Family Trip: Success

We spent most of our time away just minutes from the beach on Boston's South Shore
We spent most of our time away just minutes from the beach on Boston's South Shore

We are finally home again, home again (jiggety jig) after a week long family trip. It was sooo nice to get away–to not have a to do list, or the feeling that I should be doing anything more than making sure everyone is fed, clothed and reasonably clean. There wasn’t as much sleeping as I’d hoped for (why they chose this week to reset their clocks for school, I don’t know), but some of our early mornings were the best. Early morning runs to Dunkin Donuts, and an early stroll around Niagra Falls with  Jr. is one I won’t soon forget.

There’s really nothing like jumping on a hotel bed……..me bed jumpmam bed

But there’s really no place like home!

For Real

A week ago today, Judy and I headed north….for the first (of many, I hope) gatherings of the contributors to Grown in My Heart. I’d met Judy before, but have only known Carissa and Marcie virtually. Never mind that Marcie and I have virtually know each other for three years–we’ve actually never met In Real Life.

The nice thing about loitering online with adoptive parents is that you know they’ve been vetted for you. The finger prints, criminal background checks and homestudies almost guarantees that your online friends are safe. Now I’m not endorsing going into unsafe situations with strangers, but I was more excited than cautious when planning for our weekend.

The meet up did not disappoint. Judy and I were welcomed and made to feel at home immediately, Marcie’s boys were as adorable in real life as when she posts about them, and then Carissa walked in with cheesecake,  I knew I’d hit a homerun as far as IRL meetings go!

So we went to the Nail Salon and got pampered (and agressively encouraged to wax, so I did) and talked. And we went to lunch and ate and talked. And then we walked the shops of Geneva and shopped, and talked. The we went back to Marcie’s and ate dinner and had drinks and talked. Then we made earrings and tweeted and talked. And talked and talked…and then we crashed for a few hours…..and then we got up for some more.

And I am so grateful for the internet. And for the sites that pulled us together (for me and Marcie, it was one of the very first Bloggy Giveaway carnivals), and for the site, Grown in My Heart that is expanding my list of adoptive parent friends. Because there is something about being called to adoption (or adoption finding you) that binds. And it’s always reassuring to know that the friends in your computer are real.

Living On the Edge-News and a Giveaway

Back in April, I had the opportunity to attend Hallmark’s first ever Mom E-vent. It was lovely from start to finish, and MAM still talks about going to Kansas City and wants to go back. There was one part of the trip that I didn’t (couldn’t) say much about when I first posted about it, because it was top secret. Like we signed waivers secret. Like we couldn’t photograph secret. Like we were taken down a little hallway, through what looked like a maintenance hallway and led into a special area, a special area where products are developed.

So, anyway, since then, I’ve thought of those products. Partially because I couldn’t say a word about them. And that alone is enough to kill a chatty girl like me, so I am so relieved to finally type these words:

Hallmark has a new line of cards out just for moms! They are funny, funny, funny….and edgy. “You can write that on a card?” was asked more than once as we were looking at them.

And now you can look at them too. On the Edge of Motherhood is a new line that will have all moms laughing, because the sentiments ring true. Check out a few on Hallmark.com (remember, you can actually personalize and have these babies mailed for you, to your bff, right from your computer), and soon they may be in a store near you.

What? You want to see the actual cards??? Leave me a comment….because it’s giveaway time!! I will use random.org to pick a lucky winner sometime on Tuesday, August 4. Just leave me a comment on this post, telling me….telling me something. Anything. You choose. Good luck!!hot_card

For extra entries, after you’ve posted one comment for your first entry, you may:

Tweet about this giveaway using this :  RT @gotchababy Sassy new Hallmark cards available! Enter for a chance to win some! http://tinyurl.com/mptdko  (once you tweet, leave me a comment telling me you did so)

Post about this giveaway on your blog (leave me a comment telling me you did so)

Post this giveaway on Facebook (leave me a comment telling me you did so)