6th blogiversary...

Hard to believe, but I started this little blog exactly 6 years and 2,417 entries ago today!

I had been blogging for a year or so before this one, but have since removed that blog when I decided to do this one.  The intent was totally to capture the life and times of our little Charlie!  I had even put her full-name on it, before Victor and I let others know her name or that we were going to be doing a blog.

I've tried to be fairly consistent and was doing fairly well at that, until Facebook came along in my life.  I like updating Facebook and it gets old at times doing both, but this is where I really need to focus.  I think Charlie will (hopefully) really appreciate the fact we've capture so many moments of her life/adventures/photos on this blog.  It's morphed into more than just HER life and I'm SO glad I've done it...When I want to remember when/where/how/who we did something, 95% of the time, it's probably on the blog, with some photos to go along with it.

This photo from October 2006 is one of my top 10 photos of Charlie and it was our Christmas photo that year.  95% of the time she is a HAPPY/SMILEY kiddo, which this photo totally embodies!

A new favorite blog...

I discovered this blog and LOVE IT!!!

Amy was running a blog scavenger hunt today and when folks were suppose to be submitting their final answers, her website crashed....Over loaded is an understatement!

I "THINK" I figured out the sentence(s) tonight and I will be submitting my answer at exactly 1pm EST tomorrow in hopes that I'll win Victor one of these beauties!

Check out Amy's amazing blog, she ROCKS!

My new favorite idea blog...

Bee in our Bonnet...how great is THAT name??  :-)

http://www.beeinourbonnet.com/

I'm not as technically challenged as I thought...

Give me a "C"....





















Back in July, Shelley changed up her blog background and made her own favicon (that's the little icon at the top of the web address)....The Sprouffskes (Shelley, Jonathan, Thomas & John Paul) are also knows as the Skis....so she made her's SKI. I thought -- hey, that's really cool!

Fast forward to tonight (which was actually a few days ago) and I was itching to do "something" different, but I don't have a cool photo I want in the background of our blog, so I Googled favicon and figured out how to do it, without having to ask anybody for their help! YEAH ME, this is a HUGE deal...I'm truly inept when it comes to all things technical....just ask Victor!

So, it's not rocket science, but I didn't want Cina -- was too small, so I used the letter C in the same salmon color that our blog is...it took a bit, but it finally showed up--so excited...I'm such a dork!

Anyway, that's my WIN for the day!

Kathy's Top Ten blogs for 2010...

These are my favorite blogs...the ones I check daily, even if they don't pop-up on my blog roll as being updated! Creative gals with a positive spin on life, which we can ALL use a little bit more of! Hard to believe less than 48-hours and we'll be starting 2011...I'm making a to-do list, not resolution list...looking forward to what 2011 is gonna bring to our little family. THANKFUL for all our many blessings, family and friends! Hopeful that 2011 will be an easier year for so many of our friends that went thru some very, VERY tough and sad moments in 2010.

Check out my top 10 blog list when you have time, if you aren't already a dedicated follower of them already...

1. http://karenrussell.typepad.com/my_lifejust_not_on_the_ro/
2. http://www.bakerella.com/
3. http://blog.thesprouffskes.com/
4. http://cathyzielske.typepad.com/my_weblog/
5. http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/
6. http://susanbanderson.blogspot.com/
7. http://selvageblog.blogspot.com/
8. http://thepioneerwoman.com/
9. http://tidymom.net/
10. http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/

Operation: Wargaming!

Victor finally gave in to the dark side...he started his own blog for his war gaming exploits of his little gaming group!

Check it out! He already receive over 300 page hits in it's first 24-hours...WOW!

http://www.operationwargaming.blogspot.com/

Taking a break...

from blogging until sometime next week...my external hard drive crashed over the weekend...so I'll have a TON of photos to upload/edit once I'm back in business.

Charlie & I are heading to Black Butte Ranch on Friday to stay with a couple of my quilting buddies and attend the 35th Annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday...should be fun!

Peace out!

Facelift for the blog...

Blogger had some new templates pop-up. Quite a few of my friends had already made the switch, SO this morning I just took the plunge.

Let us know what you think...Polka dots were great, but 4 years later, it's time for a change...

4 years ago today...

this little blog began...1,842 posts later, I'm still 150% dedicated to keep it going...

If you read this blog, PLEASE leave a comment...we really DO love reading your comments...

1,842 posts...wonder how long it'll take me to get to post 3,684?? Knowing me, probably not another 4 years...

Bakerella.com

Love, love, LOVE her blog...
http://www.bakerella.com/

If this doesn't put you in the mood for Halloween, I give up!

Yume Design to be featured sponsor on Ali Edwards' blog...

http://yumedesign.blogspot.com/2009/08/check-out-yume-design-give-away.html



YEAH! My friend Diana's Sterling Silver Jewelery will be featured this weekend on Ali Edwards' blog...I'm SO excited for her and her business! YEAH Diana!!!

Good stuff - stolen from Dor's blog...

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right.
Love the ones who don't just because you can.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a second chance,
Grab it with both hands.
If it changes your life, let it.
Kiss slowly.
Forgive quickly.
God never said life would be easy.
He just promised it would be worth it.

Taken from Dor's blog http://cancersurvivor2006.blogspot.com/

Happy July 1st everyone!

Keeping it Real for Doreen...

My Relay/Bloggin' buddy Doreen in Washington is a fighter! She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in April of '06 (she has NEVER smoked a day in her life) and she's still fighting the fight! You should also know (if you don't already read her blog), that her hubby Rick was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in Dec'06 -- talk about the worst possible one-two punch!

When I read her blog today, blogged by one of her twin daughters Amy, I was again reminded of what an amazing family Doreen & Rick have and they've raised 3 amazing kids! The title of Amy's blog update was "Being Real" and she pretty much spelled out what most of us knowing what chemo treatments are like, it's just plain horrible! Knowing their story isn't just about the good times, but also the "real" times!

If you don't normally read Doreen's blog, I encourage you to do so...she's proof that living each day with meaning/purpose and truly appreciating all the time you have here on earth (along with having a sense of humor) really is the best medicine....because you just don't know what the future will bring. http://cancersurvivor2006.blogspot.com/

I'm gonna start a thinking of you card campaign, I did something similar when a co-worker was going thru the recovery of having a brain tumor removed...snail mail can't cure cancer, but it can bring a smile to your face! Besides birthdays or Christmas, when was the last time you sent a card, just bee-cuz?

If you would like Doreen's snail mail address to send her a card, just shoot me a note, wouldn't it be great to send her & Rick a ton of "Thinking of you" cards in the mail??

Dreaming Big for Dor & Rick! ;-)

Dreaming Big for Doreen!!!

My friend Doreen is fighting stage 4 lung cancer. She has NEVER smoked! Her husband Rick is fighting stage 4 colon cancer. Please take the time to watch their story at http://www.lungtube.tv/ (part of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation). Click on the "Love and Lung Cancer" tab at the top of the page. View at least the first three webisodes. Have tissues on hand, you're gonna need them!

Doreen continues to amaze, humble and INSPIRE me to continue raising money & awareness to find a CURE for cancer! Victor, Charlotte and I were lucky enough to see Doreen & her family last May at their 2008 Relay For Life of Stanwood. We won't be able to make it up there this year, but I encourage you to visit Doreen's Dream Team website and donate to their team.

I also encourage you to visit Doreen's blog: Life is Good: Hosted by Rick & Doreen - "Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride!"

Continuing to Dream Big for my friend and her family!!!

I had my friend Diana make this for Dor!. Got an email last night that she received and loves it! ;-) Hoping to get a photo of her wearing the necklace soon! ;-)

Cute for a Cure...

Thank you to both my friends Shelley & Mary for pointing this blog out to me today! Ironically, I saw this on Shelley's blog EARLY this morning and then Mary & I emailed each other EXACTLY at the same time a little bit later to point out this baking goodness!

Add this one to your blog roll call... http://bakerella.blogspot.com/ Great stuff!

Why I smiled today...happy, HAPPY blog goodness!

Shoot to Fight Cancer...FUNdraising at its best!!!

Let me introduce you to my friend Shelley & her adorable son Mr. Thomas! Shelley & I are fellow Relayers, bloggers and FUNdraising queens (well, I'm learning from Shelley, so I'm getting there)!

Shelley is also an AMAZING photographer! Check out her photography blog.


Anyway...Shelley always has great ideas..Last year, with the first Shoot to Fight Cancer, they raised more than $1700 to benefit the American Cancer Society and their life-saving cancer research, education, cancer patient support, and advocacy.

So, what's Shoot to Fight Cancer? It's a raffle for winning a photo shoot with Finian Road (valued at $425) for you and your family. This year, they are adding a little bonus to the mix! The lucky winner will also receive a $100 gift certificate -- to the place of your choosing! Does Mom want a new outfit for the shoot? Choose your gift card from Nordstrom or J. Crew! Do you want your little ones to be dolled up? Choose your gift card from Gymboree or Old Navy! Does your husband need a little enticing to get him to the shoot? Choose a gift card from The Ram or Cabela's to persuade him. Wherever you'd like -- your choice! The value of the total prize is $525 - and 100% of every ticket sold benefits the American Cancer Society.

So, won't you help Mr. Thomas in his quest to raise a whole lotta money for the American Cancer Society? There are only 125 tickets, for $25 each available -- so your chances are pretty good that you can win! Get your tickets fast folks...Shelley knows a LOT more people than I do, most of you that know me probably didn't think that was possible...well, it is!!!

Here's how to get the tickets:

• Go to Shelley's online website for the Relay For Life.
• Click on the word "DONATE" near the top.
• Enter the amount you wish to donate under "select gift amount": $100 buys you 4 tickets, $75 buys you three tickets, $50 buys you two tickets, and $25 buys you 1 ticket. And you can always buy more than 4!
• Follow the prompts to complete your donation to the American Cancer Society.
• We will receive a notice that your donation has been made and your ticket stub will be in the mail to you within 48 hours. It will go to the billing address for the credit card used to pay for the ticket.
• Your donation is tax-deductible for 2009.

Thanks Shelley for sharing your amazing talents and coming up with such a FUN way to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Reason #876 why I LOVE the internet...

You can find everything out there...

Found a great new blog tonight for my crafty side...love these little crocheted amigurumi creatures..AWESOME how-to blog!
http://www.hookandneedles.com/

A Lego a day...

Makes me SMILE!!!

http://legomyphoto.wordpress.com/

Fun stuff...

Part of the reason Charlie and I were out in Sherwood last night was to pick-up the fun basket of goodies that I won from The McCabe Real Estate Group. My friend Leslie & her husband Todd were giving away two fun baskets and we won a super cool -- coffee themed basket, complete with baseball cap and all. Still need to get a photo of Charlie in the cap.

Thanks Leslie & Todd. Can't wait for the Benefit Egg Hunt on April 4 @1:30pm. It's a great community/family event!

Cooper's Flock...a knitted memorial...

One of the great things about blogs is how they really do draw us together and connect all of us, even though there are miles, states and sometimes even oceans that separate us. I read about Cooper today on Susan's blog. Lucinda is making a knitted memorial of 100 birdies for her son Cooper, who passed away when he was only 21 days old. I emailed Lucinda and I plan on making a bird and I'm also going to see if Rosemary wants to make one to that we can send back to NY and give to Lucinda and her husband in memory of "their little birdy" taken all too soon!

Anymore of you knitters out there reading this that would like to make a birdy for Cooper, please let me know or contact Lucinda directly via her blog.

Remember to give those you love a hug and never, ever take life for granted! ;-)