I know that all ya’ll already know that Mr. Jack celebrated his first birthday (really, it’s his second, his birth day was his first birthday, right?) this weekend. We all spent the whole day together as a family. We visited the Gulf Breeze Zoo and it was bigger than I thought a little regional zoo would be- and the spider monkies were so awesome! There was a little baby spider monkey that I just couldn’t get enough of.

Afterwards we went home and had a little party out on the front porch. Jack really wasn’t all that interested in eating his cake or opening his presents (or wearing his party hat). He had a few bites of his cake and watched us open all of his presents. Then we all went inside and watched Toy Story. He really wasn’t interested in that either, but we wanted to watch it since his favorite bedtime story is about Buzz Lightyear.

If you’re a hardcore Jack Danger fan, stick around for the tiny video Garth took.
Here’s to dozens and dozens more.

xo
elle

xo my little darlings.
elle

I haven’t been this excited about a project in a long time. I’ve been losing sleep over it for days (that spinning mind that won’t wind down) and you should have seen me tonight- I was just outta control with adjusting lights and getting Garth’s opinion on exposure and white balance and the background color.

I am making a stop-motion short film.

These are from the tests tonight, but they are so darn cute. I had decided on the color on the last one, but after looking at them on my computer I’m really digging the color on the first- do all ya’ll have an opinion? Please chime in! Leave me a comment with your vote or you can send me an e-mail at elle@xoelle.com. You’re totally the greatest peeps ever.

xoxo
elle

Mr. Joshua is my younger brother, right next to me in a line of 6 kids. He is super smart and wildly creative. He and I have taken it upon ourselves to document our family and our lives on film and in photographs. Our combined creative to-do list could travel to the moon and back 2.6 times. He inspires me.

Mr. Joshua recently became a semi-finalist in HP’s “you on you” contest. This re-validates his coolness in my mind.

It would be in your best interest to visit HP’s contest page and check out his video. Click through here and then click “view + vote”. His video’ll be the one with the red curtains. Please leave a thumbs up as you go (and know that you can give him one thumbs up per day the whole week to help him move on to the next round)! If you want more, I found this video to be just about the coolest ever.

I’m totally going to be making a video now. I could use me a laptop. =)

xoxo
elle

Jack, at 4 months, is already solid-gold-worthy. He totally rules.
Garth recently posted a bunch of family videos on his youtube channel. It is pure silliness.

xoxo
elle

You might want to take a seat. =)

(This commericail is brilliant, it made me want to purchase a Cabrio, and I did!)

love and peas.
elle

You can find me at the Port City Farmer’s Market just about every Wednesday night! You can also find me talking about it in this promotional video. Totally rad.

I am finishing sewing projects for nieces and nephews that I’ll see the day after Christmas, something special for the husband, and stockings. (yeah…we have some up that I made last year, but they really aren’t big enough for what Santa is going to be bringing). My procrastination does not limit itself to Christmas presents though. I find myself tonight scrambling to complete a video or two for the Hawker family video yearbook that my brother Joshua compiles. The video editing program that I use on my PC is from the dark ages so I didn’t even attempt to do anything with it, and Garth’s beautiful iMac made me feel like a kindergardener trying to figure out iMovie- so I turned to where the desperate turn for quick and easy video: animoto.

I’m working on my second video just now, but here’s one that I threw together in 20 minutes with the help of the magic robots at animoto.

If I don’t come back before then, Merry Christmas everyone!

love!
laura. =)

Some updates:
I’m still constantly sick.
I drove to the Columbus, GA Red Robin last week for my third interview for management.
Today I turned down the position (and the two months in Spokane, and the moolah!) because I don’t think I can handle working a 60-hour-a-week opening being 8 3/4 months pregnant. And, since Garth works 12 hour days as well, I thought it might be nice for the baby to see one of us, at least.
Hurricane Gustav came through and brought us lots of rain and wind, but that was the most of it.
I need to always have gum in my mouth.
I entered a contest at threadbanger for a serger. Here’s my entry:

And, I’m making costumes as fast as I can (which is pretty slow considering I need a nap every few hours!)….
Love all ya’ll.
Laura. =)

And, something very special is happening this week. 10 points if you know.

xo elle!