Custom Cutsies!

So one of my friend's little cousins (...she'll always be little to me!) has started this great company making ADORABLE custom frames! They make wonderful gifts and you can pick your colors to match your room, theme, whatever!

She is offering $5.00 off to all of my bloggers so check it out:

http://www.customcutsies.blogspot.com/

I can't wait to see how her new adventure takes off! I know she would love to hear your input and comments even if you aren't ready to purchase any frames! So thank you in advance and hopefully she'll be able to help you create that perfect goodie for yourself or someone else!

Last Day to Submit photos!

Don't forget tomorrow is the last day to submit your holiday/birth announcement photos to Sweet Pea Designs to win free photo cards in 2008!

I think I'm going to submit this one! (with a few others that aren't so messy!)

Check out my website for more info and look for a new February special on Friday!

http://noteworthystyle.myspstore.com/

Another death -

Well, as one life enters this world, another leaves - isn't that the way the world goes around? We have had yet another death in our family...yes you read that correctly! 5 deaths in 2 years (just on MY side!) Is that normal?

My mom's brother, Reggie, passed away suddenly Wednesday night from a massive heart attach - yes, I have the bad genes on both sides! Please keep my mom in your prayers as she just lost her mother a year ago this month.

Sorry to be "Debbie Downer"

Here are the details:

Reggie Dawson, 62 of Homer, GA passed away January 23, 2008. Mr. Dawson was born in Atlanta, GA to the late Charles W. and Gloria Bishop Dawson. He was a devoted Christian and was a member of North Avenue Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA for 60 years. Reggie was a retired Insurance Agent with Allstate In- surance Company for 20 years. Mr. Dawson is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Jane A. Dawson of Homer, GA; daughter and son in-law Debra Ann and Mike Langan of Dacula, GA; son and daughter in-law, Timothy and Sarah Dawson of Lawrenceville, GA; grandchildren Alexis Langan, Noah Langan, Jane Ann Langan; sister and brother in-law Patricia and Jim Maddox of Alpharetta, GA; brothers and sisters in-law Charles S. and Wanda Dawson of Cedartown, GA, Vernon and Ronda Dawson of Atlanta, GA and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held 4:00 o'clock Sunday, January 27, 2008 at North Avenue Presbyterian Church with Dr. Scott Weimer officiating. In lieu of flowers please make donations to a charity or a church of your choice in honor of Reggie Dawson. The family will receive friends following the ceremony at the church. H.M. Patterson & Son Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30319. Express condolences at ajc.com/obits

Baby Ella

Here is a picture of sweet baby ella! She is precious and Lawson is dying to meet her (we are going today!) He has been constantly talking about baby ella and that Cole has a new baby sister!

A few months ago, Lawson told me "I really, really, really want you to have another baby" in which I replied "You can't even share with the one you have!" So last night when I was putting him to bed he said "Mom, I really want you to have another baby because I am sharing now..." Sweet.....

We'll see -

One year ago TODAY

These were the pictures we took one year ago TODAY....wow! My boys are growing up!

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our first snow in the new house!

This is the view out of our breakfast room....wow!

So we had snow twice this week! What in the world? Lawson wore his snow boots to school all week (even on days it wasn't necessary!)

By the way, does he look like a teenager in this picture?

We also had a little 4 year old birthday party in the snow! It was a blast! All of the kids played outside in the snow-sledding, making snowballs, running around...very memorable.

Uncle Scott, Robin and Baylee all came over and threw snowballs! I wish I had better pictures of Lawson with his cousin...He LOVES his cousins!

Andrew didn't get out in it but he loves showing everyone his big belly!

Happy Snow days!

"Since we've no place to go....Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"

It's a GIRL!!!!

Ella Mixon

arrived early yesterday morning! She is precious and baby and mama are doing good!

I'm so sorry I don't have a picture to show you but will hope to post one soon! Please keep their family in your prayers as they adjust to their new family!

New baby to arrive soon!!!

No, not mine! Baby Upchurch is set for arrival early tomorrow morning! He/she is set for a 7:15 c- section and it's crazy to think the world will be forever changed tomorrow. Definitely forever changed for this family of three - about to become a family of four...changed for sweet Cole who's never had to share his parents, changed for sweet baby who will be adjusting to the outside world, changed for Sheli and Robert who's nightly sleeping slunders are about to be sleepless.

This change brings about such wonderful joy and blessings! We can't wait to meet this new little one!

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him." Psalm 127:3

Are my kids Ragsland Kids?

I'm just not sure but I got invited to a Ragsland kids party so I thought I'd check it out! I really wanted to support my friend and thought that surely there would be something in there for my boys! I've never been one to dress my boys in this type of clothing but I think I found something....wanted to show my three loyal fans who read my blog to see what you think.

For the little man - Andrew....a jon jon - he'll be less than two this summer and how cute with a no shirt underneath at the beach?
For my big boy - patchwork board shorts to match with a fun white or navy polo shirt?

Hubby wasn't too excited about the jon jon but I think when we get his precious boys picture taken in these, he'll change his mind!

Thoughts?

January Special!

Note Worthy, Inc.
Wishes you a
Happy New Year!
January Special!!!
ANY assortment of thank you notes 20% off:

Visit my website at:

http://noteworthystyle.myspstore.com/

And enter coupon code "blog" at checkout!!!

Vote on new Blog Name!

Okay so I feel that my blog needs a better name than just The Stargel Fam - that's not very fun! Please help me pick a new name from the following multiple choices:

a. Thank God for Coffee and Preschool
b. Bringing up Boys
c. Stargel Scene
d. something else that you suggest!

This will also tell me how many people are actually reading this!!!!

Christy

Contentment

NEWS FLASH - Bathing suits are NOW in the stores...Swear. Maybe if I looked like the girls on jcrew.com (which also have their bathing suits on the home page now), then I'd be all footloose and fancy free and wanting to try on bathing suits! It's January 7th for crying out loud! I was at Target tonight and saw their new fresh line of bathing suits! What in the world? Was I not just complaining about all of the holiday weight I had gained? Do they really think anyone wants to start shopping for bathing suits right now?

Which leads me to contentment - I had a recent discussion with some lifelong friends last night about contentment and we were all describing what that means to us. The question was asked are you content just because you are happy? I don't think so. The definition of content is "satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else." Wow - Someone very wise (my sister) frequently tells me to "Want what you have" and that is what I try to live by. I don't need to keep up with the Jones's or try and sell people on my wordly goods that I have obtained. I don't need to guess what's around the next corner of my life or second guess the decisions made in the past - it's done and it is what it is.

It's easy to get down on yourself and think ugh....i wish I had a better body, a bigger house, a nicer car but then I take a minute to realize how truly blessed I am. I'm thankful for this body and the fact that it has sustained two precious lives, I'm thankful for this house on these cold cold nights, I'm so thankful for my car and that it gets me from a to b even though it's messy with the kids toys everywhere!!!

I hope all of my friends are content and have that peace of knowing you've made the right decisions. You are where you are for a good reason! I'll leave you with this: A friend of mine has a sign hanging in her kitchen that reads:

GIVE THANKS
Oh Thou, who has given us so much, mercifully grant us one more thing - a grateful heart.

We're old enough to have kids?

Wow...Yes, we are old enough to have kids and our friends have kids! And not just one kid but many of my friends are having multiple children - I'm starting to feel old. The gray hairs, back pain, sagginess (is that a word?), crabbiness and sleepiness.

But with this comes such fun times too! I can't describe what it feels like to go to the birthday party of my lifelong friend's daughter. It's undescribable. And the love that our kids feel for each other is not forced or taught, (well maybe a little taught - taught that they didn't have a choice!) but just genuine. I look at each one of my friends children and see a great deal of what I loved so much about their moms growing up. That's what made them lifelong friends!

Here are pictures of the birthday party we attended today for Leah Bagwell! She's the big 2 year old!

4 Days and Counting!

Okay! So here is my first blog entry! Is that the right terminology? Whatever....

I'm ready for Christmas Break to BE OVER!!!!

4 days and counting until my kids go back to school and our every day routine is once again - a routine! My husband has been off work since Christmas Eve and while most days I can't wait until he gets home, we seem to be underfoot for these however many days! I keep thinking to myself "I chose to marry this person - so why are we driving each other so crazy?"

Also, I didn't know it was possible to gain so much weight over the holidays! I keep trying to blame it on being bloated but that excuse isn't working anymore! You know it's time to go on your diet when your three year old asks you "mommy, why is your tummy so big?" and until I can answer him with "sweetie, because there is a baby in mommy's tummy!!!" then it's DIET TIME! I told him he better be glad that he's mine and don't you DARE say that to anyone else!

So here we come South Beach! Today is Day 2 (still in detox) and I'm even going to Mexican tonight - is that a good idea? I'll just keep telling myself "no chips, no chips" - oh how fun for me!

We did do some fun things over the holidays and so I don't want to use this blog as a vent session! It should be for the good of myself and others to read! (Even if I am saving money on therapy by "venting" to my blog!)

One of the fun things we did do is see the snow in Atlantic Station! It snowed every night over the holidays so if we couldn't see real snow, it was at least fun to pretend!

Happy Holidays and here's back to routines!!!!