My "blank" back

bathing beauty
on sunday's spike dances

little swimmer

so saturday morning i walk into the office and see my 18 month daredevil falling backwards off the office chair, so i run to grab her, and feel my back spasm. so not only was i laying on the ground in pain, holding a bloody mouth babe, but i was seriously p**sed off. not to worry, the babe was running around in circle minutes later, my old self lay flat all day. My back has had these spasms usually once a year since i was like 18. last year i finally went to a chiropractor, and he said, two things that will help are stretching and losing weight. so as i'm lying there i'm saying a little "blank" you to the chiropractor, cause i'm doing pilates (hello stretching nonstop) all the time and have lost 35 lbs. Well, today i kinda take it back, usually im the hunchback of notre dame, for like 3 days minimum. this morning after a loooong hot bath i was an upright human again (as J said), and did not want to waste another last day of summer sitting in the house. so we went swimming, i laid on raft while my man servant took care of my needs (lunch and the children people! this is a family blog!). so my back still is tweaked, gonna go get it realigned tomorrow, but much better than last july when it happened last time. I would like to thank my father for such great genes, or perhaps its karma, since i use to roll my eyes and sigh when he laid on the floor after his back tweaked. probably a little of both!

Mommy's little helper

Olivia has become my little helper in the kitchen. so far her favorite dish to make is pasta, she loves to stir the noodles.

Ashland 2010

Jillian's 1st Fish

up late and boom boom=trouble
smore coma

nice place to make sandcastles

Daddies girls

little buddies

We went up north with our friends and their 2 kids this past week. 4 kids 3 and under, aye kuramba! we had alot of fun between the meltdowns, jillian caught 3 fish, olivia is all "ride or die" now (atving), and both had daily spa mud treatments (free of charge). It really felt like fall up there, trees were starting to change and temps in upper 40s at night!

Aunty E and Jimmy's Reception

the flower girls
dancing queen

erin and mini me

Family

More family

oh a bride's work is never done

Yesterday was Erin and Jimmy's reception, it turned out beautiful. Erin did an amazing job, the decorations and flowers were perfect. The food was great too, my favorite thing was sprecher, yes root beer, on tap! We wish the 2 month newlyweds happiness, love and hopefully the pitter patter of little feet soon!! ha!

First time gettin an up do

Patience isn't her strong suit, but Jillian was a perfect angel at the beauty shop sat. We were there for 2 hrs, we both got our hair cut and up did for aunty E's reception. Such a big girl!

Hard to believe, but yes its state fair time!

Just another day in the life when your a daredevil

Dinosaurs and air conditioning, ahhhhh
Happy on her pony, much better than last year!

Olivia and her bff, cousin Abby

The annual freaky camel ride

Aunty and Olivia

The girls and some sheep

Today we went to state fair with aunty e and uncle Jimmy and abby n emma. It was so nice out, usually its so humid. The girls made it 5 hrs, olivia's favorite thing was the giant slide, jillian said hers was a tie, the pony and the camel. hopefully next year she'll ride that camel alone, those things and their humps creep me out.

Sometimes they like each other!

I can tell you its not easy trying to raise 2 strong willed girls who are 2 yrs apart. They are constantly having a battle of the wills, all out WWE wrestling happens at our house daily. I know 20 years from now they will be best friends and depend on each other for so much, hopefully, like my sister and I. But good lord! can we have a little more cute kissing and cuddling and a little less biting, pushing, and hair pulling?!?

Book Worms

In the last couple weeks Olivia has become obsessed with reading. Pretty much since birth I have not been able to get the kid to read a book or watch 5 mins of TV. Now, all she wants to do is read, she carries her books everywhere! It's so crazy how all the sudden their little brains just start cranking out the words. She will look at me and point to her book and say, "apple", its so freakin' cute!!

July 4th

Mr cutie in the house
Catching fireworks

2nd genearation BFF's

4th cutie patoties

Perfect Zoo Day!

Taking a train break

Olivia is bananas for the carousel

DINOSAURS!!!

Jillian's new friend, Mr. Peacock

shiny! or tiny!or Dawn!

She can communicate with the dinosaurs

Today, Barb and I took the girls to the zoo. After 4 hrs, 2 trips through the "coolest" dinosaur exhibit ever, we were all beat and ready for a nap!! The weather was absolutely perfect, it was so much fun this year, Olivia got so excited for everything and Jillian of course too. This summer has been so great weather wise, hope it continues!!

Yesterday I went to my 1st farmers market, I have never been to into vegetables to be honest, i only like the ones i grow in my garden so i figured why bother. But now that healthy eating is all the rage around here, i thought I'd check it out. My friend recommended West allis farmers market, and it was delicious!! Last night we had roasted baby potatoes, corn on the cob, tonite i made pasta with fresh sugar snap peas, we had raspberries and strawberries for dessert. I don't think i can ever eat a pick n save strawberry again! I'm going back tomorrow, or checking out south shore's one. Yum yum.

Jamaica!

First dance
Conga line!

me and my baby sis at dinner reception

the happy couple

the beautiful bride

Boat cruise, the boys

most beautiful sunset i ever saw

boat cruise, the girls

We had an amazing time in Jamaica, watching my little sis marry the man of her dreams, laying on the beach with a fruity drink, relaxing! It was like a dream, went so fast. I can't believe we are home. Missed the girls like crazy, but it was nice to be kidless for 6 days! Tommorrow back to reality, at least 2 4-day weeks lie ahead for me, yeh 4th of July!!!

Air Show

Yesterday, Jillian And Ryan went to the Air show with Scott, Ethan, and Caleb.
Rave Reviews from both daddy and Miss J.

Now she want's to be a Blue Angel Pilot!

Busy Bee's

My 1st attempt at cake decorating- for erin n Jimmy's shower yesterday
I think the last 2 1/2 months have been the busiest we've had since the kids were born. It's literally been every weekend something; all leading up to Jamaica!!! It's been 1st birthdays, showers, bachelorettes, ohio vaca's, ohio visits, holiday's and oh ya, ryan's heart attack! So excited to relax and see my baby sis get married, 5 days till we leave!!!!!!! I am glad the rest of the summer is much more subdued, we are planning a waterpark trip, and lots of time in our favorite pool, grammy's of course! Ryan and Jillian just left to go see the air show, just laid olivia down for her nappie, i'm going to r-e-l-a-x with a little coffee and my oprah magazine!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

Pig Pen

Pig Pen aka Jillian planted her pen (garden) today, watered it (created a lake), took a spa like mud bath and enjoyed an outdoor shower. Busy day for pig pen!!

1st Swim of the Season!