Who is Sick & Who is Six?

Who's sick? My poor Julia. She tested positive for the flu. She was down and out for 6 days but finally turned the corner and appears to be on the mend. And thank goodness just in time for her very first dance competition this weekend! She missed a dress rehearsal yesterday but I think she knows the dance well enough by now. I'm just praying that her chest congestion and cough get better soon. She went back to school today. The other two have been sneezing and blowing their noses. I hope it's not the flu again.

Who's six? My baby girl Gianna! Six!! Wow!! How did that happen?

What a day she had yesterday! We went to dinner at Uno where the kids got to make their own pizzas. Then it was off to Chuck E Cheese to play games! After we had a party with cake and her favorite ice cream to finish off the day. She got lots and lots of new stuffed friends and a big girl bike. Our girl has the biggest personality and just loves her little life.

March 18th

My Dad would have turned 79 a few days ago. We always did fun things to celebrate my Dad's birthday. So this year, the family went to dinner and then back to Kimmy's house to watch some old family movies starring Pops himself. We had a lot of laughs...and cake...and ice cream...to celebrate the wonderful husband, father and Pops he was. I miss him terribly. But I have such wonderful memories. How can I complain about sharing 45 wonderful years of my life with him?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD. LOVE and MISS YOU SO SO MUCH.

Quote of the day

"I love my toys. They give me such good love", Gianna said as she was squeezing her stuffed animals.

Father Daughter Dance

The girls were so excited! It was Gianna's first Father Daughter dance...

Julia picked out her dress weeks ago...

And Gianna...well...she wore one of Julia's old dresses. She's not really a dress-up-kind-of-girl.

They looked so beautiful tonight...

Just so so sweet....

My little artist

Julia brought this home from school yesterday...


I think it's wonderful for just 8 years old!

Celebrating

Nicholas went on a field trip today to the "Little Red Schoolhouse". They had to dress in colonial times. He looked so cute going off to school this morning and he didn't mind wearing this costume one bit!

Sister Kim celebrated the big 5-0 this weekend! We had lots of fun celebrating right along with her!

I don't know who likes to snuggle more than my boy....

Winter Fun

We went to Ogunquit over the long weekend. My sister has friends nearby who live on a farm. We had a blast hanging out there for the day.


Gianna tried to make friends with some of the animals.

Then we went sledding and snowmobiling...

It was cold but we were all troopers!

Thank you Kimmy and Paula for a fantastic time!

Happy Valentine's Day

Gianna made this for KoKo this morning. She thought he needed a Valentine and named her "Sophia". It's now hanging over KoKo's water dish.

And Happy Valentine's Day to the love of my life...

Missing you

I have this picture hanging on my fridge. It never, ever makes me sad to look at this one. I feel like I just called "Hey Dad" and he's glancing over to look at me. I know this look so well. It captures him perfectly.

Julia's drawings

I absolutely love Julia's drawings. She did this one for school. It says, "I have a snowball fight with my brother."



Just look at the smile on her face while she's throwing the snowball at her brother...

and look at his face as he's being hit by the snowball...

She learned the word "affection" for vocabulary this week. Her sentence for affection, "I show affection by giving my Mom a hug."

I'm so lucky to have a daughter who loves me so much.

Buried Alive...

This is how I've been feeling lately...

Yes, I'm still here...

I haven't been up to blogging lately...for many reasons...but life has been moving along...as it should.

Nicholas got to play at the Boston Bruins game again recently for the "3 minutes of fame" scrimmage. He did a fantastic job! It's so much fun to watch our little boy skate in such a big arena!



It's like the Arctic around here. This picture doesn't even do it justice how much snow we have on the ground. This was taken before yet another big snow storm. We are buried here!! The roads are getting so narrow. Every week we get hit with a snow storm. The kids have already had 4 snow days and two, 2-hour delays so far this winter.

In addition to all the snow days, Nicholas missed a week of school due to strep throat. I think we're all more than ready for the Spring! Wasn't I the one wishing for snow just a short time ago? I guess you have to be careful for what you wish for!!!

Look at this...

The other day I walked into the living room to see Gianna and her "friends" watching a movie. These are her "buddy" dogs. They are watching themselves as they star in their "Snow Buddies" movie. Too cute.

I'm hoping for brighter days ahead.

Weekend

I've been hooked on watching this series all over again...

I love it. It reminds me of my college years. I get so lost in every episode that it sometimes takes me a few minutes to come back to reality.

I was walking through Target the other day. Why is it that every January the stores get rid of all the winter clothes and feel the need to put out shorts, T-shirts, flip flops and bathing suits? You think I could find a bathrobe or a pair of slippers anywhere? I guess you don't need those items in the winter? This is beyond annoying to me. We have 2 feet of snow outside and it's about 20 degrees. This happens around here mid summer too. You can't find a pair of shorts or a pair of flip flops anywhere when it's 90 degrees out but you can find plenty of winter coats and turtle necks! It drives me NUTS!!!

Flip flops anyone??? How about a string bikini???

Nor'easter '11

Moving forward

It seems so strange starting a new year without my Dad. It just doesn't seem right. Sometimes when it feels overwhelming, I try to think of the many, many wonderful moments we had together. How blessed I was to have him as my Dad.

I hope 2011 brings happiness, good health and lots and lots of joy to all of us.