In Sickness and In Health...

I have committed to quit drinking Mt. Dew. Some of you know of my lifelong struggle with this. And it's actually very pathetic! But that's my lot in life. It's not a lot, but it's my life. :)

I've gone 7 days without a soda! Well, I had one bottle of Mt. Dew right before our date on Saturday because I was starting to feel really sick and I needed a kick to make it through the night. There is NO WAY I'm not going out with Bret if I can help it!!! BUT, except for that one soda, I haven't had a single can of pop in 7 days!!! This includes ANY other type of soda too! I haven't seen the weight pour off, but I know why it isn't doing that yet. In an effort to "get off" the Mt. Dew, I allow myself a chocolate shake. Stop Laughing, it works!!! Now I need to find something to get me off chocolate shakes.... Hahaha. Not really!

I am expecially proud of myself because I have been VERY sick and the only thing that I wanted during the past 4 days has been my soda. There's nothing like a strong drink to clear your head and quiet your upset tummy. But I resisted the temptation.

Anyway, I just had to share that with you all! Wish me continued luck!

CALLING ALL CRAFTERS!!!!!

I am the PTA Secretary and we are REALLY looking for Crafters who would like to come and buy a spot to sell their things. You will only spend the $50 and keep ALL of your sales! There is going to be a lot of traffic through the school this night. The craft fair will be in the cafeteria and there will be a Carnival going on in the back of the school. Everyone has to walk right past the cafeteria to get to the back. :)

Please, if you are interested let me know or call the contact (Valerie)!!! It's a way to earn some extra money for Christmas!! Thank You!!!

Oh and feel free to post this on your blogs too or tell anyone that makes/sells crafts!

What's Left After A Raging Party (Livvy Style)!!

Yesterday we went to Greg & Jackie's for my Nieces' birthday party and it was SO fun!! There was a blow-up bouncy thing and face painting and cake and lots of lots of kids!!! :) And as you can see (sortof) Aunt Jackie painted Livvy the most cutest puppy face ever!!! This picture is from this morning though so almost all of it has worn off. She wouldn't let me wash it so we kept it on for bed. I would have posted a pick when it was fresh and super cute, but although you'd think that at least one of 8 adults would have brought a camera to commemorate the party - we didn't. Morons, all of us!! I am the smartest moron though, I at least had a camera ready to take and sitting by the presents to carry out to the car. The kids grabbed the presents and not the camera. It was left at home. :(

Giving my kids.....

a little bit of my childhood!

Last Saturday Bret and his BFF, Duane, planned a sand volleyball night at this park near us. They invited TONS of families from the Ward and we weren't sure who would show up. It was very causual and "whateverish". We had about 10 families come and it was SOOOOOOO much fun!!!
The volleyball nets were in a big sand pit with 2 courts side-by-side. Some of the adults played on one court and all the kids (about 20) played in the other one in the sand.
We all stayed out till late and as it grew dark I looked over at the kids. Their ages ranged from 2-12 and they were all interacting and playing and connecting without adults bugging them. They were close enough to keep an eye on, but far enough to just be themselves.
It reminded me of when I was a kid and we would stay out late in the summer and run around the neighborhood as a large pack of wolves (crazy and free). We'd play games like tag & hide-n-seek. Or run around in someone's front yard because their mom wouldn't let them leave the yard after dark. :)
It was amazing freedom and I didn't think about how great it was to be with other kids without adult interaction until I watched all the kids last Saturday. You know, you get all those emails passed on to you about the beauty of the old days. And I get sad sometimes about the fact that my kids will never have what we had. BUT I often tell myself that when they are 30ish they'll have emails (or something more hightech) passed around about the good old days of WII's and MP3 players. About the freedom of antibacterial everything and life lessons like 9/11.
But it makes my heart happy that I got to provide for them a little bit of MY childhood. That freedom and connection with other kids!!
They had so much fun! All the kids worked together to make a pile of sand as tall as Elizabeth's waist. I wish I had brought my camera! The big kids were even burying the little kids in the sand and the little kids were LOVING it!!! LOL - I think we'll have to do it again soon. :)