Paris day 1+2

Meet Team Paris: left to right; Beverly, Carrie, Toni (Red), Karen, Ron. This photo was taken at Dulles airport just before we boarded the plane.

10+ hrs later and very tired. Two kids sat behind Beverly and I and so we got little to no sleep. We take our first Metro train ride to Champs de Mar/ Eiffel Tower. Now once you come up from the subway you can see the tower and in fact we followed the crowd to get there (which was maybe 1/2 a block). This is one of the first images I caught through the trees of the park that surrounds the tower.

The lines to go up were hellasiosly (sp?) long and I so was not interested in going up if it meant I had to wait 2+hours. So we walked around the park and I got some other shots (you'll have to see my picture album). We had baguette sandwiches for lunch that were hard as rocks that most of us gave to the gypsy ladies when they came begging. This is the shot I took of us at lunch and can you see who is behind us? Yep walking around are military men and they carry automatic weapons. cozy huh?

This was taken just before the gypsy women came up and asked if we spoke english. Guess what dummy here said? Then they show you this card saying how poor they are and can you give them money. Since I had no money I told them no and then they made miming motions and pointed to our lunch that we were in the process of eating. That just made me mad. These people did NOT look down on their luck at all. They were clean, their clothes were clean etc. But since our sandwhiches were so hard most of the team gave them their unfinished lunch. When the gypsy's started asking for our drinks also I was not a happy camper.

Now you might think I'm not being very christian. To a degree you are right. But you kind of had to be their and watch them in action.

So after this we had back to our hotel to get cleaned up and to rest a little. Do you wanna see our hotel room? I don't think the porportions are exaggerated at all. I could barely get a leg between our beds and I had to walk sideways to get to our luggage. The beds were smaller than a twin and the first night my leg kept falling off the side of the bed. Not a good nights sleep.

Ron being the only guy got a room to himself. His room was a double on the bottom and a twin bunk bed on top. His room had lots of space to move around. SOOO we talked him into moving into our room so that we could have his. guess what? his AC broke so they moved him into another room like the one he had. so as we made the switch from this to Rons new bunk bed room we discovered that this room was also a little small. Ron's broken ac room was a fluke in size but we did have slightly more room with the bunk on top (which Karen slept in). So Ron got our mini twin bed room (this one pictured) and we got a room that I forgot to photograph.

Next stop Notre Dame- People were so nice, they sometimes would ask if you would like them to take your picture of course you take them up on it! It was a hazy day about 10-11am. Mass was going on inside and you could walk through while they had it. Every nook and cranny is awe inspiring. Just so much detail. You could even pay to walk on the top between the towers. I believe it was 422 steps to the top. We went in a prayed and I snapped some more shots inside we headed over to the left of the picture to eat lunch and our first round of souvenior shopping. I wandered to the back of the church and across the street where these guys were playing. Kinda French Jazz. Just FYI -Notre Dame sits on an island in the Seine river. As you can tell these guys were on one of the bridges. Shortly after this shot the bridge filled with people to sit and enjoy them playing.

Next Stop: Sacre Couer- The tram was broken so we had to climb all the steps to get to the top and YES I did it!

Sacre Couer is on the highest peak in Paris and you can pretty much see the whole town from up there. Not as awe inspiring as Notre Dame it still is intriguing to look at. I couldn't take pictures inside but I got a postcard that shows the tile work that is cool. It depicts Jesus with his arms stretched out. Very cool.

I have tons of detail shots I could show but you'll have to see my photo album. I can't wait to scrap this stuff.

So stop by soon and see day 3+4.

Hugs Carrie

I'm baaaaack!!!

didn't sleep very well last night. I kept having a very strange dream. The airport at Charles de Gaulle is round and in my dream last night someone kept driving me around it, I would stop and say hi to people I know and then the car would keep going.... Weird huh?

I'm sitting here in my jammies and kinda tired and I don't feel like getting dressed. I haven't shaved my legs in 2 weeks and they are pretty furry.

I haven't downloaded the 600+ photos that I took....I'm actually a little afraid to do it....

I have unpacked my bags and I'm on my second load of laundry.
I have caught up on my emails and have read two blogs.
I made breakfast for me and the kids.
Rob has called me 3x so far this morning.
My mom called. And I just got off the phone with my friend Wendy who totally forgot that I went to Paris and was just calling to see how my week was going.

What??? This isn't what you wanted to hear? You wan to hear about the trip??

Well please give me another day. I'm feeling very lethargic and out of sorts right this minute and just typing this is draining me. Plus I want to show pictures with my story.

But thank you. I missed all of you so much and boy am I glad to be home.

Love carrie

Bon Jour

Hello from Paris
I miss you all so much.*
We just finished our mission yesterday and today is just for sightseeing. I have pretty much mastered the metro system and am the official navigator for the trip.
I really want to be home.
It is somewhat different and the people have been very nice to us.
I will fill in all the details later.
Its hard to type because the keyboard isnt the same as at home.
Look for me on Thursday
Love Carrie

I'm leaving...on a jet plane

won't be coming home again... till Wednesday June 13th 9:30pm!!!!

Rob and I are having steak and potatoes for dinner and then we are going to see Pirates 3. so I don't see where I could make a lenghty post.

Take care of yourselves and I'll see you soon.

Love you all and Thank you

Carrie

50 lbs? Yeah right

I have finished packing and can I say that my biggest suitcase weighed in at 55lbs.

After rearranging I have gotten it down to 50 even by my scale. I had to take out my pillow and move my bible to the small case. I have the small case at 40lbs. hehehe. Poor thing is stuffed to the gills. Once we get to Paris and the missionaries I can take out the bottle of vitamins, peanut butter, and pickles, plus like 5 hardcover books. Then I'll have room for the souveniers (sp?).

All my suitcases have all my info inside and out. I'm ready for just about anything.

Getting very excited and nervous!

I found a book at Costco that is Paris; then and now. It is full of photos of the different sites around Paris and how they have or have not changed. I flipped through it fast but it looked cool.

**So I have made Rob a few lists of bills to pay, groceries to buy etc, etc.

One more day to get any last minute items.

Have a great one! Carrie

post memorial day weekend

Hi to ALL!

Had a very nice weekend. mom, kids and I did Family Day in the Park on Saturday. The kids had a great time and they did so well. Toward the end even Kelly was yelling out "Ice cold water" to bring people to our booth. Once the water was out of the big cooler Kelly decided to jump in. Wyatt followed wearing a fresh diaper. dang it (I would have stripped him). Two kids laughing and playing in a cooler was hilarious. And of course I didn't bring the camera. Lots of people got a kick out of seeing them laughing and splashing. It was a much enjoyed relief from the heat.

Sunday we just hung around the house and Yesterday besides me going to work in the evening, Rob went golfing with his new clubs for the first time. Rob and Mikey went to Enke course at 6:20am and played 18 holes. They both looked so whipped when they got home. Rob ended up taking a nap and chillin' till I left for work.

I spent the day packing. I'm almost 100% done and my big suitcase is very close to exceeding the 50lb limits. I'm going to try and cram more into the little suitcase because it has about 20lbs more to go.

Otherwise getting excited and nervous about Friday. I have to be at the airport at 6am!!

Now I have learned that there is lots of internet cafes so maybe I will try and post from Paris. that would be so cool.

Okay time to go clean the house before home group tonight.

Oh Yeah potty training Wyatt is getting there. Yesterday we had no accidents except when he pooped in his pullup. Even when wearing pants that boy poops in them. I can't get him to understand that he needs to use the potty for that too. But he is doing very good considering I will put him in a pullup or diaper depending on where we are going.

So hugs to you I'm off to clean and finish packing.

C

ps the picture of the flowers is from the bouquet that I got for Kim.

Kid-ism's

"Mom can you go take a shower?"
This is code for "So I can do what I want".
I made the kids cereal but it's on the table and not on her Ariel tv tray that sits on the floor.
She comes up to me and says the above and I just have to smile. she thinks she is so slick.

**Potty training resumes today........ we shall see how it goes.
Picked up the graduation pictures from Clements center for Ms.Kelly and talked to Gloria(the coordinator). She said once Wyatt is potty trained to sign him up for this fall. Thinking that might be a good idea...

Goodbye/ Hello

Last night was Kim's memorial service. I didn't shed a tear.I'm not saying this as a brag it's that the priest that performed the service didn't know Kim and therefore didn't touch me.

I think what helped was that that morning I had helped with a collage of pictures of Kim. Lots of good memories popped up.

For the service I orderded a bouquet of 4 dozen gerber daisies in multicolors. That was Kims favorite flower and I couldn't give her a proper send off without them. I will have to take a picture of them. Pop asked if there was any arrangement there at the service that I wanted to take home and I asked for mine back. I hope to be able to press some of the flowers and perserve as many as possible. Pop liked that idea.

Yesterday was a beautiful day and myself and another of our friends Elena, felt good. Kim is in a better place, she doesn't hurt, she isn't disappointed, she is with family that she has missed deeply for years. For me, I know Kim is finally happy.

I have been remembering lots of shananigans that we got into and some of the stuff we have done together. I remember good times and bad. And even though there was a point I wanted to end the friendship something always held me back. She was the sister I didn't have, that dysfuntional sisterly love/hate we had for each other.

I will not saint Kim as I speak of her. We had good/bad times, and I would do a disjustice to both of us if I tried to make everything rosy.

I have learned more about myself and things that I want to get written down for my kids to know about me. I want more pictures taken with my kids and my hubby. I never want to hear that no one can find a picture of me with my family including my brother, mother and father.

The priest did say one thing that really made the whole service; It's not about the day you were born or the day you died, it's the dash in between those dates and what you did with it that matters.

This is a what matters most. the lives you touch and the people who love you.

***In other news, after almost one freaking year, I was cleaning up my suitcase and I found my bible!! I searched this suitcase 3x last year and didn't feel it. This is the bible that I just recently replaced with a hardcover version (which is going to Mikey). I am so excited because in there are bookmarks from my baptism, vbs,etc. SO Yay God! thank you for giving this back to me, It has weighed on my mind for the last year that," how could I lose my bible?"

So have a beautiful day. hug someone you love

Carrie

The hits keep coming.

Last night was Kelly's graduation. We couldn't get her to look at the camera in her very pretty dress unless she was making a funny face, so this is the best shot from before graduation.

At graduation we struggled to get her to put on the cap and gown, once that was on grandmom stayed with her as the kids were to walk up the aisle and sit on the stage. Kelly lost it. She wouldn't do any of it. Kelly ended up sitting in the audience with us and we couldn't coax her to get her certificate. The after graduation photos didn't go much better. I don't think the guy got a shot of her. I was ready to cry, oh hell, I did cry. I asked my mom what did I do wrong, that my child is so introverted that she won't do anything that her classmates do. It really upsets me that Kelly doesn't or refuses to try to do anything with anyone unless she really knows the other kids. So after we did the graduation pictures we immediately left. We did not stay for the cake or to hang out.

I know I shouldn't let this bother me and I know where it comes from. Wanting that child who takes the perfect picture, who does what you tell them, and actually talks to the other kids and plays with them.

I now have to work on "my" thinking or my idea of how my child is, not what I want her to be.

**** so this morning we had another hit. Our little boston terrier Bubba passed away last night. We buried him this morning next to the grave of our boxer Brewtus. Rob has taken the day off again and he really is having a hard time dealing with all of this but he hasn't cried and he says he feels he has nothing inside. I think this all stems from his father's death many years ago. I feel that he has not grieved.

I told Kelly that Bubba went to heaven and that we won't see him again. I know she doesn't fully understand but she hasn't asked where he is yet either. I also said we only have Chester (who isn't doing great- he's 12) and Braxton to play with now. She said "Okay" and we will see how it goes.

**The memorial service for Kim is scheduled for Monday at 6pm at Arizona Mortuary on Stone. I still have some friends of Kim to tell once I can get their phone numbers.

So I think since all the family is home today we will go out to lunch or do anything to get us out of the house.

So if you pray please pray for us right now, we so need to be spiritually renewed.

Love, Carrie

I lost my best friend

This morning at 1:15am Kim passed away. Her passing was peaceful. By her side was her Dad Frank, her friend and neighbor Pat and myself.
I received word from her Dad around 11:30 yesterday morning that it wouldn't be much longer. My mother in law took the kids and I went up to be with Kim.
Friends came through to say their goodbyes and to pray. I sat by her side and talked to her as much as I could. We told all the stories that we could remember and teased her about some of our exploits.
One of the most touching moments was when Rob left to go home he told Kim goodbye and she raised her hand and waved. That was the most consious/responsive she was to anyone. Unless you were holding her hand then she might give you a squeeze.
I know she is in a better place and that she is no longer in pain. She is with family in heaven that she has missed so much. Probably arguing with her mom right now:)
I love her and miss her and she is in my heart.

good news, bad news

Good news:

Over this past weekend we did 3 fundraisers and netted $600. Yee Haw! with additional checks that have come in we have met our goal!!! I'm going to Paris! I'm very nervous because the people there are so fasionable and because of where I'm working I'm gonna look like a frump. All of my shirts most cover my rump and show no cleavage. I'm going to look HUGE!

Bad news: On friday Kim's dad Frank stopped by the house to let me know that besides the cancer being back that the doctors have given her 3 months to live. I'm not surprised, I said how bad she is looking. Kim is not giving up hope, she has asked for another round of chemo. I personally believe this round will kill her. She can't take much more and I just don't want her to be in anymore pain. If she continues on they will eventually move her to hospice. The doctors have said that there isn't anymore they can do concerning pain meds, if she switches to hospice then they can drug her as much as she wants.

This is the last picture taken with Kim in it. This was taken at Wyatt's birthday last year.

Kim has lost 73lbs since Dec. That should put her under 150. I was teasing her that I knew she wanted to be skinny but this was pushing it. Kim is not eating or drinking........she is letting herself die.

Prayers for Kim, that God will ease her suffering and take her quickly. That she will remember how much we love her and that she will make peace with God and follow him to heaven.

funny things kids say

Doing much better today. I've been baking for this Saturday's bake sale like a mad demon. This time around I had a little helper with me. Kelly just loves to dump some of the ingredients into the mixing bowl. I like that she has taken an interest in helping. Shoot she even helps dry the dishes when I'm done.

Cute thing that I want to remember is that yesterday we went to Fry's to pick up some things I had run out of when Kelly asked if we could get some "wockles". I laugh just typing it out.

"We need what honey?"

"Wockles"

Do you mean waffles?

yeah, wockles

I'm not going to try and correct it because it is too cute. She will learn soon enough. It reminds me how my brother would say spaghetti.

And no I didn't buy any wockles.

Wyatt has really started to increase his vocabulary and is identifying his colors very well. I really love how when something someone does interests him he goes, "my turn, my turn". He has the cutest voice.

There have been so many changes in my little guy recently. He will get his shoes when I ask for them, he is getting better at undressing himself and we are working on the getting dressed part. he loves to drink ice water as long as it is from my cup with a straw. I can't do this with his cup but he will drink from mine.

Oh, this one happened last night. I like to watch reruns of the 70's show. Well they were playing the theme song and at the end of the song they sing "We're all alright, we're all okay",

Yes, Kelly sang just that last part. I whipped my head around to look at her and she was playing with a toy at the table not really paying attention. The tv was only on in the living room and I was in the kitchen. It was just so surprising to hear this little voice sing nothing else but that line. I guess I watch the show too much.

Not much else I can think of right now. I need to get the next round of bread ready and go make Kelly's bed. I still need to go buy stamps so that I can mail out my thankyou cards.

Can you believe 2 weeks before Paris? I'm starting to have anxiety. I just don't feel ready for this trip yet. I will start to work on the packing this weekend, getting the travel toiletries and my books and magazines ready. I need to call the camera shop and see if they can show me how to clean the sensor on my camera. It is supposed to be done every few months but it's been over a year and I'm sure it needs it. I want to take the best pictues of course. Gosh, I'm sooo nervous. breathe, breathe, breathe. don't hyperventilate, slow and deep. Make lists. I need to make more lists.

Okay off to keep baking, list making, bed making, card making, snack making(soon), all that mommy stuff. breathe

Have a good weekend and I'll try to update this weekend.

rough day

I'm not totally sure where to start and I just know I'm going to ramble so please bear with me. The last couple of months I have been dealing with lots of anger issues. to the point where I would just love to crawl into a hole and have people leave me alone but then I would still be angry cause no one came calling. i always thought I would make a great hermit. okay back to anger. I have been angry from many angles. Angry at my life, and why i'm to chicken to take chances, angry at my family for stupid stuff like not thinking things through, angry at Kim because she won't call me and I don't think she wants to live and I ca't get her to tell me anything going on in her head. I'm angry at members of my church family because they are to sensitive and after 4+ years together they won't be real. Angry at other members for not being willing to step up and help out. lots of angry. but I realize that i'm not angry at God.
I went to visit Kim this morning and I admit I was angry and hurt because she hasn't called me or answer her phone when I have called. So in my head I plan all these things I might say if the opportunity comes up. I walk into her room and she is asleep in her recliner. At first i wasn't sure if i should wake her but it gave me a chance to study her and she looks so much worse than she did a couple of weeks ago. She has lost 73lbs. Except for her butt and stomach she is nothing but skin and bones. her face is so hollowed out that she resembles a skeleton. The swelling that she had is way down but she still needs assistance to get up and down from the bed or chair. She is still in lots of pain and is on a continous and manual diloted(sp?) pump. Here's the kicker. The cancer is back but it has relocated to her stomach, hence the pain. They can only do more chemo. She found this out yesterday, her father doesn't know yet. I asked if she could do another round of chemo and she said yes. I asked if she felt like she was getting stronger, she said good days and bad days, and immediately said," I don't want to talk about it right now".
Anger. because I want to know and understand. I want to know what's rattling around in that brain of hers. I worry that she is going to die while I'm away or that she is going to die anyway. Anger at her for staying closed off to me. Anger at myself for living my life and not being there enough for her. Did I do enough? I will always think probably not. Did I put her before me? No I was too hurt and I wanted her to hurt. Do I blame her for the cancer and her treatments and her attitude? (tired)Yes. I know this sounds unreasonable but I blame her for getting cancer and not giving a good fight. She had a year warning that they found cancer cells and she did nothing. Only in movies or seen pictures of people in Africa have I seen a person look soo bad, so gaunt. I feel that she has given up. what if that's not true?? How can I know if she can't speak more than a whisper but her eyes look so tired. Angry. Angry that my life is continuing on and she's not an active part. We have had lots of ups and downs over the years but this isn't how I wanted things to go. I wouldn't dream this on my worst enemy.
So I believe and I could be wrong that alot of my anger is centered around Kim. I feel in other areas that I need my voice to be heard and I need to step up and I need to let people know I can contribute. I don't know, I really don't.
Ramblings of a very drained person. I cried most of the way home from the hospital and I'm fighting tears again as I type this out. Hopefully tomorrow when I go back up to the hospital I will be better and have a slightly better understanding.
Much peace to you and yours. C

lots of pictures

My kids just loooove their Uncle Monkey. Kinda evident huh???
Wyatt has taken to crawling all over the poor guy each time he comes over. But I know Mikey likes it. I actually have tons of shots of this session, where at one point Wyatt is beating Mikey in the head and one of him covering his eyes.

So yesterday the kids and I went to the childrens museum. They had such a blast. I could barely get them from room to room. We will definitely go again this summer. We needed more than 2 hours to do it all. I hung out with the ladies from my mommies group while the kids played in the Farmers Market. They got to grocery shop and play with lincoln logs and duplo blocks while we ladies chatted. We went as soon as they opened, which was nice cause it was just us and a small school group.

Okay no pictures of this but today I signed Kelly up for Kindergarten. Oh gosh! Oh gosh! I am super excited but bittersweet all the same. My baby has survived living with me long enough to go to school. It's a proud moment. (seriously I'm not THAT bad) just being a little melodramatic for fun, sortof. hehehe

I'm very happy that she will be going to TAG Elementary. We know so many families that go there that it should be a good transition. One of the kids from her sunday school might even be in her class. Cool!!

**Getting excited about Paris but i still need to raise $700 by the end of May. Yikes. God willing it will work out fine. Right now I'm hitting travel websites for all the places we might go see after our mission is over.

Before I forget SORRY DAD that I have no pictures of Mikeys new rims. You'll just have to keep an eye out I'll get them on here sooner or later.

Sunday night and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even the mouse. (There better not be a mouse in my house). The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of Pringles dance in there heads. Mama in her nightie and Daddy in his boxers had just settled down for a long movie (Lord of the Rings 1). Okay mama's blogging and Daddy's watching the movie. You get the picture

AAAHHHH...........

Just a short weekend update.

I have been following a story on 2Peas about this scrapbooker named Jen Gallacher. I have seen her work in several magazines. Unfortunately her and her family their 13yr old son died last night from cancer. My heart and prayers go out to her. I can't imagine losing one of my kids. Sometimes when I actually think about it, it just fills me with so much fear that I have to stop or I don't think I would leave the house. I am serious, it can consume me if I let it. Which in a way is kinda weird cause I was allowed to run fairly loose as a kid

In other sad news, my dad called last night and let me know that my great-aunt Rita passed away Saturday night. She was my grandma Percy's best friend and such a fun lady. Granted I hadn't seen her since 99-00. Yeah, a long time.

Thats what hard about being far from home, each time I talk to Dad or Kristie I have to get all the news and gossip of the people I miss.

I have to stop. I'm getting morose thinking about all this while I type.

I was checking out blogs earlier and I've been wanting to move to Kentucky (yes, Kentucky) and I didn't know but three of the scrappers blogs that I read live around Louisville. It looks like a beautiful area, I would like to go check it out. Some land, some trees, a funky house.... My two story with the white picket fence, basement, 2-3 car garage and about 3,000 sq. ft. aaahhh heaven. I can dream. nothing fancy but a big farmhouse with character and charm.

** So today after church Mikey, Rob and I headed up to PHX to watch the D'Backs in action against the Giants. Not bad, we won 5-4 and we didn't see Barry Bonds till 8th or 9th inning and he got lots of boo's. Hell D'Backs walked him and then Giants had another team member run his bases for him. Pussy. Getting either too old or too big for his britches. Congrats to our basketball team the Suns for kicking some butt tonight also. A good day for AZ. Enjoyed some In-n-out and headed home. The guys refused to let me go to IKEA. Jerks, they teased me as we past by. Then on the way home they decided to "stink" me out. UGH, you men, silent but extremely deadly. Trapped in the back seat with the child locks on so I couldn't even put the window down for fresh air. Sadists. Laughing at me. Yucky boys.

Well I hope you enjoyed your weekend. Stay safe and I won't be adding music cause I agree with Julie. Don't want you to get caught not working.

Lots of love and new pictures soon.

Carrie

so NOT tech savvy

Seriously, I've been trying two different ways to load music on to the blog but I can't get it to work.
So I've been thinking..... Do you WANT to hear music while reading the blog??? Just random favorites, nothing bad.
Your thoughts??????
C
Come on.... any and all of y'all I need to "hear" your voices.

Star Wars personality test

Most of you don't know but I'm a Star Wars fan. Not insane like a trekkie but I love the first three movies.
So I was reading this ladies blog and she had the Star Wars personality Test. Oh yeah I took it.
I am Qui-Gon Jinn (aka Liam Neeson)
If the link works you gotta go take this test and tell me who you are. I always wanted to be Princess Leia but alas it was not meant to be. Another Carrie got that treat. And of course I was just a baby when the first movie came out.
If my Han Solo is out there please let me know. I have always had the hots for the strong arrogant type guys. I could name two. and I married one of them. Ahhhh... such is bliss.

So click on the title and it should link. On some things I am so not tech savvy.
Not much else going on.
Went up and saw Kim last night. She called me. Another long talk and she doesn't look good at all, she is in so much pain and can't walk much if any. Her stomach and legs are still very swollen At least now she can eat.I brought her up a double cheeseburger to appease the hatred of hospital food (can't blame her).
She just wants to go home so badly. If she can't go home then she wants to start her 4th round of chemo. I believe she has been in the hospital almost two months now. she went in 3/9 and with the way she looks I highly doubt she will get to go home.
So any prayers for Kim will be greatly appreciated.
Have a great day.
Love Carrie or Qui-Gon (whichever you prefer) ;)

So I am sitting here with my hair covered in firelight coloring waiting for the timer and trying not to itch and thought you wanted to know......





for some reason my pictures aren't showing on the ol' blogger but if you can see it, isn't that the cutest little butt. I told Wyatt that if he went in the potty that he could wear his thomas underwear. Oh yeah, he headed straight for the potty. He has had them on since 3 something this afternoon with one "little" accident. Great Job. Otherwise he keeps trying to look at his butt and see Thomas. Rob and I agree why do they just put the picture on the butt and not also on the front??

Seriously, I have no idea what pictures I'm moving around. Everything is a red X.

Uh oh, Wyatt just peed on the floor. Oh well, it's time for a bath anyway. We will try again tomorrow.

this Friday is J's Scrap social.
Gotta go I'm beeping. let's get this crap out of my hair. No more Gray!! Yeah!!
C

weekend wrap up

So before dinner and during dinner photos. We had a lot of fun at sushi and both of us were stuffed. I think we ate 9 rolls. ugh...... I was

taking random shots of us and realized two things. 1. how heavy I have gotten and 2. I need to re color my hair. Bad roots and the gray is going crazy. But otherwise a very lovely evening.

It was nice for me to let go and take some photos in a restaurant. we just propped up the camera on the sushi bar and just experimented. This is kinda a typical look for me when I want to torment Rob.

RELAY FOR LIFE

There were actually very few people out there. When I did this a couple of years ago the track was hopping. People ditched out at like 2 am because it was sooo cold. It got down to 46? I slept for 2-3 hours total, i think. And when I awoke there was no one around.

For a first time taking pictures I was very happy. Especially with the equipment I had. I hope the committee will like them. Speaking of committees I was on one. Yep Annette put me on as a committee member for photography. I ended up with 2 t-shirts. One white team shirt and one orange committee shirt. Cool.

I did get my luminarias late that night so didn't get to do the sort of decorating that I would have like. I don't have tons of scrap crap for nothing right?? But all available to me was permanent markers. this is what the looked like before I turned them in. I took a picture of the glowing too. And I took pictures of the ceremony. These pictures have not been touched up yet.

If I ever get to do a scrap page on this night I want to use that extra space on the curved luminary lane picture for some journaling.

After I got home I slept on and off for several hours, got up a and fed the kids lunch and went right back to sleep. I did go scrapbooking like I had planned but I came home as soon as I started to feel tired, which was at 10pm. I think I am still trying to catch up on my sleep but then I don't know cause when I feel tired and I do go to bed I can't sleep.

Sunday was quiet. just chilled out at home. Hope your weekend was a nice one.

Hey Julie!! Thank you for the check, it came Saturday.

So happy monday. Carrie

Happy Anniversary to Us!!

10 Years baby!!

Ya know there is no current picture of the two of us together? This one was taken on our anniversary last year. HHmmmm I think we need a new picture. Shoot we haven't had family photos done since Kel was 2 months old. Yikes!

Okay this is my time to wax poetic about our marriage. Ten years.... it some ways it doesn't seem that long but in other way it seems like forever.You know just that comfortable. I wouldn't trade Rob for ANY other man. Not even Brad Pitt or George Clooney. I have married my best friend and the perfect person for me. I can see 50 years on the horizon without batting an eyelash. I'm not saying there won't be some bumps in the road but I know we can make it through almost anything.

So ten years, two of the cutest kids and thinking about a third. Been in the same house for 9 years (we need a bigger house) same truck for 10years (still running fantastic and less then 100,00 miles) Still have our dog Chester and he's 10 going on 11. I'm going gray and he's not, not that I can tell (damn blonds). We share the same shoe size and at one time could wear the same clothes. Let me clarify, I could wear his clothes, he did NOT wear mine.

The plan for tonight is to drop the kids off and go to dinner. To bad we don't have most of a day cause it would be pictures, dinner and a movie.

My mom-in-law gave us a gift certificate for sushi and we have movie tickets we need to use. So a nice free night. I'm sooo cheap some times.

These pictures are for my dad. He wanted to see Mikey's new car. It's a 2006 Dodge Magnum and it only had 102 miles on it. Very sweet.

Well today is my day. I'm gonna clean up my scrapbook room and get some things ready for the Relay for Life tomorrow. **The survivors walk is at 6 or 630. I ordered two luminaria's and never received them. So I never had the chance to decorate them. Hell they don't even have the names for the board. I requested them but my captain is also heading up this thing so she keeps forgetting. I don't even have my team t-shirt.

Well I know what I did and so does God and thats what matters. I don't have to see a name flash on a screen to know and remember whats in my heart.

Many blessings and thank you's

Love Carrie

PS Dad to leave a comment go to the bottom where it says comments and click on it. you can leave a name or go annonymous and type your comment then hit the submit button. From there you can also read what other people have wrote.

growing by leaps and bounds

stuff I have to write down or I will forget.

this month Wyatt has started calling Rob "daddy" not "carrwe" and my mom "nina".
That boy is doing lots of talking and sounding more clear
Kelly is counting to twenty but always skips #15.
Very argumentative and stubborn. getting ready for school
Carrie

easter update

Happy Day After Easter!! As you all know we had a very busy weekend.

The bake sale on Friday netted us a little over $200 but it was the egg hunt on Saturday that brought in $1500. split up that will be $388 a piece. Not bad. I was also given a check the other day for $? so my total is at $1500 +/- a few dollars. Great Weekend. We still have Schwans going on and we will have a poker tournament and maybe something for momma's day but we are doing great!

So after the bake sale the kids and I decorated easter eggs. They had a blast!! Wyatt was trying so hard to dig them out of their cups with the little wire thingy as soon as they were dumped in the dye. The kids did a great job with very little fighting.

The easter egg hunt was insane. we had 3 cashiers and 3 runners plus people cooking etc. The kids almost missed their hunt and I got no pictures of them at all. But they were content to riffle through their eggs and eat everything out of them while we worked. A good time but very tiring.

Easter morning and this was one of the best pictures I could get of those two. This picture is pretty normal around our house. Kelly looked so pretty in her yellow dress that she wore it all day long and even though she tore a hole in her tights before we even left the house she refused to take them off. Wyatt man, I had to wrestle him into that sweater but once on he was fine.

The kids had a great day and contrary to this picture there was lots of smiles. The next picture I had the kids singing their ABC's so this got a smile outta Kelly.

We all went to Rob's Mom's house for the afternoon. The kids got another easter basket and their own egg hunt. Ate candy and junk food all day and did very little fighting. Of course Kelly was all over finding the eggs even if she had to run wyatt over but they did good.

Over all it was a nice weekend.

I hope you and yours had a good holiday also. LOve, carrie

Busy. Busy. Busy

I have made 35 loaves of bread this week for the bake sale tomorrow. Actually 38 but we had casualties. I was planning on doing a couple of bunny cakes but my pan is MIA. I think Kim has it and I can't get ahold of her. So I'll either give up the cake idea or make a couple of bundt cakes to sell.

My donation total stands at $600. My company was generous enough to donate $100. I'm not knocking it because they didn't have to do it in the first place. I mean hell, Joann's never would have done that.

I have a meeting with the mission team tonight,to discuss everything but we are wondering why out of 500 letters not a single $ has come in for the mission team. We also are going to be calling schwans weekly to get a total of that fundraiser. With the bake sale and egg hunt we are looking at about $2000 and that means about $400 apiece. so assuming this, my donation total should be at $1000 of $2520. Getting there. Don't forget schwans runs til the end of April.

Otherwise not much going on cause I've been BAKING. My house is still a disaster, I have chip boxes piled up in the hallway, laundry that still needs to be folded. But you know what I want to do, scrapbook!! I think because it's Easter I want to create some fun stuff and next thursday is Rob and myselfs 10th Anniversary!!! It doesn't seem that long..... I'll save this for next weeks post.

Happy Thursday

Howdy all

Goood Morning!

Yesterday was kinda a strange day.

It all started out with our last gallon of milk going bad before it's expiration date and me and the kids at Fry's before 7am. (which is the best time to go)

Then I dropped the kids off with Grandmom and drove up to Casa Grande (hey Julie I saw the building site...cool) I had to pick up the potato chips for the easter egg hunt this saturday. Iwill not tell you the loooong details of those weirdos. Got back to Tucson at noon had lunch with kids and G-mom and came home and chilled on the computer and cleaned up my disasterous house.

Then I get this phone call at 6:15 saying there are 3 woman waiting for the scrapbook class. WHAT!!! Usually they have been calling me to let me know, but not this time. So I told the girl to give me ten minutes and I would be there. I ditched me home group grabbed my stuff and flew to Joann's. Once there I find out that they have 3 classes going on and that they have to get me tables to set up in scrapbooking. But I met three of the nicest ladies who were so gracious. I had barely no makeup and realized my shirt was dirty but those ladies made me feel good.

In donation news..... My company sent in $100. But I took this schwans fundraisera and took it to the two peas message board where 3 people said they would like to order and 310+ people looked at it. So who knows maybe the "power of the peas" will help me. I know they have a limited offering but it's for a good cause.

So today it's Kelly off to school and the little man and I are making more bead for the bake sale Friday. So far I have made 18 loaves of apple walnut and banana bread.

**I still have the best husband in the world... last night he picked me up an MP3 player with 1Gig (250 songs) for like $40 bucks. I like it and 250 in songs is plenty for me.

so now I'm off to Walmart.com to but some songs

Oh yeah this interesting picture is wyatt and his trains at the zoo. he would not put those things down. this picture could be interpreted in multiple ways.

Happy Hump day

Fundraising

Begins in earnest today. As of today I have received $500 of my $2520 goal. My brothers company donated $250. I still have not heard about how much my company is sponsoring me for.

Like I said today starts in earnest. Today we start our Schwans fundraiser. Go team(friends and family) and help us reach our goals and get great food in the process. I recommend one of the meals and you must get the super sweet corn it's fantastic.

Also this week we have a bake sale on Friday and the Easter Egg Hunt at Purple Heart Park on Saturday. The bake sale and egg hunt should net us about $2000 split 5 ways ($400 ea.) Not bad.

Out of the 500 donation letters sent out we have received "0" back. Yes, zero, zip, zilch, nada. Can you believe that?

I still feel it is in Gods hands but I'm wondering if we are suppose to go. So any prayers for support would surely boost us up.

So I'm going to keep updating this week and stay in touch, tell me how you are doing.

If you need me to forward the document I would be happy to email it to you.

Yay God! Go team. lots of love Carrie

Went up and saw Kim yesterday.

The cancer is shrinking but now there is a problem with her stomach. It's either gas or a intestinal obstruction. She has lost more weight and her eyes are sunken in but the bottom half is all swollen. She has little strength and cannot have any food or drink. She is sucking on hard candy cause all she gets is IV fluids. She has been very depressed and told her dad not to call me she would call when she is ready. She apologized and explained what the last few weeks have been like. this round of chem wasn't as hard on her as the ones before but she can't leave till they find out whats going on with her guts.
I plan on going up tomorrow evening to see her.

No new donations have come through but I got an email last night that I have forwarded on to some of my friends. My hope is that they give this to their friends and family. I can't wait to see what the total is at the end of april. We receive 33% of what is sold and with this being a nationwide company anyone can help.

While Kelly was in school, Wyatt and I went to the zoo with the mommy group. Except we didn't stay with the mommy group. I let Wyatt do his own thing and we walked the zoo like 2-3 times. I got a couple of good shots but my batteries went dead and my replacement battery wasn't charged. That's okay, it was more about hanging with my little man.
Of course wyatt really didn't have much interest in the animals, just running around.
Well, I'm gonna try a chill before I head off to work tonight. I'm fighting a bit of a cold.
Happy hump day. Carrie

Donation update

Morning all,

My new donation update stands at $250. I received two checks on Saturday and also found out that my company is going to sponsor me! I have been afraid to ask how much but I know they are sending out a check. Mikey's company gets my letter today and with God's blessing they will be generous. So that's the news for now.

Happy Birthday Oasis!! It was a rockin party. there was a TON of food and I bought 3 cakes and we had one full cake left. the breakfast food was very good and we had plenty left over.

Lovin the new flash. I need more batteries.

It took some real nice pictures. I will have to post the ones I took in the house when it was pretty dark, they turned out great!

See ya later! Yay God!! Carrie

Happy Birthday DAD!

I should have posted this yesterday and I am sorry.
Yesterday we went to Phx to pick up Rob's mom's washer and dryer. We stopped by IKEA and whoa that was mind boggling and so tiresome. Of course what is going to phx if we don't stop off at In and Out burgers. oh yeah. We got home just before 5 and then we had to go shopping for my friend Amanda's son Donovan and his birthday present.
So Happy Birthday Dad. I hope you had a good day. I need to buy stamps and mail you a home made card.
Tomorrow is the church b-day also, so today I'm picking up the helium tank and the 3 cakes. Thankfully the fridge is now fixed but totally empty so I can fill it with the 3 cakes.
I really don't want to go to work today. My allergies are giving me a sore throat and making me very tired.
Next week is Joy's baby shower and I need to go grocery shopping for that and maybe get a gift or give money.
So Far the funds for Paris stand at $200. Mikey's company is going to help out and I'm really hoping that they can be generous. We are going to do a fund raiser with Schwans foods and that one can go nation wide. That seems to be our most promising.
Okay we need to go pick up the cakes. Happy Saturday

I have the coolest husband

Of course you all know that.

Here's the story:

this weekend is the churchs b-day party, and you see it is all in low light, and they need someone to take the picture of the pastor blowing out the candles. Fast forward to the 30th. I'm helping throw a baby shower, also in low light. You know me, I gotta take the pictures. So I talked to Rob for the 5th time and he agreed that I need the 430ex speedlite flash for my camera.

Why is it I can buy scrapstuff and not feel a hint of guilt but I buy something for my camera and I have a mini panic attack??

After he said yes I called around town to find one. The oracle road camera store wanted $300. Ritz camera wanted $300. uumm no. not when i found it online at 3 different stores for $240. So after figuring that sales tax would be about $20. I ordered it online with 2-day shipping for less than if I found it here for 240+tax. I think I got a good deal and yes it's from a well known company.

So now I have about 2 days to play with it, so that i can set it up for Rob to use on Sunday. (Hey I'm wheeling out the cake!) Can't be at two places at once.

Sears is supposed to be here shortly after noon to fix the fridge. This better happen. Actually I can't say that because I have gotten used to living out of the cooler. sad I know.

Oh and the picture is from Rob's fun day in PHX at the races.

Not much new to report.
All of my internet ordered stuff has arrived. The fridge is supposed to be fixed tomorrow. This is the 2nd set up time to fix it.
I have gotten all the supplies for the church birthday party, and will order the cake today.

I'm still at $200 for donations but hopefully will hear from my brothers company about a check.
My brother has said he is going to give me $200 and mom is gonna give $200. Things are looking very promising.
I have lost two pounds since last week when I started to eat better and workout. Trying to Keep the momentum going!!! I want to lose 15lbs before I leave
Kelly started her busy bodies preschool again yesterday. she is paid up till mid may when I think it ends for the summer. She enjoyed being back and didn't take long for her shyness to end and get back into the groove.
See I said not much new.
I can still hear. I am still looking at the postives. And I have not heard from Kim.
I helping with a baby shower of the 30th and that feels under control.
On April 14th our mommys group is going to be at mmu for a night of scrappin'. this is the evening after I do the all night walk/photos for the Relay for Life. I have ordered two luminarias 1. for Julie and 2. for Kim for the event. I'm supposed to raise money for that also but I haven't the time so I think I'll try to give $100 to cover me.
yada, yada, yada.
Love Carrie

HUH?? What?

What's that you say? Excuse me, can you repeat that? I'm sorry I didn't hear you. What???
I CAN HEAR !!!! I CAN HEAR!!!
(to music) I can hear clearly now the crap is gone.
And since last time it cost me $75 to have a ear flush the doctor is only going to charge me for an office visit. WHOOO HOOO Dr. Dotson y0u are cool.
total tmi- there was lots of gunk still in there and some was impacted but it didn't hurt. It was gross to look at.
Happy Thursday night.
A new episode of Ugly Betty and Greys Anatomy (which I will miss both because of teaching
Hugs Carrie

positive night

Lots of positives tonight. I got in all my books that I ordered, and the t-shirts that i ordered. BIG smiles. Then Mikey's boss is writing up a proposal to see if they can donate to the paris trip. My mother-in-law gave me a check for $200. The owner of Tres Amigos is looking over the letter and should get back to me today if they can donate. I am soooo stoked! Praise God that these companies are even considering and not just giving me a no. Lots of positives!!!!
I have made a dr. appt for my ear. lets see if we can get this thing fixed.
Also I am teaching tonight at J's for 1 person. This could be fun.
I'll update as I know. Carrie
hugs, smiles, hugs, smiles

random ramblings

So this one of the places where I'm gonna write about getting ready for Paris. The first and foremost thing you will see me write about is fundraising and where I stand. I have started a spreadsheet with peoples names and donations. This is for thankyou notes and postcards from france. My goal is $2520. i need to have $1400 by april 15th so that they can buy my plane ticket. We are starting to plan for bake sales and other fundraisers to help out. Yesterday my friend Julie Bailey mentioned that she wants to go also. So instead of raising money for two people we are going for three. Julie still needs to get her passport. So in my eyes everything is still up in the air if she is going.

I'm going to ask at my job if they would support me, and my brother is going to ask if they will also support me. I'll update all as I know.

Yesterday was a rough day for me. Our fridge has been out since last wednesday. we have been living out of a cooler. We were told monday night that the part should be here yesterday or today. I got a phone call 3:45 yesterday to hear that the part will be here on the 21st and they plan on being here on the 22nd. WTF (what the -uck) I started to cry because I feel all this negative is going on around me right now, when all I really want is positive. I can't say that. there were positives yesterday. Julie bailey hopefully going, julie glass getting a new house. my friend amanda gave me a $100 gift card for frys to help out with homegroup food and to restock when the fridge is fixed. those are happy positives and i need to focus on those. All negatives will work out to become positives and its teaching me patience.

Whats kinda funny is that last weeks sunday school lesson was to put all your worries to God because he will provide and that he loves us more than anything else. I needed that reminder today. Actuallu I think it said not to worry because God provides everything that you need.

I mailed out 8 letters and gave my mom 10 copies to hand out. I am leaving this in God's hands. I just pray that everyone will prayerfully consider helping me. I don't feel as panicked as I felt for Poland. This time it seems like a dream.

I was checking sites yesterday to get times and cost for different museums and attractions to see if I get to go. All I keep thinking about is the texture of buildings and the north african people I will get to meet and help. I will be cleaning windows and sweeping walks like in the picture above. My mind is going through different pictures I want to take and to absorb all the feelings that I can while there. I just think of how much france has been through and all it's history and I want to capture it.

So enough rambling for now. Even though it has helped me tremendously. I want a postive day and I'm gonna reach for it.

With God's blessing. Y'all ROCK. love carrie