Hallmark Holiday Series

So I thought I was giving my husband an easy idea for me for Christmas from my kids.  Turns out neither of us could find a list of even one of these elements.  I was surprised that Hallmark doesn't have it published anywhere but if they do, it's under lock and key.  Anyway, since I have all the plushes, all the books, and am working on the ornaments, I figured I'd publish the list and help out others who may be looking for it like we were.

The plush dancing snowmen started in 2003 as did the ornaments.  The books did not start until 2004 and while the illustrator remains the same, there are several different authors.  Below is the comprehensive list (with pics) in order of year. The plush and book pics are mine so feel free to use them if you'd like.  The ornament pics are NOT MINE.  They are just screenshots of where I can purchase them so please do not use them.

If you can think of another way of organizing it or if I missed anything please, by all means, let me know.  I want to make this as accurate and helpful as possible.

2003

Plush Dancer - 2 Snowmen caroling

Plush Ornament - 2 snowmen caroling

Book - n/a

2004

Plush Dancer - Snowman with white dog on leash

Plush Ornament - Snowman and white dog

Book - Snow What Fun! When Snowmen Come to Life on Christmas Eve

Author: Cheryl Hawkinson 

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

2005

Plush Dancer - Snowman playing piano

Plush Ornament - Snowman playing piano

Book - The Snowbelly Family of Chillyville Inn

Author: Cheryl Hawkinson 

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

2006

Plush Dancer - Snowman, tree, and two penguins

Musical Ornament - Snowman, tree, and two penguins

Book - The Snow Must Go On! A way, way off-broadway adventure

Author: Molly Wigand

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

2007 

Plush Dancer - Snowman sledding with penguin and dog

Musical Ornament - Snowman sledding with penguin and dog

Book - Snow Happy to be Here! The Slightly Silly Story of the Snowblatt Family

Author: Cheryl Hawkinson

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

2008

Plush Dancer - two snowmen with sweets

Plush Ornament - 2 snowmen with sweets

Book - Snow Place Like Home! The Incredible Snowkids of Marshmallow Mountain

Author: Diana Manning

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

2009

Plush Dancer - Snoopy playing piano

(I do not own this one as it wasn't a snowman)

Ornament

(There may be a matching Snoopy ornament but I do not know)

Book - Snow Wonder We're Friends!

Author: Molly Wigand 

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

2010 

Plush Dancer - Snowman decorating tree with penguin

Musical Ornament - snowman decorating tree with penguin

Book - The Snowman Band of Snowboggle Bend

Author: Cheryl Hawkinson

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

2011

Plush Dancer - Snowman with dog in doghouse

 

Plush Ornament - Snowman and dog in doghouse

Book - What's Shakin in Snowflake City?

Author: Cheryl Hawkinson

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

2012 

Plush Dancer - Snowman skiing with penguin (dated)

Ornament - snowman skiing with penguin

Book - There's Snow Stopping Us Now!

Author: Cheryl Hawkinson

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

2013

Plush Dancer - Snowman with dog and lamp post (dated)

Ornament - snowman with dog and lamp post

Book - Snow Time to Lose The Shiverdale Snowbuddies Save the Day

Author: Diana Manning

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

2014

Plush Dancer - Snowman at Tree Farm with Snow child

Ornament - snowman at tree farm with snow child

Book - There's Snowbody Like You!

Author: Barbara Loots

Illustrator: Mike Esburg

2015

Plush Dancer - snowman with snow child, dog and cookies

Musical Ornament - snowman with snow child, dog, and cookies

Book - There's Snow Time Like Cookie Time!

Author: Suzanne Heins and Andrew Blackburn

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

2016

Plush Dancer - snowman and snow child in sleigh (dated)

Ornament - snowman and snow child in sleigh

Book - Magical Sleigh? Snow Way!

Author: Diana Mannding

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

2017 

Plush Dancer - Snowman with dog and candy canes

Ornament - snowman and dog with candy canes

Book - Rex Snows the Way to Grandma's

Author: Diana Manning

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

2018

Plush Dancer - snow mailman with snow child and mailbox

Ornament - snow mailman with snow child and mailbox

Book - Snow Letter Left Behind

Author: Keely Chace 

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

This was published in 2017 but it corresponds with the 2018 series

2019

Plush Dancer - Snowman with dog reading to snow child

Musical Ornament - snowman with dog reading to snow child

Book - This is Snow Time for Sleeping 

Author: Andrew Blackburn

Illustrator: Mike Esberg

Be careful what you post

I had a friend fill out the following survey and post it as a bulletin figuring it was just harmless fun. But if you look closely, you are giving out a lot of personal information including your name (first middle and last) names of family members, pets, your address and a list of your favorites. These are common things people use as passwords or password change alert questions. Survey's like this are dangerous because they give someone the info they need to snoop on you. If you see a friend post it please let them know to delete it for their safety.


YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet and current street name)
First pet may not be a big deal but the second part is part of your current address

YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your middle name)
harmless

YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
favorites, common things used when you make your password

YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born):
your middle name and where you were born, common password alert questions/answer when you try to change your access to bank accounts

YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 2 letters of mom's maiden)
harmless

SUPERHERO NAME: ("The", your favorite color, favorite drink)
more favorites, bad

NASCAR NAME: (the first name of both your grandfathers)
family member names

FUTURISTIC NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne and the name of your favorite kind of shoes) 

more favorites

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother & father's middle name)
parents names 
big bad

It's Not My Baby

Every day I wake up and I curse my disease for making my body hurt so bad. But then I see the sleeping angelic faces of my daughters and I thank my lucky stars it's me and not them. I don't know a mother who wouldn't switch places with her kid who is in terrible pain and cancer moms are no different.

Every time I wonder "why me?" I remember it's because "it's not my baby".

Every time I'm put in a machine or poked with a needle or hospitalized I remember that there are little kids going thru the same thing so I suck it up. I'm an adult, I understand what's going on. And it's me, not my baby.

Every time I walk into the cancer center I walk past the children's wing and I thank my lucky stars I don't have to go in that door. I'm thankful it's me, not my baby.

Every time someone comments on finding a cure for breast cancer I agree that it's important but not as important as childhood cancers. I don't want to die at 40. I'm not done yet. But at least I've had 40 years. I've completed school, worked, vacationed, traveled, married the love of my life, surrounded myself with the most amazing and supportive friends and family, and given birth to two beautiful healthy girls. And I'd gladly go at 40 if it meant my daughters will live a long and healthy and happy life. I don't like it at all but it would be 1000% worse if it were my baby.

How can I be so sure? Because I have 3, yes THREE, childhood cancer moms in my circle of friends. I've seen the fear, the determination, the love, the sheer will that it takes to care for a child, your baby, battling cancer. And I know all 3 of those moms would have taken the suffering on themselves in an instant if it spared their child.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
If you have the means, please donate to a reputable childhood cancer charity.
If you know nothing about this please educate yourself on the topic.
If you aren't sure what else you can do, spread the word, share my post, change your profile photo, wear gold or a gold ribbon.

These kids need us. These parents need us. And 4% funding is NOT enough.

Childhood Cancer isn't just a smiling bald kid on TV, it's my friends.

It's Luke, a stage 3 Wilms tumor survivor who started playing football this year.

It's Mackenzie, a leukemia survivor who started kindergarten with her twin sister last week.

It's Ben, a 2 time cancer survivor (kidney and lung) who after 2 long years of being only at home and in the hospital, got to take a vacation this summer and experience the beach for the first time.

Originally Posted by me on FB back on September 1, 2018

I went for a ride today,,,

I went for a ride today...

I went for a ride today... To practice.
I have a breast cancer fundraiser coming up called BIKERS FOR BOOBS PA hosted by Mama Mare Breast Cancer Foundation and I haven't ridden in forever. Took me a few turns to get the hang of it but all in all no issues. I'm now much more confident and excited for Sunday.

I went for a ride today... Because I can.
A year and nine months ago I couldn't even drive a car because I was in so much pain. A year ago I was strictly forbidden to even put on a helmet due to a fracture in my spine. But today I feel good. Today I feel strong. Today I could do it.

I went for a ride today... To decide.
I agreed to sell my bike after I got my diagnosis. I barely get time to ride anyway and now add on physical ailments, it was a smart choice. However I wasn't 100% sure. I LOVE my bike and I love riding it but after just half an hour my body is letting me know that this is not something I should keep doing. I can but I shouldn't. I'm sad but it's time to let her go.

I went for a ride today...

Patience

Yesterday I was talking to the woman who works at the front office of my work.  I have a one year old and she has an elderly father with dementia and their care is surprisingly similar.  You cannot just leave them home and go to work.  If you cannot stay home with them you must hire someone to take care of them for you (and just hope and pray they do it even half as well and half as lovingly as you do it).  You must do everything for them, bathe them, make sure they eat, dress them, etc.  And then there are the questions… O.M.G. the questions.  You never realize how little you know about the world until you have a little one.  Sometimes you look it up, sometimes you make it up, and sometimes the answer is just “I don’t know”.  And sometimes it’s the same question over, and over, and over again.  We are only human and it’s annoying.  (If you say it’s not you are a far more patient person than I).  But losing your cool is a terribly debilitating thing to do to someone.

Imagine you are a little kid and you ask “what’s that?” and mommy says a word you’ve never heard before.  You can’t say it yourself because you aren’t sure what she said so you ask “what’s that?” again and this time you watch her lips move but she isn’t looking at you.  “What’s that” and this time you saw the way her lips curled but you aren’t sure how to pronounce it.  “What’s That?”.  And it goes on, and on, until you finally grasp it.  It’s a Sparrow!  Is that bird a sparrow?  No, a finch, huh, ok.  How about this one?  No, a cardinal, weird.   And it goes on and on like that.  Mom is awesome because she always answers my questions.  She’s so smart!!

On the other side of this is the poor mommy – “What’s that?” “A sparrow” “What’s that?” “A sparrow” “What’s that?” “A sparrow” “What’s that?” “A sparrow” “What’s that?” “A sparrow” and then on the way home “Sparrow?” as she points to ever bird we see.  Annoying right?  Yep.  But imagine another scenario.

“What’s that?” “A sparrow”  “What’s that?”  “I already told you, it’s a sparrow”. “What’s that?”  “It’s an effing sparrow”  “What’s that?”  “A SPARROW!!” “What’s that?”  “Go away”.  Wow, mommy is mad at me and I don’t know what I did.  I just wanted to know what that was.  I guess it’s not ok to ask questions.  And mommy is really scary sometimes.

Imagine a world where if you didn’t know something  you went on not knowing it because you were too ashamed to ask.  Now in a world with google you can easily and privately find your answer (usually) but 2 year olds don’t have google.  They have mommy.  And do you want your kid to think you are smart and nice?  Do you want your kids to ask when they don’t  understand something?  Do you want your kids to come to you when they have a question/problem?  Then answer their questions.   Every time.

Fast forward to the 80 year old man with Alzheimer’s.  Computers didn’t come around until the end of his working years so sure he may use it for e-mails and the like but it’s not really part of his daily routine.  As his mind slips away, names forgotten, places forgotten, use of that awesome google function fades away too.  Imagine knowing that you once knew the answer to something but now you can’t for the life of you figure it out.  How scary when you know you are literally losing your mind?   And now all you can remember is your daughters face, her kind sweet face and ask her, for the umpteenth time, where is your room again?  Imagine if she yelled at you.  Imagine how scary if the only familiar thing in your world was mad at you.  So you stop asking.

This is the video I was talking about with my co-worker that even describing it to her made me cry.  It's short but it's powerful. 

What people don’t realize (until they themselves are in the situation) is that care givers of young children and elderly relatives need help.  And they need a break.  They need alone time.  They need girls/guys nights out.  They need a hug and someone to tell them they are doing a good job.  Because they are not in it for the pay. 

I’m not saying patience is easy but I am saying patience is essential.

Here we go again

I have started and restarted this blog with several different intentions and today is no different. Except that today I vow to post what I want, when I want, and about what I want. First I wanted to be inspirational. Then I wanted to follow the same structure as another one of my favorite bloggers. And whenever I set myself up with "rules" is when I set myself up to fail. I'm not a structured person. I get to work on or around 11 every day. Sometimes 9, sometimes 11:30. I'm am so very thankful that my work is ok with this. I guess if you show up, do a good job, and get your work done, they really couldn't care less when I do it. So telling myself that I'll post "every day" was a goal very quickly unrealized. Trying to keep things sequential was another goal that I was unable to obtain. And does it really matter in anyone's world if what I post is about something from years ago and then something I post tomorrow is about current events? Nope. So here I go again, starting over. Isn't that the beauty of life, unending chances to start over?

 To anyone who does read this and happens to recognize my true identity, please don't connect the dots for others. Please don't post my real name here or share these posts with people in my real life. I plan to post some things here because they are on my mind. Or because I think they would help others with something they are going thru. And while I may not use real names, if you are close to me, people will be easy to recognize and the last thing I ever want to do is hurt or embarrass anyone in my life. So I ask that you honor my request of anonymity.

 As for who is writing this blog, I started writing a long "life history" and realized that's what these blog posts will be, little glimpses of my life. So instead I'll just give you the basics. Today I am a woman in her mid thirties, a mom, a wife, and a resident of the state of Pennsylvania. The rest will unfold in my posts but I'm always open to questions.

Wise People Wednesday

"I'm selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control, and at times hard to handle, but if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."
- Marilyn Monroe