WARM WEATHER!!

There's nothing like the beginning of Spring around here, when things start to warm up and even green-up a little bit! This is our first really pleasant day of Spring, and you better believe I am taking full advantage! The kids have been outside from the moment we arrived home from getting the kids from pre-school. Jacob had a half-day of school today, so he's even getting to enjoy the warmer weather, and I'm getting to enjoy the (relative) peace and quiet. Of course, I've still got Tyler in here hanging out with me, and, fortunately for today, he seems pretty content with that. It's not quite warm enough out for me to pull out the lawn chair and relax while watching Tyler run loose around the yard. Soon, Buddy! :) At this moment, the kids are even eating their lunch outside. I may formulate a plan to make it possible for Rachel to take her nap outside... Nah, it'll actually be quieter in here.

I could really get used to this. In fact, I think I will!

Family Day

We were long overdue for a family day, and I wanted to do something with the kids that was out of the ordinary, so I looked online for an indoor waterpark. I found "Full Blast" in Battle Creek, Mi. It was a long 1.5 hour drive, but thankfully it was well worth it. The kids had a blast, and Adam and I even did a few rounds on the waterslides. The water was CHILLY, but the kids made it a full two hours before pruning up and turning a deep shade of purple. I wasn't sure I'd be able to thaw Abby out, but she was in no hurry to get out. They both REALLY enjoyed racing Adam on the waterslides, and the fact that the pool was no deeper than 3 feet at any point, so they both could stand up wherever they wanted to. That was nice! After the waterpark, we stopped into Steak and Shake for dinner and milkshakes for the way home. I fell asleep in the car before they did, but they weren't far behind me! A good time was had by all!!

The face that gives me joy every day of my life.

The mouth that is sure to cost me a lot of money over the next several years...

Update

Let's see...where to begin? Our biggest news is that Abby lost another tooth! I haven't gotten around to taking a picture of it yet, but it'll happen one of these days. She's got a permanent tooth coming in there already. That'll be interesting. Let's just say, it's taking up all of the space made by BOTH teeth that's she's lost so far, and it's coming in at a 30 degree angle... As hard as I prayed it wouldn't happen, it appears that she's gotten her mother's teeth. I had already been told to expect that she'd have braces (got that news when she was only 4!), but I'm afraid it's going to be much more serious than that. At least she didn't get my underbite.

My mom's 57th birthday was last Thursday (Happy Birthday Mom!) and my sister's was yesterday (the big 25). So far this month we've celebrated birthdays by going to Hana Yori (YUM) for my birthday and then Hacienda for Mom's. Steve's is at the end of the month, so maybe I'll get another dinner out for his! That's one benefit to having ALL of those birthdays in one month - lot's of dinners out.

On Sunday my PIT DT friends and I got together for a crop. We always eat a lot and get very little done, but it's a lot of fun. Great conversation with great friends.

Adam is leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow. He's going with a friend from church to a trade show for all the newest audio/video/lighting equipment. I'm sure he's as excited as I am when I get to go to a scrapbooking tradeshow, but we are equally clueless about what the other does at those things! Seriously, it will be a great opportunity for him. He'll be back on Saturday night, so it's single-parenthood for me for the rest of the week. Yippee.

3/3/06

Well, today I turned 33. Overall, it was a good day. I got to sleep in until about 9, got up and ready at my leisure with the house all to myself. Left the house around 10 and headed to pick up the biggest mocha I could carry and headed to the BMV. Not the best place to spend time on your birthday, but alas, a necessity for me. Not that I'm usually concerned with the occasional traffic violation - an expired license wouldn't normally bother me for a short period of time - but I also need to get a copy of a lost title. Long story. Anyway, after an almost painless hour and a half at the BMV, I walked out with a receipt, a new driver's license, and a decent caffeine buzz. From there I went straight to PIT to get some scrapbooking done. Nice relaxing way to spend my birthday - relaxing and spending some time doing something I enjoy. Got a few more pages done in my Disney album (the same one I started on that scrapbooking retreat a couple of weeks ago...getting near the end!) and one sample page for the store (a mini version of my tomato soup one to put near the product and help it sell). Tam (the best friend anyone could every have) dropped the kids off at the store (they all sang "Happy Birthday" and delivered some of the best birthday presents I can remember getting in recent history!! Couldn't be more excited!!). After I packed everything up, the kids and I headed home to meet Adam, who arrived shortly after we did and immediately began making dinner (love that!). The kids planned the rest of the evening - the air mattress got inflated and thrown in front of the TV so we could all lay down together and watch a movie of Abby's choice - Snow White. There was a lot of giggling, a lot of shifting and getting comfortable, a little passing of gas (love how they have to announce that, too!), and a lot of cuddling. No better way to spend a birthday, in my opinion!

The latest

Pulled some pictures out of the archives for this one - it's Jacob's dedication. This one will hang over our "Faith" section at the store for the foreseeable future. The journaling reads: "September 12, 1999 - Adam and I invited family and friends to join us at Clear Lake, with many other from GCC, to dedicate Jacob to Jesus Christ. It's a vow we will keep for life!"

What you're looking at: Basic Grey and Karen Foster patterned papers, Bazzill cardstock, Quickutz Studio alpha die cut letters, K&Co. paper clip, ribbon, and a Frost Creek cross charm.