Goodbye 2011... Hello 2012!

With the 2011 on its way out and 2012 on its way in, a lot of people will be making new years resolutions. I've always thought of resolutions as just another excuse to beat yourself up because its rare that anyone will follow thru with them.

Instead, this year a girl from work gave me a great idea. Instead of coming up with a bunch of resolutions, come up with a word. A word that you can use in everyday life to maybe change what you want or find some sort of comfort with. Just pick one word though or it will be too overwhelming.

My word is transformation. There are things I want to transform in my life such as my home (getting rid of the clutter), the way I think about certain things (stop blaming myself and look more realistically at things), some of my eating habits (so that I can lose some weight) and although it seems like a lot to take on, I know that it could be much simpler such as transforming a banana, orange juice and strawberries into a smoothie. Nothing has to be complex when you pick your word but whatever you do it must make you feel good about yourself and it cannot be for anyone but you!

While on facebook today I came across this link that I felt needed to be shared.. it really does speak to what I'm trying to do. Its about reflecting on what you can change.. the numbers I personally want to reflect on in 2012 is 7, 8,9,11,12,22, and 25.. it may seem like a lot but the others I feel I have overcome and I need to feel proud of myself for doing so!! Way to go me! ;-)

I hope everyone reading this has a healthy, safe and joyous 2012!!

30 Things to Stop doing to Yourself

As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.

2. Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.

3. Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled .

4. Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.

5. Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.

6. Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.

7. Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.

8. Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.

9. Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.

10. Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness .

11. Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.

12. Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.

13. Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.

14. Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.

15. Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.

16. Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”

17. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curve balls are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curve balls thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.

18. Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.

19. Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.

20. Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.

21. Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.

22. Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.

23. Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done .

24. Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.

25. Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.

26. Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.

27. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.

28. Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.

29. Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.

30. Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.

CREDIT: Full article written by Marc at Marcandangel.com HERE

Life

What is the purpose of your life? Being a good wife? Mother? Grandmother? Aunt? Daughter?

What defines you? Your job? Your hobby? The role you take in your family?

How do you know if you're good at something? Does someone tell you or do you just know?

Who do you turn to when you need somebody? Your mom, dad, sibling, spouse, child, friend, God?

Imagine if you will, there is no purpose in your life. Nothing defines you. You don't know if you are good at something. And you have no one to turn to when you are in need. Can you imagine it? Close your eyes.. take just a moment.. can you feel the loneliness? The isolation? The emptiness?

Its not something that most people can imagine because they have never, thank God, had to.

Now, imagine being a wife and a mother. You are successful in your job and you have some close friends you can turn to when you need to. But wait.. there is still loneliness, isolation and emptiness.. it doesn't matter how many people you have in your life.. it doesn't matter how successful you are in your life... nothing matters except for the way you interpret life.

Are you happy? Are you joyful? What makes you happy? Hot tea, clean sheets, a snuggle with my dog and the smell of the rain after the grass is cut makes me happy. Spending time with friends and family also makes me happy. Did you know that things that make you happy usually end up being external things? What makes you joyful? Being at peace, spiritual understanding and fulfillment, having a purpose to my life and knowing I'm loved makes me joyful.

No one wants to be unhappy. No one wants to be alone. And no one can change your situation but you. If you want to be happy and joyful and have a purpose to your life you need to open your heart and trust that life has more to offer. Even on the hardest of days, be thankful. Buy a one way ticket and get out of Pity City today.. no one is going to do it for you. No one can.

Christmas Time

Christmas is fast approaching and I can't believe it!! This time a year ago I was in rehab for rotator cuff surgeru and just two weeks ago I had carpal tunnel surgery.. luckily it was only day surgery and I'm at home.. I wonder when a time will come when I won't have any more medical stuff to deal with.. well.. out of the ordinary anyway.

I'm use to have my Christmas shopping done by this time of year.. actually, I was usually done by the middle of November but alas, I am dragging my heals this year. Thank goodness for online shopping! I hate having to battle the parking lots at the mall.. I swear, those are worse than actually going into the mall.. but.. online shopping.. no parking lots, no line-ups, no crowds, no screaming children... and some of the sites even have gift wrapping!

However.. the downside to online shopping is its hard to get into the season.. in a way I am missing the Christmas music in the stores and people in good cheer and Christmas decorations. I've downloaded some Christmas songs and will watch, It's a Wonderful Life with James Stewart.. that's sure to put me in the Christmas spirit!

The thing is, Christmas isn't about the shopping or the presents or the music or the television programs.. for me, it's about the birth of Christ and all that He has done in my life that I have to be thankful for. I forget sometimes to stop and be thankful.. not just for all the good in my life but also for the pain and life lessons I've had to endure.. oh sure I wish I could just wake up one day and have my life be perfect.. but how would I know what that is without living thru the imperfect life I have?

Thank you Lord for giving me the life you have. For teaching me the lessons I need to learn and placing challenges in my path so I can learn those lessons. Amen.

Victoria Fun

I love Victoria, always have, always will. I grew up there. It's my home away from home but it's so different now. Nothing is the same. My dream would be to have a bridge to get on and off the rock though. I can't live there... at least not right now.... but my heart gets pulled every time I go over there. I love seeing my sisters, nephews, nieces and friends. I also love seeing my dad but it so hard going there and not seeing my mom. You'd think I would have gotten over it by now, but I haven't. It's just not the same.

I went over for Thanksgiving and although I had a great time spending it at my sisters and having most of my family there, missing was my dad and my sister Sandra. It's not like Sandi came over all the time, usually it was only on labour day weekend and Christmas, but still, there was an absence. It was also really disappointing not having my dad there. He wouldn't go because his new wife is sick, she's been sick ever since she came into the picture and he's changed... as much as I know he loves me, it feels like he chooses her over me all the time which makes me feel guilty because it's not a contest... but I still feel like I've lost something.

It's hard going back to the home I spent my teen years in with my mom and dad only to have some stranger move in and try to take her place. She uses items my mom made and talks like she's lived there forever when in fact she has never contributed anything to that home or the things in it. I want my dad to be happy but he's not, he's just a glorified caretaker.. at least that's what it feels like to me. So, when I go over there I stay with him but spend as little time in the house as possible when he isn't there.

It's not so bad though because I've been able to spend a lot more time with my sisters than I ever did growing up and I love that. This visit I even got to spend it with Kelly and his girlfriend taking pictures of their horses. Jen, Mark and Panda came over and although the intention was for Panda to go for a ride, she preferred feeding the horses carrots and playing with the cat.

I can't believe how grown up Raeya has gotten! She ran the kids marathon again this year, three years old and loving it! She's so sweet and loving and smart as a whip! She takes after her father and uncles in the technology department. She loves reading the books and playing the puzzles I have on my iPad but is just as content playing with her toys and making up games. So innocent!

Knifty Knitter!

Well its that time of year.. the weather is starting to change and it isn't so lovely outside.. but I have a great reason to stay inside.. I'm knitting!!

What first inspired me was a cause called Click for Babies.. you may have seen the link on my blog. The idea behind it is to knit or crochet purple hats for babies in order to bring awareness to shaken baby syndrome and the period of purple crying.

Often babies go thru a period of time (around 2 weeks of age peaking around 2 months and ending around the fourth month) when they cry and sometimes it feels like they will never stop, but they will.. I promise. I can honestly say with certainty that I have never seen a healthy 2 year old crying 24 hours a day!!

During this period of purple crying, parents can become very overwhelmed and unfortunately, some parents have gone as far as shaken their infants to make them stop crying. What they don't seem to understand is that an infants brain is like a ping pong ball inside their skull and will bounce around and if it doesn't kill them, it can give them severe brain damage. So, if you have to, walk away and take a time out and ask for some help!

Here are some of my hats.. take note that I've had to use a loom because my carpal tunnel is so bad and I've never made a hat before so they aren't perfect but they are made with love!

                                 

 

Sad day in cyberspace..

Although I've been blogging for a few years, I haven't blogged as much as I have until this year.. maybe  it's just that I didn't have much to say until now.. maybe it's just that I needed a therapeutic outlet to put my thoughts and feelings since I have a hard time talking about them.. whatever the reason.. here I am.

I rarely read others blogs unless they are my personal friends, however, a few months back I started to follow Storing up Treasures.. Courtney is the author and she is so inspirational.. when I wake  up and before I do anything else, I check to see if she's posted anything new.. I look forward to reading what she has to say and admiring the photo's she often posts (she's a beautiful photographer).

Courtney is a mother to 11 amazing kiddos.. she's married to her best friend.. she's an inspirational writer.. she's honest and so real! She talks about her personal struggles with depression, her journey and blessings with adoption, the challenges of raising kids with RAD (reactive attachment disorder), her faith, relationships and everything in between.

I'm not married and I don't have kids but I can still relate on so many different levels. I've learned so much about myself thru her blog (and have written about much of it). One of the things I have struggled with for years is really listening to God.. I am not someone who can sit in silence, meditate and have a two way conversation with God.. it doesn't work like that.. maybe I'm just not a good enough Christian, I don't know.. but I do hear him via different avenues and one of those avenues has been, Courtney's blog.

The other day I didn't get a chance to read her post before I went to work so as soon as a I had a minute, I signed on.. always in anticipation to hear what shenanigans Courtney and the kids had been up to.. and I was not only shocked but at a loss of words to find out, she had written her last post.. she was shutting down her blog.

Now, we have e-mailed a few times but other than that, other than me commenting on her blog and her commenting on mine.. we had no relationship.. no lasting friendship.. yet.. I was devastated. I wrote her an e-mail telling her how sad I was and probably sounding like some freaky stalker! But it truly does feel like I'm losing a friend.. someone who I could count on everyday to make me think, laugh, cry and generally be inspired by. Even her photography inspired me to do better.. as a matter of fact, it was because of her I bought my most recent lens (which arrived in the mail today).

Not having Courtney's blog to visit will be a whole that won't soon be filled but but whatever her reason for shutting it down was, I know it was important to her. Many blessings Courtney and all the best in where ever God leads you!!

Don't give up..

After my mom passed away I went to a really dark place. A place where no light could get in. A place that no matter how hard people tried to break in the windows, to bring in some light, to bring in some air... I would board the windows up tight. I didn't want to be happy.

I felt so alone.

It wasn't like I was the only one to lose a mother, my sisters had too.. but i convinced myself that because they all had families and I didn't, no one could understand how I felt. Obviously I was wrong but I couldn't see that at the time.

A friend gave me the Josh Groban CD and told me to listen to this song. It didn't change how I was feeling at the time but it gives me so much comfort now. I hate to admit it, but there are times when I go to that dark place, even today (yes, I still have my moments), but I can listen to this song and know I'm not alone.

Don't give up
It’s just the weight of the world
When your heart’s heavy, I
I will lift it for you
Don’t give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you, I
I will break it for you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don’t give up
Because you are loved

Don’t give up
It’s just the hurt
That you hide
When you’re lost inside, I
I’ll be there to find you

Don’t give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you I
I will shine to guide you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don’t give up
Because you are loved

You are loved

Don’t give up
It's just the weight of the world

Don't give up
Everyone needs to be heard

You are loved

When the Rain Comes

When the rain comes it seems that everyone has gone away

When the night falls you wonder if you shouldn't find someplace, to run and hide

Escape the pain..

But hiding's such a lonely thing to do

I can't stop the rain from falling down on you again

I can't stop the rain but I will hold you 'til it goes away

When the rain comes you blame it on the things that you have done

When the storm fades you know that rain must fall on everyone

So Rest awhile, it'll be alright

No one loves you like I do!

I can't stop the rain from falling down on you again
I can't stop the rain but I will hold you 'til it goes away

When the rain comes...
I will hold you!

I really love that song..

Sometimes it feels like the rain never stops.

Sometimes it feels like no one really gives a damn.

Sometimes I feel so alone.

Today, I heard someone say that in order to feel someone cares you need to let go.. you need to trust and with that I would only guess, someone would need to take a leap.. a leap of faith. Fear can hold so many back from trying news things, going to new places and allowing others to love them.

So many can put on a tough act.. a mask if you will.. to hide what is really going on inside. So many feel they are screwed up.. beyond repair.. undeserving.. and fear that if they let their guard down they will be criticized or judged.. for just being themselves. The one who won't ever judge is God.. and that's great.. and no offence to Him or disrespect.. ya can't play cards with God.. you can't share a physical relationship with Him.. He isn't going to sit beside you on the couch and watch a movie with you.. and no matter how much faith one person has.. relationships with human beings are just as important.. but they won't happen..  not on a deeper level.. if you don't take the risk..

There is one person I desperately want to open up to.. I want to get rid of the negative thoughts swirling inside my head.. making me doubt that what I have to say is important.. making me feel like I'll get hurt if I say anything. I think we all make mountains out of mole hills and dammit.. I need an exterminator!!!

Control

CON·TROL noun /kənˈtrōl/ 
controls, plural

1.The power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events
- the whole operation is under the control of a production manager
- the situation was slipping out of her control
                                                                                             www.dictionary.com

I need to be in control of certain things.. I can let lots go.. but when it directly involves me, I must control how the outcome will/should/could be. Does it work ALL the time? NO! And I always end up feeling disappointed and beating myself up afterwards.

I tried to make a list of things I can just let go of.. and I could only come up with one thing.. not a good sign for me!! I did come up with a list of things I tend to... well... control..

• I need to be the person driving
• It's hard for me to trust people
• I make lists for lots of things
• I prefer to do everything myself (or don't know how to ask for help.. not sure which is stronger)
• When on vacation I tend to make a list of things to do rather than just "winging" it..
• I plan.. I plan.. I plan.. I plan...
• I go over conversations in my head of how people will react and then replay those with different possible responses.
• I always organize my clothes the night before I'm going to wear them..
• I'm stubborn. It's not that I can't be flexible for other people but when I get an idea in my head I can't stop and I keep trying to pursue it... and if I'm really passionate about something.. I will try to get people to see my point of view or else they need to give me a real good twist in order for me to alter my idea.

The most disappointing thing about needing control.. is losing it.. which happened to me recently. I have known for a while that I would need another surgery and I was told I would only be in the hospital for a week and then I could go home to recover. I had made plans of how I could get my groceries, do my housework, walk the dog and see people. I planned how long I would be off work for, when I would go back to work and how I would make it to my sisters for Christmas.

Everything changed when the doctor told me that I couldn't go home to recover and would need to "go somewhere".. possibly somewhere I am not familiar with. I don't want to be anywhere other than my own home.. in my own bed.. with my own pillow and my dog helping me to recover. I won't be back to work when I had planned and chances are... I'll be missing yet another Christmas.

Since my mom passed away 4 years ago.. I've had 1 Christmas out of the hospital.. it SUCKS!! I'm not taking it well and I don't know what to do about it. I guess most would say "let it go" and although I'm not talking about it a lot.. I think about it constantly!

Never mind the surgery being complicated enough.. now I have to put up with crappy food, nurses, more doctors, needles and other patients and depending where they stick me.. little or no visitors... AGAIN!!

What I do know for sure is I am planning on this being my LAST surgery!

"People who have a higher sense of control tend to feel pain less intensely. This is probably because a person who feels they are not in control also feels vulnerable to attack and starts to imagine being hurt and so feels some psychologically created pain. When real pain appears they simply feel worse."

This statement I find very true.. the more I feel in control of a situation.. the safer I feel and the less vulnerable I feel.. lets face it.. most of want some kind of control in our lives.. without it we'll surely have chaos to some level!

Imagine

I've known her for eleven years. She's the first and last kid I truly loved and would have adopted. Her behaviors have frustrated me, worried me and at times made me question "what the hell was I doing?" She has amazed me and awed me with her strength and determination. I try not to, but I tend to hold every other kid in comparison to her.

She was only fifteen years old when she gave birth to her first child. And at fifteen years old she wanted to move out of her foster home and do it all herself. Of course I wouldn't let her but just one year later, she wore me down. Was it the right thing to? Was I setting her up for failure? How was she to cope being a single parent with no adult role model living with her? God knows she had no example of what a loving, nurturing, responsible parent was like.

But there was something about her.

I saw a bit of me in her.

She graduated from high school a year early. She went on to have three more births. Sadly her first daughter was taken too early. We mourned together.

That's when things changed for me.

It was too hard. Loving a child who wasn't mine. To see her heartache and knowing there was nothing I could do to change it.

But she survived.

She has grown into the most beautiful woman. The most amazing mother. Still.. She faces more heartache. It is not the life of her child but her own that she must fight for. The survival rate is high with modern medicine.

But it's the fear of the unknown.

How much more does she have to go thru? Why can't she be given the break she is so deserving of? Her life hasn't been easy. And now there is another mountain she must climb.

It makes me so angry.

As I write this and try to make sense of something that makes no sense at all I'm listening to a song called "I can only Imagine"... That's all any of us can do. Is imagine what the future holds. Speculate. Hope. But not one of us can control tomorrow. We can plan and then in a flash everything can change.

One day at a time. When that's too much, one hour at a time. And when that's too much... One minute at a time. And if that doesn't work, imagine the good. Imagine the possibilities. Imagine a life with no loss, no pain, no heartache.. One day, we will all have that.

Ahoy Mateys!

Well pirate Raeya celebrated her 3rd birthday! The whole day was perfect! Tor did an amazing job with the pirate ship cake and all the wonderful decorations!! Check out those incredible party invitations!! And Raeya's Nana made her pirate costume and sent it.. all the way from Nova Scotia!! That must be where the real pirates are from! lol

Rob, Tor, Lindsey and Jesse were all in fine form as head pirates but the show stoppers were Raeya, Kelly, Jarrod, and Jen! They looked so AWESOME!! Kelly and Jarrod both wore the shirts that my mom made for them when they graduated.. they make great pirate shirts.. not sure the look they were going for in grad.. however, it was almost like Mom was part of Raeya's birthday... Oh how she would have LOVED Raeya.. and if Rob and Tor think I spoil her.. Mom would have spoiled her ten fold!!! Sigh...

What do Pirates eat?? Cucumbers, of course!!

Here comes the Pirates!



And even a Pirate needs a hand, once in a while! And then some fun sliding down the slide! Weeeee!

Is it time for presents.. NOW?!

A Pirate puppet!!

Even Pirates need to take time for a swing!

Kelly.. you are wearing make-up to go along with the costume... right?!?



Charlotte is getting so BIG!!

The cutest Pirate in town!

All in all.. everyone had a swash buckling good time at the Pirate party!

Happy 3rd Birthday Raeya! I love you to the moon!