NO FREAKING WAY!!!

I have received a blog award!!  Me!! Well, my blog, but me!!! 

A Liebster award, from my sweet friend Ruby over at Fuchsia Vision  (linky link here Fuchsia Vision )

Ruby is one who always shares words of encouragement on every post, no matter what... Just knowing one person reads this blog of their own volition (no payments, no relative obligation!!) makes me super happy, but to be nominated for an award!!!

Well...ain't that the berries!!!

I hadn't heard of a Liebster award but it turns out it's given amongst bloggers to those sites that have less than 200 followers.  Yeah, I'm about 189 shy of that, so no worries there...

It does come with a to-do list:

1. Link back to the person who gave it to you.  Check!
2. Post the award on your blog for all to see!  Check!
3. Give the award to 5 of your favorite bloggers (with 200 followers or less).  Double check!!
4. Leave a comment on your chosen blogs to let them know that they have been given the Liebster Blog award (will be done)

My five favorites:

1.)  My Scrappy Life  - Eliz Gardner.  I love her writing. And her scrapbooking style...

2.) Sisters and Stories - Man, these ladies.... they make me wish my sister and I were closer.  But also remind me to be grateful for the girls in my life whom I love like sisters!!

3.) Unfabulousness - While we are friends in the real world, I love how Jo writes.  When I read her blog, it's like I'm in her head...and I'm feeling the exact way she's feeling at that moment.  

4.) Inspiration Strikes - Don't go here if you're easily offended.  She's mouthy, opinionated...and one of my favorite bloggers ever.  She says exactly what she's thinking...about everything...and in a trashy "you-kiss-your-mama-with-that-mouth??" kind of way, and I love it. 

and finally...

5.) Life at the Gables - If I'm being honest... I love how Liz writes, but what I really love about her blog:  I read every word to myself in a Scottish accent.  Seriously.

  So thank you, Ruby, for thinking of me.   And for the ladies who are receiving this award -- Thanks for being such amazing writers in your own individual ways. You all give me something to look forward to each week (-ish, if you update like I do!!)

I planned a Staff Appreciation Week...and survived!!!

Remember a few weeks ago, when I asked for input on my ideas for Staff Appreciation Week at my youngest daughter's elementary school?

(Thank you to the two of you who responded!!)

Well... I DID IT!  And I didn't end up in jail for manslaughter, public drunkeness, or lewd behavior!  (tee hee hee)

The week went off with minimal issues.  Really, only one or two things went wrong.  And thank God for my wonderful friend, Laura, who rushed to the grocery store at 6:45 AM to pick up pastries and fruit for the staff.  (FYI -- when people volunteer to bring food for an event, I recommend following up any emails sent with a phone call - daily - to ensure they actually show up).

Keep in mind - the week before SAW, I spent a few days in the hospital with my hsuband and kid...so I was cramming days of work into a weekend.

Here was the event schedule for the week:

MONDAY - coffee and pastries/fruit before school for staff
TUESDAY - Custom printed M&M's with donated travel mugs or water bottles
WEDNESDAY - Ice Cream Social
THURSDAY - Donated $5 gift certificates to the local Frozen Yogurt place
FRIDAY - catered staff luncheon

My budget for the week was $1500, but due to some really generous parents and the local business, Cherry de Pon, I was able to come in under budget.

Some photos from the event:

I found this fantastic digital designer to create the custom water bottle labels, food labels, and a sign (when you wait until the last minute to print, things can go wrong, so no "ice cream" sign.)  Check her out:  Katiedidesigns  

I also found another digital designer named Yulia, who worked with me over a weekend, from another county, to create water bottle labels...  Sadly, I don't have a picture of those, but trust me.  They were awesome.  Here is a link to her site:  Sarah Hope Designs

It was a long week, lots of stress for me, but it was tons of fun to be a part of the madness. I just saw the sweetest email from one of the teachers, and it definitely makes it all worth it.

I am not sure who to send this to, so if I could trouble you to get it into
the proper hands:



To All who contributed to Staff Appreciation Week,



I do not think I have ever experienced a more wonderful Appreciation Week!!
This has been a difficult year and in spite of that, PTSA has continued to
honor every traditional event and pull it off flawlessly.  This week you all
went above and beyond that and the happiness and love that we felt this week
simply transformed the staff.  We felt pampered, cared for, celebrated and
honored each and every day.  Whenever I ran into one of you and thanked you,
you seemed to be as delighted to be giving as I was to be receiving!



I continue to be stunningly proud to be working for this community and
cannot imagine working for a finer group of parents.



Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Judy Higgins

6th Grade teacher

Sometimes, a little madness is worth bringing light into the lives of complete strangers.

Have a great week!!

EDITED:  I just found the picture of the water labels from Yulia...Aren't these fantastic??

I couldn't make this up!

Oh boy....it's been a crazy week.  And by crazy, I mean a how-in-the-hell-am-I-going-to-survive-this week.   It's why I haven't written in a while.  Honestly, I haven't had the energy or with-itness..whatever you call it, to do so. But I'm starting to get back into the flow and thought I'd let you all know what's been going on in my life. 

Last week was my birthday! Yay me!! Big 3-9!  Honestly, it doesn't bother me.  Yet. I'm waiting it to hit me.  Maybe after I recover from the shock of last week.

Here's the series of events:

Tuesday

2:30 - received a call that  Sydney fell face first into the monkey bars and needed stitches. I met them at the ER. Honestly, I wasn't really panicked.  I just know that the last time she had stitches, it was pretty traumatic for her so I wanted to be there.  It was about a 2" cut, deep, right in between her eyebrows.   

4:30 - The doctor said she had no concussion and he was able to use glue for the cut because it was straight enough. we didn't need to stitch (nice job, Syd!)  She decided she wanted Denny's (our standard after-ER meal). As we're there, Ryan starts saying he's not feeling well.

6:00 - I took them home, Syd and I ran an errand and went to Walgreens to get Ryan some indigestion medicine. Savannah started calling, telling me to come home right away. I got home and Ryan couldn't even walk. He was puking, pale... I thought for sure he was having a heart attack.  I got him into the car, and he was starting to feel better.  His color came back, and he stopped throwing up.  He wanted to turn around. I believe my exact words were "HELL NO".

7:00 - check into ER (for the 2nd time). They were pretty sure its gallbladder.

11:00 - I'm sent home. They couldn't see the gallbladder on the ultrasound because it's so enlarged, so they shoot him up with dye.  And I'm exhausted, so I went home to pass out.  After driving through Taco Bell.  Can you say emotional eating?  Yep, thank God for the Fourth meal.

1:00 - Ryan was admitted and scheduled for surgery to remove his gallbladder the next day.

 

Wednesday: I went to work, Syd to school, and Ryan was in the hospital. Syd has her first TBall game that day, so Ryan's dad came down to sit with him through surgery so I could go with Syd. (My thinking was that things had been traumatic enough for her over the past few days -- if I miss this game, she would have freaked).  My sister in law, Marie,  came down with me, and she was taking Sydney for the night so I could spend time at the hospital with Ryan.

6:30 - T Ball game

7:30 - headed for frozen yogurt

7:35 - Sydney puked in my car, all over my car, in the street...Violently.  I whipped  my car into a subdivision and Marie pulled in behind me. We were both in shock. Meanwhile my little girl was covered in...stuff..I was literally sitting in the street laughing and crying at the same time. 

 

**BTW to the man walking in his yard, on his cell phone, watching this comedy of errors unfold:  EFF YOU for walking right back into your house without so much as an offer to toilet paper.  Karma is a bitch, my friend...just remember that.

 

Lucky for me, the super nice guy across the street was washing his vehicles.  I walked over and asked for a paper towel.  He gave me a whole roll and told me to keep them.  Then he offered to wash the outside of the car.  I swear I could have hugged the man.  He yelled up to his wife that he was "helping a damsel in distress". 

 

**Mental note --- take a gift to that family for being a spot of sunshine in an otherwise really shitty day.

 

Marie and I decided that Syd was fine. Most likely nervous about Daddy.  But she was running around, crazy and having fun; no chance she had a bug.  So she went with Marie and I returned to the hospital to visit Ryan.

8:30 - I was at the hospital, Ryan's dad left. My sister in law called, says "shes puking like crazy, everywhere". The nurse says we should take her back to the ER

**When Marie showed up, Sydney's head was like rolling back and forth and she couldn't keep her eyes open.  Marie was freaked, which made me freak... inside, of course.  But Syd could barely stay awake, didn't want to walk.  It was scary.

 

9:00 = checked into ER. Cat scan, etc.  For once, when we get to the ER for vomiting, Syd continues to throw up. Usually she stops when we get there and I feel like an idiot.  Not this time.  It was full on, throwing up everywhere.  She fell asleep.

 

1:30 a.m. - Left with concussion diagnosis. Oh wait, did I tell you I walked out of the room without the discharge paperwork? INCLUDING the prescription for the anti-nausea meds. Yep, I did.  So we had to go back to the front of the ER; Marie waited in the backseat with her while I ran back in to get another copy. I had to carry her  64 lb dead weight body in and out of the car.  SO HEAVY!!!

 

Oh yes - when I got home at 1:30, I stepped in cat poop. And cried. My oldest wiped it off my feet. And went to get me more Taco Bell. 

Thursday: my birthday

I slept until 9:00.  She was still throwing up so I went to get her prescription. And cat food. Of which we were out and the cat meows constantly until he's fed.  While digging through my purse for my keys, I found the original discharge paperwork. Turns out I hadn't forgotten it. 

 

Really??

 

I went back to sleep until 1:30.

Ryan had another procedure at 2:00. It was supposed to take 45 mins. It took three hours. I'm exhausted. 

I went home finally around 6:30.  My dear friend, Laura,  has delivered Olive Garden for me and the kids.  Savannah, knowing I'm on the edge, has decorated the house and went and picked up a cake. (She didn't believe Syd when she tried to tell her that Marie had already brought a cake over on Wednesday and it was hidden in Syd's bedroom).

I now have two cakes!

By Friday, Syd is fine. She's cranky, and really tired, but no puking. Friday night around 6:30, Ryan gets released and we are all on the mend.

While it was going on, it was like I was watching myself in a tv show. Really? She threw up in the car? No way?

Of course, I didn't know that she shouldn't have played TBall so soon after a head injury. The doctor released her, all glued back together like Humpty Dumpty. I didn't know.

He's in a lot of pain. Every day it gets better, but none of us have gotten a good nights sleep in a week.  He's back to eating regular meals...just no fatty stuff or super spicy.  We've stayed away from any meat, except a turkey burger, but he's doing really well with what he's had so far.   

Needless to say --- next year, I am partying it up New Orleans style. Making up for this year and rollin' in the 40s!

My name is Heidi, and I am an addict....

It's true. I can't help myself.

I am totally and completely addicted to DrawSomething. 

I currently have no less than 13 games going at the same time.  No joke.  It's sick.

And I'm not even that great at the drawing.  See below:

That's supposed to be David Beckham.  You can laugh; it's okay. 

If that isn't enough proof of my less-than-expert art skills, try this one:

Yep, that is Conan the Barbarian.  Not the super hot Drago-guy one that just came out last summer, but the Arnold Schwarzenegger one from the 80s.   He has no hands.  That was quickly pointed out by a friend. Stumps, he said, actually.

Next to Instagram, this is probably my most favorite app.  Temple Run can bite me. 

You know how it's said that addiction can be hereditary?   Well, I seemed to have passed it on now to both of my kids.

                                               

This is Sydney's drawing.  While at first glance, its looks like a clue from Blue's Clues, it is actually the Earth.  And now she is continually asking me if its her turn to draw!!!!

Do any of you play? If so, message me and we'll start a game....

Gosh, did I really just say that?  See -- it's SICK!!  :)

So much to tell you all...

It feels like its been forever since we've talked. 

How have you all been?  Did you miss me?  I thought of you all often... as in "oh my - this will be so funny to put on my blog" or "isn't that sunset fantastic? my readers will love it!".  

And...then I never had time to write.... sad face... 

I'd love to tell you things have calmed down in my world.  But ---that would be a lie. And I made a promise to never lie to you.

So, its still la vida loca for me.  But - I have managed to get some things off my to-do list, and we just got back from a super fun vacation, so now it's head down and power through what's left. 

What is left?

Oh man -- let me get my list.

First - Easter Sunday.  Still have to dye eggs.  Still have to pick up that quiche.   Dammit -- still have to get Easter basket stuff!!  

Then - Staff Appreciation week.   Still have to present the budget to PTSA board.  But --the menu is settled as of today, and the ball is rolling.  Quickly downhill, and I feel like I'm at the bottom, but it's rolling.   I'm actually really excited to let you know how I pull this one off.  

Oh, and my birthday!!!  Yay me!!!  Can't decide between dinner with friends at a Burlesque review or a night of gambling at the Casino.  What would you do?

Whew...now I'm exhausted just thinking about it.  So, let's not think about all that right now.  :)

As of my last post, you knew I was getting my new camera.  Well, let me tell you. I am in LOVE. Love, love, love... This camera is freaking awesome.     Here are some of my favorite pics so far:

BTW - that picture of the sandwich...that's a Grilled Cheese with Bacon Jam.  From a place in Seattle called The Skillet.  If you are ever in the Emerald City, you HAVE to stop here and eat.  Have. To.

So... in love with the Camera.  We covered that.  Been playing with it for two weeks now.  I've learned so much - how to shoot in RAW.  How to use Aperture Priority.  Buy a lens filter.  Don't drop it.  (just threw that in to see if you were still reading.)

I also had another birthday party.  This one was a pirate theme. So, of course..I had to make cupcakes.  And a pirate ship.  

The pirate ship was made from the box that my camera came in. I got the idea from this blog Little Blue's Room;

unfortunately, a shoe box wouldn't fit the number of cupcakes needed. So I had to adjust a bit and added my own flair.  I thought it turned out pretty darn good.  If you want a step by step, let me know and I can create a tutorial.

 The cupcakes came from Anne Strawberry's blog, here:

Pirate Cupcakes 

I give credit where it's due...God knows I'm not clever enough to come up with this stuff on my own!!!

So, that brings us about current.  I promise - it won't be two weeks before another post. After all - Easter's coming!!!