our vacation

Our summer so far

We've had an extremely busy summer so far and I can hardly believe that it's almost over. School for us, starts on August 27th. But here's what we've been up to.......

Matthew played t-ball, Lauren had her dance recital. Soon after that wrapped up Lauren and I headed to Boston for a 4 day Dance Olympus, (workshops and competition)

Lauren had 2 weeks of Girl Scout camp. Matthew is attending a day camp with his friend this week.

We went to Virginia for our family vacation. We stayed in Williamsburg. Went to Bush Gardens, the kids loved it. We ended up going back there 3 different days. (we had bought these awesome passes that included all our activities and unlimited admission). Went to Water Country, Colonial Williamsburg. Me and the girls went on a ghost tour in Colonial Williamsburg.

I flew down to Florida with Lauren; had a very nice visit with my parents and my brother (I haven't seen my brother in a year - since he moved - so it was really great to see him)

I flew home by myself. Left Lauren there for 3 weeks and she'll be returning on August 25th. I miss her so much but, she calls several times a day so that's great. When she returns she'll have 2 days to rest before school starts.

That's the summer in a nutshell. Matthew and I had a date today and went to lunch and to buy him school clothes and a new lunch box.

We're gearing up for a busy fall with the start of school and all of the activities it brings. I can't believe my baby boy will be in all day "K" this year. It's going to be the only year he gets to go to school with his sister so this will be a very special year.

I've put our vacation pictures in video form and hope to find some more time for blogging!

It's the last day of school!

I can not believe how quickly this school year went by.

I'm so proud of the kids. They both had a great year.

I went out today and bought them some balloons and cupcakes to celebrate the last day. I made them each a card.

As I was writing Laurens card, I couldn't help but to get a little emotional as this is her last year in elementary school. It seems like yesterday I watch her get on the school bus with her little back pack.....all I saw was her back, she got on that bus and never looked back. And, of course, I stood in the driveway crying. One more school year and I'm going to be the mother of a middle schooler.

It's hard to imagine my Matthew is going to K in Sept. What a big boy! He's my little buddy. I'm going to miss our time together in the afternoon; picking him up and getting in some time alone on the way to school.

The upcoming school year will be the only time ever that the two of them will be in the same school together. I'm glad they will have that time to share.

How Did I Get So Lucky?

My kids are just the best and I have to ask myself how I got so lucky.

Last night I had such a migraine, I thought I was gonna die. It was so painful.

Lauren kept asking me if I needed anything. She started to rub my head, then Matthew got into the action, they both wanted to rub my head.

I kept getting kisses and hugs.

I am so proud that I have two beautiful, loving, thoughtful and compassionate kids.

How lucky am I?

I got a new bathing suit

So I'm not a size 10 (yet) but I bought a bathing suit that I'm actually excited about. I needed to get one asap because we're going to Hershey next weekend and it's supposed to be in the 80's so I would need it for the waterpark and the pool at the campground.

I dreaded going shopping for this item. I walked into the store and there it was. It's beautiful. It's black and has a skirt attached and on the straps it has a gold ring. The body of the suit is so stylish, it's hard explain, I will have to post a picture but the material is almost like it's "scarfed".

I tried it on in the dressing room.........That in itself is a huge deal for me. I love it, I can't believe that I'm at a point with my weight loss that I can actually accept what I look like in a bathing suit. Still a long way to go but I actually don't look like a sausage stuffed in a bag that's too small.

And it's very age appropriate. Not old farty looking at all.

New Haircut

New Hair Cut

It's been forever since I got a haircut...mostly because I just haven't had time. But last night, I went and got a hair cut (all i've been able to do with it is put it up in a pony tail) so i got 1 1/2 inches cut off and layered.

check it out.....

MOTHER'S DAY 2008

As I mailed Mom's Mother's Day gift this afternoon, I started thinking about how truly blessed I am.

I am blessed because I have a Mom to celebrate this day with. Though we are miles apart, still. . . I have her. I know she's there when I want to call when I'm upset or want to complain or to share a story she's there. I think about some of my friends who do not have their Mom and realize how lucky I am. My favorite times ever with Mom were all the times we stayed up late just talking. They still are. . . as I look forward to her visits home when she stays with us and still we will stay up late talking. Of course, then there all the shopping times. . .And the weekend we went to New York. All moments I will always treasure.

I am blessed because I have so many wonderful women in my life from aunts, cousins, sister in laws and friends. All of them help me to be who I am. I learn from the every day. I am grateful for each one of them and for all they do, for all the ways they influence my children.

And I am blessed because I have two of the most wonderful, thoughtful children that I've ever known. Without them, I would never have known that one person could hold so many jobs at the same time; nurse, teacher, chef, taxi driver, social planner, maid, personal assistant. I never knew I was that ambitious. But seriously. . . Having them give me the privilege to hold the most prestigious title of all -- MOM -- and
I would never have known how much love my heart could actually hold.

I wish all of you a Happy Mother's Day. To Lauren and Matthew, thank you for letting me get to be part of that elite group called "Mothers".

Opening Day

Saturday was opening day for little league in our little town of Warren. All the players walked down main street and over to the field for the opening ceremonies. Matthew had his first official game in the afternoon. It was so cute because he is on the same team as one of his classmates. They played against a team that Matthew's "girlfriend" was on.

He did great! I was so proud of him. It's so exciting to watch them all. They are all so cute.

Oh My God. . . I'm Wearing a Skirt!

I haven't worn a skirt in years and years. In fact, i can't remember the last time I wore a skirt. But I found a couple of skirts at Kohls, for the grand price of 4.80. Can't beat that~! Since I've reached my 25lb mark, I thought i would be brave and go for it. Now 25lbs is a significant amount, but I still have a long way to go. Lauren is just too cute though. She has been bugging me for ages to wear a skirt. She has said many times "Mom, why don't you wear a skirt?", "Mom, I've never seen you in a skirt". This morning I got ready for work and put the skirt on, and as I was getting ready to leave Lauren's eyes lit up and said "I LIKE IT".

Of course, now I have this fear that I'm going to go to the bathroom and come out with my skirt stuck in my underwear.

My sweet girl

Saturday night after work the four of us went to dinner. After dinner Lauren and I went to the mall. She wanted to spend a gift certificate that she's had since her birthday. We were walking and talking and having some girl time. As we were walking she leaned over and gave me a big hug and kiss. You have just got to love those moments when you get unsolicited kisses and hugs.

John Adams and a couple of interesting things I've learned

Let me start by saying that in school I HATED history. I thought it to be highly boring. Once i started to travel as an adult and visited places like DC, Williamsburg, Gettysburg, etc. I just fell in love with American history. I love to learn about it and wish that my history teachers made it more interesting for me.

I've been watching the John Adams mini series on HBO -- it's really very well done. I've learned a lot. I have also been researching John Adams on the internet to learn more. Two things that I learned that I really found interesting. . .

On the first night that John Adams spent in the White House (he was the first president to live there) he wrote a letter to his wife Abigail and one of the things that he wrote was:

"Before I end my letter, I pray Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof."

How sad to see that there has been much dishonesty and corruption passing through that house.

The other fascinating thing that I learned was that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4th, 1826. Thomas Jefferson passed only hours before John Adams.

So there are a couple of facts for you to use should you ever get on Jeopardy~

I love the way Matthew thinks. . .

Last night a commercial for Mcdonalds happy meal came on promoting the princess toys. I was fooling with Matt and said that I wanted to be a princess. Matthew says: "well, then you have to get a kids meal not a grown up meal" I said OK. He then asks. . . "do you want my crown from burger king"? I said "sure, then I'd be a princess" -- Matthew says: no Mommy, you'd be a queen!

First day of T-Ball

Matt had t-ball practice on Monday. He really loved it. He came home and told me "I did everything I was supposed to". But leave it to my son. . . . Rick told me that at the end of practice the coach asked "what did everyone like about today?"
One little boy said: I got to run the bases
One little boy said: I got to throw the ball

MY LITTLE BOY SAID: "I GOT TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES"

He made the coach laugh!

What have we been doing since our last blog?

Well, let's see....I've been working like crazy. My part time job at the cable company got a new billing system so we put in some crazy hours, not to mention we are short staffed.

Rick has been so great, he cooks, he cleans, he does the laundry.....I should have got a part time job long ago! lol.

Matthew is signed up for T-ball. His coach called to introduce himself. I can hardly believe my baby is big enough to play ball. Of course, I sit here saying to myself "what if he gets hit with the ball, he'll cry". It's so hard to let them grow up. Practices are on Mondays and games on Saturdays.

Poor thing has been sick. He had a fever last week, now a terrible cold and he is just miserable. He's missed the whole week of school.

Lauren had a dance competition -her team won 3 golds. She looked so very grown up in her costumes. She doesn't need me very much back stage now. She did her own makeup, took care of all her costume changes herself. I didn't know what to do with myself not being able to help her. She's becoming very independent.

That's about it from our world. Staye tuned. . . .

Happy Birthday Lauren!

It's a double digit birthday! Ten years old. Daddy and I were married for 9 years before you were born. You sure took your time getting here. I was begining to think that I would never have children.

I remember the day that I found out I was pregnant. There wasn't anyone around for me to share the news. I had to wait forever until Daddy got home. Finally he came home and we both could hardly believe it. Grammy and Poppy were so excited - you were the first grandchild.

I was convinced that you were going to be a boy. You were born and they told me it was a girl, it was total shock. I remember Daddy had said to me when you were born..."I didn't know what I would do with a little girl, but I love her" and I said "That's funny, I didn't know what I would do with a little boy". (though I sure did learn quickly when your brother was born)






I was thrilled. A little girl to dress in frilly clothes, to go shopping with, to share secrets with. I knew it would be fun and special to have a little girl but just how special I had no idea.



You are an angel. You have grown into a lovely young lady and I couldn't be more proud. I love our girl time. I love our shopping trips, our trips to the movies and the theatre. I love watching you dance, and being part of all that you do for dance.

I have a song for each of you and the song that brings tears to my eyes and makes me think of you when I hear it is "In My Daughters Eyes" by Martina McBride. It really relays how I feel about you.

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about
It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daugter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see
how happy she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

I love you

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Today we will be celebrating your fifth birthday. How can that be? Five years have gone by so quickly.

Your name, Matthew, means "Gift of God" and you truly are. As we had lost a baby in 2001 and then a miscarriage the following year, to learn we were expecting again brought lots of emotion. It was a long 9 months for me. Only because I worried so much and prayed every day for you to be a healthy baby. I was so worried that I actually rented a portable doppler machine just so I could check your heartbeat everyday.

There was a very bad snow storm 2 days before you were born and I had heard that the hospitals were cancelling some surgerys. I prayed that all would go as planned for your delivery. It did. We went to the hospital early in the morning and at 10am you were born via c-section.

You came out screaming and Dr. Walker said "this boy is mad". We were moved into a recovery room where you and daddy could stay with me. This was different than when Lauren was born, I had to go into a recovery area by myself. So it was very nice that we were all together until we were put into a regular room.

Daddy went home that night to be with Lauren and came back to the hospital the next day. When he came in the morning he asked me if I had heard about the fire. Of course I had no idea what he was talking about but he put the news on and there had been a terrible fire at a local night club. 100 people died. Many I had gone to school with, a friend of the family, and people I used to work with. So as we celebrate your birth we also remember all the victims of the Station Night Club.

You were a good baby. Always smiling, always happy. When you were four months old you gave us quite the scare...you had to be admitted to the hospital for menangitis. You spent four days in the hospital and they were the longest 4 days of my life. I hated seeing you there in the crib with an IV and sleeping for so long. After a week you were back to your old self.

As a toddler you really gave us a run for our money. Very active, full of mischief and sometimes not a very good listener. There were days when I didn't know what I was going to do with you. But you always had a smile on your face. Always made us laugh and you still do.

I'm very proud of the boy you've become. You now are a very good listener. You are so smart, kind and thoughtful. You impress me -- when you are done watching tv you turn it off, you put your toys away. You love to joke. You love to talk. We have some pretty good conversations. I love when I tuck you in and tell you that you are "my sweet boy" you always respond and say "you are my sweet mommy". I love when you give me a kiss for no reason. I love the dimples in your cheek. I love your energy. I love everything about you.

Soon you'll be playing t-ball, going to Kindergarten, becoming more independent and I will miss these little boy days but until then, I will enjoy every moment because I adore you. When I hear the song MY WISH by Rascall Flatts I think of you because what they sing are things I wish for you as you grow.

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,

And each road leads you where you want to go,

And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,

I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.

And if one door opens to another door closed,

I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,

If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,

All the ones who love you, in the place you left,

I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,

And you help somebody every chance you get,

Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,

And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

This is my wish

Happy Birthday Baby Boy! I love You

Journey to the new me (2)

GOAL REACHED

I have reached the 10 pound mark. I got on the scale this morning and couldn't believe it! Whoo Hoo! (that's 2 bags of sugar)

New goal: 10 lbs and get a new pair of jeans

Journey to the new me

I've been debating posting about this......I feel like everytime I say outloud that I'm going to lose weight I set myself up for failure. But there is something different about this time. With my 40th birthday upon me, (and believe me, I don't feel like what I thought 40 would feel like -- I still feel like I'm in my 20's -- I'm young at heart and always will be) I told myself it was time for me to take care of me. I always make sure the kids go to their dr's apts every year. I take care of everyone but me. So on February 1st I had my first physical since I don't know when and I put myself, for lack of a better word, "diet". I've been watching what I eat, using smaller plates, making better choices. The other night we had pizza, I had one piece instead of 2-3 pieces. Yes, I have had a small chocolate here and there, but I haven't eaten a whole candy bar. I'm striving for portion control. I have also started exercising on a more regular basis. I'm making goals, each 10 pounds I lose I will treat myself... When I lose the first 10 I'm getting a new pair of sunglasses (my favorite accessory). The good news......Since February 1st................I have lost 7lbs. Ok, so at first I say only 7 pound but then I think....that is 7 packages of butter or a 5lb bag of sugar and 2 packages of butter. Thinking of it that way makes 7 pounds seem pretty significant. I also feel better mentally, knowing that I am doing something good for myself. So in the end the big goal is to lose 100 pounds but we will take those 10 at a time. So I have 3 pounds to go until those new sunglasses....goal is to do that by 2/29. So begins the journey to the new me. . . . (to be continued)

Happy Valentines Day

So here we are Valentines Day, 2008. I told Rick last week that I am boycotting Valentines. I mean first of all it's just another day for card companies to make money. Even if you just wanted to go to dinner, the restaurants are crowded. I just got a small box of chocolate for Lauren and Matt. Cost me all of 2.00. Rick gave me a big hug this morning, said Happy Valentines and I love you -- well that's all I need on Valentines day. So to everyone else Happy Valentines Day.

Visit to the Doctors

Today Lauren and Matthew both had their annual apt. They are both growing beautifully (those were the doctors words). Matthew weighed in at 40lbs and was 42 inches tall. Lauren weighed in at 67lbs and 55 inches tall. They said Matt was 50 percentile for both height and weight and Lauren was 50th percentile for height and 25th for weight. The skinny little thing! Matt got 3 shots and didn't even flinch. He's a brave boy. He also had a hearing and vision test which he passed with flying colors. So Matt is done with shots until he is 11. (I can't even imaginge him being 11) After the doctors visit I dropped Lauren off at school and I had my own doctors apt.

I had my very first mammogram. All I can say is OUCH!





I'm very proud of Matt because he had to sit outside the door all by himself. He was so patient. He's such a good boy.

The Sickies are visiting today

Lauren started complaining last night that she didn't feel good. This morning she still doesn't. She has a headache and feels like she's going to throw up. Poor Baby! I hate when they are sick. Matt is fine. He, however, has a dentist apt this morning and I had planned on taking a half day today at work to bring him. Because it is a half day experience; by the time you get to the dentist, and then get back him back to school or daycare and get to work, it's already a couple hours. They both have apts next wed too at the dr's so that's another half day of my vacation time. Oh well. It's ok because Rick has done most of the apt's this year. Anyway, now I have to figure out what to do with Lauren this afternoon because Rick is home until 12 with her so I can take Matt to the dentist. I wonder what I'm going to do with myself when the kids are all grown up. I'm going to have so much time on my hands. Of course then I'll be very sad because the kids are not little anymore. I guess that's why they make grandchildren. lol.

How was lunch? What lunch?

I got back from "lunch" today and my co-worker asked "How was lunch"? Lunch? What Lunch? My day starts at 6am. Rick wakes me up. I have 30 minutes to get the kids, up, dressed, teeth and hair brushed. (this is why showers and baths happen at night) we leave promptly at 6:30am. Drive to the other side of town (5 min) and pick up my nieces Nicole and Steph. Drive to the next town - Bristol - (15 min) drop off Nicole at High School, go up the street and drop off Matt at his day care provider. Then I Drive back to Warren. If it's a Monday, Wed or Friday, Lauren gets dropped off at a friends house to catch a ride to school for her chorus group (school is back in Bristol where we just were but it's too early to be dropped off) A Tues or Thurs she gets to come back home with me for a half hour. I get ready for work, we leave the house again at 7:55 where I will go 30 seconds up the road and bring Steph to Middle school. If Lauren is with me she goes to the bus stop for 8:20. I then go to work - I work in Somerset, MA. that is about 10 minutes from my house. I work until 11:45 and then leave to go get Matt in Bristol bring him to school in Warren and then come back to work (that is my lunch hour). Work until 5 and then go the next job at the cable company until 8:30. Lucky for me, Rick will clean and cook and do the laundry. I go home eat, make lunches and maybe watch some tv. Then start it all over again. Next year won't be so hectic. Both kids will be in the same school and we'll actually get to sleep until 7a. Matt will be in school for the full day. So when I get asked "How was lunch"? I have to ask....What Lunch?

Pats are still #1 to us

Well, the Superbowl has come and gone and the end result was certainly not what we expected or hoped for. It was fun, house full of company and good food that is what was important. The Giants played a great game, you have to give them that. So to the Giants Fans, Congratulations! We know what it means and how it feels. Enjoy it. To Tom Brady and the gang, you had a great season, the superbowl would have been the icing on the cake, but hey cake with no icing is still good! There's always next year. To Patriot Nation, show the class that Tom Brady would and be happy for the winners! Red Sox season here we come............................

Random thought of the day

Do you ever look at your pictures and see strangers in the background and then wonder how many pictures that you and your family are in that some scrapbooker is cropping you out of? Things that make you go hmmmm. . .

Spelling Bee

Lauren came home very excited today. She is the first runner up for the spelling bee. Which basically means she's the understudy for the kid going to the spelling bee. So if her friend is absent, Lauren fills in. If they go to state and the friend can't make it Lauren fills in. She was very excited. It was nice to see her happy about something for school. It's very hard to keep her excited about school. She's a good student but she usually doesn't show much enthusiasm for school. Now I don't know what the chances are of her actually getting to participate in the spelling bee but I think that's pretty cool no matter.

High School Musical On Ice Tour

Santa brought Lauren two tix to see High School Musical On Ice. The show was tonight. I have to say, I thought it was cute at best. The skating was just ok and the story was told too quickly. They did HSM for the first half and the second half was HSM2.

If you had never seen HSM before the ice show, you would have been totally lost and really not known what the big deal was all about.

The prices of the merchandise is so outrageous. They had a really cute t-shirt for the low low price of .........$35.00. CRAZY. Pens were 10.00, snow cones in a cup 10.00. Lauren is so good though, she never even asks. Even she said the merchandise was overpriced. Now there's a girl who knows the value of a dollar!

Sunday, January 20, 2008

We play cards once a month with friends of our. There are 3 couples total. We rotate houses. Last night we went to Joe and Rita's, had dinner and our usual game of cards. Got home around 11pm. Strange coming home to a house with no kids as they slept at their aunts house. Rick and I woke up around 9 (well, he was up earlier) - we watched the movie Wild Hogs together before I went to get the kids.

After the movie I checked my voice mail to find a message from my neighbor Joan who lives at the end of the road, she asked me to call her. I couldn't reach her, but my gut told me it was bad news and I had a feeling what it was. I finally got in touch with another neighbor and she confirmed what I thought it was. My next door neighbor, Dottie, had passed away this morning. She had been battling pancreatic cancer for the past year. She wasn't that old, in her 50's. She has 4 kids, two of them I don't know because they are grown and married, but the other two, Hannah, who is about 19 and her brother Doug who is in 8th grade, I'm very fond of.

My friend Sue and I went this afternoon to get some food and bring it over. Hannah is so upset. I feel so bad for them.

In September we lost another neighbor, Sue's husband.

It's been a sad time here on Paul Court.

Keeping everyone in our prayers.

Hello

Well, would you look at this....I've finally crossed over to the other side and got myself a Blog!

It sometimes takes me awhile to embrace new things, new technology but here I am. So now that I've created this space for all to come and read about the adventures in our lives, I've actually got to make sure that I come on and post often.

I'm off to go ask my friends who blog for some tips. . . this does seem pretty easy to use.

Megan, this would be a good place to post all those stories we talked about getting down. I'll have to give you access so you can update as well.

See ya'll soon!