Here is the most fabulous thing today ....

My husband thinks I'm attractive. Truly. He said last night that he is very comfortable in public with me because he thinks I'm so attractive. He said some men just can't say that about their wives.

Ahhhh .... It made me blush. Today I'm still happy about it.

I think he's kinda cute too. :)

For everyone who loves ice cream:

MELTED ICE CREAM CAKE

1 (18.25 ounce) package plain white cake mix
2 cups melted ice cream, your choice of flavor (see Cook's note)
3 large eggs
Cook's Note: You can melt the ice cream in the microwave on "Defrost." Check and stir it every few minutes until it becomes liquid. A pint of melted ice cream may not produce 2 cups, because some manufacturers pump air into the ice cream during the manufacturing process.

Preheat oven to 350 F and move the rack to the middle. Lightly mist a 12-cup Bundt or angel food cake pan with vegetable oil spray, and then dust it with flour. Shake out the excess flour and set the pan aside.

Place the cake mix, melted ice cream and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute to mix. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes longer, scraping the sides as necessary until the batter is thick and well blended. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a rubber spatula.

Bake the cake until it springs back when lightly pressed with your finger and just starts to pull away from the sides of the pan, approximately 38 to 42 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cake and invert it onto a small plate or rack for cooling, about 30 minutes more.

Finish with a light dusting of powdered sugar or your favorite icing.

Note: You can use any variety of cake mix with any combination of ice creams you might have on hand. I've used cake mixes with pudding, no pudding, extra moist and ultra-moist -- all with good results. I've also mixed together several flavors and brands of ice cream just to use up those last bits that take refuge in the back of the freezer.

Can it really be the end of April?

Here are a few highlights of the recent past ....

*I arrived home from taking the kids to school this morning and the phone rang. It was Kennedy. She needed a picture today for art class and had forgotten...could I please bring her the one of her as a baby with the sticky-up hair?? So funny! I came across the one from Kris and Jamie's wedding where Kennedy is in Kris' lap and she is holding out a flower for Jamie to smell. Jamie's nephew is standing by looking on ... probably the best picture ever ... she wanted that one! So, Jamie ... you're in an art project today!

*Did I mention Kyle fell 10 ft out of a tree last week? He's okay. I'm okay. We're all okay.

*I planted Aquilegia Columbine, Gaillardia Fanfare, Lilium (2 kinds), Lavender, Evening Primrose Missouriensis ... in my front flower bed .... thus adding to my Mums, Ivy, and Lamb's Ears. I'm sooo excited ... now I just need a Weeping Cherry Tree .....

*I'm taking Tetracycline for my Rosacea now. Kennedy told me she didn't know what I'd look like without a red face. I'm so ready to look normal. It's at a point now where makeup really doesn't cover it up. So, the big medicines come out.

*I took Lauren to Sugar Creek Nursery to pick out a plant for her birthday. It was sooooo much fun. And it made her so happy. It is nice to give a gift that is soooo welcome.

*Keenan has been off the last few days. By off, I mean, quick-tempered. He has balked at things I want to do. Like this morning, I fixed eggs, biscuits, pancakes and bacon. He immediately started pouting as soon as he came i the kitchen. He left the room and I heard him tell Kyle he just wanted cereal. Why didn't he say so to me? I fixed the good breakfast for myself basically ... so the tetracycline wouldn't make me sicky feeling. Yesterday it did after I only ate Froot Loops. So, he had cereal and I had my good breakfast. Good grief. He's so drama, drama, drama. But still a good kid.

*Koel still won't talk. I told him this morning that he had to start talking to me or the doctor's were going to do tests on him ... he said "uh-uh". You know like the "no" kind of uh-uh.

*Justin Steele is the hungriest kid on the planet! He eats constantly. Must be a huge metabolism!!!!

Alright ... gotta referee Kadi and Justin ... they are having a difficult time playing together today. I don't understand that either. Kadi is really off today. And Justin is in rare tattling form today. Now Kadi is telling Justin to not leave the room "No, don't go".... Justin says "Why?" She says "Cause we are bestest friends". Could've fooled me!!!!!!!! Kadi can't leave the room, she's in time out in my room with me.

Koel has about figured out how to open the gate! Ay-yi-yi!!! What a smartie-pants! Why won't he talk????????

My kids are so cute ... they took some white yarn out in the backyard and they're creating a big spider web all over the yard. Funny.

Mrs. Keethler died this morning.

Kyle always called her Granny Bert.

I pray for Mr. Keethler. Married for over 70 years. God grant him peace. She is with You, and no more suffering ...
She is whole today! In Heaven!

I always knew the day would come when Mr. or Mrs. Keethler would pass away. But I'm still 'shocked' about it. Time just never seems long enugh.

What beautiful people. What an example of Christian living for all of us! 70+ years and still in love, because of Jesus!

May Kyle and I find each other in YOU that way too LORD!

I'm so pleased right now.

Kyle took Keenan with him to work. They'll only be gone for about 3 hours I'm sure. But, I'm so pleased. We've hardly seen Kyle lately. His plate is way too full! It's a really hard time right now. He's got a lot of stress ... pray for him.

I went to see Dr. Adams again yesterday ... He asked me how I had been feeling the past week. I told him that I've feelt on top of things, content, good ... He said "let me tell you something ... this past week, you were the REAL you!" I love his way of explaining the usage of this medication. He says we are simply supplying my system with something it is not producing on its own right now.

We also had a big discussion about birth control. When he saw that I use the patch he said he wanted to throw something out for me to think about ... I said Okay. He said that I just need to be aware that conception can take place while your on the pill or patch ... and that it causes your body to miscarry ... I sheepishly said I knew that. I told him it is a struggle for us. I said we neither one want to 'get fixed'. If something should happen to Kyle or to Me, and the other was to get remarried ... what if they wanted to have another child together .... We just can't 'get fixed' in good conscience. Then, Dr. Adams told me his own story. He lost his first wife after they had children. He remarried a lady who had children. Then they had one child together. Between them they have 7 BOYS! And he said he couldn't do without any one of them. Which would he choose not to have? He went on the say how the Bible refers to God opening and closing the womb over and over. For him it is a matter of Faith. Wow. I admire people who really make life a matter of FAITH! Yes, I believe God has allowed us medical science ... but this issue of birth control ... it's a whole different plain.

Alright .... this morning is clean the house day. The time is 9:00 ... Kennedy, Kadi AND Koelly are all still asleep! I need them to wake up so I can assign chores! We're gonna have the dry erase board out and make a chart of who is doing what ... the first one to finish will get a treat! Bribery? OF COURSE!!

Last night was fun. Lauren, Chrissy and I sat around and thought up baby names. Chrissy thinks she has a girls name picked out ... and it's meaning is Wisdom and Grace. Beautiful ... Sophia Grace. It is really growing on me! Very feminine. Very strong. Very all about God!

Today it has been a year since Bev's anyerism. Kyle and I laid in bed last night and talked about it. Is it possible that it has been a year? I know it has, but .... I can still see her, I can still hear her. "Open the Eyes of Heart" came on in my car this week. That is what Bev was singing when it happened ... "Open the eyes of My Heart LORD, Open the eyes of my Heart ... I want to see You ....." As I understand it, that's about the point she fell. My heart rejoices that she indeed is with our Lord ... She is seeing Him! The eyes of her heart were truly opened!

Pray for the Chamberlains today. Please. And again on May 5.

Lauren and I played Scrabble last night. She won. HOWEVER ... I played the word FACSIMILE! Hoo-Hoo!! I was very proud of myself. All of 13 points, I landed on NO special spaces and ... The "M" was a blank. :) But what a fun word!! (We were playing you can use 9 letters Scrabble ... that's why I didn't get 50 points for using 7 letters!)

Today has been interesting .... Koelly began it by emptying a Koolaid Jammer all over the floor and sitting in it ... splashing mind you ...

Now normally, I would be a mite frazzled by this ... even more so today since it was 8:38 ... time to leave for school!!!!

So I rushed Keenan and Kennedy off across the street to go to school w/ Tyler and his Dad. Kennedy began to really cry. I guess she is afraid of Scott. He's a really big guy ... Bouncer kindof big. So I told her she could sit by Tyler and he would protect her. He,he. She went for that. So I loaded her up in the great big 1 ton dually truck (which might have been scary for her too). Keenan was thrilled to go!

I called her at school to make sure she was okay. She was. I don't think she'll go for that again really soon though. Silly girl.

And later in the morning, Justin and Kadi called me into the living room ... Koel had pooped in his pullup ... wearing a pullup, cause we're out of diapers ... and he dug right in to check it out ... apparently. Then he gave it to Kadi ... she proceeded to put it in the toilet and flush. Here's where I came in and made them wash their hands. Bizarre. Nasty. Ooooooo.

I guess really it hasn't been that crazy of a day now that I think about it ... a couple of other things happened, but right now I'm blank.

Yesterday however ... Keenan ... he did something very bizarre for him. Jami has a big white trash can. It has been on the back porch. Well, the kids have used it for playing in the water with for a few days. No big deal. Apparently it had a crack. So Keenan yesterday, took a hockey stick to it and, along with Little Tyler's help, beat the poor thing to smithereens. What was that about?

I'm still doing my laundry air-dry. Today it's raining so I've got all the hanging stuff on the door jams in the hallway, and I took a baby gate I don't use, stretched it out real far and am using all the spaces in it for hanging socks and undies! Creative, huh? I have to be. I've got another load about ready to hang dry ... not sure where I'll put it! He,he. Fortunately for Kyle, I find this humorous. Plus my house smells like Gain/Snuggle. Mmmmm .....

The new episodes of Friends start tonight. It's about time!!!

Today was my first day to take Welbutrin. I felt good. I felt 'up'. I didn't cry today. That's good.

It is 85 degrees in my house right now, but I refuse to turn on the air conditioning.

It is time to paint my kitchen again ... and I need new wallborder ... but I just can't bear the thought of doing it without Soeyun and Jenny and a tube of Elmer's glue.

I made $1.50 at a garage sale today.

I enjoyed a pleasant conversation with Kent this evening.

Kelsey's birthday party was today. Because it was so nice, the kids got to play in the pool. It was fabulous!

We had pizza for lunch!!!!!! Need I say more about that??? Oh, and Pevely Home Run Sundae icecream.... chocolate with chocolate covered nuts and pretzels!

My brother called me today. That was nice. I love the sound of his voice. It makes me feel 'homey'.

10 reasons why I love my brother ....

1) He loves Jesus.
2) He is kind and gentle.
3) He is incredibly talented musically and genius working with people.
4) He loves to be silly and play. My children adore their Uncle David.
5) He used to tell on himself when I told him to.
6) He says to spell your last name on his answering machine at work ... cracks me up!
7) He is a Star Wars 'fanatic' shall we say. When he was 2 it began. And it just keeps going ....
8) He is an excellent rhymer ... we used to lay across the beds and hang our heads off upside down and rhyme words together. Sometimes not the best words ... but ...
9) He loves the show "Wings" ... we would stay up late and watch the reruns together. I love that memory.
10) He's not just my little brother anymore ... he's my brother who I can look up to. He can truly say, but he wouldn't, 'follow me as I follow Christ'. He is beautiful in his love of Jesus.

I am truly blessed to have such a brother. He is completely cool!

Koel was scheduled for a doctor's appointment this morning at 10:00. No sweat. I asked Lauren to keep Kadi for me. No problem. At 9:25, Kadi tells me that Angel is out ... Marty and Karen's little terrier dog. So I go outside ... Marty and Karen not being home. I chased her up MarMary a ways, then she ran the opposite direction down MarMary. I chased her to the corner, and she disappeared. I ran back, grabbed Kadi and Koel and jumped into the car. We went looking for Angel. She was up on St. Katherine, which is the street behind us. I tried to corner her there, with the help of two kind gentlemen who were working on a house. None of us could catch her and she ran back down St. Katherine. I tried to call Kyle. No answer. Hopped in the car again, and took off down St. Joachim after the stupid dog. She ran into a big dog on a chain and he had her basically frozen. I thought I had her. I got two feet from her and she ran. This time back up St. Joachim and down the opposite direction of St. Katherine. I hopped in the car again and took off after her. Finally I got a hold of Kyle. By this time I was near tears. Marty told him to tell me just to let her go. So, reluctantly, I did.
I drove to Lauren's to drop off Kadi, who was screaming that she didn't want to go there. I said Tough Noogies. I dropped her off and headed to Koel's doctor appointment. He had to get 5 shots today. Isn't that awful. BTW ... he turned 18 months old today!
I have to take him back in a month. He has fluid in both ears. AND his vocabulary is lacking. So, Dr. Finn wants to check his ears again and do a hearing test. Kyle and I are both concerned. Hopefully in the next month his vocabulary will pick up.
After leaving there, I went through the drive thru at Taco bell and tried the new crunchy cheesy gordita. I wouldn't recommend it.
Then Koel and I came home and I worked a bit in the office. We then took off for my doctor's appointment ALL the way out in St. Peters. Yep ... I drove all that way.
On the way there, I made a phone call to Lauren to check up on Kadi. I said "How is she", expecting a "just fine" in return.
I didn't get a "Just fine". I got a "well ....."
"Uh-oh" says me.
"What did she do?" I ask.
Lauren said maybe Kadi should tell me. So I gathered from Kadi that there was paint involved. I told her to put Lauren back on the phone.
Apparently, Kadi decided to play in the paint. Lauren is painting their front door red ... very nice by the way ... Kadi asked if she could help. Lauren said No, and please don't touch the paint. Well, something happened outside and Lauren went to check it out. She came back in to find ...
Red paint on her fireplace.
Red paint on her living room carpet.
Red paint all over the bathroom door, the sink, etc ....
Red paint all over Kadi.
Needlesstosay, Kadi was in a world of trouble. I am fine with Lauren's discipline of her. She couldn't tell Lauren why she did it though.
I was furious. I called Kyle. He wasn't happy either. We both want these behavior 'things' to stop. Kadi says she can't stop. She has to be bad she says.
I went to pick her up. I made her sit by me and tell me why she did it. Apparently, she was holding a little plastic slinky. "Somehow" it slipped into the paint can. So, she went in after it. Then tried to hide her tracks .... by ...
Hiding the red painted slinky under the recliner chair ... which we only discovered AFTER I was there.
Touching the fireplace and the living room carpet .... not to mention the carpet under the recliner, which was dry by the time we found out about that!
Going to the bathroom to wash her hands, touching everything in sight.
Ruining one of Lauren's best towels.
I feel so numb about her right now. I love her sooo much, but I have no energy to discipline her anymore. Nothing works. She just makes me sad. My heart is so heavy.
OH, and Angel found her way home somehow. Sidenote. I'm half glad, half not. I won't chase her again ... let me tell you!
I start taking Welbutrin in the morning. Dr. Adams thinks that will help me. I hope so.
Felicia and I tagged all of our garage sale stuff tonight. It took 3 hours. Not bad. It was fun. I like her so much. She wants to be up by 6 and setting stuff out! Oh My!
Pray for Kadi if you read this. Pray for me. Pray for Kyle. For wisdom and obedience.
I am praying too that Lauren can continue to love my little girl. She makes it so hard sometimes, Kadi does. I know it. I am horrified by what she did today. I have apologized profusely. Lauren says she is fine. She told Kadi that she loves her and has forgiven her.
I just hate it that my child could do this.
It has been a day. A very busy day.
I'm very tired. I am going to sleep now.

I'm really random today.

I like the Roaming Gnome from Travelocity.

"Don't forget your hat". Hilarious. Especially in the English accent.

I found an hilarious website today. http://www.freethegnomes.com/index.html
I really hope it is just a joke. Who knows. People are crazy enough.

Did I every mention my dryer isn't working? I'm doing the hang out the laundry thing. It's kindof fun ... don't tell Kyle!!!!

I never make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Why?

I don't like to spread the jelly. It just sits there and then moves in a clump with my spoon or knife.

So, I just don't make them.

That is, until .... today!

I discovered I should spread my jelly with a fork!!! Lay down the peanut butter first, then slap on that jelly and spread it with a FORK!!!!

It is fabulous!

I thoroughly just enjoyed my peanut butter and jelly sandwich that I made at Kadi's request.

Just an FYI note, that is all, nothing more.

EXCEPT that .... you know I can't get away with having nothing more to say ....

Kadi, Justin, Koel and I went to Shop-N-Save today for some groceries. I had tons of coupons. I bought what I had coupons for. Filled 2 carts.

When I checked out, I had .... $ 25 ... in coupons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a fun feeling to know I just got $25 of my food/stuff FREE!!!! He,he!!

I'm having an "I'm very cool" kindof day thus far. Shouldn't toot my horn ... days not over! But right now ....... there's a big ol' smile on my face!!!!

Hey Jenn Reedy, having fun with your padres?

Classic Justin & Kadi this morning ....

Justin loves Kadi, therefore Justin like to hug Kadi.
Kadi has something 'up her bootwa' today.
Therefore Kadi doesn't want to be hugged.
Kadi screams. Justin hugs more. Kadi screams more ... like screeching now.

End result ... Kadi is in her room for her screaming.
Justin is confused. He loves his mommy and she likes hugs. Shouldn't Kadi too?

Ah ..... my girl.

AND .....

Kadi girl quote .....

Background info first ... my mom and my Aunt Lesta were here to spend the night with us on Monday night. They had been to Ohio to be with their brother Uncle Perry ... course his name is Perry ... but he's my uncle. My Aunt Bobbie passed away soon after they arrived, and they stayed on with him for over a week. On their way home, they stayed with us. (Please continue to pray for Uncle Perry and my cousins John, Sally and Judy and their families.)

So, we're sitting in the living room, and Kadi is between her Grandma and her Great-Aunt Lesta. She looks at her Grandma and says "Why is Aunt Lesta so old?"
Mom's reply was "We are Grandmas."
Kadi then quickly said "That's okay, Grandma's are old." He,he,he ....
I'm glad Aunt Lesta and Mom found the humor in it.

AND here's a frightful tale ....
Koel snuck out the front door on Monday evening. I found him in the street. When I started after him, he took off 'running' away down the street just giggling. When I caught him, he was spanked swift and true. My heart was pounding!! Now in retrospect ... the sheer glee on Koel's face was hilarious! The freedom! But then, not so much. Good thing for him he's adorable and funny! He is trying to say "PeekaBoo" now, but it comes out more like "Boo-Bah" ... uh-oh ... that's that show on PBS ... maybe that's what the title really is!!!! Peek-a-Boo!!

Kyle got to rent a 953 Tractor Loader this week for work. One of the Granddaddy of all Tractors kind of tractor! He's been like a little boy in the candy store with a bunch of money to spend ... that sort of happy! Did I mention he's also dyed his hair again ... maybe I should say 'bleached'. His face is shaven as well ... very nice. I like it.

Kennedy however, does not like her dad's new look. She straight up told him so. We figure she'll get over it.

Did I also mention that she had a lightbulb dawn the other day?
I picked her up from school and she says immediately ... MOM! Did you know that there is "Ned" in Kennedy???? I laughed, but not rudely! I'm still giggling at the thought of it! He,he.

And for a word about Keenan ... he's going to get to move downstairs ... maybe I've mentioned that ... He drew a plan for his room yesterday. He,he. He has it all mapped out where we should put everything in the room. Again, still giggling at the thought of it! He loves to draw and create. I need to check into an art class or something for him.

My family is just funny! Thank you Lord that I find the humor in this group of people you've created!

It is quiet in here.

How lovely.

I have to say that I watched the finale of Adam's Quest for Love last night. Very disappointing. Or is it just me? Sam over Rachel? I don't think so! He's a typical man ....

I'm going to be participating in my like 9th garage sale since I moved into this house in two weeks! it feels soooo good to throw "stuff" out! I'm even thinking of pricing stuff real low just to move it fast! That sounds like fun!

And it is a fabulous opportunity to get to know my neighbors Felicia and Nicole better.

I want to list something happy about each one of my kids ....

Keenan: He is totally creative. He wants to be a cartoonist now. Isn't that great? It changes alot, but I want to encourage his creative side ... God can use imagination in a large way! And my little man wants to be used by God! Yeah!!!

Kennedy: She is just so pleasant. She really can make your day brighter. She is very encouraging and sweet-tempered. She makes my heart smile. She is a great reminder for me to not raise my own voice. She really rarely raises her own ... for being a baby that screamed as much as she did ... this is God's handiwork!!!

Kadi: Boy is she funny! None of my children can make my emotions swing like she can! I love the faces she makes and she knows it too! We have a lot of fun making faces together. Her newest thing is when she gets a kiss, it has to be right on ... or you have to do it over and over and over until it is just right! Funny.

Koel: He is indescribable. He is into everything .... but at this point, it is just funny. He isn't doing it to be malicious and I know it. He is exploring ... quite a lot ... He has become quite a little dancer lately. He grooves as a matter of fact.

Paige, Zaine, Kadi and I ... well mostly me ... decided Koel is Jewish today ... when he was 'speaking' at breakfast he had that phlegm sound going on in his speech! Oh how we all giggled! he,he.

Quote of the day ...

"Great Barnacles!" ... Keenan when his sisters were retrieving a ball from the neighbor's yard.

Hilarious kid!

Kadi screamed for 1/2 mile today. Didn't know that was possible. Her cries ranged from "My legs hurt" to "I can't walk". Why. I ask you, why??????

When I say she screamed, she screamed.

I walked a good few paces in front of her the entire time. I'm not going to be accused of beating her. I don't. I want to sometimes, but what would it solve?

She makes me nuts sometimes. She has continued her behavior throughout the rest of the evening.

Parenting her is so hard. Keenan and Kennedy are so easy. What is Kadi's special need?

My dryer has gone ca-put. So, all day long I've been doing laundry like 'in the olden day's'. I even constructed myself a pretty good little clothes line! I discovered my garden arch is great for a drying rack! What a day. Paige and Zaine were here. That was nice. But poor Paige, she doesn't understand that I "work" for our company. I was so busy today with phone calls, invoices, and laundry. Finally 2:00 rolled around and she could watch the Ryan Seacrest Show ... that made her happy.

Zaine wrote "I love Dacia" in chalk on the porch today. Ahhh ..... I nearly cried. I gave him a big kiss on the cheek and told him that I love him too. He blushed. Too cute.

Man, fighting will totally take the breath out of you. We've had a very off day. I'm so tired. So tired. Going to bed now....

Okay, so they make Le Divorce ... the movie ... seem like it will be a funny movie. Nope.

And ... personally, I don't think Diane Keeton should have been nominated for an oscar for being totally nude in a movie! Just my own thoughts.

We watched Le Divorce and Something's Gotta Give last night. Lauren and I were up until 1:30! WOW!

I hate it when pretty girls curse. I don't like it when anyone curses ... but when a beautiful woman has a filthy mouth, my skin crawls. Where are the ladies? I almost said something to the person I'm thinking of imparticular tonight. Maybe I should ... I just want to tell her she's much to pretty to have such a dirty mouth. It makes her so ugly. Such a shame.

I want to be a lady. Sure I belch now and then, but on the whole, I think it is important to be a lady. Courtesy, kindness. fairness. The fruit of the Spirit.

We got to watch Kyle take down a big tree today. He's so manly. He's a lumberjack! Woo-wee!! Let me tell you ... now it doesn't frighten me so much to watch ... it just makes me swell with pride that that's MY man up there!!! He does such a good job. I was a bit concerned today as I watched ... but mostly just excited to watch him work.

Kennedy is reading this as I write it. We've had a nice discussion about why we should have pretty words come out of our mouths and not ugly ones. What comes out of the mouth is from the heart. Right Kennedy? "Yes", she says.

Time to get Koel and Kadi out of the tub ......

Again, the pantry door was left open today!

Again, Koel bee-lined for the pantry that was left open today!

Again, the bag of chips was taken by Koel from the pantry that was left open today!

Again, the bag of chips was poured out on the carpet by Koel ... the bag of chips that was taken from the pantry that was left open today!

Again, the mother of Koel, who poured the bag of chips from the pantry that was left open today, was very frustrated .....

Frustrated to the point of hilarity.

I almost got upset ... then decided I needed a good picture of that moment and ran for my camera! Good parenting? I hope so.

Moments like that are precious, despite the mess ....

People keep the doors shut when Koel comes over!!! Let me tell ya!!!

I can't be responsible for his actions! Well, too much ....

It is 60 degress and lovely today. So nice. So nice.

Girl's night is tonight. Lauren and I will go it alone. We are gonna rent Chic-Flics and have steak. I'm excited!

She made me do Pilates this morning. We did them alot back in the fall ... she has continued to do them ... me ... not so much. Lauren has gotten really good .... I'm just really good at the giggling part ....We did buns and thighs, then abs. Ay-yi-yi! My buttocks!!! Nika tried to help me with the Pilates this morning as did Koel.

Koel decided I needed help ... so he climbed all over me. Have you ever tried to do floor exercises whilst a toddler crawls on you? Hilarious! I told Lauren that they should have one of the 'models' of the Pilates being crawled on by a toddler.

AND ... Nika ... she decided I needed to cuddle. So she curled herself right up next to me. So funny. I just kindof kicked and stuff around them.

Funny stuff.

I'm gonna go enjoy the sun .....

On a much more serious note than earlier,

My aunt Bobbi passed away a little over an hour ago. She's had cancer for a while. Her pancreas shut down earlier this week, so it was just a matter of time. It is still sad, yet she isn't suffering now.

So ... here are the prayers of my heart at this moment:

My Uncle Perry ... Lord, give him peace, comfort and ease his loneliness.

My cousin Judy, who is 8 months pregnant in Portugal, and who could not be there. May the Lord fill her with peace and assurance that she will she her mother again in Heaven.

My cousins Sally and John who were there. May they hold fast to each other Lord and be a shoulder for their father as well.

My mother, who traveled yesterday to be there with her brother Perry, and their sister Lesta who traveled with mom. The experience of being there while someone slips from this life is new for my mom ... give her peace Lord.

Aunt Bobbi's sister and her husband ....

Mom's sisters ... Dorothy, Doris, Mary, Wilma ... I'm not sure if they are all there with Perry, Lesta and Mom. It's a big family. Lord, keep them close and help them to encourage each other.

I don't understand Cancer. It is just mean. Simply put ... it is just mean. But Lord, I trust that you can bring glory through this and any event. Thank you.

Kadi, Koel and I got into the car to pick up Keenan and Kennedy this afternoon.

Kadi asked if we could listen to the "Lotion Baby" song.

I was really confused.

At that moment, my CD player was playing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison. I thought ... this is my 80's CD ....

Then it hit me ... Lotion Baby ....

LoveShack ... She wanted to hear LoveShack ...

So I turned it on and ... Bingo! That's what she wanted! Hilarious!