Spring is Here!

Everything in my yard is finally beginning to bloom and come to life around us. I love watching all of my plants push their way up through the earth and get bigger and bigger every day. The tree in my front yard is in full bloom and is just gorgeous! See the huge window in the front of my house? Well I get to wake up and look out everyday and see that tree. It makes me smile alot! LOL

I wish it would stay in bloom for longer than a week or so. I hate to see them go and it becomes just a regular tree. I also have some tulips that are a beautiful shade of orange and red. Someone planted them before we moved in and every year they catch me by surprise!

Spring also means the start of the softball season for Brooke and dance competitions and recitals for Janette and Becca. Brooke has her first game at the end of this month and Janette is finishing up her competitions with one in Youngstown this weekend. We are very proud of her accomplishments and can't wait to see her and her sister perform in the recital for all of our family. Then we will be able to focus soley on Brooke's games! She has quite an arm on her and loves playing the outfield and third base. JJ is coaching her team so it gives them a chance to connect and have something in common for awhile.

Busy, Busy and Crazy Busy is a great way to desribe our lives until the middle of summer. And like any parent, I love watching the kids succeed at the things they love!!

Laughter

Today was such a beautiful day! Even though my allergies are bad and I have been miserable, Dillan and I did get out to play on the swings for a little bit. He would swing all day if I had the energy to keep pushing him! He just loves to swing and pretend to hit me. Everytime he swings forward he giggles this sweet little giggle. His laughter is infectious!!

Then this evening while I was at the dance studio with Janette, there was a bit of excitement at home. While JJ and Dillan were in the shower, Becca decided to get into the fridge and get herself some salsa to go with her pretzels. Well, the jar of salsa was on the top shelf at the back. She is insisting that she did not step onto the bottom shelf to reach it, but well... see for yourself!

The whole shelf is shattered and in the drawer below! I came home to JJ cleaning this mess up, Becca denying that she stood on it and Brooke saying look at this picture I took of it Mom!

What the heck am I supposed to say to that?? These are the times when I just pretend there is nothing wrong and I just walk away. I mean, what can you do? What's done is done right.

Didn't I say my house is a zoo! LOL

Hip Shaking

This is dedicated to all of you ladies who take Zumba and can actually do it without almost passing out!! LOL
My sister and I went to the Gym last night to try out a new class, Beginner Zumba. Let me tell you... if this was the beginner class, I can't imagine what a "real" Zumba class would be like. It's quite a workout. My face was beat red and my legs were burning. Thank God this class mostly consisted of older ladies or not so in shape ladies like myself! Even the instructor was just a 'regular' looking person. I was so worried we would get there and there would be a hard bodied woman teaching this class full of people who could actually follow along. But thankfully this was not the case at all. We ended up all getting lost or behind at some point, and most of the ladies were just as whooped as I was! We all laughed and had a good time though.
I don't know if I'll try this class again or go for a different lower impact class. I'm still deciding this morning but I'm thinking maybe I'll stick with the stretch and tone class until I feel more prepared to shake my money maker!!

We are non-smokers

I have been quit for 1 Month, 3 Weeks, 6 Days (58 days!).
I have saved $334.45 by not smoking 1,737 cigarettes. (Eeewwww)
I have saved 6 Days and 45 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 2/16/2008

JJ has been quit since 3/21 (24 days!).

WOOHOO We're doing it and I really believe we're going to suceed this time!

My top 5 things I love about not smoking:
1. I don't stink anymore
2. I am saving tons of money
3. My kids are proud of me
4. My lipstick stays on! lol
5. Did I say I don't stink anymore!!


Getting through this addiction has shown me that I am way stronger than I thought I was and it has prompted me to join a gym and start working out with my sister. I love it and it makes me feel so good to finally be taking care of myself. I also started Weight Watchers and I have already lost 5 pounds! Yeah Me!!

On a side note... Here are a few pics I took of the kids yesterday.

Becca and her buddies


Janette and Dillan showing off his new shoes


Aren't they beautiful sisters

Here we go!

After reading through a bunch of blogs last night, I decided to take the plunge and try this out myself! Hopefully this will be a good way to journal our craziness and add photos for all of those we don't get to see regularly. I'm going to try to keep up with this and I'm sure my zoo of a family will give me plenty to talk about! LOL


JJ & Becca in their new Browns jerseys


Me & Janette


Brooke & Dillan (these two are always together, she's like his second mother!)