A Happy Holiday

I hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas! We enjoyed celebrating with our familyThis was the scene at our house on Christmas day. Our family get together has gotten smaller but it was filled with just as much love. Even Sonny (our dog) got in on the family photo.

Here's one of the girls favorite gifts. I can imagine them playing with it for many years together. Who am I kidding I want to play with it too.

Teaching by example

This is such a simple act but as I was leaving Stop and Shop today, I heard the Salavation Army bell calling me. I reached in my mess of a purse and dug out a dollar to put it in. My two year old asked what are you doing? So I tried to think of the simple explanation and I said I'm helping someone else. She said, "I want to do it next time." Giving to others is the kind of message I want to be sending to my girls. Alyssa reminded me that I need to show them that more often.

We had a wonderful long Thanksgiving weekend! On Saturday and Sunday my daughter woke up and was happy when she realized she had an extra day off and didn't have school. She explained that she loves school but loves spending days with the whole family even better...and here we are all together :)So my new mission is teaching myself how to sew. I have no skill at all!!! I wish I did and I keep trying but my projects are not going so well. I wanted to make pillowcase dresses for my nieces which everyone says are so easy, but they came out very boxy and not the correct size even after following a pattern. Now I'm on to trying to make them each a tote bag. They were often times listed under kids sewing projects. So wish me luck. I'll post pictures when there done. Unless I'm too embarrassed. If anyone has sewing ideas for beginners, I'd love to hear them. Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving too!

I would lose my head if....

Well you know the rest of that saying. I am wondering if anyone know some good tips to help me stop loosing my keys. Maybe I'm the only one but I feel like I am always looking for them. Today as I was leaving the gym I was sure that I locked them in the car. I embarassingly had to tell the receptionist and I proceeded to call AAA. Keep in mind that this did actually happen to me over the summer so I know that AAA can do this service. Then as I waiting I noticed that my coat was hanging on a hook and I didn't remember bringing it in. So quietly I put it on and realized that they were in the pocket. Slowly I left without saying anything to anyone and snuck into my car hoping nobody would see me drive away. How embarassing! Well thinking that I may not be the only one I googled How to stop loosing you keys and here's the tips I found.

1. Designate a place to keep your keys and NEVER put them anywhere else. I feel like this one is a no brainer. Why is it that I can't do this?

2. Repeat to yourself where you left your keys. So for my example at the gym, I should have been thinking coat pocket, coat pocket, coat pocket.

3. Keep a spare set just in case. Of course I don't have one.

4. Try a Carabiners Clip. This seems like it may be the first actual idea but I want to look for something cuter. I'll be doing that tonight, etsy maybe?

So these do seem like common sense but obviously I'm not doing them if I still can't ever find my keys.

Where have I been?

I really don't know where...I went back to work in late August so I can't blame it on that. My daughter did start school this year and that has been quite an adjustment but I don't think it's that either. I joined the gym for the first time about a month ago and I'm happy to say that I'm loving it and I've lost five pounds :) We've been fighting mini sicknesses like colds, flu and pink eye.

I think life has just taken a hold of me and I don't haven't had a minute free. So I would like to come back but it's hard to pick up where I left off. So I'll share one of our recent adventures to the Beardsley Zoo. Although we've been here before I was looking for something to do on one of my days off and it was a last minute not planned. Sometimes those are the best. No expectations just fun and as a bonus my dad was willing to join us. A wonderful day for everyone.

I've missed everyone dearly and even if I haven't been reading and commenting like I've wanted to...I've been thinking about you all xoxo. Can't wait to catch up on what I've missed.

Apple picking and painting

Yay for holidays off from school and long weekends! Rosh HaShanah has become our traditional apple picking holiday which I like because a significant symbol of Rosh HaShanah is apple slices dipped in honey which represent hope for a sweet new year and are traditionally accompanied by a short prayer before eating that goes: "May it by Thy will, O Lord, Our God, to grant us a year that is good and sweet. Here my girls are picking out some good apples and eating quite a few along the way. As soon as my new oven is here, since mine broke over the weekend, I'll be making some apple pie or apple crisp with all our yummy apples.

Now with school starting I have not been able to let the girls get crafty. I kept it simple and I'm sure you've seen these before. Using the handprint for the tree and then fingerprints for the leaves. Gillian couldn't quite understand the dots for fingerprints so I let her do her own thing. Very cute though still.

Then they let loose and let their creative juices flow :)

Time flies

This was taken on my birthday which was a week ago but it makes me think how quickly life goes by. I can't believe how big my girls have gotten. They are little ladies now with their own opinions and attitudes of their own. When did that happen? On that day I was really missing my mom. She's been gone for two years and I miss her everyday but especially on these occasions. I always miss her at holidays, birthdays (mine and any other family members) and the first of anything.

With Gillian starting school and not having my mom to lean on and ask advice, it's been hard. I miss her phone calls and her stopping by with a little something for the girls. I miss the things that you take for granted and don't realize how lucky you are to have. I know that I am lucky to have such a wonderful family and be so loved by them but I just can't help but think about how much my mom would have loved to be a part of that too.

Starting school and puppy love

Here's my big girl starting kindergarten. Getting back to work and starting school has been quite an adjustment for everyone and I know that we'll get there eventually, even me. I'm exhausted getting back to work, getting to know my own class, and getting back into my routine plus adding the new adventure of kindergarten in the mix. I know I've been neglecting my blog and my blogging friends, but I'll be back soon. Know that I'm sending you all much love!

Although, no matter what is happening with us we always have time for some love from Sonny. I love this picture!

Squeezing in the last of the summer fun

I will be meeting my new class tomorrow and I can't sleep. It is the start of a new year and I'm always filled with excitement. What will they be like? The anticipation is almost too much for me. I'm hoping for another wonderful class, which mine really was last year. I'm usually not blessed two years in a row but I'm hoping to break that streak this year. I will be able to tell by the end of the day who I'm going to have to keep my eye on, who's going to be my little helper, the tattler, the hard worker, the social butterfly, and so many more. It is fun figuring them all out. I'm probably just as nervous as my students when I walk out on that playground to meet them.

So summer is officially over for me! Here's the last of my summer fun with my girls. Yes that is a slip and slide and yes I also tried it out (to show how to use it of course) luckily there are no pictures of that but it brought me back to my own childhood and we had such fun :).

They didn't quite get the concept of sliding but loved crawling on it and then I ended up giving them some boosts to help them slide. Those giggles are priceless.

One last one today a little dip in our mini pool before bed. I will miss our summer vacation together but tomorrow I will be meeting their other children who lives I make a difference in this year. My new second grade family here I come! Wish me luck!

Sprinklers and Sandboxes

I've been loving the simple joys of summer. These lazy days where we don't have to rush out and be somewhere. My girls and I are so happy to be able to be spending some time outside and just being together. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Back to school...already?

Where has my summer gone? I feel like it flew by. I know everyone always says that, but it really went too quick. So I'm going to be enjoying every minute that I have left and packing in those precious moments I do have to spend with my girls before I have to go back a meet my own new class of second graders.

My daughter is starting kindergarten, which I may have mentioned already...lol. So we went back to school shopping yesterday at the outlets. She is really developing a style of her own. Lately it has been a fight to get her dressed in the morning. I figure if she picked it, she'll wear it. At least I hope and she did pick some cute things. I've also been thinking about how to make that first day extra special. I have a few ideas that I'll put together and share in a post but until then. What do you all do or plan on doing to make going back to school special for your kiddos?

Reconnecting with old friends

We finally got some good weather again so we took advantage and headed back to the beach. I've been thinking about how lucky I am to be blessed with some amazing ladies in my life. Here's one of them, my friend Laura, she is wonderful. We were on the swim team together in high school so let's just say we've know each other for a long time. We lost touch for quite while and connected again last summer. This summer we've been hanging out a lot and our girls get along just as fabulously as we do. I love it! I always imagined that we would be mom friends together and now we are.

Here's our girls...relaxing at the beach just like their moms. If Gillian would just turn her bag around it could be a Sun Chip commercial, right?

We've hit the terrible twos

My daughter is so sweet...absolutely well she used to be but all of a sudden she turned two and she really did become a terrible two. We've been spending a lot of time with family and every time she cries or throws a fit they'll say, "What's wrong she's never like that?" Then someone makes the excuse that she must just be tired. I don't want to admit it to them but that's what she's like all the time lately. I'm hoping she'll be back to her sweet self soon.I mean look at this expression. It just says it all. She is ready to cause some kind of trouble.

My father in law

My father in law lost his battle with Mesothelioma. On July 21, 2009 Bill passed away peacefully as he slept. My husband was there by his side and talked to him as he took his last breaths. I am amazed at how strong Bill was and by all he went through to prolong his life. Near the end when asked knowing all that you went through was it worth it...he said "I had to try."Bill was a character and I never really knew what was going to come out of his mouth. Talking with him was always an adventure. My hubby was always amused by the things that his dad would tell me. I think Bill was trying to get some good reations from me. He was good to me and always made me feel like part of his family. I will truely miss him.

Here's some pics with his granddaughters who he loved with all his heart. I just wish they could have gotten to know their grandfather as they became young women but I know he will be watching over them as they do.

Happy 5th Birthday Gillian!

Yesterday was my oldest daughters birthday and I can't believe that she is 5! It went so fast!!! We spent the day at the beach and then off to Friendly's for dinner and ice cream. We also spent the whole weekend celebrating. Kids and birthdays are exhausting fun. Above is celebrating with the family. Here are all six cousins enjoying cake.

This one is some fun with friends.


Here's a picture on the day she was born. I can't believe that I have a five year old. How did she get from so tiny to such a big girl.

Happy Birthday Gillian!

Some of the best of the rest of Disney

So here are a few more magic moments from our time at Disney. I couldn't resist sharing some more of our fun so here is part 2 of my Disney post. I could go on forever but here are some more of the highlights My girls relaxing on Minnie's couch in her house. She has a lot of cheese in her fridge.
Gillian and Alyssa too loved the Golden Carousel. I think because in some way it's connected to the princesses because they played all the songs on it.

I think some of my favorite times were the silly little moments that could happen anywhere but they were happening in Disney so they are special too.

Getting messy with ice cream on a SUPER hot day.

Playing in the kiddie pool at the Pop Century Resort

These pictures below are a few more Disney moments from the parks

Alyssa is striking a pose by with Mickey behind her and the brooms from Fantasia.

Gillian and I on the Aladdin magic carpet ride. She thought it was very cool that she could make it go up and down and actually so did I.

Taking a picture in front of the Epcot ball and yes Gillian is asleep.

Character Crazy

We are back from Disney and it was truly a magical vacation and the getaway that we needed. It was a lot and we are all exhausted. I feel like I need another vacation from my vacation. We had too much fun to put it all into one post so I'm starting with the characters. I do have to say that seeing the characters was one of my favorite parts. My girls loved it too as you can tell by their faces.

Here's dinner with Winnie the Pooh and friends. Alyssa had a special bond already with Tigger and has a stuffed animal she sleeps with every night and was amazed when he rubbed nose to nose with her. The giggles were priceless.

We also did dinner with the princesses and each girl got to get up close with their favorite. For anyone who is going I would recommend doing a character meal. It is worth it.

Last but not least here's Mickey. You can't visit Disney and not see the mouse :)

Picking strawberries and turning 2

Even though it's the end of the picking season I decided to do some strawberry picking and we had a great time. This is how we started Alyssa's birthday and you can see as she is eating as she picks in the background. When we went to pay all Alyssa had was an empty container that she gave back to the lady very proudly and strawberry juice on her hands and mouth. Too cute!!!

This was Alyssa's favorite present. She is SO into babies. This one crawls, cries, gets up and giggles. She loves it and I can tell already this one is going to annoy me.

I will leave you with a photo of her cake which is actually a bunch of cupcakes with a ton of frosting on top. I still can't believe she is 2. Time has flown by so quickly!

Summer has officially begun

It was my first day off and I wasted no time getting to the beach. We met some friends and played all morning and had some snacks then headed home for lunch. It was a little cloudy but no rain and I'm so glad we did. This is what summer is all about for me...the beach. Alyssa hard at work.

I love this picture, it shows the pure joy of jumping and playing in the water with friends.

A simply wonderful day that made me happy.