Weekly Happy Stats

Things that made Anna happy this week:

- Hearing Declan saying "Da da da da" for the first time (His daddy is glowing with pride, I can't wait for "Ma ma ma ma").
- Finishing building a whole new set of IKEA cupboards, Yay for more storage!
- Making little warrior mice for a very special customer.
- Catching up with friends for a good old girlie chat.
- Making Declan's first Halloween costume.

Things that made Naomi happy this week:

- Getting a lovely new Blu-Ray player and lots of freebies with it.
- Starting my Abundance Quest and through it meeting lots of likeminded people.
- Hearing about Vincent's "Fireworks" painting at nursery!
- Selling our first Mouse House: The TARDIS, with a little David Tennant Dr Who Mouse.
- Enjoying the unusually warm and very beautiful weather this November.

Weekly Happy Stats

Things that made Anna happy this week:

• Seeing the AMAZING job Naomi did on the first house for The House of Mouse. I am so proud of my sister for creating such a beautiful new section for our store.
• Looking forward to Halloween, my favourite holiday!
• Deciding I want to do an MA in Marketing, as usual I have more dreams than time, but I hope when Declan starts school I can do this.
• Sending out our Monthly Newsletter, complete with brilliant interview Naomi wrote with Gwendolyn the Witch mouse. (Subscribe here)
• Thinking about selling off my old student paintings from my Fine Art Degree (more dreams!) it's better than them sitting in storage like they do now.

Things that made Naomi happy this week:

• Introducing Mouse Houses into The House of Mouse!
  
• The awesome comments on the new TARDIS and Halloween House from our wonderful fans.
• Making lots of Halloween mice and generally getting excited about Halloween.
• Seeing Vincent really settling in and having loads of fun at Nursery.
• Catching up a little with the lovely European Street Team on Etsy.

Think of all the things you've got to smile about this week! :-)

Happy Pic of Naomi's boy, Vincent, with their family dog, Ben.

Happy Stats

Things that made Anna happy this week:

• Getting a nice big wholesale order
  
• Reading "The Power of Now"
• Hubby taking Friday off work to spend with us
• Declan's first taste of cucumber
  

Things that made Naomi happy this week:

• Going to the cinema with my family to see Toy Story 3 (it rocks!!)
• Spending the day with my Ma on her birthday
• Getting a chance to catch up a little with the European Street Team chatter on Etsy
• Declan and Vincent "chatting" on the webcam! Can't wait for them to meet in person again very soon :-)
  

Declan and his family

I couldn't resist posting a few more photos of Declan with his family...

I'm such a proud mummy!

Our little family

Having some cuddles with Nana

We're PREGNANT!!

I have some wonderful news. We have reached 3 months so I can finally tell the world: We are PREGNANT with out first child!! Due in February. We are both soooo excited and very, very happy :)

This scan was done at around 9 weeks, so baby still looks very blob-like. The nurse said everything looks perfect - 2 arms, 2 legs, and everything in the right place - He or she has been growing like crazy the last month and I am just beginning to feel a bump. The first trimester has not been too hard on Mommy-to-be, something I am very thankful for! Being a Mom is something I have always wanted, I can't wait to meet him or her (we won't be able to find out the sex until our next scan in a month or so)

My Non New Years Resolution - Find some balance

I don't make New Years Resolutions, not proper ones anyway. It seems a crazy idea to choose only one time of the year to make significant changes to my life. IMO if you want to make a change then just do it, don't wait for the first day of a New Year.

However, this week I find that I want to make a change to my life and it happens to be near the beginning of a New Year, so you might call it a New Years Resolution but I won't. New Years Resolutions never work for me, and I want/need this one to. So I am just making a change and I am resolutely ignoring the date.

2008 saw my store expand and sell far faster than I think anyone - least of all me - could have imagined. My husband is studying for a Masters while working a full time job so he is busy for all but about 1 hour a day. This suited me fine, it gave me the freedom to put in the long hours The House of Mouse needed to get started. My business is very well organized but my home life has slid. I'm living off microwave meals and chocolate, the house is a mess and I barely see my friends anymore. I need to find some balance.

How I achieve this balance I am still working out. I already know I need to plan my time better and not allow myself to spend endless hours at my computer. My home needs a lot of redecoration and renovation this year too, we plan on starting a family once my husband has completed his masters.

I think 2009 will be as busy - if not busier - than 2008, but I hope it will be a more balanced one too.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!