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.