Piece of Joy

Sadly, I little piece of joy was taken from me today.  I just got home from my softball game and we lost....we lost bad.  I played horribly!  No one had a good time (except the winning team) and it was just awful.  But once I got home and saw my husband, that joy was restored because of his love for me.  Today was special and a silly softball game was not going to take that away from me.  Here are some pictures of our new house!  Remember, we have some cleaning to do....

Living Room to the left

Kitchen

Kitchen Ceiling

Second Bathroom

Backroom area

Backyard

Hallway to rooms

Our bedroom

Our closet

Gavin's Room

Dining area (front door)

It's Official!

We are officially homeowners!!!  We had a little delay this morning, thinking that we would have to reschedule for later this afternoon or even tomorrow.  But it seemed as if God was rewarding our patience and we started signing papers an hour later.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it was gonna be.  I guess it's easier having a scribble as a signature than writing out my whole name (now that my last name is longer than Young).  :)

First thing's first, we have to change the locks, not to mention we need a new front door.  Next?  Not sure but Eric and I will be sitting down tonight to start a list.  Goodness gracious it's nice to say that we HAVE a house!  I have pictures of the whole house but I have to get the camera out of my car....and that's all the way in the driveway.  :)  I'll get it soon and post them tonight.  Stay tuned....

Countdown to Closing

We're all set!  Tomorrow morning, we will be handing in our money, signing papers out the ying-yang and given keys to our very FIRST house!  This is very exciting and I think we're down to 18 hours until then.  So....if you are free for the next 3 weekends or any weeknight, please let us know because we could definitely use your services!  Of course we can only pay you with food....

Sorry I can't write more.  Gavin is making a HUGE mess with his lunch!  The cleanup begins.... 

Days Off

I've been off of work for the past two days and yes, Gavin is with me.  AND I'm off all of next week too.  It's a staycation because 1. we have no money to go anywhere 2. Eric has to work 3. house stuff is happening next week.  We haven't done that much but it's just nice to know that my coworkers are working and I'm not.  :)

Yesterday, we met with our friends for a afternoon swim.  It was nice outside.  I also had a chance to workout.  I accomplished shoulders, legs and abs.  Today, it was nasty outside and we basically stayed in all day.  Unfortunately, I did not go to the gym tonight. 

This weekend is special weekend because Eric's dad is visiting from Korea again!  I just heard that he'll be landing around 12:30 tonight.  He has been traveling ALL day that's for sure.  Ok...it's bedtime...at least for a couple hours until Gavin gets up.  Good night!

Pictures I found on my mother-in-law's computer....

Running on Fumes

So I didn't get much sleep last night.  Maybe a total of 3-4 hours by 1 1/2 hours at a time.  Please pray that Gavin will go back to his wonderful sleeping habits.  And pray for me tha....t I can....get thr...ough....this.....da....y. 

Closing Time

So we're scheduled to have a closing date on Tuesday, July 27th!  We were told to turn on the water and electricity for that day as well.  Not sure why but at this point we will do whatever they ask of us.  And if you're all wondering if we're going to move in right away, the answer is no.  We want to work with an empty house so we can get things done quicker.  A friend told me to get it all done before we move in, otherwise, it won't get done.  So, we're nervous, anxious, a little scared but totally excited! 

Gavin hasn't been sleeping very well.  While I was sleeping, he woke up crying louder than usual.  I thought it was 4:30 and close to the time he would wake up so I just brought him into bed with me.  After realizing that it was only 12:30, I knew I made a big mistake.  Let's just say that he didn't go back to sleep till 2:00 this morning.
   
Last night, our softball game was cancelled so I went straight to the gym.  I love working out at night.  It's such a stress reliever and a way to use the energy I have left for the day.  Tonight is chest, triceps and abs!

Ho-Hum Weekend

Saturday afternoon was much needed and I am SO thankful to partake in such festivities for my friend's wedding preparations!  I think since I was such in a relaxed mode, the rest of the weekend was very ho-hum.  We didn't have anything planned really.  Friday night, I went to the gym.  Saturday night, our nephew slept over.  Sunday, we went to church, visited Grandmama, took a nap, ate dinner then went to bed. 

Side note about my nephew:  I need to start recording our conversations because that kid cracks me up!  Dylan has been in this phase of asking a ton of questions and it's funny how it drives Eric crazy.  Everything is 'what is that?' 'why did you do that?' 'why did you say that?' 'how do you do that?', etc.  He's also a big snuggler and for some odd reason he's obsessed with my belly!  Gotta love that kid. 

Tonight is softball then working out back, biceps and abs. 

Spa Treatment

I'm counting down the hours to complete relaxation!!!  Tomorrow afternoon, I will be getting a massage and a pedicure down in Tierra Verde!!!  Can you tell I'm super excited?  The last time I got a pedicure was right before I gave birth to Gavin.  Almost every pregnant woman gets a pedicure before their due date.  Then the last time I had a massage was after I gave birth to Gavin.  It was so nice to lay on my stomach at that time!  Needless to say, I'm dying for these treatments and I'm going to soak up all the relaxation I can!  I'm tempted to turn off my phone but you never know what might happen.  I'll  keep it on vibrate just in case. :)

Tonight, I'm working out shoulders, traps and abs as well as running.  Can't wait!!! 

Morning Cuteness

End of the Season

Well, we finished the Spring Season of co-ed softball.  Unfortunately, we did not win the Championship game.  It was SO close too!  We were ahead the whole game and then the last two innings really kicked our butts.  The other team had their power hitters really step it up and had us stumbling all over the field.  They caught up and beat us by 1 point.  We all were very disappointed but we played a good season and left with our heads held high.

Next week or the week after (I don't know), they're starting the Summer Season.  I was asked to play again and after confirming my availability with my husband, I'm in!  Funny story, my husband was acting like my agent with our friend, Chris (the coach); saying, "I'll let her play if you allow me to be part of your Fantasy Football League."  Then Chris gave a counteroffer, "I'll let you play in the Fantasy Football League if you allow Brooke to play for the next 3 seasons."  I'm glad they have MY best interest at hand.  :)

So....good-bye to my team That's What She Said and hello to our new sponsor Winghouse! 

Lazy Weekend

What did we do this weekend?  Pretty much nothing.  One would think that on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, a family would go out and have a fun day!  Not us.  As I recall, Eric did a lot of running around.  He cleaned the gutters, went food shopping, went to our soon-to-be house to see what needed to be fixed, etc. while I basically stayed indoors with Gavin.   

Friday night, however, I did go out with my old high school friend, Colette!  It was great to catch up and even talk about the old days.  Can't believe we have "old days" at our age.  We did not attend our 10 year high school reunion so we're gonna try and set up something on our own with the small group of people that we know.  That would be fun!

Saturday morning, Gavin and I cuddled until he fell asleep and starting sweating all over me!  I didn't want to wake him up (he is such a light sleeper!) so I just started sweating as well.  It was worth it.  Saturday afternoon, we did....nothing.  Saturday night, our friends came over for a friendly game of Rummy. 

Sunday morning, we attended our friend's baby's parent/baby dedication at their church then we ran over to our church for the message.  Afterwards, we did....nothing.  Later, Heather and Dylan came over.  I went swimming with the boys.  Dylan is turning into a little adult man.  He's talking to us like he's 30 years old!  In the pool, he says to me, "Hey, can I talk to you?  I just don't know what I'm going to do about tomorrow."  I had NO idea what he was talking about so I was going along with the conversation.  I still have no idea.  :)

No pictures or videos.  Sorry I've been slacking in that area.  Like I've implied, I've been lazy....

New Old Clothes

It's that time again.  This weekend I get to breakout the next clothing size for my little man.  He's almost 14 months old and he's already graduating the 18-month clothes!  How is that possible?  This morning, I put him in an 18-month jumper and as soon as he bent over the snaps came undone.  Gavin, we've all been there at one point or another!

Thankfully, we have a HUGE bin of hand-me-down clothes size 24-months (2T or 2YR).  There are also a few NEW items we received for Gavin's birthday!  I'll do my best to allow my son to grow up so he doesn't have to wear such tight clothing. 

To my friend, Brandi, I should have clothes coming your way soon!  :) 

Mr. Lopart

Every morning, Gavin and I watch Handy Manny on the Disney Channel.  Manny is the town's handyman and basically can fix anything....with the help of his talking tools!  Next door to Manny's shop is a candy store and the owner is Mr. Lopart.  Mr. Lopart is a very independent, no-help-wanted kinda guy.  Everytime Manny leaves his shop, he always sees Mr. Lopart in a sticky situation.  Manny always offers to help Mr. Lopart and Mr. Lopart always rejects it and then he always physically hurts himself!

This got me thinking.  How many times have you been offered help only to brush it aside and eventually reject it?  Are we really that independent where we could be robbing someone of their blessing to us?  I learned this last year when Gavin was born.  For the longest time, I kept thinking, "I don't need anyone's help with this newborn.  I can do it ALL by myself."  I soon found out that even though I probably could do it by myself, I shouldn't for the sake of my sanity.

In conclusion, we will be accepting any and all help when we finally get this house!  There will be LOTS of cleaning, fixing, building, painting, moving and decorating that will need to be accomplished.  :)

Give help and receive help!  It's what makes the world go round. 

House Inspection

Forgot to update you all on the details from our House Inspection this past Monday.  It went ok.  There were a few things the inspector noticed that would need to be replaced but for the most part everything looked good.  Unfortunately, the electricity wasn't on (not our fault) so the inspector is supposed to go back Thursday afternoon.  So far, there's a new roof and new water heater, however, there's also a broken window and mold on the ceiling in the garage.  We still got a ways to go but we're definitely getting closer!  The mortgage company says they have everything they need from us and everything else is internal paperwork like the inspection and the appraisal process.  We're still hoping to close before July 30th.  Keep praying! 

Blah

Sadly, there's not much to report.  As many of you know, it rained all weekend!  Also, I had a slight head cold so this weekend was pretty much spent in doors sleeping and watching tv.  Yay.

We did have a few highlights.  Friday night, we attended our church's annual Threshers game.  That was fun!  I think we spent more time talking than actually watching the baseball game.  Saturday night, we ordered the UFC Pay-Per-View and had some people over.  Eric somehow managed to fry any food he could get his hands on, including Oreos.  We woke up the next morning with greasy sweat on our faces!  Disgusting, I know.  Sunday morning, we attended church and had lunch with Pastor Joe and his family along with a new couple (The C couple) that started attending.  The C's are expecting next month and they are without a doubt an awesome couple to hang out with.  I just hope we didn't scare them away!  Sunday night, we lit a couple fireworks but nothing to "ooooh" and "aaaah" about.  It was more like "oh" and "ah".  :)  Monday, we did absolutely NOTHING!  I take that back, Gavin got his third haircut! 

Now back to the grind....sorry so blah.   

NEW Workout Website

Do you ever go to the gym and not know what to do?  Do you always repeat the same exercises?  Do you just run on the treadmill or the use the elliptical machine?  Do you get intimidated by the serious, focused men that workout? 

I used to say yes to all of these questions.  However, Brooke got her confidence back, people!  If you get intimidated by the muscular men that walk around, don't look at them!  If you just run on the treadmill, you're not toning to lose the flab.  If you do the same exercises every time, your muscles are going to remember and not be challenged.  Hence, the title of my entry.  I found a website where it can help you create workout plans as well as a diet planner...and it's all FREE!

http://www.fitclick.com/

This has helped me so much!  It gives me certain exercises to accomplish on the designated "strength training" days and tells me what to do for cardio on the "cardio" days.  And if you don't understand the name of the exercise, click on the name and it shows a video of an example.  Easy as pie, right?  Well, I've never baked a pie so I don't know accurate that statement can be.  All in all, it's a great website that I totally recommend!

Patience = Positive Response

Today on my lunchbreak, I went to the store for a few items.  After collecting them, I looked at the cash register lines and most of them were long.  Then I looked at the only "Self-checkout" line that was open and there was an elderly gentleman with quite a lot of groceries.  Since I was in a patient mood, I decided to wait in his line.  Once this elderly man noticed me, he started to panic.  He even said, "I'm so sorry, I'm trying to hurry."  I said, "No need!  I'm in no rush whatsoever."  What a relief to not be in a rush!  This man's face changed from panic to gratitude.  I offered my help but I think he wanted to prove that a man at his age could conquer the new technology.

It's weird (and Eric gets annoyed when I do this) but sometimes I like to test my patience.  (i.e. Purposely driving behind a slow driver or waiting in a line with a new employee behind the counter.)  All resulting with a positive response and attitude from others and yourself.  Then there were times when I had no choice but to wait with patience.  (i.e. Marrying the right man then being pregant for 9 months.)  Talk about the AMAZING results that developed!  The way I see it, patience is a good thing and produces a great character quality and a positive response from others.  So be patient!    

Amanda

Amanda is another friend/coworker that I just adore!  We've known each other for about 9 or 10 years now.  When I first met Amanda, I was part of a ministry called Forgiven that used sign language, original skits and plays to introduce the community to Jesus.  Most of the sign language was used during songs and it displayed a beautiful picture of the words!  Anyhow, Amanda came along and joined us.  I thought she was the shortest person I had ever met!  But her kindness, generosity and love for Jesus was something I noticed more than her height.  We became friends instantly and I don't remember a time when I wasn't laughing with her.  She is probably one of my funniest female friends.  Over the years, we have made a mother load of memories.  Too many to download right now.  I am very thankful for the friendship I have with Amanda.

In fact, she's the one who told me about the job that I have now.  I was working as a bank teller and she knew I didn't really enjoy my job.  So, one morning she called me and said, "Brooke, we're hiring for an accounting position.  You should apply!"  And I think we all know how that went down.  There was a time when Amanda and I not only worked together, we lived in the same apartment complex, had the same friends, both drove Saturns (still do) and attended the same church.  I used to think we were like twins; only I was taller.  Silly, I know.  Oh, and did I mention that she was one of my bridesmaids?  

Escorted by Groomsman Damon Lister
(Sorry Amanda, I couldn't find a more recent picture)

Spiritually, this girl is always being challenged and growing in ways that could only come from the Lord.  It seems like everytime I talk to Amanda about her walk with Christ, she's always learning something new from Scripture.  She's constantly evaluating her decisions and making sure she's doing it for the Lord.  Easier said than done.  And since I know she secretly reads my blogs, I won't mention her downfalls.  :)  In all honesty, Amanda is a forever friend.  If you're ever having a bad day, talk to her and you'll be laughing your butt off in an instant.     

Singin' In The Rain

It was more like Playin' In The Rain last night.  Our co-ed softball team (That's What She Said) had a victory win that puts us in the Championship Game!  We were supposed to finish off the season but the weather told us differently.  But like I said, we won last night's game and it was played in the pouring rain.

The game started off just fine.  A little dark in the background but the sun will still shining.  My hitting was awful for some reason but I did have an RBI!  We managed to always stay ahead of the other team.  Mid-game, that dark background became the whole scene and soon enough it started raining.  They didn't call the game because there wasn't any lightning.  The softball was slippery and it was difficult to get a good grip on the baseball bat.  Not to mention that rain was in our faces and our clothes were drenched. 

Not sure if we're playing the Championship game next Monday (July 5th) or the Monday after.  Most offices are closed on Monday as an Observed Holiday....I know we are!

Side note:  Eric and I are thinking about ordering the UFC 116 Pay-per-view at our house if you're interested.  It's still not confirmed though.  He's also considering making these (idea courtesy of Jeff Koroknay):

Bacon Cheese Turtle Burgers

How To Defeat The Green-Eyed Monster

Lately, if not my whole life, I've been jealous of others.  In all honesty, I don't know one person that hasn't encountered the Green-Eyed Monster before.  Admitting it is just the start to conquering this deadly beast.  Without going into detail, there have been friends and even family members that I used to envy.  Whether it was popularity, possessions or promotions, I always struggled with wanting what everyone else had.  Someone just recently told me that everyone's situation is different and that things may seem great on the outside but we don't know what truly happens behind closed doors.  Interesting....

So, how have I defeated my Green-Eyed Monster?  By counting my blessings!  Here a few of the MANY blessings God has given me (listed in no particular order)....

Faithful, loving husband
Beautiful, healthy son
My salvation; knowing I'll live in Heaven for eternity!
My health
Supportive family
Incredible job
Friendly church family
Amazing friends
And just recently, our soon-to-be first house!

Yes, that's right....the seller's bank gave the OFFICIAL approval of our offer!  We just found out this past Friday.  Now we get to start the inspections and appraisal processes as well as submitting general financial information to our lender.  They said they're shooting for a closing date mid-July!  I know my exclamation points may sound like I'm extremely excited but I'm still containing it until those house keys are in my hand.

So the real question is, what am I jealous of again?!    

Trash the Dress

Ever since our wedding, I've been wondering what to do with my wedding dress.  Do I hold onto it in hopes of having a baby girl who will wear it for her wedding?  Maybe.  Do I rent it to another bride?  Probably not.  Do I donate it to Goodwill?  No way.  Do I sell it and try to make a profit off of it?  Not likely.  Or do I wear the dress again and get it dirty for some awesome photographs?  Definitely possible! 

It's called "Trash the Dress" photography.  Brides wear the gown again and go to places like the beach, downtown, the park, or even in the rain for a photo shoot.  The best part is you don't have to worry about it getting dirty! 

Now that I can fit into my wedding gown again, I'm anxious to get some Trash the Dress photos done.  However, with the weather being so hot, I'm delaying my proactive desire.  Maybe I'll surprise Eric for our 2nd Anniversary..... 

Stay tuned!

My Little Diaper Prince on the Throne

This morning, Gavin was all smiles and wanted to run around with his teddy bear.  He also loves playing with the clean diapers so I put one on his head as a hat.  Enjoy!

Then he wanted to sit in his rocking chair that we purchased this past weekend at a garage sale.  Only $2.00!

I love my little prince!

Recap: Father's Day

Father's Day was exceptionally wonderful yesterday because everything went according to plan.  Don't you just love it when that happens?  All the surprises surprised Eric, all the food tasted good and all the time spent was family quality time.  It was great!

Gavin and I woke up early like we usually do....6:00 a.m.  We spent some time playing before we went to go wake up Daddy.  I always love those "Gavin and me" times in the mornings. :)  Then we got the present and quietly snuck into bed to gently wake up Eric with smiles on our faces.  Gavin was already peeling off the wrapping paper before Eric could finish reading the cards.  So they opened it together and he was surprised to find his very own electric deep fryer!  His face was beaming and then he started laughing. 

What you didn't know was that the night before, he had a craving for onion rings.  After he made them in the frying pan (and they were ok), he said, "Ugh....I'm not gonna eat fried food anymore!"  I was not worried whatsoever because when he says he's not going to eat a certain food, he doesn't really mean it.  I cannot tell you how many times I've heard, "Ok....I'm giving up peanut butter!" only to find the purchased item on grocery receipts every other week.  So, I knew he was going to love the deep fryer.  After Eric remembered what he had said the night before, it quickly left him as he was thinking about all the foods he could fry and even jumped to the idea of having a frying party! 

Next, I surprised him with another gift....coffee.  But this isn't just any ordinary coffee, this was Jamaican Blue Mountain; his FAVORITE coffee.  I could only find it at Costco and it was only available whole bean style.  So earlier last week, I texted our friend, Chris, to see if he could get Eric out of the house so I could grind the beans.  That was a challenge!  Chris had called Eric to see if he wanted to grab a drink Wednesday night.  Eric's response, "Nah..."  I kept encouraging him to get out but he just wouldn't have it.  Instead Eric asked Chris if he wanted to go for a walk around the neighborhood (with drink in hand).  Chris didn't want to but gave in....thinking that it would help me anyway.  Long story short, I only had time to grind enough coffee beans for Sunday morning's coffee.  So thank you Chris for helping me out!  Obviously, I brewed his favorite coffee Sunday morning and he LOVED it!  He can grind the rest on his own time. 

Another surprise which lasted all day believe or not, I cooked.  I made Eric breakfast; pancakes stuffed with sausage, sausage links and eggs.  That's right!  Then for dinner, I made our favorite Poppyseed Chicken Casserole and salad.  My dad and the girls came over for dinner as well.  Good thing I made two casseroles because everyone was taking seconds!  After dinner (and even before), Eric was already using his deep fryer.  He was making donuts and trying to perfect his skills.  They were good! 

Then Eric and I ended the night by watching a movie together.  We watched The Book of Eli.  It was VERY interesting and I want to watch it again just to analyze everything that happened.

So it was a super, fantastic Father's Day!       

A Couple's Must-Read

I'm not a big reader.  Never have been, probably never will be.  However, there are on rare occasions when I will pick up a book to better my marriage.  Let's be honest, no marriage is perfect and every marriage has room for improvement.  When we got married, we received books recommended by our friends and we've enjoyed them.  But there were 3 books that really stood out to us.  Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey and Sheet Music by Dr. Kevin Leman.

Love & Respect has taught us what the other spouse truly desires as a human being.  The woman desiring love from her husband and the man desiring respect from his wife.  The interesting part I learned was that the Bible demands that the husband love his wife and the wife respect her husband because we're not built that way!  We even attended a Love & Respect seminar and we received some good, applicable information.  For example, I learned how exactly I can show my husband respect.  Didn't know how till I read it with my own two eyes. 

Total Money Makeover has taught us to avoid one of the biggest problems that couples face....financial issues.  After Eric read this book, he did a total 180!  This simple (and I mean simple) concept of paying off debt while living a frugal life has helped us tremendously considering the amount of debt we married into.  No fingers were being pointed as to which debt belonged to whom because since we're married, we are ONE.

Sheet Music has been teaching us (we're in the process of reading it now) about sexual intimacy within a marriage.  This book has been so much fun to read for obvious reasons.  I have never read anything like it before.  I'm usually a slow reader.  It probably took me well over a month to finish the first mentioned book.  But Sheet Music, I'm on my third day and I'm 2 chapters away from being done.  It's recommended to all married couples and even couples that are engaged (just be sure to skip the chapters he tells you to skip.)

So, like I said, I'm not a big reader but I would definitely recommend these books for any couple at any stage of their marriage....or soon-to-be marriage.  :)    

Andrea

Friends will come and go.  Sadly, I've lived by this motto my entire life.  For some reason, I can't hold onto a close friend for decades at a time (I hope nobody takes offense to that statement.)  My husband, on the other hand, still hangs out with his friends he's had since elementary school....which I envy.  So, every now and then, I'm going to write about the friends I have at this moment in my life.

Andrea is up first.  When I met Andrea, she was quiet, sweet, innocent (still is), and just angelic to me.  We've been working together for 7 years now!  She's our copy chief.  If you want a word spelled correctly or a sentence to make sense, see Andrea!  I enjoy Andrea's friendship because she's a great listener and makes me feel like I'm the funniest person in the world....or at least in the office.  :) 

We have definitely made some memories over the years....too many to talk about.  I feel like she has helped me during the most critical moments in my life.  She helped set up the reception hall for my wedding.  One of my baby showers was held at her home (which is always spotlessly clean!)  And she bought Gavin one of his favorite items....a chair.  :)

I always love to hear where she's going next.  This girl LOVES to travel!  She's been to Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Savannah, New Orleans and all the way across the state to Orlando and St. Augustine, FL!  She's also traveled to Hawaii, Australia and even Lebanon!  Andrea has a true love for New York City though.  From what I know, I think she tries to go at least once a year.

What impresses the most about Andrea is her faithful devotion to the Lord!  She's constantly serving where God is calling her.  I know she helped out with the church's youth group as well as BSF's children's program.  Honestly, she should've been an elementary school teacher!  Andrea's knowledge of God's Word just astounds me.  I guess attending Christian schools had somewhat to do with that. :)  Also, her convictions and moral standards are something to be copied.  I wish I would've known her better when I was going through my rebellious stage so she could possibly talk me out of certain things.  After 7 years, Andrea is definitely still angelic in my eyes.

So, that's Andrea.  She's an amazing Christian with a great sense of humor, a desire to see the world, an eye for editing, and a heart to serve the Lord.  Isn't she beautiful?!

Pass or Pass Out?

As I'm sure most of you know, Florida has been very humid lately (and that's an understatement).  It's affecting my cardio decisions.  I've been trying to get outside for either a long brisk walk or a slight jog as my cardio workout.  I must say that this humidity has caused my easy-breezy jogs to turn into a struggling challenge!  Sometimes I want to pass on jogging but then I feel guilty.  Then while I'm jogging, I just want to pass out!   

Last night was fun for me.  My nephew, Dylan, came over and we went for a nice, relaxing swim.  Gavin joined us and had a few unexpected dips underwater.  But for the most part I think he enjoyed being in the water.  Dylan cracks me up.  He's 5 years old and he has been saying whatever is on his mind!  For instance, while we were swimming, he touched my tummy.  Dylan then says to me, "Aunt Brooke, your tummy is soft and cuddly."  I tried to take it as compliment and said, "Well thank you Dylan."  But does this 5 year old leave it at that?  Of course not!  He proceeds to repeat his first comment and then adds that my belly feels like a pillow.  Nice.  Then Dylan decides to venture a little higher on my body.  "I know you have boobies in there somewhere."  "Yes, Dylan, I do....somewhere."  Gotta love kids at that age!

After our swim, Gavin went to bed, Dylan went home and I went for that 2-mile challenge of a jog.  I succeeded and I noticed that I could've gone for another mile BUT it was sundown and I didn't want my husband to worry.  Tonight, I'll be working out with Jillian Michaels DVD style.  My goal is to keep up with her reps and her pace and to make it through the whole DVD.  I'm almost there.  Still perfecting the form (which is the most important).  The desire to become a personal trainer is still in the back of my mind.       

Playoffs

Last night, my co-ed softball team (That's What She Said) had our first game in the playoffs.  It seems like every game makes me nervous.  My heart races a mile a minute and at some moments I can't breathe correctly.  Go ahead, call me a drama queen if you want!  :)  It's definitely an adrenaline rush for me though. 

My position is catcher.  I like being a catcher.  In fact, I've had quite a few surprising plays at home plate.  The other teams definitely underestimate a girl catching a ball that was throw all the way from the outfield to tag a guy out at home plate.  AW YEAH!  There were even times when I caught some foul tips; one almost hit me in the face.  I certainly have bruises to show the true brutality of this recreational sport. 

Anyway, we won last night.  In fact, we ended the game early because we were so good.  I don't know all the rules but apparently after the 5th inning, if your team is ahead by 10 points then you win.  So yay for us!  Next Monday our game, and hopefully not our last, is at 7:00 p.m.  And if we win then we will play for the championship at 9:00 p.m.  I'm so nervous that my heart is pounding now just thinking about it!       

Thankful

As most of you know, Father's Day is coming up.  I had a little chat with Gavin and we're really excited about our gift for Eric!  Just have to finish the last minute details and we're set.  Yes, Gavin picked it out all by himself!  I am so thankful for Eric and the amazing father he's become.

Lord, thank You for providing a trustworthy, godly husband for me to follow and to love whole-heartedly.  Thank You for the awesome assurance that Eric knows and loves You in which he completely trusts You with his life and that of our family's.  I pray that he will always look to You when he needs guidance, wisdom, understanding and peace as our spiritual leader.  Lord, I pray that we can always find ways to improve our marriage so we can be a godly example for our son.  Thank You for Your many blessings that I don't deserve.  It's all these things I pray in Jesus' Name.  Amen.         

Last year was nice and, from what I remember, extremely hot!  That morning, I think I cooked breakfast....don't ask Eric because he'll probably say I didn't.  :)  After that, we attended church.  The real surprise was after church.  I took Eric to Clearwater's Aquarium.  Little did I know that it was small, outside, and a rehab center for sealife.  So, yes, we were miserable.  Gavin loved it because he slept the whole time!  Eric enjoyed it because of the thought that went behind it.  I love surprising my husband!  Here are some pictures from last year's Father's Day.  

My Muscle Man

My Sleeping Babe

Happy Father's Day 2009

New Favorite Website

My friend, Andrea, sent me a link because she thought I would get a kick out of it.  Let's just say that I got a stomach cramp from laughing so hard.  Here's my new favorite website:

http://www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

I am definitely adding this link to my "Daily Stops."  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Is It Ok To Cry?

Of course it is!  I've been crying every day this week!  And since I don't wear makeup, I love crying even more....don't have to worry about racoon eyes now!  In all seriousness, I think crying is therapeutic.  It's an amazing form of expression and release for sadness, happiness and even anger.  For me, it's been sadness for the past two days.

Tuesday morning, I received a text message from my dad, "I have an appt tomorrow to take Billy in...like the song goes, 'Time to say goodbye.'  My boy is 16."  Billy was our oldest of four beagles but most importantly, he was my stepmom's baby.  She LOVED Billy so much that she treated him like a little child.  I will always have the memory of Connie singing, "Good morning, good morning!" to Billy and he would jump on her and they would just dance in the living room....obviously every morning.  He was definitely the favored one of all the beagles. 

So yesterday morning, my dad took Billy to the animal hospital.  Later that day, he described (in what seemed like vivid detail) the process of what happened....all while I'm driving!  It was sad.  It's very difficult to know that Billy is gone because it feels like another piece of Connie has been taken away.  Thank the Lord for memories and pictures.  If you think of it, pray for my dad. 

Dad, it is ok to cry.

Bye Bill....

On the couch left to right:  Billy, Maxwell, Angel (passed 2009)

Bottom:  Snooper (passed 2006)

   

Body Wash Vs. Bar Soap

Ever since I can remember, I have been using body wash in the shower.  I love the moisturizing feeling I have throughout the day.  No dry skin whatsoever!  All I have to say is never send a man to get a woman's toiletries....

Yes, I ran out of body wash and since Eric is in charge of the spending money, I asked him to go out and get that and some "other things."  I don't think I give myself enough credit for knowing my husband as well as I do.  When he came back, guess what he bought?  Do I even have to ask?  I hate dislike bar soap for so many reasons that will probably be brought up throughout this entry!  I understand that he was trying to save money but he just bought his wife insanity instead.  As for the "other things", I will give him credit for buying the correct brand; the size is another issue.  Ok, back to the soap.  For one, there's no moisturizing factor!  Even though the label says "Moisture Blast", not once did I experience any blasts of moisture from that certain bar of soap.  Also, it's very difficult to use a bar of soap with a loofa.  It doesn't lather like body wash does.  So, since there's no lather, I've had to use Eric's shaving cream to shave!  Needless to say, I have the scent of a man.  As you can tell it's been a very difficult week in the shower for me.   

I want my expensive, moisturizing, loofa-friendly, girly-smelling body wash back!

Chuck E Cheese

Here's a video from Gavin's first time at Chuck E Cheese:

And wouldn't you know, I have pictures too.  But there are only a few because if you read yesterday's blog, you'll know why.

And that's all she wrote.

Rollercoaster

This weekend, I definitely had my ups and downs.  I'll describe my "Ups" first.

Ups:
Spent Friday night with my dear friend, Kelly; walking & talking on the beach then eating ice cream. 
I took a nice 2-mile walk with my mom Saturday morning.
Celebrated my nephew's birthday at Chuck E Cheese Saturday afternoon.
Tried on my wedding gown and it fit!
Did 5 loads of laundry.
Received many compliments from my church family.  I love them!  
Celebrated a friend's birthday Sunday afternoon.

Downs:
Gavin was fussy.
It was ridiculously HUMID outside...and still is.
I took a bunch of videos and pictures from my nephew's birthday party but most of them were "file errors" when I tried to download them.
My boobs shrank.
I didn't get to clean our rooms.
I felt like my husband was rushing me so I couldn't talk to everyone at church.
Gavin was SO fussy that we had to leave our friend's birthday party early.
And to start the week off, I had a continuous bad dream where everything I've been worrying about came true. 

How was YOUR weekend?

Received some pictures from my brother's wedding reception.  Enjoy!

Daddy and Gavin

Mommy and Gavin

G-Man Himself

The Koroknays

The Koroknays and The Youngs

My Immediate Family

Two Families Combined

Congratulations Brandon and Renee!!!

Which Occupation Direction?

Earlier this year we found out that More 2 Life (Eric's work) was not going to be funded by the government for the next school year.  We got nervous about which direction to take.  Eric looked at jobs online but not aggressively because he had till September.  A couple months ago, he worked part time for Stages Productions as an actor. 

I LOVE when Eric performs!  He is so talented in many ways and to see it all performed on stage really takes my breath away.  Gavin has been to two of Eric's performances and he just sits in my lap and stares in awe of his daddy. 

Anyhow, for about a month, he's been torn as to what to do about a job in September.  Could he still work for M2L if it's not funded?  Could he work for Stages until he heard word about M2L?  Or could he work full time for Stages?  It seemed as though everything we were waiting on depended on M2L.  Eric really enjoys working for them because he really noticed the impact he made on the students' lives.  He received a lot of confirmation  that teaching is what he really wants to do! 

For awhile now, we've been praying for wisdom regarding Eric's job.  We wanted to make sure that he was doing the Lord's will for our family.  And after a fun conversation between Eric and Rick (Stages owner), he decided to work full time with Stages Productions starting in the Fall.  I asked, "What if M2L continues?"  Eric's response, "I'm gonna have to say 'no'."  I'm excited!  We don't have to worry about Eric not having a job and my talented husband gets to perform on stage again.  May I add that he will also be taking classes to get his teaching degree....

Yes, I love my husband and I trust that whatever direction he takes that he's following the Lord for the sake of our family.  Thank you, Lord, for an amazing husband!

      

UFC

When Eric first starting getting into UFC, I hated disliked it very much so.  All the punching, wrestling, blood and cauliflower lookin' ears.  It disgusted me because I have a weak stomach for things like that.  But if my husband enjoyed watching something that brutal then I wasn't gonna stand in the way. 

At first, he would just watch the UFC Pay-Per-Views at someone's house or a very crowded Winghouse.  Then about a year ago, he found the tv show The Ultimate Fighter.  It's basically a reality competition tv show.  A bunch of guys split into two teams and fight till there are two guys left.  Then those two guys will fight on a UFC Pay-Per-View.  Since we have one tv and I'm such an awesome wife to partake in my husband's interests, I was forced to watch.  And wouldn't you know it, I actually like it!  I think it's because of all the drama that goes on; coaches hating each other, unsportsmanlike conduct, controversial endings of a fight, cockiness, etc.  The show really portrays the fighters' character and their passion.  I definitely have my favorites as well as my unfavorites.  As much as I enjoy the drama, I find myself enjoying the fights as well.  Even though my body is tense for possibly 3 rounds of 5 minutes each, it's worth seeing these guys fight. 

All of that to say, June 12th is the next UFC Pay-Per-View!  Anyone want to join forces and watch it together?!  If so, let us know....  

Sudoku

Yes, I am a Sudoku freak.  Since I'm in accounting and numbers are somewhat easy for me, it's a way to unwind and relax.  The really tough puzzles make me feel smarter if I accomplish them.  There's just something intriguing about those numbers that are placed strategically in one grid.  It amazes me even more that there are over 100 Sudoku puzzles in just one book!  I love lying in bed with the tv on, Sudoku and pen in hand, and conversing with my husband.  Talk about multi-tasking!  On a more personal side, sometimes I leave a Sudoku book in the bathroom for those longer-than-usual moments.  :) 

I remember when I was introduced to Sudoku for the first time.  It was about 5 years ago when I was trying to accomplish the Jumble from the newspaper.  Then on the same page, I saw this grid with numbers.  I read the directions and attempted my first Sudoku.  Failed.  And since I wrote in pen (like I usually do) I had to recreate the puzzle on a different piece of paper.  Success!  It must've been a Monday because the newspaper always starts the week off with easy puzzles.  But with that simple success grew an obsession with Sudoku!  Someone even bought me a board game because they knew I loved it so much.  It's amazing how far a simple accomplishment takes us.  Five years later and I'd like to call myself a Sudoku Pro.  No, I do not offer training sessions.  Sorry.  :) 

Exhausted from Sickness

I feel like we missed out on a lot this weekend because Gavin was sick.  However, his health takes priority over any plans we may or may not have in stone.  When we picked him up from daycare Wednesday night, he had a slight fever and was extremely cranky. 

Thursday, we made Gavin stay home because his fever was more than slight.  Thankfully, Grandpa didn't have to work that night which means he didn't have to sleep during the day which means that he was able to take care of Gavin the whole day.  Did you get all that? 

Friday, he still had a fever but it went back down to slight but added really runny nose and awful cough.  Wanting to be "Supermom", I went to work for a couple hours to finish my week then went back home to take care of my baby.  It seemed as though he was getting a little better until the night came upon us.  Gavin's fever was still lingering, his runny nose turned into a faucet and his awful cough was the worst sound we ever heard!  It was mighty difficult to put him to sleep that night. 

When Saturday came, we were exhausted.  Gavin got worse and added red, watery eyes to the picture.  Might I add that he wasn't eating or drinking his usual servings which scared the crap out of me.  So Saturday morning, we decided to give him some fresh air.  We went to the park for a walk around the trail then we had to stop by the fish store to get water.  Wonder whose idea that was?  Gavin still wasn't feeling well so we put him down for a very long nap.  Thankfully I got to have a very long nap as well.  Saturday night, we ordered the UFC fight on pay-per-view that didn't start till 10:00.  At first, our eyelids were fighting to stay open but we managed to make it through all three hours of it! 

Sunday morning, Gavin slept in till 11:30 a.m.!  That was a shocker for us!  Everyone and their mother says to never wake a sleeping baby....so needless to say, we missed church.  He was still under the weather with those red, watery eyes, that awful cough where he can't catch his breath and that runny, snotty nose that he tries to clean up with his tongue.  Gross, I know.  We took another walk outside just to breathe in that fresh, yet hot and humid, air.  After that we pretty much laid around doing nothing.  Sunday night, our friends, Damon and Chris, came over for a friendly game of Spades.  Chris and I were on a team and then there was Eric and Damon.  Chris and I EASILY won the first two games; yes, the FIRST two.  And since I have such a competitive husband, we had to go a third round.  Unfortunately, we didn't win and they decided to celebrate with a victory Robot dance which I should've gotten on video.  This friendly game of Spades started around 9:00 p.m. and didn't end till 1:00 a.m.  Let's just say that I haven't laughed that hard in a very long time!

Monday.  Happy Memorial Day!  Gavin woke up all smiles and I could tell that he was healed.  I thought we could go out to the beach or the park but instead we decided to go through our junk.  I have about 2 garbage bags full of Goodwill items.  We boxed up all the stuff that we don't use and now it's out of our way.  I guess we did our Summer cleaning!

So sorry but I didn't take any pictures or videos this weekend.  But I don't think I would be a fit mother taking a picture of my sick baby.  Have a great week and I'll see you tomorrow!