still me

my crazy life.

I can’t believe it’s already after midnight. Man, I’d love 2 more hours in my day today! I don’t know where this last week went… well, ok- I do. wrapped up QVC-back to the beach. WONDERFUL time. PERFECT weather. I didn’t do much ‘sitting’ on the beach with the 2 little ones. Between naps, bottles, sand, snacks, etc.etc.etc. it wasn’t the most relaxing time, but it was so fun! My regret is that I didn’t get good photos. I just couldn’t focus on it. too hard to hold a baby and a camera. Capri LOVED the water. Dang, she is cute. The thing I love most about the beach is how exhausted the kids are by the end of the day. too tired to fight, too tired to resist bedtime. I think that the beach highlight was the debut of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2. We had a party and everything!  I am such a geek, but I loved every minute of it! and we have been listening and dancing to the soundtrack ever since.

While we were at the beach…eric made a purchase that I have been anticipating for about 3 months:
7 one-way tickets to Beijing, China leaving Sept. 24th.
I have made mention of his business dealings and product development here and there… and he and his partner have built a factory in China to produce the garage doors they have developed. (very exciting)…early on, it became clear (and we have both known that it would be necessary) he needed to physically be there. the long trips overseas have been so hard for me, and harder now w/ #5.  SO, after MUCH deliberation...we have settled into enthusiastic acceptance of our family adventure!  You know the really cool part? This is eric’s DREAM. This is what he used to talk about while we were dating (our 5  year courtship…) He has always been fascinated with creating products, innovation and design. Having served a mission for the LDS church 15 years ago in Taipei, Taiwan, he learned that he had a ‘gift’ for the language (who knew…). I am told constantly by Chinese people that he SOUNDS native when he speaks. And he LOVES it. He loves to surprise Chinese people with his language skills…they are always so shocked, and delighted. I am sure that we’ll be shocking as we walk around with 5 little blondes! How cool is it that he is fulfilling his dream! My kids are stoked. A little worried, and not wanting to miss their friends and fall basketball league…but totally up for the adventure.
Ok… so I am sure if you are reading this, you are thinking that we are TOTALLY crazy, and maybe wondering how in the world you just up and move to CHINA? (the answer is YES we are crazy!) but based on the reactions over the past couple of weeks, as we have started telling friends and family… a list of FAQ’s has been developing!

1.    Can you still do your work from CHINA?  Sure…I do almost everything remotely as it is! we use email, IM and cameras to do almost all our communication internally. I can continue teaching on-line at BPS, work on designs with my team and I plan on packing my ENTIRE arsenal of scrapbook essentials into the container that is leaving just a few days after CE.  I am SO excited about the new world of INSPRIATION and possibilities! Very cool!
2.    Where will you be living? We have rented a  house in a ‘western-style’ community in the outskirts of Beijing. It’s a 4 bedroom house, with a yard and a garage and a room that will become my studio! Our home is located about 10 miles NE of the FORBIDDEN CITY! Can you imagine! Seriously so excited to explore! (see this google earth screen shot of the Forbidden City). We’ll be members of a ‘club’ that has pools, b-ball courts, exercise classes, and even a skateboard ramp!

3.    How will you get around? We will not be living convenient to the subway, and the traffic is HORRIBLE so most likely we’ll hire a driver. (sounds great to me) Eric will have a small car to get to work. His factory is 26 miles from our home. As far as traveling within China and to the other neighboring countries, we’ll use trains and planes…we’ll have to take full advantage.
4.    Do you speak Chinese? NOPE… I don’t. Eric does of course, and me and the kids will be taking lessons immediately.
5.    How long will you be there? I have committed to one year. We plan to return to the states after the Beijing Olympics and before 2008 Creative Escape!
6.    Will you come back at all? Cool thing is that China is only a plane ride and an email away! Right now, I am planning on coming back in FEB for CHA winter, and to attend Eric’s Builder’s show in Orlando.  I am also coming back in April to teach at the Scrap,ETC. event in Nashville. We’ll just see how it goes.
7.    What about school for the kids? This is an issue ! the private schools are astronomically expensive. OUTRAGEOUS.  Sigh… we’ll  just have to see.
8.    What are you doing with your house here? Well, that is up in the air as well. We have done all the preparation to sell it. the market is really soft here at the moment, but most likely we’ll put it up for sale and see what happens.

So: yes there will be Creative Escape ‘08
       Yes… I will be back for Scrap.etc event
      I plan to start up a new blog… ‘live from beijing’ or something like that! so I can share my crazy adventure with everyone!
And YES… the show must go on!

Am I nervous? A little… but eric knows whats up and he’s going to have to live with me.
Am I worried about dragging 5 little kids across the planet? Um, yea! But I think that it will be an amazing, unforgettable, life-altering, growth experience.
And as my mom asked me “is this wise?”… and in truth, under the circumstances… I truly in my heart believe it’s the best thing for our family. the decision has not been made lightly. 
And the BEST NEWS of all: I have a cousin that is 20, and from SLC. She is a student at the Uof U and has a double major of ART and International Studies… after talking to her a bit at the beach, she decided to COME ALONG to help with the kids, and everything!!
(YAY!!!!) Kylee… you are the BEST. My kids love her and are THRILLED!

I have to thank my boss, and owner of ADVANTUS. When I told him the news, he didn’t even skip a beat. He has been totally supportive and willing to work with my ever-changing conditions! I also have been SO grateful for the support of my parents and eric’s mom. I think that this would be so much harder if they were discouraging us. I know it’s going to be hard for them to have us so far away…but they have been awesome. 
What an amazing world we live in! It truly is a small world, and getting smaller. I love that communication is so easy, and possibilities so endless. It really is the opportunity of a life-time.
Speaking of an amazing world… I think I am going to quickly order my groceries on-line so they’ll be here in the morning… and go to bed!

By the way… Creative Escape is 2 weeks from tomorrow! (squeal in delight)

So I am  typing from inside a ‘yellow taxi’ driving along Newport BLVD, on my way to LAX to catch a flight to Pennsylvania for tomorrow’s QVC craft day. I am leaving my Kasteler family reunion all on the beach for the quick jaunt. I can’t say that I’d rather be at QVC than on the beach, but you take what you can get! Seriously, I LOVE going to the beach. Usually it’s a trip with the Swapp’s, but this time it’s with my family…good stuff! I was laughing because last year when we came for our annual beach trip, I only had 3 childreN! And this year I have 5. Sounds like a brain teaser doesn’t it?
I have attempted to blog now about 4 times since my last post, but the entries keep getting too long as I attempt to mention the goings-on around here in the last week or so.
I’ll switch to list format.
*eric returned from 10 days in china Sat evening
*Sunday morning we left for UTAH (12 hours in the car) for the Wallin Family Reunion

*spent thru Wed in Heber Valley, Utah at the Homestead Resort where we met up with 95 members of my mom’s family…she comes from a family of 8 siblings-the oldest being triplets. My kids were in heaven with so many cousins to play with. I decided that family reunions are so WORTH the effort.

*blessed Connor Price Swapp
*celebrated miss Capri’s FIRST birthday (twice)

*drive back to MESA all day Thursday for meet the teacher on Friday.
* completed my CHA winter release.. and I have to tell you, it totally ROCKS. I am so excited about it. After I am sure that everything is a GO, I’ll have to share a few secrets. I am very pleased with it!
*the Creative Escape idea book is almost done!! (my end anyway!)… huge shout out and thanks to JIM who is my graphics guy, and has been working very hard… as well as Lisa Brennan over at Bazzill…she is awesome and i think is juggling more projects than I am. If you want  to place a pre-order for the book, or just sneak a peek at this year’s cover, you can see it on Bazzill’s website. This year we are selling them ALL spiral bound. I love that.
*sat morning we headed out for Newport , only a 6 hour drive this time. But I think that worrying about the product files, CE book, QVC samples and preparations AND packing for the beach with now 5 children (2 in bottles, diapers, binkys and pak-n-plays)… I feel like I forgot all my own stuff. LOL! Thank heaven for target. I spent like $70 on magazines and have been pouring over them all trend spotting and being inspired. Man, I almost feel like my old self again! (the perks of driving-Eric likes to drive and I can look at magazines between refereeing all the fighting between kids) I haven’t cared about colors or trends or new ideas for a LONG time! And I am kinda feelin’ it! And it kinda feels GOOD!

*on top of all that…I am DIETING. Ok, well, I WAS dieting. I held strong for the first week of vacation, but immediately caved the minute we got here and ordered pizza. It’s so hard to eat good on vacation! That’s no vacation!

So… now Connor and I are on our way to QVC! Em is coming to help out w/ the little man. He’s a great little traveler! (well, a great little everything-SUCH a good baby!)
I will be presenting 5 different kits…but I am not exactly sure which is when…I left that info at home. I will update this info when I get there, if I can.
The kits are: (I was hoping to photograph each kit, but due to time constraints didn’t!):
1.    Iron-on letters and the little iron!
2.    Clear stamps… a whole bunch of them
3.    Chipboard alphabets… great kit-
4.    Credit Card Embellishments
5.    A new Card kit that has stuff to make like 60 cards..super quick, and kid friendly… I LOVE mine and I use it all the time.

And, as a special bonus… I will be presenting a SWEET deal on BAZZILL paper!! You will NOT want to miss that!, I know the clear stamps are 3 am (eastern) tomorrow- that is like midnight tonight pacific. Then tomorrow at noon,  and nine I think (eastern times). Then we are back on a flight and back to the beach! At which time I plan on collapsing! At least now, if I look tired and out of sorts on air, you will know whY!  LOL! Deep breath. Now here’s to hoping for a SHORT security line!

good news!!!

hey! i just got great news from Scrapbook.com!
all the packages have arrived, and everything is accounted for.. and we CAN open registration for the August Club Heidi kit tomorrow morning!
soooooo, at 9am pacific time, the kits will be available for purchase!
i am so sorry for that inconvenience! seriously... i know  how people NEED that kit!! (wink)
thanks for hanging in there... be sure you are ready, they are going to go QUICK!

in other news... i just got an email from Monique at Scrap, Etc. and registration opened for her event and there are only 150 spots remaining. She has an early bird registration that she has extended until 11pm tonight!
if you are interested... it's a great little perk! april seems like a long ways away... but holy cow, it will be here before we KNOW IT!!

'enjoy the silence'

Ugh.. it’s almost 11 and my eyes are totally feeling so heavy. It’s time to force myself to go to bed. I have been playing tonight in my ‘art journal’…I have been trying to just a little something creative everyday! That is the beauty of an art journal. You can just dabble in it,  nothing has to have a start or finish. I have been using it as a journal- I want to remember all this stuff. So I can look back and laugh! (wink)… I indulged myself tonight and bought some new music on i-tunes and have been listening to music instead of watching TV. (I am so OVER EVERYTHING on TV!)… so I bought some new Gwen, Rob Thomas, the Fray and a new artist that a few different people have told me about… her name is Colbie Caillat. She is a totally mellow singer/songwriter chick. It’s total chill out beachy music. She sings the most amazing beautiful song called “Capri”.  Thanks Lauren for sending the lyrics. As if I am not emotional enough w/ the pregnancy hormones still RAGING, and my little sweet Capri only a week away from her first birthday. Seriously, can she possibly already be a year old? Check out the song, it’s so beautiful!

"Capri"
-Colbie Caillat

She’s got a baby inside
And holds her belly tight
All through the night
Just so she knows
She’s sleeping so
Safely to keep
Her growing
And oh when she'll open her eyes
There'll be no surprise
That she'll grow to be
So beautifully
Just like her mother
That’s carrying
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
Baby inside she’s loving
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
There is an angel growin’ peacefully
Oh Capri
Sweet baby
And things will be hard at times
But I've learned to try
Just listening
Patiently, oh Capri
Sweet baby
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
Baby inside she’s loving
Oh Capri
Your beauty
Just like your mother
That’s carrying...Oh Capri

You were right, definitely a scrapbook page here.  Pregnancy is such a beautiful thing. Just that it seems so much more beautiful looking back on it! or looking at it on someone else. I have been planning Capri’s little birthday party! I am planning a ‘breakfast party’ We’ll be in Utah for a family reunion, and be able to celebrate w/ everyone! Happy about that! and happy to see my extended family. feels  like it’s been a long time.  My mom comes from a family of 8 siblings. I am looking so forward to getting reacquainted with my cousins, meeting their spouses and children… some for the first time. (smiles)
Sigh, why am I still up? The house is SO quiet… I hate to waste the silence on sleep. It’s kind of like sleeping through a massage! Such a waste!  But Connor will be up in 2 hours.
I can’t believe he’s a month on sat.
Speaking of time flying... Creative Escape is only 35 days away! Yee-haw!

found the curls!

Everywhere I go with Capri, people comment on the curls! SO CUTE! I just love them. usually the first thing everyone asks is “where did she  get those curls”? just looking at me and eric, you certainly don’t see curls… and colton definitely has some natural wave as he wears his hair pretty long… we got talking about it when my folks were down recently, and my dad mentioned that he had curly  hair as a little one! He emailed me this photo of him when he was a little one, and we all can’t get over the resemblance. I was then talking to my aunt KJ, and she was telling me that my dad’s brother and sister both had curly heads of  hair… she attached this photo of my aunt  Kalita as a little girl. I  can only HOPE Capri will get curls this intense! 

so fun to look back through these old photos..

BREAKING NEWS!!!!

so i have some BREAKING NEWS on the "Club Heidi" front...
apparently the kits were shipped via the wrong carrier by accident and as a result didn't make it to scrapbook.com in time for this mornings open registration! Scrapbook.com has a (very smart) policy, that they will not accept any orders for anything that has not been received and inspected to ensure the merchandise is complete and not damaged in anyway... i guess the kits not only went the wrong carrier, but also the wrong time-frame... they are not even scheduled to get to Scrapbook.com until monday of next week... (seriously...)
Sooooooooooo...long story, short... we are not opening registration until next TUESDAY, when we can be sure that they have all arrived safely and can be immediately sent out when orders are placed....
we ALL offer very sincere apologies... such a bummer! i will keep you all posted as further information becomes available! (wink)... so sorry!!!!!!