National Cancer Research Month

I was recently contacted by Heather who asked if I would mind sharing her story with you. Since mesothelioma took the life of my uncle, I was more than happy to agree.

From Heather Von St. James:

I’m reaching out to you today in hopes that you will help me with a cause that is very near and dear to my heart. At age 36, just 3 ½ months after my first and only child, Lily, was born, I was diagnosed with mesothelioma and given 15 months to live. Miraculously, I beat the odds and I’m still here eight years later.

Mesothelioma is considered one of the most aggressive and deadly cancers; most people are given just one year to live upon diagnosis. There is no known cure for mesothelioma and the future continues to look grim as attention to the disease as well as research funding continues to decline. The only known cause of ‘meso’ is exposure to asbestos, which is still not banned in the US. Sadly, it doesn’t look like asbestos will be banned anytime soon, as there is too much money being made by using this deadly mineral.

Since May is National Cancer Research Month, I’ve made it my personal mission to try and spread awareness of this rare, preventable disease. The more people that know about this cancer, the more lives are potentially saved! Would you be willing to share the site that I blog for with your readers? The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance has tons of information about the disease, asbestos exposure, and is also where my husband and I blog about our journey with mesothelioma.

Please, please, please encourage your family and friends to learn the signs of cancer and do so yourself if you don't already know what they are.

Oh Mama

My Mother's Day card from Dailaesse this year...

front

back

On the inside? She writes, "Happy Mother's Day! Thank you SO much for everything you do. Your sweet, kind, and you love to give hugs. You are an awesome Mom! I love you so much and hope you have a great Mother's Day. Love, Duder 2014"

Dear God I pray this child always stays this amazing. 

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!!!

Art Awards

Turns out being named artist of the year is a pretty big deal celebrated by people from the governors office.

That's Dailaesse and her amazing art teacher on the right in front of her winning art piece. Yes, they spelled her name wrong. LOL

And Dailaesse with her amazing art teacher AND the amazing principal from her school. I'm so impressed by the support the kids get for the arts out here. And so very proud of our little princess!

Yesterday

she was knitting a dishcloth on the way to The Loopy Ewe. 

Today she's knitting a sock!

Winner, Winner

But no chicken dinner.

The random number generator chose the first commenter and that was Leslie! Be on the lookout for something special next week lady!

Hoppy Easter

The bunny made Dailaesse quite happy again this year. He even left a golden egg!

Dan is spending the day in Rochester with his girlfriend and her family. 

Aren't they cute? She's such a sweet girl. We feel pretty blessed to have her in our lives. 

I hope everyone has a beautiful day today, whether you're celebrating Easter or not!

Take Me to Your Leader

I just have to take a minute to brag...Brandon has been promoted to Team Leader! I'm so proud of him!

42

Me, not the temperature.

And since this is a knitting blog, how about a knitterly present for one of you to help me celebrate?

Leave me a comment on this post by next Wednesday (4/23) and tell me your favorite thing about spring. I'll choose a pattern and the yarn to knit it to send to one lucky knitter. Mine favorite thing about spring? Easter!

Spring Fever

Brandon has been eyeing the Jeep Wranglers for a couple years now. So guess what we pick up tomorrow night?

His name is Diego. ;-)

Artist of the Year

Awesome Art

Today I helped the art teacher set up for an exhibit. It was so much fun and completely mind blowing to see the talent these kids have!

These are just the entries for Dailaesse's little elementary school. Incredible! 

Finally

Something Dexter doesn't like!

Raw potatoes. This of course doesn't mean he didn't try each and every one. 

Pampered Piggies

After not having had a pedicure since being in the hospital last year, I decided last month it was high time to go! I checked with my doctor out here to be sure it was ok and got the green light. I have to admit I was a little nervous. Between the diabetes and blood thinner, a bad pedicure could be a major downer for me. I searched online for people who do medical pedicures and found an awesome girl only 10 miles away. I saw her again yesterday and am every bit as happy as I was last month. There's something about having pretty toes that just makes me smile. And pretty toes in a bubble bath? Well that makes this girl absolutely giddy! :-)

Pho Ho

And I'm not ashamed to admit it!

Dora the Explorer

We said goodbye to Pedro last week. It was sad and Dailaesse cried all the way home from the dealership. She says Dora is beginning to grow on her though. Thank goodness because Denver wasn't built for big pickups. 

Penguin Poop

We spent the day at the Denver Zoo. So. Much. Fun. Especially the penguins. They're our favorite. 

One of them pooped. The guy second from the right, to be exact. Then 2 others came out of one of the doors and started screaming at the pooping penguin. He and his friend took off into another door. Can you hear Dailaesse laughing from where you are? I swear it came right from the bottom of her belly. 

Frolicking Feet

I finished these socks a month or so ago for Dailaesse and they immediately became her favorite.

She wears them as soon as they're dried from being washed. They are one of the only pairs of socks I've knit her that don't make her feet itch. They're knit in Frolicking Feet yarn by Done Roving. I'm amazed at how gorgeous they're wearing since I was them in the machine every few days. Always air dry, but there's no nylon at all. Awesome stuff!

Breathtaking

Our first trip into the mountains was a couple weeks ago. I always thought the mountains at home were impressive, but these? Breathtaking indeed!

Sick Day

It's all fun and games until someone gets sick. 

We were having a great time on break this week until a nasty stomach bug bit Dailaesse last night. We spent the better part of the day snuggled in bed. She's up now and had her ramen noodles as requested. Fingers crossed she keeps them down!

Up, Up, and Away

Coming home from Vogue Live in Seattle:

Nothing to see but sunshine and fluffy white clouds. This was after it rained almost the entire time we were there and I (thought) I lost my raincoat. I could have sworn I left it on the back of the chair in Starbucks at breakfast one morning. I went back the following morning only to have the kids working there tell me they saw nothing of my coat. I walked away and out the door into the pouring down rain thinking nasty thoughts about the lying sacks working in a dry Starbucks. The following day as we were packing up from the show, Sue pulled a black pile of fabric from under a table. I immediately took back the nasty thoughts. 

Bumper Boats

At Boondocks with Dailaesse and her friends today. March 25th and the bumper boats are open!

Not a Cloud in Sight

Back around the beginning of July, Brandon got an amazing job offer in Denver. So we packed up the house and drove cross country. With both the dogs. And the cat. (Who puked not even an hour away from home. As soon as that was cleaned he proceeded to poop. I was beginning to think this was a sign we shouldn't be leaving NY.) 8 fish. 4 hermit crabs. And a partridge in a pear tree. Well, not really but we may as well have thrown one in. We all survived with the exception of the fish. Turns out 111 degrees F was just a little too warm even for tropical fish. Most days the sky here is just like it is today. Gorgeous blue with the sun shining. Brandon loves his new job. Dailaesse loves school. I'm settling in. Still a little homesick at times but it's getting easier. Especially when I hear the weather report from home. :-)

Neon Now

After 8 months I decided it was time to venture out and find a yarn shop. I always look for sock yarn since it doesn't count as stash. ;-)

The first store we found didn't have much of a selection but Dailaesse did find this Neon Now that she liked. I cast on during my flight to Seattle for Vogue and I'm just finally to the toe. Only 4 more rounds! Plus the 2nd sock. 

Spring Break

Today marks the official beginning of spring break!

We spent all morning here. Why? Because we could! Lots of snuggle time on a snowy Colorado morning. 

Future Business Leaders

Today I went to AmeriTowne with Dailaesse's class. 

What an amazing experience! They teach the kids what it's like to work and function in the real world. They start businesses, learn about banking, and even hold elections for town officials. 

Embarrassed

I can't believe it's been over a year since I've posted on my blog. I'm totally and completely embarrassed. I have so much to tell and I constantly think of posting but the days turn into nights and well...

Latest and most exciting news???

Dailaesse not only got a new bike (his name is Snaily because he has snails on him. And salt shakers. We found this to be hilarious. And sad. At the same time.) but she learned how to ride this new bike last night! We're all very much looking forward to our first family ride this weekend.