DAY 2 of Oprah's 12-Day Holiday Give-O-Way

Day 2 of Oprah's 12 Day Holiday Give-O-way


Go to oprah.com/12days


Enter to win some of Oprah's favorite things.


CODE FOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 30th: 74


Here is one of my favorite things:

CUTE SOCKS!

I love wearing cute socks.  I love giving people cute socks.  I think feet look better in cute socks.  I think everyone in the world needs cute socks.  I think people feel happier with cute socks.  I am in love with a fuzzy pink pair that I recently received as gift.  So when you are thinking about stocking stuffers this year, go for cute socks!

-Miss T

Oprah's 12-Day Holiday Give-O-Way!

KK-


One of the best things about Oprah is her show were she gives away all of her "favorite things."  I doubt you watched the show the other week because you are studious college student, but this year Oprah did 2 "Favorite Things" shows and she gave away a new car to each studio audience.  How do you get to be one of those lucky people.  


Anyway, Miga subscribes to the O Magazine, and in it they are giving away a selection of gifts from Oprah's "Favorite Things" show to the readers.  Wouldn't you love to be a winner for one of those?  Well, you can be.   


STEP 1:  You need find the hidden icons for each day in the O magazine.  Luckily I bought the O magazine and I will post the code from each hidden icon, so that you and our readers can use it. AWESOME!


STEP 2:  Once a day from November 29th through December 10th, you can enter for a chance to win by logging on to oprah.com/12days and typing in the appropriate code for that day (found on this blog).  Entering each day will increase your chances of winning.  So do it now!


STEP 3: Let us know if you win anything.  I really want you, my sister, or any of our other "sisters" to win.


Sound fun and easy and awesome and wonderful and exciting and more!!!!


Here is the code for Monday November 29th: 68


Merry Christmas!
-Miss T

A life to give thanks.

Hey Miss T,

When I think of gratitude, I think of the very first thank-you note that I received that stuck in my memory. I was 12 years old, and I had given my first youth speaker talk in church. Of course I was nervous and excited at the same time to be speaking to the whole congregation, and my main motivation to succeed at giving my little part to the meeting was still the box of cereal Mom promised to get us if we had our talk memorized.

Well I gave my talk, I can't remember how it went, and I moved on with my life. I didn't think much of it until a few days letter when Mom handed an envelope to me and said, "This is for you." I opened the card up. It had a picture of a green meadow on it, with some cows and a sunshine. Inside the card a lady from church had written me a note. "Thank you for your talk on Sunday. Thank you for taking the time to prepare and sharing your testimony with us." Simple words, maybe they seem generic, but in those first moments of reading that card my eyes filled with tears, my heart filled with love and gratitude as well, and my mind filled with understanding. What could I, a 12 year old, possibly have to say that a 40-something year old woman with many of her own children and a beautiful alto voice in the choir, what could I possibly say or do that would give her a reason to feel that wonderful feeling of gratitude? That is when I realized for the first time, that things that I do in this life can help people to feel gratitude. That my actions, my words, my choices--they influence people. I could do things for others that could help them feel happier, kinder, and more loving, because these are all things that happen when we feel grateful.

Secondly I realized how wonderful I felt to be thanked. Wow. It made my day. And it made many days actually, because I left that card in my bathroom drawer so I could see it every day as I prepared to start the day. Sometimes middle school is rough, and knowing that someone appreciated something you did worked wonders on my self-esteem.

Now, if that card did wonders on my self-esteem, what could a simple thank you do for others? That's when I started to value the expression of gratitude. Someone once said that "feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." If I so enjoy feeling grateful, then the least I can do is pass that along to others myself. Oh how I love the season of thanksgiving.

Thank you Miss T, for being my sister. For always being an example for me. For being a daughter, sister, aunty, wife, and mother. Thank you for helping me pick out clothes, cook enchiladas, go on dates, and have fun at school. Thank you thank you!

Love, Aunty KK

We're Thankful for....

My Lovely KK - 

I am expecting a glorious Thanksgiving post from you at some point, but for now you will have to indulge me as I share what my family is thankful for.

I am taking this from T Bear's personal prayer last night.  "Thankful for playing in the snow with Daddy.  thankful for my moon and sun (this is nightlight).  Thankful for my bed.  Thankful for my blankie.  Thankful for Jose (a huge teddy bear named after my brother) and Rocket (Little Einsteins)."

Baby Cub is thankful for his crazy loving family.  We are in love with this easy baby and are grateful he is part of our family.  

As for me, I don't know where to start.  I am thankful for my life.  I am thankful for the opportunity to be a wife, mother, daughter and sister.  I am thankful for my health and my family.  I am thankful to live in this country.  I am thankful for my Savior.  I am thankful for music, dance, nature and technology.  I am thankful for chocolate.  I am thankful for financial peace.  I am thankful for a warm place to live and sleep.  I am thankful for amazing friends. I am thankful for a happy childhood and a bright future.

 Big D wrote down what he is thankful for this year.  

-A loving, kind, and beautiful wife

-2 healthy boys

-Peanut Butter Cups
-Family and friends
-My Savior
-BYU Football
-My job and apartment managing job
-My Mom
-A new camera
-Great In-laws
-Snowplows
-This Country and all the blessings of living here
-Medical advancements that allow me to live a healthy, active life
-Food
-Everyone that has affected my life in a positive way at some point
-My wife, sons, family, friends.  (this one deserves a second mention)

This has been a good exercise for me, because there have been times where I have felt overwhelmed, stressed and/or depressed.  Remembering what I am truly grateful for reminds me that I have a wonderful and blessed life. I feel almost silly for complaining and whining about the things I do and do not have.  I hope that this overwhelming feeling of gratitude will make our Thanksgiving wonderful and last with us through the rest of the holiday season.

I am incredibly jealous that you are home for Thanksgiving.  I have not been home, in Boise, for a Thanksgiving since 2002.  Since meeting Big D, we have always gone to his family's home.  We will not be going this year, and I will miss seeing them as well.  Luckily we will have our niece here with us and we have great friends to spend the holiday with.  

Love you lots and I am so grateful for you in my life,

-Miss T

ALERT: Snow in Seattle

KK -


It is snowing right now in Seattle?  Can you believe it?  


And guess what I made for lunch... Banana Milkshakes.  T Bear sat there drinking his and said, "I'm cold Mommy."


Hummmm.....probably because it is freezing cold outside and your mother is making you drink a freezing cold milkshake.  I definitely win Mother-of-the-Year prize today.


Oh well, we will just have to have hot chocolate after church.


Is it snowing in Utah?  I hope you have a good stash of hot chocolate to keep you warm.


Love, 
-Miss T


P.S. Sorry, I didn't answer the phone when you called earlier, we were having a temper tantrum over taking a bath.  So fun.....

Special Sisters Series: HELP!

I love this video because it reminds me of a great sister story.  One year our family was traveling on vacation to California.  We had one of those station wagons where the very back seat faced backwards.  My sisters, Cee and Dee, were sitting there.  They were holding up hand written signs that said, "HELP, We've been kidnapped!"  I don't even remember how we figured out what they were up to.  Maybe one of them will comment and enlighten us.


-Miga (mother of Miss T & KK, and oldest sister with 4 younger sisters)

Singin' in the Rain

Obviously I love old musicals such as White Christmas, but I absolutely love Singin' in the Rain more than any of them.  So when I saw this, I fell in love.  I wish I could be one of the dancers in the rain.  That would be awesome, don't you think?

SUCCESS!

Someday I will start wearing make-up and cute clothes again, I promise!

Hi KK-


Today we had SUCCESS!  It was my first full day being alone with two kids.  Since I am feeling better, I knew we needed to get out for part of the day.  


It took longer than I expected to get ready to go, but we made it to my Stroller Strides class.  Stroller Strides: a mommy exercise class, babies in strollers, moms doing lunges behind strollers, and singing kid songs while exercising.  This may sound silly to some, but it totally works for me.  


Plus I got to use my "prize" for having a baby.  I know, you are probably thinking that isn't the actually baby the prize?  Oh no, after going through labor, you need another kind of "prize."  Mine was a double stroller that is everything I wanted it to be.


It felt great to get moving.  We all need some exercise.  Doesn't it make you feel better after you have exercised? For me, I just want to be able to eat whatever I want, so that means I have to exercise.


Remember - if Mommy ain't happy - ain't nobody happy.


I was a happy mommy today which means we are on the road to success with this whole two kid thing.  


Mommy of 2,
-Miss T

H Sisters.

Miss T-

This Saturday I went to a bridal shower that I wish you could have been at. It's for our new cousin-in-law, and let me tell you, a bridal shower is a good place to get sisters together. This is a story about two sets of H Sisters. The HT sisters, and the HM sisters.

HT1 is the sister that is getting married, and for whom we were all attending. She is a sassy gorgeous thing, who is very excited to be getting married. She began the opening of presents, and proceeded to read each card out loud that came with each gift. At one point her sister, whom I will call HT2, decided to start up a little conversation with the cousin next to her. HT1 heard another voice and realized not all of the attention was on her, so she just stopped reading, and began to wait expectantly. A few minutes (ok, it was probably actually only a few seconds) later HT2 finally realized that all of the attention was now on her and she didn't even know why. Then she realized she shouldn't be talking, as HT1 cleared her throat, gave her a LOOK, and continued to read.

The rest of us sat in shock of what we had just seen, trying to compute if it was real, or some kind of joke. HT2 was obviously embarrassed. Fortunately at this point HT1 giggled and the rest of us burst into laughter at her sassy behavior. Here is where we introduce the HM sisters. HM1 is going to be HT1's new mother-in-law. HM2 is a HM sister-in-law.

Just after we all giggled about HT1's dramatic demand for attention and politeness from her own sister, HM2 made the observation across the room to HM3 (another HM sister) "Now isn't that just something HM1 would do?" HM1 is the sweetest little aunt I've ever seen whom upon appearance you would think could never hurt a fly. However, what her sisters know about her is that she has spunk. HM3 let out a shriek of glee at the realization that the to-be daughter-in-law and mother-in-law had such a similar sassy quality. HM4 got in on the joke too and the room was full of giggly sisters.

I give kudos to HM2, who is a sister-in-law who knows her sisters well enough and has wit, to give us all a good laugh. Getting a new mother-in-law certainly has got to be an overwhelming experience. Thank goodness you sometimes a get a few new sisters to go with it.

Love you Sis!
Love, Kk

More than just a bad hair day...

KK-


I don't know why this picture was ever taken or why it has not been deleted, but I found it fitting for this post.  


This week has been more than just a bad hair day.  Dealing this post-partum emotions, a newborn, and a 2 yr old already seemed overwhelming enough, but I got a nasty cold this week.  


I had to call for reinforcement.  Miga came to rescue me for a few days.  Don't we have the best mom EVER!


So if you (or anyone else who is reading this) has tried to call or email me and I have not responded, please forgive me.  I have been busy sleeping, crying, chasing T Bear, crying and taking drugs.  Not exactly in the mood for talking.  Hopefully I will be better next week and will be able to talk to everyone pleasantly.


-Miss T

Special Sisters Series: The DGG!

The DGG

I come from of fairly large family, especially for today’s standards, and I seriously LOVE IT! One of my
favorite things about it though, are all the sisters I have to associate with and look to for examples and
advice. I love all my sisters! Unfortunately, jobs and circumstances have separated us so much that we
are spread out across 5 states with sisters living on both coasts! Then, top it all with growing families,
busy lives, an expensive economy, and balancing vacation and holiday time with other in-laws, we just
don’t see each other very often. It’s such a bummer. It was for that very reason one of my older sisters
proposed a brilliant idea! An annual sister (and sisters-in-law) retreat! The DGG!... aka, the “Duersch
Girls Getaway!” Da Da Da DAAAAAAAAAA!

What the DGG entails is every spring all the sisters gather together in some designated city across the
USA, and spend 3-4 days shopping, seeing the sites, and just gabbing away! It’s so wonderful! I love
being able to catch up with everyone and just have girl time. We all love the arts and so always try to
catch a show and visit museums. It’s a big sacrifice for our husbands who take time off work, manage
the kids at home while we’re all away (22 kids between the lot of us!), and basically fund the trips too.
We’re all so blessed to have supportive husbands! (And for the one single sister, I’m sure her future
spouse will be… He’d better be or he’s not worthy of my sister!)

This year will be our 4th year with DGGs in NYC, Utah, and St. Louis so far!

-Alene Duersch Cutler

*Big thanks to our sister-in-law Alene.  She and our brother Kelv just had a baby!

Baby Xan was born on Oct 20th and Baby Cub was born Nov 2nd.  It will be fun to have cousins so close in age.

Here's the Story

Aunty KK -


While you are keeping up a busy social schedule that only a young college co-ed can, here's the story of weekend.


-Baby Cub came home from the hospital with a clean bill of health.  The scare of a heart arrhythmia has dissipated, and we will have a check up in 6 months.


-Miga & Poppa came to Seattle to help our little family transition to a family of 4.


-T Bear spent the weekend being a terrible and sweet 2 year old.  He bossed Miga & Poppa around all day using his favorite phrases, "I don't want to!" "No!" "Don't do that!"  "I don't like that!" "Don't talk to me!"


-T Bear showered Baby Cub with kisses and kisses.  He told Poppa "Baby Cub takes lots of naps-es."


-Miga & I slipped away to the outlet malls for some girly shopping.  We missed you. I bought Miga some cute socks for her birthday.  Don't you just love wearing a pair of cute socks?


-There were tears over breast feeding and even over spilt milk -seriously!


-Every night we reloaded ourselves with chocolate ice cream or chocolate cake.  To be honest, I snacked on chocolate all day long because I felt I deserved it.


-And the most important even over the weekend was my heart growing.  I honestly wondered how I could love another baby.  Immediately after Baby Cub was born, I felt relief.  Physical relief from my body, and then emotional relief when his heart irregularity was not a concern.  Then as time started to go by and I held my Baby Cub I felt my heart grow with love for him.  I love watching him sleep, eat, and look around.  His warm little body in my arms feels so tender and sweet.  It is true that your love doesn't divide, it multiples.  I felt that this weekend and I am so thrilled.  


Even though I miss some of the social events and excitement of collage, I am excited for you to experience this love that comes from having a baby.


Lots of love
-Miss T

Whatif

Hey Miss T!

I was thinking about what it might be like to have a new baby. Here you have this little tiny human (in your case, Baby Cub isn't so tiny), who has DNA and a brain and a personality. He's going to grow and grow, and start doing things that all kids do and go through. He'll eat with his hands, potty-train, want to watch shows, GO TO SCHOOL, catch grasshoppers, hate spelling tests, scrape his knees on the playground, and all that other good stuff. I don't know if any of these things have yet crossed your mind, but they have to mine, and many other "What if?" questions. So in honor of the What if's that may or may not go through your head, I'm sharing a poem from one of our favorite author's. Think of the possibilities for T-Bear and Baby Cub.

Whatif by Shel Silverstein

Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow tall?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!

Love, Auntie KK

Finally!

Baby Bear Cub
11.2.2010
12:24am
19 3/4 in
9 lb 12.5oz

Finally!

Special Sister Series: Sister Sleepovers

Guest Blogger: Bert

Award Winning Halloween Costume: The Golden Snitch


KK (my lovely roomie) and Miss T (Get that baby OUT!),

Oh my gash (said like you would hear it in Wisconsin)! Thank you so much for the invitation to do a guest post on your blog. I am 100% honored right now to be allowed to make a guest appearance on my favorite blog on the internet.

So, since your blog is about sisters and their love, I thought I should write about my sisters and the fact that, yes, we love each other too. I have four sisters, three of them older and one younger. Since we are all over the age of 18 now and (supposedly) none of us listen to teen pop or have Lisa Frank puppy/penguin/unicorn/panda folders anymore, we have been able to grow closer. I am glad that I am no longer the little sister with a Star Wars obsession and a ridiculous cowlick (yeah, I just wikipedia-ed that to make sure that was the correct spelling) that made my hair stand up in front.

But, when I was much younger, my oldest sister threw what she called "Sister Sleepovers". C is about 7 years older than I am and K, the next oldest sister, is almost 5 years older. And when I was invited to attend a Sister Sleepover, I was, to say the least, THRILLED. Each Sister Sleepover began with a pow-wow in C's room where we would discuss the events of the evening. Then we would run down to the basement to watch a Disney movie. Actually, because our movie supply was fairly limited, we usually watched one of two Disney movies: Sleeping Beauty or Beauty and the Beast (a movie that K tried to ruin for me because she thinks the Beast is abusive...but I digress). My love for Beauty and the Beast stems from Sister Sleepover. However, watching Sleeping Beauty was always quite the work out for me.

Picture, if you will, a 6 year old girl with a bright orange t-shirt, light-up shoes, and scraped knees snuggled up with her sisters, eating snacks on the basement floor. She is watching Sleeping Beauty and, suddenly, the scene goes dark and the evil sorceress, Maleficent, shows up on the screen. Said 5 year old child leaps from the floor and launches herself behind the couch (yes, over the top of the couch, like a vaulter), cowering in the presence of the scariest bad-guy to ever grace the screen (except maybe Voldemort, who is just straight up scary). And every time Maleficent shows her face, that multicolored kid flings herself behind the couch.

And here's the amazing part. Every time I ended up huddled behind the couch, C came over and sat with me. She was totally laughing at me, but she still sat with me and watched around the corner to see if Maleficent was gone.

Now, we are all growed-up and we live in different places. We can't really have sister sleepover since everybody lives all over the country. But all of my sisters, not just C, still comfort me when I'm scared or frustrated or even mad at the world. Nowadays, they don't comfort me when a Disney movie scares me. I hope that by now, my fears are a bit more legitimate.


So here's to sisters who make you feel better when you are scared or upset. I can only hope that my children like each other enough to be friends. Then they can have Sister Sleepovers and watch movies WITHOUT evil sorceresses that scare my six year old. I'm going to make them stick to Finding Nemo and Beauty and the Beast.


Loaf,
The little-girl-who-STILL-wants-to-hide-behind-a-couch-when-bad-guys-come-out,
a.k.a, Bert