Sarah's first Christmas Concert

We have been attending Katies preschool concerts for a few years now but this year it was finally Sarah's turn. The kids all did an awesome job. Below are some pics. One is with Sarah and her BFF Gabrielle. Down at the bottom is one of Katie and her best bud Aidan. Sorry for the red eye on these, I have not cleaned them up. I wanted to get them posted...

Thankfulness

I have been taking mental notes the last few days and realizing that I have a lot to be thankful for. First and foremost, I am thankful for such a wonderful husband and two beautiful and healthy girls. I am thankful for a wonderful father in law and two wonderful parents. I am thankful for our families and our friends. I am thankful that we have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. I am thankful for the opportunity to go back to school and start a new career. I just have been taking note of things around me and cant help but feel really blessed and thankful for all that we have.

I hope whereever you are this year that you have a wonderful and blessed thanksgiving.

A thanksgiving funny

Sarah went to school today and came home very excited. She kept telling me we made pig worms today. I kept asking her what??? Knowing that the letter of the week is only around L or so.....I finally dug her sheet from her teacher that tells about her day our of her backpack.... Yeah, those pig worms- they are known as pilgrims to the rest of us......

Sneak Peek

This weekend, my niece had me do some shots of her for senior portraits. Because her mom and her are both impatient. Here are some unedited pics. These are some of my favorites from the session but they still need to be edited. enjoy your sneak peek.

Maybe we are doing something right???

Our kids are growing up.... I just recently noticed it in the way they do things, the way they look and the way they talk..... And I am starting to see things we have taught them or tried to teach them coming through..... We go to the store and they get excited for FRUIT... We come home from the store and they beg for the grapes or apples or whatever fruit we just bought for snack.... It makes me smile. I have issues with weight and that is my most heartfelt wish that they dont have to struggle with weight like I have. Dont get me wrong - they both love sweets too but they ask for FRUIT!

Then on Sunday we got the ultimate compliment. We had gone to 8am mass and both our girls were so well behaved. They got a little antsy but then Jim and I were both feeling the same way towards the end of mass as well so who could blame them. Our neighbors came over later that afternoon and she is the head of the music ministry and had cantored the 8am mass. The first thing she said to me- I am so jealous of how well behaved your kids were during mass!. My heart swelled. Dont get me wrong we have suffered through some very rough masses where Sarah would bellow our GET ME OUT OF HERE! I DONT LIKE THIS PLACE. But it seems we are finally coming through the tunnel and out into the light.......

So while I lament that my babies are growing up , I am proud to see some of what we are teaching them is paying off......

All I need to know ... I learned in Kindergarten????

Ok, I try to be a realistic parent. I realized that with Katie going to Kindergarten that she would pick up some undesirable behaviors or sayings from other kids. I had even seen it to some degree in preschool. But I have to confess, I never thought she would come home saying what she did the other day..... Here is the backstory. Last week they had a field trip to the Fire station. And the nice fireman sent every kid home with a packet - it had a smoke alarm, coloring book., stickers and a a little set of temporary tattoos. You know the ones, you cut out and put on your arm and then hold a wet cloth to them for them to take. She asked if she could put them on and I said sure. NEver thought a thing about it.....

Till Monday when she came home from school saying her friend M told her she needed to wash them off immediately or she would get sick because they were probably made in China. My mouth hit the floor. Never did I expect that. Now because she is a worrier, we told her she was fine and she would not get sick.......

I know there are some people who have issues with stuff from China but I just never thought to hear it out of a 5/6 year old..........

Lions and Tigers and BEARS! OH MY!

We have a bear in our neighborhood. There could even be more than one, I am not really sure as I am not really looking to meet and get to know that particular neighbor..... However they must really be getting ready for hibernation because they have "sampled" several neighbors garbage over the the last few days. Ours was on their dining menu last nite. Interestingly enough they do not seem to like pepperoni or tomatoes.... Who knew!

Chipmunks

So the girls have taken a liking to Alvin and the Chipmunks. We have a dvd of the old animations and we have both of the movies that have been out in the last few years. Sarah has taken to the Squeakquel and loves the Chipettes. She also LOVES to run around the house singing Beyonce's Single Ladies cause that is what they sang in the movie. About a month ago, Bear bought Katie a small alvin and got Sarah Brittney the lead singer in the Chipettes. She now walks around the house with her and always refers to her as her "Single Ladie" As in Mom I need my single lady to go to bed. Mom have you seen my single lady, I want to play with her.... It cracks me up every single time!

Schoold updates

Well school has started for us all and we are all off to good starts. It took some time to iron out a routine and schedule but we finally have one that is working for us. Katie is enjoying her teacher and school. As is Sarah. I love hearing about their days and all they are learning....

Why my mom is so great....

No this is not a suck up post although it sounds like an Essay title, doesn't it? I know I have been bad about blogging and this post has been on my mind for a few days now so when Mom reminded me how long it had been since I posted I decided to go ahead and write this. I had a great yet very under apreciated mom growing up. I look back now and marvel at all my mom did. Raising 3 girls, a lot of time going it on her own for days at a time while our dad worked hard earning money plowing snow during blizzard after blizzard. She always sewed stuff, most food we ate in our house was homemade. Sure she occassionally bought a bag of chip ahoy cookies but most times there were homemade cookies for us to have. In the summer she helped to tend the garden and then canned in 90+ degree heat with no air conditioning. And like most kids would I took it all for granted. Plus our house was always clean and orderly, but homey.

I never realized all she did and how effortless she made it look. Till I had kids and even then I kinda blew it off because she was a housewife and I was holding down a full time job and raising kids. Then I lost my job and became a housewife myself. And in the last year or so I have become more and more aware of how much work my mom did and how easy she made everything look. Maybe its just old age. Maybe its that I found myself in similar shoes. Or maybe its because my kids recently spent time with her and now all I hear is DO IT THE WAY MEME DOES IT! What I do know is that I now realize how awesome my mom is and that I have a chance to tell her!

I love you mom, for all you have done and all you still do.

PS Dad I love you too and you are an awesome Dad as well!

New Beginnings

So yesterday we attended Katies Kindergarten orientation. She really liked her teacher and her friend Sid was there so they held hands all through the school.

Today was the big day. It started out rough- early wake ups even though we had progressively been waking them up earlier. Realization that the big day was here and nerves about everything... But we got through it and I put my baby on the bus for the first time. She looked so small next to the other kids. The school PTO (i believe) does a nice thing and gives them a tee shirt with their school and Class of 2023 on it. 2023 OMG..... Doesn't seem possible..... They wear these the first day to easily identify the Kindergarteners and she put her tee shirt on and went to the bus stop but not without some pictures first....

After I put Katie on the bus, Sarah got on the "mommy bus" and headed off to her first day of preschool. Her bff Gabrielle was already there and greeted her with big hug and then took her off to play with the doll houses. She didnt even care when mommy left....

All in all a good day for both!

Fun in the Summertime

The girls got a new swingset over the summer and Jim was playing with the camera the othernite and I think he got some great shots of them enjoying the swingset and the back yard...

Dog Days of Summer.....

Sorry for the lack of updates. Time is just flying by. The girls and I have been busy getting Katie ready for school and taking swim lessons and just swimming in the pool and enjoying Chloe. Clhoe is doing great and has been such a joy. Much better then what we had with Reese. The girls took swim lessons last week and loved it. I have 2 little fishes on my hands. Sarah has no fear of the water and was jumping in with no vest or noodle or even the instructor. Katie is swimming under water and able to go short distances.

Yesterday in the mail Katie got her kindergarten teacher assignment. We have Mr. Sartori. I think she will do really well with him. I have heard great things and we know his wife who was Katies preschool teacher and could possibly be Sarahs teacher this year. She thinks its cool that she has a man teacher......

Swimmers ear...

So during this last heat wave we have been swimming in the pool daily. Katie has gotten really good swimming under water and has been loving the pool. Sarah is a little more hesitant but loves it just the same.....

Then this weekend Sarah started complaining her ears hurt. Then Katie started crying last nite that her ear hurt. It was to say the least a very rough nite. Today I was on the phone with the pediatrician at 8am when they opened and we got a 9am appt. Turns out they both have swimmers ear. Katie just one ear and Sarah has in both ears, plus Sarah is running a pretty good fever. So we have ear drops and ibuprophen and had to postpone swim lesson till the end of July. Katie is bummed because her friends were taking lessons with us but its for the best....

Our new love

After What happened with Reese we were hesitant to try again but I also found I was missing having a dog, so we decided to take a little journey and see what we could find. We found Chloe at the Clinton County SPCA and are in love again. She is a complete sweetheart and is already bonding with the girls. Here are some pics of her...

"Turtle Beach"

Turtle Beach as Katie use to call it and now Sarah does or as the rest of the world knows it - Myrtle Beach.

We had a ball and were sad to leave but were happy to be home.... Here are some pics from our balcony. I will have more but they are on a different camera..

Sleeping Beauty

These 2 pictures are too funny not to share. The first one I found her like that - sound asleep in all her princess finery. The second one she had a fit and cried and then climbed up on me like that and fell asleep....

Then Katie wanted in on the action.... Ha Never a dull moment!

I have a new name!

I amazed my daughter tonite and earned myself a new name. Let me explain... For mothers day Jim and the girls got me a pasta attachment for my kitchen aid mixer. It is something I lusted over for awhile but as I had gotten a very nice hand crank pasta machine for my wedding I didnt really ever persue it. But Jim knew how much I wanted it..... And I got it!

About 2 years ago I attended a cooking class about pasta and got some very very good recipes. Today I made my dough and used my new attachment! It is a dream! It made making pasta a snap! And the girls and Jim loved it...... Katie stood watching me making the pasta and going WOW MOMMY THAT IS SO COOL. She even assisted in making the noodles. She then referred to me for the rest of dinner as Chef Mommy.. A true honor indeed!

Tonites Funny

Katie told me tonites dinner proved that I am a magician in the kitchen- the sad part - I had ordered pizza. God love her though. She thought I had made it from scratch....

Tee ball funnies

Tonite we played Tee ball and Jim was short on coaches.... So guess who pitched in and coached 3rd base? Yup ME! IF you know me at all - I am sooo not athletic but after years as a trainer and having a bachelors degree in Broadcasting I know how to use my voice and BOY did I...... IT was actually fun and I must have done a good job cause Jim told me I could coach again.....

Our opposing team this time was Katies friend and our neighbor Aiden. So Sarahs best buddy Gabrielle was there and her mom took the younger girls over to the playground during the game. As I came over to check on them -Sarah says Mommy my heart is broken. I said Oh Sarah why is your heart broken ( I thought she would tell me something silly like I cant swing or something like that). She replied- because I love you so much mommy.......

Shopping!

Our nice neighbor across the street was out last nite while Jim and Katie were looking at our rose bush out front. Sweet man that he is - he gave Katie a dollar. She was thrilled and said promtly- Thank you! I will put it in my piggy bank. It touched him to hear how she was a saver already at 5 so he said you put that one in your piggy back and here is another one for you to go spend. She was thrilled. So today was grocery day so Daddy gave Sarah a dollar to spend as well. The two of them got out their new purses the Easter bunny brought and stuck their dollar in and headed out to Wegmans. Now if you have never been to Wegmans- at the center of the store there is a huge aisle of nothing but bin candy. So they went up and down the aisle till they decided their purchase. M &Ms for Sarah and Salt Water Taffy for Katie. Mommy helped them measure it out so that we did not go over our dollar and then we went to the checkout where they put them up and paid for them all by themselves. They were so cute with their bags and their purses going out to the car....

My silly girls

One morning they found these hats and decided to wear them all over the house and even colored with them on. Silly girls!

Trikathon!

Recently, some of you sponsored Katie in the Trikathon. She participated and had a blast and was able to raise some $ for St. Judes. Above are some pictures of her during the trikathon and with her class and with her BFF Dylan. The last photo is one of the girls sitting in the grass together....

Lets Play Ball!

Sorry this has been so delayed in getting put up. But blogger gave me grieef several times when I tried to load these. Above is our little Slugger and her sister during her first game. There is also a pic with her cute coach!

second chances

You know the world is full of second chances. And after I got laid off, I was given a second chance. First to be a stay at home mommy to my girls and to spend some quality time with them while they are this young. Then in the Fall, I was given another second chance. This time the opportunity to go back to school and earn another degree. After much debate I decided to plunge into the medical field and am pursuing surgical technician. I was scared as I prepared to take my first course - Anatomy and Physiology I. Science was never my strong suit growing up and the first time around I totally skipped it since I went to a liberal arts college and was going towards a Bachelor of the Arts degree.

Much to my surprise (and probably a few others) I did really well. Like straight A well. Because of this, this Saturday I will be inducted into the college's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa (Honor Society). I am excited and proud that my girls are going to be there and see mommy do this. I want them to know the importance of education and doing well. And I hope this demonstrates that to them....

And in case those that were surprised thought this was fluke- I am on my way to having straight As again this semester in A & P 2 and Medical Terminology. My A& P 2 instructor is a former Colonel in the Army and is very intimidating but at the same time I have learned so much from a clinical perspective from him.

Of course Fall could be another story when I take Microbiology -EEK!

Its Official

Katie will officially become a kindergartener in the Fall. We registered about 2 weeks ago and now we wait for the screening. I am a little nervous. My baby is 5! FIVE! And come fall she can (an wants to) ride the school bus all by herself.... This scares me to death but I know I have to let go sometime.... She is so excited to go to Elementary school, ride the bus and be a big kid.... Meanwhile mommy is silently crying inside.

Sarahland

So yesterday Sarah was telling me we were in her castle and she was the pretty princess. I asked her if I was the fairy godmother. She very seriously responded NO, YOU DA MEANEST WITCH! Then went on to tell me Daddy was her handsome prince and Katie was her knight. I asked who her fairy godmother was and she replied, MEME! And PAP THE SILLY GOOSE! So there you have it.

Easter 2010

Sorry no pics. But the girls had a blast! They were up at 7am with Sarah shouting EASTER BUNNY COME! EASTER BUNNY COME! They rushed out to discover he did come and left him some good loot. Most favorite of the day Ice cream sented bubbles and baby zhu zhu pets. Plus the chocolate. We had our annual egg hunt and then came in to eat some candy umm I mean breakfast. Meme and Pap came and we had a great lunch and dessert. Between being up early, lots of sugar and and no nap, the meltdowns started in full force around dinner time. Sarah made it till about 630p before she passed out. Bedtime was indeed a welcome relief! Hope your day was spent with family and/or good friends.....

This message is for you Meme and Pap!

Katie is so excited to see her Pap and Meme that she drew them a welcome message on our wood retaining wall. We were afraid it might rain before they get here tomorrow so we took pictures for them. She said she thought Pap would look good in overalls so she drew him in them..... Ha!