4,369 DAYS!

That's how many days it has been since I last wrote here. And as you would imagine, A LOT has happened in 4369 days! Many changes have occurred in this life on White Oak Lane, but life has unfolded in many beautiful ways! In these last 12 years, there have been many exciting and significant life changes. Life has been full of lots of personal growth for my two "littles" that you last saw here 12 years ago...many milestones achieved, graduations, new chapters started, careers pursued, relationships blossomed, marriages joined, houses bought and maybe even one of the most exciting and best of all for me as a Mom...a grandbaby on the way!! Our family has grown in many exciting ways and we have so many reasons to celebrate! 

A few days ago out I decided to go back and search for this old blog. It has been years since I even thought about it. As I was reading back at my old posts, I was reminded by how quickly the seasons of life shift, but it also reminded me how precious it is to pause and gather these memories to remember. This blog has always been a way for me to capture our story, and it feels like the perfect time to dust off this little corner of the internet and start writing again. 

It’s hard to believe how much has happened since those early posts. The kids who once filled these pages with school accomplishments, sports activities and everyday life moments, are now grown and stepping into their own chapters of this thing called "life." We’ve celebrated graduations, watched careers take shape, observed the joy of love found and witnessed vows exchanged. Through it all, the story of our family has been woven tighter with two very special people who have now joined our family, and two people we love like they are one of our own. These memories now feel like treasures worth holding onto and sharing again. 

 

As I look back on these moments, I’m reminded how blessed I really am and that life’s greatest blessings are often found in the ordinary days and the extraordinary stories they tell. This blog has always been a place to capture those stories, and I’m grateful to return to it with a heart full of gratitude, love and anticipation of our growing family. I look forward to sharing not only the memories that have shaped us these last 12 years, but also the new stories still waiting to be written... and I'm very excited for that! 

Stay tuned... 

Much love, 

Julie

The many reasons why I love this boy- ... 

well, the picture speaks for itself, but he’s so handsome - sharp and handsome! ... very intelligent...so, so intelligent! He has struggled a tad this year to keep up with the A’s he’s had since the beginning of time and the grades his Momma and Dad expect and believe so strongly he can get, but he doesn’t give himself nearly enough credit for that intelligent and brilliant mind of his. Sometimes it weighs heavy on my heart when his little soul accepts mediocrity, especially at a time when his grades matter most. I know it’s not easy and I know he hates the pressure, but I want him to spread those wings and strive to be the very best he can be. To my dear son, I know you’ve got it in you, so believe in yourself and you will most certainly achieve! You’ve got such a bright future ahead of yourself!

 .... he has, and has always had, one of the sweetest and tender hearts of anyone I know. He has such a peaceful, compassionate, kind, caring and thoughtful soul and I just love that about him! You will never find him being mean, hateful or malicious to anyone. Just remember to always surround yourself with people who will always lift you higher. 

 ... so very athletic. He has a very nature athleticism about him that not everyone has. He can be play and be competitive in just about anything he plays. However, he’s quite a phenomenal baseball player that I believe will take him to higher levels even after high school. Time will soon tell, but remember, you are never a looser until you quit trying. Shoot for the stars and reach for the moon! 

I love you, Bubbe! Even those days when we spend the day frustrated or disagreeing over every single thing, I hope you know that you, my boy, are the one who first made me a momma...and a very proud one! I love you more than I can say. 

Always and forever, my sweet boy! 

xoxo, Mom

What are we going to do with Daddy?

I almost missed my opportunity to get my usual first game-day football picture of 2013, but I got it…even though it was at the last possible minute. Jacob lost his morning ride to school (Sam changed his schedule and goes in late), so we’ve been driving him the last few days. I should make his little butt get up earlier and ride the bus, but as usual, my tender heart says "oh, it’s only 5 minutes from the house" and I give in.

So, in normal Jacob fashion, he was running late again this morning. At this point, I think (key work = think) I’ve just learned to accept his very mellow, lax and unhurried attitude, but something I don’t think his Daddy is quite willing to accept just yet!

They walk out the door and a few seconds later I realize I forgot to take a picture of Jacob in his jersey. I tried to catch him outside, but by the time I got out there they were already in the truck with the reverse tail-lights on. A few seconds later, I see Jacob jump out of the truck and Todd's yelling out the window, "it’s 7:15" (I thought school started at 7:21, but I later learned it starts at 7:33). Jacob forgot his football girdle, so I’m running inside behind him saying, "Jacob, I forgot to get a picture…let me grab my camera." He grabs his girdle as I grab my camera and we are headed back out the door. This is our conversation:

Jacob: "Mom, Dad is going to be really mad."

Me: "Oh Jacob, it will take 2 seconds to take a picture."

Todd still yelling out the window: "It’s 7:18."

At this point, Jacob and I are now giggling at Todd as he continues to yell out the window (with people walking by) and this is the picture I snapped. Although it’s certainly not that rough-and-tough picture of a varsity football player, that giggle/smile certainly had a story behind it…

Wordless Wednesday!

No words are necessary as the picture says it all:

Oh, how this picture makes me

laugh and smile at the same time!

Love my boy, and his friends, too!



And she takes the gold!!

Ellie was selected by her PE Coach to participate in a mile long race amongst 19 other top runners in her school ranging from 2nd to 5th grade. Todd and I just happened to stumble upon the invitation as we were rummaging through her book bag one morning. When we asked her about it, she was being a tad hard-hearted and wasn’t very interested in participating. We knew she would likely do well because one of the teachers told her that she had the 2nd highest race time out of all the girls who were participating in the race. It took a little convincing and a little persuading to finally hear those words, “okay, I’ll do it.” Her class has already run the mile twice this year, so we just asked her to go out, do her best and just try to beat her own previous times. We told her not to worry so much about winning the race because she was already a winner for simply being selected.

So, she finally agree to run, but now our next obstacle was that she didn’t want anyone showing up at the race to cheer her on. Although I know she doesn’t like to be the center of attention, and although I kept telling her “we’ll talk about it later”, deep down I think she knew that her Mommy and Daddy wasn’t going to miss it. I just promised her that I would watch quiety from the side, but as you’ll learn later, that wasn't quite the way it worked out. Needless to say, obstacle #2 was finally accomplished.

It was finally Thursday, 1/19/12...race day! Although Ellie seemed excited, she was also pretty nervous, “Mommy, I’m so nervous I think I’m going to throw up.” She later told me that she was so nervous when she got to school that her legs were shaking.

As I was driving by the school to park, I noticed the runners were warming up and by the time I walked up, they were taking their places on the start line.  The countdown started...get ready...get set...go.... and the race was off.  Some of the girls came out of the shotgun like bullets at full speed, but Ellie started off in the middle of the pack with a good, solid, steady pace.  She kept that pace throughout much of the race until the last lap where she put on that determined face (wish I had gotten a picture of said determined face) and kicked it into full gear. Half way through the race you could see the other girls losing steam as Ellie started to creep up on them and pass each of them one by one. She finally ran her way up to 2nd place, but at that point, I wasn’t quite sure if she had enough to pass the little gal who was currently in 1st as she seemed to have a pretty steady rhythm going, too.  On the last lap, I noticed that the little girl kept looking back to see where Ellie was, but then she slowly, with each little step, started to lose her ground. Ellie finally passed her about half way through the last lap and I knew at that point there was no turning back and my little girl was going to pull it off. She pushed through the finish line, legs feeling a little wobbling, and was announced as the school’s first place girls winner with a time of 7.14 minutes.

The fence and track were lined with students who used their “Crane Bucks” to come out and cheer on their fellow students. As Ellie requested, I was quiet through the first half of the race, but between all of the other kids hootin and hollerin, I couldn’t contain my excitement any longer. By the 3rd lap, I was yelling “keep on your pace” and cheering Ellie on every time she would lap around our corner (we were only a few feet away). I guess she couldn't be too upset with me though because, amongst all the other hootin and hollerin, she didn’t hear me anyways.

I don’t know that I can truly express how I was feeling yesterday. I had a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye through much of the race as I watched Ellie overcome her fear and push with such drive and determination as she raced through the finish line. She has faced so many obstacles and hurdles these past 3 years that coming out the top winner just made my heart sing!

As she walked over to where we were standing, we were throwing her high fives and many words of congratulations! I stood there with great pride while other parents, teachers and students looked on and congratulated our gold-winning track-star.  I also remember looking on with a big smile and thinking to myself, “that’s right...that’s MY daughter!”

I couldn’t be more proud of you, Ellie!!! Determination is the ability to keep pushing no matter what obstacles are put in your path! Your determination yesterday was unbreakable, so never doubt yourself and never give up....keep pushing and keep reaching for the stars!

xoxo,


Mommy

2012...ready or not, here we come!

Well, as you can see, I haven't been the best of bloggers for the last half of 2011.  I guess things got a little away from me and although not intentional, I apparently decided to take a little break from blogging.    I have to keep reminding myself that this is such a wonderful way to capture the memories of our every day life stories, some exciting and perhaps some not so exciting.  It will certainly be a great keepsake for my kids to look back on and re-live some of their everyday exciting and challenging moments.  

So, as we rang in 2012, only one of us made a resolution and that was little E.  She was going to try and listen better and not drink so much soda.  Well, we are still working a little on the first one.  So instead of having to ask her 5 times to do something, we are down to 3, but we'll keep working on that.  However, I'm happy to report she has not drank one soda since New Years, not even a sip!  For someone who drank a little more soda then she probably should have, she's doing a fantastic job and I'm so proud of her.  I'm not sure that I could even do that.  Well...I guess if I really, really tried I could, but I guess I'm not ready to really, really try.

Me?  Well, for now, I think I'll just try a little better to keep up with my blog and be a little better at documenting our everyday life stories of 2012. Although my 2011 was filled with a vast realm of emotions, I have to remind myself that what the New Year brings to me will also depend a great deal on what I bring to the New Year.

So, with that said, here's a big cheers to a year full of new beginnings, new attitude and, most importantly, lots of love, happiness and laughter surrounded by the ones I love most!

xoxo,
J

It's here again!

Oh my, I'm not sure how it's possible, but here we are again...the start of yet another school year. Although the morning went off without a glitch and my two favorite people were sent on their merry way both a little excited and anxious to begin another school year, my heart is feeling a little heavy. It's filled with happiness as I watch them flourish into such spectacular, awesome and fine young people, but on the other hand, it's a little heavy with sadness as I watch them grow oh' so quickly right before my teary eyes. Sigh...

Here are my yearly comparison pics. My boy is definitely growing and maturing into a teen, but a quite handsome one I might add.



My fantastic, amazing and precious little daughter:



And although he's not so little anymore, he will always be my favorite little man:



And off we go for our next adventure! Mommy wishes you two much hope, achievement, ambition, confidence and promise in this upcoming school year. I know you two, without a doubt, will always make me proud!

xoxo,
J

First morning text came with a smile~

I woke up to an early morning text from Todd with a picture attached and a message that read, "Mommy and son cuddling." I opened the attachment and this was the picture I saw:



As Todd tried to get in bed last night, he found a little body there warming up his side of the bed. This seems to be the case quite often lately, so I guess Todd decided to take a picture. This picture makes me smile and my heart melt, but I also know these precious times will probably become fewer and far between as we get ready to hit those infamous teen years.

This was shortly after we laid in bed chatting about his homerun, reading his Facebook together as we laughed at some of the ridiculous comments made by other friends and said teens, laughing about his Sherlock Holmes comment to Tonya and, as if this is a surprise to anyone, me scratching this little guy's back because he had an "itch" that lasted about 5 minutes. I'm not complaining though...these are the moments I cherish and adore.

Priceless moments with my forever loves....

P.S. Don't mind the lovely discolored pillows with no pillowcases...it's clearly time to get rid of the old and bring in some new.

Sometimes I wonder...

am I being a little to tough?

So report cards came out this week and, once again, my kids made me one super proud Momma. All E's and S's for the little one. Well, if you ask Ellie, she got all E's because she got all E's in the areas that matter...Reading, Writing and Math. She got an "S" in Science, but she said they don't even really do anything in Science so she doesn't know how she got an "S", and she got all S's in PE and Music. I honestly don't think they even give out E's in PE or Music, so I'm happy. ***On a side note, I would also like to share that Ellie had to run the mile in PE yesterday. She actually ran the mile in 8.20 minutes, which I find astonishing. I don't think I even ran an 8 minute mile when I was running every day. She was in first place for her entire class...that includes every boy and every girl. Pretty good, wouldn't ya say? She said some of the kids ran it in 25 minutes??

Now onto the bigger kid...6 A's and one B. Yes, I am SUPER, SUPER proud of that kid. I don't think you will find many kids that can play 3 sports all at the same time and still come home with grades like that...not to mention that he is in all Honors classes and is getting high school credit for the Honors Alegbra class he is taking. Jacob would run from school to basketball, from basketball to baseball, and eventually home to finish up homework. It still baffles me, but he did it well and I'm proud of him. However, he did slack a tiny bit and neglected a few assignments, which resulted in an assignment or two being turned in late, so I strongly feel that B could of easily been an A...he wasn't far from an A. So how does that saying go..."if you want your child to keep his feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders." This is where sometimes I wonder...am I being a little tough? Yes, Jacob got a little chat from his parents about being a little more responsible and making sure that ALL assignments are turned in on time, but it was brief chat and he was told over and over how extremely proud we are of him.

I couldn't be more proud of our two precious children! I feel very blessed and fortunate to be called their Mommy. Keep reaching for the stars, kiddos, and your dreams will come true! You make us VERY proud!

xoxo,

Mommy & Daddy

Team Ellie Rocks!!

I haven't had a chance to upload my pictures from the walk, but I wanted to quickly share one of the fabulous pictures of "Team Ellie." Each year our team grows a little and we add a few more walkers.



Thank you, everyone, for sharing in this beautiful and special day! More pictures to follow...

Lots of Love, T, J, J and little E

Another brave step!

I am happy to report that little Ms. E proved yet again how courageous and brave she really is! This Saturday evening, for the very first time, Ellie gave herself her own insulin shot in her leg. She has tried to do it a few times over the last month, but never got quite enough courage to insert that sharp and pointy needle into her leg on her own, and who couldn't blame her? Even the doctor told us last week, "well, she still might be a little young for that." However, she finally got that confidence she needed and inserted the shot and injected the insulin all by herself. Woo-hoo!!!

After meeting with the doctor last week, we are hoping to get the insulin pump installed over the summer. We still have lots to learn, meetings to attend, tests to take and trial periods to maneuver through first, but I think Ellie is ready. Although the doctor said she still won't be able to eat at any time or whenever she feels like it, but she will definitely have a lot more more flexibility, and I think that will be a good thing for Ellie. Do you know how heart-wrenching it is when your daughter is begging for something to eat, yet you can't give her anything? It's very tough...

Good job, E! Mommy and Daddy are super proud of you! Every day you continue to prove what a brave and fearless little soul you are!

xoxo

Yet another award!

Although Ellie was selected in the second month of school to be Student of the Month, I am proud to report that she was selected yet again, but this time she was choosen by her media teacher to be Student of the Month for ALL of her classes. Here is a picture of the Star Student getting her certificate at the Awards Ceremony today:

(like that pretty blue nail polish? Ellie and I indulged in some more girl time...Monday night was shopping and last night we went and enjoyed an evening at the nail salon getting a pedi and mani.)

Ellie also seems to believe that she is Mrs. Stefani's "teacher's pet," so she strongly feels she is in contention for the Student of the Year Award. She received that award last year from Ms. Lynch, so I'm not sure if they give that out to the same child two years in a row. I guess it's possible, but I don't want her to get too excited and then have her hopes crushed.

Great job, Elle Belle!! You never cease to amaze me, so keep up the good work and continue to make me proud!

Many hugs and kisses!

Forever,
Mommy

Funny Story

Ellie and I were driving around town today just enjoying a little girl time. She was telling me about her day and the "mean" substitute she had. Then she proceeded to tell me about a conversation all the girls and boys were having during some down time. I guess the boys decided to take a vote on who they thought was the cutest girl in their class. Ellie said all the boys, with the exception of one, said she was the cutest. This is how our conversation went next:

Me: "So, Ellie, how did you feel when the boys were telling you that?"

E: "I just kept saying I was going to kill myself," as she was shaking her head and smiling.

Me: "What? Why would you say that."

E: "I'm serious, Mommy. All the boys picked me except one and he said he couldn't decide between me and Summer."

E: "So, Mommy....why did you make me such a chic magnet?" And then after a quick pause, she said, "No, wait....I mean a dude magnet?"

Oh my!! I've got one who is about to turn 13 and still blushes when you talk about girls and then I have an 8 year old who constantly comes home with stories about how all the boys flirt with her. I think we are going to have our hands full with this one.

Happy Monday!

Whew...thank God that's over!

He made it! Although still a tad scared and nervous this morning, I am happy to report that Bubbe made it through his 2nd dental appointment with very few tears - teeth are squeaky clean and all cavities have been filled. Best part of all, I didn't even have to take him. Todd said the experience was much more pleasant this go-around.

I'm so glad that's over...no more anxiety, no more worries and no more tears. I'm sure Bubbe is just as happy as we are.

He's been wonderful about brushing his teeth and flossing regularly. Let's pray he keeps that up and, other than the normal cleaning appointments, hopefully we won't have to go through that again any time soon.

Only time will tell...

To put it simple...it SUCKS!!

Don't mind this post - I think I'm using it more as a venting platform today. Probably not the best idea, but sometimes you just got to let it go and vent a little.

What sucks you ask? Let me spell it out for you...D.I.A.B.E.T.E.S. S.U.C.K.S.!!!

Although diabetes is more about my daughter and less....way less...about me, sometimes this daily routine can be mentally, emotionally and physically challenging for both Todd and I as parents. Sometimes keeping track and managing Ellie's diabetes can be a little difficult and it can become quite frustrating trying to maintain "normal" blood glucose levels. When I find myself struggling to maintain those "normal levels," I feel like I'm failing my daughter and, seriously, that can be the worse feeling in the world. She's a little girl who only wants to live the life of a normal 8 year old and sometimes diabetes gets in the way.

Ellie's sugars have been fluctuating like mad recently, which, unfortunately, results in an emotional 8 year old with a little tummy ache (which can be common in diabetics) and a very frustrated Mommy. That frustration is, of course, not directed at Ellie in the least bit, but just the situation in general.

This morning was just another one of those "frustrating" moments. Ellie's sugar was perfect at bedtime, so we were cautious in making sure that we counted out the perfect amount of goldfish she was allowed to eat in hopes of waking up with a pretty decent BGL this morning. Instead, we woke up to a number in the 200's....really? Poor Todd went into the bathroom, away from Ellie, and let off a little frustration of his own as I hear him screaming, "diabetes sucks!!!"

Needless to say, I left for work this morning a little frustrated and with tears in my eyes as I kissed my husband goodbye. Sometimes I think it's something that only he truly gets and understands like me. I didn't have to say a word though...he knew exactly where my tears were coming from and how my heart was aching. All we want is for our baby girl to lead a normal, happy and healthy life.

With that being said, it's time to accept what I cannot change, refocus and think positive. I have one dynamite little girl that is relying on me and I'll do whatever it takes to make sure I don't let her down.

xoxo

Want to play a guessing game?

Here are a few messages that I received from Todd today...can you guess where he's at?

Todd: Crying. Want to come take him?

Me: He's going to cry whether it's me or u. He's been thru it before...just tell him to relax.

A few minutes later...

Me: Has he relaxed?

T: Ya right!! Panic mode.

T: This is going to be fun.

T: Still crying.

A few more minutes go by...

Me: Is he calmer?

T: No!! Can't talk now.

T: Embarrassing!

Me: They probably deal with that a lot.

T: I'm not bringing him again!

T: He has to come back to fill the last 2.

T: I'm not coming back with him.

T: Acting like heart surgery.

Yep, that would be the conversation between Todd and I while child #1 is at the dentist. He can be such a calm, cool and laid-back kid, but mention the word "doctor" or "dentist" and he goes into full on panic mode. I purposely didn't tell him about the appointment ahead of time because I didn't want him to panic about it for the next few days, but maybe I need to rethink that stragedy.

After we came home from his game last night, I simply said, "Jacob, do you have any tests tomorrow?" With that one simple question, I got the dear-in -the-headlight look and he immediately knew where that conversation was headed. Needless to say, he went to bed in tears and woke up tears.

I just don't know what else to do to calm this kid down in situtations like this, so any suggestions would be helpful and appreciated. Now he gets to go back next week and I get the pleasure of experiencing round 2. Lord help me...

Thankfully, Todd said the dentist was extremely calm and very patient. And, if there is anything good that has come out of this ordeal, perhaps my #1 kid has learned how important it is to brush his teeth every morning and every night.

On a side note, little E had zero...yes, zero...cavities. Go, E!

Never Say Never~

Ellie and I went to the movies and watched the Justin Bieber movie this past weekend and I think I officially have the Bieber Fever. That kid is so darn cute and we both thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I found it to be a very inspiring story with a strong message... never give up and always follow your dreams.

I teared up several times throughout the movie. It made me think about my 2 favorite little people and their dreams - how I so desperately want them to follow their dreams and pursue their deepest desires. Along their path, I'm sure they will have others that will try and push them down, or tell them they cannot do what they want to do or be whoever they want to be, but as the song "Never Say Never" says...

Whenever you knock me down,
I will not stay on the ground.
Pick it up,
Pick it up,
Pick it up,
Pick it up, up, up,
and never say never!

To my little darlings....reach high and dream deep....just believe in yourself! Regardless of what your dream may be, I will be right beside you...believing in you and supporting you all the way! Your dream may change over time, but whatever it may be, stay after your dream and you will, without a doubt, succeed through sheer power of passion!

Never give up and dream until your dream comes true...

Most importantly, know how much I love you and support you! I know you both will make me VERY proud!

Lots of Love!

Forever...
Mommy

8 letters, 3 words, 1 meaning... I love you!

A special day of...

LOVE~

HUGS AND KISSES~

HEARTS AND FLOWERS~

RIBBONS AND BOWS~

LOVE SONGS~

POETRY~

It's not about finding that special someone to live with, but finding that someone you can't live without. Thank you, Todd, for being my everything. You are not only my husband, but my lover, my friend, my comforter and my soul mate.

Love bears all things,

Believes all things,

Hopes all things,

Endures all things.

Love never ends...

And although at times things can certainly get a little crazy in our home, I am happy to have a home warm with the joy that only a family can bring.

Lots of love to my husband, my son and my little daughter. You guys are my everything!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

XOXO

Forever...

Mommy

2/01/09- a date we will never forget!

It is inevitable that at some point in this journey that we call "life", there will be several life changing event(s). It could be many different things...a marriage, a birth of a child, a death or perhaps overcoming some great trial, like a serious illness.

It was exactly 2 years ago today that my so little and very precious daughter was diagnosed with a serious illness that forever changed our life. That day remains so vivid in my memory that it seems like it was just yesterday. I'll never forget this face:



As I was getting ready for work this morning, I was thinking back and reflecting on that Sunday morning 2 years ago...

I can remember the days before Ellie's diagnosis when I was starting to notice the minor changes in her daily activity. She was always thirsty, constantly having to go potty and just a feeling of being worn and tired, and which was completely out of character for her. I remember searching the symptoms on webmd.com and everything pointing to diabetes. I remember sitting in my bed with my computer in my lap just sobbing as I continued to read more into diabetes and the associated "first sign" symptoms. I kept searching different sites hoping that something, or anything, would lean me in a different direction and give me a different answer. I remember Todd doing his best to console me. He didn't want me reading the medical websites because they were making me think the worst and he was doing his best to keep me positive. I remember him saying, "everything is going to be okay. " But was it?

Ellie happened to stay the night with my Mom the evening before her diagnosis. They went to the park that chilly Sunday morning, but Ellie wasn't being herself so my Mom decided to bring her home. I will never forget how my heart felt when Ellie walked in the door and her fatigued and exhausted body just fell in my arms. Todd was at baseball practice with Jacob, so I called him and told him to come home right away because we were heading to the walk-in clinic.

I remember how nervous I was in the car ride to the doctor's office. I remember feeling so anxious and edgy as I sat in the lobby cuddling my baby girl in my lap thinking, "please, don't let this be what I think it is."

I remember those words that flashed on the blood glucose meter as the nurse pricked Ellie's finger for the very first time..."high, high, high." After I saw that, I looked at Todd and discreetly mouthed, "they are going to send her to the hospital."

I'll never forget the helplessness I felt as my daughter laid in the hospital bed with IV's coming out of her arms. You could tell she was terrified, but she was trying her best to remain brave and calm. I remember telling jokes, stories, or laughing about the cartoon that was on TV...doing anything to keep her mind distracted. Just as she started to doze off, the doctor came in and gave us the diagnosis...diabetic ketoacidosis. All I remember was thinking, "what the hell is that?" After a quick rundown from the doctor, we were informed that Ellie would be transported to Palms West Hospital where they specialized in the care of children. I'll never forget how terrified Ellie was when she learned she was going to be transported to a new hospital in an ambulance.

The ambulance ride, the arrival at Palms West and the many days, weeks that followed were simply horrifying. This new diagnosis sparked a range of emotions....anger, sadness, worried, frightened and probably even a little guilt. But, soon after I realized it was time to adjust and accept the challenges that we were getting ready to face together as a family.

Our life has been forever changed by this illness, but as time has gone on, all of us have gained a little knowledge and confidence , learned from mistakes, celebrated successes and slowly moved away from the intense feelings we initially felt after the diagnosis.

I have always felt that Ellie is the true hero in this story. She is the one that suffered the most obstacles as a lot of new "stuff" came into her life...stuff to check, stuff to inject, stuff you have to do or not to do, eat or not to eat...there really was so much for her to learn. However, she's adjusted SO well and I couldn't be more proud of her and the bravery she has shown over these last 2 years.

Above all, I simply hope my sweet girl remembers that, despite this daily routine that sometimes can be a little overwhelming, she is still Ellie and there is so MUCH more to her than this disease. She's a...

fun;
silly;
sweet;
loving;
caring;
intelligent; and
beautiful little girl that will forever be my hero!

My hope is that one day in the near future she won't have to deal with diabetes and she will have the chance to live that "normal" life again, free of the many pricks and prods that she endures everyday, and that "normal" life I think we sometimes take for granted. Until then, we will continue to fight this disease and support the cause.

As I've told you many times in the past, sweet girl, we will NEVER, EVER give up hope!

We love you, Elle Belle!!!

xoxo,
Mommy and Daddy

HOPE...
It's powerful.
It's real.
It's all we got.
CURE DIABETES!!

Whew!

If yesterday was any indication of the days ahead, I better stack up on my Wheaties. Although a tad tired at the end of the day, yesterday was a day full of activities and all I could think was, "and this is only the beginning."

This is kind of how our day went:

We left at 9:30 for Jacob's basketball game at school. That, unfortunately, didn't go over so well. The final score was 44-0. Granted, our poor boys had to play against monsters who were probably a foot, foot & a half taller than them, but it would of been nice to at least put 2 points on the board. It was kind of funny listening to the crowd as the boys would run down the court, shoot for a basket and then just watch the ball slllooowwwlllyyy roll or BoUnCe off the rim....again and again! After every basket the team missed, you could hear "ahhhhhhhh" echo around the gym. Oh well, we'll get them next time, Hawks!

From there, we ran to the bank, pharmacy, barber, McD's and home for a quick wardrobe change.

Then it was off to Ellie's baseball scrimmage game from 1:00-3:00. Although I didn't get to see the entire game, I was so proud of Ellie. She is such a hustler out there on the field and put the bat on the ball EVERY time she got up to bat. Good job, Ellie! It's pretty clear this might be a challenging season for us when it comes to Ellie. It has become quite a chore trying to get her psyched up and ready to go to baseball practice, but on the flip side, once she gets out there, she seems to have fun and enjoy herself.

I had to leave Ellie with MawMaw and then run Jacob down to Stuart for his first scrimmage travel ball game with the TC Drillers.

Here's a picture of Jacob in his new Driller uniform:

I took a few shots of Jacob yesterday with the new fabulous camera I got for Christmas from PawPaw. Although there are too many to post, here is one of the pitching squences I got with my camera in sport mode.

And a picture of the boys just being supportive and cheering Jacob up after a kid just hit a homer over the fence.

We lost, yet again, but it's going to take some time for the kids to get to know each other and learn to play ball together as a team. I have high hopes that it will come around. I did really like the camaraderie amongst all the players. They just seemed to be supportive and had the togetherness and fellowship that I like to see. Crossing fingers....this is going to be a good change for Jacob.

After the game, we went and had some wings with PawPaw and MawMaw and then came home to relax. The evening ended with me falling asleep in my bed with my two favorite people beside me. It was a tight squeeze and probably not the most comfortable evening of sleep, but we were together and so tired that I don't think any of us cared.

Todd came home from work this morning with a Sunday plan already in mind...a little family time at the Italian Festival today. I guess we'll go embark on a cultural journey filled with Italian food, music, art and tradition.

Happy Sunday!

xoxo

Kindness, generosity, compassion...

and thoughtfulness...simple words, but with HUGE meaning.

It brings happiness to my heart to learn of someone that is not affected by diabetes in any way, shape or form, but yet they take the time to join a JDRF team and volunteer their time simply out of the goodness in their heart. I just got an email at work that brought tears to my eyes and touched my heart.

The company Angie works for, FIS, has decided to join the nationwide effort, form several teams and take part in the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes in Orlando, FL. Their walk takes place on March 5, 2011 and they have a goal of raising $10,000 for juvenile diabetes.

Angie sent an email to her team thanking them for taking part in this cause and briefly telling why she, too, finds it special to her heart. She challenged all of her co-workers to make a donation, and for every donation they made to their team, she would donate an additional $5.00.

This is the email she got back from one of her co-workers:

Angela,

I'm so happy that my participating in this walk is actually helping a family member of someone I know! I wanted to volunteer because I knew it was a worthy cause, but having the personal touch makes it all the more important. I hope the money my team raises will help toward a cure someday.

This may sound hokey, but do you think we could get Ellie to write her name on a piece of ribbon, which I can pin to my shirt when I do the walk? I'd like to do it in her honor.

Marni C.
FIS KMS Administrator

Her gift of time is so priceless and her small act of kindness is worth more to us than she will probably ever know. Thank you, Marni! We would be honored to have you walk on behalf of our daughter. Although I'm always touched by every family member or every friend that we are fortunate enough to have that supports our family, my daughter or our team, your act of kindness really touched my heart today. It's people like you, untouched by the disease, yet still supporting and donating to the cause, who make an unspoken difference in my daughter's life.

"Volunteers don't necessarily have the time, but they have the heart."

xoxo

Our Hunt for a Cure!

Mommy and Daddy love you, sweet girl!

Funny things kids say~

As the kids and I are sitting at the dinner table eating a little pasta, the reality TV show "Keeping up with the Kardashians" was on TV in the background. The show was about the dad, Bruce Jenner, dealing with his younger daughter having boys in her room, and he simply wasn't having it. This is the conversation that ensued between my two:

E: "There is going to be no dating in this house."

J: " I agree, Ellie."

Me: "Yeah, ok...I'll remember this conversation in a few years when you guys are getting mad at me because I won't allow you to have boys or girls in your bedroom."

J: " Not me. I'll have other things to worry about, like college."

Me: "That's right, buddy, you keep thinking that way."

If only their minds would stay that innocent and pure for the many pre-teen and teen years ahead. That's what is great about this blog. In a few short years, it will be my pleasure to refer Jacob back to this blog post so he can remember what he was thinking when he was an innocent 12.

Wacky Hair Day!

Ellie paid 5 Crane Bucks in order to participate in Wacky Hair Day at school. I really wished I had more time in the morning to get a little wackier, but we were a little rushed and didn't have much time to mess around.

We had 3 colors...pink, blue and sparkle gold. Unfortunately, the gold wasn't quite as wacky as the other two colors. All it did was add sparkles to Ellie's already golden hair.

Next year we are going to go a little more wacky and do something a little more outrageous...maybe a few more wild colors with spikes and mohawks and side-ways ponytails!

On a side note, we went out to another travel ball practice this morning....3 hours worth!! It was different and interesting, but I'm starting to think that maybe a fresh new experience with new coaches (not including Dad) might be a good thing for my son. This new coach is somewhat vocal, an ex-Marine and a personal trainer, if that tells you anything. He was a little tough, yet fun, but I liked him. And more importantly, Jacob said he likes him. I was quite impressed with Jacob today and he proved to me that when he puts forth the effort, he is quite a talented baseball player. The coach pulled me and Jacob to the side after practice and extended a formal invitation to join their team, the Treasure Coast Drillers. He also gave us some info to read about their team, including their mission, which Jacob, Todd and I all have to sign. Afterwards, I told the coach that I appreciated the invitation and for allowing Jacob to come out, but that we would go home and talk it over as a family (since Dad was at work today) and we would let him know our intentions later this week. We weren't home 30 minutes and the coach was calling Todd.

Todd told the coach that Jacob is playing basketball, too....not to mention this is his last year in Little League so he wants to be able to enjoy that final experience. The coach seemed to fully understand and said none of this would be a problem.

Lastly, I sat Jacob down and had a serious talk about this new commitment, his goals and to confirm this is something that he really wants to do. Jacob assures me he is in and ready to move forward with the TC Drillers.

So....strap me in, folks, as it appears we are about to set off for another crazy ride.

Sunny skies and sandy beach with fruity drink in hand~

That's what I'm thinking about right now. I'm feeling it's time to find a little solace and serenity and escape to some private beach island for a little pampering and to simply get away from some of life's daily chaos. Okay, go ahead and nudge me...wake me up from this dream.

It was yet another busy and crazy holiday season and I have yet to get my house back in order. I can't seem to find the motivation to do that right now, but here we are about to dive back in for another crazy baseball season.

I'm very sad to report that Team Worth has officially dissolved and, yes, it's for good this time. I know I complain about the rigamarole of Jacob's crazy schedule, but I also think it's important for him to continue playing against higher caliber players as it is only going to benefit his own skills. I think Jacob needs that competition to keep him at the top of his game. There are certainly downfalls, too...busy schedules, burn-out factor, costs, etc.. So, the question is, what to do? I just have to make sure that Jacob is in it 100% before we commit to another team. Todd has already met and talked to another travel coach. Jacob went out to one of their practices this week and met some of the players, hit a few balls, etc... and he seemed to enjoy it. Todd said Jacob told him that he wants to do it, but I think I still need to have a little chat just to make sure Jacob does indeed wish to continue playing travel ball and that he's doing it for himself and nobody else....period! Where will the travel ball path lead us? I guess that is yet to be known...

I'm still finding it a little hard to motivate little E, but Todd and I keep pressing how important she be involved in some form of extra-curricular activity. She went to her first practice with her new cleats and new glove in hand, but I can't say she was too excited about it. She is now playing on a Rookie's team with several other girls, so I'm hoping once she gets a little more comfortable and gets to know some of the other girls, she'll be ready to go.

Todd and I both feel it's so important for our children to be involved in some form of activity, whether it is to excel in a specific talent, build confidence, form friendships, or most of all, to stay out of trouble. I hope that this upcoming season is simply a fun and rewarding season for both my kids.

Although that private island sounds very enticing, I guess it will remain a dream for now.

So....off we go.

Are we ready for that talk yet?

Nope...not just yet.

So last night Todd, Jacob and I were sitting on the couch just chit-chatting and having some one on one time with our son. Although I forget exactly how the conversation started, this is how some of it went:

Me: "So, Jacob...do you feel that you could come to me or Daddy if you ever wanted to talk about...umm...."

Todd: "the birds and the bees."

Jacob: "I'm not interested in that."

Me: "I know you aren't, but I want you to know that you can come and talk to me and Daddy about anything."

Jacob: "I'm just not interested in that yet."

Me: "Yes, Son, we understand that, but we just want you to know that we are open and ready to discuss anything when you are ready...don't ever be too scared or to nervous to ask ANY question. Okay?"

Jacob: "Okay, but I'm just not interested in that yet."

Well then...I guess he's not quite ready for that discussion, so I won't push it. I understand it may take a few times, so until then....

It certainly wasn't long before the conversation skipped right back to basketball, baseball and anything else sports related.

On a different note, he did tell us that he got the highest grade in the class on his Science semester exam...so super proud of that kid!

Rumble in the jungle...

or maybe that should be rumble at the ballpark.

I'll tell you the beginning part of this story and then let your imagination run with it.

So imagine this...

We are hanging out at the ballfield on Sat. watching the rest of try-outs. Todd and Dooner (one of Todd's friends) are sitting on one bleacher, Ellie and I are sitting one behind them and then Jacob and his friend, Ryan, are sitting on the bleacher behind us. There is a somewhat large fellow sitting about 2 bleachers down from Todd and Dooner, and when I say "large fellow," I'm putting it kindly. The fellow slowly leans forward to get the momentum he needs to stand up and as he is half-way bent over and a few inches off the bleacher he sneaks out a VERY loud rumble, or as my kids would call it....a toot, or a fart, depending on which kid you are talking to.

Now, keep in mind how most kids find farts to be quite amusing and ridiculously funny. Now picture the faces of two pre-teen boys as they hear this rumble in the jungle. I swear that is the hardest I've laughed in a while. The look and reaction of said pre-teen boys was just PRICELESS!

Although the fellow never looked back, he did say sorry and continued on his way.

"Baby you're a firework..."

"come on, show 'em what your worth."

As most of you know, Jacob decided to give it a shot and try-out for his middle school basketball team. He was excited, yet scared and nervous, since he has never really played "organized" basketball before. As I've always told my kids, I had to remind him again...just go out and give it your all - that's all I can ask for and the best you can do.

As I picked him up after the first night of practice, he hopped in the car and said, "that coach is mean." Almost immediately his eyes started welling up with tears and my initial thought was, "oh boy...is he ready for this let down?" Jacob went on to tell me how the coach told the boys after practice that this is the first time since 1993 that he's ever seen a group of boys that can't play basketball. And, as we all would expect from Jacob, he took this right to heart. I asked Jacob how he thought he did and he said, "I thought I did pretty good." Me: "Well, son, that's all that matters." You could tell that he was still pretty disappointed, but I just continued to encourage him, besides....this is, afterall, the first time he's ever tried out for basketball. I told him to give his self a chance, let the coach give him some pointers and teach him a few things and I'll sure it won't be long before he shines....kind of a like a firework.

The next day he came home from school with a grin from ear to ear. I guess he passed the coach in the hallway and the coach said, "boy, you've got game." That's all it took...those few, simple words from the big man and Jacob had a completely different outlook and attitude on the start of his basketball pastime. He was now ready to move forward full speed with his mind focused on the work ahead.

The next morning he went to practice from 7:30-8:45 and again immediately after school from 4:15-5:30. And guess what?? On Friday afternoon he learned that he made the "A" team. They have an "A", "B" and "C" team, but the "A" team is I guess what they would consider the "varsity" team that consists of the top 12 kids. He's super excited and I'm super excited for him.

No, he may not be a starter...initially...but he is prepared for that. I told him to continue to go out there and give it his all, practice with all his heart and I bet it won't be long before he's at the top of his game and fighting for that starter position with the rest of the boys.

Katy Perry's "Firework" song is one of my new favorites and now everytime I hear it it makes me think of Jacob and his newfound journey...

"You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July."

"Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y"

"Baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst.
Make 'em go "oh, oh, oh!"
You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own."

"Boom, boom, boom
even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through."

For those who may not know what song I'm referring to, take a listen...

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

Jacob...go out and show them what you got, big guy! I know you can do it!

I guess I officially have yet a new team to cheer for...Go Hawks!

Happy New Year!

xoxo

Cute pic of Grandma Hefley-

Considering she is 88, I don't think Grandma looks to shabby. However, she still carries her "baby" around with her wherever she goes. The nurses tell Dad that she does this because she is reliving the happiest moments of her life which, I guess, was when she was a Mommy to her 3 little boys.

How precious...

It's official...

my little man no longer believes in the big, jolly, rosey-cheeked guy also known as Santa :( I know he's had his doubts the last few years, but to finally hear him say it made me a little sad. I guess I will miss the excitement of Christmas morning, the stockings, the "Santa" gifts and the wide-eyed wonder, but the good news is I have one little girl who still believes...

What kind of makes me mad though is one of his teachers said, "come on, kids, we all know there is no such thing as Santa." I understand they are in middle-school and probably 99% of them don't believe in ole' St. Nick, but I still don't think that is a teachers position.

In any event, the "believer" walked in the room while we were having this discussion, so I didn't get a chance to go into much more detail. I still want my boy to know that Santa only represents one aspect of the spirit of Christmas while instilling the real reason for the season. With that being said, it's not really an open book for discussion just yet, so no probing for info, please.

Reminder

Any time you want to be reminded of how good you have it, have a sleepover. Ellie had a little friend stay over last night and although the girls had fun, it simply reminded me of how blessed I am to have two wonderful, well-behaved children.

And, although I thought I was going to be Jacob's date, last night I learned that I, too, will be a part of Donna and Rodney's wedding. So...that will be one bridal dress, one flower girl dress, a rental tux, bridal shower, couple shower, etc.. I guess I better start saving now. They were going to see if Jacob wanted to be a usher, but he flat up told them he wasn't interested in being a part of the bridal party, so I guess he'll partake in the events as a guest. It's been a while since we've been to a wedding, so looking forward to it. What's even better is I think this will be the first wedding I get to attend with my two favorite little people.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Things kids say- Part III, or maybe IV?

Ellie was checking out her blog yesterday and reading the 3 comments that were made about her last post - "Extra Recess." This is what transpired next...

Me: "Gosh, Ellie, you get more comments on your posts than I do."

Ellie: "Well, I guess you need to write about something more exciting."

I guess extra recess, flat-screen TV's, pets and football are more exciting than anything I have to say these days...hehe :)

Have a great Tuesday!

So sad...

Ellie and I were driving around last night after we dropped Jacob off at football practice and decided to take a ride over by Crosstown Parkway and take a sneak-peek at that quaint little place that we will always remember as our first home. It was tiny indeed, and I certainly couldn't imagine living in that place now with all the junk we have, but yet it was a place I found very charming and one that I have to say I was very proud to have as a newly married couple.

Unfortunately, it's not quite so charming anymore. The new homeowners have really let that charming little home go to the pits. It looks terrible and actually made me a little sad to see, so I had to take a picture to send to Todd. It's kind of hard though to get a decent picture as you are slowly driving by in your car trying not to look obvious that you are checking out someone else's home....



Pretty sad, don't you think? I have to admit, it tugged at my heart a little. Oh, what I would do to stroll through the inside and take a gander.

Dear Homeowner: Please take care of that house. We had some wonderful memories in that quaint, charming, little place of yours that we once called "home."

Message from school-

Here is a phone message left on my voicemail yesterday:

"Hi, this is Mrs. Stefani. It's Tuesday afternoon about 3:30. I was just calling to let you know that Ellie is doing a wonderful job at school. She did use her school money for a positive phone call home, but if she wasn't doing well, I would of said, "you know, sorry, can't pay for that." But, um, I'm not just calling because she paid, I am calling really to tell you that she's doing a great job; she's a great listener, she's finishing her work, she's truly a dream at school. Please let her know I called and I'll talk to you soon."

Way to go, Elle-Belle! To no surprise, you are once again off to a great start!

Just a quick update -

Bubbe's, or aka Wolf Boy's, second day of school went much, much better. To no surprise, he's making new friends, the dreaded Algebra class seemed a little easier to manage and my boy was smiling, laughing and joking just like his old self. That, my friends, is the perfect ingredients for one happy Momma!

First Day Stories-

We have one that had an exciting and fabulous day, and another one who wasn't really all that thrilled.

So, we'll start with Ellie. She jumped in the car smiling, talking a mile a minute about the things they already worked on, pictures she colored, two good stamps that she got, books her teacher read, friends she got to see, etc... Plus, she seems to love her teacher, so her move into 2nd grade started off with a bang. Plus, her sugars were really well all day long, so hopefully that is a sign of what the future days will bring.

Number 1...not a very happy camper when he strolled through the door at 5:05-5:10.

He's not so happy about being in honor/advance classes because he doesn't have many friends in his classes, he's in advanced Alegbra with a bunch of 8th graders and feels like a nerd (getting high school credits I might add), his Science teacher is bi-polar (exact words from Jacob) who arrived at school after his morning surf wearing Reef flip flops (not a very good example in my opinion considering the kids can't even wear anything like that, yet I didn't get very good vibes from him at the orientation either) and he got yelled at by a teacher because he was trying to chat with a friend in between classes and wasn't with his "Osprey" team. However, he told me he was walking from his elective Spanish class back to his regular building, so it's not like he was with his team at that time anyways. In any event, not a very happy start for him. I'm trying to keep him positive, so I can only hope tomorrow goes a tad better.

On the other hand, with the exception of "hang ten" boy, he did seem to like most of his teachers. He loves his science teacher who said to him, "Jacob, Jacob, Jacob....I've been seeing your name all over t-shirts these days...can I call you wolf boy?" In this class, I guess they all had to talk about something they like and something they dislike, so it was funny listening to Jacob tell the story about the teacher's likes/disklikes. Jacob apparently talked about his dislike for cooked carrots and his like, or love, for football.

These next few years are going to be tough from a social standpoint. I keep telling him to just be himself and he'll have no problem making new friends. He's such a likable person and just because he's in honors classes by no means makes him a "nerd." He's simply intelligent with a good heart, lots of athletic ability and just a kind, sweet soul to everyone he knows. I know he'll be just fine...he just needs to give himself a few days to adjust and make new friends.

Well, that's it for now. I guess I better go make some lunches, sign off on some paperwork and jump in bed. It's been a long, busy day....

XOXO

and they're off...

yet again. Unbelievably, it is another "first" day of school. My oh my, where did the summer go? I can't believe I now have a 2nd grader and a 7th grader. I started a post last week about our summer and some of our favorite summer memories, but it wouldn't let me post it so I'll have to work on that and finish it up later.

So, as in years past, here are the first shots of the 2010 school year, along with the last couple of years...

Funny - I just realized Jacob is wearing almost the same exact colors/outfit as he wore last year, but I promise you it is new.

8/2010

8/2009



8/2008



and then the little one...

8/2010



8/2009



8/2008



And, of course, a picture of the two of them together.

Lastly, don't you just love Ellie's new lunch box?

They both seemed pretty excited this morning. We had a few tears from the little one last night as she went to bed...."I'm scared because I don't want everyone asking me why I have to keep going to the clinic or why I'm eating snacks in class." Bless her little heart... I swear, in times like that, my heart just breaks and I want to cry with her. Actually, I did shed a few tears, but we were in the dark so I did my best to wipe them away as quickly as possible so she didn't notice. We talked about what to say, and cuddled, and wiped the tears, and encouraged her that it was going to be another great year. Thankfully, she woke up this morning saying, "I'm not scared anymore." Whew...

They both seemed to get off to get a good start this morning, so my fingers are crossed and I'm looking forward to hearing the "first day" stories just as in years past.

Even though Daddy is at work, he's officially back on his vacation and I'm sure he's doing the back-to-school dance.

XOXO

Cousins and friends forever-

It's as simple as that. I just thought I would take a minute to share a few quick pictures that I had on my phone. I have more on my camera that I will share later.

Here is a picture of two special girls in our family. Ellie, I might add, was VERY sad to see this cousin leave-



Here are the boys...and which of these two do you think are brothers? haha...



And the entire crew-



We had an amazing week spending time with lots of special people whom we don't get to see near as much as we would like. The best part is these kids can go 2 years without seeing each other, yet when they are back together, it's like they need missed a beat . Love that about those kids...

Thank you to Aunt Essie and Uncle Tony for the fun times, good memories, shopping trips, and especially for watching out for our 2 little ones during all the crazy festivities we had going on with the reunion.

We will miss you guys dearly! Safe travels back across the pond and we anxiously await the next time we are together. I'll get in touch with you about our Skype day, Es...I've already talked to little E about it.

Lots of love to all of you!

T,J,J & E

We ended our vacation...

with what else? A baseball tournament in Coral Springs... We lost our first two games on Sat. and then won our next two on Sun. We were scheduled to begin our playoff game for 3rd and 4th place when it started to pour down rain. They ended up canceling the games and we got to head north to our very own, nice, comfy and cozy beds....ahhhhh!

Time to begin the unpacking, putting away and a little bit of laundry. Does anyone have any idea on how to get these pants clean? I've tried every spray out there and can't seem to find a good one that will get these back to the sparkling white they once were.

I'm not sure if it's because my son plays so hard, or if he just insists on sliding head first at every chance he gets. Okay, so maybe it's a little of both. I can almost bet that after every game my son will be the one that comes out with the dirtest pants...guaranteed...every time! Which leads me to my next question...why would you buy white pants for a group of 12 yr old boys anyways?

Well, it's been a great week off from work spending quality time with some of my favorite people. There is nothing better than that. Good times, good times....

More vacation pictures-

This picture may be a little de ja vue to some some of you...does it seem like you are back in New York?



Just thought this was a funny picture of someone's sandy feet-



Ellie's favorite part of the resort....pirate ship time-



We weren't there 5 minutes and already had our first boo-boo-

Nice shot of Daddy and the kids-

The bartender took one of all of us-

Then Daddy took one of me and the kids-

Another favorite activity...jumping off the platform in the lagoon. Although I had a hard time getting a clear shot (need a new camera), I thought this was a pretty funny shot-

Ellie looks terrified in this picture...wonder if she was having flashbacks of the jellyfish that Daddy and Jacob saw which really seemed to freak her out-

Daddy losing ground as they swam out to the lagoon. Todd said it was a good 20-25 feet deep around the platform-

Just a shot of the opposite end of the lagoon where I was sitting-

I had a really hard time getting a good shot of the dolphins. Again, need a new camera...mine just wasn't quick enough to catch them jumping out of the water.

The firepit where Daddy and I sat while the kids....

played in the pool-

A liked this picture of the kids standing outside the resort-

The "Lucky-Ducky" game that the kids played at game time. This is the resort worker giving them instructions-

Then she threw out the ducks and said "Get ready, get set.....

GO!"

Looking for the lucky winner....duck #21-

A few more shots of Ellie's favorite spot-

I loved this little palm tree. The little coconuts would fill up with water and then topple over on whoever was walking by-

The little playground for Ellie-

Okay, I think that's going to be it for now. I will try and upload some more later.

Great times, great memories!