Alivia Goes to School

So Alivia has now started kindergarten. I am so blessed that I was able to be there with her on her first day. We started off the morning with Alivia getting to play with Drew, Levi, Elise, and my mom which was a great start to Alivias day. My mom came over to watch Elise while Ashley and I took Alivia to school. So while Ashley was getting Alivias lunch ready I made her a pancake and everyone sat at the table and talked while Alivia ate her breakfast. Then we got ready to leave. We took some pictures before we left the house just like we do every year.

Getting ready to 

Walking into school

                                                                                                                                When we arrived at her school it was kind of crazy. The parking lot was full and people were everywhere. We were directed to the gym where they were playing music and kids were packed in. Most kids would have been a little freaked out by this and I’ll admit it was a little intimidating so naturally I was a little worried how Alivia was going to take it. When I looked down at her and smiled she smiled right back and it seemed like she was right in her element. What an amazing child, I just love that girl. We followed her teacher down the hall full of kids of all ages and got to the classroom. Her teacher told them to put up their backpacks and sit in their seat. Alivia did just that! And she was ready for the day. That is when Ashley and I knew that she is definitely prepared for this. Elise on the other hand was not very prepared for her big sis to be gone all day. She really loves her “BeBe” and they are such a great pair. I do however feel sorry for Elise that she misses Alivia so much during the day but hopefully this will make Elise just as independent as Alivia is. I am such a proud dad right now!! 

                                                                                                                       

Summer

It has been a really great summer so far. Other than the fact that it is unbelievably hot it has been great. Being surrounded by such wonderful people plays a huge part of making life amazing and I have to say my life is pretty amazing. My wife, my in-laws, my family, and friends are just perfect.

My parents have “Pool Day” once a week and it is just amazing to me how many different people go over and hang out. Typically the party is still hopping by the time I get off work so I usually go over and hang out which is a great way to end the day.

I have really been enjoying my new job mostly because I am surrounded by great people. Typically you don’t go to work to make friends but I really think that I have made some great friends at my new job. I do miss working with my best friend which is my dad. Even though we don’t get to work together I am just so happy that we were able to for the time that we did. He is an amazing man and I have learned so much from him over the years. He is an inspiration and a role model.

My sister and brother in law purchased a boat and house at the lake which is awesome! I am so proud of everything that they have accomplished over the years. Their lake house rocks and the girls love it and love the lake. I wasn’t to surprised that Alivia loved it but I was however a little surprised about Elise. The only thing that she didn’t like was wearing the life jacket but it didn’t stop her from being in the lake the majority of the time that we were there.

We just recently took a trip to Las Vegas which was a blast. My wonderful wife wanted to plan something special for my 30^th birthday and she did just that. She invited my parents and a couple other great friends and we all had an amazing time!

Scot is getting closer and closer every day to being able to move into his new house. He should be in there by fall. Scot and I spent a couple days running wires and installing boxes so he can have music throughout his whole house and outside. It was a lot of work but it was actually a lot of fun, and not to mention we saved about $4,500. I just can’t wait to hear the final product.

Today was pretty much the last day of summer for the Giddens. Alivia started school today. It was a very proud yet sad moment for Ashley and myself. You never know how hard something is going to be until you are right in the middle of it. And let me tell you, it was tough!

This post was probably a little boring but it was just a summary of some of the things that have been happening this summer. Hopefully I can update this more often but I have found it’s quite difficult.

facebook

       What is up with all of the request on facebook? I mean seriously!! My birthday is listed on my profile and it shows up in the upper right hand corner of all of my friends  page, so what is the point in MyCalendar? Most of the people who have requested me to join MyCalendar wouldn’t even wish me a happy birthday anyways. I hardly have time to keep a plant alive in real life so what is the use in trying to keep an entire farm going? If I’m going to build the home of my dreams it will be on some real land, not in The Ville. Dr. Phils personality test…really? I don’t even think I need to comment on that one.

       So my one question is, how in the world does everyone have the time to play all of these games? I’ve tried to shut off most of my updates but they keep creating new games. People are playing these games all day long.  I could think of a million different ways I would rather spend my time. Some might read this and think, “if you can sit there and type up a blog why can I sit here and harvest some crops?” Well it usually take me a full week to actually write one blog post because I don’t just sit down and come up with something. I don’t have the time. If I have to choose between spending time with my family or playing on facebook, I choose family.  Every once and a while when I post something to my blog it’s just my way of saying what I want to say. So if I offend anyone, sorry. 

Kindergarten

        Tonight we took Alivia to meet her kindergarten teacher. I can’t believe that she is already in a real school and not just preschool. We were so very lucky that she had such an amazing preschool so I really think that she is more than ready for kindergarten. All of the ladies at Kids First which is where she went to preschool were absolutely amazing. Alivia, unlike me when I was a kid was always so excited to go to school and I strongly believe that it was all because of the staff. I do feel that she is in good hands with her new kindergarten teacher but all of us will miss all the wonderful ladies at Kids First.

       As I sit here typing and looking at Elise it seems like just yesterday that Alivia was 17 months old running around the house chasing the dogs. And now she will be starting kindergarten next week! It’s just crazy! But I couldn’t be a more proud dad. All three of my girls are just amazing! And I am so lucky that my wife has molded them into who they are.  She is an amazing teacher!

Playing with the blocks

Her name tag

At her desk listening to the teacher with mom

Her basket

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Fundraiser

So I'm not sure how many of you that will read this walked for "Team Wester" with my family, friends and myself to support our good friend Jeff Wester who was a true fighter. We now have another opportunity to raise money for a great cause. The Gateway chapter for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is holding the Springfield Wine Opener on March 23, 2012.

The evening will start at 7:00 and they will have over 20 wines to sample. They will also have entertainment, silent auction, raffle, wine grab bag and many other fun activities. Everyone will go home with something other than the pure joy of helping out a great cause. So if you know someone who has or is fighting cystic fibrosis please come and help support them. It will be a great time. Tickets are $50 in advance or $60 at the door. You can purchase ticket online at: http://gateway.cff.org/wineopenerspringfield  

This is a cause that feel real strongly about and I hope to see many of you there! Don't forget it's cocktail attire! Here is a picture of Alivia and I before we headed to the Great Strides Walk for Team Wester.

Proud to be a Giddens

I just read a document that really hit home to me and made a feeling that I have always had a whole lot stronger… I am so proud to be a Giddens. My life has always been great. Even in the tough or bad times I am surrounded by such a strong family that the bad never last long. Not one person can say that they have a perfect life and I am not saying that at all but I do have the perfect family.

At the end of the month my father will no longer have the burden of being a business owner. It hasn’t always been a burden to him but owning a business is not an easy job. He has worked so hard his whole life to create a very successful company that has done so much more than just business. Any chance that he had to do something good for someone within the company or outside of the company he jumped on it. And he did so without any hesitation or the need for recognition. And during all of these years of hard work, dedication and philanthropy he has had an amazing woman by his side, my mom. Outside of being my parents they are two of the most amazing people that I know and words can’t even express the respect that I have for the both of them.

And then you have my wonderful sister, Chrissy. I guess this is where the phrase “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” comes from. Just like my parents she donates her time and money to help so many different people and organizations. I am so proud of her and my brother-in-law for the people that they have become.

Somehow I managed to marry a woman that lives by the same principals as the rest of my family. Just like my parents, sister and brother-in-law she jumps at any opportunity to help others. I thought that helping me was a full time job but she somehow finds the time to do good for others. She is so amazing!

So I plead to all of you that read this please join our “38 Moments” campaign tomorrow March 8. Try doing 38 random acts of kindness, you will be amazed how good you will feel. For the full story about “38 Moments” please read below. I was thinking about it today and 184 people read my “38 Moments” blog and if all 184 people did 38 random acts of kindness that would be 6,992 randomly nice things done tomorrow. To me that is just amazing. So good luck and let me know how it goes. 

38 Moments

      On this post I will be stealing a post that was made by my sister, Chrissy George. March 8 we will celebrate Stephanie Phillips birthday. Since the day she passed away my family and others have done our best to make sure she will always be remembered and that her birthday will always be a happy day for her two little boys. My sister read a blog about a girl who turned 30 and instead of being down about turning 30 she decided to do 30 random acts of kindness. So my sister started what I am calling the 38 Moments Campaign. Here is what Chrissy wrote:

"So here is my challenge to you.  I am going to spend Thursday March 8, 2012 spreading the love.  I vow to have 38 momentsin that day that belong to someone other than myself.  38 moments where I will return the love to the community that we received in our time of trial.  38 moments dedicated TO someone else in HONOR of her.  I KNOW you are all up to the challenge.  Anyone can participate from anywhere.  It can be anything from holding a door, to paying for someone's meal.  A plate of cookies in the teacher's lounge at your child's school or  a visit to a nursing home.  Call someone who needs cheering up.  Ask the bank teller how his or her day is...and listen.  It doesn't have to involve money, but if you have extra to spare...buy a handful of $5 gas cards and hand them out with sweet notes.  Make a special breakfast for your family.  Slip a little surprise in lunches or backpacks before you send them out the door.  Volunteer somewhere.  How fun would it be to hand out lollipops at the DMV while people wait?  This may challenge many of us to step outside their comfort zones...but again, I think we are up for that challenge!!"


You can follow her blogs at:
www.claireandcocosmommy.blogspot.com
www.stephsgonnawin.blogspot.com