Dance Competition

Jurnee!

Jurnee is on a competitive dance team for Hip Dance company here in West Jordan. She absolutely Loves it! Yesterday was the first competition for the season! It was in Spanish Fork, so it was a bit of a drive but it was WELL worth it. It was a long day, but a lot of fun! She is on a team that is very versatile! They go about 4 hours a week to class. It consists of Jazz, ballet and Hip-Hop. So, they learn three different dances and compete with those three different dances. I remember dancing when I was younger and my mom and dad always saying how expensive it was, but never really thought much about that. Well, now I have a child into it, and GEE WHIZ, it is quite an investment. Along with the monthly tuition, comes competition fees, extra shoes, tights, makeup, warm ups, bags, practice clothes, time and gas to go to practice, and COSTUMES! This year is a real eye opener because she has moved up to a more advanced class. So it was a little bit more money, but worth it.

Getting ready to go on stage!

After going to the first competition, and watching how much she has learned and how well she is doing, it is extremely worth it! I am so amazed! I am so proud of her. We had her in a different studio for a few years, and it seemed like she just wasn't learning very much. We started noticing at competitions all the classes from that studio were doing the same moves and Jurnee just wasnt very motivated to practice. (Now, that is all she does is practice!) So we decided to take her out and put her in a different studio and I am EXTREMELY HAPPY! All that money that we put into it, just is so worth it. I went with my friend Hillary and her daughter Soraya, who is also on a competitive team at the same Studio. Hillary was so sweet to offer to go with me and carpool! Even sweeter because she had to stay like five extra hours! Soraya was done dancing by 1130! Jurnee's last performance was at 5! Good friends are HARD TO COME BY! I love ya Hill! Thanks so much!

Hillary and Soraya!

All 6 of us in 6 DAYS...

Geez.. I don't think we have had this strong, brutal, potent of a virus hit our house in years! Talk about horrible. It started with Jace Friday night, then Jenesee on Easter Sunday, Jurnee started monday morning, I started early wednesday morning, Janson came home from school with it, and Jason started at 11:30 last night..
Lucky for us, the vomiting didn't stick around long. Jurnee probably got it the WORST! She usually does. Jace and I didn't throw up as much.. but had an achey body for over 24 hours. It was horrible! After about 6-7 hours the vomiting had disappeared in most of us.. just everything else lingered for a whole day! So, kindof a gross post.. but just venting about how disgusting it was! I have got to get these germs outta here! Jason and I cleaned out so many of the "barf buckets" (it's what our kids call them..) not the little ones, like I show here.. They don't hold anything.. lol

Here's to a healthy start. It is so hard to have sick family, and be sick yourself. You have all been there before. You just look to an uphill climb.. we are on the right track!

More pictures from Easter!

I promised some more pictures from Easter! As I was posting, I realized that I did not get a picture with Jace and his Easter Basket! (Another mom of the year award..) hehe ... At least I got some of him egg hunting..

Jurnee Say Cheese!
Janson on Easter Morning..
Jenesee and her Easter Bunny treats!
Jace finding all the Green Eggs!
Jenny is obviously finding lots of yellow eggs...So funny because we had to keep stealing the eggs out of her basket and rehiding them when she wasn't looking. ... she loved to find them.

Janson didn't like his Easter Grass in his basket, so he decided to shove it in his pocket! Jenesee and her egg hunt basket! The kids after the egg hunt.. Jenesee wouldn't stay in the picture, as you can see.. Brayden (our nephew) was able to spend easter morning with us!

Here is another...

Jenesee would rather have her picture taken in her house...

Jason teaching Jenesee how to blow bubbles... how precious!

Easter... Come and Gone

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Weekend.. We had a good time, and managed to enjoy a majority of it. Jace got sick friday evening, but was feeling ok enough to dye eggs.. Jenesee didn't seem to come down with her ickys until after nap on Easter Sunday.. Well, okay, that is how she woke up.. rude awakening..

We dyed eggs on Saturday with the Corpuz Family. (Great Friends of ours).. Our family dyes eggs, seriously, just to eat egg sandwhiches. I like them hard boiled too. My mom asked if we take our kids to "roll" them. Honestly, I forgot about that tradition... My mom said we used to do it every year as kids. In various locations, various ways. She said even with yuck weather, we would get the ironing board out and prop it on the stairs, and roll them down. Funny. But I remember now, loving that as a child. It was something my parents did when they were young. We are going to start doing that next year.. I love to pass things down from generation to generation.

The kids always love to dye eggs. Janson wasn't that into it, but we managed to get him to do a couple eggs.. you know, writing with the cool crayon and dying them... he did a Chargers Egg and a Utes Egg.

Jason and I did eggs for each other with the crayons. The funny thing is, I was doing one as a "surprise" for him and he was doing one as a "surprise" for me at the same time and we didn't even know it. It was really fun.. you know Jan + Jason = Love and Jason loves Jan... we are goofy, we know..

This year we managed to not have egg dye everywhere. Hooray!

The kids had a good time. Thats all that counts.

Easter morning the kids were excited for all there goodies from the Easter Bunny.. They had so much fun. We always do an egg hung outside. The easter bunny fills plastic eggs, and each child gets to find there own color of eggs. That way, each gets there fair amount of candy. . NO arguments to be had.

The rest of the day was a day of relaxing, and, well, cleaning up after sick children, if you know what I mean..

I just can't believe March is almost over. How Sad!

What fun Easter Traditions do you all have with your families? (I will add more pics later... )

The working girl!

I have had a few jobs since being a teenager. I never had to really work until my senior year of high school. I guess I was pretty lucky.

My senior year I had work release so I got a job as a "hostess" at Gardner Village ARCHIBALDS restaraunt. I was able to leave school at 10:15am with work release, so I trained horses with my brother. I LOVED it... It was great exercise and so much fun! I am a HORSE LOVER! If I could have them in my backyard here, I would.

My first real Job was at:

I worked as a receptionist for an attorney there. I really liked it a lot. This job was very memorable for me... this is where my true love and I met. He worked there as a runner, doing errands for the firm, papers signed, to the courts, etc. .. Yep....and look where we are 13 years later! Oh, what a wonderful life.

During my college years I worked at Chilis as a waitress. A little extra cash was great to feed the kids on. Definetely not my favorite job..

I also worked for After Hours Medical as a Medical Receptionist. I worked this job for about three years during college. Quit when nursing school started.

My most favorite job, however, is the one I currently work in. I am a registered nurse. I have worked at a few different places..

Primary Children's in the Medical Unit as a pediatric nurse

Jean Brown Research as a Study Nurse

Jordan Valley Hospital in the Women's Center, starting out in Postpartum, Now full fledge Labor and Delivery nurse. (I work here about 15 hours a week now.. and just love it)

South Valley Women's Research, LLC as a Study Nurse. I am the only employee with some physicians. It's a good place to be.. I have a great boss and love my job. It allows me to have a lot of autonomy.

South Valley Women's Health. I work here as a Registered Nurse when they need someone to fill in, or if someone needs a day off. I am pretty much on the phone all day. You know, when you call your OB/Gyn's office with a question, you get a nurse.. Well... I would be who you would get.

And last but not least, I am a MOTHER AND A WIFE! THe best job of ALL! Most rewarding that is for sure!

THE FLU HAS HIT

The flu has Hit our house! IT is miserable... since Friday night we have had Jace, Jenesee and Jurnee have the 12 hour BARFING bug. Took Jace and Jenesee to the doctor today and Strep is a possibility. Waiting for the dreaded culture to come back. Jace has the classic signs. Its sooooo lame. I wish you never had to see your kids go through illnesses! I hate it.. along with disinfecting, airing out, blah, blah, blah..
So... who is next with this crap!

Friday Fill in #3 for me...

1. _Baby births are so exciting!
2. Strawberry fields _Would be so fun to run through!____.
3. __Apple Pie___ sounds like it would taste delicious!
4. Why does __Sleep___ make me feel so good?!
5. __The statue of liberty___ is something I've always wanted to see.
6. It's sad when _Women have to push for more than two hours in labor____.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _Dinner with the girls (last night..friday, because i am so late posting____, tomorrow my plans include __to dye easter eggs with the kids and go to dinner with some friends (that would be tonight,lol)___ and Sunday, I want to __relax and enjoy the good weather and holiday with my husband and kids___!

Happy Birthday Jenesee!

Jenesee turned two this past Saturday! Wow! Where did that time go. I sometimes get so sad to know that she is for SURE our last baby. It seemed like just yesterday we brought her home. Now she is two! She is definetely treated like "Royalty" at our house. (really pathetic, I know) but it's not just Jason and I... it is the other kids as well. We have a running joke here that she is a "princess" so she gets what she wants! Oh GEEZ!

Anyhow, we had a birthday party for her. It was at one of the condo complexes Jason works at, in the clubhouse. It worked out so perfect.. We had a lite dinner, consisting of what a two year old would like... HOT DOGS and CHIPS! WE did have salad for the healthy part of dinner! lol..

It was lots of fun. Lots of friends and family came, and Jenesee was in a fantastic mood. She had such a good time. She even took the time to sit down and eat.. which is not always typical for a toddler. (Our "princess" does not miss to many meals! She LOVES to eat.)

I wanted to do a princess theme... you know, fitting right along with her royalty...However, she wanted DOWA! (Dora the Explorer).. That is her new favorite.. so how can you resist... after all, what the princess wants, the princess gets..

I also spent ALL of friday night making cupcakes and a Dora Cake.. It took along time, but it was really fun and she was so excited. All the kids were just watching me the whole time. They were all so amazed that I could Bake.. (I mean, they know that I can, I just WORK all the time so I never have any energy to do any of it!) They were so proud, that every guest that came in they had to take them over and show them the cake. Jason said I should apply at Albertsons bakery, but PLEASE... hahaha... I do love to bake.. Its really fun.

Jenesee was so much fun. She loved to open presents. She wanted to open the ones with the prettiest/coolest wrapping first. She did not like gift bags.. We got her a baby that drinks and wets, burps when you pat her back.. and that was all she could think about. She loves it. So funny!

She was not even that shy when it came time to blowing out the candles in front of everyone! I loved it!

She even took the time to stop and give her Mama a kiss... she is the sweetest thing, and we are so lucky to have her in our family. We love you Jenesee! Happy Birthday!

Water, mmmm good

Its so good for us! Water.. lots of it. I have made a personal goal to drink 2 liters per day! I have been reaching that goal. I don't allow myself to have my Diet Coke until I have drank all my water. It comes along the lines of being a little obsessive compulsive! I do, however, spend a lot of my time in the bathroom! Yikes... i guess it has to leave sometime.

Did you know...

4 cups = 32 ounces = 0.964 liters
9 cups = 72 ounces = 2.13 liters

My daily goal that I have been reaching is 9 cups = 2.13 liters. Somedays I push myself a little bit further and go for 11-12 cups..
Since using the bathroom so much.. i have begun to notice how my bathrooms are a little neglected...


Another thing I have learned is it helps to shed those extra pounds! Even though those extra pounds may just be water retention, it helps to get rid of it!....

Toothless

Its just a bunch of losing teeth at our house! Jace lost his first tooth last week and I have been forgetting to post it! I will post a pic later of him! He is ever so proud. He has another one loose already... boy, I sure hope the tooth fairy is geared up for this!

Jurnee lost another molar last night.. the poor girl is starting to get some serious overcrowding in her mouth! Better start that savings account for braces...

At our house the tooth fairy leaves a dollar bill... yep $1.00... when we were kids we would get anywhere from a quarter to a dollar ... whatever the toothfairy felt like...

http://www.toothfairyland.com/TFLkids.html Check out this link.. How fun for Kids...

I imagine this is what the tooth fairy does with all the teeth! What do you think? lol...

What does your tooth fairy do with all your teeth? What does the tooth fairy leave for your kids? What did the toothfairy leave for you when you were little? SHARE.... FUN

What I love and loved to collect...

As most of you who know me well, I have a PROBLEM with buying MOVIES! It is a bad habit that I can't kick... I LOVE to have ALL of them. Even the ones I have never seen before. I will usually only buy the ones that I know are good, or that I think are going to be good. I will take advice from friends on whether or not a movie is good. I am not a Raging critic... (however, my hubby kind of is...) I just like a good show that is nice and entertaining, suspenseful, funny, romantic.. whatever my mood may be! The one displayed is the one I can't wait to go buy after work!!! Sorry, Babe!

I also have a huge collection of VHS disney/kids videos... they had to be in the packaging like the one on the right. (I know.. I know) This made for an extremely HUGE storage PROBLEM.. however, I have not parted with them. I should part with the ones that I have DVDs of.. I am slowly replacing some of them that are coming out on DVD.. but geez, Jason already complains tremendously that I spend way to much money on MOVIES... I do not buy these anymore.. but i still have quite the collection of them.

THe one thing that I collected as a little girl were Cabbage Patch Kids. Being the only girl, my mom used to buy and buy and buy. I think I ended up with a total of 15 dolls.. And yes, I still have ALL 15 dolls. I have let my girls play with a few of them, but I have put my favorites away. I actually just saw one in Jenesee's room yesterday.. but you know, the funny thing is, they don't play with them very often... The "new" babies are always better... so I think I should just put him up! I LOVED THESE! Both my girls are into babies... (or were.. I should say) Jurnee doesnt quite play with them anymore.. But Jenesee loves them.. Its so cute...

Oh and the list goes on. I have an Obsessive Compulsive problem about Collecting. For instance.. Jace has the geo tracks train system.. Started when he was about 2 1/2. Well, you can keep building on that.. They have the coolest pieces. You can make the COOLEST tracks... Well... I kept buying and buying pieces, because you know,.... gotta have them all... well we have well over 350 pieces now, and the DARN thing only gets taken out twice a year. The kids can make a track that is the size of my living room that has no furniture... lol.. So Jason and I are now talking about Selling it..

And the list could go on...

CHEVRON CARS...

Action figure figurines.. not just super heros, but disney characters, etc..

Jurnee collects books...

Video Games... This is not so much me..

Childrens books ( tons of these... i love them)

I do need to mention my husband in this one.. I am not the only collector, nor our children. He has a nice collection of Die cast helicopters. He loves them and used to always look for new ones.. However, i think we have them all. HeHeHe.

Belated Friday Fill-In #2

1. Contact may cause _Germs to be spread!____.

2. The parties hereto do mutually agree _That they LOVE each other___.

3. Disney parks _are so much FUN!____.

4. _Sleep_ sounds really good right about now!

5. I positively _want to make a difference!____.

6. _My Hubby and kids__always make me smile :-)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _Jenesee's 2nd Birthday Party (if it was on friday I would have said making cakes..)____, tomorrow (saturday) my plans include _Celebrating Jenesee's 2nd Birthday with her!! Yes, my baby is two TODAY Sat 3/15! Happy Birthday JENESEE! ____ and Sunday, I want to _Do all of our Laundry, Clean our house up and get ready for the week, and last but not least RELAX!

Friday Fill-In

I ran across this and it looks really fun! So here is week ONE!

1. Ahhhh, it's so nice To have my gym workout done already!
2. One of my favorite things on my desk or bureau is A picture of Jason and I "back in the day".
3. Japanese Cherry Blossom would be cool to see one day.
4. On my couch with a blanket is my favorite place to sit and read.
5. Brownies and Homemade Pie is delicious!
6. I love to watch funny people in movies.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Relaxing, tomorrow my plans include Work in the morning and cleaning the garage (weather permitting) and Sunday, I want to do another house project!

Terrible Two's are coming....

Our little "princess"... Or so we call her. Being the youngest of 4 kids, you can all imagine how spoiled she is. It is really pathetic. I don't know why... If Jason and I say no, she goes to Jurnee, Janson or Jace. If we get mad at her, she runs to the kids for "COMFORT!". It is really kinda funny.



So, Jenny loves POWDER! Yes, we are talking about the powder you put on when you change a diaper. She absolutely will not let you change her diaper without putting powder on her. She reminds us every time "Pow-ler Mom". It cracks us up! She even goes as far to sit up before you fasten the diaper and "check to see" if there is powder on her bum. It is a serious FETISH!







So... she loves playing baby dolls. She will carry them around and give them a bottle, wrap them up in blankets, take them for rides in the stroller (before janson broke it), and try to put her size 4 diapers on these tiny babies.. she pretends that she is putting "pow-ler" on them. We just laugh at her.. we have a bookshelf in our office that we keep the wipes, diapers and powder on. We keep them on the lowest shelf so that she can go get them when we need to change her. (Yes, pretty lazy on our part!) Well, every once in awhile we will catch her in there pounding the "pow-ler" on the bookshelf. I, knowing that she is way to little, to twist that cap...knew that there was no way powder was coming out. So, I would sneak up and watch her.. and there was tiny little bits that would come out with her pounding it.. so she would pound it, get a little bit out, and then rub it into our black bookshelf.. Harmless, RIGHT? No big deal, it cleaned up really easy with a baby wipe.. and it keeps her pretty busy. So, we thought nothing of it.



Well... the other night, she was really quiet and we were all engulfed in our own projects. Jason decided that we better figure out what she was doing..



This is what we found...

"it smells good!"

"Am I in trouble daddy?"

"oops, thats really messy".

"its all over my shirt"


So when we saw her and started looking a little closer, she had a wipe and was trying to clean it up! So, now, we need to get the carpet shampooer out! How can you get mad at that face! Even when there is powder EVERYWHERE! In books and all!