Volunteering!

Seema & Lamiaa are awesome volunteers as well.  It was Valley Mental Health's Fresh Start program 2nd Annual Spaghetti Dinner on September 29th.   The Fresh Start program is 100% run by consumers and it is awesome to see how far our mentally ill clients have come.  I am always in awe of them and the life challenges they have faced and the recovery they have found. 

This fundraiser is just one way to fund this program.  We needed a couple of cuties at the Bake Sale - so here is who we picked!

 Diane - the amazing chef created all these yummies.  The girls were able to sample a few!

The Silent Auction table that was set up the girls!!!

These goofballs (Debra & Christopher) were servers - along with all the VMH Exec executive!  This photo kinda makes Christopher looked possessed with the thought of spilling on Debra!!!

The band is made up of 3 VMH therapists!

The overall dinner and good time!

Thanks girls for helping out with Jessica.  This is my lame attempt at getting all 3 cuties to smile for the camera.  Jessica is busy selling.

The best part of the night was when we get in the car and both girls exclaim how much fun they had. Lamiaa says it is the first time she has sold anything, Seema agrees!  Until I remind Seema she has sold 9 Happenings Books for Debate.  Now she is an expert at sales!! 

Looking forward to one busy weekend.... and the tales of Seema's first Debate Competition. 

Who says you are supposed to rest on Sunday!!!

Not us.  Seema, Lamiaa, Gabriel & Darby had a big plan to go to the park on Sunday to play games!  I said, why don't you meet here at 10:00 for breakfast and then you can go play.  Needless to say all of them had fun and they took my youngest niece Bella with them. 

I gave them a ball to play with and four loaves of bread for the ducks & geese.  So much fun friendship coming together!!!!

On their way after a delicious breakfast!

At Sugarhouse Park - note the bag of swedish fish & M&M's!

Playing!

With Bella in the car!

Resting??

Did I mention they went to Jamba Juice with one of Seema's MANY gift cards from the Shower!

And a Sunday isn't complete with sitting on the floor in your local library!

And that was Sunday fun-day!!!

Other people we have played with...

So much going on at all times - tossing in some random photos for your viewing pleasure!!!

Caroline giving Ava a strangle hug in Seema's room.

Cute girls taking photos.

More cuteness...

The Barbie's dressed up at the BYU vs. Utah game - all the other girls were little and wanted to play Barbie's - I think they all are in new outfits for the evening.

Raili and Seema at the Utah game stomping of BYU.

Saturday, September 24th - Evening!

After a day with Lamiaa and playing we dropped her off at home and her host mom, DeeDee invited Seema to come to dinner and to hear Bob's (host dad) band play.  After discussion on the choices of the evening, dinner with me at Alan & Elizabeth's then I was going out with college friends, so she would be home or stay and hang with Alan & Elizabeth.  OR Sushi with the Duffin family - she QUICKLY choose sushi and it would be Lamiaa's first time!!!  Both had a wonderful time.  Photos prove the fun!!!

NAMI Walk 2011

The NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illmess) holds a walk every year and with my work we participate as a Valley Mental Health team.  I took Seema, Lamiaa and Bella with me to the event.

Somehow - Seema & Lamiaa were the official banner holders!!!  And if you raise $100 for the event, you get a t-shirt.  I did it and Christopher Katis did too - both of us gave our shirts to these darling girls - they wore them with pride. 

After the walk, we went to Hires for veggie burgers, fries and FRY SAUCE.  A first for both, and the verdict???  Loved it.  A true Utah original!!!

Week days September 19 - 23th

I think I may actually be mostly caught up... whew..

September 19th - Seema gets a her hair cut by Heather and it is SUPER darling.  Thanks Heather.  She comes home to her new bicycle and is thrilled to start riding!!! 

Week flies by...

Friday night, September 23rd is the Logan Avenue Block Party - Seema meets some new friends on the street - some go to East High School, others Highland High - so a good mix and great to know same aged kids on the street.

Dinner & the Bicycle!!!

Sunday, September 18th!!!

My darling friend, Jenny MacKenzie invited Seema and me to dinner with her family.  The dinner was awesome.  Her family has a tradition of saying what they are thankful for each night.  Seema was thankful for her experience of being in America.  I was thankful for all my amazing friends that are on this journey with me.  I NEVER for one second believed that I could do this alone, my life is about collaboration and joining people into my life.  From the day I said YES to host parenting ALL my friends were behind my 725%.  I have been carried by the kindness, love, generosity, caring and dedication of everyone. 

I am in awe and stunned by all the AMAZINGNESS of my family and friends, but I KNEW all along this is how it would be - because, we are always there for each other for the big and small happenings our lives together and the web of friendship we have built on love and dedication.  I am very thankful.

At dinner, Jenny & Seema were chatting and I wish I could remember how riding a bike came up - but next thing I know Jenny is offer Lizzie's bike to Seema for the year!! Lizzie could NOT be more thrilled to give her bike away, because she HATES it.  Which in all fairness, I understand as they live on a steep hill and getting anywhere would be a snap - getting home is a SERIOUS incline.

After some seat adjustment and test ride, it is decided that Chip (Jenny's equally amazing hubby) will bring the bike over on Monday!

We get in the car and Seema SQUEALS, "I have a Bi-Cycle in AMERICA."  We get home and she immediately posts on FaceBook this news... 

Thankful...

PAX Exchange Movie Night

You know the saying, best laid plans... well, we decided after ANOTHER PAX orientation that we needed to get all the students in SLC area together as they all really enjoy being together.  So I thought a pizza and movie night outside would be great and something most or all have never done.  Mother Nature and I were apparently not on the same page, so it POURED rain most of day.  But, never fear, we still had the party and the kids ate outside and then watched Goonies downstairs. 
But - yet again, no photos - but here are a couple at the Orientation.

Cammy from China with Seema.

Seema and Lamiaa (Morrocco)

And not to fear, more PAX gatherings are in our future!!!

September 12 - Late School Start

I think I really like those late start days vs. 7:45am.  After school we joined several folks at the Utah State Fair.  Those in attendance we of course, Alex & Joe, Emily, Sharon, Bella, sewing Linda, sewing Marissa, and Bella's friends from school also were there. 

In true State Fair fashion we visited the Home Goods, Pigs, Sheep, Bunnies, Chickens, Cows, Veggies and THEN... food.  Fries, roasted corn, and funnel cake.  Seema wasn't a fan of the funnel cake - BUT Emily was nice enough to take both Seema and Bella on a few rides, because I refuse... so I took photos.  I hear the angels singing to commemorate this miracle!!!!

Oh good, now I can scratch the Ute t-shirt photo comment, because, here she is in it and the beginning of the Utah State Fair adventures!!!

sewing Linda LOVES ducks!!!

This could be the back of a goose!!

This is FOR SURE a turkey!!! Note, the Mary Poppins purse!!

Yeah - they went down that!!!

The red shirt on the stairs is Seema.

This is Seema's landing!!

Emily & Seema getting ready for the Ferris Wheel

Emily & Seema ON the Ferris Wheel.

That was the Utah State Fair!!!

Labor Day Weekend

We went to Bella's 11th birthday party and the Soldier Hollow Sheepherding Classic.... it was a great weekend to visit Summit County and in typical Laurel fashion, no photos... Hoping Joe, Alex or Seema will help and be able to complete this post.  The big moment of the day was when we made Seema try Cotton Candy - yup, she liked it.  I told her that was a first & last with me, because, I can't handle the MESS!!!

Also - Park City would not be complete without a trip to the outlets where Ms. Seema bought several new shirts, a cardigan, a scarf, and a necklace at J Crew.  Her personal stylist, Joe helped her pick out her new digs.

Still Out of Order, But Catching Up! - August 30th

Every year for Valley Mental Health Foundation, we host an Autism Awareness and Salt Lake Bees Baseball game.  This year it was August 30th - and of course it rained!  But not until the 6th inning... so Seema came to the pre-game BBQ with Joe and then sat with Debra & Louie.  Here she is enjoying her BBQ veggie burger. 

Then - on  September 1st - she was able to go to the UTES Football home opener.  Mimi bought her a Utes t-Shirt which she still proudly wears and when I get a photo it will go here...and there it is...

August 19th - a bit out of order!!!

I totally forgot about the adventure of Seema's first Friday.  She came to work with me for the morning and wasn't feeling too great.  It was Ramadan and I think she was slightly dehydrated, so she broke her fast. I called Mimi to come get her and hang out and rest a bit.

Mimi aka Grandma had a tooth that was hurting so she was heading to the dentist, so Seema went along.  Mimi ended up having her tooth pulled.  From the dentist they stopped at Cummings Chocolates and had several samples and left with a half pound box.  Next Costco - this time Seema could enjoy the variety of samples being offered. Then to fill the pain pill prescription at Harmons and then home...

When I went to pick up Ms. Seema after work, Mimi was a bit loopy from a couple pills and Seema was eating ice cream!  I asked did she eat lunch, no, did she eat something healthy besides Costco samples, no...  I guess that is what G'mas are for - junk food!!!

Other things we have done - Honey Harvest - September 10th

With 3 hives in the backyard also comes HONEY...  Typically on the honey harvest day, I post on FB and invite people to come over and watch and help - because it is A LOT of work.  This year, we got 10 gallons!!! 

Seema removing the cappings.

Joe and Ririe spinning!

Just Ririe spinning!

Joe uncapping!!!

Seema spinning - I love the halloween in the background!

Chuck and Joe taking a break!

The amazing honey for a second filter!!