My new favorite Picture!

 

This is what happens!

This is what happens when an OT teachers her son his shapes!  I taught Ethan a triangle and a square at dinner. Then on the way home he VERY QUIETLY rehearsed the above stated shapes on his leg! Pretty good square…i think!

"36" things to say!

1.) I love my family

2.) I don't think I could ever live without my sisters

3.) Ethan's smile gets me every time

4.) Emelia's eyes are definitely blue- though she would rather they were brown

5.) Being a working mom is tough but I wouldn't have it any other way!

6.) I miss the Adirondacks!

7.) I see Disney in our future..again!

8.) 4 more years till 40------SHIT!

9.) I thank god every day for my friends who are there for me! You know who you are.

10.) Really think I would still like to get my doctorate....Dr. Jeanmarie Tommasulo....a little goal I have always had for myself...when the kids get older

11.) Dreading Ethan starting Kindergarten next year!

12.) Glad that Garret is still my best friend...after 17 and a half years

13.) Sould really get my ass back to going to church (don't think I should of said it that way!)

14.) Super glad my thyroid has found it's "perfect" level per Dr. report

15.) I love love love Ethan's teacher this year!

16.) I can't stand SAH mom's who think women who work don't love thier family or don't want to be with thier kids....I can resoundingly say NOT TRUE!!

17.) Ethan grew 2 sizes this summer...you have got to be kidding me!

18.) Hoping the extra fat that has taken up permemant residence on my ass will take an eviction notice to heart! :)

19.) I still hope to own a theraputic horseback riding ring some day...and hope I will be able to write good enough grants so that any child with needs could ride for free!

20.) This is harder than I thought it would be!

21.) Really would like a kindle! and a pool and a porch and a massage and a pedicure and a new yellow coach purse with a big buckle and braided handles.........

22.) Wish I could figure out how to change my blog page

23.) Hope to really join my friends in learning how to use our new camera

24.) Can't wait until I can have a fire every night now that it is fall

25.) Wish I was this age again......hmmmmmm

26.) Has it really been 7 years since I passed my national boards and became a registered OT?

27.) Would love to have Mike and Kerry move to Charlotte

28.) Dido for the rest of my sisters who still live up north

29.) Want to go see Sugarland in Atlanta

30.) I finally feel like I can read a whole book without having to give it up to not enough time!

31.) I am so glad that modern sicence is modern science so that my good friends could have the baby they deserve!

32.) Wondering what the next few years will bring?????

33.) Want to take another girls vacation again soon! Hint hint...in case any of you are reading this absurdly long list

34.) Where the HELL did all my hair go? Next time I WILL NOT SAY "SHORT PLEASE"!!

35.) That was LAST YEARS NEWS

36.) and this is TODAY........

WHEW!!!

WOW! what a fast weekend! I dont think we could of added anymore into it if we tried (well perhaps mowing the lawn could of been included-but we will not mention that to Garret!...again...sigh...)

Friday we had dinner with my parents- Ethan spent the night to get away to the absolute love of his life- his GRANDMOTHER- and away from the three startchy virgos he lives with! :)

Then Saturday we hit the Matthews Alive festival and 91 steamy degrees! We enjoyed a fast lunch and a look around then headed for home. After a well needed nap we headed to the dollar movies to watch Ice Age-Return of the Dinosaurs! Emelia sat for the entire thing-with a bit of bribbery (two lollipops, two pieces of gum and a piece of candy!)

Bright and early Sunday we packed up lunch and headed for Crowder's Mountain! It was beautiful! We enjoyed an awesome hike up to the turnaround trail...we did not dare try the whole trail to the pinnacle but the kids did great! We hiked for about 2 1/2 hours! Then we headed for ice cream with Aunt Kara and her firend DOC before returning home exhausted.

Monday morning brought fun and games at the "Y". We grabbed our soccer balls and played soccer on the unused fields! Boy the kids were the happiest just running around on REAL GRASS-some day people...some day we will have real grass around our house! We headed to the park to try and get Ethan over his fear of heights--not this day! Then we went to Grandma and Grandpa's for an awesome labor day bbq!

SO WHEW! We were a busy lot but today brought Ethan's first day of school and tomorrow will bring Emelia's! And if that wasn't enough....we head to Crestwood Retreat for an awesome weekend in the mountains on Friday! I am excited to say it will be another weekend of WHEW!

And now she is 3!

Oh, My Emelia! Today she turned three! We opened presents first thing this morning! She promptly gave her brother any present that she did not want! Then we had a fun lunch with Emelia's bud Addy and one of her favorite people, "my Ms. Tracey"! We met Grandma and Grandpa (who also celebrated his birthday today- Happy 63!) at the traditional birthday place- Red Robin for dinner!
I can not believe how fast the past three years have gone! Emme- You are such a awesome little girl! You always keep Daddy and I in awe of what you are going to say next! ! And you always keep your brother on his toes!

3 Things I love about you Emelia! (although there are definitely more than 3!)

1- You are so very verbal! You remember everything and say everything you remember! And you usually use the phrase in the correct context! :)
2- You love to hang out with Mom! Target is your favorite place to go with me and I love love love that you think just you and I should go together!
3- You have amazing blue eyes! I can not get enough of seeing those smilin' eyes!

3 Things you are doing now!

1- You LOVE LOVE LOVE puppies!!!!!!!!! and want to wear puppy clothes everyday..therefore Grandma and Grandpa bought you a ton of aforementioned items for your birthday!
2- You love to have your finger and toe nails painted! and Hate it when they get messed up!
3- You love to color and continue to love Playdoh!

Well the big party is on Saturday and boy is she looking forward to it!!!! For now she is riding around the family room on her new bicylce! Bye bye Tricycle!

Thankful Tuesday

Thank you to my friends who called and checked up on me and Dad while we waited for information at the hospital...thank you to you who so awesomely took my kids in PJ's and flip flops so bright and early in the morning without question, so I could run off and be with my Dad...thank you to you who covered my handwriting class so I didn't have to worry about it and for those of you who want to know, my dad is doing just fine! Some tests completed and some more to have done but for now he is doing really well... and appears "no worse for wear"....

I am looking forward to an impromtu weekend with family...mostly those coming down to see Dad but I am happy you are all on your way!

DAMN!!!

Today:

Mom...Ethan we have to find a new store,this one doesn't have what i need!
Ethan.. okay, I will get the map..where's my map?I'll find a store.
Mom...what did you just say?
Ethan...DAMN!
Mom....oh, Ethan, you don't say that, only Mommy does (did I really say that?)
Ethan... mom, when you cant find my map, that is what you say... Ah... Damn!
Ethan...damn I cant find my map...see?

Yes he did! And yes he got that from me! DAMN!

Look Quick!!!

It was a moment...just a few moments actually...sittting side by side.....working side by side actually....I think Lego land had officially hit our house...I can't imagine what is going to happen when the new LEGO store comes to Charlotte next month!

MY TWO COWS!

So last Friday was Cow appreciation day at Chick- fil -a. Nelly and the kids created the top half of thier costumes during the week, sooo when Nelly was off on Friday the kids were really looking forward to going! I fell for thier enthusiasum and created the bottom half of thier costumes and off we went! They had a good time going out dressed as cows! They were even more surpised when we got to chick- fil-a and everyone was dressed up! They enjoyed thier free meal and all of thier goodies they gave them..They even had thier picture taking by one of chick-fil-a's marketing people! We'll see if it shows up anywhere!

Sworn Enemies!

Ethan loves to "fight" with Grandpa!

Florida Grandma and Grandpa

Then Grandma Joan and Grandpa from Florida came to visit! We had a fun and fast holiday weekend and found out that Miss Emeila does NOT like fireworks. Our neighbor next door was shooting off fireworks in his back yard Friday night and she freaked! Therefore our evening out for Saturday night was changed to a nice dinner out and then fireworks at home!

Joan and I sneaked away on Friday to hit some antique stores and Trader Joes. We usually hit the stores they dont have in Florida while they are here! Garret and his Dad stayed home and did some small house projects....we finally put up our window treatments in our bedroom! They look great!

Sunday we took a trip to Spencer and Dan Nichols Park and enjoyed the mild temperatues with no humidity! We finished off with an AWESOME crab leg feast at our house (JEAN'S FAV!!!). We are always sad to see them leave but they will be back next month for Emelias B-day!!! and hopefully Baptism!

P.S. We definitely need to get Garret PHOTOGRAPHY lessons. Every picture you will ever see of me with the kids is blurry! Sorry!

Josheeeeeeeeee!!!!!

Well, first cousin Josh was here for a week. The kids always love having him here! They went to the pool almost every day! It was a week of Legos and swimming! Hopefully Ethan will take his first trip up to Malone with Grandma next summer to spend more time with Josh!

Walking on Water!!!

Ethan's NEW Trick!

Oh The Fun We Had!!

What an incredible, whirlwind weekend! We really had a great time on Saturday, up in Oxford with Aunt Lisa/Uncle Brad, Grandma/Grandpa, Aunt Jana/Uncle Mark and all the cousins! We cooked out, went swimming, playedall sorts of games/activities and did sparklers! We spent the night in one of the independent living program apartments that are on the children's home campus. After an early pancake breakfast we threw the kids into the car, with cousin Joshy in toe, and flew, ah hem I mean, drove back to Charlotte. We dropped off the kids, unloaded the car, put on our Sunday best and left for the Phantom of the Opera with Mike and Nikki!

OH MY GOSH! the Phantom was really incredible! I never got to see it when I lived in Buffalo, it was in Toronto FOREVER and I never went! If you havent been, GO! Dinner afterwords with Mike and Nik and then home! Enjoy the Pics!

Oh Please BEES!

It is not bad enough that I am allergic to bees, it is not bad enough that it really really hurts to get stung, it is not even bad enough that I have been through this 3 times before..this time takes the cake. Yesterday, I geared up on my day off to hedge all of our overgrown bushes. Out flies a wasp and stings me while hedging the very first bush!
So where, might you ask did this little darling ,who I was obviously disturbing by cutting down his home, sting me??? MY left breast! There I said it! Out Loud. The normal allergic reaction occurs, I finally decide it is time for medical care and begin the journey of showing off my left body part to not one, not two but three medical personnel (all of which who felt sincere pity but complete HUMOR in the situation)! TO add salt to the wound, I then had to debuff my bottom, very large body part to allow a shot to be injected by not one but two additional medical professionals! So now that I am done showing off all the body parts I am willing to show, I ask.... Please oh Please bees, leave me be!

What's Next?

We have been enjoying QUIET weekends and are gearing up for the next few weeks. This past weekend we took the kids out to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa on Friday, to dinner and the airport to watch the planes on Saturday and then to dinner and to Grandma and Grandpa's new outdoor "oasis"- okay, its just a great new porch with great new furniture, and a great new outdoor grill with attatched oven and smoker on Sunday. Somewhere in there we took a trip to the "Y" pool. We decided to join the "Y" so the kids could enjoy the awesome outdoor pool at the Siskey Y this summer. We really had a great weekend.
I am quietly enjoying a little bit of slow down at work. What I truly mean is I am enjoying doing some of the things I never get a chance to do...talk to parents, return phone calls, order supplies, catch up on continuuing education, talk to other therapists, update myself on new therapy techniques and ideas...well you get the picture. It wont stay slow for long....

So What's NEXT....

A lot of yard work this weekend (hopefully SANS any snakes!)

Nelly is off next week (YIKES!!!!)

Camp for both kids next week

A trip to Oxford next weekend to see Jana, Mark, Josh and Abbey before they go back to DC

To see Phantom with our good friends

Father's day

Josh is coming back here for the following week

Nikki's baby shower

Back to Oxford to return Joshy and Grandma

Garrets Dad and Joan are coming for a good long visit

4th of July

THEN 2 weeks of handwriting camps!

WOAH!!! SUMMER IS DEFINITELY HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Weekend in Oxford

The kids and I took an impromtu trip to Oxford this weekend to visit Aunt Lisa, Uncle Brad and Kellyn while Daddy looked for a new car. He has to turn in that awful Grand Prix that I have unabashedly complained about for the last 4 years. (NOT a great car while raising 2 babies).

So off we went to swim and go to the State Fair Grounds for a fun Saturday afternoon.

It was the first time that the 3 of us, E & E and I slept in the same bed. Emme is quite the topsy turvy sleeper. I awoke many times with her foot in my face and other times with her sleeping half way off the bed. But being able to spend good quality time with them, away from home, without thinking I should be doing one of a million things was awesome!

Lisa works for the Masonic Home for Children (Orphanage) in Oxford. It is quite humbling every time I go there; to hear the children's stories, where they come from and see how they live. The "campus" is beautiful, bought by the masons after the civil war. Right now, they have a baby (5 months old) on campus, who is absolutely adorable! There are approximatley 70 children who live on campus .

One COOL weekend!!!

Sometimes in life, a true friend, a take you as you are, can talk about anything, just be your relaxed self with, FRIEND comes along and lets you know that there is always someone there for you, NO MATTER WHAT!. Not too often though, those two friends meet two women who also become THAT kind of FRIEND too! Every time we get the chance to spend time together, I am in awe at how easy it is to fall back into comfort mode, like we haven't been apart and missed gabs of each others lives!!! How truly lucky we are!

MY secret surprise worked! Garret was sooo excited and surpised to see his best bud (of almost 30 years) show up at the Arboretum Chick-fil-a on Friday! We had an awesome weekend! Here's a brief overview:

Friday-Kerry and Jean drive to IKea! I am completely in LOVE with that store!

Friday Night- We headed to Speed street and RiRa's for dinner! (the same restuarant had a Fire early Saturday morning!) PS....note to self....never ever ever go to speed street again. I saw more people with missing teeth and missing clothes, I was thoughtouly GROSSED out!

Saturday- Big boys played golf- big girls hit Gaffney (hard!) All little ones-had an awesome day with a new sitter who was incredible! Will hire her all throughout the summer!

Sunday- Kerry and I played with the kids and went to Costco for Lunch and Flank Steak for dinner....the big boys golf again!

Sunday Night- Barbecue with the Donato's! So glad they could come! We had a great time and the flank steak was the best I ever had!

Monday- Barbeque at my parents! Wadinski's footlong hot dogs and Swebels rolls. (Buffalo grub)!

Only one injury-Ethan has a nice shiner! Got hit by a plastic baseball bat in the eye!

Only one sick kid- Emelia spiked a 103.5 fever yesterday and again today and I cant get it down below 101!!

The kids had a great time playing together and got along great! My favorite thing from the weekend! The big boys playing Wii boxing against each other and thier prospective male child standing next to him saying "My daddy's got him, my daddy get him, get him my daddy.. get him" back and forth. I know it is one of those"you had to be there things" but I see a future strong friendship in the making... just like thier fathers!!

Betty

Garret's "grandma" Betty passed away on Wednesday. His mother and aunts had a small "ceremony" today at a local park in Florida where Grandpa and Betty lived. Betty's family will be having a Memorial at a later date.

Getting closer!

My secret is still going....even better I got a babysitter for Friday and Saturday. A real sitter...I have never called a complete stranger and asked her to sit for my kids before! But did it today! Actually she is the new nanny for a friend of mine, has tons of experience, has been a camp counselor for years and is highly recommended! So that makes me breath a tad bit easier! Really cant wait for Friday!

Down on the Farm

Today Ethan and I went with his class to the Black Swan Farm. He has been waiting all week to go! So armed with our packed lunches and a new bottle of hand sanitizer we drove off into the "country". He loved it! He got to pet every animal, except the peacock and even pulled the hair out of the fluffiest ball of a rabbit I have EVER seen. From there we went for ice cream with Parker and his mom Charlotte! We had a great time! Next year will be Emelia's class, who is SUPER excited to get her "turn".

Shhh.It's a secret!!

I can't wait! I AM SO EXCITED! Our best friends Kerry and Mike and thier children are coming down in two weeks for memorial Day weekend! It is a surpize for Garret. Two days of golfing and just hanging with the guys! meanwhile Kerry and I will do some serious shopping! We are good at it! Then on Sunday a cookout with some family friends! WhaHoooooo! Can't wait. I haven't told the kids or Garret! We'll see if I can keep the secret till then!

Me and Daddy

Daddy and Me!!!

Ahhhh....Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of my friends who are MOM's and for those of you who are very nearly MOM's....your already a MOM....the worrying starts the instantly!
What a great weekend! My Mother's Day started early. Garret surprized me with a great dinner at Morton's uptown then with a movie(I picked...chick flick!:) Then today we went to an awesome brunch with my parents and Kara.
We then took my mother for her first EVER pedicure and manicure! She loved it! Honestly, the best part of the day was seeing a woman who raised 6 children in awe of a chair that actually massaged your back while your feet were soaking in hot water. Her words "I never knew there was such a thing" then "Oh, this has to be a new thing...easter, mother's day, any holiday" Needless to say I was worried that I didn't by the typical Borders gift card but this was soooo much more!
We finished the day with shopping and ice cream! We had a great time! I could not be more impressed with all of the planning that Garret did for my special day! Awesome job GAR!

Destination DC

Aunt Jana & Joshy

"Bestest" Cousins

Uncle Mark & Abbey

Abigail Mae

I wrote this a few weeks ago! Then the internet failed! We went in April!

Ethan and I took our first Mommy/son roadtrip to DC to meet our new neice/cousin ABBEY! and of course to see Josh and Aunt Jana/uncle Mark too! We spent the night in Oxford, NC with Aunt Lisa/Uncle Brad and Kellyn to help break up the trip! Ethan did wonderfully! He did ask me a few times "are we there yet" but with the help of Scooby Doo we made it there by early Friday morning! Abbey is a sweetheart and Ethan and Josh got started right away on the Legos we brought for Josh's b-day!

On Saturday, Jana and I slipped away to go to WEGMAN's..... IF you are from Buffalo, you know what I am talking about! I was a kid in the candy store! WOW! Bison Dip, Weber's mustard, wegman's turkey sausage patties, kimmelwyck rolls....I spent my weekly food budget! Good thing I brought 2 empty coolers with me!

Then we rode the METRO to the Federal Triad stop and took both boys to the Air and Space muesum. I am a closet history lover so going to the Smithsonian was a dream! The boys loved it! Ethan was in airplane heaven!

Before we knew it the weekend was over! We made it back the whole 7 hours without any problems! The view on the way back between Virginia and NC was beautiful!

Over a Month

I know I know.... It has really been a month since I have blogged! Well I will catch you all up! First! Easter! We had a great relaxing Easter. For the first year we did not go to Florida..which is really sad but we did just make the trek for Disney in February! Ethan really got into finding his Easter basket and loved all of the goodies in it! Of course, mostly LEGO's. He has however, been carrying around a small lunchbox with all his candy in it since Easter. Emelia LOVES candy necklaces! She got 5 in her basket and ate them all. Well what she doesn't know is that Mommy threw them away after she ate about 3pcs of each!

Grab bag!

Five weeks! See the time does go fast. Emelia is completely potty trained, Ethan has stopped taking"naps". We are still doing "rest" time with quiet play, Garret has recovered from his surgery, 3 of my friends have had babies, and I got to go out of town with a few girlfriends for a get away weekend! Holy cow! Things continue to move forward at an even breakneck speed. We spent a beautiful spring weekend outside working in the yard. The kids had our neighborhood easter egg hunt and are looking forward to the easter bunny arriving on Easter!

Ethan's speech has progressed really well, so much so that his speech therapist says he is now talking so much that he does not listen. He has begun to tell me stories about his day and how he feels about things. Lately he likes to tell me that he is just pretending!

Emelia....well words can not describe! She says all the words. and never stops. Garret asked her the other day "hey Emelia, has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?" she replied rather quickly "um, no" and continued her story! GOT TO LOVE HER! She has a memory that just facinates me!

The summer is quickly upon us and Emelia has started asking if it is her birthday yet! Mommy has decided to NOT work any Fridays this summer and is really gonna stick to her guns this year. Next summer I am contmeplating working only 3 days/week since it will be Ethan's last summer before the big K!

Happily all the sickness and health problems a lot of our family members have been having are beginning to subside. Unfortunately we just found out that Garret's "grandmother" has stage 4 brain cancer. She has just had surgery and will begin her chemo and radiation soon! His grandfather has been placed in a care facility since she can no longer care for him. (he has dementia and has had both legs removed). Garret thinks it is pretty funny that grandpa thinks Betty is at the facility with him...he keeps chasing down another older lady with his wheelchair insisting that it is her! I know this is deep for me but it is really weird to be at that age in your life when your friends are having babies and your older relatives are moving on to better places!

So I know this was quite a lot. Pictures to come next!

All the girls..

Ali, Ya-ya,Ri-Ri, Addy
hmmmm...I wonder what this pictue will look like in 10 years! :)