...make a brighter day... just you and me!

people need our help. children need our help.

i'm one of those people that avoids the news so as not to upset myself with the details of

some of the horrors of everyday life. pain inflicted on children and the elderly most especially keep me

up at night. it's not because i don't want to be bothered with it, but mostly because i lack the ability to not internalize

it. i'm sure this happens to most everyone. i have had a harder time with it since i have had babies of my own.

i am sad and ashamed to say...i have also doubted my ability to help. i'm just one person. what can i do to help

without unlimited funds. really, will it matter if i help, so many others are helping. i reason that i throw some

money into santa's bucket...you know the one that rings the bell at publix around christmas time.

well, it's time to step up. help is needed, and as much as i would love to adopt and bring home 10 children,

i need to find another way to help.

kelle and i have been thinking of doing something to help later next month, but when peyton started asking

me questions about why a child was crying on a news segment, i thought this was the perfect time to make a small

but meaningful difference.

"why is she crying. where is her mommy?" she had died in the earthquake.

so i was thinking that maybe peyton and i could host a lemonade/hot cocoa stand in our neighborhood sometime in the

next couple of weeks with all proceeds benefiting the american cross haitian relief effort.

maybe even a raffle where the holder of the winning raffle ticket will win a free family photo shoot!

i wanted to post this to possibly give ideas as to how to help out. every little bit helps and the difference it may make

in peyton, knowing she is helping. learning to love and have concern for those who have less or are going through a

difficult time will be immeasurable, and at the same time and more importantly, it will help other little kids

in haiti who have lost so much, and need so little to survive.

another way to help:

click here

you know girlfriend loves oprah. i trust her site, so that is why i included it here.

also, for the next month i am challenging myself. this challenge all started when i realized my food pantry so was

full of food, i could hardly close it. it is seriously ridiculous how much food i buy and don't cook. no more.

the challenge is this.

instead of spending my normal $150 a week on groceries with an emergency visit midweek for another $30-50. i

am challenging my organization skills and integrity to limit my grocery money to $50 a week to be used on fresh

vegetables, fruit, lunch meat, and milk. (somewhere right now jeff is doing a happy dance!)

with all of the frozen chicken, shrimp, and beef i have in the freezer...i know we can do it. $200 total for the month.

then, i will donate some of the money saved to the red cross. it's an easy way to help and clean out the pantry:) I'm not

going to lie...this helps on a few different levels.

this post is not meant to preach at all...just me trying to make myself useful in some way and i don't

really know what else to do. and i love how it instantly makes one feel good. to be able to help others really is

a blessing. maybe this post will inspire a challenge for you and your family to do something special for others in need!

if so, post it!!! my readership is small, but passing on ideas to even one person can and will inspire someone.

"and the truth, you know love is all we need," we are the world heidi

new year. fresh beginnings. white canvas.

...however you say it, the start of a new year often brings with it promises to oneself and others that this is going to be a better year than the last. i am no different. i subscribe to that optimistic way of thinking. not because i want to erase the memories and experiences of the 2009. i don't. the last year has been a wonderful one, but i am excited for what '010 has in store for us and for what we will make happen as well!

with that said...more blogging, more photos, more games with my kids, more home cooked meals, cleaner windows, less dust, cluttered corners. more quality time with those around me. more oatmeal in the morning (less bagels:), more walks outside in this beautiful weather, more trips to the beach for sunset, read more smart books, read more fluff books.

organize and slow down. get things done, but live life and have fun.

sometimes life seems like one big contradiction, but i know it can be done while still being true to who we are or want to do. i am learning that we have to do what we need to do and it is possible.

it goes on. while writing this out doesn't guarantee these things to happen, it helps to remind me. it serves as some sort of encouragement to live a simpler life. yes, that's it!

the time i spend with my babies has been more and more meaningful to me as i see how big they are getting and it is a constant reminder to me to slow. down. listen more, work less, but still work to fulfill the other part of me that is trying work itself out of me-the creative part...balance people. BALANCE.

it's important. so very important and something i learned lots and lots about this past year with the new biz.

i think i'm going to add play dates in there too! cousin play dates...'cuz we miss the cousins. and more mommy time

and daddy time... apparently i want it all.;0 just like any other woman. that's because we women...rock. it. out.

speaking of women rocking it out...

this one does...

and while WE rocked out out little impromptu coffee play date with the kids into kelle's official unofficial pregnancy shoot, and even with

the harsh light...we did get some keepers!

it wasn't all play...

but it was all fun!!

kell's bells i love you and can't wait to meet that

little angel in a few short days!

becks and lainey play so well together and wanted to get in on the fun too!

and this little one...is just getting so big. i can't believe how much older she looks and how much

more mature she acts. we feel so lucky to have this sensitive little one who cares about others...

who loves her brother and wants to make her daddy proud!

PROUD is what she made us a few days ago when she made her first visit to the dentist a major success!

yes, she was nervous after she asked me why i picked her up from school early.

"are you taking me to get a scone, mommy?"

deep breath. "no, honey. we need to go get your teeth cleaned...by the dentist."

panic. "no, mommy. please no."

this went on for the entire ride. the only thing that calmed her was the fact that her cousin sophie went in

to see the dentist alone (i'm pretty sure i didn't make that up) but it worked for peyton.

she did beautifully.

mary, the hygenist, is another woman who rocks it out. she was amazing with her! thanks, mary!

becks kept watch over her!

when peyton was done...guess who just had to have his teeth cleaned too...

love this boy so much and here is so loving his teeth...mary cleaned a couple teeth for him!

so, with of all of my proud parent phone calls to brag about how well she did, they wanted a treat.

so i took them to rot their teeth with...

i know. i know. it's a constant struggle, but hey, there is nothing wrong with the golden

arches from time to time. everything in moderation i guess!!!

(sidenote: they had ice cream sundaes following the fries) it was a fabulous

time and we had a blast!

next post...the naples botanical gardens!!!

it's brand spankin' new and something new in naples for the kids to do is always exciting to me.

for now, we have sunday to look forward to. something about a sunday that makes me want to huddle

up with the fam, make a real meal, just be. i love sundays. i hope you enjoy yours!

xoxo

happy new year! didn't take one pic, but i thought this was cool:)

i know...what was i thinking...i wasn't. we were to busy playing wii and ringing in the new year together as a family...and i uh,

fell asleep until jeff's mom woke me up to give me a new year's hug. LOL!

enjoy the new year with all of it's new hope and freshness and cool ideas, dreams, and resolutions. i, for one, do not have

a resolution because i have adopted the idea that resolutions are made to...be broken...in my personal experience that is.:)

i love this video (and song) because it has inspired me to do more with my videos...not this...but maybe something a

a bit more creative. this is sooooooo cool and i can't stop looking at it and wondering...how did they do that???

it's amazing!

xoxo