~Busy Busy~

Oh goodness.  I can't believe that I wasn't able to get to my journal this weekend!!  I feel so crappy... Because I so wanted to get on and "type-type" away.  Life just was way too busy this weekend for me to even think about actually sitting down and doing an entry.

Although, I was able to read some journals, but with close to 45 alerts in my In-box, I guess I'm still a little behind...

Okay, so you're probably wondering why in the heck I was so busy that I couldn't get on here right??  Well, I was.  Believe me!

Friday I did a bunch of errands... From taking Ro to school and picking her up, to going to the mall and spending money I didn't have to get a new outfit for the wedding I was going to on Saturday.

I ended up purchasing this really pretty black dress- less formal than the one I was planning on wearing- that 'wrapped' around and had really pretty broach on the side.  I was pretty happy because I got it on sale from $115 to $95.... But get this!  I had a $50 gift card, so I ended up paying only $45!!  Woo Hoo.  I did have to purchase a pair of shoes and some hose, but eh, its okay! 

It is okay, because I ended up having a blast at the wedding!!  I really didn't think I would, but I (we) did.  It was almost like a mini High School reunion!  Goodness, I had WAY too much fun, if you catch my drift... lol.

We hung out with the "Old Group" that we used to hang out and party with... It was so much fun and it brought a lot of memories back from "the good ol' days".  Amy and I just enjoyed ourselves and my mom did too :)  Sometimes, you just gotta have a "Girls Night Out".  hahaha.

But the wedding itself was pretty interesting to me, as a Non-Catholic.  It was long... about an hour and fifteen minutes and was just a little bit different compared to other weddings that I had been too.  It was nice though and it is always nice to see other types of weddings.

Sunday I spent recouperating.  Lol.  I've only been sick-sick once before after drinking, but Sunday made it my second.  I do not want to see Margaritas any time soon!!  Gosh, I couldn't believe how icky I felt afterwards... But like my dad said to me, "Don't do the crime unless you can pay the time".  And boy, did I pay!!!

Not much else has been going on in the Pickle Jar.  We've been just basically trying to stay Cool in the warm weather that we've been having lately.  The next few days, we'll be in the low 100's!  Ugh!  I guess we'll be spending plenty of time in the pool.  Thank goodness we have that, really.

It was actually so hot last night that poor Miss Rowan (who slept with me- I think we are regressing!! argh!) slept in just her undies.  And for me, it was just a Big Ol T-Shirt!  Normally, I usually wear PJ pants and a T-Shirt, but UGH it was too damn hot to wear that!!  No Lisa- We did not have the air conditioner on... Shoot me now for being that dumb, okay!!

Oh yeah, last night, I did talk to Barbie on the phone, for about a good hour actually!!  It is really neat to talk to someone on the phone that you really only talk to Online.  It is pretty funny how someone's true personality shines through when you talk to them online, because when I talk to Barbie on the phone, its just how I would think it would be!  So upbeat and funny!  So, thanks for the chat last night Barbie...

This weekend will be a very busy for me too, doctor appointment wise that is.  Today I have a doctors appointment, then on Wednesday Zach goes to his peditrician.  He also goes to the cardiologist on Friday.  Speaking of which, I have to get his prescription refilled because it will run out before we go there on the 15th.  Guess I'll have to jump through some hoops for that one... Gotta call the pharmacy to have them fax something to the doctors office... Yadda Yadda Yadda.

Oh well.  I think I've rambled on plenty this morning.  We've finally closed our month out, so now I can actually do something!  I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!!

::Ta-Ta::
~Jenn~

~I Love Swimming and a Funny Story~

                    
     *A Swimmer does the Crawl by Dugald Bremner/National Geographic*

Well, I went swimming again yesterday afternoon.  Actually, my friend Amy, Rowan and I went swimming.  Of course, Miss Rowan didn't do the laps that we did, but we all did swim together.  I did 80 laps last night.  I would have tried to hit my 100 mark goal, but my shoulder- that I jacked in High School- started to hurt, so I stopped.  Miss Rowan also was BEGGING to swim with out her water wings, so, that gave me a good reason to stop too :)

I don't know what was up with her yesterday afternoon though.  She didn't seem to want to swim the way that she was the day before.  I think it was because her Auntie was there and she was being "shy".  She did swim enough to knock her out last night... Haha.

Speaking of last night, I have a really funny story to share with you all.  Actually, its pretty funny and a tiny bit sad- for Rowan, that is.  Last night, my mom, Amy and I were watching "Underworld" in the frontroom while Rowan was in my bed, watching TV getting ready to sleep.  She called out what I thought was, "I have to go Pee-Pee", so I told her to go.  Well, about 30 mins later, as I was pulling Zach's meds and after we were done watching the movie, after Amy had left (it was a long time from the time she told me she had to 'pee'), I hear her crying... Hysterically!!  I make my way down the hall pretty quickly to my room, thinking she is crying in bed.  Well, when I find that she isn't in my bedroom, rather in the the BATHROOM, crying on the toilet.  What I thought was her saying she had to go pee, was actually her saying that she had to go "Stinkies"!!  My poor little girl had been waiting on the toilet, in a semi-lighted bathroom, for me to come in there!!  She was crying and saying she was scared!!  She told me, "I scared myself Mama, I scared"... I felt sooo bad for her.  I guess we didn't hear her over movie, calling for me to come wipe... lol.

I'm such a bad Mommy... She even told me that too!!  Haha... It took me a good 10 mins to calm her down.  And because I felt so bad because it all of it, that I just let her sleep in bed with me.  Poor thing, guess she'll start wiping herself (which she can!!) from now on...

Ah, I'm so happy that today is Thursday.  I am so just wanting to go home and go to sleep.  I know that isn't going to be possible, with having to take care of my children, but a Mama can always dream!  Its a good thing that Derek is off tonight too though.  That way I don't have to do everything on my own...

Tomorrow I am going to be oh-so-busy running around doing things.  Rowan has school, so I'll be having to take her there.  Then Zach-man and I will be heading off to Target (it is SOO nice going there that early!!!) to pick up some much needed items (baby food/formula, etc.) and some birthday presents.  My niece is turning 2 years old on the 14th and her birthday party is this Saturday, so I need to find something for her.  But what do you get a child that has everything?!?!  I also am picking up a present for my friend's son who is turning 4 on the 14th.  I gotta get that to the mail as soon as possible, because they live in Washington. 

Sometime on Friday I also have to try to make it to the mall!!  My mom, Amy and I are going to a wedding of a guy we went to High School with and I need to either get some shoes for a dress that I already have or purchase a whole new outfit.  I'm really thinking about the new outfit, because the dress I have is a tid-bit on the formal side, and I am not exactly sure what the "dress-code" of the wedding is going to be.  See, it is a Catholic wedding (I'm sure it will be a full blown ceremony too!!) at 2pm, with about 450 people in attendance.  So, I'm curious if a black dress with some beading (not a lot) would be too formal or not.  You guys got any thoughts on this???

See, I do have a busy weekend ahead of me!  I don't even know if I'll be able to relax at all.  After last weekened, I'm really wanting to just plant my booty on the couch this weekend, but I am so thinking that isn't going to happen.  Oh well, the more I move, the more weight I might loose, right!?!

I've been such a slacker on my reading you guys.  I was reading so much and just wanting to do it all the time that now I'm bummed with myself that I'm not reading as I should.  I haven't even hit page 50 in my new book by Jennifer Wiener, "In Her Shoes".  I should be like half way through it by now... But I'm not.  Hmm, maybe that is what I'll try to do this weekend, catch up with my reading!!

Good idea Jennifer, Good Idea!

Well, there is plenty to do today, so I guess I should be going.  I also don't have much else to really say.  I guess I'm being "Boring" as the AOL Journal Editor would say... lmao.  I hope I didn't bore you to sleep or to tears :o)

Have a good Thursday all.  I know I'm going to try to!!

::Hugs::
~Jenn~

~Its HUMP Day~

                 

Isn't she just the cutest?  I know I've possibly posted this picture before, but it fits the context of my entry to the "T".

My daughter is going to be the next swim star to hit the Olympics, some many years down the road.  She is very much enjoying her new found talent of swimming with out her water wings.  I can practically see how proud of herself that she is when she comes up from the water!

Last night, she was going really deep in the water.  Probably to my mid-thigh (it is about 4ft deep in the shallow end) and then coming up with the biggest smile!  All together, I think she was swimming about 10ft from the step where she'd "push off" to myself or Derek.  She is sure perfecting her swim.  We were also trying to get her to come up for air in our "practing" yesterday evening.  She just holds her breath the whole time she is under water.  And we were trying to get her to realize that she needs to come up for air, that way she can keep on swimming!

She was a little hesitant.  I think her swimming on her own right now is hard enough... Poor thing needs to take it one step at a time!!

But goodness, am I proud of that Little Girl.

Yesterday I began my first day of swimming.  I was originally going to do about 40 or so laps, but I ended up doing 70.  I actually at 50 decided that I wanted to do about 100 or so, but Miss Rowan came out, so I had to stop.

It felt good though.  And boy, did I sleep good.  My muscles are a little sore, but hey, its all worth it in the end right?  :o)  I'm going to get in the pool again tonight... Hmm, how many laps shall I do??

Lets see, lets see, what else can I ramble on about??.

Oh yes!  My Little Man is cutting his first tooth, or I believe he possibly is.  The poor guy just hasn't been himself.  Kinda cranky... Way more drewly than he normally is and everything is going into his mouth to be chewed on.  He also has a runny nose and has a little white spot on his bottom gum... He is only 4 months old... Miss Ro didn't get her first tooth until she was 8mons old!!  I guess my little guy is just Gung-Ho on life and he just wants to get started... haha.

He is also almost all the way over, rolling over that is.  I think in the next week or so he'll figure it out.  He hasn't been wanting to be on his back lately- because he has been so cranky- so I'm thinking this weekend will have some special Back Time and Tummy Time!!  Whenever we put him on his tummy now, he holds himself up really well and tries to scoot around!!  What a strong boy he is :D

I'm feeling like crap you guys.  Ever since yesterday morning, I've had this scratchy throat, stuffy nose and a foggy head.  I thought it could have been from all the stress/lack of sleep from the 4th, but it is getting worse!  Me no likey... Mama is even not feeling great... Which isn't good for a couple of reasons.  One, because she is the 'babysitter' and Two, because with more than one person in the house sick, the more likely others will get sick too!!

Ugh, no fun!!

Well ya'll, I gots to run.  Many things to do today... Hope you all enjoy the Hump Day!!

::Toodles::
~Pickle~

~Welcome Back~

Welcome Back to the Real World...

Where you are woken up at 510 in the morning by the baby starting to wake up...
Where you pop the binkie back in to get another 15 mins of sleep...

Where you have to get up at 540 in the morning to get ready for work...

Welcome Back to the Real World...

Where you leave your house at 650am to head off to work...

Where you stop and get gas and pay $2.51 for a gallon (Crap!)...

Where you drive 45 minutes in the traffic to get to work at 745am and hop onto the computer and say...

Welcome Back Friends!!

Yep, its time to get back to the real world... And I'm really not wanting to get back to it.

Having four days off was a really nice 'mini-vacation'.  And I'm super tired from yesterdays festivities!!

I'm such a freaking slacker though.  I was so busy doing things and trying to "Play Host" that this slacker of a Mother didn't take any pictures!!  I can't believe I did that... Duh Jennifer!!

It was a really great time though!  Plenty of friends, family, food and fun!!  We swam, ate, chatted, swam some more and then watched (and did) fireworks at the end of our court.

We had so much food you guys, it wasn't even funny!!  We BBQ'd hamburgers, hot dogs, and had BBQ chicken.  Then there were potato salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, spinach and artichoke dip, cheesie french bread and goodness, some yummy desserts!!  We'll be having plenty of left overs for the next few days... haha!!

Miss Rowan is becoming such a swim pro too you guys!!  I'm so proud of her.  We've been trying to get her to swim with out her floatings and she is finally feeling more comfortable with out them.  She has pretty much learned to swim under water, holding her breath and keeping her eyes open!!

She was doing so great.  Swimming from the steps to me or Derek... About 10 feet or so!  I couldn't get over it, how she just lost all of her fear and just started doing it.  I think she figured out that Mommy wasn't going to let anything happen to her and that she could actually do it, so she started to enjoy it!!

She actually wanted to swim from me to Derek, in the middle of the pool!!  Gosh, I wish I had gotten some pictures.  I know my sister-in-law did get some, so I hope when she emails them to me, I'll be able to post some for you guys to view!  That, or I'll just have to take some more today!!

See, I've decided to take my Unhappiness of My Body into my hands and put myself on a diet and excersise routine.

Because it is so hot in the evening when I get home (around 100 degrees) I don't want to take my kids out to go walking... So, I'm going to start swimming for an hour each day.  I figure I'll do laps until I'm tired and then spend the rest of the time swimming with Rowan.

Shot, I'm so sore from swimming with her yesterday, I think it is a pretty good plan!!  Then I'm going to limit my soda intake to One to Two Diet Pepsi's a day and the rest will be water... Water... Water...

So, thats my plan... I'm determined to loose some weights and inches.  I want new clothes and I don't want to be at the size I am... SO, if I loose weight, I'll have a GREAT excuse to get new clothes... hehe :)

Okay guys, I know this isn't the greatest entry, but I have so much to do from the past weekend and because yesterday was a Holiday, I need to catch up!!

Oh!  I'm doing a Summer theme for my journal, let me know what you think.  How are the colors? Do I need to change them??

Have a great week!!!  Love to all...

::Hugs::
~Pickle~

~Happy 4th~

Happy Fourth of July to all My Dear Friends In J-Land...

May your day be filled with fun and excitement and plenty of good food!!

Have a safe and sane weekend...

Be back tomorrow with pictures and details!!

::Hugs and Love From the Pickle Jar::

~Jennifer~

~Popping in During a Quiet Time~

It is pretty quiet right now in my house.  I'm not sure how long it will last.  The parents are gone again... Went to the bay area (Walnut Creek or somewhere like that) to go do some window shopping.  Rowan is playing with her Giant Building Blocks on the floor and Zach is napping.

The only thing I really hear is Rowan humming/singing along to "Phantom of the Opera".  Yes, Lisa, He is gorgeous... And yes, my three year old just loves the movie!!  I just love the music in this movie.  Right now, Christine is at the cemetery of her father and the song is just beautiful that she is singing. 

Ahh... Calming music.

Not much going on here today.  Once Derek is up this afternoon, I will be heading into my room to clean it.  I am notorious for putting all of our clothes on the couch in the room and just leaving them there.  Guess its almost like those people who use their treadmill for hanging their dry cleaning on!!  I suppose I should have all the rooms clean before the party on Monday.  We only have two bathrooms in this house, one in the hallway and one in our room... So, I suppose I should be prepared to have people going in and out of our room to use the potty in there...

Ugh cleaning.  No fun, no fun!!

Yesterday afternoon, Rowan's little friend Cameron, who is three and also our neighbor, came over with his Mommy to swim.  The kiddos swam for a little while while we chatted it up... And then they came into the house to play.  They both were hungry, even after having dinner, so we made them corn dogs and then they had fruit snacks... Okay, okay... So maybe it was the other way around ;) but they ate!

Its nice to be able to talk comfortably with another mommy.  Plus, it is really nice to have a Friend for Rowan.  Now I know these two will be inseperable over the summer!  They were already saying that they were wanting to play "again tomorrow" (last night).  So, I'm sure between today and Monday, they'll be playing again!

Well, my quiet time is now ending.  Zachary is fussing in his bassinet and Rowan is wanting me to come build "castles" with her.  This will be fun... Trying to tend to a four month old and build "castles" with my three year old!!  Thank goodness for two hands :o)

See you all soon... Hope all have a great fantastic weekend!!

::ta-ta::
~Pickle~

~Friday Ramble~

Okay, thought I'd jump on here and say Hello to everyone while I'm waiting for Ro's dinner to cook.  She wanted to have mac and cheese with hot dogs (that is mac and cheese with chopped hot dogs mixed in!!), so those are on the stove right now.

This morning my mom and I went for our mani's and pedi's... It is so nice to just 'get away' for a bit.  The girl did a really nice job on my toes.  She even painted red, white and blue stars on my big toes.  It is sooo cute!!  And I changed my nail tips from pink glitter tips to white with glitter.  They charge you an arm and a leg for your nails though!!  Ugh, oh well, they know you'll pay for it, so I guess that is why they charge ya!!

Rowan had a great day at school today.  She is really enjoying herself.  Although, she doesn't mind when you come and pick her up.  She is a Happy-Go-Lucky girl when you pick her up.  She tells you what she wants for lunch... Usually a Hamburger with Cheese and fries with Dippy-dip.  - Dippy dip is ketchup-  I don't always get her lunch, but sometimes!!

And today was that day... Yes, my child is spoiled, but hey! Thats okay :o)

I also went to Costco today.  That place can be a mad house.  And I can't believe I spent $175 on stuff for the BBQ on the 4th!  I guess it doesn't help that Derek invited everybody and anybody to our house.  I have enough food to feed J-land.  Okay, so not really, but I did buy 36 prepared frozed hamburgers and 2 packages of Casper Hotdogs (about 24 dogs).  Then there were the buns- I've never seen them so cheap for so many!! And the beer, soda and incidentals!  Ugh... 30 people at my house... Yippee.

Well I suppose I should go pull up Ro's dinner.  Heck, I just might join her in eating it too... Why should I cook some tortellini for just me??  (mom and dad are out to a movie/dinner date and D is working)

See you all soon...
Have a Safe and Sane Weekend if I don't see ya before!

::Hugs::
~The Pickle Gal~