Happy Birthday Grace!

Can't believe she is 6! Happy birthday! Mom and Dad love you so much!

It was kind of fun to pull up all of her birthday pics and see how she has changed over the years...we are so blessed to have such an angel in our life!

Re-decorating, birthday stuff and New Moon.

Sorry I have been MIA for over a week. I think this is the busiest week of my year...Grace's birthday, Thanksgiving, my birthday...and life always gets in the way!

As promised here are a few pictures of the re-decorating around the house. First, is Grace's room. Before it was green. You can see it in the background behind Grace and Grandpa. I liked it, but her dream is pink. I fought pink for a long time. Not sure why I waited so long because it is beautiful! It really is a room fit for a princess.

After decorating her room for the 3rd time I realized it was mine I was unhappy with. It is still a work in progress, but we started with a new bed. And a new ceiling fan. The old one looked like a space ship...not good for a bedroom!
The other furniture, bedding and paint will come in time. I am trying to be patient until I can find what I like!

We had a crazy week last week getting ready for THE PARTY! Grace's birthday party was a blast complete with a magician and 14 of her friends. It was CRAZY, but so much fun. Before the party Grace asked if she could get her ears pierced for her birthday. She was so brave and said it didn't even hurt!
I was so proud of her!

Finally time for the party!!!! Nothing like 14 screaming kids running around your house, but I would do it again. Everyone got to make their own magic wand. A little craft I came up with on my own....Grace is holding mine on the left and her's on the right. I was kinda proud of myself...and then the real magic began!Yes, that is a live bunny! Paul Brewer, a local magician performed 45minutes doing magic tricks. Grace was the star of the show. It was great! I highly recommend him if you ever need some good entertainment for an event...he kept the kids and parents laughing the whole show. Of coarse the camera batteries died before the fabulous juggling and live bird acts, but you get the picture.It was great fun!

Then it was presents...and birthday cake!The magician gave Grace a hat full of magic tricks to try for herself, and she has been having a lot of fun trying to figure them out! What a great day. Tomorrow is her actual birthday. I am going to have lunch with her at school for the Thanksgiving feast. Probably will be a little mellower day. Wow, what an event your kids birthday can be.

Some friends invited me to go see the NEW MOON movie on Sunday. I saw the first movie and was not that into it. I haven't read the books either, because, well...I haven't made time for it with all the kid stuff these days. Anyway....I had no idea vampires or ware wolves were so fascinating...and worth looking at...you girls know what I am talking about!!! I can't wait for movie three! Thanks Noelle and Erica for including me in the fun. If you want to lend me your books, I am reading to start reading.

Now you know why I haven't had time to blog...forgive me.

Home improvement and more cakes...

I have been way too busy to blog these days. First of all...my husband has been on the road with work for the past few weeks... that means it's all me all the time... I am not complaining, because, yes, it is my job. But, it wears a woman out!!!! Anyway, Derek also had the camera on one of his trip so, I wasn't getting pictures of all my happenings. Now that you have all the excuses for why I haven't posted in week... I have also been redecorating. I redecorated Grace's room for her birthday. I don't have a picture yet and she is sleeping so I will post it later. I am also in the process of redecorating my room. So far we have a new bed and a new ceiling fan. I will take pictures when it is more put together. Trust me...now is not a good time. I have been in furniture moving hell.

After all the decorating I made a couple of cakes for a good friend's baby shower. First, the diaper cake which was her gift from Holly and I.
Then she asked me to make her dessert cake too.

I was pleased both cakes and they were both a hit. No more occasion cakes for a while. The stress of looking good and tasting good is too much for me. Just dessert cakes that tastes good and don't have to be sooooo cute! I love to make diaper cakes if anyone needs a great shower gift!

The shower was for my friend Jeni who is expecting her second baby in couple of weeks. Jeni and I have been friends since grade school. Now our little girls play together. It is so much fun!!! Since we have all girls and girls stuff, it was fun to look at all the boy stuff. I think one of Jen's favorite presents were the tiny tube socks that reminded her of the ones her dad used to wear.Jen, it won't be much longer. Hang it there and that sweet baby will be here soon!


It is Sunday night, so I have to get to bed. We have a big week ahead because Grace's birthday is coming in a week and a half. You mom's know how it is...not just a birthday, but a week long event!

Uncle Keith!

I am so jealous that Uncle Keith is there holding our new niece! Miss you guys!

I am an auntie again!

This morning my sister Karen gave birth to Ella Shizue Satake. 8 lbs. 3 oz. 20 inches. Pictured above is proud daddy Steve, holding his new baby girl! Congratulations you guys!

Diabetes

I went to a seminar last night to find out about the future of type 1 diabetes. Those of you who know me already know I am a type 1 diabetic. My diabetes is under control, but I struggle everyday to keep it that way. There is a lot being done to try and find better ways of managing this disease. Most of you probably don't know that diabetes is an epidemic in our world, type 1 and type 2. This country really suffers because of our lifestyles. I came away from the seminar last night realizing how misunderstood this disease really is. It is a devastating disease, but with proper education, it can be managed.

I decided to go to the American Diabetes Association Website to see what kind of information they could offer. I think we all know the consequences of this disease. Not good. The information there is still the same, but they have added a new feature of people sharing their stories about diabetes and why we should fight to stop it. It is helpful to know I am not alone in my stuggles and I submitted my story. Don't know yet if they will post it, but I thought I would share it with you.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes almost 10 years ago. I think they discovered it by accident, but all the sypmtoms were there. I had lost a lot of weight and my new husband was beginning to think I was a deadbeat becasue I slept a lot. Luckily I was never hospitalized because of my sugar levels. After visiting several different doctors and trying several kinds of medications, they put me on insulin and I was able to get my sugars under control.

After doing the routine checking my sugar levels and giving myself shots for a few months, I realized, this was how it would be for the rest of my life! Wow! What a shock! I think I went into a depression for a while, DENIAL, like most diabetics. I also realized quickly that I had to take control of my disease or I would die early.

Being a diabetic takes on a lot of responsibility. Dedication to checking my sugar, taking my insulin and thinking about how every piece of food that enters my mouth will effect my blood sugar. It is a lot of work. It can be very taxying on the mind, body and soul. Finally, after 10 years, I have realized this is my life and I embrace it. Everyday is a new day and I strive to make it the best by exercising and watching what I eat (even if it is a cookie or a piece of cake) and balancing my medication.

Along with being a diabetic, I am a dedicated wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend and care a lot about the way this disease effects the people around me. My family has been hit hard with diabetes. My parents both have type 2 along with my grandma. I fear there are many other people I know and love who may have or develop this disease with out realizing it! This is why we need to stop diabetes!

That is my story...and the following is information that you might find interesting if you want to learn more. I am a diabetes advocate and am going to try and learn more to help fight it!

The American Diabetes Association is launching a movement with one audacious goal - to Stop Diabetes.

Diabetes is a deadly disease that affects millions and yet, Americans still fail to take diabetes seriously. Through the movement to Stop Diabetes, the Association will elevate the sense of urgency around diabetes and educate the general public about the devastating physical, emotional and financial impact the disease takes on millions of American children and adults each and every day. In year one, our goal is to galvanize a million individuals to Share, Act, Learn and Give. Join me in making a difference today.

Visit http://stopdiabetes.com to learn how you can join the movement to Stop Diabetes.

Halloween

A few days past due I know....here is a recap of Halloween...the holiday that lasts forever...

(I have no idea why this is underlined, but that is what the blogger wants to do!)

On the Friday before Halloween Grace had a parade and party at school. So, we got to shake the uniform for a day and she was the cutest fairy ever! This was our first Halloween parade and it was so much fun. The kids looked adorable in their costumes.

I was so proud of her!

Derek was out of town that day, so Grandma and Grandpa came over to help us carve our pumpkins...

Ryann was overwhelmed, but with a little help from Grandpa, ta da!

We had a fun night, although we really missed our daddy, we came up with some really great pumpkins!

Saturday was crazy!!! We started out with a birthday party for our friend Dominick's 3rd birthday.

BOWLING!

That is the birthday boy playing games. After pumping the kids full of pizza, cake and ice cream it was time to go home for a nap and rest up for the big night!

TRICK-OR-TREAT!

We started early at a neighborhood church trunk-or-treat.

After dinner and the sun went down we went from house to house.

Ryann was more interested in other things...next year she will be begging for more candy...

We made a quick stop at Uncle Willie and Aunt Tammy's. Aubrey and Jordan were there with their son Kaden (the little dog...so cute!) Jordan was dressed as one of the characters from the movie Hangover....haven't seen it....but he looked good.

And last, the scariest, most spectacular costume of the night...Darth Vader!!! a.k.a Grandpa Larry. He looked great handing out candy to all the trick-or-treaters.

It was a very long, but fun day. The little witch and the fairy were very tired.

First Lost Tooth...

Grace lost her first tooth last night! It was traumatic and exciting, but she was brave! And, when she woke up this morning , there was a dollar! Wow. The price of teeth has gone up in the last 30 years. Congratulations Gracie!