Such a good weekend with even better weather!! I have to say that this was probably one of the nicest weekends I have had in a while. All 5 of us were home and got to spend some time together. Albert, Luques, Karina, and Zeni were all in town on Saturday into Sunday. I missed seeing Zaccai, but he was around Sunday night for a gig. All in all -- such a great family oriented weekend.
Saturday brought some beautiful weather with it! After karate with Mayci, lots of time was spent outside playing, cleaning up the yard, and the little kids doing a bit of their digging holes in the backyard gardening.
By mid afternoon we headed over to Mama and PopUp's to see Luques, Karina, and Zeni-- it was Zeni's first trip to CT so it was quite the BIG DEAL!! Mama was super excited to show off her newest grandbaby lots of people came by to greet Baby Z and see her proud new parents!!!! Yvette, Paul, Nikko, Melina, Natalia, Angelina, Abigail, Jacob, Monica, Jorge, Titi Tata, Carol, Veronica, and Albert are just to name a few. The kids decided to stay over longer because they were having such a good time and Madison was hanging out with Nikko and Melina, who are just a year older than she is :)
Mayci at the park-- pretending to be the Statue of Liberty
Myles and I racing...
Yup--- I won the race.. the little girl next to me is some friend that Myles met at the park named Emily
Miss Zeni Bea
Mama with her newest grandbaby
Quality time for Mama and Zeni
Sunday was a low key day for the family as well. The Curtis Brothers Quartet had a gig in Hartford on Sunday night. So the family, excluding Myles and me, went to go support them also. Myles and I stayed back so that we could ensure that he would get to bed on time and be prepared for his first day back at school after a week long Spring Break. I was pretty surprised to find out that Damian also ended up playing a little as well. I have heard from many that went that it was a great show and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
The weather was so beautiful on Sunday, that the kids just HAD to eat breakfast outside on the back porch
Thumb wrestling match between Albert and Madison
I hope this upcoming weekend bring some lifelong memories as well...
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!!
Whew......so glad that's over....even though it definitely could have been worse! We were all home and safe and sound on Friday by about 1p...I was the only lucky one who got to go to work on Friday, and I went in a little early(6:30a) to ensure that by leaving early I would not lose out on too much of my earned vacation/personal time. I like to use that time for things that I plan for, not because I have to.
Madison, always the planner, had been in emergency storm preparation mode all day. She had gone around the house looking for flashlights, glow sticks for her and Myles, candles, and batteries. She even set up an area in the playroom with each of their favorite blankets, snacks, extra glow sticks....just in case. I was at work Friday morning so she sent em pictures of her work.
She started getting a little upset when it became clear that we were not going to be losing power, but was also enjoying the fact that she could keep her tablet charged without having to worry about how much battery power she was using. Mayci and Myles, well they didn't even have a clue!!
Saturday morning was quite exciting for everyone when we opened the front door only to see that we were stuck in the house. Being a little claustrophobic, my heart was pounding as I walked to the back door to make sure we had an escape route! Damian wanted to get everything done nice and early so he went out to get started on the porch, walkway, and driveway...... more power to him. I have to admit, while feeling quite a bit ashamed, I did not help very much at all....BUT-- I did make sure that he had a fresh pair of dry clothes and hot chocolate waiting for him when he was ready to take a break.
Do you see that little red speck on the right side of the picture in the middle of the snow? Yup, that's the passenger side mirror of my car...took a while for us to get to the rest of it!! :)
I spent Saturday and Sunday scolding kids every once in a while and watching LOCK UP on Netflix (one of my guilty pleasures). By the end of the day on Sunday I was already dreading getting up bright and early to go into work.....but money is tight as always, so I guess I should just be grateful that my job was open so I was going to be able to get paid and not use any of my vacation or personal time.
So, the week of the 16th was Spring Break for Madison......woohoo..(boy do I remember those days!! And I mean the innocent elementary spring break) But of course, I was a fool and didn't think to take any time off, so I missed out on some special mother/daughter time with her. Hopefully she hasn't been traumatized by her "horrible" mother...LOL! No, seriously though. Leo and Erica (Damian's cousins) stayed at Ted and Abby's for the week, so all 3 kids had a blast with them.
APRIL 16, 2012
On Monday the kids all hung out with Damian during the day (thank God he is home during the day with them....at least one of is) and then Madison had dance in the evening and Erica came along to watch. I honestly have no idea how my 8 year old manages to have a busier schedule than I do. Erica slept at our house so her and Madison could spend some girl cousin time. We decided to spend the evening making chocolate chip cookies...just call me Betty Crocker :) But of course, that really meant that I did the baking and those crazy girls and Myles just ATE them! They also had a dance off with Myles---he has since decided that "Everyday I'm Shufflin' " and "Moves Like Jagger" are his new favorite song.
Learning how to use the electric hand mixer
"Mommy, can I eat the cookies yet?"
Not exactly sure what Myles was doing at this moment....but I know it was in the middle of his new "Everyday I'm Shufflin" dance
Mayci has mastered the heart of getting out of her chair....guess it's time to wash it and put it away
APRIL 17, 2012
Tuesday was pretty uneventful in our world. THANK GOODNESS!! I love days like that!! The weather was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Like tank top and shorts beautiful!!(But NOPE, no shorts for me....I will stick to capris and gaucho pants..thank you very much! So needless to say, the kids spent most of the day outside. Madison and Myles both stayed at Ted and Abby's house overnight........now I always miss them while they are gone, but it sure is a little more "peaceful" without those 2 energy balls running around the house.....even though Mayci is starting to give me a run for my money.
Mind you, that is a big piece of cement in his hand that he wanted to play "catch" with Mayci with. Right after this shot, my camera ended up on the ground so I could block his makeshift "ball" from Mayci's body
APRIL 18, 1012
Lisa came by the house Wednesday evening to spend time with the kids while Damian was out at rehearsal for a gig the following week. (WOW--what a run on sentence) Myles had received some mustache stickers in his Easter basket, so we all tried them out today. Daddy was even in on the action before leaving for rehearsal!!
This is honestly what I would look like if it weren't for my hair removal cream
APRIL 20, 2012
Friday was a low key day as well.................... Damian left early in the day for New York. He was there through Sunday night working in the studio with Beast 1333, one of the artists he has been working with lately. Hopefully these busy long weekends will open some doors for him :) Friday night thelittle girl who lives next door, A___ came over and ate dinner in the backyard, picnic style with all three kids. Even Mayci was out there in her Bumbo chair like she was part of the crowd......
Please note: I didn't put the neighbors name nor will I post her picture because even though her mom said I could take their pics, I know that some parents do not want their children's faces and names floating around on the Internet...and I truly respect that!! Wait, does that mean that I am a bad mom because I don't mind?
The rest of our the weekend was spent at Grandma Virginia and Grandpa Wayne's house because we stayed over there Saturday night so Madison and I could be out of the house super early for dance competition in Mass on Sunday.....pics from the weekend will be in a separate post
