A few of my favorite things....

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the flowers are blooming. The smell of fresh cut grass is in the air and the sounds of the neighborhood children are back again.

The balancing act continues. Trying to keep caught up on keeping our business running. Taking the kids to dance, gymnastics and play dates. I feel like I am behind on housework and laundry. Pediatrician appointments, yard work and keeping the house maintained and in order. And in the mix it seems like someone is always sick lately, whether it is human or animal.

I think back to before kids. It was so nice to sleep in. We always had all of the time in the world to do anything that we wanted, whenever we wanted. We could go out for drinks or for dinner, or even leave for the weekend without hesitation.

Sometimes I feel like there isn't enough time in the day. They go by so fast. At the end of the day I wonder if I played with the kids enough. Did I give the dogs enough attention today? Did I give my husband enough attention today? It is so hard balancing everything. It seems stressful and chaotic doesn't it? It is stressful and chaotic, oh and loud. Did I mention how loud it is?

But wait.......did I mention that I have never been happier? Did I mention that these loud and crazy kids of mine are the funniest people I have ever known in my life. I think I forgot to mention that these two beautiful people that have only been on this earth for 4 and 2 years are already amazing people who bring nothing but joy and love to this world. These kids see the beautiful in the ugly, and see the fun in the boring. These two kids have more personality and kindness then most adults that I know.

It is so worth giving up a 10 hour sleep for kids. It is so worth being tied down and having to find a baby sitter to go out for an evening or away for a weekend. And if we can't find a sitter, then we will just take the kids with us. Life would be boring without the chaos and loudness! And who needs privacy anymore!! I used to be easily embarrassed, now after what my kids say and do to me in public, hardly anything is embarrassing to me anymore. I have found that there are more important things to do other than housework. I can sacrifice a little more sleep and do housework and business work when the kids are sleeping. Who needs complete organization anyways! It's just not me. I am still me, I am still fun, I still have fun. I just have added more fun to my life. These little people that have taken over my life have made my life a little more interesting.

Peace and love......

Jaylee turns 4!

Wow. On March 19th my baby girl turned 4 years old!

It really feels like yesterday that she was a newborn baby. In the fall she will start going to school. Every year seems to come and go faster then the last. How do you slow down time again??

I am so lucky to have my little family. I have a good husband and two wonderful kids. I really can't complain. Lately life is chaotic and loud. So so so loud! I can't seem to find that magic remote control with that mute button. My house is always messy and I am constantly wiping off dirty hands, faces and butts. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

She amazes me, the things that she knows already. She is so smart. I love seeing her point of view with things. She only sees the good in this world. She never sees the bad. When she does experience the bad in the world, she just doesn't understand.
If more people could view the world the way that a child does I am convinced that this world would be a better place. No one would be judged by the color of their skin, or the shape of their body. No one would be judged by their profession or their choice of religion.

And the world would be much more fun and interesting to live in.

My children remind me on a daily basis to see the positive before the negative in everything.

When Jaylee grows up I will miss moments like this, when I find her fast asleep on the top of her toy shelf. She threw down most of her stuffed animals, then she brought up her sleeping bag and pillow and fell fast asleep. Life would be so dull without having Jaylee and Marshall around.

Peace and Love.......

Little Bro Turns 2!

Well if finally happened. Marshall turned two.

His second birthday party was a success. With each year of birthday parties, they seem to become louder and crazier! I am guessing that this pattern will continue each and every year.


Mickey Mouse was the theme. Marshall is obsessed with Mickey Mouse these days. The boy lives and breathes Mickey Mouse.

He was so cute when we were singing happy birthday to him. He put his little finger by his mouth and smiled while everyone sang. He was loving it, but was playing the shy act.

Big sister and little bro. My babies, who technically aren't babies anymore. Where is the time going? These two and their love, hate relationship kills me. One minute they are playing all sweetly, and the next someone is crying. They are so alike, but so different.

Jaylee is the entertainer. She likes to be the center of attention. Along with that, comes the dramatics. Marshall is a little more passive and laid back. He already knows how to press his sister's buttons. The only thing that gets him really upset, is if you mess with his food. Marshall will eat and drink just about anything, Jaylee is so fussy with food.

The next morning, he was still carrying around his Mickey birthday balloons.

All and all his birthday was a success.

He is two, next year he will be three. Before I know it he will be 18 and off to college.

No matther what, he will always be my little Bubby Butt!

Peace and love.......

Snowed in

Today was a magical day.

A day to realize that the little moments in life, really are
the best moments.

A day to act like a kid again.

Thirty inches of snow fell on us within a 24 hour period of time.
I am from New York state, up there that amount of snow is the normal routine.
But down here in West Virginia, not so normal!




The dogs and us all had so much fun playing in the snow.
The day couldn't have gone anymore perfectly.





Jaylee has always loved playing in the snow.
She is such a free spirit, would we expect anything else from her?!





The last time we had a snow storm Marshall did not like the snow.
He thought it was nice to look at from a distance.
Once he got out there and touched the snow, he realized how cold
it was and he was not a happy camper! This time he actually loved playing in the snow.




Today we built memories. It was all because we had fun with the little things.
We spent quality time together, and didn't worry about anything else. Today was another day
of our little moments frozen in time.
Peace and love.....

When life throws you lemons, make lemonade!

I have a lot to be thankful for this year. I haven't blogged in a really long time. It's been a really tough year for me, and I guess it affected me more than what I thought.

I have had some health problems over the past year. I've been examined, poked and tested by doctors who still can't tell me what is wrong. All they know is that I have some sort of auto immune disease, but they can't say for sure which one.

My Grandmother died of cancer this summer. When I first found out that she only had 6 months to live, it was so strange. I remember going home to visit her around that time and I didn't know how to act or what to say at first. What do you say to someone you love when they know that they only have 6 months to live. I live 6 hours away from home, so I would go up there every 3 weeks or so to visit while she was sick. Every time she was weaker and weaker. It was so hard. It was a blessing to know we only had limited time with her. Things were said and talked about, that wouldn't have been said if we didn't know she was dying. They were things that we both knew in our hearts, but were never spoken out loud before. Life is forever changed without her here.

Don't get me wrong, things have been hard, but some really wonderful things have happened
too.

Marshall is walking and talking now. He is such a shy, sweet little boy. He is also the typical boy who likes to beat on things and play in the dirt.

He has this smile that warms my heart. And a belly laugh that is contagious.

He loves to dance to the sound of music, and he bobs his head to the beat.
He refers to all birds as "quack quacks". I love it!

And then there is Jaylee. She is so smart and observant. She needs to know how things work in detail, and always asks questions. She actually asked me today where she was before she "got into" my belly. I told her that she came from heaven, that she was a gift from the angels.

She is a free spirit. She is beautiful and kind. She looks out for her brother and worries about him. But she also partakes in teasing him and pushing him to his limits.

Marshall is like Jaylee's little sidekick. I love this picture of them. Jaylee was trying on her life jacket swimsuit for the first time. She put on her sunglasses and stated that she was an astronaut. She looked like a preschooler super hero with her diaper wearing sidekick by her side.

Russ and I got an opportunity of a lifetime. We purchased an independent, compounding pharmacy. It was his lifetime dream, and it came true for him. I went from being a full time stay at home mommy, to a part time working mommy. I work a few days a week managing our store. Something that I never thought I could do. We have our own family business, and the kids have become store mascots. I felt so guilty leaving them, until I saw how much they were thriving and loving it.

Without Russ and these beautiful kids in my life, I don't know where I would be right now. I couldn't have handled all of this without them in my life. I am so blessed and thankful to have wonderful family and friends in my life right now. I have a strong support system and I am so grateful.

The kids keep me going. I am determined not to let the physical pain and weakness bring me down. It will only make me stronger. It's only another challenge to keep me on my toes.

M.S. or no M.S. things will be ok. Whatever is going on with me, will get better. I can deal with the pain, numbness, tingling, the double vision, the seconds that my vision goes black, and the days where my hands don't work right. Things could always be worse. I have learned that when my body isn't holding up well, that I have to rest. The laundry can wait. If I give my body a day of rest then it works a lot better the next day. There are times when you have to put yourself first.

Life is a test and things are thrown at you that aren't fun. If you manage to see the positive in everything, even when things are hard then you are passing the test. Even through the grey areas good things always seem to find us.

Good and bad I am thankful for everything. Everything happens for a reason. If I can get through this, I can do anything.

Peace and love......