Hello spring!

Wow, it's been awhile since I wrote on here.  I wish I had more time to write and more things to say.  Life has been hectic.  Since the winter was filled with sicknesses I have been spending a lot of time catching up on things that need done around the house.  There is so much clutter.  Too much.  We also have several friends who have been begging for play dates and I have unintentionally been putting that off. 

It's officially spring now!  Yippee!  I had no problem saying goodbye to winter.  Like we do every year we welcomed the first day of spring with a trip to Rita's to get a free Italian Ice.  My husband didn't join us because he had work and then a doctor appointment after so the three of us went without him. 

We have been dealing with some issues here at home and I'd rather not get into it right now but I'm so thankful that I have a husband who is willing to stay by my side regardless of anything we may face.  He's been wonderful and I am appreciative of him. 

With everything going on we did manage to get away a few weekends ago.  We took a trip to Harrisburg to see a monster truck show and then drove a few miles to Hershey to visit Chocolate World, one of our favorite places to visit.  They have a free ride that explains how the candy is made and then you are presented with a small piece of candy at the end.  So yummy!

I am currently painting the master bedroom and so far I have two walls done.  Since we have a lot of furniture and stuff in the room I am doing one wall at a time.  I absolutely love the new color.  I will share pictures when it's all complete.  The entire week I have spent painting and cleaning up the room.  My husband doesn't like to paint but I find it relaxing and therapeutic.  We took part of the tax return money and purchased a new bed and end tables.  We also ordered new windows for all three bedrooms and that should be ready to be installed soon.  

I guess that's it.  I wanted to take a break from the busyness and write a post and catch up on some other blogs I enjoy reading. 

Snow Storm "Stella"

We had a very mild winter this year.  Last month it reached 70 degrees.  It was so amazing.  I love the warm weather.  But then winter decided to show up and just one week before spring!!!!! 

My kids and husband had off on Tuesday and Wednesday and then a delay on Thursday because of a snow storm that hit us on Monday night into Tuesday evening.  We didn't get the amount that was expected but it was over a foot of snow.  There was also a lot of sleet and wind, which made things very messy.  Since my husband is recovering from ankle surgery I had to do all the shoveling and yes I selfishly complained and hurt my back but it's what I have to do.  My son willingly helped and he was amazing.  I couldn't have done it without him.  My daughter offered to help but pretty much ate some snow and used a small sand shovel.  She was more interested in playing than shoveling and that's okay.  She's 5.  The wind made it difficult to actually enjoy the snow so we had to take a lot of breaks.  Thankfully the driveway is clear. 

I do not like snow and I do not like cold. 

One week until spring ... I think??

Parents Night At Dance

On Monday during dance class we were able to watch our little girl in action.  They only allow parents to watch class twice in the year.  It's great to see just how far she's come in the year.  She loves to dance and does it so gracefully.  I just love watching her and can't wait for the recital in June.

This is her second year of dance and it's a class that has a combination of tap, ballet and creative movement.  She's only learning the simple basics but I do believe she's ready and capable of learning so much more.  I hope dance is something she wants to continue with throughout her school life.  I believe dance is what she was meant to do, or some type of performance.  

She loves dancing and singing.  She is always putting on shows for us in the living room and any time there is music she starts to gracefully move around.  In fact, even if there isn't music she's dancing.  All the time.  It's so cute.  She loves kicking her leg up and can do it really high.  She also loves spinning around in her own version of a pirouette. 

5.5

Last week my baby girl celebrated her half birthday.  I don't make a huge deal on the half birthdays but I do like to recognize them.  I can't believe she's 5 1/2.  Time is flying by.  She may only be 5 but she sometimes acts 15.  I mean, she's already boy crazy and loves wearing makeup.  She would wear makeup every day if I let her but I don't even let her leave the house with the stuff on unless it's her dance recital. 

She's so much fun and always keeps me laughing.  She's also quite a hypochondriac I think.  Every day it's something new.  Some pain somewhere on her body.  It's so hard to tell if she's being honest or not and it's frustrating.  Last month we were talking about diabetes and she said, "I had that last year."  Uhh ... no you don't.  Luckily I haven't received a phone call from the school nurse in awhile.  It's usually because she has a headache or stomach ache.  I always tell them to send her back to class.  It gets ridiculous.  Although once last month she did throw up and I did pick her up. 

She also has a big heart and is very sensitive.  She cares about other people.  When I told her about the death of her cousin she cried a lot.  She doesn't even remember her cousin but I guess it was the thought of losing a cousin that upset her.  She's also willing to help her grandmother.  

This girl is all about everything girly.  She loves wearing skirts and dresses and if she asks to wear a dress and I say no it can turn into a total meltdown.  She still wants to be a princess when she grows up.  I'm not sure how that's going to happen but I think it's adorable.  Her favorite animal is zebra and you will find zebra print stuff everywhere in her room.  She has been learning how to read and has started being able to solve basic math problems.  She amazes me. 

Recent Briannaisms:

"When I grow up I want to become president and I will tell everyone I have a dream of making the world a better place and if you don't like it you can leave."

A Little Bit Of Sunshine In February

We have been having amazing weather here in Pennsylvania and it's so strange for February.  We have enjoyed up to 70 degrees in the last few days.  It's wonderful.  Today is a bit cooler but the rest of the week looks like it will be in the 60's.  It's been great.  I am not a fan of the cold winter weather so it's nice to have such a mild season.  I am savoring every bit of it that I can because it's quite possible that mother nature will bring in the coldness again. 

Over the weekend we took the kids to a playground.  It was nice to be outside in the sunshine.  It was also nice that we didn't need the winter coats.  Yesterday, Presidents Day, the kids spent a lot of time outside as well.  I'm so glad I have kids that love running around outside using their imaginations.  All the electronic devices make it so rare lately, doesn't it? 

I also took the kids for a walk to our neighborhood playground while my husband worked on his mother's taxes. 

It's so typical to see warm weather one day and then cold weather the next so I'm anticipating the freezing cold to come back but I really hope not.  Even my day lilies think it's spring. 

Heaven Gained An Angel

It's so heartbreaking to find out that my oldest niece has passed away.  She was only three years younger than me.  It was always funny when introducing her as my niece and people would look confused and ask, "You mean cousin?"  No, she was my niece.  It's possible to become an aunt when you are practically a baby, that is, if your sibling is sixteen years older and started having kids young.  Yes, it's possible. 

Her and I were so close as kids.  We had so much fun hanging around.  There was a time when she was one of my best friends.  As we got older we didn't hang out as much and it was mostly because I ended up moving to another state.  Still, whenever we did get together it was a lot of fun.  She was always someone very special.

She spent her adult life battling with multiple sclerosis.  It has been so tragic watching her body slowly fade away.  No one deserves this, especially our beautiful Diana. 

My sister shocked me when she called me back in November to tell me that Diana was sent to the hospital and was about to die.  Everyone was there saying their goodbyes.  This came as a shock to me.  Her organs were shutting down and it didn't look good.  Suddenly it seemed she was improving and she hung on for three months.  It was three months of hell.  Lots of back and forth and uncertainty.  Then last Friday my dad called to tell me this was it.  It was only a matter of days.  Yesterday my sister told me they were all going to the hospital to say goodbye.  This was going to be it for sure.  As I laid in bed I received a text at 4am to say that she had passed away at 2:32am. 

My family lost an amazing person.  She was a daughter, sister, aunt, niece and mother.  She leaves behind two amazing boys.  My heart breaks heavily for them. 

Thank you for the memories Diana.  I am so fortunate to have known you and to have been your aunt.  Fly high angel! 

2017 Goals

I am not one for New Years resolutions.  I mean, who sticks with them anyway?

I do have plans for this year so we'll call them goals.  I have goals I want to achieve this year.  I like lists and I LOVE when I get the chance to cross things off the list.  So I'll create a list of some of the things I'd like to achieve in the year 2017.  It will be nice to see how much I've been able to cross off the list at the end of the year. 

• Declutter home.  Get rid of toys the kids no longer play with, get rid of all items none of us use or need.  
• Exercise more.  Lost weight.  Build muscle.  Reach goal weight
• Run a 5K
• Redecorate rec room
• Plan 2018 Disney trip 
• Less time and updates on Facebook compared to previous years
• Start becoming more serious about my dream writing career