FAMILY LIFE

Easter Egg Hunt

2011-04-23T20:15:00.008-04:00

This is our annual Easter Egg Hunt at our church. Joel collected 100 some eggs with the help of Emily.

Joel is playing Hot Egg.... having a blast with his little Sunday School friends.

Grandma went with us and enjoyed watching her grand kids.

Project 365 March 13th/20th

2011-03-20T00:00:00.010-04:00

Sunday March 13th

This is my niece, Stacy, and her fiance' Jeff. They are getting married on 5-7-11 and today was their Bridal Shower. I tried to take some good pictures because I plan to make her a scrapbook.

Monday March 14th

I worked the midnight shift on Monday morning so I took Adrienne's Disney Album and was able to get these two pages done between patients'.

Joel woke up Monday morning honking like a clunker car with his croupy cough. Though he did not get an albuterol treatment he did stay home from school. By noon, he was better and went out with his dad and got one of his favorite toys....a nerf gun. Life father, like son. Tito's hobby is guns and rifles but he is registered and it is all legal and he teaches the boys the right way to "bear arms"!!!

Thursday the 17th

When I went into work on Wednesday night, I found this sitting on the counter for me. Mary, my co worker, had taken pictures of Joel for me and had them made into an 8.5x11 book.

front

back

a page inside

Friday the 18th

This little guy will grow hair (grass) as Joel waters him each day. This is a craft he made in school. It will be interesting to see if Joel has a green thumb like his grandpa.

Project 365 March 6th thru March 11th

2011-03-13T00:01:00.003-05:00

Sunday 6th

Attended church.

Monday the 7th

Started working out again on Monday. Hopefully, I will continue to do it through Easter and well after.

Tuesday the 8th

AJ had another wrestling meet and he won. It is very difficult for me to sit and watch wrestling. I can't stand some of the positions the neck and shoulders endure. AJ has won two meets in a row now and I think that initial match that sent him to the ER was probably good in the fact that he has learned what not to do or allow. The Trenton Varsity Team helps coach the middle school team and AJ has mentioned learning what to do in certain situations.
This is something I will have to get used to because he will be doing this in high school, I guess it is better than football.....I guess....

Wednesday the 9th

I am not Catholic but I am participating in lent and will be giving up spending money that I don't need to spend....like a cup of coffee here....a snack at work there. Also, I will be continuing my pledge to work out 3 days a week. So far so good for the first week....lol

Thursday the 10th

I got pictures back from my friend and co-worker Mary who is a photographer and has a studio in her home. She has her own business called, Memorable Designs. These are Joel's 5 year old pictures and will be the beginning of his 3rd scrapbook that I have started working on.

Friday the 11th

This day started with my performance appraisal at work. I was very happy with my evaluation and it was a great way to start the weekend.

Saturday the 12th

Cleaning the house for the family coming in for, my niece, Stacy's Bridal Shower.

Project 365

2011-03-05T00:01:00.005-05:00

Sunday 027

Sunday I read to Joel, this has got to be my favorite book now. The alphabet is tired of being in the same order so they mix themselves up. It is a cute rhyming book, here is just an excerpt.
L,M,N,O,P split up.
The P said, "This is better! When children say the alphabet, we won't sound like one letter."

Monday 028

AJ had his first visit to the chiropractor. He has been stiff and sore since his wrestling injury and I am hoping some adjustments and massage will cure his "pain in the neck"...

Tuesday 001

Such an exciting day.....I can't remember what I did???

Wednesday 002

Wednesday, Joel got some of Stunt Man's outgrown clothes. Does the picture reveal the love. Thank you, MiMi.

Also on Wednesday, Adrienne turned 16. So hard to believe. Her and I spent Thursday at the mall clothes shopping and picking up her class ring. The whole family went to Chili's for dinner and she got an ice cream sundae and a song. She had a pretty expensive birthday but she is a great gal and deserved the treat.

Thursday 003

Emily got her stitches out. That was a major ordeal and I am so thankful for all the prayers because she got through it.

Friday 004/Saturday 005
Work and Sleep

PROJECT 365 020/027

2011-02-27T01:00:00.009-05:00

Sunday 020

BIG SURPRISE....BIG ANNOUNCEMENT I couldn't believe it.....Tito and I are expecting again.... We did not plan this, we thought we were done, we are TOTALLY unprepared....
What will we do with more SNOW....Yes, on this day we were expecting more snow.....lol

Monday 021

The kids missed out on what would have been a snow day because they were on winter break and we again were blessed with more white stuff.

Tuesday 022

I was feeling creative and started working on Adrienne's Disney album. That is Adrienne when she was 15 months old...how time flies.

Wednesday 023

Emily got her braces in preparation for her surgery on Thursday. Her braces have a two fold purpose, they are to straighten her teeth but also to act as a cast while her palate heals back together.

Thursday 024

Emily had her oral surgery on Thursday. None of her 3 teeth, the baby, the permanent or the one that developed in her palate were viable. The one that developed in her palate created a whole in her maxillary sinus and she needed a bone graft to seal up the whole. God was so good to direct our paths so that this could be taken care of in a timely manner; otherwise, in time other things could have developed that would have made her situation worse.

Friday 026/Saturday 027

This was a big weekend of hockey, Adrienne had state finals. She scored 1 goal and got 3 assists. Pretty soon it will be time to start trying out for the Fall season.

Project 365/013-020/050

2011-02-20T05:00:00.007-05:00

Sunday 013

I missed church to catch up on sleep. When I work so many midnights in a row I can be awfully cranky and mean. The kids, on the other hand, went to Living Faith Chapel and I went to Bedside Assembly....lol

Monday 014

Tito bought home a big box of chocolates for me for Valentine's Day. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband who is also a wonderful father to our kids. He is a great provider and the leader of our home. Right now, he is teaching AJ how to wrestle, Tito was a wrestler in high school....I hope he can keep our son out of the ER....lol

Emily and I spent a couple hours at the oral surgeon's office on Valentine's Day. She has a permanent tooth that grew horizontal in the roof of her mouth so she will be having it cut out and placed in its proper vertical place. There will be a bracket put in place, like a cast on a broken bone, until it heals into the socket. Dr. Morris has a cat scan machine for teeth....the technology is awesome and he had no real idea where this tooth was until he performed the scan...he actually thought it was somewhere else. I love diagnostic imaging...

Tuesday 015

I survived my first wrestling match. That is AJ on top. I was very nervous watching all the other wrestlers before him. I was waiting for snapping necks and dislocated shoulders, but now that I have seen AJ I really think I will enjoy it. I said NO to football because NFL means "Not For Long". He actually likes wrestling better. It was also nice to see several of the Trenton High School Varsity Wrestlers there supporting the up and coming Varsity Team.
The picture quality will improve when I increase my speed and add my bigger flash. Future meets will be good photography practice for me.

Wednesday 016

More scrap booking and a church potluck which was a very nice day of fellowship.

Thursday 017

Thursday I was able to get three tickets Row 2 to Sesame Street Live with Elmo. I initially did not want to go because I was working the midnight before and after the show so I knew I would be tired. Thanks to face book, Joel's teacher posted she had three extra tickets so we talked to Grandma and decided the three of us would go.....hooray!!!

Friday 018

Elmo's World on Friday. We had great seats and it was a wonderful time with Joel and his Grandma.

Saturday 019

We went to visit Tito's family and spend time with our niece Kristina, who turned 8 last week. She played the piano for us and the girls enjoyed putting on make up and finger nails.

PROJECT 365/006-365/043

2011-02-13T00:01:00.010-05:00

Sunday 006

Super Bowl Sunday.....Go Green Bay Packers.

Joel had tons of fun with SM.
Mark beat his record and this year ate one more White Castle than last year for a total of 17! He was not smiling when the Pittsburgh Steelers lost :(
Very nice time MiMi, thank you for opening up your home.

Monday 007

This little guy came home sick from school on Monday. He told his teacher, "you better call my mom". When I got there he threw up in the trash can....thank God it was not in my van. Look at him after, Tylenol, a three hour nap and a few bites of Ramen Noodle. I hope that was it.

Tuesday 008

Joel still fighting a low grade temperature. It ended up lasting 4 days.

Wednesday 009

Another wonderful day of scrap booking. This is Joel's second book and it is busting at the seems so I will be starting his 3rd book real soon.

Thursday 010

After my shift of work on Thursday, my boss called me into the office to inform me that I am getting a raise....woo hoo!!! Thirty four cents per hour. Thank You Lord, I not only have a job I love....I get paid well to boot.

Friday 011

Friday was payday and all the bills were paid.

More came that evening.....UGH!!!

Saturday 012

AJ had a wrestling meet on Saturday and I got a call that he went by ambulance to the Emergency Room at Annapolis Hospital. His Dad was on that day so he met him there and I got there shortly after. I am not a horrible mom for not going to the meet, I simply don't think I could stomach my son getting hurt. I don't like it.....seeing him on a backboard with a c-collar was frightening enough. Fortunately, I work in this environment so I knew everything that would be done before I even got there.

He is ok...just sore. Thank You Lord for watching over him. He went back to his meet to watch his team mates finish and they rallied around him like he was Justin Beiber. He also won that match because the other kid played unfair and was disqualified....Way To Go AJ!!!

Join in with Sara and give us a SNEAK PEEK into your WEEK!

2011-02-06T00:00:00.051-05:00

Project 365/030 - 365/036
Sunday 030

I was at work Sunday into Monday and the ER was not too busy so I was able to get some scrap booking done. I am getting so much more organized due to my Wednesday plans with Mimi. This is my (first born) Adrienne's book...I am finally filling in the kids baby books. I thought I was done with the baby books, turns out I have so many more memories in pictures to put in. Really happy for the Wednesday, once a week "all day" crop : )

Monday 031

On Monday, AJ proudly wore his two medals to school that he received at MSBOA Competition. One was for his Saxophone Minuet and the other for his piano piece, Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring. Competition is a lot of pressure but good preparation for the future performer. More important than the medals is the judges' feedback.

Tuesday 001

Tuesday, I picked up pictures I took at MSBOA and made sure to give my mom a set of her own. She is so proud of her grand-kids and will tell you....her grand-kids and their events is what she lives for. She is so proud of all 6 of them and loves to know what they are doing every minute.

Wednesday 002

This is our dry erase board in the kitchen. One of the kids wrote "no school"....consequently, "no scrap booking" for MiMi and I : (
Out of all the days in a week, we have to have a blizzard on our designated crop day. We had a major snow storm with thunder lightning and all. We were home bound for the day and the kids enjoyed the foot of snow. Tito spent 2 hours with AJ trying to get out of the drive way to go to work.....that is dedication. They worked from 6am to 8am.

Thursday 003

Thursday was a day to clean the hermit crab's cage. Emily has two hermit crabs. I look at these little creatures and I think, "What a sense of humor God has."

Friday 004

I was scheduled to work Friday and Saturday midnight shift. One night was very busy and the other was decent. I am very thankful for my job, I am learning Cat Scan and plan to take the registry exam in 2012. It is so exciting to learn something new, plus I will be more marketable. I have much studying to do but I am ready.

Saturday 004

Friday February 4th is our niece Kristina's birthday. We were supposed to go to her celebration today but again we had snow and we decided not to take the long drive and just stay in. Happy Birthday Kristina....see you in two weeks.

LIFE

2011-01-28T16:54:00.002-05:00

Has been absolutely wonderful and busy. I am glad for face book to keep up with good friends. Working and getting out of debt is exhausting but rewarding. Thankful to God for His providing me with an awesome job I absolutely LOVE and perfect hours that do not interfere with taking care of my number 1 priorities.....MY CHILDREN

I miss you all and would love to start a 365...must ask Mimi how it works.

Harvest Party at Living Faith Chapel

2010-11-09T18:41:00.010-05:00

These are a few photo's of our Harvest Party at church where the adults have a time of fellowship and the kids can dress up and get candy.

Joel can never get enough candy and he is so excited.
AJ with our youth pastor, so happy for Pastor Dave who really loves the youth and is doing his best to bring in kids and minister to them about the goodness of our God. AJ is working hard to bring his friends' and cousin to church. He also sits in the service on Sunday with Pastor Dave and hears good preaching from our Senior Pastor, pictured above.
Adrienne wearing Joel's mask.

AJ and his Aunt Anita...no that is not me or my mom, it is my sister....lol
Emily and Actress.

Emily and her friend Lindsay from school.
Joel and a few of his Sunday School buddies.
Joel adores his buddy, Stunt Man.
Tito and I went to a Halloween party put on by one of the Dr.s from my work, I have such great co workers. I will post those in a few days.

2010-10-03T07:38:00.003-04:00

Got a hankering to blog this morning for a minute.
We have been busy with hockey, piano, soccer, dance.....all are my favorite but I especially like hockey maybe because it costs the most I feel I better enjoyed it....haha
This is an action shot of Adrienne one of the mom's took, I love it. I will be breaking out the camera again so maybe I will blog a little. I am adjusting to working midnights part time so I really only do that which I have time for. I am loving my job, my kids are wonderful, Tito and I always together and life is good.

Let The Hockey Begin

2010-08-29T08:12:00.007-04:00

#43 is my favorite Detroit Red Wing Forward Darren Helm.

Triple A hockey Tier 1 Elite....you can't do better than all A's!

Happy 11th Birthday Emily

2010-08-19T21:52:00.008-04:00

Today is Emily's 11th birthday so we had cake and ice cream that her Dad bought home after work. Emily and I went on a shopping spree to her favorite store "Justice". She got gifts of $ from Grandma and AJ and a bracelet with her name on it that Adrienne made. With my Dad being in the hospital and both Tito and I working we did not plan a big party....just lots of shopping. Emily is going to get a mani/pedi on Monday so I think we took care of her birthday this year.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-18T08:17:00.000-04:00

Our Pumpkin Patch Is Growing

2010-08-15T17:25:00.003-04:00

I see several little pumpkins, these are just two that I took pictures of....so cute. They will get so big in a matter of two and half months.

Emily's Tap

2010-08-10T08:59:00.000-04:00

Emily also takes a Tap Class, there were supposed to be 5 dancing but there were 2 on vacation. I think the 3 did a great job. It is hard to learn all those moves and then do the routine missing 2 dancers....but they did pretty good.

Natalie, Emily's Dance Teacher

2010-08-09T00:01:00.000-04:00

I am so blessed to have Connie & Natalie as dance teacher's for Emily. Natalie is such a good role model. She has such a humble personality. Her values and morals are always demonstrated, she is a great girl who knows God and loves Him.

I was not pleased with the current dance teacher Emily had, 5 years ago, and I was telling this to Lyle at work, he said, "why don't you take Emily to Connie's studio"....I said, "Who is that? " he said, "my wife"....BEST MOVE I EVER MADE. I had no idea.

I love that Emily loves to dance, it is great exercise and she looks up to Natalie. I am so happy to have a mentor like this in her life so early at age 10.

Emily's Tahitian

2010-08-08T06:58:00.002-04:00

Emily loves Tahitian dancing but it is very hard but good exercise for the legs and hips....as you can see. This was her first year and she can shake it but she has to master the balls they have to twirl and it is a big job in coordination. I give her credit for getting out there and dancing. Her legs are gorgeous, I should practice with her but I chose to get the Skecher Shape Ups instead...lol

Monroe County Fair

2010-08-07T08:27:00.007-04:00

Yesterday was Emily's dance performance at the Monroe County Fair. It was such a nice time. Each year I meet my childhood BFF and still BFF, Michelle. My mom was able to go to and she had a nice time watching all the girls dance.
Below is Emily's jazz routine and part of the Michael Jackson Finale. Emily was in a total of 4 classes this year and she will be in the same 4 next year, her time off will be filled with soccer. Emily is in the blue and is positioned in the middle. The other video is her jazz.

Thankful Thursday

2010-08-05T00:01:00.005-04:00

While in Florida I bought a really cool Disney Scrapbook Album that I am going to crop our entire vacation in. I was able to do the last page of our vacation, which was the best part, because I got to meet Denise from Tennessee. Since Denise lives in Tennessee I thought it was the perfect paper for our pictures.
I am thankful for the friendship I have with Denise. She is such a sweet Christian friend /sister/ confidant who is so faithful to pray for others, and for this kind of friend I am THANKFUL.

As Far As I Know

2010-08-04T00:00:00.001-04:00

This sweet face came in 8th in the Parents Photo Faves. We will probably try again, thank you to all who voted. I can't believe he will be in school three full days in September....what am I going to do with myself?

Studious Emily

2010-08-03T13:39:00.005-04:00

Emily has been keeping busy this summer, dancing, vacationing and yesterday she started a 3 week summer math program. I like this because it is a good review and it is free. Trenton Public Schools makes sure kids have every opportunity to keep up or sharpen their skills. I am so happy she is enjoying it. She had to break into the school supplies but that was an incentive.
The "thank you" is for Laura.

We won BACK TO SCHOOL Supplies :0)

2010-08-01T14:57:00.008-04:00

The kids are so excited to have won Laura's Back To School Give Away. We were able to pick up our winnings at church because I have the privilege of going to the same church as Laura and MiMi who hosted the Free For All Friday.
I am so thankful for these back to school items. The kids love back to school stuff and they love school.
It does not surprise me that Laura would have such a great idea for a give away, she cares so much for the kids at our church. She works with them in Sunday School and I really appreciate her for that. Thank you so much Laura for blessing me with a head start on the back to school shopping. It was a great idea!!!

Parents Photo Faves

2010-07-30T03:28:00.001-04:00

Parents Photo Faves
Joel is currently in 5th place, please vote for him. We have until August 1st to bring him to number 1.
Thank you to all my faithful friends that have been voting for him daily, I really appreicate it.
Love,
Lisa

Friday Photo Flashback

2010-07-30T00:00:00.002-04:00

This is my favorite meme, I have so many old pictures I would love to share each Friday but my scanner is not hooked up at the moment so I am going back....a little less far, but I am going to participate because Emily will be the highlight of August with her birthday and her Monroe County Fair Dance Performance.

This picture is exactly 6 years and 1 day old today. Emily was 4 years old and was not only totally into Dora The Explorer but, looked like her. We got to meet Dora at a Tigers Game. My Emily will be 11 this August and time has sure flown. Her cousin Stacy is planning a big surprise for her birthday this next month and it is exciting. Emily is my girly girl who loves to shop and wear all the "bling"...
I am sad that her "Dora loving days"are over and she avoids the "bob haircut" like the plague.
I have these memories safely placed on CD and in her scrapbook so I am totally reliving this moment.....thank you Alicia.

For more photo flashbacks visit Alicia.

Our Final Stop...I saved the BEST for last.

2010-07-29T00:00:00.009-04:00

I was as crazy about driving to Florida as I was flying, if I could I would have zapped us all there; BUT, on the way I noticed we drove through Chattanooga Tennessee. I immediately thought of Denise a very dear blogger friend I never would have imagined I would be able to meet. I contacted her on facebook and we set up a meeting time for when we were coming home back through Tennessee.
Denise is so special to me because she has prayed me through a lot of difficult and unsure times with my parent's health. She is so faithful, if she tells you she is going to pray, she will and she will check back with you to see what God has done. I appreciate her so much. She has become my "in real life" friend and I hope one day her and Eddie can come and visit us in Michigan. They will be most welcomed to stay at our home.

The kids think she is SUPER and they are amazed I met her on the internet and it seemed like the whole family knew her all of our lives. Pink is Denise's favorite color and my little Emily wanted to give her her Disney shirt, that is how lovable Denise is.
In the picture below I am thanking Denise for her love and faithfulness to pray for all of her friends. She is even more terrific in person, if that can be possible, and I could NO WAY have gone by Chattanooga Tennessee without stopping to meet her. I want to thank my sweet Tito for going home one day later so that we could stop to meet Denise....what a blessing.
Denise gave me a candle one of my favorite things, a notepad and an angel. These gifts I will cherish. Thank you for everything my friend.

Typhoon Lagoon

2010-07-28T00:00:00.001-04:00

Our second to the last stop was Typhoon Lagoon. It is a huge water park.

Joel loved playing in the white sand and I have to admit, I did too.....
Joel and I spent most of the day in the little swimmers area, he had such a ball. Each time he would come off the slide he would look around, catch my eye and then go for the slide again. I think he went down this slide 50 times. I was so happy that he would look for me after each turn.

I was zoomed way in for this picture below and the kids and Tito were out there waiting for the 6 foot waves. A word from experience, you do not want to hang out in the shallow end. Thank God I had put my camera away because even in water up to my knees I was knocked down and scrapped my back pretty bad. Now I know what road rash feels like.....ouch!!!
Our last stop was the highlight of our trip, stay tuned.

Hollywood Studios

2010-07-27T00:00:00.002-04:00

We saw many interesting things at Hollywood Studios.

It is so amazing to me that this picture below is actually a painting it looks so real.
Here is Joel with his two favorite friends, Lightening McQueen and Mator.....he loves that car and truck.

Oh NO!!! The kids have shrunk. I loved this area, I really felt like I was in my backyard.
Here we are on the set of Indiana Jones watching a scene, it was funny how all the scenes end in fire and over in the corner you see a bunch of fire extinguishers....they really use them.
The High School Musical Singers were fantastic.

And this Fro Zone guy to my right....actually gave me a kiss on the cheek....hee hee hee!
Please stay tuned for more of this fabulous vacation.

Disney Fireworks Are Out of This World

2010-07-25T23:54:00.006-04:00

This is my first time ever shooting fireworks, I did not take my tripod because it was just too cumbersome to carry all day. I did my best to brace my camera for a long exposure time to get a picture of the fireworks they have over Cinderella's Castle.
Here we are anxiously awaiting the fireworks.
This is just one picture of the electrical parade that has over ( I think) 640,000 lights.....could be more. It lights up all of Main Street.
Stayed tuned for more of this virtual vacation.

Our Vacation 2010 to Florida

2010-07-25T10:00:00.000-04:00

This is the view of the timeshare Tito's brother and his wife have in Orlando Florida. It was the nicest of accommodations. Beautiful view...clean..just the closest thing to Heaven I will probably ever experience.

This is the kitchen and living area, Tito and I had a huge room and bathroom and JP and Marizel and Kristina had theirs'. There was a balcony over looking the property that was screened in so I did not worry when Joel wanted to escape and go outside.
We all got "sun kissed skin so hot could melt a pop sickle"and we made plenty of Vitamin D...lol

This is Joel with his Ate' Kristina (cousin) on the tram to get into Disney.
I want shrubs like this...

The greatest in laws....Marizel, JP, Kristina, with Emily Adrienne AJ Tito and Joel. Ready to take on Disney in the triple digits.
At the entrance to the park you have an awesome show with all the Disney characters, I could not possibly download all the pictures I took.

This was a hilarious comedy show by Mike Wazowski.
Knock Knock, who's there, owls, owls who? that's right.....we laughed so hard that was just one cute joke. These were great breaks to sit down in the AC.
The Buzz Lightyear ride, Marizel is taping in the background and the guys are shooting their guns....

No trip to Disney would be complete without an autograph and picture with Mickey and Minnie.
Tito is so sweet, he encouraged me to buy the most gorgeous scrapbook from Disney and that is going to be our souvenir. We tried to stay on budget so the kids were able to buy themselves a few things but we will have a life time of memories in the scrapbook I will be putting together of the entire trip.
There is so much more to come. I will be posting this vacation for a few weeks and I am saving the BEST for last....a big surprize...we got to meet someone real special.

Have A Coke On Us

2010-07-19T00:01:00.014-04:00

On Sunday, we visited the Coca-Cola Factory in Atlanta Georgia. We got a picture with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear and he is very sweet. We were able to select a glass bottle of Coke on the way out as a souvenir. We also got to taste 64 different types of Coke from 4 different Islands. I liked the North American the best, of course. While you are reading this we will be on our way to see Mickey Mouse.

We Are In Alanta Georgia

2010-07-18T09:24:00.007-04:00

This was our first stop in Cinncinati and I met my sister in law, Marizel's, Auntie Inday and Uncle Badong. The whole family was so hospitable, lots of food and sticky rice, pancit.....mmmm!!!

This is in the hotub last night in Atlanta Georgia, so realaxing after an 8 hour drive.

We left on vacation Friday morning and we spent one night in Cincinnati Ohio, from there we are visiting my in laws in Atlanta Georgia. We are staying two nights and we have the most wonderful accommodations in a high rise condo. We will be here for another day and will enjoy seeing Atlanta and the pool and hot tub at this fine condo.

Being Without A .....

2010-07-15T09:12:00.004-04:00

Is as bad as being without a computer. The kids and I did our Florida shopping yesterday and I wanted to take a picture of all our great finds but....... my Canon is being cleaned and my point and shoot camera card is not working to download pictures UGH!!! I will be getting a new one for Florida for sure because I am taking both cameras'.
We went to Old Navy and found some great clothes at a decent price for all 6 of us, I think I spent $250, ouch!!!! but we got a lot for that and I found a pair of pants at Target and a pair of shorts at Wal Mart for $7 each......so yeah me.
I am looking forward to getting away from here a for a week, I plan to blog and post pictures and video so that all of you can be there with us.....virtually.
TTFN!

We're going to Disney World

2010-07-12T09:00:00.002-04:00

I have the next 4 days to get ready and we leave Friday. We are going with Tito's brother and his family and I am excited now that it is finally here and plans are set. I will be posting from our vacation so I will keep in touch with everyone.

Handel - Messiah - Hallelujah Chorus

2010-07-10T15:38:00.002-04:00

Tito is taking the kids to a work picnic and I get to have some time to myself and get ready for our Florida Vacation. I have worked the last two midnights and I need some peace and quiet.....so here is a song that describes how I feel. Praise the Lord for times like these. I wanted to go and take pictures, the kids will be swimming but sometimes a mom just needs time to herself and this day is one of them.

Offer at Time For You

2010-07-07T15:22:00.002-04:00

Please visit a Time For You.
I am placing an order and if anyone would like samples please let me know.

A REALLY FUN DAY

2010-07-06T18:23:00.013-04:00

We went to the wave pool at Metro Park.

Tito hitting the waves with Joel, AJ and Emily.
Adrienne sun bathing, trying to get rid of the soccer sock tan lines...

LUNCH...

We had a blast and now we are all really tired and dark well some of us are dark, one of us is red.

Some Of The BEST Co-Workers

2010-07-05T00:00:00.001-04:00

and that's not even all of them!!!

6 Word Saturday

2010-07-03T00:00:00.003-04:00

I can't wait for pay day!!!
I have 16 extra hours on this paycheck and I can't wait to get paid. We are getting closer and closer to credit card debt freedom and one by one we are paying them off and getting more efficient use of our $$$.

Adrienne Is Driving Now

2010-07-02T16:31:00.005-04:00

Adrienne is doing very well driving and does a good job of keeping her temporary wheels clean. I think if she can drive a mini van she can drive just about anything. I told her she will be driving with me for a looooooooooong time until I know she knows the road and I feel that she feels comfortable. At first, I have to admit, I had white knuckles but I am a good driver and I am confident that her practice with me will make her a good driver too. Just keep us in your prayers.....lol I did not realize it would give me such a case of anxiety but when there are semi's on either side of us....I could pee my pants....lol

Today's Post is at Time For You

2010-07-02T00:00:00.001-04:00

Today's post is over at my other blog at Time For You, just click on my button below. I am hosting a Free For All for MiMi at He & Me +3.

Wordfilled Wednesday

2010-06-30T11:14:00.003-04:00

http://internetcafedevotions.com/

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believe in Him shall not perish but have ever lasting life.

Today's Post is at Time For You

2010-06-29T04:00:00.000-04:00

Making My Home Sing

2010-06-28T08:09:00.002-04:00

In my single and even my one child days my house was immaculate, now with 4 children, 2 cats, one husband and a part time job I am satisfied if the house is just presentable. There are times (days) like today that I plan to do a thorough cleaning because I will be working many hours this week and all I am going to want to do is rest and sleep between shifts soooooo,,,,,,,, today I plan on making my home sing by vigorously cleaning and getting everything in place so that while I am at work everyone will have clean clothes and dishes to eat on.
If you have a plan to make your home sing, link up at Mom's The Word and let us know about it.

Emily's Artwork Is A Beautiful Reminder

2010-06-27T18:10:00.004-04:00

I told Emily I wanted to take a picture of her cross that she made in church on Wednesday Night because I think it is the prettiest cross I have seen. It's color goes so well with the kitchen decor and that is where she chose to hang it.
When I look at this cross, I think about our Wonderful Savior and what He did for us. I think about Emily's precious little hands crafting that cross while learning and remembering its significance. I feel so blessed to have such a beautiful piece of artwork in my home that my sweet child made.

Please Pray for my Dad.

2010-06-26T15:26:00.001-04:00

Please pray for my Dad, he is not doing well. He has a contagious infection and he looks awful.

Another kind of Summer Time Fun

2010-06-25T21:13:00.011-04:00

Today I took the kids to the city pool. I worked midnights last night and they let me sleep until 2pm so they deserved it. I think we will get a season pass, it was so relaxing to sit there and watch them and hear the water....so relaxing. I shot all these photo's too in manual mode...I am so happy for myself. I also played with the ISO and got some better results so I am applying what I have learned.

Summer Time Fun

2010-06-23T00:00:00.005-04:00

The first fun thing of summer time, playing in the sandbox that Tito built. I just love when the kids play together, makes me want to put them in a time capsule so they never outgrow their need for fun and play time. I guess the fun and play time will be taken over by more grown up things but as for now I will cherish this type of play.
Pray for me friends, Adrienne has started driver's education....yikes. I don't worry about her driving, I worry about all the other bad drivers.....the ones who text and drive....you know the kind I am talking about.

Meet me over at TIME 4 U......for today's post

2010-06-22T00:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Father's Day and Birthday Dad

2010-06-20T19:56:00.016-04:00

Today we celebrated Father's Day and my Dad's 81st birthday. He was able to go to church and out to eat with us and then home for a brief visit. Today, he did not want to go back to the nursing home so we kept him around a while until it was time for his medication and then we had to convince him to go back.

My Mom is showing him his garden.

Today AJ had a microphone on his saxophone during worship service and he sounded very good.

Piano Recital 2010

2010-06-16T05:36:00.009-04:00

AJ and Emily had their piano recital yesterday evening. Emily also had a flute solo, she did so well her brother AJ said she just may have a spot in the 6th grade jazz band....yeah!!!! following in big brother's footsteps makes a mama smile :)

AJ had the crowd rockin' and tappin' their feet when he played Axel F on the keyboard. His teacher says, "When he learns a piece of music real well, then he adds an "AJ TWIST" and rewrites it. I can't wait until his May 2011 wedding, he also did the Wedding March.....oh my, his Grandma had goosebumps.

A First Suite, Allegretto and Allegro Vivace on Piano.
Jammin' to Axel F.
Nonnie Joyce, our Pastor's wife, she surprised us by coming. She is always encouraging the kids to use their talents in church and I am so fortunate for that, that is where I want them to take all of this musical talent. Use it for the Lord.
And here is our Youth Pastor, see how the Lord looks out for me. He is just a gem, a mother can be so proud and relieved to have such a good influence and leader in her children's lives. Of the many blessing I have, and there are MANY,...I count this two folks.
This is a picture with the other blessing in my life, the kids piano teacher. She is pictured here with our friends children Priscilla and Ashley. Their Dad came to our house to service our Brinks Security System, we got to talking and he told me his wife wanted their girls to start piano.....I gave him Mrs. Slocum's business card and 7 years later we have become good friends and see each other at recitals. In that 7 years, their parents have become nurses so when we get together it is fun to talk "shop"!!!
You are also invited to view my, once a week post, over at Treat Yourself Tuesday.

Tuesday's Posts will be over at TIME FOR YOU

2010-06-15T05:29:00.001-04:00

Please click on Treat yourself Tuesday and you will pop right over.

Jackie's Baby Shower

2010-06-13T16:14:00.006-04:00

Jackie is a very special person to me. She offered to watch Joel for me when he turned 18 months old and I was able to try and go back to work. She would not take any money because she loves kids. Had she not suggested watching him I may not have went back to work. I was so confident in the care Jackie and her entire family would give to Joel. Not to mention, Jackie is through medical school and on her way to being a Pediatrician. The whole family is awesome and Joel fit right in. The family names are: Joe, Janet, Jamie, Jackie, Johnny and on some days there was JOEL!!!!

Jackie and her husband Jason

Janet (Jackie's Mom)

Joe (Jackie's Dad)

Jamie and Johnny

I'm So Excited

2010-06-12T23:45:00.003-04:00

I am going to soon be unveiling a new blog to expand on my Treat Yourself Tuesday. It is going to involve skin care education and a once a week giveaway. Everyone has a personal invitation to participate in the giveaways and you may also order Mary Kay Products through my blog.....the only condition is to send it to you, you must live in the United States. I am getting some wonderful assistance from Rocio, thank you so much girlfriend. Love Ya!!!

Letter of Intent- My Dearest Children

2010-06-11T00:00:00.006-04:00

Dear Children,

Your mother loves you very much but right now I could ring one of your necks for leaving a piece of gum in your pocket of a pair of pants or shorts that went through the wash and melted in the dryer. This is my brand new dryer and right now and I am very happy your father and I did not buy the big expensive washer and dryer with all the bells and whistles because I would be very upset to see melted gum in a more expensive dryer drum. I just may have done some investigating to find out whose gum it was so that I could have rung the appropriate neck.
Thank you dearest Emily for wanting to kneel down and scrap the melted gum off of the dryer. Usually, I check ALL pockets but in the event that I am on my 12th load and forget to check all pockets could y'all PLEASE try to remember to do that much???
Love your,
Already Overworked Mother

Thank you Julie, I feel better!! If you have a letter you must write head over to Foursons and link up, it is great therapy.

Emily's Soccer Game

2010-06-10T00:00:00.004-04:00

These are just a few pictures from Emily's soccer game on Wednesday night.
Emily is number 8 and her team has done really well this season. Her Coach has done a great job and she has learned a lot from him.

Practicing Portraiture

2010-06-09T00:00:00.001-04:00

These photo's were done at Elizabeth Park yesterday. Tito and I and Joel went and had lunch with the ducks. These photo's are all (manual mode, ISO 100, aperture 4.5, sunlight setting, good histogram reading).

I tried to get the duck from behind Joel out next to him....wouldn't that have been cute? Instead the duck is a composition problem.

Now that I know I can do this I am going to make sure we go to the park in clean clothes and clean face. This day was practice, next time it will be the real thing. I am waiting patiently for Joel's hair to grow out where he "buzzed it" with the electric razor.....UGH!

THS Soccer Banquet

2010-06-08T00:00:00.005-04:00

Tonight I went to Adrienne's Soccer Banquet. She was recognized and awarded a certificate for her participation on the Junior Varsity Team. It was a wonderful night. I was so impressed with the blessing said over the meal by a team parent....BIG Kudos to Trenton for praying over the meal. I even heard, " In Jesus' Name, Amen..that made me very happy.

The Junior Varsity Team...my depth of field should have been 16 instead of 4....blame it!!!
Adrienne is the 3rd one back on the left.

The deliciously sweet cake with Varsity on one side and Jr. Varsity on the other.

Adrienne being given her award by her Coach. poor composition with the boxes in the background UGH!!!

Grandma and little brother were there too. too much slant in this photo....lol

It was really cool that AJ was across the hall in the auditorium playing his saxophone in the Jazz Band for the 8th grade graduation ceremony. For once our activities for the evening were convenient.

Dear Lord - A Letter of Intent

2010-06-04T00:00:00.005-04:00

Dear Lord,
I know I do not say this enough, I feel it all the time in my heart but I would just like to tell the world how wonderful You are. You have blessed me so much and I wish I could shout it from the mountain tops.
Thank you for my family, thank you for healing my parents so that I may enjoy them a little longer on earth and they can watch my kids grow up.
Thank you for my wonderful husband who you brought all the way from the Philippines, he is just the best mate and Dad a woman and children could ask for.
Thank you for my healthy, active, talented adorable children. I am so blessed that they love You and desire to attend church and even when they don't your Holy Spirit convicts them and we get there.
Thank you for my job, I love my co workers and the midnight shift that I work while my children asleep. I don't miss any of their activities, I may be tired but I am there....oh except the one time I missed Emily's school program : (
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for dying on the cross so that we might be saved and have eternity with You.
Love,
Your FOREVER GRATEFUL FOLLOWER.

More Photography Practice with "Toady" and a Duck

2010-06-03T00:00:00.012-04:00

I have been learning how to use my Canon 10D camera and yesterday I noticed the kids friend "Toady" on the deck. I couldn't help but run for the camera and he was the perfect client...he sat completely still until I was done and then he jumped off.....thanks buddy!!!

The first photo was a 4.5 FOV and I see his eyes are clear but the rest of his body is blurry along with his surroundings. This was in AV mode.

This next photo I changed to a cloudy setting and I believe it came up 8.0 FOV which is a greater field of view leaving less blurred edges and background. This is auto mode.

The photo below I believe is the best, it has a 4.5 FOV and cloudy lighting and if you live in Michigan you know yesterday was rainy and cloudy. I also have greater distance so that widened my FOV and now his face and eyes are clear and his body begins to blur out. I also cropped this picture and coned in on the toad. This is AV mode.

This last picture I shot in manual mode and the histogram was perfect.....YES!!!
A little disclaimer, FOV means field of view which is actually radiography jargon I meant to write depth of field but I am getting my radiography and photography mixed up because it is very similiar.

I AM IRONMAN

2010-06-02T00:00:00.005-04:00

Joel has been such a good boy the past few days he got to go to Walmart for a toy. Whenever I say, "Joel" he says, "Yes Mama"? He has also been very good with using his manners of "please" and "thank you." He knows this is the reason I spent the $.

Winning Weighs

2010-06-01T09:25:00.000-04:00

Over at Denise's blog, we are all on a "diet"....actually I call it A "livit" !!! I don't want to die doing it. We have decided to change our eating habits and drop some excess weight. My eating has been out of control and we go to Florida in July and we have a wedding in May 2011 and I have so many reasons to trim down.

I have a great friend at work who is on WW and her and I walk for 40 minutes at night around the department when there are no patients' for us to see.
I have already stopped buying all the fattening foods; however, we go to McDonald's way too much and DQ so.....this is going to be a once a week treat.
For now I am going to monitor my portion sizes and my exercise and I will be posting my weight here..... YIKES!!!! I will also post my successes and failures...if you would like to join us go to Denise's blog and let her know you are in!!! Join me on Tuesdays and see my success....lol

A Wonderful Holiday Weekend

2010-06-01T00:01:00.002-04:00

We started our weekend with picking my Dad up for church on Sunday. He is pictured here with our Pastor, MiMi's Dad. My Dad enjoyed being greeted by everyone at church and of course hearing a good sermon as Pastor often gives.

Then Dad took a stroll in the backyard with Tito to see his beautiful flowers.
Joel played on his swing set that Grandpa had put together for all the kids back in the day when he was always finding ways for them to have fun. The holiday was just terrific. We live day to day because my parents have really become fragile and ill in their late 70's, I can't thank the Lord enough for how He has touched their bodies and given them strength to allow us to enjoy them and they their grand kids.....Thank You Lord.

Some Holiday Fun

2010-05-31T00:00:00.001-04:00

Once in a while we like to make a fire in the backyard and roast marshmallows and make
S more's. We did this Friday Night for family fun. Emily was at her friend's house so she missed out but Tito and I enjoyed Adrienne, AJ and Joel around the fire for some yummy treats.

Have A Blessed Memorial Day

2010-05-29T16:25:00.006-04:00

This is a picture of my precious Dad who served in the Korean War as a Medic, Chaplin and a Cook. If they were sick he treated them, if they were hungry he fed them and if they died he buried them.
This Memorial Weekend my Dad will come home from the nursing home to spend time with us. I really appreciate all he has done in his lifetime as a Father and as an American Veteran of the Army. I love you Dad.

We went to the Memorial Day Parade in Trenton and both the Junior High and High School Bands played. AJ marched with his saxophone but wouldn't you know he was on the other side of the street so this was the best picture I could get.
Joel and Grandma enjoying the festivities.

Letter of Intent to my Dearest Niece and Future Nephew

2010-05-28T08:37:00.007-04:00

My Dearest Stacy and Jeff,
I am going to buy you both the Lovedare journal and the movie Fireproof. You are getting married next year and planning a wedding in very stressful. You both need to commit to reading and completing the 40 day challenge and see how it will change your relationship. In all honesty, if you guys are getting on each others nerves now it will not be any easier when you are married.
I did the 40 day challenge, I had a good talk with God and He showed me the areas I needed to change. It hurt very bad when He revealed to me the areas where I was wrong. I cried and I prayed He would create in me a pure heart and renew the right spirit within me. I can honestly say your Uncle and I have not had a disagreement since I took the challenge. Nobody is perfect, we need to be thankful for the people God puts into our lives and all of our actions need to be done as unto Him. If you study His Word and ask Him to reveal areas in your life you need to change, He will do it. I love you both very much and I want your marriage to start out strong and with the right intent and benefits of marriage that God intended.

Love "Icky" xoxoxoxox

A Little Photography Practice

2010-05-27T09:59:00.006-04:00

Joel has more wheels of transportation than I do. All of them have batteries, except his bike, so I park the van at the end of our driveway and he can ride all day long.
I shot all these pictures in manual mode and "zeroed" out my camera. The first picture has a dark shadow on the face, anyone care to tell me what I need to do to avoid that?

Emily's Annual Dance Recital

2010-05-25T07:54:00.009-04:00

Emily has a dance recital every year and this year she took 4 classes. She took tap, jazz, ballet and Tahitian. When filling out the form for next year I thought for sure we would drop one, it was soooooo hectic. Emily decided to keep the 4 and do the summer dance intensive because she loves it. I plan to video her dancing this summer because she has at least 2 more performances. This is nice to get more than one performance out of the deal...they will be dancing at the Relay for Life and at the Monroe County Fair.

We had a nice time, Emily's Grandma, Aunt Anita, Aunt Marizel, Uncle JP, cousin Kristina, AJ and Adrienne, and her good friend Hannah, and of course her Mom and Dad were there. Thank you to MiMi for taking Joel to SM's birthday party so that I could really enjoy the show.

Emily's dance teachers, Natalie and her mom Connie. Natalie has been dancing since she was 2 and she is waiting to hear if she made it as a Radio City Rockette.

Emily also had a band concert in the same week....lol

Wedding March

2010-05-16T22:31:00.001-04:00

AJ is tweaking his wedding music for his May 7, 2011 wedding where he will do all the music for the bride and groom.

Tamara Lowe at Christ Fellowship

2010-05-15T23:50:00.001-04:00

A friend sent this to me, I like it.

Joel Modeling.AVI

2010-05-09T07:30:00.001-04:00

Joel had the opportunity to model clothing for Bridget Sagmani, owner of the Sam and Lola Boutique in Birmingham Michigan. This was a mother/daughter fashion show in West Bloomfield. There were 600+ people there and other models of all ages. Joel walked the runway and at the end turned around and took off his sunglasses and winked at the crowd. His Uncle Jeff taught him that. He seemed to really enjoy himself and Bridget said she will definitely call him again.

My boy who has silver teeth

2010-04-30T18:30:00.005-04:00

Joel had to have some extensive dental work recently and thank God for insurance. This boy had to have two root canals and two fillings. When I say, "You shouldn't bite on suckers" that is exactly what I mean. He had the nicest pediatric dentist and she was so good with him.
Now when ever Joel has hard candy in his mouth he always says, "I'm sucking on it mommy"!!!

Adrienne scored a goal with 3 Icebreakers on her

2010-04-24T13:48:00.000-04:00

Spring Break has been ALL ABOUT Hockey.......

2010-04-09T05:06:00.007-04:00

We have been traveling to Lansing for the National Hockey Championship all week. I am thankful we did not have to travel to Alaska like past years teams have had to do.
We have a whole line on vacation so it has been exhausting for the girls to keep up but they are doing awesome. They have won one and lost one so today's game is crucial.
The girls painted their faces because Ashley, our captain, and Becky, our goalie, were in the Skills Competition.
Adrienne and Missy made signs.
This season should have ended but these girls did so well they got to go to Nationals. This team is a family, we have been through a lot together and our girls are the greatest friends with each other.

A Wonderful Easter

2010-04-06T16:38:00.011-04:00

My Dad was able to go to church.
We had some beautiful music sung by the choir.
Hunting for Easter Eggs.
Granddad Logi and Emily
Granddad with Joel.
Me and my favorite sister-in-law, Marizel.
Joel and his Uncle JP
Jeff and Stacy.
Grandma and Emily
Anita, my Dad and I. We were showing him his garden while he came home for a visit.
Mark and Stacy with Grandpa.

The Wonderful Cross

2010-04-01T07:16:00.002-04:00

This is Emily and AJ with, Joyce, MiMi's Mom at church this last Sunday. AJ has been playing the piano for 8 years and Emily just started the flute less than a year ago.
I am so fortunate to belong to a church that encourages its parishioners to use their talents, even the kids. I am praying they continue to use their talent for the Lord.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv7R7UXBqNM

Joel's Easter Party at school

2010-03-30T14:49:00.003-04:00

Today I went to the Easter party and Joel's teacher put me to work doing the tattoos...she must not have seen my camera and did not realize my intention was to take pictures for scrapbook memories. Well, anyway I got to paint Joel's tattoo and a few others.

So blessed to know that Joel is also learning this at school.
Me and My Boy.

AJ's Birthday

2010-03-29T07:13:00.004-04:00

These are pictures from AJ's birthday, we have had a real busy week of practicing for the Easter play so this was his party....a cake with his family. For having two teenagers, I am one lucky Mom. Adrienne and AJ are great kids, I couldn't be more proud of them.
Later, I will be posting a video of his piano duet with Emily on the flute. They did so well and I get goosebumps seeing them use their talent for the Lord. Some parents, when their kids reach this age, have to worry about what trouble their kids will get into. All I have had to worry about is getting them where they need to be for their next activity.
I thank God often for the wonderful kids he has given to me and for the strength and wisdom he has given their Dad and I to raise them.

Our "New" Week.

2010-03-27T07:33:00.007-04:00

AJ is a new age....."13" another teenager. Pictures of his birthday are on another camera card

Another new trophy.

Joel's new bike.

Our new car.

My new hairstyle.

You Are Unstoppable

2010-03-12T18:27:00.002-05:00

I have had a really hard week in spite of the joy this family has experienced....sometimes I just get down in the dumps...my life overwhelms me. I wanted to share this song because it has lifted my spirit today. If you are in the dumps this song will be an encouragement.

Here's a look at one of the Top 12 Girls Hockey Teams in Michigan

2010-03-08T17:07:00.007-05:00

The Michigan Capitals made it to the State Finals and now we are planning on going to Nationals in April 2010.
Here's how it happened.....we had a great season, over 40 wins and won two tournaments back to back. We qualified for the State Finals. We had to play Farmington Fire, Rochester Rattlers and Mount Clemons Wolves. We beat Farmington and Rochester and lost to Mount Clemons but still went on to the semi finals. Our second game with Mount Clemons was crucial because we had to win to go to the finals. After the third period the score was tied 2-2, we went into overtime and the first team to score would go to the finals. Forty five seconds into the first overtime Adrienne scored and it was that goal that took us to the finals. We lost in the finals but the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association invited both the Champions, the Icebreakers, and the runners up, the Michigan Capitals,....so in April we will go to Lansing for 5 days to play 5 games and hopefully win the National Title.

Ashley and Adrienne posing for my picture....lol

In the locker room "chill-laxin" before the big game.
Hoping this leads to a National Championship.

Happy Birthday Adrienne

2010-03-02T22:58:00.002-05:00

I surprised Adrienne with a birthday balloon and cupcakes for her and her team after practice. We are so proud of her. She is our oldest child, turned 15 today and she is a great example and leader to her siblings. When I held her in my arms for the first time I would have never guessed I would have a hockey player on my hands..... a girl.???? no way!!!!
She is such a blessing, smart, quiet, athlete. We are very proud of her.

Last year in hockey 2009

2010-03-02T12:25:00.002-05:00

This is a video of last year Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League Championship at Joe Louis, it was a play by play done by a video company called Brainstorm. A true memory keepsake. Adrienne was #55 then.
It was great, they finally had beaten their Nemesis Ann Arbor.

Michigan Capitals 2009-2010

2010-02-28T22:00:00.003-05:00

Adrienne made this video of her hockey team. This is the greatest group of girls and parents we have been with since she has started playing hockey. We are going to be going for the state championship next weekend and then to Nationals......

Getting Ready for States

2010-02-27T11:44:00.001-05:00

Will we make it to Nationals?......I hope so!

Just some photo's of Joel

2010-02-13T19:51:00.004-05:00

I quit blogging

2010-02-12T22:43:00.001-05:00

I am so tired of the crazy comments I get from people I don't know in a language I can't read......gosh go bug someone else.

A good laugh

2010-01-21T02:52:00.001-05:00

This guy was watching TV as his wife was out cutting the grass during the hot summer. He finally worked up the energy to go out and ask his wife what was for supper. Well, his mrs. was quite irritated about him sitting in the air-conditioned house all day while she did all the work, so she scolded him.

"I can't believe you're asking me about supper right now! Imagine I'm out of town. Go inside and figure dinner out yourself."

So he went back into the house and fixed himself a big steak with potatoes, garlic bread, and a tall glass of iced tea. The wife finally walked in about the time he was finishing up and asked him, "You fixed something to eat? So where's mine?" He said, “ I thought you were out of town."

Michigan Capitals Are The Champions

2010-01-18T12:18:00.004-05:00

That is my Adrienne on the far right. She is an alternate captain on her team. We went to Midland Michigan this weekend for a hockey tournament and these girls swept the tournament and won every game.
Their rivals, Livonia, could not beat them and their parents had absolutely no class shouting from the bleachers...I can't even repeat what I heard. Any how the BEST TEAM WON!!!

Reading....part of my new year resolution

2010-01-16T21:20:00.004-05:00

I have decided to read more in 2010, I love to read because I learn so much and I would like to share a book with you that has been particularly enlightening for me. I just finished, The Blessed Life, by Robert Morris. I have learned so much about tithing, offerings and extravagant giving.
I really recommend you read it and apply the principles and see your life change for the better. I plan to read this book again because it is so full of scripture that I plan to read it a second time and take notes and memorize the scripture. God's word says, "Bring all the tithe into the storehouse and see that I won't open the windows of Heaven and pour out such a blessing that you will not be able to contain it" His word literally says TRY ME. Now getting out of debt has been a goal of ours and monetary blessing is not our motive for giving, it is out of obedience and the Lord does not need the money to further His Kingdom but we need to be givers.

One, of the many, important points I have learned is that the tithe is to be the first fruits. Even though when I am writing out my bills and I know I have saved 10% to be put to the tithe....if I pay that last I am not being obedient. The tithe must be first to come out. That check must be written first, or in our case, must be sent on line first. I have found that paying our tithe "on line" sends it off first and quicker than a check that sits in my checkbook until I get to church on Sunday.

God's Blessings for us have not only come financially but when I ask for wisdom God always comes through for me. When I ask for strength, I get it. I have recently been blessed with hours of work at the hospital that are the exact time that I am available and not bombarded with child responsibilities. I also work midnights and sometimes I do not have the help of a co-worker because they may be busy with a patient and I ask God for strength and He is gracious enough to help me and give me wisdom and this to me is a blessing.

I will be sharing more about this book, the scriptures, and how God is fulfilling His promises that are in His Word.

Poor Baby

2010-01-08T21:02:00.000-05:00

I got to bring the nebulizer home from the doctor today because Joel has been coughing for three weeks and now he is wheezing. He was such a good boy at the Dr.'s, he must have breathed in and out a dozen times and Dr. Morsi said he is wheezing badly. I was proud of what a big boy he was.

New Year Resolutions

2010-01-01T07:17:00.002-05:00

I am making a list because there are so many things I want to improve on:

* I want to be more committed to not just hearing the Word but DOING IT!
* Making a prayer list for daily prayers.
* I am going to be more meticulous with our money, paying everything on time, getting out of debt, tithing faithfully.
* Making more healthy dinners.
* Making more time for our marriage.
* Making more time for Joel....seems he is always just coming along for the ride.
* I want to be more of a bargain hunter, I have broken the "need to shop habit" but when I actually do "need to shop" I will commit to shopping around for the best deal.
* I want to workout at the gym 3 times a week, every week.

So long 2009

2009-12-31T07:14:00.002-05:00

It was not the best year. There was so much uncertainty with my parents health and other stressful occurrences, but God brought us through and I am looking to 2010 in a positive way knowing that changes we made in 2009 will carry over into a better 2010.

To all our friends and family:

HAVE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

Santa came to town today.....a personal visit.

2009-12-23T23:05:00.002-05:00

We did not have time to go see Santa this year so......Santa made a house call.

From Our Home To Yours

2009-12-20T18:45:00.003-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

We have house guests........

2009-12-19T06:30:00.007-05:00

Do you see that little thing back there with the claws right in the middle of the photo? That is a hermit crab and Emily brought them home from school to stay with us for the holiday. She is having a lot of fun feeding them and making sure they have plenty of distilled water. She even prepared a special place in her bedroom for them.

Adrienne went to the Trenton High Snowball Dance last weekend. She is such a dedicated gal. We had to get up at 6am to go and get her a dress and all the accessories because she is so busy studying and playing hockey all the time it is the only time we had. She also had a game that morning which she would not miss because if they had lost her team would have been in 4th place instead of 2nd and she is a good player who gets a lot of assists so they won that game and she went to the dance feeling relieved she was committed.
I get a kick out of the bruise on her right arm.....no doubt from hockey....she won't hide it.
AJ has had a very busy week. He had a Band Concert, Jazz Band Concert and Christmas Parade all in the same week. He was also playing basketball for the middle school so for the past 2 months he did not get home from school until 7pm because he would have basketball and then band practice. He also had a couple commitments to play the piano and sax for church, he has been a busy fella. The boy he is pictured with is the son of a good friend of mine, we went to x-ray school together how funny now that our kids are buddies.
All this boy would like to know is when is Santa Claus coming to town. He is my only child that believes so Santa will be making a visit on Wednesday of next week and I can't wait to see his face. He tells me he is afraid of Santa.....mmmmm he should be, he has been very wild and testing my patience lately. I made sure to tell him the real meaning of Christmas and in this picture he was at school having a birthday party for Jesus.

Christmas Candlelight Tea at church.

2009-12-05T14:34:00.009-05:00

This was an event at our church where women volunteered to decorate their table in a Christmas decor and prepare coffee, tea and desserts for those invited to sit at their table. Karen (right) decorated our table in beautiful Christmas decor and had Hungarian moon cake and pumpkin roll. My sister made a pumpkin pie.
My Mom felt well enough to attend which was extra special. Of course, she wanted to hear her grandson play the piano.
This is my sister and I.

AJ was able to play the piano for music during our Christmas Candlelight Tea at church. He played Carol of the Bells, Canon in D and Fur Elise. He is getting so good at the piano he is starting to improvise which will be a benefit when he tries out for the jazz band in 8th. He is the only one in band who plays the piano so I hope the part will be his. This year he is playing the baritone sax in the jazz band.

Just An Update

2009-09-27T06:27:00.002-04:00

Things have been real crazy. Three tournaments in two weekends I am glad it is over for a month. Last weekend Tito went to Ohio State University for a hockey tourney and I was in Lansing with AJ for a soccer tourney in Lansing and now I am in Kent Ohio at another hockey tourney. Next month we host the tourney in Michigan so no traveling, time to replenish the funds.....lol

Adrienne did awesome this weekend. She scored three goals and they were beautiful. Last night we played the Farmington Icebreakers and they came out dirty as usual. Throwing their elbows, checking, slashing, hooking......well we had the lead until the third period but we lost 5-3. Adrienne got an awesome pass and dumped it in the net.....real textbook.

AJ is off soccer for a month, he has re fractured his left leg : (
He was not playing very well and when he woke up one morning in so much pain I took him back to the orthopedic surgeon and he is broke again.....same place. Kids bones are very soft, their ligaments are stronger so he stretched his ligament and in the process torn the bone. It will heal fast it is just near his growth plate which is something that needs to be watched.

Emily is doing 4 dance classes and really loving it. She also decided to do 6 weeks of cheerleading. I have told her she is going to have to manage her time and make sure her homework gets done and the piano is practiced. Her and AJ stayed with their Auntie Marizel and Uncle JP this weekend and I brought Joel with me. I am so thankful for that....it would have been too many people in the hotel room.

My mom came with me this weekend. This is a praise report considering how she had emergency surgery about a month ago. We have had a really good time and I am so thankful to the Lord for all the blessings He has bestowed on me. My kids are doing well, my parents are doing well.....I just can't praise Him enough.

Have a BLESSED DAY everyone ; )

Meet my Freshman

2009-08-24T11:12:00.002-04:00

Adrienne had her High School Orientation today. They had their school pride speech and received their school handbooks and got their pictures taken.
She is going to be working hard to maintain that 3.8 or higher GPA so that next year at this time we can start writing colleges about hockey or soccer scholarships. I have learned you can be the very best player, but if your grade point average is not 3.8 or higher they will not look at you. I am so proud of her and my prayer is God give her wisdom and as my dear Grandmother would say, "make her a good students" she spoke in broken English....lol

Break time is coming to an end.

2009-08-13T06:21:00.006-04:00

It has been a wonderful summer, Emily continued in dance for the entire summer. She completed an intensive session that will place her in a higher category this Fall as she will be adding Tahitian to her jazz, tap and ballet. She is also finishing up 2 weeks of summer school just to keep up her math skills.

AJ had some sax lessons but really has taken a break from music and been intensely involved with his new soccer team that will travel this coming season to games and tournaments and I am praying none will conflict with hockey. He will be getting back to piano soon, I can't wait. He also got a spot in the middle school jazz band and will be playing the baritone sax. AJ will also be competing in solo ensemble and will perfect his piano piece, Canon in D, for competition in 2010.

Adrienne has had a summer of leisure, relaxing, sleeping till the crack of noon....well hockey is quickly approaching and she will be back to her 3 days a week practice on and off ice with soccer too. I will be on her "took-us" to maintain a 4.0 in her high school years so that she can get a scholarship in hockey or soccer. I am hoping she will letter in soccer in 9th grade....we shall see.

And Joel.....we have been working on potty training and frankly he would just rather poop in his pull up....but he will start pre school in September poo poo trained or not because he has pee pee down pat. He has been wearing his spider man undies that I think his BFF, Stunt Man, gave him...lol

In the fall, I will start studying the money merge account and possibly will become an agent for United First Financial and will work this along side my radiology job.

I will see you soon friends, looking forward to getting back into the swing of blogging and looking to get reacquainted with friends and make some new ones.