Halloween

It's 9 PM Halloween night and all the kids are in bed (yea).  We had a blast this Halloween, Maddie is finally old enough to finally get how everything works.  They got so much candy, and Maddie even got a hat from the lady down the street.  The lady said she makes them and gives them to the cutest kids on Halloween.



Carving our Pumpkins




Before the Trunk or Treat at Church




Leah the Giraffe




Maddie with all her candy

We went to the Trunk-Less treat at the church building Saturday night.  They had a chili cook off first, then the kids got to go trick or treating in all the rooms.  People "claimed" a class room and then decorated it for the kids.  They had games, candy, and even a haunted house.  It was lots of fun!!

Busy, Busy

It seems like when nothing is going on to blog about, I have the time and energy to write something.  When I have things to write about, I don't have the time to actually do it.  So I'll sum up the last week or so.  My friend Kim lives in Fernely, Nevada, and I haven't gone to her house to see her in at least 4 years.  So when she invited us to a birthday party for her girls I was all for it.  I got off work early and went to pick up the girls from Grandma Martin's so we could leave.  It turns out Leah wasn't feeling well, so I left her home with Jason and just took Hannah and Madalynne.  We picked up Katie on the way out (I wanted her to drive home because I HATE driving in the dark).  So we're driving and we get right around Donner Lake when it starts to snow (NOOOOO)  I'm a California girl, so snow is a no go.  I briefly considered turning around, but I put my big girl pants and kept going.  We got to the party (an hour late) and had a lot of fun.  The girls loved the pinata at the party.  Madalynne keep saying she wants a piesta (pinata) for her birthday too.  I was so nice to see Kim again, I always love to hang out with her.  We headed home a few hour later and to our luck No snow!!!  When we get home the girls were so tired and they went strait to bed with no problem.  It was so nice!!

But.. it turns out Leah was really sick.  She had a fever and wouldn't eat or drink anything.  I called the doctor in the morning and took her in.  The doctor told me she had Hand Foot and Mouth Disease... (what the heck?)  It is basically a virus that gives you a rash on your hands, feet, and in your mouth (makes sense, right?) Leah only has them in her mouth, but the doctor said it's like having 50 canker sores in your mouth and throat (ouch!!)  but I could do for her is give her Tylenol or Motrin and make sure she is drinking, so she doesn't get dehydrated.  Poor baby!!  I felt so bad for her.  She is finally all better today, but we had a rough couple of days (and nights).  Now Hannah is not feeling well, but at least it's doesn't seem as bad.  It's easier when they can tell you what's wrong.

I'll leave you with a couple of pics from last week....

Sharing a pickle

Finger painting

Leah's first time finger painting- she loved it!

Our first fire at the new house

Baking cookies - Maddie loves to bake

Our new dog

               So Jason has been a little sad lately, so I thought he might need another "guy" around the house.  So Saturday, while the kids were at Grandma Martin's house, I went over to the Sacramento SPCA.  I walked around and looked at all the dogs and puppies.  The only instructions from Jason were that it couldn't be a small or ugly dog.  I found a really cute hound dog puppy but when I went to the front desk to ask about him they told me he wasn't good with kids, at all (um....no thanks).  So I was about to give up when I saw a big Chocolate lab sitting in the back of his kennel looking sad.  I asked about him, and they took me in a room where I could meet him face to face.  He was so sweet, and he was so happy to be out of his cage, I had to get him.  Before they would let me adopt him I had to bring the girls to the SPCA to meet him (they want to make sure he ).  I picked them up and brought them and they loved him (I was a little worried about Maddie liking him, the whole way there she kept insisting that she didn't want a dog, she wanted a pet Giraffe.)  We got him and took him home with us.  Jason was so surprised that I got him a dog that be (he's 65 lbs).  Jason named him Duke (good guy name, right?). He has been so sweet to the whole family.  He likes to be with us, and he LOVES car rides.  The only problem is that if he get out the door, he takes off.  Jason chased him 6 blocks this morning.  I'm so happy that everything with him is going so well!!!

Fundraiser

SO... I just started my first Tupperware fundraiser a couple of days ago.  I'm really excited!  It's a really great program where the person or organization that your raising funds for gets 40% of all the profits.  I couldn't be doing it for a better cause.  Jason's cousin Erica and her family are adopting a baby boy.  He is due to be born in December.  The costs to adopt a baby are super expensive, so they are looking for help with money for the adoption.  I think adoption is soo great.  I can't imagine being in the place of either mother (the birth mom or the adoptive mom). For the birth mother to love her unborn baby so much that she chooses to give him to someone that is in a better situation.  I also can't imagine not being able to have your own children, but being unable.  All the waiting and hoping has to be heartbreaking.
This song by Michael McLean is a beautiful expression of the love in an adoption.  I can't read this without crying.

From Gods Arms To My Arms To Yours

So many wrong decisions in my past, I'm not quite sure
If I can ever hope to trust my judgement anymore.
But lately I've been thinking,
Cause it's all I've had to do.
And in my heart I feel that I
Should give this child to you.
And maybe, you could tell your baby,
When you love him so, that he's been loved before, By someone, who delivered your son,
From God's arms, to my arms, to yours.
If you choose to tell him,
If he wants to know,
How the one who gave him life
Could bear to let him go.
Just tell him there were sleepless nights,
I prayed and paced the floors,
And knew the only peace I'd find,
Was if this child was yours.

And maybe, you could tell your baby,
When you love him so, that he's been loved before,
By someone, who delivered your son,
From God's arms, to my arms, to yours.

This may not be the answer,
For another girl like me.
But I'm not on a soapbox,
Saying how we all should be.
I'm just trusting in my feelings,
And I'm trusting God above,
And I'm trusting you can give this baby
Both his mothers' love.
And maybe, you could tell your baby,
When you love him so, that he's been loved before,
By someone, who delivered your son,
From God's arms, to my arms, to yours.


I you want to help our Erica and her family, follow the link below.  40% of the proceeds go directly to Erica to help pay for the adoption.

http://tinyurl.com/37basnv

Tupperware Tuesday

So about a week ago I joined Tupperware and be came a consultant.  I joined because I thought it would be a fun way to get out there and meet people and I could learn about products to help organise my kitchen and make a little money.  They have some really cool stuff to make life easier and to be greener.  Every Tuesday I am going to update with a product of the week.  I got my kit with my first Tupperware stuff.  The kids had a blast opening the box.  I think they were more excited about it then I was.  They had so much fun going through everything and playing with it.  One of  my favorite things from the shipment is the "Large Sports Bottle"

It is BRIGHT green so it never gets lost, even in my cluttered car.  I take it to work, and it has a screw off bottom that you can put your keys or any little thing in, so when your working out, or taking a walk you only have to carry your water bottle.    SO that's it for Tupperware Tuesday.....until next week