End of the school year...

which means cheerleading tryouts are just one day away. If you've forgotten the drama of last year, just go back and read blog posts from June 2010. Madison said last night she is NOT confident that she will make the team. Cheerleading is all she has done - since she was 5 years old. I can't imagine her not cheering. Guess we will find out tomorrow night!

This past weekend we went to the lake. Brandon and his family didn't get to come because he had to go to Europe again for work. Brett & Sarah had some friends, dad had some work friends, Cindy & Bayley and Noelle came with me. Needless to say, there were about 35 people on our little island of Jamaica. It was fun! Here are a few pictures -


Isn't that a lovely sight? I was actually trying to take a picture of him skiing - I didn't think he'd be able to get up that fast. To my surprise, he did AND gave us a shot of that white hiney! Thanks dad :)


Madison & Bayley think they are pro-cheerleaders and try to stunt on just about everything!

This is usually what ends up happening!

We had a really fun time! Can't wait for many more weekends like that this summer!

okay, so my spa day was ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!

Since no cameras are allowed inside, we snapped this one before going in - here's Vickie, mom, me and Cindy. The day was a BLAST. I can not even describe how perfect it was. The weather was gorgeous - beautiful blue skies (no clouds) and HOT, extremely hot, the hottest day of the week! We started out by laying out in the sun - at 9:30am. Mom and Vickie were scheduled for their treatments at 11:45am so after they were done we had lunch in the cafe. Mine and Cindy's treatments weren't until 4pm and 4:15pm so we layed out in the sun and played in the pools until then. We left there at about 6:30pm. It was GLORIOUS and I can not wait to do it again!

The pool at the racquet club has NOT opened yet. Huge bummer. Apparently something is wrong with the pump and they have yet to get it fixed. I was hoping to take the girls there on Saturday or Sunday but not sure if we will or not. We could always go to the downtown location but I don't really want to go that far...

Cindy leaves for Florida tonight for her nephew's graduation so Bayley is hanging with us for a few days. Let's hope they both make the cheer squad tomorrow night or this weekend will suck.

Happy day everyone!

Much anticipated day :o)

Tomorrow is Spa Day at Grove Park Inn for me, mom, Vickie and Cindy. I can not wait! I am really looking forward to going!

I really want to catch up the last few days in pictures but for some reason when I try to email myself the pictures via my phone, it won't work so until then I will talk about my girls a little bit.

Madison's attitude is HORRIBLE. There's no other way to describe it. She is NOT a morning person and is a complete joy to be around when she is by herself or when it is late at night. The more I ignore her, the more she comes around. Sounds terrible, doesn't it? It works. I think she truly does NOT like her sister. Can't imagine why. EL is so fun! Madison sees her more as annoying than anything else. Guess it's kinda hard being an only child for 5 years and then this other little person comes along and tries to take over!



Emma-Leigh is, for the most part, a joy. She has her moments (mostly when she and Madison are together) but she is my constant reminder that people change. She always tells me she won't ever stop letting me love on her (Madison has) and she will never be mean to me or hurt my feelings on purpose (such a charmer). She is a morning person and is always cheerful when she wakes up. Our evenings are a different story. She needs to go to bed early, in fact she HAS to go to bed early for the sanity of all of us. As soon as her head hits the pillow, she's a goner. She's also a HUGE procrastinator. Doing homework, reports or projects of any kind with her takes F.O.R.E.V.E.R. You have to stay on top of her constantly - Madison will have her homework/project due right away. Just the thought of having to do something increases her anxiety so badly that she has to get it done, immediately. Who does that sound like?



I love my girls. I know how fast time goes so I really try to focus and savor every little bit of them. Mornings are a struggle for us, and I know that they will be, so before I wake them each morning, I sit on their beds and watch them sleep - knowing that in just a few minutes chaos will erupt! Every kiss I give them, I add a little "sniff" to it. Just breathing in their scent, a smell that always smells good to me :)

I didn't start downloading my pictures on the computer until 2004 so I am unable to put my most favorite picture of all times on here - perhaps I will scan it and put it on another blog. But for now, this one will do.



Still unable to email pictures from my phone (UGH!). I'll update later on in the week!

EOG week

EOG's started this week and boy am I tired! I've been trying really hard to make sure the girls have a healthy breakfast each morning. I should do that every day but most days they don't want to eat first thing in the morning or they grab something to eat in the car on the way. This week, it has been bacon & eggs and fruit every day.

Since I've been so slack on blogging - here's another little update through pictures. Sorry guys, but you all know how extremely impatient I am and here lately, I am just as impatient with myself as I am with everyone else. Anyway, here's what we've been doing...

Madison & I went to Bayley's All Conference track meet on 5.7.11 where she tied the conference record at 5 feet in the high jump. The girl has got some legs!

Emma-Leigh didn't come with us that day. She ended up having a play date with her friend Noelle. So it worked out perfectly!

The following week was quite an adventure. It began at the dermatologist's office with Madison getting her ingrown toenail cut out. She did such a good job. It was very painful for her - she got about 8 shots all around her toe first to numb it; then they pulled it out. Ouch!

Also, that same day, EL threw up all over herself at lunch so once I got to work, I had to turn around and leave again. We spent the rest of the afternoon at home.

Tuesday evening Madison developed a fever that wouldn't go away. She stayed home on Wednesday by herself. I decided to take her to the doctor on Thursday morning only to find out she more than likely just had a cold. She stayed out of school on Thursday as well just to make sure but by Friday (just in time for the dance) she was feeling better.

Friday night I signed Emma-Leigh up for a week of summer camp at Centerstage Dance Studio. They were having a dancer's appreciation celebration that evening with bouncy houses, face painting, cake walks and snacks. She and Noelle had fun!


Saturday morning mom and dad left for Disney World! They met Tiff, Todd & the girls there as well as Todd's mom and nephew. From what I hear they are having a great time!


Saturday night, I went out to eat with Cindy and Randy. Damion was too tired to go, EL had gone to spend the night at Brandon's house and Madison stayed with Bayley. We went to Avery's Creek Pizza (it's a neat little hangout) and met a few other people there. Madison ended up calling me around 10pm with a stomach ache so I had to leave them early but the time I was there was fun. Hopefully next time Damion will join us.


That's basically it! Time goes so fast!

Catching up through pictures

Sometimes blogging is just too much. Somewhat draining. So here's a walk through the last couple weeks thru pictures :)





The weekend before Easter we went over to Brett & Sarah's so the girls could dye easter eggs with Riley and Reagan.




Riley had to take a snack break. She didn't realize she would like the way they tasted so much!

Madison had a project due a few weeks ago. She had to make a preschool kid's bedroom. Projects like this are great for bonding with Damion. They both have great imaginations and enjoy working on them together. Here's the finished product ~

If you look closely, you can see the baseboard - such detail!

The Spring Fling at Glen Arden was this past weekend. Riley & Reagan joined in the festivities. It was kinda sad though. Emma-Leigh was too busy hanging with her friends to actually play with Riley. Not at all what I expected. Didn't stop this beautiful girl from having a good time though.


This one either! She smiled and sang practically the entire time.


After the spring fling, EL went to her friend Maddy's house for a birthday/sleepover party. She had a great time. Here they are getting facials ~


And here is how Madison spends most of her free time - with her bff - aren't they pretty?

I don't really feel like blogging. I don't really have a whole lot to say. My whole "change" idea has come to a screeching halt. I have got to get motivated.

We went to the lake on Saturday. Our first trip this year. We never go this early but I'm so glad we did. It turned out to be a beautiful day! Normally our lake kickoff weekend is Memorial Day weekend but the girls had a great time and I'm glad we went. Here are a few pictures -







I keep telling mom that when I die, they aren't gonna have any pictures of me. I'm always the one taking the pictures :)

Sunday was Easter. We did not go to church. I feel so terrible for that. I feel like I haven't done my part on the church front with my kids like I should have. It's so hard to do it all by myself. Stupid excuse, I know. But it is tough, I don't care what anybody says.

Damion and the girls all slept in Sunday morning. The Easter bunny visited (I neglected to take a picture of their baskets) and we had our traditional egg hunt only this time, it was done in the jungle. Our grass hasn't been mowed in FOREVER. Damion keeps the lawn mower at his shop and right now the trailer he carries it around on is in use so that's his excuse. We did talk about this coming Sunday being our work in the yard day, so hopefully it will not rain and this will actually happen. It needs to happen. It's looking a bit neglected.







After our egg hunt, we had a late lunch / early dinner at Outback. Both my parents and Damion's parents were at the lake so we didn't have any other family time. To be honest, I was pretty bummed. I cried SO much on Sunday, for no real reason. And then at Outback, I was laughing hysterically. Damion thought I had truly lost my mind. I don't know what was wrong. It was bizarre. But crying did make me feel better, so whatever.

I almost forgot to mention Madison's big math award. On Friday, she was awarded 3rd place in a math test - the AMC 8. I had to google it to get the details but I am very very proud of her. Such an accomplishment! I missed the award ceremony though. I didn't go because she didn't get straight A's this 9 weeks. I had no idea she got 3rd place in the AMC 8. I was so proud of her! What's funny is, she got a B on her report card in Math. haha. Crazy.

This weekend may be a busy one. We have my friend, Michelle's husband's 40th birthday party friday night - it also happens to be my best pal, Kim's 34th birthday and Brody's 8th birthday. Saturday is the Spring Fling at Glen Arden - always fun. Sunday will hopefully be our work in the yard day.

Hope everyone has a good rest of the week!

Sheryl Crow - "A Change Would Do You Good" b/w music video

I hate change. But I'm ready to make a change. I'm in a funk, have been for a long time. I'm sure this won't happen over night, in fact I'm still looking for what it is exactly I'm changing. I'll keep you posted.

Spring Break

I've been a bit of a lazy blogger here lately. Guess I just feel like my life is kinda boring, what's there to talk about? The truth is, I like boring. Boring is safe.

Not much has gone on the past few days. Madison is in Floria with Bayley for Spring Break and I am sure they are having the time of their lives! Cindy has sent me pictures daily which makes me smile. I miss them!

So over the weekend, EL and I just hung out together. We went shopping at the mall on Saturday, then met up with Heather and Bethany at the park Saturday afternoon. Sunday she had a birthday party to go too and I ended up hanging out with Brett and the girls until time to go pick her up. When it was time, Riley got to ride with me!! Her VERY FIRST time in my car with me driving, without her parents!

I don't think Riley quite understands what the big deal is. I was SO EXCITED!!!

This week has been kinda quiet. Last night, Sarah and I went to get our nails done and then met Brett and the girls at Casa Torres for dinner. That was fun. The food wasn't great but the time we spent together was very enjoyable.

I was talking to Holly yesterday about how it felt having Madison gone for the week. I got all teary eyed because the truth is - it hasn't really felt that much different. She's so independent and does her own thing; so responsible. The only thing that is noticeably different is the fact that there is no squabbling between she and EL, there is less laundry and her door remains open. I miss her pretty face. I guess this is just preparing me for when she is gone - only a short 4 1/2 years left. ugh.

My cousin, Alyssa, had a bad accident over the weekend. Turns out she and her boyfriend were having an argument and she climbed up on the car in an effort to prevent him from leaving. Something happened - either he sped up or slammed on his brakes, but she fell off, slamming the back of her head on the ground. Up until yesterday, she was in Neuro ICU with a brain bleed and on a ventilator with a feeding tube but all that got removed yesterday and now she is in a regular room. She also had a fractured elbow which they have since done surgery on. She doesn't remember anything about the accident so please keep her in your prayers as she has a long road to recovery. It just makes you stop and think. Life can change in the blink of an eye.

Sarah has her tonsillectomy tomorrow morning. Pray all goes well! I have a feeling it won't be pleasant. She has a ton of people to help her though - she's just a bit of a control freak...LoL (she knows I love her).

oh! I almost forgot about the circus!

I took EL by myself. I didn't really want to go alone but Damion was working, Madison had no desire to go and decided that if I wanted her to go, I was gonna have to go it alone.

We had fun. We started the day by having lunch at Twisted Crepe and then walked up to the Civic Center.

I think the elephants were her favorite!