Brave 2nd graders

Olivia and Ava had their last day of school on Friday. They are moving on up to 2nd grade. They both had a fantastic year and learned so much. They both love to read and I will find them sometimes up on their bed or on the couch with a Rainbow Fairies or Juniebjones book. I hope they always love to read.

After school we headed to the movie theater to see Brave! We have all been waiting to see this and it did not disappoint. Although a bit scary in some parts, the girls and I loved it so much. The music was great and
the storyline was fantastic. I love that there is now a Scottish Disney princess.

Here comes summer.....one week until Maine. We all are so excited for our family vacation.




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I scream

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

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

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




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Day with Maeve

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!



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Out with the old.....

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??

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

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

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

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

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

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}

{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 Mama


Her first strike

Trash to Treasure

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

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.

Snowflake Wishes Cranberry Holiday

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View the entire collection of cards.

Two weeks in December

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

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

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

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