Fun With Friends

This weekend our local aquarium hosted it's annual "Guppyween" celebration. All the kids get dressed up and go trick-or-treating at the aquarium. Being that I am STILL waiting for Maggie, and have no other kids, I knew NOTHING about this. So...when my best friend called and asked if I wanted to join her and her 13 month old daughter, I jumped at the chance. I must say that my "honorary niece" was the cutest Tinkerbell that I have ever seen!

She was mesmerized by all the fish

There was a wall of fog with laser images of dancing fish and she didn't quite know what to make of it. She was holding on to me for dear life. You can see the look of terror in her face :o(

We had a great time and it was so fun to see all the little kids dressed up for Halloween. It did make me a little sad though. I started the adoption process way before my best friend ever thought about having a baby. When she and her husband decided to get pregnant I was so excited because I thought that their child would be somewhere around the same age as mine. We talked about how much fun it would be for our kids to be best friends just like us. Obviously that didn't happen. Her daughter is now 13 months old and my child probably hasn't even been conceived yet.

But there is a bright spot - - - they allow me to be such a big part of their daughter's life. I was there during her pregnancy and got to go to an ultrasound appointment with her, I was there for her birth, which was A-MAZ-ING and I now I get to be there and watch her grow into the sweetest, most loving little girl in the world. I am so blessed. And Maggie will be as well.

After spending the last week in Disney World with a five year old it made me realize that I need to get in shape and get lots of sleep before Maggie comes home! Whew - it was exhausting but we had a great time. We celebrated Beth's clean bill of health and introduced my cousin (and Godson) Liam to all things Disney.

Beth, Joe & Liam at The Magic Kingdom

Liam loved the teacups because "we went so fast it almost made Mom sick!" :o)
Meeting Minnie Mouse was the highlight of the week! He was star-struck!

As much fun as we had at The Magic Kingdom, Liam LOVED going down this slide at the resort. He must have gone down it a hundred times!

My beautiful Godson!

Liam and I

Beth and I

It was a great week and so wonderful to be able to spend time with Beth, celebrate her health and share in Liam's first trip to Disney!

Race For The Cure 2008

Today was the 10th annual Race For The Cure in St. Petersburg. It was amazing! There was such a huge turnout and the weather was perfect. This is the 10th year that I walked in honor of my Aunt Beth. She is only five years older than me and more like a big sister than an aunt. She is a SURVIVOR and the most amazing person I know. She has beat the odds for over 15 years now and continues to be an inspiration to myself and many others.

After six months of grueling chemo treatments, Beth was just given a clean bill of health from her oncologist. She is in remission!! She and her family are coming to Florida on Tuesday and we are taking her almost five year old son to Disney World to celebrate!

Please remember to click the box in the sidebar to help fund mammograms for those that cannot afford them. It only takes a second and it could be the difference between life and death for someone less fortunate than yourself!

Think PINK

Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer. As well as providing a platform for breast cancer charities to raise awareness of their work and of the disease, BCAM is also a prime opportunity to remind women to be breast aware for earlier detection.

My family, along with many others, has been affected by breast cancer. I hope and pray that one day there will be a cure. Early detection is instrumental is saving lives. PLEASE get a mammogram, do regular breast self exams and remind everyone that you love to do the same.

Please take a moment to click the link on my sidebar to donate a mammogram to those that cannot afford it. Help to save someone's life.