New hair, new camera, new pictures and video!

Last Thursday I went to National Academy of Beauty Arts in Festus to get my hair trimmed and highlighted. My friend Ashley goes to school there and wanted me to come out there and be one of the first several people she did last week. So she picked me up on Thursday and we went to her school. I got my hair highlighted and trimmed, and I also got my eye brows waxed (are you happy Aunt Joyce? lol). I was a little nervous at first because she had never done highlights before to an actual person...but she really did a great job. It's a light blonde...I wanted it to look very natural. I really like it, and Jason loves it.

Then Thursday night, Jason and I went to Best Buy to pick out my digital camera. We got there with about eleven minutes before they closed, but one of the employees said they let the customers that are already in the store shop for a little while longer...good news for us. I had several gift cards from my parents for my birthday and I wanted to get a new digital camera. So we got the camera and a memory card for it. I wanted to get it just in time for the weekend because we had Jasmine's birthday party.

On Saturday afternoon we all went to the park. Grandma and Jason's little cousin went as well. I think it's safe to say we ALL had a lot of fun. I was using my new camera and testing out the video on it, which is really cool. We let the boys give Jasmine the stuff they got her at the park, but it was pretty windy, so we decided to wait for the rest back at grandma's house. At the park, they were climbing on the monkey bars, chasing bubbles and kites, playing ball with their dad...it was fun. I'm not too sure how to post a video on here, but I'll figure it out and post a few videos on here for you all to see. Once my camera charges, I'll post pictures too. Look for more stuff from this past weekend later in the week.

Love you all,
Nicole

Catfish Kettle and Easter Weekend

I constantly find myself feeling so blessed for all that I have in my life. Most importantly all of the people, really. With that being said, I'll tell you about my weekend...really great, but went by way too fast!

So Jason's grandma and great grandma came from IL to visit all of us for a short trip on Friday. Jason was off of work because it was Good Friday and I was off because a very nice man at work decided to take my shift for me so I could participate in all of the activities on Friday. So Friday morning Kelly, Hannah and I went shopping until late afternoon and we got back around 4:00pm. We were planning on a trip to Catfish Kettle, so very shortly after, Jason and I headed down to Catfish Kettle. For those who do not know what restaurant I'm talking about, it's in Farmington. If you get the family deal, it's worth it. You get unlimited catfish, shrimp and chicken along with all of the sides (potato wedges, baked beans, cole slaw and hushpuppies) for $10.99. Anyone who knows me fairly well knows that "unlimited food" is always a plus in my book.

After we went to CK, we headed back to Kelly and John's house and just hung out for a little while. It was Hannah's birthday that night as well, so Jason and I let her open her gifts. She has this little Barbie kitchen set, but she didn't have any pots and pans for it. So, Jason and I went to Toys R Us and picked out a little set for her. We also got her a pan that had fake food in it. She loved it! After that, I went home and had to work on Saturday.

Sunday morning I woke up around 7 and got ready for church. Jason and I went to the Sunday school portion of his church and I got a few pictures of him and his little sister, which were adorable. We left about 10:30 because we had to be back up here in Arnold for an egg hunt with my side of the family. Glen came with Daniel about the time we left to come up here. So, we all had a nice Easter lunch (thanks to my mom) and then my dad, Travis and Glen hid the eggs for the boys downstairs since we had such lovely weather outside. Poor Travi has been sick for over a week, too. The boys hunted eggs and then we just all hung out for the remainder of the day before I had to go to work. Jason and my dad got to talk computers for a little while, which I think they both enjoyed. I was really glad that I got to spend some time with my dad on Easter. He got home Saturday evening and had to leave Sunday evening. It was a short trip, but at least I got to see him.

Now it's just back to the same ol' everyday with school and work. This weekend is an IL weekend and we're planning to do a birthday party for Jasmine...she'll be 6. I'm sure I'll have pictures posted this weekend from that. For now, I'll leave you all with the pictures from yesterday. Enjoy!

Gleason Easter 2008

As I mentioned in my last blog, Jason and I did Easter with the kids this weekend. The weekend didn't go exactly as planned...but what ever does? I think in some ways, it turned out better.

Right now, it's about 12:30 and we're all just hanging out on the couches, watching TV. I had bought all of the boys (Jason too) similar shirts and Jasmine a really cute outfit for pictures. While Grandma Stella got everything ready to dye the eggs, we decided we'd do the pictures first, then dye eggs. I wrote a little while back about the album that Jason bought me for my birthday that said "Our Journey" on it, and I wanted to get some really good pictures to put in my album. I didn't get group pictures at Christmas like I wanted, but the pictures I got this Easter really made up for it. I couldn't be any happier with how this weekend and our Easter celebration went.

I started taking pics of Jason with the kids and then grandma took over the camera so I could get in the pics too. It was funny because Shawn was making us laugh hysterically throughout all of the pictures...and with all five of us, it was a little difficult to get everyone to be looking and smiling at the camera at the same time. I'm so happy with the pictures though. Jason even said that he enjoyed the day/night...which was really nice. Grandma got some really cute pictures of us, too.

Then after pictures, we all changed out of our good clothes to dye eggs. Jasmine said she had never dyed eggs before, so my guess is that the other two hadn't either. It was kind of cool to be there for a first for all three of them. Shawn did a really good job, considering he's the youngest. We thought he'd be rowdy...and actually Luke was the one that spilled the green dye all over him! HA!

Luke noticed I brought popcorn this time (thanks mom!) and he wanted some in the afternoon. I promised him we'd watch a movie after dinner and we could eat the popcorn. So, after a strenuous eliminating process, we decided on Night at the Museum. So, we turned off the lights, popped some corn and all sat down and watched the movie together...it was a lot of fun. The kids actually all stayed pretty quiet.

After that, the kids went to bed and Jason and I put all of their baskets together. I woke up [way too] early this morning to grandma saying, "No...you gotta wait for Nicole and dad to get up first!" Once we were all awake for a minute or two, we let them come in. It looked like Christmas all over again. lol

For the rest of the day, the kids are pretty rowdy. It's almost lunch time...then bath time...then home time. I haven't had a weekend this good since I can't remember...and I have Jason and the kids to thank. So in a few hours, we'll have to leave to take them home and we'll be on our way back to MO. Even though we're going back to "our home", it still feels like we're going in the opposite directions. So once again, we'll have our little "sing-off" (if my voice allows it) and try to cheer ourselves up again because we know it's another long two weeks before we get to be back. And sometimes that's all that works. At least I have Spring Break this week, so I'm not as sad to get back this time...I'll actually have some relaxing "me" time.

Well, I've been tying up Jason's computer for a while now uploading all of these pictures, and he wants to look up video cards, so I shall go until next time. I hope you all enjoyed the pictures. And then next weekend, we have another Easter celebration. :) I love you all and thank you for reading.

Love,
Cole

Laser tag, work, Easter...

Jason and I don't typically care for weekends that we're home for the simple fact that we're not with the kids. However, I had a really good weekend this time, and I think he did too. Friday morning I was online when Kelly IM's me and says that she was coming up this way to pick up a pair of pants for Hannah, and she asked if I wanted to go. Needless to say, it sounded like fun, so I went. Then we just kind of hung out for a little while, and went to lunch with her friend Dana at El Tapetio. I've never eaten there before, but the food was great. After that we went back to the house and I took a nap until it was time to pick up Anthony from track practice and then get Zachary for the weekend.

Earlier in the day we were informed that someone that was supposed to go with the church group for laser tag wasnt' able to go...and they were looking for someone else to go. Anthony really wanted Jason and I to go, but Jason wasn't crazy about being there from 10 until 7 in the morning w/o sleep. Anthony had said to me, "Ya know...I really wanted Jason to go because I haven't really done anything with him in quite a long time that was fun." So, after I told this to Jason, he decided we'd go. It was the cutest thing because when we got there, Jason went to the bathroom, so it was just me, Anthony and all of his friends from church. He was telling all of his friends, "Guess what? My big brother Jason is here....and he's going to be on my team!" He was so proud that his big brother was there with him. After I told Jason, he just smiled and took Anthony to play some games while we were waiting for our team to play laser tag.

I had to work the next morning at 11:30, so around 4:10 I tried to get some sleep....it didn't work too well. There were 5 opportunities to play laser tag. I made it in 3 times; Jason made it 4. The fourth time was when I was trying to sleep....him and Anthony both got knocked in the face from some other kid with the laser gun. At that point, Jason decided he was done...then he tried sleeping because he had to drive us all home. So, 6:00 rolled around and we all had to leave...and we made it home about 7:00.

I came in and went straight to bed! Then I made it to work until 8pm...and was in bed by 8:30! I was so tired! Then on Sunday, I called Jason after church and we went shopping for Easter stuff for the kids. I can't believe Easter is already so close! Since Jason and I won't see the kids on Easter, we're going to celebrate Easter with them this weekend. I have everything but the eggs for hiding. I'm so excited, I can't wait. I bought Jas this little skirt and a cute shirt to wear. Hopefully if it's nice out this weekend, we can take them to the park.

Well, that's about it for now. I have to get ready to go to work now at the S. Lindbergh store. I don't get to go back to my store until Wednesday! :(

Another Snow Day!

I haven't posted in a little while because I haven't had much time to. I've been going to school and working a lot. After working 11 days straight, finally last Friday since I wasn't on the schedule, I decided I was taking the day off and starting my weekend a little early. So on Friday afternoon, Kelly (Jason's mom) came and picked me up and we went to Kohls, Target, Walgreens and then back to her house while we just hung out until Anthony, John, and Jason came home.

Anthony had a school dance that he wanted to go to, so we decided to let him go for a few hours and then we'd leave for IL. We got to Grandma Stella's house a little later than normal, but Jason made really good time this trip. Anthony has a girlfriend now...how cute. For those that are reading this going, "Okay, who's Anthony?"...it's Jason's little brother, he's 13. The IL weekend went okay, but not as well as usual. Jasmine had a double ear infection and went to the hospital Friday night....so we weren't able to get her this past weekend because the poor girl felt terrible. We did get to talk to her on Sunday though. Jason hadn't been feeling good either...he had an ear infection and the normal pains he always has (in his back, neck, and headaches), so he didn't have the best weekend either. I spent half of the weekend sleeping because I was still exhausted. Shawn sounded like he was getting sick too. That's the wonderful winter season for us.

I received another birthday present last week! Kelly and John bought me a bracelet from the Christian bookstore. The links are hearts and it says, "Friendship," "Loyalty," and "Love." And just last night I received a really pretty card from my grandparents.

So, I have time to write because it's a snow day. It's already 3:00 and it's still coming down. The last I heard late last night it was supposed to stop around 2:00. Who knows? I had to call in to work today. I've been working at the South Lindbergh Walgreens on Mondays and Tuesdays. Since I'm an extra, they said it was okay that I couldn't make it in.

I have some pictures of the last good snow we had. I took Tigger outside to play in it...he didn't want to stay out very long! Since he's sitting on my lap right now as I'm typing, I guess I'll post pictures later on. For now, I have some homework to do. Adios!