Sometimes it's the simple things....

So Sweet!

I am helping out with the school carnival this year. I'm the person who gets to buy all the candy and prizes. It's a fun job!

The only problem is having all these goodies waiting in my house for the carnival day to arrive.

and the kiddos asking EVERY-SINGLE-DAY if they can have some!

(Good thing I'm a chip person...if all this candy where bags of chips...I'd be in BIG trouble!)

Where I want to be!

This is where I want to be right now....

And tonight, I want to be here!

I had a fabulous time on trip #2. Wish I could enjoy the beautiful beach more often!
I would definitely put Siesta Key on your list if you haven't been!

Trip #2

Well, I'm heading to Florida today (Siesta Key this time)!

Yes, I'm going again! But this trip is for girls only!

There will be lots sunshine, laughing, great food and maybe a few cocktails!

It's going to be a great trip!

Have a great weekend everyone....see ya next week!

Friends!

I don't know why, but God has blessed me with some pretty awesome friends.

Friends who are like family to me. Friends who are like the sister I've never had. Friends who are true friends.

I have a lot of acquaintances, and a lot of them I would call friends. However, I've been lucky enough to have a few really close friendships that mean the world to me.

Friends who know me inside and out and still accept me just the way I am. Friends that stick around when things get uncomfortable or not-fun-at-all. Friends that understand that I'm really emotional (remember, I'm a crier) and love me anyway.

I am so thankful for these friends and to God for putting them in my life.

I hope you all have a "true" friend, and if you don't keep your eyes and ears open, reach out to others and let God do the rest!

"A friend loves at all times. He is there to help when trouble comes." Proverbs 17:17

"Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin." Proverbs 18:24

Just a few random things....

• Thanks for voting on my little blog music poll. With the results I got, I will leave the music as is. You'll have to start it on your own. Sorry to those of you who like it to come on automatically, but I totally understand for those who read at work. Honestly, I like it to automatically come on too, but it's out pure laziness. So that's not a good reason! I'll still add in new music, so make sure to scroll down and listen to it all!

• We had a very nice Valentine's Day here at the Sullivan house. Nothing fancy, just a nice dinner of steak, baked potatoes & asparagus. I got the kiddos just a little something, and Andy and I had decided not to do gifts for each other. We're cheap like that. We did cards, but after opening our cards we also decided that hand written cards are going to be the way we go in the future. Cards are so stinkin' expensive. I would rather have a hand-written love note any day! So that's what we are going to do from here on out. I will have more on this "expensive card-store cards" topic soon...so stay tuned.

• My boy has been begging me for three days now to take his picture with his "friends!" So here it is.

I totally love that he is six years old and still loves his friends, I think?!?

• Oh, and guess what I heard outside my bedroom window this morning? Birdies!....the very sweet sound of birds singing. It was a great way to wake up!

Happy Tuesday....Hope you all have a great day!

Happy ♥ Day!

Winner!

And the winner is.....

#7 - Carrie


Please send me an email at sullifam4(at)gmail(dot)com! And I will send you the promotion code! Congratulations!

Another Milestone!

There seem to be several different milestones for me in the month of February.

And tomorrow is another one.

Two years ago tomorrow, (February 12, 2009) was the day I was introduced to Multiple Sclerosis.

I can honestly say that us meeting wasn't a part of my plan. I was still living in somewhat of a bubble at that time, thinking nothing bad could ever happen to me or my family.

In the beginning of my relationship with MS, I was scared. I was afraid of the unknown, I was totally intimidated by all the shades of gray. Nothing is black and white with MS. Everyone is affected differently, everyone has different symptoms. Just a lot of uncertainty. (And we all know I don't handle any of that well!)

But today, my relationship is different. I still wish I didn't have to know MS. But I do...nothing will change that. But a few good things have come from our relationship. I have been able to really get to know my body. To listen to it, which was something I never did before. I now rest when my body tells me to rest and slow down and try to let go (just a little) when it tells me to do that. I am doing really well and I hope to continue on this path for a very long time.

I have also learned that getting through all those unplanned areas of life would be a lot tougher without all the wonderful people in my life. My solid-as-a-rock hubby has been a wonderful supporter. Always encouraging and always positive. I couldn't have done it without him.

My family and friends support has helped a lot as well. So many of you coming out and supporting me during the MS Walk. Oh, how happy that makes me feel to see so many of you.

Speaking of that....do you have the 2011 MS Walk date already in your calendar? I hope so, it's Sunday, September 11. Same place and same time! I'm already getting excited for it...I want Traci's Troops! to be the biggest team again this year. I've also purchased some fun accessories for us this year. (Orange "Traci's Troops!" kazoos, and American flag glitter tattoos!) We are going to have so much fun! If you already know you can come....and want to get registered, you can do that by clicking on this link. Click on "Join Team" in the gray shaded box. Let's start building our team!


**There is still time to get in on the giveaway from my friend Jessica! A winner will be drawn later today!**

Another GIVEAWAY!

My new friend Jessica has a great little Etsy store!

She, along with her daughter, make beautiful handmade jewelry! And we are doing a little GIVEAWAY!

You need to head over to her Etsy store by clicking here, then come back and tell me what you like.

You can also check out their newest items on their FB page, by clicking here!

The winner will get a $15 gift certificate in the form a promotion code to be used at her store. Most of their items are $15 or less....a few are a little more, but you can pay the difference. The full amount of $15 will need to be used or you will lose the difference (she can not give a credit back) and ALL their items are shipped for free! How awesome it that!

If you are the winner, your purchase will need to be made in the month of February....just think of it as a little Valentine gift to yourself.

So, go on over and check it out! Just remember to come back here and let me know what you would pick. I think you will be able to find something you like....or something you just have to have!

We will end this little giveaway on Friday, (2/11) at 5:00 p.m. CST. Good luck....I wish you ALL could win!

Music Poll

I have a music poll over to the right...please take a minute and vote! Thanks!

While we were gone...

...the kids had to "work" for food!

A great big Thank You goes out to Papa and Jane for keeping the kids while we were gone!

Great times with Great friends!

We laughed a lot!

We ate a lot of calamari,

We had some great adventures!

We laughed a lot more!

and ate a LOT more calamari!

It was a great trip!

Trip #1

As I type this, I am currently waiting with fingers crossed that I will in fact be on a plane to Tampa, Florida when this is published.

For a while now, we have been trying to get a trip together of friends that we play euchre with every month. We finally had a plan and only four of the eight couples were able to make it, but we were going to go forth.

Due to the current "record-breaking" snow storm, two of the couples had their flight already canceled, and weren't able to make other arrangements...boo! But hopefully, the other couple, along with Andy and I are on our way!

It will be a fabulous, adults-only, weekend getaway....an even better way to celebrate our anniversary!

02-02-02

February 2, 2002 was the day I married the very best guy in the whole wide world. (At least in my eyes.) It was a day I will always remember. A day filled with lots of love, and sharing it with our family and friends was the best part.

You can read our entire love story here!

Andy,
The years have flown by and even though we've had some challenges, I wouldn't have been able to get through them without you! Your compassion for others is one of the things that attracted me to you, along with your ALWAYS positive attitude! (This one drives me a little nuts sometimes!) Thank you for being who you are, a great husband, a fabulous daddy and a giving friend! Can't wait to share 90 more years together. Happy Anniversary! I ♥ U!


Today, nine years later, we are stuck in with what is said to be a "record-breaking" winter storm. Enjoying each other and our great kiddos! I can't think of a better way to spend my wedding anniversary! (Well, maybe a flight out for a long, adult-only weekend to Florida!....Still keeping my fingers crossed!)

And the winner is.....

**I apologize for the delay, obviously Blogger is having a snow day as well...it's taking a long time to process my video....ugh!**



Isn't that just a cute little button!

Okay, I'm stalling...just a little. I just wanted to take a minute and thank you ALL for the wonderful comments. I loved reading each and every one of them! I actually felt like it was my birthday or something with all of your kind words. I feel (and truly know!) really blessed to have you all in my life. Whether that is "real life" or out there in bloggy world. You all are the BEST!

And now, onto the winner:

I'm still uploading the video, and I will post it when it becomes available....but the winner is

#7 - Beth!

Congratulations Beth!

Thanks again to all of you who commented...it made my blogoversary fantastic!