Big Surf

Last week we were able to go to a company party at Big Surf. We had a great time. These kids really love swimming in the pool...especially Little Thomas. He was the happiest when he was in the water. Here are a some pictures of our fun day!

And the best part of swimming all day....

There is still one day left on my Auction for Nie Nie! Right now the tickets are at $500...which is wonderful, but I would LOVE it if we could generate a little more. It really is for a GREAT cause! Don't forget to spread the word! This family is wonderful, and need all the help they can get! Thanks!

Nie Nie Day Silent Auction: Arizona Diamondback Tickets!

Gabrielle at Design Mom has declared today "Nie Nie day". As part of Nie Nie Day many websites and blogs are hosting silent auctions to help benefit the Stephanie and Christian Nielson. 100% of the winning bids will go their recovery fund.

AUCTION RULES:

1. To place a bid just click on the link that says "People know I love comments!" and enter your dollar amount. (If you don't have a blog, THAT'S OKAY - Just your 'identity' can be anonymous)


2. Make sure you leave some way that I can contact you when the bidding is over


3. Bids should be make in dollar increments (ie. if the current bid is $100 the next bid should be atleast $101 not $100.50)


4. ALL of the proceeds go to Stephanie and Christian


5. The auction will close on Monday, September 1st @ 9:00 am (PST)

The item up for bid:

4 Tickets to the Diamondback/St. Louis game on September 3rd @ 12:40 pm.

Plus...a parking pass for the Jefferson Street Garage.

Now these aren't just any tickets... they are DUGOUT BOX SEATS (valued at$125.00 a piece!) If you win you will be sitting pretty right here!

If you still want to help,

but can't afford to bid...

you can donate directly to the Stephanie & Christian Nielson Paypal fund

Or

Go check out this list an this list of other auctions

Also if you can do me a favor, and EMAIL as many people as you feel comfortable about THIS auction and if you have a blog post a link for me?...it would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Bidding!

If you want to read a wonderful post about the Nielsons go here.

Nie Nie Day

Tomorrow has been declared Nie Nie Day.

Bloggers EVERYWHERE are doing silent auctions on their blogs in order to raise funds for Christian & Stephanie Nielson.

I have a SUPER FABULOUS item that I will be auctioning off here so please check back tomorrow, and spread the news!

You can also donate to the Stephanie & Christian Nielson Paypal Fund.

My Little Girl

Having a little girl in your life changes everything. Don’t get me wrong…I LOVE my boys. In fact, Boys are actually a lot easier for me to deal with (no drama). Yet, there is something about having a little girl that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. I have doted over Sydney since she was born. She always had some sort of bow on her head, got her ears pierced when she was 3 months, and always had a bracelet on. She literally was my ‘live’ doll. I love her little personality, and the sensitivity she brings to the family.

With Caden starting school, she has felt a little left out. Every night/morning, the kids need me to ‘run down’ what they are going to do for the day. So I started telling them, “First, we are going to go to they gym, then we will eat lunch, and then Caden gets to go to school!”

That is when Sydney looked at me with wide eyes, and asked “Mommy, Where am I gonna go?”

“You are going to come home with me!” Immediately the tears start to flow. She was so upset. That is when I had the surprise for her.

“Syd, next week YOU get to go to dance class on Wednesdays!” The tears stop, and her face brightens. The look on her face was priceless.
The only problem with me spilling the beans early was that for the next week EVERY single day she thought she was going to dance class. We went and got her a leotard, and she wore it day and night. I finally had to convince her that it was dirty, and I HAD to clean it so that she could wear it to dance. The minute it was clean she wanted to put it back on, but settled with carrying it around in a grocery bag until it was time to go to the beloved dance class.
Nothing could have prepared me for the joy it brought to my heart as I watched her. She was grinning from ear to ear, and giggling with pure jubilation. It made me giggle and bring tears to my eyes because I realize she is growing so fast. She was clearly the youngest in the class, but I have to admit I still got a kick at watching her do somersaults instead of listening while Ms. Sunny was reading a book about the first day of dance.
This past month has been somewhat surreal to me. I really am transitioning in so many ways, and trying to take it all in is overwhelming. Caden starting school, and now my little girl is old enough to be left at a dance class! To top it off Caden starts Let’s Play Music this week and Soccor next month! I am beginning to understand the whole “Mom’s taxi cab service.” It is so fun to watch my kids as they figure out what they like. I hope to expose them to many things so that they can find their niche. Then I will do all I can to help them soar!

Yes Jaylee...that is your niece! :)

Who Needs A Pacifier?

Shortly after Thomas was born he started doing this. It makes me giggle every time, and I FINALLY got it on camera. Hope you enjoy it!

I can't get enough of this kid!

School Beginnings

Dear Caden,

It has been kind of frightening realizing that you are now at an age where I actually have to raise you. Not that I haven’t really been doing that before, but you are now at a point in your life where you are going to experience many things without me. I hope and pray that I can help you understand the difference between right and wrong. I hope that I can teach you the things you need to know so that when you are not with me…you will make the right choice. Knowing that it is your Daddy and my responsibility scares me.

I have watched you grow from being a ‘tank’ of a baby into a little/big boy. Your personality has grown and developed to a headstrong, determined child. You know what you want, and rarely give up on getting it. I know that one day you will be a great leader because of it.
On August 11th you started “Young Learners.” Since your birthday is on September 13th you did not meet the Sept. 1st cut off to be in ‘real’ Kindergarten. This program is great because it still teaches you all the things the Kindergartner learns, but you get more hands on experience. Plus it means that you get to spend half the day with us before going to school ALL day next year.

You have been so excited for school to start. I had fun going to the store and looking for school supplies. The look on your face when we found a “BUMBLEBEE” backpack was priceless. You were so excited to have something ‘so cool’. We got your stuff loaded and all ready to go.
That morning you got up and got dressed right away. You didn’t have to be to school until the afternoon, but that didn’t matter. We had to do your hair just right, get the right snack, and make sure you had a water bottle. The time finally came and we were off to the school. You willingly ran off to play at the playground while we waited for the teacher to show up to take you to class.
When she was ready, she asked you all to line up against the wall before you walked inside. I had to chuckle to myself when I snapped the picture. I have always known that you were tall, but this picture made it so evident. I was glad you were so happy. I think if you weren’t…leaving you would have been much harder.
When I picked you up that day you said, “It was okay Mom….there is not much time for playin’ though.” I laughed again knowing that you have no idea that the next chunk of your life will be full of ‘not much playin.’

I want you to know that I love you so very much. I am so thankful that I was given the gift to be your mother. Please know that I am not perfect. I am new to this whole thing. I am striving to figure out what I need to do to help you become a responsible adult. I know this is something that I could not do without help from the Lord. He is my rock, and I hope to instill that same testimony in your heart. I am excited to join you in this new adventure of schooling. I am excited for you to learn new things, and at the same time it makes me realize that I will have to let go of the little boy in you that I love so much. You are growing up before my eyes, and one day…will not need me anymore. Until then I will hug you, kiss you, and love every minute that you will let me.

Love,
Mom
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More updates on the Nielson's...I have copied some stuff from CJane's blog

Stephanie and Christian have a tradition in their family where, at family parties, birthdays, or other special occasions, they write inspriational things on a piece of paper, tie them to balloons, and let them go. On Saturday, we'd like to invite people anywhere, everywhere to write thoughts of faith and hope to be released at the same time. Lets do 5:00 AZ time (6:00 MST/7:00/Central/8:00/Eastern). Will you all take pictures of the release where you are and e-mail me [cjane] so we can post them on Monday?

For the Arizona Peeps from Camilla Wright: We are going to plan on meeting up around 4:45 this Saturday afternoon at the temple grounds to let all our balloons fly and to show our love and support for their sweet family. We hope all can make it, it will be short and sweet. Bring your own red balloons to let go with all the well wishes they could ever hope for!

Send cards, pictures, etc. to:
c/o Stephanie and Christian Nielson
Maricopa County Hospital
2601 East Roosevelt Street
Phoenix, AZ 85008

Their family has also set up some accounts with Bank of America and Wells Fargo. You can get more info about that on CJane's Blog. Or if you feel so inclined you can click on the lovely button in my side bar that they have made so you can make a donation through paypal.

They continue to need your prayers. This last post was beautifully written, and will update you on the latest.

Bunko Cookies

Last month we had BUNKO at Suzanne's house. She made these cookies, and we just couldn't get enough of them. Melanie had Suzanne email the recipe, and then she forwarded it on to me. They are now my favorite cookie, and I find myself making them once a week...no wonder I can't seem to lose any weight!

Anyhoo...the title should probably be Chocolate Butterscotch Cookies or something like that, but since I tasted them for the first time at BUNKO...I renamed them. Let me know what you think if you try them out.

2 stick's of butter

1c sugar

1c brown sugar

2 eggs

1tsp salt

1tsp baking soda

1tsp vanilla

1 large DRY package of chocolate pudding

2 1/2 cups of flour

Mix it in that order and then add butterscotch chips (I even made a batch with Peanut Butter chips. They were pretty good, but I still prefer the butterscotch...that surprised me because I LOVE PB & Chocolate)

Bake at 350 for 12 min (My oven is gas heated and I find that 10 minutes is better for me...when I left them in for 12 they were not burnt, but they were overcooked.)

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Update on the Nielsons: They have been upgraded from trauma patients to just burn patients. This is good, but they still have a long road of recovery. Their family has suggested things that you can do to help out. On Saturday they are inviting those who want to participate in a balloon release at the same time.

Prayers

For all you Mesa High folks out there, anyone who reads Nie Nie, and anyone who reads this...

Stephanie and Christian Nielson need your prayers.

They were involved in a horrible private plane crash.

They were badly injured

They are in the hospital.

Thier pilot passed away last night.

You can read updates on their recovery here.

Please pray for their families.

Repercussions

So I haven't posted in over two weeks! What is it that I have been doing?

Besides swimming at the pool

Spending time with Family

Going on a date with my honey

Taking Caden to his first day of Young Learners

I have been otherwise occupied by these...

Yes, Ladies I ended up reading all FOUR of these babies within about a week and a half!!! I won't 'spoil' it for any of you who haven't finished reading yet. But these really are some of the best reading I have had in a long time!

Unfortunately...my reading has its REPERCUSSIONS!

Once my house is back in order, I will give a full update on all the FUN things that have been going on in our crazy household!