Sea World!

A few weeks ago, we decided to plan a last minute family vacation.  Since our summer schedule was already so busy, we had to piggy back this little vaca onto one that had already been planned, my annual family reunion.  Since we would be driving down 35 anyway to New Braunfels for the reunion, we decided to take a little detour and go to San Antonio first to spend a couple of days at Sea World!

We had SO much fun.  While it was really a short trip, just two days, it was jam packed with smiles and making wonderful memories as a family.  I can't wait for all the other vacations we will take together as a family in the future.  The kids did so well and were very flexible with their schedules.  Cory and I were so tickled with them when we first arrived at our hotel around 10:00 Monday night.  Just like you would expect a 4 year old to be, Christopher was wide awake and filled with excitement and energy at the thought of being in the hotel.  Miss Lucy was right there with him, as they bounced around on the bed and giggled late into the night - so cute!

Our time at Sea World was wonderful.  We fed and pet the dolphins, rode the Log Ride (all 4 of us), played in the water, and of course saw Shamu.  Christopher loved everything we did.  Lucy did too, except for the fake Shamu and fake Dolphin characters that were walking around the front gate, they brought on tears of terror.  Unlike the real dolphins, that she actively tried to reach out and pet several times.

Our friends, the Braatens, were down there too staying in our same hotel.  We met up with them at Sea World the first day, and enjoyed great pool time, dinner, and s'mores by the fire that night.  

It was a wonderful start to our week filled with family fun!

Best Buds

Christopher and Drew are such good friends.  Sometimes Meghan and I even think they act a little more like brothers - wrestling and picking at each other one minute, only to be laughing and having fun the next.  It has really been fun to watch them develop this friendship over the past couple of years, and now see that it is truly genuine, not just something we force because we live close by and Meghan and I enjoy the mommy company.  These boys truly like each other.  We hadn't even been back in Frisco from our little family vacation for 24 hours before Christopher was asking to go to Drew's house.  When we arrived there this afternoon, I heard Drew tell Christopher, "I missed you."  Seriously, how cute is that?

Anyway, the Dubes are heading up to the East Coast for the rest of the summer and we sure will miss them.  We were really bummed when we realized that Drew would not be here for Christopher's birthday party this year.  So Meghan and I decided to get the boys together for a little early celebration.  We had planned to go to the pool and then for ice cream, but rain was a spoiler.  We ended up at the Wiggly Play Center for some playtime, and then hot dogs and ice cream from Double Dips.  Meghan and Drew were so sweet and even got Christopher a birthday present - which Meghan told me was entirely Drew's idea, even down to when they went shopping (1:00 in the afternoon, which is usually nap time)!  

We are so thankful to have them in our lives and will always think of Drew as Christopher's first "real" friend!

 Getting ready to sing "Happy Birthday"

Drew helps blow out the candles!

Christopher's very own lawn mower from Drew.

And just for fun - a couple more pictures of these silly boys!

In January 2008 celebrating Drew's 2nd birthday!

June 2009, celebrating Christopher's 4th birthday

Lucy's First Swim

We hit the pool on Sunday evening with our good friends the Dubes.  This was Lucy's first official time in the pool.  (I think I held her in there last summer for a few minutes here and there to cool her off but that doesn't really count.)  Cory was golfing so he didn't go with us, and I told him when he got home that we might have a little dare devil on our hands!  Of course it is a bit early to tell for sure but our little girl had a BALL in the water.  I started her out in her little boat float.  She just kicked and splashed with the biggest grin on her face the entire time.  Until she caught glimpse of her brother and Drew swimming out into the water to Jeff (Drew's daddy)!  I could just see the wheels turning in her little head as she started to maneuver her way out of the float to try and swim herself.  She was the same way in the baby pool, wanted nothing to do with me and trying with all her might to keep up with the big boys.  It was SO cute and SO different from Christopher's first pool experience.  I can't wait to see how the rest of the summer unfolds!

Sittin' by the pool!

The boys!

Let the Fundraising Begin!

So, I know I briefly posted about The 3 Day a couple of weeks ago but this weekend marks 24 weeks until the event!  Time to start training and time to start FUNDRAISING!!

I'm going to insert a copy of the letter I sent out two years ago when I began my fundraising campaign then.  Even now, when I go back and read it, I am haunted by what a scary time this was for my family.  We had never experienced anything like it.  Cancer is a horrible disease and I know and love too many people who are affected by it.  The 3 Day is such a powerful way to feel like you are doing something to make a difference.  When I walk, I not only walk for the many men and women who are facing this disease at this very moment, and not only for the ones who have faced it and lost their battle, but for the ones who have yet to face it.  My own mother.  Me.  My daughter.  With the money that is raised, research will be done, treatments and medications will be discovered, and we will become that much closer to finding a cure.  As we like to say at The 3 Day, "because EVERYONE deserves a lifetime."

My original fundraising letter, written in April of 2007:

Dear Friends and Family,

A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 3 minutes.  Every 13 minutes, the disease claims another life. 

This past January, my aunt, Pattie Hubbard went to see her doctor about a lump she had found in her left breast.  After having to wait for the biopsy results over the weekend, we learned that the results were what we had feared.  She was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer and a lumpectomy was scheduled immediately.  Unfortunately, the doctors were not able to remove all the cancer and additional tests showed pre-cancerous cells in her right breast.  Three weeks later, we found ourselves back in the hospital waiting room while my aunt had a double mastectomy.

Throughout the course of these events, I watched my cousin Beth, my best friend, face the fears of losing her mother.  I would lie awake at night trying to think of things I could say to help, knowing there really were no words.  Beth needed to know that her mom would be OK.  That Pattie would be there for her wedding, her children, and the everyday comforts that mothers provide. 

While I was searching for more knowledge on breast cancer to better help my family, I discovered www.The3Day.org.  It occurred to me, this was the way I could help.

The Breast Cancer 3 Day is a 60-mile walk for women and men who want to make a personal difference in the fight against breast cancer.  Participants commit to fundraising, training, and dedicating an entire weekend to the cause.  The participants will travel an average of 20 miles a day during the event, raising awareness for breast cancer along the way.  This year, I am going to be one of those participants. 

I have committed to raise a minimum of $2,200 by October 26^th. The proceeds raised from The 3 Day will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.  The money raised will fund research, treatment, prevention, and community outreach programs.  I hope I can count on you for financial support as I undergo this journey.  It is difficult to ask for money, but remember you can help save lives!

Thanks to the thousands of men and women who have donated in the past new tests and treatments have been developed.  After her mastectomy, Pattie was able to have a test predicting the probability of reoccurrence of her cancer.  Her percentage was so low she will not have to undergo chemotherapy or radiation.  My aunt will be one of the lucky ones to beat this disease and become a survivor! 

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Stephanie Locke

How to donate:

·    Visit my personal donation page at www.the3day.org/goto/Stephanie.Locke.  You will be able to make your donation online.  While you are there, be sure to check out our team page for The Pink Princesses.  There is a whole group of us walking for Pattie!

·    You can also mail me a check.  Make all checks payable to: Breast Cancer 3 Day.  Please send them directly to me:

Stephanie Locke

1802 Countryside Drive

Frisco, Texas 75034

This year, more than 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will lose their lives to this disease.

 

If you are one of my faithful readers (or even if you aren't), then I'm asking you to please click on the logo on the top right and donate.  I need to raise $2,300 before November 6th and I need your help.  I know these are tough times, but every little bit helps.  Don't delay, donate today!

Sharing Recipes

A few of my good mommy friends (Meredith, Jonna, and Aubrey) and I have been e-mailing for a while about good recipe finds, grocery store bargins, and other mealtime related tips and stories. We find that it helps us keep our sanity as we strive to take care of two or three children, husbands, households, and ourselves. We recently decided to put all of our thoughts about these things onto a combined blog. The four of us plan to update it with recipes and ideas to help make mealtime simple. Check it out and comment if you wish! We'd love other thoughts and suggestions!

Realtime Mealtime:
http://4realtimemealtime.blogspot.com/

The 2009 Breast Cancer 3 Day

That's right peeps, I'm walking again!  The experience I had in 2007 was incredible and I'm so excited to participate again - this time, withOUT a baby in my belly!  As many of you know, I need to raise $2,300 to walk the 60 miles.  Click here to read more about why I walk and to donate if you wish!  

New Post, New Pics

So I know I haven't been posting much lately. I guess ever since Trinkets, I have just enjoyed my evenings away from the computer since so much of my time was spent up here prior to that. At any rate, I'm going to try to be better and give updates more often!

Christopher is about to finish his 3-year old pre-school year. I can't believe my baby will be 4 this summer!! CRAZY!  We've had our first experience with soccer, which really deserves a post of its own, but overall it's been good.  Christopher has had a great time with it and Cory and I are so proud of his efforts and his competitive nature!  He is really turning into quite the intuitive little boy. I can't say anything anymore without him picking up on it. He has the best imagination and we are always engrossed in "pretend play" at this house.  The other day I got to be Lois Lane, a Wonder Pet (can't remember which one), a cow, a dinosaur, and a mommy all in the first hour of my day.   The kid is so smart and constantly asking me questions about anything and everything.  He rattles my nerves every day but melts my heart even more.

My little soccer player

My little kitchen helper, wearing his sister's jacket.  This just cracked me up one day!

Miss Lucy is now 13 months and trying to walk, as you saw in my previous post. Not only that but the girl climbs on everything! She keeps me on my toes all the time.  She is also exploring her vocal chords.  There is no use trying to have a phone conversation, or any other conversation for that matter, while Lucy is in her high chair.  She has decided that at that time of day, she will shriek the most attractive high pitched squeal you can imagine.  It is so pleasant really.  She's not doing it out of anger or sadness, just her form of communication right now.  She is also becoming more and more animated.  She shows her excitement for things with the cutest little faces and always saying "oooh, oooh."  This little one does the same as her brother and makes me both crazy for sanity and silence, and crazy in love.

"Look at me!  I'm taking steps!"

Little girl pigtails.