They Say it's Your Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday dear Aunt Janet and I'm using last years picture because I forgot my camera yesterday...

Happy Birthday to you!

and Happy 3rd Birthday to Jack-Jack!

Just because the pool is open...

...does not, I repeat, does not mean the water is warm!

On Monday I took the kids to the pool for a few hours before we went to Grandmom & Pop's for a Memorial Day BBQ. The sun was out but the winds were high and the water was freezing. Ryan, skin and bones that he is, kept complaining and played upright in the pool so as not to get very wet. Eventually he cocooned himself in his towel and accepted defeat. Emma didn't let the temps bother her and she jumped right in and went "schwimmin." She wore her goggles the entire time and strutted around the pool deck like she owned the joint.

Move over Esther Williams!

If only the casting crew of Happy Feet could have seen this.

Memorial Day Weekend

We spent the holiday weekend at home, doing yard work with a few activities and parties thrown into the mix. Saturday morning Ryan played in his t-ball All-Star game. At his level, everyone was invited to play and I think he had a good time playing with a bunch of different kids. I took a few group shots but it's too easy to make out their league logo so you'll just have to picture a bunch of little kids in different colored shirts on a field. I'm doing my best to keep the weirdos and Internet perverts at bay and since this is a public blog, I try not to disclose too much about where we live. Call me paranoid... I dare you! Instead, here's a shot of Byron wearing Emma's Princess glove and trying to teach her how to play. She wanted no parts of being taught anything. Her way or the highway, that's how she operates. We pity her future husband.

Later that day we went to our friends house to celebrate Jack's 3rd Birthday. He and Emma are only about 5 weeks apart and they grew up together. Emma LOVES Jack-Jack! When they get together they play so well. When their siblings get together (Ryan and Ally), all hell breaks loose and they are up to no good! Not sure which pair we should worry about more!

The kids had a blast in the moon bounce!

The terrible twosome, Ryan & Ally!

The birthday boy and his cake!

Blogging Blitz

Lots to cover so let's get right to the point...

PLAYIN' AT THE PARK
After getting the 'all clear' from Ryan's doctor a week ago to be off the nebulizer, we decided to hit the park to break up the monotony. When we (I) made this decision, it was a bright and sunny spring day. Moments after we got to the park, it turned dark and windy and cold. I looked around for Nostradamus and since I didn't spot him, I decided it was safe to stay. For the next hour, we bounced between periods of dark and cold with a few raindrops for good measure and bright and sunny. The kids had a great time and I enjoyed a spot on the bench. I like this park b/c I can relax AND keep watch on the kids. The only thing I do not like is the merry-go-round thingy that just screams 'Someones gettin' hurt today!' No wonder my kids are drawn to it like a magnet.

I don't need a psychic to predict my ER days with Ryan are far from over.

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THE RAINBOW CONNECTION
Thursday was another day of weird weather. Just as I was feeding the kids, Ryan looks from his seat at the table and yells "wow, it's really raining!" I was on the other side of the kitchen and looked out the family room window and all I saw was sun. I looked through the kitchen and out the dining room window and it was pouring. We ran outside and sure enough there was a sun shower but it was only raining on the corner of my property. Across the street and where we stood, some 10 feet away, it was dry as a bone. While I was marveling at Mother Nature, Ryan yelled again. This time he was pointing behind me and I turned around to see a beautiful rainbow. It was huge! A very wide width and vibrant colors - you could clearly see them all. I ran inside to get Emma and my camera and by the time I made it back out, it was fading a bit. I could only capture a small chunk of it as the trees and houses down the street blocked my view. Later on that day I saw a few more spot showers - at one point, it was raining on a small patch of my neighbors lawn and nowhere else. I think that is one of the coolest things to see.

Random Acts of Cuteness

Here's the kids one morning... cuddled in our bed, watching TV and *gasp* being nice to eachother!

Friends for Dinner

Recently I had dinner with my 3 bestest friends from high school - Joann, Kim and Erin. We always have a great time when we get together, tho sadly it isn't frequent enough. It's not for lack of trying... this night was originally planned as a couples dinner in April and had since been rescheduled and then we ended up dumping the guys... curse those trips to Mexico, lack of babysitters and oh, Prom!

We had a great time chatting and catching up at a yummy Hibachi style restaurant - thanks to Jo for remembering it was BYOB and bringing the Pinot! Tho I'm sure we could have just borrowed from the couple sitting across from us seeing as how the guy was crazy drunk before they even opened their bottle. Had I known that at the time, I never would have asked him to take a picture for me. After much discussion and passing the camera to his wife, then having her practically reach out and touch us with it, we got a picture. I wasn't asking for a re-take! Drunk Guy was too busy pushing his bowl of special sauces off the table and onto the hot grill and doing the bob & weave with his head. Had we not been so caught up in our own world, it would have made for some great dinner entertainment.

So we ate, drank and had to vacate as they were waiting for our table. We tend to linger and just talk but we were getting the evil eye from the Hostess Stand. We already have our next get-together in the books, tho it's not until August as that's the first time we all have the same free weekend!

GA$ Update

Courtesy of Mrs. Callan (Janet's mom), click here to enter your zip code and find the cheapest gas in your area, updated nightly. Thank You!!!

My personal update... I have decided that if horse and buggy work for the Amish, then it's good enough for me. Besides, the kids have been begging for a pet.

Refined Definition

Gastritis, as defined by Wikipedia: an inflammation of the gastric mucosa of the stomach.


Gas-tritis, as defined by Yours Truly: an inflammation of the gastric mucosa of the stomach, mainly caused by filling your auto's gas tank. Symptoms include instant nausea, hyper-ventilating, and craziness that causes you to run around the house yelling at people to turn off the TV/lights/etc, close the fridge door and lay off the thermostat, MONEY DOESN'T GROW ON TREES, PEOPLE!!!! Ahem.


Hey, if some yahoo can suddenly declare that, after umpteen years, Pluto is no longer a planet, why can't we redefine words to fit today's economy? If you haven't caught up yet, I just gassed up Spiderman, (fondly named by Ryan's teacher) and I am still in a state of shock, tho the hyper-ventilating has subsided. Mostly. I just filled my tank with gold, apparently, and we all know it's at it's highest dollar value in quite some time. When I think of all the things I could have bought with that $78, the hyper-ventilating starts all over again. Maybe I shouldn't have gone to that station. Maybe I should have stuck with the one further up the street that will only allow you to pump a max. of $50. Ignorance is bliss. Good thing Bush came up with the tax relief program to jump start the economy. Too bad all it's going to do is go right to the oil companies. At least someone will be able to afford a tank of gas. I'm officially declaring a personal strike - if my destination is not within a 10 mile radius, it's no longer a destination. Except for you dad, I'll still be up for lunch tomorrow!


**CJ, this picture is for you. See, I listen to your you have no idea what you're talking about constructive criticism.

Surefire way to tell if you are crazy

#1. Your daughter's recital tickets go on sale from 2-6pm. You get in line at 9AM.

I love my daughter. And I am on the edge of my seat waiting to see her shine in her 1st recital. But I also have a life and sitting in front of a closed building 5 hours in advance, on a weekend to boot, ranks high on my list of crazy. I'm just sayin.

While not completely sane myself and anticipating a line, I made sure to arrive 30 minutes early. Lucky for me it was just as the rain started falling. As I drove up, I was greeted by 25 other dance moms, most of them sporting umbrellas and a few eager beavers sitting in chairs. You know, the kind you see alongside the soccer field or at a football game. Only there were no coolers of beer or hibachi grills roasting dogs. Now you know if the dads had been in charge of tickets, it would have been a full-fledged tailgate. Bummer. Thankfully the dance studio took pity as the rain pelted down and let us in a tad early, which really only secured my longer wait in a dry studio as Alpha Mom was also buying tickets for the rest of the moms in her child's class. She took up 25 minutes and an entire section of seats. I'm not much of a stickler for the rules but that's a bit unfair, if you ask me. Next year I'm getting there at 8.

The Carpenters

As in construction mavens and not the singing sisters. Tho rainy days and Mondays always get me down, too.

Janet, my other daughter whom I conceived at the ripe old age of ten, is a very ambitious one with alot of energy. That alone should tell you I didn't birth her. She seems to have this notion that we should, and far better, CAN build a playhouse for the kids in the back yard. Never you mind that my back yard is smallish and uneven. Let's just focus on the fact that I am not handy with tools. Especially ones that require power and can slice through bone. Somehow I feel that there is more required than a few 4x4's and a nail gun. She once sent me pictures of what she thought we could accomplish. I told her to get off the crack pipe and saved those pictures for a rainy day blog, but sadly I can't seem to find them now. I wish I had them because Janet's vision goes way beyond tree house. It includes shingles and electric (for which she graciously volunteered Adam's services) and window boxes. I have a hard time keeping our houseplants alive. So until Janet re sends her design plans, you'll just have to use your imagination. If you're thinking of something along the lines of this, you hit the nail on the head... which is more than I can say for my handyman capabilities! Tho I do have issues with having to take out a second mortgage for the children's playhouse.

UPDATE... And yet another reason Janet cannot possibly be my child... she got right back to me. I missed out on that gene. Here is what she had in mind. Way more economical (gasp, hack) although now I must draw the line at my children's playhouse being nicer than then one in which we live.

Happy Mother's Day

I hope everyone enjoyed their Mother's Day traditions this year. Whether you Walked for the Cure, got pampered with breakfast from the kids, enjoyed a quiet day with your family or whooped it up with a houseful of relatives, I hope it was rewarding, relaxing and fun!

We choose the 'Whoop it Up' version and had over 30 ppl for a crazy, but always fun, family party! We went with a 'Cinco de Mama' theme this year and Senor Byron spent hours in front of the blender perfecting the perfect frozen Margarita - original, raspberry and mango. Mmmmmm! Vodka makers all over the world were speechless! We had so much to drink fun, in fact, that I didn't take many pictures. Note to self for '09. We also celebrated another special day... Happy Birthday Cousin Dave!




Oddly enough, a handle of tequila could not ward off the Great Mother's Day Sickness of '08 and on Monday, we all came down with some combination of allergies/cold/flu. It was the gift that kept on giving and I sure hope we didn't give it to the rest of the family. Especially those who left on a cruise yesterday. Eek!

The Birthday Hat-Trick

We are popular... well, this month at least! We have been on the birthday bandwagon as of late and have been eating way more than our fair share of decorated confections. Bring on the parties, I say! Bring on the butter cream icing, my thighs yell out!

In early May we were thrilled to join Shae for her 1st birthday! Her daddy (Ted) and Byron work together and we had a great time celebrating with them and not just for the good company - they throw one heck of a shindig! The kids loved the clown and I have to admit that she was pretty awesome! The kids did magic tricks and got balloon animals and painted faces - who needs cake when there is face painting?

And Shae wasn't the only special birthday that day, we also went to Aunt Jen & Uncle Jay's house to celebrate Tyler's 1st Birthday. Hmmm, maybe we should get those two babies together? We had a great time playing with Tyler and all of his toys, and our bellies were full with a delicious dinner and yummy sundae bar and cake for dessert. We also snuck in another birthday celebration while there - Happy Birthday to Grandpop!

And finally, we went back to Aunt Jen's house on Friday to surprise her for her 30th birthday! You'd think we were all partied out but it was quite the opposite. By this point, my body was actually expecting cake on at least a weekly basis and would later come to spite me when I stopped indulging as such. Happy Birthday, Aunt Jen!

Are You My Mother?

Tonight while shopping in a mall anchor store (name withheld), Janet and I were talking when the girl at the register asked, in all seriousness, if I was her mother. Let me paint a picture for you...

This is Janet...

This is me...

Do I look like her mother people, really, do I? Because the girl then continued to stick her foot in her mouth by adding that she thought Janet was 18 (years old) and I was 30. While both of those guesses would normally make us (ok me, Janet was feeling pretty good at this point) feel damn good, I couldn't seem to get over the fact that Janet will be 26 and I look like I could be her Mother. Maybe I need more sleep? Do I need more make-up? Do I look like I gave birth at the tender age of 12? More importantly, do I get one extra Mother's Day gift this year?

A Day in May

circa May 6, 2000

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband!! 8 years ago today, we said I do! We dated for 4... were engaged for 1... and now married for 8 and counting! So here's 8 things I love about him:

* He is a genuine good guy!

* He gets involved with the kids and likes to spend 1:1 time with them.

* He isn't afraid to kill the spiders (even in the middle of the night)!

* He thinks I am funny even when I am not trying to be.

* He loves family and having people over and vacationing at the jersey shore.

* He is a fantastic cook, self taught!

* He always gets the ice cream I like at the store; snacks I like when renting videos.

* We have the same (great, if I do say so myself) taste in almost everything.

Happy Anniversary Byron, I love you!