It's about that time

It's been *almost* a month.......time for another update I suppose!

Things have been pretty good! Ryan has done GREAT with potty training. He hasn't had an accident in over a week now. Not too shabby considering it's only been 4 wks that we've been doing this. He picked it up pretty quickly. We were very lucky.......I hear so many of my friends going through things when it comes to PTing. Some kids won't poop on the potty. Some kids won't pt at all. So far 2 out of 3 are PT'd over here and neither had issue going on the potty. Phew! Someone is looking out for me! lol.

Today we leave for Normandy Farms Campground. Our camper arrived last Wednesday and the kids can't WAIT to go and use it. They love it. I love it too, but I think it's obnoxious. 38 feet long, queen bedroom at one end with it's own entrance, 2 sets of bunk beds at the other end. Sliding doors to enter the "main" part of the camper. Sleeps 10 people. That's a whole lot of camper! Don't get me wrong - I am truly grateful. Our kids will love going camping and it will be a great way to spend family time. Normandy Farms is a great campground too - I highly recommend it to everyone. I'm just currently overwhelmed by the size of the camper. I'm sure I'll get used to it and, with three kids, I will learn to appreciate the size!!

So, this weekend should be fun. I'm praying the rain won't be as bad as they are reporting right now. Tonight is a hayride / haunted house at the campground. Tomorrow they'll have activities during the day and tomorrow night is Trick or Treat. You can imagine how excited the kids are for this. I'm hoping to maybe take a jaunt over to the Wrenthem Outlets at some point. They aren't far from the campground at all and I need to get an outfit for Owen's Baptism in two weeks. Susan and Rob are coming up with us tonight to spend the night..........I'm sure she'll be up for a shopping trip!

We did our fall decorating a couple of weeks ago. Hay bales, big pots of Mums, pumpkins, corn stalk. The whole 9. I LOVE FALL. It is, by far, my favorite season. I love all the pretty leaves when they are changing colors. I hope to get out and get some pictures soon. I'm looking out my kitchen window right now and it's just so pretty. We have a lot of trees on our property so it's a pretty nice spot for leaf peeping if I do say so myself. Hopefully I'll have pictures to post soon. We brought some Mums and pumpkins up to our Mums at the cemetery too (ha, couldn't resist). I need to get up there b/c things are looking a little rough. My Mom's stone needs to be edged out again and Ma's could use some cleaning up too.

John is doing really well after his surgery. He says he can definitely feel a huge improvement over the last surgery. He had his second interview with the US Marshall Service on Wednesday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed but I'm nervous. His Dr told him that he can't go back to work until he is able to RUN on his leg. John is nowhere near that as of yet. But I'm remaining optimistic. Maybe he won't need to do a physical endurance test to get this job? A neighbor came by yesterday to talk to John. Apparently he has connections with some prominent people in Brockton and has offered to make a phone call for John to help him get a full time position on the Sheriff's Department. John is still sworn in as a Deputy Sheriff. He's looking to get into "BCI" which is just like CSI on TV. He's been interested in this position for years so it would be great if he could get into it. Again, not getting my hopes up BUT I am going to think positive and pray as hard as I can. This family could really use a break. I think we've been through a lot and we deserve one.

I'm still trying to work on the "me" time but it's not going so well right now. I only made it to the gym once last week and not at all this week. Things have just been SO crazy. I wish I could go first thing in the am but the gym opens at 4a and I have to get ready for work at 5am. With travel that doesn't leave me much workout time. Not to mention I honestly don't think I can get up any earlier and still be able to function through the day. I'm only going on 5-6 hrs a night as it is and I am always exhausted. What I NEED to do is get my ass on the treadmill here when I can't make it to the gym. But, you know me, I can give you every excuse as to why I haven't been able to do that. Bottom line is I'm just plain lazy. THIS is why the scale hasn't budged for me. I need to get in my exercise. I did have my aesthetician tell me I look great and asking how much weight I've lost. Um, none. But thank you for asking. I have to work on that. Hopefully by the next check in I'll have better news to report on this front. Although I'm thinking I'll be checking in sooner than a month from now b/c I'll have Halloween pics to post. So keep an eye out for that.

Lastly I'm going to send some love to my girl, Alice Anne. If you are reading this I am thinking of you. Sending you much love, strength and support to help you through this rough time. I'm here for you girl, whenever, whatever you need. I love you!

Monthly Update

Well, once again I'm about a month behind. This seems to be a pattern so maybe we'll just keep it this way lol. So much to update on. We've had a pretty good summer. Taken day trips, played with friends, had visitors.

Mike and Brandon got married on Sept 19th. The wedding is over and we'll leave it at that. Things didn't go the way I had planned (not in regards to the wedding itself b/c that wasn't mine to plan but in regards to things that were supposed to happen) but it's in the past and I'm over it. Let's just say if I had to host 70 people at my house again EVER it would be done quite differently. But they had a great wedding, they were happy and that is all that matters. My sister was here for the wedding and it was good spending time with her.

John had his knee surgery on Sept 25th. The Dr left me a message saying things were much worse than he had expected but that the surgery had gone well. John had (I'm quoting from his surgeon) "a tremendous amount of arthritis in his knee, adhesions, issues with irregular cartilage, flaps of cartilage and loss of cartilage." Yikes. But the Dr said this surgery should help him quite a bit and that they'd work on a game plan next week when he goes in for his post op check up. *fingers crossed* that everything goes well from here on out! John has a second interview with the US Marshall Service on Oct 21st and I am praying as hard as I can that it works out. We could really use some positive things happening for a change. He did find out that if he does get the job he wouldn't necessarily have to go to Georgia straight away for the 10 wks. I believe he'd be able to work for up to a year before having to go. Wouldn't it be nice if I could quit my job, or reduce my hours, so that it wouldn't be an issue? LOL. I know, I know, fat chance. But a girl can dream!

We had family potraits done again a week or so ago. Of course they were done by Stephanie and I can't WAIT to see them. She did post a few teaser shots on her blog. I'm c&p here b/c no one reads this blog anyway LOL. I can't WAIT to see the rest of them. She always does such a good job and I'm going to make it tradition to get a family potrait every September. Hopefully next yr we can get all 3 kids to cooperate. The boys were pretty good but lil Ms Thang wanted to just run around and play. Love her.

Lots of fun things coming up. Dinner get togethers that I'm really looking forward to. Apple picking. I'd like to take the kids to the Circus when it comes into town. I think the boys would love it. We also booked a trip to our Timeshare in Pompano Beach for April 3 - 10. I'm pretty excited about it. Aidan is the only one who really remembers the timeshare and he is always asking when we are going back. Well, now we can tell him when. My gf Susan and her bf Rob will be going with us. We checked into plane tickets and I almost croaked. $2,300!!! We'd have to buy 5 seats by the time we go. So John and Rob said why don't they make it a road trip? They will leave, with the boys, on Thursday night and drive down to Florida. This saves in airfare AND a rental car. Not to mention we won't have to carry any baggage, carseats or anything. YAY! I said hey, if they want to do it then they should do it - by all means. So the girls will fly and the boys will drive. I think it will be a blast. This will be the first time I've ever not been home for a holiday. I'm okay with that though. Easter isn't a big "to do" around here so having it in Florida will be okay. Not to mention my sister can come stay that weekend and she'll spend Easter with us now that we'll be there.

What else? Ahhh, potty training. With John being laid up and not able to go anywhere I decided this was a good time to PT Ryan. Yes, because I didn't quite have enough on my plate. It's actually going better than I expected! I started him cold turkey in underwear on Saturday. He's only had 2 accidents per day since then. Mon and Tues he was in daycare and didn't have ANY accidents at all. He had one in the am before we even left for daycare each day and then one at night. This morning was a complete success though, he peed in the potty before we left the house. I'm feeling pretty good about it! No issues with pooping on the potty. I know some parents run into this and I've been fortunate (so far) in that both boys will go in the potty. I am confident Ryan will be PT'd in no time! I'm so proud of him!!

I'm going to start to take a little time each day to focus a little bit on me. I really need to make an effort and get to the gym. I'm not happy with the way I look (again) and I'm starting to get more and more depressed in general. I think if I can carve out an hour a day to go to the gym it will only help things. Help me clear my head and get perspective over the things I have no control over. Help me lose weight so I can be happy with myself. Help me get a little time to myself which can only make me a better person. I just have to work it out. I can always find an excuse to NOT go. It's time to start pushing the excuses as to why I NEED to go. All I can do is take it one day at a time.

Lots of things coming up. Halloween, two baptisms (one is for my Godson, Owen) Thanksgiving, Birthdays, Christmas. So much to do!

Chillaxin and just having a good time

Dad got a hot tub. Oh boy. Yes, an eight person hot tub for his back yard. It's really as big as it sounds. The kids call it "Papa's pool" because, to them, it is big enough to be a pool. Tonight the kids and John all went "swimming" in the pool. Perfect time for a photo op if I do say so myself lol.

I have a question for anyone that may be able to help. Is there something I am doing wrong when posting pics? I am having issues when posting them to my blog. They look "grainy" for lack of a better word. They haven't always looked like this and I haven't done anything different when posting - can anyone help?? Any advice would be *greatly* appreciated!!

These are just a couple of random scenic shots I took with my Nikon.......and a picture of what our house is looking like these days.

Time for the Dentist!

The boys went to the dentist last Thursday. John took my camera and I am SO glad because these pictures are just priceless. The boys all got GREAT reviews - no cavities at all. YAY! Gotta love that my husband got RIGHT up in there for some of these shots!

After the boys get their teeth cleaned they get to practice on some patients of their own.

YAY for a great visit to the dentist with no cavities!!! (now that reminds me that I really need to get my own mouth to the dentist! oooops!)

Still more

to catch up on. Things over the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. I had to unexpectedly fly to FL b/c Cheryl was in the hospital. She had a very severe allergic reaction to something she ate at work and she stopped breathing. They rushed her by ambulance to the ER. They had to intubate her (put her on a ventilator to breathe for her). Fri night they tried to extubate but she stopped breathing again so they had to re intubate. I flew down Sat afternoon. They took the tubes out Mon am and she is doing much better. I went back home Tuesday.

Work officially moved from Quincy to South Boston. I was *dreading* the commute but it's honestly not as bad as I thought. A big help was the fact that my boss allowed me to change my hours. I now work 630a - 3p. Oh yes. I am getting up at 5a now Mon - Fri and I'm on the road by 545a at the latest. It's really hard but I'd much rather lose sleep than lose time with my family. That's that.

Mike and Brandon's wedding is now less than a month away. You're probably thinking oh, that's nice. Yes, it absolutely is but the wedding is AT MY HOUSE. Tell me again why I agreed to this? LOL. I think they were a bit unprepared for all that would go into wedding planning and as much as I've been trying to push and prod it did me no good. So now I think Mike is panicking. Of course I'll be there to pick up the pieces at the end b/c that's what I do. But I'll let them suffer for now b/c that's what they should. They shouldn't have waited til the last minute on everything. Anyway. Erynn got her flower girl dress - TOO damn cute for words. And she LOVES it. I love that my little girl is SUCH a little girl.

Here is Erynn in all of her flower girl glory:

The boys will be wearing these Ralph Lauren shirts with khaki pants

This is what I will be wearing

There is still quite a bit of planning left but it will all be over soon. I know Brandon and Mike are ready for it to end! LOL. Speaking of - they will be moving out a week from Monday. I am both happy and sad about this. Sad b/c I love having them nearby. Brandon is a huge help in a pinch when it comes to watching the kids. Truth be told the extra $100 a week for their rent helps out a LOT right now. That is going to hurt. Happy because Ryan will be back in his own room. I can't wait for this because I really think it will help keep the boys in bed when they go down for the night. Now we just need to buy a tv / dvd combo for Ryan's room because he has gotten used to watching tv at night. I found a great one for a steal at Target, just have to wait for it to come in.

Speaking of buying things. Today, out of nowhere we went to buy Erynn a new bedroom set. Seems that Dad was none too pleased when he found out about the condition of her furniture. When we bought it we didn't have a lot of money and we were trying to be frugal. Unfortunately that old adage is OH so true - "you get what you pay for." We did. So, my mission for today and I was given no choice as to whether or not I'd accept it lol, was to go and get her a new set. I will say my mission was completely successful and baby girl is currently sleeping in her new crib as I type. The changing table and chifferobe (seriously, who came up with that name?!) are ordered and will be here within a week or two. I LOVE the new set and you can definitely tell the difference in quality. We went to BRU and we ordered the Babi Italia Eastside Collection in Cherry. LOVE it. Here is what it looks like:

The biggest benefit to having this bureau is the right hand side is a closet of sorts. This is very important b/c Erynn's room doesn't have a closet in it. It was never put in with all of the issues we had building. This will hold her off for a few years at least.

I guess that's it for now........I'll just post a few more random pics of the kids that I love.

Yes ladies and gents, she is an absolute DIVA. LOVE IT!

Once again

I am miserably behind on my blogging. You know what it is - I think about getting on and blogging all the time. Then I realize I have pictures I want to put in with my stories so I put it off until I get home. Then I get home and life creeps up on me and I have 1,000,000 other things to do and rinse, lather, repeat. So here we go again trying to catch up on everything that has been going on in the last month. I think I'm going to do a few different entries over the next couple / few days because there is so much that has been going on.

We'll start at the beginning. We did our trip to Maryland........my eagerly anticipated trip. I got up at 4:00am to pack up the every day things I couldn't pack up the night before. Got the car all loaded up and ready to go. Woke the kids up, got them all sippies of milk and we were off. We got on the road a little later than expected but still VERY early. I think it was 6am. This trip went MUCH better than last yr. The boys brought blankets and stuffed animals and they slept or watched movies the whole ride. It was amazing. My darling baby girl? She was a different story altogether lol. I thought for SURE she would sleep b/c she is such a big sleeper. Yeah, not so much. Chatty Cathy just wanted to talk for 6 hours. We made two stops the whole way (not bad with 3 kids) and Erynn fell asleep exactly 30 min before we got to the hotel. Oh boy. A couple of pictures from our road trip:

See what I mean? Not so sleepy LOL.

We had a great stay in MD. We stayed in a hotel which worked out really well. We had our own little fridge / kitchen area, sitting area, bathroom and two queen size beds. It was great. The first night we were there Jess came to babysit the kids to John, myself, Marty and Alice Anne could go to dinner. A night out?! YES! We went to Ruth's Chris restaurant. Oh. My. Word. Hands DOWN the BEST steak I have ever had in my entire life. John immediately asked if we had one in Boston. Yep. We do. Now he wants to go back again lol.

Friday we took the kids to Marissa's Dance Recital. They loved it and she did GREAT.

Friday night we were invited to a MSII GTG that was held at Chantelle's house. There was a decent sized group of us and we all had a wonderful time. Thx to Chantelle and Alice Anne for hosting!!!!

Saturday morning we went out to dinner at a Diner. We have nothing like this here at home - at least not that I have ever seen. You go in and order your food on the computers right at the door. Get your drinks, go find a table and they bring your food to you. The food was great and we had no complaints.

After the diner we went to a family cookout at Marty's sisters house. The kids got to go horseback riding while we were there. I wasn't sure how they'd handle it but they did GREAT. The boys kept asking to go back on the horse - they didn't want to let anyone else go lol. I think their smiles say it all, don't you??

A shot of the girls from the cookout

That night Alice Anne and I went out to dinner, just the two of us. Of course we had the now infamous Chocolatini's. The food was great - the company was even better. I miss my dear friend immensely so the two of us getting out alone was just priceless. Thank you to John for letting that happen. He stayed at the hotel with the kids so we could go out. My husband is amazing!

Sunday morning we had to hit the road. I'm always so sad to leave AA. We had such a good time and I miss her when I don't see her. Thankfully she's coming back to visit in November. It seems far away now but I just know it is going to fly by. The kids were great on the ride home. More of the same.......the boys slept and watched movies, my girl chatted the whole way LOL. We really had a great mini vacation and now we know it won't be an issue next year!!!

That's all for now - I'll be back later to post about the next updates.