July Fundraising Stats

As of the end of July, HOPE for Ari has raised $5,530 towards Ariana's stem cell therapy! We have also procured a few donations from business owners that we are planning on auctioning off online in the near future. In addition, there is a relay walk-a-thon in the works in Holbrook, AZ as well as our www.bowsforari.com hairbow fundraiser. We are moving right along! Thank you for all of your support!!!

80's Skating Party

Jake and I love to get out and have fun (as if that isn't apparent by now). Last night, we went out with one of our favorite groups of friends to celebrate Tanja's birthday at the rollerskating rink -- 80's style. Pure greatness.

Erin's Baby Shower

On Saturday, I just hostessed my first baby shower for one of my best girlfriends, Erin. I had SO much fun putting it on, and I think it was a success! Erin has hostessed or co-hostessed both of my baby showers, so I couldn't wait for it to be her turn! She has an awesome group of girls, and got some great gifts. I didn't take nearly enough pictures, but isn't that always the story when you're having too much fun? Congratulations Erin on the upcoming arrival of your baby boy! Love you!

Bows for Ari

My wonderful friend, Chrissy, just happens to be a pro at making adorable hair bows for girls. My girls wear one or more of these precious bows every day. As luck would have it, Chrissy is now selling these bows at http://www.bowsforari.com/ . As you can see, 50% of the proceeds from these bow sales go directly to Ariana's HOPE for Ari stem cell therapy fund. Stock up on bows for your own little girls or gather them for gifts!

Holbrook Bake Sale

For all of our readers in Holbrook, AZ and neighboring areas, there is a fundraiser bake sale for HOPE for Ari being held this Saturday at 8 AM (until sold out) in front of Safeway. Please contact Twyla Taylor (928)241-1075 for more information. Little girls from the Sunday School primary class are putting it on. 100% of proceeds go directly to help get Ari stem cell therapy. Please go and take with you your kiddies and your appetites!

BAKE SALE PROCEEDS: $900!!!
Wow! Thank you to all who participated & donated!

Grocery Certificate Update

There's been some changes with the grocery certificate program. We just sent this letter out to everyone who purchased a certificate from us along with a replacement certificate and an FAQ page. Thank you for your understanding :)

Dear HOPE for Ari donor:

Jake and I would like to express our sincerest thanks for your support in our efforts to raise funds in order to obtain Stem Cell Therapy for Ariana. We are fortunate to have such caring people as friends and are very appreciative for your generosity to our cause.

As some of you may already know, the fulfillment company for the grocery vouchers that you have purchased from HOPE for Ari, BBZ Resource Management has filed for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In the wake of this unfortunate circumstance, a large number of businesses and charities that were using these vouchers for marketing and fundraising have been faced with the difficult situation of how to rectify the situation with their customers and or donors.

HOPE for Ari has been able to secure replacement grocery vouches for our donors through a much more established and financially solvent company, My Free Travel/Kidz Idz Joint Venture, 645 N Michigan Ave Ste 800 Chicago, IL 60611-2890. This company has committed to honoring every certificate purchased. My Free Travel has been in business since 1987 and carries an “A” rating with the Better Business Bureau. The redemptions will be fulfilled as promised, and grocery certificate fundraising sales will continue as well.

Enclosed you will find a replacement grocery voucher in the same amount as your previous voucher. If for any reason you would like a refund for your donation, simply return the enclosed voucher to HOPE for Ari, 2783 E Lantana Dr, Chandler AZ 85286 and we will return your payment within 10 (ten) business days.

We are sorry for any inconvenience that this may have caused, and we thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Sincerely,

Elisa & Jacob
Taylor

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register?

From the first page of our website, there is a link to register your certificate. You must have a password or valid serial number to register. Click that link and follow the instructions. When finished, you will be able to print a registration form that must be signed and sent in with the registration fee, if required by that program. You will then receive your monthly coupons immediately online so that you can print them immediately, but the coupons will not be usable until the following month after registration as long as your registration form has been received. If you do not print out your Registration Validation Form and/or your monthly coupons, you will only have 72 hours to come back and print them out or you will be disqualified.

What happens if I don't spend $100 on groceries during a calendar month?

The program requires that you submit all grocery receipts each calendar month and therefore you cannot combine 2 months of receipts to submit them as one. You must spend $100 on groceries per month. You must spend the minimum amount required per month in food and not alcoholic beverages.

Why can't I change the brand of groceries I chose when I register?

Simply because this is a consumer loyalty program. It's just like you choosing a grocery store because their customer loyalty cards give you great discounts. Choosing one specific brand for the redemption period will allow us to provide you with a Visa Gift Card.
What happens if the brand of groceries I want to use is NOT on your list?

Then simply choose "Other" and type the brand in the box below that question.

Can the $100 worth of receipts include other things I buy at the store besides groceries?

Yes. You may purchase other items at the grocery retailer but each receipt must contain at least 50% in food items. Receipts submitted with less than 50% in food items will be invalid.
If I get two certificates can I activate them both at the same time and get a multiple Visa Gift Card?

No. We can only issue ONE Visa gift card per household during the same redemption period.

How can I take advantage of the two certificates I received?

You may only use one Grocery Rebate per household per twelve month period.

Can I buy more grocery certificates directly from you?

No, you cannot BUY a grocery certificate. They are not meant to be sold to consumers. They can only be used as gifts or giveaways from a business or organization. To get more grocery certificates try asking the business or organization you got your first one from to offer a new promotion using them again.

Do the receipts have to be mailed in by a certain date? Before the end of the month, or before the end of the next month?

When mailing monthly coupons and receipts, the “Due Date” for which the envelope containing the submission must be postmarked, is the last day of the month or earlier. You will be provided with a 15-day grace period from the last day of the month to make certain your submission is mailed and postmarked. All submissions postmarked after the 15th day of the following month shall be invalid. This 15-day grace period is being provided as a courtesy to help you submit your receipts in a timely fashion.

What if I have more than $100 per month? Lets say I spend twice the minimum, will I double my rebate?

No. We can only issue ONE grocery rebate for per household during the same redemption period.

Where do I mail my coupons and receipts?

Please mail your receipts and coupons for the same month to:
Rebate Redemption
2531 Division Street - Suite 105
Joliet, IL 60435

I registered online where do I pay the registration fee?

You must fill out your Registration Form online then you will be asked to print it along with your monthly coupons. You must mail in your Registration Form and refundable registration fee (if applicable) within 5 days of registering online. If you are sending in your certificate and cannot redeem online, there will be a $4.50 in US Funds ($8 in Canadian Funds) shipping and handling fee, non refundable, in addition to any other registration fee.

What if I make a mistake in my monthly coupons?

You will be able to make one mistake with a chance to fix it before you are disqualified from this offer.

When do I have to register my certificate?

Once you enter your password at www.ClaimYourVisaCards.com you will have 30 days to complete your registration form. All registration forms that are not completed within 30 days will be disqualified. Your certificate must be used by the expiration date stated. If sent after the expiration date, your certificate will become invalid. You will have seven days to submit your registration on www.claimyourvisacards.com from the time you received your certificate. If done after, your certificate will be disqualified.

I registered online, do I need to send in my certificate?

Yes, you must send in a copy of your signed Registration Form along with your registration fee, if required under the program, along with a copy of a valid state issued ID or Drivers License within five days of completing your online registration. Your ID must match the name and address listed on your Registration Form. Your mail must be postmarked to reflect this. Registration Validation Forms postmarked after this five-day period or without the registration fee will be disqualified. Any disqualified customers who submit a registration fee, will have their fee returned. If no fee was included, the registration will not be honored or acknowledged.

How do I contact customer service?

Our customer service is handled online through our contact page or at Rebates@myfreetravel.com. If you need to send us mail, please address it to: Rebate Redemption Customer Service, 2531 Division Street, Joliet, IL 60435 or you may call us at 815-741-3900 between 10a – 5p CST, Monday through Friday.

Help Ari by Being a Fan of Kokopelli Suites on Facebook

A very dear friend of ours who is the owner of Kokopelli Suites hotel in Sedona, AZ has volunteered to donate $1 for every Facebook fan Kokopelli Suites gains over the next two weeks. It COSTS NOTHING to become a fan! Here is the link:
http://www.facebook.com/s.php?init=q&q=kokopelli+suites&ref=ts&sid=84d473b8376ad956a38e7222be8fc554#/pages/Sedona-AZ/Kokopelli-Suites/87401954075?ref=s
Remember, every fan equals $1 for Ariana's therapy, but only for the next two weeks! Please tell all your facebook contacts about it! Ari stands to gain so much for just the tinest effort on your part!

While you're at it, join HOPE for Ari's group on Facebook to keep up with new fundraising updates: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2510706&id=10036643&saved#/group.php?gid=58285243401
Kokopelli Suites is a gorgeous place to stay in Sedona, AZ! They are wanting to grow their facebook presence, and help Ari in the process which is awesome! Fan them and help Ari at the same time!

4th of July

This 4th of July, we went to my parents' house for a little soiree. It was an international potluck-style dinner, so the food was yum. The kids got tons of attention as usual. They splashed in the pool, and Gabe even got to watch the fireworks from my parent's back patio (which overlooks much of the valley) on the base of McDowell Mountain. It was a good time.

June Milestones

Gabe, Ari & Mommy at the Tempe spash park Ari & Gabe pretending to be in a cage.

This month, my twins didn't have as much going on in the way of milestones, but we still had fun! Gabe and Ari turned 28 months old, and Isabella turned 9 months old.

Ariana has been working on improving her army crawl all the time. When she is extra excited, she has the best form -- utilizing her knees as well as her arms to kick and pull at the same time. I am so proud of her (obviously) as this is the biggest milestone that she's ccomplished quite a while.

Ariana has been trying to feed herself using her spoon and fork more than ever. When she is eating, she frequently scoops and takes bites all on her own.

Ariana has been opening the drawers in the coffee table and in her dresser quite a lot. Although this isn't entirely new (she's been capable of doing this for a couple months), it feels like I suddenly can't seem to keep the drawers closed and their contents inside anymore. While I'm proud of her for being so resourceful and for having the fine motor coordination to be able to accomplish this, it's a little frustrating how much she enjoys tearing pages out of the books and scattering the diapers she finds!

This month, Ariana's favorite song is "We are a Family", from the soundtrack of the Disney movie 'Air Buddies'. Every time it comes on, she starts dancing (flailing her arms, kicking her legs, and shaking her head) like a tazmanian devil. It's adorable.

Ari swung on the swing for special needs children at Chuparosa Park & loved it!Playing at Chandler Fashion Center Mall play centerWith Geewon at a free Anat Baniel Method clinic for children with special needsBeing a silly girlPretty princessAt Tempe Town Lake splash park

Of course, Gabe's main accomplishment this month as been becoming potty trained. This is a big deal. HUGE. He has even been stying dry all night long, which is great. We're so proud of our little guy.

This month, Gabe's favorite movies has also been 'Air Buddies', which he refers to as "Dog Party". It all started when we were at the San Tan Mall one weekend afternoon. It was time to go home, so Jake kept telling Gabe that we were going to a dog party (as in the book 'Go Dog Go') to get Gabe to happily follow us to the parking lot. When we arrived at the car, Gabe was devastated to realize that Jake had tricked him. Where was the dog party he had been promised?! Gabe cried all the way home, begging to go to the dog party the entire way. When we got home, we realized that we had to do something to mend this boy's broken trust in us. So, Jake popped in the DVD, 'Air Buddies' which is about a bunch of puppies who love sports. Gabe was overjoyed, and he and Daddy were once again friends. So began the story of why he ceaselessly refers to that movies as "Dog Party".

Gabe has also acquired an interest in sports. Don't ask me how -- he definitely didn't get it from us. He loves watching people play sports and pretending he's playing himself. He has a red plastic baseball bat that he swings around. He loves to hit balls off his toy t-ball stand, play catch, and throw his blow-up basketball. He knows the name to every type of sports ball around. We were at the park for a birthday party, and there was a basketball game going on there. Gabe stood on the sidelines the entire time, shouting "Go, Go! He shoots, he scores!" following the players up and down the court. His little personality is coming out more every day.

Unfortunately, Gabe has gotten a little fearful of the water recently. The past two years, he was such a water baby. I hope it's just a stage. We are on the waiting list for swimming lessons through the town, so I hope more exposure will help him, but it feels like every time he gets some water in his face, it's like taking a big step backwards in his water confidence. Gabe swimming with his new floatation device that doesn't tip him over and is US Coast Guard certified.I love you this much!Sun bathing with cousins Brayden & TrevorAt Tempe splash park

Isabella had her 9 month well-check this month. She weighs 20 lbs. 9 oz. (80th %tile), and measures 27 3/4 in. long (60th %tile). She is still a little plump thing, but she seems to be slimming out (tear*). Isabella also cut her first two teeth this month (bottom center).

This month, Isabella's gross motor milestones include pulling to tall kneel, pulling to stand, getting from prone (tummy) to sitting, climbing on us and beginning to climb up stairs. She is busy to say the least. That, and she's super fast. She is notorious for getting into trouble. Yes, my little precious is a trouble finder (unless eating handfuls of dog food, playing with the toilet brush, chewing shoes, trying to stick her fingers in electric sockets, and pulling on Chewy's tail don't qualify as trouble in your book).

Socially, Bella has started waving. I love it. She has a variety of different waves, including her little hand wave, big full arm wave, & folding fingers wave. She is very excited about saying "hi" when she waves too. She really just loves to copy whatever Ariana does, and waving is no exception. Dancing is no exception either, although I think she'd be a dancer even if she were the only one. Bella has recently learned a new "dance move". Gabe calls it the "no face", and he is always demanding that she perform it. Basically, she just shakes her head as if she were saying 'no', just way more vigorously. She does this while trying to sing along to the music. Very fun to watch.

Isabella has started saying two new words this month. In addition to "mama", "dada", and "hi", she now says "no" and "ball". I can't wait for her language to start taking off.

Looking concerned, "Dude, where's my arm?"Oh, here it is!Swinging at Chuparosa Park -- this baby's all about the thrillsChandler Mall play areaTempe Town Lake splash park