lots of pictures

My parents gave me their old camera.  It's about 5 years old and not super fancy like most bloggers I know, but to me it's pretty awesome.  I've been having a little too much fun playing with it.  That would explain why I have so many pictures in this post.  That being said, I'm still learning how to best use this new device, so most of the pictures could definitely be better.  I'd love to learn how to use the manual settings, but for now the auto will have to do.

Jack has been and is still very sick.  The following pictures were from last week and all were taken using the auto setting.  I've been practicing with the manual settings, pictures to come.  

Being outside is about the only thing that makes him happy.

Over the past weekend, Brent painted our island.  It used to be black.  I, of course, forgot to take a before picture, but here is the during and after. We were pretty happy with the results.

After

Brent's new ride!

We got free deliver and this free cart.  The kids have already been breaking it in!

Jack Jack loves wearing his flip flops, even in cold weather.

no more t-ball for her

We are super excited to watch Abigail play softball this year.  She has moved up to coach pitch.  I'm not a big fan of t-ball.  Don't get me wrong, I do think they are so cute but it's not real ball.  I love softball.  I grew up on a diamond.  I'm ready to see Abigail play some real ball.  

Just like with teachers, we have been extremely blessed with great coaches for her.  Coaches who are calm and understanding, but also really teach the girls the game.  Some men coaches tend to have an certain attitude toward coaching girls, like girls can't really understand or can't be as good as boys.  I'm living proof that that's not true and I appreciate a coach who treats girls like athletes, same as he would treat a boy.  

She's the littlest one on her team, which is not surprising.  She's always been on the shorter side.

I'm not sure what she's doing here.

Look at that face.  Serious business!!

 Abigail's friend Kelsie

Slugger

Trouble, but cute!

In case you are wondering, yes we are still a sickly house.  I just can't bring myself to blog about it right now.  I need to think about happy things and thinking about or writing about my sad, sick kids, just brings me down. 

two Easter parties

We are trying to enjoy spring break right now, but Jackson is still sick.  I'll update you more on that later, but for now lets focus on something positive.  

Abigail and Austin had their Easter parties at school last week.  They both had a great time.  I love going to their parties and seeing them playing and interacting with their classmates.  I especially love that they love being at school and really truly love their teachers.  We have been extremely blessed with awesome teachers every year since Abigail started school.  

Lots of pictures ahead...

Abigail waiting for some relay races.

She's never been the fastest.  

Hopping like a bunny!

My daughter is a total dork and I LOVE her for it!!

They played a game where she won the egg with fifty cents in it.  She was pumped!

Now it's time for Austin's party!

enjoying snacks before the egg hunt

ready to go

He is cracking up at another little boy in line who is being silly!!

Lined up with his class and ready to get some eggs.

He knows what to do when he sees the camera pointed his direction.

He bypassed many pink and purple eggs.  Those are obviously for girls.

checking out the loot


Happy Easter/Spring Break!!!

and the winner is.....

If you are new to my blog space here, I've been participating/running a biggest loser competition where I work.  We have been weighing in every Friday since January 11th.  Today was our last weigh in.  I'm relieved to be done with the competition, but eager to continue losing weight.

There is a slight discrepancy between the school scale and my home scale.  It's not really slight, its about a 3 pound difference.  I'm excited to start using my home scale weight instead of my school scale weight.  It's gonna be like I lost 3 pounds without even trying.

So my starting weight at School was 194 and my ending weight is 184.2.  So that would be 9.8 pounds from January 11-March 22 according to our school scale.  That is 5.05 percent of my body weight.  Yay!!

My home weight is 182 and so from this point forward if I do an update on here I will be using my home scale weight.

Before I started biggest loser, on January 1, 2013 I weighed 196 at home.  So as of today I've lost 14 pounds.

As I'm typing this it feels confusing.

Oh and if you are curious. The winners are...

As a group we lost 126 pounds.  That's like we lost a human being!!

I'm super proud of all the ladies who participated in our competition and hope they will continue towards a healthier lifestyle even though the competition is over.

a new button

It took a while, but I finally retaught myself how to make a button for my blog.  I was tired of looking at my old one where I was about 15 pounds heavier.  

Anyway, here it is if you are interested in swapping buttons go ahead and grab it, but please let me know so I can go grab yours back.  

Cool deal!

 
  <a href="jenakjournal.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src=" http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh608/jenak24/photo14.jpg " border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>

Okay, so that's basically it for this post.  Just wanted to share. 

 Have a great Thursday!!

the ball fields {aka our new home}

I knew this day was coming and it has arrived.  I have two kids playing ball this year.  Austin is playing t-ball at the boys fields and Abigail is playing softball at the girls fields.  Oh and did I forget to mention that the fields are clear across town from each other!  Yes, fun times!

This is what our weeks will look like for the unforeseeable future.

Monday: Abigail practice 5:30-6:30

Tuesday: Austin practice 6:30-7:30

Wednesday: Team Kids at church 6:00-7:00

Thursday: Austin practice 6:30-7:30

Friday: Abigail practice 5:30-6:30

This is just until games start and then I don't know what our schedule will look like.  It really worked out pretty good.  Austin will have one or two Monday and Friday practices that will overlap with Abigail's but that's what Nana and Papa's are for.  

Austin had his first practice yesterday and he LOVED it!  He didn't know what he was doing most of the time, but he had a blast.

I really don't mind being at the ball fields 4 nights a week.  I grew up at the ballpark.  There is just one little pain in the behind this year, and his name is Jackson.

Trying to watch him and Austin practice at the same time takes some serious juggling skills.  Climbing on bleachers is our number one battle. 

But really I can't complain, he was pretty good other than that.  He didn't run off and after a while stopped trying to climb up the bleachers.  

More t-ball and softball pictures and posts to come, so stay tuned.  

Oh I almost forgot, Austin hit the ball and ran to the pitchers mound instead of first base, twice.  We were cracking up!  He was all smiles though.  He didn't care!

Good thing I have 4 more years until Jack can play.  I don't even want to imagine juggling three kids sports schedules.  Yikes!

weekend randomness ~ mustache edition

Well we are still sick in our house.  I will say we are getting better, but still not 100% recovery.  

Jackson is still pretty snotty all around.  

Austin is much better, only blowing his nose a few times a day instead of a few times a minute.  

Abigail's ears are healing nicely, but now she is getting congested and coughing a lot.  

Even I am sick, and I hardly ever get sick.  I really thought that my ear might explode Sunday night from all the fluid and pressure build up.  I've never had an ear ache like that before.  

Brent bought these drops for me and within 30 minutes all the pain was gone.  My ears are still plugged up and everything sounds like I'm in a tunnel, but at least there is no pain.  

Love these things!!

Jackson has been a little needy, frustrated, mess lately, but when I saw him sitting like this in the car it made me smile.  You think he's relaxed?

I went to a baby shower for my sister's sister in law this weekend.  They had a cute mustache theme!  

Me and my sister in law Nicole

my sister Kelsie

I threw this picture in just in case you thought I was exaggerating about the little needy, frustrated, mess!

So my new goal is that we will all be healthy by next weekend.  Next weekend is the beginning of our spring break and boy do I need a break.  

Oh and Austin's first year of t-ball starts this week, so I'm sure I'll be posting about that soon.  He has been dying to play baseball.  He's watched Abigail play for 2 years now and it's finally his turn.  I just hope he doesn't cry too much.  He is sort of a crier.  

Y'all have a good week!