Thanks "Giving"

While giving should definitely be spread throughout the year, it seems that I remember how fortunate we are to have all the things we do most in November and December.  This year with the state of the economy seeming to improve, or maybe it's just the fact the Johnson County seems to fair better than most other counties in Iowa when it comes to poverty and homelessness, I have neglected to give as much as we usually do. 

That is until I watched the news the other night.  One of the reports touched on the fact the homelessness in Linn County has increased 24% compared to this time last year.  The food pantry is really struggling to help all the families in need.

My extended family is hoping to do something special for Thanksgiving this year by creating a "giving" box full of food, toiletries etc.  Each member of my family is going to bring what they can contribute to our Thanksgiving dinner and then we are going to deliver the box to Waypoint in downtown Cedar Rapids.  Does your family have any plans to donate this year?

12 Weeks

I guess I am just one of those lucky people who gets to have lots of ultrasounds throughout their pregnancy  :)  Here are some more pictures of "Baby Rycin."  He/she is getting bigger!

Graham got to come along for this ulrasound.  He thought it was so cool... He shouted "She jumped mommy!" when the baby moved  :)  So precious!  He was such a proud big brother.

Newest Addiction

When it comes to books I am fairly hard to please.  I am not an avid book reader, so for a book to be "worthy" of my ever precious TV or sleeping time (because let's face it before bed is the only time I am alone to read) it has to be really, really good. 
I began my return to reading with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series... maybe a bit of a stretch as each of the 3 books were like 700ish pages, but totally worth every minute.  I loved, loved, loved that series.  When I was done I had a hard time finding another book that kept my interest as well, until I start this:
The Hunger Game Series

OMG!  I can't put it down.  I will read until the wee hours of the morning, because I just can't stop.  It's only been 2 days and I'm almost finished.  Granted it is not a super hard read, but since I read a near snail pace, this is quite impressive.  The book is like Gladiator meets Olympics only with teenagers forced into being the participants who must fight to the death.  And while that may seem a bit far fetched, it is completely realistic and believable.  You fall in love with the characters instantly.  So I am cutting this blog short to get in a few precious minutes of reading before nap time is over.  But definitely check this series out... so good!
Here's what's next:

Trick or Treat

This year I told Graham he could pick out his Halloween costume all by himself, yikes!  After saying it I thought for sure it would have been a mistake, but we happen to be browsing through Old Navy in September and Graham saw a 'Spot the Puppy' costume.  He was all excited, bouncing around telling everyone he was going to be a puppy for Halloween... but again we did this last year and 2 days before Halloween he refused to wear his costume.  I bought it anyway and the kid stuck with it.  For a whole month he told anyone who asked, and some who didn't, that he was going as a puppy for Halloween. 

Come the week before Halloween we tried on the costume and again there was bouncing and giggling.  He got to wear it to school for a party, to the North Liberty Haunted Happenings @ the Rec Center, to a Halloween Party at the country club and then again on Halloween.  Graham was in Heaven!  I think he would wear it every day if I'd let him  :)    On Halloween night I did start to get a little nervous because this was the first event where there were "big" kids with scarier costumes.  At first he wasn't really sure about the Ninjas or anything with a mask, but after a while he got used to it and he did great!  A couple of times he forgot to say "trick or treat" but at least he remembered to say thank you for the candy and usually gave them a "Happy Halloween" as he walked down the front steps  :)  I was so proud. 

Even though he had a ball trick or treating, handing out candy was far and away the our highlight of the night.  He heard me ask what the kids were dressed as and how I told them to have a fun night, so after about the 3rd doorbell he insisted on handing out the candy himself.  He told them to "take a couple" and then asked what they were "wearing" and then told them to "have a fun night kids!"  :)  So cute, we should have video taped it!  All in all Halloween was a great success... and all the candy Graham got is just an added bonus!