Summer, Summer, Summer Time... What to-do!

Well, I survived my mom's birthday...  I felt pretty (actually VERY) blah all day, but thank God for my children who always brighten my days.....well, except for when they are all fighting with each other or whining at me for something or "ignoring" me when it's time for chores...... (just kidding... or maybe not!)
Anyway, I really am having a hard time with this birthday; she would've been 60 years old yesterday and that's one of those "big deal" birthdays.  I have memories in my head of how she used to look and how she looked as the cancer took over her body and it's weird for me to imagine what she would look like at 60....  and that make me sad!!

Sorry for the blah-ness....  I'll now move on to a happier "subject" (subject being MamaKat of course)...



10 Things TO-DO in June

1) Get through the "last days of school"... Locker/desk clean-outs mean big messes at home, class parties and buying teacher gifts!! This feels like a big move-up for my kids this time... In a few short months CJ will be a junior (yikes), Ethan will be a freshman (double yikes), Joseph in 5th grade (wowzers) and my baby girl Angie in 2nd grade (WOWZEEE).  WHERE.DOES.THE.TIME.GO?

2) Summer Cleaning... always, the first few days of summer vacation consistent of "summer cleaning" (mom of the year, huh?).  The kids have to clean out their closets of too small clothes/shoes, under their beds etc...

3) Get Ethan to the dentist for his pre-braces work... and then to orthodontist for braces.... yay, starting freshman year with braces (again... mom of the year?)

4) Get Winnie's sutures removed... she had cysts removed from both sides on the back of her hips.  In a couple days she'll get the sutures removed and she can finally get a bath!  Thank goodness, because she S-T-I-N-K-S!

5) Get cabinets, counter tops, new tub, tiles etc... ordered for our kids' bathroom RE-MODEL.  FUN.... seriously!

6) Get bathroom ready for re-model... everything cleared out and move what isn't being demolished etc... NOT fun!

7) Spend a few days at the resort with the kids...  we love to do this!!  Even though we won't be far from home, it still feels like a get-away vacation!!

8) Celebrate CJ's 16th birthday... yes, on June 21st, my first born baby will be of legal driving age! OH MM GEE....

9) Beach, beach beach...  whenever, wherever and with whoever... we love the beach and we love the water!!  'nuff said!

10) Spend the last week doing all I can with the boys, as they will be gone with their Dad through the entire month of July.... This is one of my least favorite times of the year, (aside from when they're away from me on one of the holidys).  Even though it's MUCH quieter, things just are NOT the same without them home!!

Thanks for sticking around...

Give Me Your Best Shot - PSF... Ice Skating in Florida (in shorts)

Since we don't get too much cold and definitely no snow here in Florida, the kids don't get a chance to do those fun super cold/snow activities (sledding, ice skating, snow ball fights etc...).
Luckily, the local university sets up a really cool event for the whole family to do alot of that; and this year I took all of the kids to try ice skating and (faux) ice sledding.


Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

It was rainy and chilly that day, but it didn't stop Ethan and Joseph from wearing shorts.... ;-)

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They were so excited to get their skates on and get on that ice.....

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Ethan and Joseph picked it up right away....

And both got moving pretty fast....

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But CJ and Angie were a little wobbly....

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They had a GREAT time.... repeatedly telling me it was "the best day ever".... and that makes me feel good!!!

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!!!

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!!!

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!!

Wordful Wednesday - Upside Down Margarita...yummy!!

For my Wordful Wednesday post today, I am going to share with you the fun of an "Upside Down Margarita".

This past weekend Joe and I decided to go to the Florida vs. Tennesse game instead of our usual UCF (which we have season tickets for) game.... we were offered the tickets and since I have never been to a "big" college game, we figured what the heck.

One of our buddies, who is a UF alumn, has a huge tailgate party for every game.... he has tons of food, drinks, people, drinks (oh I said that) and music. About every 30 minutes, they play "Zorba the Greek" and you wouldn't believe the people who line up to get an upside-down margarita.... that being a shot (or two) of tequila and margarita mixed poured into your mouth while you are reclined, leaning your head back)....good times!!

This is how it went.....

Me and Joe BEFORE it got crazy:

Another buddy announcing that the first "round" of the day was about to start

After a few other people, it was my turn

And then Joe's turn

And then later... my turn AGAIN

And as the day got on (and more drinks were had)... things got "creative"...

3 college girls at a time (you know the guys were loving that)

"Co-Ed" Upside Downer

It amazed me HOW MANY people lined up for these....as soon as the music came on...

Needless to say, we had loads of fun.... :)

It's All about Me!!!

So, I have found another new blog, "Adventures of a Wanna-Be SupahMommy", that I so enjoy reading and have decided to crash and join her party today!!!

This is going to be one of my favorite weekly posts, as I love.to.talk.about.me. :) This week I will tell you about 5 shows that I can't wait to watch this season..... and my kids better be reading this so they know DO NOT BOTHER MOMMY DURING THIS TIME!! (now, come on...do you really think that will happen...?)

1. The Cleaner-- Does anyone else like this show as much as me....? And does anyone like Benjamin Bratt as much as me?? :) Now, I am not a drug addict..or even a recovering drug addict for that matter...but there is something that is so interesting about watching "William Banks" clean people up!!

2. The Big Bang Theory-- This is one that I just started watching recently, but I just LOVE it.... I love the mix of nerdiness, OCD, quirky jokes and the "hot girl".

3. GLEE-- Another new one... but it is a great show!! Very funny and I actually love the musical aspect of it.

4. 90210-- Guilty pleasure...don't judge!! :) I used to watch the old Beverly Hills 90210...actually I still watch the old reruns on the SOAP channel; and even though this new version is a little "too much" at times, I still enjoy it!!

5. Melrose Place-- Yes, another guilty pleasure... again, not as good as the original and the story lines are ridiculously unbelievable; but I still enjoy it!!

Hopefully, I will actually get to watch some of them without duct-taping the kids mouths shut and glueing them to the couch (hmm...that actually sound like it might work)!!

Thanks Supahmommy and Mommy Brain for letting me hang with you girls... I will be back!! :)

Pour Some Sugar on Me!!!

Woo Hoo.... last night we got to see Cheap Trick, Posion and Def Leppard. It was actually really good and we had tons of fun!!!

It was such a blast from the past.....especially hearing "Every Rose has a Thorn", "Talk Dirty to Me" and "Skinny Bop Bop" and of course "Hysteria" and "Pour Sugar on Me". We danced and danced..... and of course peopl-watched.... you wouldn't believe the variety of styles-- some being stuck in the 80's!! :)

The girls enjoying the music:

Cheap Trick

Poison

:)

Def Leppard

:)

Don't these bands bring back memories??? What were your favorite songs from them?

Happy Weekend...........

My Little Fish

Angie has become quite the swimmer this summer..... She is the last of my kids to learn to swim and I will be SO HAPPY when she is fully "trained". Right now, she is so fearless and just thinks she can do anything in the pool without "danger"....
If I don't go in the pool with her, I make her wear swimmies....just a little extra reassurance that she won't sink before I can get to her!!

Anyway, we went to Gamps and Grama's house a couple weeks ago and she got to swim and swim and swim!!!

:)

:)

Look at her go......

Taking a break with Heidi.....

and Gamps......

and then back to swimming....

Tomorrow the boys get their turn and get to swim at Gamps & Grama's..... The kids are excited, as are Gamps & Grama since they haven't seen the boys for over a month....