Trying something else

Today was David's final soccer practice and not a moment too soon. He barely participated this week. When he did, he came off the field in tears. Steve even played and David was still uninterested.

After soccer, we drove to the little league field to sign him up for fall t-ball. It starts right after Labor Day and is during the week. That will mean a lot of running around for me with Steve working, but I'll enjoy it as long as David it happy playing. He is very good at baseball, so I hope he likes this.

A whole lot goin' on

It's been a long, eventful day. This morning David graduated from the 'play' preschool at Steve's school. He has gone for the past 2 years and this is his final hurrah. I took an early lunch so that I could be there. It was cute. He got his diploma, along with Thomas. They had a fun time together. I hurried back to work and my Mom took the kids over to the allergist.

When she called me with the report, I felt horrible. There was so much going on with the 2 of them, I should have been there myself. David was put on allergy meds and Singulair for Asthma. Ava had severe eczema, seasonal allergies and possible asthma. She needs to have blood work done to see what foods, etc. she is allergic to. For her skin, she need to have Hydrocortizone cream 2.5% applied twice a day to her patches. Then, her whole body needs to be covered in aquaphor balm. I can only bathe her 2 times a week and the bath water must contain baby oil. I need to use a special soap for her body and not dry her. Poor baby girl. It sounds like a lot of work, but if it will help her, I'll be sure to do it.

After work, I took the kids over to my cousin Mar's to visit her and the girls. This was my first time meeting Ella. She is SO tiny and cute. I held her a few times and even got her to sleep on me. I miss those moments. She is a really good baby. Mar looks fantastic - as always and is loving her 2 girls. David, Ava and Lizzie played real well together. Lizzie is a riot. She talks so much and so well. I could just eat her up. The visit ended with Ava getting hurt, of course. She and David were on the see saw and she fell and got a cut right under her eye. She is un believable.

Soon after we got home, Steve came home. He had gotten to work early, so he was able to leave early. He brought dinner home and we got to hang out. I sure do miss him at night during the week. I am glad he is ours for the weekend.

Greasy = Happy!

My husband is a BIG jokester. He used to refer to me lovingly as Brows because of my big eyebrows when we first met. Overtime he felt comfortable to attack my hertitage and would call me a greasy guini (sp) - again, all with love. I for one love my eyebrows and skin. Unfortunately, neither of my kids are 'greasy guini's'. In fact, my poor daughter is a head to toe rash. Her skin is so dry I itch just looking at her. I really wonder how I birthed these children when they have not a single one of my traits! Blonde hair - nope, blue eyes, nope, dry skin - nope, attitude - yes (Oh, yeah, they did get my fat mouth). Well, I made Ava an appointment for tomorrow afternoon with David's allergist. With the hot weather coming, I can not stand to watch her suffer. I hope he can offer her some relief. Poor kid - maybe I can give her extra hugs and rub my grease on her :)

Super Mad

My laptop just died. It won't turn on at all. I am on the phone with HP trying to purchase a new battery for my 1 year and 2 month old laptop. I went onto their website and they no longer sell my laptop or the battery online, so I am now ordering one on the phone. It will cost me over $150 and I am fuming. Not to mention that my 'new' laptop has a bunch of letters missing off the keyboard. Thanks to my adorable daughter. I am sure that will cost me a pretty penny to have fixed as well. Very getto. Did I forget to mention that Ava threw the wireless mouse to the desktop that I am using now and that is broken as well? Oh, the joy.

Tipping the scale

I'll admit, I fell off the diet wagon last week. It started Monday night when I was at the mall and ate dinner at Ruby Tuesdays. I had all good intentions going in, but when I saw the Shrimp Pasta Alfredo on the menu, I could not resist. By the end of the week it was the 'holiday' weekend so I kept on the downhill fall. I had a HUGE crabcake sandwich with sweet potato fries and a margarita on Friday, lots of junk, wine coolers and more margaritas on Saturday, Dunkin Donuts for breakfast, junk, wine coolers, a jersey burger and nachos on Sunday and steak and a milk shake on Monday. Even the 8+ miles I walked on Saturday didn't help me. I gained 4 lbs back - UGH!!!! Back to the strick plan I had been keeping myself to. I was half way there last week...not any more. 18 lbs to go.

Happy Memorial Day!

We had some spectacular weather today. Not too hot or cold and just the right amount of breeze. We spent the morning in the yard and doing some house hold chores. We had SO much laundry to do! In the late morning, we took a ride to Target. Steve needed new car mats for his truck and I had a bunch of things to get. We spent a good hour or more there. Ava took a nice long nap when we got home and David played. When Ava woke up we drove over to the school that David will attend in Sept. They have 2 great playgrounds. We all had a great time. I hope we go back again soon. Steve cooked steaks on the grill when we got home and I washed up the kids. Their feet were black! We ate dinner on the deck and it was delicious. I cleaned up and then put Ava down for the night. I had a ton of laundry to put away and then I got to relax. It sucks that we have to get back to work in the morning, but I am so happy the weekend was so great.

A quick buck

Boy - we were tired! We did not wake up this morning until after 10 am. I so needed that extra rest. I took a shower when I got up and let Steve sleep a tad longer. When I got out of the shower, Steve got up and went outside to wash his truck and pack up his powerwasher to bring to my Mom's. On our way to my Mom's, I made Steve stop at Dunkin Donuts for a hang over cure. When we got to my poor Mom's - her house was A MESS! The kids really took a toll on her and the house. I tried to help clean up as Steve powerwashed her deck. As he was finishing my Mom's deck, her next door neighbor asked Steve to do his. When he was done, the man gave him $60! Pretty easy money! We waited for my Dad to get home and went to Legget's for dinner. I was SO bad on my diet this week and it kept up tonight. I had a jersey burger and some of David's nachos. I only ate half my burger, but only because it was not cooked enough for me. I really could have eaten the whole thing. Ava screamed our WHOLE WAY HOME. Probably had something to do with the fact that we woke her up when we got to the restaurant and she was super tired by now. Once I calmed her down and gave her a bottle she was out like a light for the rest of the night. David fell asleep soon after and I dozed off while trying to catch up on mt DVR'd shows. It was a busy weeekend.

Mommy's Turn

This morning it was my turn to 'race'. I participated in the Spring Lake 5 as did many members of my family and extended family. My family has been doing this race for many years. Last year was my first time so my goal was to beat last years time. We start off by walking from my parents house in Spring Lake Heights to the starting line (which is about 2 miles) than walking the beautiful 5 miles through Spring Lake. Last year it was very hot and humid, but this year it was gorgeous. I started the race walking with my Mom and Aunt Kathy, but soon left them in the dust. At about the 1.5 mile mark, my Aunt Carol caught up to me and we walked the rest of the way together. We finished at 1 hour 21 minutes. I did not beat last years time of 1 hour 18 minutes, but I did get a late start this year as well. The funny part is, I did not sign up this year because my girlfriend's wedding is today and I thought it was earlier than it is, but I did walk with my Uncle Jack's number on since he was sick. The poor guy usually does real well - plus he's a runner - and I destroyed his good name! I am lucky - he is a very forgiving man :) After the race, we walked back to my parents and hung out. I was a little bummed that Steve and the kids did not make it to the race, but David was exhausted from his race and slept till about 9 am! When I got back, I was STARVING. My parents had plenty of food and I also had a few wine coolers before we went home to get ready for the wedding. We both passed out when we got home and then rushed around to take showers and get ready. We arrived just in time to see Agi get married. The ceremony was very nice. It was outside and the weather was great. Steve and I had our reception at the same restaurant more than 9 years ago, so it brought back a lot of great memories. Agi looked gorgeous and the wedding was a lot of fun. We got to see some old friends and dance. I have to admit, my feet were KILLING me after all the walking I did earlier in the day, but I still was able to boogie! I am very happy for Agi and Billy and wish them a lifetime of happiness. Congrats!!

It's Racing Day, It's Racing Daaaayyyy

In a few hours, we will be driving down to my parents and attending the Spring Lake Kids Race. David has ran in it the past 2 years. He won his heat last year due to an over zealous father knocking his daughter down when he tried to push her to the finish line. In reality, there are no winners. All kids that participate receive a medal and a t-shirt for the $12 their parents fork over. The past 2 years Steve and I have missed the race due to work, but this year we are off and can't wait to cheer David on. My Dad had shirts made up promoting his real estate office and David will be wearing one. GO DAVID!!!!

The Un-Birthday Child

Even though David's birthday is techinically still within the school year, his teachers requested that we celebrate his birthday ahead of time. He will actually be graduating ON his 5th birthday - pretty cool, huh? My friend Kristen's sister is a baker and she so kindly made Indiana Jones cupcakes complete with a whip and bolder! David LOVED them - as did his class. I brought them in along with his favorite book to read to the class. Seeing as how Steve had a game and my Mom deserved a day off, I took Ava to David's un-birthday celebration too. David was thrilled to have us both there in his class. After cupcakes and a story, we joined David and his class on the playground. Ava loved every minute of being 'at school'. Maybe I'll sign her up for something this fall. It made my week to be able to celebrate with David and his class. They are a bunch of great kids. I can't believe this part of his life has gone by....boy, he grew up fast.

Framed

I hosted my framing kick off party last night with the help of my upline Melissa. The event went well, I just wish more people would have come. My Mom framed her wedding photo, my cousin Meghan framed a beautiful picture from Bermuda, my co-worker Kristin framed a photo of her nieces and my other co-worker framed a fabulous wedding card she received. I am really looking forward to getting their pieces back. Everyone seemed very pleased with what they chose. I am leaving the party open until Tuesday to see if I can add some more orders on. I'll even get something framed with the hostess credit I earned. I'll post photos of the items when I get them back. Be sure to contact me the next time you need something framed! You won't be disappointed.

I never learn

I had some errands to run last night. So after work, I packed the kids in the car and headed on over to the Pier 1 on Rt. 1 in No. Bruns. I wanted a new chair for my bedroom to replace the rocker that I am giving back to my aunt. Well, that store is no longer there. A very frusted person, was I. Since there is a new outdoor mall right down the road, I drove through there hoping to find a Bath & Body Works, but again, I struck out. After sitting in traffic, I ended up at the crappy mall by my house. They don't have a Pier 1, but they do have a Bath & Body Works and I really needed hand soap. David had so much fun testing all the scents - he was a riot. Although he was not so funny when he knocked over a whole shelf of body spray! I also ran over to the Hallmark for a wedding card and picked up a sound button that plays Star Wars music - too cute. Of course we played on the interactive mat and then ate dinner at Ruby Tuesday's. I should have just went home. The kids were SUPER bad at the restaurant and being by myself made it THAT much worse. Ava threw every piece of food I gave her. David was laying down in the booth with this feet in the air. They were loud and everything was No. I could not WAIT to leave. This is not the 1st time I have done this...but as you can see I never learn.

Half Way There!

Today marks the 1/2 way point in my diet. I lost another 2 lbs this week, so that is a total of 14 lbs. with 14 more to go. I know I can do it. I just need to stay commited and focused. I am also hoping my walk from yesterday will get me back in workout mode.

I got to take a nap!

Can you believe it? I drove home from PA due to Steve's hang over and when we got home - I was exhausted. I unpacked the bags and asked Steve if he it was ok for me to lay down. Ava was already napping. Of course he did not mind, so upstairs I went. I fell alseep the moment my head hit the pillow. I think I got a good 1 to 2 hours in. Holly called as I was waking up to let me know she was on her over to give Ava and I haircuts. I quickly washed my hair - as not to offend her since I did not shower today. She trimmed us up and was on her way. Ava can see again and looks beautiful. I feel much better now that my dead ends are gone. I got Ava to take an afternoon nap and Steve took David to work with him. I watched a few shows while ava was sleeping. When she woke up she was in such a good mood. We played until the boys came home with dinner. After dinner it was shower time for David and then the bed time rituals began. I think today was one of the best days we've had in a while.

We are family

This morning David had soccer and soccer pictures. All 4 of us went so we could hop on the turnpike and head to PA when soccer was over. This was the first Saturday I had gone to see David play where the sun was out. My parents came up to watch David also. At first the kids practiced and then walked down the hill for photos. Some of the kids on David's team are super wild (not to mention a few parents). There was one boy that kept touching David and I could see that he was getting annoyed. The mother was telling him to stop, but he would not listen. Poor David - all he wanted to do was get his picture taken! My parents and I watched David take his photo. He looked adorable. Steve took Ava on the playground to keep her out of trouble. Once the pictures were over, it was back to practice. David did not do too well this week. I am not sure if was the audience or the fact that the ground was wet and he HATES to be wet. When it was over, we packed into the car and headed south on the NJ turnpike to the PA turnpike. We were on our way to visit Tracey, Rich and the kids.

We arrived a little after noon. Ally was in the driveway when we pulled up. The kids were so happy to see her and her them. We all had some pizza for lunch and then it was time for Ty's T-Ball game. The guys and Ally went to the game and Tray, Ava and I stayed back at the house. Tracey's girlfriend Maria stopped over to say Hi and drop off our SLAH orders. It was great to see her. I hadn't seen her in a while. She is pregnant with her 4th and due in Oct. We just talked and caught up. Before long she had to leave and the next thing you know the guys and Ally were back. Tracey made a delicious dinner and then we just hung out. It was great because every other time we get together it's for a reason and there is never time to just relax. Ava was super tired, but it took me forever to get her to sleep. In fact, I fell asleep trying to get her down. Steve woke me up and we all played Yatzee - with the exception of David. He was sleeping! I know, I could not believe it either. Yatzee was fun. Ally and Tray were teamed up and Ty and I were teamed up. Steve and Rich were on their own. The adults each put in $1 and Tray and Ally were the big $4 winners! Once the 2nd game was over, everyone was ready for bed - not to mention Ava was up. I could not get her back to sleep. My night was pretty bad. I don't think I got an hours sleep. David however did great. He spent the whole night in the basement with Ty. I was so proud of him. Ava had me up before 7 am. I changed her, brushed my teeth and brought her downstairs for a bottle. I think we woke up the whole house. When Tray came down, she suggested we go for a walk. I really wanted to go, so I asked a sleeping Steve to watch Ava, but he never woke up. So, Tray, Ally, Ava (in the stroller) and I went for a walk (or hike). It was probably 2+ miles and very hilly. I loved it. Even the hard part of pushing Ava up their street. Working out like that makes me feel so good. I was sucking wind when I finally reached the house, but it was worth it. I had to walk off the margaritas from the night before! When we got back, we loaded up the car and went out for breakfast. We went to this great little place. I had french toast that was delicious. Steve was hung over and needed grease - so he had a pork roll, egg and cheese. The kids had chocolate chip pancakes. Rich's dish was gigantic - I think it was an omelete. Poor Tracey's pancakes were burnt. Once we scarfed down all our food we headed home.

We really had a great visit and are looking forward to the next one.

Guests

I am so excited to go home today. Even more so than any other day. Jen and Ryan are coming over to pay us a visit. This will be the first time Ava and David get to meet Ryan. I know David can not wait. Jen plans on being there before I get home so that my Mom can spend some time with him too. I have not seen them since I ran over to Applebee's for lunch. I am sure he has changed SO much. I will post about the visit and hopefully some pix too!

Pay up

Today is payday for Steve but the exciting thing is this was the FIRST payday with his raise! I was VERY anxious to check my online banking account to see his new rate of pay so I did it as soon as I got to work. I was thrilled when I saw that this crazy schedule we are living is actually paying off. It made everything ok again. Way to go Babe! Cha-Ching!!

A new baby girl

My cousin Mar and her husband Frank welcomed a new baby girl into the world on Monday. Her name is Ella and she joins her big sister Lizzie (18 mos). According to my Mom, Mar had a very easy labor. I can't wait to see her and hold her. I hear she looks a lot like her Mom. Congratulations Mar, Frank and Lizzie! What a beautiful family you have.

Happy 18 Months Ava!!!

Ava turned 18 months old on Monday. It's hard to believe she has only been in our lives that long. She brings us such joy everyday. With her beautiful smile and adorable laugh. From her hugs and kisses to her wild hair. Her big brother is just as in love with her and Steve and I. She copies him like a parrot. This is such a great age.

Monday afternoon I took her for her 18 month check up and got the most fantastic doctor. He was super thorough and very informative. The best Dr. appt. I have had for the kids to date. She was given a clean bill of health and I was told she is ahead of the curve. She weighs 25 lb, 9 oz (65%) and is 34 inches tall (97%). The down side was the 3 shots and TB test. She cried - but not for very long. She is a tough cookie.

Happy birthday baby girl! You are so very loved.

Surpises all around

I almost forget to mention that Steve received a nice surprise this weekend. My parents called to tell us the Courier News did an article on him. He had no idea they were going to do it. I thought they did a real nice job. It made me proud.

I weighed in Saturday morning and lost 1 lb. Surprisingly enough, when I weighed myself this morning, I kept that pound off! 16 more to go...

Happy Mother's Day!

This morning started off with hugs and kisses and Mother's Day wishes. The kids came into my bed to say Good Morning. I needed to jump in the shower to get ready for breakfast, but Ava wanted me to bring her downstairs for her bottle. I was glad I did...David and Steve gave me by Mom's day cards and gifts. The cards were beautiful - David even wrote his OWN name (my favorite part). I love my gifts! I got a beautiful frame that reads: Family, all because two people fell in love. I also received a new Vera Bradley bag that is the perfect style. Thanks David, Ava and Steve (mostly Steve because I know he did all the hard work). Now, onto the shower. I got ready and then Steve got the kids ready and himself so we could head down the shore for breakfast. We had 10 am reservations at the Breaker's. Of course we were the last to arrive, but we weren't all that late considering. My parents, grandparents, 2 uncles, aunt and cousin were there. I decided to be a good girl and get an egg white omelete instead of the french toast I was dying to have. I got the kids Fruit Loops and David also got a Mickey Mouse pancake. Neither of the kids were on their best behavior, but I expected that. I did enjoy my morning for the most part. I even got a beautiful necklace from my parents. When we arrived back home, we took the kids over to the park to play. In the mean time, my parents showed up to start dinner. My Dad was cooking Neeni's chicken for dinner (Neeni was my great-grandmother). We had a good time at the park. David even made a new friend. After the park, Ava went down for a LONG nap. A guy came to look at Steve's old truck and ended up purchasing it! We took $200 less than we were asking, but we were just happy to be rid of it. I helped my Dad set the table for dinner. My grandparents arrived just in time to start eating and Ava woke up as I was finishing my salad. Everyone (except David) really enjoyed their dinner. My dad did a fabulous job. Steve cleaned up the kitchen when we were done. We visited for a while and then I put out dessert. I think everyone had a bite of something. My grandparents left and I put Ava in her pj's and gave David his shower. When we got back downstairs, my parents were leaving. When the house was empty Steve and I watched some shows we had taped and David played on the computer. It was not long before David came in to cuddle and fell FAST asleep on my lap. THAT was the best Mother's Day gift of all.

I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Date Night

I decided to find us a babysitter and take the hard working hubby out for dinner tonight. He came home a bit early last night hoping we could grab a bite to eat, but it did not work out, so I made it a point to do it tonight. I was able to get the brother of the babysitter down the street to come watch the kids for about 2 1/2 hours. When we left, we planned on going to BoneFish, but when we got there, there was a 2 hour wait. So we drove over to the Sayreville Bar. We had to wait there too, but it was only about 15/20 minutes. We sat at the bar and had a drink before heading over to our table. I had fish on the brain, so I ordered the seafood combo and Steve got the king cut prime rib. His dinner was gigantic! They have a real nice soup and salad bar that we stuffed ourselves with prior to dinner. We had a great time and really enjoyed each others company. I want to make this a bi-monthly event. I know we need it. When we got home the kids were waiting for us. Steve walked the babysitter home and I put Ava to bed. She was exhausted seeing as it was 2 hours past her bedtime. I got David into his pj's and he cuddled up to me on the couch. It was a great night.

Side note: I entered Ava into the Baby with the Crazy Hair contest...

A bump in the road

This morning I dropped David off at Laurie's house on my way to work. She was going to drive David too and from school with Tom to help Steve and my Mom out. My Mom was to be at our house by 9, so Steve could get to work early and make up some time he missed due to baseball. Well, I get a call from Steve at 8:45 am informing me that my Mom's car battery died and he and Ava were going to ride down to her so he could get her car started and leave Ava with her. I made a phone call to my Grandparents to see if they could come watch Ava, but they had plans. So, Steve went to my Mom's, got her all set and drove to work. He did not get there until 11:30 am, but his baseball game this afternoon ws rained out, so he can still make up some time. Even with the best layed plans, things can get screwed up. The important thing is, everyone is fine and where they should be.

Except maybe for me...I am still at work!

Missed

Today marks 1 week that Steve has been working nights. I have to admit, I miss him more than I thought I would. The first few nights seemed to go by rather quickly and I was able to stay awake until he got home. That has warn off fast. The nights so go by pretty fast, but I am SO tired that I fall asleep before he comes home. When I leave in the morning, everyone is still asleep - which makes me NOT want to leave - but cuddle up with them instead. I am now looking forward to the weekends MUCH more.

By the way, in case you were curious, Steve is still coaching baseball until the season is over. As of tonight, they are 7-8. I hope he can finish the season with a winning record to help him feel better about this being his last year.

I miss you babe.

Mid Week Mayhem

It sure was a beautiful day - even though I spent 95% of it inside. I did take a few minutes to sit in my car at lunch with the windows open to enjoy some of it. I wrote David's birthday party invites while relaxing. I made myself a fill, wax and pedi appointment after work after checking with my Mother that she didn't mind staying late. My appointment was for 5 pm, but I arrived at 4:50 pm and was taken right away. Do you know what time I got home? About 7:20 pm! I thought my poor Mom was going to have a heart attack. David was in the front yard when I pulled up and he proceeds to tell me I should punish him for hitting Ava. As I am walking to the back door, I hear Ava crying. David and I walk in the kitchen to find my Mom feeding Ava who has huge red blotches on her face - especially by her eye. The kitchen looks like a bomb hit it because my Mom took everything out of the desk drawers so Ava would not harm herself, plus Ava's dinner blew up in the microwave! I told my Mom to be on her way and that I was super sorry it was so late. I finished feeding Ava and got the kids ready for bed. I had to give Ava Benedryl and then her bottle before putting her down for the night. When I came downstairs, I gave David his PJ's and I went into make us dinner and clean up. David was a VERY good boy for me. He put his pj's on and ate his dinner. He even helped me do some paper work for my Dad. He was so proud of himself he called his Gramps to let him know all the work he did. We played a game of soccer and before I knew it, he fell asleep on the couch. WHEW! What a day.
WAIT...before I forget...Happy 30th Birthday Mike! I wish we were in AZ with you to celebrate.

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Most beautiful concert

I had the honor of attending the Mom's Day concert at David's school this morning. All the Mom's were there and the kids did a beautiful job! The smiles on their faces and the way they sang their songs showed how proud of themselves and their Mom's they are. At the end of the concert, each kid handed their Mom the gifts they made for them. One of the gifts was the storycard I helped them make last week. The teacher informed the Mom's that I was the one that worked with the kids on them. Each Mom thanked me and said how much they loved it. I was so happy to hear that.

3 lbs down

As I mentioned, I weighed myself Saturday morning and had lost 2 lbs for the week. However, I a am creature of habit, so when I got up this morning, I weighed myself again. I lost 1 more lb! So that is a total of 3 for the week. I am VERY happy. I was starting to think I was doing all this for nothing.

Sunny Sunday

This morning was cloudy and cool and I really thought we'd have a crappy weather day again, but I was pleasantly surprised by 11 am. We took the kids outside and Steve began to do some work on the deck. We had lunch outside and the kids loved that. Later in the afternoon, Steve went to Lowe's to buy a new lawn mower and some wood for the job he is doing on the deck. The new lawn mower did a great job on the front lawn. I cooked hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill for dinner, but we ate inside this time because it was getting cool.

I totally enjoyed having NOTHING to do today.

Back to the cold

I took David to soccer this morning and Ava came along too. Steve was working so I had no choice. Luckily, I have really cool Grandparents and they came to the field to watch David. It helped me out - especially when David had to make a pit stop. David did very well in soccer today. He really enjoys playing goalie. After practice I let him play on the playground - even though it was FREEZING cold and misting.

Steve got home around 1 pm and took a well deserved nap. I had to wake him up to watch the kids so I could shower and get ready to take David to a birthday party. I told Steve before we left, that I would call him when I left the party and that we'd all have dinner at Chili's.

The birthday party was really fun. It was held at Bounce U in Morganville. David had a blast. My friend Jenn was there with her kids and David and Drew get along real well. They played together the entire time we were there. I must admit I had a great time too. I got to see and catch up with some of the ladies that I never get a chance to see. The party lasted longer than Steve or I expected but I was home to pick him up for Chili's before 7 pm.

There was a wait at Chili's, but although they told us an hour, I think we were seated in 15 minutes. Dinner was delicious and I even stuck to my diet. Speaking of which, I weighed myself this morning and lost 2 lbs! Even with the crappy weather, we had a super Saturday.

First day on the NEW schedule

Yesterday marked the beginning of a new life style for us Boettger's. I got up, showered and got ready for work. When I left the house Steve, David and Ava were still asleep. Steve called me around 9 am to say Good Morning and let me know they were up and eating breakfast. He took the kids and dropped off his new truck (yet again) to get fixed and pick up a loaner. After lunch, he put Ava down for a nap and got ready to leave for work. My Mom showed up about 1:30 pm to take over and Steve went to work. I got home around 4:30 pm and took over for my Mom. We played a little bit and I fed them dinner. Before long, it was nighty night time for Ava. David was on the computer and I re-organized some of my scrap room. Then I did some CM work and updated my scrap blog. David and I watched a little TV together and at about 10:30 pm I headed up stairs to put David in his bed and get ready for bed myself. Just as I got to the top of the stairs, Ava started screaming. I went in to see what was wrong and when I turned around David was waiting for me! We all climbed into my bed and Steve called saying he was half way home. By the time Steve got home David was sleeping but not Ms. Ava. She went right over to her 'Dada' and I snuck away to wach my face. I practically fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, but I do remember Steve putting Ava back in her crib. Overall, the day went well. I was told by a little mouse with the initials DSB that 'Daddy does not want his promotion any more because Ava is SO bad'. When I asked 'Daddy' about it, he admitted to making that statement, but only in the heat of the moment. We shall see....

Momma Cat

Remember that 'kitten' we had coming around? Well, it turns out she is no kitten, but she is pregnant! There is no way we could help her out anymore so my Mom called the Animal Rescue and they picked her up yesterday morning. They assured my Mom they would take good care of her and her kittens. Ava was home and was able to say good-bye, but David was at school. He was a bit sad when he found out she wouldn't be coming around anymore, but I think deep down he understood. When I called Steve to let him know, he was happy as a clam. He is so NOT a cat person.

Not quite prepared

Tonight is the Somerset County Scholar athlete dinner at the DoubleTree hotel. I have gone with Steve almost every year that he's been coaching. Originally he told me that I was invited again this year, but last week he was informed that there were not enough tickets. So, when I got dressed and came to work this morning, I had NO intention of going to the dinner. Well, at about 8:30 am Steve called to tell me that the Principal found me a ticket. I called my Mom to see if she could stay with the kids and of course she said 'No Problem'. My dilemma: I had nothing but the clothes on my back to wear. Next time I talked to Steve, I told him I would attend but that I had to do so in my work clothes. He assured me that it was fine. I mean, I did have on black pants, a black button down shirt and black shoes. Not horrible, but nothing special either. My plan is to do a little window shopping before heading over to the hotel which is around the corner from my office. I am glad I get to spend the evening with Steve because tomorrow night is his first 2:30 pm to 10:30 pm shift!

Class Mom

I took the day off today so I could go into David's class and make Mother's Day cards with them. I used my CM story cards and brought along some page completetion kits, adhesive, pens, my camera and my new printer. I had printed out Happy Mother's Day and a dragonfly design last night for the front of each card. This morning I took each kids photo, printed it and had them help me with the card. They signed their name and decorated with stickers. The cards came out real cute. I think all the Mom's will be happy.

David was a good boy while I was there. I think he enjoyed having me in the class with him. When I went to pick him up, his teacher told me he was sad when I left and he agreed. I felt bad but we soon got over it.

It felt really good to be able to play Class Mom today.

Zero

That is how many pounds I lost this week. I was talking to Steve and I think that I am going to make Friday my new weigh in day. It seems that when I save my points for the weekend and I weight myself on Monday, I lose nothing. At this point I am willing to try anything. I also hope to get back on the treadmill this week. My foot is healing...but still hurting.

Have to do this more often

We helped Steve's Aunt Dottie and Uncle Walter celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this afternoon. It started with a mass at St. Mary's church in Dumont where they renewed their vows. The priest had all their children and grandchildren join them at the alter during the prayer - it was a very nice event. After church they had about 60 people back at thier house for some food and fun. Now even though this side of Steve's family lives in NJ, they are about an hour away (without traffic) so we do not see them often at all. It was so nice to spend some time with them. He has so many cousins - I could not keep track! It made his Aunt and Uncle very happy that Steve's parents, Tracey and her family and Steve and his family could celebrate with them. The only problem with the whole day, was they had a cat and Steve and David were a mess! Steve's asthma was real bad and David had welts on his head. We left about 3 pm and walked out with Tracey and Rich. Once we got on the road, Steve asked me if I wanted to meet up with Tracey and Rich for dinner, so I called Tray. We decided to meet up at Houlihan's for a bite to eat. I think it was the best part of the day. We never get to do things like this with them because we live so far and have so much stuff going on. I'd love to do things like that with them more often. I have to say, I really had a great time today.

We have visitors

We started the morning with Steve taking David to soccer. It was very damp and nasty out, so I kept Ava at home. More for the selfish reason of not wanting to chase her around in the mud, but also to keep her from harming herself. She tends to think she is a 4 year old boy :) After practice, the boys came home and picked us up for a trip to the diner for breakfast. When we got home, I jumped in the shower and Ava took a nap. At about 1:30 pm, Steve's parents arrived. They had been in PA visiting Tracey, Rich and the kids and we were next on the list. The kids were so excited to see them! The first thing David wanted to do was show his PopPop how to play Wii. They played bowling and golf. Before long, Laurie, Walter and Tom stopped over to say Hi. Steve's parents had never met Tom before. Of course, David and Tom spent the whole time playing - which was just fine. Shortly after they left, the 6 of us went out to dinner at Luchento's in Millstone. We had a nice booth in the corner - perfect for the kids. With the exception of my Mother-in-law not feeling well, the dinner was great. Food was delicious as always. When we arrived back home, Steve made coffee for his Dad because I rushed us out of the restaurant. Ava has a short window of opportunity when out to dinner and it ran out by the time dessert and coffee would have been served. The kids played until Ava went to bed and we soon followed. Busy day tomorrow.

Nice surprise

I took the kids out when I got home and thought I'd grab us some dinner. Steve had an away baseball game and was going to be home late - or so he thought. When I pulled into the parking lot of the outdoor mall, Steve called. He was already getting on Easton Ave, which meant he was a little less than half way home. I told him we'd walk around the shops until he could get to us. It did not take long. We planned on eating mexican at Salsarita's, but David wanted a sandwich from Panera Bread. So, we ordered David's sandwich to go and went to Salsarita's so we could eat. I had a shrimp quesadilla and a few tortilla chips and Steve had a beef burrito. They have really good food and it's quick. David enjoyed his sandwich and Ava ate some of Steve's burrito. After we went home and got ready for bed. Ava was exhausted. I was very glad Steve got done early and could join us.

Movin' on up

I would like to take this time to congratulate my dear hubby on his PROMOTION!!!! YEAH!!!! He's been at SCVTHS since September of 1996 and worked his way from security guard to utility worker to foreman. Along the way he has coached soccer and baseball - taking the baseball team to consecutive winning seasons. He is a very hard working guy that is not afraid to try something even if he is not sure he can do it. It is nice to know that his boss and other higher ups see that he is worth promoting. He'll start his new position on May 1 to get some exerience before the guy he is replacing retires. He is getting a nice raise and then his yearly raise on top of that July 1. With all good things, there are always consequences and in this case, has to do with Steve's new work schedule. Come May 1, his hours will be 2:30 pm to 10:30 pm. Now, this is both good and bad. It's good because my Mom will get a nice break from taking care of the kids for 10 hours a day to about 3 hours a day and Steve will get to spend a lot more time with the kids. It's bad because Steve and I will spend A LOT less time together. However, I think we can manage. He'll still have his weekends free, which is a plus. He'll also be giving up coaching baseball which he was probably going to do before getting the promotion, but now HAS to do. I know he really enjoys it and even more, the kids love him...but there is no way with that schedule he can do both. Like I said, consequences.

So, won't you join me in congratulating my hubs?

Congratulations babe! You always told me you'd make your way to the top and I never doubted you. Good luck in the new position. The kids and I are very proud of you. We love you to the moon and back :)

Maybe it's a sign

I have always been one to try to do too much at one time. Until recently, I have always been able to have more than 3 things on my plate and not have any issues. Lately I have been feeling like I can not do it anymore, but yet I still attempt to. Tonight has caused me to realize that I need to slow down. After I made 2 CM deliveries the kids and I came home and I started to clean the house. The house needed to be cleaned and my Mom was hosting a play date tomorrow. I started by vacuuming the rugs and sweeping the hard wood floors - all while making dinner for the kids and feeding them. Next I hand washed the kitchen floor and moved on to dusting. By this time, Steve had gotten home and took the kids with him to drop of his truck to the dealer (whole nother story). Another CM customer called to see if she could drop by and pick up some tape runner refill so I went and got that together. Steve and the kids came home just as my customer arrived. I went outside to talk to her and give her the product all the while listening to Ava cry. When I came back inside, I took the kids upstairs to get their PJ's on. On our way back down stairs, I tripped over David with Ava in my right arm and started to fall head first down the stairs. My instinct was not to let Ava get hurt, so I grabbed the wall column with my left arm and the next thing I knew, Ava and I were on the ground and I was in A LOT of pain. Ava was fine...just scared. I could not move. I was not sure what hurt the most - my arm, my knee, my toe or my ass. Steve took Ava and calmed her down while I hobbled over to the couch. I realized that most of the pain was in my toe. Steve got me some ice, but that even hurt. David sat with me and to make me feel better - he even lent me his puppy for comfort. Steve had to put Ava to bed for me - I could not make it back up the stairs. We came to the conclusion that my toe is probably broken and I am going to be VERY sore. I am not looking forward to how I am going to feel in the morning. The only good that came out of this, is that I know that I need to slow down and not try to be SuperMom - I finally realize that now. Too bad it took PAIN to get me there.

Bad start, better ending

Boy - was I grumpy this morning. I walked again - YEAH for ME, but I was not as happy and energized by it as I was Monday. Don't get me wrong, I was happy that I got up and did it, but it did not help my mood. By the end of the work day, I felt better. While I was reading from my blog list, I was asked by DoaMM how I was going to celebrate Earth Day. To be completely honest, I did not realize it was Earth Day until reading her blog. As I get ready in the morning, I have no contact with the outside world or I would run late. On my way to work I listen to Howard and he was not talking about Earth Day (as you can imagine). So, when I read her question, I felt inspired to do something. When I got home, I packed up the diaper bag with some snacks and the car with some games and the kids and drove over to the Rutgers Gardens. I layed out a blanket and we enjoyed our snacks and talked about what we saw and heard. David hit some baseballs around and Ava did a lot of discovering. I found out how much my daughter is like me. She HATED the grass touching her feet. That is SO me. Give me beach sand over grass ANY DAY. Unfortunately, this killed my plan for a walk around the garden, but it all worked out as it was starting to get chilly. We packed the car back up and I drove them over to another area of the Gardens to see the dogs. I think we all really enjoyed our Earth Day. Thank you DoaMM for the idea!

No loss, but no gain

This morning was weigh in. I did not lose any weight, but I did not gain any either. I should count my lucky stars too that I did not gain. I had all good intensions on Saturday night when going to dinner, but after 3 margaritas I was STARVING and had a HUGE dinner complete with appetizer - YIKES! So, one meal off the wagon is not too bad - right? Well, when I woke up Sunday with a hangover, the english muffin I ate did not cut it. We drove thru Mickey D's and I had a hash brown and bacon, egg & cheese mc muffin. I did not stop there. Seeing as how I blew my diet, I continued at dinner. We took the kids to ShoGun for hibachi. I had the steak, chicken and shrimp dinner. It was absolutely delicious! Due to this, I decided to up the ante. I woke up at 5:30 am and got my lazy ass on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I walked 1.75 mi - not too bad. I have to admit...it felt pretty good. So, not only am I going to stick with my diet, I will walk on the treadmill each morning. I hope to have some better results by next Monday.

Playing catch up

The kids spent an afternoon at the park and with the cat during the week - thought I'd share some photos.

It's a beautiful day

The kids and I had a really great day today. I started my morning with a pedicure and even though I had to drag the kids along, I enjoyed it. They were actually pretty well behaved. On our way to the shore, I stopped at my favorite mall - The Shoppes at Old Bridge - to pick up something to wear to dinner tonight. There were a pair of clam digger jeans that NY & Co. had on their website that I HAD TO HAVE. Of course, I found a bunch of other items to purchase as well. From there, I stopped in GAP Kids/Baby GAP. I wanted to get Ava a pair of flip flops with the strap that holds them on. She has 'fake crocs' that are giving her a blister. Again, I found way more than I was looking for. Instead of the flip flops (they did not have her size) I got her 2 pairs of jelly sandals. To die for. All the clothes I picked up were on sale, can't beat it. Now we were ready for the beach. We drove to my parents, picked them up and went to lunch at The Breaker's. After our bellies were full we walked across the street to the beach. This was Ava's first time at the beach since she could walk. When I first put her down, she was not too sure, but she soon warmed up to it. My parents brought the sand toys and the kids played and played. David and I walked to the water. It was so calm and peaceful but REALLY COLD. David put his feet in, I could not. Once we left the beach, my Mom, Ava and I dropped off the boys and went dress shopping in Sea Girt. My Mom has a wedding to go to and was having a hard time finding something. I peaked in the GAP while she was at Coldwater Creek (not my cup of tea) and came out with 2 shirts, a pair on jeans and a dress! ALL ON SALE. My Mom did get a nice dress at Talbot's. Back at my parents, I showered and got ready to meet up with our friends for dinner. We met Matt & Kerry at Craig's in Brick. Dinner was delicious and the company was great. I had 2 more margaritas than I should, but what the hell - it was fun. I look forward to meeting up with them again soon.

Here are some pictures from the beach:

QVC

I was over Laurie's house this past weekend and noticed an adorable little piece of equipment on her scrap desk. It turned out to be a photo printer. Not just ANY photo printer, but an HP Photosmart A626 that prints 4 x6 or 5 x 7 and allows you to add graphics. YES GRAPHICS! I HAD to have one. I took down the information and starting doing my research. Everywhere I saw it for sale had it marked at $149. Which to me, is a great deal. Then I remembered that my dear brother-in-law works for QVC and they sell this kind of stuff. Sure enough, I logged on, clicked on electronics and then printers and WHALA! This beauty was staring back it me:

QVC does not sell the A626, but the A826. I compared the two and read some reviews and I was hooked. It cost about $50 more, but I think it's totally worth it. I emailed my sister-in-law to place the order (along with a pair of shoes that I have been longing for) and they are on their way to me! I CAN NOT WAIT! Anyone have this? Tell me your thoughts?

Feeling Good

Not many of you know, but I have my manicuring license. Although I am not in that line of work at the moment, I keep it up to date just in case I ever decide to go back to it but mostly to get a good deal on beauty supplies! I took a friend of mine over to the local 'for stylists only' beauty supply store because I needed some stuff. I am IN LOVE with Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree shampoo, so I bought more of that and the matching conditioner. If you have NEVER tried it, I TOTALLY suggest it. Every morning when I wash my hair, I feel like I am getting a tingly, cool head message that wakes me right up. I also picked up the moose version of this hair serum I was using and a new blush brush. The hair serum was weighing my hair down and my blush brush was FLAT I used it for SO long. Ever since I made my purchases I:
#1 - Don't mind getting up to shower and feel tingly!
#2 - LOVE the way my hair feels and is coming out when I blow dry it
#3 - My blush goes on so smooth and I do not waste any blush

Having kids can make a woman forget to take care of herself. I am glad I took some time this week to take care of me. I am starting to feel good again.

Our New Pet?

Well sort of. A few weeks ago we noticed a kitten under our kitchen in the evening. He was not there EVERY night, but on Saturday when we got home, he was around. David and Ava took an immediate liking to him. We let them 'play' with him and Steve gave him some milk and a garlic knot. Once he finished his milk, we made the kids come inside and get ready for bed. Well, the next thing I know, David is crying. He is sad for the kitten. He does not like that the kitten does not have a family, so I told him that when the kitten is around, we could be his family. However, I had to explain to him that he can NOT come in the house due to Steve and David's allergies. He understood and asked me to take him to the store on Sunday for cat food. I agreed. Sure enough, Sunday we hit up the A & P and picked up cat food and treats. David could not WAIT to get home and feed him. The kitten came around that evening and David fed him and gave him water. Well - the kitten HAS NOT LEFT SINCE! He was around all day Monday & Tuesday. When my Dad showed up to pick up my Mom, David and Ava were so excited to show him the 'kitty'. As much as David LOVES the kitten, so does Ava. She walks around saying 'kitty kitty' and even makes the psss sound to get him to come to her. They both play with him in the backyard and chase him all over. It is really cute. I am not sure how long the kitten will come around, but for now, he's part of the family.

Winning Season

Steve's baseball team won again yesterday! I believe their record is 3-1. I am so proud. He was not sure how this year was going to go. He lost a lot of his players to graduation. This is probably going to be his last year coaching, so I am glad it is turning out well. Today they play Bloomfield Tech - good luck Jags!

Have you tried Apple Cider Vinegar? Well, my girlfriends and I heard that it can do great things when you want to lose weight. So, we all did a 'shot' of it at lunch yesterday and I gagged. It was gross and my throat burned for a good 30 minutes afterward. Kristen was at least smart enough to add water, but even that hurt her stomach. I do not think I will be adding that to my diet plan. YUK!

Anyone watching Dancing with the Stars? I have loved it since season 1, but this year my man Jason Taylor is on. They always seem to have him dance last...build up I guess. He is SO smooth. It is going to be tough between him and Kristi. She is amazing, although, she is a skater, so she technically knows how to move. Surprisingly, Shannon Elizabeth is not half bad. This week she was a tad stiff, but overall, she is pretty good. I would SO love to be on that show. I'd want Mark or Eric as my partner. They are two cuties!

Don't forget to do your taxes!

6 words

I found this at Diary of a Modern Matriarch and could not resist the challenge. So here you go:

Life Story -
Don't want to miss a thing.

Birth Story -
A dream come true times two.

Want to try? Go to DoaMM and leave a link or just leave a comment on my blog. It's a lot of fun!

Blog Design Give-Away

A wonderful blog designer Delicious Design Studio is giving away her Full Blog Package for free! Yup, you read it right, FREE! This is something I would LOVE to win. Her designs are so artistic and beautiful. She is super creative and works her butt off. Take a peak over to her site, I know you will NOT be disappointed.

P.S. She is even giving away a second place prize.

8 lbs less

I weighed myself this morning before getting in the shower and I lost 8 lbs!!! YEAH!!! Can you tell I am VERY excited!!! I am looking forward to having another good week. I'll be at my goal weight before summer, I just know it.

Spring has arrived!

How beautiful was it yesterday? WOW! I think it was like 70+ degrees. We took the kids for breakfast at the dinner after soccer and then headed to Lowe's to get some flowers and bushes. Steve is very good at picking out that kind of stuff and he loves keeping the grounds looking nice. We bought a bunch of stuff and went back home to plant it. Steve and the kids planted the pansies in all the deck planters. When I came back outside, it looked like Spring in my backyard. So pretty. Purple and yellow flowers everywhere.

We spent the late afternoon at Walt and Laurie's watching the Yanks/Red Sox. The kids had a lot of together. The boys did boy things and Ava did her thing. Laurie has great educational toys, so Ava was playing with letters and blocks. She loved every minute of it. Walt cooked on the grill for the guys and kids and Laurie made delicious pizza for her and I. It was only 5 points per slice! The game went into a rain delay, so we all went over to the local ice cream shop. The kids had some ice cream and Walt and I got shakes. They make a great low fat vanilla shake. It's skim milk and no fat, no sugar vanilla frozen yogurt. MMMMMMMMMMMMM! When we got back to the house, the game was still in a delay but we hung for a little before taking the kids home for bed.

Why can't everyday be like today?

Just when I thought Dad could do it...

David had soccer again on Saturday. I am not sure what the weather was like by you, but it had rained Friday night so there was lots of mud and dampness. I asked Steve to take David to soccer and I waited at home with Ava. Soccer starts at 9 and ends at 10, but by 10:30 am , I still had not heard from them. So , I called Steve and they were JUST leaving the field. I asked him what was going on and he explained that he was talking to the coach of the team that David practiced with. I asked him what he meant and basically, David was with the WRONG TEAM! Steve did not remember the coach and thought this guy that he did remember from last week - was him. When David got home he was upset again! This time he had a reason. The team he practiced with were a bunch of 6 year olds and they were mean to him. Poor kid - he may be traumatized for good. I'll let you know.

Loving Panera Bread

So I started WW on Monday and have been doing good all week. Yesterday I celebrated a co-workers birthday at Ruby Tuesday and did my homework so I knew what I was eating before even walking in the restaurant. Today, I met a few friends for lunch at Panera and decided again, to do some research. I was BLOWN AWAY at how many options I had! The soups, salads and sandwiches are all very reasonable in the points value as per WW. I was in the mood for soup, so I had the low fat chicken noodle and a 1/2 chicken tomesto on whole grain. YUMMY! All that food for 7 points! They did give me a bag of chips that I was strong enough not to eat and brought home to the kids. Now - I just need to get through the weekend!

Out with another man!

I had the pleasure of meeting my cousins Jen and Ryan for lunch on Wednesday. We met at a local Applebee's so I could stay on my WW plan. Unfortuntely, we did not have a lot of time to spend together, but the time we did have was fun. Ryan is getting SO big. He is absolutely adorable. My kids never had hair when they were babies, but he sure does. I got to hold him and he is super snuggly and LIGHT! Jen looks great. Holly gave her a great haircut and she looks super happy. Next time we plan on meeting at an outdoor mall so we can walk around and enjoy the fresh air. Can't wait!

Kindergarten

Tuesday night Steve and I attended Kindergarten parent night in our township. After initially going to the wrong school, we arrived with enough time for us to learn what they expect of David and us for this coming school year. I have to admit, that aside from reading and writing, he is ahead of the game. I already knew I needed to work on his writing, but I did NOT realize how much reading they expect of Kindergarteners! They gave us a list of words that he should know by site so I will be drilling him on those. I also need to get back to the reading at bed time routine. I used to be real good at it, but I slacked off. The good thing is that I am so consumed with getting him ready that I am not yet in 'shock' that he is actually going. However, I know come August, I'll be a nervous wreck for him. Even though lately he acts like he hates me, he is my baby boy. He has grown up SO fast - especially since Ava has been born. I really wish I had the ability to take the summer off and spend it enjoying his company. He can be so much fun. I already feel that I have missed out on so much, but thinking about him going to Kindergarten makes me feel like I missed his whole 'babyhood'. :sigh:

So disappointed

I worked from home this morning so that I could attend David's Spring Concert at pre-school. Just when I was leaving to bring him to school, I realized that the concert was not at the time I thought it was. Last year, the concerts took place about 15 minutes after drop off. This time, it was not until 10:30 am which meant I could not attend. I still was able to drop him off at school, but was SO disappointed and upset that I could not return for the show. Steve, Ava and my Mom attended and said he did really well. Here are a few photos.

Needless to say, I felt guilt all day long. He seemed not to be bothered by the fact that I was not in attendance, which is good - I guess. Next month he has a few other school things going on that I am determined NOT to miss.

Just plain mean

I come home from a long day at work to be completely ignored! Ava was sleeping but David was sitting on the ottoman playing. I walk in and say 'Hi David, how are you feeling? I missed you today.' No response. So, I clean up around the house, talk to my Dad and go back to Mr. Mean for a kiss. I give him a kiss and he freaks! 'You are making bugars!' is what he tells me - what? My dad leaves and he barely said good bye to him. So, now it is just David and I. I go to the bathroom, get him a tissue and when I come back he tells me he does not want me to be home. He goes on to tell me he did not miss me and will not think about me anymore. Again - what? When he was wiping his nose, he got a piece of tissue in his mouth and he proceeds to SPIT on my floor. I warn him once but he continues to do it. My next move is to put him in time out. Now he tells me he wants to be with MomMom and Gramps. I tell him that even though he is very mean, that I still love him and he has made me VERY sad. Ava woke up before time out was over so I went up changed my clothes and got her from her crib. When we came down, his time out was over. He treated me a tiny bit better, but was still a big brat. I do not know what his problem is/was. All I do know, is that he is breaking my heart. What happened to my baby boy?

Peanut Oil?

This afternoon I wanted to get out of the house and go for a ride in Steve's new vehicle. We loaded up the kids and went to a local flea market. I am not a 'flea market' person, but Steve wanted to show David the old Star Wars toys that were sold there. When we arrived, it was very overcast, so most of the vendors were leaving or had left. We took a quick look around - saw there was nothing worth looking at - and got back in the car. I told Steve to hop on Rt. 9 south and we'd grab something to eat. A Cheeburger Cheeburger recently opened in Manalapan so we thought we'd go there. We had been to one back in 2004 while visiting my sister in FL. We got a front row spot, and I noticed a sign on the door. It read "All fried foods cooked in peanut oil". Now, that is a HUGE problem. Both Steve and David have SEVERE nut allergies and Ava can't be tested until she is 3. I went inside to grab a menu and see of there was anything they could have. The hostess told me we should not risk it when I explained my concern. So, I went back to the truck with the report. We decided to go somewhere else, so that my whole family did not die of analphylactic shock.
I can not believe that in this day and age, with all the nut (especially peanut) allergies there are, that a restaurant would cook with it. I mean, the chinese restaurants stopped using it as to not lose customers - why would a chain of restaurants START using it. What if a person was not aware that they had the allergy and ate there! As a restaurant, I would not want to take that risk. I will be writing an email to the franchise tomorrow.

Proud

We started our day with David playing soccer. He did REAL well. I thought he looked so adorable is his uniform. He thought he looked cool. His coach is a real nice guy with an English accent. David loved that he called him 'Mate'. There was a bit of confusion at the end of the hour long practice so David left the field in tears, but he soon recovered. We are all looking forward to next week.

The rest of the day we spent used truck shopping for Steve. On our way to dinner Friday, we stopped at a local used car lot and saw a few trucks that caught Steve's eye. Yesterday he wanted to see what else was out there. We found nothing. Every car dealer we stopped at had their used trucks priced so high - it was ridiculous. We ended up back where we started. Steve chose the 2000 GMC Sierra! It is a beautiful truck and has everything we/he was looking for. Low mileage, crew cab, power everything - all the things he does not have now. David walked with him to pick it up (that is how close this place is). Here are some photos of them coming home. Good luck babe!

Just a few things...

• Steve's team lost it's first game and he was pissed!
• The pregnant man story is very interesting to me after having seen him on Oprah.
• The kids got to spend the day down the shore with my Mom.
• I found a use truck for Steve on cars.com.
• If the rain stays away, David has his 1st soccer practice tomorrow.
• Steve and I are going to dinner tonight to celebrate our Anniversary.

Enjoy your Friday.

Let the games begin

This afternoon Steve's baseball team will play it's first game of the season. They were rained out on Tuesday so I am hoping the weather holds up for them today. SCVTHS will be traveling up to Sussex Tech. I wish them luck with their season! This means that he'll be getting home pretty late, so I'll take the kids out to dinner. I'll let David decide where we go - he is so picky.
Good luck Jags!

Ava takes a tumble

down a flight of stairs! Don't ask me to explain why I could not stop it, cause I can't. One minute I am putting the towels away and the next minute I am running down the stairs to get to Ava. I even watched it happen in what seeemed like slow motion, but could not get to her. The weird part was that she did not fall head over feet. She actually fell sideways, which I think was a better way to go. She also did it slow enough (if that is even possible to imagine) that she never smacked her head or face. When I finally got to her, she was crying (thank God) as was I and I was shaking. I got her to calm down and then she was out of it. She had her eyes open, but she was pale and very sleepy. I thought I needed to call the peds office, so I did and got a nurse. She told me to take Ava to the ER to get her checked out. I packed the kids in the car and drove to the hospital. It was a complete ordeal to park and get to the ER, but we did. After signing in, they had us wait in the peds ER waiting room, which meant toys. I gave strict instructions to David that there will be NO playing with germ infested toys. He was pissed, but I could not care. Steve showed up about 1/2 hour after we got there. We waited a long while before even seeing the triage nurse. She took Ava's temp, BP and pulse - all were good. Back to the waiting room we went. By this time, Ava was back to her old self and did not want to wait anymore. Plus, everyone was starving. We finally get called in to be examined but there are no rooms, so we were in the 'hallway' by the nurses station. Ava is all over the nurses station - pushing buttons, trying to use the phone, picking up charts - crazy. The nurse checks in with us and tell us the Dr. should be over soon. When the Dr. finally arrives, he asks me a few questions, checks Ava's ears and tells us she is fine. 15 minutes later we are discharged. I was very glad to know she was fine. It was a scary turn of events. My poor little girl.

We're pregnant!

Can you believe it? We can't. After we had Ava we swore she would be the last. SURPRISE! However, that is not the biggest shock. We are having twins!! The fact that Steve and I are still breathing after getting the news is shocking. We will need a bigger house for sure. Here are some pictures...

HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY!!!!!

If you believed me, I have a brige I can sell you :)