Sabra House Party 11-10-12

www.houseparty.com is an awesome site!  You can sign up to try to host a promotional party for items.  If you get chosen, you get a package for free with various items depending on the House Party.

Earlier this year I had won a Huggies Potty Dance (pull-ups) House Party and a Lego House Party.  My friend won a Fisher-Price House Party and got over $300 in toys sent to her (cool, right?!).  I've had three other parties before this year too I think....

For the Sabra Hummus House Party, I got three coupons for free items up to $5.99 each, 13 dollar off coupons and also cards to go online and print up recipe books for the guests, an e-reader holder, a stylus pen, a bamboo serving spoon, and an apron. 

I got three HUGE tubs of hummus free from BJ's ($5.99 each so with the coupons, free). I also put out a bunch of other snack items and offered a pinterest inspired craft.

We made yarn wreaths. I supplied styrofoam wreath forms that Target had in their Dollar Days section (but I got 50-70% off!), a bunch of different yarn, and some embellishments.

 

Our "Vacation" Week - House and Ladies Guild updates

Jay had the first week of November off for his "vacation" week.  They assign the vacation time.  I took off Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of the same week.

We had plans, big plans.  First we wanted to tackle the garage.  It's not easy to maneuver around in there.  I have some appliances in there from the move that my dad was going to take.  6 months ago.  But I cannot blame the craziness on them alone.  It is so overwhelming.

We also wanted to finish hanging stuff and putting things away in Lauryn's room, organize the laundry room, and to complete our week, make a trip to Ikea on Friday.

Well, we got partially through with the garage.  Most of the way through actually.  Unfortunately, we did not grow up in the digital age.  Most of the "stuff"left to go through are the boxes and boxes of photos and memorabilia I have from childhood, along with scrapbook supplies, and yes, still the appliances.  We also have a lot of cameras to go through to sort what to sell, keep, and give away.  They are all non-digital but were really nice in their day.

I still need to organize the laundry room but I came up with the brilliant idea to use the nice fabric baskets I had in Keegan's nursery that are now replaced by bolder brighter colors.  Hopefully I will be able to post on that soon.  As for Lauryn's room, I was able to hang everything.  By. My. Self.  That was a huge feat as I normally make my dad come over and hang stuff in trade for pizza.  I do still have a huge box in the middle of her room but overall, a lot of progress.

These pictures are in progress.  I do not have any good before pictures - it was CRAZY.  The top picture has everything pulled out in the drive-way etc. 
The bottom picture is still in progress but it shows the piles we made.  The appliances are on the left and the majority of the middle is old photos etc we have to go through.  I will probably scan a lot of them.  I also want to do old school scrapbooking for those photos (which I love but have very little time for).  I plan to do digital scrapbooks mainly for the future.  I never thought I would convert to digital scrapbooks but time and money wins out.

 

Lauryn's room - minus the big "L" that will go above her headboard.  It's already painted and the last thing I need to hang. The first Picture is mid-way. I painted the picture frames and printed quotes to go in them.  I put a lot of thought in to the quotes so I was excited that LJ really loved the quotes in them.  I painted the missing "L" too, it's the darker pink with the lighter pink on the sides. It will go around the white frame above the headboard.

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday night was our monthly Ladies Guild meeting.  It was also time to put our names in for office. I am officially the new VP of Ladies Guild come January.  I am quite excited about it.  I do believe it is where I should be and I am surrounded by such an amazing group of women.  Now to make God proud :-)

 

Keegan's School Pictures Part II (And some thoughts on the presidential election)

Remember my post of Keegan getting ready for his school pictures in October?  You know, the one where he so determinedly tried to start my car with the house keys, in the tire?

Well he took "cute" photos this time around - yay!  In the spring his pictures were less than desirable and did not catch my Lovie and his ultimate cuteness.  This time, the pictures are pretty cool.  I think it is extremely hard to catch his true cuteness in any photos so I was pleased.

The results:

Speaking of results, if you really know me (and the majority of my family), you would know that the results of this year's presidential election did not match my voting.  I remember wishing last go round that Romney had won the Republican nomination.  He's an economist and we need(ed) that.  He appears to be a part of a good moral background with similar values and beliefs that I myself hold to be true.  I do not believe one must be white or a Christian to be our president.  I was deeply saddened to hear people berating people I know that if they did not vote for Obama then they were racist.  Surprise!  Look at my child.  He's black, like Obama.  I am not racist.  Sorry, I digress....

What I am trying to say is I am super proud to be an American.  We are a system of checks and balances. The President has my respect and my prayers as do the rest of our leaders.  And our Great Nation shall go on. I think a great way for people to make a difference is to start locally.

God Bless America. Amen.

For my sweet Keegan at two...

My sweet, sweet Keegan, 2 years ago you came in to our lives and changed it forever for the better. God's timing is impeccable. You are an amazing child filled with so much curiosity and wonder and sass. I hope that as you grow you will know that you are so loved and have been even before you made an appearance in to this world. I watch you in amazement each day as you continue to grow and learn.

Now that you are "one two," as you say, I cannot help but to feel bittersweet - I miss the time when you were growing inside me, and those first few months of sweet cuddles, I love the excitement and wonder you face each day, and I look forward to your many journeys ahead. Always keep God close in your heart as I will keep you close in mine. Mommy loves you forever and ever.

 

More Fall Fun!

On a lighter note, we tried to take advantage of the beautiful start to our fall and have some fun this last week or so.

Friday Night (10/26) we went to Lehigh Elementary where Aunt Kiki (my sister) works and had a blast with Grandma and cousins Craig and Connor.  There were bounce houses, games, face painting, popcorn, and a fire truck!

THE Famous "Aunt Kiki"

The hand holding melts my heart every time!

After our fun night at the Lehigh Elementary School Fall Festival, the next day was costume day at Music Class!  Keegan and his first love Avery are in music class together.  How cute are they!?!?!

 What's that you said?

It's time for the lullaby?  Time for the lullaby!

Ahhhhshuuuu.....

 

Sunday Keegan had breakfast in bed before church - so spoiled!  Then that evening we went to the Lakes Park Pumpkin Patch where we met Aunt Kiki and then Grandma & Bob stopped by briefly.

More pancakes, pleeeesseee!!!

 

 

 

Tuesday Keegan got sent home from school early.  He had a fever and his cough was back with his bad breathing and snotty nose.  I decided to definitely take him to the doctor in the morning because he seemed even sicker than normal and was a bit lethargic with no appetite.  My poor boy.  I was able to get him an appointment first thing on Wednesday (Halloween) morning.  The diagnosis was.....

Pneumonia!  I couldn't believe it.  It made me so sad.  Worst mom of the year here!  I felt like crying in the doctor's office.  The doctor tried to assure me that it could have just become pneumonia in the last day or so and he most likely wasn't walking around with it for weeks.  He also had fluid in both of his middle ears.  The start of ear infections but not too bad yet.  I told Keegan "looks like you'll miss out on all of the Halloween festivities later" and the doctor actually said once he has his first dose of medicine and some rest throughout the day he should be fine to go out for a little while at night.  So I did what most moms would be appalled at, and I took my pneumonia ridden child to Trunk or Treat to help Kara with our Mickey themed trunk.  Granted, she did all of the work there for the most part.  I was dealing with a very cranky Keegan and seriously doubting my decision to bring him to the event.  The decorating was a joint project for Kara and I.  Here's some pictures of the decor and trunk. Judge me if you must.  It didn't hurt Keegan at all and he was back at school by Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday was another awesome music class and the charity sale at Belk. I managed to do some serious damage - yikes!  Then Sunday was Keegan's sweet Avery's 2nd birthday party at Lakes Park!  I love those kids!

Keegan and the birthday girl ditching their game of "Soccer" to go get cake!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jay's actually off this week from work and I have a few days off, so the plan is to get a lot of stuff done around the house (who takes 6 months to move in?!?!?  we do, unfortunately....) and then we are having a get together on Saturday.  I can't believe it, but Keegan's party is only 1 week after that.  Our lil man is growing up!

 

 



Blah...

Just feeling blah.... so I posted a bunch of pictures from this last week's fun times on Facebook to try to cheer up.

First, I just feel so torn about what I should be doing and what I should be involved in.  I have so many doubts.  I think I am going to go for VP of Ladies Guild but if someone else really wants to, I will probably just let them.  Also I am torn on getting involved in more ministry things.  Little things keep happening that make doubts come in to my head about both.... ahhh decisions....

Then of course there are the awful news headlines that seem to pop up every day.  Tonight I saw a really sad headline about a child similar to Keegan's age.  I won't go in to exactly what because I don't want to sadden anyone or keep rehashing it but it was tragic and also seemed a bit like it could happen to anyone.  So sad.

So I decided to post my fall pictures.