Hillarious...

http://vimeo.com/3263721

No New Pics...

Well, a certain little 14 month old boy found my camera and threw it on the floor. So, needless to say I will not be posting pictures until I get a new camera. I am so bummed because it is my favorite thing to do! However, I will keep you up to date on all the happenings around here. Jon and I have been very busy landscaping our yard. It really needed A LOT of work. Weeding, mulching and trimming has become a new hobby of mine. Not exactly fun or clean, but I love the way I feel when it is done. Plus, last weekend we had such amazing weather that we took full advantage. Our yard looks so much better. We also planted some pansies and hung potted plants on our porch and around the pool(something I have always wanted to do).

This week we had a pool safety fence installed. With Jake, Jack and Brooke running around we didn't want to take any chances. It was a bit of an expense, but the peace of mind is priceless. Our pool is opening tomorrow morning!!!! I have been going to the Y on Fridays to teach Jake to swim. Last week he went under the water two times! He was a little scared, but he did it! I can't wait to practice in the pool. Here is a picture from website we bought our fence from (not our pool, but gives you an idea).

Jake has been acting like such a big boy lately. He wants to do everything that his Daddy, Mommy and cousin Jack do. He tries to go down the stairs while holding onto the railing like an adult (resulting in tumbling down the stairs). He wants to sit at a normal chair (resulting in trying to stand/climb on the table). He likes to build with Daddy's tools and use all the same household cleaning items as Mommy (cute when he is brooming, scary when he goes for the drill or hammer). He also LOVES to wrestle with Daddy. He screams with delight when they start and begs for more when Jon is tired. Recently, he has started wrestling anyone who is willing. (Jack, Brooke...volunteer at the nursery... oops) He is also saying more words each day. All of a sudden, his vocab just exploded. He really tries to repeat what you say and sometimes he says things and I convince myself that I am just hearing things. At lunch a few days ago he said," I color." and he brought me my purse and said,"open dis." It is crazy! I love how I can communicate a little more with him now. He is definitely understanding and making connections between words and actions or sounds. I love to watch him grow and thank God everyday for the gift of motherhood. It is a tough job, but worth all the work involved!

This coming weekend I am going down to Baltimore for my friend Lindsay's baby shower. She is expecting her first little on June 11th. Then, the following weekend we are off to Alexandria, VA for my sister's baby shower! She is expecting a baby boy on June 10th. Babies everywhere!

Here is a picture I stole from my sister in law's blog...the kiddos on a nice walk, Jake of course brought a ball with him!

Jake the Star...hehe

So, about 6 months or so ago I am in the grocery store waiting at the Deli and I strick up conversation with a woman. This is not unusual for me, because I talk to anyone who will talk back and love meeting random people. So, anyway... she is complimenting me on how cute Jake is and I am saying thank you and so on. She starts to tell me that she owns a children's modeling agency and that she has seen a lot of babies and she said she thinks Jake is an adorable baby. I am still not thinking much of this and saying thank you and being polite. She gives me her card and tells me it is easy and she is located in Cherry Hill and I should stop by. So, to make a long story longer... I went. We had a five minute meeting where she explained that if I paid a small amount of money, Jake's picture could be put on their secure website that only agents have access to and that I could send them new pics whenever I wanted. Then the agents, when looking for a model, peruse the pics then call you with a job. So, we got three or four jobs the first two weeks, it was nutz! I only went to two of them, they were both for Toys R' US/Babies R Us. We got a call for Puff Daddy's clothing line and another Toys R' Us ad but I couldn't make it those days and was feeling a little overwhelmed with the drive to N. Jerz. So, We show up to this studio and there are 20-30 people working the set. They had Jake sit on a white box with a white background and he made all kinds of faces. He loved the attention and it took 20 mins. They couldn't tell me which ad he would be in because they were shooting for a lot of things. They said they could use his picture for three years though, so I try and check the circulars every other week. I finally found him in two different pictures. One you can barely see him in. He was sitting in the treehouse of a swingset, but this one you can se him a little better. I don't know if I would ever do it again, but it was an experience and Jake made some money for himself.

Easter Fun!

Jake and I planned an Easter party and egg hunt at our house. It was so much fun. We both invited friends and were excited to see them. Jake sentiments about the day were,"bohh aggoo no no duck..." Sums it up! Thanks to all who came. Happy Easter!

Party Time!

Jack on a mission!

Jake found some left over snacks in the mulch! Nightmare

Lisey and Shana
Lindsay and Cayla

Jill, Jack and Brooke

Aunt Janet and BrookeMommel and Friends
Lisa and Christopher

Sarah and Andrew

The aftermath

A day to remember in more ways than one...

As many of you know my mom passed away suddenly when I was 22 years old. This past Thursday marked the 6th year anniversary of her passing. It is simply crazy to think that it has been six years. I try very hard not to focus on that day, but when it rolls around it always hits me. It is kind of funny to say "remember" her because I think of her a thousand times a day still, but I reflect more on days like her birthday, mother's day or the holiday season which she so loved! However, there is something different about April 2nd and there always will be. Every year has gotten a little easier and I have found ways to cope throughout the day. The first year we sent balloons to the sky with messages, but now my family simply makes sure we connect on that day and send each other messages of love and remembrance. As much as six years seems impossible, my life has changed so much. I have graduated college, became a teacher, married Jon, bought my first home and had a baby boy. All of these things my mom and I had discussed many times and we both dreamed of how that would look. It was/is difficult to not have her here with me, but I know it is for a purpose greater than my understanding. I feel lucky to have experienced it, even though that sounds weird. I have grown so much and learned about life early which I am thankful for. I have God in my life now and it has changed my outlook entirely. God is a loving God and a calculated one. He knows what is in store for me and has given me comfort and peace when I need it most. He has shown me so many things about myself and my life in the past six years. I know where my mother is and I know I will be with her again one day. Until then I want to live a life that is honorable and good. I want to focus on happiness and truth. I know what is important and I try each day to be half the mother that she was to me. She has left me some big shoes to fill, but I am trying hard. I know that my time here is short and I am determined to make every minute worth it!

Psalm 34:19

19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.