Burnt Offerings

Leave it to my household to become so crazy, that we forgot dinner in the oven, ONCE AGAIN.

After reassuring all, that its just the smell of burnt food that nauseates mommy, not that I am beyond mad - I just spent the last 4 hours power cleaning, because that's what I DO BEST...ugh!

My dh is working, so I use my free time, being the busy bee I am, eating on the run, cleaning on the run, planting, caring and counseling on the run....gas at $4 a gallon, not bad compared to one 12oz cup of sugarfreesoyvanilla latte on the run, make that a gallon and I could go for days....anyway, burnt offerings aside, the proof is in the photo - pizza bagels are toasty at 400* for say 40 minutes - live and learn, and smile until tomorrow!

Sweet Sixteen !

This summer (JULY) Paige will be turning sweet sixteen, and we figured several months ago we better get on the bandwagon and ask her what her idea was for her party ‘theme’ and when we should schedule the big event.

First she decided May, two months early because she wanted to include her friends from school before summer vacation, jobs & holidays took them on the road.
So, we tried to schedule as best as we could around racing, within two series, NASCAR, ARCA and upcoming last minute commercials, and one very important movie we had already been notified would begin filming in early June. Ok, DONE DEAL, May 24th, Saturday night at my husbands shop (Fast Track Racing on Moorehead Road) 7PM to Midnight,.

That was easy enough, it’s a great location for tons of kids, we can control the traffic and all they really want to do is have a great place to dance.

Then we were blindsided by this beautiful blonde as she continued her request… not for a shinny convertible ( was a thought ) nor the amount of food and party favors she would have but her idea was to turn this party into a fundraiser…You could have knocked me over.

She has always been a child who is a giver, within church and charity organizations and she has since a very early age been a Domestic Violence Awareness advocate, and secondly had a very giving heart with the needs of Autism after a teacher in the 4th grade explained it to her.

She had recently read about a family with SIX autistic children, way out in Utah. We found the article she had read by googling online People magazine, and any blog spot we could find., and found them.

After visiting their website, and deciding this was the family we needed to help, the process began. Their blog is www.autismbites.com and our party theme is “Take a Bite out of Autism”, we designed invites that serve as Tickets and requested a minimal donation to attend the party. She is going to have food, fun, photos, dancing and has prepared a presentation to explain to the kids the needs that this family has. She asked for no gifts, just big hearts that want to help. So far we have printed and distributed 250 invites/tickets…and she wants more – ugh I am praying for easy snacks and drinks!

**updated....5/25/08 we had a very great party, and her surprise photo prop thanks to her dad, was a Car of Tomorrow painted just for her party....the kids got a huge kick out of the car, and each had their photo taken with it as a thank you gift card, which Paige will be mailing out to all of them on Tuesday. Pretty much everyone asked to hear it rumble and wondered if she could drive it throught the parking lot --- NOT A CHANCE kids it was just for looks. Anyway, going to prepare a photo gift book to send to the Kirton family tomorrow to let them know about Paige's party and let them know how much money she raised for their family!

Happy Race Week

Time for the 600, and Paige's special Sweet Sixteen fundraiser to help an Autistic family of six. I think I am physically and mentally worn out, and its not even mid week. We are prepared as we can be, and hopefully the event is wonderful and she raises alot of money. Today we spent a great afternoon working up the cake decor, making tee shirts and I am still trying to upload photos for her little video profile. Shel has arranged a special surprise backdrop for her photo booth, and its not hers to keep - but keeping with the fact that we are holding this party in his race shop, we have a nice caroftomorrow display for the kids to stand near for photos. I am grateful the weather looks like a blessing as well, considering I could be sleeping over in the shop, in order to be there bright and early Sunday morning to park cars....ugh. I hope to have a slide show of photos to post after the event, and want to wish you all a safe and happy memorial weekend! This might be my last chance to post for awhile.....busy busy busy !

Kitchen Krazy

TODAYS THOUGHTS, Kitchen redo, I sent out an SOS for some help - I have a clean slate beautiful white kitchen, and for once in my life I have a decorating disfunction...I cannot find a theme or color selection. I had too much time on my hands and google offered a mind boggling aray of ideas, too many of which decorated around Roosters/Pigs or Apples. Not to offend anyone, but been there done that, and the roosters were ugly to me back then. So I have endless options of nothing, and aparently too much time on my hands. The weather has changed back to cooler spring time temps - and I am caught up for now with my landscaping work. I'd rather swallow a fork that go through a major remodel, so I am thinking slap some color on the walls, change knobs and put something over that plain backsplash ... any suggestions send me a note :) hugs from me!

Thank goodness its friday, phone calls, housework and yard work is almost complete, the only 'work' we have this weekend is god's work and touch ups - I feel relieved that we have no major commitments, other than a fun filled outing for a special 4 yr olds birthday party on Saturday, but hey its a doll baby of a little girl - so I coudlnt resist...I will be taking photos of the attendee's for their little goodie bags, imagine that..Anyway - a special mothers day wish to all my subsitute moms and girlfriends, fur mommies and best buds - I LOVE YOU all, and enjoy the weekend you deserve!
love kimmy

super Tuesday in Indiana and North Carolina has me sitting on pins and needles...will she or wont she, how is the Mrs going to pull it off? My darling husband (dh) has actually stated verbally but not publicly that she might just make sense for once.
Anyway we had a very successful weekend in our professional areas, and now are focusing in again on the household - 3 weeks and counting until the official Sweet Sixteen party, and I am running behind. I cannot imagine how it will all come together but I might have to do some power working when my mind is at its best, which is late at night. I hope this post finds you all well and happy - enjoying another day of blessed sunshine and beautiful blooms.

Hullabalooza !

This is a fun word to use in conversation, and it's perfect if you need an unusual synonym for "noise" or "commotion"

which is always going on in our house, therefore the oooza affect describes us.

A blended family of one formerly single settled succesfull man, one strung out struggling single mom of two kids, a dog, two cats and a guinea pig (RIP).

what else can we say, well we will blog away and we hope you enjoy viewing!