Shaylee's First Pumpkin Carving

Wow, it finally feels like autumn here in Florida. Yesterday was our first chilly day! A whooping 68 degree high and a 48 degree low- can you believe that?! Which means last night was the perfect night to get into the autumn spirit and carve that pumpkin that has been sitting on our dining room table for over a week! Nils had to work so Shaylee, my mom and I scrapped out the pumpkin, separated the seeds, and made roasted pumpkin seeds while he was gone. Shaylee thought it was hilarious when every time she reached in to pull out another glob of pumpkin guts, we exclaimed "ewww!" Nils and I carved the pumpkin into a cute spider design after she went to bed and showed it off to her this morning. She got a big smile on her face so I think we did pretty good!

Not bad, huh? My camera has a night vision feature which turned out to be perfect to get these shots of the finished product. Boo!

Kindermusik Class

Yesterday Shaylee had another Kindermusik class and was much more sociable this time around. She didn't know all the songs (Mommy has been slacking with playing her CD so she could practice) but she hummed the majority of them. She really seems to enjoy the class and is working on her listening skills. I just wish she was as good at "Cleanup Time" at home as she is in class, LOL!



Storytime- that's her teacher, Ms Marne in the jean capris and brown shirt.

Playing with handheld bells
Ribbon dancing around the room

Shaylee's Halloween Costume

Arr! She be the cutest pirate there be ever, arr!

Trunk Or Treat @ Lamb of God Lutheran Church

Last night, one of the local Lutheran churches had a "Trunk of Treat" for the younger children. Basically the church members and volunteers would back up their vehicles in a circle. The trucks of their cars and SUV s were all decorated with Halloween decorations and lights and the younger children, most ages 2 to about 8 or so, would go trick or treating from car trunk to car truck- all dressed up in their costumes. It was great practice for Shaylee, since this is the first year she is going to actually be trick or treating. She loved it! There was little games taking place like ring toss and some game where you picked a little duck from a pool and got a prize if you knew the number on the bottom of it. Inside the church's preschool, there was arts and crafts where kids got to decorate white paper bags with stick on Halloween themed shape foam pieces and stickers. It was so nice to have something so close to home for the little kids. And the volunteers were thinking ahead as most of the candy they were offering was appropriate for smaller kids and toddlers- like M&Ms, Reese's Peanut Butter cups, and mini chocolate bars-not all, but Shaylee's bag of "Shaylee Appropriate Candy" held just about the same amount as the bag that I deemed "For the Grownups Only" which consist of lollipops (they make me so nervous), hard candies, gumballs, and really chewy things like Now and Laters. I was surprised to see that some were even offering small cheap novelty toys and healthy alternatives like bags of pretzels instead of the usual candy. Shaylee got a orange and black toy that looked like a pair of hands that when you shake it, it makes noise, and a black parrot shaped whistle. After our little Trunk or Treating, we took her to McDonald's for dinner and let her burn off her little sugar rush on their playground, which of course she loved as well.
That kid goes crazy for playgrounds! It was a nice evening and gave her some really good practice for the big night of real trick or treating. Only 8 more days to go!

Blog Makeover- Kinda

Sorry it's been so long. But there is some exciting news- The Laufer Family Blog is getting a makeover! Well kinda of... I am actually trying to make it where everyone in the family gets an update so you can keep up with what's going on in everyone's life. Each family member, including the pets, will get an update. So here's to a fresh start where the whole family is included and hopefully it will encourage me to jump on here more!

Nils
Nils is still steadily losing weight following the Weight Watcher program. We both have been cheating quite a bit with the recording our points, but he is making wise decisions on what he eats and drinks. Crystal Light and Nils are good friends- other than when we go out, I don't think he drinks soda anymore. He is still working hard at Comcast, working towards that supervisor position that he wants so badly. Apparently others are taking notice so we are crossing our fingers than when he is qualified to apply, that he will have no problem getting the position.

Shawna

Just four more weeks of maintence in the Weight Watchers program before I am considered lifetime and can finally stop paying for the membership. All I have to do is maintain my current weight and/or not gain anymore than 2 pounds above that and then I can finally be a lifetime member. Then I can send in my membership book to my insurance company and be reimbursed up to a year's worth of membership fees. I am a bit concerned though, since my employer announced that AvMed, my insurance company, will no longer be an option through Comcast. I have to find out the details of when exactly AvMed is dropped. Hopefully it will not be within the next four weeks because I will be highly disappointed if I lose this opportunity to get almost $500 back!!!

The end of this week marks my three year dedication to Comcast. Can you believe I will have been here for 3 years already?! I can't! Its the longest job I have ever held, not that I am not a good worker but I tend to get bored easily and want to move on, have some kind of change. I guess thats just another sign that I am growing up still.

Shaylee

What a chatter-box Shaylee is! I truly think she could possibly be gifted- her vocabulary and language skills seem so much more advanced than any other two year old I have seen, and I don't just say that because she's my daughter. Everyone who comes into contact with her agrees. This past weekend we enrolled her in a Kindermusik class which is a parent/child interactive music class. They sing songs, read stories, dance, play instruments, and have a blast. Nils and I took her to a preview class on Saturday and after the first 20 minutes finally warmed up and participated. She can be so shy and reserved at first but once she warms up...watch out, LOL! Each class is 45 minutes long and are every Saturday morning for a 15 week semester that normally begin in September and again in January. Since we enrolled late, our tuition was prorated and the instructor, Ms. Marne, was gracious enough to let us make payments since she understands how horrible the economy is for so many people right now. The class reminds me very much of Gymboree classes which also have a music program. A plus to Kindermusik is each semester, the family gets a Home Activity pack. This semester is called "Milk and Cookies". The activity pack included a two disc CD with the songs, poems, and sounds that they experience and sing in class; two story books; a stir xylophone, and a Home Activity book with the lyrics to the songs and other activities that tie it all together. The idea is to continue to share the musical experiences daily at home as well as in class. I am excited to see how Shaylee grows with all this!
Here is the link if you would like to read more on this awesome program:
http://www.kindermusik.com

Shaylee's new obsession is ketchup. She ate so much of it the day this was taken that she got sick.
Whole Family
We as a family are raising money towards the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure walk in March. Even Shaylee and my mom will be participating (well, Shaylee will be in a stroller but she will have her own Race for the Cure shirt and everything). I have been busy typing a quite professional sponsor letter that I will be handing out and mailing to various local businesses to see if they would like to offer a donation. The best part is our team name- "Saving Second Base"- get it? LOL! Hopefully we will reach our team goal which I have made $2000. I made it high since I am suggesting that the businesses offer $150 each which can help a needing individual recieve a life changing mammogram since early detection is the best chance for survival. So far we have $1.00 from one of the girls in my department. We have a long way to go. Sigh.

Zoey

Zoey recently got her hair cut and looks like a poodle and not a sheepdog anymore! It was really starting to annoy me, having to pick pine needles, leaves, and poo out of her fur every other day and I was too embarrassed by her unkempt appearance to take her anywhere which wasn't very fair to her when Cayman gets to go so many places. She is pretty well behaved just about everywhere we go so now that she looks good, she'll get to go out with us more too. I have become more of a responsible dog owner and got her updated on her rabies and kennel cough vaccinations when I got her groomed also. Our local Petco has a vet come the last Saturday of the month to do low cost vaccinations, and they also have a groomer in Petco so I got both done last month. This Saturday Zoey will be going back to get the remaining required vaccinations (for some reason they don't like giving them all at once- I think it has to do with liability to an allergic reaction or something) so she will be 100% updated.

Cayman

Cayman is finally getting that plume-y feathering I wanted so much in his tail and legs. He still doesn't have much feathering on his chest but he's still growing into his adult coat. They say it can take up to three years to get the full adult coat in and hormones and genetics play an important role in just how hairy longhair dachshunds can be. His parents had nice coats, not too thick or too long, just the right amount of feathering (I have seen some really hair-balls out there) and Cayman is neutered which can make his coat thinner than if he was still intact. He has finally loss what I think is the last of his puppy teeth which is a great relief as I really did not want to have to pay to have them removed to avoid further dental issues down the road.

Sterling
Sterling continues to believe that her tubby butt can catch one of the squirrels in our backyard. She also continues her offerings of dead lizards which she leaves in front of the french doors on the patio. Eww.

Your Help is Needed

Dear Friends:

I am writing to you today to tell you about the Komen Southwest Florida Race for the Cure® event that my organized team “Saving Second Base!” and I will be taking part in on Saturday, March 14, 2009. My hope is to not only “imagine a world without breast cancer” but to also do my part to help find the cures. I will be joining more than 7,000 participants, including young children and seniors in an effort to help raise funds to find the cure for breast cancer.


Many have been directly effected by or have known of someone that has been diagnosed with breast cancer. That is why I need your help. I have set a goal of raising at least $500. Any help that you can provide, to help me reach my goal, would be greatly appreciated. Last year, participants rose over $811,000 and had a total of 6,345 participants in the race. Your participation will bring much needed funds to the fight against breast cancer. Just think, a $150 donation will fund one mammogram which could change the life of one individual forever, but ANY dollar amount that is raised makes a difference as there is 1 person that diagnosed with breast cancer EVERY 3 MINUTES and 1 person dies from breast cancer EVERY 13 MINUTES in the US according to the 2008 statistics.


Please keep in mind that thousands of men and women who reside in Southwest Florida cannot afford breast healthcare each year and benefit as a result of funds raised through the Komen Race for the Cure® by receiving screenings, education, and treatments.


And just so you know where your generosity goes, up to 75 percent of the net funds raised in our community help the Southwest FL medically uninsured and underserved. The remaining 25 percent of the net funds raised supports the National Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Grants Program, which funds groundbreaking research around the world. And as always, your donation is 100% US tax-deductible.


Remember EVERY dollar matters! Please, please, please help me!

If you would like to donate please visit my url at:
http://race. komenswfl. org/goto/shawnalaufer-savingsecondbase

Random Pics

Shaylee just recently learned how to make a silly face and had to show it off to all of you!

This last one was taken last Saturday at the Pirate Festival, unfortunately it wasn't as exciting as we had hoped.

I Made Goal!

I MADE GOAL AT WEIGHT WATCHERS!

Okay, so my personal goal is still 120 but as far as Weight Watchers is concerned, on the books, I have made my goal of 126. It was actually suppose to be 125 but after evaluating my progress and how I was stuck bopping up and down from 126 to 128, one of the leaders convinced me to change it. Then when I got on the scale and it said 125.6 I was thrilled! It was close enough to what I was aiming for in my meetings. So now I am on the Maintenance period. I have to stay at or below my goal weight of 126 for 6 weeks to be considered a Lifetime member. I am, however, allowed to gain no more than 2 lbs while on Maintenance. Nils is doing really well with Weight Watchers as well and is making good progress, losing each week and not gaining. Together we went shopping for foods that were considered Core foods which is one of the two plans you can pick to be on while on Weight Watchers. It relies more heavily on listening to your body's cues that you are satisfied and less on counting every little point. The only downside is you have to eat only what's on the Core food list, everything else has to be counted as points. You can read more about the Weight Watchers program at their website: www.weightwatchers.com.

My New Wig

Just for fun, I bought a wig! Never have another bad hair day! I love it!

Estero Community Park Family Picnic and Playground Trip

Ike- Moving West a bit

The latest update shows that Hurricane Ike, a category 4 hurricane, is still moving its way to us, this time moving a little more southwest that originally projected. But as unpredictable as these storms are, we are just hoping it continues along this path instead of making any unexpected turns towards the Gulf Coast. I guess its just a matter of time. Today my uncle and dad are putting the hurricane shutters on my grandmother's house in preparation.

Ike

As I am sure all of you are watching, we are monitoring Hurricane Ike closely. At this time it is still a ways out but looming our way. Based on the projected paths so far, Hurricane Ike is expected to reach us around Wednesday and could be as strong as a category three or four storm. This one is serious and means bad news, especially if it slows down which will allow it to pick up strength around the warm waters of the Florida Straits. Unfortunately we will not know much more until Sunday probably. A lot of things could happen between now and then and the projected path could change. For now we will take the same usual precautions and expect the worse. We ask that everyone keep an eye on the Weather Channel for up to date info on this big storm and keep us in your prayers.

We Were On the News!

NCH holding blood drives all weekend

Originally posted by Noah Pransky on: Friday, September 05, 2008 Last updated on: 9/5/2008 11:46:36 PM

COLLIER COUNTY: While everyone is preparing for Hurricane Ike in their own ways, local hospitals are getting ready by bulking up on blood.

Anticipating a shortage in donors next week and possibly a surge in demand - Naples Community Hospital is hosting blood drives all weekend.

They even gave back themselves, rewarding donors with free movie tickets at Coconut Point yesterday.

"Whenever there's a big event like a hurricane or other disaster, they are going to need it," said donor Shawna Laufer.

The blood drives continue this weekend. On Saturday, you can get free movie tickets by donating at the Hollywood 20 theater in Naples from noon to 6 p.m.

Or, on Monday, you can donate from noon to 5:30 p.m. at the Naples Community Hospital Support Services Building.

© 2008 by ABC7 NEWS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Pretty In Pink

Summer is for Strawberries!

While out boating on Saturday, I got these great pics of Shaylee totally digging into juicy strawberries and it was the perfect definition on what summer is all about- boating, beaches, and plump fruits and fun!