Back Into The Swing Of Things

Sales, Sales and then more Sales!
This was the year to shop if you had money to spend.
What did you buy or receive as gifts?
Are you happy with your purchases?
What did you buy or get that you wish you never bought/received?

My kids always put their wish list together starting the day the Toys R Us toy catalogue comes in the mail. They circle, cut out and drool over all the new toys and gadgets that they want.
This year, I was all about not getting them toys. Frankly, they play with them once or twice and then they clutter the house and collect dust. I hate little pieces or pieces that get lost in every room of the house.
I do however, buy them electronics. It just stinks when they loose them (son lost 200 dollar IPOD and a 150 dollar PSP). But to me,it makes more since to buy things that they will use for a long time than to buy things they will use once and you paid thirty dollars for.
Jayden did want Martian Matter and did receive it. I was pretty disappointed with it. You cannot "save" the martians after you make them because they are "not from this planet". So basically, you make them and chop them up (they like to call this dissecting)and throw them away. You cannot save your creation except for in the pod on the spaceship. I found it boring. Well for me it was, but to an eight year old, it is awesome! It just stinks when the goo runs out and then you have a hard time finding refills.

January is coming and for me this year, it will mean organizing, cleaning and de-cluttering. My children will learn how to give away the things they no longer use for a good cause. My MOMS Club that I belong to will be having a Rummage Sale for our selected Charities. I cannot wait to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House, The Poulson family (pray that Sarah comes home son) and for the Mother to Mother Fund.

Most of all, I cannot wait to get back into the swing of things!

Shake n' Stack Instruments

I was so excited today when I heard the UPS truck stop at my house. My daughter came running in with a box stating that maybe it was "more clothes". Gymboree is known to be delivered daily at my house.

We tore open the box and I stared a toy called Shake n' Stack Instuments. It looked so neat to play with! My daughter who is 6 wanted to open it but I told her it was for the baby. But that she could play with it as well! :)

We all know that music plays an important role in every child's development and provides a platform for listening, language, and creativity.

First Act acknowledges this and helps children grow. They are committed to being there from the beginning, sharing a child's first notes. Their products are designed with child development experts to help guide young children through key developmental milestones. First Act's innovative product design combined with basic music concept learning engage children and spark and early
love of music.



Little First Act Discovery is available now at select retailers including Toys R Us, Target and Wal-Mart. It retails for around $12.99.
For more information on Little First Act Discovery check our their comprehensive website here:

* 'Shake n' Stack Instruments': A classic 2-in-1 stacker with hidden musical surprises. Stack and un-stack the soft rings to reveal a tambourine and maraca sized just right for baby! The maraca angles toward the baby for easy-to-reach play. Three musical instruments for baby to grab and stack.
It promotes Rhythm exploration and helps eye-hand coordination and Fine motor skills.

This toy is recommended for infants aged 6 months and up.

It's Cold Outside!

Well, by Southern California standards it is!! This is the first day where I can actually say that it is chilly. The kids seem unaffected by it but and want to be outside playing with all their friends. It actually is starting to feel like Winter. I cannot wait to take the kids to the snow and bundle everyone up-

Giving Back

Several years ago, I joined my local MOMS Club.
It is a Non-Profit Organization and there is one in every state and even a few other countries -

Here are the goals and principles of MOMS Club.

Goals:
To provide a support group for mothers who choose to stay at home to raise their children

To provide a forum for topics of interest to mothers

To help children in the community

To perform at least one service project yearly helping needy children


Principles:
That women must be free to choose their personal path to fulfillment

That, for women who choose it, raising children is an important and fulfilling full-time job

That a family's decision for a mother to stay at home to raise the children often involves considerable financial sacrifice

That there is no one right way to raise children, but our members have a common concern in raising their children in a healthful way



Along the way, I met a lot of friends-
Friendships formed and our children made friends. It was great that other moms knew what you were going through and if you needed advice you could get it!

Last year I was AVP for MOMS CLUB Riverside East-
Part of my job was fundraising for our "Service Project"

We had selected Carolyn E. Wylie Center for Children and Families, Foster Care and Mother to Mother Fund as the charities that we supported that year. The Carolyn E. Wylie Center for Children, Youth & Families improves the quality of life and enhances family relationships by providing programs for children and the community with compassion and commitment. For Foster Care we made care kits for children in Foster Care. We also did an event called "Baby City" where at risk youth that were in the system had children of their own. We provided them with Blankets and toys for their children. Mother to Mother Fund is a trust established by The MOMS Club® to help any member in financial need due to an unexpected tragedy such as death of a spouse or child, serious illness, or major accident.

Our service project was pulling tabs for the Ronald McDonald House.


This year we are still pulling pull tabs for the Ronald Mc Donald House in Loma Linda.

We also are raising money for the Ronald McDonald House because in our chapter, my friend Marina; and if you know her, she would be yours as well....daughter was diagnosed with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML). It is a serious chronic leukemia (cancer of the blood) that affects children mostly aged 4 and under.

It hit our club hard as we all love Marina and her children. We continue to have her in our thoughts and prayers everyday.

Here is Sarah's Story:

Sarah Poulson is 4 yrs old, her birthday is May 13th, 2004. On May 21st 2008 we were supposed to go to her Aunt and Uncles to celebrate her birthday but instead we ended up in the hospital with swolen liver and spleen which was diagnosed as JMML on May 29th 2008. Sarah has always been a spirited little girl so full of life. She loves to play in her kitchen and dress up. Her favorite thing is having a make believe tea party.

We never imagined she would get sick with this horrible disease. Luckily her little 2 year old brother was a match and she had her transplant on July 22nd. 2008. Not all is well though she is having many complications now from side effects of the BMT and she hasnt left Childrens Hospital In Los Angeles since she was admitted on July 14th 2008. We wish we had a happy ending to share for little Sarah but for now we are just waiting for her liver to start working again. She is loved by so many people and we just want her to come home walking on her own two feet. God please have mercy on these children and their families! September 2008

We held a Charity Fundraiser for the family last night and received donations of $113.00 for the family and over $600 for the Ronald McDonald House.

I would love to thank everyone who donated for the Silent Auction and who bought Raffle Tickets.
Most of all, a big thank you to the businesses who donated!

I really hope to do this again!

Daughter and Mommy Time

Today I pulled my daughter out of school for a little one on one time. We needed to have a little "girl" time. I was scheduled to host a California Pizza Kitchen field trip for my local MOMS Club that I belong too. Of course, just when you think you have loads of time, you still end up being late!
I went to go to my Mommy Car- (the big Suburban) and realized that all the things we had brought for the fundraising "Charity" party the night before were still in there. Two 6 foot tables, loads of presents for a family that needs prayers for their daughter and misc. stuff filled every nook and cranny of the SUV.
So I unloaded what was necessary to be able to manage so I could get the heck on the road and get Kennedy from school. I called the office and told them to pull her from her class because we had a "9 o'clock appointment".
I thought she would be waiting for me but of course these types of things are not meant to be easy on you when you are rushing! Finally, I managed to get her 15 minutes later than I wanted to leave.

As we rushed down to the restaurant, I felt the excitement that was going through her body. It is not everyday that we get to spend one on one together.
Surprisingly, we were only 10 minutes late!
While we were there, Kennedy received a tour of the Restaurant and got to make her own pizza. She chose Pineapple and Chicken and got compliments from the Chef on how beautiful hers turned out! It was great to let her use her imagination and designs to make something of her own! I took a bite and it was delicious!

After that we went shopping at Gottschalk's with a friend who graciously offered me a "coupon". I promised Kennedy that I would buy her an ice Cream for her "hanging in" with all my shopping and for for her advice picking out my new sun glasses!

I will update with some pictures shortly :)