I need your stuff!

Hello, friends. I am collecting new or gently used items for the 2009 Junior League Rummage Sale on February 20, 2009. The money made from this sale goes to support the Junior League community programs. The 2008-2009 Community Programs of The Junior League of Phoenix, Incorporated (JLP), provide funds, volunteers and facilitation assistance through JLP programs at various nonprofit agencies throughout the Metro Phoenix community. The focus area of the JLP Community Programs is on programs and projects that improve early childhood education.

Children's Museum of Phoenix As the first major supporter, JLP has provided volunteers and funding since 2001 and focuses on providing early childhood education programming in The Junior League of Classroom
Girl Scouts First Saturdays JLP volunteers serve as troop leaders for a group of economically challenged and ethnically diverse girls aged 5-12.
Journey of Me - Life Books Partnering with Arizonans for Children, JLP volunteers research and create unique life story scrapbooks and narratives for children in foster care.
Phoenix Day Nutrition Nights To promote healthy eating habits and address the issue of childhood obesity, JLP plans and implements quarterly Nutrition Nights for the families of Phoenix Day, an early childhood education center that primarily serves low-income area residents.
Ryan House JLP is a founding community partner of Southwest's first freestanding children's palliative care facility in a home-like setting. JLP is sponsoring a family bedroom where families will be encouraged to stay during their visit.
St. Vincent de Paul Hearts and Hands Day To promote voluntarism, JLP takes a leading role in presenting events where families can volunteer together to help homeless and disadvantaged families and individuals who are provided assistance by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
The Wellness Community Teen Program Social and informational events developed and staffed by JLP volunteers help build bridges and understanding between teens with cancer and those without the disease that are impacted directly by cancer.

You can help contribute to these programs by donating any of the following items for a tax deduction. I will even arrange to pick them up from you.

Furniture
Books
Electronics
Housewares
Jewelry
Lawn & garden equipment
Linens
Sporting goods
Toys
Baby items
Children’s clothing
Collectibles
Holiday items
Lamps and lighting

Please let me know how you would like to help.

Thanks in advance,
Marni

Thanksgiving Feast

I will be cooking my first full Thanksgiving feast this year. We're having the usual: green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, etc. We're also having a turducken (turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken). LRM requested pumpkin bread. Who knows where she learned of pumpkin bread, but pumpkin bread she shall have.

A Day at the Beach

080714 Beaufort 046
Originally uploaded by MarniRae

We have just returned from two weeks in South Carolina visiting my sister. We had a great time and the girls really enjoyed spending time with their cousins. PSM and I got away for a weekend in Atlanta without the girls. Thanks to Mom, Lori, and all the boys for keeping them happy while we kept ourselves sane. See more pics at my flickr site (click on the picture or the link below).

http://flickr.com/photos/mmoney/

LRM Recites Frog and Toad

LRM's Third Birthday

And other pictures here:

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Originally uploaded by MarniRae

GGM is FINALLY walking!

I forgot to mention last week that GGM finally took her "official" first steps.  I say these are now official because it was more than one accidental step while falling toward Mommy or Daddy.  She's taking about 4 stesps now - not every day, but when she feels like it.  It only took her 15 1/2 months to decide to walk.

Jackson Hole

PSM and I left the girls with his parents for a much-needed vacation with his Stone Mountain friends. There were 12 adults in a two-bedroom condo. Thanks to Trent and Kristen for hosting! The weather was perfect - sunny and warm every day. We even made the trip over to Grand Targhee one day. The weather was so clear that we could actually see the mountains, which is rare from what I understand. Seeing all of the kids on the mountain made us excited to get our girls on skis as soon as possible.

Autumn in January

In Phoenix, autumn doesn't come until the weather cools off, which apparently is in January. The leaves on our two trees finally changed and dropped last weekend, so I got some cute pics of the girls. Click on the picture to see more.