Volunteer jobs...

Call me crazy, but I can't seem to get enough time helping others. It's been strange having this big break from my 2nd job with Catholic Charities, but I know it will be starting back up again soon. In the mean time I have been enjoying my time off and getting started with my new Volunteer Job @ Bridgeway. I may have told you all this before, but Bridgeway is an amazing organization that's a support and home for pregnant teens and teen moms. I started the intensive volunteer application process long ago and finally on Thursday was able to get to go meet the girls. Every month they have a Thank You writing class where they send personalized thank yous to everyone who has donated to them in the last month. I and another woman interested in being a bridger, sort of like a big sister or a support system for the girls, went over to the house to visit with the girls during their class. It was interesting to see. 11 girls live in the house with a house mom there to over see everyday activities. 4 girls have babies, 1 is due on the 20th of this month, another on Nov 3, and the rest are all between 4-6 months along. Some of the girls seemed wise beyond their years, because they've had to grow up fast. While others seem to have no clue what they were doing. I unfortunately wasn't instantly matched up with a bridgee, but I was told that the process can take a couple weeks. I will keep at it and Bridgeway will help me find the right girl to help. In the mean time I am completely satisfied with working with those adorable little babies. I got to play with a slobbery little 7months old who is teething and learning how to crawl. He was a real sweety. I also got to hold a very tiny 3 month old boy, who was the spitting image of his mom. They were all nice girls and the babies were, so sweet. I can not wait to really get going on this volunteer job. Since I can't come home for the holidays this year I plan on spending Christmas helping out the girls at Bridgeway. Every year they have a giant holiday party for the girls, their babies, and all the former graduates of the program. I can't wait to help share in this amazing organizations efforts to support these girls in bettering their & their children's lives. And honestly who doesn't love some good quality baby cuddling time?

Coincidences...

On Friday afternoon Jesse came home sick. He's never sick, so that was a shocker. I thought for sure he would cancel his show which was slated for 9:30pm that same night, but oh no not him. He insisted on going after sleeping the afternoon away in a medically induced coma like state. We show up to the cafe/bar named Leela's (which was my great grandmother's name and is one of my favorite girl names) around 9pm. We are the 1st ones there. As Jesse went up to the bar to get a drink I take a seat and start to scope out the place. I see a guy I remember from the Art Institute sitting at a table talking with 2 other people. I don't recognize the girl, but the other guy... You have to be kidding me? It was my old friend Elliot, who I haven't seen in ages. If any of you remember back when I first moved to Denver Monique, Elliot, and I were almost inseparable. He was a great friend, but as time went on and we all started on our separate paths we sort of lost touch. The last time I saw him was nearly 2yrs ago when Jesse and I 1st started dating. I had hoped to see him last year at a mutual friend's wedding, but I was told he was traveling in South America with his sister. I assumed he didn't recognize me and I didn't want to interrupt his conversation with friends, so I decided not to go bother him. Eventually he made his way over to me and said he had been staring at me across the cafe for a good 5minutes trying to decide if it was me or not. The short hair threw him off for a minute, but he said he knew it was me by my eyes. We chatted it up for a few minutes getting caught up on the last couple years of each others lives. He asked me if I had talked to Moe recently and I said not recently, but.... I didn't tell him this... I did text her as soon as I recognized him and asked her if I should go talk to him or not. He said next time she comes to town we should all get together for dinner. Great I'll mention it to her. I pull out my phone and there's a text from Moe. I'm coming to town tomorrow and staying with my sister for 2 days for a class for work. Uh Elliot? Would you like to go to dinner with Moe and I tomorrow night. Sure thing. How absolutely random was that? If Jesse had stayed home sick, I wouldn't bumped into Elliot, and texted Moe, and we would have never all had dinner together to catch up and reminisce about old times. Crazy coincidences! and the fact that the cafe/bar shared the name of my great grandmother and that I had never been there before, but apparently everyone I know has hung out there a million times was just too weird.

Saying goodbye & getting ready for Church...

Saying Goodbye to my new friend Aiden. He was all grins as always.

Taking a family photo for Brendon, Dan, Israel, and London.The kids were not really into cooperating. Good thing Uncle Jared was there to make funny noises behind me.

Jared, Brendon, and Jesse.

Brittani, Jared, and baby Aiden.

Jesse and I getting ready for church.

Jared and Jesse holding up Izzy. He was being a good boy sitting patiently waiting to pose in all the photos.

Playing with my new friend Aiden before church. I think he liked my necklace more than he liked me, but that's ok.

London taking on the cell phone before church.

Izzy posing nicely in his chair.

Brendon and the kids.

Miss London being grumpy, because mom put a headband on her. She ripped it out seconds before I took this picture.

On Sunday morning we all got up and had breakfast together before Jared, Brittani, and Aiden had to head home. The rest of us got all gussied up for Church. Of course we had to take that time to take photos of everyone in their nice clothes. Some were more willing participants than others.

Birthday boys...

The big point of our trip besides getting a way from it all was to celebrate Jesse and Jared's birthdays together. This was a tradition in their family and the boys haven't been together on their birthday in years, so this was really special. We all enjoyed Brendon's wonderful seafood dinner and then Brittani's delicious chocolate cake for dessert. Even little Aiden got to try a taste of the chocolate topping. Mmm... Mmm... Good!

Hunsaker men...

Jesse, Jared, and Aiden sleeping.

Jared holding his chubby baby Aiden. What a happy baby. He's got great dimples when he smiles, which seems to be all the time.

Presents...

London & Israel were big helpers when they painted the paper I brought for wrapping the presents. They both love painting, so it worked out perfectly.

Izzy helping Uncle Jesse unwrap his present. Uncle Jesse got a nice new metal water bottle, some smelly kun-fu shoes, and tickets to the Pixies concert in November all on top of his week long vacation to visit his family. He also received a gift card to buy his next video game when it comes out, some scratch tickets (no big winners, darn!), and his sister Brendon made us some wonderful seafood. Shrimp kabobs and crab that were fabulous. We all loved it!

Jared, Jesse's brother who's birthday is 1 week after Jesse's, his son Aiden and his wife Brittani helping him open his presents. We got him more World of Warcraft cards to help feed his addiction. For those of you who don't know Jared & Brittani met playing WOW.
*Note the pretty paper the kids painted and the lovely card Jesse and I made.

Blowing Bubbles...

Jesse's sister and brother-in-law are celebrating their 10yr anniversary this Friday, so while we were down in Houston visiting them we decided to babysit and give them sometime to celebrate. They snuck out of the house while the kids were napping and we took care of them the rest of the afternoon until dinner time. The big event was bubble time. We went outside to play in the backyard and practiced blowing bubbles. Kids love bubbles. I think Dan & Brendon need to invest in a bubble machine though. Blowing bubbles can be an all day event. London loved blowing bubbles with the motorized bubble plane and Izzy loved blowing bubbles and having me chase them. He especially loved when I would make a loud popping sound each time I touched one.