Happy Holidays From The Harris Crew...

...Maggie, Anna, Mary Elizabeth, Isaac, and Luke...

Well, we sure hope that everyone had a great Christmas and is looking forward to a fun and safe New Year's Eve. Our Christmas break has been unbelievable! Josh and I both having all this time together to spend with each other and our families has been the best present of all.

Maggie had a wonderful Christmas as well. We spent the first part of last week here at home. Josh and I treated ourselves with a special gift to each other. We bought a new Christmas tree. It is beautiful and it was a BaRgAiN! We have always had a tree. It was the first tree that we purchased at Target together when we first got married. $16.99, not pre-lit, and even had the individual sticks that you place in a pole to create the tree. It was time for an upgrade for sure!

We spent Christmas morning at my sister's house. It was so fun. Her kiddos racked up (in a good way) from Santa so there was so much for Maggie to play with. We always start with a Christmas morning breakfast with JuJu cooking. Grandma Norma is a master with the eggs and this year the first thing I saw when I walked into Brea's house was Anna in the kitchen with her American Girl apron on manning the sausage! How cool is that! She is growing up so fast!


After breakfast, it's presents time! I am so happy to say that everything I (we) gave to Brea's kids was completely homemade! It was so cool to see them be excited about something that Aunt Alie made them!


I was jazzed when I opened up my new Dyson Root Vacuum! I am so excited to clean!


Notice that Maggie is sporting her new hair do...PigTails! Her hair is getting so long and thick that we needed to do something...and why not piggietails...or as Molly Ledford would say Kibbibs!
Maggie got a ton of really great presents from everyone! JuJu and Poppie Eddie got her a Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Chair that she already loves to sit and and climb on! Love it!


The Freeman Crew got Maggie this Step 2 Rollercoaster! She loved it from the second that she saw it at their house! She loves to go "weeeeeee" all the way down it!



This awesome painting was a huge surprise. My dad, Poppie Eddie, created this painting for us. I absolutely love it. The first thing we did when we got home was hang it up! It looks so beautiful above my sewing table...and means so much because Dad created it for us to love!

I just had to include this picture. This was at Brea's house and the boys are trying to teach Papa Charles how to play the Wii MarioCart. It was too funny to watch. Papa had no clue what he was doing, but what a great memory for the boys!

After Christmas here in TN, we jetted up to Indiana a day early to surprise Josh's family! It was great! His mom just couldn't believe we were there! We stayed there for 5 days. It was so nice to be there with his family for longer than a weekend. We even got to spend a morning shopping with his MawMaw. That was great! Our sister-in-law Lori decided to go into labor when we hit the Kentucky/Tennessee border, but she is a bit too early so they stopped her labor. She isn't due for a couple more weeks, so hopefully little Dane will wait a bit longer to make his appearance!

We had a great Holiday with our families. We are so blessed to have such awesome people in our lives that love us so much!
Happy New Year's to everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving from The Harris Home...

Hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving. Josh is sure in love with "the teacher's schedule" as he was able to have an extra day off this year. He is not going to know what to do with himself around Christmas time with two whole weeks off.

We had a great Thanksgiving. Very low key and just about being a family. We went to my JuJu's house and had a yummy Thanksgiving lunch on Thursday. Josh, of course, brought his camera and captured some beautiful pictures of everyone, especially Brea's kiddos.

He captured this image of me and Anna. She is my beautiful 10 year old niece that I still feel should be Maggie's age. She is such a fun, loving, and sweet young lady. I love her so. She will always hold a special place in my heart as she was my sister's first child. I still remember standing out in the hallway waiting to hear her cry. I was a Junior in High School and had no idea how cool is was going to be to be an aunt to such an awesome little girl.

I was lucky enough to get some sewing done over the break, including this skirt. This was the free skirt that I custom made for the winner of my sewing blog contest. I love the way it turned out!

Now we are looking forward to Christmas and all those memories they will hold. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Maggie's New Do...

Today was such a fun day. I love days where Josh, Maggie and I just get to hang out and be us together with no real agenda. We decided to get a couple of things done today.

We first headed out to Phillips Toy Mart in Nashville and spent some time in there just looking around and picking up a few Christmas gifts from Santa! That place is so much fun but so packed full. No strollers can get through, which is fine with us because Maggie is going through the "I don't want to be in a stroller when I can just walk or jog anywhere I want to go" stage. I say stage...Lord, I don't know if it is a stage.

After taking care of that we headed over to Green Hills Mall to check out a couple of things there and then headed back north for Maggie's first haircut. To say that Maggie was overdo for a haircut is the understatement of the year. She is so cute and as much as I love her peacock hair, it was out of control. I mean, you know it is BAD when strangers come up and ask Maggie in their "I'm talking to a baby" voice if Mommy has been rubbing a balloon on her head!

We went to see Ms. Nicki at Mitzi's...we love her. She was great with Maggie. They were used to each other because Maggie always goes along for Josh's haircuts and my services (i.e. waxing the bushes off my forehead). Maggie did great. She didn't love the cape, so we got hair all over her, but that was okay!

This is the before picture...oh My!

And the after picture...

She is getting so big. She looks like such a little girl in this picture. Ms. Nicki rewarded Maggie with a sucker, which Mags loved. How cute are those overalls...Thanks Aunt Brea! Also, I just have to say this...Maggie LOVES bracelets. We found this one at Phillip's for a $1.99. She loved it! Overall, it was a great Saturday with great memories!

For Patti...

I have never been a huge fan of sending flowers to a funeral home when someone passes. I get the point and I value the beauty that flowers provide, it is just not my thing.

Last week, my mom's best friend lost her mother. Let me just say that my mom's best friend, Patti, is one of those women that you love to be around. She is little, sweet, beautiful, and just plain fun. Patti and her hubby, Ronnie, have been in my life for as long as I remember. We ALWAYS did things with Patti and Ronnie, and still do. I remember going over to Patti's mother's house and playing volleyball in the backyard and searching for Easter eggs. We are not related to Patti, but it always felt that she was just our family. I love her. She used to fix me the BEST ice cream sundae's when we would go to her house, just because she knew that I liked them.

When I found out that Patti had lost Mrs. Per, I wanted to do something that would hopefully hold more long term meaning than flowers. I decided to make her a hanky with a calendar cut out of the month and date that her mom passed. November 14th has a heart around it. It is not to constantly remind her of the date, rather to constantly remind her that she is loved by so many. I got this awesome vintage calendar cut out from Etsy seller chakrapennywhistle. I contacted her to make sure that she had the right date to line up with the right day of the week. Since they are vintage, you have to double check those things.

I love the way it turned out and I hope that Patti will love it for years to come as well. Mrs. Per was a wonderful lady who had a wonderful family. Heaven just got sweeter...

love...

...this girl so much!

Happy Halloween...

Happy Halloween to all of you!

Maggie had a great Halloween. This was her second Halloween, but since she was only 3 months old on the last Halloween, this Halloween was soooo fun!

I purchased her costume about a month and a half ago. I was searching on Ebay for some cute ideas. I came across this costume made by Babystyle and LOVED it. If you have ever met Maggs in person, you know that her hair is generally standing straight up as if she has been living inside of an electricial outlet. It is cute and funny, but not so great when your going to church or somewhere more serious. I love her hair. I think it is great. When I saw this peacock costume, it was perfect. She has always been my little peacock with that hair.

I got a great deal on it and Maggie loved it. The costume itself is beautiful. Huge, but beautiful!

We were excited to trick or treat with Brea and Jonathan's kiddos. We love those guys so much!

They always have the cutest costumes. This year they were characters from Alice in Wonderland. Anna was of course Alice and she looked so beautiful and grown up.

The boys were Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Little Mary was the Cheshire Cat.

How great is this picture. I can bearly look at this without tearing up. Those girls are going to be the best of friends.

Hope everyone had a great and safe Halloween! Hard to believe that the Holiday season is coming so quickly. We were so excited to have warm weather for trick or treating last night.

Since the Holiday season is right around the corner, be sure to hop over to my sewing blog where I am giving away an awesome Maggie Moo Skirt. I am going to custom make one lucky winner a skirt of their choice. Be sure to check it out!

Maggie's Sweet 15 Month Photo Shoot...

Today was a great day! Josh and I headed up to my mom and dad's house in Greenbrier to do Maggie's 15 month photo shoot. We tried so hard to get some great 1 year pictures 3 months ago...it just didn't happen. Today Maggie was in top form. She was smiling, laughing, playing some serious peek-a-boo...and just plain having fun.

I love my mom and dad's house. Josh and I had our wedding pictures taken there in the backyard before our wedding. They have a beautiful pine tree row that is practically famous, beautiful flower beds, and some cool old barns.

My mom and dad were so much help today. You should have seen my dad playing with Maggie to get her to smile. I just sat and watched how my dad interacted with her and it made my heart happy. I am very close to both of my parents. I only hope that Maggie will grow and love her parents as much I as I love mine.

These two shots are not the best of Maggie's face, but I just love the simplicity they hold of her just sitting and playing in the grass and looking back at us from the chair.

Of course, daddy, Josh, took all of these amazing photos of Maggie.
I just love every single one of them and the memories they will always hold!

jdharrisphotography.wordpress.com

Buying Homemade...It Just Feels Good!

If you have not been to Etsy.com lately, GO NOW! That site is unbelievable!

Since I craft myself, I LOVE to purchase other crafter's work there and either keep it for myself or give as gifts. 98% of what is on Etsy is homemade. You just feel good when you shop there. People are friendly, they want you to love what they have spent hours creating.

Here are some of my most recent purchases off Etsy.

My Joshie actually purchased this print for me. We all know how obsessed I am with birds. I have been talking about this ever since I order a print for Anna. I just love it! It is from seller dazeychic.

This is the print that I ordered for Anna's birthday. It just said ANNA to me. She loved it! Art is also by dazeychic.

I purchased this shopping cart cover from a great seller, MichaelMoooDesigns. I hated the store bought shopping covers because they didn't really cover the buggy the way I wanted. This cover is the best. We get compliments on it every where we go.

I ordered this beautiful brooch from PrettyinPosies. Jenn is the BEST to work with. She has created tons of clippies for Maggie. I got this brooch for my mentor at school. She LOVED it.

So, if you have not been to Etsy lately...GO! You will be purchasing a one of a kind item that someone made with tons of love and time. It just makes your heart feel good.

So, Going Back to Number 3...

If you read a couple of posts ago, I admitted that one day I would LOVE to have my own children's line of clothing. Since I just started heavily sewing a little over a year ago, I have always wondered what it would be like to make Maggie's clothes. Not really for others to compliment, but for me to know that I could do it.

I love Sunday afternoon naps for Maggie. She loves to sleep for a really long time, partly because she is worn out from the week, partly because we don't make a sound in order to let her sleep. Today, I thought I would work on an awesome skirt for Ms. Maggie. We are fixing to do her 15 month (can you believe it?!!?) photo shoot and I wanted to have something special for her to wear. It took about 2.5 hours to make and I LOVE the way it came out!

So, who knows about that clothing line. Maybe one day, maybe one day soon...

I would love to know what you think about it...I hope Maggie will love it!

What Do You Get...

...when you combine a kitchen window being close to the ground and a really tall hubby?

6 Fun & Interesting Things About Me...

So my sister, Brea, tagged my hubby, Josh, a couple of weeks ago. I think she would have tagged me, but I was in the bed sick with Mono. Long story, crazy story...maybe later. Anyway, she tagged asking to know 6 fun and interesting things about yourself. Josh never has done it, so I thought I would.

So here goes.

1. I get the weirdest of all weird kinds of illness. IF it is gross, scary, weird, from another country, or has hair, I am going to get it. I always get very sick, when I get sick. Since I am around children all the time, I usually have a pretty good immune system. BUT when I do get sick, it is bad. It is not something that I am proud of...most of my friends make fun of me, in a nice way, because I have been this way forever. I hope not to pass that onto Maggie!

2. I am a terrible test taker. BAD! It doesn't matter what test...I am just not good at taking tests. I finally diagonsed myself with a test taking disorder...(another weird illness!!! HaHa)

3. Secretly, or not so secretly anymore, I wish to have my own clothing line for children. I want children all over to have Maggie Moo clothing. Right now, it is just me, my sewing machine, a buffet table in my bonus room, and two lamps. Maybe someday....

4. I love to tell people about Josh's story. It amazes people to know that CPR can save someone's life. It is hard sometimes, sometimes I cry, sometimes I pray, but I want people to know that just making a point to learn CPR could save someone's life. I feel that one day, I would love to be a CPR instructor.

5. Everyday, I make a TO DO list. I list things that I have to get done at school and things I have to get done at home. I try everyday to not go to bed until have completed my checklist. Sometimes, it is too long. But, this helps me stay organized. I like to be organized.

6. My freshman year at Cumberland University, I was on the home coming court. Now, if you know me, you know that I am the furtherest thing from a homecoming queen there is. I played tennis and every sport had to have a representative for all of the homecoming events. It was basically, "Alison can do it...She is the freshman." I loved it though. I got to wear my prom dress that I had just worn to prom the May before, got my hair done, makeup, everything. I was also in a parade around Lebanon where I rode on the back of a corvette with a friend of mine at the time Brittany, who was the Men's Tennis Team representative. I was dating a guy at the time from home, but since he couldn't escort me, I had to ask a guy that attend CU. That is were Mr. Josh Harris came into the picture. Josh and I met the very first day of school at CU. We were standing in line for physicals (I played tennis, he played basketball). The story has been told several ways, but basically from that day one, we were best friends. He was one of the only guys I knew at CU so I asked him to be my escort. It was great. Homecoming day it was about 109 degrees and I am in my prom dress looking nice...Josh shows up in a green and black FLANNEL shirt and a orange and brown basketball tie. He looked so nice, but did not match at all...so cute! He was so nervous to escort me. Needless to say, I didn't win or place or whatever, but it was a great memory. My sister STILL jokes with Josh about that outfit he wore that day. She just couldn't believe that he would be in FLANNEL (did you hear me say flannel) in September.

So there you have it...That was fun.

Now, I get to tag...

1. Courtney W.
2. Heather T.
3. Karin G.

Have fun girls!

You Can Call Him Mr. Harris...

As many of you know, Josh is a very loyal person. He has worked at his job at AccuImage, LLC in Nashville for 5 years and has loved it. The people he worked with were like family to him. They all loved him very much.

Josh recently accepted a path for his life...

Mr. Josh Harris accepted a teaching position at T.W. Hunter Middle School located in Hendersonville behind Beech (like 3 minutes from our house!!)! He is teaching 6, 7, and 8th grade Math! Josh majored in Mathematics at Cumberland so all he has to do is teach on an Alternate License until he goes back and gets the hours he needs to tack on his licensure. He is actually going through the Master's Program that I went through because he can teach, do online courses, and at the end he will have his license and master's degree.

I know it sounds crazy, but after Josh got sick last year he made a couple of goals for himself that he wanted to accomplish...One of them was to go back to school be a teacher so he could impact a child's life...instead of yelling at customers on the phone all day because they forgot to plug in their computer! He is just so fun to watch. When we go to the Parent Teacher Store you would think that we went to the moon. He is so pumped to look at teacher stuff. He has also fulfilled his other goal that he set for himself of being a photographer. He has gotten more and more into that lately with several photo shoots under his belt.

I am so proud of him. I truly am. He is just amazing! It is so cool to watch him turn what happened to him last year into many positive things for his life.

So...

So...I have a ton of catching up to do.

I am going to get this blog caught up and try to stick with it. Our summer just flew by, but what a great one!

Where to start...

hmmm...

Maggie's 1st Birthday! What a great time! Her birthday was on July 24th, but we celebrated with a fun party at home with all of our family and friends on July 26th. It was wonderful.

Josh and I made her birthday cupcakes from scratch and for Ms. Maggie she got her very own giant cupcake. I wanted everything to be perfect, of course. She loved it. Our "theme" on our invitations was birdies! So we had an adorable birdie cupcake holder for the centerpiece, along with some beautiful fresh roses.

I custom made Maggie her very own birthday banner using some of my favorite fabrics, that we can later put up in her room. I loved the way it turned out!

I think over all, she had a great first birthday. She got some wonderful presents, including some adorable Crocs and a yummy Encores and More North gift certificate. My mom also passed my childhood locket that my Granny got for me onto Maggie. That was a very emotional moment for me. I will always cherish that locket for little Maggie.

Maggie loved her cake. I think she was a little overwhelmed at first, but before long, she jumped right in. She LOVES sweets, so this was right up her alley.

Maggie loves to kiss everything...including her cake!

Aunt Brea captured this picture. I believe at this time the party girl was getting a bath. I love what it shows...her cake, a complete mess, her dress and converses in her dirty highchair.

Overall, we had a great first birthday...Wouldn't change one thing. Thanks for all of those that came and helped us make sweet memories.