M's New Do

My baby girl said to me, "Mom, I want short hair." Done.

My Shutterbug

I know I'm going to get some death threats over these pictures, but they are just too funny. McKenna took all of these pictures on our trip home to Ohio. I think she's pretty good for only being 4 years old!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy 2nd Birthday, Brady Patrick!

 

My sweet Bubby Boy,

There are so many reasons why I love you and not enough space to tell you all of them. Here are my absolute top reasons:

1.) You love anything with an engine: trains, boats, airplanes, helicopters, heavy artillery equipment, construction equipment, and especially lawnmowers.

2.) You are so sweet. You love to snuggle and cuddle.

3.) You sleep with your lawnmower.

4.) You are great at sharing.

5.) You love to get haircuts.

6.) You love to "clean" your lawnmower.

7.) You are as wild as the wind.

8.) You adore your sister and brother.

9.) You think your name is Me.

10.) You love to dance. You can shake it to anything which leads me to...

11.) You love Lady Gaga. Absolutely love her.

12.) You say "Go Irish" when watching any football game. Wrong team but great spirit.

13.) You love to be read to.

14.) You are a ladies man. I find this charming now, but I'm sure I will eventually hate it.

15.) You call most boys and men, "Guy."

16.) You are still attached to the umbilical cord.

17.) You have a smile that makes everyone feel good.

18.) You are always the life of the party.

19.) You charm complete strangers.

20.) Did I mention that you love lawnmowers?

You are a light in my life, Brady. I am so lucky to be your Momma.

Grateful

I went to the memorial for those fallen in Patrick's battalion on Friday. Honestly, I had mixed feelings about going. On one hand, I wanted to go and pay my respects. On the other hand,I was not looking forward to the guaranteed sadness and heartbreak. In the past, I've had the opportunity to go to various battalion memorials, but I've never gone. I WON'T MISS ANOTHER ONE. It was truly a beautiful ceremony with a visual memorial to each of the 13 slain Marines. But, what really got to me and made me realize how important it was to attend these ceremonies, were the individual eulogies given by fellow Marines to each of the fallen Marines. It was so important to hear these stories; to hear about the men they were, not just the Marines they were.(I call them men but most of them were around 20 years old.) Most importantly, it made me extremely grateful. Not just for their sacrifice, but for the fact that my husband didn't have to make that same sacrifice. As I watched the family members of the Marines go up to the memorials and say their goodbyes; I couldn't help but think how easily that could have been me. How easily I could have been the one taking my children up to say goodbye to their Daddy. It's just a roll of the dice. Just like that. Everything gone but emptiness and sadness. So, as I do my daily worrying of bill paying, diaper changing, and toilet cleaning; I'm going to think about that now. That could have been us.

Stay Off of the Sidewalks!

Happy Birthday to my Hubby!

My Dearest Lucky,

Happy 35th Birthday! I still can't believe that you are only 5 years from forty, which is only 20 years from 60, which is only 40 years from 100! Thank god I am still young. Anyway, it's hard to express everything I feel in my heart for you on your special day. There is too much to say and mushy is just not us. Just know that I love you, I've always loved you, and I always will. You are a tremendous man. I am proud to be your wife.

Starfall

My baby girl is going to Kindergarten next year. That is the sad truth. I feel like I've failed her in the Pre K readiness department. When she was my only child; we did educational stuff all the time. She could speak in sentences at 12 months and knew her ABCs by 18 months. Then, I became the baby factory. After the boys came, McKenna lost alot of that one on one time with me and it's showing. She does great with counting,shapes, cutting, gluing, motor skills (ie jumping on one foot, etc.) Her writing and phonics skills are not so good. I feel horrible because I am a teacher, my kid should have the advantages. So, I've been really buckling down to get her ready and she is making tremendous leaps! Someone suggested getting her on the website, Starfall, to help. THIS SITE IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!! I highly recommend it for any child that needs help with reading and phonics at any level. The best part is that it is FREE!