The swing of things

Well I will say that I had a productive weekend whipping the house into shape and getting organized for this school year.  There is still much more to do, but at least I started making progress!  I made the girls a little homework center where they can store their homework until it is finished and ready to be handed in.  Otherwise it tends to get lost in the shuffle of the mail and I am often searching frantically for it the night before.  Now they each have a folder, an array of writing utensils and paper for when they need it. 

I also got into Layla's drawers and began to go through her clothes.  With her it's difficult because she is still so tiny that a 3T still fits her.  Because she is tall however, the 4T fits her length but tends to be baggy in other areas.  So I tend to hold on to the smaller sizes and just pair it with leggins.  Thankfully this allows her many different options and we seriously love our hand me downs from Ant Denise.  I got into her flower basket as well.  We often tend to lose our favorite hair flowers and I am always searching everywhere for them.  I decided to organize them as best I could by clipping them to a long ribbon.  So much easier to find the color we want and Layla loves to be able to pick them out on her own in the mornings now.  Flowers are her trademark.  If you ask someone if they know her, they often say, "Oh the cute little girl with the flower?"  She still hardly has hair, so this is a must have accessory for us and one that I just feel is part of her and her personality.  She is my foofy flower baby girl!  I didn't realize the magnitude of my obsession with them until I began stringing them on the ribbon and actually seeing how many we have.  Slightly obsessed?

I also hung up ribbon for their school artwork.  They come home with so many beautiful pictures and projects that my fridge is just not big enough to display it all.  SO we created this ....

Monday, we ended up having a fabulous time after school.  I decided to not let my worry about dinner and getting it served on time bother me and I just ignored the fact that I needed to cook all together.  We got home, unpacked our bags and headed outside.  We played on the swing set.  We played ball.  Hannah and I played soccer and Layla became the hero when we kicked the ball over the fence into the neighbors yard.  Because she is a tiny bit, I was able to lower her over the fence to get it! LOL  It was so much fun just to let loose and play!  Cameron had a blast in the swing and the crazy man even goes down the slide and cracks up the whole way.  We came in at 5:30 and I somehow managed to put together a meal by 6:00.  It wasn't half bad either!  Steak Stir fry with white rice!  The best part was that the kids ATE it!  We are trying to get out of our macaroni and cheese, hot dog, hamburger, pasta every night routine.  I am trying to cook one meal.  One HEALTHY meal and have the whole family eat it.  This can be tough.  But I am on a mission!  They need to learn to eat healthy NOW and I need to be their example.  Here goes nothing!


Tuesdays.  Tuesdays are suppose to be my "day-off",  I can tell you that it is anything but a day off!  LOL  When I think of having a day off, I think about being lazy to wake.  I think about making breakfast for the kids but being able to make them something special like homemade waffles or pancakes.  I think about relaxing but doing something fun with the kids.  Slow moving day full of sunshine and rainbows.  Apparently, I live inside my head too much because that is SO not what my Tuesdays are like!  Instead, it's the hustle and bustle of getting the banana off to school, running to pick up Mom and then we are tossed into a whirl wind of "in the car, buckle car seats, out of the car, unbuckle car seats.  Running errands and going to eh market.  Layla dances from 1:00 - 2:00.  This is Cameron's nap time so we usually spend the hour chasing after him.  Then I drive around and try and get him to fall asleep in the car before we pick up Hannah from school.  Usually this is to no avail and Layla falls asleep instead.  We pick up Hannah from school and then go home to figure out dinner.  I make enough to send home with my parents and enough for my in laws to eat since they had to watch the kids this week while I had a 6:00PM appointment.  The glitch was that Hannah has dance from 5:00 - 6:30, so I drop her off and then come back to get the table set before I drop off Mom and head to my appointment.  My mother in law picks up Hannah from dance.. and so on until it is 10:00PM and I am completely exhausted!  Although.. dinner didn't come out too badly considering....

I did get to spend some time with Ana this week though and I just love this time we spend together.  I swear we could talk for hours.  I put the kids to bed and headed over to her house where we literally sat and talked for nearly four hours.  We sit outside in a stress free environment and just hash out life's problems.  The more I get to know her, the more I see how similar we are.  I am blessed to have her in my life and I swear God sent her to me at this crucial point when I really needed someone to make me feel like I haven't lost all my marbles.  Thank you Ana for "getting me".  For making me feel somewhat normal and for loving me for who I am. 

Hockey starts this weekend for Hannah and I am so excited to see her skate again.  I feel like it has been forever.  Billy took her to get some new gear since the squirt has outgrown everything!  Mommy's thrilled that she has a new helmet to wear as well.  I am anxious to see where she places and even more anxious to hopefully see her play some games this season.  I think Sunday will determine where we stand with all of that.  I am a little hesitant to see how many days a week it will tie up, but I am also excited to see her continue to excel at this sport. 

This is a picture of Layla's Family Project.  I think Hannah and I had more fun creating it than Layla did, but it certainly came out in the famous Layla style!  It's all about PURPLE!

This is a picture of Hannah from last weekend.  Auntie Jill, her personal shopper always tends to buy her EXACTLY what she loves to wear.  Uncle Dave and I agree that she often looks more like Elton John circa 1980... but just the same... I let her be who she wants to be... within reason of course.

Last but not least, here is a picture of the crazy, little Cameroni!  God I love him!  Even though I spend most of the day frantically chasing after him while trying to say a firm "NO"!  To which he laughs at me and continues to do the thing I am telling him not to do!  LOL

It's just me and the Ravioli at the office today and I am soaking her up.  The kid has had me in stitches most of the day.  Her current favorite songs are "I want to go all the way" by Brittany (oh boy), the oldie but goodie, "Who let the dogs out"  (she seriously makes me replay and replay it) and Foster the People's, "Pumped up Kicks."  She just decided that I must wear her flower and stuck it on my head....  my little booger..

 
I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their week.  Remember... September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!  GIVE BACK!  It will warm your heart!  I promise!

Let the weekend begin!

I am thinking that this week literally flew by.  Wasn't it just yesterday that I was posting about being so grateful it was Friday?  Yet, here we are again.  FRIDAY!  Again, I am super excited.  We did the last of "the move" yesterday.  All that is left is a few of my Mom's sewing fabrics and sewing supplies.  Now all that needs to happen is for the house to sell.  I pray that a young family buys it and makes many great memories there.  The way we did.  I know that saying goodbye to the house will be emotional, but I also know that this move needed to happen.  Bitter sweet.  Thankful that the moving is done however, because it damn near put me over the edge!  LOL  Between caring for the kids, working, moving and everything else on my plate, I'm ready for a month's vacation.  I'd love to just pick up and go.  Take the kids to some remote island and just be beach bumbs.. in sweatshirts of course. 


We decided to head to Friendly's on Wednesday because Billy had promised Hannah an ice cream treat after school.  However, he got called into work and wasn't able to keep the promise.  So Mommy got to have a night off from cooking and take the kids!  I also used the excuse that with Cam climbing on the stove, it was too dangerous to be cooking.  Not sure if anyone bought that one, but it sounded logical to me.  So me and the three kiddo's headed off to Friendlys.  They were loud, crazy, silly, excited and all over the place.  It's Friendlys for crying out loud!  It drives me INSANE to see people who eat there without kids making faces about the noise level of people who are there with kids.  IT'S FRIENDLYS.  If you want a nice quiet, intimate, dinner, then go to some swanky restaurant.  But if you're going to eat at Friendlys, then be prepared to be bombarded with kids... and NORMAL kid activity.  I'm not obnoxious about it.  I reprimand them when I should, but at the same time, I let them be kids.  I clean up the tornado after we are done.  I climb under the booth and even pick up the floor.  So keep your faces and eye rolling to yourself.  I've said my peace now.  The best part about the night was when the kids got their balloons and decided to take them in the tub with them.  I don't think I have ever seen the three of them laugh together so much.  Cameron was in all his glory and chased that balloon all over the house.  So much so that he tuckered himself right out and was practically asleep while I was lowering him into the crib!

We are looking forward to going to the Our Lady of Grace Feast tonight.  A Murphy Family ritual and one they take quite seriously.  Billy's great grandmother's house is on the same street and most of the family lives there in a two tenament house.  I was fortunate enough to meet Nana and spend time with her before she passed.  Even Hannah got to meet her and enjoy her while she was living.  I believe Hannah was around 2 when Nana passed.  I think it is so wonderful that Nana and Hannah were able to know each other even for a short time.  How many children get to say that they have met their great, great, grandmother?  She was SUCH a sweet, kind and caring lady.  I loved her very much and I could always feel her love for me in return.  She always somehow managed to show me that she cared for me in her little ways.  Even in her final days when we would go over and help care for her.  She was always so peaceful.  So in a way, this Feast helps us to honor Nana and let her know how much we still think about her and love her.  I know she is smiling down on us from above.


Other than that, I am using this weekend to get us organized!  I've got to get back on track and make our charts for school and get our homework center figured out and organized.  We have to start Layla's family project.  (How I LOVE her preschool and that they have these family projects!)  Rooms need to be cleaned and clothes need to be gone through.  Why are there only two days in a weekend?  It just isnt enough time.  Hannah starts CCD on Sunday and then we have Cha Cha and Braeden's birthdays.  I'd also like to find a Saturday morning activity that I can do.  I'm thinking about spinning.  Just something that I can wake up and go to and get some stress out.  I need to start exercising but I am known for being all gung ho and never following through.  Give me a week and then I fall off the wagon.  I wish I could make this a priority and get my but in gear but somehow it's something that I always fail at.  I would really like to find a way to succeed at this.  Any ideas?  Pointers?  Words of advice?  I'll take anything just give it to me straight!

Here's a video of Cameron from the other day at the office.  I think I have watched it a million times and still manage to crack up at him.  Not sure if it was either the pink pack n play or Foreigner, but he just was not in a napping mood!

Don't forget!  September, is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!!!

xo

Short and Sweet

Did anyone watch Ghost Hunters last night and see Salve's Carey Mansion????  Apparently, the rumors we all heard were true!  There was a time when I just thought the guys were busting our beans but apparently not!  It did leave for some very entertaining Facebook posts last night amongst old friends and alot of memories that I had almost forgotten.  I refuse to believe we are old!  Just wiser!  Love my Salve crew!  PS:  I believe in Ghosts!


Last but not least, ARE YOU READY FOR FOOTBALL????????
I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  GO PATS!!!!!!!!!  MONDAY NIGHT!  Whewwwhoooo!!!!!!

Dancing in September

I can finally feel things beginning to calm down.  It feels good.  We had a good weekend.  We tried to do as many things as we could to just feel "normal" in between the chaos and I do believe it helped.  I picked the kids up from school on Friday and I don't think Layla could have been more excited to see me.  She jumped up from her nap mat and threw her arms around me and practically cried from excitement.  I get so much love from this boog.  We went to pick up Hannah and I let the kids play at the school playground for a little while since the weather was nice.  We then went home and the girls helped me make meatballs.  Flat meatballs per Layla's request.  Not sure where that one came from but we had a pot full of flat meatballs for dinner time becasue Layla said so! LOL  I also made a lasagna and it felt so good to just be home, cooking with the girls.  I let them stay up late and we snuggled in bed together and watched Nemo. 

Saturday we woke up with no crazy morning schedule.  Ahhh it felt good!  We took our time and I made the girls homemade waffles.  We got to be lazy and I loved every minute of it.  By mid morning we headed over to Nonnie and Papa's and continued the packing and unpacking.  The kids were a bit restless and I tried my best to keep them entertained while helping Mom and Dad.  I feel bad for them under these circumstances because it is not their fault.  They are bored and want my attention.  I find it sometimes difficult to split my attention under these circumstances where I am trying to be there for Mom and Dad and yet be a mother to my kids.  We left around 4 and I headed home to jump in the shower before heading down the beach to do a photo shoot.  Billy made it home from work just in time to watch Cameron and the girls and I drove down to our RCB for the first time since Hurricane Irene hit.  Thankfully the beach was still in tact as was our little piece of heaven.  I fed the girls and then hit the beach to do a fun family shoot for our beach friends the Kanaczet Family.  I got some great shots of this adorable family!  I hope they like them as much as I do!  After the shoot we headed over to Patsy and Oj's for a drink and then off to see SANTA!  Yes, Santa was at the beach in September.  It was very cute and the first time I have been down there for this event.  The kids were excited and Hannah got to ask for her electric guitar and Layla her drums.  (God help our house come December 25th!)  Layla also got to tell Santa she loved him.  I wish Cam were with us because I would have loved to see his reaction.  We hit the road home late and the girls fell fast asleep in the car. 

Sunday I left the kids with Billy for a little while so I could run and help my parents some more.  Pack, unpack, throw out, pack, unpack, throw out.  God help me come the day that I have to move.  Years and years of memories we went through.  SO many things I had forgotten about but were reminded of while packing.  So many little trinkets that would spark memories of the holidays and gatherings at my parent's house.  I realize how very blessed I was to have the upbringing that I had.  I have all good memories of my childhood.  My parents made sure of it.  I helped for a few hours and then headed back home to get my own house together for my nieces, sister and brother in law.  I had asked them to come by for a small cookout and really just to continue to do the things that keep my stress level down and feel normal.  I put together a macaroni salad and Billy ran to get some hot dogs and hamburgers and we grilled ourselves up a little meal.  The girls had a blast playing with their cousins and Billy and I enjoyed spending some family time with Leanne and Dan.  The girls play so well together and I love having them at our house so we asked Leanne if we could keep them overnight and we got to have a cousins sleepover!  So darn cute they are.  I made them more waffles Monday morning and just got to be silly with them before it was time for me to head back over to Nonnie and Papa's to keep going on the moving.  I told Julie we should open our own moving company after this.  JK Moving Company... and we aren't kidding.  She didn't laugh.  LOL  We are almost there.  They are almost entirely moved.  Things are almost back to "normal" if they were ever normal to begin with.

The girls started dance yesterday.  I feel like the show was just yesterday, but here we were back in the swing of things.  It felt good and the girls seemed to enjoy their classes.  Layla is now in an hour class and I was delighted with how well she paid attention.  Hopefully the dynamic of this group will keep her focused!  Hannah's class is now an hour and a half and she has added jazz to the mix.  She was so excited to now own jazz shoes.  She did great and I was glad to see that her dance friend Mackenzie is back in the group!  Sp both girls now have their classes on Tuesdays which will leave the weekends open for Hannah's hockey.  Let the crazy sports calendar begin!!!  Poor Cam!  We've got to find something for him soon!

I can't believe that we are here in September.  One of my favorite months.  I can't help but say the word and automatically sing, "Do you remember, 21st night of September, Love was changing the mind of pretenders, while chasing the clouds away," by Earth, Wind and Fire. You know what else is so special about September?  It's National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!  Yes it is!  You all know how passionate I am about helping to find a cure for many childhood cancers.  I am going to continue to be passionate about finding a cure as long as I am on this planet and I am asking for your help as well.  PLEASE consider making a donation.  The smallest amount WILL HELP!  My three favorite donation sites you can find here in honor of Layla Grace Marsh , Ronan Thompson and Michael Cotrone.  These two little angels and cancer warrior are the sole reason why I have decided to light a fire under my butt and get out there and raise awareness.  Maybe you could order a bracelet or even just SPREAD THE WORD!  Throw it up on your facebook status or Tweet about it.  Anything at all... will go a great ways and help save children's lives!  There are so many things you can do to put a smile on a child's face who may be suffering from this disease!  Hannah has been collecting soda tabs all on her own to bring to Hasbro to help raise money for their child cancer ward.  We also put together a bin of toys that we plan to take over to the hospital as well.  These simple things make a difference.. they truly do!  So please jump on board with me and help spread the word this September! 

I'd like to leave with a note to each of my babies letting them know how grateful and thankful I am for them in my life.  They are what get me out of bed every morning.  My three tiny (okay maybe not so tiny anymore) miracles.....

     Cameron.  You are just plain NUTS!  Crazy nuts!  I say this in a good way and I am not complaining at all.  I just have never known either of your sisters to be as crazy as you!  You are all over the place and into everything that most days I find myself running in 3 different directions to just try and keep up with you.  You now try and do pull ups onto the kitchen table.  You are attempting to climb on top of the stove and Daddy found you out in the driveway after taking his eyes off of you for 30 seconds. (SCARY) You opened the front door and walked out!  God bless your 13.5 month old soul!  You are going to be my adventure seeker.. I can see it already.  I love to watch you shape into this little baby boy who is so determined and stubborn.  At the same time you love to laugh, giggle and bang your head into mine, which is your official way of showing me love.  LOL.  I love you baby boy.  I love you for you.  I love you for completing our family and making us a family of five.   I love you crazy!

     Layla.  My Layla cakes.  How lonely these days are without you at the office.  I miss you so much.  I wish you were here with me.  Yet I know you are where you belong.  I have to accept it and try and get my fill of love and hugs from you during the evenings.  Which you thankfully give me plenty of.  You are such a joyful, funny child that I am often laughing at your antics.  You're silly and you're my love bug at the same time.  I love my time at night with you when everyone else is sleeping and the two of us are up giggling and talking.  When you tell me that I'm the bestest Mommy in the whole wide world and how much you love me.  I can tell you are growing up on me, but I am also holding on to that part of you that is still my little Layla baby.  There is still a part of you that loves to be babied and I will take that for as long as I can get it.  I look forward to our Tuesdays and Thursdays when you are here with me.  I can't believe that you are soon approaching your 4th birthday.  How quickly time flies.  I can still remember those first few days with you wrapped up in your purple blanket in the hospital... it seems like just yesterday.  I love you my Layla bug.  My clone.  I love you to infinity and beyond!

     Hannah banana meatball.  SECOND GRADE.  You are in second grade.  How did that happen?  You are so old and mature to me now.  So independent and eccentric.  You march to the beat of a different drummer and I love that about you.  You are a leader.  You seem to like this year in school and I am hoping that this will be a great year for you.  I don't often worry about you because you are such a strong child.  You are my helper of all helpers.  I love how much you come to my rescue and help me with your brother and sister.  You're my early riser.  You wake up happy and rearing to go.  Last night you told me that you were going to get up earlier than me so that you could make me breakfast.  You have such a sweet side to you.  I find you being a bit more affectionate with me.  Last night, while I was laying with you and Layla, you fell asleep holding my hand again.  I hope that you continue this affection because I eat it up and love to give it in return.  I love you my little Rock Star.. I know you are going to do great things in this life.  I can feel it.  I love you meatball... To the moon and stars and back! 

xo

The girls with Santa...

Some shots of the Kanaczet Family



TGIF - Insert Katy Perry's song here....

We're alive!  It's Friday!  THANK GOD it's FRIDAY!  I don't think I have ever been so excited for a weekend to start.  Not because we have anything fun planned but because this week is OVER!  Goodbye!  Good riddance!  Did I survive the girl's first day of school?  Yes.  Was I an emotional wreck? Yes.  I had all of two minutes to cry and be a mess before I had to head directly into moving my parents who have been without power for 6 days.  By day 2 with a broken generator, my father had enough and decided to move.  For those who don't know, my childhood home is on the market.  My parents have downsized and bought a smaller home.  They had intended to move in little by little, but under the current circumstances and with no power or water at what we now call the "old" house, we set to work.  It has been a grueling few days and to be quite honest, I would like to forget them all together.  I had many emotions about my parents selling my childhood home.  While I understood the reasoning behind the move and support my father 110% in this decision, I always thought that by the time they were ready to sell, we'd be ready to buy it.  Life hasn't worked out that way and it's not in the cards.  I've accepted that and now, the old house no longer even feels like home to me.  I will always keep the memories close to my heart, but in all reality, I don't think I would be able to live there without having certain emotions about the way it was.  It's time to let go and move on.  I can do that.  So organizing, sorting old from new and what will fit, packing, unpacking, loading cars and unloading cars has been filling most of my days this week.  To the point where I got home last night and starting to go through my own kitchen.  How can I sit there and so neatly organize my parent's house when mine is such a disaster? 


I'm at the point now where I just want my parents settled in their new house.  I want them comfortable and organized.  I want some sort of normalcy back.  Julie and I have been working our tushies off to make this happen.  Juggling kids, drop offs, work and whatnot we have somehow managed to move 99% of the house, on our own.  Have I mentioned that I don't know what I would do without her in my life?  If it weren't for each other, I know we would never be able to get through this phase in our lives.  Somehow, together, we are getting through probably one of the most difficult times we will ever have to endure and I will leave it at that.  Aside from Julie, I thank God every day for these beautiful angels he has given me.  They are my life lines.  They are what is good in this life.  I swear to God they were put on this earth to save me.  They are my happiness.  They are everything that is good in my life.  Unfortunately, I have had very little time to spend with them the past two weeks due to all of the chaos that has been going on and it is affecting me.  I miss them.  I want to just sit and play and color and laugh.  I want to play dress up and I want to play ball.  I feel like I am missing out on so much and it has only been two weeks.  Billy had to pick Hannah up from her first day of school on Wednesday and it killed me.  He got to take her to the park even though it was me who had promised to take her.  I want my life back.  I want my time with them back.  I want the hectiness to end.  Now.


Thankfully the girls seem to be adjusting well to school.  Hannah has a wonderful teacher this year and a FANTASTIC new principal.  I got to meet him yesterday and he is a doll.  I get such a good vibe from him and I am praying that this is the turn around year for McGuire Elementary.  Finger's crossed.  I was worried Layla would be upset at drop off today because all summer she kept telling me that I need to drop her off and leave her there.  She got a kick out of telling me this.  Her attempt at being independent I presume and watching what we do when dropping Hannah off at school.  Last night she told me that she would like for me to stay at school with her.  I gulped.  Thankfully though, she was so excited to have Cousin Addy at school with her today that she forgot all about wanting Mommy... even though Mommy would have done anything to get on the floor and play with her at preschool all day.  I think I would have even enjoyed nap time tremendously!  Driving to drop Hannah off afterwards was so weird.  I kept looking at her empty car seat wanting to lose it.  Two other kids and the car and yet I felt so lonely.  After dropping Hannah off it was just Cam and I.  Just the two of us heading into the office together.  All I can say is, Thank God I had a third.  I cant imagine going through this without having him to keep me distracted.  And distracted he certainly keeps me.  The kid is a moose!  He's huge!  He's into EVERYTHING and has quite the temper lately.  VERY strong willed.  He reminds me sooo much of Hannah at this age.  He's like the male version of her!  He seems to be doing okay without his sidekick Layla here to occupy his time.  It's good for us too, to have this alone time as well.... even though I would do anything to have all three by my side.  As I type, he is giving me that toothy grin of his and I just want to eat his face off!


Last night after the kids went to sleep, I ended up going to see my Ana Banana for a bit.  It has been months since we sat and talked.  It was such a nice, crisp evening and I was so grateful for this time with her.  Just chatting away and discussing life.  It made me feel the most normal I have felt in weeks.  Just being there and talking like we use to before the summer got so hectic.  I hope we can continue this tradition!  It's like therapy for me!  I went to bed on the late side and woke up to Hannah climbing in bed with us.  So weird that she has been doing this a bit more lately.  She curled up between Billy and I and went to sleep.  Billy woke up really early for work and found Layla sitting up in her bed.  He carried her to ours and the girls and I curled up and slept.  I cant tell you how much I adore this.  I don't care how tired I am.  Something about this cuddle time with them just melts my heart.  Hannah fell asleep holding my hand and Layla was curled up right into my side with her arms wrapped around me.  I don't think I could have felt more loved.  These are the times I want to remember forever.  I am grateful for every single one of these moments I have with my children...

Happy 3rd Birthday to my niece Addison!  We love you very much dolly!  xoxoxo

And this is why I will be okay....

 

2 Weddings and a Hurricane

Wow, was this week a busy one!  It was such a crazy, chaotic, busy week that I wasn't sure we'd make it through.  But we did! At the end of the week after much of the craziness, we had Greg and Kirsten's wedding Friday evening.  What a phenomenal time I had!  Love being witness to two people who are so truly in love!  I was in the photographer role and I am hoping I did a good job.  I haven't had but a second to upload the pictures on my computer and begin to edit.  Fingers crossed that I did my job well and captured the gorgeousness of these two love birds!  Saturday was Layla's Preschool Open House.  She really enjoyed playing with all the new, fun and exciting toys.  From there we headed home to get ready for cousin Jillian's wedding.  Another gorgeous bride and a fun evening amongst family.  We headed to 1149 in between the ceremony and reception and had ourselves a little party!  LOL  We don't get to do this often enough and it was a great time.  The reception was a lot of fun and it was so great to see the family I don't often get to see.  I hope both Greg and Kirsten and Jillian and Ronnie have wonderful, exciting, loving and healthy lives.  May they always see the stars in each other's eyes.  Hopefully I will have some pictures of the weddings edited and up soon! :)

Yesterday, well yesterday came good ol' Irene.  Not my mother, but the hurricane.  We were prepared for the worst at our house and somehow we skimmed by with just a few broken tree limbs.  Our power stayed on and the one tree we have left, did not fall through our living room like we thought it would.  We were lucky.  Many people were not.  My parents are still without power.  There are trees and electrical wires down everywhere.  I have seen a lot of cars crushed by uprooted trees.  I can't imagine what would have happened had we gotten the storm like they once broadcasted it to come.  As a category 3 hurricane, this would have been devastating. Thankfully, she was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time she reached us. Family out on Long Island didn't fare so well.  I am praying that the flood waters recede and that they can get back to some sort of normalcy in the near future.  Most importantly, I am just glad that everyone is safe.  These pictures below are of my brother in law's parent's house out on Long Island.  They live right on a canal.  Devastating!

The word on the beach house is that it is a mess down there, but it looks as though our little piece of RCB will survive Irene.  THANK YOU!  I have to send kisses to heaven and thank Jay for that one.  I don't know how on God's earth the ocean didn't take the Coop on this one!  We can clean up messes, but we can't replace the Chicken Coop and I am grateful that we will at least have another summer to make memories.  You can see some great shots of the beach if you go on http://www.RoyCarpenters.com. 


So after weathering out the storm most of the day and finally having a chance to be nothing but LAZY, I began to prepare for Layla's big day.  Packed her lunch, backpack, extra clothes, epi pen, etc.   Labeled everything.  Found and old dress in the attic that was Hannah's for her to wear on the first day (Who had time to shop for first day of school supplies?  NOT ME!)  The dress was perfect and exactly something that Layla would wear.  We complimented it with one of our favorite Cha Cha Headbands, found closed toe sparkly pink sneakers and she was set to go.  I kept my emotions in check all day and did not lose it once.  I laid down with the girls for bedtime and all three of us fell asleep easily.  I awoke an hour later and got up to finish some last minute preparations and that's when the tears began to stream down my face.


I'm nuts.  Crazy.  I get it.  I know.  I can't explain it though.  I remember when Hannah began Preschool.  She was tired and bored of being in the office with me.  She was all over the place and needed some other children her age to be around.  At the time, she was the only baby on both sides of our families.  She was also going to a Preschool run by someone who is considered family.  It was a smooth transition and I knew she would get special care.  This is different.  Layla is perfectly content to be with me here at the office.  She loves it actually.  We watch movies and play toys, sing and dance around like crazy monkeys.  She gives me kisses and hugs the entire day and makes me laugh at her silly antics.  While Hannah was restless at the office at this age, Layla is not. She loves being here with me and is truly like my little buddy.  I just cant believe that we are at this stage with her where she is ready and able to go to Preschool.  How did almost 4 years fly by so quickly?  How are we at this point already?  What I wouldn't do to keep this little love bug in my arms and cuddled up forever.  I just pray that we can all get through these first few weeks without much to do.  I pray that her environment there is safe and that she never gets her precious little hands into any peanut butter!  Breath in breath out.  UGH!


That being said, I cried myself to sleep last night.  I woke up this morning and put my game face on.  Got her ready for school, packed the car and headed out at 8 AM.  Until... ta da!!!  The Preschool was CLOSED!  I was so consumed with her going, that I never even thought to check the news before I went to bed last night to see if it was closed due to the hurricane.  They had said at the open house, that the school never closes, to be prepared for it to be open.  I checked my email a few times during the day and nothing came through, so I just figured it was open.  WRONG!  LOL  I am thrilled!  LOL  It gives me another 2 days to spend with my princess and another 2 days for her to get this cold and asthma flare up out of her system.  THANK YOU GOD!  I needed that!  Two more days to wrap my arms my cuddle bug and soak every last bit of her up!  xo

Good Bye Summer 2011

Five days and counting.  Five days til my sweet baby Layla enters preschool.  I'm a wreck.  It hit me on the way home from our New Hampshire vacation Sunday night.  We were in the car and one second I was fine, the next I was a sobbing mess.  The realization of being back into the daily grind and entering my hell week was a little too much for me to bare.  This happens to be the busiest week of my summer and yet, it is the last week I have to be with my girls before they begin school.  To be home was the last thing I wanted. 


We had such an amazing time up north.  New Hampshire in the fall is always my favorite but the time we had there last week was second to none.  All of the kids truly enjoyed themselves and it felt so good to "check out" of reality and just be.  With no worries, no responsibilities and no anxiety.  We took the kids to Six Gun City, Story Land, up Loon Mountain, Sugar Hill, Harman's Cheese Store...  you name it, we did it.  Billy and I even found time to take a Moose Tour.  Something I had been dying to do since meeting him 8 years ago.  Every time we head up to my in laws house in Lincoln, we pass the little booth that has the tours.  Every year I say I want to do it.  We finally did.  We signed up for the 10:45PM tour and headed out loaded up on coffee.  I was so excited, it felt like Christmas to me.  I have always wanted to see a moose.  I know it's strange, but it's just this thing I have.  I want to see a moose.  Up close.  I just think they are so cute.  People think I'm nuts but I don't care.  The tour has 100% sightings.  Do you think we saw a freakin moose?  NOOOOOOO! (Well not really anyhow)  Within the first ten minutes of the bus ride, we pulled over and the spotlight outside the bus came on.  Apparently out in the distance there was a moose between the trees.  I jumped out of my seat and to the opposite side of the bus to peer out the window and in that split second the moose turned and was out of sight.  Seriously?  The rest of the night.. NOTHING!  We went to all the popular moose spots and still nothing.  The bus pulled off the road and made moose mating sounds on a loud speaker...but no moose.  Darnit!  I was so dead set on seeing a darn moose that I made Billy take me out again at dusk the following night to search again.  We sat at a famous moose spot with the kids for over a half hour with binoculars.  NOTHING.  Blech.  I'm going to see one... I tell you.  One of these days!!!! 


I also got to see the Mount Washington Hotel for the first time ever.  All the years of going up north and never have I ever seen such a beautiful place!  It was hands down gorgeous.  Mom Murphy, Leanne and I headed up to have some cocktails on the back porch.  I was mystified at the beauty and serenity of the place.  It was like the New Hampshire version of the Spring House Hotel on Block Island.  I was in love!  There were fresh colorful hydrangea arrangements all over the lobby.  Beautiful chandeliers and of course, a moose head.  (LOL)  It was such a gorgeous night and we very much enjoyed our girl time surrounded by the beauty of the mountains with our cocktails in hand!  I'm making a mental note to someday have enough money to go back there and stay with both my parents and my in laws.  Putting it on my Bucket List.


Back to the whole "Moose" thing.  I know I am being redundant but we also got to see an exhibit at the Flume Gorge called, "Forever Locked."  It was something else.  Two bull moose got their antlers stuck together during a fight.  One moose's antler literally pierced the other moose's.  The antlers were so stuck that neither could escape.  The moose died this way.  They were stuffed and they now go on display all over the country.  So glad we got to see it especially since that was as close as I was getting to a moose this trip. 


As you can see, we just had such a great time together as a family while enjoying my in laws and nieces as well.  It's so difficult to get back in the swing of things especially during such a crazy week.  I seem to be okay with Hannah going to 2nd grade.  Does it bother me, yes, but I am also use to her routine because we have done it for 2 years.  It's comfortable to me.  I know what to expect.  Plus she is my independent one.  Would I love to keep her home forever?  Uh YES!  Hands down YES!   However, not having my Layla three days a week is making my heart ache.  I know you all probably think I am stupid for feeling this way, but I cant help it.  She is my baby girl.  (Yes Thank God I still have Cameron at home)  It's just such a different feeling.  I remember feeling this way with Hannah when it was time to let go a bit.  But Hannah was so strong and by this point I knew with all my heart that she was healthy.  That she'd be okay.  Wise beyond her years.  Han always seemed advanced to me, even at a young age.  With Layla, I just worry so much.  With all of her food allergies and peanut allergy.  The peanut allergy freaks me out.  Her asthma.  How she likes to rest often during the day and doesn't have to be doing something all the time.  She always gets so sick with everything that I am so afraid exposing her to all the germs that come along with school is really going to do her in.  She has no immune system and gets everything ten times worse than everyone else.  I am a worried mess.  Moreover, she is 3 and a half, but yet, she is a young 3.  I feel like she still needs me so much.  I'm afraid that what I am about to learn is the exact opposite.  That I need her more than she needs me.  She's where I get all of my cuddles and love from.  She never goes an hour without telling me she loves me.  She constantly tells me I look like a princess and she is constantly wanting to wrap her arms around me and be as close as possible.  She still says, "Mommy, hold you," when she wants to be held.  I hope she says it that way for the rest of her life!   She still sometimes wakes in the night and yells out for me, wanting to be cuddled by me.  Last night she couldn't fall asleep until I put her in my bed and we cuddled ourselves to sleep.  In my eyes, she's still my baby.  I am just not ready for her to be.. well to be out there... exposed.  Exposed to kids who may be mean to her or may hurt her feelings.  I just want to protect her, like all my kids, from hurt.  I want to keep her little, just a little bit longer.


That being said and now that you all think I have flipped my lid, I know I have to let go... just a smidge though.  I know preschool is where she belongs and where she will thrive.  I am putting her first by doing this, since technically she doesn't have to go until next year with her late birthday.  I know that this is what is best for her and she needs to be surrounded by other children and learn the age appropriate things.  I know this is right, but it doesn't make it easy for me.  I know that this is something she is excited about and even though I vent my feelings here, I wont do it in front of her.  That's not to say that I will skip the mascara and eye makeup on Monday, because I know they will be of no use due to my tears.  I am hopeful that once we are in a routine, I will get use to not having her little face smiling up at me in my office.  No.. sorry.. there is no way that I am not going to miss that.  Though I will put my game face on and see this through. 


I always hate this part of year when summer ends.  It always seems to be a tough transition for me.  For the kids too.  I am looking on the brighter side and very much looking ahead towards the Fall.  There is so much to look forward to and it is my favorite season of all.  I am going to try and remain positive about all of this and just plug on forward.  As I always say, I am blessed.  Blessed to have this life that I have and blessed to have these three angels to dance around in my life. 

Winding down the summer... (sniff sniff)

Well it's safe to say that we had a fun filled weekend!  I am extremely glad because I know as we enter these next few weeks, our schedule is jam packed and I am having a bit of anxiety about it.  However, I will plug on forward and try and take a few breaths in between to enjoy the beauty that surrounds me.  There was surely plenty of beauty in our weekend.  Friday after I finished work, I headed home to pick up the troops and head down the beach for dinner.  It was hands down a PERFECT evening to spend down RCB.  The weather was gorgeous and the kids enjoyed running around the beach.  These are my favorite evenings!  We ordered some clam cakes and chowda (chowder... RI style)  and enjoyed a wonderful dinner on the deck overlooking the ocean.  We had the gorgeous company of Julie and the girls.  It was time well spent and I am SO glad I had grabbed my camera.  We all went on the beach and I was able to get some great shots of the kids in all their glory.  While down on the beach I met this little girl named, Amelia.  I was stricken by her beauty and she had that familiar look about her.  She was such a sweet, beautiful, well mannered 5 year old.  I snapped a few shots of Hannah, Brenna and Amelia only to find out afterwards that this little girl's mother had just passed away a few days earlier.  My heart breaks for this family and yet I have only just met Amelia.  I pray that they find the strength to get through this most difficult time.  Please keep them close to your heart and in your prayers.  I know that her beautiful Mama will be guiding her family through from the heavens above.  http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/providence/obituary.aspx?n=cheryl-ann-martin&pid=153027504

Saturday, Billy and I had his cousin's wedding.  After shuffling off the kids to sitters, we headed to Fall River to a place called Independence Hall.  Was it ever beautiful!  The grounds and the Black Eye Susan's were just phenomenal!  My mother in law got some great family shots and I hope to get a copy to display in the house.  After checking in with Hannah who was down the beach with Papa, we found out that she received third place in the annual RCB field day race.  Apparently she was not too happy about 3rd place, but I was SO very proud of her!  Poor kids always wants to be the best at everything.  She is such a perfectionist!  After the wedding, we headed home to scoop up the other two beans and we met Billy's family over at Abbot Valley Run Tennis & Pool Club.  Um... LOVED IT!  The kids and I swam in the pool all evening.  I seriously think it was close to 9:00PM by the time we got out... complete with shriveled fingers!  LOL  Billy and the boys enjoyed some beers and a RIB contest.  I don't know how there was any food left after Billy hit the tables.  The man can eat.  It was the perfect ending to the perfect day.

Yesterday we went out for breakfast before we said farewell to Jill and Dave who were heading back to Long Island.  Got to catch up with my Ana Banana for a few minutes, who was also at Avenue Grill.  We met Papa and Nonnie in the parking lot and got my Meatball back!  She wasn't too happy to be back but after an hour or so, she snapped out of it.  We spent the rest of the day just being LAZY!  That's what I love best about rainy days.  You get to be lazy without feeling guilty about missing out on a beautiful day.  It was a day full of cuddles and kisses and I loved every second of it.  Now it's time to gear up for the craziness ahead...