Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Getting in the groove.........

Okay, so just a heads up---------------------no pictures for this post.

 I am beating myself up for not keeping up with this post consistently.  And since I am sort of using it as a public journal, I should be doing WAY better. I was originally going to try to play catch up..posting on our dailies from Myles birthday party to now, but let's face it.....our lives are definitely not that interesting and I don't feel like looking back in my calendar and writing it all down.  I will do a short little summary though.

The past three weeks and pretty much consisted of: work and carting kids around for me; work and gigs for Damian; playing and trying new foods and getting Strep throat & her first dose antibiotics for Mayci; actually wearing the Spiderman costume everyday and being "officially" potty trained for Myles, and school, piano, last dance competition, dance pics, and dance lessons for.  Miss busy bee Madison was also reader of the month and last Friday had her picture taken with her favorite school, to be hung on the wall at school.  She had her first and only violin recital at school this past Monday also.

I have been working on myself more than usual over the past several weeks.  About 2 weeks ago, I had another one of my "meltdowns" and was completely convinced that I was an inadequate woman, mother, wife, person.  I, of course, called my mom and calmed down as she talked me through it--reminding me that I am too hard on myself and it is okay to not want to do things sometimes.  Since then I have been trying to keep positive, remain calm during moments when I would normally breakdown, and begin to get my "life together.  Le's put it this way--- I have never been much of a housekeeper...WHAT?!?!?!  Did I truly just write that for people to read?  YUP!!  I most certainly did.  I have never been a stickler for keeping things, "just so.  My house is never really SPOTLESS (and if you have kids and your house is, then I am convinced that you are even more BORING than I am) and sometimes I let my kids run around and get dirty.  But I have made a personal decision to begin to put it in some kind of order.  It is going pretty slowly.  But I have joined this website called Flylady.net and they are teaching me that my house didn't get dirty in a day so it will take more than a day to get it back in to shape and that anything can be done in 15 minutes.  BABYSTEPS for me!!!  But I can tell that I am getting somewhere.....for Heaven's sake- we moved into this house that last week of August 2011 and I still haven't hung the stuff up on the walls that I wanted and I have yet to paint the bathroom and Myles' room like I have wanted forever.

I haven't gotten the new transmission for my car yet either.  We are trying to wait until we can come up with money without putting us behind on bills....and Damian's cousin Frankie has told us that if we can get it towed to Meriden for a Saturday, he can have it done before the end of the day.  SO babysteps for that also.  Once I get it fixed, I am going to finish paying it off and then start looking for a................................................................................ minivan!  We really need one and I am no longer ashamed to get one :)

And speaking of money--Damian and I have made the decision to get rid of cable.  And it's not because I don't want my kids to exposed to the vulgar, and inappropriate things on television.  While that is definitely true--I must admit, I will probably suffer worse than the kids.  I love to curl up with a blanket, a coffee, and watch my Lifetime movies or my Discovery channel.  But realistically--that money could be goign towards something else.  Since we will still have the internet, we can still watch movies and i can still watch General Hospital on Hulu...so it's not even like we are giving it up 100%  Not to mention the fact that Damian and I made this decision last week and I have yet to call the cable company yet--I think I am struggling to let go.

I have begun to go back to church and the kids do come wit me, we have chosen to switch to the Saturday night service that out church offers.  Madison loves her class on both Wednesdays and Saturdays.  Myles is getting used to it, and Mayci still struggles sometimes, so I end up being paged before the end of service just to remind her that she is okay!  I have volunteered to help begin a praise dance are of worship with Promiseland...we have our first meetign next weekend...and I AM SUPER EXCITED!!!

Last but not least, I am starting something this Sunday called Project 365.  It's where you take at least one picture a day each week and post them in a weekly blog.  I will begin iwth thge picture taking this Sunday and will post by weekly Project 365 every Sunday.  But I will still do posts in between...hopefully...I mean come on---I am still A CONSTANT WORK IN PROGRESS!!!!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Spiderman and the number 3

Friday April 27th

Our little man has turned 3!!!  Oh my word! I cannot believe that Mr Myles McCoy Curtis turned 3 years old.  It seems like just yesterday that he was born.  I remember spending the day at the reservoir the day before I gave birth----and how sore my legs were when I was in the hospital because I had the nerve to walk around the ENTIRE reservoir!  I remember walking Madison out to her bus stop that morning and telling her that her little brother would be here before she got to the hospital after school.  Thank goodness I kept that promise.  Myles was born at exactly 3:20pm...the exact time that the final school bell would have rung at Madison's school.  But anyway----

Myles, you are one of the most fascinating "little" people I know!  You amaze me almost daily with your knowledge and excitement towards life.  I can already see a "man" in your eyes and have the utmost confidence that you will do wonderful things in your life.  You are already so eager to learn and do well...Myles, God truly blessed us with you and I hope that we are able to parent you to the best of our ability while you are on loan to us from the Lord!!  I thank God for you daily...even when you challenge me!!

Since I had to work on his birthday, we didn't really do anything.  That and the fact that my car died on me on the way to work the day before, so I had no way to go anywhere :(  It was pretty chilly when I got home, but he insisted on playing at the park.  So Madison headed over and Myles, Mayci and I followed...but only managed to stay about 45 minutes before deciding that it was too cold and time to go home.  We didn't even do a cake or anything for him, but hopefully he won't be traumatized since we had a decent sized party for him the next day. :)

Saturday April 28th


PARTY DAY!!!!  Today was Myles' 3rd birthday party.  Spiderman themed of course.  The morning was rough because I had a little meltdown about the guys wanting to get much needed yardwork done 2 hours before the party.  But I am working on that....I have to learn to stop sweating the small stuff and letting things go.  Because it always works out.  And thanks to some great family and friends, we were able to have 2 grills going, some awesome fruit kabob things, and extra chairs, tables, and fun outside toys for the kids.  Couldn't have done it with out them. The weather was a little chilly,but only the adults seemed to mind.... It was nice for Myles to have some kids, especially boys,  his age to play with.  He, of course, spent the day in his spiderman costume (which he has worn at least everyday since) and digging a hole in the backyard.  He was so cute because everytime someone would say, "Happy Birthday Myles", he would respond... "Happy Birthday to you too."
Unfortunately Madison had to miss out on most of the party because of a dance competition in Hartford at the Convention Center---but she explained to him in the morning that she wouldn't be there and I honestly don't even think he realized that she was gone.
All in all, it turned out to be a great day--full of family, friends, laughs, and fun! Not to mention all of the presents Myles received from such generous people.









Me pretending like I actually know what I am doing











We feel so honored to have so many people come by and share their love of Myles with us on his special day!!

Friday, May 4, 2012

Dance Competition #1 April 22, 2012

I'm a little behind on posting, so please bear with me!!

On Sunday April 22nd, Madison was involved in her first ever dance competition.  And boy oh boy...let me be completely honest with myself and anyone else who is reading-- I am so NOT in shape.  I was dead tired after that day.  I mean so was Madison, but she at least had the excuse that she had danced!!!

Damian was out of town  from Friday the 20th - Sunday working in the studio on his upcoming CD, so he wasn't around to help out with the kids.  We found out sort of last minute that Madison and I needed to be at the MassMutual Center in Springfield Mass by 7:30a.  Now I already knew that I was not going to bring Myles and Mayci with me.  While they are great kids, I definitely made the right decision.  I would never have been able to keep those two happy and occupied for such a long day.





I decided to gather the kids and myself up and stay at Grandma Virginia and Grandpa Wayne's house (my parents).  This way Madison and I could wake up early and the other two could sleep in and not have to worry  about me trying to pack the them up to drop them off somewhere.  Once again----THANKS SO MUCH MOMMA AND DADDY!  ( I don't even know if either of them even read this, so if you are reading and you know them-please pass this message along).  Well, like a little kid, I couldn't sleep at all...I don't know if it was my excitedness(I know, I know--not even a word) or the fact that I am so paranoid about being late that kept me up.  But by 4:30a..I was up for good!  I got myself together and then got Madison and up and ready!  What a trooper...she really is a great little girl!
We were on the road by 6:15a.  And of course, because I am such a sucker--we had to stop by Dunkin Donuts and get our breakfast.  We were at the MassMutual center by about 7:15a.  YAY!!  Early!!  Unfortunately, the workers at the MassMutual couldn't  let us into the building until the judges got there, so we were stuck in the door way between the outside and the lobby with all the other dance studios until about 8am.  And of course it had to be cold, rainy, and windy...

And WOW!! I was so not prepared for this at all.  I had Madison's dance costume on a hangar, but over it I was just using a white plastic bag, and had a small makeup kit in her backpack along with a few hair supplies just so I could touch her hair up if need be. Clearly I didn't get the memo that you needed garment bags that had been bedazzled, rolling suitcases, and makeup kits larger than your rolling backpack.  I was in awe....it didn't even seem to phase Madison at all, so I tried not to make a big deal out of it either.
Madison before performing


The entire group...Madison is front and center

Madison after performing...hence why the makeup is almost ALL gone!!


But anyway...........the girls all surprised me and danced very well.  They had their smiles on and were quite the performers.  They ended up scoring a High Gold for their number and got 2nd place all together.  And since it was Madison's 1st competition ever....................................I was so PROUD!!!!  The awards ceremony for the 1st half was around 2 or so and then Madison and her friend Jessie wanted to stay and watch some of the older girls dance.  We hung around until about 545p, but by that time....I was so tired that I forced the girls out and dropped Jessie off at home.  After stopping at Grandma and Grandpa's house to pick up Myles and Mayci, we were finally home by about 7:45p.  Poor Damian didn't get home until about 9:30.

Needless to say- I need to get myself into shape so that I can handle these weekends.  What am I going to do when all 3 of the kids are involved in things??