I swear-- one of these days I am going to be caught up and on a decent schedule with this darned blog. But until then.. you will just be surprised randomly with various posts.. And this one happens to be about the long 4th of July weekend!
July 4th weekend was a pretty fun weekend for us. Nothing super exciting, but I do have a few pics to share!
FRIDAY JULY 4
We spent the actual 4th of July just running errands, lounging around- I wish I could say cleaning, but NOPE..that got pushed to back burner as always. The best part - both Damian and I were off from work so we were able to see each other several times throughout the day.
SATURDAY JULY 5
In an effort to live a more healthy lifestyle, I met up with a friend in the morning to go for a run. It's about a 3.1 or so mile loop, but I only ran about a mile and a half to 2 miles...but it felt GOOD! I was so proud of myself. Damian was off on Saturday also and I picked Madison up from a sleepover and we just hung out around the house for the majority of the day. Damian worked in the studio quite a bit on some music. Madison, Mayci, and I met Nicole, Gianna, Bella, Alex, Tonya, Makai, Zoey, and Zane at Manchester Community College for fireworks. Myles stayed home because Gilbert was coming over to play and Rama is probably just too cool to hang out with a bunch of old people and "babies". But we had SO MUCH FUN!! I hadn't seen Makai since he was a baby and had never really met Zoey and Zane. What cutie patooties they are and Mr. Makai has such a deep voice, he sounds like a man from far away! And it was great to be able to see Tonya and Alex after years and years as well! I just wish we had more time that night. The fireworks only lasted about a half hour, yet it took us a good hour and 15 minutes to even get off of the MCC campus. Well worth it to spend some time catching up! Makai sure did love himself some Madison... He even informed me that I NEED to have him come over to play with her soon!And both Gianna and Bella yelled at me for not having them over recently over SO CUTE!! **and nope, I haven't scheduled that play date yet lol**
SUNDAY JULY 6
On Sunday, Ted and Abby had planned a trip to Lake McDonough in Barkhamsted. I hadn't been there since Myles was 1 month old, so it was nice to head up that way. Damian and I didn't have any set time that we wanted to be there, s that helped meout with my stress level, since social things like this give me EXTREME ANXIETY. We arrived by late morning and were greeted by so many family and friends: Ted, Abby, Yvette, TiTi TaTa, Melina, Niko, Monica, Jacob, Abigail, Angelina, Christopher, Natalia and her husband and sisters, Uncle Jorge... throughout the day, Zaccai, Luques, Daryl, Dalila, Iliana, Brian, TiTi Ada, Titi Ana, Amanda, Aaron, Alicia, Sammy, Nadia, Bas, TiTi Miriam, Rae-Sheilla & her new baby, Becky, Carissa, some family friends, Nilda..and several more trickled in and out throughout the day. Unfortunately Madison, Mayci, and I left early so that I could drop Madison off at another lake in Marlborough since she had previous plans made with her friend. But either way-- everyone had a good day. I may or may not have forgotten to apply sunscreen to the kids and they may or may not have gotten mild sunburns.. No worries, perfect parents out there, they survived and are doing well!
Here are some pics to highlight this particular weekend, enjoy:
Thanks to those who served our country, those who gave their time and lives for us, and those who are currently serving, we were able to enjoy a 3 day weekend. Oh how I love 3 day weekends. there is just something exciting about leaving work on a Friday and knowing you have an extra day to do whatever you please!! But for any of you that didn't have a 3 day weekend or you have to work on the weekend... I am sorry and I definitely feel your pain because I have been there also. Damian also works on the weekend and sadly, because of work, he was unable to be apart of some of our fun events from this weekend.
May 24, 2014
Friday was another one of my special evenings with Miss Madison. She, yet again, chose to stay home with me for the night while the little ones stayed at Mama and Popup's house. We didn't do much...just ran out to the store to grab a few things that we need for Amanda's ( my little sister) Baby Shower which Lisa (my older sister) and I are hosting this upcoming Saturday. We also stopped by Menchie's... Windsor's little frozen yogurt joint, that Madison and I have been frequenting quite a bit lately. I honestly think that this is why she chooses to stay with me some Friday's... because she can almost always talk me into stopping there.. Hey, what can I say-- I am sucker for giving in to my own sweet tooth!!!
Saturday May 24, 2014
Madison had her usual dance and Myles FINALLY got his hair cut!! I mean.. he hadn't gotten it cut since a week before Christmas. And yes, he chose to have his little mohawk style again. I just can't take how big he is getting..and after he gets his hair cut, he looks like such a "little man."
The little ones hung out with Daddy around the house while I went and did more baby shower shopping with my mom and Lisa.
Madison spent the day with Zaccai and Luques at Mama's house and the Polish National Home rehearsing for a dance she was planning to do for one of the songs they would be playing with Johnny "Little Johnny" Rivero that night. Damian had his own gig in Stamford, so he wasn't able to join us but I know that he has heard from alot of people how "interesting" his kids are and what a great show Johnny put on with his band!! This was quite the fun evening and worth its own post, so that will be coming!
Sunday May 25, 2014
We didn't really have anything planned for today. Since we had such a late night on Saturday, we didn't make it to church today. Truth be told, I don't MAKE my kids so to church, so I am not sure if they would have attended anyway, but since I was extremely tired, I woke up much later than I had planned and trying to make it to church on time wouldn't have happened for me. I am hoping to redecorate the house this summer and have been looking for some inexpensive pieces that I can do some DIY projects with so Madison, Mayci and I took a trip to Christmas Tree Shops. It's been almost a year since I had step foot in that store-- Oh how I love it!!
These two are so close!! I love it. Check out Myles' tie!
Nicole ended up texting me while I was out to see what the kids and I had planned for the day, and because our schedule was open, Nicole, Gianna, and Bella actually met us at the store. Well, that was an adventure in and of itself. 2 childish and giddy moms with 4 extremely "free" spirited children caused quite the ruckus in the store. Didn't really find much of what I was looking for and still managed to spend WAY over what I had planned, but a good time it was indeed. We also stopped by 5 below, for me to spend even more money on things I didn't need before heading home. At home we just unleashed the kids into the backyard to be attacked by the mosquitoes that seem to be guarding yard. I didn't get many, if any pics of the kids...but here is one of Nicole and I-- clearly thinking we are still cute and back in high school...just don't mind that extra little pooch hanging out near my stomach-- must be the lighting in the kitchen haha-- I swear I had sucked that in before taking the picture!! The kids played, fought, got hurt(don't worry--nothing that warranted any emergent care), were loud, got on our nerves, and had a GREAT time. Nicole and I spent the day catching up on each other's lives, as I do with most of my friends since I see them so few and far between. For the past 6 years or so we have drifted in and out of each other's lives for various reasons, here's to hoping that this time our re-connection is permanent. I think we have managed to overcome the things that caused us to separate and in that we have grown up and learned just how importance acceptance for our mistakes, honesty, and forgiveness truly are!
Sometimes, regardless of the circumstances and the events in your lives that have separated you, their is a bond that lies deep within that pulls you back together.... I think that bond is present in Nicole and I . She will always be an important part of my life and I do love her dearly. She will always be "Big Stride Nikki" to me-- (inside joke--hopefully she is reading this and remembers)
Nic and her crew left fairly early and the kids and I just lounged around until we fella sleep. Damian spent most of the day searching for the perfect pair of running shoes for himself and his evening was spent in the studio working on one of his many projects
Monday May 26, 2014
Happy Memorial Day! I posted a quick Happy Memorial Day status on Facebook regarding Memorial Day and unfortunately received some negative feedback in my Facebook inbox. It actually caught me off guard, while I knew it may have been seen as controversial. Amazing how some people can have their opinion about things, but once you voice an opposing opinion, it turns into something personal. Sad, sad, sad!
I took the kids to the Memorial Day parade in Bloomfield.. I also posted a video of Mayci and Myles dancing at the parade on a previous post, but if you didn't get a chance to view it, feel free to click below:
We watched the parade and the kids waved their flags, Myles complained that he was bored until the first marching band came by, and Mayci didn't like how loud things were and that no one threw her any candy. When I asked if they had a good time.. they all responded that they did..so I'll take it!!
Here is Mayci's "mad" face when she was yelling about not getting any candy
Seeing how perfect they are in line sometimes makes me miss the road marches and cadence from the Army!
The rest of the day was spent around the house playing, catching up on TV shows(or in my case-my YouTube subscription videos), and taking naps. No barbecues for us this year..we ended up at Friendly's for dinner and then home for the night!!
Looking forward to the upcoming week-- Brooke's graduation and Amanda's baby shower!! CAN'T WAIT!!
I hope you all had a GREAT weekend and were able to enjoy, hopefully, an extra day for your weekend!!
Nothing super exciting over the past week. The kids are finally all in bed and getting ready for the fun and festive week. They are looking forward to Thanksgiving, I thinkk, and spending time with family and friends. Madison is super excited about only having school 2 days this week. I actually think that she was secretly hoping that I would tell her that she didn't have to go to school, but nope-- THAT IS WISHFUL THINKING!!
My car has still been giving us some problems, but now that the check engine light has come on, I am hopinh to eventually take it somewhere and get some diagnostic tests done. Just gotta work that into our already tight budget. Work has been incredibly stressful, but I am determined to just take it day by day and try to stay positive!
I had been attending physical therapy for my back as a preliminary step to the surgery that is probablygoign to occur, but last week I did not attend any of my sessions. I have cancelled them due to finances and the co pay that is due evry visit. I am just going to try and do the exercises that I have learned so far and do those until the time is better for me to go back to start the therapy yet again. Thank goodness my Primary Care doctor understood and was on board with my decision.
Madison just kept busy with dance and school. Her and I had several little arguments learning oppurtunities with one another due to some things that we disagree on. I lost my cool one time during an argument, and I hope Madion will look back on these moments I realize that I only get on her, because I love her and just want her to always be her best. I also hope that I will learn that screaming at her is probably only going to push her away instead of draw her nearer as I would like!! 13
Myles and Mayci---wow---they are like 2 peas in a pod. I have been noticing more and more that Mayci does EVERYTHING that Myles does, but this week, it was even more noticeable. They are so funny together. Everytime Myles speaks, Mayci is his little parrot and repeats him. I def have to catch some of the two of them interacting on film. I'm still trying to get beter at the whole picture taking and video taker! I really like how close they are, I pray that they stay like this for ever.
Damian was SUPER BUSY this week. He had gigs, reharsals, studio time, recordings, meetings and much more! I think he likes be ing busy, and I know that being busy means that he is getting his cd together, and working and gigs mean he is making money, and meetings, means he is getting exposure, but sometimes I wish he just had one day where he had nothing planned an d that we could all just stay home for the whole day as a family and do nothing but lay in the couch, eat junk, and watch movies together.
This upcoming week is Thanksgiving, so it will be a fun week for us. Damian and I work MOn-Wednesday, and I am hoping that he has Friday off, but I forgot to ask him. I hope to do some shopping on Friday. Maybe not the wee hours of themorning as I had originally planned, but I am going to get some shopping in. Then we will be putting out Christmas trees up and getting the house ready for the next holiday.... OOOOOHHHHHH---- I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!
There are only 3 hours left in the year 2012. This has been quite the year. I try at the end of every year to reflect on the year and pick out some highlights and low lights. There have been many of each this year. I also have come to the realization that I have so much work to do on my own.
Some highlights for us Curtis':
Madison--- turned 9, competed for the first time in dance, went away to New York this summer exclusively for intense dance training, got offered her first solo , starting the 4th grade, had her first sleep over in the new house.....
Myles---turned 3, started tap dancing, found his first "best"friend, experienced Christmas for what I would consider the 1st REAL time, started going to church more, became potty trained,
Mayci--- turned 1, started walking, saying first words, had her first New Years, Easter, Memorial Day, Valentine's day, and 4th of July, becoming so much more of an individual and claiming her stubborness personality(Lord help us, lol)
Damian --- quite the homeowner(getting pretty good at yard work and home fixing, has been on several CD's that came out this year, more private teaching opportunities, celebrating 5 yr wedding anniversary
Michelle--- promotion at work, reconciling a long held grudge(no one said forgiveness is easy), celebrating 5 year wedding anniversary
Unfortunately---- among with these highlights, we have seen some loss this year as well. This past summer a very good coworker/friend lost her 18 year old son to a freak accident. I didn't think that my heart could hurt the way it did at that time. I shed many a tear for this young child and his grieving family. I watched a mom show so much strength as she buried her son only a month before she should have been sending him off to college. This woman and her sister were the ones who comforted me as I walked towards their son's/nephew's body in a casket to say my goodbyes. I can not even imagine how they found it in themselves to that.
And as if that wasn't enough, my husband's good friend lost a child during the horrific events that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown CT. OH my...my heart hurt yet again as I stood next to my husband stricken with his grief. I had never seen him that way and once again cannot imagine how the family of this young child or any of the grieving families must have felt and were able to cope. I asked myself on more than one occasion, what if that were me and my family...........................
This made me think, as the year is coming to close. How much I truly take for granted. How many mornings I leave the house upset with one of my children, leaving them with a frown and not a smile. How I am so quick to speak prior to thinking and how spoiled I am!! I am aware so much more now of my blessings, and while I feel guilty for thinking at times, "Thank goodness it wasn't my child." I now know that it is okay to grateful and that I should be grateful for all that I have and because of that, treat my family as so!!
As we end this year and enter a new year...I pray for all who have lost someone over the past 365 days and before, I pray for their healing, their strength, the ability to smile again. I also pray for my family and my blessings! I pray to the Lord that I will be more aware of all that I have and will learn to use this awareness to shine a light unto others and to show those around how truly grateful, honored, and blessed I am for each and every one of them.
Not exactly sure why I even titled this post that...but it could possibly be because tomorrow is my 30th birthday!! WOAH!!! 30?!?!?! So cool!! I always wanted to be 30. I mean like even when I was only 20 and 21...I thought 30 would be such a "real grown up" age......so I guess that means that as of tomorrow, I am officially a grown up! WOOOOO HOOO!!
But anyway....the family survived Thanksgiving and is eagerly awaiting Christmas....well at least the kids are. I always seem to struggle the most around the holidays. When everyone else seems to be super happy and full of holiday cheer, I am more closed off and to myself...but I manage to pull through like always.
I do have to say, with a sort of bragging tone, I am almost completely done with my Christmas shopping. Thank goodness for the Internet and online shopping, I have been doing several online purchases and always wait until they have some sort of "Free Shipping" deal..because I mean..then it is even more worth it. Not to mention that I signed up to Ebates which has been a godsend. I should actually be receiving my first check from several purchases within the next week. I just got my sign on gift card to Target yesterday, which so completely made my day!
The kids had gone to get there pictures taken about 2 weeks ago and those have finally come in, minus one piece that I am still waiting for. I will include some of them with this post, but will not be including the pics that are going on our Christmas Card this year. I have also decided to write a Christmas Letter this year to include with our cards this year and I am super excited for that!!
It's the Sunday after Thanksgiving and our house is completely decorated for Christmas. We chose to do 2 trees this year. One for the living room which is strictly for decoration. And I decorated it to match the furniture that we already have in that room. (who do I think I am...Martha Stewart--hahahahah...absolutely not!! ) And the other is in the playroom that the kids got to decorate and that is the one that the gifts will go under on Christmas Eve. Decorating for Christmas has really boosted my spirits quite a bit already and I am hoping that I can remain this way for the rest of the year and going forward.
We return to school and work after 4 days off...sort of a bummer and Madison has been complaining for the entire day about it, but hey, it is what it is. I am just going to look forward to Christmas Eve...because as soon as I get off from work I don't go back for a full 7 days ...YIPEE!!!!!
Kids update: Let's see...not too much exciting to report. Madison goes back to the orthopedic doctor in another week and half to check the status of her ankle, Mayci has been continuously trying to do everything Myles is doing(that includes trying to jump off the couch only to land face first on the hard couch) and Mr Myles...well he still thinks he is one super hero after the next, but has been very excited about Christmas since we put the trees up on Friday......
Please enjoy a sneak peek of some of the pics that the kids got done 2 weeks ago!!...........
The reason.........I have lost my beloved camera. Unfortunately it did not make it home with the kids and I are our walk home for Mama and Popup's on Memorial Day. And there were so many AWESOME pics on there...I actually had managed to get one of my self, Myles, Mayci, and Madison. And to top it off...we matched. Sadly, Damian was busy working when that miracle happened. So we will have to try again for that.
Some good news though---I did buy a new camera!! WOOHOO!!! And I have taken some pics, but I still need to get them uploaded and onto my computer.
But in other news. The past 2 weeks have been pretty good! 2 weeks ago on Thursday my sister, Lisa(the older one) and I went to go see Damian play at La Kerencya on Franklin Ave in Hartford. Such a nice evening. Ted and Abby were gracious enough to take all 3 kids and get them bathed and in pj's for me. In fact, it turned out to be a late night, so 2 of the kids were actually sleeping when I got there to pick them up. Myles, of course, was still full of energy...an since he normally spends the night at their house on Fridays, I just let him do his thing. Being able to go and see Damian play was such a good thing...for both Damian, myself, and our marriage as a whole. We spend a lot of day sort of just passing by each pother. I'm getting ready for bed when he's coming home. He is settling into bed when I am preparing to get up and head off to work. And sometimes the weekends turn out the same way. I have not been the most supportive wife, even though I hate to admit it, so I don't go out and see him play often. I think I last saw him play in November, which is so bad. And let me tel you...watching him play gives me goosebumps every time. He amazes me, and the things that he does on the piano just make me so proud. I am so glad that he chose me to be his wife out of all the women and the world, and the least I can do is---is show him. I'd like to think that me being there meant something to him also, I feel like he looked at me differently afterwards...so happy!!!!! Sad news---I got some pretty good pics that day, too bad they were still in my camera....
Enough about me gloating about my wonderful man!!
Another day that had some wonderful pictures that I will never get back--- Memorial Day. Madison had spent the night on Sunday at Grandma Virginia's house, so Myles, Mayci, and and I went to pick her up from there. We headed out to Simsbury to watch the parade. We found a great place to sit right across from Damian's job. Myles got a little antsy before the parade truly started, but the little old lady next to us, kept talking to him and distracted...Thank God for the kind people that God places in our paths. She must have sensed my frustration with him, because she would always sort of interject at just the right moment with a tender smile and the kindest words. Not in a condescending way, but in a"lonely grandma" way. But once the parade started, Myles was all smiles--waving at everyone and getting super excited when they would notice him and give him a special wave back! I tried to take a second for each group to explain to them who they were and why they walking in the parade and why we should be proud, but I doubt they were even listening to me. Even Mayci seemed to enjoy herself even though she was incredibly sweaty and having trouble seeing because the sun was so bright!
As we left the parade, I headed to Ted and Abby's so the kids could be dropped off there with Daddy and Mayci and I headed home to rest for a little. She took a good nap and hen I plopped her in the stroller and walked to meet the rest of the family. So many people showed up there for good times, laughter, fellowships, fun, and just hanging with friends. I am not sure we did much honoring of those who have passed or served so we can have out freedoms, but we did enjoy some good food and great weather. When it was time to head out..which was pretty early for us, since we had work and school the next day, Ted let me have the double stroller so thee kids and I could walk home. Damian had to head to rehearsal so I didn't want him to have to have to stop and drop us off...plus, who am I kidding---I can definitely use the exercise!!!!!
Al in all------the past 2 weeks have been good...and I am started to think about some fun family activities that we can use to fill our summer months!! Plus I have been brainstorming ways for Damian and I to spend our 5 year anniversary in August!!!
