May 25

Edited to Add: I updated my "widget" over to the right, which is a direct link to my Team in Training fundraising page. Please help me get a jump start. Many many thanks to Jessica, Lisa, and my mom. :):):) 

I am incredibly tired, and I have a million things to do before I can lay down; therefore, a lazy post tonight! Just pictures with the occasional caption. I'll be back soon with something better and more content. 

Everyone enjoy the long weekend!!!

Jack sure is proud of his baseball trophy! It's one of his most prized possessions. :) And we sure are glad to have our Monday nights, Wednesday nights, Friday nights, and/or Saturday mornings back!!!

Fun at the pool!

I am a water bug!!

Mr. Lizard friend

The girls during nap the other day. They really are the best of friends.

Little Miss Hello Kitty

Family Movie Night - Lilo and Stitch the Movie & popcorn 

Picnic at the lake

Mounting the TV

This is what I found the other night when I went to check on the kids before I went to sleep. Notice the matching jammies and they're both on their bellies.

New suit! Erin's matching one is on its way.

I've been meaning to volunteer in our church's nursery once a month or so for over a year now. It's only fair, considering I use it pretty much every Sunday. The only thing holding me back was the hour drive to go get fingerprinted in order to be allowed to volunteer. So we headed to Altamonte Springs today to St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, where I immediately started dreaming about sending my kids to this school!!!! That was until I just looked up the cost...yikes! But anyway, I'm all set to volunteer at church now. The kids were fairly cooperative while I was getting fingerprinted. The nice lady set them up at a table with crayons and pictures, which always pleases them.

Then while we were in Altamonte, we headed to Chuck E. Cheese's and met up with some friends. Everyone had lots of chaotic fun there!

Here is a video of Erin exhibiting such perseverance today!!

And another one of Jack's many memorized Bible verses. Poor kid takes a kick to the head, but still carries on with his scripture. lol 

Here is one from this morning, where everyone is playing nicely together while Jack organizes and leads the order of who goes next.

I bought the girls these "pillowcase" dresses from my friend Patty's daughter's new local children's resale shop. She sells some homemade things in the shop that aren't secondhand. She also has a great selection of gently used things for kids. It's in the JCPenny shopping plaza, and she asked me to try to help get the word out.  I took the girls out to get some pictures in their cute new matching dresses. I need these dresses for our favorite sports teams!!! I need Cubs, Bears, and Purdue fabric! Plus I saw the cutest football legwarmers that I need to get for this fall.

At 21 months old, I'm comin' right along with my potty training!!! 

My matching Purdue boys

Wine and Dine & Kiddo Updates

I signed up to run the same race I did last year, the Disney Wine and Dine through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I think I will do this race with them every year forever. It is amazing.

Visit my Team in Training page (hasn't been completely personalized yet, but I will get to that soon), and consider making a small donation. My plan of action is to try to get more people to make small $5-$10 donations. Of course I wouldn't turn away more generous ones, but I think $5 is feasible for just about anyone. Last year I didn't have a ton of people donate, but those who did were extreeeeeemely generous. I'm hoping I can do it again. Please help me get started if you can!!! :):):) I have from now until November to meet my goal, but an early start never hurts.

Onto the babes-

Grace is still into building little houses with her babies and various other toys. Sometimes she includes the others in on the action. This time Erin was the lucky one.

We went shopping for...I don't remember what! But we were at the outlet mall, and Jack fell asleep. I texted Colin, "SCORE!" This one isn't the greatest shopper! Turns out, he was sick with bronchitis. That explains it. Otherwise he would've never just fallen asleep like that (or even sat still in the stroller for that matter). Side note - Why can't I have his lashes?!

Colin taught baby Erin to hold his cheeks and kiss.

Eyes closed and all!

We bought the kids a pool the other day. They love it! Provides for lots of hours of entertainment for them.  It will come in handy for these 90+ degree days that will begin in our very near future...and end in, I don't know, November if we are lucky!

Erin didn't get to the point of bronchitis like Jack, but she did require some breathing treatments for her cough and congestion. 

The kids made cards for their teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week. I thought Jack's handwriting was pretty impressive. I just drew the lines and told him letter by letter.  Never mind his name, though. For some reason (I'm strongly convinced it's because he is a lefty), he sometimes will do a mirror image of his name.

A big fish from Colin's trip to the Keys. Let me tell you, Grace was QUITE impressed with this picture!!!  

Trying out a new dress (a bit big still).

Silly face!

This kid loves him some iPad apps. He is currently really into a "Jack and the Neverland Pirates" pirate training school one. 

Daddy took Jackster out to lunch at Uno after his 4 year (oops...a little late!) well visit.

He got 4 shots, and didn't cry a bit! Tough guy! He weighed in at 38 pounds (56th percentile). He is almost 42 inches tall (64th percentile). The doctor estimates that he is on track to be about 5'10. We will see! And now that I was able to submit the shot and physical record, our big boy is officially ready to start school in January!  

Jack's 2012-2013 School Picture - The photographer must've said something Jack found genuinely funny because otherwise you get his cheesy fake smile. I love this one!

Grace's 2012-2013 School Picture - She apparently wasn't too pleased with the situation. I asked her if she smiled, and her response: "No, I didn't like the guy taking my picture." Okay then...that explains it. LOL

Erin's 2012-2013 School Picture - Erin's teacher had already warned me that she wasn't enjoying the picture thing. The teacher had to walk her up to pose and stay right by her side because otherwise she would cry. Poor girl was terrified.

Mother's Day 2013

Mother's Day 2009 (link to that post)

Mother's Day 2010 (link to that post)

Mother's Day 2011(swollen pregnant face/nose) (link to that post)

Mother's Day 2012 (link to that post)

Mother's Day 2013 was perfect. My very first gift was Colin's return from his 4 day fishing trip in the Keys. He had a great time, and we missed him lots and lots! He was tired when he got home so, I treated myself to Starbucks and a pedicure while everyone napped. Yesterday, I think I slept in a bit longer than usual. I got up, and I showered in peace. They showered me with more gifts - sunglasses to replace my stolen ones, nail polish, and running socks. Colin had made reservations for brunch at 9:00, which was delicious as always. He got me a new iPhone (free!) by trading in old ones. I sat on the couch and relaxed for a few minutes and played with the kids, while Colin did lots of weekend housework. We went to the pool and relaxed while the kids swam for a little bit.  I was treated like a queen and was definitely feeling the love and appreciation! ;)

Jack's pirate picture he made for me...

and a flower on the other side of the paper.

These fishies spent some time in the neighbor's pool yesterday afternoon. Erin is a serious water bug!!! She will jump right in with floaties. No adults were even in the pool! We were all standing guard ready to rescue anybody, but it wasn't necessary. 

There were chilly when they got out, so they all took a warm bath (above) then went to snuggle with daddy.

We always go to brunch at Disney on Mother's Day as a tradition. Here they are playing with Lincoln Logs at the Whispering Oaks Canyon at Fort Wilderness Lodge. 

So lucky to be their mommy!

Just a little bit of my Mother's Day loot - cards, a fan, a footprint, a coffee mug, pictures, a plant, and a funny questionnaire (below). At least he got the age right, geez!

The only thing missing yesterday was celebrating with my own mom! Happy Mother's Day, mom! I sure appreciate everything you do for me and hope I grow up to be as caring, loving, selfless, encouraging, and supportive as you! :)

Also, go try this recipe! You'll be glad you did. So delicious, and it pleased my whole family. Well, besides Jack, but that isn't surprising.