Ok....anybody who knows me well knows I go in "spurts" with things. Well, lately has been a dry "spurt" for blogging! (OBVIOUSLY!)

I started a post a few days ago...and of course pictures were uploaded on different computers, time crunch, etc. So I never finished it.

I will...eventually! In the meantime, we are still all alive and well. Busy, busy, as usual!

Will catch up more soon (really, I will!).
Love to all!
Susan

Free to the first 5!

Ok...I've had my webstore up and running for over a week, and I'm starting to get a bit discouraged! I've had quite a few looks at things, but no sales! So, here's the deal...the first 5 sales of $10 or more will get a "freebie"! That's right, I will throw in a free hair clip! At checkout, just type "blog" into the area that allows you to put in a message (assuming there is one...I haven't checked out yet) and I will make sure you get a "free gift"! You can always click on the button to the right (which shows new things when I post them), or you can click here.

Praying for Stellan

For those of you that may have been following Stellan's medical condition through my blog, and those of you who have yet to click on the link...please do so now! Stellan will be undergoing heart surgery tonight if things get worse, early in the morning if they can regulate his heart enough. Millions of prayers got him through gestation and the first 5 months of his life...he needs more now! Please click on the link above or to the right. If you don't know the whole story, you can find it on MacMama's blog.

My latest venture...

>
I've been working on THIS for a while, but I think I'm finally up and running (sort of). The sooner I get to "networking", the sooner I may actually get some sales. I learned about Etsy several months ago when I found links on other blogs. I thought about it for a while, and decided that although my real dream would be to open a knitting shop someday, with beautiful yarns, a comfy environment and a great coffee shop--with the economy the way it is, now doesn't seem to be the time. So...this is my current solution to a creative outlet that might bring in some cash. I currently have hair accessories and a "make to order" baby sweater set listed, but I will also be adding Swarovski crystal embellished flip flops and more knitted items---and whatever other "crafty" things I come up with. It will be added to and updated regularly. Please take a look. If you would like to add a gallery link to your blog (like mine, or a smaller version), or would like some business cards to hand out to people you might bump into who would be interested, let me know. I would be happy to help you share MY business!

Wordless Wednesday

I was planning to post a "Wordless Wednesday" tonight...
using this photo of Tiger Paws curled up in Taryn's comforter while we were changing her sheets...

And this picture of Tessa that Taryn took Easter morning, that I had some fun with...

Until...
Tonight at 5:10...I realized that I had meant to get to the post office to mail our taxes earlier in the afternoon and hadn't! So, quickly I grabbed our taxes, jumped in the car and headed to Power Postal (not the post office...this is closer and might be open past 5)! I got there and thought I was in luck, they were open until 6!! Then the girl told me that their mail had gone out for the last time of the day already! I would have to go to the post office. On my way there, I'm running ideas through my head and I realize that the lobby is always open and the automated postage station would be open. Yea! Until...I get there and there are signs posted EVERYWHERE stating that if it's past 5:00, it can't be guaranteed to meet the IRS midnight requirement. So what was I supposed to do?....
-------
------------
Apparently my only option was to head to the only drop off station in the valley open until midnight...I had to drive to a drop off near the airport.
This was the line to the line to the drop off---yes, that's right!

Once I made it through the line to turn in, this was one of the lines to drop off. It was actually really organized and moved pretty fast--At 6:30 pm. I just saw the news---the lines are CRAZY at 9:00.

So that's how I spent an unexpected hour and a half of my evening...but at least I know it got there and we won't be receiving a special "fine".

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all!
We had a very busy Easter weekend. On Saturday, we woke up to a rainstorm! It wasn't the best timing...but since we haven't had rain for a while, it was welcomed. However, it did put a bit of a damper on our Easter festivities!!
We attended the Annual Las Sendas Easter egg hunt. Usually there is a park that is filled with jumpers, a petting zoo, pony rides, hot air balloon rides, and lots of games and prizes. However, this year with the DOWNPOUR, the egg hunt was held in one of the banquet rooms. Once that was over, we did go to ride the ponies and pet the animals...that was it, and we were all wet and cold.
No matter how wet and cold, Tessa was thrilled to get to hold a wet bunny. Her cousin Christina took her own sweater off, to cover the wet bunny, "because she was shivering."
Later Saturday evening, our niece Christina was baptised and recieved her first communion.

Relay Results! (Really, this time!)

Last night I started to post, and realized that I hadn't edited my pictures yet and they were too large to upload. I was WAY too tire, so I edited them this morning. Here's the scoop on Relay For Life!

Saturday was a really exciting day! It was very fun, but emotional as well!! The day kicked off with a "survivor's" speech. Then the Relay began. The first lap was the survivor's walk. All of the people in the purple shirts are cancer survivors. After that lap, each team followed holding their banner.

There were 108 Teams total. The current numbers are $131,000 raised!!! (but money is still coming in and being tallied).
The Dream Team consisted of over 70 6th grade students and parents. Our original goal was $2000. We are well over $6000!!! In henna tattoos and hair accessory/jewelry sales at the event alone, we raised just over $1500! These kids did a great job...as parents we were so proud to see what they were capable of (and they had a BLAST!)

At 9pm the stadium lights went out and the luminaries were lit on the bleechers. The luminaries were purchased in honor of someone who had lost their battle. They spelled CURE on the bleechers and lined the outside of the track. There was then a lap of silence while everyone carried their own candle and following a lap with bagpipes! It was a very special moment.

We even had our own fireworks display!
After the fireworks, the lights came back on...the music cranked up and rang throughout the night to keep everybody enthused! A few crashed for a few minutes (myself and Taryn included), but for the most part everybody was up until sunrise and the end of the event at 6:30!

Overall, it was an amazing experience! I would be very pleased if Taryn decided to participate again next year! Thanks to all of you who helped to support Taryn and this great cause!!! There are very few who haven't been effected by cancer in some way...it was very rewarding to be able to do something to help.