HELP!!!

**Updated to add:  The cereal is Kellogg's Cracklin' Oat Bran.  I called my sis who has a memory like a steel trap and she remembered correctly, of course!  But some of you who left comments also guessed correctly!  Thanks!!! :)**

Last night I was craving this certain cereal SO badly.  The only thing is, I have no idea what its called and thats where you will hopefully come in.

Description: It is a granola/oats type cereal but not clusters of granola.  It is dark brown and shaped like a college-type font O (kind of squared and boxy).  That is all that is in the cereal, no flakes, no berries, no apple cinnamon flavors.  Just this college-font shaped O.  Its sweet and pretty rich.

Does anyone have any idea what I'm talking about??  I've gone to 3 stores trying to find this cereal and have had no luck (I thought Trader Joe's carried it, but sent my husband to search for it there...planning on going back myself JIC he missed it).  

If the correct cereal is named a reward may be in order!

Brody's 1st Birthday Pics (finally!)

Sorry it took me FOREVER to get these up!  Life has been crazy, but here they are!  We can't believe our big boy is one already!  

Grandpa and Brody.

Tia Megan taking Brody for a walk.

Time for the pinata!

Big sister's turn (the pinata was more for her anyway)!

Even Tia Megan got into it!

And Logan (not sure what Jeff is doing)...

And cousin Brittany, too!

I received A LOT of harassment for that b-day hat.  I am definitely defending myself here.  

Eating cake for the first time!

My sweet Brody.

Being rowdy with Papa.

Still thinking about cake...

Is It Just Me Or...

1. ...Has SYTYCD become super sexual?  Last nights opening performance where the chicks were dancing on the pianos in the rain with lots of low camera booty shots caused my husband to say out loud, "Good God....is this a dance show or a strip club".  And don't even get me started on Mia Michael's number from Wednesday.  I LOVE Mia's work, but c'mon...the chick is married. Or did we forget that? Oh yeah, another man grabbing your bum doesn't count if you're on SYTYCD or an actress or...*insert excuse here*.  I'm sure her husband was thrilled and just so proud.  We want our young women to be classy and intelligent but what are shows like this (and 90210 and Gossip Girl and Audrina Patridge's waaay-too-steamy commercial for Carl's Jr.) teaching our super impressionable young women (and teaching our young men about women)?  I'm just saying...

2. ...Didn't Michael Jackson, the cute one with the amazing voice as a child, the one we all rocked out to in the 80's, die years ago?  Have we forgotten his disturbing interviews where he proclaimed that young boys sharing his bed is natural and right?  Um...I haven't.  I mourned the loss of this great talent years ago.  

3. ...Have you also been trying to resist reading the Twilight series but since EVERYONE loves them are about to cave?  I'm thisclose to doing it.  Even my super-practical sister, Kari, is completely hooked.  Did you read them and love them or should I look into other summer reads?  

Oh What A Day...

So yesterday the hubs and I made the 3 hour trek back up to Burbank for my interview to meet with the WE tv show's Executive Producer's.  

What an experience!

Let me back up though...

When I got the call on Friday I was told to expect an email with all the info.  I never received that email so Monday I called to let them know.  Thank God that I called because I had lines to memorize!  I haven't done that in years!  There was also a 26 question application that needed to be filled out.  (This was in addition to everything else I had to get ready.)

Needless to say, Monday and Tuesday were crazy.

But I memorized my lines, put my portfolio together, re-vamped my emergency kit, got my resume, client folder, and application all set to go.  

So I get to the studio and am immediately taken to a holding room where I am eventually joined by 6 other consultants.  I wasn't impressed with any of them really.  And I tried to be unbiased because I was scoping out my competition.  

There were two older women (I'd guess late 50's, early 60's), one was wearing a leopard print shirt complete with a matching leopard encased blackberry, the other had pink hair.  There was a beautiful gal who seemed like she might be a good fit until she announced that she didn't like to be on camera because the women in her family have small eyes (?), there was a really stiff/serious planner who had a lisp, another who was wearing jeans and a t-shirt and asked if she could curse, and another who had pretty red hair but tried to say something funny at every opportunity.  They all seemed nice enough, but not anyone I'd be interested in watching on tv. (p.s. if I don't get this, I will still watch the show; curious to see who got it.)

I was so relieved when my name was called to be interviewed.

It was great meeting the Executive Producer's.  They seemed really nice and the interview went very well.  I stumbled on my lines once but it was minor.  They were impressed with my emergency kit and its contents, which also got a few laughs.  I answered all of their questions and felt I answered everything really well.  They asked if I'd ever done tv and I told them no. They told me that I looked great on camera and asked if I'd had my make-up professionally done for the interview...again I said no and Katy, the owner of the casting company, said that it looked great (totally did not expect that, but thanks!).  I flat out told them that I was born for this.  Maybe sometimes I am just too frank.

When the casting director escorted me out she told me that I did great and that I am definitely in the top 5.  And in case you're wondering, nearly 200 people interviewed last week and they narrowed it down to 12.  All of us were interviewed yesterday and thankfully there will be no more callbacks!

So either they'll call within the next week or two and offer me the show or they won't.  That's where its at now.  I'm not gonna save face and say "oh it's been a great experience, so either way I'm happy".  Truth is, I want it.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I'd love to do it.  

At the same time I know that the Lord has plans for me and whether this is included or not is fine.  I'm a busy gal as it is, so I'll have plenty to focus on if I don't get it.  

But it would be so cool to host a tv show!!!

If you think about it, say a prayer for me.  Thanks!!! :)

~Alison  

WE TV CALLBACK

I got the call tonight!!!!

The Executive Producer's of 'Wedding Bliss' want to meet me on Wednesday!!!!

So back to Burbank I go...

I am so excited and nervous.  Plus, they gave me a laundry list of all the stuff I need to bring (ahhhh!):

1. A prop: like a wedding favor or something to make my interview pop.  (I honestly had no idea what she meant when we were talking about this....make my interview "POP"?  Buuuut.....okay. I think I'll bring my Emergency Kit.  Its loaded with tons of stuff in case of a wedding emergency.)

2. Professional Portfolio: So I know that I should already have one made, but I never thought I'd really need it, so I don't.  Now I have 4 days to bust out with a really awesome portfolio that will impress TV Exec's.  Pray that I can do it.  Its really stressing me out.  I don't know the first thing about portfolio's. (Any advice is welcomed.)

3. Consult Folder: I give one out to every prospective client at every first consultation.  Right now mine are white with a transparent copy of my logo stuck to the front.  Looks good, but not good enough for the Exec's.  I need to have my logo printed onto the front (something I've been meaning to do for a few months).  I need to get this done prior to Wed.

4. Resume: I will include it in my portfolio.  Its not stressing me out too much, but its tedious. Haven't done a resume in about 5 years, maybe more.  

Please please pray that I don't get super stressed about this and that everything falls into place. Please also pray that I manage my time wisely and that I get a lot accomplished this weekend while Mark is around to help with the kids.

Thanks!!!  I'm so excited and will keep you all posted!

~Alison

TV....Here I Come?!

I may have mentioned it before, but I am a Wedding Consultant (aka Planner, Coordinator).

Last week I received a call from the We TV Network because they are casting for a new show called Wedding Bliss which is all about one Wedding Consultant who plans a fabulous budget wedding for a deserving couple in just one week.  There will be 6 episodes total; 3 will be shot in LA and the other 3 will be shot in other locations that have yet to be determined.  Their casting company came across my website and asked if I would come to Burbank to interview for the role.

Um, ya!

So yesterday the hubs and I made the 2 1/2 hour trek up north for my interview.  I was super super nervous.  We went over questions that they were possibly going to ask me and I felt pretty confident going in.

The interview was in a room that was painted green, with a stool in the center, a small boom mic in front of the stool and a video camera.  Behind the camera was the interviewer, Kat.

The first thing Kat said was, "This is not your typical interview.  Don't be polite.  Be blunt." to which I responded, "Blunt in my middle name.".  She laughed and the tone was set for a pretty awesome interview.  I turned up the personality and answered every question with complete confidence.  

After the last question was answered she invited me to meet the owner of the casting company, Katie (the two Consultants interviewed before did not meet Katie - you have to cross the waiting room to get to her office).  :)  This was a really good sign and I was stoked!  Katie was very nice and she asked me if I had ever acted before.  I told her I'd done theatre years ago, but no TV.  We talked for a few more minutes and then Kat gave me the info about callbacks.

Callbacks are next week and I'm pretty sure I will get a call.  Whether or not I'll get the show, I don't know, but what a fun and exciting experience and what a great opportunity!  I am flattered that they even called me! 

Keep your fingers crossed!! :)

~Alison

Our Goodbye

Faith just left about 20 minutes ago.  

It was so hard to buckle her into her carseat one last time.  She just looked at me and smiled. What's really difficult for me is that as far as she knows, I am mommy.  I don't want her to feel abandoned.  I hope she does okay in her new home.  I hope she is cuddled and loved on.  I hope her new foster mom has dark eyes and hair like me so that Faith finds her familiar.  

I miss that sweet baby.  

I had convinced myself that I'd be okay.  After all, I get to sleep through the night again, no more bottles to heat, no more mom-visits, many less diapers to change (Brody is still in diapers so I'm not completely off the hook), so much more time to myself....

But I was wrong.  All that is worth it when you see her sweet little smile.  I cried when she left. And yes, I'm crying now.  I know that its for the best that she is with her big sis. 

I have two sisters and that bond is so special that I cannot imagine my life without them.  And those two girls need to bond.  They are just so sweet.

Luckily, I befriended her mom and we have plans to do a playdate soon.  She gets unsupervised visits now and I know the girls will return to her within the next few months.  Whether they'll stay, I don't know.  But I wanted to be someone she could rely on and turn to if/when things get tough.  

I will continue to pray for this family and I just know that God has big plans for sweet Faith. Thank you for all your prayers, words of encouragement and support.  We so appreciate it.  

Fast Food: My Enemy

One thing I HATE about pregnancy:

fast food cravings!  

This always happens to me during the first trimester.  I smell that charbroiled smell as I pass Carl's Jr. on my way to Wal-Mart, or the sauteed onions as I pass In N Out on my way to...wherever.  You get it.

So today I enjoyed my last double-double animal style and will now commit to NOT indulge in fast food...well at least not more than once a week.  I think that's reasonable.

So.... off I go on my two-mile walk.  Honk if you pass me and the cutest dog in the world, Molly, who just got groomed today. :)

Update

I have been really slacking on here.  

I'm exhausted.

But I have news:  We heard from baby Faith's social worker that she will be moving Friday. Her 2 year old sister is also in foster care and they think it would be best to have the girls together until reunification with their birth mother can happen.  Although we are sad to see her go, we agree with her social workers decision. 

I have 2 sisters and there is nothing like the bond we share.

I have my last mom-visit on Thursday and then we will drop Faith off at her new home on Friday.  I am in the process of making a little scrap-book for her this week with pictures of her and of us and little stories about how she has been as a baby these past 10 weeks.

This experience has been the most exhausting, challenging, and rewarding thing we as a couple have ever taken on.  It caused so much self-examination and we are better because of it.  

********

I am now 8 weeks pregnant and starting to show already (but have managed to not break out the maternity clothes...yet).  For the most part I feel good.  I am tired and feel sick from time to time, but other than that I feel like myself.  

My first doctors appointment is on June 22 and I'm expecting to have an ultra sound done to date the pregnancy, but am certain that I'm right on.  

I had a dream the night before last that we were at an appointment and our midwife told us we were having twins, a boy and a girl.  HA!  That would be hilarious but completely fitting of our crazy lives. :)

We have decided not to find out if we are having a boy or a girl.  Since we have one of each we figured we'd keep it a surprise.  A few of our friends did this recently with their thirds and it was fun to guess and see the outcome.  

Unless we are having twins....then we will HAVE to know!  ;-D

*******

Pics of Brody's first birthday party will be up soon!!!  He was such a cutie and loved his birthday cake! 

Also, our friends John and Taryn, took his 1 year pictures and I need to post those as well!  SO stinkin' cute!  

And, Mark's birthday was last week and yes, we have more pics!!!!  Ahhh!  I need an assistant! :)

Hope you all are well!!!!  

-Alison