Izzy Says

Last night Izzy and I layed down in bed to go to sleep. 

I said, "Mommy is tired, sore and a bit burnt."

He reached over, rubbed my head, and said, "All better."

Not much going on

I've been playing a lot of Fallout 3 lately. If you aren't familiar with it, it's set 200 years after a nuclear apocalypse and you've come out of a fallout shelter into the ruins of Washington DC to try to find your dad who has run off. It's really a lot of fun sneaking around with your gun trying to scavenge and survive.

I'm used to spending most of my spare time reading so it's been a nice change just to sit with my laptop lost in my game while Izzy is sleeping.

Wednesday night Izzy and I went on a little mother/son date while Daddy was at home trying to get some coursework done. We went to McDonald's and had dinner, then we went to Asda and played with some toys and tried on some ladies summer hats! After that we stopped at the pet store to look at the gerbils, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and fish. Talk about a fun, cheap evening!

Unfortunately, I didn't really get any decent pictures. We were having too much fun looking at and talking about the animals!

The End of My Sponsored Slim

My 3-month sponsored slim ended two weeks ago today.

We collectively lost around 250 pounds! It was an amazing journey and I ended up with some really lovely friends as well. I've just felt so honored to be a part of it all.

Last weekend we threw two fundraising parties in one day. We had a childrens party for two hours in the afternoon and it was great. We had an entertainer there playing music for the kids to dance to and to play games with them. There were loads of other games like a tombola and lucky dip. We had cake, and party bags and face painting and so much more! It was so cool. Izzy really enjoyed it and so did his cousin.

In the evening we had another party with a DJ, dancing, a silent auction, a huge raffle, sponsored waxing for the guys (funny stuff) and more. I spent three hours selling raffle tickets there. Even the staff at the club got involved with bidding in the auction and buying raffle tickets.

Next week we should have a total for how much money we've rasied. We've got it figured at somewhere between £3,000 and £4,000 ($4,800 - $6,400)! The newspaper did another article and even though Nic gave them the estimate of £3-4,000 they published "over £4,000."

Here is the article anyway:

More than £4,000 raised for stillbirth charity in memory of Alfie-Joe

By Pamela McGowan 

Last updated at 12:56, Wednesday, 09 May 2012

A Carlisle community has raised at least £4,000 for stillbirth charity Sands in memory of a baby boy.

Alfie-Joe Pattinson was stillborn just over a year ago. To commemorate the anniversary of his death friends of mum Kirsti Harrison and her partner Ashley Pattinson launched a fundraising campaign.

It culminated on Saturday with a children’s party followed by an auction night at the Railway Club in Harraby.

Organiser Nic Grierson said it was a huge success.

“We’ve raised about £4,000 but still have some more to come in. When we set out we only thought we’d get a few hundred.

“But it has just grown and grown. It’s just been amazing how much support people have given us. We’ve all been overwhelmed,” she said.

The children’s party was attended by about 50 youngsters with entertainment provided free by Glitter Cumbria. There was a disco, games, puppet show and face-painting, along with an appearance by Mickey Mouse.

The room was donated free so more money will go to the charity Sands, which supports families affected by stillbirth and miscarriage.

The auction night was also a great success, with men in the audience having body parts waxed to raise extra cash. Auction prizes included an afternoon recording a single to be released on iTunes and a signed Carlisle United shirt.

At the end of the night Kirsti released balloons in memory of her baby son.

Any items that didn’t sell will be auctioned on eBay with profits being ploughed into the total.

Other funds have come from a sponsored slim, which saw more than 20 of Kirsti’s friends together shed a total of over 19 stone.

Bikers from Hein Gericke motorbike accessory store in St Nicholas Street, off London Road, also held a memorial ride out on the anniversary of Alfie-Joe’s death and collected donations along the way.

But Nic said it is not just the money that has made a difference.

“It really has helped Kirsti and Ashley get through the first anniversary,” she said. “Kirsti has found it a real comfort that people are now talking about Alfie-Joe, saying his name.

“While we’ve been doing this we’ve realised just how many people have been touched by stillbirth or miscarriage. They have really started opening up, which is how it should be. They are still mums and dads.

“It’s great to know that all of that money is going to help other families. I just can’t believe how much of an impact this campaign has had.”

I Won a Contest!

Yesterday I won a contest that Pocky at Living Apockylypse was running! I won my own copy of My Memories Suite! I've got it all installed now and I've had a quick look at it. It seems to be a little more complicated that I was expecting so I'm going to have to have a good play with it and then I'll post some of my creations!

A big thanks to Living Apockylypse and My Memories!!!

Five Question Friday {6}

1. What advice would you give a couple getting married?

I'm awful with giving advice and hate receiving it as well! I guess my piece of advice would be, before you do it, make sure your partner is your best friend because you will need that friendship to carry you through the tough times in your marriage.

2. If you could tell your 16 year old self ONE thing, what would it be? 

Not to worry so much about everyone else and what they think of me. It's pointless and I would have had more fun if I had relaxed and just done what made me happy.

3. What do you do to keep cool in the summer? (AC, windows, fans, swimming, etc.) 

I'd love to say A/C but mostly we just use open windows and fans. If it's unbearable then I'll put a wet town around my neck or head and point a fan at myself. 

4. What did you (or your wife) crave most while pregnant? 

McDonald's cheeseburgers. Nothing else from there... just the regular cheeseburgers.

5. Who is your favorite TV mom? Why?

We don't get proper TV so I don't watch much and can't really think of one. The only TV mom that's even coming to mind is Roseanne! I always liked that show because the family reminded me of mine in a lot of ways.

Izzy Says

Izzy just built this.


Izzy: Fire!
Me: Fire?
Izzy: *holds it up and sings* Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!
Me: Awww!
Izzy: *blows out the "candles"*

Five Question Friday {5}

1. What did you wear to prom? Include a picture if possible. 

I have a picture somewhere but it's not on this computer and it will take me way too long to find it. But I wore a black gown with white lace-type stuff around the neck. Nicer than I made it sound!

2. Would you rather be on the biggest loser or a food eating challenge? 

Food eating challenges gross me out. And plus, I could use The Biggest Loser! I'd love to be on that show. Team Bob, please!

3. Done fave sonic drink? Refreshing summer drink? (Hey, Kristina...was that a typo, or some "done good" Southern thing?) 

I think I went to a Sonic once when I temporarily lived in Indianapolis but I can't remember it enough to tell you what my favorite drink was. Plus, I probably would have just ordered Diet Coke anyway! 

4. What was your first car, and what did you call it?

My first car was a 1985 Ford Tempo. I hated it. I had been saving money for a car since I was 13 years old (had a job since 12) and was so excited about buying my first car. But while I was away on a school trip, my dad used part of my money to buy me a the Tempo. I cried when I saw it. It was a grandma color and not at all what I wanted. This isn't the actual car I owned, but it was just like this one. My friends just called it "The Temp."

5. What's one thing your child or spouse does that sends you over the edge?

I can't actually think of anything at the moment. I think the thing that gets on my nerves the most is when Izzy whines. I can't stand whining. Funny, because I do a lot of it myself! 
 

Newspaper Article

We had another article in the newspaper today about the ride-out that the Hein Gericke bikers did for us.

Also, Izzy had run of the Hein Gericke shop on Sunday and thought it was amazing!