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.

This Christmas...

Christmas Day we started out at Kimmy's house. She planned a super fun scavenger hunt for the littles...

They loved it! And what a perfect winter day it was...

Forgot to mention that Julia lost a tooth that day too...so the Tooth Fairy AND Santa came on the SAME night! What are the odds??? See the missing tooth? That makes 8 for her.

After we came home, the kids sprinkled their reindeer food around the yard...

Meanwhile, I had a visit from one of my oldest and dearest friends. What a wonderful Christmas surprise for me.

Then it was on to making cookies for Santa...

Then the five of us snuggled up on the couch to watch the Polar Express. The kids actually couldn't wait to go to bed. They knew the faster they fell asleep the quicker the morning would come. They were beyond excited when they woke up!! Such anticipation waiting on the stairs...a tradition started by my Mom and Dad when I was a kid...it works!!! And they love wearing their bathrobes on Christmas morning, just like the boy in the Polar Express. So cute.

Think they were surprised?!?!

A new bike for Julia...

This for Nicholas...

And his second favorite present of the day...

a new street hockey helmet...

a signed Red Sox baseball...

actually one of my favorite gifts...I told Julia I think it was really meant for me...

Thank you Mom, CeCe, and Aunties for making Christmas so special this year for the kids. They love you all so much! And I do too!

And Dad, how I missed having you near this Christmas. I know how much you would have loved to see the joy on their faces as they opened their gifts and watching them on their scavenger hunt. But I know in my heart that you did. You were there. I miss you...always. We all do.