Just four days after his fifteenth birthday Jacob went to the orthodontist and was told it was time for his braces to come off. Take a look at his straight pearly whites.

So I guess you could say I'm feeling sorry for myself. A severe toothache sent me to the dentist today. After careful inspection, it was determined that I am indeed a yuck mouth. I'm in need of two root canals, two crowns, and your run of the mill filling. So the fun begins tomorrow with a root canal on my birthday. I guess birthday wishes really do come true. Wahh!

My sweet wonderful boys are trying desperately to not only take care of me, but lift my spirits. Jared decided that since I won't feel like eating tomorrow evening, we need to have my birthday dinner tonight. Nothing cheers me up like Mexican food. Can you say muy bueno! Gabe carried my bag into the house from the car, exclaiming..."What do you have in here, library books?" Scott is insisting that I open presents tonight, so I can retreat and just lay low tomorrow night. I tried to talk him out of early present opening, really I did. That's a lie...I would never, NEVER turn down early present opening not to mention CAKE. Thanks fella's you're the greatest!

It's a little hard to tell from this picture, but Jared took home a souvenier from his baseball game. He was playing second base, a runner slid, and kept on sliding right up Jared's leg. The joy of metal cleats. He's wearing it like a badge of honor, "Yea, that's where I got spiked".

**By the way, the runner was OUT!

How I wish I could better recall some of the ridiculous things that went through my head at the age of seventeen. Not the crazy, dangerous things I did, but the ideas and goals that I thought were important. I'm not saying this because I'm unfulfilled or disappointed in where I am as an adult (quite the contrary), but working in the high school I hear students say some pretty crazy things. I wonder to myself if the milestones that mean so much to them now, once held similar excitement for me. For example, just today a student asked me the date, I answered, and the the rest of the convesation went like this... (Keep in mind that this student is typically a pretty funny individual)

Student: Only 2 months and 1 day until I'm eighteen.

Me: How many hours?

Student: I don't know, they don't care about hours on your ID.

Me: Why do you want your ID to say eighteen ? What will 18 on your ID allow you to do?

Student: Four things...I can buy lottery tickets, go to a gentlemans club, buy cigarettes, and buy cough medicine.

Me: (Sarcastically) Wow, sounds like your life will be complete.

I wonder to myself...was I excited when I was legally able to purchase lottery tickets? I recall feeling pretty grown up when I could purchase cigarettes and I wasn't even a smoker. As I approach my birthday I'm going to try and come up with some sort of milestone I can get excited about (besides menapause, lol). Maybe I'll go out and buy lottery tickets, cigarettes, cough medicine, frequent a gentlemans club, and pretend I'm eighteen again.

Hoppy Hoppy Easter!

Putting together this display of our Easter pictures I am struck speechless. What a wonderful family I've been blessed with. I am so very thankful! Thankful for my amazing husband who understands me most of the time. Thankful for three incredible children. I can't begin to explain how much joy they bring me everyday (frustration sometimes too, but unbelievable amounts of joy). Mostly I'm thankful for a God that loves humanity so much that he gave us His Son. I pray that I never take any of these blessings for granted for I know that I do not deserve them.

My sweet little bundle of Joy!

Scott and the boys install lights out front.

Gabe took a break for tree climbing.

Mark came for a visit this weekend. Anytime Mark visits, you're guaranteed a few laughs. My brother is one of the funniest, if not the funniest person I know. I always enjoy his company. However, I did discover an area of his life that needs a little work. Not to hurt your feelings dear brother, but you're a terrible shopper. Mark mentioned that he needed a new pair of jeans, so I drug him to several stores (while I Easter shopped) so he could purchase a new pair. He came home empty handed. Were they all sold out you ask? Yes and no. There were plenty of jeans to choose from, but it seems none of them were created in the early 90's and therefore not what he was looking for.

"Those are different color on the front."
"They're faded in the front."
"I can wear my jeans out myself."
"I set my own trends."

I do agree that once you're past your twenties you cannot succumb to every trend that comes along. I appreciate that my wonderful brother doesn't wear lowrise jeans, imitating a plumber, but a slight fading won't hurt anything. I say this in good fun. Mark doesn't need to be trendy to be cool!

Jacob begs Mark not to leave.

Begging didn't work, so Jacob & Jared try to force Mark to stay.
Mark proved to be too much for them.

I returned home from work today with an hour to spare and a choice to make. What do I do with my hour? The refrigerator and eating are always a strong temptation, laundry is always there, and exercise is always needed. Today I chose exercise. Surprised? Me too! So I strapped on my running shoes, plugged myself into my ipod and set out for a jog. Maybe jog is too strong a word...more like a jog sprinkled with walking or actually walking with a smattering of jogging. I guess the definition of my movements depends on whether you're a glass half full or half empty kind of thinker. This is day three of my exercise routine and I'm feeling empowered. HAHA day three, empowered? HAHA Hey, day two was done in the rain. If that isn't hard-core what is? As I was jogging, I couldn't help but compare myself to a bear coming out of hibernation. The sun was streaming through the trees and I was breaking out of the cave for a stretch with achy muscles rebelling from lack of use all winter long. I noticed that a vulture was circling in the sky above. Was there something dead nearby, or was he waiting for me to drop?

Grandma Landers & Grandmom "Sugarbug" congratulate Gabe after his win.

Grandma & Grandpa Landers pay us a visit.

Baseball & Friends

Gabe played his first ballgame today. The Pirates won 16-5. He made two great plays at shortstop and hit a shot up the middle to get on base. After the game he told us that he was nervous before the game. He said, "I had tingles in my tummy".

Jared & Blake run off the field.

Eric & Jacob wait to go to practice.

The storms have left and surprisingly, the baseball field was dry enough to play. Here are some pictures of Jared playing ball.

Gabe practicing his juggling.

Jacob as a spectator.
He would much rather play than spectate.

April Showers

Lets hope these relentless showers produce May flowers. The evenings baseball plans were called off when the sky opened up and began pouring buckets and buckets of water. We haven't been hit with the high winds and tornadic activity as predicted. We thank our lucky stars, because counties to the North & South of us were hit with severe weather.

I am so anxious to get out in my garden and start digging. Over Spring break the boys rid our flower beds of pesky weeds, preparing for fresh plantings. I can already envision the bright blues, reds, and yellows of healthy, blooming flowers. Come on SUNSHINE!!!

It was a great night of baseball last night, with both Jacob and Jared bringing home a win. A big thank you to Grandmom for getting Jacob to his game and keeping me updated on the progress of his game with frequent texts.