When it rains, it really does pour!

So I finally had time to go and get my state inspection taken care of this morning. It expired 3/31 so I figured I'd have addt'l fees to pay. I have never been late so I was expecting to pay $45-50. They pulled my car around and charged me for the inspection, I thought I was about to be on my way. But no... after charging my card, they explained that I FAILED the inspection! I didn't panic too much... I just kept thinking it's probably not that big-a-deal. It was something with the coolant temp not reaching the regulated temp... or something to that effect. And they said I needed 2 new tires and an alignment. So I took the car to Kenneth's, they called and gave me an update.

2 new Tires = $350
1 alignment = $75
1 Replacement Thermostat = $300

And by the way ma'am, you've got about 10% of your brakes left. You don't have to do anything today, but you will need new ones rather soon. I said, well I'm about to travel to New Orleans 3 times within the next 6 weeks. He said never mind, you may want to take care of it now. I said what anyone would say ... "how much"?! It's going to be $475 for the brakes. I said "SAY WHAT NOW?!" I said "what about those $99 brakes commercials I always see?"!?!?! He explained that's just a way for those quick brake shops to get you in and then they'll tell you so many things are wrong with your car when there's nothing wrong. I called one before agreeing to the work and it sounded like they just wanted to get me in the door, he was a super fast talker and he made me feel a bit leery. So... I called Kenneth's back and told them to go ahead and fix it. So yes folks, just to get a $40 state inspection sticker (aka - brake tag), I had to get $1200 of work done on my truck!

Busy busy!

So we had to miss the trip to New Orleans at the end of March because I was in too much pain to travel. But no worries, I'm paying for missing that trip, now we have 3 trips planned to NOLA over a 6 week period. I'm exhausted just thinking about it! But it'll be well worth it!

April 23rd - Trip 1) Going to help a dear friend with a fundraiser event to help her autistic son Dane get a service dog

May 7th - Trip 2) CHS 15 year reunion!

May 22nd - Trip 3) My nephew Matthew's high school graduation and hopefully a bday get together for Brian!

We're going to Disney on Ice this weekend and I'm hoping to attend Kelsey's camera workshop on May 15th!

Easter Craft Idea

I just found this on a blog and decided to try it out with Phoebe. It was easy, fun and came out really cute. She was able to help and she wrote Happy Easter on the front. Figured I'd share it... here's how ours came out.

From Blog Pictures

If you're interested in trying it, here's a link to the blog I found it. The blog has several cute ideas and the instructions are detailed and very helpful! Have fun!

http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/kidscraftsactivitiesblog/tag/easter-crafts/

Finally get to see the family!

Well it's official, we're going to New Orleans next weekend (Mar 27th). Baby Maddi's baptism is on Sunday, March 28th. Look how adorable...

From Blog Pictures

And it just so happens to be the weekend of the Crawfish Festival! Woohoo!! And it looks like the whole family will be going :) We are all looking forward to a wonderful and memorable weekend! As you can see from the email clip below:
____________________________________________________
I would like for all of us to go to the crawfish festival and enjoy some time together with everyone and ride a few rides, listen to some music, watching the kiddos and grown ups dance a little bit! :) Also, meeting Allen & Debbie!!!! Woo hoo. We can then go have dinner together at Tony’s or Rocky & Carlos and/or other suggestions. Everyone ok/available with these plans? We look forward to a short but memorable visit =) With much love, Tammy
_____________________________________________________

We haven't been to NOLA since Christmas. And Michael's parents should be going too, which would really put the icing on the cake! Phoebe would have so much fun being surrounded by everyone!

Dog for Dane

Erin is one of our closest friends, she has a 6 year old son with Autism...his name is Dane. They have never, in the 10 years that I've known them, ever complained about raising this child and they are the best parents I have ever met. They were approved for a service dog for Dane. They are looking to raise $7500 to pay for the dog. If you are interested in helping them out, I am including a link to the site to donate. Also, if you'd like to read more about Dane, I'm including some information that is on the Facebook page (see attached).

Site for Donations: http://puptky.giving.officelive.com/Donations.aspx

Info on Organization that Trains the Dogs: http://puptky.giving.officelive.com/Information.aspx

Facebook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000817068071&ref=ts

The donation site does not tell them who donated, so if you do decide to donate, you can send an email to dogfordane@yahoo.com or let me know and I'll pass it on (don't need to include the amount). Every dollar helps, so each donation, no matter the amount, will help them reach their goal. I wouldn't waste your time (or mine) sending this if I didn't feel that this family truly deserved it. Please pass this on to others that may be able to help.

Some info on Dane --

From Blog Pictures

Interests: For information about Pawsibilities Unleashed and their Austim
Service Dogs, Please check out their website!!
http://puptky.giving.officelive.com/Information.aspx
About Me:
Hi, my name is Dane and I am 6 years old. My favorite time of year
is summer. I love playing outside and running around in the grass. I
love to go swimming and would go everyday if it were warmer. I just
moved into my own big boy room so that I can stay up all night and
not wake up Gage. He needs his rest for school. I have the best big
brother in the world. I love watching movies and playing with my
family. I love living in Louisiana because we have the best food in
the world. My favorite food is red beans and rice… yummy! I LOVE
TO EAT!
Since you are getting to know me I should tell you that I have
Autism. Don’t be scared – I’m not hurting. I am just different. I
haven’t learned to express myself through words like most people
but I am learning sign language. I smile when I am happy and I
laugh when something is funny. I also cry when I am sad and get
mad when I don’t get my way. What? You mean you do that too?
Maybe I’m not so different after all. I’m just unique in that I’m not
like other kids that go to my school.
Mommy and Daddy were told about a special dog that can help me
stay safe and help me get through normal everyday things. It’s called
a service dog. This dog will help me if I happened to go for a walk
and forget to tell my mom and dad. He can bark and nudge me until
I go back home or stay with me until help arrives. I live by the
woods and by a pond so he can help me a lot. Did I mention that I
love to swim? The pond in our subdivision looks like a lot of fun to
swim in too.
A service dog costs over $20,000.00 to discipline and train for special
needs children. Mommy and Daddy found a special company that will
do this discipline and training for a donation of $7,500.00. That’s a
lot of money but they tell me that it’s for a good cause…ME!!! They
are going to have some fundraisers to help collect the money
needed. They are also setting up a website where you can donate
through the organization called Pawsibilities Unleashed. They are the
smart people that thought of doing this to help kids like me. Mommy
said she will make sure that she keeps everybody posted through
this page on how we all are doing and getting along. My whole
family will go to Kentucky with me to train with the dog so that he
can get to know our family just like we have to get to know him. I
can’t wait to get meet our new family member. I’m so excited …I can
hardly wait.

Another Busy & Beautiful Weekend!

Tammy and the boys came over Friday and hung out for a while. Tammy spent much of her time putting a Scooby Doo puzzle together while the kids played (it truly is relaxing!). It was so nice out Saturday morning, Mike suggested we go to the park. We went by Tammy's to pick up Aidan and Evan, then we headed to the park for a while. The kids were going to Kids in Action for Parents Night Out at 6, so we went home and let Phoebe take a nap. They went to Parents Night Out from 6-10, then Phoebe went to sleep by Nanny & Uncle Ruby's. We had planned to meet up for church in the morning. I was so excited that I'd have some time to get things done around the house, but I ended up watching tv all night! And for me, relaxation = headache, so I was bummed for not getting anything done and ended up with a headache in addition! But Jackson got groomed Saturday, so it feels like I accomplished something Saturday! Lol!

I woke up to my phone alarm Sunday morning but I felt sooo tired... then I noticed my clock said 6 but my phone showed 7, I forgot that the time changed. I was getting ready to walk out the door and Tammy sent a message that they weren't at church b/c they forgot to set their clocks too. So I still went to church and the service was great, I'm really glad that I went. After that I headed by Tammy's to see Phoebe and she chose to come home, which of course makes us feel great! :) She told cousins that she was going home to see Jack's haircut. We got to the house, Dadda cooked burgers and baked potatoes on the grill, we ate and then we all went outside to wash the vehicles. Phoebe ended up taking a nap and I went through her socks, undies and pajamas and got rid of some and organized the rest.

Here are a few pictures from the weekend... =)

From Blog Pictures

From Blog Pictures

Evan...

From Blog Pictures

Aidan...

From Blog Pictures

Phoebe...

From Blog Pictures

And then of course Jackson after his grooming!

From Blog Pictures

Beautiful & Productive Weekend

So this weekend was great! The weather was gorgeous. We went to Lowe's Saturday morning after dropping off Mikey's truck for an oil change. We bought some flowers to plant, figured I'd experiment with seeds for the first time. I'm going to try and read up on gardening and try and get our garden together, with my wonderful hubby's help of course. It may take a few years to get an idea of what to do, but hopefully we'll get it. Phoebe picked out a cherry tomato Elmo kit. She planted her seeds and is anxiously waiting for her tomatoes to grow. :) My wedding flowers were calla lilies, they are my favorite. Mikey found some at Lowe's so he talked me into giving those a shot. We'll see how that goes!

Me and Phoebe went to church this morning, then ate at McDonald's. After that we headed to Kohl's to get mommy a few shirts. I ended up finding bar stools for the kitchen, so it worked out well. (I always feel a little better about shopping for myself if I find something for the house or the hubby, lol)

We pulled out the Easter decorations and played outside for a little while. It was a nice weekend with lots of time spent together in addition to getting things done around the house. =)

Months of the Year & Counting in Spanish

Evan's nose may be broken

Evan may have a broken nose. They are taking him to the doctor this morning. A kid jumped on top of him at school after he jumped off the jungle gym.

From Blog Pictures

Update! It's not broken, just pretty bruised and swollen.

Spending time with cousins =)

Tammy and Rudy had invited us to the park Saturday. We all went and had a great time! After the park, we went home and the kids took a nap. Then they headed to Jungle Gym at Rowland for 2 hours. While they were there playing, me and Tam went to the house to scrapbook. We are so out of touch with scrap-booking, we only got a page done in 2 hours, lol! But it was nice and relaxing. After that we picked up the kids and headed to CiCi's Pizza - as we pulled in we saw a few school buses unloading. So we went next door and ate at Rico's. It was a busy and fun day for us all!

From Our girl Phoebe

From Our girl Phoebe

From Our girl Phoebe

From Our girl Phoebe

Need Vacation Ideas Please!

We have really got to take this kid on a vacation! We always use our vacation time from work over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. I'm looking for something within driving distance and something great for a 4 year old! We could probably go during the week and I'm thinking of a 2 or 3 day getaway. Nothing fancy, just something that will be fun for her.
Please email suggestions to algioia@gmail.com

Thanks!

Phoebe's First Ballet Recital

Phoebe's first ballet recital will be on Thursday, June 3, 2010 @ 5:30 in Atascocita (right outside of Kingwood, TX). We are super excited and can't wait to see her in the little ballet costume and on stage! If you're interested in attending, send me an email and I'll respond with all of the info.

Saints are headed to the Superbowl! Woohoo!

I am not a football fan, I can't stand the sound of sports on the television, but tonight I found myself online refreshing the score of the game between the Saints and the Minnesota Vikings. It was tied at 28 points and went into overtime. The Saints got their 3 points and we're headed to the SuperBowl!! Congratulations Saints and Congrats to all you Saints fans!!

Mission for Phoebe to Sleep in her Bedroom

Phoebe has always slept in the bed with us. I was 6 months pregnant when Hurricane Katrina hit. We lived in a hotel room for 2 months and by the time I delivered her, we were sharing a trailer with my brother and his family in St. Bernard. Eventually we moved to Kingwood, TX and had plenty of room, but Mikey didn't move in with us until he found a job here, which was a year and a half later. So being here in the house alone with Phoebe, I was always worried that I wouldn't hear her if she woke up crying. We got her a beautiful bedroom set, but when the time came, I worried myself sick thinking I wouldn't hear her. So I moved her in the bedroom with me. Once Mikey was able to move in with us, he had lost out on spending time with her for a year and a half! Of course he drove up every single weekend (we're talking 700 miles round trip!), but it still wasn't enough. So he wanted to keep her in the room with us, which was fine by me.

Well it became habit, but then we began to realize it was probably not the best thing for her. She needed to learn that big girls sleep in their own bed. So we are working on that (started about 2 weeks ago). We got a velcro chart with stars and each time she sleeps in her bed, she gets a star. She loves rewards so this is working out pretty well. The first goal was 3 stars and she gets to choose an award. We gave her options and she chose a family outing for ice cream. So once she got to 3 stars, we went out for ice cream after her gymnastics class. Then we took down those stars and changed the goal to 5 stars and she chose a prittiful (Phoebe's word = it's pretty and beautiful together) new dress, then she changed it to new shoes and now that she reached the 5 stars, she has changed it to a new movie. So it looks like we'll be hitting Blockbuster today! But it's definitely working out! She does come to our bed in the middle of the night, but it's fine... baby steps! I'm thankful that God has blessed us with such a wonderful, good hearted child! We really couldn't ask for anything more. =)

Why the World is in Bad Shape! -Ben Stein

So true...

This is really something to think about. 

Only hope we find GOD again before it is too late ! !



The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday  Morning  Commentary.

My confession: 

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish.  And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees...  I don't feel threatened..  I don't feel discriminated against.. T hat's what they are, Christmas trees. 

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me.  I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto.  In fact, I kind of like it.  It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu .  If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. 

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians.  I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.  I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country.  I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. 

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?  I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too.  But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to. 

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different:  This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. 

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina)..  Anne Graham gave an extremely profound a nd insightful response..  She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.  And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out.  How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?' 

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc..  I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.  Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school.  The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself.  And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and w e might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide).  We said an expert should know what he's talking about..  And we said okay..

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out.  I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.' 

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.  Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.  Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.  Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. 

Are you laughing yet? 

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it. 

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. 

Pass it on if you think it has merit. 
  
If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did.  But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.  

My Best Regards,  Honestly and respectfully, 

Ben Stein 

Second Baptist Kids Crazy Christmas Show 12/21/09

We were invited by Summer to attend her church's Christmas show. I wasn't feeling too great and they offered to take Phoebe for me, but I didn't want to miss sharing the experience with her. So I went and I enjoyed it so much! This was one of the best performances I've ever witnessed. They changed older songs that were really popular in our day to tell the story of the birth of Jesus. We took kids ranging from 4-10 and all of them, including us adults, had a wonderful time! The parking lot wasn't crazy, we were able to pull right in and park and leave right away when it ended. We arrived almost at start time and were able to sit in the 2nd row. All of the kids could sit on the floor in front of the stage if they wanted. The program is an hour and we loved every single minute! They also gave out cookies and lemonade on your way out. Everything is free and you don't have to be a member of the church.

Here is the schedule, I'll be posting videos soon!
The picture by the Christmas trees was taken on our way out, look at those happy faces!

Phoebe's 4th Birthday Party - 12/19/2009

We celebrated Phoebe's 4th birthday at Kids in Action in Kingwood. The theme was Curious George. April made the cupcakes, the icing was shaped like bananas on each cupcake and then had a little Curious George sticking out the top. And then of course the birthday girl had a bigger George on hers. She had a blast! Maw Maw & Paw Paw came in for her party... we all had a good time!

Phoebe's Christmas Program 12/7/2009

Phoebe performing in her Christmas Program at Mother's Day Out. She did a wonderful job again! We're so proud of our girl. We love you Phoebe Jean!!

Halloween - Costume Parades & Festivals!

Phoebe's gymnastics class had a costume parade this week. All of the kids wore their costumes and walked around the gym while parents took pictures. After that, they changed into their leotards and had class.

Phoebe's Mother's Day Out class had a parade on Thursday. Nanny came to show support!

Then MawMaw & PawPaw came in Friday. Everyone wore a costume on Halloween! MawMaw was Cleopatra, PawPaw was The Man with the Yellow Hat (from Curious George), Phoebe was Curious George, Michael was Shaggy and I was Scooby Dooby Doo! We went to the Fall Festival at the church and then came home for some good ol' trick or treating! Phoebe had a blast running around with Sophie, Beau, Victoria, Lila and some other children! Me & MawMaw joined in on the trick or treating while the boys hung out by Christian.

RIP Aunt Jean

Jean Young Exnicios


(March 22, 1953 - September 29, 2009)

JEAN YOUNG EXNICIOS, AGE 56

And a resident of Mt. Hermon, LA died at 5:15 pm Tuesday September 29, 2009 at Regency hospital in Covington. She was a native and longtime resident of New Orleans and had been a resident of Mt. Hermon since 2006. Mrs. Exnicios was a former office employee of Chevron. She enjoyed spending time on the computer and gardening and was an active member of Dave’s Garden, an online gardening information community.

Survived by:

Husband: S. Richard Exnicios, III of Mt. Hermon

Sister: Tessie Gioia of Picayune, MS

Uncle: Billy Young of Florida

Also several nieces and nephews

She was preceded in death by her parents Mathias and Jean Buris Young and a brother Matt Young, Jr.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Contact Crain Funeral Home in Franklinton for any further developing details.