An end of a wonderful weekend!

Can't believe its Monday already!

We had a very busy and fun weekend. Saturday we visited friends, visited my husband's grandmother, and went to China Buffet for dinner. The kids came home and we camped out in my room and watched Monster's House for the gazillioneth time. We love this movie in our house....LOL

Sunday, we went over to my cousins house, my nephew Kendell was in town, and we spent time with him. Then we went out to dinner at Golden Corrall. Yes, we went out to eat two days in a row. I wasn't complainig! Dh said we are cooking at home for the rest of this month. I found this funny, being April is over on Tuesday....LOL

We had a good time. The kids were in the parking lot dancing. Doing their footwork. We closed up the restaurant, we were the last people there. It was 17 of us! The kids were in the parking lot almost an hour battling each other...

Baptiste (dh) decides to get out there and do his thing, and the kids were crying from laughter. Dh has absolutely noooooooo rhythm. The kids were tickled, by this. Everyone was laughing. But that's Baptiste, he's a big ole clown. Gotta love 'em!

I am kinda bummed, because I missed Charmed School and Celebrity Fit Club! I love those shows! Monique is hilarious!

Today not much planned, just chillin. I need to do laundry, that's about it! Going to enjoy my day! I am home alone and I can have some much needed mommy time!

What are your plans for today?

Until next time.....

I am in love...

with these babies.... I totally love thickers. American Crafts you rock! These look so cool on layouts, projects, you name it! I can't get enough of them! This is my latest must have!


Dana

What people do that totally tick me off...

I do not like nosey people. It totally gets on my nerves. My sil is guitly of this, she always snoops when she comes over. What the heck are you looking for? LOL

I don't like hypocritical people, it totally annoys me...

I don't like judgmental people....

I don't like racist or biggots.....

I don't like rude people...

I don't like people who don't have a sense of humor...

I don't like people who have leachy personalities. Takers, always taking, never giving

Gossip mongers....
Dishonest people....

People who like to compare people...
When people display favoritism amongst their children...

People who don't take care of their children...

People who drive slow in the fast lane

Argumentative people..

People who think they know it all...

Those are some of the things that bug me the most!!!!

What bugs you?

Dana

The weekend is here....

TGIF!!!!! Something about Fridays makes me want to jump up and do the Happy Dance! Today not much planned, just a lazy day. I am done with cleaning. Just a couple of loads of laundry and that's all folkes. I do plan to get scrappy today with Jaree. My new scrapping buddy...LOL

My oldest is in hot water. Why did he go get both of his ears pierced without our permission. His daddy was LESS than thrilled. I thought fire was going to shoot out of his nose. He's grounded until death.....LOL

Teenagers, you gotta love em'.

On a the bright side of things, he looks to stinkin cute ......LOL

I have to boast for one second, Jaree got her local assessments and she's reading at a 5th grade level and she's in second grade. She is mommy's little book worm. She loves to read. She was so looking forward to a Borders gift card, for her birthday, but it didn't happen....LOL I will take her to get a new book or two Saturday. She loves Junie B. Jones and now has found two of my favorite childhood authors Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. I am so proud of her. She is a walking talking miracle. Its really amazing at how intelligent she is....it defies all odds. I am so thankful to God too!

Dh is off today.....woohoooo. I get to snuggle for hours! Yay! He is my big ole teddy bear. I love him to death! We probably will hibernate under the covers until it's time to pick the kids up....then he will be preparing for his gig tonight boooooohooo!

What are your plans for today, do tell!!

Dana

Dinner and a movie!!

Finally got a chance to see DISTURBIA....and it was very disturbing! Boy was it an edge of your seat thriller. Took my mom to dinner and a movie (Hollywood Blvd). It was her first time there. She really enjoyed herself. We spent most of the day together. We went to breakfast. My dad met up with us.... Then we ran some errands with dh. Picked the kids up some Harold's chicken. Went to Walmart and then we went to the movies...

I froze my but off because it was so cold. Way too early for air contiditioning. Why o why, did I decide to wear flip flops...Felt like chilly willy when we left. I almost killed dh, because on the way home I had the heat on blast.

Today was a great day. Love these types of days. Even though it was gloomy and rainy, I had a great day...

Now I have to flat iron Jaree's hair, tommorrow is PICTURE DAY...

Will take some pics....

I am dog tired, so I better run.....

later taters...

At random...

Just got home from taking the kids to school....whew...
Right now I am just checking email and watching the news...Why do I even watch the news, It's always depressing. They just ran a breaking news story: While a mother was at work, her ex boyfriend came into her home and killed (slit the throats) of her two son ages 12 and 14, stabbed and sexually assaulted her 13 year daughter, who managed to get away, so sad. What is the world coming too. It turns out he was child sex offendor. Craziness!

Today, I am going to my mom's to pick up a few of my things ....
I still have a few of my belongings there I need to pick up...
Going to Starbucks and Borders.....
Might swing by Michael's
Dh is off today, which is a good thing!


Please say a prayer for my mom, she went to the oncologist yesterday, to get her 6 month check up, to make sure the cancer did not return. She's always so nervous! I am sure she's fine! She was diagnosed with colon cancer in July of '04. She has been cancer free since "05. Praise God!


I am going to leave you with some random facts about me:

1. Alot of people think that I favor Nia Long...

2. I love Vanilla Bean Frapp with carmel sauce from Starbucks...

3. I love Seafood!

4. I hate green peas

5. I am terrified of Bee's....

6. I only eat mustard on my hotdogs.

7. I do not eat red and blue M&N's only the traditional colors


Well, I am off to do some cleaning...

until next time

This and that and expedits

Took these of Mrs. Jaree! She was a little bummed because alot of her friends couldn't make it to the sleepover, but she had a great time.
Here she is on her way to REd Lobster with my sister in law
What is this? LOL
She is something else...
Can u tell, she's getting sick of the camera and ready to play with her brand new Nintendo DS Pink....she got from mommy and daddy!

Ok, here's my expedit!
My dad put it up for me. Gotta love him!

Up close and personal with the Expedit
Love this pic of Jaree!

We had a great time

The girls had a blast can u tell?
PILLOW FIGHT!!!
SILLY BILLY'S
TOO SILLY!
I told ya, Jaree is a mess!
Look at the lil diva's!
Pinata time!!

Somebody knocked the wing off the pinata...LOL
Melted ice cream cake....LOL

It's the most wonderful time of the week.....

the hap-hap-happiest time of the week.....
the last day of waking up at 6am.......
the last day of playing taxi cab driver........
the last day of yelling at Jariel for not brushing his teeth...
the last day for yelling at Jaree 100 times for going back to sleeeeeepppp!

It's the most wonderful time, it the hap-happiest time, it's the most glorious time ......OF THE WEEEEEEEEEK!!!!

Can you tell I am thrilled it's the weekend???? I so hate waking up this early.

Today I am getting prepared for Jaree's sleepover. I will have 13 girls between the ages of 6-11 sleeping over. Somebody pray for me....LOL

Jaree is really looking forward to it.

Today I will wipe down the air matress! Put new lines on the let out bed, and sanitize all the carpets.

I have to order her cake today and go to the grocery store to pick up hamburgers and hot dogs. WE will be grilling, since it going to be in the 70's. I have to order her balloons, and wash her hair, so that I can straigten it AGAIN. UGH! It takes forever because her hair is super curly and thick. Torture! LOL

She has to wear it straight! this chicka is something else....LOL

I have so much to do, I need to get started...

Again, pray for me! I remember how my sleepovers were....Nobody went to sleep, we giggled all night long, catfights, oh the fun! NOT!

Will take tons of pics....stay tuned.


Before I go, I would like to give a moment of silence for VT massacre victims.....

Please pray for their families...

My prayer,

Father God, I ask that you heal the pain that lies within the families of the VTM victims. Lord, I ask that your presence be felt within their hearts and their souls. I pray that you open up your arms and welcome all 32 souls into your kingdom. I ask this in your name.
Amen

Until next time...

CRAZY, CRAZY DAY....

Last night I had the weirdest dream.... I always try to interpret them, but I dreamed that, I had no where to go and I still had the keys to my old townhome. We secretly moved back in with all of our belongings. One day I was looking out the door and some of my old neighbors pulled in the driveway, they were screaming and yelling because they didn't want me there...I got so scared, because we were not supposed to be there first of all, didn't want to go to jail, so I told dh and kids to pack up our stuff, Dh protested and said we didn't have anywhere else to go, and while we were talking my old landlord Hani and car load of people pulled up, we all got on the floor and got really quiet. Hani and his friends began to look inside the windows, which were tinted and Jariel my youngest son had his head in the air, made him lay down, then dh started making faces at them, like he was trying to get us caught...next thing I know I hear this really loud yelp, which woke me up out of my sleep. It was my dh! He got a shooting pain in his arm and then it went numb. I tried to make him go the doc, but he refused. I took the kids to school came back, he was still in considerable pain. He took some pain pill and went to sleep, woke up I was on my way to pick Jaree up from school to take her to see the neurologist for a follow up and then he looks at me and says....Baby I need to go to the doctor. Turns out he has a very bad sprain and needs to take it easy...

He does toooo much at work and I tell him that all the time. walgreens is going to be the death of my husband. They work him like a slave...I hate it!

Anyway, today not too much planned. Some lite laundry, washing the floors, and changing the linens...

Today I am cooking pot roast, mash potatoes, cabbage, corn, and corned bread...

Watching my favorite show SUPERNATURAL

and working on a scrapbook project for my daughter, all of her cheerleading pictures are going into a circular chipboard album! Painted all the boards, now all I have to do is embellish.....stay tuned...for the completed project.

Dana

Wonderful, glorious day today!

8 years ago at 2:14p.m, I gave birth to a not so HEALTHY 7lb 1 oz baby girl. Truth is we both had a hard time. I was in danger and so was she. Turns out I had some type of mass infection and they could not break my fever and Jaree was IN BIG TROUBLE. Unaware and completely out of the loop, I like any mother asked to hold my baby. Everyone kept trying to change the subject. Finally, my mom broke the new that Jaree was in Neonatal intensive care. I jumped up and demanded to see my baby. NO words could have prepared me for what I saw...there I saw the most BEAUTIFUL little life, her body was invaded with tubes an iv's everywhere. I immediately picked her up and talked to her, and she did something she hadn't done, for my mother, mil, or dh.... SHE OPENED HER EYES...her beautiful brown eyes. At that moment, we were CONNECTED....connected for an eternity. Our eyes met and I knew that my prayers had been answered. Jaree would overcome this OBSTACLE.

SHE DID!!!!!

Fast forward to today, she's everything I could ever want in a daughter...

She's beautiful, her smile, her cleft in her chin, her beautiful brown eyes, her curly brown hair, her cocoa butter skin...
She's full of life....
She's the best of myself and my husband
She's loving...
She's caring....
She's sensitive...
She's intuitive
She's intelligent
She's witty
She's funny...
She's got a sense of style...
She's a priss, (sometimes, whens she 's not fighting with the boys)
She's a very good reader
She's an awesome listner
She's a problem solver
She's generous
She's girly, like mommy
She's my shopping partner..
She's my beautician, my manicurist, my pedicurist, .....we love to do each other's hair and nails
She's my buddy...
She's adorable
Most of all She's MINE ALL MINE!!! My beautiful little girl.

I wished I could stop the clock, she's growing up so fast....
Before I know it she wil be combing the hair of her very own daughter's
Time goes by so fast
My mom felt the same way about me
She adores Jaree too!


Today I celebrate the Birth of my baby girl JAREE BRIELLE BROOKS!

i love you sweetheart!

Hope your day is as special as you are to me.

On that note....

Today, I will be spending time with my little princess. Nothing big, as her BIG BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION is Saturday, but we will definitely be cooking her favorite meal, favorite dessert, and watching her favorite movie!

Later taters

What is about scrapbooking that has me smiling...

I totally love SCRAPBOOKING! Everything about it makes me happy. When I started 8 years ago, I would have never imagined this whole FEELING... I have met SOOOOOOOOOO many wonderful people. That is one of biggest pluses! I love opening up a new idea book and absorbing all the ideas.....Walking into a scrapbook store, with nothing on my list, and leaving with bags full of goodness... I love surfing the net and blogging and reading and seeing what others are doing. This industry has come a long way.

Right now I am totally into HAMBLY OVERLAYS, chipboard albums (maya road), chipboard shapes and alphas, my new friend THICKERS, rubons, buttons, and ribbons.....

I love to go into the store with nothing in mind and come out with new toys to play with....

I have always been a creative person....I used to sew all my dolls clothes, paint rocks, draw, paint, and scrapbooking is the best of all those worlds.....

It's like being a child again.....it's my COLORING BOOK if you will....

This is a hobby that I am glad I found! It's now a way of life for me...

Just can't imagine myself doing anything else....

It has also opened up the door for me to try other things, like card making, sewing, jewelry making, doll making and GET THIS ADRIENNE, knitting....

My mother in law (God help me....LOL) is going to teach me on Sundays....

I love having something to do....my own hobby...

Dh has xbox, plays basketball, and loves to dj

I have something to occupy my time and I LOVE IT!


DANA

Life is so PRECIOUS

I am sure Most of you heard about the Virginia Tech Massacre. Over 30 students killed yesterday, SO SAD! My heart truly goes out to those families. As a mother, I cannot even begin to fathom what those mother's are feeling right now. Why do things like this have to happen? When things like this happen, it makes me want to hold on to my babies and never let go. These kids weren't doing anything wrong. They were trying to succeed in life. Getting an education. This was a totally senseless killing!

When we drop our children off at school.....WE ASSUME they are SAFE. Time and time again, this has not been the case. The Amish School House killing, Columbine, my God, is this going to be a trend. ARe these types of things more common place??? It's just plain FRIGHTENING! It reminds me and humbles me, that life is TRULY PRECIOUS.

Never go a day without telling your children you LOVE THEM! Kiss and hug them every second! My children are truly my WORLD. It is a LOVE like no OTHER LOVE. I would lay down my own life, for my children's. I love them so much. Yesterday, I couldn't stop kissing them and telling them I loved them. I just held little Jaree in my arms, until she drifted off to sleep. I just cried, my heart broke for those families. What they must be feeling! Please pray for these families! Lift them up in Jesus name!

It's just SCARY! PLAIN SCARY!

Such a tragedy. Such a senseless Tragedy!

Dana

Back on the grind....

This weekend was pretty much a "chill weekend". Friday, I stayed home. Bee (my oldest), had 7 friends over for pizza and movies. They were here from 7 to midnight. They had a really good time. Bee is only 14, his friends are much older 16 and up. Most of them are driving, which makes me a NERVOUS wreck, because everytime you turn on the news, you here about these poor kids dying in crashes. I pray everytime he walks out the door with friends. I cover him in the blood, because I don't want to be TOO PROTECTIVE. At the same time, I cringe everytime he gets into a car with one of his friends. I often, find myself "BLOWING UP HIS CELLPHONE".... making sure he has made it to his destination safe. I guess I need to relax, but that's my baby! He's growing up way too fast! LOL

Saturday, we stayed in all day. We ordered in pizza and watched movies. The kids camped in our room until I couldn't take the feet in my back and up my butt, so I made everyone get in their own bed at about 3am....LOL

Sunday, My parents came over after church. We had a great time. My dad is has so much energy to be 73 years old. I just CANNOT believe this is the same man, that had a QUADRUPLE bypass, 5 years ago! He is so spry! I love my parents! LOL My dad always teases my dh and tells him "i didn't GIVE my daughter away, I just let you share her.." LOL I was a TOTAL daddy's girl, still am! Dh always teases me about how SPOILED I am.

Sunday evening, we went over to our friend Tamika's house. She just moved into a new apartment, very NICE! We had dinner and watched I LOVE NY REUNION and CHARMED SCHOOL. LOved it! Felt so bad for NY, she got DISSED again. She should picked Chance! Tango did look like a Ninja Turtle. Did anyone watch Charmed School, was RAIN, not crazier than a BETSY BUG. Is she on drugs or what? I knew she was going to get the boot! LOL

What on my to do list today:

2 loads of laundry
Wash all floors
Mail out some bills (what fun)
go get my car washed and vaccuumed

enough of the boring stuff
what am I doing fun today?

Going to see DISTURBIA....yay!!!!! I love horror! Today is 5 dollar Monday and free popcorn! LOL

Anyone that knows me, knows I love Horror and it looks like it's going to be some good ones coming out...
Disturbia
Vacancy
The Invisible

I can't wait!!!! Bring it on....

Hope you guys are having a great MOnday...

Later taters!

Dana

Early bird

I am never up this early...

But that's what happens when you go to bed with a lot on your mind...LOL
I am not sleepy at all either or cranky. I am not a morning person at all! I was actually up since 5:30am. I know! I must be crazy huh? Just a little preoccupied. The sun is up and bright. I hope today will be a nice day. It is the last day of Spring Vacation for my younger two. Oldest son had his spring break 2weeks ago and then he had a "mini" spring break over the Easter Weekend. I feel sorry for Jari and Jaree because the weather was absolutely horrendous. It was cold and wet, it even snowed. Poor kids. But Summer will be here before you know it!

Today, not much planned. We totally had a lazy weekend. Yesterday, I cleaned the carpet and mopped all the floors. I braided Jaree's hair. Was feeling lazy and decided to order Pizza for dinner. Watched movies and went to bed.

We might be going over to a friend's house today and I do say May..
Totally feeling lazy and just want to retreat to my bed...

Ever feel this way? Or is it just me?

Do you ever want to just do NOTHING at all....
Not much to do today. Maybe some laundry. The house is spotless! Did all my cleaning yesterday. I love it when the house is totally cleaned and smelling HEAVENLY....

Makes me feel more comfortable....LOL

I am going to take a midday nap.....

I never get up this early...
Not since high school, college, oh and those crazy 5 am feedings for my children....Lol

Guess who was up this early too???
Bonnie and Clyde.....seems as though they never made it to bed last night.....
Up all night playing with their PSP (Jariel) and their Nintendo DS Lite (Jaree). Did they not get an earfull this morning? I could not believe it.

No more camping out in the livning room....
They will TOTALLY be making it to their bedrooms....

I understand staying up late on the weekends, but this was an Overkill!! LOL

Well, I am off to relax and read.....

Will be blogging a little later...

dana

I had fun I-chatting with Adrienne!

Ok, I must admit we had some technical difficulties at first. I didn't know how to access my mic. So basically we just chatted via typing....LOL But, I finally figured it out and we had a blast! This is total fun! I am totally getting attached to dh's macbook and Might have to get one of my own. In case he get's stingy....LOL . I love the built in camera! LOL

He told me me I don't have to get one, since I have a dell that's less than a year old, but I am a WOMAN, and I want the macbook, because it's sooooo light and cute. Love the little cute lit apple on the front. All about the cosmetics.....LOL

Adrienne, you are such a doll and so are your kids. My kids do not believe you are a grown up and swear that you are teenager. You do look young girl! Your kids are soo cute. They kept waving and talking to me.

That was fun! NOw Bonnie Rose, if we can get you going......lol

Dana

I had fun I-chatting with Adrienne!

Ok, I must admit we had some technical difficulties at first. I didn't know how to access my mic. So basically we just chatted via typing....LOL But, I finally figured it out and we had a blast! This is total fun! I am totally getting attached to dh's macbook and Might have to get one of my own. In case he get's stingy....LOL . I love the built in camera! LOL

He told me me I don't have to get one, since I have a dell that's less than a year old, but I am a WOMAN, and I want the macbook, because it's sooooo light and cute. Love the little cute lit apple on the front. All about the cosmetics.....LOL

Adrienne, you are such a doll and so are your kids. My kids do not believe you are a grown up and swear that you are teenager. You do look young girl! Your kids are soo cute. They kept waving and talking to me.

That was fun! NOw Bonnie Rose, if we can get you going......lol

Dana

Nuttin'.....jus' chillin'

I am a big Martin fan can you tell.....

That's what bru' man from the 5th floor would say everytime Martin said "what's up"?
Yes, I am feelin' a little silly today.

It's FRIDAY THE 13TH....WOOOOO! Are you scared?

The challenge for today was to tell your secrets of a relaxing day.

For me it's a process. I start of with a clean set of linens, then the tea pot goes on, next a hot bath, bubbles are a must. Soaking the the tub wearing nothing but my thoughts. Having that alone time with myself is important. After indulging myself in aromatherapy, I dry myself, moisturize, and give myself a facial, then off to the kitchen to pour up some Chai tea, in my room next to a candle lit bedroom, I get under the covers and just bask in the sweet aromas that fill my room and take a good old fashioned NAP! Wake up feeling refreshed and renewed, I will either read in bed or do a little writing. That is key to a relaxing day 101 by Dana.


How do you relax???

Dana

I've been tagged!

7 Random facts about myself:

1. I am the youngest of 3 children. You can tell. I can be a spoiled brat at times. Used to getting my way. Total momma's girl. I can't live without my mom!

2. I love to write. Whether it's in my journal or writing poetry and short stories! I love to write.

3. I LOVE TO BAKE. I am very good at cooking cookies, cakes, brownies, pastries...It is another passion of mine.

4. I cannot stand for my feet to get cold. So i have tons and tons of cute socks. I am total sock fanatic.

5. I have an obssession with purses and shoes. I have more purses than Elizabeth Taylor.....LOL I get it from my mom

6. I was a teen mom! Had my first child at 18. NO regrets! Love him to death!

7. I am an avid reader. I love to read!


Wow that was fun! I was tempted to go to 10.

Now its time for me to tag someone.

I am tagging Adrienne, Em, Toya, Melissa, and Brown English Muffin (melanie)....

Dana

Why is it snowing in April????

maybe, because it's Chicago! LOL

Wow, I woke up to a driveway full of snow! Couldn't believe my eyes. What happened to Spring? Well, BonnieRose challenged us to state 10 things we love about Spring. I have to use my imagination here, because it feels more like Winter!

But here it goes, 10 things I love about Spring

1. I love the way the air smells at Spring

2. I love watching NEW LIFE, Spring babies everywhere, the new baby birds, duckling, rabbits, it's fun to watch.

3. Spring Break. The kids and I always have fun togehter. Too bad, this year my oldest son had his at a different time.....

4. Warmer weather.....Ha!

5. Longer days!

6. Spring fashion! I get to shop for new clothes...Adrienne would you agree....LOL

7. Easter!

8. Believe it or not, the smell of rain

9. Watching the trees and flowers bloom

10. This year I get to plant flowers and a garden, I used to love doing this with my own grandmother.....NOw I can do it for the first time at MY HOUSE!!!!

What do you love about Spring?

dana

More of my house

My entry way, love all the shoes and grocery at front door....LOL
More of my kitchen
My bathroom!



More pics later... I am going to take some updated pics too, it has been some slight changes

Here is my house

This is Part of my living room!
Part of my family room!
Other part of my family room
Peek into mykitchen
Love the hard wood!

Some of my favs from Easter

Ok, these crack me up Aaliyah and Mrs. Jaree decide to go into my mom's room, steel some sun hat, put on purple lipstick and prance around the house together. They are so close!
They look too cute!!!
Finally got a picture of my oldest, see him standing tall in the back. He is not fond of the camera these days. Boohoo! Did anyone else notice Jariel is out of his Easter suit and has a football in his hand?
The kids boogying down. This aint the bunny hop guys!
Adrienne, I totally can relate to straigtening hair, look at Jaree, her curls are almost gone..lol

Pics from Easter

Look at little Cinderella. Doesn't she look like a little princess. I think so. I know I am shameless!
My little man was suave! Look at Jariel!

I hate this picture of myself. I don't like the color in my hair. Can you say, rinse. My dad went to light on my hair, but I love it straightened!
Look at Bonnie and Clyde aka Jariel and Jaree. The are bossom buddies. Have more pics stay tuned.

Wonderful Easter!

Yes, I had a blast. We went to church and the service was wonderful. Felt vibrant and renewed when I left. Our guest pastor really preached and he's only 26 years old. We then went to my mom's for dinner and I knew I was in trouble. The food was tooooo good. My mom can BURN! She throws down in the kitchen! She made ham, baked macoroni and cheese, greens, string beans, okra, candied yams, potato salad, corn bread, and carmel cake. I made baked chicken and apple pie. My sister jerked some chicken and catfish, and made bannanna pudding. I ate myself into a coma last night! All the kids looked so cute. I must admit Jaree looked like Cinderella. Her gown was all white! I know I was taking a chance, but she did not get one speck of dirt on her. I will be posting my pics later today....so stay tuned. Including pics of the house, and my expedit. How was your Easter????


Dana

Wonderful Easter!

Yes, I had a blast. We went to church and the service was wonderful. Felt vibrant and renewed when I left. Our guest pastor really preached and he's only 26 years old. We then went to my mom's for dinner and I knew I was in trouble. The food was tooooo good. My mom can BURN! She throws down in the kitchen! She made ham, baked macoroni and cheese, greens, string beans, okra, candied yams, potato salad, corn bread, and carmel cake. I made baked chicken and apple pie. My sister jerked some chicken and catfish, and made bannanna pudding. I ate myself into a coma last night! All the kids looked so cute. I must admit Jaree looked like Cinderella. Her gown was all white! I know I was taking a chance, but she did not get one speck of dirt on her. I will be posting my pics later today....so stay tuned. Including pics of the house, and my expedit. How was your Easter????


Dana

Happy Birthday MOM!!!!!!!

Today is my mom's birthday! She's 63 and looking good. My mom is my best friend. I love my mom soooooo much! She means the world to me. She is not only a good mother to me, but she is the world's most AWESOME grandmother. She loves her grandkids to death. Sometimes I think more than my siblings and I, and I love her for that.

As many of you know, my mom is a CANCER SURVIVOR! So each, birthday for her, is more special than the last. It's special for me. Thank you God, for sparing my mom's life. Thank you for letting her see yet another year! Thank you for allowing me to have my very best friend around, to be able to lay in her bed, to go to dinner, totalk on the phone, to lay in her lap, to have her rub my head, to hear her words of wisdom, to feel her truly unconditional love, to eat her great cooking, to see the joy in her eyes when her grandchildren tell her how much they love her, to watch her dance (she is a great STEPPER!), to just hear her call me 'DANA BOO', is a blessing....


My mom and I are superduper close. Couldn't imagine life without her. She has the most awesome personality, so POSITIVE! I am truly blessed to be her daughter.

Here's to you MOM....

I love you!

Mwah!

Dana

American Idol is a joke!

WHY IS SANJAYA STILL THERE????? HE CANNOT SING AMERICA!

I almost lost my mind yesterday. I cannot believe they got rid of Gina! She was very good. I don't think she was the best, but certainly she was better than Sanjaya, Phil and Hayley.

I think I am going to stop watching! I can't take it anymore. This sucks!

I am also mad because why did he even make it to Hollywood. Why did they put him through.

Then he's too stupid to realize he's being insulted, Simon says "Incredible", in a very sarcastic way and he says "Welcome to the Universe of Sanjaya". Is this kid serious??????


I had to calm myself down, I was screaming explicatives to the tv at the top of my lungs.....LOL

Kids ran in the room, they thought I was having a nervous breakdown!

Still upset, but hey that's American Idol!

HOw do you feel about the cut yesterday???

It's hump-day and I'm dog tired!

I am EXHAUSTED! TIRED! POOPED! SLEEP DEPRIVED! SLEEPY! Enough descriptive words....LOL I don't know if I told ya, but Jaree had to have a sleep study done yesterday. She is being tested for sleep apnea. After I picked all the kids up from school yesterday, I had to go to get crickets for our newest collection to the ANIMAL KINGDOM, Magic, the baby bearded dragon (lizard). Then off to wal-mart to pick Jaree and I up some cutesy pj's for our overnight stay and groceries to cook dinner for the boys. Then to Border's to get books for Jaree, Junie B. Jones and the Dumb Bunny and Junie B. Jones shipwrecked (She's quite the reader) and tons of new mags for mommy. I raced home to clean, pack our bags, get Jaree showered and had to wash her hair, then I had to get showered, cooked dinner, and ran out of the door....we got to the facility, which is set up like a hotel. I read a little, watched Jaree's favorite movie Monster's House and fell asleep. We woke up at 5am and then I had to come home, drop the boys off at school, and get breakfast for Jaree and I. She didn't go to school, because she was very sleepy and full of icky, sticky goo, from all the electro leads she had on. I still have to get her bathed and shampooed, but she's sleep. I am so tired guys!

I will not get the results back for 7 days....

I hate the waiting game. She is being tested for sleep apnea. Most of you know she's epileptic.

Please say a prayer for my baby!!! I hope her test comes back neg.

Switching gears for a second....
It is sooooo cold.... winter is back in Chicago. We went from 70 degree weather yesterday and now its in the low 30's with windchills in the teens... But, that's Chicago for ya.

I am going to have a lazy day. Taking cue from my good buddy Bonnie, the art of doing nothing. I will cook dinner, something in the Crock probably, nothing too time consuming as I am really tired.


off to get Jaree cleaned, until next time...

Dana

What is your calling?

So, I was watching OPRAH, and this is one of the questions revolving the show. WHAT IS YOUR CALLING, do you know? Do you have an idea? Have you had an ephiphany regarding your calling? Are you living your calling? If so, why not? What is stopping you?

I can tell you I know what my calling is....but I have not lived it yet, and limited resources is my reason along with self doubt.

I love CHILDREN. I love the ELDERLY. I love animls. My calling is to work with these to groups! I wanted to open a day care for both children and elderly, with a petting zoo. Pet therapy is great for the elderly and they love children, children love grandma's and grandpas. Animals just want to be loved. I think that it would add quality of life to the elderly to be around youth and animals. It would give them something to look forward to and to love! Allowing the elderly to come in and read to the children or to let them help out at lunch....allowing the children to put on plays for the elderly or sing to them.

I came up with this idea, after my grandmother was in a nursing home to get 24 hour care for bed sores she acquired in the hospital. I visited my grandmother daily and would bring Bee who was 2 at the time. The other residents lit up everytime, he was there. He had 100 grandma's and granpa's.....LOL He loved them too. The interaction was awesome. Bee, actually looked forward to going to the nursing home and everytime I was there, they were looking for Bee.

Will my dream be realized, I hope so...

I need to keep praying and keep faith..

Dana

I must learn to let my guard down....

......When so much happens to you in your life, it's hard to let your guard down. I have been through so much in my 32 years, enough to tear the average person to shreds. I AM a very strong woman, and I keep my sanity, by building barriers....

I said all of that....to say this...

I have serious issues with my in-laws. For whatever reason, they never really accepted me. I have been with my dh for 17 years. We started dating at 16. He was my first Love, my first everything. We weathered many storms and we are still together. One of our biggest struggles was his FAMLY. Mostly the women, his mom, grandmother, and sisters....

I have never met a more NARCISSITIC family. Get this, they are SUPPOSED to be sanctified, very religious, THEY ARE anything and everything BUT...

They are very jealous hearted people, they are two-faced, judgemental, gossip mongers, everything that REAL religious people are NOT...

I have been hurt on so many levels by this family...

The night before my wedding, my sister in law tried to hook her best friend up with my dh .....

Dh told me, and I found out that it was because his sister tried to set it up...

So our history is not pretty..

His mom is a total CONTROL freak. She wants to control everything. She thinks she knows it all and tosses her education around like she's a CAMBRIDGE SCHOLAR. She talks about everyone, and this does not exclude babies, she likes to compare EVERYTHING. If I say I started reading at 4 years old, she would say her kids start reading at 3....She is so annoying, that I do not like to be around and I get an instant attitude, when she comes to my house and I avoid going to hers. She has got better over the years, but still...we have a lot of bad blood, and its hard for me to warm up to her. I am very OUTSPOKEN! So, I don't allow anyone to step on my toes. But, I try to make the best out of the situation, because I love my husband. PERIOD! But, they do not make it easy.

His older sister Lisa is SOMETHING ELSE. She wants to be number one in his life. She always tells everyone how much her brother loves her, and I think she is trying to convince herself. It's so sickening to me. I don't act like this with my brother. I swear she acts like they are a couple. She actually, cried when he took my garter off at the wedding. She hates to see him with me.. Another thing she does that drives me nuts is she WANTS HER KIDS to look and act just like my dh. She always says that he is their daddy. She even said her kids look more like my husband than his own....if so WHO CARES. She makes it her business to tell dh that he needs to spend more time with his nephew, if we take our kids out, we should pick her son up too....IS SHE NUTS???? We have our own children, its okay sometimes, but she expects it, and that's a problem. She is a busy body, who totally needs a life.

His younger sister is such a bitch. She thinks she's the toughest thing, since MIKE TYPSON, and won't bust a grape at a fruit fight. She is loud and obnoxious, but I do give her much respect because she is A DAMNED GOOD AUNT to my children and she does not favor one child over the other, like my mil. She favors my oldest child, because he is the spitting image of his dad, go figure. Jaree looks alot like her dad too, but she's a female, and she's alot like me, so she thinks she's a demon seed. Jariel, looks just like me .... ENOUGH SAID!

His grandmother, I tolerate her because she's old. But, she is very judgmmetal and she thinks she can say anything to anyone....Not very nice!

My bil is MY BROTHER, we get along really well! All of his cousins are cool, it is just his mom, sisters, and grandmother...

My family is not like that, they accpet him, always have. My dad was an ass at first, but now he's cool! LOL

I used to argue with dh all the time about his family, but realized, he can't control them, no more than I can.

I have since decided not to go around, because I can't do PHONY well, and I will tell a person about their self in a minute. I have a temper out of this world and I don't like for anyone to take me there....LOL

I also realized, that they don't like any OUTSIDE women, not just myself. They talk about everybody. My bil has a really nice wife and they talk bad about her...they talk bad about everyone...NOT JUST ME. So I have learned to not take it personal!

I do pray, to let my guard down, because I always expect the worse from them, and there is the rare occassion, that things go smoothely. I never want my dh to feel bad, kwim???

Dana

BIDDING FAREWELL

It's been a blast guys! I have met so many people blogging. A true sisterhood! HOwever, I have too much going on in my life, and can no longer keep up with this blog!

I had to do some prioritizing and I have found that I have much more important things, that need to be addressed.

One of the things is my very long BATTLE with clinical depression, I am growing more and more ill from this disease. I am in fear of completely shutting down from the world ,so I need to admitt myself, into the hospital as I feel I need more intimate daily care.


I am so scared guys, but I know this is what I need.

Maybe in the future, I can return, but for now I must go! I love you all!

Please wish me well....

Please scroll down, if you wish to get my address to the facility I will be spending the next few months......























Dana Brooks MH 16
123 You've Been Had Way
April Fools, IL 40107





GOTCHA!!!





IT'S APRIL FOOLS DAY!

When I was a child, I used to spend hours thinking of ways to prank my friends, my siblings, my parents. I came up with some elaborate schemes, that duped them everytime......

I have a knack for DECEPTION....TEEHEEE!


HAVE FUN GUYS....

until next time...

dAna