You're moving to GUAM?

Well, Nana safely made it back from her visit to PA to see Wally and his family. She went down for a week and we missed her! But fair is fair - after all they are moving to Guam for THREE years in a few short weeks. Although, I'm sure they have quite the adventure ahead of them we will miss them being in Pennsylvania - we have definitely taken that distance for granted. They will be so far away. I'm not sure if the $3,000 per person airfare will bring them many visitors...as well as the 32 hour flight, ugh.... They will be home for a visit in a few weeks for Jay and Roberta's son's baptism. Wally is MJ's Godfather. Hopefully we will be able to have a family get together so everyone can wish them safe in their journey to the other side of the world!!!!

Anyway, Nana helped me shop for curtains and move two couches into the new den! I ask a lot of her and she is so incredible... Thank you MOM/Nana!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everday should end with a rainbow!

What a great Friday! Packed up Samantha and headed to Leomonister to visit with Jo and Dennis and see their new house... Getting there started off with a bang, running out of the house I shut the door and realized that it was locked with the keys in the house. I called my friend Sue to get me out of this crazy situation and cell phone was dead so she couldn't call me back....so I somehow managed to kick the cellar door in (somehow...really just one kick - need to get that fixed) and was able to get into the house... We were off... heading down the highway I suddenly realize I'm almost to the Pike, funny Jo lives in Leominster, not Newton so I turn myself around and head about 4 exits back to Route 2! Phew, now we're making good time...one would think...we make it to Leominster via mapquest directions which says "stay right on Mead Street" no exit number, no Mead Street! - isn't that convenient! We end going about 4 exits or so out of our way befoe we turn ourselves around... At this point I'm grumbling to myself saying "I'm lost" and Samantha (whom ironically always knows when to throw in her two cents) says "What, Mama we're lost? Mama we're not lost, we are in the woods - see all the trees????" I couldn't wait to tell Jo what Samantha thought of Leominster - there are a lot of woods.... We finally make it to Jo's and relax. Samantha threw on her life jacket and water wings and she was in heaven. Jenn and Riley showed up a while later and the girls had a great time in the pool. I had a great time, but the water was FREEZING! Jenn, bless her went completely in... My excuse was that I had my hair highlighted last night and couldn't possibly get my head wet.... Well I finally persuaded Sam and her purple lips out of the pool for some lunch and watermelon roll. I'd forgotten how good it tasted. We headed home late afternoon and was gifted with a down pour of biblical proportions! Samantha was out cold in the back catching flies (I might need to invest in a pool) when all the sudden I was gifted with the biggest rainbow I have seen in a while (couldn't wake Sam for the life of me!). It was so nice to enjoy while I sat in traffic.....oh well getting there is half the fun!

First Day of Summer

While Samantha went to Canobie Lake Park with John and Sarah I hit the beach with Megzie, Katy and Lisa. Lisa lives a few minutes from Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea. What a perfect day! We were there until 7:00PM!!! Lisa left at one point and came back with smuggled beer (so rebellious) and BBQ chicken pizza (which was to die for)! Then we headed into Boston to meet Carolyn, Dawn and Justin (and some of his friends) for a few drinks with a late night snack in the North End. Who am I??? It was a nice way to officially start the first day of summer!!

Shopping with the girls

Went shopping with Jenn, Ashley and Samantha today. It was so fun to hang out with the girls! Hard to believe that Ash will be Sweet 16 in September. I remember her at Sam's age like it was yesterday. Today she is an avid soccer player, throws a nice javelin in track, and LOVES to hang with her friends! No time for Mom and Auntie Tracey these days! It's funny how many things Samantha does that remind me of Ashley. Shopping with Jenn and Ash clearly showed me what I was in for with Samantha. We were looking for a desk and vanity for Ashley's new room and Samantha was looking for anything and everything. We ended our shopping adventure with no desk or vanity and what seemed like hundreds of shopping bags from Jenn and my inability to say no to clothes and trinkets for the girls! Samantha was also able to convince Ashley to go on their new trampoline (not that it took much). Ashley showed us flips from gymnastic days gone by and Samantha showed us somersaults and half splits from her recent gymnastics class.... It was a great day!

happy birthday Colm!

Happy Birthday Colm! You're catching up!!!! Cheers!

Happy birthday!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Jenn Teeeeeeeeee! Happy Birthday to you! Have a spectacular day!!!!

Happy Father's Day!

One step closer

Today was another milestone in my efforts to have a play room and laundry room built in the basement. I had the oil tank removed!!! Yeah says the crowd... It's funny how excited I get about the little (or not so little) things I do at my house... Next project.... :)

Jo Jo's Last Single Dance

Another busy Saturday... We went to Jake's graduation party and saw lots of family members that we don't get to see very often.... Fun times!

Then I dropped Samantha off at John's and said a quick hello to Dave Dunston who was visiting from Arizona...then it was off to Jo's bachelorette in Providence. We had a fabulous dinner at Temple followed up with some late night clubbing and crazy cab drivers. Had a blast!

Perfect Beach Day!

It truly must be summer! Friday, Sue, Amy and I packed up the kids and headed for a day at the beach - the sun was shinning, the sky was blue and there was a slight breeze... I, of course, got burned because I was too busy spraying Samantha. I'm not sure if I am a big fan of the spray lotion as I was forever spraying Sam and her shoulders still got burned... Just another nomination for Mother of the Year!

We had a great day! I couldn't keep the girls out of the water - thankfully it wasn't too cold.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Deeeeeeb! Happy Birthday to you! Hope you had a great birthday!

End of the Year Brunch!

Samantha had her end of the year preschool brunch today. It was from 9:30 to 10:30. It was totally cute. Samantha was asked to show her parents around her classroom and to select an area where we could all play together. Samantha chose the doll house and then we moved on to puppets. I was so fun to play with her at school. We then had snack and were able to watch how two teachers can control 19 kids! My hats off to Miss Clare and Miss Lisa as they made it look effortless! We were entertained with the kids singing "We All Sing With the Same Voice" Samantha entertained me by rocking out in her spot on the rug. She truly is a ham! When we left we were gifted with a yearbook which is totally cute and allows me to see her progression throughout the year. It was a fun morning!

Happy Birthday Kathleen!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Early! Happy Birthday to you! Cheers!

happy First Birthday Gabby!

happy day Gabby! Sorry we missed your party. The pictures were great!

Allison Hogan's Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Allie! Happy Birthday Allie! Hope you have a wonderful day!!!!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy 40th Birthday Auntie Dee!!!! Happy Birthday to you! We love you!

A Recital, Two B-day parties and a Wedding!

Saturday was incredibly busy! Samantha and I woke up and attended her first Gymnastics recital. She did so well. She definitely has a unique sense of humor. The faces, interpretive dance and general laughing at herself made her recital even more entertaining. Although I probably should have told her to work on her somersault a little more :)

From there we rushed on over to her first ever Chuck E Cheese party for her friend Allie Hogan. We spent two hours playing games, riding helicopters, eating pizza while having Chuck E and his friends entertain us with song and dance. We then went to the Hogan's house for a little after party cookout which was fun to see Auntie Jenn, Uncle Carlos, Ashley and Carlos before I rushed off to Anthony Nguyen's wedding.

Congratulations Anthony and May!!!!! Happiness always. We had a great time at the wedding. There was a 13 course meal (as is tradition) - I even tried the shark fin soup - only because I told Anthony I would.... The cake was too die for :)

We were unable to attend Gabby Palmer's first birthday party at the lake... Happy Birthday Gabbs! We hope your day was extra special!!! Big hugs!

Sex in the City!

Friday night was a great night out with the girls. We went to see the Sex in the City movie. How fun it was to meet 9 of my closest friend's out for a night of laughs - what a perfect movie for us! It's funny how much we can relate to those four girls - thanks for all the wonderful memories. I'm so happy I had the opportunity to live with Briggsie, Rocky and Jo-Jo and meeting Ro Ro, Turkey, Katie, Earls, Jenn because of 10 Walker. Thanks for all the wonderful laughs and memories....... We are so blessed to have each other!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Cush! Happy Birthday to you! Can't wait to see you!

No More Partridges!

What a nice surprise! Mindy and Tony showed up last night with a bag of tools and a new light fixture for my kitchen. I have been living with a fluorescent light with a plastic cover (seriously, plastic??) that was covered in partridges and fruit! Now I have a nice brushed nickel fixture that is soooooo nice! Thank you! Thank you!

What a nice weekend! No moving!!! Friday Samantha had a play date with her friend Lindsey from school. It was her first play date with someone I didn't know. Lindsey's mother, Pam, was so nice. She made me tea...

Saturday was gymnastics and Sam had to wear the leotard that was like Brooke's... Her recital is next weekend. That should be interesting as she can't really do a somersault yet ;)

Saturday night was a fun. Samantha, Nana and I went to see the Backyardigan's Live at the Colonial Theatre in town. We went to dinner first, bought a t-shirt and we were set to go. The show was good, but we were disappointed that the characters only had on costumes from the neck down so it was difficult to determine which character they were. Sam had fun singing and dancing and that was all that mattered.

Sunday, Mindy, Sam and I went to Kittery, ME to the outlets. What a difference from the Wrentham Outlets.... I like Wrentham way better, of course, I had no problem finding something to buy. My favorite Sam line of the day was upon entering the Children's Place outlet. "Mom, these are the cutest sandals I have ever seen. Don't you think so? I must try them on" How can you not buy them after that statement. Man am I in trouble!