Amy 

Mommy & Son 

Linda w/the bride & groom 

Boy - it's been a while!

Hello Blog Readers - sorry I have been away so long. I'm going to try and let you know all the exciting things you have been missing. I'll start off with our trip to Disney. We left Sunday Nov. 6th and were in Disney for 5 days/4 nights. We visited the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM studios and Universal parks. It was a great time. David met a lot of characters and we all ate some delicious food. When we left Orlando on Thursday, we made our way to Jupiter, FL for my sister's wedding. Although the wedding itself took place on Saturday, Thursday the festivities started. Thursday night everyone gathered at the Sugarcane Bistro for dinner and/or drinks. Friday after lounging in the sun, was the Rehearsal dinner at a great sports bar. Saturday was the Big Day. Amy could not have asked for a more beautiful day. The sun was shining, but it was not too hot. She looked stunning and had a great time. My Uncle Jack performed a beautiful ceremony and the Jupiter Beach Resort did a fantastic job. Amy and Andrew had an awesome wedding day. Sunday after breakfast with Steve's parents at the hotel we went back to NJ. I have to say, I was happy to be home and VERY glad I had taken Monday off. Friday Steve and I went into NYC for dinner with my co-workers to Blue Smoke BBQ. It was delicious! The rest of the weekend, I did 2 Creative Memories events. On Saturday I did a vendor fair and Sunday I did a Get Together in Bronxville, NY for a friend of mine. That part of NYC is gorgeous. Her apartment is great and she served magnificent food. The next week was Thanksgiving. We spent the day at Aunt Mary's for turkey and the night at Aunt Carol's for dessert and grab bag. My family is nuts and we have a great time together. Friday, Steve and I worked on the house and cleaned. Saturday Tracey, Rich and kids came for the weekend. We went to Shogun 18 for dinner and after we got the kids to sleep, we played scene it?. We cracked up all night. Sunday Steve worked, but the rest of us went to the diner for breakfast. After breakfast, we popped over to Crate & Barrel outlet so Tracey and I could shop. I love shopping. After, they headed back to PA and I went home. Mike & Laura-Ann were waiting for us when we got there. It was time for football. Jill and Joe showed up and then the girls (and David) hit the mall. Steve came home while we were gone and the boys and girls had a good day. Mike and Laura-Ann stayed for dinner. This week I was back in New Brunswick all week - YEAH! Yesterday, I was offered a new job (at UMDNJ) and I accepted! I am not sure when I will start, but I am VERY excited about it. I guess that wraps up the past month - I promise to post more often this month.

Almost ready!

Only 2 days till we leave for FL! I am VERY excited. I got my hair done last night, tonight I go for my pedicure and tomorrow it's nails and waxing. Then packing. I am always a last minute packer - some people like that and some don't. It works for me. First we're going to Disney World. David is going to have such a great time. He's been there 2 times already, but I think this time will be the most fun. He knows all the characters and loves to go on rides. I have made a lot of reservations so he'll get to meet a lot of 'people'. We are going to stop in Universal Studios also - David has never been and Steve and I have not gone since we lived there. Shrek is there and David LOVES him. After we leave US, we're driving to Jupiter. The hotel we are staying in (Jupiter Beach Resort) is gorgeous and that is where my sister's reception will be. I think we're going out for a mini bachelorette party that night - FUN! Friday I plan on hanging by the pool until the rehearsal dinner. Saturday is the BIG day. I can not wait. I love my dress and my shoes, so I am really looking forward to wearing them. I also am dying to see David all dressed up - my little man. I think the wedding is going to be great. Amy will look beautiful and I know we'll all have a blast. Almost all my relatives will be there and that means a whole lot of fun. I'll post pix when I return.

Missing out

I've been working like a dog lately and missing out on a lot. Last week ended our Go Live support so I had a full weekend to myself. Friday I met someone for dinner at a great Italian restaurant. I had a real nice time and hopefully there will be a good outcome. Saturday I held Croptoberfest at my house for my scrappers to have some uninterrupted scrapping time. I started my sister's bridal shower album, Jean started an album for her cousin, Geri worked on her granddaughters album and my Mom sorted her pictures into her Powersort box. We all got a lot done. My Dad went to the Rutgers game with a family friend and we met them at Tumulty's in New Brunswick for dinner. It was homecoming weekend so we waited a while before eating. David enjoyed watching the trains and running up and down the ramp. After dinner, we went home and my Mom decided to spend the night. Steve and I thought we'd take advantage of the built in babysitter and meet our cousins at The Breakfast Club. When we got there, we did not see their cars. I called Mike and sure enough, they decided not to go. So, we went home. No big deal. Sunday, my Mom and I walked the Memory Walk to benefit Alzheimer's. We did REAL well. On our way home, we stopped at IHOP, where Steve and David joined us. I ate a HUGE breakfast, which defeated the point of a very fast, long and up hill walk I had just completed. Oh well. When I got home I passed out on the couch watching the Giants game. When I woke up, David took a nap and I finished my sister's bridal shower album. We all went out to get Halloween candy once David woke up and picked up take out on our way home. After dinner we played and watched more football. I had a real nice weekend and I even felt relaxed. This week I'll be busy, but it will all be ok. I get to go back to my New Brunswick office on Wed and then I am off to FL on Sunday. Watch out Mickey, here we come!

Try this...

I found it on Jersey Girl's site. Bold all those that you ever were guilty of doing. When you are done, add one thing that is true about yourself to the end, then post the list to your blog.

I’ve run away from home.
I listen to political music.
I collect comic books.
I shut others out when I’m sad.
I open up to others easily.
I am keeping a secret from the world.
I watch the news.
I own over 5 rap CDs.
I own an ipod. (MP3 player)
I own something from Hot Topic.
I love Disney movies.
I am a sucker for hair/eyes.
I don’t kill bugs.
I have “x”s in my screen name.
I’ve slipped out a “lol” in a real conversation.
I love Spam.
I bake well.
I would wear pajamas to school/work.
I own something from Abercrombie.
I have a job.
I love Martha Stewart.
I am in love with someone.
I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
I am self conscious.
I like to laugh.
I smoke a pack a day.
I loved Go Ask Alice.
I have cough drops when I’m not sick.
I can’t swallow pills.
I quit smoking.
I have many scars.
I’ve been out of this country.
I believe in ghosts.
I can’t sleep if there is a spider in the room.
I am really ticklish.
I love chocolate.
I bite my nails.
I am comfortable with being me.
I play computer games/video games when I’m bored.
Gotten lost in the city.
Saw a shooting star.
I have had 2 serious surgical procedures.
I have kissed a stranger.
Hugged a stranger.
Been in a fist fight with the same sex.
Been arrested.
Laughed and had milk/soda come out of your nose.
Pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
Made out in an elevator.
Sworn at my parents.
Kicked a guy where it hurts.
Been skydiving.
Been bungee jumping.
Broken a bone.
Played spin the bottle.
Gotten stitches.
Bitten someone.
Been to Niagara Falls.
Gotten the chicken pox.
Crashed into a car.
Been to Asia.
Ridden in a taxi.
Shoplifted.
Been fired.
Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back.
Had a crush on a teacher/coach.
Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Been to Europe.
Slept with a co-worker.
Been married.
Gotten divorced.
Saw someone dying.
Driven over 400 miles in one day.
Been to Canada.
Been on a plane.
Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Thrown up in a bar.
Eaten Sushi.
Been snowboarding.
Been skiing.
Been ice skating.
Met someone in person from the internet.
Been to a car show.
Gone to college.
Done hard drugs.
Taken painkillers.
Met a celebrity.
I like playing practical jokes.
Seen all nine seasons of the X-Files.
Once swore Disco would never die.
Seen a ghost.
Attended a professional sporting event.
Attended a live rock concert.
Stayed up all night.
Lied about my name.
Thrown something at a spouse.
After a night out, have gone straight to work without going home.
I cut all the wires in my husband's car for spite.
Been engaged twice.

Whistle while you work?

I think not. Whistling would mean that I was enjoying my job - I am not. On Monday, we went live with the a appointment program. In order for there to be coverage and support for the people loading their appointments, my schedule was adjusted. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I worked from 6 am to 3 pm (no breaks) and Thursday from 1 pm to 8:30 pm. Luckily the loading went much faster than anticipated, so by Thursday afternoon, we were told we would go back to our 8 to 4 pm work day for Friday. Thursday I was scheduled till 10 pm, but the loaders left at 5:50 pm. You might wonder why I stayed almost 3 more hours...people like to make huge changes in the 13th hour. Friday was another one of those days, so I left after 5 pm. I was scheduled to work on Sunday (today) but because we were doing so well, we were under the WRONG impression that the weekend hours would not be needed. Needless to say, I am posting from work! Hopefully there will not be any major changes today. I'll let you know.

Dinner at Conch Joe's 

Driving the boat 

Dinner in Ponce Inlet 

Bride to be with gifts 

Quick Update

Sorry it's been so long! Last Wednesday we left for Florida. We went for a quick visit to Steve's parents house in Palm Coast and then off to Port St. Lucie for my sister's bridal shower. We had a great time at Steve's parents. They had a beautiful pool put in since the last time we've been there so we spent a lot of time in there. It is a salt water pool instead of chlorine - what a difference! David loved it too. He loved the jets and the 'rainforest'. We went fishing, out on the boat, out to dinner in Ponce Inlet, had breakfast at Cracker Barrel and shopped the outlets. Steve's Mom took us for a ride through St. Augustine. What a cool city. I can't wait to walk through it next time we're down. Steve's Dad is having knee replacement tomorrow, so he was still not feeling well. It was great to see them and hope to be going back soon. On Friday afternoon we drove down to Port St. Lucie. My cousin Mar and her husband Frank had come in from NJ that afternoon so we met for dinner. After dinner, we went to see my sister's new house. It's gorgeous! Very spacious and nicely decorated. Saturday was her shower at a Key West style restaurant in Jupiter. She had a great time and got some real nice gifts. I had all my family that could not attend the shower, create a scrapbook for her. She was so surprised and loved it. After the shower, we went to the Jupiter Beach Resort where she's getting married. I loved it! It is so classy and breathtaking. The rooms make you feel like you're on a tropical island. We watched the Yanks clinch the AL East at the ocean view bar! That night we went to dinner at a seafood restaurant with everyone - lots of fun. The next morning before we left, we had breakfast and then headed for the airport. Although we really enjoyed ourselves - it was nice to be home.

For Jersey Girl

Hi Mrs. Laffey! This one is for you...

Things I plan (Lord willing) to do before I die:
1. See David grow up healthy and happy
2. Travel with my husband and son
3. Finish scrapbooking
4. Learn to Golf
5. Live at the beach

5 Things I can do:
1. Teach scrapbooking
2. Be a friend
3. Give advice
4. Work hard & long
5. Shop

5 Things I cannot do (yet):
1. Speak another language
2. Work slow
3. Give up
4. Be quiet
5. Be around birds

5 Things that attract me to the opposite sex:
1. Sense of Humor
2. Honesty
3. Sincerity
4. Realness
5. Strong hands

5 Things I say most often:
1. I love you
2. David!
3. Hi Babe
4. I hate this job (when I am at work)
5. Thanks.

5 Celebrity crushes:
1. Jon Bon Jovi
2. Tino Martinez
3. Steve Burton
4. Michael Madsen
5. Tommy Lee (my bad boy)

5 People I want to do this:
1. Tracey
2. Amy
3. Derrick
4. Laurie (ditto on this from Laney & Mom, fix the computer already!!!)
5. Mike

Football, Traffic and Visitors

It's been a while since I've posted - work has been insane. Since I wrote last, we have gone to the Rutgers football game, I've sat in LOTS of aweful traffic and Steve's parents have come to visit. The Rutgers game was on a beautiful Saturday afternoon unlike last year when we were freezing and wet. The NERDS played the pre-game party and were terrific. David had a blast meeting the Scarlet Knight and playing in all the kids games. I did not have so much fun. Steve decided to park himself near the beer truck and left me to run after David. When it came game time, we piled into the stadium to sweat through the game. The game really was great - they won and made lots of nice plays, but it was HOT. I do not usually complain, but I was not expecting it, so I was not appropriately dressed. My parents, David and I watched the game and David was SO into it. He was yelling "tackle him" and "touchdown". Steve was no where to be found - probably not feeling too good. After the game we came back to our house for dinner and to watch more football. Overall the day was good. Ok, now for the traffic report. NJ must have the worst roads because everywhere you, go no matter what time, there is traffic. I spent most of my time last week in traffic on the NJ Turnpike and Rt. 280. Thursday was the topper - Theresa and I left Newark at 4:40 pm. I did not walk in my door until after 7 pm! The worst part was that we were smooth sailing until we hit exit 10. So from exit 10 to exit 9 we sat for 2 hours! It was aweful and poor Theresa was afraid she would run out of gas! We did not run out of gas - thank God - and we had each other to keep us sane, but we were not happy. Friday I worked from home and it was great. I woke up about 20 minutes before I started work and shuffled to the computer. While it was coming up, I made myself tea. My parents showed up to watch David and he woke up a little later. My day was going well but I had a lot of work to do. I took my shower on my lunch break. David went down for a long nap about 2/2:30 pm right before my in-laws came in. My parents chatted with them until I was done with work. After Steve got home, the 5 of us went to one of our favorite restaurants - Covella's in Sayreville. Our dinner was fantastic. On Saturday Steve worked and his parents went to visit friends, so David and I ran some errands. He was such a good boy. After he and I napped, we went to my Aunt Carol's for John's 22nd birthday. We all had a real nice time. Sunday Tracey and the kids came at 10 am and saw my in-laws off around noon. They stayed till 2:30 and headed to Medivel Times for a birthday party. Jill, Joe and Mike were over watching football. After everyone was gone, Steve and I made dinner and the 3 of us ate. I scrapped while watching the Tommy Lee goes to College finale and football. David wrestled with Steve and watched Mickey Mouse movies and then it was time for bed. I love going to bed - especially when I've had a crazy couple of days. I don't even remember falling asleep. This morning I sat in more traffic to come to work - I sure hope my rides home are better than last week!

Are You Ready for Some FOOTBALL?

YES I AM! Tonight kicks off the 2005/2006 NFL season and I could not be more excited. Even though it is a week night, we are having a Kick Off party. I stopped at Sam's to pick up appetizers and Steve is off to get the beer. I will be drinking soda, cause I do not like beer and do not want to wake up with a headache. I figured I would blog before our guests arrive. Not that many people are coming because most of my family are teachers and have started back to work this week. It does not matter, I'll be watching the Pats and the Raiders play the other greatest sport in the world and cheering for my fantasy quaterback, Kerry Collins. I can not wait!

My Little Man 

Back to Work

When I woke up this morning I was hit in the face with reality - vacation is officially over! I was MISERABLE, but I stumbled to the shower to get read for work. After I snuck into David's room to kiss him good-bye, I got in my car for the dreaded ride to Newark. The ride got better after I picked up my partner in hell, Theresa. I had not seen her in a while - she was on vacation and then I went away. We chatted our way up the turnpike. Once we got in the office we were innundated with work, so the day went by quickly. We could not wait to get out of there. We were back in EB before 5 pm. After making a return at the GAP, I was home. It is amazing that as soon as I see David's face - work does not even exist. I love that little guy. When he saw me he asked "Mommy, want to play Elmo Limbo with me?" How can I say no? So we limboed. Steve came home soon after and we all piled in our bed. David loves to jump and tackle us. I have to admit, we love it too. I cooked a great taco dinner and we all ate like kings. As I write this, David and Steve are getting ready for bed. Soon, I'll be reading a bedtime story and kissing David good-night. Did I mention that I love that little guy? Oh, yeah, I did.

Hershey Park 

Cape May Zoo 

Skee Ball 

30th Birthday Party 

A great week

Where should I begin? I guess I'll start with Saturday 8/27. My parents threw me a 30th birthday party at Gambino's restaurant in New Brunswick. My sister came up from FL and my sister, brother-in-law and the kids came from PA. Tracey, Rich and the kids stayed with us from Friday to Sunday. On Saturday, Tracey and I spray tanned each other & shopped for new outifts. I got my hair cut, colored and blown out. Then we were off to the party. There were 60 of my closest family and friends in attendance. Rich made a great playlist for the party on his I-Pod for entertainment. The food was fantastic and we all had a great time. Our babysitter Megan came and took care of David, Ally and Ty. I even hired a photographer - they took over 200 pictures. I can not wait to see them. After the party we came back to my house to party some more. Tracey and kids were exhausted and went to sleep. The rest of us just hung out having some beers (in my case wine coolers). Our friend Matt got to stop by after his shift (he's a cop in EB). I really enjoyed my big day. Sunday was all about recovering - I was not feeling my best. I did open my presents. I got some great stuff. Gift Certificates, Money & Jewelery. My sister gave me Tiffany earrings and my sister and brother-in-law gave me a Tiffany necklace. Monday we left for our vacation to Wildwood. We checked into our motel and decided to take a ride to Cape May. David fell asleep on the ride. We walked through the Cape May shops and got some italian ice. When we got back to our motel, we cleaned up and headed to dinner at the Lobster Shack. After dinner, we hit the boardwalk. David loved the rides - there were a lot for his size. My parents came down to visit on Tuesday. We were laying out by the pool when they arrived. David loved the pool. He even learned to jump off the side. Steve took David fishing at the bay, but he got tired so I walked him back and he fell asleep in the stroller. I got ready for dinner while he napped. We all went to The Crab House for dinner. It was delicious. After we ate, we took a walk to the dock so David could watch the boats. Then we headed to the boardwalk. There are 3 piers on the Wildwood boardwalk, so we went to a different one. This one had even more rides for David. He was even big enough to go on a roller coaster with Steve! I was a nervous nelly, but he did great. We went into one of the arcades so David could play skee-ball. While he was doing that, my Mom and I played video poker and she won 125 tokens! David was able to 'buy' a basketball and some other little prizes - he was SO happy. After my Dad had his Mack's Pizza, we headed back to the motel. My parents left and went to AC, we just went to sleep. Wednesday we had a delicious breakfast at Samuel's Pancake House then hung out by the pool. For lunch we went to Moore's Inlet. David was SO excited - Scoop & Muck were working on the beach! The food was good and Steve got a free pitcher of beer. We all took a nap when we got back to our room. When we woke up, we got ready and headed to Schellenger's for dinner. What a great place - great food and great atmosphere. We again hit the boardwalk after dinner. This time I took David on some rides. My favorite is the Big Slide so we went on that. After the rides, we went and got our picture taken at Old Time Portraits. It came out great! We stopped for ice cream on our way back to the motel. Thursday we checked out of the motel and headed to PA. On our way, we stopped at the Cape May Zoo. There is no fee, but you can give a donation. It is a great place. There are lots of animals and it is very clean. I am very glad we stopped. We arrived at Tracey & Rich's around 2 pm. No one was home yet, so I showered. When Tracey got home, we all walked down to the bus stop to pick up the kids. The kids were so excited we were there. It was Ally's birthday so after dinner, Tracey had some neighbors over for cake. We hit the sack early for the next days adventure. Friday we went to Hershey Park! All 7 of us packed in Tracey & Rich's Pilot for the ride. We had an awesome day. The park is HUGE! First we went through the tour and got free candy. Then we were off to the rides. The kids went on some of theirs first and then Tracey and Steve headed to the roller coasters and believe me, there are a lot to choose from. They also have lots of water rides. The park was not that crowded and the kids were well behaved. On the way home the kids fell alseep and the adults sang. It was one of the best days I've ever had. We left PA Saturday morning and headed home. When we got home, Zach was SO happy to see us. The floor was full of dog hair, but everything else was great. Megan had been letting him out and feeding him - she is wonderful. Steve cleaned the floor and I started the laundry. We just relaxed and enjoyed being home. Vacations are great, but nothing beats your own home. More about this weekend to come...

GMA 

Thirty years ago today...

I was born! I can not believe it, but I am 30 - YIKES! Age has never really mattered to me before, but I will admit, 30 matters. I do not necessarily mean in a bad way, but I do feel something.

For those of you that do not know, I was born on my Father's 27th birthday. We always celebrate together, so back in December I wrote an email to Good Morning America requesting show tickets for today. Just this past June, I received an email back granting my request. My Dad made reservations at the Doubletree Suites Hotel in Times Square for last night - great idea - because we needed to be at the studio by 6:15 am this morning. So after work yesterday, Steve and I took the train into NY and met up with my Mom, Dad and David. First we went to the World of Disney store. This place is awesome. It is 3 floors and on the 3rd floor is a meet and greet area with the Characters. Goofy and Max were there so David got his picture with them. Then we headed to dinner at Mickey Mantle's overlooking Central Park. The food was fantastic and David loved all the Yankee stuff (so did I). When we got back to our room, my Dad went out and got Dunkin Donuts for dessert - YUMMY! This morning we left our hotel at 6:05 am for the short trek to ABC studios. We were inside the studio for the taping of a few segments and it was really cool to see the faces I watch every morning in person. After the show we were hungry so we ate breakfast at a 50's diner. We went back to the hotel to pack and wait for Toys R Us to open. Once we got to Toys R Us, David played with the Bob the Builder toys and went on the Ferris Wheel with Steve. They had a GREAT time. While my Dad was checking us out of the Hotel, the rest of us walked to Tiffany's for my birthday gifts. Steve bought me a beautiful bracelet and ring. I LOVE them. We came back home and my Mom and I did some shopping. After dinner we had orange cake (Dad's favorite) and sang Happy Birthday. Today was a really special and fabulous day. On Saturday, my parents are giving me a big 30th B'day party - I am really looking forward to it. I'll let you know how it goes.

What a life! 

Didn't have to spend a penny

I have needed new blush and eye shadow for a while now. I use MAC make-up and it is not sold in every store. I had earned a $50 Bloomingdale's gift card and planned to use that to buy my make up. I just could never find the time to get to the Bridgewater Mall. Today I found the time. Laura-Ann, David and I headed to Bridgewater. We stopped off to drop Steve's lunch off to him at work (he was putting in some OT). He surprised me by offering to keep David company while Laura-Ann and I ran to Bloomies. I spent $30+ at the MAC counter and $17+ at the Lancome counter so my gift card covered it. I didn't have to spend a penny! We walked through the mall to Janie & Jack so Laura-Ann could purchase a baby shower gift and then stopped off at Auntie Anne's pretzels for a drink and pretzel. We picked David up from Steve and headed home. David had a great time with Steve at work. They played basketball and kickball in the gym and then went to Steve's office. Laura-Ann went home, she was going to a party and David and I picked up Burger King. After lunch it was nap time for both of us. Steve came home and napped too. Our neighbors came over to check out our addition - they're real nice people. Then, Steve, David and I ate dinner. We were looking forward to tonight's Giants vs Brown pre-season game, but as of now it is delayed due to the weather. I am sure we'll find something else to do.

All Better

I can finally say that I am feeling better. The decongestant has worked wonders! I am still taking my meds - the doctor says to finish the bottle. I am more than happy to oblige so I do not get sick again.

In July I did a Creative Memories class for a woman who find me online. She lives here in EB and I found out at her party that she used to be a CM consultant. She had asked me about signing up again and sure enough she faxed in her agreement on Monday. I am so very excited about building my business with Diane. I can not wait to help her get started. I am doing another class tomorrow night for Diane's niece in Edison. I'll let you know how I do.

David has been napping since I got home. I do not think this is a good thing. I was up all night with him last night and I have a feeling I am going to be in the same situation tonight. Does anyone have any advice on getting a 2 year old to go to bed at a decent time and stay there? We were very lucky with him as an infant - he slept through the night starting at 3 weeks old. I guess we are paying our dues now.

Can you hear me now?

NO! Can you believe that my ear is STILL clogged? Luckily my Mom went to see our doctor and picked me up a prescription for a decongestant. I'll let you know if it works.

We had a pretty boring weekend due to my sickness. The only day we had plans for was Saturday. Steve's friend Jaime from work invited us to his daughter's 3rd birthday party. They live in Somerset and have a nice house with a built in pool. There was no way I was swimming but when we arrived Jaime's 12 year old nephew offered to take David in the pool and he loved it. It was very hot and I felt really crappy. We did not stay too long, but we did stay long enough to see Dora! Jaime's sister dressed up as Dora - the poor girl was sweating her butt off. David was SO happy. He really likes Dora. Jaime's family is really nice - he had a great wife and an adorable daughter. I am glad I got to meet them. When we got home, David and I took a nap and Steve headed to the Fair to help Walter out again. I slept for about 2 hours and woke up feeling better than I had in days. David slept about an hour more and when he woke up, we headed to the Fair. We spent the evening with Laurie, Walter and Steve. It was a great time. I really love Walter and Laurie - they are a lot like us. Sunday I was back to feeling miserable. Steve put up the rest of our fence and I cleaned a little. Overall - it was a boring day. Today it was back to work. The day went by fast cause I had a lot to do. My parents had brought dinner over (left overs from the weekend). It was so nice to have a good meal that I did not have to cook or prepare. The rest of the evening we played with David - he is full of energy. He is still up as I write this! So that is what is going on. I am going to try and persuade David to go to sleep. I know I can not wait to hit the hay!

Aren't they pretty? 

A Sweet Surprise

I am STILL sick! What was supposed to be a 24 hour bug has now turned into a sever inner ear infection and a URI. I am on antibiotics and ear drops for pain. I do not think the drops are doing much because I am in a lot of pain. Needless to say, I am NOT a happy camper. I am lucky to have wonderful parents who have been babysitting for David even with me at home. There is NO way I could have taken care of him and myself feeling this lousy. I am also VERY lucky to have Steve. Although he has missed most of my illness he has been concerned and even came home with a Sweet Surprise. When I say he has 'missed my illness', I mean that during the day he is at work and on Tuesday and Thursday night he was helping his cousin Walter with the Middlesex County Fair. See Walter and his father (Steve's Uncle D) are electricians. Every year they are hired by the Fair to do all the electrical work and each night they have to be there. Steve was SO happy when Walter asked him to help. He really likes hanging out with Walter and they do not get to do it that much. They both work a lot and have other responsibilities. I was also very glad that they were together - family is very important to me. Last night when Steve walked in the door, I was still awake. I was too uncomfortable to sleep and missed Steve. I could not believe my eyes! Steve brought home 2 dozen roses for me! What a Sweet Surprise, I was really excited. I LOVE them. He told me that Walter did the same for Laurie - what nice guys we have. When I came downstairs this morning the smell of the roses woke me right up and reminded me that Steve was thinking about me. It made another day of feeling crappy a little brighter.

Here's the mulch and railroad ties 

BAMM!

That is how this sickness I have came on. I was at work yesterday and started to feel a scratchy throat. I got Advil and a throat losenge from a co-worker. I felt better. I took David to the Middlesex Cty Fair and was still OK. After we ate and were walking around in the unbearable heat, my legs started to feel like Jello and I was very achey and weak. By the time I got to my car, I was not sure I could make it home. Thank God I did, but when I got home I was SO SICK. I went upstairs and got into my PJs. I had to get David ready for bed and he was not helping. I finally gave up and layed on the couch. I was FREEZING - so I put a blanket on. David was not tired and did not understand how I was feeling so he was jumping all over me. I was in so much pain because of my aching - I was actually crying. The only thing I could imagine to do was to go upstairs in my bed and turn out all the lights and hope he would fall asleep. After another 20 minutes of him playing in the dark, he did fall asleep. This whole time I was so uncomfortable - I did not know what to do. I tossed and turned, put the covers on and took them off, I turned on the fan and turned it off. Steve finally got home at about midnight from helping his cousin Walter with the fair. I have never been so happy to see him. I had only been home for 4 hours but it seemed like a lifetime because I was so miserable. He put David in his crib and I took Tylenol PM and FINALLY fell asleep. I woke up this morning to my Mom bringing me tea and toast - she had this bug earlier this week. That made me feel a little better. I still feel weak, but my throat is a little better and the aching has passed. David went with my parents to LBI to visit some friends, so I am resting to get over this thing. Hopefully, I'll be back to my old self tomorrow.

CHANGES!

Sunday Steve went to the nursery and bought some black mulch. This was after he maticulously installed railroad ties as trim for the new landscaping. He worked his butt off all day. After the mulch was in place, I took some more pix. It looks awesome. I am really proud of him. I'll post the pix later. After he cleaned himself up, we took David to Pt. Pleasant and met my parents. Talk about CHANGES. When I was younger we went to Pt. Pleasant instead of Seaside to avoid the 'interesting people'. I can tell you that those 'interesting people' now call Pt. Pleasant their home. It was aweful. All the woman wore daisy duke and half shirts with all their 'junk' hanging out. And there was a LOT of junk to hang out. The guys all thought they were Andrew Dice Clay with the vugar lanuage to boot. We had a quick bite to eat at Martell's and that cost me $20 for a turkey burger, 2 sodas and shrimp - SO NOT WORTH IT! Then we took David on the rides. He really enjoyed them, but I had to fight with the other parents that do not understand what waiting in line means. It really is not that hard 'interesing people' - you have to wait your turn! We stopped for ice cream before heading back to the car. David had vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles and enjoyed every bite. I had a few bites of his. On the way home, Steve and I discussed the evening and were so surprised by the CHANGES. I guess eventually I'll get used to it. But I will never become one of those 'interesting people' - I promise!

Our new railings and landscaping 

A closer look 

Sprucing Up

Home Depot here we come! Steve, David and I spent our morning at the local HD picking out bushes and plants to landscape our front porch. Yes, we have been living in our house for 5 1/2 years and NEVER landscaped. I always wanted a wrap around porch, but when I did not win the lottery, we decided just to get new steps. That was last summer, so this summer we bit the bullet and bought some stuff. We bought 8 bushes total (4 for each side) and weed blocker for a total of $150! That is not bad. We'll need to get mulch either tomorrow or next weekend. Steve has been working his butt off all day, and already I like what I see. I'll post some pix later. Gotta go drop off a Consultant Agreement - YEAH!

The comforts of 'home'

I was advised last week that I can spend every other Friday in my New Brunswick office (a.k.a real office). I was glad when I heard it, but it made me think. If I can do the work that needs to be done from home and from my REAL office, then why do I ever have to be in the Newark office? That is a question no one seems to have an answer to. However the reason for this post is not to bitch about how much I hate my job, it is to tell you how NICE it was to work from my REAL office today. I had a great ride in, I made it in early and NO TURNPIKE! I got to see my friends, Kristen, Judy, Bill, Scott and Corey. I had a real lunch hour - we went to Antonia's for Bill's birthday. Most of all, I used my own computer, sat at my own seat, had privacy in my own cube and answered my own phone. Oh and I almost forgot, I used a clean bathroom and did not have to worry about who was in the hallway! I miss New Brunswick!

Honeymooners

My cousins Mark & Jen came for dinner last night. I invited them over last week when they returned from their honeymoon in Miami & Aruba. Steve cooked steak and shrimp on the grill, we had corn and I made a salad. The food was delcious and the conversation was great (not to mention grown up). I got to see the wedding proofs and the honeymoon pictures. They were gorgeous. They seem to have had a really wonderful honeymoon. Jen brought strawberry shortcake for dessert. David LOVED the whipped cream. It was yummy. We had a really nice night. I am so glad we got together.

Sleep on it

As you have seen from my last post, I am not myself lately. The stress in my life has taken over and I have been trying to figure out how to get myself back. Steve and I talked a little last night and he told me to leave work at work. Now I have heard this a lot before, but for some reason when I woke up this morning, it really hit me. If I leave work at work and home at home, I can at least separate the stress and make it more managable. I am still determined to get a new job - but for now - I'll try this. Sometimes sleeping on an idea is a good thing.

This morning my godson/nephew Tyler had his tonsils removed. He is doing real well and I am so very proud of him. I wish we lived closer so I could give him a hug and kiss, but his Mom is taking care of that for me. Love you Ty!

What should I be doing?

I feel lost. Aside from David, I do not feel that my life is going where I want it. I do know that I am in control of that - but I do feel there are circumstances pushing me one way or another. For example, I would love to be an elementary school teacher, but I do not have a college degree. To get a degree, I would need to go to college. To go to college I need time and money - I have neither. So, in that case I know what I want, but I do not have the means to get it. There are at least 2 other situations like that going on with me at this moment and it is frustrating. Very frustrating. Sometimes I think about moving far away and starting over or selling the house and living modestly so I can do what I want. Maybe part of this feeling is about always taking care of others and worrying least about myself. I think I will reorganize my people priority list: 1. David 2. Me. It might look selfish, but to keep my sanity, that is the way it needs to be. I have learned the hard way that no one is taking care of me and I need to do it. I have a lot of responsibilities and I will do my best to keep them up, but if they do not affect me or David, they will have to wait. I know life is not fair, but I have been pulling more than my weight for a long time, and I don't want to do it anymore.

The End is Near

Yesterday I decided to end the misery and I told David's school that he would not be returning in August. They did not seem surprised - I wonder why?

My cousin Mike came over for dinner last night and I feel horrible! I had a horrible day at work and when he arrived, I was not a happy camper. It had NOTHING to do with him, but I think he thought it did. Luckily Steve explained my bad day and I think he understood. I do not know of he knows this, but Mike was the highlight of my day.

Today I worked from home. When I say worked, I mean eyeballs burning, neck aching, brain bursting work. I had to do a lot of data comparing - it wears a person OUT! Tonight I did a Creative Memories class here in EB. It went really well and I met some great people. One of the girls is hosting her own show in August. When I got home, my angel baby was sleeping on the couch. He looked so cute. I am so glad I have him to come home to.

She's not Mommy

Today was interesting to say the least. I dropped David off kicking and screaming at school. Then I picked up my friend Theresa for our drive to Newark. We had our daily 9 am meeting and then moved to our new building. This needs some explaination. I have been working in a really old trailer with no air conditioning, no phones, no security and a dirty, smelly bathroom for the past 1 + month. Today we moved from there to a training room in the Behavioral Health Sciences Building. Yes, you guessed it, this is where the crazy people go. We are directly across the narrow hall from the Violence Center of Newark. So now we have air and phones, but can at any moment lose our lives. After work I picked David up at school. When I got there he was coloring a picture with a Bingo marker and a huge smile on his face. Once he noticed me, he came over and gave me a big hug and said "We're going home now?" I said "yup" and off we went. I had to stop at the A&P, so when we were on Summerhill Road, he said "I don't like Ms. Debra" so I asked "Why" and his answer was "She's not Mommy". Those were the cutest 3 words I ever heard. He is so smart - it's crazy! He did however have a good day at school according to his Experience Sheet. He cried in the morning and after his nap, but played and enjoyed the kids. I have decided that he will not be returning to school in August. I have paid for July, so he'll finish up, but that is it. David was great in the A&P. He helped me pick out corn on the cob and put the groceries on the register. Steve was home when we got there and had cut the back yard lawn, so David helped him 'clean up'. I made dinner. After dinner we played and David was asleep by 8:30 pm. I brought him upstairs to put him in his crib and he puked everywhere! So in the tub he went. This is the 3rd time in the past month that he has thrown up at random. I don't know what is going on. I will call the pediatrician in the morning. He is sleeping now and I am going to do the same.

Feelin' Crappy

I stayed home sick today from work due to a fever and sore throat. I guess I chose a good day with the storm we had in the afternoon - I actually took a nap! I'll have more to say tomorrow. Talk to you then.

Tailgaiting 

An Adult Night Out

Steve and I had tickets to the John Mellencamp concert at PNC Bank Arts Center last night. Yesterday morning however, my cousins Mike and John came over to play ball with Steve in the park next to our house. It was unplanned. While they were gone I cleaned the house a little and printed some pictures. David had gone with them, until he was hit in the head with a line drive off the bat of one of my cousins (not pointing fingers). Thank God his head is hard - he is fine. Steve cooked hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill for lunch and then we all settled in the living room to watch the Yanks vs Red Sox game. Mike's wife Laura-Ann was with my cousin Jill getting fitted for her dress for Jill's wedding. The girls came by after. Once Laura-Ann arrived, Mike talked her into joining us at the Mellencamp concert, so I went on-line and purchased their tickets with Mike's credit card. John called his girlfriend to see if they could join us, but they had other plans. Jill left to take a nap and Mike and Laura-Ann left to get ready. I went upstairs to get ready myself. John left while I was up there. Once I was ready, Steve spent 5 minutes getting ready and we left to go pick up Mike and Laura-Ann on our way to drop David off at my parents. As soon as we got in the car, my cell rang and it was Mike. He told me they decided they were not going to the concert. Steve and I were bummed and upset. We thought #1, we got them in a fight and #2, they just wasted $60! We drove to my parents and dropped off David. We played with David on the golf course a little bit and when we were getting ready to leave, my Dad's phone rang. It was Mike looking for us because they have decided to go after all. We were THRILLED! We said our good-byes to David and left. We stopped at the liquor store for tailgaiting supplies and headed to PNC. After a parking episode, we got a spot and soon Mike and Laura-Ann found us. John Fogerty was opening at 7 pm and we heard the show start while we were tailgaiting. He was not anyone we cared about so we did not rush to get into the concert. We went in about 7:45 pm. We were so surprised to see how crowded it was. Our seats were lawn seats and there was nowhere to sit! We ended up sitting under a tree by the fence at the bottom of a hill which meant we could not see the stage. You could still hear the music just the same. To our delight, John Fogerty was great! We knew every song he played, I was shocked. Ok, about the hill that was in front of us. Well, it was slippery. So to Steve and Mike's delight they were counting the people that fell and laughing at their misery. They had a lot of laughs and a lot of counting to do. People fell climbing up and going down. Some girls had skirts on and gave quite a show! Now the fence, the bathroom lines were insane, so guys started to "go" behind us on the fence. Steve and Mike would yell to try and deter them but it did not always work. Then there was the girl that did not want to wait in line for the bathroom. I was in the bathroom myself when this happened, however got the story upon my return. Apparently, she unzipped her pants while walking down the hill and squatted behind us near the fence and was there a while. I forgot to mention the 'Neil Young' character that was sitting by us - can you say WACKY - he stared at the girl doing her thing. After all that, John Mellencamp came on. He was ok - I thought he would be a lot better. He played most of the good stuff last and by that time, we had walked up the hill and could now see the stage. He looked good but did not give an encore which rubbed us the wrong way. We left and drove Mike and Laura-Ann to their car. We followed them back to their house with a stop to Dunkin Donuts on the way. We sat on their deck talking and drinking our coffees/hot chocolates. It was a great end to a really great time.

Laney Tagged Me!

I read this on Mrs. Laffey's and then I was tagged by Laney. Read on...

10 Years Ago: I was working at Shea's Place with my girlfriend Michelle. I had just gotten back from a vacation in LBI. Those that know me know the rest - rather not talk about it.

5 Years Ago: We had moved into our house in March of 2000 and we were fixing it up all summer. My cousin Todd stayed with us most of the summer while he worked at Rutgers.

1 Year Ago: David was 13 months old and just started walking. I am pretty sure we were on vacation at my parents apartment in Spring Lake.

Yesterday: I picked up my friend Theresa and we drove into Newark for work. After I dropped her off at her car, I went to Sam's Club to buy meats. When I came home I packed up the meats while Steve cooked pork chops on the grill. After dinner I went to the A&P for the rest of the food shopping. After I put the groceries away, David and I fell asleep together on the couch.

Today: I met Theresa in New Brunswick and we drove into Newark for work. After she dropped me off, I stopped at the Hallmark store to buy birthday cards. I went home and got Steve and David and we went to Pathmark so I could cash a check and buy a savings bond. Next we stopped at the mall so I could pick up a birthday gift. We had pizza for dinner.

5 snacks I enjoy: peanut butter ice cream, vanilla milk shakes, peanut M&M, banana pudding with vanilla waffers & hot pretzels

5 bands I know most of the lyrics of their songs: Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Madonna, Tom Petty & Vertical Horizon

Things I would Do with 100 million dollars: Give money to my family, buy a beach house, go on vacation, save money for college for David, never work again

5 locations I would run away to: Las Vegas, Spain, Italy, Hawaii, Tahiti

5 things I would never wear: Burka, Red Sox jersey, thong bikini, frumpy shoes, see through clothes

5 things I like doing: playing with David, shopping, scrapbooking, watching the Yanks, being with Steve

5 biggest joys of the moment: Leaving work, seeing David smile, teaching David new things with Steve, going to the beach, having a good drink

5 famous people I would like to meet: Tino Martinez, Jon Bon Jovi, Anthony Hopkins, Michael Madsen, Jessica Simpson

5 movies I like: Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon, Shawshank Redemption, Meet the Parents, Radio

5 TV Shows I like: Sportscenter, CSI, Friends, General Hospital, Lazy Town

5 favorite toys: Camera, computer, cell phone, MP3 player & portable DVD player

5 people I tag: Tracey, Amy, Mom, Theresa & Laura-Ann

Yankees come back , PLEASE!

The past three days the Yankees have been on the All-Star break and I miss them. Yes, I enjoyed the home run derby on Monday but I could have watched that and a Yankee game. What I did see of last nights All-Star game was alright, but I would much rather have been watching the Yanks. Today there was NO baseball (gasp!). I am REALLY looking forward to tomorrow's Yankee game. So if you need to talk to me tomorrow make sure it is before the game.

Stupid things happen to good people

Today was one of those days. Steve took David to school today and accidently drove to work with my keys. Luckily my parents Jeep was here so I drove that to Newark. Once I got into the office I was rushing to get a cup of tea before our daily meeting. I walked into the break room, put my tea bag in the paper cup, got boiling water from the water cooler and slipped as I was walking out of the room. This resulted in a burn on my hand and face. Yes, that's right, I said face. I spend the rest of the morning getting treated for my swollen red burned face and hand. The afternoon went fine, but the morning I could have done without.

David had a good day at school. He did cry when he was dropped off and a little through out the day, but nothing like last week. He went to Chapel, played outside and took Gymnastics class.

I got a nice surprise in the mail today. My sister sent me a little gift and card to cheer me up. It did the trick!

Who's ready to play? 

Boys 

Divas 

Hey now, You're an AllStar

The 2nd Annual Kenny Family Softball game was held yesterday at Johnson's Park. Mike, Laura-Ann, Steve and John arrived early to set-up. David and I arrived around 11:45 am. The game was to start at noon, but because of the rain on Friday night, the field was not in great shape and most of the people were not there yet. We started the game a little after 1 pm and it was great. I played right field and batted last in the line up. 2 balls were hit my way in the outfield and I did NOT catch them. I got up to bat 4 times and made 3 outs. I did not get any hits - I instead got a fielder's choice. Needless to say I am NOT an all-star. Steve on the other hand was 4 for 5 with 2 triples, a double and a single. His defense left a little to be desired, but was overall good. He earned the MVP award. I was very impressed with all the family that did play. After the game we went to start BBQing and noticed that we needed more charcoal, lighter fluid and batteries. I volunteered to go to Stop & Shop and took my cousin Jackie with me. While we were gone the heavens opened and it POURED! It was still raining when we got back and some of the guys were standing over the grill trying to keep it dry. The rain soon stopped and it was time to eat. Mr. Ursino (Tony) was the chef and the hot dogs and hamburgers were delicious - so were all the sides. There was fried chicken, baked beans, pasta salad, potato salad, fruit salad, chips and friggin dip. We had plenty to eat. I have to tell you that David was an absolute BEAR! He was so bad all day and very clingy. He would not let anyone take care of him but me. Steve did give me a much needed break by taking David to the Raritan River. I tried to get him to nap in the car but he was not having it. So, we put him in the stroller and took him back over to the baseball field to watch Mike, Steve, Joe, Tony, AnnaMaria and Jill hit balls. As soon as I sat on the bench the rain came again. I walked David and the stroller back to my car and this time he fell asleep (so did I)! Steve woke me up about 6:30 pm when he got off the field. By this time everyone had left the park except for the Ursino's and the Kenny's minus Kelly and Ken. There was a lot of beer left in the keg so we came back to my house. Steve made coffee and I made tea for those that were done drinking and we sat around talking - it was a real nice night. Someone came up with the idea of doing keg stands and sure enough almost everyone took their turn - that was a riot! The 2nd Annual Kenny Family Softball game was a huge success - Thanks Mike & Laura-Ann! Can't wait till next year. By the way, if you roast marshmallows over citronela candles, you won't get bites in your throat.

Rain Rain Go Away

and don't come again until the weekend is over! Boy it is an ugly day in New Jersey. I hope it clears up for our Kenny Family Softball game tomorrow. My cousin Mike decided to do this last year and it was a huge success, so we're are doing it again. I will post pictures afterwards. I am working from home today which I have been told is a good thing because Newark is flooding! Gramps is taking David to Chuck E Cheese today because he went to school yesterday - not that is went well. Steve and I took him together (long story). We got to the parking lot and he flipped out. Steve carried him in to school kicking & screaming. I was able to coax him into the room but had to peel him off me. I left crying as he was screaming and crying for me. It was aweful. Steve signed him in and met me in the car. I waited until about 10 am and called school to check on David, the secretary said he was fine and watching the Magician. My Dad picked him up at 3 pm which made me very happy. When I got home, I read David's progress sheet. It basically said he was miserable. He did not sleep or eat lunch. I hope he starts to like school better. At least Steve now understands why I can not drop him off. Hopefully next week Steve will be the drop off parent.

Who's in charge?

Tuesday was David's school day, however, when we pulled into the parking lot, he screamed "NO!". So I drove through the parking lot, called my Mom to come up and drove home. I waited until my Mom got to my house and drove to work. I had called my boss to let her know what was going on - of course. When I finally arrived at work, my boss asked me if I was ok and then she asked "Who is in charge?", I simply said "He is." I can live with David being in charge a lot easier then I can live with him being absolutely miserable at school.

Today David went to Chuck E Cheese with MomMom and Gramps and loved every minute of it. He had been asking to go since yesterday. They said he was a good boy and did not throw a fit when it was time to leave. So, Chuck E Cheese is our new best friend. My Dad told David that if he goes to school and is a good boy, he'll get to go to Chuck E Cheese on Friday. Let's hope this works! Tomorrow is another school day. Steve is going to bring him in because my heart can't take anymore. I'll let you know how it goes.

Happy 4th! 

David at the beach 

Jackie's Graduation Party 

Happy 4th of July!

I hope you all have a safe and fun 4th! It is so beautiful outside today. The temperature is perfect and there is nice breeze. David is feeling much better today so we are looking forward to celebrating. I'll post pictures later.

More bloggers in my family

It seems we have a few more bloggers in my family. My sister Amy and my sister-in-law Tracey have started their own. They are good so stop on over.

Yesterday was my cousin Jackie's High School Graduation party. It was a great day. My Aunt Kathy and Uncle Bob live in Clinton, NJ and have a beautiful house with an awesome yard. The party was on the gorgeous big deck. There was tasty food, plenty of drinks and wonderful company. Our family was there - we always have fun when we're together. A lot of Jackie's friends were there too. They were real nice girls and guys - all very attractive. All the guys in our family (including my husband) loved having the young girls around. David loved playing soccer and baseball and hanging out in the hot tub. He 'fished' in the hot tub and later went 'swimming' with our cousin Jill. Even though he did not feel well, he had a blast. Congratulations Jackie! We love you.

Today was a bit different. David felt worse today. He woke up in the middle of the night with a fever and he was very congested. I gave him some Pedia Care and Tylenol and he went back to sleep. When we woke up in the morning, he was not feeling well and was not himself. We had plans to go down to my parents house and I wasn't sure we should go, but David said he wanted to. So, we got ready and went. Steve golfed with my cousins Mark, Mike & John and I went to the beach with David, my cousin in law Laura-Ann and John's girlfriend Michelle. We parked farther from the beach then I would have liked, so we gathered up all our crap and hoofed it. We found a good spot and set everything up. David played for all of 5 minutes and just did not feel good, so he fell asleep. My Mom showed up while he was sleeping. The girls talked while we laid out - it was fun. When David woke up, he was cranky but he noticed some kids playing and wanted to join them. I took him over and he played with them a little bit. My Aunt Carol, Uncle Tom and cousin in law Jen came down to the beach and brought David some fruit. He ate a little. He tried playing in his pool, but was uncomfortable and he asked me if we could go home. So, my Mom called my Dad to pick us up and we packed up our beach stuff and headed to my Mom's. When we got back, Steve and the boys were finished golfing, so Steve and I went out and picked up food for lunch. After we ate, everyone took a nap. We woke up about 2 hours later and I could not wait to shower. David felt a little better after his second nap of the day but wanted to go home. Steve and I packed up the car and came home. I gave David some more medicine and he is asleep now. Steve and I feel so bad for him when he is sick - he looks so sad. We miss his smile and giggle. Hopefully we'll hear it tomorrow.

Great Day Off

I had yesterday off - YEAH! My Mom came into East Brunswick to pick David and I up and bring us back to her house. We picked up my Dad and headed to the Breaker's for breakfast. Next we went back to their house and got ready for the beach. My Dad drove David and I to the beach while my Mom got ready. Gramps bought David a huge beach bucket full of beach toys - David loved it. When he saw it he said "Holy Cow, Holy Sh*t". My Dad and I looked at each other, but did not say anything. If you make a big deal he keeps saying it. When we got to the beach we went all the way down near the ocean. I layed out a towel for David and set up my chair. I applied sunscreen to us both. David played and I read. MomMom and Gramps showed up shortly after. Gramps set up the umbrella and the next thing you know - David is asleep! Not long after he fell asleep the ocean was coming up closer, so we had to move back, but David was still sleeping. We were there about 2 hours and the weather started to turn. My parents brought everything to the car and came back to get David and I. David woke up when we leaving the beach. He said good bye to the ocean and we went back to MomMom and Gramps' house. It was a great beach day. We had lunch and David played on the computer with Gramps. My Mom had a terrible tooth ache and finally found a dentist that could see her, so they went to Freehold to the dentist. David and I went to Target to get some gifts and things. David was great in the store. When we got back to my parents, I gave him a bath and then Steve showed up. They hung out while I showered. My parents brought back a pizza on their way home from the dentist. We stayed a little longer and then headed home. David was asleep before we left. It was a great way to start the weekend.

Boys do love the potty!

DAVID FOUND PUPPY!!!! Last night Steve was in the bathroom and David decided to join him. They were in there a while (I do not want to know what was going on) and all of a sudden I hear Steve say, "Show Mommy what you found". At first I was very nervous to see what David would find in the bathroom, but to my delight it was PUPPY! He was in David's potty! The 3 of us were SO excited that Puppy was back with us. We all gave him big kisses. By the way, in case you were worried, David does not USE his potty yet, so Puppy was poop and pee free.