The last two months are a real blur, but I do want to share with everyone our Halloween Pictures!
Earlier in the month mom and I took Lyla to a corn maze. We didn't get to a pumpkin patch this year with everything else we had going on, so I'm glad we at least took a day to do this!
We also got Lyla a couple of these kits from Michaels to build. She really enjoyed doing them!
On Friday I volunteered to do Lyla's Halloween party at school. We had lots of fun! I was in charge of a game. I had all the kids take a roll of toilet paper and wrap their partner up like a mummy - then they got to bust out of them. They all thought it was great!
Saturday night we went to a Halloween party. Gary and I dressed as Minions. Lyla was a shopkin this year. Lippy Lips to be exact.
Lyla painted two pumpkins this year. She loves painting!
On Sunday we carved our pumpkins. We let Lyla pick which pumpkin she wanted and she picked the biggest one. Then she complained that there was so much stuff to clean out of hers..... Gary used a picture from the book (wolf), I drew a face and cut mine out old school (like I always do), Lyla drew a cat face on hers with a crayon then cut it out all by herself. I was nervous, but she did a good job!
Monday night Gary took Lyla trick or treating while I stayed home and passed out candy.
On Sunday we walked with the Holmes family in the Breath of Life Stroll (Cribs for Kids) in memory of Cassie. The purpose of this walk is to raise money for Cribs for Kids safe sleep research, education, and bereavement support. Every $50 raised provides a Graco pack 'n play as a safe sleep environment to a baby in need. Amanda and Justin do an amazing job every year at fundraising. This year their team raised over $7,000!!!
We have done the walk with them every year since Cassie passed away, Sunday was our 4th one. Here are the team pictures from each year:
Its a very emotional day. We of course are all thinking about Cassie. I also look around at all the different teams and it breaks your heart to know that they all lost a baby too. When I look at these team pictures I think about how much we have all changed over the years and I think about the fact that Cassie wasn't here for those years.
I genuinely - really - truly - LOVE watching Lyla play soccer! And she is really having so much fun with it this year!
She moved up to the U8 field this season and its all different. They have goalies and referees now. They have a lot more rules. They have practice two nights a week and then Saturday morning games. We are all really enjoying it!
She gets really excited about being goalie, which is surprising to me. I don't think she's actually got hit with the ball yet, so that may change!
Last Friday was their Under the Lights game. That is always such a fun night for the kids!
September 17th was Em and Gerald's 5 year wedding anniversary. So they came up and left Carter at our house so that they could go on a date to celebrate!
We had a lot of fun getting to hang out with him! Lyla was a little jealous at times, she's used to having all of our attention - but she really loves Carter!
Cystic Fibrosis is something I have known about for quite a while now. One of my very best friends, Karla, was diagnosed with it close to the same time that I met her 13 years ago. I've always told her that I consider her one of the toughest people I know. She amazes me all the time at the things she can accomplish! And she makes doing her treatments look so glamorous!
But they are no joke. And all the meds she has to take are no joke either. And feeling crummy and keeping up with three kids isn't easy for anyone. She doesn't ever complain - she just lives her life. I admire her so much. She is so special to me and I would love for there to be a cure. I would love more than anything in the world to give that to her.
I've recently met a little girl named Natalie who also has Cystic Fibrosis. Natalie's older sister Hailey and Lyla were in kindergarten together and hit it off from day one. Over the summer we all started hanging out together. And becoming friend's with Natalie and Hailey's mom, Lindsey, has shed a whole different light on this disease for me.
Its one thing when you yourself, as an adult, are struggling to breath. Its awful and terrifying and I hate to think of Karla going through that. But as a mother to see your little girl struggling.... well that is just heart wrenching.
This is a video Natalie's Dad, Doug, made to show what life with CF is like for little Natalie and raise some awareness:
Lindsey and Doug, after learning of Natalie's diagnosis have taken on all sorts of athletic fundraisers. The next one they are participating in is an Xtreme hike. I just donated and I ask you - if you are able and willing - to do the same.
Gary and I reflect quite often on the fact that we were very lucky with Lyla. We decided we wanted to have a baby, got pregnant on the first try, had Lyla and everything was fine. I don't say that to brag or rub it in anyone's face who hasn't had it that easy. From fertility struggles to miscarriages and still births. From babies dying of SIDS and SUID. And then there are the diseases that there are not cures for. Angelman Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis.... All these things have touched me personally and I feel like its my duty to do what I can to help my friends and family and to raise awareness.
Gary and I don't make a lot of money. And we enjoy going out to dinner, going to concerts... Lots of things that cost $50 a pop. But we also try to donate when we can and help to raise awareness and show our support to the ones we love.
If the choice this week is going out to dinner or helping fund a cure for someone I love, I'm going to pick the cure. Every time.
I swear that we never "rest" on holiday weekends....
We kicked off the weekend Friday night with a birthday party for one of Lyla's friends. Her and Brandon were in the same kindergarten class and he just adores her. He must talk about her quite often because when we got to his house all of the adults said "you must be Lyla!" He told his mom that he plans to marry Lyla when they are 11... hahahaha We all had a good time, Gary and I met lots of parents that seemed really nice!
Saturday Lyla and I had a busy day running around WashPa. First we had Ashley's baby shower.
Lyla was super excited because we won this shoe made out of chocolate!
After Ashley's shower, we went to a sprinkle (shower for your second baby) for Erin.
Sunday we did all sorts of random things.... including riding Lyla's bike, playing on the Wii, hanging out in the backyard and Gary brought the tv outside where we had movie night! We also finished up our fireworks from the 4th of July and played with some of the neighborhood kids.
On Monday, Lyla and I met her friend Hailey, her mom and little sister and the girls practiced on their bikes. Then we went home, had lunch and picked up the dads, then we all met at the park. Hailey's family likes to play disc golf. Gary and Hailey's Dad, Doug, had been talking about it last time we were with them. So we all decided yesterday would be a good day to go out. We really didn't know what we were in for. We get there, they all have on hiking boots, meanwhile Lyla wasn't even wearing socks.... Mom of the year right here! But we had a blast. You basically walk around the woods throwing Frisbees... But it entertained everyone for a couple hours, we got some exercise and out of the house and it didn't cost anything... so really a win all around! :)
After that we went home and grilled out then it was time to get showered and get ready for bed.
