Our three little punkins have arrived!

Our dream of being grandparents has come true, and our precious little grand triples were born Tuesday, October 6th...in the wee hours of the morning...beginning at 5:16 a.m.!  God is so good, and has entrusted all of us with raising these three little lives.  

Happy birth-day to...

Thomas Michael William Hewitt III (aka "Trip") - weighing in at 4 lb. 3 oz. - at 5:16 a.m. (Yes, he's named after his Daddy...who is a "Jr.".)

Finnegan James Hewitt (aka "Finn") - weighing in at 3 lb. 6 oz. - at 5:17 a.m. (our little guy)

Oliver Dean Hewitt (aka Ollie) - weighing in at 3 lb. 12 oz. - at 5:18 a.m.  (yes, they were playing "follow the leader!)

Finnegan and Oliver share their Grandpa Jim's name (James Dean).  Their names are so perfect for them, and we can't wait to see their little personalities develop.  

They were scheduled to arrive on October 13th at noon, but they had other plans, and couldn't wait to meet their wonderful Mommy and Daddy, and two sets of very impatient grandparents!!!

All three are doing well, Trip needed a little help with breathing and some extra fluids (not unusual for preemies), and Finn and Ollie are doing well.  They are all snoozing away - they have been practicing their ninja moves over the last few weeks, so they're all three tuckered out!!

Kristen is doing well...tired and recovering well - getting ready for the adventure to come.  Daddy Tom has been such a great support...and planner in helping to prepare for our #hewitthattrick 😀😀😀

We feel so blessed and thankful that all has gone well, and now we get ready to learn how to change diapers, feed, etc...  It's been a while, and we've never had boys before - so...let the fun begin!  

Congrats to Mommy and Daddy!!!  Your three perfect tiny gifts from God, will be the biggest blessings in your lives (and ours) -- forever!!  Love our Hewitt family!!

This post is short (which I know is way different for me), but I wanted to share our wonderful news, and also a poem that I had planned to post before our three little punkins arrived.  Great Grandma Marti wrote it in bits and pieces, and it came out so beautifully - from her heart...

Three Little Punkins

By Great Grandma Marti

We are three little punkins, on our way

We can't wait to get out and learn how to play.

We have thirty little fingers, and thirty little toes;

Six beautiful eyes, and three button nose;

Six cute little ears, and three adorable lips, that Mommy and Daddy will really love to kiss!

Six little legs that will love to run and play;

Six little arms that will hug you both each day.

Put this all together, and what do you have? 

Three little punkins you'll be so proud of!

But most of all, there is one more thing,,,

Three little hearts just for you,

So full of love our whole life through!

Thank you Mommy & Daddy for trying so hard; finally your wish has come true!

We know you would have been happy with just one, 

but Jesus had a plan to bless you both with us, us three little punkins...

And we're on our way, with tons of fun and our love all day!

We can't wait to meet you, and we know you feel the same!

What a friend we have in Jesus, and that will never end.

Well that's all for now; see you real soon...and, oh you'll be so proud!

Grandpa, Grandma, Kristen...AND Oliver, Finn & Trip

Daddy time!

Will share more as we go, and don't forget to check out Kristen and Tom's blog (now known as Mommy and Daddy)!  

http://www.hewitthattrick.blogspot.com/

Hugs,

Kathy (aka Grandma)

P.S.  I can't imagine being anywhere else...our hearts are definitely in Baltimore!!

P.S.S. And here's the news on ABC

http://abcnews.go.com/US/baltimore-mom-birth-incredibly-rare-identical-triplets/story?id=34657904

What's happening with SylviaS VintagE DaughteR?

Well...I know it's been a really long time since my last blog post, and I'm not sure if anyone's out there, but here goes...

It's kind of a long story, but will try to make it short and sweet!

I'm gonna be a Grandma, and my Jimmo is going to be a Grandpa - in October - to triplets - three identical boys, yes, you heard it right - TRIPLETS!!

Our daughter (Kristen) and son-in-law (Tom) have won the baby lottery...they announced to a stunned and excited family (in April) that they were pregnant with three babies - no IVF - it's completely God-given.  It's called a spontaneous multiple pregnancy, and depending on what you read, it's about one-in-a-million!  The first thing our son-in-law, Tommy, told us was that we had all prayed way too hard (and there were certainly a lot of people praying...)!  All I can say is...thank you Jesus!!

So, after finding out about our growing family, Jim and I decided to make the move to Baltimore (from Ohio) to be with Tom and Kristen and help with our grandtriples!  Over a year ago, I lost my job of 16 years, and had been working with Terri and Susan in our "junk" business, and learning to live with one less income (in looking back, God was definitely preparing us for "something").  We had been able to rent a space and try our hand at a few occasional sales.  It was fun setting up shop and selling, and meeting new friends/customers, but unfortunately, we lost our lease, and closed our doors in August.

During that time (actually since May), Jim and I were in high gear, downsizing...purging, selling, and packing - it seemed like 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  It was an exhausting endeavor, but we knew it was going to be worth it.  We also listed our home for sale in July, and after barely 2-1/2 weeks...it sold!!!  Again, another prayer answered, and we were ready to hit the road.  With the help of quite a few friends, we were able to get packed, loaded, and moved (a small caravan) to Baltimore on Labor Day weekend, and began our new adventure.  

Leaving family and friends was the hardest thing to do.  We traveled back to our hometown and said our good-byes, knowing we wouldn't see them until next year...at some point.  God has also blessed me with so many girlfriends, who are like family - I cherish and miss each and every one like crazy.  You know how us girls are about our girlfriends!!  But, am looking forward to visitors after the boys are born...  

Since we've been here, Jim and I have been able to help the kids get some things ready at their house, help Kristen with everyday things that are impossible for her...laundry, housework, etc., in addition to acclimating ourselves to "city life".  We're definitely not in Kansas, I mean Ohio...anymore!  But, God knew we could do this, so we will!  

We're still settling into our townhome, and doing some decorating, and dealing with less space - for instance...going from two bathrooms to one for the first time in 20-something years - so, we're learning to share!  Our townhome is in a great old apartment complex, in a wonderful area of Baltimore called Roland Park - large old homes, treed streets, and lots of history!  And, only 7 minutes from our kids (much better than 7+ hours!  

Kristen has had two trial runs to the hospital since we've been here, and over this past weekend was admitted to the hospital for the duration of her pregnancy.  Being a multiple pregnancy, she is high risk, and is in her 31st week, and has had symptoms of pre-eclampsia - so the hospital is the safest place for her and our grandtriples to be until they're ready to make their entrance into our Hewitt-Stantz families!  They want to get her to 34 weeks, so we're praying she will!  The staff at the hospital have been wonderful, and are taking the best care of her and the boys.  Tommy has been by her side, spending the night, and getting her whatever she needs.  He's going to make a fabulous daddy!  

We're all so excited and have no idea what to expect, but we're all ready to meet our little blessings, and experience the unique world of triplets!!!  We know this is where we're supposed to be, and that God has had this planned for a long time, we're trusting in Him that everything will work out.  And, we're so thankful to be able to be a part of it all!!  

Tom and Kristen have a blog where they've been sharing their journey.  Here's the link so you can get a closer look...  http://www.hewitthattrick.blogspot.com/

I hope to be able to help with their blog, and throw in some of Grandma's thoughts and photos!!  (And, you know how I love the photos!!!)

I'll be sharing more...so stay tuned!

Hugs from Baltimore!

Kathy

P.S.  You knew there would be a "P.S.", right???  I'm also going to be looking for a place to sell some of my jewelry and junk - (in my "spare" time) - because I may be helping to buy diapers...they're going to need a LOT!!!  So, I'll share my new "junk adventure" too!!

Oh, and a new home means a new place to decorate!  When I'm done, I'll let you get a peek of our new "home sweet home"!!

In progress...

In the good ol’ summertime…and a little bit ‘o’ random junk!

Happy June y’all!!!

Hope your summer is starting out with sunny skies and lots of big plans for some summer fun! Since March (my last post…oh geesh – time has gotten away from me!).  Well, in April and May we had two occasional markets at our shop in Mansfield - both were well attended – beyond what we had hoped for, and we are so very thankful for the support - and making new friends.

Susan, Terri & Me!

Welcome! (An old mailbox turned on its side…who knew???)

Our Momma Ruth sent her opening day wishes!  (XOXO to you too!)
Busy, busy, busy!!

Friends with flowers…thanks Kim!!

Nostalgia’s Cottage and our sweet neighbor, Violeta! 

Vintage love…

Bejeweled!!

A corner of the shop…

Susan’s reclaimed wood frames…and doorknobs!

Terri’s crosses and collages and lots of other loveliness!

One of Susan’s pillows…

And of course - ya gotta have cookies!!!

Some of my “bloomers”!

And also in May…we went to Springfield and back for The Vintage Marketplace!  (OK, that’s where our time went…!)

 

And, Springfield is always fun – getting together with our “neighbors”, selling our “junk”, and just having a great time with everybody we get to meet!  The weather was a test for sure, but flea market shoppers are a hardy group (as well as the vendors) – we all try to make the best of it, and since we can’t control the weather – you then have to remember that old saying “the show must go on” – and it does!

Here’s a peek at what we brought…

See, we had hope the weather was going to get better – and it did!

So, now it’s June, and what the heck are we gonna do now you ask (and even if you didn’t…cuz that’s what I do…)?? 

Well, Terri will be taking a well deserved vacation (and then back to the busyness of ”junk”); Susan has recently left her day job so she’s been traveling a bit and gardening a lot; and in a week, I will be leaving my day job due to changes with my employer.  I’ve been doing office work for many years, and actually, when I think about it (and I tell people this too), I’ve been sitting at a desk since kindergarten (alright that’s about 50 years – ouch!!).  So, with this change comes lots of thoughts of what will I do…  And, honestly – I’m not sure.  There are definitely thoughts bouncing around in my little blonde head!  I know I have to continue making an income, so the first thing I’ll be trying to do is make “junk” my day job if I can, and like that little train – I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN!!  I’m also going to be helping a friend with estate sales (another part of my plan for my day job).  Other thoughts are possibly having our shop open maybe a day a week (in addition to our occasional markets), custom painting furniture for clients, maybe some “design on a dime” decorating for clients – helping them use what they have…  All things I love doing.  I just don’t want to get myself so scattered that I’m not able to do one one thing well.  So, after all that – I DO have faith that God is closing this door, to open another one – and it’s wide open for possibilities – but, for right this moment, I’ve got to go through what I’ve got to go through…to get where I’m supposed to be!  I’m also so thankful for a supportive husband, family - and my friends – I couldn’t do it without them…

So, in the theme of “changes” in my life…my husband and I want to downsize, and hopefully find a smaller home (with a much smaller yard) early next year(ish) – so , you know what that means…it’s time for me to get rid of some “junk”…a garage sale is in order for some time this summer (so that’s one thing on my “to do” list) – so that we’ll actually be able to fit into a smaller home.  I’m looking forward to less outside work (pool and yard), and to have time for my “job”, visiting our kids in Maryland, and hopefully a bigger chunk of our time spent in Florida in the winter – so there’s my dream in a nutshell! 

SUMMER HAPPENINGS FOR NOSTALGIA’S COTTAGE…

THE SUMMER MARKET

I want to invite everyone to The Summer Market in Avon Lake, Ohio – June 25 & 26. 

Friday, July 25, 2014
4–9 p.m.

Saturday, July 26, 2014
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Veterans Memorial Park

Avon Lake, Ohio
at Rte. 83 & Lake Road

Click on the picture below for more details. 

This is our fourth year as vendors at this amazingly wonderful show!  We are honored to be a part of it.  Erin Stack and Kristen Weeden of Girls Give Back are the fabulous women behind this family/community oriented organization who host The  Summer Market – and they really do what their name says…give back.  They help families in need, and also participate in random acts of kindness…they inspire people of all ages with their caring nature, and are passing it on to our younger generation as well.  Here’s more info: 

There are over 70 vendors this year (including artisans and food vendors), and the uniqueness - and sheer creativity of the vendors/artists is not to be missed.  There will be lots of oooohs and aaaahs - and plenty of buying – because so many things are truly one of a kind!  There are wonderful local food vendors, and musical entertainment too!  A great family day - or girls’ day trip!! (some of the photos below are from The Summer Market’s facebook page…stop by and LIKE it!!) 

The crowds pouring in…it’s always non-stop busy and non-stop fun!

Welcome to our little corner of the park!!

I’ll be making lots of signs with some pretty cool junk!!

Feather Your Nest!!

Shabby Shore!

The Market Chicks are probably the most helpful, sweet and energetic bunch of kids you’ll ever see – oh, and did I mention cute???  They’ve got that too!

We will be busy creating over the next two months, as well as junking our hearts out to bring some pretty cool finds to the market (if we do say so ourselves)!!  I will post some pictures as we get things done…right now my basement is lined up with projects, and I’m “digging in” this weekend to get the ball rolling!!  My own little “projectapalooza”!

And, on that note…I found an “armload” of oars last summer…and yes, the girls had to stop me from getting more!  I’m determined to make something out of each and every one for The Summer Market…“OAR” else!!  (Stay tuned!!)

 

Here are some of our past projects (jewelry, etc.).  Stay tuned for pictures of what we’re working on now…

Here’s a link to last year’s post on The Summer Market – click on the picture below…

NOSTALGIA’S COTTAGE – OCCASIONAL MARKET

In August, the 22nd and 23rd to be exact, we will be hosting our third occasional market of the year.  Our shop will be full of “new” items – our creations, found treasures, furniture, and lots more…ya just never know what we’re gonna come up with!

Here is the schedule:

Friday, August 22nd – 10am – 6pm

Saturday, August 23rd – 9am – 8pm

Our Saturday market is being held in conjunction with the annual Heart of the City Cruise-in…hundreds of vintage and antique cars roll into Mansfield for the day…and when the ladies “tire” of looking at the motorized treasures, it’s a short walk to our shop to check out all of our vintage treasures (we’re right on the square too!!!)…sounds heavenly, right??

A little heads up to local shoppers, on Friday the downtown parking will be a lot to easier to find, but if you’re wanting to visit the cruise-in AND our shop – Saturday is THE day!!

AND…JUST FOR FUN…

Our annual girls’ trip (the first weekend of August) is taking the five of us along a familiar route – actually two routes…State Route 30 west on The Lincoln Highway Buyway) AND then south on State Route 127 – The World’s Longest Yard Sale.  Two great events (that meet at Van Wert, Ohio) – happening at the same time!  We start EARLY on Thursday, August 6th, and travel as far as we can for the next three days…woo hoo and happy trails!!

Time to go, so I’m wishing you  …

Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,
Everything that's wonderful is sure to come your way…

Kathy

P.S.  Be sure to stop by our facebook page…click on the pic below and LIKE us!!  

Thanks!!!