We finally got the other video up for my daughter with her horseback riding.

If you actually sit through the entire 4 minutes and 14 second video, thank you. She’s very proud!

I cannot be more excited that St. Louis won yesterday, because it was Jessica’s first official major league baseball game. And she just got glasses so she was able to enjoy the whole thing. YAY!

She got Nacho’s, Popcorn, a HUGE lemonade (her words) and a free hat. She was totally enthralled and the daddy time means a lot! This is one happy eight year old!

Here are a few pics after the game!

We spent the beginning of April planting all sorts of flowers and redoing the section around our mailbox. It looked SO pretty. Well…. we got a freeze. If you garden you know what that means. Flowers are gone and nice and black and horrible looking. We cleaned the plants up and they are still alive, but we are going to have to rethink their placement (the street desperately needs something that doesn’t die when it freezes…a flowering bush or two?) LOL

I was watching for sales and Home Depot Deals so we can get some more items for the yard, but to no avail just yet. Isn’t the old adage supposed to be “April Showers, Bring May Flowers.” … NOT “April Freezes, Kill All Flowers” LOL

I don’t normally shop at certain stores, but was happy to find Kmart Patio Furniture Deals which covered more than just patio furniture, also some outside decor and other items. We are busy trying to make the patio look nicer as well.

Plus, if I can ever find gardening Deals or Coupons for Target I am in heaven. I love Target and it’s right by the house, so we are always there. Plus, they have really cute gardening stuff for kids. We purchased a whole gardening set for my daughter a few weeks ago because she wanted to help.

Anyway, off to go figure out what I can do with that yard before it rains.

Look what I found this morning! This isn’t the exact snapping turtle, but he was equally as large and had leeches all over him just like this guy.

So we took him to a pond behind the houses across the way. Even though he was mean as all get out, I had to save him. He was trapped in the middle of the road with cars coming from every side. So I went out with a towel and grabbed him. He was NOT happy. He was trying to bite the whole time. Thank goodness for teenage boys who find anything reptile ‘cool’.

We were outside working in the yard yesterday, and this family went by with this awesome stroller. I liked it because it was a double jogging stroller, side by side that I hadn’t seen before. I asked her if she liked it, and yep - she loves it. She raved and ranted about it. I love taking walks and I often times watch my friends kids for her (they are 9 mos. and almost 2 years old.)

While she has a double stroller that she was able to find great strollers reviews on, it doesn’t do well on long walks and it doesn’t glide as easily, and it’s also a front and back stroller rather than side by side.

So I came inside and immediately searched for strollers reviews and found this little jogging double stroller she had, and I’m getting one. It will be awesome to have for any kids I happen to watch, (not my own since they are all much older).

If you are looking for a great stroller, before you buy, you should look up strollers reviews because you’ll get a good idea for what is available, the cost and what others are saying about it. Plus, the rating plays a huge part in how good the stroller is.

Good luck!

Well, Mike calls tonight and says, hey I’m getting a couple of baseball tickets for the Cardinals game Saturday afternoon. Uhm. Okay. How many? He tells me just two. Well, I cannot go, someone has to be here for the kids (plus not a huge sports fan…remember?)

So how do you decide between five kids and which one gets to go? We did the only sensible thing. We decided who ‘deserved’ to go. Yeah…sounds great. But it was more complicated than that. First of all, Brie has already been … she went last year because she won tickets from the library (my totally LUCKY kid!) My son hates sports and had absolutely no interest in going, which only left the three other girls. Well, after much debating we came to the conclusion that Jessica, the youngest deserved to go because she had not been to anything ‘alone’ with a parent in a VERY long time.

So, Mike and Jessica are off to the Cardinal game Saturday afternoon. Then we have a party to go to Saturday night. I hate busy weekends. LOL

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Happy Birthday Mom. Aren’t you glad I didn’t forget this year? hehehe I actually called her first thing this morning and wished her a happy birthday. I have a gift but she will get it when we see her Saturday.

Love you mom!! Here’s to MANY more!!

Kidding really. But I know I have been a terrible Mommy Blogger recently. Things got so crazy for such a long time that I tried to stay wrapped up in my blog to escape. Then when everything got better, life had to find its way back to normal. It got back there, and now I am just crazy busy with all sorts of other stuff.

I did spontaneously confuse my kids this week.

Wednesday it was like 80 degrees here, so I planned a picnic in the park after dad left for work. Two of the kids came to the store with me and we got all the stuff we needed. (all homemade or handcut except the huge subs)

Sub Sandwiches
Pasta Salad
Watermelon
Pineapple
Cantaloupe
Chips (like three different kinds!)
Drinks that each person specifically loves

They had a blast. They ate up everything on their plates and then wanted to go play. Unfortunately my camera battery (which we have now replaced) decided to die after I took four pictures. So here are my pathetic pictures from a really fun evening!

I am so out of the loop with two 13 year olds, an 11 year old, a 10 year old and a 9 year old, it has been a LONG time since I have had to purchase toddler items. Not that I am complaining….too much.

Actually some of my best friends have babies and toddlers and we always seem to be shopping for something for this age group. Who knew that such tiny people needed so many things? It is difficult to find what you are looking for too. Last weekend we were at six stores to find this one stupid food puree thing my friend wanted. She had seen it online. Then why didn’t she just shop for her toddler online? You can get all sorts of products for babies and toddlers online.

Guess what we never found and what she had to order? Yep! It probably cost her less buying it online too, except we spent a load in gas that day running around just to shop for a toddler. However, we did find some really cute toddler clothing while shopping around online for this food puree thing. I had no idea that shopping online could be so much fun!

Is there really such a thing? The ‘perfect gift’ - seems almost subjective to me. However, you know what I really don’t like? Trying to find a gift for someone who has EVERYTHING?

It is time’s like this that I venture beyond my comfort zone and try and think outside the box. I want to get something for someone that is memorable, yet exciting and thrilling to receive all at the same time.

I think I might have found the prefect gift for those that have everything or who you cannot think of anything to buy for.

The Family Portrait Platter is not only a really cool gift to receive, but practical too in that it will get years of use at all sorts of events and special occasions. You can find a cute picture of these platters here. You can choose from a variety of sizes, styles and totally adorable characters to adorn your completely customized platter. There is nothing better than finding the ‘perfect gift’. Oh, and they make perfect wedding anniversary gifts too!