A New Tradition is Born!

Last week my best friend and I finally got together to celebrate our summer birthdays.  We decided awhile back to not get each other gifts anymore and have met up for breakfast in past years.  This year she emailed me about this special "Mimosa Pedicure" at the local spa and so we signed right up.

It was 90 minutes of Heaven!  Sitting there in the massage chair, having my feet pampered, sipping mimosas while catching up on our lives was just what I needed.  The perfect dose of girl time and relaxation.  I loved the bright pink....super summery and fun.  We both decided that this needs to be a yearly birthday tradition!

Lego Land!

The kids and I took our first road trip on Sunday and it was so much fun!  We drove to Auntie Amber and Uncle Andy's house on Sunday and the kids didn't mind the 4 hours in the car (much).  We spent the evening on the CT shore eating pizza, playing on the playgrounds, checking out the sunset on the beach and going for ice cream.  It was so nice to spend time with Auntie Amber and Uncle Andy and we had a great time.

Monday morning we woke up and went to LEGO land Discovery Center in NY!!!  The kids were sooooo excited and LEGO land lived up to their expectations.  It was super fun and we all enjoyed the laser ride, the NY City skyline made of LEGOs, the race track and the 4D movie...so much fun!! Lil'C also loved the karoke at the Friends LEGO space (she loved the microphone) and Z loved the play space with slides and tunnels.  It was a great morning.

For lunch we went to the biggest Stew Leonards in NY.  The kids loved seeing the animals and the yummy lunch (not so healthy) they ate.  It was a super fun mini-vacation and we had the best time.  Thanks Auntie Amber and Uncle Andy for a great time!!!

A Step Back in Time

Last night I was able to step back into a simpler time, a time before I was a wife and a mother, the time when I was a teacher.  We had a reunion of my former students, their families and staff and it such an incredible night.  I got very emotional as some of these grown up people approached me with giant smiles and hugs.  These faces that I haven't see in a few years who are now either in college, heading off to college soon or in High School.  Seeing the families and fellow teachers that I loved so much was such a special treat for me.  The school I worked at has such a special place in my heart and the turnout for last nights reunion shows just how great it was.

Folks are thinking about doing a reunion like this once a year and I hope that they do.  Last night was great to have my own kids there so they could meet everyone but it was very difficult to socialize with others because my attention was divided.  Z and Lil'C had their good buddies to play with which was great but Lil'C fell and banged herself up early in the night which meant a lot of tears and time trying to settle her.

Over all it was a magical night and I am so blessed to have had those amazing four years of my life to look back on and revisit.  It was so nice to see how well my former students have turned out and how beautiful they all are.  I went to bed last night with a big smile on my face and so much love in my heart.  It was so nice to step back in time for an evening.

9 Years

Happy Anniversary Scott!  Who are those young people in that picture?!?!?!

It has been an amazing 9 years and I am so looking forward to the rest of this journey with you.  I love you!!

And What A Beautiful Day It Was!

The sun was shining down on us on Saturday at the 3rd Annual Sunflower Soiree for Kiki's Garden.  The event was wonderful and people really enjoyed themselves.  Belle was a huge hit with the kids (and boy there were a lot of kids this year!!), the hayrides were great, everyone loved the photo booth, the kids had so much to do and especially loved the swimming and crafts and the music was incredible.  They had an acoustic cafe set up inside and live band outside.  Scott even performed for a bit with his best friend, it was great to listen to them.  It was a beautiful day that raised money for a good cause and everyone seemed to have a great time.

 Here are a few more pictures from the day.....

A Beautiful Day to Honor Kiki

Today we honor the memory of my beautiful sister in-law with the 3rd Annual Sunflower Soiree.  There will be a sunflower labyrinth, children's art work, music (6 bands), an acoustic dessert cafe, games, crafts, raffles, swimming, boating and even Princess Belle will be there (Lil'C is over the moon about this one!). 

The sun is shining and I hope that we raise a lot of money for the scholarship fund. These scholarships support students who want to pursue their dream in the Fine Arts, something that Kiki was very passionate about.   I hope that Kiki is up in Heaven looking down on all of us and smiling. Knowing that she continues to do good in this world and make a difference in the lives of others.

Z's First Trip to Fenway

I teared up as I watched Z walk into Fenway Park for the first time.  His eyes were wide as he took in the sites of the field, bright lights and thousands of people.  As we walked to our seats I had flashbacks of my first game with my dad over 25 years ago.  Tears started rolling down my cheek, this day had been something I had envisioned and waited for since the day I found out I was pregnant.  I was so looking forward to the day when I could take my own children to Fenway Park and share my love for the Red Sox with them.  Thanks to my dad and sisters the vision was now a reality.....it was truly magic.

Z did not miss a minute of the game (other than bathroom breaks which he timed with Tampa Bay at bats).  He was focused, engaged and so very enthusiastic.  He watched each pitch, cheered on the strikeouts, hits and runs.  He LOVED every minute of the game and my sister, dad and I so enjoyed watching him.

Dinner for Z consisted of his first "Fenway Frank", a pretzel and a giant lemonade (hence the bathroom breaks).  He was fascinated that you could buy food right at your seat!  Dessert was ice cream that he got on a bathroom run with Chi Chi :)  In the fourth inning I bought him a Wally Stuffed animal as a souvenir for his first game.  My dad had bought me a Red Sox teddy at my first game and I had to keep that tradition alive.  What a smile it brought to my face to see him hug his Wally as I told him about my special teddy bear tucked away in my memory box.  He asked, "Can I see it when we get home mom?"

Z sang his heart out during Take Me Out to the Ballgame, loved singing Sweet Caroline and snuggled his Wally through the whole game.  At the bottom of the 8th when it was clear that the Red Sox were going to win, my dad asked if we should leave so that we could miss the crowds and get Z home to bed.  I shook my head, as did Z, I knew he wanted to hear them play "Dirty Water" at the end of the game.  For those of you who don't know, this is a Red Sox tradition if they win :)

When the game ended and "Dirty Water" was playing on the speakers, I smiled at Z.  He looked up at me and said, "That was Awesome!"  His heart was with mine now, a heart that loves the Red Sox through and through, a heart that will cheer them on through good and bad.  Z had such an amazing time and it is hard to say who had more fun.  It was a magical night and a memory that I hope that I will hold onto for all the rest of my days.  Thanks Dad, Kristen and Laura for making it happen!

A Moment with Lil'C

We have been potty training Lil'C (finally) and she and I were in the bathroom the other day and this is what was said.....

Lil'C---Mommy do I have a little bum?

Me---Yes you do have a little bum.  Do I have a big bum?

Lil'C--No Mommy, you have a medium bum.  Daddy has a large bum.  A LARGE, LARGE bum"

I told Scott about this conversation and he had a good laugh over it!  He actually lost wait on our vacation (all that surfing and healthy eating) and so before you know it he will have a medium bum too :)

A Week By the Sea

We just got back from the most AMAZING week away.  We were blessed once again to win this sweet little cottage on the harbor in a silent auction.  It was so exciting to be back there again and this time Scott was with us for 6 out of the 7 days!!!

The weather was incredible for Maine....90's and sunny almost every day.  We did have one or two days in the 80's but for the most part it was hot and sunny.  We spent as much time in the water as we could and had 3 beach days and swam off the dock at the cottage at high tide every day.  It was such a relaxing and amazing trip and so nice to see our good friends Sarah and her kids, Joe and Kate and my parents even came to spend two days.

Here are our favorite things from our week by the sea:

1.  Lil'C got to see the big boot at LLBean 3 times and I so wish I had filmed her reaction the first time.  She was jumping out of her skin and people all around were stopping to watch the excitement oozing out of her.  She got a big boot cookie too and sent a big boot postcard to her Mimi!

2.  Z had 3 surfing lessons from daddy.  Oh did I mention we bought a surf board on our way to Maine?!?!  Scott has been taking lessons and finally bit the bullet and bought one.  He surfed 5 days of our vacation and watching Z learn made my week!

3.  We saw seals!!!!  Uncle Joe took us out on his boat and we got up close and personal with seals!!! It was so nice to be out on the harbor, such a great treat.

4.  My Birthday....Auntie Sarah took the kids and I out to breakfast for my birthday.  Such a great way to start the most amazing birthday I have had had in awhile.  We then visited fairy island, got Scott from the train station, had a lobster lunch and had a picnic dinner on the beach.  AWESOME DAY!

4.  Lobster and Clam Dinner (twice!!!)--We had lobster and clams on my birthday and then again with my mom and dad.  Scott cooked up an amazing feast, it was delicious.

5.  The Botanical Garden in Boothbay....The kids and I did this alone and it was beautiful.  Such a fun day!

6.  Fairy Island (aka Mackworth)--We did this solo too and made fairy houses all over the island before we had to go pick up daddy at the train station.  It was a great birthday morning and Lil'C wore her fairy wings.

7.  Relaxing by the fire, on the deck or on the dock.  We spent a lot of time relaxing which was sooooo nice.  As I said we got to see Sarah and the kids, Joe and Kate and my parents.  It was nice to spend time with family and friends in this beautiful little cottage and watch the boats go by or swim off the dock.  It was such a great week!!!

Making Memories

Bowling with Friends

Strawberry Picking

We picked lots and lots of strawberries

Smelling the Sunflowers


Happy Birthday to my Mom!!!
Thanks for bringing me into this world on your birthday.
This year is going to be a year of big change for you and I am so proud of you!!!




Have a great weekend making memories!!