The New Digs

Here are a couple of pictures of the house semi-decorated. We haven't put much on the walls yet. I just want to make sure I want pictures in the perfect place because drilling holes in brand new walls is a little traumatic for me. I've only ever lived in very-lived-in rentals before (like every college student). Enough about the walls, here are some pictures!

Go Cougs!

Rock Band at Our Place

Last night we had some people over as a belated get together for our friend Scott's birthday. Scott and I used to work together at the Sport's Page. We try to get together every once in a while for dinners and games (although it doesn't seem often enough).

We snacked on appetizers and had lemonbars for dessert (at Scott's request). My favorite appy right now is bacon-wrapped dates! YUM! They are ridiculously easy to make and the mix of salty and sweet is unbeatable!

Scott with his birthday lemonbar

We alternated between the group playing the different insruments of rockband and then we played a "quick" game of Cranium. We laughed all night, and it was a blast!

Scott on the guitar, me on the wine ;)

Tom on the bass

Kevin on the drums

Tim celebrating, with guitar in air

Birthday in a Bag & Free Cakes for Kids

Once upon a time there was a child who lived in a group home (after multiple failured foster homes and continued abuse). He got a visit from a caseworker who had gone to do a routine monthly visit to check on the child. He became excited and asked her if she was there for his birthday. The sad truth is, no one had remembered his 11th birthday. He had no cake, no party blowers, no games, and no one to celebrate his birthday.

This isn't really a once upon a time type of story. It's real and it happened to a real child who is a dependent of this state within the last year.

As a result of this tragic story, a goal of our CASA Program this year is to ensure that every child we represent has a birthday. It's about the celebration and not about the gifts. A non-profit agency called "Friends of CASA" has stepped up to the plate to fund "Birthday in a Bag" and "Free Cakes for Kids". On their birthday, each child will receive: a customized birthday cake, and a Birthday in a Bag, containing:

• A Pin the Tail on the Donkey party game
• a birthday balloon
• birthday hats
• party blowers
• plates, cups, napkins
• a disposable camera for party photos
• a coupon for photo developing
• and a hand-made customized scrapbook page for party photos

I will be making the scrapbook pages for each of the kids this year! I am excited! It has been so much fun, and I have only made three thus far! Here are the pictures of the pages I've made. (Two of the pictures were taken in the plastic sleeve, so they glare, but it gets the point across.)

High School Musical Theme (like any normal 8 year old would LOVE!)

Topsy Turvy

A boy into old computers/games

If this could be my full-time job, it would pretty much be my dream job! I love scrabooking, but I love doing it for other people, especially kids who need to know they are cared about! I enjoy making cards for people for invites, I made our Christmas cards last year, but I never want to keep what I make. I enjoy the process, and the outcome, but there is something about making so homemade for someone else.

OH, P.S. The child metioned in the story in the beginning actually did get to have a birthday party.....they celebrated his half-birthday. :)