tickled pink

5 things I'm loving right now....

2012-02-01T03:28:00.000-08:00

1. Old Navy stripey boatneck- the perfect go to top. Super casual, while looking pulled together And at 14 bucks, I'll take six please..

2. My Keurig...sigh. It brews my perfect cup every time. I love coffee

3. Downton Abbey- I rarely get immersed in TV series. I typically watch HGTV or Food Network. BUt I watched the complete 1st season on Netflix in one night. (stayed up to 3am!) And I have not missed a Sunday night episode yet. It is so good. And Anna and Bates are just the sweetest.

4. MY perfect lipstick shade. And it's only $4.99

5. Stretching.. Getting on the floor twice a day and doing some yoga and stretches. Feels good to move and work out the kinks. Now if I could just learn to love to Couch to 5k training schedule.

Linking up!

Photo a day

2012-01-31T19:34:00.001-08:00

In 2010 I did a 365 photo project. I love the photo book
I created with my pics. I wanted to do another this year, but somehow, January got away from me too quickly.

So, February 1st, tomorrow, I am
doing a month long challenge of a photo a day. Should be fun and not a challenge, hopefully.

It was a beauty of a day today, almost 60 degrees in January! We enjoyed some park playtime and that made them super tires for bed early. Me too, except I crashed on the couch at nine for a few minutes and now at 1034pm, I am wide awake. Grr

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Day with Maeve

2012-01-30T19:11:00.001-08:00

With the big girls at school all day, I am lucky to spend lots of quality rime with Maeve. two days a week we go to Mommy and me class, and she loves it so much! Honestly, most of the other time is spent playing at home, doing chores and errands, and attempting to get her to take a NAP!

This past friday after her toddler class, I thought we would spend some time shopping. She was such a good little shopper and we had some fun browsing around Marshall's and AC Moore. Maeve talked me into buying a Dora messenger bag and she has been using it ever since!

We also stopped in petsmart to get buster some biscuits. Ahe loved walking around checking out the fish, hamsters, birds and kitties!

I will miss these long days with my little girl, soon enough she will be in school all day too!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Out with the old.....

2012-01-03T12:36:00.000-08:00

New year. Makes me want to do things better. A fresh start. It started on Sunday, better habits are hopefully going to take up residence around here. More veggies, more moving. Less ice cream.

Girls went back to school today. David went back to work. I need them all out of the house when I want to deep clean. Maeve is easy, give her a Clorox wipe and she helps. Once they were gone, I tackled the mess. Put all the new Christmas toys to the playroom. Collected all the Christmas tcothckes and put them away, I wanted to haul the tree to the curb but I guess I will wait until Epiphany. Then I dusted and vacummed and swiffered and mopped and wiped. This place looks great. The 4th load of laundry is drying. Yes, I am on my game today.

Since it is a new year and I've got a nice clean house, I figured I need a clean slate too. Here's what I"m working on this year.

1. Taking care of #1....that's me. I wear many hats, wife, mom, nurse, daughter, sister, friend. I think I do them all very well. I need to take care of me better. Take time to do what makes me happy. I'm the priority now.

2. Don't worry so much about others and their needs. This year I am doing what is right for me and my family. Period.

3. Make new habits, good ones. Lose the stuff that has been dragging me down.

4. Live the less is more motto. Less buying of junk, more thought into what we really need.

Ok 2012 show me what you've got,

Is this thing on??

2011-08-18T17:45:00.001-07:00

Wow, been a long te since I blogged. Three little ladies keeping me bust. Summer is fun but long.. Frankly, they are bored with me. 1st grade can't come soon enough!!

Ten on Ten

2011-04-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

Ten photos on the tenth documenting 10hours in my day.

Enjoy..

I run on Dunkin ~6am

Sunday morning breakfast

Power failure

Time for a walk

Jump start on dinner

Computer time + bedhead

Roadtripping

Playtime

The bro

A to Z Meme

2011-04-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

A. Age: 36

B. Bed size: Queen. A King size bed should be mandatory in all marriages.

C. Chore you dislike: Unloading the dishwasher

D. Dogs: Buster Boy Bruno

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee with cream and sugar.

F. Favorite color: Blue

G. Gold or silver: Silver

H. Height: 5' 4"

I. Instruments you play(ED): None, sadly.

J. Job title: SAHM and perdiem NICU nurse.

K. Kids: Twin 6 year old girls and almost 2 year old baby girl.

L. Live: NJ

M. Mom’s name: Vivienne

N. Nicknames: Laura Lou

O. Overnight hospital stays: Two C sections

P. Pet peeves: bragging, cheapness

Q. Quote from a movie: Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. (The Godfather)

R. Righty or Lefty: Righty.

S. Siblings: One Brother

T. Time you wake up: 550am...yuck

U. Underwear: Granny panties, thankyouverymuch

V. Vegetables you don’t like: Turnip

W. What makes you run late: My husband

X. X-rays you’ve had: couple of knee ones

Y. Yummy food you make: Stuffed shells, Parmesan Chicken

Z. Zoo Animal Favourites: Koalas

Happy Monday

2011-03-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

Spring with a chance of snow showers.. Mother Nature is bipolar. We woke up this morning to cold, wet, dreary Monday morning. What a way to enjoy our first full day of spring. It made me want to make oatmeal and hot chocolate and stay in our jammies all day long, well Maeve did but she is one so it doesn't count. But half day Kindergarten session beckoned, and lets be honest I will take the 2.5 hours thankyouverymuch..

Even though it was a pretty gloomy day, I did manage to accomplish alot...and by alot I mean..laundry AND making dinner.. Seriously though, I did feel good about my day. Perhaps, it has something to do with my newfound love of rising at 6am and sweating it out on the elliptical machine..Give me my ipod cranked up to Dog Days are over and I get in a zone...I hope I can stay in the zone until I lose this weight...It is true exercise DOES make you feel better..even though I really want to LOOK better.

Looking back over the weekend, it was a good one. The girls were kept busy on Saturday with a bowling birthday party and then we all enjoyed a nice dinner at JB's..The kids had a blast playing and I enjoyed some wine...instead of some whine.

Sunday, my beloved and I headed over to South Street Seaport to see the BODIES exhibit. It was really good..But here's the thing, it was really graphic. I mean they are cadavers and all...and I was freaked out a bit...and I'm a nurse..It was very educational though and just nice to go see something that does not require 3D glasses. We then enjoyed a lovely lunch al fresco with some beers in the beautiful sunshine.

It is always nice to come home to these three little faces though...Thanks Nanny for the day out!

Lent

2011-03-09T12:22:00.000-08:00

40 days and 40 nights of no Facebook. That is what I am giving up for Lent. Facebook is a time zapper for me, I check it multiple times a day, spent mindless minutes reading about the minutia of others days...meanwhile I have vast amounts of laundry, chores, meal prep, errands to do....oh and um, three kids to tend to.

I am hoping my little hiatus will leave me with a newfound sense of time management and hopefully a shorter to do list.

Groundhog Day...again

2011-02-01T16:54:00.000-08:00

Motherhood is alot like that Bill Murray movie: Groundhog day..where the same day happens over and over again.

Consider this:

Today I woke up at 622am....Like I did yesterday.

The sounds I heard were Maeve pulling books of her shelves, since her older sisters rescued her from the crib.
(Like yesterday)

I reluctantly pull back the covers, tell David I get the shower first and head out to the bath.
(Like I did yesterday)

After the quickest shower ever. Its time to get the girls dressed for school. They complain about the clothing choices (like they did yesterday) I scoop up Maeve and quickly change the diaper and then head downstairs for my beloved cup of Joe.
(just like I do every day)

While I wait for the coffee to brew, I fill the sippy cup and get out the cereal bowls and spoons. I also need to put David's dinner dishes in the dishwasher, since he never does. (Oh, and that is just like I did yesterday, every freaking day actually)

Maeve and I now are back at home, Mickey Mouse clubhouse is on and I start the chores. Make the beds, collect the dirty laundry, wipe the toothpaste off of the sink...blah, blah, blah. (Remember its just like the day before)

Maeve comes to find me, the show must be over and it is snack time..its only 923am. (just like the day before)

Throw in an errand or some other random nonsense and it brings us to Kindergarten pick up time. Its only 1115am (just like yesterday)

Lunch, homework, TV time, coloring, crafts....let's bake a cake...Maeve takes a nap...shhh, don't wake your sister..This comprises the afternoon agenda..(Just like the day before)

Maeve is awake, how did that go so fast?...playtime for all..read some books, clean some more mess, color again, you need another snack??

Its now 444pm...dinner gets started..call to the husband..what time will you be in? 630pm cannot come soon enough. (just like yesterday)

Please eat your dinner, put your dishes in the sink...dance party time...(Didn't we do this yesterday?)

Up to the baths, brush your teeth better than that..2 stories each..its 730pm and husband is still not home. (Just like yesterday)

Daddy is home ..we eat in peace..clean up the kitchen again...collapse on the couch..he reads the paper (just like the day before) and I'm on the laptop. (just like yesterday)

I fight to keep my eyes open its 937pm...Crawl up to bed, tuck the girls in and kiss their sweet heads...(just like the day before)

In the morning I will wake up and do it over again and again and again....until I guess I won't have to anymore..

That is my Groundhog Day...and I wouldn't change it for anything..

(Except maybe the dishes part.)

{This Moment}

2011-01-21T05:34:00.000-08:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, join in over at Soule Ma ma

Her first strike

Trash to Treasure

2011-01-06T10:14:00.000-08:00

Of course when the last of the Christmas decorations are taken down, I always have this undeniable urge to throw things away. I clean out cabinets, sort through old clothes and purge the toy bins. It feels good. I collected quite alot of "trash" here in our little home. The girls even got in on the action. They each gave away some of their treasures that they were willing to part with, things like 2 Sillybands and an old Happy Meal toy. I fear these two might be pack rats. It runs in the family...not my side :)

After an intense two days of decluttering and reorganizing, I needed a stop off at Target for some essentials...Clorox wipes, paper towels and garbage bags..

And then it happened..I spied the Valentine tchotchkes in the dollar bins..
glitter and foam hearts..imeanhowcutearethese??

Damn you, Target, clearly its all your fault for my clutter.

And just because I think she looks absolutely lovely in this ensemble I give you...

Maeve.

Good Riddance 2010

2011-01-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

ahhh, 2010. Not such a great year. It was filled with alot of emotion, tremendous loss and moments of uncertainty. We did manage as a family to pull through and create happiness again. Nothing worthwhile in this life is ever easy. I would like to say that the events that took place in 2010, shaped me in some ways. I think I have learned that life is for living, family is most important and everything does eventually turn out alright. As we start the new year, we all have resolutions and changes we like to make. I have my own too, I think we all are works in progress.

So, as 2011 in in full swing. I have started by clearing the clutter, clearing my mind of worry and focusing on what really matters to me.

Even though 2010 was not so great, we did manage to have some good times.

* Family vacation to Disneyworld in March. Priceless memories
* Starting a blog! Although I did not write that many posts, I am glad that I did
update it. This year I hope it will grow even more.
* MY 365 photo project. So I missed a few days here and there but looking back
through the slideshow, made me realize how every day really does matter. It is
like a photo journal of the year.
* Maeve turned 1!
* Ava and Olivia started Kindergarten
* Summer vacation in Maine was amazing
* Meeting the GooGoo Dolls

Not too shabby. So bring it 2011, I am.

2010-12-23T10:37:00.001-08:00

Snowflake Wishes Cranberry Holiday

Turn your holiday photos into holiday cards with Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Two weeks in December

2010-12-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

It started with the town Holiday parade

Holiday Dance Expo

Gingerbread house making

Tree shopping

Irish Tenors Christmas Concert

Goo Goo Dolls

A weekend away

Its been a busy December and its not over yet...Christmas is coming--eve here at home, a road trip to visit family and a rocking New Years Eve bash in the lovely Chatham. Excuse me while I go take a nap, I am tired already.

Weekend plans

2010-12-10T06:09:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I was in sunny (cold) Florida with my beloved. I forced all thoughts of to do lists and chores out of my head to be dealt with when I got back. Well, I'm back and now this weekend is chock full of STUFF.

Here's the short list...no need to read it, it mainly is for me to get organized!

- girls 1st basketball practice
- get Christmas tree
-decorate tree
-decorate outside of house
-wrap gifts
-figure out what other presents are needed
-sort and bundle items for PTA mitten tree
-take Christmas card photo
-upload photo
-pick out and order holiday cards

I hope that is all.

Ok, off to sleep now..night shift over. Tonight kicks off the holidays for me..Irish tenors with my mom and then let the chaos begin!

Holiday Cards

2010-12-01T19:10:00.000-08:00

It is that time of year again...

I choose the matching outfits, get the matching hair bows and pray that no one gets a head injury that could leave a mark...

Its time for the annual Christmas card!

I just LOVE getting mail in December and so do my girls.

We like to see all the beautiful pictures of our friends and family and proudly display them around our home.

I love to see all of the different card designs and to see how creative some of them are.

The past two years I have used Shutterfly to design our holiday cards. I have not been disappointed.

The quality is great and they always are delivered quickly.

Here is our final product from 2009

Some of my favorites for this year are:

I love the monogram in the corner of this one above.

The black and white photos of this are a nice touch.

This one might be the winner for this year...

but you will just need to wait and check your mailbox!

Guess what?

Shutterfly is offering 50 FREE cards to bloggers who blog about this giveaway. How great is that?

If you have a blog, you can get in on this great deal too!

Check it out here

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

A Thankful Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T10:21:00.000-08:00

Besides the obvious things like my kids and food on the table there are some things that I am truly thankful for..

1. Shop rite online grocery shopping..need I say more. It is heaven sent.

2. Drive thru Starbucks

3. Marcia~ my cleaning lady

4. OPI color gels---seriously this manicure lasts 2 weeks.

5. The googoo dolls---I love them

6. Keurig coffee machine

7. Chicken nuggets

And last but not least I am truly thankful for

Target.

Have a happy Thanksgiving..gobble gobble

Great Giveaway!

2010-11-19T07:25:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite blogs to read is Lisa Leonard. Lisa also makes incredible stamped jewelry. She is sponsoring a great giveaway right now, so head on over for your chance to win!

Lisa Leonard Online

Good luck!

16 months

2010-11-10T09:09:00.001-08:00

Maeve, you are 16 months old! How is that even possible? It seems overnight you changed from a tiny baby who spent most days in a baby carrier to now...a happy toddler into EVERYTHING!

You now weigh just 20 pounds, you are a little petite peanut!

You wear a size 3 diaper and most clothes are 12-18 months and a size 5 shoe!

You are into everything. I was worried about you walking late (almost 14 months) and now you practically run everywhere. Your most favorite thing to do is go in your sisters room and pull every single book off the shelves and pull their clothes out of their drawers! FUN TIMES..

You are a good eater and your favorites are mac and cheese, meatballs, ziti. Every morning for breakfast you have cinnamon toast, followed by most of your Daddy's cereal.

You are a daddy's girl and you go crazy when he comes in from work. Which is nice for me....its a good break!

You are down to 1 nap a day, and if I time it right you can sleep over 2 hours sometimes. Bedtime is getting tougher now, you like to be held and rocked and we just recently started letting you settle on your own.

You are such a good little girl and so happy. Your big sisters love you so much and play so nicely with you (even though you steal all their things!)

It makes me sad sometimes to see you getting big, but each age comes with its own set of happy times!

We love you Maeve!

sisters

2010-11-04T03:45:00.000-07:00

The girls have been letting their hair grow since the summer. Sadly, they were not blessed with thick, wavy hair like me, thankyouverymuch. Their hair is straight, wispy and thin. They need it shorter to give it some life. I convinced Olivia to get it cut. Ava wanted no part of it. She declared she was growing her hair long. So, off we went Livi and I to Zig Zag salon. The nice stylist, propped Livi up in the booster seat and gave her a proper shampoo and condition. She was thrilled. The stylist began cutting and shaping and a mere 15 minutes later my little girl had a shoulder length bob with some long layers for volume. She look so polished and GROWN up. Most importantly, she loved it. As she skipped out of the salon, she told me how great it felt. Upon our arrival at home, Livi ran to show her twin her new do.

And within seconds, Ava announced she wanted her hair cut EXACTLY the same way.

Sorry September...

2010-10-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

Not one post in September ...that means either not much happened or too much happened and I never had time to blog about it.

Too much is still happening. October is CRAZY...one week in and my head is spinning.

The girls are in Kindergarten...its half day...which is both good and bad. It is nice to have them home with me, but its also annoying to try and keep them occupied. We spend most of our late afternoons in the car running to ice skating, dance, science club etc.

I have been working a bit more, thankfully the unit has been usy so they have needed the help. But even one night shift a week can send me into a tailspin and I play catch up for awhile.

The girls birthday is coming up and with that comes the PARTY! They are excited. We also have plans to take them to American Girl in NYC so that should e alot of fun and I'll post all about it.

I really want to get back to regular postings on the blog, to record some of the daily stuff that goes on, one day I know I will want to look back and remember these CRAZY days!

Dream house

2010-08-13T19:06:00.001-07:00

Since we came home from vacation I have been playing catch up with laundry, getting things put away and just trying to get some order around the house..With three girls, who like to pull everything out in every room, I spend more time putting the "stuff" back where it belongs than actually cleaning or making the house "pretty".

When we bought our house almost 9 years ago, I instantly fell in love. It has great bones...nice woodwork, beautiful mantle over the fireplace, gorgeous hardwood floors and an amazing perennial garden.

When we moved in to #423...I was just excited to own my first home and decorate something other than a bedroom. Sadly, my taste back then was not too refined. I bought furniture too quickly just to fill the rooms and now I am stuck with most of it....I love my house and it is truly a "home" but I have dreams about how I might decorate if given the chance again...

here's some eye candy..

Claw footed tub and those big beautiful windows!!

An all white kitchen...with DOUBLE farmer sinks!

A trough sink for the kids bathroom, plenty of room for three girls to brush their teeth.

I just love this mirror collection over the bed...but even we just had a king sized bed that would make me so happy!

What would your "dream" house have?

Vacationland

2010-08-09T18:30:00.001-07:00

New Jersey is the Garden State...Maine is Vacationland..This is our 5th trip to Maine. We've done the seacoast towns of Ogunquit and Kennebunkport..Ate lobsters on Boothbay Harbor...and been far north to Moosehead Lake. When I was young, my parents took us on a vacation to Maine..to the Belgrade Lakes of Maine..so that is where we chose to go this year.

We rented a private house on a beautiful lake.. We had all the comforts of home..the lake was perfect for the girls to swim in...shallow and calm..they loved it. The cabin also came with some kayaks which we made great use of. Ava and Olivia are still small enough to squeeze into the one person kayak..It is so much fun to paddle way out with them and just enjoy the scenery and listen to them talk..

We had campfires and roasted marshmallows...made smores..told silly scary stories about lake monsters..gazed up at a beautiful dark sky..littered with thousands of stars..like nothing I have ever seen before..truly amazing..Even more amazing was that Ava and Olivia could point out the Big Dipper, the Bear and more..Where they learn this stuff I'm not sure...Maybe I should watch more Noggin.

We went on a boat ride..which they loved..and Maeve fell asleep the ENTIRE time..so I was able to enjoy it too!

Best part was that all that fresh air every day knocked them out and they went to bed early most nights..While there was no local or cable TV..there was a DVD player and some old cheesy 80s movies..We watched Air force One, Beverly Hills Cop I and II and On Golden Pond..So fun..

It was a great vacation and one that I know I will fondly remember..the girls will too I hope. I can remember my trip to Belgrade Lakes when I was young and I still have such great memories of fishing, sleeping in the cabin, going out on the motorboat and so much more..It was truly a family vacation.

What I'm..

2010-07-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

What I’m [reading] = The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

What I’m [also reading] = Dune Road by Jane Green

What I’m [eating] = lately not too much..which is good. Down 8 pounds and being accountable. I'm sadly too old now to eat whatever I want and not exercise..It's over or
rather the beginning.

What I’m [hearing] = Goo Goo dolls, new songs have me amped up for their concert next week at PNC. Date night here we come!

What I’m [writing] = This blog. I am trying to keep it up. Its fun, and a nice way to be creative.

What I’m [missing] = sleeping in. The girls get up so early and really do not go down until 9 some nights. The days have been realllllyy long.

What I’m [loving] = My girls. Maeve is just delicious lately. She's getting a little personality and saying some words. It is so fun to watch her little self come to life! And Ava and Olivia are getting so big and ask questions and have opinions (sometimes too much)but they are great girls. I am so proud of them.

What I’m [googling] = NO joke. Hiking trails in Maine. We leave in 2 weeks and I am hoping we can get some easy trails to explore.

What I’m [watching] = Bethenny getting Married. And that's about it. TV stinks in my opinion.

What I’m [surprised about] = that I went to Target twice today..that is just ridiculous.

What I’m [wondering] = why my house gets so messy 5 minutes after I clean it up!!!

Party all the time..

2010-07-18T18:59:00.000-07:00

I've been best friends with Tara since 1st grade. I'll be 36 next month. We've been friends for thirty years...thirty. That is just crazy. We've seen each other through most of life's ups and downs. We have had some laughs and cries. It all started with sharing a black crayon. We share such a long history, she knows me so well...she is part of my history.

Cathy is my other best friend. Is it childish to call someone your best friend when your almost 36?..Oh well I don't care. Being freinds with Cathy means we don't have to talk every day but when we are together it is like we were never apart. My friendship with Cathy goes deep. She has shared one of my life's biggest losses with me. She held my hand when Kelley slipped away and she will never know how much that meant to me. She was also there for me in our early 20's to drink many Amstel lights and to rescue me out of the "weeds " during my stint of worst waitress ever at Houlihans. Okay, maybe not worst ever, but most certainly not a very good one!

We celebrated Tara's daughter Gracie turning 2 years old this past week. It was a great time, swimming in the pool, eating pizza and cupcakes and enjoying the company of friends. So, there we all were. Tara and her 3 kids, Cathy and her three and me and mine. As I looked around at the nine children we have between us, I have to say it was pretty amazing. I realized what a gift we all have. We grew up together and now our children will too. There was a special comfort felt among my friends that day. I could casually say, "hey keep your eye on Maeve, while I help Gracie" and we passed baby Keira around like she was one of our own. The kids all played together. Cheering each other on as they took jumps off the diving board or shooting down the water slide. It was a great day.

I only hope that in thirty years, Tara, Cathy and I will be sitting around watching our grandchildren play together.

that's more like it..

2010-07-14T15:20:00.000-07:00

Apparently 11 hours of sleep makes everything better..Much nicer day today.. Lots of catching up with bills, laundry and other nonsense. Maeve took a super long nap and 4 hours with the girls at camp passed by too quick.

Ava and Olivia have been playing Disney World most of the afternoon. Props included a measuring tape (to determine height restrictions), Maeve's Winnie the pooh ride on toy (aka the roller coaster) and Littlest Pet shop toys placed in tea cups (Mad Hatter's tea party ride) Poor Maeve has been denied entrance to all rides, they keep telling her she's too little..She'll get them back someday. BIG TIME.

My bliss is short lived..I'm working nights tonight and will be sleep deprived again in a mere 12 hours.

Back to bed

2010-07-13T18:43:00.000-07:00

So, letting ALL three girls stay up way too late did bite me in the arse. They all slept in, including me, however it ended up throwing me off for the entire day.

It started with the girls going to camp and needing showers in the am. We typically do baths at night. It was annoying to have to deal with that and breakfast. Oh and then, I realize that I was supposed to run to the deli so they would have something for lunch. But we SLEPT in, no time for that! I ended up sending them in to camp, and I dropped off lunch after I went to the deli. After all this running, Maeve decides napping in the car is a great idea. So there went the long nap I was hoping for.

I decided to be somewhat productive. Our neighbors are away so we have been caring for their pool (which they let us use anytime) They are awesome. I decided to vacuum it and put some chlorine in to keep it tip top. I ended up bleaching one of my favorite shirts from the chlorine and after I vacuumed, the skies opened up and it poured. I mean torrential. The pool is full of leaves. **SIGH**

On the bright side, since it was pouring rain, a great friend offered to pick the girls up at camp for me. It was the highlight of my day. The afternoon was looking up, until piss and moan came home and were tired, hungry, cold etc...you name it, they were IT!. Even Disney XD could not keep these two happy. It was a long afternoon. Maeve had no nap, again..

By the time, Prince Charming arrived home, I was not in a good way. I fed them all, bathed them and then bid them all farewell. I went to Target, I bought myself a new Burts Bees lipgloss, a Glamour magazine and Peach Mango bubble bath. I came home and soaked until my fingers were pruney. Now, 2 Advil and my pillow...and dreams of a better tomorrow.

How was your day?

some fun

2010-07-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

Why do the weekends go by so fast? We spent the afternoon on Sunday at the Newark Museum..Its small, close and just what we needed on a hot, muggy, overcast day. We spent some time walking around the small garden and the girls loved it so much.

They called it the "fairy garden"

Olivia trying on the firefighting gear at the museum.

Maeve had fun playing with the pebbles..She is always that happy.

Ava playing in the firetruck

David and Maeve or as I like to call her "Mavid"

On Friday, we spent the day with our cousins at Colony pool. This year the girls Olivia and Ava were able to go down the frog slide. They were so excited they were finally big enough.

Maeve loved the sand..and she was doted on all day by a great girl..Gizzy made my day so enjoyable by carrying Maeve for me and playing with her!!

See those smiles...that's because they had 2 icecream cones, 1 slushie, chicken nuggets and sun and sand.. Nice life!

Great weekend leading up to a busy week. Hope yours was great too.

Total "eclipse" of the heart..

2010-07-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

I started to read the Twilight series but never finished past the first two ooks. Some girlfriends were going tonight to see the 3rd movie, Eclipse and although I did not read the book, I needed a night out!!

Needless to say it was a great movie. I will probably finish the books by the end of the weekend now.

I might even finish the Harry Potter books too!

Summertime

2010-07-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

July already?? Summer is in full swing around here..our days are filled with lots of swimming...watermelon eating, ice pop licking and lightening bug catching come dark...

We celebrated big for Maeve's 1st birthday..Its hard to believe she is already 1!!!! We have had such a fun time with her. She is the center of attention most days..and her big sisters dote on her constantly...and to be honest me too!! She is a happy baby and brings us so much happiness.. We may be creating a monster though!!

Ava and Olivia are going to summer camp, three days a week and it keeps them busy.. and keeps me sane. Actually they are at camp right now, and Maeve is napping so I guess I better go be productive..

Sparkle

2010-06-13T19:58:00.000-07:00

A short five days after my last entry on this blog, Kelley lost her fight with cancer, and we lost her. Words cannot even express the extreme sadness that came over me and the rest of my family. Trying to come to grips with loss and grief is probably one of the hardest tasks we all need to go through in life. It is so hard to go on and not question WHY?? Why Kelley? Why now? But all the questions in my head could drive me crazy... I learned I just needed to accept it and move on.....but move on in the right direction.

Jack met Kelley and to say it was a whirlwind romance would be an understatement. I had truly never seen him so happy in his life up to that point. He told me when he met her.."She is exactly what I want" They were married a short year later. The rest they say is history.

Work, kids, house remodels, vacations and the rest soon followed...and as they say.. life got in the way...I never had the chance to spend girl time with Kelley. We never went shopping, never went for pedicures, never to the movies..Life got in the way. It was not until Kelley got sick that I was able to tell her how I felt about her..that I loved her..that I loved her for loving Jack so well.

Jack was scheduled for a business trip to Sweden. Nanny was to go stay at the house with Kelley and the kids. For some reason, I called Kelley the week before and asked if I could come sleepover with the girls...(Emma would love it!) Little did I know that this was all in the plan.

The day before Kelley died, I took her for radiation, then we went to a local furniture store so she could order a coffee table!! Then back to the hospital for chemo. The most heartfelt conversation I ever had with Kelley took place that morning. She told me so many things..most of all how she was at peace with her prognosis, and as I cried as she said it, she told me to be brave. She was so strong.

We talked a bit about heaven and she told me a story of a prayer group friend's sister who had died from breast cancer. This woman told her family that when she died she would give them a sign that she was okay. She determined that she would be something shimmery or sparkling. I asked Kelley if she could come back as something what would it be? She told me she was not sure, but not something cliche like a bird or butterfly!! Kelley looked at me and simply said "I just really love the idea of a sparkle" I replied that is such a nice thought...to be a sparkle. And that was it.. nothing else was said about it.

Kelley died on Wednesday, a day after I was sitting with her talking about coffee tables. We all knew she was terminal but you are just never ready. I was in furthur turmoil because Jack could not be there. I was there for Jack, I held her hand, I cared for her the way Jack would have done. But that was Kelley's plan, she was protecting Jack. She loved him so much she did not want him to suffer. The day following her death was terrible, I was in a fog and just emotionally and physically spent. I went home to David and my girls.

I did not sleep much that night, as I thought so much about Kelley. Maeve woke up extra early that morning as well. I was anxious to get her from her crib and as I went to pick her up, I see as plain as can be, a small fleck of glitter in the middle of her forehead. That was the sparkle. I knew that Kelley was ok and was watching over us.

And I knew then that we would all be ok too.

Mother's Day

2010-05-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

What a better way to start the week than by celebrating ME!!! I really do love Mother's Day especially now that the girls understand and want to make my day special. We started the day early with breakfast at the diner.

David and the girls waiting on a table.

After breakfast we headed out for a drive to run some errands and went by the Great Falls. It was FREEZING and very windy so we only stayed a short time. We then ran some errands while the girls stayed with Nanny.

It was like a mini vacation for me!

Dinner was my choice and I decided on FRIED CHICKEN. It was so yummy and then we had a delicious ice cream cake. The girls were so excited to give me their gifts and cards. They made me these ceramic plates that they decorated. David had made one of these for his mom and I always say how nice it is to have something from his childhood. So he had the girls make me some. It was really sweet!

Ava's plate

Olivia's plate

Of course no Mother's Day would be complete without this lady. I am so thankful for my mom, she is truly the glue that holds us all together and she never ceases to amaze us with her strength and love.

~We love you Nanny~

10 months

2010-05-05T18:32:00.000-07:00

Maeve is 10 months old!!

Where does the time go? So what are you up to these days?

You weigh about 17 pounds, you are a peanut!!

You wear a size 3 diaper and are in 9 month clothing.

You love to eat!! Mostly all table food now. You will try anything! Favorites include avocado, cheese, yogurt, veggie puffs, cheerios, and peaches. You are a pro at the sippy cup now too. You take 3 bottles a day and are now officially weaned.

You sleep great at night now almost 12 hours straight. You like a morning nap but afternoon naps are harder, mostly because we are always on the go with your big sisters.

You are a happy little girl and get so excited to see your sisters. You have the best giggle and are just a joy to be around.

You are just starting to get around----doing the "army" crawl and can pull yourself up and roll EVERYWHERE!!! You love your toys and your most favorite is the Barbie cell phone!!

You have added such happiness to our little family. We could not love you more!!

Because you might want to know:

2010-04-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

100 Things About Me

1.) I have a master's degree in Nursing and graduated when the girls were almost 2 years old
2.) I'm a huge procrastinator.
3.) I love Coca Cola.
4.) I have 1 brother who I adore
5.) My mom's name is French: Vivienne Lenore..very fancy
6.) I played with barbies until 8th grade...a tad too long
7.) I love to cook and eat!
8.) I would love to learn the violin
9.) My mom is the strongest person I know
10.) I am right handed.
11.) I love to sing and I think I am really good
12.) I do not know how to play checkers
13.) My middle name is Anne
14.) I make a killer marinara sauce
15.) I like to do crafty things
16.) My favorite store is Target
17.) David and I met in a bar in 1996
18.) I knew that night that he was the marrying kind
19.) We honeymooned in Australia and it was amazing
20.) I can tell alot about a person the first time I meet them
21.) I will try anything once
22.) It is a running joke in my family that I can cry every day if prompted
23.) I love David more and more each day, even though we bicker
24.) I am a loyal friend
25.) I secretly want to be a hair dresser
26.) I am afraid of escalators.
27.) I went scuba diving on the Great Barrier reef
28.) I have never been to Niagara Falls
29.) I am a first generation American
30.) I am very independent
31.) I hate watching organized sports on TV
32.) I have never been to a professional sporting event
33.) I am not a fan of spicy food
34.) I love watching the news
35.) I love classic rock
36.) Christmas is my favorite holiday.
37.) I drink milk every day
38.) Becoming a nurse was the 2nd best decision I made, becoming a mom the best
39.) I love being a mommy to girly girls
40.) I detest bad spelling
41.) Chocolate chip cookies are my favorite
42.) My dad is still my hero
43.) My mom still lives in the house I grew up in
44.) It doesn't bother me at all to leave the dishes in the sink overnight.
45.) I think family is most important
46.) I love dogs
47.) I have temper issues
48.) I love a good cup of tea that my mom has brewed
49.) I've been to Greece
50.) I am a morning person
51.) When I found out I was pregnant with twins I was strangely calm. Then the shock set in.
52.) I get alot of headaches
53.) My first job was in borough hall
54.) I drive a mini van and I am proud of it. That thing makes my life so easy
55.) I wear diamond earrings every day
56.) I desperately want to learn to sew with a sewing machine
57.) I am very witty
58.) I am loud, David is not
59.) I think I am wiser beyond my years
60.) I have never run over a squirrel (that is so random)
61.) I would eat out alot if given the opportunity
62.) I always wanted to get married
63.) I cannot read music
64.) I love to buy new purses
65.) Growing up, we had a dog named Buddy.
66.) I always wanted to have a pet rabbit
67.) We vacationed in the Cayman Islands when I was a child
68.) I take really, really, really hot showers.
69.) I sleep on my stomach. Right now, I miss it terribly.
70.) I hate wearing socks or shoes
71.) I don"t follow trends
72.) When I was a child, I had pool parties and ice cream birthday cake
73.) I was given every opportunity to become successful growing up
74.) I cried alot at the end of my pregnancy with Ava and Olivia, I was overwhelmed and scared
75.) I always wanted a sister
76.) My brother gave me away when I got married
77.) Losing my dad never gets any easier
78.) My favorite movie is The Usual Suspects
79.) I had blonde hair as a child and I do not dye my hair as an adult
80.) David and I traveled alot before kids
81.) I have no girl names on my list for this baby, I ran out of ideas
82.) I hate food shopping
83.) If I like a book I can finish it in a day
84.) I do not forget anything
85.) I have a photographic memory...just like my Dad. Though, I hesitate to even compare mine to his...his memory was amazing. But, I sometimes scare people with what I remember.
86.) Most days, I think I'm a great mom.
87.) I like being home with the kids
88.) I love pedicures
89.) I would have a professional massage weekly if I could afford it
90.) I love yellow roses
91.) I think Julia Roberts is a terrible actress
92.) I think Rod Stewart rocks
93.) I do not like thinking of what to make for dinner
94.) I don"t get the whole Ebay thing
95.) I think personal responsibilty is what this country needs
96.) I love the color red.
97.) I only wear white cotton underwear. (TMI) :)
98.) I wear makeup every day
99.) I can imitate any accent although Scottish is my best
100.) Nothing has taught me more in life than becoming a mother

Edited to add that this list was written when I was pregnant with Maeve, thus the reason for the random pregnancy/baby name info.

Dirty Laundry

2010-04-19T18:28:00.000-07:00

If my laundry room looked like this I would certainly spend more time in it. Of all the household chores there are to be done, laundry is my least favorite. It is neverending, isn't it? With 5 people in this house, we create MASSIVE amounts of laundry. I am my own worst eneny, because I create alot of the laundry. New towels every morning, new pj's every night and add Maeve's costume changes and we have a serious laundry problem.

My mother has advised me, (she's very good at offering ADVICE) that

a. We as a family have too many articles of clothing. This may be true but I have come to decide that my love for clothing is not going to be impacted because of my laundry loathing. I have three girls and I do not care what anyone says but boys can get away with jeans and different shirts, these girly girls require more "fluff".

b. My mother also suggests that I do some laundry DAILY. Bleh, I guess she is correct, it would alleviate the sheer volume, but the trek down to the basement to put the load in and then REMEMERING to put said load in the dryer, while doing the other 15,000 tasks I do on a daily basis is daunting. But I will try. I will. Right after I change out of these clothes.

Life

2010-04-18T06:36:00.001-07:00

It's amazing how time passes by and the days are filled. I wanted this blog to be a spot for me to jot down life's daily musings and suddenly I turn around and weeks have pat me by. At least, I've been busy, not just slacking off..

We ended March with a trip to Disney with the Bradley clan, it was amazing. DisneyWorld truly is a magical place. The girls had a great time, even Maeve!! We enjoyed long days in the parks, swimming and just being together. Memories were made.

After we came home, I ended up having to attend a 2 day computer class for work, thankfully Nanny watched the girls, but it took me a good week to unpack and get the house running again.

We have since filled the days with preschool, playdates, errands and bike riding. The weather has been springlike and we have enjoyed the outdoors very much. The girls have started T ball and they are really good, they are the only girls on the team, but they don't mind since they have each other. Daddy is the coach and it makes them very happy.

I have some projects I want to work on in the next few weeks so I hope I am able to carve out some time to do some things and just try to enjoy each day and all the little things that go on with these little ladies!

Stay tuned

2010-04-06T11:06:00.000-07:00

a new blog post is coming...it better be good its only 6 weeks overdue!

Tuck me in..

2010-02-22T19:06:00.000-08:00

Right before I go to bed, I tuck my girls in..

I pull up their covers.
I put them back onto their pillows.
I gently give them a kiss.

First, I go check in on the baby. I make sure her blankets are covering her just below her chest. I place the pacifier close to her hand should she feel the need to find it during the night. I gently place my hand on her tummy to feel the rise and fall of her breath. I love knowing that she is safe and sound. She rarely stirs when I enter her room, she has been sleeping quite soundly for a few days now, it is a good thing. After, a few moments and staring at her sleeping so peacefully, I make my way to the big girls.

I tiptoe in their room and go to Ava first. She is usually squarely centered on her pillow with the covers pulled up under her chin. She is surronded by her favorite array of stuffed toys and dolls, so many that I wonder if she is sharing their bed or they hers? I gently tuck the covers around her, removing the books from beneath the covers that were read for bedtime. When I kiss her, she never makes a sound or a move. She is a contented sleeper. She sleeps like her daddy. Like a hibernating bear.

I go to Olivia last. She stirs as soon as she hears the floor creek. She is the world's lightest sleeper. Olivia is usually sprawled across the bed sideways, on top of the covers with the pillow on the floor. As I put her back on the pillow and pull the covers up, she will stretch her arms out to me, with her eyes half open. She is never fully awake. When I bend down to give her a kiss she rolls to her side and hugs her Scruffy tight.

As I creep out of their room, I think about the day, about the times when I should of not been so short tempered with them, maybe I should have let them help with dinner even though it would have made it harder for me. But I also remember the best parts of the day, their happy little faces when they see me picking them up from school. Their joy when they get Maeve to laugh outloud at their silly songs.

This is my very favorite time of the day. And my second favorite is when they come into my room when the sun is up to greet me with their smiles.

What is it about Tickled pink?

2010-02-21T17:20:00.000-08:00

1. What is your current obsession?
blogging

2. What are you wearing today?
black yoga pants (that I've never done yoga in) and a navy sweater

3. What’s for dinner?
Roasted salmon and sauteed spinach

4. What’s the last thing you bought?
birthday card

5. What are you listening to right now?
Olympics on TV

6. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Ideally on a beach somewhere tropical. But I'd settle for somewhere near Jack.

7. What is one thing you want to change about yourself?
Control my outbursts and focus on getting healthy

8. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Sydney

9. Which language do you want to learn?
I'd love to learn Italian, it sounds so pretty

10. What’s your favorite quote?
"That which does not kill you makes you stronger."
Neitzsche

11. Would you cook for me?
Yes, something yummy

12. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
They would cease to exist in my mind

13. What are you afraid of the most?
Loss

14. Who do you want to meet right now?
I'm a tad bit obsessed with the Goo Goo Dolls, I'd love to meet them!

15. What is your favorite color?
Blue

16. Give us 3 styling tips that work for you.
1. Never leave the house without lipstick
2. Use mascara to make you look more awake!
3. Perfume is meant to make you feel feminine, WEAR IT

17. What is your dream job?
I'd love to be a television journalist

18. What’s your favorite magazine?
Real Simple

19. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
A massage

20. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
White bra, black shirt

21. Who, according to you, is the most over-rated writer?
Got me, I'm not a reader.

22. What brings a smile on your face instantly?
Ava and Olivia having a Sisterly moment, and Maeve's face lighting up when I get her from the crib in the am.

23. What is one phrase that you say a lot?
Come on!!!!!!!

24. What kind of haircut do you prefer?
I like to change my hair, recently chopped off 4 inches but now I want to grow it out again!

25. What are you going to do after this?
Cup of tea and bedtime

26. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
Usually have a good cry

27. What makes you giddy?
David loading the dishwasher

28. What are your favorite movies?
Braveheart, Usual Suspects, Love Actually, Singles

29. Who inspires you?
My mom

30. What do your friends call you most commonly?
Funny

31. Would you prefer coffee or tea?
Coffee... but it has to have cream in it!

32. Which other blogs do you love visiting?
Kelly's Korner and Classy Chaos

33. What is your favorite dessert/sweet?
Cheesecake and Ice cream

34. How many tabs are turned on in your browser right now?
3

35. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
UGH!

36. What is your favorite season?
Fall

37. What is one wish that you really want to see come true?
Kelley cured

38. What breaks your heart?
Seeing my loved ones in pain and feeling helpless

39. What's one thing you really want to do in life?
Be the best Laura I can be...I only get one shot.

Out and about

2010-02-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

We were cooped up inside for two days due to the bad weather and I'm not sure who needed to get out more me or the five year olds. It felt good to get up and get everyone ready, put some makeup on and get out the door. We went for a nice brunch with Nanny and Maeve sat in a restaurant highchair for the first time. That's a first for us, when the girls were babies, I don't think we went to restaurants with them, isn't that crazy? And if we did, we kept them in the stroller. Having one baby this time around, is like a whole new experience.

After a nice brunch, we walked down the street, to paint some pottery. We had been before and the girls had such a great time, they have wanted to go back. The girls picked out their pieces and colors and got to work. It was nice and relaxing to watch them and hear them talk about different things. They are getting so grown up. I look at Maeve and cannot imagine that in 5 short years, she will be the one talking and painting!!!

This morning I am catching up on laundry, cleaning up the neverending piles of toys )ie crap) that accumulate in every room and then tonight we are going to a friends house for family pizza night. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and David's birthday..So far it is shaping up to be a pretty great weekend!

My husband

2010-02-11T18:29:00.000-08:00

In honor of Valentine's Day and my beloved's birthday, here's a little quiz I gave myself about him.

What I know about my husband...

1.He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen?
Either ESPN or Fox News

2.You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Italian

3.What is one food he does not like? Roast chicken

4.You go out to eat and have a drink. What does he order? Beer or Gin and Tonic

5.Where did he go to high school? St. Peter's Prep

6.What size shoe does he wear? 11

7.If he was to collect anything, what would it be? artwork

8.What kind of sandwich does he like? Ham and Cheese

9.What would this person eat every day if he could? Marinara sauce

10.What is his favorite cereal? Corn flakes

11.What would he never wear? flip flops

12.What is his favorite sports team? Mets

13.Who did he vote for? Not Obama :)

14.Who is his best friend? Me or Buster

15.What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? Swear

16.What is his favorite color? Green

17.You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake? Carrot

18.Did he play sports in high school? Yes

19.What could he spend hours doing? Reading the newspaper

20.What is one unique talent he has? He can recall old TV shows plotlines in a second.. especially Seinfeld.

I am a lucky lady although I complain alot. Thanks for all you do in between the newspaper reading.

Simple Pleasures

2010-02-02T17:08:00.001-08:00

I was reading a favorite blog of mine, and her topic was simple pleasures. Create a list of things that make you just oh so happy, no matter how small or silly they may be. Things like, getting a great parking spot or warm clothes out of the dryer. So, here's my list. Feel free to add yours in the comment section.

a cup of tea made by my mom
a good hair day
all the laundry done and put away
a mani pedi
tucking my girls into bed at night and snuggling while telling silly stories
making the green light
cleaning the house in my jammies all day and then taking a hot shower and enjoying the tidy house
finding money in your winter coat from last season
having a new recipe come out right

Oh I'm sure there are many, many more but that's it for now...LOST is almost on..

Beauty is only skin deep

2010-01-29T22:25:00.000-08:00

So I've been doing this photo a day thing for almost a month now, and I must say I am really enjoying my camera..I typically take a picture of the girls, an activity or whatever is going on throughout our day. Occasionally, I will turn the camera around and try to do a cute self portrait, but uh, yeah the self portrait ain't so cute...Thank goodness for the delete button. Every time I examine the picture of myself, I cannot believe it is me. Do I really have those fine lines around my eyes? How much botox will I need to relax that brow furrow? When did I get gray hair? IT IS SHOCKING I TELL YOU....but has forced me to take some time for me...a bit of pampering to help me recapture that youthful, dewy glow.

Now, I have always been a girl to never leave the house without lipstick.. I just feel put together when I've got my makeup on and once you get to a certain age a lady needs concealer and blush on a daily basis. You can have a great body, a great outfit, but if you don't put your best face forward, what's the point? Skin care is where I was lacking..I will sometimes fall asleep with my makeup on, (I know, gross), I forget to moisturize and I rarely use eye cream..But it is time to start.

So I've compiled a little list of my favorites

1. Oil of olay cleanser : this is a good cleanser that is just right for my combination skin. I've tried them all from Lancome to Noxzema..This one is a keeper.

2. Oil of Olay beauty fluid: My mom used to use this in the past, and it is the most lightweight, fresh smelling lotion. I love it under my foundation.

3. Anew eye cream: I notice a difference in the am when I use this at bedtime, dark circles are less visible and there is a dramatic difference in puffiness.

4. Clarisonic Mia: this was a gift to myself at Christmas. It is great cleansing machine especially for exfoliation.

So there you have it, my new skin care regime. Hopefully, it will improve my skin's texture and you just might be seeing more self portraits of me and my fresh faced self!

This was a blog topic because I hope one day when Ava and Olivia are 35 they will ask me, their 70 year old mom how did I get such amazing skin? My reply will be only a click away..

And for the record my mom has great skin (she may not think so) but I can recall her always using fancy creams and taking care..I should of been paying attention.

Another day.....

2010-01-26T17:56:00.000-08:00

Each night before bed the girls ask me, "what are we doing tomorrow, mama?" Most times, it consists of school, errands, dance class, playdates etc. Last night, I told them, "tomorrow girls we are going to see your cousins." The delighted squeals could be heard for miles I'm sure. My brother has 4 children, but the girls refer to the Bradley compound, as Max and Luke's house, as if Emma and Jake, the other 2 Bradleys are not residents there? Funny that isn't it?

The girls love going there. And I do believe their cousins love them being there. They run and yell, eat snacks, play hide and seek, explore and giggle. It is memory making for them and me. They are so lucky to have cousins that live so close and are so close to their age. They all get on so well.

The temperature on this January afternoon reached 43 degrees, so the coats, hats and mittens were donned and I ushered them all out the door for some "fresh" air. I convinced them to go on a nature hunt with me, AKA a walk around the block. The 4 of them scrambled to find a box or a bucket to bring with them to collect their "treasures" It was 45 minutes of bliss. It truly is the little things in life that mean the most.

Lucky girls

2010-01-20T18:43:00.000-08:00

As a child I did not know my mom's parents. They lived in England and I met them only a handful of times. The only memories I have of them are through pictures or stories my mom has told to me. My dad's parents emigrated from Scotland and lived near us my entire childhood. They were a part of my life, but not in the typical way. I have memories of them, but none that are special. They are all gone now, and now that I am a mother I see firsthand how important grandparents are.

My girls are lucky. They have 3 grandparents. David's parents have 14 grandchildren. That is ALOT. When Ava and Livi go to visit Grandma and Pop house they have fun. They get to play, explore and eat cookies. They always ask to go visit again soon. But we all know, that life gets in the way and visits are hard to get in. I love that my girls know them and speak of them.

My dad is gone and I know that he would would just love these girls if he were able to know them. I feel kind of shortchanged sometimes since so much of my life cannot be shared with my dad. It's too bad that my girls will never know him. I try to keep his memory alive through pictures and stories. Somehow I know that he can see it all.

My mom. Their nanny. These girls can barely go a day without seeing her. Nanny is an integral part of their life. She has been there since the twins were babies, I could not of done any of it without her. Come on twin infants is hard work!!

My girls will have so many amazing memories of their Nanny. Memories that matter of time spent together...trips, walks, shopping, laughing, crying, reading, coloring, cooking...the list goes on and on.. I wish I had a Nanny like that when I was a kid.....I guess I was pretty lucky though because I had a mom like that.

I'll be the Nanny

2010-01-18T19:03:00.000-08:00

We had a nice weekend which started with a great day Saturday..The weather was a balmy 50 degrees for January and we took advantage by going hiking at Willowwood in Chester. 1.8 miles. Know what I learned, kids do not need entertaining. This was the most pleasurable day we have had in a long time. The girls were happy, I was relaxed and the baby was napping in the jogger. What could be better.

Then they started to talk..walking leads to talking you know. On our hike I learned that Liv will get married and will have TEN children, but no dogs or cats. She will live close to me, so that I will be able to come over to help her "do the wash". Her sister, however, would not like to marry, nor live on her own. She hopes to live with her sister and her 10 nieces and nephews while pursuing a career as a "singer" (I'm a bit worried about this info), and she will have a couple of cats but not too many since I am allergic. Apparently, my golden years will be spent folding laundry in a benadryl induced stupor..good times!

Growing Pains

2010-01-13T19:13:00.000-08:00

Control yourself this is not a blog post about Kirk Cameron aka Mike Seaver, but my oh my was he the bees knees back in the 80s..but I digress...the growing pains , it seems we've got quite the case of them round here.

I can remember when I was young, I would get the pains in my legs when I laid down in bed at night...growing pains I was told was the culprit.. and now Livi gets them.

We came back to Nanny's after dance class tonight to have dinner together, the girls were so happy. But after a full, long, tiresome day they both hit the wall pretty quickly. Livi was crying and laying on the floor rubbing her leg...I told her to let me look, after inspection I determined it would be ok it was "just growing pains"...She looked at me with her big blue eyes and tear stained cheeks and said..."Mama, but I don't want to have growing pains I don't want to grow up" And at that moment, I realized that I too, had a case of the growing pains...I don't want them to grow up either..I want them to be little forever...

Oh and little Miss M, well she has got some pains of her own in the form of two bottom teeth...maybe if I stopped feeding them all it will stunt their growth. Just kidding.

With both feet....

2010-01-12T06:00:00.001-08:00

I'm starting a blog. I've poured over various blogs for months. Its time for me to just DO it!!! My goal is to document our life, most notably the lives of my children. How can it be that the eldest are already 5? 5, seriously? That is just crazy to me. So I've never finished the baby journals, the scrapbooking thing was great but was really just an excuse to drink wine with girlfriends. So here we go, I'm sharing it with you and I'm jumping in...