Hannah's first cheerleading practice

Hannah started cheerleading today! Her first practice was a lot of fun. Her team cheers for Pike Township youth sports. They are called Indy Lazers...How cute is that!!!!
They will be more pictures to come but there was bad lighting in the gym so there is only one that I put up for now.
I'm really glad that she likes it. I wish more of her friends from her school joined the squad.
I can't wait to start cheering on my daugter and the other girls!! I'm a screamer!!! GO LAZERS!!!!

Indians Game 8-3

What a great weekend! Saturday we went to a birthday party...another one! lol Went to In-Laws house to visit Tarryl's Aunt from Maryland but Hannah said her ear has been hurting all day so we left Gabby and Leia there and took Hannah to the Hospital. 1 hour later dropped of the prescription and headed back to the visiting part. :) Hannah and Gabby spent the night there. Sunday, we went to church and Leia stayed with Nana and Papa, then afterwards a baseball game!

Is was a very nice day! We had great seats. Where the sun was we were in the shade with a nice breeze. We had nachos, ice cream, peanuts, drinks. Two seats in front of me, one seat in front of Hannah (she moved to a empty seat) a older kid got hit with a ball. He's fine, it hit him in the knee. Very scary as a parent, I was a little shaken up. All around good day!

Video Blogging!

The first two is Hannah and Gabrielle's last day at their swimming lessons. Monday 7-28 Hannah jumped off the diving bored the first time. Gabrielle did not. Wednesday 7-30 is when the videos was taking of them at their swimming lessons.

7-26 Was Leia's birthday party. She is opeing her present. I wish I took more video of this day!

Hope you like it!!!!

Leia's Birthday Party

Thursday 24th Oficially Two!

Community Festival Saturday Afternoon


Birthday Party in the evening! We had tons of fun!!!!

weekend of 7-11

Another busy weekend. Gabrielle's first time on skates.

We celebrated Tarryl's birthday by going to Dairy Queen.

Then on the weekend he went out with his friends and family.

I went to the Indymoms.com AnyMoms event downtown on Saturday. Very nice and tons of fun!

June & 4th of July

Happy 4th of July! We went to see Kung Fu Panda and did fireworks at home!

Hannah and Gabrielle enjoyed their swimming lessons and going back July 7th.

Strawberry Festival on the Monument Circle downtown. We had a great time! Afterward we went to the Civil War museum. The girls thought it was boring but I thought it was neat!

One of many sleepovers in the month of June!

Hannah's second hair-do!

We finally got a backyard pool for the girls to play in. This is a rare pic bc Leia doesnt like the pool!

We did alot of activities in the month of June! I was so happy we got rain yesterday bc I finally had a indoor day were I could catch up on some cleaning and enjoy a afternoon nap!

Swimming lessons are twice a week for 4 weeks and in between the girls cousins stayed for a couple of days, of course not at the same time.

We had a family reunion, went to the Aquatic Center twice, trips to the mall, play at the park first thing in the morning on most days, swimming in the pool in the afternoons and birthday parties. It's been busy but nice!

I know for a fact July will be even more busier and better!

Happy 4th of July!

Kindergarten Graduation

Last Day of school was her Kindergarten Graduation!!! Afterward we went to lunch at Red Lobster, her favorite place!

Summer activities

School is out! Yippee! Hannah is going to be a 1st Grader. How crazy is that? And whats even more crazy is this weather. We've planned a couple of things but we've been rained out more than once. Staying home and watching new releases was a way to go! Hannah and Gabrielle ended Soccer the end of May and I think we rescheduled more than we played. They got the trophies and called it a season! Hannah and Gabrielle started swimming lesson last Monday and will go twice a week till the end of July! I was going to do swimming lessons with Leia but she's not crazy about the pool. I thought she would love it bc when I say bath she's the first one up the stairs. I wanted to do a couple of things like go to the Canal, Indy Zoo or the Cincy Zoo but it is already 90 degrees. To save some money we are only going to go to the Aquatic Center once a week and maybe a weekend day and then in between if we get bored we might go to one of those Spray Parks bc it's free.

I saw my brother finally after a long winter and spring. The visit went well. And we took some really good pictures.

Girl Scouts: I thought it was a good idea for Gabrielle to be in the group with us. I thought okay she will be 5 yrs old no problem, she can handle a groups of girls. She is good but there is a big difference in the girls in the group and Gabrielle bc they've been through school for a year and taught about raising your hand and waiting when someone is done speaking. So we will try again after she starts school.

Kings Island

Our Saturday trip to Kings Island was terrific! Getting there was very easy. We dropped Leia at Nana & Papa's house and hit the road. We went to a Walmart to use the bathrooms and got there around 11am. The lines weren't that long to get tickets. The first ride of the day was Backyardigans swing and then we went to Scooby's Huanted House and Hannah didn't want to go but we made her bc I knew it would be fun. We saw some characters and took pictures. The only ride I didnt like and thought was a complete waste of time was the Sportacopters. Our Family Favorite Ride was the Fairly Odd Coaster. It was very thrilling. We saved the Spongebob Bikini Bottom Bask water park for last bc I knew the girls were going to get soaked so they changed their clothes. They hated it. It was a maze type thing and the water was freezing. Then a group of teenage boys go through and not paying attention knock Gabby to the ground. I had him pick her up and carry her to me bc I didnt have a change of clothes. Gabby finally calms down and its at the end of the day, we're all tired,hungry so I get the girls dried off change clothes again and we do some shopping. They each picked out a toy and got something for Leia.

Tarryl didn't feel like eating at a restaurant in Kings Island bc he thought it might bc too much money so we decided to leave and go to McD's. The girls ate and we headed back home. They fell a sleep 20 minutes later. I had budgeted a hotel room for this trip just in case we got tired but Tarryl's first choice was sold out. SO we just went home. I am so glad bc I woke up with a huge cold Sunday morning.

I wish we had ate more and saw more shops at Kings Island. Even though the lines weren't that long we still didn't see a whole lot. We didn't even get to see the other side of the park. Next time we go with the kids we will see the park in two days. But we didn't rush, we just enjoyed the moment, ended the day with a family ride which was the Carousel. The girls had a great time.

Everything Under the Sun!

Hannah in her Daisy Smock!

Leia being a Big Girl!

My new bedding!

Gabby at her soccer game!

Soccer has been great. Hannah is actually kicking the ball and not too shy to take the ball to the goal. The coaches are incredible! Gabrielle likes her coach very much. She enjoys soccer more than I anticipated. The only fact I don't like is that there is only her and another girl and four boys and they seem to be better at sports more naturally. Gabrielle didn't like that they kept taking the ball from her. We seem to be very busy during the week with Soccer. School is ending and Summer coming, I think I look forward to it more than the kids right now. I can't wait to go to the pool. So we are going to Kings Island in a couple of weeks. We had to wait till all the family birthdays we out of the way and a week before Memorial Weekend. Yikes! I hope it's not crazy there yet! Swimming Lessons are on hold because of Soccer practices were on the same day so we are doing that in June, which is great bc school will be out and that gives them something to do.

I would like to announce that we are officially off the state system. We've come a long way. As reluctant as I am to have to pay for everything..lets be honest it's a little difficult. We have never paid this much in insurance and prescriptions and medical bills. We have been budgeting very well and still have savings. I am very proud of the family!

Gabrielle is joined Hannah's troop in Girl Scouts. And I am the Co-leader. Yippeee! I'm excited. They will be brownies May 9th. I think they changed the rules a little bit, like the grades or something so we have the option to be brownies for a extra year. So instead of just 2 they will be brownies for 3 years.

I finally finished decorating my bedroom. It's taken three years to do. Im so picky with everything. Even though we didnt get new furniture bc of lack of space. But we did get a new tv and blu-ray dvd player.

I love being a mom! It's the Best and hardest job ever!

Bored this afternoon

We wanted to go somewhere for Spring Break but it's really cold so we set a date for Kings Island in May a week before school ends. Hopefully it will be nice but something like this can always be reschedule. Gabrielle will be having an evaluation with the ENT specialist to see weather or not to go forth with her tonsillectomy tomorrow. I am almost certain that they will do it and it will be scheduled sometime in June bc they are so busy. Soccer and Swimming starts the same week. Gabrielle is praticing holding her breath under water.

I got the girls pictures taken at Sears for the first time and the first time with Easter dresses on! I realized I had none of them looking so pretty in dresses. Hannah poses so well. She watches ANTM, America's Next Top Model for those who dont know what ANTM means. :)

The girls are growing everyday and their attitudes are coming through. Hannah and Gabby are two years apart and now that Gabby is getting school aged the gap is almost non existent wish means Hannah is struggling with her role in the house. I try to make it fair; that they take turns doing stuff like help cooking or the dishwasher, or whatever it is.

Swimming

Hannah and Gabby will be starting Swimming Lessons April 7th.
And we know where we are going for our first Spring Break. Nickelodeon Universe at Kings Island. Hannah is tall enough do some of the family rides but Gabby is just barely over 40" which is perfect for Nickelodeon Universe. I remember last year going to the state fair was a struggle to find rides and the roller coaster at the zoo she was way too small that I had to go with her. Tarryl doesnt mind just as long he doesnt have to do anything too crazy. I guess he had a bad experience with a roller coaster. I told them if its okay for small kids it will be okay for him. lol

Good Behavior

I got the great idea for Behavior charts on the last blog. It's a 6 week chart and at the end of the week they get a small reward, at the end of 6 weeks you get a toy! I like this idea bc It controls the toy purchasing and I can use it as leverage and bribery! I've never needed one bc my kids listened to me but lately it's been a struggle. Gabby has trouble cleaning her toys , she still has Hannah doing it. So this has many benefits! Small rewards consist of… Happy Meals, Bounce @ the mall - Its $1 for 5 minutes, and movie rental. SO they get to pick which one! That's a good start. I'm sure we can negotiate at the end of the week..
This came in good timing bc Hannah got her first yellow square at school today. Which means a 5 minute time out. She was talking too much. She was probably telling her friends the her mommy made her mad bc I wouldn't let her wear he Hello Kitty dress shoes this morning! They're alittle too big!

Finally!!

So I finally got my digital camera! It does everythig a big camera does but smaller and cuter! It takes movies and all kids of things! It awesome I get to share pics with family that lives far away and people I dont talk to on a monthly basis. I have a public album on aol if any one wants to look but most of them are on myspace. I just hate cropping pics to fit myspace, its a hassle! And I finally got a computer desk! Im so picky and working with a budget and amount of space makes things even more difficult but we finally got it. Whats amazing is that I looked high and low for a desk and where do I end up getting one at...Walmart! Ofcourse. It was simple to put together, perfect for the space and low on the price! Anyway. Life is good. Between the family we were sick for 2 weeks but all better now. Leia got all of her big teeth in, top and bottom, while being sick! Gabby is getting more independence and being more stubborn, and I have to be more patient and talk things out . With Hannah I only had to say things one time. Gabby I have to repeat myself 4 times to calm her down. ANd there going through greedy stage, where they want everything. I've created monsters and im losing control! Sounds like I'm talking bad about my kids! But they're still good I just need to fine tune come trouble spots! lol I think Im going to do a chart for being good, instead of giving things and going out places. Like they love going to Applebee's and Red Lobster. They have to earn that from now on. Anyone else like that idea???? More about my kids, I signed them up for the Soccer in the Spring. I think they start the end of March, Gabby is so excited to do what Hannah did last year. I'm looking into a dance classes for the summer but they haven't posted summer dates and prices so I'll talk about that later! So for awhile we was thinking about getting a house but that has changed. Were staying here. They aren't going to raise the prices just yet.. They probably will in August...lol It was just an idea!
SO what have I been doing besides taking care of my sick family...well nothing. Calling Headstart to see if Gabby can go to school next year, scheduling doctor visits, cleaning, got my nails done a couple of times! Thats about it. Getting the kids spring clothes which I always look forward doing and the kids know it! I wanted to do something special for my husband by getting him some Gap shirts and a pair of pants but he hasnt bought himself clothes in such a long time that it feels foreign! Tarryl likes his dvd's! Tuesday is his favorite day!
The new pictures are from Takoda's 3rd Birthday party! Kimmy filled a pinata full of candy, beads, sticky lizards, and some more stuff! My kids loved it! I love seeing little people grow up...it's so amazing!

2-08-08

I took Hannah to her Daisy meeting tonight and it was a blast. We had so much fun and People actually showed up, I didnt count but we had to hav had atleast 10 girls there. Hannah had a great time and socailizing with other moms was kinda cool. I guess being a SAHM...ya that would be cool. lol She will be giving her valentines presents to the nursing home next friday with her group. And sometime in March they will be going skating. I wondered doing this Daisy thing would benefit Hannah in some way, but making friends out of school, or another activity, I guess thats a plus. Growing up, I never heard, what moms say bc my mom wasnt around, SO Im feeling like am I doing the right thing by putting Hannah in these activites bc I wasnt in any. But Im glad we went and a BIG plus is our troop leader said she will be sticking with our group as they get older, So we will hav her forever I guess!
I finally got my pictures developed from all the way back from July...I went to get them and I said my last name and the woman said, "I remember you, you hav 10 of them, I did them all" That was funny. I got some really good pics of the kids and my friends and me and my husband, and all the events that happened...Its nice to look back on them and think , O ya, that happened! ***So don't be surprise if I wait long but I dont see that happening since walmart is 2 minutes away and I should be getting a digital soon..I hope!

2-0-08

Okay so I got Hannah those shoes right? Well they are alittle on the small side but size 1 was way too big and they don't come in half sizes. SO after she takes her school pictures (full body pose) I hav to take them back and find something else.
-We didn't go to the Daisy meeting bc of the snow snorm that was suppose to happen . Then this morning I look online at some of my bank transactions and Finish Line charged me twice so I'm out $72 till sometimes next week. Hopefully the manager can fix it. I talked to her this morning and she said the same thing. And I hope our family pictures turn out great bc I really need these, we havent done family pics since Gab was a baby.
Guess What! Hannah is going to her very first, someone else's house sleepover. I'm frantic about this. This is why I am getting gray hair. If I waited to hav children 10 yrs later, gray hair would be normal! Anyway I tell all the do's and don't s and made sure she knows the phone number. But I don't think I will be getting much sleep tonight. But the good thing is when I'm stressed , my house looks really clean. Any advice?????

1-30-08

So I take Gabrielle to the doctor to get her tonsils looked at yesterday and she said Gabrielle has strep throat. For one Im thinking she hasnt been sick well over a month for her to test positive for that. Anyway Im still going to give her the antibiotic, even though my insticts might be right. Unless I take her to one of those minute clinics. BTW the reason why I took Gab to the doctor bc her endocrinologist suggested it. Gab has always had large tonsils, she burps like a man..lol (I thought that was a normal 4 yr old..lol) Its fun when you learn how to get on ur parents nerves) And she snores like one too!
Today I got Hannah new shoes bc she has another picture day next week and I wanted her to have new one to show off. I got the new Pastry shoes by Phat Pharm...I've been watching them for awhile and they are in high demand so I thought for sure that they would be sold out. I got lucky today!
I want some for myself! We are also getting our family pics done this friday, I've scheduled it before but I think somone was sick or I got lazy..who knows!! Tomorrow is Girl Scout -Daisy meeting day and I hope more kids show up!

1-24-2008

SO yesterday we went to the Endocrinologist and everything is right on schedule. Gabrielle is a normal growing 4 y/o. She got her blood drawn yesterday to check her thyroid levels. The task to get it done was another story...She completely freaked out and she is so strong next time Im going to hav another person help me to hold her arm. We went to the New Walmart and it's literally in my backyard it's so close. It's so nice. Extremely Busy but Im hoping the that will fade, bc those lines were crazy! It's really nice to hav a walmart near by instead of driving more than 20 minutes to go shopping then do the lines and back home, thats our normal 2 hr trip and now its cut in half...What will I do with all that time!? lol OOO I know more Laundry! WOO HOO! What sucks about the walmart is that I was hoping it would hav a Picture Studio, But it doesnt...Instead it has a Eyebrow threading place... Wow Im wondering which will make more money..hmmm! Anyway That still means I hav to go to the Super Target in Carmel to get the pics done bc my Target and Meijer doesnt have a Picture Studio....I think the only thing close is JC Penny. SO My baby is teething ...and very grumpy today!

some new stuff

So I made that meatloaf last night and it was alright...nothing to brag about. The bread at the bottom of the pan work but made the meat like it didnt get done like i liked it to so I cook for 30 more minute and before I decided that i was going to throw it out -my husband decided to cook it longer. I didnt do the cheese sauce on top, I thought that was to much work for a stupid meatloaf...lol I wont be doing that one again. Atleast I tried right? :)
So anything new for the month of January, well not really Tarryl is still working lots of overtime, which is fine and all but Im trying to make our evenings alittle more relaxed or eventful. Going to the Library last monday, they played puzzles and read books with daddy and they had lots of fun doing that, more fun than doing it at home. I meet some new mommies also that night.
Leia is talking all kinds of words right now. Ofcourse some of it I can only understand but its so darn cute! She is so tall that she wears 24months clothes/sleepers. Gabrielle has grown alot this year. Last yr she was still wearing a 3T and in the spring I started buying her 4T shirts and now they are short on her. She has her Endrocrinolgy Appointment tomorrow so I will let everyone know how well that goes. For those who dont know she has a low thyroid which effects her weight and growth among others things. Hannah, she is doing awesome. She now thinks shopping is apart of her weekend plans. and she know that I look at our favorite store online to see if they got any new stuff in, the Children's Place, so she ask me to see it when Im online now and tells me what she wants now..she's funny!
So I have a couple of personal goals to achieve in Febuary and I will get them done..I will, I WILL, I tell ya!!! lol They will get done! One is a new one that my husbad suggested, I should become a registered and licensed child care home that way I can be in the database incase someone needs a babysitter. I thought that was brillant...why didnt I think of that.
These are just random things to talk about....Thanks to kimmy I hav a new love for Dots....Let me tell ya...I hate patterns, florals, stripes, that included dots, But now they are everywhere. I love Dots. They are so youthful..lol SO I got a new comforter set the has pink and green polkadots and some stripes for the girls room. Very cute. O and also thanks to kimmy I check CraigsList often...why I dont know but I did get a cute rocking pony that makes sounds for $10. My kids love it!

2007 Memories

It was great reading the 2006 memories I thought I would do it again for 2007.
1. I think I start every year saying I will lose weight but I havent made that commitment. If I see chocolate, hands down I want it! So this yr Im just going to move my butt more. More outdoor activities!
2. The Spring of 2007 Made our first major furniture purchase...Our Queen size bed.
3. Summer* We went to the pool a couple of times, celebrated Leia's first birthday, that was fun! Tarryl worked alot of overtime to accomadate my spending habits! Hannah started school! Got on the school bus for the first time! Hannah made a friend outside the home! We finally got cable!
4. Fall* Hannah joined her soccer team for the first time...lost all the games i think but it was fun to watch my baby play sports! September I lost my best friend of 13 years from complication to Cystic Fibrosis. October we had no money bc a company change. November he lost his insurance benefits. Also in Nov. the new company took over and gave everyone a good starting wage salary and a raise. Went to Washington D.C. for Thanksgiving.
5. December* I turned 25. I know 25, I cant believe myself! Hannah joined Girl Scouts.
I enjoyed hanging out with Kimmy more and her family coming over. Hillary moved far away. Tarryl worked really hard this year. Alot of weekends we didnt do anything bc he was gone. Tarryl and I went out more this year. We ate out alot...sad to say but we did. I even got my nails and feet done which hardly ever happens! I think Overall, it was a great year. The new thing that I tell myself is..what will I regret not doing? I need to have more fun, and go out more, and see new things, talk to new people. I think I hav enojoyed this year bc I wasnt in my sheltered everyday box.