Special Bday

My lil Mandy turned 6 yesterday and she had an awesome bday! We had a little celebration at school, and then the whole family came over to sing happy bday and to give her presents. She got everything she wanted and she waited so patiently...NOT....poor thing had been waiting an entire month for her doll. Well, it was worth the wait...she got it and she LOVES it!!!

Pictures to come!!!

Thanksgiving and then birthday plus a Xmas update

Mandy @ her Thanksgiving feast in school

My girls on Thanksgiving - getting ready to go to grandma's for our turkey dinner
All the grandkids @ grandmas house

goofing around at grandmas'...we had a great Thanksgiving!!!!

We are all very thankful for each and every one of these kids. They bring special joy to us and love to our hearts.

Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving with your loved ones.

Now onto....Mandy's Birthday!!!

It's next week a few days after that is xmas!!!! Yes, I do have a busy December but I wouldn't have it any other way!!!!

We are not having a bday party for Mandy, we opted to take her away - I will not discuss details since I don't want my older daughter to see this....will post after the bday celebrations!

Hope you are all well and you enjoyed some pics. I will def try and post a little more frequently!

Hi

So, Halloween is over. We had so much fun. I have to upload my pics so you can see how cute my girls were! My niece & nephews came over and we had a nice time trick-o-treating and creating some crafts.

We had tons of candy so what is a girl to do, first of all, day 1 - I had way too many snickers and baby ruths, day 2 - put it in large freezer bags and sent it off with hubby to his all-day meeting!!!! Might as well share it, I certaintly cannot keep it here!!!!! I'm still trying to lose the extra pounds I gained since I've been married (12 years ago) and you know xtra halloween chocolate is not gonna help me!!!!! Yeah I'm trying...still NO concrete results. But I'll tell you this much, I'm actually feeling SOME energy - I actually DON'T hate the exercises and I kind of get up with the intention of working out and then ACTUALLY do it!!!! Score!!!! Let's see how this all pans out since November is a tricky month, filled with birthdays every other day (really!!!!) and then Thanksgiving!!!!

Later ya'll - I'll update soon with pics from our past events!!!

Been Busy

We baked on Friday night....Halloween cookies...look @ Mandy she had such a good time!

Sunday - we started tackling some MUCH needed projects at home --

(hubby wasn't to pleased to spend his Sunday doing this)

But we sure tackled projects that were on the waiting list

SORRRRRYYYY NO BEFORE PICS:

First of, this table we had and it was white - some spray paint and it fits in our living room...don't know if I'll keep it in there but I'll see how I feel about it in 2 weeks or so....kind of have to live with it and see if it fits...

Next up, my entryway/foyer whatever you would like to call it, it's basically a HALLWAY to me...I would love to call it a foyer but it's not boxy so it's perhaps the longest foyer out there...lol

Any hoot, I've must have done so many different things to this hallway but nothing seemed to fit. So finally I decided that I should have a functional "entryway" in comes a bench (which still needs it cushion) that's soon to come. I got my baskets in HomeGoods, (LOVE that store) then some garage sale frames, spray painted...with some shelves. I am still NOT done with this 'art wall', if you will, I am missing a few pieces but this is the beginning...just thought I'd share.

This is what guest will see when entering:

And this is the view coming in from the backyard:

I really want a gorgeous bombe chest right HERE but *insert* a curbside table, redone by yours truly with a can of spray paint. I may put a basket underneath and perhaps hit up Home Goods for some out-of-this world accessories...it'll do until I get my bombe chest!!!!

And that's all folks. I hope you've enjoyed the results of my hard work - eh hem...spray paint can really ruin a good manicure!!!!!

TOODLES!!!!!!

Baking Friday!!

Today the girls and I are baking....chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies & peanut butter kisses!!!!

Sugar cookies are not pictured here!!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

LOST

Okay so I've been lost, haven't posted. My computer is so messed up that I have been using my hubby's laptop instead because I don't have the patience to wait for my computer to boot up!!!!! Uugggh it's so annoying!!!!!

So today my big girl - BOOM BOOM is going to her 1st dance. Okay it's more like a hangout in the school, instead of hanging out in the streets, COOL HUH? for her! Since she is in 5th grade she needs a chaperone, well of course i wouldnt have it any other way! So I'm going, I'm sure cuz Hubby was like NOPE not ME!!! He is instead going with Mandy to a fire prevention fair. I think that's unfair he's gonna b crafting and all that, and I have to stare and follow 5 -10 girls as they 'hang out'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Secretly I will be crying inside cuz my 10 year old is hanging out!!!!!

17 years...

17 years ago I met this funny guy,

he was sweet but sooooo immature

He swept me off my feet

and I married him!!!

Now, 17 years later {from when we started dating}

we are still together

and very much in love

Happy Anniversary my love

A Birthday Party

This is a pic of my mom {middle} with me and my sisters!!

This is how we behave when we've been stuck in a car for more than 1 hour

{traffic on our way to the party}

Goofy Girls

We were on our way to my uncles 60th Birthday {surprise} party!
It was such a nice celebration! We had a great time!

Fall with a little bit of Halloween

It's time to decorate my Fantle again....

This time it's Halloween!!!

S-P-O-O-K-Y

Well....not toooooooo spooooky {since Mandy doesn't like scary}

And here is the dining room table across from my Fantle

Pretty basic!!!

Need to take some pics of my window and the front of the house to show you my fall wreath...it's been raining here so once that's all set and done. I will take some pics!!!

Decade of Happiness

My little boom boom turned 10 this year!!!! It's been a decade of Happiness, Love and Laughter. She changed my life 10 years ago and made it BETTER! She made me work hard and want better things, she helps me see things in a different way, she makes me a BETTER person. Thank you my sweet, loving daugther. I love you. Wishing you a lifetime of special birthdays!!!!!

First Day!!!

Sweet Mandy's 1st day of Kindergarten!!!

She was sooooo excited!!!!!
Mandy had an awesome day in Kindgergarten. For her 1st day, she had her 'special' which is the special thing they do other than being in their classroom, and it was Art. Today her special is Gym. So she was excited to have gym class for the first time!!!

And here is Kailyn, my fifth grader who is starting Middle School for the first time.

Don't let the smile fool you, she was actually pretty nervous and wanted me to walk her into her goal room (homeroom for some) and I did just that. And was like O-M-G I have a child in Middle School.

First day went off without a hitch. Girls got off the bus telling me about their awesome day. Other than Amanda having an issue with some 'bff' nonsense she was okay. They are on day 2 and were totally excited to go to school today. I think it's going to be a great year for them!!! Good luck my beautiful girls!!!!!

Day in the City

We spent the day in the City. It was soooooooo much fun. Amanda likes to look at the big buildings. We first stopped at my old job and saw lots of my old co-workers. We also stopped my Build-A-Bear, FAO (toy store), hung out at the central park zoo and walked around the park. Then we went to pick up my sister from her job and took the train home with her to my mom's house. Had dinner over there and then went home.

Here they are ready to take the train:

@ central park zoo

Hope you enjoyed our day in the city, we sure did~!~

Orientations

First ride on a school bus...

On Weds, I had orientation to the Middle School for Kailyn. Met her teacher. Had a nice luncheon with the other mother's - which I really only know 1 mom that I am very friendly with because she happens to be Kailyn's bffs mom. After orientation - the girls decided it would be fun to go to the pool. They asked their other friends. And they all came over to the town pool with us. It was a nice time. Back to school for sure - playdates again...


On Thursday, I had orientation at the elementary school for Amanda. She met her teacher. Was very happy with her. They had alone time with her. They also rode the school bus and had a snack by being introduced to the lunchroom and walking through as if they were getting lunch. They each received a stuffed animal to ease their nervousness. It was a great time.


Orientations are over. Labor Day weekend is upon us. Back to School Tuesday. I'm excited. The girls are SUPER excited.


I'm starting my walks/jog again. I already started exercising this week to try and ease into it. It's been hard. I'm so out of shape. But I need to get to a healthy weight again. So let's start this journey again. Let's see how well I do this time around!!!!


Have a Fabulous long weekend!!!!! ;o)


Boo - it's the end of Summer....but the beginning of Fall.....can't wait to start decorating...i actually got a few items to start my decorations....

*Mandy's World*

Today @ the park. Mandy wasn't happy. Boring, boring, boring and more boring. This is how she described her time there. I decided to make it 'fun' and said let's do a photo shoot. So, enjoy...be part of Mandy's World.

This is how we started:

Now start the poses...

more poses....

moved it to a different location...

Finish it off with a BANG....

This made things just a "little" less boring!!!! YAY....America's Next Top Model here we come

M.I.A.

Sorry for the lack of post. I've been super busy with back-to-school shopping, getting things together at home, trying to readjust our 'lazy-days of summer' into a new routine. Plus, getting a garage sale ready for this saturday and on top of all that, a surprise new addition to the family. No, I'm not expecting but hubby thought it would be a great idea that we get a dog. Not at all under my consent, basically not at all happy about it. But it's here and supposedly everyone is super excited about this dog including my husband, who is acting like it's a long-lost relative. Oh yeah the dog has a name, it's Bruce. He's a rottie. Yeah you heard right. We couldn't get a cute little dog (which would have made no difference in my book) but a huge dog. Right now he's not huge, but I think I'll blink and he'll be bigger than me. And when the girls get back to school, guess who gets to take care of him, of course it would be me, because that's how it always turns out. I'm not happy. Did I mention that already? well there you have it, perhaps the lack of post is because I cannot believe how life can change in a minute. But you know I heard that I'm gonna end up loving him - this will have to be seen. I will revisit this topic in a few months and tell you if this is true or not.

Back 2 Skool!!!

It's that time again....new supplies, new bookbags....kids are winding down from the summer....I'm trying to get my girls back into a routine that doesn't include going to bed @ midnite.

Started back-to-school shopping. And this is Mandy's new bookbag....

She is finally "excited" to start school!!!!! Yay I was getting worried since she was against going to a new school and making new friends, etc, etc....

Updates!

For dinner last night!!!

On tonite's menu - chicken wings on the grill with rice & beans!!!!

Frame re-do

Don't you love this? Okay...fine I DO!!!! I sprayed painted the frame black. I added scrapbook paper and some vinyl lettering (cricut) and some ribbons & flowers...and voila...a new frame...it's part of my 'craft room/guest room/office' re-do. We're not doing much to it (like I dream about) just basically getting my crafting supplies in here which means a lot of junk needs to get out - a/k/a garage sale...lol....

Pool Time!!!!

This is Mandy at the pool yesterday. The deal was that she was NOT to dunk her head because of an ear infection we are treating.....well she dunked her head...."by mistake" you know....oh kids!!!

Happy !!!!

So remember it was my bday and blah blah blah - sooooooo glad it WAS my bday!!!! had a great day plus guess what I got a cricut!!!! yeah baby. Watch out cuz now I'm gonna really get crazy....that is after I figure it out....then WATCH OUT! lol!!!!!! ;o)

So

Tomorrow is my bday! Yeah I'm NOT excited at all, remember when you were a kid and like your bday was the BEST thing in the world? like not so much anymore. I mean I am grateful to be celebrating another bday, of course, also grateful that we are all healthy. But something about the number drives me a little nuts - Okay so anyways my sister is having this thing with her job and we are gonna go, so the girls can have a good time, getting their faces painted and all that. I heard rain for the morning, hoping it's not a washout all day. Okay enough about me!!!! Going to water the plants and then get my bathing suit on, swimming lessons @ 4. :o)

one last thing,

I can't forget the new addition to my living room. It's totally as comfortable as you think, plus it rocks. yeah baby this sofa ROCKS!!!!

How perfect are the colors ? Like it was a perfect find - has all the colors of my living room!!!! and I love it.

FRUGAL

I have to post this. I still LOVE - HOME GOODS - love it like I won't ever stop loving that store but let's face it, I can't always shop there, not with one income. So, there goes my frugal side, I have to try and save bucks but still manage to fulfill my shopping need. There you have it, you know the real me now...

So here is a vase I picked up @ Goodwill. I know I donate as well but why not shop there too?

And I will NEVER be ashamed of going to garage sales, like they have the BEST things EVER - no for real, never been, you should try it - then come back and THANK ME!!!!! I got this frame about 2 months ago and finally hung it up, still don't know if I'm doing something else with it, but for now - it sits really pretty on my wall. Now I paid a whopping $5 for it. Yup you heard me right, this thing weighs a ton, but yeah back to it being $5, TOLD YA - as a matter of fact my mom is coming this wknd just to go garage sale shopping with us. WOO HOO.

so there you go, being FRUGAL is fun..

Mandy with Mr. Duck

@ the Ducks game last Thursday

ORGANIZING!

So I must admit I have a problem, it's an organizing problem. I have a lot of JUNK - lots of it, being home means that problem should be resolved? right...no actually NOT. I've decided to tackle some of my uuuhhhmmmmm "junk" so I have this label maker that I got for FREE when we purchased our printer so anyhoot, bought new batteries and now I'm like an ORGANIZING QUEEN! woo hoo. Okay, let me calm down, I organized Kailyn's desk draw with hanging folders and yup you guessed it, labels. Now I'm sitting here labeling my desk, well not my desk but the folders on my desk, why do i have so many folders? well then I would have a pile of papers on my desk...oh and if you don't know me, I CANNOT have a pile of papers on my desk.

Okay sorry for the BORING post...but it's what I've been up to....I know totally boring...

P.S. I want to organize the shelves over my desk, my dream would be to tear it down and start new, perhaps put my crafting stuff (btw, my laundry room holds my crafting tools for now) so it would be nice to have it right here over my head, looking all pretty with baskets, and shelves and just PRETTY with labels and etc...you get the point...

Big Bird, Elmo, Zoe...oh my!!!

We were @ Sesame Place on Saturday....oh what fun!!!!

How did I end up with 7 kids....oh titi kim where r u???

JJ and Mandy...

Boom Boom n Cookie Monster

Mandy with Abby

Cutie Pie Evan

Natalie and me...

We have such a good time and we got a 2 day pass...so Sesame you'll be seeing us again...maybe this time I'll get some pics of the kiddies in the water....!!!!

Woo Hoo it's Friday!

It's Friday and I'm soooo happy! Tomorrow we are going to Sesame Place. We haven't been there in 3 years.! 3 years....that's like FOREVER! So needless to say the girls are SUPER excited! (as am i!!!) yay. Plus I hear it's going to be really hot - like seriously HOT. Now that's the best part, SCORCHING HEAT + WATER RIDES = AWESOME TIME!!!! So it'll be the first time for Evan (nephew - 1 1/2 y'o) and Natalie (niece - 1 y' o) So yeah they will have a great time as well. Plus we have Jaden (nephew - 5 1/2 y'o) and his stepbro Elijah (6 y'o) so you know Mandy can have someone to boss around! lol. It's gonna be a really fun time. I cannot wait. I've been packing, yes PACKING...snacks - drinks all the stuff you need for kids that are ALWAYS hungry oh yeah and the men - who r usually as hungry as the kids!!! Thankfully there's an equal amount of women going so we can handle their demands...as if...!!! :o) I will have tons of pics - FOR SURE!!!! Enjoy the Fab wknd!

Updates

On Friday, Mandy started her swimming lessons, she did very well. She did have an issue with NOT winning a game they played, oh boy am I going to have problems when she start Kindergarten!!!!
We went to the art club on Friday afternoon, it was fun. We made bead people and we also painted rocks. Well we made rock creatures, the girls had an awesome time. After that, we went food shopping, and this is what Mandy had to take with her because she just got it new - with her graduation money, she insisted. Enjoy!!!

Family Day @ East Village Green Park

This wknd was supposed to be our get-away to PA, with those plans cancelled - I woke up to realize that it was Family Day @ the park across the street! Sweet surprise. We walked on over and enjoyed a couple of hours of face painting, balloons, bubbles, music, petting zoo, pony rides & a jumpy house - lots of fun with watermelon and lemonade, who could ask for more!!!!

Glad we got there early because once the rain started - it was over. It rained so hard that running across the street was a mission!!!!! Flip flops falling off, laughing so hard because we all might just slip across the grass and then having a scared 5-y'o because of the lightining and thunder - made the 2 min or less run seem like an eternity!!!! Thankfully we made it across the street and into our house safely, after a change of clothes - all was back to normal and we got to see the rest of the rain from our back porch ----

Mandy's sun visor fell off her head....oh poor little baby!!!!

Wantagh Park

This is the slide in the middle [see the line] well that's where my girls spent lots of time [on line] and sliding down....line wasn't that bad, about a 10 min wait...they had a good time!

after the pool closed we went by the marina just to watch the boats, couple of ppl were fishing but it was so peaceful...this pic is too small don't know what happened but it does not justice to how BEAUTIFUL it was
Here is my loving family. I got them all looking! Priceless!!!

Keep having a good time and enjoy your summer to the fullest, I'm trying to do just that!!!! SUMMER 2010 ROCKS!!!!