no worry the meat a tarrians are represented

All of the foods I usually say no to throughout the year.... poppers, corn nuggets, cheese sticks, pizza rolls, mushroom poppers, chedder poppers, chicken pops, and BBQ ready meatballs.. they had some real kiddo food eatin' fun!

Vegan carrot cake made with many hands.... it was a hit

Merry Christmas friends and family

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY JESUS......aka Pa Pa God as Carmelo him.

The night was quietly celebrated with siblings and grand kids. They had a fun finger foods dinner with presents to open from one another. It was Lara's first time celebrating with us and she enjoyed the family time. Rein is working a lot, had a huge smile on her face as I focused on "ALL ABOUT ME" items for her.. make up, perfume and a hair straightener. Everything she wanted. Mandie and the kids enjoyed the family time and all left early to get home for baths and into bed so Santa can make it to our homes. The lists are not long yet the desired item is strong. Carmelo wants track. He has a train with no track. Lara is open to anything, Chris a game for his gaming, Keirsten wants clothes from Hollister, Kaitlyn is good with anything, Jordan wants a truck, Steven wants coloring books,

Emma caught on quickly!!! I have some great photos of her opening her first gift. She SCREAMED when she got the paper into her mouth and we needed to get to the toy for her safety....she was not a happy girl.. once she got into it she would reach to rip the next package.. she is going to love morning.. Lucas opened his first gift which actually goes with a bigger gift he will get in the morning but he was content with the boxed trucks and tractors...still in the box...tomorrow morning he will find them open inside a sand/water table. I found a great table at the local goodwill store which is going to be a hit.... Tressa got a cash register which she and Kaitlyn played with until bedtime. Kaitlyn got a pottery wheel which she will do Saturday with her big sister. Jordan was in heaven with his little people farm, Steven got his super hero PJ's and figurines as his fave for tonight.... Keirsten got some NIKE sandals she has wanted for a very long time. Me, I got this awesome hand painted painting of our family tree with all 12 of my children on the branches. I am in love with it!!!! Thank you everyone.

what a wonderful day......

We got the last of the shopping done this morning, the kids LOVE the Coconut Point Mall. Then home in time for Trish and the girls to drop by with some crafts, a delivery of books from Uncle Sam (California Sam - we have 2 Uncle Sam's) and as Trish and the girls left Barbie was ringing the bell. She also brought activities for the kids, hugs and catching up with each of the kids and yet another visitor A BIG SURPRISE.. Ms Vickie their previous speech therapist dropped in with goodies, and some cooking crafts for tomorrow. The best surprise was Ms. Vickie's arms full of PIZZA and I did not need to cook dinner..THANK YOU!!!!! We are so lucky to have so many people close to our family...the love was flowing today. Now the calm is back and time to start reading our new chapter books... perfect gifts for this household...crafts, books, music and activities.

All the shopping is complete, only some eggnog to make and cookies to bake tomorrow for our Christmas Eve family gathering. This year we have Erin and Lara yet missing; Josh, Kory Michelle and Ayden... : o( They are all up North int eh wintery storms wishing they had sunshine on their face... no, this is their fist winter in snow so this year they are loving it.

Emma is making me so proud. She is one smart little girl.. she is sitting in her activity seat playing with her toys. She is pulling the string on her mirror which does not do anything, just there to chew on. She has been playing with her new butterfly which when she pulls on a simliar part of that toy it creates music....so she is pulling on this one and now lifting up to her EAR!!!! she is, I am watching as she liiks at it pulls looks at it and moves it to her ear... no sound so she tries again... VERY VERY SMART!

Keirsten is coming down with a cold and laying for rest...praying it passes quickly. The others are out back playing in the yard. Today a nice heat wave came through in time for them to play. Lucas is napping and I am feeling calm. The laundry isn't done, the dishes not put away from linch and the house...well the kids are on break so I deal with it...

Ooops company in the drive!!

The day was calm and fulfilling

I woke no t sure how today would go, it could have been stress filled or as it was productive and calm.

The kids were super helpers; the goodie bags completed and placed with the table settings items, the gifts all wrapped and into their family bags, the centerpieces put back together one at a time bulb by bulb and burn by burn..lol Mandie and I have battle scars from the center pieces.. HOT GLUE GUNS.... I went to the first store for water on sale and was in and out without any trouble...then to the dollar store for items and was 2nd in line of a busy busy store...and Walmart the Saturday before Christmas not a parking place in site until I turned the corner and there it was...I got a cart...20 cases of soda, paper products for 300, 10 large bottles of apple juice, SD cards, registration items, name tags, stuffing, sweet potatoes and the other odds and ends to fill the cart strategically to the top and over...it was a heavy push but when I got to the front..an open register and out to the van and on the way home I went... parting of the rivers come to mind???? I was calm, not a stress second the entire outing...and then home to complete the tasks, fill the van pack the kids set out their holiday wears, make them dinner, bath and bed...I am totally relaxed and tomorrow is the biggest event for my organization this year.. I think it is awesome!!! I have colored my hair tweezed my eyebrows and am sitting showered and cool in my holiday jammies blogging...what could be better than this..

So a part of my day has been communicating with a Mother of three I believe. She just gave birth to a baby boy who has Down syndrome. She is not convinced she and her husband are capable parents to raise their son and have chosen an adoptive family. She is seeking support because her heart is pulling her to seek all information before the biggest decision of her life is made. She has pros and cons although after reading my blog and looking at the kids she hurts to keep her son, she is just not sure of the added responsibilities... I pray that giving her all options makes her final decision one that allows her peace. I am also very calm about this today as I believe my day has been one again that I was only co-pilot.

For all my readers who will join us tomorrow, I can not wait to see you all. For those not able to make it I will be posting lots of photos and you can go to the holiday blog to see the up to date progress...

www.podsangelsholidayparty.blogspot.com

Have a blessed day, do something kind for someone tomorrow. random acts of kindness.

hours until our annual Holiday , MAGICAL EVENT

I am giving a few minutes while Emma lays her head for a much needed nap. We are just about complete with all the annual Holiday party items to secure a festive, happy celebratory Sunday with community families all having a common bond. We open our annual event outside the disability of Down syndrome to any family who experiences the trials and triumphs of raising children with different abilities because we have a common thread in the community. We need each other for support because no one can be a better support to another parent than one who has walked our journey.

The hall is rented, the music DJ) is paid, the food is ordered, drinks in my van, supplies to make it festive in my van, the table settings purchased, the goodies bags are in process, center pieces coming together, shopping near complete..tonight wrapping party at Mandie's and tomorrow we cook....we secure all last minute details and we meet our WONDERFUL DONORS Cape Coral Fire Fighters bearing gifts for all the Cape Coral children's gifts, The LeeSar employee's securing the Ft Myers children's gifts, BEAR2CUTE company for their donation each child receives a holiday bear.. We have CAPE CORAL HIGH SCHOOL staff and students meeting us to volunteer, Jim Harris Photography rolling in his studio for portraits and party shots, Sunday morning at the hall. I am completeing the spread sheet for RSVP families and making room for out of town guests.... It is a magical party each year that makes my heart feel with joy.

Now, minutes away from the bus where I am full time mom 24/7 until NEXT YEAR!! LOL

That is my full time job.. ;o)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEIRSTEN, SWEET 16

We say our Good byes, best wishes for a happy life

Jordan makes cranberry spread to share with school staff

It is very yummy, not too sweet, not too tart.... GOOD JOB JORDAN!

The game of life....

Some days when I look at life it seems I am in a fast pitch baseball game where some people in my life think it is a game of dodge ball... LOL

I love fast pitch, I thrive on being busy and multi tasking. The stronger the deadline the better I work UNDER PRESSURE. I am sure my Doctor would say this is not the healthiest lifestyle one should have but here nor there it is mine.

I am in the final week of one of my annual major events, I have the hall at a discount and with that come discount environments...YIKES I am reading up on how to get the smell of smoke out of a room for an event..anyone hear of any one day cures..I found someone saying saucers full of white vinegar laid around the room, I am planning that.. I am open for any and all suggestions. I get to enter the hall at 10:30 am and we have families coming at 3:30 pm. I have large doors on either end of the hall which I will open the first couple hours..


The gifts are done by the local fireman and all I have to do is get the list completed and to them by NOVEMBER 30th... (yes i know that date has passed) He had the majority of the list by tthe 4th of December... I am a SUCKER; Sing that with me SSSSUUUUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKEEEERRRRRRRR for the agency calling saying,, BUT WE HAVE JUST THIS ONE Family....and all the other parties are closed; full... well, Ok them with my tail between my legs I say it..well, ok then. praying my super hero over at CCPD is still somewhere with his tail ....LOL he is a soft hearted guy as well and I find he tries his best to deal with my super soft heart. OUT OF DENIAL I CAN NOT SAY NO!!

The food is finally secure and pick up time is a bit tricky.....sing that with me TTTrrrrriiiiiiccckkkeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee accent on the E please.... Bob Evans moved my hero manager to a much busier store, and, I not being in the food service industry switched my party to a Sunday, and, He! although still very much my hero...is not happyyyyyyy eeeeeeee hold the E again please with me. I have to pick up the food Saturday night... OMGoodness.. OMGoodness said much like Orphan Annie.. I am not complaining but can ya mark it from $2.25 per person then PLEASE?? Cause now I have to COOK SUNDAY... it does count as cooking if you have to re-heat everything right???

I am really lovin my DJ company..Secure them, they are happy and they are all on their own, they needed NOTHING from me but the payment........ THANK YOU!!! if ever you volunteer for an event choose the DJ......LOL that is my lesson learned here..
I need my party goers to tip them good!

I got a HUGE SUPRISE for all the kids..I got a major last minute donation of TEDDY BEARS from a local company...I AM SO EXCITED...

I am up on sugar this morning for all those wondering where this energy came from PUBLIX our local super market called to say they had some over cooked (quantity) PIE's LUCKY US!!!! I was able to go get a dozen pies and 10 carrot cakes...some odds and ends and let me put my finger in the cookie jar while I was there....PURE SUGAR HIGH! I must admit at 6:45 in the morning I needed something to dangle to get me out on the road for an hour BETWEEN BUSES... so the morning went like this.

Up to find Keirsten missed her 5:30 alarm now needs a ride to school, the elementary kids I get up and dress although Jordan has not completed his 2nd pot holder he feels MUST be completed before school...YIKES, I have PUBLIX scheduled to be there minutes after the kids board the bus so 2 baby's need changed and bottles made for the trip, plus Steven and Kaitlyn loose their leisure getting ready time and need to work full speed ahead to go with me and be ready to board their bus as we enter back home... RUN..... we need fast party music this morning,, no lallygagging around here.. The baby's are all smiles, they think it is a party.. race race race, hair, make up, shoes, pot holders, breakfasts lunches packed...MY GIRLFRIEND CALLS TO CHAT...what's up with that/??? not happinen..call me in a few, I will be on the road. "where ya goin" call me later... pot holder not complete...I will deliver later to school , yhee gags, BUS THE BUS ISS HERE..... go hurry, on the bus and others in the van off to get goodies for the party. YIKES the neighbors all have their garbage cans out IS IT TUESDAY... out of the van hurry, garbage cans to the road..... off to get the goodies... Load quick quick...once we load the pies.....You know those moments you need to be gracious and give people time to express themselves and "share" They want to see the baby's share their thoughts and pat you on the back and inside you are counting all the things that are going to go wrong for the ENTIRE day if you do not get back into the drivers seat RIGHT NOW and keep rolling ...Well, that was me this morning, smiling nicely with one leg in the van, my mind 1/2 way to Keirstens school while I stood listening to a woman talk...I always relate to Chevy Chase in those times..and I SMILE... I just love that character. SO I offer a closure to the conversation and hop into the van to go go go..Keirsten is trying to slide a chocolate something full of sugar into her book bag..LOOK OUT HIGH School... but she realizes her days without phone privileges would not return with yet another referral so the chocolate is placed back into the box...Drop her off and back to the house.. Kaitlyn and Steven have such a hard time with routine change so they go into their leisure mode of laying around as I gear up for some cheer leading ,, gotaa go gotta go gotta go... quick and cheerleader like. They are grumbling they want to go outside and SWING... not today so then we get into the Friday, I can stay home with you 2 weeks repetition...yes, get your back packs on and go to the driveway...mental move to the time change... it worked!

I am home and the baby's are fed, need their baths and our day begins..

I have a ton of party work to do today; all the table covers. Yesterday it showed 20 tables round which is not enough if everyone shows so a feww more, but we have chairs and we can fit everyone in..The dance floor is large YIPEE. I mentally scoped out the area for Santa, and another for the photographer. I need sodas and the gifts for the out of towners... I need to secure some more volunteers and I think we have it...Well I am thinking about cooking a turkey to have as back up.... I would never ever want to run out of food. That would be horrible... We are adding chicken nuggets for the kids...and I have families bringing side dishes... we will see, what's a turkey pop it in the oven and worst case we bring it home to eat on ...our Christmas dinner is ham.


HAPPY HOLIDAYS....I am off to give baths and love on the baby's as I hear them and all t hose squeals and babbles...JUST LOVE IT!

rushing to finish before the bus

hand/home made cranberry orange apple spread

Kids making gifts from the heart and hands....

BUILDING TEDDY-2-CUTE company here in CAPE CORAL

www.teddy2cute.com
Derby Productions, LC
1227 SE 9th Terrace
Cape Coral, FL 33990