Easter Vacation 2009

First, let me start off by saying, this trip wasn't photographed as much as I would have liked to have photographed it. We got about 2 hours from home and I realized that I had forgotten my camera! WHAT? ME? Yes, I actually forgot it. What a blessing it was to have my Mom let me use her camera and take pictures! Thanks Ma!

What a long trip it is with 3 kids in a truck from New York to Georgia! WOW! What were we thinking? But it was a great trip regardless! We arrived at my parents house the night before Easter, which was such a blessing because I haven't spent Easter with my family in years! After our LONG drive, it was nice to be able to relax and let the girls and Jack get out and run, play, and interact with other people than us and themselves!

Easter Morning was wonderful! I will warn you now ........ there are NO pictures of my Mom, my Dad, my hubby, my nephew, me, or my son. First, the boys were up late so they didn't even see the light of day until after lunchtime! (Go figure! They got along SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO great this time! I think they have both grown up so much!)

But of course, we had to do the Easter Egg hunt thing! I do know that Easter is all about the resurrection of Christ and that is the MOST important part of Easter. However, I love to watch the girls look for those little treasures in those eggs, and this was Leah's first year of actually hunting for them herself.

99% of the time, the girls are so loving and caring for one another. We do LOTS of kisses and LOTS of hugs. Today just happened to be one of those days! (The other 1% we spend beating each other up and pushing each other around!)

Gabi kisses her sister ever so softly on her head! That is a favorite spot for kissing!







Leah was very funny! There were eggs everywhere. And of course, Leah was happy and content with just ONE! Yup, just one! She picked it up and played with it for about 30 minutes while Gabi continued to run all over and pick up every egg in the yard! So cute! Leah was smart too. She found the one with money in it! Guess she knew when to quit!





I couldn't help but post this picture. Leah was talking in it but it truly looks like she might be saying:

"I'm not so sure about this egg hunting thing."
What a sweetheart!


Michele and I
I was SO happy to be able to see my sister-in-law. Even though she and my brother are no longer a couple, I LOVE Michele so much and she will always continue to be family to me! She has always been here for us and especially Jackson! Thanks Michele for being so wonderful!

It was really great to see you!




Monkey Playdough Machine
Gabi has gotten into this thing about wanting EVERYTHING she sees on television. Of course, isn't that why they have commericals? Well, she had seen this monkey playdough thing on one of those commericals and when we went shopping, she found it! Of course, it was at her eye-level and we couldn't leave the store without it. I mean, I don't always give in but she was just SO excited to find it all by herself.

This toy was such a great buy too! It was a time keeper for Gabi! She played with this more than anything else and it worked well for disipline too. When Gabi would act up, I would tell her no more monkey. She would straigthen her butt right out!







Oh that silly smile!


Gabi and her cousins
While we were visiting, my brother decided to drive up from Alabama too. It was nice to let the kids all play together. Gab didn't remember the boys before but she really enjoyed playing with them. Gabi isn't much of an outdoor kind of girl but she stayed outside for the longest while when they were visiting.









The girls playing with Bike outside
My dad finds the best things when he goes to the dump. This bike was PERFECT for my girls! They loved it! Leah pushed Gabi for hours. She just kept going back and forth with it. Of course, Gabi didn't want to give Leah a ride but Leah was alright with that. She is a monster and will break, beat up, or push anything she can! Heee heeee





She struggled but she got it! Finally!


As many of you know, Jack's biological father has not be involved in his life. Well, things changed on our way back from this vacation. To make a long story short, after years of looking for him, I finally found him. Can't believe I did it, but we did. Jack has been asking me for years to find him and every time he would ask,I would start looking with no luck. Even wrote to the Locator who is on We TV to try and help us out.

Anyway, I found him and he is in Georgia. He is supposed to be visiting in a few weeks to meet Jack and his family so be looking forward to pictures of that event. I will defintely post them so that you all can be part of this life changing event for our family. We definitely ask for lots of prayers!

Where has the time gone?

Wow, this year has truly flown by! Where has the time gone? I can't believe it is April already! So much has gone on here since the last post right after Christmas!

At the end of January, Jack was supposed to go on a skiing trip with the ski team but was unable to go for a few reasons. Anyway, he was already to go regardless. Jack has really gotten great at skiing and snowboarding. He goes to the local ski place, about 35 or so minutes from the house, a few times during the winter! He really had a great time!



Leah turned 15 months old on February 3rd. Gosh, where has the time gone! I can't believe our baby is almost not really a baby anymore! She has learned so much too. She has learned to:



BLOW HER NOSE by herself! That is so cute to us!

TELL YOU WHERE here ears, nose, chin, eyes, hair, belly, legs, feet, socks, shoes, and much, much more is!



And of course, there are the times when the girls really do love each other! They give kisses and hugs ALL THE TIME! I caught them on this day!



I held a Uppercase Living Catalog show in January but got my stuff during the first week in February. I got so much stuff but only took pictures of 3 of them right now. I just LOVE them! Thanks Jenn! Anyway, these are some of the places that I put them.




This one is in my Americana bathroom. I LOVE it and get so many compliments on it!












Gabi's room was a brown color when we moved in and after she moved into her BIG GIRL bed, I decided to paint her room and make it girly! The letters in her name are from Uppercase Living. I love them!






And this is in our pantry/laundry room. All to often I must be reminded, "I'm thankful for piles of laundry. It means my loved ones are near!"



.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Our local GREAT scrapbook store (The Scrap Shack) offered a cool thing for the kids. It was a free card making day to make Valentine's Day cards. Gabi LOVED it! She loves to stamp and scrapbook with me so this was a day just for her. She did such a great job. The cards had lolipops in them too. THANK YOU Erin and Amy for such a great day and a special time for Gabi and I!






.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.


OUR VALENTINES TRADITION
For a few years now, we have started a family tradition in our house on Valentine's Day. We always grill out steaks regardless of the weather! And what a great dinner it is because Frank really is great with the steak and the grill!







.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

TRIP TO CANANDA
February 18th through the 21st, we went on a Family/ Marriage retreat with the chaplain to Kingston, Canada. What a blessing it was! We had such a great trip together! The kids got to play in the pool, which had a slide there. Jack was there 90% of the trip! They even had a great little play area for Leah too. We all had a great time in the pool. Well, except for me. I didn't get to go in the pool. I don't have a bathsuit right now.

This was the morning we left! It was snowing and cold but fun to travel together!

Of course, Leah finds the weirdest things to play with. There was a recycling bin in the room and she thought it would be fun to be recycled! Heee eheeee


Gosh, she just has to walk everywhere now! She loves walking! You go little girl!

Well, although I love that this picture has a great smiling Frank, Gabi looks so unhappy and of course, she was! She was so mad that Leah pushed the button to the elevator. Gabi thinks that is her job!












.

.

.

.

.

.



Well, after a long day and weekend, Leah sleeps. And so soundly did she sleep! This was in the hotel in a port-a-crib. She slept so good there. And although she doesn't sleep well when she is away from her house, she did sleep good. What an angel!




.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

NEW DRESS LEAH
February 25th

Leah got a new dress and I have to say, I just love the hat! She is so styling!





Frank loves to play with the girls! He has some boxing stuff and Gabi loves to beat him up! It is adorable! What a natural and happy smile she has!





Out on Lake Ontario, we had a natural phenominem happen. These ice mountains appeared in like 15 minutes time on the lake. They say a wave came in under the water and pushed the ice up onto this HUGE moutains. They were so cool so I had to go and see them for myself. They were so neat! And this has only happened like once in like 30 years. So it was cool to see in person!

Cape Vincent, New York
March 16th









.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.


And lastly, Leah, her blankie and that darn binkie! URGH

Leah has such a love for her blanket and her binkie! I have been trying to pull the binkie and not use it so much but she must have it for sleeping. I hope you all can see just how TIGHTLY she is holding it too. She knows that Mommy will take them! Heee heeee



-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Update on Jack and his chest:
Jack has an appointment on April 6th in Syracuse, New York with a cardiologist. And although we know that this doctor does not do this type of surgery, he will refer us to a specialist that does this surgery for pedicatrics. So we are happy that we are going for a second opinion but nervous again to see what happens.

OTHER STUFF ABOUT US:
I am LOVING selling Pampered Chef! I'm doing really well and really love the cluster that I am a part of! Thanks gals for being so supportive and wonderful!

Frank will be leaving soon. So, please keep us in your prayers!