Orlando Magic Playoffs!

Eric and were lucky enough to score some Magic Playoff tickets! They pretty much just fell into our laps! A friend of mine stopped by on Saturday who had 4 Lower Bowl Orlando Magic Playoff tickets for Sunday's 12:30pm game and couldnt go. His son had won all of his baseball games that day which meant he had more games on Sunday... lol I think he'd been hoping his sone had lost so they could go to the game lol. But lucky for us he won! So yesterday we drove to Orlando and had a great time. Here are a few pictures of our trip!

No words... Its a sad day.

We could really use your prayers. Its a really sad day today....

"My Daddy"

Sometimes you never know if what you are telling your little toddler makes any sense at all. A month or two ago I was trying to explain that God is our father just like Eric is her father. Only, Eric is her father on earth, and God is her father in heaven. She looked confused, but said, "Oh." And nothing has been said about it since.

Until last night. Eric and I were saying our prayer with her as we do every night before bedtime. After we prayed and Kaylea was giving Eric a hug goodnight, Kaylea was talking about praying to God and she said looking at Eric, "You are my daddy in here and God is my daddy in heaven!"

It was a really tender moment and one I wish I could capture on video but it will have to stay captured in my memory instead.

Matthew 18:3
"And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.' "

Fun in the Sun!

This Saturday Kaylea and I took her bunny "Dumbo" to get his nails clipped and then enjoyed some fun in the sun at Mimi and Gada's swimming pool. Take a look at the pictures below... Notice Kaylea has become a "master" at rolling her tongue to make a funny face!

Kaylea Says the Darndest Things!

News Alert: Summer lost 5.4 lbs this week for a grand total of 35.7 - and she has on size 16 pants today! Woooo hooooo! Now on to the blog:

Kaylea was driving in the car with us this weekend and said, "Mommy, look at your hair. Its Black.... (she hesitated)... and Gray! Yeah your hair is Gray just like Gada's!"
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On Friday I received an email from my mom. She watches Kaylea during the day and will share some funny moments with me via email. Here was the email:

"ROFLMAO - She just had one side of her diaper (pull-up) opened up and was trying to put water (from her sippy cup) in it. I asked her what she was doing. Her response: "I'm waterin' my butt so it can grow bigger - and bigger - and BIGGER - like my Mommy and Daddy!""
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Kaylea's vocabulary is really growing. Last week it was the use of the word, "interesting". This week she used the word "interrupting". Kaylea was humming a tune and Eric started talking to me. She said, "Daddy, I was trying to sing a song about Kaylea Jade, and you were interrupting me!"
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News Alert #2: Kaylea successfully pee pee'd and poo poo'd in the potty friday, saturday and sunday! We are on a roll folks! Wooo hoooo!

Here is also a picture of Kaylea's newest dress design. What do you think? Fashionista in the making?

Sweet little cousins!

This weekend my brother Corey and his wife Robyn and my two nephews Tyler and Jake flew to Florida to visit us! We had a great time. They got to stay right on the beach and we all got to spend two days swimming and enjoying the great Florida sunshine. Although the forecast said there might be rain we didn't get any!

Kaylea was so excited to see Tyler and Jake. It makes me sad we don't live closer. Over the weekend we ate, ate and ate lots of good food and of course florida seafood! On Friday we went to a place called Red Fish Blue Fish where they play live reggae music outside. We sat right by the band outside (quite loud) but even though we really couldn't hear each other we had a great time! The kids wanted to get up and dance but just were afraid to make the move on their own, so I took the liberty of getting up and dancing first and it took them not even a second to follow. What was really funny is Kaylea was pulling the boys on the dance floor like crazy! LOL Guess she's alot like her mama! Haha!

Then on Saturday we went to my uncle's house and cooked out some big honkin' hot dogs and yummy hamburgers out on the grill. My aunt also made the best baked beans in the world! We had a blast although the pool was really too cold to go swimming! Jake said, "You'll never get used to this water its too cold!" But he said that while he was in the water! The kids worked on chasing lizards and picking oranges from the trees and we all had a great time! After my uncle's house we headed to my brother's hotel on Sand Key Beach and went to the pool and the beach! That was a lot of fun. Then we met up with Eric after he got out of work and went to PJ's (a local place thats really well known for its seafood and a 45 minute wait)!

Sunday we woke up and did it all over again! (The hotel swimming pool and beach part anyways.) We had a blast and got lots of sun! I didn't put sunblock on myself so I got burnt. Kaylea on the other hand didn't - which is a good thing! After a second trip to PJ's on Sunday we had Ice Cream at TJ's House of Sweets. Sadly enough we had to say our goodbyes. Kaylea was all smiles and surprisingly did not cry. (Not sure she understood she wouldn't see them for a while)

But after we drove off I told Kaylea we should say a prayer for Jake and Tyler and Corey and Robyn to be safe. So I prayed. Then Kaylea prayed out loud in a soft little voice (she has laryngitis from screaming so much in excitement while they were here). She said, "Dear God, pease help me be good and safe, and pease.... oh pease... keep Tyler an Jakey safe oh pease God. Tank you. Amen! Oh Pease!"

It was just the sweetest thing in the world if you could have only heard it. The whole weekend was so sweet... Jake and Kaylea were like two peas in a pod ... Kaylea said they were "best friends". And Tyler was quite the entertainer.... you could never be bored around them! Kaylea, Eric and I will really miss them.

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A Cute Picture of Kaylea

Just a cute picture of Kaylea in her Raggedy Ann outfit Mimi and Gada got her for her birthday.

Before and After Face Pic

OK. Some of you have been bugging me about before and after pics. Here is a great before and after of my face. You can see the difference - at least I can! (Yes I did the typical no makeup in the before and makeup in the after lol)

Easter Has Come & Gone

Easter has come and gone. This is the first easter (I think) in my life that I did not go to church. Felt kinda weird, but, we did get a chance to have some quality family time together. On Saturday night we colored easter eggs (I hardly remember doing that much as a kid). Then Sunday morning Kaylea woke us up and I told Kaylea after walking into the living room that her easter eggs were all gone! She said, "Gone Gone! I can't believe it!" Then when she found the first egg you would have thought she struck gold she was so excited. It was really fun. The easter bunny hid one of the eggs in her bag of diapers and she thought that was the silliest thing in the world!

After our egg hunt, we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast together. We had fun playing little games, eating yummy food and making funny faces! And of course we rocked in the chairs afterwards (a Kaylea ritual). Below are pictures of all of the easter eggs we colored. Kaylea wanted me to take pictures of each one LOL.

...Now don't get me wrong, I do think its important to go to church, especially for Kaylea. But more important to me is that we teach her about Jesus ourselves in addition to all of the silly fun time of easter eggs and bunnies. Last week we did go to church and Kaylea learned the word "Hosanna" which means "Save Us" or "Help Us". She also can recount about Jesus walking into the city and "people waving leaves at him".

Lately we've been having trouble with getting Kaylea to listen... and obey not just us but her teachers at school. See Kaylea is a super bright kid (IMHO). She talks alot (like her momma) and can carry on a pretty legthy discussion with you. Just the other day she was listening to a song about "15 miles on the Erie Canal...from Albany to Buffalo...." and so on. She put her pointer finger to her chin and said very seriously, "Hmmm... this song is really int'resting. Mommy you said buffalo is a city. I think its kinda like a pig or a cow. Hmmm... this is really int'resting."

She is very observant. She knows right from wrong. She knows if you put her in time out that if she says, "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry and I won't do it again." that it will get her out of time out. Trouble is she is just saying words and will continue to do whatever it was she was doing. Alot of times its her just being silly and twirling around the room dancing and screeching and ignoring us or her teachers when we talk to her. She knows she is having fun and just probably knows that what we are saying would stop that! LOL. Anyways on to Easter.

I explained to Kaylea that Easter is about Jesus on the cross. That when people tell her the story about Jesus dying on the cross and then coming back to life that the reason he did that is for us. I tried to put it in simple terms: "Kaylea, when you do bad things, God loves you so much that he doesn't want you to have to stand in the corner or get a spankin. So he stands in the corner for you and takes the spankin' for you. He does this because he loves you and he wants you to do good things so that you don't have to get punished." Not sure if she got it, but it was worth a try. I'm just afraid that now she's gonna tell me that she doesn't have to go stand in the corner cause Jesus is standing there for her LOL.

More Birthday Celebration!

On Saturday, it was time for Kaylea's Birthday Party #2 at the park with Grandma and Grandpa Martin, Courtney, Jessica and Mando (Armando). Kaylea was really looking forward to going to the park - she loves the big playground they have there. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and it rained quite a bit by the time we got to the playground. So, we didn't get to play much there, but we did have a fun birthday party under the shelter.

Also, we brought Dumbo our Bunny along for the party! We even got him a leash! He is such a cute bunny he really is, but he hasn't mastered walking on a leash just yet! Once again we had chocolate cake - Kaylea's favorite! (And yes I cheated on my diet and ate some! Did on her birthday too. Cheated on Easter too... lol.... at least I got it all done in one week!) Kaylea was ready from the get go to open presents (she knows the drill now). She made out once again and got clothes, board games, concentration, little dolls for her dollhouse, a my little pony, preschool workbooks (a fav of hers), candy, chocolate, oh and chocolate candy (that was the biggest hit!)

Grandma Martin made her a little Easter basket with eggs and chocolate candy and chocolate bunnies, etc. That was Kaylea's favorite thing - chocolate lol. It was a fun time and we hung out and took lots of pics. Kaylea got to play with her Aunt Courtney and we got to see Eric's cousin Jessica who we haven't seen since our wedding! Here are some more pics of the day:

Kaylea's Birthday

Kaylea was a princess for a day on her birthday...or at least she thought she was. She had school that day and since it was her birthday we could bring in a special snack. So, I picked up some ice cream cups from the store (birthday cake flavor with chunks of chocolate cake and icing in them!) When she arrived at school everyone told her "Happy Birthday"! She thought she was really cool LOL. They also made her a special Birthday Girl Crown that was pink with stickers on it and they sang Happy Birthday to her and she got a Birthday Certificate to hang on her wall. But her fun didn't stop there....

Gada (her favorite playmate) was off work that day so he and Mimi took her to Steak N Shake and then they played the rest of the afternoon. After Eric and I got out of work we met them at Chuckee Cheese to have her "Birthday Party". Some parents don't like Chuckee Cheese and some do. Kaylea loves it and has a lot of fun on all the kiddie games and since it was about her... thats where we went. We played lots of games (and even some of us adults played a couple). The biggest hit was the cake.... Kaylea loves Chocolate cake as you can tell from the pics below. Next was the presents... she really made out! She got lots of Barbie Mariposa stuff (the video, the costume and a book from Uncle Corey and Aunt Robin) along with a bunch of other cool toys and cards. From Mimi and Gada she got an original Raggedy Ann Doll with a matching outfit and Cinderella dress up costume. (One of her favorite things is playing dress up) And we got her a princess collage for her wall and a Barbie Mariposa doll.

The night slowly came to an end and Kaylea did not want to go home. Unfortunately we can't stay at Chuckee Cheese forever!

A picture update

OK, so I haven't had much time to upload pictures since my brother just came into town and our night had been planned out. So, please check back tomorrow late afternoon and I will try to have some up! :-)

Does God Poop?

Ok... you know we are doing the whole potty training thing. I think Kaylea is just scared to actually go on the potty. She is trying... she went pee pee on the potty this weekend once! The problem is she holds it all day (and not joking I mean from 8am to 6pm) Anyways.

Last night she asked Eric and I very seriously, "Do you think God goes poop?"

We started cracking up! I said, "Of course God poops! He invented pooping!" LOL Kaylea said, "Really? Do you really think he poops?" .... lol I guess she wasn't believing me! At any rate it did give us a good laugh for the night!

I'm curious... how would you answer this perplexing three-year-old question?

PS - I know I'm starting to take after Melanie and becoming a bad blogger! (jk) Later tonight I will post some pics from Kaylea's birthday and hopefully I will have time to also recount our 2008 Easter Day for you!

PPS - Weighed in this morning... 2 more lbs down! GRAND TOTAL: 30.3 lbs lost! Updated pic of me above is from Kaylea's birthday!

What St. Patrick's Day Means To Me...

Exactly 3 years to the date (and time) I was headed to the hospital to check in and be induced. I will never forget it. I was excited to finally be able to park in the "Moms in Delivery" parking spaces! Eric and I arrived at 4pm and filled out all the necessary paperwork. We were admitted into room 318. It was a nice room with a TV and great chair for Eric to sleep in haha. I was big as a house and ready to pop. I was also nervous... I had no idea what to expect. And I forgot to wear green ... it was St. Patrick's Day.

I got into my hospital gown and settled into my room and Eric and I called relatives and let them know were were there. St. Patrick's Day was fairly easy... not alot of work... just had to go to sleep and relax.

It was up and at them at 6am though bright and early when they put pitocin running through my veins! From there I had some cramping - not much I thought.... this ain't so bad. No worries... they got worse throughout the day. I think it was around 12 or 1 that I started asking for an epidural which I was trying to hold off on. All I remember is them not wanting to give me one and me telling Eric he'd better get them to give me the Darn (nicely stated) epidural if he still wanted a wife! Luckily he finally pulled through... I think the nurses felt bad for him. It still seemed like forever from the time he asked for it, before I got the epidural but I think thats just because the contractions were immense. Epidural in - I felt better and they said to try and relax. So mom and Eric decided to go to lunch.

I think it had been 30 minutes or so that they were gone and I had already called them... I was in pain.... I mean bad pain.... "This epidural is not working!!!!", I thought. But it wasn't really cramps I was feeling it was pressure... so they told me to call a nurse.... and I did. Turns out I was completely dialated at 10 cm. and crowning... it was a blur cause it all happened so fast. I just remember calling Eric and Mom back on their cell and saying - you'd better hurry up and eat cause I'm about to have this baby! Like I said it was a blur.

I just remember that they were trying to hold me off till my cousin Jennifer (also my OBGYN) got out of surgery so she could come deliver. Although I know my perception of time is probably way off but I remember her coming in and pushing maybe 15 minutes? It went fast - I just remember Eric and Mom having to hold my legs cause they were numb and I remember pushing with all of my might (I won't go into details). lol


And low and behold Kaylea arrived into the world and into my cousin Jennifer's arms. She was born at 3:18pm on 3/18/05 and in room 318 if you can believe it. She was 21 inches long and weighed 7.13 ounces. Giving birth is truly an amzing experience. I never knew I could love someone as much as I love Kaylea.

Happy Early Birthday Kaylea! I can't wait for Chuckee Cheese tomorrow!

(Here are some pics from the past few years - I have lots more but this is all I have on this particular computer at the moment!) A tribute to kaylea! Click here to see it full screen.

Oh no. Its already happening! Boys Boys Boys! As I was giving Kaylea a bath after we had finished blowing lots and lots of bubbles Kaylea was playing and talking to herself and she said, "I'm looking for my boyfriend!" I said, "WHAT?!?!?, Eric you gotta get in here! Say that again Kaylea?!" "I'm looking for my boyfriend." Eric's face was like a deer caught in headlights as he told her, "Kaylea you don't need a boyfriend, not till you are 30 years old."

So this discussion went on for a while... of course Kaylea doesn't understand what "boyfriend" means except that she is talking about a boy who is a friend. She told us that "Stevie" who is in her class at preschool is her "boyfriend". She does talk about him quite alot. But daddy was sure to put an end to it by telling her the right way to say it is "Friend Boy". So she said, "Stevie is my friendboy" lol

Later at bedtime, while I was rocking her to sleep and after we said our prayer, she said, "Mommy, God made happily ever after. You know dat? Just like when da Little Mermaid got married an all dat stuff? An, Cinderella has a prince, and Snow White has a prince." I said, yep that's right and did you know Daddy is my prince?" She said, "Oh. I gotta find a prince!" I said, "Kaylea you have a long time before you need to find a prince, but when you get older you will find him." She said, "But I do need to find a prince!" I reiterated "When you are older." She said, "Okaaaayyyy".

Now its morning time, and Eric is driving Kaylea to school. Kaylea says, "Daddy when I get older will you help me find a prince?" Eric said, "When you get older, I will definitely help you find a prince." Kaylea responded, "Ok. Will you be my prince Daddy?" (I'm sure Erics eyes were tearing up but he didn't tell me if they did) Eric said, "Daddy will be your prince until you get older and you find another prince... is that a deal?" "Yep."

My little princess is growing up....

The creative & intelligent mind of Kaylea

"Mommy I really wish I was a music singer when I grow up. I know! Daddy could play the Xylophone, you could play the Turn Tables and I could be the Music Singer! Oh I wish I was!"

Talking about Kaylea's upcoming birthday I asked her what kind of cake she wanted. "Chocolate" she said. I hollered in to Eric who was in the kitchen, "Think we should get her an "I-C-E-C-R-E-A-M" kind? (spelling it out so she wouldn't understand) Kaylea said, "Mommy, do you mean ice cream?!" And she started giggling.

Watching cartoons with Daddy Kaylea pondered about diapers. "Daddy, I tink diapers are for babies, and they itch me too. I really tink they are for babies." Eric replied, "I think you're right... then you will need to learn to use the potty right?" Kaylea said, "I will Daddy, I really will."

Then today Kaylea was at Mimi's house sitting on the potty trying to go pee pee again. She tried for a really long time and then said, "Mimi, I tink da pee pee is playin' hide an seek or sumptin?"

God helped me pee pee!

For a while we have taken a break from the "Pee Pee in the Potty" train. Kaylea hasn't seem interested and has wanted to move back to diapers. But this week she has been complaining of her diapers being to tight and scratching her. So I tried to explain to her this weekend that they don't make diapers any bigger because they expect girls her size to be able to go pee pee in the potty. And I urged her to try.

Well she didn't this weekend, but it was an eventful weekend with Dumbi new in our home and all. Also we reorganized her room and I think its the cleanest its been in a LONG time! Her play tent actually fits in her room now! She had way too many toys - most that she never played with or were for babies. So, it was time to clean them out. Going through the toys in her closet I alone filled two garbage bags full of toys that she didn't need or play with, etc. Not even realizing there was a whole other basket on top of her closet shelf! We cleared out some of the clutter in her room (got rid of the TV stand and put the TV on her dresser) and her room is now spacious and clean. We also hung her Hannah Montana posters and all of her hats on the wall. She wants to play dress up all the time now! But her room is not only cleaner and less cluttered but a place she can play - and she has discovered so many toys that she forgot she had! As I put her to bed last night she said, "Mommy! What did you do to my room? Its so beautiful!!!"

So, onto the peeing in the potty. Today she is at Mimi's like every Monday and she had asked Mimi to play playdough with her. Mimi said, "OK but how about we try to go pee pee in the potty first." She agreed and they went in there and she sat on the potty for a second and said, "Mimi I tried but I can't go, but I try." So she tried some different techniques that I've heard about and tried to do - (putting kayleas hands in water.... etc.) None of them worked and Kaylea was ready to give up. Mimi said, "I know let's say a prayer to God for him to help you go pee pee." So Mimi prayed to God to help Kaylea go pee pee and as soon as they opened their eyes, Kaylea started pee peeing like no tomorrow! Alot! She was surprised herself and mom said her eyes got real big! Mimi said, "See God helped you!". Kaylea said, "Who God? Da King of Kings?" Mimi said, "Yep thats him!" and then they sang a song together (King of Kings).

God works in mysterious ways! :-) When I called Kaylea she told me, "Mommy, God helped me pee pee!"

Week 5 Diet Update

This week I lost 3.2 more pounds. Thats a grand total of 26.7 pounds in 5 weeks! Pretty amazing eh? Next week is my last "paid week" of Medi Weightloss. So tonight I am going to finish posting some stuff on ebay, and I have some updates to one of my freelance clients websites that will be bringing in $100. I've gotta do what I can to stay on this program until I lose my goal which is 80 lbs. The program costs $70/week (pricey I know) but believe me it is worth it. I am living proof it is worth it. I haven't been able to lose weight in three years since Kaylea was born... not on my own... despite my efforts. But with this program it has really helped me and I feel great and healthy and its unbelieveable how different your body feels after losing 26.7 lbs!

(Just a side note - if you are reading my blog and interested in going to the medi weight loss center - in Trinity, FL - tell them you were referred by me and I will get 50% off one week!) Its worth it even if you only have 30lbs to lose!

In other good news - the gym that is training me (that I have done their website for) said they would allow me to have a "free pass" to work out there till the end of the year (if I get the website exactly how they want it of course! lol) No prob... I'm workin' out till the end of the year. That is a GodSend because I wouldn't be able to afford it on my own. If your looking for a place that specializes in personal training check out www.clubfitonline.com!

Thanks for all your prayers, thoughts, support and words of encouragement. I've needed them and still do. Now I need your prayers that I can make enough money freelancing and ebaying to keep on the program! (If you know a small business that needs an affordable website feel free to recommend me! http://www.snowbirdy.com/designs) I can work from here in FL and do a website in any state. I have a client in California and Kentucky right now! OK enough self promo. Gotta work! Talk to you soon.

Meet Our New Family Member!

Meet the new member of our family a loving and sweet "Dwarf Lionhead Rabbit" Kaylea has named Dumbo and "Dumbi" for short. Dumbi joined our family yesterday. We had gone to the pet store to just look at the animals. Kaylea is such an animal lover - not like her mama. She is really good with them too! Well she has been asking us for a pet for quite some time... and well e already know dogs don't do so well with her. Puppies and dogs while she likes them she is terrified of them at the same time, which is why we had to give Tootie to a new family last year. But she has been lovingly taking care of her "pretend" hamster now for about 2 weeks... carefully placing him in his cage, singing him lullabys and petting him and kissing him goodnight before she goes to bed. She even has me sing the hamster special lullabys at night time. I feel pretty silly singing to a pretend hamster in a pretend cage made from her Elmo purse.

So, what kind of pet could we get that she wasn't terrified of, stayed in a cage not all over the house all the time, and the biggest concern I had was that it wouldn't bite. As far as the biting goes the pet store lady gave us two choices - mice (yuck) or a bunny rabbit. So I went with #2.

We had picked out a bunny that had been living with a family so it was used to being held. It was a big fat lazy white bunny with brown spots. Kaylea already named it and we already payed for it - $14.99... not bad and she was really sweet - but shed alot. Just as we were getting ready to take "Susie" homethe owner of the pet store said he couldn't let us take her. When they inspected her cage they noticed there wasn't one single bit of poo in her cage. (A rabbit that doesn't poop? Perfect I thought!) But that meant she was really sick, and he didn't want to let us take her home and have something happen to her and Kaylea be even more upset. So, he offered us the first bunny we looked at that was $49.99 for the same price. After some negotiation and tears, Kaylea agreed and now she is in love with Dumbi! Also the good things are it is a dwarf rabbit so he won't get big and he doesn't shed at all! So say hi to our new little Dumbi!

If you have any tips on taking care of rabbits please give them to me!

My Ballerina Princess

Tuesday night Kaylea had her first ballet class. It was actually a trial class from one of "The Little Gyms". (Doesn't she look like me as a kid in this pic?) This class is called "Jazzy Bugs" and it is girls 3-4 years old. It was really cute all the girls were pretty much the same size and all adorable. They did 15 minutes of Tap and then 15 minutes of Ballet and then they did 30 minutes of tumbling and gymnastics. Kaylea really was catching on in tap and ballet even though it was only her first time. I was quite surprised! She kept making sure she was in the front of the class right next to the teacher though - that was funny! If she ended up in the back somehow she would run right up to the front of the class! She seemed to be making friends with some of the other girls in the class and was having a great time! When it got to tumbling she really wanted to play, but she listened better than I thought she would and tried all the moves they showed her with the jump rope and bean bag. Then she did two somersalts down a matted ramp (teacher assisted of course) and she even walked across the balance beam! She loved it so much she didn't want to leave - and we had to carry her out crying of course.

Since this was a trial class we could signup for it full time if we wanted. However, we decided to wait on this particular semester and sign her up instead for the summer semester. Every semester is 20 weeks and at the end they do a recital with costumes and everything - really cute. Well if we signed her up now, her recital would fall right in the middle of my trip to Chicago for work - and there is no way Mama is missing her first recital! Also, during the summer she doesn't have as much going on during the day since school is out so it would give her something to do and a chance to socialize with other kids during the summer. But she definitely enjoyed it and we did to!

The cool thing is The Little Gym does a "parents night out" once a month for 3 hours. They do activities, crafts, gym time etc while we get a chance to go to a movie together or have dinner with peace and quiet! It's only $30 and you'd have to pay a babysitter that! So we are excited to try that out!

By the way folks - you can leave a comment on here... they do work! I know you are reading the page but I never hear from anyone! I'd like to hear from you every once in a while and whats going on with you all! :-)