March Madness

March was absolute madness for me!  It was back-to-back with events and projects and work.  But we made it, and Brandon was an awesome supporter through all of it.

We had a Ward Adult Party Lip Sync, and I got assigned to be in a group with four other ladies in our ward.  We initially were going to do Spice Girls, but we really pushed ourselves and decided that we were going to learn a good portion of Beyonce's "Single Ladies" music video.  Crazy, right?  And I just happened to memorize the moves first, so by complete default, they made me be Beyonce.  I made some great friends during our late night practices (I think we probably practiced for 8+ hours together), and it kind of felt like we were in high school preparing for some school assembly.  It was ironic that the "single ladies" included the wives of the counselors in the Bishopric, the ward clerk's wives and the EQ President's wife.  Also, on the day of the performance, we had a makeup party in my bathroom where we all did "smokey eyes" together.  I knew I wouldn't be able to do one on my own, so I called another friend in the ward to give me a "makeover" and everyone in the group decided to join.  It was so fun, but it seriously took 30 minutes to do my makeup.  The kids kept coming in asking questions and now Andrew asks me regularly when I am going to get another makeover.  :)

Brandon was also asked to perform, but not until the day before - he was part of the Beetle's group, and they literally did not practice once or discuss costumes.  They just showed up and performed it, funny boys.

Then the next week was the Relief Society Birthday Celebration, and since this is my current calling, I was knee deep in party planning and taking care of all the little details.  Party planning is not my favorite thing in the world - it makes me so stressed out.  It is going to take me some time to adjust to this calling, and work with the people I've been assigned to work with.  It has been challenging for me, but I have already seen some small successes, and I am learning and growing.  

Kent & Kristine (my employers) had a few big projects for me this month, and they were coming at literally the worst times, but we got everything we needed for taxes to be filed, and Kristine had me compile binders for a training she was doing.  Putting together those binders, made me think of all my buddies at Aon and I was reminiscing about our Executive Meeting days and drowning in binder materials!  Good memories!

Finding babysitters this month ended up being way too time consuming trying to work around their busy schedules and spring break.  I had last minute babysitter cancellations twice this month, so then had to frantically try to find someone else.  After tons of phone calls and text messages, we finally tried some of the girls in our new ward, and they turned out to be pretty good babysitters!  Hallelujah.  One of the girls, is 14 and a little on the short side, and Rachel said right in front her, "She can't babysit us, she's just a kid!"  We needed babysitters for the Ward Adult Party and for a firm dinner that one of Brandon's co-workers hosted.  At the firm dinner, RA sushi catered and it was my very first time trying sushi!  It seems like anytime I have gotten the opportunity to try it, I have been pregnant, so I have steered clear.  I'm not sure what I thought about it?

Remind me not to be a PTO grade representative next year!!  This month, we had to find at least two corporate sponsors ($200+) to fund the bouncies and games at the school carnival.  I don't know enough people yet in this area to have a lot of success with corporate sponsors - my good friend came through and her husband's dental office sponsored, but that was all I could find.  I was contacting businesses without having any connections, and it was turning out to be a big waste of time.  Then we were asked to compile four themed carnival baskets by collecting parent donations; the baskets were to be auctioned off at the carnival.  The Kinder teachers are great, and they let me send fliers home with the kids, and thankfully the parents were generous with their donations.  I collected almost $500 worth of stuff to put in the baskets, then I put them together.  I think asking people for money/donations is kind of the worst.

I volunteered myself to do a neighborhood Block Party at the end of March - it was not my desire to throw another party, but a way to try to be a good neighbor and missionary.  I think that neighborhood parties are sometimes more important than ward parties, because it's a chance to get to know neighbors in a non-threatening way.  If I had to guess, I would say that our neighborhood consists of about 25% LDS, just to give you an idea.  It has a great mix of old, young, families, married without kids, and lots of dogs.  The Block Party was such a big success!  175 gave me an RSVP and I'd say about 200 came.  I asked around for helpers about a month ago, and quite a few of the ladies in my neighborhood offered to help, so it was fun to get to know them and they were really great to work with.  The HOA helped provide hot dogs, hamburgers, soda, a bounce house, balloon artist / face painter, which was a huge help!  Then we did all the advertising and fliers, signs, tables, canopy tents, decorations, blocking off the street, water/ice, etc.  My next door neighbor paid to have this photo booth come in, and it was a big hit.  Another friend brought her 10 picnic tables for seating, and buried prizes in the sand for the kids.  Everybody pitched in, and it all came together so nicely, I was so pleased.  Everyone seemed to have a great time, and I hardly saw Rachel & Andrew for the 3 hours - there were so many kids there to play with, and so many fun things to do!

Now it's time to take a little breather, enjoy my family, and not volunteer for anything extra this next month.

Selfie - the Beyonce makeup makeover

The Single Ladies Crew!  Me, Brittany, Kristin, Jill, Heather

Here's the link and password to the video if you are truly interested:

http://vimeo.com/88579206

LC5marriedladies

Shalauna's son, Zac, turned 1 this month and I had so much fun designing his birthday announcement

Work Project - compiling binders for Kristine ... it reminded me of my Aon days when we were prepping for the Exec Meetings

Kindergarten Carnival Baskets that were auctioned off at the School Carnival

Tables Centerpieces

Balloon Artist / Face Painter

Photo Booth at the Block Party