and just like that...

2014 is 3/4 of the way over (almost).  There have been so many times I wanted to or was inspired to post to the blog.  And then there wasn't time, and so a photo went up on Instagram or via text instead.

Since this year has been one to remember (that's nearly laughable at this point!) I thought I should at least try to capture the milestones.  And will photo dump later.  Love my iPhone but hate that I don't take more pics with the camera or make more photo albums.  We will work on that in 2015...

So, here goes nothing...

2014
based on Sara's memory...which is bleak.  Disregard any errors :)

January

• Sara and kiddos survived the polar vortex with David traveling
• Sara conquered Whole 30.  

February (so far, this month takes the cake!)

• Sara, Grammy, Hads & Brady ventured to Boston.  Travel was a success!  
• Sara enjoyed not being on Whole 30 in Boston! Hello wine...
• Hadley's 1st trip to the ER and 1st stitches
• Sara interviewed for and accepted a new job, managed two weeks of overlap between new and old jobs and said goodbye to her LLS family after 6 years (whoa)
• After only a week on the new job, a discovery was made - B3 was on his or her way (WHAT?)

March

• Seriously cannot remember much happening in March (phew) aside from normal 1st trimester stuff, the discussions on "um, should we move??" and prepping for April vacation
• We told the Lehman's about B3 and started car shopping for a third row vehicle!

April

• Sara and David jetted off to Mexico with the Evernhams...what was already their babymoom became one we shared.  The announcement to them was priceless...
• And, while telling the Wannamakers about B3 via Facetime from Mexico...we learned baby W #2 is on the way - yippee!
• We told David's family about B3 and started to tell our friends too!

May

• We make an offer on a house and it's accepted!!  Get ready Carmel, here we come!
• Ramsey drive on the market!
• Memorial Day Weekend getaway to Greensboro...the big girls had a blast as always, Brady survived the girls and a connecting flight and Sara & Cameron sat around and chatted pregnancies. So fun to have kiddos close in age!

June

• Brady turns 1! 
• Sara is 20 weeks pregnant at Brady's 1st birthday (we are still in shock to some extent at this point)
• Ramsey Drive sells!

July

• Close on both homes, within a week, David is a GC for a week and managed vendors and the move like a rockstar
• Sara leaves for a week of business travel right after moving in (poor timing!)
• Hadley starts sleeping in a big girl bed!
• Hadley enjoys two weeks of swim lessons
• New house gets so much needed love...floors, paint, updates, etc.  So much more to come!

August

• The Glenns and Lehmans sneak off to South Haven for a week - so much fun!  
• A third row car is now ours...whoa!
• Hadley turns 3!
• We continue to settle into the house and enjoy the pool a bit more
• The Waldners come to Indiana!  Hadley's best 2 weeks ever!
• Hadley is rocking the big girl potty!

September

• Labor Day weekend pool party is a blast.   This weekend is the start to Sara feeling "different" for some reason
• We have a walker - finally!  He's been able to walk for weeks, but wouldn't use it as his primary mode of transportation until literally 15 months exactly.  Silly boy.  
• Sara is put on bed rest - a shock to her, our home and our work-lives.   

That's all for now...I think I should just continue to update this list to keep to laugh at one day.  One day..

Everybody's working for the weekend

At least I was on Friday! It was my first day back and going back on a Friday was a great decision. Only one day without my baby! I only cried a little at home and in my Starbucks on the way there. I held it together at work and was pretty distracted since it was our annual clean up day.

And I got these pretty things from Hadley and her daddy. I just might be able to make it through next week!

shop for a cause

Shop For A Cause with Macy’s and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!

Follow this link http://in.lls2010.llsevent.org/shopforacause to purchase a $5 Shopping Pass to receive exclusive savings in every Macy’s store and online at macys.com on Saturday, October 16th, and LLS gets to keep 100% of the shopping pass proceeds. Macy's guests are entitled to exclusive 20% and 10% savings in most departments all day long, plus an additional 25% off a single purchase. Certain exclusions apply. Plus, you can enter to win a $500 Macy’s Gift Card.

A small $5 donation can save you lots of money at Macy's - and right before the holidays for your gift shopping needs!

Thank you for your support of LLS!

seriously?

October is really over? well...that was fast!

We had a fun week this week leading up to an always fun Boling Halloween Bash!

On Thursday we had the Sterleys and Mortons over for GGCs (gourmet grilled cheeses) and tator tots! It was an ode to grade school lunches! It was fun with babies and good food!

twins! David & Parker

parker & jasper hanging out

Then on Friday my co-workers and some friends decided to do Run Like Hell - a 3 mile run downtown on the canal. Mallory did a great job with our costumes...we were months of the year (I am Uncle Sam!). But the weather stunk so we just checked in to get our shirts, and then meet the boys at Scotty's! It was the best race I've ever done! Somehow Matt & David got us the back boardroom at the downtown Scotty's so our big group of 19 had a great time!

Then Saturday night we passed out candy at home and then went to our standing halloween plans-the Boling Halloween Bash! We were Popeye, Olive Oyl and a can of spinach! While we didn't win best group costume-we were proud of our crafty work! Isn't Harley the cutest can of spinach?

UPDATE!!

Now that got your attention, right?

Well, if I am the only person excited about this update-oh well!

The Indianapolis Man & Woman of the Year campaign has raised more than $145,000!! I was of course proud to announce $135,000....but let's tack on another $10,000, sound good??

Yay!! Go Indy Candidates! Vince Todd, Jr., the Man of the Year, also moved past the $40,000 mark this week for his fundraising-this campaign rocks!

$135,000 PLUS

Yes, that is right...Saturday night was the Grand Finale Gala of my spring campaign, Man & Woman of the Year (www.manwomanoftheyear.org/indy)

We had 9 awesome candidates for the "rebirth" of the campaign this year. The IN chapter did it way back 10 years ago in Indy...so, this is the first year for the campaign pretty much.

Did I mention our candidates are awesome??

Well...We were proud to announce last night at the Grand Finale that the campaign grossed more than $135,000-all raised by the candidates! I am still shocked writing this.

6 women and 3 men have been raising money since Feb. 19, so my boss and I are quite attached to them, their families and their campaign teams. Needless to say, last night was emotional. We had a great video and great speakers. Really, I couldn't have asked for a better event. The candidates had a great time, the Conrad was beautiful and accomodating and the program was seamless.

I am one happy camper! Let the recruiting for next year begin!

We had a photographer (Lauren Weghorst Photography) so I hope I have pictures soon to post and/or link you to!

Yay!

Here We Go!

We had our Kickoff Celebration to our new campaign on Thursday night. I am so excited about this campaign because it is Amy, our ED, Sarah, our Deputy ED and I (fun group) on the campaign and it is truly unique!!

It is called Man & Woman of the Year. Check it out! www.manwomanoftheyear.org/indy

Candidates started fundraising on Thursday Feb. 19 and will continue through the Grand Finale Gala on April 25 where we will announce the Man of the Year and the Woman of the Year. So, for nine weeks our candidates raise funds...$1=1 vote. The most votes wins. They run in honor of the Boy & Girl of the Year (who are adorable). It is a really neat group of candidates-you might even know one-check it out and help them win!!

Pictures of the Kickoff to come-wish us luck!! In a "not-so-fun-to-fundraise-in" economy-they are excited and ready to make an impact. I love them already!!

So, Sara, What do you do?

I have always envied those people that can answer this question with one phrase such as "I teach" or "I am an accountant." Wouldn't that be nice?

I almost want to say to someone who asks the question, "I would love to tell you! Do you have an entire afternoon to talk?" Ha! I guess the simplest way to say it is that I work on two campaigns, on a walk and one a fundraising competition with a black tie event. But, I am considering a new answer-I raise money to cure cancer. Doesn't that sound important and grand??

I think this answer would also remind me why I work in this environment, where I hear about cancer all day, where I hear about loss and struggle and where I am constantly reminded how quickly our lives can change. On top of that, I always say I do the hard work and get paid in peanuts. I guess it beats being a circus elephant. :) But, I chose this path and while it is so hard to keep the perspective of the impact we are making in our patients lives, it can make just getting through the day a victory.

I found a great collection of you tube videos that our home office created. (for those of you that have heard me talk about my job or the home office, this is not at all surprising that I had no idea that these videos exist-ha!) I thought I would share one with you all-it really does a great job of telling the world who we are, what we do and why we do it.

Enjoy!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyqRpg7X5LE