A time to give thanks

We are enjoying a couple of days in Saratoga with Eric's sister and her family.  Carlin is now just over a year and it is fun to watch the boys dote on her, and then she just beams in delight.  She is now in love with her cats and her books which is great as they were all the books the boys grew up with- now we get to enjoy them all over again with her.

So we have much to be thankful this year- a great family, a rewarding career, and we are looking forward to see what the new year brings.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

A blast from the past

I was tying up a few last loose ends after this years Halloween Festival today.  I got all the last checks that came in over to the Ronald McDonald House today.  Everyone who commited to help this year paid, woo hoo!  It is always uncomfortable to make that call after the fact.  Is  wrote our "letter to the editor" and boxed the last of the goodies up for next year.  As I was putting away my notes from this year, I looked through my files from past years and found some fun old articles.

So we are offically at over $37,500- not too bad for a small business and small staff but with BIG heart and ambition!  All that money was sure to do some good and I have been humbled by all the stories I have heard of families using the House.  Glad we can do our part to help.

This year, both my boths helped with the event.  They helped blow up balloons and other things before hand at our house in the evenings, but this year they staffed a house for me as well.  Actually it was an RV as we were down a couple of models- apparently, they now want to buy it :)  It was a thing of beauty.  I'm just not sure I want to commit to camping every weekend- that's a blog for another day.

But after a long day, we were in the car on the way home and I said to the boys, "Thanks again for your help today.  I really appreciated all your help."  I was half expecting to hear, "Oh yeah?  Then run me through Starbucks..." But instead Jacob said, "You're welcome, Mom.  I had a great time."  That warmed my heart.  I hope that I am instilling in them the importance of community service and helping those who are less fortunate then ourselves.

In closing, attached is the photo from the paper written the first year of the event.  Jacob is just a baby and Josh was in preschool.  Not sure what was up with my hair, but I'm going to pretend it was windy out.   Wow-blink your eye and 11 years pass!