Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

So, Memorial day weekend is the start of Summer, and we kicked ours off in style! Friday we picked the kids up at the bus stop and after a small detour for some "doctoring", we were off to Busch Gardens for the evening. (Caitlin tripped and took a BAD fall right after getting off the bus, so we had to go home and get some band aids and neosporin!) We had a wonderful evening at Busch Gardens. It was not very crowded and the weather was wonderful!

Saturday, daddy played golf in the morning. Then he and the kids played outside while mommy got ready for her "date" with daddy. Jim and I made plans to go out and celebrate our 8th anniversary. We had a wonderful night. We had dinner at a new restaurant. (It was ok, but we enjoyed being out) And we headed over to the new dueling piano bar. That was a LOT of fun. We are looking forward to going back again soon!

Sunday, we had promised the kids some Water Country time. So after a nice big breakfast (french toast!) and doing a few chores, we were off. It was CRAZY crowded, so no slides, but we still managed to have a wonderful time together.

Then Monday, we were invited to a BBQ with some friends. The kids got to spend time with Becca (whom they love dearly!!)

All in all, we had an amazing weekend. Our Summer is "kicked off" and starting out in style! We can't wait for the rest of summer!!

Wordless Wednesday: Murphy

Dance Pictures

Saturday was dance picture day. Caitlin is in two dances this year, so we had to do a costume change. So, here is the preview of her costumes. Her first dance is to "Jailhouse Rock" and it is her tap dance. Her second dance is to "Penny Lane" and it is her ballet number. As always, Caitlin was less than thrilled about the pictures, but hopefully they are better than last years pictures. (I don't think they could be much worse!!)

The "New" Car

So...last week Tuesday was a sad day...the Jeep engine blew up. We held a moment of silence for it. And then we started cussing! We tried to decide what we wanted to do. Get a new engine, buy a new car, just be a one car family...so many choices and decisions. Well, we ended up buying a used (but new to us) BMW. It is one of the smaller ones, but there is room to take short trips in it. The kids love it and Jim is happy with it.

Fear not, the Jeep will live again. We have found someone who will help us fix the Jeep at a very reasonable price. So, Jim now has a "project" car. (Does that scare anyone else?) So here are some pictures of the "new" car!

I Got An Award!!

My very first one!!




Thank you so much! It came with conditions, though:
Accept and thank the person who gave it to you! List 10 things about yourself List 5 additional things you DON'T like Then pick ten people to give this lovely award to!

Thank you so much to Aislinn for the wonderful award!!

And now to meet my requirements:

10 things about me:

1. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Classical Music
2. I LOVE to sing karaoke
3. My favorite color is blue
4. I am celebrating being married for 8 years this month
5. My twins are truly a gift from God.
6. I have been married before.
7. I LOVE 80's music!
8. I am a stay at home mom and I LOVE my job!
9. I am addicted to Facebook
10. I cherish the people in my life and will defend them to the ends of the earth!

5 Dislikes:

1. I hate traffic and drive with road rage often!!
2. I hate onions!
3. I can't stand rude people.
4. I hate it when people are just plain mean!
5. I hate for anyone to see me cry!

And I would like to pass this award on to:

1. Diapers and Wine
2. On the Homefront
3. The Webbs We Weave
4. The Benyo Family
5. Now seating:Yarbrough- Party of 4
6. Keeping Up with the Windle's
7. Because Someone Cares
8. We finally got a piece of the pie
9. More Fun than allowed with kids
10. Marderosian Family Tree

So thank you again Aislinn!! And spread the love!! Happy Blogging!!

Parent's Night at Dance

Daddy missed parent's night, but Christopher and I went and watched Caitlin dance. And this year, she did dance!! (Okay, only one of her two dances, but it is progress!) If you remember last year for parent's night, Caitlin just stood there and did not dance. So I was very amazed and happy that she at least did one dance with me in the room! It's progress! Stay tuned, dance pictures are on Saturday, so we will have a few pictures of her all dolled up! The recital count down has begun!

Mother's Day at Busch Gardens

Here are a few memories from my Mother's day with my babies at Busch Gardens. We had a wonderful day! It was our first trip to Busch Gardens this year. The twins rode bumper cars again for the first time since they were three. They did MUCH better driving them this time! It was the perfect way to spend my day, with my babies! (Even if they aren't really babies anymore!!)

Happy Mother's Day

Yesterday was Mother's Day. I spent the day with my children. We went grocery shopping and then to Busch Gardens. Probably not the most exciting way to spend Mother's day, but I loved it.

It has been a very rough week in out house. Our Jeep engine died and we were faced with deciding to fix the Jeep or get something new. In true form, we ended up deciding to do both. The Jeep will be fixed eventually, but we are not rushing into it. And we bought a used (but new to us) BMW. (My first non-American car ever!) So we had personal stress in our lives and then had to add to it. My dad had a quadruple by-pass in April. Since then, it has been an uphill battle with lots of complications. He is still not doing well. I am unsure what to do from so far away. I pray for my daddy daily. So far, I have only spoken to him twice since his surgery. He is too weak and tired most days. I do speak to my mom daily. It is so hard to get a sense of what is going on from here. I feel the need to run home and reassure myself that daddy is okay, but I am terrified of what I will find when I get there. Anyway, the point is that all the stress has made me step back and realize how little things are so important. I wanted to take a minute and send some thank yous out that are long overdue.

To my mom: Thank you for teaching me how to be a mom. You have been a wonderful example of what I want to be. I never knew how much love you held in your heart for me and my sisters until I became a mom myself. If I am half the mom that you are, I will have done very well. I love you mom!

To my husband: Thank you baby. You have sacrificed so much for us. You made me a mom when I had given up on that dream. You remind me that I am a good mom. You share the joy of raising our children with me. You are my best friend and I would be lost without you. I know I am far from perfect, but you love me anyway. Thank you for that. Our children are miracles that you helped create with me. I love you baby, always!

To my children: Where do I begin? I knew I wanted to be a mom long before you were even a thought in my mind. I dreamed of having children and raising them. Then I thought I had lost that dream. When I was told that my dream could become a reality, I hardly dared to believe it was true. Your daddy always knew, but me, I was afraid to trust in the dream. I had struggled so hard to face never having you, that I was afraid if I really believed and it failed, I wouldn't make it back from the disappointment. But then, there you were, two tiny little heartbeats on an ultrasound. And suddenly, I believed and my heart was filled with love. I treasured every moment I was pregnant with you. When you kicked, I would just smile. You were my little miracles growing under my heart. When you were born, I was filled with joy, and fear. You were early and so small. It broke my heart to go home from the hospital without you. But suddenly you were home, and we were all together. I remember being exhausted. Some days I felt like I would never sleep again, but at the same time, I was so happy. I watched your first smiles, your first steps, your first falls...everything. I am so blessed to have been there for you at every step along the way. Soon you will be 6 and I will continue to be with you, sharing everything. You amaze me daily at how smart you both are. You bring me such joy. Thank you for being my Angel and my Bug. You make my life so complete. I love you both so much and just when I think I can't love you more, I find that I do. Just know that no matter what, I will always be here for you. Yes, you make me crazy some days, but I love you, always! Thank you for making me a mom and for loving me so completely. XOXOXO

Love ,

Me

Love Letters....Already???

I unzipped my daughter's backpack a few weeks ago and started going through the days things. In there I found a "love note" to my 5 year old daughter. (Guess they are starting YOUNG these days!)

Here is how our conversation went:

Me: Caitlin, what's this?

Caitlin: A note...it says I love you, Love Dexter.

Me: I see that sweetheart. Who is Dexter? (keeping in mind that at Valentine's day she read through her list and picked out boys FIRST to give "special" Valentine's to)

Caitlin: He is in my class mommy.

Me: So how do you feel about him?

Caitlin: I love him too! (insert big grin and batting her eyes!)

Me: I see. (Setting the note aside for daddy to see when he gets home)

So daddy comes home and I show him the note. He calls for Caitlin.

Their conversation:

Daddy: So what is this note you have?

Caitlin: It's from Dexter.

Daddy: Do you like him too?

Caitlin: I guess so. (No big grin, no batting eyes, she is playing down that she likes this boy. She already knows how to work mommy and daddy!)

Daddy: Okay. (And she skips off!)

So the next day, I tell Caitlin...no more love notes with Dexter, okay? She says okay mommy. A day later as she gets off the bus, she gleefully announces to me that she wrote a note to Dexter that day telling him she loved him too.

I think I may need to start checking out convents NOW! Ahhh...young love!

Wordless Wednesday

When the Lights Go Out....

what do you do?? Sunday, the power went out for about 45 minutes. Lucky for us, we had already had dinner and gotten showers for the kids. (Or maybe that was unlucky!) So, we could not go outside and play. And as the twins pointed out over and over, we could not watch a movie or TV or play Wii.

They got out books to read to us, but it was a little too dark to read, so Christopher got his "flashlight" out to read by. (Thanks Grandma!) He then sat there with his lovely little headband and provided the light for his sister to read by.

Silly Saturdays!!

Saturday was BEAUTIFUL here! We were having some friends over for a BBQ, but while we were waiting for them to get here, the kids were playing frisbee with daddy. Oh, and the last picture...daddy and Caitlin were dancing together!

Such a beautiful, but silly Saturday here!!