My Mom

I am so proud of my mom...she has finished her "Sassy Shopper" book. She is still in the process of getting a big publisher, but she is able to sell many books just be word of mouth. I was able to go home Mother's Day weekend and help support her at her book signing at Bridgeport Village. She had a great time and was able to sell quite a few books. If you are ever looking for a great girlfriend gift...this is it. It is small enough to put in your purse (checkbook size), but chalk full of great ideas for fashion. You won't need to spend time or money with a personal shopper. Here is her website if you want to order some books, or just browse the book....

http://www.sassyshopper.net/

Memorial Day Fun

Every year we go on an annual "Jabusch Family" trip with my in-laws. This year we had to do the trip early since both of my sister-in-laws are pregnant. The thought of having 8 adults, 6 kids, and 2 newborns in one house on a vacation just didn't seem right.

We all packed up and went to Cannon Beach for 4 days. We had a great time. The kids went in the freezing cold water and we all got together and built a sand castle, flew a kite and had s'mores. Here are some pictures of our weekend away.

Freedom Friday

The Before

Well it was April 24th 2007 that I did a Tackle it Tuesday and my job was to redo our Craft room. We have affectionately called it the "Crap Room" ever since we moved in. I have now deemed today "Freedom Friday" since I cleaned out the room and can enjoy all that it was meant to be and I am FREE of any clutter.


It now has a place for everything and the kids can go in there and find the crayons, construction paper, markers and coloring books. I even have a spot for scrap booking. Yes that is right ladies...I am now scrap booking!!! Plus I can wrap a present in there and not have to look for scissors or tape. The kids know that my drawer is off limits.


I am in the process of growing my seeds for my garden in there as well. I will be sure to show off what I have been able to grow and eat this summer. Maybe a pumpkin for this fall too!!!


So, I guess my ambition to clean the room took longer, but I now enjoy it more and can appreciate all the fun things we can create. I just love it when my kids color for me!!!

Mother's Day

My friend recently sent me this email...I felt that all who read my blog (all 10 of you) would get a kick out of it. I know that I had told Jake in the past 5 years that it isn't what he gives me that makes me happy. It is the fact that he spends time weeks before thinking about what he is going to do and gets the kids involved. Now if this year that includes "Guitar Hero" for the Wii, I will be one happy Momma!!!!

Enjoy............I know that most of my readers are of the female persuasion... but there are a few fellas out there that read me so this post if for you.

I am going to help you-you need to send me flowers to thank me.
May 11 is Mother's Day. There... I helped you.

I tell you this because I just read it on my calendar and I groaned a little inside. I groaned because I am doing it to myself again. I am thinking up all kinds of happy romantic ideas that my husband will do for me for Mother's Day and then Mother's Day will come and go and none of it will happen. I will be left making dinner for everyone, cleaning the house, and ultimately getting in a fight with my husband about the fact that he didn't do anything (or anything that I consider worthy enough) and I will go to bed mad and drunk.

This is what I think a husband should do for their wife on Mother's Day: He should worship her. He should get the kids up early and help them make her breakfast in bed. He should have taken the kids to the store THE WEEK PRIOR and helped the kids pick our little presents for her-some suggestions are her favorite perfume, her favorite candy bar, her favorite flavor of Doritos, her favorite lotion, a frame with a picture of the kids, a good book, a home decorating magazine... that kind of stuff. He should then take his wife and children to Church and pray for his wife the entire time he is there.

After Church he should take his wife and children on a picnic lunch to a park and not one that used to be a battleground. After an afternoon of sunning themselves on a blanket and letting the kids play, the husband should take the wife home and insist she take a nap. He should make sure she wakes to the smell of her favorite dinner cooking and she should come down to a set dinner table and a freshly vacuumed house. When dinner is over, he should hand his wife a beer (or glass of wine) and tell her to go read in the living room while he and the kids do the dishes. After dishes the husband should suggest a nice walk with his wife (no kids allowed) and upon return to the house, the husband should bathe and put all children to bed while his wife watches what she wants on the television.

When the kids are in bed and the bathroom is cleaned up from evening baths, the husband should then bring a bowl of ice cream to his wife and rub her feet telling her how much he loves her and how much he appreciates ever thing she does for him and their children. He should then just gaze into her eyes-never once looking down at her breasts.
If you do this men, I can guarantee you that you will love the close of Mother's Day.

Remember... be good to Mama and she will be good to you.

Start preparing now, because she will know the difference between a well thought out plan and one that you throw together at the last moment.
Good Luck!

Are you Pregnant?

No....I am not pregnant....get that out of your minds before you read on. But if you are skinny in any way, don't bother reading anymore. You won't sympathize with me.

I am not sure what is worse...asking a stranger when they are due and they tell you they are not pregnant, or when your 7 year old boy says "You look pregnant mom!" I know it has been stressful this past year with the move, and being away from my family and friends. That can sure put on a few pounds. Not ever loosing the "baby" weight is also a problem. Being a stay at home mom does have it's perks. Not having to wear suits to work or even think about doing your hair everyday. My Nike hat sure comes in handy. But the negative side for me is the constant snacking. Eating the crust off the kids sandwiches, eating the last bite of breakfast, finishing the cheese and crackers. I don't know about you...but man oh man, it is hard. So instead of a New Years resolution...I am making it my Life Resolution. So I am saying it here...on a public forum...I plan to loose 50 pounds by next Christmas. I have started working out on a daily basis and trying to eat right. This is my promise...I can't wait to post a picture of me 8 months from now.

I must go now and talk to my son about how to win a girls heart, so far he is batting zero. hee hee

A week in Paradise

So I know I have be neglecting my blog lately!! Sorry to the few that even check my blog, and haven't seen anything for a month. Ugh...I live a dull life.

But I now have something to share...more than just a girl scout cookie experience.

Last week I was able to leave this wonderful home of four beautiful children and a wonderful husband to the wonderful sunny spot of Palm Springs with my mom and aunt. I was a little nervous to go from 40 degree weather to 100+ degrees in a matter of 2 hours and 37 minutes. I am happy to say I adjusted very well.

As I got off the plane I was overwhelmed with heat coming off of the pavement. It took me a minute to acclimated my body and breath normally. I took off to get my luggage and retrieve the rental car. After an hour I was met by my mom and then off to our paradise.

Once we ate dinner we were back at the airport to meet my aunt. I swear I was in Heaven, or at least pretty close. The rest of the 6 days were spent by the pool, reading and resting with a few days of shopping. Because you can't lay by the pool after noon. Going to eat at restaurants and only cutting my food was such a treat. Not only that...but my food was hot when I was able to eat.

I am happy to be home now with the family...but I am excited to know that we are planning a trip again in a year. I will definitely be looking forward to it.

Me enjoying a a sunset by the pool.

I was a little surprised by the number of humming birds there

were here. I had several attempts to capture this

one male that would let me get fairly close.

Not the highlight of my trip, but pretty cool anyway!!!

Girl Scout Cookie NIGHTMARE

My sweet Sydney decided this year that she wanted to try Girl Scouts out. I said sure and she has had a good time so far. But several months ago the Troop leader (and neighbor) asked me to be the Cookie Mom. I didn't know to much about it and asked a FEW questions about the job description. I thought it over (5 minutes) and said yes. Boy was I in for an awakening.

Not only did I have to pick up 2000+ cookies in my suburban (I think that the car was a shoe in to get the job) the first week. But I have been in charge of 15+ cookie site sales, moms coming to my house to get extra cookies (all the while keeping track of those cookies too), and also depositing $11,500 into a bank account. I am SO not the paper pusher nor an accountant. This has stretched me so far, I think I am going to burst. Needless to say, my nightmares of loosing cookies in my garage are subsiding. And keeping track of my 4 year old and all the Thin Mint boxes he opened have added to my own cookie count. I started out with 2 boxes we pre-ordered and are now up to 10. Good thing my Nicholas is so cute!!!!!

Anyway, if you ever have a girl in Girl Scouts...stay away from the Cookie Mom job. There is always someone in the bunch who will do it!

Pay It Forward

Today Whitney and I were running errands and I felt the need to drive thru Starbucks and get a coffee. You know running errands with a two year old is a lot of work. :)

Anyway, I go a head and order my usual...Quad (yes 4 shots of espresso-one for each child I have) Venti, nonfat, no whip, white chocolate mocha; and of course a choco milk for the princess in the back. As I pull up to pay, the cashier tells me the woman in front of me paid $5 of my total order. No, I didn't know this woman she was a complete stranger. The cashier did give me a name and address that she had left. So I have written her a thank you note already.

But what is so great, is that the kids (yes all FOUR) were with me one day about a month ago and we bought a construction worker doing work in the cold weather a Hot Chocolate, and told her thanks for doing what she did. It was a great lesson to teach my kids of giving just to give. Hoping that one day she might do the same for someone else.

So if you are ever $5 bucks rich and want to spread some love and goodness, buy someone coffee or even a cheeseburger. It doesn't take much to give a little!!!

My camara isn't working right now so I forced to look back at pictures I haven't put up in a while. So here is a cute one of the two cousins. My sister-in law has two adorable kids and another on the way. Yippee for me. Now I can hold and love a new baby soon!!!
Whitney and Allie enjoying a hug!!!

This is Sam and the rest of the gang enjoying the gifts from Santa. We always love seeing all the kids together!!!

Of course Matthew is the HAM of the bunch. He and Sam have so much fun together.

My Baby Girl

Well my baby girl is not such a baby anymore. For the first time in 8+ years we no longer have a crib up in the house or bottles in the drawer. It has been 4 weeks now that she has slept in her "Big Girl" bed. No it is not a full twin bed yet. She is sleeping in a toddler bed. But since that day she has not once gotten out of bed and still takes a 2 1/2 hour nap every day. I was sure she would have a hard time. But noooooo....it was all me. I was the one who had a hard time the first night. I said to Jake..."I know she won't sleep all night, so lets just put the crib back up for a little while longer". Sure enough, she proved me wrong. So for now I am at peace about the change of season in our household. I guess with no more kids insight, I better get used to it. Right?

The Great Reptile day

Big Boa's...two headed turtles...albino alligator...what more could you want???



I think the snake would like to have Nicholas for lunch!!!!


Here is just a sneak peak of what you can enjoy if you were to come visit us. The reptile zoo is a great attraction here and we purchased a family pass last spring. So if you ever want to learn more about reptiles...come stay at the Jabusch Bed and Breakfast and spend some time at the zoo!!!! We would love have you.

Here are just a few pictures of Sydney and Whitney playing in the snow. It is nice to live only 45 minutes away from a ski area. We haven't gotten the kids up on skies yet...but for now the playing and sledding is cheaper and the whole family can have fun.

Lights in Seattle

Well it is over due, but since I now have a few moments to post and have finally download pictures here are a few from a family outing we did in December with the kids. It is a botanical gargen in Bellevue. They take millions of lights and make it look like a real garden in the summer time. There was acutally a pond and lily pads with frogs in it made out of these lights. It may not be the zoo lights, but we will take it.Let me tell you that this was Jake's idea and he had planned the whole thing. Way to go Dad!!

Oh What a Beauty

My little Whitney decided she didn't want to wait to try on her new swimsuit. So instead she went downstairs took off her clothes and put on the new suit. As I am walking down the stairs, I hear her say..."Looky mom, I am beautiful". As a mom I couldn't pass up the picture opportunity. So here is the Bathing Beauty. Look out super models...Whitney is coming.

Our new family member

Well we finally have our very first pet. Since our little Whitney is allergic to dogs and Jake is allergic to cats, we decided on a guinea pig. The kids have decided on naming her Sparkle. I wanted Fluffy....but what do I know. She is cute and furry, with a sweet temperament. She isn't so sure about us though. She likes to be held and enjoys eating oranges.

Some may say I am crazy...but how could I say NO to four beautiful kids??? We always need more to love and feed, right??

A New Year

I was recently reminded by a good friend (HEATHER) that I have not been posting enough on my blog. So as I sit here thinking about what to write, I ponder the New Year ahead and look back at all the blessings and changes that have occured in 2007.

Since coming back from visiting my HOMETOWN I was able to remember the love I recieved from so many wonderful friends. Sitting in church listening to my favorite Pastor, he brought up the fact that we all have had things in the past year that have challenged us. Whether it is death in the family, sickness, new babies being born, or even small changes...we need to look to Him for direction and strength. How we react to the changes can affect the whole outcome. Our move was one of the hardest things this year for me. Going HOME to visit opened my eyes to that. But it also makes me realize that God has a plan for our family here...right now. As we start attending a new church semi-permanently, I must open my heart to what will come my way. I know my heart will be filled and I will be more at peace .

We need to ask ourselves....What will I do differently this year to strength and build my faith in Jesus Christ?

I hope that your New Year has started off with a bang and you are able to look to the Father for guidance when any challenges come your way. I know I will!!!!