day number five

My favorite memory....how can one identify one single moment in their life as their favorite?

I can.

You see, every woman has a dream when she finds out the she is pregnant.  The dream of having a baby placed in your arms.  A warm little snuggly bundle of love and dreams and expectations.  And for neither my daughter or my son did that dream come true.

My daughter was alive, heart beating, body breathing, outside of my womb for five whole days before she was placed in my arms.  And I had to wear a protective safety gown and disinfect my hands first.  And it lasted five minutes, because she couldn't keep her body temperature up so they had to put her back in the incubator.

But you know what?  The memory of holding my daughter, my firstborn, for the first time, all warm and full of hope and dreams....the vision of seeing my son the very moment they would let me, they are my favorite memories.  Always.

day number four

Tonight my night looked a little like this:

Actually, to be fair...my entire weekend has looked like this.  Katie got sick, then gave it to Carter, who gave it back to Katie, who consequently gave it to me.  (I still love you anyway, honey). 

This was the WORST weekend possible to have pnuemonia....I had my final four tests in Anatomy & Physiology, marking the end of those classes (YAY) and sick or not, the show must go on...so with a high fever, raging headache, coughing fits that would shake the kitchen table and the most determination I could muster...I studied until the words were blurry.  And then I studied a little bit more.  I was past the point of exhuastion and could feel that "I give up" sensation burning in the back of my mind. 

But I couldn't give up.

Because my performance on these tests determined whether or not I retained B's in both classes.  And I did.  I actually scored the highest I've ever scored.  Whatever.

The B's were earned....and now I'm left to try and recover, even with a little bit of this...

in my life.  It's not the night I would have wished for, but hey, the way I see it this weekend earned me at least one or two karma points.  At least.

day number three

(a picture of the cast from your favorite show)

I picked this picture, because this is the cast from Grey's Anatomy that I fell in love with.  There have been a lot of changes since then, and I still love the show, but I suppose nothing will be the same without George and Izzy.

I've even gotten my love hooked, although he would vehemently deny it :)

Addendum:Just to spice things up a little...you know :)

Some of my favorite quotes from the show:

"Meredith- "I don't know what to say to you."
Izzy-"I don't know what to say to me either.  When Dylan died, when the bomb went off, how did you feel?
Meredith-"It's not the same.  It wasn't...
Izzy: "When he died did you feel like you were moving in slow motion?"
Meredith: "No.  He was there and then he wasn't.  Like I blinked and he was gone."
Izzy: "I feel like I'm moving in slow motion.  Like I'm moving in slow motion and everything around me is moving so fast.  And I just go back to when things were normal, when I wasn't porry Izzy laying on the floor of her bathroom in her prom dress with a dead fiancee but I am.  So I can't and I'm stuck with everyone hovering around me and waiting for me to do something, to flip out, to yell, or cry some more.  I'm happy to fall apart, I'll say the lines and whatever it is I'm supposed to be doing to make everyone a little more comfortable...But I don't know how to do this.  I don't know who this person it."
Meredith: "Izzy...."
Izzy: "How did this happen?  How did we end up here?  Why am I alone?  Where's Denny?"
Meredith: "You're not alone, Izz."


"At the end of the day, faith is a funny thing.  It turns up when you don't expect it.  It's like one day your realize that fairy tale may be slightly different than you dreamed.  The castle, well it may not be a castle.  And it's not so important happy ever after, just that it's happy right now.  See, once in a blue moon people will surpise you and once in awhile pople may even take your breath away."
(Meredith Grey)

"Sometimes reality has a way of sneaking up and biting us in the ass.  And when the dam bursts, all you can do is swim.  The world of pretend is a cage-not a concoon.  We can only lie to ourselves for so long.  We are tired, we are scared, denying it doesn't change the truth.  Sooner or later we have to put aside our denial and face the world.  Head on-guns blazing.  De Nile.  It's not just a river in Egypt--it's a freaking ocean.  So how do you keep from drowning in it."
(Meredith Grey)

"We're adults. When did that happen? And how do we make it stop?"
(Meredith Grey)

"At some point, you have to make a decision. Boundaries don't keep other people out. They fence you in. Life is messy. That's how we're made. So, you can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them. But there are some lines... that are way too dangerous to cross"
(Meredith Grey)

"When your life is sucky you get drunk and sleep with inappropriate men. It's your thing"
(Alex Karev)

"I know I'm not a lot of things that you've gone for in the past - I know, but I would never leave you. I would never hurt you. And I will never stop loving you..."
(George O'Malley)

"Maybe we're not supposed to be happy. Maybe gratitude has nothing to do with joy. Maybe being grateful means recognizing what you have for what it is. Appreciating small victories. Admiring the struggle it takes to simply be human. Maybe, we're thankful for the familiar things we know. And maybe we're thankful for the things we'll never know. At the end of the day, the fact that we have the courage to still be standing is reason enough to celebrate."
(Meredith Grey)

For all of it's dripping drama, it's still my favorite show ;)

day number two

(the person you have been closest with the longest)

I suppose most people wouldn't pick their mom as the person they have been closest with the longest, but she has loved me, supported me, annoyed me, made me mad, and sacrificed so much for me every single day of my 30 years.  If that's not love, I'm not sure I know what it is.

When I almost died having my daughter, my mom was at my bedside every single day...and there were a lot of them.  When they put me on magnesium sulfate to prevent my kidneys from failing and to prevent seizures, she put cold washcloth after cold wascloth on my head, and endured the 40 degree freezing room I insisted upon because I was so hot I felt like I was going to boil alive (one of the side effects).  That's love.

My daughter was in the NICU for 56 days, and my mom didn't miss one of them.  Not one single one.  She encouraged me, suppported me, gave me peace, and sometimes annoyed me when she liked to ask the doctors too many questions :)  That's love.

When I'm sad, I call my mom.
When I'm freaking out and don't think I can make it one more step, I call my mom.
When I'm happy, I call my mom.
When I just need someone to talk to, I call my mom.

And for these reasons, and SO many more...
I love my mom.

30 Photos in 30 Days....

Inspired by several Facebook friends, I thought I would attempt this challenge....

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.


Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been close with for the longest.

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

Day 04 - A picture of your night.

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory.

Day 06 - A picture of a person you’d love to trade places with for a day.

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item.

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh.

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with.

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.

Day 12 - A picture of something you love.

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.

Day 15 - A picture that shows your true self.

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.

Day 18 - A picture of someone who has taught you many of things in life.

Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little.

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you’d love to travel.

Day 21 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.

Day 22 - A picture that makes you sad.

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.

Day 25 - A picture of your day.

Day 26 - A picture of someone that means a lot to you.

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.

Day 28 - A picture of something you’re afraid of.

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.

Day 30- A picture of someone you miss.
 
So without further ado.....Day #1
 

1.  I was 6 feet tall in the 6th grade.  I cannot tell a lie.
2.  I love Fruit Gushers.  A lot.
3.  I used to be a full time public school teacher.  Now I'm not.  For all those who know, this is a good thing.  I made it out alive, whew. 
4.  I have spent 71 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Vincent's Hospital watching my children grow through the holes of an incubator.  This has changed who I am to the very core of my being.
5.  To supercede, #4, I have TWO absolutely beautiful, healthy, happy children who bring me the greatest joy (and sometimes the greatest frustrations).  They are almost 6, and almost 5.  Wow.  I am exceptionally old.
6.  At the age of 28, I decided to switch careers, and applied to an accelerated nursing school.  Over the past 12 months, I have taken 38 credit hours in preparation for clinicals.  This makes for one tired momma. 
7.  I have two sisters, and three brothers, one who lives in heaven. I love ALL of them. 
8.  I was born in the Pacific Northwest, and I miss it.  (and my family there).
9.  I have a problem with anxiety and perfectionism. 
10.  I'm not your average girl.  I don't love shoes.  I love pens.  And cards.  (you should see my collections!)
11.  I'm lactose intolerant. 
12.  I can't drink red wine because it gives me migraines.  The kind of migraines that seriously make you think about putting an ice pick through your eyeballs.
13.  I prefer ordering in to going out.
14.  I love my fiancee.  More every single day.
15.  I'm afraid of the dark. 

me, through their eyes

Me, through the eyes of my kiddos
Out of the mouths of babes....

1.  What is something I always say to you?
Katie: "Don't get frustrated"
Carter: "You're my bubbers"

2. What makes me happy?
Katie: "When I smile."
Carter: "When I don't cry"

3. What makes me sad?
Katie: "Crying"
Carter: "When I color on the table"

4.  How do I make you laugh?
Katie: "You tickle me"
Carter: "You tickle me"

5.  What was I like as a little girl?
Katie: "You were a tiny baby."
Carter: "I never sawed you"

6.  How old am I?
Katie: "25"
Carter: "60"

7. How tall am I?
Katie: "7 inches"
Carter: "40 feet"

8.  What is my favorite thing to do?
Katie: "Study"
Carter: "Play with us"

9. What do I do when you're not around?
Katie: "Talk to yourself"
Carter: "Talk to Eric"

10. If I were going to be famous for something, what would it be?
Katie: "Coloring"
Carter: "Being a doctor!"

11.  What am I really good at?
Katie: "Studying"
Carter: "Being on your 'puter"

12. What am I not very good at?
Katie: "You forget stuff a lot"
Carter: "my green Nerf gun"

13. What do I do for a job?
Katie: "Computers"
Carter: "Computers"

14. What is my favorite food?
Katie: "Tacos"
Carter: "Tacos"
we had tacos for dinner...hmmm...

15.  If I were a cartoon character, who would I be?
Katie: "Dora"
Carter: "Ruby....or Max"

16. What do I love to do with you?
Katie: "Color"
Carter: "Play Legos"

17. What about us is the same?
Katie: "We both have curly hair"
Carter: "Your eyes are brown.  My eyes are brown."

18.  What about us is different?
Katie: "I'm little, you're big"
Carter: "You're tall, I'm short"

19. How do you know I love you?
Katie: "Cause you tell me"
Carter: "Cause you always tell me in the car"

20.  Where is my favorite place to go?
Katie: "the park"
Carter: "shopping:

all you need is love.

 This was really my KJ's first Valentine's Day. And, oh man was it a big deal. Careful instructions were sent home from her teacher about how to assemble the valentines for each student (gone are the Charlie Brown days of not getting any valentines in your box...) and during one of our endless snow/ice days, Katie and I set to work making her valentines.

Katie had to write her name on every single valentine for every kid in her class and her teachers.  She got frustrated when she didn't get it perfect...good thing we got extra :)  And of course my little princess sent out princess valentines complete with a magnet.  Super cute.

that's a lot of writing! 

good job, baby girl.

she adored the assembly part

and...about fifty hours later, every valentine was signed, sealed, stickered and labeled.

And then the countdown began....

"Mom, when is Valentines Day?"

"On Monday, honey"

"When is Monday?"

"The day after church day"

"But mom...that's forever ever!!"

But alas, forever ever came faster than she realized, and I surprised her by going to her class Valentine's Day party.  She was SO excited to see me and I'm quite sure there is no feeling like that one.  I know there will come a day when she will probably be embarassed by me, cringe at my entrance, but for now that sweet face looks at me like I am the most wonderful woman on the planet. 

this is so classic Katie.

playing relay races in her classroom

(sidenote...kindergarten teachers are the most organized people EVER)

besties

(she also lives two doors down from us :)

And I daresay this Valentine's Day was everything she dreamed of....and some more.  And, not to worry, two seconds into our car ride home, and KJ was already talking about what she wanted to share with Carter, who didn't have a Valentine's Day party.  Love her tender heart.  Can't wait until next year, when we get to do TWO sets of valentines ;)

spoiled.

For the record, I don't believe in celebrating "Hallmark" holidays.  Ever.  Valentines Day is a nice day we set aside to tell people we love them.  I wish every day was Valentine's Day.  And I hope that Eric feels loved everyday.

Today I felt loved.

And spoiled.

This is the most delicious dessert ever.  And I'm not going to tell you what it is.  Because then you might want it, and you'll go buy it.  And then when I want it...well, it might not be there.  And I guess, yeah, I'm just that selfish.
Mine.

I took the day off

It was justifiably the weekend from hell. 

I promise I'm not looking for your pity, I'm not.  However, three tests in 36 hours is so mentally exhausting I can't even begin to describe how empty it makes you feel...there is a lack of affect in life when you spend that much time poring over material.  And along with the perfectionism aforementioned, I seem to have developed a healthy dose of SEVERE test anxiety.  36 hours of anxiety is not fun.  And to top it all off, I really didn't perform very well.  Somewhere between all those hours of studying and taking the exams, the information decided to put itself into a mental blender.  I still have a B in both classes.  Life will go on.



My life goes on.  Every single day of it.
And this particular Sunday, I took the day off.  Well, the majority of the day.  I did have to get up at 7:30 in the morning to complete my CPR certification for nursing clinicals...but that was unavoidable, and now I know how to save your life, so it's a positive.
But the rest of the day, it was gloriously mine.


I returned from my practice of compressions and breaths into a creepy looking mannequin (it really was sorta creepy) and my boy had returned from his weekend away at the lakehouse.  The necessity of high speed internet prevented me from going with him, so tethered to the kitchen table, which is temporarily serving as my desk, I stayed.

**sidenote...I was released from the hellishness by my beautiful baby sister who comforted me with warm fires and hilarious conversations and encouraged me with a great big (on sale) dose of retail therapy.  I am eternally grateful, B**

Although my babies were at their daddy's for the weekend, my furry babies returned with sloppy kisses and lots of love.

The love of animals...ahhh....

I decided that there would be NO studying this day.  None.  So I put the books away, ignored the piles of paper on so called kitchen table/desk and did things that I wanted to do.  I did things that made me feel better as a person.  I did things that made me happy.

Oh, and I also took a three hour nap.  But when not napping...I...

baked chocolate chip walnut cookies for my honey, because he adores them, as evidenced by the lack of the pile I had made...

I've always wanted to do one of these, so I decided to buy one for the kids for Valentines Day.  Wow...my voice sounds a lot different than I thought it did.  Thanks, Britty for not laughing at me the whole way through it.  I hope that they like it.  It's really, really cute.

packed my daughter's lunch and actually went searching for an old party napkin from her birthday party that had Ariel on it (her favorite princess) and wrote her a special Valentine's day message.  Because she was SO excited about Valentine's day (blog post to follow)...and because I wanted to make my baby girl smile. 

I read something....other than a textbook...

and I worked on my little boy's "smoovy" (pronounced smu-vee, and a word created by mr. carter himself) for at least 2 hours.  He keeps asking me if I'll eevveerr be done with it.  I don't think he understand how long it takes to crochet one row...  One day he will have a new smoovy to replace the blankie I made him as I watched him through the holes of his incubator. 

I took the day off.
And it was a good day.

nostalgia

"A part of my appreciation for the good which moments bring has come from awareness and recognition. But it has also come from a correspnding sadness which arises from their passing. When something that can never quite be reenacted comes to an end (and all moments are that way), I feel a pensiveness within. This pensiveness gives my life a quality that might be best described as bittersweet. And those moments take on double meaning and richness - because they are here now - and because they will not always be." (b. benson)

perspective.

Honestly, I have no idea what happened to me.  I don't.  It's like in the last ten years I have completely morphed into someone I barely recognize sometimes.  What gives? (rhetorical question...clearly)

In high school, I was thrilled to get a C in Math...any kind of math, but especially Geometry, if I remember correctly.  And, it wasn't for lack of trying, I swear.  I went in for extra help at lunch and even stayed late sometimes (when I wasn't working full time or playing basketball).  I always just kinda realized that math is never going to be my strong suit. 

So I went to college and majored in English.  Ha!

No, for real.  I was NOT a freak about my grades in high school, although I graduated with a 3.8 (measly compared to the FOUR 4.0 valedictorians that we had), so I wasn't a horrible student.  I was just good at what I was good at, and tried the best I could at the rest. 
I guess the transition must have started happening when I went to college.  I was SO out of my league it wasn't even funny, both in the athletic venue I was pursuing, and in the academic venue.  I quickly, quickly, quickly learned that reading To Kill a Mockingbird as your senior novel, was not the norm of Taylor students.  I was surrounded by people who had read a TON of books, books I had never even heard of.  And that semester, I kinda sucked.  Granted, I will give myself a little bit of break in that I did have ankle surgery...three times, was on crutches and had a screw through the bones of my ankle.  But I got a 2.97.  A 2.97!  What?  I had never, never, ever gotten below a 3.0 in my life.  I was ashamed of myself, no less the resistance I got at home about it.  So...for the next couple years, I played catch-up BIG time!  I won't lie, there were times I nodded during conversations about literature when I had absolutely no freaking idea what was being talked about.  But I could sit down and have a conversation with you about postmodernism over a cup of coffee (oohh...wouldn't that be fun!).  No, for real, all English-dorkiness aside, I had to learn very quickly how to study, how to write papers, really the whole nine yards.  I don't know who reads this blog, and I'm not sure I really care if I put it out there that I am convinced I received a sub par high school education.  Like really sub par.  I'm not mad about it, it's whatever now, but I'm just sayin'.  And I wouldn't be afraid to say it to anyone else, either, so I guess it doesn't really matter. 

....stop....typing.....so....fast......

I graduated from an academically acclaimed university .02 GPA points away from honors.  I am proud of that.  I am proud that I wrote a 28 page senior paper about the role of women in Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary and Virginia Woolfe's To the Lighthouse.  I am proud that I endured student teaching, which is basically like feeding adults to teen aged students in small bites and bottling their screams of terror to listen to later and laugh at.  I am proud that I finished my degree, that I have a Bachelors of Science Degree from Taylor University.  There, I said it, all big like and acclaimed. 

But then, unfortunately, I didn't love what I went to school for.  No, let me correct that.  I love teaching.  I love it.  I love kids.  I love reading.  I love making kids love to read.  I love seeing the light in students eyes when they sympathize or connect with a character.  I love being passionate about literature to students.  I love connecting with students, seeing past their exteriors and understanding them in ways perhaps they don't have...and desperately need.  What I don't love is bureaucracy.  I don't love men in big scary suits who think they can dominate you with their big scary voices and ominous presence.  I don't like feeling like a rat who is spinning an endless wheel.  I don't like being accused of things that are beyond your wildest dreams and being stripped of any way to defend myself.  And when I was found "innocent"  I was offered the chance to resign.  There's your present...enjoy that pie.  Walking out of that school with all my boxes should not have been as heartbreaking as it was.  I miss that room, sometimes.  A lot.  And I miss those kids.  And I am so happy that so many of them still keep in touch with me.  So happy.

So here I am...with this degree and a whole hell of a lot of student loans, and although I never lost the passion, I lost the drive.  I lost what it takes to be a teacher.  I lost the ability to deal with the BS and just get through.  My second teaching job barely lasted six months...I was done.  Which brings me here...to this kitchen table which is littered with stapled powered presentations, highlighted textbooks, pens, planner, my cell phone and a whole bunch of other crap.  And I just took two tests.  TWO.  ON THE SAME DAY.  That is so rude.  And they were both unbelievably hard.  My Physiology test was over 6 hours of lecture, and 6 chapters of a textbook...in one week.  My Anatomy test (not the labeling part, the multiple question part) was over 3 Power Point presentations that were 150+ slides EACH.  And there is a part of me that says, wow that's a lot....you should do the best you can.  And then the other, evil, weirdo part of me completely freaks out and has to be perfect.  B's arent' even okay anymore.  I cry.  I throw things.  I would go so far as to say I punish myself mentally to the point of exhaustion.  I've got to stop.

I have got to stop rambling...as well.

So, perspective is clearly needed here.  And I'm no good at being positive towards myself, I'm working on it, but well, yeah...
So here's a list of positve things I've done:
I got an A in Chemistry.  I had an awesome tutor.  I actually understood what I was doing.  I felt smart.  I..got..an...A...in...Chemistry.  Five words I never thought I'd utter.
I also got an A in Statistics, a mathematics based class that had problems that were PAGES long.  What?  Me?  This is a certain recipie for disaster.  But, alas, a good professor who never belittled me, a lot of studying and persistence.  And voila..an A.
I have also gotten an A in Abnormal Psychology, Human Growth and Development, Human Nutrition and Pre-Nursing I.
That's all A's....

until now...

Human Anatomy and Human Physiology is taking me down.  I just can't seem to get above a B on a test.  And not for lack of studying...believe me.  I have foregone everything enjoyable in my life for this program, and I'm getting B's.  UGHH!  I want to be so mad at myself.  I want to point fingers at the person in the mirror and scream: you're a failure!  But, that's ridiculous.  One part of my head says this, so it must be true.

I'm getting B's in A&P.  And I'm darn proud of it. 
(I really didn't believe that at all, but it was a step in the right direction.)

Perspective, people, perspective.

And in the words of my babiest sister and my momma "sometimes, you just gotta give yourself a break."

Peace.  (I'm hoping for my own)

dear college advisor,

I'm a nice person, I am.  I try very hard to do what I say I am going to do and to be a good daughter, sister, friend, fiancee, mother, because those are the roles I have accepted.  And with an acceptance of a role, comes a certain responsibility.

SO...when you accept the role of being a college advisor, perhaps you should take your role of advising seriously and actually know what you are talking about before you answer questions, give definitive instructions, AND COST ME $65 IN UNNECESSARY FEES. 

I am very, very irritated. 

so there.

family.

"You couldn't have strength without weakness,

you couldn't have light without dark,

you couldn't have love without loss."

(jodi picoult)

html and other ramblings...

This HTML stuff is kinda hard...not going to lie. Maybe I should stop wasting time playing with my blog and study for my huge anatomy test (that is on Superbowl Sunday...re-gosh-darn-diculous).

But...many thanks to Marissa Sharbaugh who lent some incredible advice.

Being cooped up in the house for 3 days is wearing on my nerves, big time.  However, I did get the kiddos back today and that makes me happy, happy, happy.  Life is a little less boring with Nerf guns and Dora computer games.  I missed my kiddos.
So, tell me what you think.  Color scheme not so good?  I'm thinking of changing it again...can't decide to what.  Advice/comments/suggestions appreciated.

Oh, and I loathe this state right now.  Just sayin.

a crafty christmas

Every year I get some fabulously great idea about some craft I am going to complete...and usually the only "crafty" thing I accomplish are my Christmas cards, which do take about one bazillion hours, so I guess that counts.

But this year, I actually gave away as a gift something that I completely made with my hands.  And I think that's pretty cool.

I'll let the pictures tell the story..

First, you're definitely going to need a crafting partner.  Because crafts are messy and irritating at times, and sometimes, quite frankly, you just don't have enough fingers to hold the ribbon down while the glue dries and put the ribbon on at the same time.  She should also always be prepared with a rolling pin and meat mallet.

 I wish I was some cool blog author and could give you the actual recipie for what we did this day, but I can't. We're kinda "fly by the seat of our crafty little butts" kind of girls. 
So here's what we used:
refined white sugar
florida raw crystallized sugar
brown sugar
olive oil
(did I mention olive oil?)
calendula and shea butter baby lotion
essential oils
the meat of the inside of a vanilla bean (I cannot lie....we are SO cool)

And we put all kinds of various proportions of the above stuff into my kickin new Kitchen-Aid and Sugar Srub we made.  We took turns coming up with scents, while I wrestled with the containers trying to glue to stupid freaking ribbon on (it was really a tiresome process...better planning next time).

The scrub came out really neat...it made our hands feel like silk, but was also kinda the color of baby poo.  Also something to think about next year.  However, I gave mine to my friends at our annual Christmas tradition lunch, and one friend already told me how much she loved it, however she is also a really nice person, so we'll see...

We (really Britty) made mugs with cocoa and "smarshmellows" (as Carter would call them) and peppermint tea and lemon poppyseed bread for Britty to give to friends/family, whatnot...

I'd say this year far rocked out the year I tried to make sleeping pants for everyone.  I am laughing out loud on my couch thinking about those ridiculous things.  This is why I buy clothes.  But this day, we didn't buy, we made.  And not because we are extraordinarily poor, but because we wanted to give something that showed we cared.  A labor of love, if you will.

And...if nothing else.  It was a really freaking fun day.

 and dum...dum...dum...da..dum...my favorite picture of the day...