Cinnamon the Kitten

After his bath

Taylor loves her baby

The day we started moving, Eric found a kitten and brought it home to the kids. Taylor named him Cinnamon and he is a very sweet cat.

Finally Moved!

The move is finally over, it took us over two weeks to get everything moved but we did it and over the weekend got most of our boxes unpacked. I do have pictures finally as well that I am posting for all to see. :) We love the new place, the kids have made many new friends (there are a lot of girls Taylor's age so she is very happy) and the neighbors are all very nice. We are now in Winter Haven, Florida, just down the street from Cypress Gardens Theme Park, which the kids love that. I hope all is well with everyone, we love and miss you all.

Moving This Weekend

We are moving this Friday and I only have a few boxes packed. It seems like so much has been going on and now I am not feeling my best and just haven't got much done so today I have to kick butt. I figured Taylor could help me get a lot of it done. Eric leaves for Philly Sunday so we have to be all moved in by Saturday.

A Couple Pics of Tay

Here are a couple pics of Tay that I snapped last night while she was talking to Nani. The top picture is a really good one, my beautiful princess.

Florida State Fair

We had a full weekend that started Saturday morning, going to lunch and off to the Tampa Mall where Jimmy got some new outfits from The Children's Place (my favorite children's store) and he was a great sport going into the dressing room to try them on. After the mall we decided to take the kids to the Florida State Fair, where once inside we got some dinner--pizza and hamburgers. The kids each got their tickets and it was off to the rides where Jimmy rode his first roller coaster, which he loved. The kids played games and won stuffed animals, we got caramel and candy apples, cotton candy, funnel cakes and lots of candy of the Largest Traveling Candy Store. The kids had a blast and Eric and I loved watching them have so much fun. Eric and I were a little sick when we left and realized how much money we spent there but it was worth it to see how happy the kids were.

Taylor Talking to Nani

Mom has been on me to get video of the kids but I have been so busy it seems I hardly pick up the camera anymore, that will change once we move hopefully. I got Taylor talking to Nani on the phone in her room, she is not one that lets me just snap pictures or take video, she has to look perfect before she is caught on camera...pre-teens LOL.

Jimmy Singing

Sunday, we all spent the day shopping and one of our stops was Best Buy where Taylor asked for the High School Musical Sing It game. She was so excited to get it home but once she played she realized it wasn't what she thought it would be. Jimmy, on the other hand, loves it and will sit in front of the TV with the microphone all day if you let him. I captured this video of him singing along with the High School Musical cast, so cute.

Hello Strangers

I know it's been awhile but I have had so much going the past month that I haven't had time for anything. We are all getting over some type of bug at the moment, Jimmy and Eric have a head cold and Tay and I have had slight sore throats and our voices are sometimes here and sometimes not.

We went yesterday to look at another house, time is ticking and we still have decided. The one we looked at yesterday was gorgeous, it's a 3 bedroom 2 bath, very open floor plan in a gated community. We liked it a lot but still are waiting from the news of when Eric is being transfered to Daytona. We are actually thinking about Kissimmee (Orlando) area because it is a half way point. Eric thinks it will be another 6 months before the transfer actually happens. There is a gorgeous house in Kissimmee that we both love and I think we are leaning more towards that, it's a 5 bedroom 4 bath (for visitors to stay), it's a 3275 sq. ft. home and only 2 years old. We'll see what happens, all I know is come March 1st we have to be out of here, I cannot stay in this ghetto infested place anymore.

I am adding a very cute video to Jimmy's site that you have to check out of him singing to his High School Musical DVD in the car, he had no idea the camera was on him because he was so consumed in the song.

Taylor is doing great but I haven't got any pics of her lately but will try this week some time to update. We (Eric, Taylor and I) have spent most of our time on the couch fighting over Guitar Hero LOL, we are so addicted to that game. Eric leaves for Philly next month and has already said he is taking the PS with him so he can play. I am buying Rock Band this weekend so we can start a new obsession but at least we can all play at the same time. There is nothing liking finding an activity that brings us all together LOL.

Vinney's New Site

Just letting everyone know that my nephew Vinney's blog has changed. Due to inactivity on my sister's part of updating (no offense Steph) my mom has decided to make her own and she will update often. I have already changed my links so you will go directly to the new one.

Just an update on Vinney, he is now 3 months and weighs 20 lbs and is now in a size 12 months. He is a big boy and has started cooing and laughing a lot. I miss you little guy!

www.vinneymike.blogspot.com

Happy 2008

A Day With the Fish

American Alligator

Big Turtle

Otter cleaning itself

Owl

Stingray

The cute duck

Eric and I took the kids to The Florida Aquarium today and we all had a lot of fun. The size of some of the fish was unbelievable and we even watched divers in a shark tank, the kids really loved that. After we were finished with the aquarium we took the kids outside to play in their big water park and that was a perfect finish, both kids are now so worn out and will get to bed early I am sure. I hope you all enjoy the pictures, some will be on this site and others will be on theirs.

Blessed Yule!

Our first celebration of Yule went off without a hitch. The kids awoke to a visit from the Italian witch La Bafana, who flies around on her broom and delivers goodies to the children. They were not expecting her so they were very surprised. I made a ham dinner with loaded mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, and an apple pie. After our lunch the kids were able to open their gifts for Yule. Please check out their sites to see what they received. The 25th of December will be Santa Day but we did our celebration today and really have no plans for actual Christmas. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Roy Allan Jenkins

I found this picture of Allan and it made me smile, this is how I will always remember him, goofing off. He loved to watch poker on TV and doing something silly while watching was just his way. A lot of times he would sit there until someone finally noticed him or else he would bring on the attention. I remember this night very well, we got take-out Red Lobster (which was all of our favorites) and sat around watching TV. The girls had left the comb sitting there and sure enough, Allan picked it up and started combing his beard and the next thing we knew, there he was sitting with it like it was nothing out of the ordinary. I will miss those days, I always laughed when he was around. Most of the time he was lippy and you'd find yourself pretty pissed at some of the things that he would say but the next thing you knew you were practically crying from laughing so hard. You couldn't stay mad at him for too long. Rest in peace Allan, I hope you are finally free!

Another Jack Princess

Two beautiful girls

Welcome to the world!

Sorry It has taken so long for me to post this announcement! My cousins, Greg and Alisha Jack, received a new little angel, Emily Rose on November 29, 2007 at 7:57 a.m. Emily weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. and was 18 3/4 inches long. Izabel ha been great with the baby and enjoys being a big sister. Congratulations to all of you, what a great gift this year!

Remembering Allan Jenkins

Myspace Graphics at WishAFriend.com

I lost a good friend of mine last week, Allan Jenkins who was married to my friend Renee. He passed away at the age of 36 and will be terribly missed by myself and the kids. Taylor says Allan and Renee were her second parents. I have a lot of good memories with Allan and so do the kids. I am sorry it had to end this way. Allan, you were a good man and would have eventually saw the light at the end of your tunnel. You had a huge heart and you cared for many people, I just don't think you realized how much people cared for you. I am sorry I wasn't there for your service but I was thinking of you and my thoughts and prayers are with Renee, Jordan and Delaney. I hope you find your path and know that a lot of people here will always remember you.

Some Memories I Would Like To Share:

1. The first time I met you was at Jay's and you came to pick Jordan up. We stood there and talked and you told me you loved Jordan and were ready for another child. From then on we talked every time you came in.

2. Something that sticks out of my mind more than ever is you with Jimmy. You were the first one that he stuck his whole head under your shirt just to play with your belly button. I have a picture of that, I will have to locate it.

3. You always told me how much you cared for Taylor and love her coming to visit. You always made us all feel right at home.

4. When Eric and I were going to Vegas and we hard some times come up that left us broke before our trip, you were the one to give us money to play on, I will never forget that!

5. When I was at the daycare having horrible pain from the ectopic pregnancy, it was you that got me help and I thank you for that.

6. You and Renee gave Eric and I a memorable send off to Florida. I tried my first Escargot with you guys (and will probably never eat one again) and then you took us for a night of gambling, we had a lot of fun that night.

I have several memories but those stick out the most. You will be missed. I am sorry I didn't meet up with you and the girls like you wanted, now I wish I would have. I did want to talk to you Allan and let you know that this way was not the way to go. I wanted to let you know how it hurts the people you leave behind. I hope you have finally found peace!

The Kids and Vinney