Photographer

Josselyn has an obsession with the camera.

Doesn't matter where I have "hidden" it, 

She will find it when you blink your eyes!

Usually I don't know she's had it until I download the pictures.

Today I heard her tell Odette, "say cheese"

The pictures were just too cute to not share!

Vacuuming

This is the only way you are allowed to vacuum.

If she isn't on, she is chasing after the vacuum screaming!

No Worries

I don't even know why I was worried.

After all--

This was Odette I was taking to get blood.

Not an older sibling.

She is definitely a SUPER HERO!

She put her arm up without hesitation,

The nurse poked her,

and Odette said "ow"

And that was that!

You Never Know

YOU NEVER KNOW

You never know when someone 

May catch a dream from you.

You never know when a little word

Or something that you do

May open up the windows

Of a mind that seeks the light -

The way you live your life may not 

Matter at all.

But then you never know, it might.

And just in case it could be

That another's life, through you,

Might possibly change for the better

With a broader and brighter view,

It seems it might be worth a try

At pointing the way to the right -

Of course, it may not matter at all,

But then again--it might.

For all of you who have lived your life like you are supposed to, I thank you.  You have shed light in the darkness and given hope to the hopeless.  This post has been long in coming, but I just couldn't figure out how to say it and then I ran across this poem.  I am so thankful to so many people who live great, courageous and inspiring lives.  

These people have written to me very proud to say they donated blood.  To me, it was given to save a life and not just any life.  Not everyone can donate blood, but there are many children that need it every day.  

They have given money. This brought hope and lightened the financial burden.  People who didn't even know me, but had heard our story. They"saw a need and filled a need".  

Others who were inspired to serve other ways.  Someone had clicked on my blog through someone else's blog.  I quote her email:  "She suggested that for those who were looking for ways to help, they might consider making blankets for Primary Children's.  Well anyway, I was touched and took the idea to our National Honor Society leaders (I'm the faculty advisor) as a service project this year.  Last Friday we took the entire Honor Society to Primary and delivered 51 blankets we had made in honor of Odette.  It was a great experience all around!!  Please let Stephanie know that we loved doing it and hope that it helps little ones like Odette feel the love and concern others have for them - even if we don't know them personally."  I am pretty sure Odette used lots of homemade blankets made with love.

 

The way you live your life may not

Matter at all.

But then you never know, it might.

September

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.  I have to admit that I am quite frustrated because it sure seems that you can mention breast cancer and everyone is supporting its efforts, but it feels like we have to work so hard to just get people to realize that kids get cancer too.

A few (because I want you to finish reading the entire post) facts about childhood cancer:

• Cancer is the #1 cause of death from disease in children ages 1-19 in the U.S.
• Every school day, another 46 children are diagnosed with cancer 
• Only 3% of cancer research money goes toward childhood cancers 
• In the past 35 years, ONLY ONE new cancer drug has been approved for pediatric use.
• Since children can handle much more chemotherapy than can adults, most treatments are little more than mega doses of adult cancer chemotherapy treatments. The results of these high doses of chemo on children is a higher rate of secondary cancers.  (Which means they live the nightmare of cancer more than once.) 
  
• Childhood cancer occurs regularly, randomly and spares no ethnic group, socioeconomic class, or geographic region.

Anyway, here are a few things you can do to show support for those children:

• Wear gold to show you are aware...or wear orange because you all know that leukemia is one of the top childhood cancers.
• Get your business/company to wear their pajamas to work for a day!  This is a fun idea and a cheap way to raise money for the children locally.  (Or convince those PTA ladies to let the kids do it at school!)
• Support Hopekids which brings hope to kids locally by providing activities to children.  "Because Hope is a Powerful Medicine."  
• My family is participating in a run this weekend.  Help us reach our goal!  Our minimum that we are needing to raise is $100.  We aren't quite there.  Please donate even a $1 or pass the information on to someone who can help.
• Check out Kids Cancer Crusade and Supersibs to see the amazing programs they offer and see what you can do to help out.  (I know that KCC are frequently looking for people who will donate their photography talent.)
• There are families at Primary Children's Hospital, that need to eat daily or need some words of encouragement.  Do something for them!

You all have been so very supportive over the past many months, but I feel this month we can all go above and beyond.  Who knows, with the odds it could be your child next.  What would you do?

$2 Tuesday

Every Tuesday in the month of August is "$2 Tuesday" at Thanksgiving Point and you can get into any venue for, like it says, just $2.  Last year I swore that I would never attempt to take the kids on such a day.  It was ridiculously busy and finding a parking space was a chore that took a half hour!!  So this year when a neighbor said she was going I told her, "You must be crazy!"  Then she reminded me that all the big kids are in school, so if there are a lot of people there, they come with only half the amount of children.  It didn't take long to convince me that the two little girls would absolutely love to spend the afternoon with some friends and see all the animals at Farm Country.  We grabbed some PB&J sandwiches, gold fish and (Odette's new favorite) fruit snacks!  We were off!

Yes, the place was still pretty busy, but no lines that went clear around the buildings.  The girls loved the animals.  Odette called everything a dog and was trying to get out of her stroller and into the pen with them all.  She wasn't afraid at all and thought it was cool to touch them.  She kept pointing at them and one has a sign that says something about don't feed the horse your fingers.  In the picture it looks like she is reaching out...giving him her finger!

Riding the horse was the best part--Of course!  Josselyn kept saying she wanted to ride the "purple horse".  It took me a while to figure out she was referring to the color of his reigns.  They were both good little cowgirls.  Both smiling big the entire time!

The kids also loved feeding the animals the seeds and corn.  Josselyn said it tickled when they licked her.  My friend put the food on the cup holder of her stroller and the cow stuck his head out and licked it all up.  Scared her two year old half to death, but the bigger girls thought it was awesome!

So I guess $2 Tuesdays really aren't so bad!  We made some good memories and enjoyed a little bit of sunshine that I am sure will soon turn to rain and snow!

A little Creativity

I love to be creative!  

For holidays, birthdays or motivation.

It has been quite a while since I did anything creative.

People keep telling me that I have been a little bit busy lately.

That is frustrating to me.

I want to do something using some "talent" I guess you would say.

Something that isn't just dishes or laundry.

While doing the dishes I had a thought.

The kids need some more routine now that school is back in.

We need to figure out how to get our chores done.

Along with everything else.

After having to keep the whole house clean when Odette was sick

we are all tired of the work.

Needless to say we slowed down some this summer.

To play instead.

Had to make up for some lost time.

Anyway, here was my moment of thought.

And the nice thing was is what I didn't already have a couple of friends donated or traded me!

It just took an hour of my time!

And the kids think they are great!

We put a star or smile or check when they are done with the job.

In the evening, they get a penny for each thing they did.

Every day they are rewarded.

I think that is key.

They decided they would put the pennies in a jar.

Once it is full, we will use the pennies to celebrate together.

Go get ice cream or pizza or to the movies...

depending on how many pennies they earn

and if I find a bigger jar!

Oops.

Left Help Mom off of Brandts.

Good thing he is such a great helper anyway!

Back to School

Brandt and Kathleen started school this week.  I told Brandt that I needed to walk him to the bus stop on the first day so that I could take pictures of him getting on the bus.  "It is your first day of your last year of elementary school!  I don't want to miss that."  To this he rolled his eyes, put on a big grin and said, "That is an oxymoron."  I followed them to the bus stop anyway, which was good because they decided to ride scooters down and have me bring them home.  The little girls enjoyed a ride in the stroller and loved when they got to see the bus and say cheese for their own picture. 

End of Summer Water Bash

The neighbor had an end of summer water bash.

It was a lot of fun!

Water balloons

Fun sponges

A bunch of pools

and lots of WATER!!

Of course my kids wanted to be there!

Unfortunately Odette wasn't able to get wet because she had to keep her surgery site dry for a couple more days.  

She did still enjoy holding and throwing balloons at the kids.

At the end....Otterpops.

What a perfect way to end a wonderful summer!

Now onto my favorite time of year!

LEARNING!

 

Cute Girl!

Kathleen has been growing her hair out long to "be like mom".

She decided recently that combing long hair is a real pain.

Especially after swimming three times a day!

So she made a choice.

Just in time for the new school year.

It looks really cute!

So very grown up like the 4th grader she is.

And of course she cut enough to donate it!