Price is Right: How to get on the show....

If you know me at all (or have seen any of my shameless plugs for the show), you are privy to the fact that my friend Kori and I were on Price is Right a couple months ago! The show aired on November 7, 2012 and it was by far one of the most fun experiences I've had in a while.

If you haven't seen it (some of you have asked me for the link), here's a quick snippet:

Yep, it happened.  I bounced, high-fived, hugged strangers, and generally made a fool of myself on national television.

How to get on the show:
If you are interested in being on the show, I highly recommend trying.  You need to have a good 7 hours to kill in LA.  You should really sign up for advanced tickets ahead of time (as showing up the day of makes it less likely that you will make it in the audience).  You wait in a long line outside CBS with your advance tickets (not everyone with advance tickets gets in).  Once you get in, you will be in the audience.  You wait in another 2 hour holding area where they check your id's and background.  You are then called up in smaller groups to interview with the producer and his assistant. He asks you one question so you need to make your answer count.  He asked me what I did for work, I said something super sassy and plugged that my hubby was deployed... I made sure to be super excited too!  They seem to look for super wild/happy people! Kori and I also made shirts that said "hugs and high-fives"... this meant that everyone we saw in line, we hugged/high-fived. I also hugged and high-fived Drew Carey and his producer:)

So there you go! Do it, you won't regret it.  I know three people personally who have been on the show so the "odds are ever in your favor".

:)

A letter to my four year old, Isabella

Dearest Isabella,

Today, you turn four years old! We want you to know how deeply we love you little Bellsy.  We also desire for you to know the depths to which your Father in heaven loves you.  He formed you in my womb, gave you beautiful blue eyes, the silly nature of your momma, and the stubbornness of your daddy (wink).  He picked us for you, and we couldn't imagine life without you!  We feel like it was yesterday when we first laid eyes on you!  I (Annie) held you in my arms (for a second) and kissed your face.  I shed many joyful tears on the day of your birth, but I also shed tears of concern for your seemingly fragile little life.  When you were born, the look in your fathers eyes confused me... he was the happiest I've ever seen him yet the most unsure and frightened as well.  He would later tell me he was waiting to see you breathe to be sure you were alive.  We (your father and I) feared for your life while you spent your first weeks in an incubator at the NICU.  We prayed over you, sang songs to you, and went to bed at night wishing you could have come home from the hospital with us.  I couldn't sleep (or do anything for that matter) without thinking of you....and I would make someone drive to the hospital every feeding so that your first moments of life outside the incubator would be with me, your mother.

Here you are being filmed by the happiest daddy in the world.  He wanted so badly to hold you I'm sure of it!

So much time has passed since your arrival and God has grown you into a beautiful little lady.  This year we experienced a miracle.  This year God allowed you to speak to us....I mean really say words! Bella, you are perfect with or without words but, we praise God for the opportunity to communicate with you!  We often wondered if autism would keep you from using the words that were stored up in your brain.  But being the fighter that you are, you did it....you spoke!  We can't wait to see what God has in store for you, my dear.  One day, I want us to look back on this post and be reminded of how far you've come (and you have come far). You work harder than any 4 year old I know!  You teach me patience, unconditional love, and you remind me that God is in control of all things, at all times. You are my hero.

"For you formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb"
Psalm 139:13

Life's first moments...Daddy's hand was as big as you were!

We often look into those baby blues and thank God for your life... (5 months)

Your first birthday and you DID NOT like the "Happy Birthday" song:)

What a beautiful 2 year old (and so stylish)

My first day of preschool (3 years old) with your favorite man on earth!

4 YEARS OLD!

Happy Birthday Minnie Mouse!

Holiday Themed Sensory Jars (made by some awesome special needs mommies)

I'm always looking for new toys for Bella to help her sensory needs...things that sparkle, cause and effect toys, things that bounce (or make her bounce that is), and generally things that she loves!  Since her toy selection is ever changing and ever evolving, I found this nifty recipe for do-it-yourself sensory jars.  They are super cheap to make and fun for the kiddo's to shake up!

Quick plug....below is a picture of the special needs moms group I hold at my house once a month.  It's a blessing to have such strong women in my life who all share a unique bond, our special needs kids.  Nothing is more comforting then to spend an hour with a mom who "gets it"... I mean really understands what life is like 24/7 in the world of special needs.  We laugh and cry together and most importantly, we learn to love our kids more completely through one another:)

Ok back to the jars.... they could be themed year round through different confetti selections and glitter colors.  I'm not crafty at all, so I am not even trying to get all Pinterest on your butts... but here's my vain attempt at being creative:)

What you need:
Mini water bottles with the labels taken off (as seen below)
Glitter of any kind
Fun/colorful confetti (I got Halloween themed confetti)
Hot glue gun (to glue the cap on when project is complete)
*you can also add food coloring to make them more vibrant

There you have it!  P.S. Kids without sensory issues could like these as well!

The goods.

Holiday themed confetti

Looking at the goodies

Special needs moms group being crafty!