RADIO INTERVIEW

I was contacted by my friend Nicole (who is a big supporter of the book- thanks Nicole!) about an opportunity to be interviewed by her uncle on his radio show! HE called me this morning and I had the chance to chat with him (he's wonderful) and his contact Sharon Jenkins, a seasoned author. They had some very wonderful advice and encouragment for me, and some great ooportunites (possibly) for me. To start, I'll be doing an interview this wednesday at 1:45 pm(PST) Here's the link to register...

www.ToughTalkwithTonyGambone.com
and I hope you are able to listen!

I feel truly BLESSED to be in contact with these awesome people- great things (hopefully) around the corner!

TUNE IN!

What a difference a decade makes...

I can't believe it- 10 years ago today, on October 18, 2000 my mom passed away, and here I am a decade later.

Fun fact this is my 200th post- coincidence- hmmm

It's so strange to think it's been ten years. How different would my life be in those ten years? What kind of relationship would my mom and I have now? We never got a chance to survive the whole 'independent daughter, worrying mother' phase of our relationship (in case you're curious that tends to happen around the daughter's age of 17). She never got a chance to um what's the word, offer her opnions about decisions in my life, influence if you will, it's been all me and all my decisions for ten years- it's a strange feeling.

I can't help but wonder if she'd be proud of my decisions, of the choices I made. In th end it's the same feeling I guess most daughters feel, their mom may not approve of all thier choices, but really who does? You can't please everybody, and at the end of the day you have to be satisfied with the decisions that you have made. Over all I know she'd want me to be happy, and I am.

So much has happened in ten years. She passed away, I met the love of my life, he went on a mission, my stepdad got remarried and we moved (I STILL miss my old house to this day!) and I graduated high school. Then an associates degree. ThenI got married. Then I recieved my BA in English and my Montessori degree simultaneously.

Then we got pregnant and had Hailyn in October. I was induced with her.I worried that she would be born the same day my mom passed away, and I'm almost certain she would have been. I'm ok with that now, but the thought of raising a daughter, after losing my mom terrified me to an extent. I worried about the same thing happening to her that happened to me. I am now convinced I cannot die until she is grown, and secure in life. I have to see her through. My accident in Feb proved that to me. I can't be a daredevil (as much) anymore. Sigh. I don't want to be.

October is such a bittersweet month. I KNOW my mom specifically sought Hailyn out and hung out with her beforehad, becuase Hailyn will give me looks sometimes and it's like 'WHOA! THERE'S MOM!' She's done this since she was a newborn- seriously. I'm also convinced my mom would tell Hailyn stories in heaven all about the tantrums I use to throw and the 'nudity' obsession I had with taking my clothes off- my mom always said I would get my payback and raise a daughter just like me- Hailyn so is me! In fact the student surpasses the teacher in my opinion here. I do worry about Hailyn forgetting her grandma in heaven. My mom, imperfect as we all are in our own ways, she rocked. Especially towards the last four years when she was diagnosed, she was a rock, the strongest woman I will ever know.

There are some days I just want to call and ask her advice. When I'm sick I just wish my mommy were there with soup, but alas, it's not possible and I'm a grown up, I get my own soup now (also has to do with motherhood- you don't get sick days!) I wish Ryan got to know her- it's strange because Ryan really only knows a fraction of me, a few peices of the puzzle are missing for him, just because (he has also never met my biological dad and if I can help it he NEVER will- long story don't want to get into) but really, my dad will never EVER even meet Hailyn. Tangent over. Ryan did meet my mom once, he doesn't rememeber. My mom thought he was super cute and nice. I think she'd approve! haha! Life would sure be easier if she were here, but then again life isn't supopsed to be easy.

I did a lot in those ten years, and I will always wonder what she thought of my decision, my actions, and the person I am now. Hopefully she'll be proud of the fact that I am trying to pursue my dream- this project
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1036129594/lacie-launches-a-book-and-you-get-to-read-it.

Going for it....

As many of you know I have been writing a novel for the past few years, and it is 95% done (some minor editing that should be done lickety split!) If you are interested in reading it, in helping out an emerging author, click here to see how you canget involved and pre-order your copy today! I'm going to try and make a button, but if you can post this on your FB or on your blog and help spread the word I'd greatly appreciate it!!!! Thanks you guys!!!


http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1036129594/lacie-launches-a-book-and-you-get-to-read-it

Fam pictures finally!

WARNING!!! This post contains a million pictures- be forewarned! But since you guys are used to me having long posts anyway- well, here it goes! We had family pictures! It was quite the adventure getting three little kiddos under the age of four to get a shot- luckily we had a fabulous photographer (THANK GOODNESS!!!!:) and we walked away with some awesome shots!! these are raw, we still need to decide on editing- but here ya go!

Ryan trying to get Hailyn to run with her Number 2 candle


Giving up- haha!


RUNNING!!! She was being bribed with a cheeto!


sweet two year shot! love! keep in mind I had like a hundred to choose from- it's hard to narrow them down- I am so ecstatic with them though!


The grandkids!


The happy couple!!


and again!!!


The three bears...



behind the scenes- the moms trying to get the kiddos under control!


haha- I LOVE this pic- CLASSIC Hailyn whenever we try and get a picture- since she was 6 weeks old she has NOT liked the paprazzi! Remember the angel pic where she is flipping the bird? classic... oh and Ryan (Em's hubby) found a pack of cigarettes someone left behind at the park (we took these at the park Hailyn always plays at- awesome!) and so he's holding them while trying to get hailyn to hold hands with boys- hilarious! LOVE it!


umm are you as obsesed with her tutu as I am? I wish I got more pictures in it- I had her do a wardrobe change! classic diva! seriously, I am obsessed with this tutu- I spent a fortune finsing outfits for the pictures and this one was the winner- wish I just stopped- sigh- anyhow I want to get more-in various sizes- it also comes in pink and black- it's hard to find royal blue for little girls and this is amazing! ok, enough with the tutu- but seriously adorable!


Love...


showing how fast the 'blur' can be- she's crazy fast!!


Can't believe it's been two years- we're having a most likely traditional fuddruckers dinner on friday night for her birthday- I'll post pics:) In the meantime I am THRILLED to finally have some couple and family shots! YAY! HAPPY OCTOBER EVERYONE!

1 month to go...

Before the TERRIBLE TWO'S HIT (disclaimer: I truly believe they have arrived early folks- there are nay-sayers out there but I am truly convinced Hailyn has entered the 'dreaded two's)

Seriously, wasn't she JUST born (ok you may be tired of me asking that question but in my mind,m she really was just born yesterday. Wasn't she JUST the size of a sack of flour- maybe a bit bigger- she was 8.4- regardelss this full fledged little GIRL will be two in just a month (and two days, techinaclity- if I waited I'd forget!)




People who say you don't know a baby's personality til later on are full of bologna! I KNEW Hailyn was a Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde complex personality and sure enough, it's becoming even more and more evident. When she is sweet (which really is most of the time, it's about 80% these days) there isn't a sweeter child on the planet. Then a flip switches and BAM!!! She turns into babyzilla wrecking havoc on all around her. It's the sweet, good times that save me when the monster comes around (20% of the time). Heres a bit of what our monkey is up to...

*She counts! She can count to three on her own and we practice counting to ten. She LOVES to hold my hand and Ryan's hand walking somehwere and count one, two three and sure enough she gets to be swung up in the air- SO FUN! Once she learned we'll do that when she counts to three, she practices coutning QUITE A BIT!!! Haha- what a ham.

- She's a touch OCD- since this runs in my family (my biological dad) I am slightly curious how this is going to play out- for right now she LOVES lining her animal crackers EXACTLY in a line- or any food. It's a perfect line too folks. As long as this is her only quirk I'm, ok. I want her to be normal. Make messes, clean them up for sure but I want my kid to play in the dirt, not be worried about her clothes, scrap her knees, ect. The sort of tom-boyish childhood I had:) (Oh she CAN help clean up though;) I'll encourage that!)

- She DOES listen pretty well. She follows simple instructions and is pretty obedient.

- We're working on prayers with her- tricky since she isn't even two but we're getting there

-Ms. Independent LOVES to pick out her own clothes- and she now picks out my shoes too! In fact It's safe to say we spend 1/2 our day putting hsoes on and off...

- She LOOOOVES music- songing dancing, shaking her groove thang. We knew this early on. Ryan's sister (we oftern call Hailyn mini ky ky) is very musical and so we're sorta not surprised, we'll see what happens.

- She LOVES to take care of her baby dolls! It makes me REALLY REALLY want another baby (no no, announceent folks, I assure you) but I keep telling her she'll be an amazing big sister SOMEDAY!

- She's still a fairly good traveler, does pretty well still in movies, ok, in restaurants, ect. We keep dragging her these places, it seems to instill how she should behave (of course snacks and toys help occupy her;)

- she's still SKINNY! we took her to the doc a while ago for an ear infection and I was SO excited when they said 23.4 lbs! WAHOO! Those mcdonalds hamburgers are poaying off (why can't I have her metabolism?)

- She had a tumbling class and a gymboree class over the summer and she LOVED it- and I mentione dit beofre but this girl has inherited her Mimzy's gyumnastics skills! She can walk on the balance beam PERFECTLY (Mimzy's BEST event;) and she climbs on EVERYTHING- at the park she'll climb the highest she can go and jump all over- FEARLESS kid! I'm not surprised though;)

-It's SO much fun hearing her talk more and more...

- She is SUCH A daddy's girl. She runs to him when he gets home from work and cries when he leaves- so sad. I need to get a pic of that.



She is our love bug. No longer our short stack (she's TALL!), our little monkey, my lil munchkin. Even though she is a big girl, a shameless flirt, she will always be my baby girl. Love you baby!

Where did summer go?

This summer has been BUSY!!! I thought once I' not teaching full time in the summer I"m going to have all this spare time to do things- HA! It has been eventful- and WONDERFUL! We kicked off the sumer going to San Diego for a week- AWESOE! Hailyn LOVED the zoo! Then we went BACK EAST to Philly to visit friends and hit NYC and Washington DC- then my BIRTHDAY (car AC's went out- on both cars!got it fixed though!) then we went to Fillmore for my family reunion (I miss these people SO SO MUCH!) and hit Beaver Mountain where I want to live forever (in the sumer that is) then I got my wisdom teeth out. Hailyn started Gymboree and Tumbling classes. Yep yep. Then I went on an amazing girls trip to Cali with my three fav girls to the beach and disneyland! yaya! then a week of subbing and watching kiddos- BUSY! then A CRUISE! My first one EVER (and Ryan's too!) we went to Catalina and Ensenada- it was AWESOME! I'm a big fan of cruises. I come home to a pile of mail, getting ready for school to start and trying to finish cleaning my house and projects- sigh! BUSY! awesomeness though- I love being busy! Sprinkle in some free movies, tutoring, splash park dates and lunches with friends it's been a pretty amazing summer! but I'm worn out!! maybe another cruise to relax?

The HAPPIEST place on earth...

The next day of our PERFECT WEEKEND GETAWAY we went to the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!!! DISNEYLAND!!!! It was HAILYN'S FIRST TIME!!!! And Brandi, you could be a TOUR GUIDE for Disneyland- AMAZING! Oh my goodness we had way too much fun!!!

TEACUPS!!!!! The girls loved it- the mamas learned they aren't as young as they used to be (ahem!) wink wink!


This is Hailyn on the pier- boy did that girl LOVE the pier- she SPRINTED to Rubys- but this is her sporting her new accesories!


HAUNTED MANSION! WE basically walked on! Hailyn LOVED it!!! she loved the ghosts and she tried to blow the candles out of the candelabras! haha it was so funny! We aslo got onto Pirates of the Carribean quickly too (people in Disney ROCKED! minus one guy on the Dumbo ride- haha!) Hailyn LOVED them!


DUMBO!!!!!


CAROSAL!!! Hailyn LOVED the carosal!!! We go all the way to Disneyland and the girl wants to ride the carosal a thousand times- haha!


CUTE GIRLS!!! LOVE THEM!!!!


I want to live in sleeping beauty's castle- I love Sleeping Beauty!


Upon arrival!!!!!


We got to see FANTASMIC!!! It was INCREDIBLE and I HIGHLY recommend it!!! We went on the 55th birthday- the actual day and there parades and festivities all day long but it wasn't too crowded- and people saved us seats at Fantasmic and people were really cool (minus one jerk on the Dumbo ride! haha!) It was an INCREDIBLE wonderful day- and weekend! LOVE it!!! WE drove back that night and although we wanted to do this...


Brnadi and I bought $20 worth of energy drinks and drove through the night with sleeping babies- I brought a new meaning to the term bust a move! haha! and we got attacked by a swarm of bugs at a gas station at 3 am- it was quite a memorable weekend and I feel SO LUCKY to have been able to go!! Brandi, you should be a tour guide for Disney- and you are a rockstar- it was a blast- thank you for the best girls weekend EVER! LOVE YOU!!!!