Relay for Life

This weekend is East Vancouver relay for life. For those of you who don't know what it is, it's a 24 hour relay for the American Cancer Society. It's a huge event to raise money to stop cancer. Last year was my first year participating and I was on a team with work and was walking on behalf of my dad. This time last year was quite sad as my dad's surgery was just weeks away and there was that whole time of not knowing the outcome. Well he had surgery, complications, and then was on the road to recovery. Today he is healthy and we couldn't be happier. I know longer work with the company I was teamed up with last year, but Eric, I, and the girls joined up with our bank this year. There was no way I was going to miss this. My parents also go to the same bank and each team is suppose to have a cancer survivor if possible. The cancer survivors are really important as the first 3 laps are for them. Lap 1 is the Survivors, Lap 2 is for the Survivors and anyone who helped care for them, and the 3rd lap well I forget but I think it was for everyone. My dad is the banks survivor this year and he participated in the Survivor lap. It was so sad as he took his lap, but how happy we are that he is healthy. The 2nd lap my mom, myself, and the girls joined Papa. This of course wouldn't be an event in Wa unless it rained. It rained up until the second the Survivor laps started. All these people fought their cancer or have active cancer, lets hope they will be able to fight off the pneumonia they may get from today's event. The rest of the day is suppose to warm up and be sunny and we are going back later today. I got a picture of us and there will definitely be more pics to follow.

Hangin' Tough

Today is the best day I have had in a long time, yes my life is very dull and boring so it doesn't take much to make it the best day I have had in a long time. I was listening to the radio and you will never believe what was on. The New Kids on the Block are coming to Portland on November 23rd how exciting is that. My friend and I were talking a while back when we heard they were reuniting that if they ever came here for a concert we were going. Well I texted her the fabulous news and we are so going. I went to their concert when I was in the 5th grade and even participated in a talent show at school pretending to be part of the group. Oh my gosh how exciting. I also had a nightgown of them that I wore every night according to Shannon. I don't think I wore it every night. I had pins, bracelets, posters, etc. Speaking of posters. I had a huge one in my room that had a nice plastic frame around it and one day Shannon got mad (a very normal occurrence for her) and she stormed out of our room slammed the door and down fell my very precious poster. She broke it, how could she have done that to me. Then about a year ago my car got broken into, probably cause of the fact it's a civic and is a target for car prowlers. Anyways, about a month before it gotten broken into my dad found my CD of theirs from when I was in the 5th grade. I put it in with all my other cd's in the car. Well my cd player and 2 portfolios of cd's were stolen. Don't worry they left a portfolio that was under my seat and guess what my cd was still there. So it's meant to be and I am totally going to their concert. Anyone else who wants to go is more than welcome to come. There will be no boys allowed cause seriously were they infatuated with them as a pre teens, I don't think so.

I got my hair done AGAIN

So I really wasn't feeling my pink hair so I called my stylist and told her my hair was pink. I like the color pink, however, I prefer it to be in the crayola box and not in my hair. I went tonight to get it fixed, she worked her magic and I can now go out in public again.
Before pic


The after pic

Proud to be an American

I have spent most of the day thinking about our country since it's Memorial Day. Growing up I could really care less about the day other than the simple fact that it meant we had no school. I do remember my junior year of high school we were living in Utah and we did go to a cemetery to put flags on some relatives graves. Once again I didn't care about this, cemeteries didn't bother me, but the fact my parents made me go to check out graves for dead people I didn't know was rather annoying to me as a teenager. Fast forward about 12 years, (yes I have been out of school for 11 years.)

My brother Jeff is in the Navy and this has put a new perspective on Memorial Day. He is somewhere where the weather is 105 plus degrees. My sister in law Bonnie mentioned that they were trying to get a cab and they couldn't get one because they are Americans and the fact that they are military. Jeff has never felt so hated before in his life. After reading her blog it has really made me love my country more. Yes, gas, food, and everything is all going up daily but I think it is a small price we can pay compared to those serving our country. We seem to take our freedoms for advantage without realizing what we do have in comparison to others. Men and woman have laid down their lives for us and the many freedoms we enjoy. We live comfortably while these brave men and women are enduring and sacrificing so much. I hope that I will continue to look at Memorial Day and honor all these brave men and women who have died, who have become disabled fighting for the millions of people to have their freedom, and all of them who are sacrificing so much. These brave men and women do not know all of the millions they are fighting for, but we as Americans should give them the respect they deserve for all the trials they endure for us. I know my brother won't read this, but I want him to know how extremely proud I am of him. I know he is sacrificing so much as well as his family. I am proud to be an American.

Clever

Everyone knows what a clip strip at the store is right? It's those things down the aisle about every 4 feet or so that hang there with something placed on it that hopefully you buy on an impulse. Well, last night Eric and I went to the store and I needed my female items for the month so we went down the female aisle and I blurted out, "now that is clever!" Eric asked what I was so overly excited about as we were by the tampons, I mean what could possibly be so exciting? You would never believe what they had on the clip strip...... Cookies. They had chocolate chip cookies and Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies hanging there on the clip strip. You know it was just the single serving size that hung on that clip strip so perfectly. Seriously who came up with the clever idea? Cause we all know we want the junk food when it's that time. Now I have thought about leaving the store a comment about how much I loved that, (no I didn't get any cookies). I was also going to ask them if they could possibly get some already made brownies and fries and maybe some caffeine down that aisle as well. Seriously, who wouldn't buy? Clever that's all I can say is clever.

My hair

Ok I got my hair done today and I included before and after pictures. The before picture is my hair with me just blow drying it, not styling it so it's kind of fluffy. The after is with my blonde and red. Yes, the red looks pink but have no worries friends as I have had this hair done several times and it will fade in a few days. The before shot


The after shot

Excited

I am excited because in a few hours I am going to get my hair done. It's going to be awesome cause the girl who does it is awesome. Come back later today if you want to see it. It will be worth it!!!!

It's Gone

Our sun is gone and the rain is back. It's hard to believe that just a few days ago we were almost 100 degrees. Oh well that's the Great Northwest, it can never make up its mind.

Holy hell it's hot

So it is unusually hot here today. We were out running errands and the temperature thingy inside the truck said 96. Oh my it's hot. We stopped at Target to get a sprinkler for the kids to play in. Here is the problem. Eric always puts off mowing the back yard. He always said he will do it tomorrow and tomorrow always comes and goes and tomorrow just happens to have been a week and a half ago. Eric promised to mow the grass when we got home so the kids can play. However, Eric is trying to pawn the job off to someone else. There is a rental home community behind us and there just happened to be a landscape crew mowing the grass. So he is trying to talk the guys into jumping the fence and mowing the yard. The thing is that these guys do not speak any English just Spanish. So he is on the phone with the company now and I am listening and it sounds like he is going to have to mow it himself. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. But, he did set up an appt for them to come tomorrow to check it out for further mow jobs.

Another busy week

This week has proven to be another busy one. My brother left last Thursday and Bonnie and Aj came on Saturday. Saturday started with Hailey having her young authors celebration for the school district. She was 1 of 2 kids invited from her class to attend. They shared a book that they wrote and illustrated, a book they have been working on for the last 6 weeks.


Then My mom, dad and I went to pick up Aj and Bonnie. We brought Aj back to my house so my Mom, Abbie, Bonnie, and I could go out for the night for Mother's Day. We started with pedicures and then dinner. I had the worse stomach ache alive so it put a real damper on things.

Sunday was Mother's Day and we all went to my mom's to celebrate the day. My dad took care of us very well. He bbq'd salmon (oh so yummy), porkchops, and steak. Oh it was so very good.

Monday Bonnie and I went shopping for some maternity clothes, for her not me. Just in case you were confused. We then went to a craftstore which was fun. I do not like doing crafts but it was fun going, nonetheless.

Tuesday Bonnie, Aj, Taylin, and I went to Ikea for an amazing 3 hours. Bonnie had never gone and she is in the market for a new bed so we went to see what they had to offer. Taylin loves going to Ikea cause she thinks she is allowed to go the kids club every time we are there. There was a bit of a wait so we shopped the top floor, ate at the yummy restaurant, then went and checked Taylin into the kids area while we shopped the bottom floor. I managed to go to my cycling class as well and it was alot of fun.

Wednesday was another fun filled day. We started early and added Abbie and Tabitha to the clan and went out to this place called The Kids Club. It's a giant indoor play structure and the kids had such a fun time playing. We headed home so Taylin could go to preschool. She played really hard and messed her hair up quite a bit and apologized to her teacher for having messy hair. Oh she is crazy. Then we went to Hailey's school to help decorate for the classroom Young Authors celebration. It was fun to be able to talk to her teacher about life in general. Her teacher is my age and it makes it more enjoyable to help in her classroom.

Thursday (today) was the day of Hailey's presentation of her book in her classroom. The class all took turns reading their books to the parents. It was so nice to see how far she has come since the beginning of the year. Tonight I am going to my cycling class and also my step class which immediately follows the cycling class. Those classes are so fun and I can't help but not do both of them tonight. I am not sure what the next few days have in store but, whatever it is I am up for it.

I do believe that next week should be alot less busy. The only thing I have planned are my usual classes at the gym, a field trip with Taylin, and a new hairdo on Friday.

Here's to Jen.......

I see you finally updated your blog, congratulations. I have a morning packed full of stuff that I have to do and then maybe after that I will update as well. Until then, enjoy the suspense of not knowing what I have been up to. Oh and you know our conversation we had the other day about it not ever getting really hot here. People we are suppose to be having a heat wave for the next few days. Today we should be hovering around 90 degrees and tomorrow mid 90's. I am so glad that I have AC, I wonder how many new friends I will make because of it. Just kidding. So I promise I will be back later to update.

In a nut shell

I have been super busy this week. There are weeks that I don't do a single thing and then there are weeks that are packed full.
Monday-Surprise visit from my brother
Tuesday-Spend time with my brother,etc. etc.
Wednesday-Taylin had kindergarten orientation. She is officially registered to start school in the fall. That's right my baby is starting school and I will still be under 30. Yay me. I also got my Wii on this day.
Thursday- I was suppose to clean but most of the day was spent playing the Wii. It is very good exercise. Went to my step class!!!!
Friday- I had a Mother's Day program at Taylin's preschool. My friend had her baby so I went to visit her at the hospital. He weighed in at 9lbs 1 oz. Then we headed to the mall to shop. Then went and got Dance Dance Revolution. Love it Love it Love it. So of course Hailey and I played until the wee hours of the night.
Saturday- (that's today) I am up before 7am cause Hailey has a young authors conference. Yay her. Then I have to go pick up Taylin from my parents she isn't a morning person so she slept there. Yay me. Then I need to come home clean go get Hailey come back and clean some more. Why am I cleaning so much? Cause my sis-in-law Bonnie and nephew Aj are coming in to town today. Shh don't tell the girls they don't know, this will be the 2nd surprise of the week for them. Then I go pick them up bring Aj back to my house then me, Bonnie, Abbie, and my mom are going to go out to celebrate Mother's Day. First pedicures then dinner Yay us. That sums up my week. But of course when the day is done what will I do? I will be playing DDR. Yay me. I hope all of you mother's out there have a wonderful day tomorrow. I wish my sister Shannon was here to celebrate the day with the rest of us. Anyways I got to go Hailey has her thing to go to remember????

Happy Mother's Day to me....

I got myself a Mother's day present today, well I suggested and Eric followed through. We have been searching for months for a Wii. Everytime we are ready for one they are never ever in stock, then when we don't have the moola they are in abundance for like a day. Today was the big day we have been waiting for for quite some time. I GOT MY WII. I hate video games and was rather shocked that I actually love the Wii. We played it at a friends house quite a few times and I love the fact that you are physically involved and not just sitting there. We got everything to get started and the next major purchase for it is Dance Dance Revolution and all 4 pads. I want all 4 pads so we can all play at once and I don't ever have to sit out a turn. Yes, me. I also like DDR because they have a workout mode which I am super excited for. I also want to buy the wii fit when it comes out as well. My weight has still been an issue to me. I have still managed not to lose any weight but I haven't gained which I guess is good. I have about 20 pounds to lose to make me one happy mama. I know using the Wii could help to my advantage with losing my stubborn fat. So lets hope with the Wii and more trips to the gym that I will finally start shedding this stubborn unwanted weight that is just hanging out.

We love surprises

Today was a normal Monday. I wake up do lots of housework cause it seems like nothing gets done over the weekend. I had just put Taylin in the tub when I received a text message from my brother JJ (that's what the girls call him) and he asked what I was doing. I said I was just cleaning and Taylin was in the tub. He asked if I would come pick him up from the airport. I happily agreed and Taylin and I hurried and made ourselves presentable and headed to the airport, good thing it is so close. Taylin was so excited I told her to keep her eyes open and help me look for him. She told me she didn't want to blink cause she didn't want to miss him. We hurried home made lunch for Taylin and took her to preschool. Taylin sat next to JJ on the way and had her arm around him the whole time. When we got there she made JJ go inside with her holding his hand the whole time. She took him in and took her to see the classroom walked him back downstairs and then gave him a kiss and said bye JJ I love you.

The next surprise was for Hailey who we went to pick up from school. She was walking toward the bus almost passes me and sees me at the last second. I look over at JJ she saw him looked again and said Jj is that you. JJ is that really you as she is hugging him jumping up and down. She wouldn't let him go.

Now that we are all home the girls are just in awe that JJ is indeed actually here and it's just not a dream. Taylin was playing upstairs coming downstairs every so often to make sure that JJ is still here.

Sleep overs are so fun

Last night Hailey had a friend spend the night and Taylin always thinks she is being left out of everything, which she really doesn't. So last night she called Papa to see if she could spend the night. He told her that tonight would be better cause Mommock wasn't home from work yet. Papa said that her, Hailey, and Tabitha(my niece) could all spend the night. Taylin uninvited the other two cause she wanted some one on one time with "her" Mommock and Papa. So last night she called her people (a list of people she calls everynight before going to bed). I am going to tell you the conversations she had with my mom and dad, keep in mind they were only minutes apart.

Taylin: Mommock, I am spending the night tomorrow but Hailey and Tabitha can't come just me ok Mommock.
Mommock: Do you need some one on one time?
T: Yes, Mommock. So when I get there we will play Pretty Pretty Princess with Papa, then we will watch Mary Poppins, Staurt Little, Enchanted, Game Plan with the Rock, and then we will paint Papa's toe nails.
M: What color are we going to paint them?
T: I know, RED. Bye Mommock can I talk to Papa.

T: Hi Papa. I am spending the night tomorrow by myself.
P: What about the other 2?
T: No Papa just me. When I get there we are going to play Pretty Pretty Princess, then watch Mary Poppins, Staurt Little, Enchanted, Game Plan with the rock. Then you know what we are going to do? (answering her own questions without giving him a chance.) We are going to paint your toenails red, then we are going to go to Target to look at the toys ok. But Papa...
P: Yes, Taylin
T: Can you make sure you take a nap so you aren't tired.

Oh man she cracks me up. The older my mom gets she still remains a night owl so I know that her and Taylin could actually accomplish the list Taylin made for them. I do think it's funny that she made sure to tell Papa to take a nap. I am still laughing about it.