in their life and what goes on in mine! It was great though! I think we are going back this coming Monday. I can't think of a better way to spend a Monday night than with church friends and family!

Jayden loved to walk back and forth over the bridge at the park.

He's having a blast!

Back and forth...Back and forth...

He LOVES the slide!!! (A child after my own heart!)

Yea!!! Chris made it to first base! (He's the one in the middle of the picture.)

Still on first base...

Running to second...didn't quite make it though.

Some of our friends from church. Haley, Alyssa, and Lauren. Such sweet girls! So cute too!

And here's the elderly woman of the group with her cranky child!

Okay...gotta run! I'll post more tomorrow!

Totaled...

Last Wednesday was not a good day for the Lee Family. Chris and Jayden were involved in a car accident. Luckily, no one was injured. The car however, was another story. Unfortunately, the accident was Chris' fault, but thank goodness we have good insurance. We found out today that they have totaled the car. Definitely not the news we wanted to hear! We have no car payments right now which is such a blessing, but there's a good chance we are going to have to take one on. This is going to make it very difficult on us financially, as Chris is still unemployed, and even when he does get a job, he cannot work a lot of hours because of school. Please pray for our situation right now. Times were already tough financially, and they just got a whole lot tougher! I'm sorry for the downer of a post, but this is what is going on in our life right now, and this is Life with the Lees!

Just wanted to say...

Well...it's a day late, but I just wanted to wish my parents a Happy 30th Anniversary! Hope you had a great day! :) I'm at work, so I can't post anything else right now, but I will add a new post this afternoon. Have a great day everyone!

New Additions to our Family

Don't get excited....we are not having a baby any time soon! Jayden liked the fish at Sea World so much, that we decided to get him some fish! Eight fish, to be exact. (Really, it's more like we have six because two of the fish are the type that clean the tank, so we didn't really name those.)

We got two black mollies, two tuxedo guppies, and two neon tetras. They are so cute! Jayden's favorite are the black mollies, so we let him name them. He chose the names Soccer and Ball. Funny, huh?! Chris likes the guppies the best, so he named them David and Roger (from Pink Floyd-his fav band). And that left me with the neons, so I named them Tuck and Ming-Ming after one of Jayden's favorite shows-The Wonder Pets. Quite an interesting group of names if I do say so myself! :)

We've had our fish (shiff as Jayden calls them!) for almost a week now, and so far so good! They are all still alive and thriving!

The new fish tank...

Chris putting the fish into the tank.

Jayden was so excited about the new pets!All happy in their new home.

Jayden had to kiss the fish goodnight! What a sweet boy!

Jayden talking about the shiff!

Vacation Pictures from Day 5

Well...you made it to day five of our vacation which was a week ago today, Sunday, June 7! I thought I had taken more pictures of the trip home, but I guess I was wrong. All I have for you today is one picture of Jayden, and a video. Definitely watch the video...it is worth it!

Jayden riding home in the car with his new dolphin from Sea World.

Jayden entertaining us by singing church songs. Make sure you listen to him saying "Bravo" when he finishes! Such a mess!

That does it for vacation pictures! You made it all the way through! I hope that you enjoyed them. Stay tuned for more Lee Family fun!

Vacation Pictures from Day 4

Sorry I didn't post any pictures yesterday! Life got busy, and I didn't have the time! Anyway, here are pictures from our fourth day of vacation, Saturday, June 6. We were at the Lost Lagoon Water Park inside of Sea World! We all had a great time, but Jayden especially liked it!

Jayden and Daddy getting into the water!

Jayden was required to wear a life jacket. It definitely made me feel more comfortable!

Mommy helping Jayden walk around in the water.

Daddy and Jayden in the wavepool!

The three of us in the wavepool.

Eating lunch...what a ham Jayden is! Look at that face!

Mommy and Jayden in the Lazy River.

Jayden loved this area of the park! It was called Splash Zone, and was a great place for kids to play.

Jayden was telling us about something...

He was so excited!

Being brave away from Mommy and Daddy.

Awwww....how sweet!

Jayden "swimming"....and my big head!

Jayden and Mommy chillin' in the water!

Literally....about 30 seconds after putting him into his carseat!

Well...you've got one more day of vacation pictures to get through! Tomorrow, I will post pics of us on our trip home. Hope you enjoyed todays pictures!