For COHEN.........

I started reading this blog a few months ago and fell in love with their sweet story and then their sweet baby Cohen...... Please go read their story, share some "support" and say a preyer for this family, who are "memorializing" their sweet, first born son today!!!

It's Almost That Time of Year.............

.... when the boys go to their Dad's house for the month....

Every July, they spend the whole month with him. And while the first few days (maybe the first week) are nice and quiet, after that I am serioulsy BORED and missing them terribly!!!

Don't get me wrong, Angie is lots of fun and she does keep me busy.... but still, the house is just too quiet.... :-(

So, I'm going to have a great weekend with the kids and enjoy every minute of it..... and try to get lots of crazy going on, so that I will be ready for the quiet!! (does that even make since)

CJ has the BUG..... the FLYING BUG

Wow..... LOOOOONNNNGGGG time, huh?? I won't even go into an explanation, except to say that it has been a very busy past few months!!!

I hope all is well with everyone-- and I promise to come "visit" all my "friends".... ;-)

Anyway-- CJ turned 14 on Monday; and for one of his gifts, Joe bought him an Adventure Flight.... (back story on this, is that in the past few months CJ has gotten WAY into airplanes, flying, models etc....)!!

An Adventure Flight is a 45 minute flight to their "training space", get some flying/training time there and then back into the flight pattern and land. While up there, CJ actually got to fly the plane H-I-M-S-E-L-F.... WOWZERS!!!

They just got back and CJ can not stop talking about flying and the plane and now flying lessons!!!

A Boy and his Blog....

CJ, my son, is back to be blogging again.... He loves to write and he LOVES for people to read (and comment on) his writing!!!

SO, for my boy, I am asking that you go visit his blog HERE and send him some comment lovin'....

Oh, I am SOOOO looking forward to this weekend.... I am ready for sleeping in, watching some 90210 on Saturday and Sunday morning (yes, I am a dork), watching Joseph play baseball, going to see "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" with the kids..... and just having some relaxation!!!!

HAPPY WEEKEND ALL........

I Love my SuperStickies....

You know, thank goodness for these "Me-me's" or I would be at a loss for what to write about sometimes!! Seriously, I am usually one who can NOT shut up (my mom used to say that you could put me next to a bookshelf and I would still be talking); but sometimes when I sit in front of this blog, thinking about what to write, I am just B-L-A-N-K...... Finally, I have a place to freely express myself, without anyone butting in or acting like they don't care..... and nothing.... Go figure!!!!

Anyway, this is one of my favorite posts..... fast and easy....and to the point!!!


Be sure to go check out more of these fun post-its at SUPAH's HOUSE!!!!










































Oh and one more.........................














Yes......... my sweet little lady cried for about 30 (yes, you heard me T-H-I-R-T-Y) minutes because we couldn't find her Dora roller skates and she wanted to skate with her brothers....
She cried and cried and cried and cried......and yea, I was ready to pull out every single strand of hair from my head.
So, I did what every good mother would do (wink-wink)-- I made her go into her room so she could calm down; and by that I mean, I put her in there so I could gather my sanity ;-)

After a few minutes, it was quiet---- she did calm down and stopped crying..... I won, right?? She listened to me and learned how to handle her emotions........ No, she just fell asleep!!!

All About MeMe--- Self Portrait

I'm sure you have all missed reading my "All About MeMe's" since I am just so interesting....; so to oblige your request--- here you go (no...I'm not really that narcissistic):

Hosted by SupahMommy and MommyBrain

This is really truly an "All About Me" post.... I am supposed to show a self-portrait and/or explain myself in 1,000 words.... Wow, I wonder if I could even think of that much stuff to say about myself (and that's coming from someone who doesn't usually shut-up) ;-)

I was going through all of my pictures, trying to find one of just ME, and I really couldn't find any.... You all know that when you have kids, you are usually the one behind the camera and are rarely ever seen yourself!!! Anyway, I found these pictures taken by Angie one evening at Smokey Bones for dinner....

Soooooo...... I am a pretty silly, easy going, laid-back person... I do have my moments where someone will piss me off and then I feel like I have to get it off my chest or I will explode (figuratively, of course); but for the most part I try to let things just slide off my back.

I can hold a conversation with someone, while I am also dealing with one of the kids....and cooking and cleaning...and running around trying to get something done. And the funny thing is, it all stays in order in my head....

I am a very loyal girlfriend and friend.... I will do anything for somebody that I care about.... I will always help out when I can... I love to make people happy and smile!!!

I am a pretty defensive person though.... even though I think I can handle constructive (or any) criticism, I still feel like I have to defend myself constantly... WHY??? I don't know, but I wish I could stop it!! (Unfortunately, that is one of the traits that CJ picked up from me.... blah).

I love to read James Patterson books, play Bejewled Blitz (i know, I'm a dork) on my computer, scrapbook, and do things with Joe and my children.... A perfect weekend for me, is to sleep in and lay around for a litte while, eat a yummy breakfast made by Joe (since he is king breakfast maker), lay around a little longer while the kids are getting dressed and playing, and then all of us go out and spend the day together.... (I wish I was doing that NOW)!!

Well, there you have it..... I feel like I was in an interview.... Did I get the job--- will you be my friend...?

Friends

A true friend is somebody that you can turn to for ANYTHING.... someone who is there for you through thick and thin!!! They listen to you when you need an ear and they trust you enough to share their innermost feelings!!
They understand you and support you..... and when you get upset with each other, true friends talk it out...don't hold grudges.... love each other!!
A true friend is like your family!!!

It's funny how sometimes you have an eye-opening experience that reminds you who your TRUE friends are and who are NOT!!

Two Thumbs

My Uncle Will is one of the most positive people I know (besides you, of course, DAD); one who I can always rely on to give a good pep talk. I remember as a little girl, going to visit him in Chicago, he would listen to Zig Ziglar in the car.... and have me listen to the cassettes as I was going to sleep!!

I wish I could've held on to all that I heard, but I do take pride in that I try to be as positive as I can for the most part (even when Joseph is punished in is his room....laying on his bed kicking and SCREAMING as loud as he can)!!

A couple of weeks ago, on his last night in town, we had the special treat of having him spend the night with us!! While here, he taught us a little "diddy" (that the kids made their own) for when we are feeling down.

Since I can't sing it to you (and you are thankful for that, trust me!!), try to imagine your own tune for it:

"Two thumbs, two thumbs, two thumbs.... you cross them like this...."

".... and look at what happens------ THIS"

Try it.... you can't stop the smile!!!!


Here's to a happy and positive day for you all!!!

I'm Back.... Now Stick 'Em Up!!!

I have been M.I.A. lately, I know!! And really I don't have a good excuse for it other than I have just been busy and have less than creative in the writing department!!!

So, I decided to come back on an easy blogging day.....

Going to the SUPER BOWL.....

Well, not ME personally....... at least not yet.... (since it is in Miami, and we are only 4 hours away, I am trying to convince Joe)....

But, my Indianapolis Colts are heading back to the Super Bowl....

I did have a bit of a scare yesterday, as the Jets looked very good during the 1st half of the game.... and I am the type of football watcher who gets super frustrated and wants to give up immediately!!

BUT, like they have done many times, the Colts came back in the 2nd half and D-O-M-I-N-A-T-E-D!!!!

The ONLY problem (and it's not really a problem) is that my BFF is a Saints fan..... so, I imagine it will be her and I glued to the TV during the whole game, instead of hosting our Super Bowl party.....

Oh well.....

GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Snowing in Florida....?

Well...... I wouldn't call it a big, fluffy, white snowstorm.... But, all of the forecasts say that early tomorrow morning we might see snow flurries!!!

You see, like the rest of the country, we have been in a major cold snap....and by cold (for us in FL) I mean our average temperatures have been in the low 50's (yes, that is freaking cold for me!!).

Well.....there is another big cold front coming in overnight, along with some "moisture" (in Florida, we call that rain); and the combination of those is bringing a CHANCE of snow flurries. Realistically, it probably won't happen... but it sure is fun thinking that we might wake up to see some white stuff falling from the sky!! And for the kids, who are overly excited, I really hope it does!!

Happy Snow Falling!!! I'll keep you posted!!

5 Years and It Does NOT Get Easier.....

In Loving Memory of "Nanny"

June 6, 1952 - January 7, 2005

This day 5 years ago, my mother lost her battle with cancer!! This day 5 years ago, I watched my mom take her final breaths and finally be at peace and out of pain!! This time 5 years ago, I laid my head in my mommy's lap and cried and she started her journey to Heaven..... family and her best friend at her side; praying in her ear as she died!! This time 5 years ago, we were making funeral arrangements...

I feel cheated...I feel she was cheated on life!! She didn't get the chance to grow old and watch her grandchildren graduate, start careers, get married etc... She didn't get the chance to grow old with me!!!

5 years and it doesn't get any easier..... time does NOT heal the wounds; it only makes me learn to live with it!!

-

Mom--

I miss you more than words can describe!! You were the BEST mom in.this.world. You were my best friend, comforter, confidant, advice giver, "on call" medical help, shopping buddy, best cook, favorite sleepover buddy and the best Nanny to my children --You made me who I am today; and I pray that I will be half the woman, mother, co-worker, daughter and friend that you were!!

Love you honey,

Mistletoe