This One Time At Band Camp...

My friend Alana reminded me of this funny quote from American Pie and I had to use it.  How is this relevant to anything I have to say, well my girl went to her very first, week long, overnight band camp.  Sure summer camps are what parents sign their kids up to do for the summer, but our summers have always been about doing a whole lot of whatever we want with no schedule attached to that summer.  Band camp for us was more of a commitment to our school program and I am hoping it turns into something that she will totally enjoy and want to do again.  So we spent last week packing and making sure she had everything she needed and I am still concerned she will not have enough food to put in her belly. 

I Like You, I Love You

My grandparents have been married for 65 years.  I told you lots of celebrating going on in the family right now and this is definitely something that shouldn't be over-looked.  I know they have had their ups and downs but who doesn't, it is how you handle those ups and downs and everything in between that matter.  They have a saying hanging in their house and I think of them every time I see it because it is so true.  It states "All because two people feel in love"  I am sure you have heard this before, but it is true they started something a long time ago because my grandpa couldn't take his eyes off of my grandma, it happens that way, love at first sight.  So all because they feel in love they have a family that loves them very much.  My grandpa still flirts with my grandma and she shyly brushes him off and they still hold hands.  How do they keep the love going after all these years?  I say they truly like each other.  Yes I said like.  They respect each other as individuals and treat each other that way.  They like the person they are and what they stand for.  I hope this makes since.  They found each other over 65 years ago, thank goodness for that, and they are still making each other happy after all these years.  So my wish for you is I hope you find that one that  you like and end up loving them for 65+ years.   Happy Anniversary to my sweet grandparents!!

What Do You Say To Another Birthday





My bro

Lots of celebrating going on in my family right now. My brother celebrated his birthday last Saturday and my sister is celebrating hers today. My sibs never celebrate together and they do their big celebrating with friends. I missed out on family dinners this year due to work and other family obligations. So where am I taking this, well I miss when we were young and we were always together celebrating birthdays. Honestly I can't remember specifics but I do remember always celebrating at our family reunion we had in July. I loved this being with everyone celebrating birthdays...it just doesn't get any better than that. We are older now and we make sure we call each other but honestly this day doesn't mean anything less than it did when we were young. We are celebrating life and I love a good get together with family and friends. I know we can't always make this happen and they don't need me to make their day special but I am celebrating my brother and sister this month. I miss seeing them and wish they could just come over for dinner just because. So what do you say to another birthday? I say let's celebrate it and I love you both!

My sis

Pocket Full of Brave

I don't know about you but I don't always feel like I have all the strength it takes to get me to some of the places I need to go.  I like to feel like I can reach into my pocket and pull out a whole lot of bravery and strength and then share this with my children.  I put my brave face on and just go for whatever it is that has to be done.  Today my boy had to give a little blood and this was not his first time, in fact I can't tell you how many times he has had this done.  Unfortunately this doesn't make it any easier.  I am not one of those moms that sugar coats all the bad stuff for my kids; I like for them to know what they have coming...no surprises.  So on our way over I am preparing him for what lies ahead.  I tell him we are going in and he will get poked in the arm.  I keep it simple until we are in the chair with the nurse and then I tell him this poke will not feel good but you will be fine, we are going to be brave together.  For some strange reason he sits still and screams threw the whole process, thank goodness for the sitting still part.  When it is all over they wrap his arm up in blue gauze as if it where some kind of present to be opened later and then enjoyed.  My boy hated this as much as he hated the poke in the arm, in fact he wasn't going to leave until they unwrapped his arm.  We left crying and passing everyone waiting for their turn to get poked and then wrapped like a present.  I know I am not the only mom that has ever said this, but I wish I could just take the pain so my kids don't feel it.  When I have to have blood drawn I never look, but when E was having his drawn I totally watched so I could make sure the whole process went as planned.  He was so brave today and I think he would have been without the extra brave I gave him from my pocket.  His sister says that he is so brave and she is always so proud of him.  So here is to having all kinds of bravery and strength stored in our pockets because we don't always feel brave and that is OK.  

Wow 20 Years

It is hard to believe that this much time has past since we walked down the aisle together.  We celebrated 20 years on June 8th.  We heard congrats and you have accomplished something a lot of people don't do and wow 20 years.  I know 20 years is an amazing number and celebrating 20 years is exactly what I expected to be doing when I said I do!!  I remember the very first time I saw Denis.  I remember that he was wearing a blue and white shirt and he had a blue McDonald's baseball cap on.  I remember almost every detail of that day.  I have been told that we remember certain events that happen to us because we get a rush of adrenaline when it happens, I remember that day, that is all I am saying.  Denis has always made me feel like I am the only one he sees, it might be because I am always by his side and he has no choice, I don't know but either way he makes me feel special still after 20 years.  Some of our most memorable moments together do not include some exotic place or some expensive piece of jewelry, to be honest I love the moments when we decide to order pizza and eat a whole bunch together, or we make a meal together after the kids go to bed.  We celebrate each other everyday and here's to the next 20+ years.  I can't wait to see where things take us.  20 years...wow 20 years!!!



Who's Making That Mess

We have recently re-discovered something that could very well go extinct because of our advancements in technology.  We are loving Blockbuster!!!  They are just like Red Box but better. Most movies are .99 and the rest are 1.99.  You can go in and look and touch all the movies and if you want to keep it another day it is .99.  We spend most of our time in the .99 section because that is where you will find all the Dora Explorer DVDs .  They have the biggest selection ever!!!  My boy likes to pull down a handful at a time and spread them out so he can look them over.  Yes it looks like a mess but I promise it is no mess it is a very specific process that needs to happen in order for a selection to be made.  When he has looked over all of them and sometimes it takes a couple of times looking, he signs and says YES!!!  Blockbuster is a good place for us to go because generally we are the only ones in the store allowing us to go threw this process without getting in the way of other lookers.  Sister has even taken a love for bringing home a few movies to watch. I know some of you might consider going and renting movies a thing of the past but it doesn't have to be.  We haven't done it in a long time because we use and love Netflix but scanning the movies on the TV or computer doesn't get my boy out in public interacting with others, so thank you Blockbuster for not asking who is making that mess and yes we will be back tomorrow.



Let the process begin



I think we might have found the one









Independence Day and Me ma's Birthday!!!



Every 4th of July Me ma, Denis's grandma, used to joke that everyone was celebrating her birthday and how  wonderful to be able to always celebrate with fireworks!!!  She would be happy to know that everyone is still celebrating her birthday. ;-)  Happy Birthday!!!