Playing with my Big Brothers

Colby and Dylan spent their morning building a "camp site" behind the couch as I made breakfast and got us ready for the day.  They wanted Blake to come camping with them too.  I love that they want him involved in all their playful acts and that he loves to be with them. 

Colby trying hard to keep him on his "sleeping bag"

Yay! I'm camping :-)

Dylan and Blake

Smile under pacifier

The real thing!!!

Trying Blueberries

Blake tried blueberries today......

He liked them :-)! Boy do they make a mess!!

Dawn's Baby Shower and Mini Girls Weekend

A quick trip down to Ft Lauderdale to celebrate Dawn's upcoming baby and a much needed night out with my girls! Lynn and I picked Ami up in Orlando and then on our way to Ft Lauderdale we went.  Many people think we are crazy for going to Orlando first but when you are in the car with your closest girlfriends it gives us time to talk without any interruptions.  Dawn felt a bit left out so she was included via text throughout the ride. 

We went to dinner Friday night and ended the evening with cookies, milk and a lot of talking.  On Saturday we enjoyed our morning chatting with Ivonne, Dawn's sister, over coffee and doughnuts.  Then we went to another amazing shower to celebrate Dawn.  Although it was a short trip it filled my heart with lots of laughs and amazing friendship!

Blake's Baby Dedication

Today was Blake's Baby Dedication at church.  We gave a promise in front of of church family, our own family and to God that we would raise him like God has instructed us.  At the same time our family and church family promised to help us raise him in the eyes of the Lord.  We are blessed to have such a loving and supportive family.  A big thanks to everyone who came: Grammy, Pop Pop, Grandpa, Nana, Papa, Aunt Lea, Uncle Grady, Peyton, Madison, and Aiden.  You all are so special to us!

Valentine Dinner with my Sweetheart

It's not often that Scott and I get to go out and spend some quality time together especially without kids and free of charge :-)! Patsy was here helping out and she offered for us to go out for a night.  It was Valentine's day so we took full advantage of the offer.  We went to Marker 32 sat at the bar and ordered drinks and appetizers.  We had an awesome time catching up with one another along with not having to entertain children as we ate. 

Valentine's Day Party with Grandmommy

It was our 2nd annual Valentine Party with Grandmommy.  The kids baked her a heart shaped cake and insisted that it had pink icing and sprinkles.  We bought two mini rose bushes and mini balloons to give to Grammy and Grandmommy.  Just to see the smile on my Grandmommy's face makes this newly tradition so special.  I love seeing her with my kids and the memories they are making with her. 

Grandmommy teaching Colby about this old coffee grinder

Kids Valentine Give Aways

Feeling a bit out of sorts these days with a very messy and chaotic house along with being very busy with out of town journeys I wanted to get creative for the kids Valentine give aways.  I didnt come up with the idea on my own (Pinterest) I must admit :-) but they came out cute and the kids enjoyed helping to bags the bears. 

Teddy Grahams and Gummie Bears

Valentine Cards

Store bought cards are good...they can be funny, sentimental, have great wording, pictures are drawn neatly, or they may have a great portrait on them but seriously the cost of a card now a days is getting rediculous.  Instead I have the kids make their cards.  Not only does this save tress and money but we are giving away something that family members can cheerish.  Here is this years Valentine Cards for Daddy, Nana, Grammy, and Grandmommy.....

From the bottom of our hearts....

To the tips of our toes....
We Love you!

Tiny little hands and tiny little feet can make me smile anyday!

Lunch with an old friend

I had the chance to go to lunch kid free with Meg today.  We met 11 years ago in Boston.  She was at a bar that Scott and I went to for a Florida State game.  She just so happened to be there too to watch the game.  Oddly enough she was from Jacksonville, worked for CSX (this is who my step father worked for at the time), and went to FSU.  She knew many of the saem people we knew too.  Lucky enough Meg and I hit it off very well and became great friends.  I was even her maid of honor in her wedding! Scott and I moved back to Jax and she has remained up north.  When she comes home it is hard for us to coordinate plans but his time we made it happen.  Lots of talking and very little eating went on during this lunch date.  Funny how we managed to almost catch up in just 2 short hours.  Now its time to work on her moving back to the Sunshine State!

Donna 1/2 Marathon

I did it! Just 5 months after having my 4th baby I ran a 1/2 marathon! For weeks I debated running it just because I had not been training like I should and was very scared that I would disappoint myself either by walking some of it or worse not being bale to finish it.  Nikki had told me about "Galloway" style which is running for a certain amount of time then walking for a minute.  I tried running this way and really began to like it.  Just 3 weeks prior to the race I committed to running and considering the registration fee there was no turning back!!! The longest run I completed before the race was 8.5 miles.  The week of the race I ran once then rested the rest of the time.

There was so many of us running/walking that leading up the day I was getting excited.  As soon as the weekend of the race came along my nerves were brewing.  We had a pre-race pasta dinner with the O'Sullivan's and Nikki and I worked hard on making 'hot pink tutu's" to wear while running.  The next morning I woke at 4:20 AM to begin getting ready.  Coffee, water, small bagel and peanut butter to start the morning off.  Nikki and Amy arrived at 5:30 and off we went! We met Laura, Cari, Heather, and Kim at Shauna's house and Jon drove us up to the Mayo.  Thanks goodness he was so kind to this for us. 

This just so happened to be the coldest day of our "so called" winter.  Barley any winter weather this season and today we woke up to 28* with a windchill of 19*.  Bundled with items that I could throw off on the road and ready to get this race started. 

Its now 6:30, the National Anthem is being sung and the gun goes off.  I am now so excited and the adrenaline is pumping through my blood. The amount of people who were out cheering us on was overwhelming!  Amy, Nikki and I are off to a good start and keeping a great pace.  By the 3rd mile Nikki, AKA Speedy, takes off.  Amy and I still keeping a good pace ran consistently for 7.5 miles.  At that point we began 4:1. At about mile 9 I saw my cheering squad, Scott, Colby and Dylan, which helped me push on.  By mile 11 I was beginning to feel the exhaustion but I also could see the end coming. 

Once I turned back onto San Pablo the adrinaline kicked in again and I crossed the finish line at 2:09:39! a full 20 minutes faster than I thought I would be done! Let the celebratiuon begin.....but there was none.  It was so cold that all I wanted to do was to shower and be in warm comfy clothes. 

The rest of the day was not as celebnratory as I had wanted.  Unfortunaltely I had a bad day/week of a very upset belly caused by dehydration and over doing it.  Since I have desire to remember this portion I will not blog about it :-). 

The way a kids mind works....

Today Colby asked me what his grown up name would be. Not quite sure what he was talking about I asked him what he meant.  He said "your name is Janice and daddy's name is Scott...both those names sound much more grown up than mine, Dylan's, Abby's or Blake's".  I laughed remembering that I felt the same way as a kid. 

Dylan woke up this morning convinced he saw a deer in his room last night.  Scott and I gave him a "your weird" look and started to laugh.  He was so convinced that there was a deer in his room so Colby says "lets go get our guns and shoot him".  What?!?!?! Whose kid is this???  He has been hanging around my brother and nephew too much lately!

Mommy's Little Helpers

Colby and Dylan have been so excited for Blake to begin eating food.  They have been asking for months when he will be able to have more than just milk.  Now that we have started him on cereal and bananas his big brothers, AKA Mommy's Little Helpers, want to feed him.  Its been nice to have the extra hands when I am trying to make lunch, clean the kitchen, help Abby, etc... Now the question is 'how long will the help last"?

Annual Disney Trip

Its that time of year again and we have packed up to see the Mouse! For the last 4 years Scott has had a tax conference at the Grand Floridian so the kids, Grammy and I tag along for a nice place to stay and fun filled days at the parks.  This year Uncle Chris, Aunt Nikki, Addie and Amelia joined for a few days.  Nana and Papa were supposed to come but unfortunately Nana hurt her foot the day before and walking around the parks didn't seem like fun to her.

The week was filled with Hollywood Studios, Epcot X 2, and the Magic Kingdom.  We also get to join daddy for dinner with his conference and there is always a visit from Mickey and Minnie.  This year Beauty and the Beast came but no way the kids would even go near the Beast.  After the dinner there is dessert and drinks outside and we get to watch the fireworks going off from the Magic Kingdom.  Between Abby, Addie, Colby and Dylan I think they ate enough Mickey Ice Creams to feed a classroom.  While we were there a friend of mine who I used to work with in the ER, she now lives in CT, was there with her little boy and husband.  She jumped on the monorail and met me at the hotel for a quick hug. 

Kathleen and Tyler with my zoo

Its a blast while we are there but I can officially say I am Disney'd out for quite a while. 

Colby and Dylan with Stitch

Abby, Blake, and Amelia (waiting for big kids to get off a ride)

Colby, Addie, Abby, and Dylan

Special Appearance from Mickey and Minnie

Family Picture with Mr and Mrs Mouse

Beauty and the Beast
 (now you see why my kids wanted nothing to do with him??)

Dylan, Addie, Abby, and Colby waiting for the fireworks

Eating Ice Cream and watching fireworks

Lindsey came for the conference too!

Chris, Nikki, Scott and I (with Amelia and Blake in the Ergos)

The 2 Batsch Families

A beautiful Princess named Addie came to see us before going to spend the day at the park

Character Breakfast - Tigger and kids

Couldn't leave Blake out

Pooh

Grammy and Pooh

Abby wanted her picture but was afraid

Mary Poppins talking to Abby - loved her accent

Alice

Dylan, Addie, Colby and Abby in the carriage in front of the Grand Floridian

Amelia

Driving the carriage

Daddy riding the tea cups....they don't look like they are going too fast

Mommy and Blake on the tea cups