Home Tour December 5th

The La Comida Guild is again hosting a fund raiser for Children's Hospital Central California. It's a home tour of five amazing homes here in Fresno and Clovis. There's also a boutique and tea at the Fort Washington Country Club to visit. I've gone the last 2 years and I am really looking forward to it. It takes all day because the homes are spread out (last year we were in West Fresno all the way to Quail Lakes) there are lines to wait in (bring a coat) we'll stop for a nice lunch, and the boutique to visit (where I have been known to pig out a little on the free homemade cookies ). It costs $30 and it's worth every penny! Get someone to watch the kids, invite your girlfriends or mom and go! I don't think they sell tickets at any locations (maybe the hospital?) so you will need my e-mail with all the details so you can send in your money to order the tickets. Comment me with your e-mail address and I will send you an e-mail. I scanned in the invitation I received so you'll have all the information. I'm already committed to going with a group, but I would love to see you all there. It's a wonderful cause and a really fun girls day out!

Halloween 2008

About 5:30 we got our evening started and headed out to see the neighbors. Logan loved his Clone Trooper outfit and was especially excited about his homemade gun that he and Daddy worked on together =) Then we were off to church for "Treasure Island". The whole children's department really went all out for the kids again this year and did a great job! Lots of fun games, bounce houses, climbing wall, food and a really fun skit that Steve was apart of.

We stayed at the church for about an hour and then went to our friends house for some good ole fashioned trick or treating =) The kids were all so cute in their costumes! By the end of the night they were all exhausted and not getting along with each other so it was time to head out =) Logan's normal bedtime is 7:30 so he was more than ready, in fact, almost begging to go to bed by the time we got home at 9:00. Poor guy! But we partied like a first grader and had a great time!

Just a quick post...

To tell you that I have been literally laughing out loud reading this blog! Go check it out and then come back and tell me what you think =)

http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/

Leah and Danny's Wedding

I haven't updated this blog in awhile because I just haven't felt like talking about what's going on with me. I had a miscarriage July 31st at 9 weeks. This has been the hardest season of my life. I'm sure one day I'll be able to talk about it and share what the Lord has taught me and how he healed me, but not today. So since that subject is too private to share about right now (at least on a blog, please ask me how I'm doing if you see me, it's nice to know you care) I'll go on and report the good things that have been happening.

My sister is married!! She sealed the deal with Danny September 6th in the beautiful G.L. Johnson Chapel at Peoples Church. The festivities started Friday night at the rehearsal dinner. Danny has a big family and a lot of people came in from out of town. So to include everyone the Schwandt's hosted the dinner in Ground Zero Cafe which had enough room for our 50+ crowd. It was a special time of fellowship and sharing great stories about the bride and groom. Saturday morning Leah and I went to get our hair done together. She was first in the chair so I went to Uncle Harry's to get us breakfast. It's a humbling experience to go to the Fig Garden location with no makeup on and hair that I had slept on, but it was my duty as Matron of Honor to keep the bride happy (and I was starved too). Back at the salon everyone was so friendly and kept coming by to see how the brides hair was turning out. The stylist did a wonderful job and her hair turned out picture perfect! We arrived at the chapel on schedule and had so much fun getting ready with the other bridesmaids and our mom. When it came time for the ceremony I was so nervous. I just didn't want to break into the "ugly cry" when Leah walked down the aisle with our dad. I made it up the stairs without tripping on my dress and turned to watch my handsome son walk down the aisle with 2 beautiful little flower girls. Then the bridal march started to play (the loud organ version) and my heart raced. I was so glad nobody was looking at me because my face kept contorting as I tried to remain calm, breathe, bend my knees, and not cry! Danny's uncle opened the ceremony, Dad handed Leah over to Danny, and Dad moved to the stage to perform the rest of the ceremony. Dad and I, who were voted most likely to cry on stage, made it through the ceremony with just a few tears. Dad put so much thought and prayer into what he said that I think many people were touched. The reception was a wonderful celebration. It looked lovely with all the candle light and flowers, the food tasted great, the guests were a delight to see and my toast came out just fine. Mr. and Mrs. Schwandt stayed until the end and then left for a week in Monterey. I am quite sure that they will live happily ever after =)

The Crayon.....

Is mostly gone =) I need to work on the stain again, but I've just been so busy. I used Goo Gone Spray Gel, (I read a different set of instructions and they were pretty convincing that Goo Gone was best) dish washing liquid, a tooth brush and lots of old wash rags. I scrubbed that red stain for easily 30 minutes. It's now a light pink and the oil ring from the wax needs to be worked on next. I'll post some before and after pictures when I get back from vacation.

We are off to Orlando, Florida for a family vacation. We have been looking forward to it for a long time and now it's finally here =) Steve worked very hard for an 18 month qualifying period and earned the trip through work. So it will be busy fitting in some business dinners and meetings along with all the fun stuff. We're staying at the Grand Floridian (above) visiting Kennedy Space Center and have a 5 day hopper pass to the Disney World parks. I'll post some pictures when we get back =)

Really Dumb Mistake!

Ahhh! I left a crayon on my front passenger seat (for those of you not in the Valley, we have a heat wave of 110 degrees plus humidity right now) and now have RED crayon melted all over my light grey upholstery =( I have been careful about eating and drinking in this car because it was my first brand new car and I have only put 35,000 miles on it in 4 years. It's not a fancy car, but I know I'll be driving it for awhile so it just makes me sick. I'm going out to try out these directions. Internet don't fail me now!

Things you'll need:
Paper towels
Grease-fighting dish washing liquid
Butter knife or metal spoon
Wet cloth
Scrub brush
Cleaner like WD-40


Step1Scrape off as much of the crayon as you can. Use a butter knife to pry some wax from the seats. You could also try a metal spoon. Turn it upside down and scrape from the top of the crayon residue to the bottom.

Step2Spray the stained area with a cleaner like WD-40. Let it soak for 5 to 10 minutes. Use a small bristle brush and scrub the stained area. Go over the area one or two times; then wipe the stain with a paper towel. The paper towel will pick up the crayon you have loosened.


Step3Spray the area again with a cleaner like WD-40. Dab the stain with a grease-fighting dish washing liquid. Rub this into the stain with the scrub brush. Use a wet cloth to wipe the area. The stain should now be gone. If not, repeat the process until all the stain is gone.

Step4Allow the area to dry overnight before using the vehicle.

I'll let you know how it turns out.......

My little man...

Is graduating from Kindergarten tomorrow! Just 10 short months ago our lives completely changed when Logan started school. We both had to figure out how to be happy being apart for a 3 1/2 hours 5 days a week. Steve and I were extremely encouraging and really talked about school as a fun place, but he had a rough first 5 weeks. The first week he was fine, then he realized this was everyday and he did not want to go. It was so sad, he would try so hard not to cry and put on a brave face when I left. Then when I picked him up he'd cry or I'd hear from the teacher that he had cried during school. I had a hard adjustment period too. So many people asked what I was going to do now that he was in school. I didn't want to do anything except take care of him and keep things the way they were. Change is so hard. Letting go is so hard. But the Lord helped us and we did it. Logan loves school now and made a lot of really nice little friends. I did too, the other Kindergarten moms are great! I found ways to fill my time and eventually enjoyed the freedom. I worked for Steve at the office, ran errands, did my house chores, worked as a secret shopper, helped in Logan's class every Friday and had lots of lunches with friends. It all ended up going by much faster than I thought it would. Tomorrow he and all 26 of his classmates will wear their little cardboard hats and sing 10 songs(one from every month they were in school). Another milestone in his young life.

Now let the summer begin! We have 2 really fun trips planned for July (camping in Yosemite and Florida) a good friend's wedding, Leah's bridal shower (I'll be planning it) Leah's bachelorette party, my parent-in-laws 50th wedding anniversary celebration, MOMS committee planning retreat, VBS week at church, camping with friends ( but they have to get rid of their camp bear first ) and all 3 of our birthdays (I'm turning 30! Yikes!) Add all of that to our regular activities and we're in for a busy, but exciting, summer! What fun things are you doing this summer? I love hearing about every one's vacation plans or entertaining things around town they've found to do.

Mark is Married!

My brother-in-law, Mark, is married! It was a beautiful evening and was held in my mother and father-in-law's backyard. Beverly worked so hard to have tons of flowers planted. The service was conducted by a nice youth pastor from Riverpark Bible Church. The ceremony was beautiful and I'm sure Mark and Debra will be happy together. Logan had the privilege of being the ring bearer and my two nieces made adorable flower girls! The whole family helped in some way to make the evening, and days leading up to it, special for them. Glenn and Todd coordinated a family guy's night out to a Grizzlies game. Beverly hosted a lovely bridal shower at Mimi's Cafe for Debra. Mark's sons, Drew, Brett and Callen took care of the music and decorating the car =) Kathy and Sheri bought new dresses for their flower girls and were so supportive of their brother. Steve took all the pictures and did a wonderful job capturing the moments. I helped Beverly and Debra set-up the backyard Friday afternoon. My mom picked up Logan from school so I could be there as long as I needed to be. The list go's on and on! I'm so proud of my family for pulling together and making it an evening Mark and Debra will always treasure! I love you all!!

Bridal Shower

My big sister is getting hitched in September! Her future mother-in-law and sister-in-law's are throwing her first shower tomorrow. I am so happy for her! She has waited so long to be the bride and it's finally happening! I wish you every happiness in the world sis! I love you!

The Mom Song

My hubby, Steve, and our friend Brad have been making videos. There's a company called Sermon Spice and they have tons of videos for sale to spice up a church service. So last Saturday my family and Brad's family all got together and made a video to the "Mom Song" by Go Fish. They just put it on the web site yesterday and it's already sold 13 copies! Yay! I also hear that if you're going to Peoples Church on Sunday you'll be seeing it on the big screen =) Here's a link to go see it. Tell us what you think =)
http://www.sermonspice.com/videos/16560/

I warned you there would be adorable stories, so here's the first. Two nights ago I was putting Logan to bed. After we sang our bedtime song he put his cute little hand on my face and said "I think you're the most beautiful girl in the world. You are so special to me and I like you so much!" I of course went on and on and thanked him for being such a sweetie to me. And then I went and wrote it down in a book I'll give him when he's a teenager =)

Tennis Lessons

Logan had wanted to learn to play tennis for quite awhile. So we signed him up at the school and he loves it! He plays twice a week and just can't get enough of it!

The Zoo

We had a great time today on Logan's class field trip to the Zoo! Lots of parents came so I just had Logan and one other little boy to take care of. Sting Ray Bay was Logan's favorite, but a close second was the bird show. We had nice cool weather so the animals weren't too stinky. Good times!

Hello Blog World.....

I've really enjoyed reading the blogs of friend's and acquaintances, so I decided I should give a little back and let everyone in on what's happening in my life. For anyone who does not enjoy adorable stories of a 5 year old boy, please log off my page, there's going to be a lot =)