End of Year Tears

Blake got a paper in his backpack reminding us of the upcoming year-end parade that they do on the last day of school.  First off, I cannot believe that it has been yet another year...this paper just made me realize how close 2nd grade is from being over.. 

Blake even mentioned, the other night, that it sure seems like 2nd grade has flown by...that's pretty bad when your 8 year old thinks time is flying!  This year has been particularly special, his teacher has been amazing, I have gotten to know some of the other Mom's, and his class has just been great...both, Blake and I are really gonna miss 2nd grade.  :(

Back to the reason for this post...this letter we got from school today talked about what this special parade means.."for students it signifies a march of triumph, celebrating the end of one grade and marking the transition to the next."     After the parade, instead of just going home, the kids go back to their classrooms to have ice pops, giving the teacher and students time to say their final good-byes and to enjoy the last bit of time as classmates.   

I don't know why I'm so emotional about this but I just don't want my kiddos to grow up so fast...

First Time Flashmobber

At the end of March, we went to Visalus' National Success Training in KC and heard about an awesome event that the company planned to promote....The World's Largest Simultaneous Flash mob...and since it was headed by Alfonso Ribeiro, featuring the famous "Carlton" dance move made it even more fun! 

I have never been in a flash mob before, i have always seen them and thought that it would be awesome to be part of one...well, I got my chance!!  And we rocked it!!  This is one of many firsts that being involved with Visalus is helping me obtain...I must admit...even though dancing has always been one of my very favorite things to do...28lbs and 2-3 sizes ago, I would not have been caught dead dancing...in public anyways! I still have a long ways to go to reach my weight loss goal...but at least I'm headed in the right direction and plan on doing alot more dancing, after all, it's great exercise and fun too! 

The kids and I practiced the dance in our kitchen by watching the instructional video...Blake had the dance down in no time, Taylor picked most of it up and then made up a few of her own moves, I...on the other hand, was just happy to get it down.  I will admit that while everyone was gathered at the mall, pretending to just be standing around, trying not to look guilty or as if we were about to break out into dance...I got nervous!  I had to conceal my Body by Vi gear I was wearing, so I stood against a wall with the kiddos.  As the music began, we all ran out and just joined in, crowds of people were watching and wondering what in the world we were doing!  WE WERE HAVING FUN AND BEING CRAZY, just like the company that we promote for!!  Vi Life Baby!!

Wanna see what this company is all about????  Visalus Opportunity HERE!

A Simple Easter

We were late to pull out the Easter Decor, but when I did...Taylor decorated our little Easter tree, then pulled out the bunnies that talk and dance.  Blake pulled out the window clings and the fighting began, they both wanted to stick them on!  I had to be military Mom and make them count them out equally.  

Taylor decorated herself while she was at it!!!

We saved the egg decorating until Saturday evening, so that Daddy could be home for it.  Taylor asked me all day if it was time to do the eggs...finally, I let her call him and in her sweetest little voice, she asked if she could decorate "just one" little egg...of course, we know the answer!  We started using these egg markers and we all decided to just skip the dyeing and use our imaginations to create masterpieces.  They decorated special eggs for each special person, labeled with their names.

That night, we set out their special Easter baskets on the table for the Easter Bunny to fill.  The Easter Bunny brought each of them a book, a puffle, a bug-catching net, and a chocolate rabbit! A squeaky duck was left for Sophie (even though she is so scared of it, she thinks it's crying or something! lol!)  He also hid some eggs outside for them to find...most of them had coins inside! 

Blake helped Tay get to her purple egg.  The Easter Bunny made it easy
for them by hiding purple eggs for Tay and green eggs for Blake, that
way there was no fighting or worry about who got more!  Smart Bunny!

eggs collected, it's cold...so it was also quick!

Since the kids were up before 6am, it was no rush to get ready for church this year.  It also helped that I had decided not to make a big Easter dinner (for the 1st time in my life), there was no stress of last minute preparations.  We relaxed, ate some candy, got dressed up, did some Easter pictures, then headed to church. 

It was my week to greet at church.  I love getting to do this..how great that I get to hug and meet every single person that comes!  Church was awesome,  they did so much for the kids...we are truly blessed with a church that we absolutely love being part of! 

Aunt Susie came back to the house with us and had brought us a pasta dish, I made a nice salad and some garlic bread to go along with it, it was perfect, with carrot cake for dessert!  The kids played with their new goodies, I lounged by the pool in the sun, then we all took Sophie for a walk to the basketball courts and played around.  It was a wonderful Easter!

soooo busy with their new books!!!

To KC for Visalus!!!!!!!

Mayor declared it Officially Visalus Day!!!

I started to post this in my "Money Saving Momma" blog but changed my mind...this was way too personal and emotional of an event in my life to leave it out of my personal blog!!!!  The KC Nationals was our 2nd event, we knew we had to attend because the last Regional event was amazing and life-changing...this one was an unforgettable experience that will be with me forever!

It is just almost unbelievable (even to me and I was THERE!!lol!!) that we have found a company that will go to ALL lengths and measures to help their people.  The founders have literally given their lives to helping people, they have literally saved lives (we met some of them personally), given back hope to the  hopeless, and made it possible to truly live life by giving back!

BMW's as far as you can see!!!  The streets were closed just for us!

We got to meet skinny Kenny!  He is standing in front of TWO of his bimmers!

We started out by heading to the convention on Friday evening, our team met us at the door and immediately led us past thousands in line and escorted us up front with the VIP hookup!  We got great seats up front and was standing on our chairs, dancing like it was a club...I cannot even explain the energy that was streaming through the air!  I have never, in all my life, been to such a rave-like party, having a blast, without even drinking...we decided that everyone is high on the Vi-Life!!! 

We ended the night by hanging out at the hotel with our team...we got to get to know our new Canadian friends, hear and share stories about what Visalus has done for them, we got back to our room at 1:30 in the morning! 

We got up and headed out by 8am, the party was already hoppin'!  It is so amazing to think, that we were in a room full of 15,000-20,000 people that ALL had a story about how Visalus has changed their lives!  Being with this huge group of people felt very similiar to how I feel at my church!  Everybody loves on each other, people hug, everyone is smiling and chatting to each other like family!  Can you imagine a concert where there is no pushing and shoving to get up closer, everyone is just respectful and friendly???  All I can say is...Vi-Life!!

Saturday was jam-packed with individuals getting their cars, bonuses, winning transformation champions, dancing with Carlton from the Fresh Prince, chatting with Hulk Hogan, meeting the scientists and doctors that are headed to Washington DC to meet with congress to help our nations healthcare.   They even threw us a party for Visalus' Birthday bash!  Gin Blossoms and an awesome techno party!  Again, we got back around 1:30 in the morning...I haven't danced that much in years!

The main scientist and doctor...they were sooo super nice!!

Happy Birthday After Party!!!

Best of all...our Kassi got her bimmer!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So proud!!!!!

All in all, this too, was a life changing event, we are empowered to share health.  I have never sold anything in my life, it's just not for me, but THIS product must be shared....to help people get their lives back!!!  I love this company and feel so blessed to be a part of it.

Taylor learns her recital number!

Observation night is always exciting because we get to learn the dance number that the girls will do for recital in June!  Her song is called "stealing the show".  It is so adorable! 

Observation at Blake's dance

Blake really loves his hip hop class, although we think he plays around more than he dances.  He seems to have picked up the moves, so maybe he really is learning and playing at the same time! lol!

This year they got to pick out their own music for recital, so far they know that they get to dance to one of Blake's very favorite songs, "tonight tonight"!  He is so excited!

St. Patrick's Day

This year for St. Patrick's Day, I let the kids add some green food coloring to their oatmeal & milk for breakfast!  It was a great way to start the day off in the right color!  We took some pics together of us decked out in our Irish gear!

The kids and I took our cousin, Cheryl to the Cottleville parade.  It was way larger than we expected it to be!!  We were kinda slow getting there, but walking from a parking lot down the road was fine, since it was a beautiful day.

Blake made some buddies and had a great time!

Taylor made a friend too and her little arm got tired of
catching goodies!

We had an awesome day, some storms started to move in, so we headed for the car a bit early, but made it just in time..it was raining and hailing so bad that even the gas station that we stopped at lost power and couldn't check us out!!  We ended the day by having corned beef and cabbage for dinner with a couple cold beers!  Happy St. Patty's Day!