Testing, testing...Is this thing on???

Well, my intentions were to be better about blogging but my computer had other plans. It crashed. I knew it was acting funny and that I should make sure all my pictures were backed up but I didn't. I lost about 6 months worth of family memories. Very sad time:( Equally as sad was losing my whole Itunes library:( But I'm back with a new hard drive and a big lesson learned!

It's officially summer break!!

Yay to no more alarm clocks!!

Here's the girls on their last day of school. My baby is no longer a kindergartner
and my big girl is no longer a third grader!!!


And this party planning room mom is done!


Here are the girls' summer plans:


Swim
VBS
Play with the neighbors
Swim
Ride Bikes
Afternoons at the library
Argue with each other
Swim
Play with cousins
Weekends at the condo
Run in and out of the house 367.2 times
Drink lots of pink lemonade
Playdates
Swim
Sleepovers
Family Reunion



Here are mine:

Sleep in
Swim
Drink beer
Read 37 books
Sit in the sun while reading said books
Visit family
Drink more beer
Swim
Hang with the neighborhood moms
Yell at the kids 367.2 times for running in and out of the house
Attend my 20th high school reunion
Weekends at the condo
Swim
Lollapalooza weekend alone with hubby in the city
Sitting by the firepit
Girls Night Out
AND
Enjoy every little minute of it



Oh, look who stopped by:) You should have known he'd be here!


Twilight hit it big at the MTV Movie Awards


and I squeed like a total fangirl when the trailer for New Moon was finally shown!! November 20th cannot get here soon enough! I heart me some Robert Pattinson♥



Here's me, sister in law and niece proving how Twitarded we are.

We not only watched the Twilight DVD for the 564th time BUT we also tried out the new board game at the same time. Yes, we are already aware of our dorkiness thankyouverymuch!!

♥Happy Summer Break♥

Life finally seems to be getting back to normal!!

A lot has happened in the last couple of months.

Hubby finally got a job. NINE long months of unemployment. Not the best of times, but certainly not the worst. I too got a job after being at home with the girls for almost 10 years. I'm a second grade teacher's aide at my girls' school. I only work mornings so I can still be home with Natalie in the afternoons and be here when Sydney gets off the bus. I love it and didn't realize how much I missed working with kids!

Natalie taught herself how to ride a bike without training wheels. No help needed from mom or dad:(

Sydney won the Young Author's Award at school.

I somehow managed to lose 25 lbs. of fat that my ass has aquired the last couple of years. 25 down, ??? more to go!!

And my boyfriend graced the cover of GQ;) Yes, I include him like he's one of the family!

If my husband can accept it, so should you:)

I've missed lots of my bloggy friends. Thanks for checking in with me every once in a while to make sure I was still alive:) And to my family and friends who've been bugging me to update-here you go! Hopefully it won't be another two months before I update again!

♥♥♥Happy Love Day♥♥♥

It's Been A While...

and a long winter!!! Put a fork in me, I'm done! I literally have not seen the ground without snow since the end of November. Enough already! I've been spending lots of time daydreaming about Summer. I long for the day where my girls can swing in the backyard and ride their bikes around the cul-de-sac.

So, the job situation still has not changed. I'm done sugar coating; it sucks! I've decided to go back to teaching. I'm going to start subbing at my girls' school and helping out in the lunchroom when needed. I've put in a few applications at local coffee shops as well and got my first call back today.

While taking a break from blogging, I've gotten sucked into this:

Oh my. Someone warned me it would be addicting but I really had no idea. I have had so much fun chatting with old classmates and friends that I haven't seen in years. The stories and memories we have relived have left me laughing like I haven't laughed in years! If you aren't a member I totally recommend it! It's quick and easy to sign up!

And because this person has become a part of my life and keeps making appearances here, I thought I should share a few more pictures of my "boyfriend." Consider it eye candy, if you will♥

I cannot tell you how excited I will be when I can purchase Twilight on DVD in March! This whole Twilight saga has made me feel like a teenager again:) And for that, my husband should feel thankful! Now the incessant staring at a totally unattainable 22 year old...well we won't discuss that;)

Keeping It Real

Last week I took the girls to get their hair cut. They were both ready for a change. They each got about 4 inches cut off and layers added.

How come no one asks me if I want glitter in my hair when I get it cut?! Natalie, who loves to take pictures as much as me, felt the need to snap my picture as well. When I uploaded the pictures to my computer I saw the mess behind me. Pathetic! Still unframed window that was installed in September! Yes, September!!! My sippable soup from lunch that I couldn't bother to rinse and recycle. Healthy cereal box left from breakfast still waiting to have it's box top cut off. Water glasses. And my dorky self. That's about as real as it gets!
But I have an excuse. AND it's a good one:)

Need I say more?!

I didn't think so!

I'm revamping the books. Again. Acting all giddy like a high schooler when I think of my 22 year old crush. Checking out the fan sites like I don't have a family to take care of. Sshhh! Brandy! Don't you judge♥ I'm not quite where you are yet. He's just too pretty to give up!

We've had a lot of snow this winter. Record breaking amounts. Here's what the latest storm dumped on us. These pictures were taken from inside. I was too lazy warm to go out and take pictures of the kids playing. And apparently we were too lazy busy to cover the furniture on the deck this fall. Keeping It Real.

Hubby keeps a broom on the deck to shovel a path to the hot tub.

And when you get this much snow, you enlist the neighbor girls to help shovel the driveway. Cheap labor. Again, Keeping It Real.

As I type this we are getting hit with yet another snow storm. Gotta love Chicagoland weather. Well, not really! Especially when it causes school to be cancelled!

Back to Reality

The last 10 days have been a whirlwind! It started two days before Christmas when my sister in law Maria and her husband Dave flew in from California. We are lucky to see them once or twice a year so when they do come to visit we smother them until they leave. We basically spent every waking moment with them until they left last Tuesday. While they were here we celebrated Christmas, had a birthday party, played lots of games, ate lots of food and shared many laughs. I miss them so much already! On New Years Eve, Natalie turned 6! Where has the time gone?!
To bring in the new year, we went up north to Wisconsin and stayed with my sil, Rita and her family. It was nice to slow down after Christmas. We stayed in our pj's, watched movies by the fire, read our books, and were lucky enough to have the men stay home with the kids while us girls got out to see Twilight once more before it left the theater♥

Happy New Year!

All Aboard!

My husband's niece, Anna, stayed overnight with us this weekend and it helped to get me a little more in the Christmas spirit. Oh, to be 14 again! She helped the girls make a gingerbread sleigh.

Sydney and Natalie loved having their cousin all to themselves!

I knew they would be sad when she had to go back home so we finally took them on the Mountaineer Express, our version of the Polar Express. They were all set to go to sleep when they pulled back their covers and found their tickets to go see the Christmas lights. I got the idea from Sandy Toes who has an awesome blog. She is such a fun mom and comes up with the greatest ideas! Thanks Sandy Toes. My girls loved every minute of it! Natalie even said it was the best day of her life;)

Here are the boarding tickets. For some reason the picture is sideways. The tickets say: All aboard the Mountaineer Express. This ticket entitles you to one free round trip to see the Christmas lights, one yummy hot chocolate, and a cup of fluffy marshmallows. Please enjoy the ride!

Waiting to board with their tickets.

We go to this neighborhood every year. Every house on one whole street participates. There are lights galore and Santa and Mrs. Clause are there waiting, handing out candy canes. So fun! This year this street is featured in a book called The Best Christmas Decorations in ChicagoLand, by Mary Edse. I tried to take a few pictures but they didn't turn out the greatest.

Look at poor Santa!

This was taken in a different neighborhood. These two house really go crazy! Can't imagine their electric bill!

And because this time of year is all about giving! I'm being generous in sharing MY Rob Pattinson! It just doesn't get any better than that:) Unless one were lucky enough to be that thumb!!

♥Merry Christmas♥

Don't be jealous!!!

Try to control yourself!! Check out that fine specimen in the background!


Behold the leg lamp!

A Christmas Story has been one of my favorite movies since the day I saw it in 1983. And yes I remember that day. We went for my friend Debbie's birthday party:)

Every year about this time we start saying Fragile. A lot. And it must be said in your best Darren McGavin voice!

Two years ago when all of my husband's family was here for Christmas, I was was sent on a scavengers hunt with clues by my sister in law Rita and her husband Tony. In my own house. For every clue I found, another would send me to a different part of the house. From all the way upstairs to all the way back down in the basement. Back and Forth. I was sweating. And it was all caught on video. I think there was something like 17 clues. The last one found was the actual prize winner notification like in the movie and a clue to look on the front porch. It was there that I found the huge wrapped box. Once opened, the box read, "Fragile." The laughter erupted. From everyone except Sydney! She.was.mortified. Especially when her dad claimed the front window as the spot to showcase the lamp. Poor kid was afraid of what the neighbors would think. Even though my husband would love to keep her out in full view year around, she has to say in the basement family room. (Now I'm calling the lamp "she??) I sometimes feel the need to put her away until the next Christmas since she doesn't really fit with my decor. But then I'm reminded of how much joy she brings-like when we had the hunky men from the fire department here. Twice. They saw her beauty too. And shared our sense of humor.

And in case you've forgotten, click here and read #4 for proof of my Christmas Story devotion, or ignorance. Whatever you want to call it:)

May you find some humor in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season:)

Christmas Traditions

It has become a tradition on my husband's side of the family that all the grandkids get together and bake cookies with their Grandma. These pictures each tell a story. This was 2003. Natalie's 1st Christmas.

2004

We try to get them to stand in the same position as they did the year before. I think we average taking about 10 pictures each before we can get them all looking at the camera. Natalie was watching for Grandpa coming down the hall.

When he finally got in the picture she was kissing Louis and Sydney had perfected the head to the shoulder pose:)
No tradition for 2005. Bill's dad had just passed away. The Christmas spirit was hard to find.

2006

2007

The baking process was moved to Bill's sister Rita's house. We usually bake over 700 cookies. Her double oven comes in handy.

2008

I love these pictures. Baking in Rita's remodeled kitchen was such luxury! When we called the kids to get ready for the picture, Bill's 16 yr. old nephew, Louis walked in with nothing but Christmas boxers and a Santa hat. You can see the girls' reaction. Abby is waving her hand in front of her nose as if she could smell his armpits.

Gina and Anna tried to escape.

And the final result. 456 poses later! And well over 700 cookies this year!

My turkey weekend and brush with celebrity

For Thanksgiving we went downstate to be with my family. I always look forward to this holiday, not so much for the big turkey dinner but for the day after when all the girls in the family take off and go shopping. All day. And this year was no different. Alarms were set at the buttcrack of dawn(3am) and we ventured out for the day. 8 women loaded into a 14 passenger van affectionately named, The Big Red Kahuna. Lots of belly laughs, inside jokes, and child-free meals were shared. At the end of the day we got to go see this little girl who is still in the hospital.

Even though she is still recovering from pneumonia she was still her happy self. Nothing seems to get her down. She is such a trooper and gave us lots of smiles and giggles.
We finally made it home around 9pm. What a long day!!The next day I got to meet this handsome man!!!

Doug Wilson from Trading Spaces(TLC) recently bought and renovated a restaraunt in my hometown. I have been waiting patiently to get back home in hopes to catch a glimpse of him around town. I was so excited to see he was at the restaurant the night we went. He was so friendly, walking around to all the tables talking to people. He even helped himself to the girls' french fries. Sydney wasn't the only one who was a little star struck;) Thanks to a little liquid courage in the form of an awesome pomegranet martini and some Blue Moon, I got up the nerve to go talk to him. He's very friendly and down to earth. I wish I would have taken more pictures of the restaraunt but I didn't want him to think I was stalking him;) You truly would have to see before pictures to appreciate what he's done with it. Supposedly there is going to be a show documenting it.

I had to add this picture when I discovered the silly girl in the background:)

The girls had a table all to themselves.

My cousin Molly who is hoping to get a job there while she is going to school. Pays to know the right people;)

Thanks mom for playing photographer and not embarrasing me too much!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

A quote from Marcie: "You heard what Linus was saying out there. Those early pilgrims were thankful for what happened to them, and we should be thankful, too. We should just be thankful for being together. I think that's what they mean by "Thanksgiving,' Charlie Brown."

♥Enjoy your families♥

My little pilgrim

Today Natalie's kindergarten class had a Thanksgiving play. Given how she hid behind the girl in front of her during the Grandparent's day celebration, I was a little worried she would have another case of stage fright. Not today. Yay! She stood in front of all the parents and grandparents and said her lines and played her part as a pilgrim. What a cute teepee they made!

For snack they had a cornucopia full of treats.

I also got an award today from Jamie at Right At Home . I am proud to call her my bloggy friend♥ Make sure you check out the really great gift ideas she just recently posted.

Along with this award, I am to list 6 things that I am grateful for.
1. my happy and healthy family
2. my sense of humor that gets me through life
3. Twilight AND Robert Pattinson(yummy eye candy)
4. my reliable car that will safely get me to my family's home for Thanksgiving
5. the drop in gas prices so that I may travel with a little less worry
6. my friends near and far in real life and the blog world
Thanks Jamie!

Sunday Baker giveaway

It's time for another Sunday Baker giveaway. This week she has chosen this tote set from Simply Notes and Totes. How cute is this?! Wouldn't you just love to have it?! Well, as much as I would love for you to have it, I really would like it for myself! Just being honest♥ The contest ends Tuesday, November 25th at 8pm.

On another note, my cousin's daughter, Alicen is back in the hospital with pneumonia. She went into the hospital on Friday because her feeding tube came out. While there they discovered she has pneumonia again. If you could please pray for her or if you are not the praying type, please keep her in your thoughts. We are heading back home for the Thanksgiving and I would love more than anything to get to see her!! And her mommy too! Hi Turkey:)

Thanksgiving through the years

I had every intention of posting about all the things I am thankful for. Since I don't like pictureless posts, I started looking for some Thanksgiving pictures from years past to add. While looking at these it made me think of all the milestones and life events that happened around these times. The hardest to think about was Thanksgiving 2005. My grandpa Ralph had cancer and had not been doing well. It was nice to spend the holiday with him and my grandma. At the same time Bill's dad was also suffering from cancer and had taken a turn for the worst while we were out of town. He passed away just days later and my grandpa Ralph passed away in March. As life reminds us though, through all the bad times there are good times. We had lots of those too♥

Natalie's First Thanksgiving 2003



















2004 Celebrating Alicen being home and healthy!

2005 Grandpa Ralph's last Thanksgiving

What a difference a year makes for Alicen!

2006 At the condo in Wisconsin

No pictures of 2007?? Trying to upload these pictures and getting the print to go where I want it reminds me to never use the "left or right" uploading features again. I know when I hit publish that these pictures are going to be all willy nilly! And that will drive the perfectionist part of me crazy!!!! Happy week before Thanksgiving:)

The weekend

The stomach bug has hit the girls' school. Sydney ended up with it Friday night but thankfully it was very short lived. We stayed in our pj's all day Saturday. She was fine but I was just paranoid there was more to come or that Natalie was going to end up with it. Kind of like waiting for the other shoe to fall! It didn't. We all needed out of the house by this afternoon so we met a few friends at the theater to see High School Musical 3. Is it wrong to be a grown woman and have impure thoughts of Zac Efron?!?! Yeah, don't answer that! I think I already know;)Sunday Baker is having another great giveaway! Go check her out. Not only does she have some great recipes to offer but she has searched and found some great Etsy store items. Perfect stocking stuffers for little girly girls:) Don't waste any time, the giveaway ends tonight!

Thanks again for all of your kind words!

Life

When life hands you lemons

make lemonade.

Or one of these!
Life has handed us quite a few lemons that past couple of months and it's finally catching up with me. I've been optimistic. I've been positive. I've been happy-go-lucky. Not anymore. I have become sour and bitter like those lemons. I "know" the right things to say, the way I "should" feel, the way I "should" react but I just can't get there. My husband has still not found a worthwhile job. For the first time in nine years I need to get a job. The holidays are here and I just cannot get in the spirit. We have opted out of gift exchanges with our families so we can make sure our girls have a good Christmas. I'm sad. It's not just the gift giving. It's the whole big picture. I know I should just put on my big girl panties(and Lord knows they are getting big enough) and deal with it and I eventually will but I'm just not at that place right now!

Tooth Fairy

The tooth fairy has been very busy at our house! I can't believe Natalie has lost so many teeth. The kid isn't even SIX yet!! She's also rolling in the dough! What kind of tooth fairy leaves money at their grandma's house too?! Definitely not the same fairy I had growing up!! Here she is just 2 days before Halloween. My little jack-o-lantern.

This was a week later. My little hillbilly:) She's already been singing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth." Bless her heart.

4's

While I wasn't exactly tagged to do this, I've seen lots of other bloggers playing along. You are to go to your fourth picture file and post the fourth picture. Out of curiousity I checked out my photos and thought it was fitting as the fourth picture was Sydney's fourth birthday. That's a lot of 4's! This was her birthday breakfast. Healthy and nutritious:)

It's a tradition that the girls always have a candle in their birthday breakfast.


Here she is 5 years later!

Where has the time gone?!

Today, my baby turns NINE! Where has the time gone?! I am so happy and so sad at the same time. She's growing up to be a fine young lady. I just can't believe that in what feels like the blink of an eye she is no longer my baby but a nine year old, third grader!

Tonight she is having an "almost sleepover" with her friends. They'll come wearing their pajamas. We'll eat pizza, play games and have lots of fun! Oh, to be a kid again:)

Happy Birthday Sydney! I love you more than you will ever know!!!

~~Happy Halloween~~