Check out my ETSY shop!!!!

Check out my ETSY shop!!!!
Click on the photo to see my latest creations at Etsy!!!

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Spread the Word...



Created by young people with and without intellectual disabilities, Spread the Word to End the Word is one element of Special Olympics’ vision of a world where everyone matters, where everyone is accepted and, most importantly, where everyone is valued. Leading the way in promoting acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics opposes prejudice and discrimination, continuously working to dispel the negative stereotypes associated with this population — the use of the R-word being one such stereotype. In a world that has worked to eliminate pejorative racial and ethnic language such as the “N word,” among others, the R-word is gaining popularity.

Today, young people across the country are leading local efforts to raise awareness and collect pledges on www.r-word.org from peers and the community to vow not to use the R-word. Actor and activist John C. McGinley, of the hit show “Scrubs,” is helping with this effort by making national media appearances on behalf of the campaign.

I personally have always hated hearing people use the word "retard" even before we ever had Ricky. Please make an effort to remind others how offensive this word is and to stop using it.

Just a reminder that my blog giveaway ends tomorrow morning at 9am central time. We have had a great response but there's still time to enter the contest!!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Blog Giveaway!!!

Tutu Shirt is size 4...it was a little big on Ava(my niece) but I tucked it up and it looked great on her. Isn't she a sweet model!
The tutu is sewn on the shirt and it ties in the back.
Receive this matching 5x7 picture frame with personalized name included.
Choose any pair of socks to match this set!!

This is the best blog giveaway I have done so far! A couple moms have asked me if I could sew tutu shirts so this was the first one I made. I decided to stick with making socks even if I end up donating and giving away more as gifts than I end up selling! I will continue to make tutu onsies for infants however but have decided to not make the bigger sizes. SO...I am offering this size 4 tutu shirt in this giveaway. It is comfortable and adorable and would look cute with leggings or tights. It will come with personalization of any name you want on the front with rhinestone lettering!!!

I am also giving away a matching 5x7 picture frame which will be personalized with a name of your choosing.

Plus, choose a pair of socks from any that I make!!

Here's how you enter this giveaway:

1. Leave a comment below telling me which socks you like best on my socks blog. This will give you one entry in the drawing.

2. Add my personal blog (this one!) to your blog list as one that you like to read OR go back to my socks blog and grab one of the three buttons and post it to your blog. Then come back and leave another comment for me telling me you did this. You will receive FIVE more entries in this drawing!!

Drawing will be held on Wednesday, April 1st! Winner will be selected using Random.org.

Finally if you know anyone who is raising money for an adoption and is looking for donations OR if you know anyone who is having financial/personal/physical hardships, I would be happy to donate sox that rock to them. I appreciate those of you who have ordered socks, and will welcome future orders. I just want to let it be known that if I can help others and bring a smile to a little girl's face with my socks, than I am honored to do that too!!

This posting is my FFF for this week! To see more Favorite Foto Friday pictures, go to Sarah's blog!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

World Down Syndrome Day






Ricky is such a blessing to our family! When he was first born we had so many questions and wondered what his life held in store for him. We were afraid of all that he couldn't do. As time went on, we realized that he was very capable of doing everything that other children do...sometimes a little later than them, but always accomplishing the same milestones. It was really helpful for him to be a twin so he could learn from watching Greta do things. He even met some milestones before her!! It also allowed us as parents to realize just how much he was capable of doing when he kept up pretty closely with his twin sister.

When he was little, I thought about his Down syndrome alot, worried alot, and was fearful at times for his future. Now, however, I seldom think of him in terms of his Down syndrome. He's just another one of my 5 special kids, all with unique traits and qualities. He seems to me to be a typical 7 year old boy, who just happens to have an extra chromosome! He is so smart, so athletic, and so funny. He has tons of friends at school from his special ed. class and his regular 1st grade class. He gets invited to lots of birthday parties and the other children just accept him for who he is. I really don't think some of them even know he has special needs! He's just sweet (sometimes sassy) Ricky, everybody's friend!

Today we celebrate that 3rd chromosome on the 21st pair, hence the date of this special occasion...3-21-09!! We love reading blogs of others with special kids like our Ricky. Thanks for stopping by our blog. Have a great weekend AND...

Come back next Friday for a great blog giveaway...especially if you have little girls!!!!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Favorite Foto Friday-"Green"






So maybe the green beer looks a little blue but it was good with the corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day!! To see more FFF "Green" photos, go to Sarah's blog.

Make sure you stop back here next Friday for an AWESOME GIVEAWAY!!!!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Morning At the Zoo!






Peter and I spent the morning at the MN Zoo. He loved it!! I have been so bad about renewing our annual membership so he's never even been there before. When the twins were infants, I would take them at least once a month. Now that I got another membership, we will go there more! The zoo is so nice as they have lots of indoor exhibits when it's cold out so we will have lots to see even in the winter months.

Peter especially loved the monkeys...doesn't every kid??!! We also spent alot of time at the dolphin tank, the shark exhibit and watching the fresh water fish. I was so disappointed to find out that the dolphin show hasn't been going on since August as they are introducing new dolphins to the pod and one is expecting a baby any day. That was always the highlight of every visit for my kids (and me)!

By the time we went to the bird show, Peter was all zoo-d out! The beauty of a membership is that you can go for just a few hours and don't feel like you need to get your money's worth staying a long time. We even met a little girl that is also from Guatemala and was Peter's age! Alice was adorable!

Well, off to start my corned beef and cabbage in the crock pot! Since the kids won't like it, I bought a shamrock-shaped pizza for them at Papa Murphy's! Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Hockey Season FINALLY Over!







This weekend was Greta's hockey tournament. She did so well this season and really improved. She even scored a goal at the game!! Her season was short and manageable as her Daddy was a coach so I didn't always have to drive her to practices. Hannah's hockey season, on the other hand, was 4 1/2 months long!! That is just too long to be running to games and practices up to 5 or 6 days a week and at locations all over the Twin cities metro area, often driving in winter storms!! Get the picture! I was happy to see her season finally end but it was a lot of fun while it lasted. She really improved this year too and loves, loves, LOVES the sport.

Now we only have Rich's hockey left to go. He is playing in a national tournament in Florida this spring! Not sure yet if the whole family will go and watch him.

Once we got home from the tournament this weekend, Peter went right for his little hockey stick and starting shooting pucks and balls at the net! He loves the game so much. You can see his joy when he makes a goal!!!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Favorite Foto Friday-"Then"







To see more FFF photos, please check out Sarah's blog.

Have a great weekend!!!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Check out My New Socks for Spring!!







Here are some of the cute new socks that are available now with prices starting at only $4.00 each. To see more, just go to my SOCKS blog and check out what's new!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Favorite Foto Friday





To see more Favorite Friday pictures, go to Sarah's blog. Have a great weekend!!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009