September 26-Sept. 28, 2014 Weekend in Review

This past week as been a little crazy, frustrating, and busy for us.

~~~~DISCLAIMER-- this one gets a wee bit more into my  mind as person, as a wife, and as a mom, not all smiles, rainbows, and sunshine~~~

On Thursday I received both an email and a telephone call that Mayci had been accepted into a magnet school for PK3.  It was the Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary School in Avon, formerly know as Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Elementary School.  I was so happy, but that quickly faded as I got all the forms together to begin filling them out.  Unfortunately transportation is only provided from grades K- 12 with that school and they start at 8:30a and end at 3p.  Of course I looked into the after school program.  With that there is no guarantee that your child would get in because there is limited availability and the expense would have been one that just would not have been feasible.  So we declined the placement and hopefully made some family very happy for their child in PK3!!

Myles is still going through some adjustments with school and sleeping, but it seems to be getting better daily.  He has been working on reading and we have been trying to practice sight words regularly.  Poor thing gets frustrated while writing, but he always keeps trying.

Madison is back in the swing of things with school and dance.  This week she will be running for Student Advisory President and is also hoping to audition for a musical on the 15th. She is giving a speech for her "campaign" for the Student Advisory President-- I thought it sounded great, but I may be a little biased.

Damian and I have been super busy with our own little things.  Damian's gigs, lessons, and rehearsals occupy a lot of his time.  I have been trying to maintain my sanity by running, but this weekend, that proved to be quite the failed attempt.  I also think that sometimes just the stress of trying to fit running into my schedule adds to my "craziness"

Friday night after dance, Madison stopped at grocery store, picked up some ice cream/frozen yogurt(Madison is lactose intolerant) and pizzas, headed home and fell asleep watching movies.  the little ones, as per usual, think they are cooler than us and stayed with Mama and Popup.

Saturday I went for my, now routine, morning run with Jen and then headed home to get ready for Apple Picking with the kids, Lisa, and Lisa's friend M'elisa. 

 







We had some car trouble before we left that resulted in buying a new battery and having Grandpa Wayne take a look at some things... but thank goodness--- he was able to get us up and running.  Normally Lisa and I take the kids to Lyman Orchards for our apple picking and Pumpkin picking needs, but decided to switch it up this year.  We headed to the Bushy Hill Orchard on Clark Farms in Granby.  A much easier ride and the kids had a blast.  Madison sort of does her own thing, Mayci just needs 1 apple to eat, and Myles is extremely particular about the apples he picks.  Mind you, he doesn't even eat apples.  But-- if he is picking an apple and it falls on the ground, then, NOPE.. he can't have it,  If it looks the least but dirty, then NOPE, that's a no go as well.  It was pretty warm on Saturday so wen ended our time at the Orchard eating apple cider doughnuts and ice cream.



I was supposed to be meeting some friends at the track to do some practices for the Fitathlon that we have coming up, so I headed home with the kids to have them change into shorts and for me to get changed. Madison ended up staying over at Grandma Virginia and Grandpa Wayne's house.  Now, I am not exactly sure what happened between my mom's house and mine, but somewhere along the way, I became very overwhelmed.  Unfortunately this feeling does not normally end well for me.  I will spare you from all of the not so great embarrassing details, but I will share this:  I was unacceptable.  I behaved in a way towards Damian that was completely inappropriate.  Now let me be very clear- the majority of what I said about how I was feeling, was true, BUT the manner in which I said it and my actions during and immediately after are none that even deserve repeating. I also don't think that either one of was saying things in a loving way or in a way that would make the other want to listen, but as an adult I need to acknowledge MY faults and mine alone. 

I allowed my anger to control me and my actions, and I need to work on that.  It's becoming so common that my apologies are no longer valid in the hearts of those I hurt.  No one deserved to be subjected to what I was dishing out in those moments, even the ones that I was mad at.  Any other ladies out there feel that this happens to them as well??

Anyway-- no the real, raw, emotional stuff is out there on the table, let's move forward.

Sunday was a pretty blah day for me.  The little ones and Damian headed down to New London to hang out with Damian's cousins.  By the time they got home, Mayci was asleep for the night and Myles was so tired.  I'm guessing they had a great time.  In the morning I was running in a 5K... not my greatest run but still felt great all the same!  My time was a little slower than usual and I did stop and walk because of some pain in my shins that seems to be getting worse.  I picked Madison up later in the afternoon, we went to the grocery store, and then just hung out at home.  Just another laid back day in the Curtis household.   Enjoy another little photo shoot of Miss Jaida:



I'm hoping everyone had a slightly better weekend than I did.. and I am praying that no one allowed their emotions to get the best of them :)

****** in case there is even any one reading this, or if anyone even cares... things are okay in our world.  The kids are happy, Damian and I have a lot of work to do, and we are committed to continue to work towards the couple we need to be******

Weelend in Review - Friday Sept 19-Sept 21, 2014

Lots of pictures from this weekend... well mainly from Friday night, but lots of pictures either way.

Friday September 19, 2014

Damian was home for the majority of the day today.  He worked on getting the window on the van fixed--that was long overdue-- and he spent some time with the little ones when Myles got out of school.  Madison has dance of Fridays this year, so our schedules are a little off.  I just wrote in my last post how we are limiting the amount of Friday night sleepovers with Mama and PopUp, but this particular Friday, Damian gave the go ahead and  the kids ended up over there after some quality time with Daddy.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO PRINCESS CHARLIZE!!  It was an honor to Charlize's 3rd birthday with her.  I will remember the day she was born on September 9, 2011, like it was yesterday.  I was blessed enough to be able to share that moment with both Jermaine and Brooke as Charlize entered the world and I can never thank them enough for letting me share such a personal moment with them.  This little girl is so special and has an amazing group of people that love and care about her.. and I am right there with them

After dropping Madison off at dance I headed over to Brooke's house so I could sing Happy Birthday to Charlize and give her her present.... Well-- that was a fail!! I definitely left Charlize's gift at my house and still have it.  I swear I will get it to her.  UUUGGGHHH-- things like that make me feel so bad!!

Enough of my failure, let's get to the exciting stuff!!  It was so nice to see Brooke, Brooklynn, Charlize, and Jermaine.  Brooke and I don't get together nearly as much as we would, through no fault of Brooke, that's all me.  So when the opportunity arises, it is always a good time.  I love both Brooklynn and Charlize as I do my own children and it is always so great to spend some time with them.  Brooke had originally wanted to have a little party, but life sort of got in the way, so she cancelled it.  When I got wind of this, I asked her of she was planning on being around on Friday, because since it was already in my planner to go over there, I still really wanted to. I guess a couple of other friends sort of felt the same way, so when I got there, Bethany(Charlize's Godmother) was there as well. And then shortly after Allison came with Kyree and Silas.  I also only see Bethany and Allison just a couple of times a year, and we always have a good time catching up with each other and each of our crazy, busy lives. 

I had to leave early to get Madison but came back right after for some cake and ice cream...  All Frozen themed of course.  Nothing else would have been good enough for Miss Charlize Zuri!!  Anthon (Charlize's Godfather) also came bearing gifts for the belated birthday girl.  Even Jermain's cousin Craig stopped by and was lucky enough to be able to share in some cake and ice cream as well.  Chachi (as Charlize is better know by many) was in her own little "Frozen" heaven. It was so cute as she opened her gifts and got excited about items and wanted to play with them right away.  She donned her Princess Anna apparel almost immediately and the only way to get her to go to sleep with out her princess dress was to promise her that she could keep it next to her while she slept. :)  Kids are great!!

"Yay Daddy.. thank you so much for my new favorite outfit"

"Mommy, don't hate that you don't have a cool wand like me!!"

ALL HAIL PRINCESS ANNA/CHARLIZE

Being crowned a princess

"Yes Peasant-- you MAY take my picture"

Admiring herself in the mirror

Silas trying to steal the Cran Apple Juice

Beautiful Birthday Girl

Opening my gift from My Godfather Anthon

Look at what I got!!

CAKE TIME!!

"Everyone is singing Happy Birthday to me!!"

Blowing out my candles

Silas trying to eat his cake in piece

Mommy was clearly playing with my dollhouse and dolls!!

Brooke was kind enough to let Madison spend the night with Brooklynn and it seems like they had a good time. Unfortunately, I had to pick Madison up fairly early, but we have a sleepover planned with Brooklynn for a couple of weeks from now, so hopefully they will have more time to spend together then.

Most everyone knows that I do not have many friends.  While I had met both Bethany and Allison through Brooke and gotten to know them more and more, I really do consider them friends.  They are great people and I have loved that we have shared experiences together.  Everyone deserves friends like the two of these women are to Brooke. I am not around quite as much as they are and know that Brooke is extremely lucky to have these two women who care about her and her children so dearly in her life!! 


Saturday September 20, 2014

As usual, since it seems to be a regular thing in my life now, I met up with Jen to go for a run! We spent most of the time walking and catching up since we both had bad weeks in regards to getting  run in.  :)

My original plan for Saturday morning was to go to the NorthWest Country Fair with the kids, take Madison to a birthday party, and go see Damian play at the Library.   And as always-- everything go switched up.  I was running way later than I had planned, never got to the Fair, and by the time I went to go get the kids to bring them to see Damian play, they were already at his gig waiting for it to start with PopUp-- I am not sure if Mama was there, I didn't even think to ask. 

So I went and dropped Madison off at her friends house and by the time I would have gotten to Damian's gig, it would have been almost over anyway, so I went and spent some time with Jaida, my mom, and dad.  this is also becoming the new weekend ritual.  We had a small little photo shoot while I was there since she actually liked me for a little while:

Ummmmm..Anutie Michelle-- I am sort of done taking pictures now



Trying some salmon tempura or something like that... Did you know that Sushi was raw fish???  OH LORD!!

Damian said he had a good time at his gig and he was extremely happy that 2 out of our 3 kids were able to make it to see him.  He even posted about it on Facebook-- he doesn't write many personal things on FB, so it may have been a little dig at me since I was there, but nonetheless he enjoyed having that moment with the little ones, so I will take it :)  Myles ended up going to New Haven with Mama for a graduation party for Damian's cousin Carissa and Mayci hung out at the park with PopUp. Damian headed out to New York for a WuTang concert with Joe and HellRazah while Madison ended her evening with her friend Naijah.  The little ones came home tired and ready to call it a night. 

Sunday September 21, 2014

Sunday was a laid back low key day for the family.  Damian had a rehearsal, Myles went to church with Mama and then came home with Daddy.  Mayci spent time with Grandma Virginia, Grandpa Wayne and Jaida, while Madison was still with Naijah.  I ran in the Union Street Tavern Trot with Jen -- a 3.5 mile run that didn't go as well as Jen and I had hoped, but all in all was still a good time.  I picked up the girls after the run, headed home and the whole family just lounged and hung out.  I took a nap and Madison cooked dinner.  Like, she really cooked dinner.  Chicken and then she did corn and green beans.  The vegetables were delicious and since I no longer eat meat, I didn't try her chicken but it smelled great and everyone ate it and said it was good!!

I hope everyone had a fun filled weekend!!