Relay for Life

Last year my Rotary club decided to get involved with Relay for Life, and I volunteered to be the team Captain. It was the first time I had been involved with the Relay. Relay for life is a fundraiser to find a cure a cancer. You get a team together of up to 15 people, and you walk for 12-24 hours (depending on how long your cities relay is). The idea is that cancer never sleeps, so we don't sleep either, we stay up all night to raise money, to fight back. Last year My Mom and sister came to the Relay to support me, and walked the track with me for the silent lap, done in honer of those that have passed from cancer.

I had no idea that the next time I would be honoring Mom.

The day was busy, and hot (we had a record high of 101) as we prepared for the events of the night. I was having contractions throughout the day, but they were too inconsistent to worry about, so I just kept doing my thing. My sister Judy and her family, my brother Matt and his family, and my Dad all came to the Relay for the silent lap this year...and I think Mom was there too.
They read her name as they lit a torch in her honer, to show that her light continues to shine, even thought she is no longer living on this earth. It was a tender moment. I couldn't help but think of her last year, smiling at me, with Layla on her shoulders as we walked together.

I love you Mom, and sometimes I still feel you smiling at me.





On another note, I had an interesting time with Layla at the Relay. The Chickie's came with me early to help set up, and get things ready. They where hot, and tired. As I turned my teams money in to the accounting department I kept smelling the most awful smell. It was like a combination of garbage, and manure, or maybe a dead animal. Carter began to cry "Mom, why is it so stinky over here, I want to leave. The smell is making me sick". The smell kept coming in waves, and people around me were noticing it also, but then the smell seemed to disappear for some reason.
I turned around to see that Layla was not near me. I looked all around, and she was nowhere to be seen. Carter and I had been looking for her. We had been looking for a couple of minutes when we heard over the speakers "We have a lost little girl named Layla on the stage, she is 3, and can't find her mommy" horrified, I began to walk to the center stage, which was more than a football field away from me. Again I hear "would Layla's Mother please come to the stage, you have lost your little girl", I was walking as fast as my 9 months pregnant swollen hot feet would take me, but again "We need the Mother of Layla to come to the stage right away....Layla is wearing a pink shirt and a purple princess skirt. If you are with this girl..." As I got within eye sight, I waved to her, and realized the whole arena was looking at me. I just knew they were thinking to themselves "..and she thinks she can handle another one?", but I tried to ignore them as I claimed my lost little lady.
As we walked back to our tent I repeatedly heard "hey, there is the lost little girl". I wanted to hide, but when we got to the tent the smell seemed to come back.
I looked at Layla and noticed something strange...her socks where brown. Why were her socks brown? That is when it all sank in, and I saw the brown streaks running down her inner legs. Horrified again, I realized we didn't have a change of clothes, or wet whips with us...they were in the car about a mile away.
UUUGGGGGG!
Thank heavens for Grandma Hall, and her recent move putting her near the Relay for life field.
Now that day is over. The good, the bad, and the smelly.

when I grow up

The Chickie's and I were driving in the car the other day, and we had the funnest conversation.

Carter- After I grow up and marry the girl I love I want to work with Dad and Grandpa at Daddy's work...but I'm really going to miss you Mom.

Me- will you still come visit me sometimes?

Carter- Yes, can I come everyday?

Me- you can come as much as you want to, because to me you will always be my little boy.

Carter- OK, good.

Layla- When I get big I want to be one of those guys that builds roads (road construction worker), like at grandmas house...or a mommy.

curtains tutorial

As I've mentioned before, we have been working on the house. The goal is to get all the little projects done before baby makes his grand appearance...which will be any day now. I wanted white curtains with a bold orange pattern on them for my front room, but I couldn't find anything close to what I had in mind. I had white curtains in the office, and red in the front room, so I did a switch, and dressed up the white curtains a little. Hind sight, I would have chosen an even bolder pattern, but they still look good.

Curtains Tutorial (my first tutorial I think)

You will need:
1.curtains
2.a stencil
3.fabric paint (I used the same paint we used on the orange wall because I wanted a perfect match, but now I will have to hand wash the curtains. fyi)
4.stencil brush (I liked the foam ones better, and they were .89 for a two pack)
5.tape


step one:
Lay out your curtains and figure out what pattern you are going to use with your stencil. practice on a scrap piece of fabric to get the hang of it. When you are comfortable, tape your stencil to the curtains starting at the bottom of the curtain (so if you make a mistake it won't be as noticeable)

step two:
dip the end of your stencil brush in your paint, and begin to gently fill in your stencil by using a dabbing motion.

Step three:
after the stencil is filled in, remove the tape, and slowly peel the stencil up. Rinse the paint off your stencil, and repeat steps 1-3 in your desired pattern.

Step four:
When paint is dry, hang your curtains, dish yourself a bowl of ice cream, put your feet up, eat your ice cream, and admire your mad crafty skills.