January and February are typically my two least favorite months of the year. Along with the post-Christmas slum that hits most years, having kids has turned those months into get-sick-and-stay-inside-for-60-days-straight months. And i dread them.
But this January and February have been an exception to what's hopefully becoming the old rule. We have had two really, really great months here at our lil' house. I think most of that is because my girls have been getting along really well--at least well for them. They definitely still have their days--and usually they take turns having "those days" but for the most part, they're playing really, really well together. I love having Grace in afternoon Kindergarten. We are all in our best moods (well, usually) in the mornings and only two mornings a week do we have to rush out of here to get Abby to preschool. So our mornings usually are a really good together time. And this whole second trimester has been pretty good to me. I've had way more energy, fewer moody days, and am sleeping better at night....not to mention i'm not lying on the couch all the time telling the girls that "mommy can't do that right now." So i think part of what's made these past couple of months so great is just that Mom is back.
Grace has been "off track" for almost 4 weeks now. And it's been wonderful. I really like having her around more, and the lazy part of me really likes not having to watch the clock and make sure we get her to school on time. But she was excited to start back up again today. She loves her friends and teacher and learning. She's doing really well at school. She's a "top reader" in her class. I don't really know what that means, but that's what her teacher told me. She's not reading chapter books, but i think she could if she wanted to. She enjoys reading to her sisters, and prefers books with pictures. Can't say i blame her.
Grace started Girl Scouts a few weeks ago...and it was just in time to sell cookies. Cookie Week was a week of mayhem, but she did great and sold 60 boxes! Granted, it was I who sent the email that resulted in most of those sales, but she overcame her shyness and delivered almost all of those boxes to the people's doorsteps. She loves being a "daisy" and i'm enjoying learning more about the world of Girl Scouts, since I never did it as a kid.
Grace and Abby both started gymnastics last month. I've been promising them for months that we'd get them started, and we finally did it. They both love it. Grace, who is insanely athletic (especially for an off-spring of mine!), is doing really well. She's really, really good at it. Abby, on the other hand, seems to take more after me :) Gymnastics is really, really good for her :)
Abby, however, is a little ballerina, and has started ballet/tap classes from this sweet lady named Miss Muffie. Abby LOVES to dance, and is quite the natural at it. She's got a little friend who goes to class with her, and she looks forward to that class all week long. A couple weeks before we signed her up Abby went through a little grumpy/whiny/sassy stage. Reid and I were at a loss as to what to do. She's never really even been disciplined much because she so rarely does anything naughty. So, we tried time-outs....but they didn't work. We tried sending her to her room, but saw no change. Finally, the day after her "trial" ballet class, I decided to take away "stars" every time she acted out. And if she lost all her stars she wouldn't be able to sign up for ballet. It worked like a charm! She only lost 7 of her 15 stars, and she's been much more Abby-esque ever since :)
Eliza loves to wear her leotard to both the gymnastics class and the ballet class. And doesn't seem to notice that she is not actually a participant at either. Which is nice, since i have no intentions of spending a dime on any classes for her. Poor third child! Grace had done tumbling AND ballet at our rec centers by age 2.5. Same with Abby. But Eliza doesn't need to know that, does she... :)
As for baby boy--he's growing every day. As is his mom. I had someone ask me the other day if i was "close to delivery." I wouldn't consider three months close, so i said no. She probably felt bad. But i think i felt worse. I feel like i am 8.5 months pregnant--at least. Bending over, going up stairs, fitting in clothes--they're all so much more difficult than they should be at 6 months. But that doesn't mean i'm at all ready for him to come out. We are at such a manageable stage of life. My girls are all so much more independent than they were last time we had a baby. All of them get themselves dressed (Eliza actually does it better than Abby, who still prefers for mom to do it...lazy thing) and they all get themselves in and out of their car seats (well, Eliza has sisters help her get out) and they all take their dishes to the sink, put their clothes in their drawers, walk with me at the grocery store (giving me much more room for the food!) and feel like KIDS rather than babies! It's such a lovely stage. And what in the world are we doing LEAVING this stage?
They're all so excited for him to join our family. Eliza hugs and kisses my belly every day. Abby, who saw the reaction that Reid and I gave Eliza when she prayed "for the baby in mommy's belly" without any prompting from us, now includes the same thing in her prayer every night--and always looks up afterward expecting the same reaction. Of course, I oblige. Grace is the most anxious for his arrival. She wants to know his name. So do I. Reid and I can't agree on a single name. Though we both know we want him to have Reid as a middle name.
Reid's firm has allowed him to do a two-month "internship" at the City Attorney's office. He's been there about 5 weeks and he is LOVING it!!! He's done 8 or 9 jury trials, and has won all but one of them. He's a natural trial lawyer. He jumped right into the whole thing and has just blown everyone away. Although his hours are a tiny bit worse at this job than his normal job (he has to leave at 7am, before the girls and i get up, but he's still home by 6 most days), he has lots less work to do in the evenings, and he LOVES what he does! And, for the first time in his career, I find myself actually interested in what he's doing :) Who knows what will come of this. Come April, he'll be back at his firm, behind a desk and computer, editing briefs and memos.
I am enjoying a relatively relaxed time in life. No overwhelming projects going on, no fund-raisers (have i even mentioned that we raised the $$ and bought the chamber for my sister!?!!?! i'm so behind!!!), no deadlines, no holidays to stress me out or make me sad. It's just been a good, healthy, wonderful start to a new year. And now spring is around the corner!! I've started my tomato seeds, my compost is all decomposed, and my tulips are starting to pop up!
Life is good.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Christmas 2010
There's nothing anyone could have said, although many tried, that could have prepared me for the heart-ache that would arrive with the Christmas season. And it turns out that there was no project big enough and no to-do list long enough to stop my mind from constantly being turned to my mom.
She loved Christmas. And I loved the way she did Christmas. Everything she did defines my version of the way Christmas should be done. From homemade toffee and salami to homemade gifts and decorations--everything she did was just as it should be.
She would call me at least 3 times a day to discuss gifts for everyone, or just to tell me what she'd bought for the girls because she couldn't stand keeping it a secret. Nothing made me happier than watching the extremely practical, frugal, budget-bound mother I knew growing up slowly turn into the buy-random-lavish-overpriced-unneccesities-just-because-I-can mom.
She would have loved to see all the work that my siblings and I did to raise money for our sister. My mom worried about Cynthia constantly, and would call me all the time with ideas or questions about how we could help her. She would have been "tickled pink" (her words) at the sight of all of her children pooling their resources for their big sister.
She would have LOVED the fact that Reid, upon my request, clipped boughs from our blue spruce out front, threw them in the tree pot she gave us and made our own Christmas tree! We weren't going to be here for almost half of the month, so it seemed like middle-ground between no tree and big tree :)
She would have loved to hear about the girls visiting Santa, and how Grace just spoke right up and talked to him--no tears, no fears. And how he couldn't understand a thing Abby said, but responded with a perfect "Oh, that'll be nice."
I feel like I cried my (pre-pregnancy) weight in tears this holiday season. I missed my mom more than I had since she passed away. It had never felt so permanent. So unchangeable. I needed to call her SO MANY TIMES. Between questions about Christmas, sewing/crocheting projects and fund-raising stuff--i just NEEDED my mom!!! And it hurt so much to think that she's gone, and that she'll be gone for all the Christmases to come. The faith i have that I'll see her again someday, and that we'll be together forever did nothing to ease the pain of her being gone during the holidays--which was sad and made me feel like I was missing the whole point of the season.
I thought it would help if I buried myself in projects, especially the kind she used to do. So, on top of the fund-raising, I made a quilt for my dad and siblings--one that should have started in October or November--but didn't because of morning sickness. I had these two pairs of her pajamas that were the inspiration for the quilt:
Both pairs, as you can see, were very pink, and i didn't want it to look like a baby quilt. So with MUCH help from a dear friend of mine, Gina, i found just the right combination of colors and spent every free second in December working on this:
Even with all the quilting no-no's and short cuts i took, it still took so much longer than i'd anticipated! But it was probably the only thing I did that made my mom feel closer. Most things just reminded me how far away she is, but when I worked on this--it didn't feel like that. So, although i complained non-stop about how this was stressing me out and taking over my life...the truth is, i really, really, really loved working on it.
I didn't realize how much I needed to be with my family until we got to Provo a week before Christmas--5 of my 7 siblings were there-- and I felt like my grief was lifted. There were people around me who were feeling as sad as I was--who also missed Mom. And I was home, in my mom's home. I was able to "deck" my parent's halls (my dad had 'saved' all the Christmas decorating for us :) ) which was SOOO healthy and healing and good for my aching heart. It was just so good to be back where all of my memories of her and Christmas take place.
We went to the cemetery. That was a beautiful and sad moment. I hadn't seen my mom's grave marker yet. It was a lot like when I first saw her obituary--it made it feel even more real. Why does it need to keep feeling more real???
We sang some carols, including one of her favorites--The Holly and the Ivy. We cried. We hugged. We grieved.
We also had so many joyous moments. For the first time all season, I was truly able to enjoy Christmas and all the wonderfulness that comes with it!
We had a birthday party for Kristie/Baby Shower for Jared and Kristie's little girl--Alia Kathryn Ashworth--who'll be born in a couple weeks. And we even convinced the men in the family to play a baby shower game! Granted it was Baby Shower Taboo rather than Name The Melted Candy Bar In The Diaper...
We play Celebrity Bowl Game (as always) and stayed up past 1am (as always)
(no photos...thank heavens)
We did a little Nativity with hymns and scriptures.
We ran barefoot in the snow (by "we" i do not mean "me"--i was the designated photographer :) )
We had a great time just being together. It wasn't "my year" to have Christmas at my house, so this little jaunt to Provo for some pre-Christmas celebrating wasn't actually in the plans. But plans changed. And I'm so glad they did. I don't know if I could have really enjoyed our next few days up in Wyoming at Reid's house if I hadn't had those three days in Provo. It was just what I needed.
She loved Christmas. And I loved the way she did Christmas. Everything she did defines my version of the way Christmas should be done. From homemade toffee and salami to homemade gifts and decorations--everything she did was just as it should be.
She would call me at least 3 times a day to discuss gifts for everyone, or just to tell me what she'd bought for the girls because she couldn't stand keeping it a secret. Nothing made me happier than watching the extremely practical, frugal, budget-bound mother I knew growing up slowly turn into the buy-random-lavish-overpriced-unneccesities-just-because-I-can mom.
She would have loved to see all the work that my siblings and I did to raise money for our sister. My mom worried about Cynthia constantly, and would call me all the time with ideas or questions about how we could help her. She would have been "tickled pink" (her words) at the sight of all of her children pooling their resources for their big sister.
She would have LOVED the fact that Reid, upon my request, clipped boughs from our blue spruce out front, threw them in the tree pot she gave us and made our own Christmas tree! We weren't going to be here for almost half of the month, so it seemed like middle-ground between no tree and big tree :)
She would have loved to hear about the girls visiting Santa, and how Grace just spoke right up and talked to him--no tears, no fears. And how he couldn't understand a thing Abby said, but responded with a perfect "Oh, that'll be nice."
I feel like I cried my (pre-pregnancy) weight in tears this holiday season. I missed my mom more than I had since she passed away. It had never felt so permanent. So unchangeable. I needed to call her SO MANY TIMES. Between questions about Christmas, sewing/crocheting projects and fund-raising stuff--i just NEEDED my mom!!! And it hurt so much to think that she's gone, and that she'll be gone for all the Christmases to come. The faith i have that I'll see her again someday, and that we'll be together forever did nothing to ease the pain of her being gone during the holidays--which was sad and made me feel like I was missing the whole point of the season.
I thought it would help if I buried myself in projects, especially the kind she used to do. So, on top of the fund-raising, I made a quilt for my dad and siblings--one that should have started in October or November--but didn't because of morning sickness. I had these two pairs of her pajamas that were the inspiration for the quilt:
My favorite part is this little p.j. pocket :)
I didn't realize how much I needed to be with my family until we got to Provo a week before Christmas--5 of my 7 siblings were there-- and I felt like my grief was lifted. There were people around me who were feeling as sad as I was--who also missed Mom. And I was home, in my mom's home. I was able to "deck" my parent's halls (my dad had 'saved' all the Christmas decorating for us :) ) which was SOOO healthy and healing and good for my aching heart. It was just so good to be back where all of my memories of her and Christmas take place.
We went to the cemetery. That was a beautiful and sad moment. I hadn't seen my mom's grave marker yet. It was a lot like when I first saw her obituary--it made it feel even more real. Why does it need to keep feeling more real???
We sang some carols, including one of her favorites--The Holly and the Ivy. We cried. We hugged. We grieved.
We also had so many joyous moments. For the first time all season, I was truly able to enjoy Christmas and all the wonderfulness that comes with it!
We had a birthday party for Kristie/Baby Shower for Jared and Kristie's little girl--Alia Kathryn Ashworth--who'll be born in a couple weeks. And we even convinced the men in the family to play a baby shower game! Granted it was Baby Shower Taboo rather than Name The Melted Candy Bar In The Diaper...
We play Celebrity Bowl Game (as always) and stayed up past 1am (as always)
(no photos...thank heavens)
We did a little Nativity with hymns and scriptures.
We ran barefoot in the snow (by "we" i do not mean "me"--i was the designated photographer :) )
We had a great time just being together. It wasn't "my year" to have Christmas at my house, so this little jaunt to Provo for some pre-Christmas celebrating wasn't actually in the plans. But plans changed. And I'm so glad they did. I don't know if I could have really enjoyed our next few days up in Wyoming at Reid's house if I hadn't had those three days in Provo. It was just what I needed.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Catching up
I spent most of October and November wanting to puke, laying on the couch, and sleeping. Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration, since i really was able to hold down food, get out and take Grace to kindergarten every day, and maintain most functions as a mom. But when i wasn't absolutely needed throughout the day, I usually crashed.
I got feeling lots better right around the beginning of December, which is when life got insanely busy (as i'm sure it did for all of you) so I never got around to updating this sad, neglected blog. But that's what January is for! Here's what we were up to....
FALL FESTIVAL/ATTEMPT AT FAMILY PHOTO 2010:
We took the girls to the Littleton Historic Museum, which has a 1860's farm behind it. I foolishly thought we could combine this outing with a quick family photo. Bad idea. I wish i could say that the biggest problem with family photos in general, and this day, was my kids. It wasn't. It was their father. Reid is the WORST when it comes to family photos! He is grumpy. He is ornery. From the moment I say, "let's take a photo" he is saying, "babe, the girls don't want to do this" in a whiny i-wanna-kill-him kinda voice. It is, to this date, the biggest ongoing battle we have. We can sometimes joke about it. But usually i just want to strangle him. His attitude OBVIOUSLY rubs off on the girls, so they're miserable. I'm trying to bribe them, keep them happy, and keep the steam from coming out of my ears, since i don't really know how to photoshop steam out. And we all look like we're faking being a happy family.
What i learned this day is that attempting such a feat in the middle of what SHOULD have been a fun family day was a BAD idea. It made for 5 grumpy people, all wanting to leave, but not being allowed to until we'd found the perfect pumpkins, played with pioneer toys and had some fun, damnit!
Anyway, here are the best we came up with. Between the wind and Reid's "Girls, do you want to be done with photos?" i feel pretty lucky you can see most of our faces.
HALLOWEEN 2010:
Grace dressed up as Jesse from Toy Story. I somehow managed to make her some chaps, turn a white shirt into a Jesse shirt, and figured out a hat/hair ensemble--which all turned out really cute. (her red-yarn braid isn't showing in this picture, but it was cute!)
Abby dressed up as Little Bo Peep from Toy Story. Somewhere, at some garage sale, i guess, i got this Little Bo Peep dress. I never knew how thankful i'd be for it years later, when it saved me from having to make one!
Eliza dressed up as Mrs. Potato Head from Toy Story. Never in my life have i created something so homemade looking. I mean, it had potential, i guess, but WOW did it turn out homely. And you should see it in person. It was a mix of atrocious and adorable. But c'mon! I was feeling really sick. And she's two. And it went really well with her permanently crazy hair (which deserves its own post). And for whatever reason, everywhere we went--her costume got the most comments :).
Some friends put together a little party for all our kids a week or two before Halloween. Eliza got to be Tinkerbell for this gathering....which i probably shoulda just stuck with...
VISITS FROM FAMILY/THANKSGIVING 2010:
Tom and Jana came out in early November for a brief but wonderful visit. Our girls were thrilled to have "baby Gabe" around (he's no longer a baby...but we can't quite drop the "baby" part....)
Jana and I crocheted up a storm--she is amazing and was so helpful in getting me jump-started for my sister's fundraiser. It was so nice to have them here!!
Reid's mom, dad and little sister drove through some nasty weather to join us for Thanksgiving. We loved having them here!
Reid ran a 5K Thanksgiving morning, and came home exhausted and with a sore knee. But that did not prevent him from tackling the turkey. He seriously prepared one of the best turkeys i've ever had.
The girls had fun making the rolls with Grandma.
The dinner was delicious. The kids gobbled down 20 fingers worth of olives before the meal even began. Everything was delicious. And I was so sad not to have the stomach to eat even my first serving....but i made up for it in leftovers :)
After dinner we read some little papers we'd been collecting in a mug--things we were thankful for. We had Grace read the last one, which said "I'm thankful that my mom has a baby in her belly." She looked up and me and gasped, "What?!?!? Why does it say that?" She was completely shocked and so happy, she just kept hugging my belly saying, "my baby, my baby." Abby was happy, too. And Eliza didn't really get it. Reid's parents weren't really paying attention when she read it, so we had to re-read it. The whole "announcement" didn't go down like i had envisioned it. But it was a priceless moment, nonetheless.
Now onto December.....
I got feeling lots better right around the beginning of December, which is when life got insanely busy (as i'm sure it did for all of you) so I never got around to updating this sad, neglected blog. But that's what January is for! Here's what we were up to....
FALL FESTIVAL/ATTEMPT AT FAMILY PHOTO 2010:
We took the girls to the Littleton Historic Museum, which has a 1860's farm behind it. I foolishly thought we could combine this outing with a quick family photo. Bad idea. I wish i could say that the biggest problem with family photos in general, and this day, was my kids. It wasn't. It was their father. Reid is the WORST when it comes to family photos! He is grumpy. He is ornery. From the moment I say, "let's take a photo" he is saying, "babe, the girls don't want to do this" in a whiny i-wanna-kill-him kinda voice. It is, to this date, the biggest ongoing battle we have. We can sometimes joke about it. But usually i just want to strangle him. His attitude OBVIOUSLY rubs off on the girls, so they're miserable. I'm trying to bribe them, keep them happy, and keep the steam from coming out of my ears, since i don't really know how to photoshop steam out. And we all look like we're faking being a happy family.
What i learned this day is that attempting such a feat in the middle of what SHOULD have been a fun family day was a BAD idea. It made for 5 grumpy people, all wanting to leave, but not being allowed to until we'd found the perfect pumpkins, played with pioneer toys and had some fun, damnit!
Anyway, here are the best we came up with. Between the wind and Reid's "Girls, do you want to be done with photos?" i feel pretty lucky you can see most of our faces.
 | ||
| This photo really captured the entire outing--Abby was mostly pleasant, Eliza mostly cried and Grace mostly grumped. If you'd captured my attitude in a photo, i'd probably have been giving Reid the bird. HAPPY FALL FESTIVAL! :) |
HALLOWEEN 2010:
Grace dressed up as Jesse from Toy Story. I somehow managed to make her some chaps, turn a white shirt into a Jesse shirt, and figured out a hat/hair ensemble--which all turned out really cute. (her red-yarn braid isn't showing in this picture, but it was cute!)
Abby dressed up as Little Bo Peep from Toy Story. Somewhere, at some garage sale, i guess, i got this Little Bo Peep dress. I never knew how thankful i'd be for it years later, when it saved me from having to make one!
Eliza dressed up as Mrs. Potato Head from Toy Story. Never in my life have i created something so homemade looking. I mean, it had potential, i guess, but WOW did it turn out homely. And you should see it in person. It was a mix of atrocious and adorable. But c'mon! I was feeling really sick. And she's two. And it went really well with her permanently crazy hair (which deserves its own post). And for whatever reason, everywhere we went--her costume got the most comments :).
Some friends put together a little party for all our kids a week or two before Halloween. Eliza got to be Tinkerbell for this gathering....which i probably shoulda just stuck with...
VISITS FROM FAMILY/THANKSGIVING 2010:
Tom and Jana came out in early November for a brief but wonderful visit. Our girls were thrilled to have "baby Gabe" around (he's no longer a baby...but we can't quite drop the "baby" part....)
Jana and I crocheted up a storm--she is amazing and was so helpful in getting me jump-started for my sister's fundraiser. It was so nice to have them here!!
Reid's mom, dad and little sister drove through some nasty weather to join us for Thanksgiving. We loved having them here!
Reid ran a 5K Thanksgiving morning, and came home exhausted and with a sore knee. But that did not prevent him from tackling the turkey. He seriously prepared one of the best turkeys i've ever had.
The girls had fun making the rolls with Grandma.
After dinner we read some little papers we'd been collecting in a mug--things we were thankful for. We had Grace read the last one, which said "I'm thankful that my mom has a baby in her belly." She looked up and me and gasped, "What?!?!? Why does it say that?" She was completely shocked and so happy, she just kept hugging my belly saying, "my baby, my baby." Abby was happy, too. And Eliza didn't really get it. Reid's parents weren't really paying attention when she read it, so we had to re-read it. The whole "announcement" didn't go down like i had envisioned it. But it was a priceless moment, nonetheless.
Now onto December.....
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
It's a....
Just take a guess. A stab in the dark, if you will.
Due: June 10, 2011
The girls (and their parents!) are all so excited to have a little boy in our home. From the moment we told them why mommy was on the couch all the time we were having a baby, they've been pretty certain that it was a little boy. Considering how much sicker i've been this time around, how much weight i've gained (!!!) and how i couldn't get enough protein (yes, meat!) for the first 3 months--i was thinking it was a little guy, too. But really, going into this ultrasound this morning, I realized that truly i just wanted to see a healthy baby in there. And we very thankfully did.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
I love me a good cause...
Remember back in July when I went with my 2 sisters to go visit our oldest sister and we had an awesome garage sale that raised tons of money for Cynthia? My dad also was able to sell my mom's church organ and raise some more for Cynthia. And all of this was so that she could rent, for one month, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to see if it would benefit her. Well, this last month we finally rented the (insanely expensive) chamber. And you know what???? it actually worked for her! Not only is she feeling better, thinking more clearly, speaking more clearly, and retaining more in her short-term memory, but for the first time in years she's able to move her legs and feet! This is more than any of us had anticipated, and after seeing these results, all of her siblings have decided to help raise the $$$ necessary to buy this chamber for her.
Fortunately, most of the $1900 it cost to rent the chamber will go toward the purchase. Unfortunately, the total cost of the chamber is nearly $10,000!! and that's for a used one!
But, we're all making efforts in our own ways to help raise the money, and one of my ways is making and selling my nursing aprons. I designed this apron about 2.5 years ago when one of my dear friends, Kristin, mentioned that she'd like something with a little more "coverage" than the rectangular ones she'd seen. So, that's just what i did, and--if i do say so myself--they're awesome! I've made about 7 or 8 of them, and all of my friends/family who own one have loved it! (and should probably leave a comment stating such)
I only have time to make six of these between now and Dec 1, and i've already received 4 orders. So, i've got room in my lil' schedule for 2 more. You pick the fabric. You pick the trim (optional). I do the rest....except the nursing--you do that, too.
cost-$40
trim-$5
ALSO....i've got some Papa Murphy's coupon cards that I'm selling for $10 a piece. they have 8 coupon stickers on the back, and one of them is a buy-one-get-one--you get your money's worth right there!! Their take'n'bake pizzas are the best out there! (and seriously, even if you're a meat-lover, you gotta try their gourment veggie...yummmm)
ALSO....my sister-in-law was in town last weekend and she and I (well, mostly she) crocheted/knitted some really cute hats and lil' flowers that i'm selling for $18/hat and $4/flower. Here's a photo of three of the hats. I could make these in just about any color and any size...
ALSO...Reid and I hosted our very first Poker night last weekend--we played with the donations, which all went to Cynthia. I have insanely generous friends who brought us $220 closer to our goal. And we had so much fun doing it!! If anyone in the Denver area is reading this and thinking how much they'd LOVE a night of guilt-free poker, just lemme know! we'd gladly do it again...even though it was proven very early on in the night that Reid and I's gots no pokah skills...
ALSO....my sister, Julia, has designed this amazingly cute Christmas card and is selling them for $6/piece--lemme know if you want to order some!
Fortunately, most of the $1900 it cost to rent the chamber will go toward the purchase. Unfortunately, the total cost of the chamber is nearly $10,000!! and that's for a used one!
But, we're all making efforts in our own ways to help raise the money, and one of my ways is making and selling my nursing aprons. I designed this apron about 2.5 years ago when one of my dear friends, Kristin, mentioned that she'd like something with a little more "coverage" than the rectangular ones she'd seen. So, that's just what i did, and--if i do say so myself--they're awesome! I've made about 7 or 8 of them, and all of my friends/family who own one have loved it! (and should probably leave a comment stating such)
I only have time to make six of these between now and Dec 1, and i've already received 4 orders. So, i've got room in my lil' schedule for 2 more. You pick the fabric. You pick the trim (optional). I do the rest....except the nursing--you do that, too.
cost-$40
trim-$5
ALSO....i've got some Papa Murphy's coupon cards that I'm selling for $10 a piece. they have 8 coupon stickers on the back, and one of them is a buy-one-get-one--you get your money's worth right there!! Their take'n'bake pizzas are the best out there! (and seriously, even if you're a meat-lover, you gotta try their gourment veggie...yummmm)
ALSO....my sister-in-law was in town last weekend and she and I (well, mostly she) crocheted/knitted some really cute hats and lil' flowers that i'm selling for $18/hat and $4/flower. Here's a photo of three of the hats. I could make these in just about any color and any size...
ALSO...Reid and I hosted our very first Poker night last weekend--we played with the donations, which all went to Cynthia. I have insanely generous friends who brought us $220 closer to our goal. And we had so much fun doing it!! If anyone in the Denver area is reading this and thinking how much they'd LOVE a night of guilt-free poker, just lemme know! we'd gladly do it again...even though it was proven very early on in the night that Reid and I's gots no pokah skills...
the "winners" table
And the "winner!!"
(it should be noted that she arrived that night not knowing a "shovel" from a "clover" and had never heard of a full-house or flush. It was awesome watching her clean house!!!!)
(trees are on the front, the message is on the inside)
Until recently I kinda thought that everyone loved this kinda thing--since, you know, I do! But, after talking with more people, i'm realizing that some people hate it. It makes them feel weird, or uncomfortable or guilty--and they just wish all fund-raising would disappear. If you are one of those people, I am sorry to have added to that--and please don't feel bad if you just ignore this post and go on to the next interesting thing in your Google Reader!
If, however, you are in need of a cute winter hat for a gift for your niece, a free pizza, greeting cards, or a nursing apron for a friend, and you don't feel weird buying any of those from me in this fund-raising effort, then just please leave me a comment and let me know what you want and when ya want it!
San Diego photos
Oh, how i love these lovelies...
We had so much fun on our little get-a-way. As usual, Reid was completely willing to stay with the girls (and, as usual, managed to take them swimming, to the park, library, zoo, etc AND keep the house clean, do the laundry, read to them, play games....no wonder they love having him around!)
We (well, not me, but they) decided it'd be funny to have random photos of us jumping off of things. I am, apparently, not a jumper. This first one is, if i may say so, my best jump. My friends, however, have been practicing this sort of jumping for years. I mean, look at them! And then look at me!!
I am not even off the ground yet, and two of them are flying out of the photo!! At least Kristin is with me in lots of these :)
These photos don't really do much justice to how fun and care-free and crazy the whole trip was....but i'm a bit embarrassed to post the photos that do :)
Thank you, ladies, for such a great weekend. I love you all!!!
We (well, not me, but they) decided it'd be funny to have random photos of us jumping off of things. I am, apparently, not a jumper. This first one is, if i may say so, my best jump. My friends, however, have been practicing this sort of jumping for years. I mean, look at them! And then look at me!!
These photos don't really do much justice to how fun and care-free and crazy the whole trip was....but i'm a bit embarrassed to post the photos that do :)
Thank you, ladies, for such a great weekend. I love you all!!!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
San Diego and Hollywood
San Diego was amazing. I love my girlfriends. I loved every second of my time away. And I've loved being back. I love that Grace spent 2 whole days believing that the star fish i gave her was alive. (she asked if it was real and i said yes....didn't realize that to her real = alive..). She has since figured it out...i think... Eliza was not only disinterested in me upon my return, but she CRIED when i tried to give her a hug. I think Abby must have sensed my sadness, 'cuase she has told me at least 8 times "i missed you so much when you were gone." I have no photos to share yet...but hopefully will soon.
I didn't get to see my brother Kevin while I was there. He's in L.A. and we had a pretty tightly packed schedule. But i don't feel so bad 'cause i get to see him tomorrow (wed)--ON T.V.!!!!!!!
He's going to be on Law and Order: Los Angeles. He plays an attorney named Robert Schuler, and he'll be in acts 3 and 4. He's tall, dark and handsy--you won't miss him!. Check him out on IMDB so you'll recognize him.
I didn't get to see my brother Kevin while I was there. He's in L.A. and we had a pretty tightly packed schedule. But i don't feel so bad 'cause i get to see him tomorrow (wed)--ON T.V.!!!!!!!
He's going to be on Law and Order: Los Angeles. He plays an attorney named Robert Schuler, and he'll be in acts 3 and 4. He's tall, dark and handsy--you won't miss him!. Check him out on IMDB so you'll recognize him.
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