We're gonna be famous!...maybe

I haven't been blogging as much in the last few weeks. There has been a lot of exciting things going on... but none that I was really ready to blog about!  Plus I haven't had time to blog because I'm using my oodles of 'free-time' to make Christmas stockings.  Growing up, the family Christmas stockings were always my favorite decoration. My Grandmother, Bobo, had made them for us. They were unique, and very special. I wanted my kids to have special stockings too. Every year I scour the stores for stockings that will jump out at me, or have an irresistible feel to them... but to no avail. I figured the only way I would really achieve the same feel was to make them myself.  SO... I am not going to post pictures for you yet.. I will save that for when they are done.  On a side note, the only reason I am on here blogging now instead of sewing is because I strained my eyes working on them!!! I went to the eye doctor, and he suggested I get some reading glasses to wear when sewing.  READING GLASSES??? what am I, 30??!! uggg

The other exciting adventure that has been eating up my oodles of free time is Jack's new JOB! Yep, that's right. Our 4 year old has a 'J' ' O'  'B'.  Shortly after his 4th birthday, we signed Jack up with Hoffman International.  A local model and talent agency.  It was a bit of a scary dive, because there was an investment up front, and a commitment for Jack to take their classes.  I was terrified that it would be a scam, or a giant waste of money.  But Mom and I did as much research as we could, and felt confident that Hoffman was a well-standing, established, and respected agency.  Within a few weeks, Jack has already landed a job. In fact, it was the very first audition we submitted him for!  The job was a video shoot for Ball Jars.  The video isn't out yet, but we are anxious and excited to see it!  The team at Hoffman seem genuinely excited about Jack.  They gave him a fake commercial script to practice, and he memorized it the first night.  He seems to enjoy performing for people, and did great following the directors calls at the job.  He had everyone there laughing.

The stylist dressing Jack before his first scene

My first glimpse of Jack on the TV screen

Jack and his pretend Mom having a moment at the table, with the Ball Jar precariously placed :)

Jack and I modeling for ToastyTote 

So while Jack was getting started at Hoffman, our neighbor has been in the works of getting his "ToastyTote" into production.  He asked if our family would be the talent in his advertisements- both photos and a video.  Why Not!? So now Jack and I's pictures all over facebook, twitter, and other social media as the face of ToastyTote.  I wanted to put more of the pictures on the blog, but can't steal them off the toastytote website.  So you will have to go to www.toastytote.com to check them out!  The video just went up on kickstarter last weekend, and it stars Adam and NonaJane as well.  You can check that out here www.kickstarter.com then search for toastytote.  All this fame and fortune might start going to our heads. Are we famous yet? No!? Well that's cool too.

The photographer took this headshot of us, and was nice enough to email it over to us :) A nice bonus for helping out the neighbor!

I am well aware that there are some varying opinions regarding getting your child into the model/acting industry, but I think it is pretty cool that Jack has a hobby that he enjoys, is talented at, AND makes him good money!  So far it has been an exciting adventure! Plus we are hoping maybe we can bulk up his college fund :)

Mom and I right after the race

Last but not least, I ran my first 5k this past weekend with my Mom.  We had been inspired last month when we watched Ryan finish his first 31 MILE race.  We figured we could start small, and found a neat trail run up in Parkville.  We had a blast, and finished strong!  So this coming weekend, we are thinking we will go ahead and enter in a 4 mile trail race that mom found on the internet.  Not sure either of us will turn into ultra-marathoners... but I can possibly see a half marathon in my future? There was something motivating about seeing all the other runners, and I found myself wanting to try and pass them!  Perhaps I am more competitive than I thought?

Mom jogging across the finish line!