I DID IT ALL BY MYSELF!

THANK YOU WALMART FOR THESE BAD BOYS!

THIS IS THE AFTER PICTURE. LOVE THE BLACK POST!

THE GOLD JUST WASN'T CUTTING IT FOR ME. THIS IS THE BEFORE PICTURE!

MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE ROSS DRESS FOR LESS AND TJ MAXX. MY HUSBAND CALLS ME AJ ROSS BECAUSE OF MY ADDICTION TO THESE STORES. WHEN I LIVED IN VEGAS THE LADY THAT RAN THE JEWELRY COUNTER AT TJ MAXX USE TO CALL ME WHEN NEW SHIPMENTS CAME IN. I KNOW, PATHETIC. ANYWAY, I CAN PROUDLY SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN 2 WHOLE WEEKS SINCE I HAVE BEEN OFF EITHER STORE. WISH I COULD SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT DIET COKE. IT HASN'T BEEN EASY. I GROCERY SHOP AT WALMART AND THERE IS A ROSS RIGHT NEXT DOOR. IT TAKES ALL MY STRENGTH TO JUST SAY NO! WITH MORE TIME ON MY HANDS I THOUGHT FOR SURE I WOULD BE MAKING MY USUAL STOPS AT THE STORES BUT SURPRISING ENOUGH I HAVE FILLED MY DAY WITH MORE REWARDING THINGS. I HAVE A LIST OF PROJECTS I WANT TO GET DONE. IT IS NOT A BIG DEAL BUT I FINALLY DID A PROJECT THAT I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO DO FOR MONTHS. I REPAINTED A LAMP THAT I FELT WAS A LITTLE OFF WITH ITS GOLD TRIMMINGS. I WANTED IT TO MATCH MY KITCHEN BETTER SO I WENT INTO WALMART AND FOUND THE NICEST EMPLOYEE TO EXPLAIN THE BEST WAY TO DO IT. BY THE WAY LADIES, SPEAKING OF WALMART, THEY HAVE THE CUTEST $10 GLADIATOR SANDALS YOU HAVE EVER SEEN. I WILL POST A PICTURE OF A PAIR. I GOT A GOLD AND BLACK PAIR! ANYWAY, THE LAMP TURNED OUT GREAT....NOW I AM GOING TO EMBARK ON MY ROCKING CHAIR. I AM THINKING A CREAM OR SAGE GREEN WOULD BE NICE. WISH ME LUCK....I AM GOING TO NEED IT!

Sarah's Wedding

My family was able to attend my cousin Sarah's wedding on Saturday. I was apprehensive of taking my little man but for the most part he did really well. As the vows were being done, Jon had to rush Judd out of the ceremony. Judd found a piece of old Christmas candy in the diaper bag and when he got it out he said, "Jon (Judd refers to Jon by his first name. Not really into calling him Dad) is this candy?" Jon answered him but Judd just kept repeating the question, louder and louder, so he took him to a nearby playground. The ceremony was at a country club so there was pretty lake with geese by the playground. Jon said at the playground a goose kept following and hissing at them. Here are a few pics to show some of the highlights of the night!

Of course Judd didn't take a nap that day so he was ORNERY and plumb tuckered out by 9. Everyone was on the dance floor shaking their tail feather and Judd had just as much as he could take. He walked over to Jon, snuggled into his lap, and fell asleep.

My mom and I hanging out, eating all three types of cake they had. They arranged to have a photo booth for the guest. All the girls from my family squeezed into the small booth and had our pictures taken. We have never laughed so hard in our life. I would post some of the pictures but they were not flattering at all.

Jon was a champion that night. He may not know how to do dishes or laundry but on nights like this he always takes charge of Judd. He let me be off duty so I could relax and visit with family.

My cute sisters, Kim & Nickie. We had fun just being able to visit.

That would be Nickie swinging her head around like a crazy woman. When I talked to her the next morning she told me she had a little whip lash.

This was by far the highlight of the night. One minute my Dad is sitting next to me harassing me with a fork and the next minute he is cutting a rug. I have never seen him dance. I will forever remember my Dad dancing like a total nerd bomber.

EASTER SUNDAY!

Playing with my new mitt that the Easter Bunny left me.

Nothing better than a Whoopi Cushion.

Hanging out, watching a little Seasame Street!

Looking for eggs filled with candy.

Showing off the new pjs Grandpa and Grandma got me.

Easter Egg hunt with my cousins.

Dying Easter eggs. Making a mess for Mom.

Hopping around like an Easter Bunny!

I thought March was never going to end, seriously. It dragged on forever. And snow in April. What is going on? I feel like I should be putting up the Christmas tree, not putting away Easter eggs and candy.

Easter Sunday was fun. We invited family over for a brunch and Easter egg hunt. Later that night we celebrated at Naughty Papa's and Grandma Carolyn's house. The entire day Judd ate candy. At one point I looked over and he was shoving it in by the handfuls. My sister-in-law even commented that he looked like he was really enjoying himself. I highly doubt he had any sort of meal. And today when I was changing his diapers, I could tell he had tasted the rainbow. I have never seen poop that color. So early this morning I got rid of all the eggs and hid the candy so he could at least have a decent breakfast before begging for "more cawndy." Kids got a sweet tooth, that's for sure. In terms of myself, I can't stay away from the candy either. I wonder why my rear end is the size of China....it is because I just can't say no. A diet coke taste much better with a slab of chocolate. Hopefully it is something I can over come :).

Just Getting Started!

For many years my life has been consumed with reading other people's blog. In other words, I am a full fledge blog stalker. Not proud of it, but just calling a spade a spade. My husband rolls his eyeballs every time he comes into the computer room. I have come to realize that instead of reading about other peoples' family memories, I really should create my own. Where do I begin? Well, we have a son, Judd. I really would like to document his and our life, so I thought maybe this avenue might just be the trick. I suck at writing in a journal. Anyway, Judd is 2 1/2 years old and we just can't get enough of him. He is as wild as can be, but I guess it is good that he keeps us on our toes. Everyday he does something new (which isn't always appropriate) but I enjoy watching his little mind work. I am excited because I just recently stopped working, so I get spend more time with Judd. I have to be honest...I am nervous as all get out to spend my days at home. Free time on my hands isn't always the best for me. Too many times I find myself roaming the aisles of Ross out of boredom, which inevitably leads to buying more things we just don't need. So, I am really going to try to do crafts with Judd and find some kind of play group so we can both sprout our wings.

Leaving my teaching position has been kind hard on me. My position was very unique. I taught third through seventh graders in an after-school setting. Anyway, staying at home with Judd has always been my first choice, but change is hard. Really hard! I truly thought that when I announced to my students that I was leaving, that cheers from the crowd would be heard throughout the world. I am strict but you have to be. Children can smell fear a mile away. To my surprise they were sad and so am I. I am going to miss the little stinkers but I am going to make it a priority to volunteer once a week. I have always enjoyed teaching. I have loved both my teaching experience in Vegas and in Utah. My first year of teaching was a nightmare but I truly began to love it my second year. That was the year I truly found myself as a teacher and could laugh at the little things that happened in the classroom. Case in point, during my second year I taught first graders. While they were writing in their journals one day a specific student (who was going to be the death of me at that time) passed gas (might I add explosive) and it scared the little girl next to him. She looked at him with total disgust and then shouted, "you made me mess up on my s." Kind of gross but it has been embedded into my head and makes me giggle every time.

Well, I will stop for now. I am excited about this blog thing. Hopefully I will follow through. Better go Judd is harassing our dog, Abbey. She is desperately giving me the look of HELP NOW!