181/365 movie time

How cute! They were having movie time.  This picture melts my heart. 

180/365 I swear I am a baby!

What? I am a baby! Wah give me milk! Doesn't that look like what Addy is trying to say?  Week two in the adventures of babysitting is going well.  The baby slept most of the day so Gabrielle didn't have a chance to get jealous.  I am realizing through this experience that I don't have the baby itch I thought I did.  Gabrielle is my one and only baby (no matter how old she gets, she'll always be mommy's baby girl).  Gabrielle isn't handling me watching a baby very well much less if we had a baby.  I know. I know You are thinking she'll adjust.  Maybe.  Who knows?   We have millions of reasons why we don't want to have a baby.  I still truly believe it's in God's hands.  God gives you the number of babies you are suppose to have.  No form of birth control can stop Him. He's God.  If He wants you to have a child, you will.  So while we say no to babies.  We say yes to God.  If God chooses to bless us with a baby, we'll love that baby and adjust to our new addition. 

179/365 pool time

No pictures please! I love this picture as much as I love my swim time with Gabrielle.  We spend a lot time at the pools during the summer.  I swear she's part fish. 

178/365 poor puppy

I thought I posted this yesterday but I didn't.  I am sorry. 

He's been sick.  He has lost his energy.  He has lost 2 pounds in about 3 weeks.  He's losing his hair.  The doctors ran tests on him.  It appears he has thyroid problems.  He is now on 3 medications.  He goes back in a two months to test his thyroid to make sure it's working better.  Poor  little guy. 

176/365

We had an amazing time with one of my bffs celebrating her 30th birthday. I had meant to snap a picture of us together but I forgot. So this is a picture of the road home. She means the world to me and my family. I just wish Gabrielle could have been there. We will plan another adventure soon and include Gabrielle.

174/365 my true love

I had my doubts that I would ever find my true love.  There's that saying "you have to kiss a lot of toads to find your prince." I was convinced I would never find my prince.  I knew from our first date that something was different.  I felt so at ease on that date.  I was nervous going into the date but once I saw him again after all those years something changed instantly.  I kept fighting it early on.  I didn't want to say anything.  I was afraid.  I had thought I found my prince before and spent my college years with him.  My heart was so broken when that fell apart.  But it wasn't meant to be.  Looking back hind sight is 20/20.  We were NOT meant to be.  If that relationship never would have broken, then I wouldn't have moved on to Gabrielle's dad.  That means there would be no Gabrielle.  I can't even imagine a life without Gabrielle.  She is my life.  Also without Gabrielle I would not have stayed in Bloomington-Normal meaning no Mike. Mike is my soulmate.  I know he hates Rascal Flats but I love their song "God bless the broken road that lead me to you".  (Okay I know that's not the name but it's close.) That song sings to me about the broken path I had leading to Mike.  I can now appreciate the heartbreaks I endured because it all lead me to this life with Mike and Gabrielle.  I am blessed to have Mike as my soulmate.  He is my other half.  Everyday I feel lucky to have find as my husband.  I know this was God's plan.  In my daily prayer's I thank God for my family who are my heart and world. 

173/365

Day 3 of our adventures in babysitting went smoothly.  Gabrielle is getting use to the baby being here.  The animals are over their confusion.  Dallas is still jealous.  I am learning how to balance two children.  I love on Gabrielle while the baby is sleeping.  I get Gabrielle to help out.  When the baby goes home, I don't bring up the baby.  It's purely Gabrielle time.  She is doing much better.  The picture of the day is Gabrielle reading a book to the baby.  Gabrielle reads to him everyday.  It is very cute to watch. 

172/365 fun times

The weather hasn't cooperated with us this week.  We bought a small kiddie pool for the backyard. Plus we cleaned off all of Gabrielle's toys. That way she could play outside when I was super busy with the baby.  She has been stuck inside with small breaks outside.  She is bored with her toys.  (You know all those toys you spend tons of money on for birthdays and Christmas for, yeah they are sitting there untouched.  Don't get me started on Zhu-Zhu pets.)  The other night she asked if she could play with her green computer.  I knew we had given it away last year when a friend with 3 small girls lost everything in a house fire.  She forgot.  I did the parent thing and said I am not sure where it is.  She went in my room under the tv and said this is where we keep it.  She forgot it wasn't there because she found her Vtech smile.  This girl NEVER played it.  It was a hand me down from my youngest brother and sister.  She got it when she was 3 and got frustrated at it.  She wasn't old enough to have patience with it or understand some of the games.  We put it up.  Since then we have gotten a Wii which she enjoys from time to time.  But she has never tried this Vsmile (or whatever it is called) ever again.  She decided she wanted to play it.  She's been playing it ever since.  What is really neat is that it is learning games.  It is math and spelling.  So we are working in educational and play time together which is the best way to learn.  This is my picture of the day, a very preoccupied Gabrielle beating yet another game. 

171/365

Worn out! The baby wore me out!  First day went well.  Animals are adjusting.  I'm adjusting to 2 children and waking up earlier.  The one having the hardest time is Gabrielle.  I pray it gets easier for her because she is priority number 1.  I think it will be better with a few more days.

170/365 ready for tomorrow!

Tomorrow the baby is coming!  I will start watching a baby 3 days a week.  Gabrielle and I are very excited.  Addy and Dallas are very curious. 

169/365 church camp day!

I loved the theme of game.  It was baseball.  We focused on Worshiping God, Obeying God, Following Jesus, and Serving others.  We had a blast at the different activities.  It was a bit too hot around lunch time but the swim in the lake and in the pool helped.  Gabrielle did an amazing job in the lake.  I thought she would never go in the lake.  She did and tried everything even the iceberg that you climb up in the sky and slide down.  She had an amazing time and we are both exhausted.  Here are just a couple of pictures.  We were having so much fun that I forgot to take pictures. 

craft time

I was in charge of team 3, 3 girls and 3 boys.  It was a blast. 

168/365 church camp

I am a group leader tomorrow for day church camp for K-1sr graders.  Gabrielle didn't get to go last year so this is her first time.  She is so excited.  I'm trying to get our basket ready for the day tomorrow but Addy has other plans.  I'll post great pictures and stories tomorrow about the game. 

163/365 our little Jedi

He buries himself in the blanket but changes his mind to peek out to see what's going on.  We always call him our Jedi when he does it.  I finally caught him with my camera before he moved so I can share it with you all.

159/365 library fun

Gabrielle has taken part in the library program since I knew she could be a part of it. I think she was 3 her first summer.  We love it.  Each year they come up with fun, free activities while encouraging children to read.  Today we went to a storyteller.  Gabrielle loved that he didn't read from books.  He had the stories memorized.  He was great at getting the audience involved.  He mimed and juggled.  It was a blast.  She got to help form a line to pull out a raddish it was adorable. 

157/365 Brookfield Zoo

I'm so exhausted.  It was beyond hot out there today.  We met up with one of my BFFs who is also my daughter's Godmother and went to Brookfield Zoo.  I haven't been there since I was in grade school for a field trip (when I lived in Joliet).  Gabrielle had never been.  We had a blast, but the heat really got to us.  We will have to go back when it's not so hot.
 

At the entrance of the zoo, she loves butterflies.  Her room is done in butterflies.  You can also see the beautiful fountain in the back ground.

Family picture at the entrance, we look so not dying of heat.  That is how you can tell it's the start of the day:)

Gabrielle with her Godmother, Liz 

She loved this.  The polar bear swam back and forth in front of the class.  She was just entranced with this. 

155 and 156/365 camping fun

I didn't have the best internet access nor did I want to broadcast to the work that we weren't home.  So no post yesterday.  We went camping with my mom.  My mom has a camper that she keeps year round at a camp ground in Southern, Illinois.  The camp ground is open April-end of October.   They have a pool, a pond for fishing, a nice playground, a pavilion that they have events almost every weekend, and nice bathrooms/showers.  We try to go a few times each summer.  We always have a blast.  We swim, go for walks, cook out, have camp fires, and sometimes for to the drive in movie theater near by.  My daughter is very close to my mother.  She doesn't call her Grandma Cindy.  She calls her Paw-Paw.  It started when my daughter was young and just stuck.  Until very recently she didn't realize Paw-Paw was also her Grandma.  Now she calls her Grandma Paw-Paw.  It is super cute.  We usually camp with my mom and younger siblings (Logan almost 13 and Gracie 11).  Sometimes my one day sister in law brings my nieces.  Sometimes my little brother, his fiance, and two daughters come camping too.  My Uncle Glen has the camper next to my mom.  So it is all about family time.  My mom has been camping there for about 6 years.  I took Gabrielle for the first time over 4th of July in 2005.  We've been every summer expect once since that first time.  We love it.  Here's some pictures.

Watching the campfire waiting for the pool to open.

We were waiting for breakfast to be cooked.  Gabrielle was being silly trying on Logan's goggles. 

She was wiped out.  She didn't sleep good Friday night.  She swam for over 3 hours.  Plus it was very hot.  She got cranky so she took over a 2 and 1/2 nap. 

Rain delay.  We left early today due to rain.  Gracie and Gabrielle played DS games together.  Gabrielle cried for the longest time after we left.  And she cried again this evening because she misses Paw-Paw and it will be over a month before we get to see her. 

154/365 No longer a first grader

That's my big girl!  She is no longer a first grader!  Her report grade was all 3s which is all As.  We are so proud of her.  She struggled early with math.  So I started practicing nightly different math areas with her.  She ended up with a 3 in math.  She worked so hard and earned it.  We couldn't be prouder of her.  She is a little ahead of the class with her reading level, which doesn't surprise me since she loves to read.  Now we are off to summer adventures.  She is so excited to spend the summer with me.  This will be the first summer that I get to be with her all summer long.  We have something planned for everyday whether it's just swimming or going to the zoo or trips.  We are very excited for summer. 

153/365 School Fun Day

This is the game I was in charge. The kids had a blast.  They bumped the balloons full of air until they pop.  It was loud.  I was in charge all morning of it.  Then in the afternoon I went with Gabrielle's class to the different stations.  Here are some pictures of her fun.

Gabrielle had a blast.  Her team won twice.

Gabrielle's teacher vs another first grade teacher, the kids loved it.  Gabrielle's teacher won.

Today was Sport's Day.  She wore her Cubs' shirt since her Cowboys' shirt is long sleeve.

Snack attack!

Her teacher had them play musical chairs while waiting for the other class.  I swear the kids that lost had more fun clapping and making noise.

No fun day is complete without the bounce house. 

Mrs. Strader and Gabrielle posing.  We have loved her.  She was an amazing teacher and will miss her. 

152/365 Summer Reading

Got our summer reading information from the Normal Library today! So excited to get started reading with gabrielle!