not so little anymore...

"Baby Gavin," is how we have referred to him since he was born. Mostly when talking to Kade, but even sometimes when we are talking about him to each other. However, after taking these pictures, I realized that my chunky monkey isn't much of a baby anymore. He is finally sitting on his own (for about 3 weeks now) and he is almost 8 months old! Not only that, but he is the size of a two year old, weighs almost 20 lbs, and is wearing all of Kade's 1 year clothes!
Everyone asks me if he is crawling yet but just look at him...it's amazing he has any body control with all that girth he has to balance! I should probably stop referring to him as "Baby" Gavin but I can't help myself. So, instead, when he is 6 foot 6 and 280 lbs and is married with kids of his own, I will stilll probably be calling him "Baby Gavin." Oh well! :)

Happy Easter!

Joel had to work on easter Sunday, so we started our celebrating on Saturday. This is Kade discovering his easter baskets. Technically one was Gavin's, but he would never know the difference.

Look at all the fun stuff in there!!

We went over to Joel's parent's later to celebrate with his family.

Hangin out with the cousins :)

Awww, how cute!

Hunting for eggs...

Easter Sunday at my sister's with my family....my battery died after this picture so I didn't get any of the other pics with my family :(

my new love

Well, I finally have it....my new love. I have wanted a Dyson Vacuum for so long now! My old vacuum was so pathetic, and with two dogs and three boys, our carpet is somehow always dirty. I don't think I realized how dirty it truly was until I got the Dyson home and tried it in the living room. OH MY GOSH! I have never seen so much pet hair and dirt before. And in a kind of sick and twisted way, I enjoyed seeing the canister fill up, maybe because I know I am finally getting it clean! I am on a vacuuming high. I want to vacuum every day because I love it so much! I am not the only one either. For those of you who know Kade, you know he was ecstatic when we got it. In fact he woke up the morning after we got it at 5:30 am asking to see the vacuum! Like mother, like son :)

Sick Kids!!!!!!

Vomit, diarrhea, spit up, whining-----these are not things that you think about when having kids. Not that I didn't know that these things were involved, but you don't concentrate on it. You think about the first smiles, first steps, and first "I love you Mom."

Well, unfortunately for me and my little guys, the last 24 hours have been filled with 5 baths, 3 loads of laundry, countless towels, 3 changes of clothes each, countless hours watching the Disney channel, lots of poopy diapers, and a little crying and whining.

I also have a whole new respect for single moms. I am obviously not single, I am happily married to great man, but it seems like most of the time the kids are really sick, Joel is working. How is that? That is some really bad luck on my part. I guess it is just all part of the "job" description of being a sahm. However, when I applied for the position of SAHM, I didn't see any of the above included in the job description! A little bit of false advertising I think, go figure.

My "Coach" Fantasy

So, while in LA for Joel's post interviews we went "shopping." More like clearance shopping for the boys, and dream, couldn't-buy-it-if-I-wanted-to shopping for us. Along this journey we came upon the Coach Purse store. There should have been music playing and spotlight at our grand entrance because I have never seen so many beautiful purses before (a much better selection than at our coach store)! Within seconds I fell in love with my fantasy purse, and Joel, knowing me well, saw it too and said "try on that blue one." It was breathtaking! I fell in love, full force instantly. I just stared at myself in the mirror, and I think I had an out of body experience!

I know, I know, I am talking about these feelings being about a purse. I usually am not impressed by things, but this one did me in.

My reality became even more of a fantasy when I looked at the price tag....$500.00!!! Yikes :) After Joel found that out, he didn't think it was so cute any more. I looked down at my $185.00 coach purse ( which I saved up for months to buy) and was disappointed. It wasn't near as gorgeous as the blue one.

Then I had an idea and thought it was worth a try. I asked the store clerk if they had a trade in program, you know like when you buy a new car. I will trade in my gently used coach purse, for the new and improved model for a great deal! The clerk just kind of chuckled, and I think it was a courtesy laugh because I am sure to her $500.00 is just a drop in the bucket!

Oh well, it will just have to be my fantasy for a while......

Survivor Sadness

Before I even start, I have to say, doesn't he look a little like the caveman in the Geico commercials? :) just a thought.

Well, as many of you know our favorite Survivor has been booted, much too early if you ask me. But, that is the nature of the game I guess. People have been so nice and overwhelmingly supportive through this whole experience, and I just have to say "thank you" for that. We were in LA when this past episode aired, because Joel spent the whole day Friday doing post interviews. The show airs two hours earlier here than in LA so both of our phones started going crazy before we had even gotten to see the show. Not only was everyone stunned, but they were pissed and so defensive of Joel. It was so sweet. I didn't reply to hardly any one's phone calls or e-mails because it would have been too hard and redundant to do so but I hope you all know that we love the support.
It was a frustrating ( and partly entertaining) episode. Joel was made to look lazy in some aspects, which we all know isn't true, and the edit made it look like he was completely uncompassionate ( which also is not true, though he does have his moments). But, in the end, you have to give Cerie credit for taking the opportunity to get rid of him when she could because she knew she would have been next. Although many of us don't like her, or Chet and Tracy, you know we would all probably play the same way if given the chance. I personally take it as a compliment that they saw how competitive, determined, and strong of a player that Joel was and knew that was a huge threat to them.
It won't be the same watching the show without him, but we still have the live finale to look forward to, and we are hoping that they do a fan favorite again, where people get to vote for their favorite and that person wins $100,000. Trust me, if they do that again, I will make sure you all know about it so we can rally up as much support as possible to win that prize!!!!!

Now, let's leave you with an excerpt from not only the last episode, but my favorite clip of the whole season:

Chet: I think I hit my head back there.

Joel: I don't care.

Chet: I know.

That says it all!!!!

"Kade-isms"

Here are a few of my favorites...

When walking through underwear section at Target: "look mom, boobies!" ( referring to all the bras)

When arriving at the park to find nobody else there to play with: "other kids, where are you?" I then tell him that the other kids are not here. As though he thinks I am trying to pull a fast one on him he goes over to the slide, looks down under neath and says: "come out other kids!"


On Breakfast:
Me: What do you want for breakfast?
Kade: juice box!
Me: no, can't have that for breakfast! What do you want to eat?
Kade: Fruit Snacks!!
Me: No, can't have fruit snacks for breakfast! What else do you want?
Kade: candy!
On Lunch:
Me: What do you want for lunch?
Kade: juice box!
Me: ok, but that is a drink, what do you want to eat?
Kade: Fruit Snacks!!
Me: No, can't have fruit snacks for lunch! What else do you want?
Kade: candy!

noticing a pattern.....?

Survivor Secrets

So many people have asked me so many questions about the show, I decided to post some of the most popular Q&A's to put all of your questions and curiosity at ease. Enjoy....

How long was Joel gone?

He left October 22 and returned home on December 7th. I was not allowed to know where he was going when he left, even he didn't know until he arrived there.

Do you (Jasmyn) know how he did?

Of course I do, I am his wife everyone! Nobody knows who the grand prize winner is, because that is announced live at the finale. However I know how far he got, and if he is in the finals or not. You will just have to wait and see :)

Tell us the truth, they give you water and some food while you are out there, right?

Much to every one's dismay, it truly is roughing it out there. There are dropped off on the island with a pot to use for boiling water, and a machete to use to cut things. They have a well of water, but the water is so nasty you cannot drink it unless you boil it first. Hence, if you don't have the ability to make fire, you are not able to boil water and will go thirsty. They are given absolutely NO food. For the first 4 days, all Joel ate was coconuts and little lime-type fruits off trees. They are given information on what type of fruit or plants may be harmful so that they do not consume it, but that is about it!

So what about, uh, bathroom stuff?

It is just like your camping, not bring your RV camping, TRUE camping. You don't get toilet paper, so you better find a good place to do your "business." Guys obviously have it much easier than girls. Women are, however, provided with feminine hygiene products if they are needed. And, to make sure to not spread bacteria, they can use hand sanitizer if feminine products are used. This may be too much info for some of you, ut don't act like you didn't wonder...

What if you take medications?

You are allowed to take medications if they are for health reasons like high blood pressure or something like that. If you are on birth control, you have to do without, while on the island. Maybe this is their way of preventing acts that lead to Survivor babies!

Do they explain the challenges in more detail before they actually compete?

Yes

Now for a few more rand tid bits of info:

*Tribal Council is much longer than what is aired. It can take up to an hour or more before they are done. Jeff is also not scripted. All of his questions are ad-libbed and he is very good at it.

*You do not take your torch back to camp, that is why you never see them around. You only use it at Tribal Council

*Joel slept in the boat just about the whole time he was there. That is why you never see him huddled up under the shelter with everyone else. What a good guy, huh. So respectful :)

* You only get to see about 10% of what really goes on out on the island. Not only that, but everything is cut and pasted to make a "storyline." Remember that when you are watching.

Thanks to everone for watching, and supporting Joel!!!!!