Retirement Diaries

After 6 1/2 years of working full time (post collage) I have turned a new leaf. I call it "Maternity Leave". It's been 2 1/2 weeks so far and I have had many emotions. The first week was what I would call "efficient" , due to the fact I left so many projects to do knowing I would be board and would have plenty of time to complete all the daunting tasks. I actually found myself more busy that week then when I was working. Then week 2 hit . . . My "To-do" list was getting checked off, my body began to slow down and I panicked, "what does one do as a "stay as home mom" when they in fact have NO KIDS at home yet". The answer, I became crafty. Now I can't take credit, my friends who live down the street aka: the founders of "crafter-noon" gave me the idea. So last week I introduced myself the a few local fabric stores and this is the result.
ps: those of you who know me know this is completely out of my character, so laugh away!

Hailey's first Tu-Tu. Because you're never too young for a tu-tu. Her stuffed animal made a perfect model. (thanks Polly)




I figured my free time will be squashed soon, so might has well plan ahead, Merry Christmas to the Sullivan Family!

Full Term!!

Yep it's official. Baby Hailey has developed all her necessary parts and is now spending all her time gaining weight in Hotel Utero. Unfortunately her weight gain transfers over to mommy weight gain, so hopefully she wont take too much more of a toll on my expansion! As you can see, I'm am VERY pregnant!
Less then 3 weeks to go!!

Party City

Last week we had a fun filled week of celebrations at our house. Thanks to Kristy Haight, we had a number of reasons to party! On Thursday we had a baby shower for her. Kristy's little boy is due 4 days after Hailey, but I have a feeling baby boy Haight is going to beet Hailey to the finish line.





Then on Saturday, we loaned out our back yard for the 2nd Annual Haight Family Pumpkin Carving Party. It was a great success. I can take no credit for the success because Kristy did it all (even while on "bed rest" mmmm jk). As you can see, Every days a Party in good old Huntington Beach!

Fall Fun

This past weekend was the official kick off to Fall. One might say, Fall started over a month ago, but if you live in Southern CA you know that not to be true. It's been 90 degrees and just HOT! (maybe I feel that way bc I'm 8 month prego!) Anywho we went to our friends Kristi and Rods cabin up in Big Bear. Here are a few highlights.



All the kiddos at the pumpkin patch


Highlight of the weekend . . . Burkley's new boyfriend, it was true love!!



And last but not least, THE PICTURE OF THE WEEK!!
(Staring Berkleigh and Merrick Scott)
fyi: there was no photoshop or wires involved in this trick! What you are about to see is real and should not be attempted at home!

YES ON PROPOSITION 8 in California

YES ON PROPOSITION 8 in California
You've been tagged. PLEASE READ THIS no matter what state you live in.

Failure to pass Proposition 8 will hurt children. If gay marriage remains legal, public schools will put it on equal footing with traditional marriage. Children will likely receive “age appropriate” information about sexual relations within heterosexual and homosexual marriages.

Failure to pass Proposition 8 will hurt churches. The court’s decision will inevitably lead to conflicts with religious liberty and free speech rights. Society will become more and more hostile to traditional beliefs about marriage and family. Over time, greater acceptance of nontraditional marriage will be demanded of all people. This could impact the ability of any religion to teach and practice its beliefs. Including adoption agencies.

A YES vote will not hurt gays. In California, the law provides for marriage-related benefits to be given to civil unions and domestic partnerships. Proposition 8 does not diminish these benefits.
For your information:

On Friday, October 10th, 2008 a first-grade class took a field trip to witness a lesbian wedding in California. Click Here for the article from the San Francisco Chronicle.

A father in Massachusetts was frustrated when his twin kindergartners were taught about homosexuality at school by the teachers. He insisted he be notified in the future before such things were discussed so he could pull his boys out of school.He was taken to jail. Click Here for the story.

A Catholic adoption agency In the UK closed their doors because of the Government's new homosexual equality laws. The Equality Act forbids discrimination in the provision of goods and services on the basis of sexual orientation. The law was forced through Parliament last year despite past Prime Minister Tony Blair's recommendation that Catholic adoption agencies be exempted from the rules. Click Here for more info.

Earlier this month judges in Conneticut overturned the state law (just as the judges in California did) to legalized gay marriage. This is not just an issue in California. We voted years ago to keep traditional marriage as the only marriage recognized in the state of California, 4 judges overturned our vote…and we need to fight back. That is what this Proposition is about. This is happening everywhere and the leaders of the church and others have warned that the outcome of California’s vote will affect the way the other states vote. So PLEASE…even if you don’t live in California, put this on your blog or email this on. The internet knows no state line. You know contacts in California that I don’t…and so do your friends. Please pass this on as it could eventually have an effect on everyone!

"Occasionally discouragement may darken our pathway; frustration may be a constant companion. In our ears there may sound the sophistry of Satan as he whispers, "You cannot save the world; your small efforts are meaningless. You haven't time to be concerned for others." Trusting in the Lord, let us turn our heads from such falsehoods and make certain our feet are firmly planted in the path of service and
our hearts and souls dedicated to follow the example of the Lord." --Thomas S. Monson

Click Here for excerpts from the Broadcast given by Elders M. Russell Ballard, Quentin L. Cook and L. Whitney Clayton.

A good resource mentioned in the broadcast: www.preservingmarriage.org

October 20th: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot if voting out of state. Click Here to get one.

October 27th: Last day to apply for “Vote by Mail” Click Here for info.

November 4th: Election day. Polls close at 8:00pm. Vote by mail must be received by this time and can be hand delivered if necessary.

YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED...Here's what you do:
In the broadcast we were asked to "go viral on our blogs, etc" by Elder Ballard. This is my way of going viral. If you feel this is an important issue I ask that you copy and paste this post...and post it on your blog. PLEASE keep it at the top of your blog through November 4th. which you can adjust each time you post under the "edit post" option. The internet knows NO STATE LINE. You know contacts in California that I do not...as do your friends and their friends...and so on. Please do this. If not for your own children and the effect it could have on them some day...for mine! After you have posted this...email this to your contacts and TAG all your blogging buddies to do the same. THANK YOU!

PS: I have gone public for the next month...so anyone can copy and paste this information.

Like Mother, Like Daughter!

This afternoon I started organizing Hailey's wardrobe. It was quit an eye opening experience to discover, and be reminded of all the things I have purchased and received in the past 8 months. All though I have not yet met my little bundle of joy, I can already tell she will most likely take after her mother when it comes to shoes and accessories. I give you exhibit A:

Keep in mind, these are shoes she will wear before she will even dream of walking!
And this is were she is headed in 29 years . . .


Exhibit B:


and Mommy's bag O headbands . . .


Am I creating a Monster?

Showered with Fun!

My long time friend Kay threw me such a great baby shower this weekend! Needless to say, baby Hailey will be styling come this November! We can only pray she is not a ton-boy or an even more comical twist of fait, ends up being a boy!! Let's just say there is allot of pink, bows and dresses in future! Thank you everyone who came and helped with the planning! And as for Kay, you are a super star and it would only be appropriate to shower you with Thanks!

SURPRISE!!!

Over Labor Day weekend, Ammon and I surprised my dad for a delayed Birthday celebration in my bother Rob's home town of Little Rock. Let's just say the last place he expected to see his prego daughter is Little Rock AK! It was a great weekend and so much fun to see my sister in law Melanie ready to pop! Good luck Mel and baby boy Glade!!

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

My Cute dad turns 60 today! Unless your last name is, or once was, Glade, you wouldn't know what a special guy he really is! He is just about the cutest man you'll ever meet. Not only has he spent the last 40 years working hard to make sure his family is taken care of, he taught me some of the most important lessons in life, one of which is that Nothing is more important then your family! Happy Birthday Dad! I wish I could be there to celebrate the big day! I love you allot!

Yes, Ammon might be right!

Ammon and I have been debating whether I should take the month off before my due date. He thinks yes, and I have been debating it in fear that A: I'd get board and end up eating my body weight daily and B: I'd rather get paid 100% of my pay check instead of the 55% that I would get if I took it off. But after the past week He might be right!
As you know last week was the week of the "Faint". Obviously Hailey and I are fine, but the 2 things my DR told me was, don't stand still for long periods of time and avoid the heat. So today as I was working in a some-what shady area I happen to get stuck on an elevator for about an hour that A: happened to have no AC and B: was so dirty I really didn't feel comfortable sitting in my nice work close. My question now is . . . What will next week bring????