THON ON!

I went to Penn State University and I owe so much to that school.  It is where I had some of my best (and my worst) times, it is where I grew up.  When I think about the child I was when I got there and the person I became before I left I am amazed.  I had some of my happiest times in Happy Valley but possibly my happiest and most fulfilling was dancing in Penn State Dance Marathon (THON).  THON is a 46 hour student run philanthropy.  It raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund which benefits children suffering with pediatric cancer.  Dancing in THON was one of the hardest things I have ever done.  My arches in my feet dropped and I was in so much pain, by the 39th hour I was falling asleep standing up and hallucinating, but I know all of that is nothing compared to what children living with cancer go through.  My niece Emily has been extremely involved in THON the past 3 years and I am so happy that she shares my passion for the cause and understands just how amazing and indescribable THON really is.  She text me from the floor earlier and let me know that they were doing the 2007 line dance (the year I danced) for the last time, which made me so sad and reminiscent.  She also commented that I was getting old, which I will get her for later.  The year I danced we raised over $5.2 million dollars, in just four short years that number jumped to $9.5 million.  I know everyone hopes to hit the $10 million mark this year and as a proud donor I will be anxiously waiting to see that number.  You can still donate by going here!

THON 2007 with the PSU Nittany Lion!

My best friends and fellow dancers.

Our adorable THON family.

Levi's (our THON child) name on the back of my shirt. 

And my favorite picture of all...

I am so proud to have attended Penn State!

**UPDATE:  This year's totals are in...

Over $10.6 million For The Kids...WE ARE PENN STATE!

"When cancer is cured, we will dance for joy. Until then, we will dance for life."

Valentine's Day!

To be honest I've never been very into Valentine's Day.  It seems like there is a lot of unnecessary pressure put on guys and an uncertainty about "do I need to get my husband a gift or is this a girl's holiday?".  However, I do believe in making things special for your children and making traditions that they will always remember.  Fortunately Beck doesn't remember yet and I have more time to figure out what our traditions will be.  This year I was able to ride the coattails of my sister's lobster dinner tradition with her family.  As I mentioned before David has been traveling for work a lot lately and was gone again last night.  Lucky for me my friend Ella's husband, a hard working attorney as well, was also traveling.  So we decided to have a little Valentine's dinner of our own with our true sweethearts, our boys.  Ella's son Clark is just 3 weeks older than Beck and one of his very best buds.  Lately, they have really started playing together which is so fun to watch, another added bonus of this is that Ella and I actually got to sit down and enjoy a hot dinner together while they entertained themselves.

Mom's Dinner (the picture does not do the lobster justice)

Boy's dinner (because Chick-fil-a is the toddler's lobster)

"I like you Ms. Amy but I am definitely not sharing."

"Oh my gosh, Mom is this lobster?!"

A little Valentine's hug, with their respective weapons of course.

Red velvet, courtesy of my sister and Tasty-Kakes for the boys all the way from my mom in Philadelphia!

All in all we had a great Valentine's day with our best friends! 

Baby fever (and not the good kind)

My dear boy Beck started "school" in January, he goes two half days per week and seems to really enjoy it.  I love that he is getting socialization, learning to share, and learning self-control.  The kids are very good at sharing germs with each other which was has made for a fun winter so far!  After Beck's first week at school he got hand, foot and mouth disease (not as bad as it sounds but still pretty bad).  I was expecting and fully ready for the common cold and a virus here and there but that was just uncalled for!  He and David have also had a lingering cold.  But my favorite most recent illness has been pink eye (luckily a very mild case) which did not even come from school but most likely from the filthy airplanes aka greyhound buses in the sky.  Through all of this I have remained 100% well.  I credit this to my healthy habits, but more likely growing up in a house with 11 kids, giving me an amazing immune system.  David has also been traveling a lot lately so he conveniently has been gone through most of the sickies.  The ONLY positive about Beck getting sick is that it usually requires me to stay home from work and take care of him.  I am more than happy to do so because my worst day at home with Beck is better than my best day at work.

I was texting with my brother-in-law yesterday and he was able to put things in perspective for me and also make me smile.

Unfortunately I have not had much time to blog or really do anything.  Beck and I have been doing a lot of this lately.

Thank God for sweet Boone dog.

David and I have been able to sneak away for some Mardi Gras festivities thanks to my wonderful in-laws.  I am looking forward to my favorite ball tomorrow night!

My sister-in-law Leigh and I in our clown costumes at the Pierrettes ball last weekend.

* Please note my ridiculously large costume.

Happy Friday!