Backstreet Boys Concert

I love the Backstreet Boys. Kimmy and I had a fantastic time at the concert in Lake Winnipesauke and can't stop talking about it. It just made us love The Boys even more! Everyone knows how I "heart" Howie, right? Well, I was so excited when he came out to sing a solo from his new album. It started out good. It was a Latin song but then he started doing some kind of a dance similar to Ricky Martin. Sorry to say but he's no Ricky. His hips just don't move the same way and what he was wearing was all wrong. It looked like a leisure suit. Kimmy noticed it looked like he got dressed too fast and he looked all disheveled. As the dance progressed, my smile began to wear off and a look of horror took over. I kept saying to myself..."That's enough dancing Howie. OK, you can stop anytime now. Howie! For the love of Pete just stop dancing!!!" Thankfully he redeemed himself quickly right after that. He was back to my cute Howie. The Latin dancing just isn't his thing. Kimmy and I have had a lot of laughs over it anyway. We had seats in the 11th row and could see everything. By the end we walked right up to the stage because everyone else was up there too. I got to see all of them up close and personal! We can't wait until the next concert. Hopefully we won't have to wait three more years!

Canobie Lake Park

My animated little girl...

Congrats to the new Daddy

To my incredibly handsome Ricky Martin,

Congratulations on your beautiful twin boys! I wish you had asked me to be the mother of your children. I would have gladly accepted! I'm sure Danny would have understood. He has put up with years and years of my drooling over you and those swiveling hips of yours. I will be honest though. I don't enjoy pregnancy and can only imagine what it would be like with two in there but Ricky, for you my love, I would have endured the discomfort and the pain of childbirth to make you happy. Well, maybe next time. Although you had better hurry because time is not on my side!

Lots of love, hugs and wet smooches for you and the babies,
Dini

x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0

P.S. I'm a great babysitter too!

My Big Day

I don't like my birthdays anymore. I think the last one I actually looked forward to was 21 so I could be legal. Since then I could care less. But hey, what's the alternative? I'm here, healthy and happy. 

Birthdays make me think about what I've accomplished in my life so far and what I still want to do with my life.

Things like...
Learn to relax and do nothing
Do things I want to do
Master patience
Be an amazing Mom

Travel to:
Italy
France
Cancun (I will never get tired of Cancun.)
Aruba
Greece
and lots of cruises to anywhere and everywhere
And finally in about 15 years or so (after Gianna is done with high school) move out of this kiddie filled neighborhood and move closer to the ocean to live out my years with Danny in peace and quiet.

It's what I crave...peace and quiet.

He's 7...Finally!

I say finally because for the past six months or so we've been listening to..."Am I seven yet?"..."When is my birthday?"..."Is it August yet?"..."What are you getting me for my birthday?"..."When I'm seven..."

Usually I'm all weepy around my kid's birthdays but not this year. We're all very, very happy today has finally arrived! I'm sure in a day or two we'll be hearing, "When I'm eight..."

But how we love our baby boy...



He asked to go to Chuckie Cheese today which we did and had lots of fun playing games and eating pizza.

 

Nicholas is such a smart, loving, and affectionate boy. No one gives better hugs than him. He is quick to laugh and has an infectious smile.


He loves to play sports especially hockey. He loves to use his hands to build Lego's, fix and paint things.

He has a heart of gold and we couldn't be more proud of him.

16 kids OH MY

Yesterday we had the kids party for Nicholas and Julia's birthdays. There were 16 kids here (thankfully we had four no's). Before the party I had a little one-on-one chat with God to give me the strength and patience to get through it. He did come through for me but I guess I forgot to ask him for an extension on that time. A bunch of the neighborhood kids stayed here well after the party was over because their Dads were having a few beers with Danny. The party started at 12:00 so by 6:30 I had reached my limit. I was D-O-N-E with kids. My temper was flaring and all the cuteness of the kids was gone at that point. Thankfully everyone was out of here by 7:00 and I retreated to my bedroom alone to destress. Overall it was crazy, loud, and hectic but all the kids had fun and that's what matters. Every year I say I'm not doing this again but I still do because it makes my kids smile.

Some of the craziness...

SYTYCD

Finally!!! The one that wins is the one I actually wanted to win!!! (Well, I would have been fine with Katee winning too). Remember my Idol depression? It seems like my fav never ever wins. But not this time! Yippee!!! I got my tickets! Front and center baby!!

Buckets of Rain, Thunderstorms & Tornados

That about sums up our vacation last week in Maine. We were able to squeeze in beach days the first and last day we were there though. This is Footbridge Beach. Just beautiful.

The second day it was cloudy and expected to rain later in the day so we went on the trolley to Perkins Cove. The kids loved this!

We went exploring at Marginal Way....

and the kids went to a candy store to fill up some bags with goodies.

Honestly, the kids didn't care about the weather. They were happy the whole time. In fact, if we never left the beach house they wouldn't have cared! They loved the new loft and all slept together in the huge king bed!

Later in the day we went to York Zoo but actually skipped the zoo since we had just been to a zoo earlier this summer and went straight to the rides. We were there no more than twenty minutes when it started to pour. We camped out under a canopy for a bit and then decided we would just brave the rain. The rain did stop later on for a bit and we were able to finish up all the rides in the park and go on the go-carts. But then the sky opened up once again and that was it for us.

We went back home to dry off, put on our jammies, eat pizza and popcorn and watched Scobby Doo the movie.

Powerful stuff...

Written and published in Christianity Today by commentator and broadcaster Tony Snow who passed away of colon cancer on July 12th. To read the whole article click here. I posted this because first of all I truly find what this man wrote to be remarkable. Secondly, his thoughts are my thoughts exactly.

"I don't know why I have cancer, and I don't much care. It is what it is—a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths begin to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out."

"But despite this—because of it—God offers the possibility of salvation and grace. We don't know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face."

"Second, we need to get past the anxiety. The mere thought of dying can send adrenaline flooding through your system. A dizzy, unfocused panic seizes you. Your heart thumps; your head swims. You think of nothingness and swoon. You fear partings; you worry about the impact on family and friends. You fidget and get nowhere."

"To regain footing, remember that we were born not into death, but into life—and that the journey continues after we have finished our days on this earth. We accept this on faith, but that faith is nourished by a conviction that stirs even within many nonbelieving hearts—an intuition that the gift of life, once given, cannot be taken away. Those who have been stricken enjoy the special privilege of being able to fight with their might, main, and faith to live—fully, richly, exuberantly—no matter how their days may be numbered."

"Third, we can open our eyes and hearts. God relishes surprise. We want lives of simple, predictable ease—smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see—but God likes to go off-road. He provokes us with twists and turns. He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance and comprehension—and yet don't. By his love and grace, we persevere. The challenges that make our hearts leap and stomachs churn invariably strengthen our faith and grant measures of wisdom and joy we would not experience otherwise."

Summertime

Ahhh...love the summer! Here's what we've been up to so far.

Swimming at Papa & CeCe's house. It's really fun over there because not only do they have a pool but a Jacuzzi too! We're planning a sleepover for Nicholas and Julia soon!




We've had lots and lots of friends over to play. The other day Julia's friend Kim came over to swim and play.


We've been eating lots of Popsicles...


We had lots of fun at Kid's Day. We spent way too much money at the carnival but it was well worth it. My Mom was a trooper and helped me out with the kids since Danny had to work. Thanks Mom! Nicholas is now tall enough to go on some of the bigger rides and Julia was actually too tall for some of the smaller rides! We ate fried doe and cotton candy. Good stuff! Gianna spotted a Scooby Doo stuffed dog so we had to play the game to win it for her. It cost me $5.00 for that dog but she has been playing and sleeping with it ever since so it was worth it. The fireworks were lots of fun this year too.
My brother Ricky came for a visit since he's alone for the summer. Chieko and the kids are spending some time in Japan visiting her mom. Ricky is a riot. The kids had so much fun with him! He entertained them the whole time he was here by making up songs and games and even standing on his head! For example...here's one of the games he played with Julia...


We went to First Beach in Newport, RI last week. It's only an hour from here. The beach was beautiful and the water was so warm. They had a carousal and a playground for the kids. I didn't take my camera but here's what the Newport area looks like. Amazing! Danny and I have been talking about spending the weekend there for our anniversary in September. Any takers on babysitting?!?!?


Julia has really come so far with swimming this summer! She does things at her own pace. About a week ago she finally learned how to swim underwater and just yesterday jumped into the pool for the first time! She is going to be a very good swimmer. Yesterday at swimming lessons they had her demonstrate the back stroke for the class! Check out this video...



Next week we're headed to Kim and Paula's beach house in Ogunquit for vacation! We're all really looking forward to it!
Ahhh....like I said...I love the summer!

MCC

I love Love LOVE mint chocolate chip ice cream. I'm in trouble over here. I have stuff to blog about like my hilarious brother, Ricky, coming up for a quick visit from Florida and what the kiddies have been up to but for now...all I can think about is the tons of MCC ice cream I've devoured over the past two days. And we're talking Bliss MCC which is THE best ice cream ever! Like three cup fulls when I got home this afternoon and then another big cupful just now at bedtime. Oh the ice cream guilt I have right now. I'm picturing it clogging up my arteries and settling on my belly, hips and butt. Oh but it was gooooood. I love it when it gets all melted and I add tons and tons of yummy, crunchy chocolate jimmies to it. Heaven.

BUT...I'm going to have to destroy the rest of it tomorrow. See...I know me. I'll be picking at it all day tomorrow until it's gone. So goodbye MCC...it's the disposal for you in the morning. Weep!

Summer fun

Today we went to Falls Pond. It is less than 2 miles from the house. We're so lucky to have this place so close to home. It's a nice change from our pool.

You know what I'm lovin'?

Audiobooks! I got a new Nano and downloaded my first audiobook last week. It works perfectly for me!

I love to read and there are so many books I want to read but I don't know how people with kids have the time to read. I just don't get it. I have every intention of taking a bit of time each day to sit down and read but it just never happens. In the rare case it does, I get comfortable and just nod off! So I thought I would try an audiobook and I was actually able to finish a book in a couple of days which normally would take me weeks or in some cases never. I listen while I clean, do laundry, make dinner, and the best time is while I exercise in the morning. It makes all my daily tasks so much more enjoyable. And if the kids need me (which is like every millisecond of every day), I can just pause it and pick up exactly where I left off. No losing my page or rereading paragraphs.

Here's what I'm "reading" now and it is very, very good so far:

However...when her new book comes out on August 2nd...

I will actually read that one on my own (no audiobook)...very slowly...cover to cover. I will find the time for that one somehow. I can't wait!!!

Tooth #5

Nicholas lost his top tooth the other day. This makes number five. He already lost the bottom middle four. Wow. He is growing up! I really hope they come in nice and straight!

Target Pictures

Here are the results from the Target fiasco picture day. Just as we were about to leave the house, Nicholas decided to pick up the cat who was all muddy. He got his nice yellow shirt (that perfectly matched the girls) all dirty. I lost it. He ran up to his room and put on this blue shirt which didn't match the girls dresses and was all wrinkled. I just didn't care at that point. Then just as they were about to have their pictures taken, I noticed Nicholas had tattoos on his arms. Great.

I have yet to find a photo studio that I like. I've tried Sears, J.C. Penny, Babies R Us and now Target. I just don't like any of them. The girls who work there are all too young and inexperienced. At this photo shoot, they offered no props and the white background drape had a stain on it. They have to do their "required" poses so there is no creativity. Why do I bother? I just leave exhausted, frustrated and angry. I know I say this every time but really...I'm D-O-N-E with portrait studios. I'll just take the pictures myself. I think I do a much better job anyway!

But still...I think my babies are cute.