we're back and playing catch up :)

wahoo! we are home.. as much as I love going on vacation, I also love the feeling, when I have been gone for a long time, and we get off the "shelley" exit.. which consists of miles and miles of farmland.. and drive the 7 minute drive into "town".. seeing the old "welcome to shelley" sign and then pulling down our street and seeing our house. It's such a comforting sight and it feels so good to be HOME. Then reality hits and you realize.. holy crap.. Ive been gone for 10 days and I am SO behind and have a 1000 emails to return and deadlines that are waiting for me.. and life is back to usual. lol. I actually had to take a nap yesterday because I was so tired.. lol and I was looking at a long night ahead.

The cruise was amazing! This is us.. just getting ready to get onto the ship in Orlando. Kids were so excited and getting along.

This was right after we got on the cruise.. the first thing Noah wanted to do was get an ice cream cone.. that was actually our kids favorite thing  to do. Get ice cream. Before swimming, during swimming, after swimming, before dinner, after dinner, at midnight.. etc. gotta love being able to get your own soft-serve anytime you want!

of course I had to join it :) it was part of a family activity..

This is the kids waiving goodbye to the people on shore.. so funny

 Me and ben.. excited to just be together and have FAMILY TIME!!!

and then I turned my phone off, because I was out of range.. and didn't turn it back on until our last port, when I realized I could put it in "airplane" mode and it wouldn't receive texts and I could still use it as a phone! lol (I made the mistake of turning it on in Jamaica to use it for "keeping time"  and I had about 5 texts from friends come in and then a message from AT&T telling me that each message was costing me $20.00 per text!) I scrambled to turn it off.. and then in cozumel when I was complaining I wasn't getting any good pictures on my phone, my son, Braden, reminded me.. I could put it in airline mode and just use it as a camera :) duh. So we do have a lot of pictures during the cruise.. but they are all on ben's video camera. Next time I know! This picture was taking iN Cozumel after I realized I could use it as a camera :) Braden found himself a little lizard or gecko? or some sort while we were shopping and it climbed on him and stayed with him all day long. Even in Hard Rock Cafe, when we ate lunch. The waiters and cooks thought that was pretty funny.

just for documentation purposes, I should start taking a picture of us, on our last day, waiting in the airport to come home.. haha.. I guarantee the look on the faces would NOT be excitements.. OR them getting along. On the plane ride home, there was a lot of "he's teaching me", "he won't let me see out the window", "it's my turn to play on the laptop/ipod.. etc".. seriously. I was ready to kick some tomlinson butt on that planeride home. We live in a pretty small town, so to fly out of here is REALLY expensive for 8 people. So if more than 2 of us are flying, we usually make the 3 hour drive to Salt Lake City, Utah.. to catch a plane there. So after we arrived in Salt Lake at 9:00 at night.. and we gathered our luggage, got a ride to the carport for our car, and stopped to get food.. we were on the road around 9:30 PM to home and luckily the kids slept the entire ride home. Or It would not have been pretty for them. lol.

anyhow.. so we are home! Im busy finishing up some fabrics designs I have been doing, finishing up my classes and supplies for the two events I am teaching at this month.. Next week.. SPARK THE EVENT in Utah..

 

 SO excited to be there, and spend time with my TRUE, Margie Romney-Aslett. This event is like no other. Seriously. I am not just saying that. It's not an event where you just go from room to room and your one of the crowd. The attention to detail at this event is spectacular! They make it a magical creative place.. from the decorations, to the food, to the special mini events they have, to the  homemade cupcakes and the artisan fair with all sorts of handmade vendors and gifts. IT TRULY is a one of a kind event! It's a very relaxing and nastalogic event. LOVE going to it.  I am teaching a SHE ART canvas at this event. Allie is going to miss school and come with me. Help me with my class and stuff. It will be a great bonding experience with my girl :).  It's gonna be fun! 

The the following weekend (actually on my birthday!) Ben and I are flying to San Diego, where i will be teaching at CKU.. Reunion!

CKU is jammed packed with energy and craziness..  so complete opposite of Spark. The pace is fast and fun and lots of dancing and all sorts of crazy fun. I am bringing ben because with my fibromyalgia.. I seriously can't NOT life boxes or bags and I need help with setting up all my classes.. and really .. just need moral support. I teach all day long.. 4 classes each day and so at the end of the day I tend to get tired and emotional and need the familiar support to bring me back down to "it's okay" and start all over again the next day. I am teaching a "house" canvas at this event.. gonna be SO fun. Then we fly home sunday, October 30th.. on my birthday! I think I am going to be 37 this year? I hope it's 37.. not 38! lol

Come join me at either OR BOTH events! You can still register and come! Seriously.. gonna love it :)

so that is what I am up to this week.. preparing for those two events. PLUS I am designing a new line of STAMPS too! Can't wait! working on it with a fabulous company.. hoping to have them in production by the end of this month and ready for the new SHE art 2 class!  OH and on my list this week.. start loading all my prints into my new esty store that I am HOPING to have open by the end of this month too. :)

 holy cow.. it's wednesday.. I don't know if I can get this all done. I still have to order all the products for our brand new mixed media subscription kit, we are hoping to debut in November. I think I need a double :) lol

well, that's an update of life at the Tomlinson home! I DO have in the plans to do a Creatively Inspired video this week too.. think "fall" and pumpkins.. and paint and stamps. So inspired when I saw this and can't wait to do it! already bought my pumpkins yesterday for it! Plus gonna do a video on something TRULY amazing that my sister and her husband have done.. that I want to share with you too.. so i better get off this darn keyboard and start doing it. I have my to do list in front of me.. better start checking it off :)

Happy Wednesday!
Christy

Comments

[Claudine]

great family !!! I'm the eldest of six children and keep beautiful memories of that childhood !
take care all of you
love from France

[Bethany Kartchner]

I've been trying to figure out the whole prints thing. Are you printing them off on your computer? Or are you going through an online source? What type printer do you have?

I wanted to tell you congrats on your Studio article and video. Your artwork is gorgeous and your videos make it so accessible. Wonderful job.

[Cassandra]

So glad you all had a good time. Excited to see your new prints and stamp line and looking forward to She Art 2!

Have a great day!

[Larissa Heskett]

THANKS for sharing the pics from your trip!! SO GLAD you had time to take a BREAK and the WHOLE FAM got to go!! =)
I can't wait to meet and create with you at SPARK!! SO EXCITED!! =D
I have taken ALL of your class and can't wait for SHE ART 2 to start!! =D
So sounds like your BUSY~BUSY~BUSY but I know you will get it all done, and if not BREATH and just keep working!!
Have a FABULOUS WEEKEND!! =D

[Jen Clark]

I seriously do not know how you do it all, Christy!!! You are one seriously AMAZING woman!! I mean, really! How DO you manage to pull all of that off, on top of being a mom to 6 kids, and a wife, and involved in your church???? I'm not just saying this - I really truly want to know! How do you do it???? Because I only have 4 kids and I feel like I'm barely keeping my head above the water most of the time! I woke up in the middle of the night last night with my joints hurting so bad from my RA, and all I could think was, "Oh great, another flare-up...to slow me down even more!" I am in total awe of you!

[Sandy]

Super excited about your prints!! Want those so bad! Can't wait for She Art 2! Congrats on all your successes! And Thank you for doing all these fabulous classes.

[Karalyn]

Hi Christy!
I just wanted to tell you that I have LOVED your videos on My Craft Channel. I have a lot of canvas in a lot of sizes just waiting for some creativity on them. You have given me the courage I have needed to get some out and just start playing! I can't wait! THANK YOU!!!

[Sharon Osborn]

Oh Christy! I don't know how you do it all, but I am so thankful you do! Can't wait for the stamps to come out :) Also thrilled to hear you are doing a Mixed media kit; I will be all over that one! I get to be a crafty goddess this weekend-my g-friend and I are thinking about a witchy she-art gal! Will send you a pic when we are done! Blessings on the rest of your week-glad you are all home safely!

[Linda]

So glad you had a well-deserved vacation with the family! Everyone needs that. I thought my to-do list was bad until I read yours;D Anxiously waiting for She Art 2 to get started;D

[Joanne Freeman]

You are hilarious Christy. When I am reading your words I can actually hear your voice in my head and it makes me smile and laugh. You are so expressive and detailed (which I love. I am so excited about She Art 2. I really wish I lived in the US right now as I would love to attend both events you shared about. They sound awesome. Have you ever been to Australia (either holiday or to teach). I would love it if you could come and teach a class here. Anyway that's enough from me. Enjoy getting back into life.
Jo

[Julie]

So glad u and your family had a great vaca. I wish I lived closer to all these great places you are teaching but CT is a little far. Looking forward to SheArt 2. Julie

[patricia welch]

I am soooo glad I have found your web pages. I watch a bit of one of your videos, then jump up and go to my work room and make something. I come back and watch a bit more. I do have a question and a comment. First the question: what is Etsy? I see it a lot and can't figure out what it means.
Now comment: sheeesh. How old are you anyway?? You look about 15! (smile)

[Bec Clarke]

Oh there is so much good news in that post. I can't wait for the stamps and the prints and I am so glad you had a nice relaxing holiday.
Can't wait for She Art 2

[Dottee O.]

Oh my, my, my! A rubber stamp line? I'm drooling already!
Glad you're home safe and sound!
See you at SPARK!!

[Mariann S Sæbjørnsen]

I wish I lived in USA just for joining one of your classes. I have signed on one of your internet courses and can`t wait for you to send me the information on email. I have paid by Paypal.
Hugs from Norway

[Lisa]

I am in awe!!!!!!!!!

[Esperanza]

Love your energy! Oh I wish I could join you in San Diego, so close and yet so far : ) Hope you have lots of fun. make sure you visit the beach, it's beautiful! And Welcome back!

[Donna L]

Welcome Home! Sounds like you have a lot on your plate, hope it all goes well. I can't wait to see the Mixed Media subscription kit (great idea) and your stamp line. You have opened up a whole new artist world for me, I had never done anything on canvas and now I can't stop -- THANK YOU! Have safe travels.

[domy07]

Oh! Christy you are adorable and your small family is wonderful Thank you for your joy of living

[Kim Boken]

How Awesome!! Sounds like a great vacation!