House-sitting & Day 113. 252 Days Left

My parent’s decided to revoke our father’s day dinner invite and spend the weekend with Dr. Doyle, DMD (Aunt Mon-ka). My thought- ahhh, a quiet weekend at home; there are plenty of to do’s around here.

Should have waited until my parent’s were out of the house before having that thought…

Phone call from my dad…

Dad: "Hey hun. Your mom and I are heading out this weekend to see Monica.”

Me: “um, ok”

Dad: “Listen. Why don’t you and Justin bring the kids and have dinner here Friday and Saturday nights, I have steaks out for Justie and fresh fish for you, You guys can grill, the kids play in the yard, plus we are taking the German Sheppard’s so you can bring the dogs and they also have the yard. So plan on spending the next two nights, would you babe? Your brother will cut the grass so you don’t have to worry about Petunia with the bees (yes, the pug is allergic to bees. In fact the first time stung almost killed her).”

Translation: Please come over and baby-sit man-sit house-sit for the weekend.

Me: “um, ok”

So with that I pack for a weekend, less than an hour away. Load up enough shit necessities for two toddlers, three dogs and a couple changes of clothes for the hubby and me. With toddlers, light packing does NOT exist. No matter the circumstance.

Get to the house, unload everyone and everything, say hi to Uncle Brian who huffed “you my babysitters”, made dinner, cleaned the kitchen and went to bed. Kids finally fell asleep around 11pm.

Saturday the kids enjoyed the late morning and afternoon in the yard. They played in their sandbox, in the pool and Addison even helped Uncle Brian with the yard work.

(see how helpful- she is putting the leaves “away”)

This morning Addison made the hubby blueberry pancakes; dumping almost the entire bag of frozen blueberries into the batter. They were blue.

(notice the blue face. she just about ate as many blueberries as she dumped in)

(Addison's "bestest blue blueberry pancakes")

(the hubby & Jackson enjoying Addison's "bestest blue blueberry pancakes")

Later, we decided to take the kids to Target to pick out a slip-n-slide. Toy Story for obvious reasons. How very exciting and so much fun! We spent another afternoon playing in the yard. Really can’t complain because we had a great weekend after all. My parents do so much for us that house sitting for a few days was the least we could do for them. The kids really did have a wonderful weekend.

Hope all of you amazing dads out there had a wonderful Father’s Day.
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Day113
One amazing daddy

A driver’s aide & Day 89. 276 Days Left.

I have a problem. Well, it's not so much a problem for me as it seems to be a problem for the person sitting in the driver's seat; the hubby...

I'm a backseat driver.

It's an affliction I just can't seem to control. I feel this compulsion to help the driver the hubby by aiding him with helpful suggestions and warning gasps. I choose to view it more as being a driver's aide than a backseat driver.


A trip from point A to B will typically sounds much like this…

Me: "We need to be in the left lane."
Hubby: Than you drive.

Me: "That stoplight up ahead is red."
Hubby: Do you want to drive?

Me: "Are we this close to that car's bumper because you like the smell of exhaust fumes?"
Hubby: You can drive next time.

Me: “Why don't we get around this car.”
Hubby: Gives the "shut-up" look
Me: "Unless you like going 30 miles an hour."
Hubby: You know what… you are driving home.

Me: “Don’t change lanes now, there is a semi-truck… I don’t like being next to them.”
Hubby: If you can drive better than why are you not driving?

Me: “Is there a reason we are not going the speed limit?”
Hubby: Really? Every time?

Me: “I would have taken the other street.”
Hubby: I am going to pull the fucking car over and you drive!

Me: "Well, we are here now."

What he doesn’t seem to understand is that I am just being constructive and offering help. The problem is not always him… it is mostly the other douchebags cars I fear. We are, after all, traveling with precious cargo and I am just taking extra precautions. Extra percautions because these other douchebags cars on the road go fast. They go very, very fast. And I am a mom. I am a mom that worries about everything; especially when it comes to my children.

So for now, I will continue to aide those transporting my precious cargo.

Do you do anything that drives your loved ones crazy?
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Day 89
Little Boys+Trucks= Pure Joy

Noisy blessings & Day 86. 279 Days Left.

I truly enjoy quiet moments. However, usually during those moments I find something my toddlers have, themselves, discovered.

While I am a firm believer in finding quiet moments for ourselves, I am also a lover of the day to day noises in my house. We all have them… whether you are a college student, just married, are enjoying the fighting giggling of your children or the pitter patter of four (or in my case, twelve) fur paws.

Whatever stage of life, we are all blessed with a routine of sound that is very much our own.

Most mornings I wake to my own noises; hubby getting ready for work, Jackson crying, dogs barking, Addison or Jackson or Pug snoring in my ear, and admittedly wish for a quieter wake up call. However, given the chance (most mornings) I would not trade it for the world.

My days are typically filled with children laughing- sometimes crying and fighting, the clicking of megabloks masterpieces being built- sometimes tossed, toddler requests- sometimes demands, kissing sounds that come from the countless smooches on chubby cheeks, dogs running around (sometimes barking) with squealing children, the hum of the air conditioner, the clicking of the keyboard, the occasional honking of a car or lawn people outside and sometimes the noise of a less than quiet neighbor- which with two toddlers and three dogs I certainly am not. And at the end of the day I enjoy; the giggling of two happy toddlers enjoying their bath, a room filled with once upon a times, happily ever afters, goodnights and I love you’s.

The music that inhibits our car has changed from my favorite radio station and cd’s, to the ever popular Backyardagins, Elmo or Yo Gabba DVD’s; and daytime television rarely sees Good Morning America or Regis and Kelly. And this is perfectly okay, because soon these noises will change and simply become a memory in time.

What are the unique sounds of your home?
Would love to hear what they include.
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Day 86
spaghetti night... need I say more.

The story of us & Day 84. 281 Days Left.

April 16th, 2005 we were married.

Today we celebrate six years. I am still amazed how quickly those years have past. I guess six years of marriage is nothing when you dated seven beforehand.

How we met: The stalker

13 years ago I had no idea the man I was meeting would be my future husband and give me two amazingly beautiful children.

It was a few days after my high school graduation; I just broke up with my boyfriend and the place I was working closed for business. I was heartbroken and unemployed. A friend of mine wanted to introduce me to someone he worked with. I agreed and we headed to this guys house. I met Kim (my husband’s best friend and our best man) and no attraction (sorry Kim). We talked and really hit it off as friends. About an hour later Kim’s roommate walks through the door. BAM… that was it. I was smitten.

Justin and I talked a couple of hours. We connected. He drove me home (my friend was passed out on the couch- nice friend) … I remember thinking: this really sucks,I am never going to see this guy again.

A month or so later the same friend called to see if I had found a job. He mentioned the restaurant he was working at was hiring a hostess. He also mentioned Justin worked there. I told him to sign me up. I called, went in for an interview, was hired and started working two days later.
The third day of work Justin checks in at the front desk. He looks at me and says “you work here? Since when?” … this is the moment I would forever be referred to as his stalker.

I would hitch a ride to work or ask my mom to take me. I had a plan; thankfully it never backfired. I would come up with elaborate reason why I did not have my car and Justin always offered to drive me home. On the nights I did not trick him into driving me home, we would hang out in the parking lot talking for hours. Months later he finally asked me out. I went in for the first kiss… sorry hubs but I got tired of waiting around. After that kiss he turns to me and asks if I went to work at Burt & Jacks because I knew he was working there… I just looked at him with a slight smirk of accomplishment. The stalker.

Seven years later we were married.

Our Wedding day: Everything that could go wrong did. Almost…

~My veil fell off while walking down the isle (twice) and a family friend
stopped the ceremony to reattach it because “a bride needs her wedding veil”.

~The priest almost dropped the aspergillum while blessing our wedding rings.

~After our vows... The priest "for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Justin (insert wrong last name here)"... even after the name correction he mispronounced it again.

~My sister could not find her reading.

~While at the cocktail hour a friend stepped on my bustle, I went to walk away and one side of my dress ripped.

~My “up do” hair hairstyle became a "down do"; just a mess.

~The strap of my dress broke.

~We (including friends & family) drank our open bar dry- by the end of the reception we (some of us) were doing rum shots (I think I just threw up in my mouth a little)... needless to say some where falling down the stairs drunk- seriously falling. down. drunk.

But at the end of the day- I (the stalker) was married to the only man I could ever dream of loving and evenrything that wrong didn't matter.

Celebrating: After six years and two kids

Since the hubby is working we will be celebrating next weekend by taking the kiddos to a park for an Easter egg hunt. Fun. Romantic. Remember it has been six years and two kids later… Although, the traditional anniversary gift for year six is candy. Perhaps I should run out and get us come chocolate and a bottle of wine (or two) for when the kiddos are in bed. bow chicka wow wow…

What I love: he will still reach over and hold my hand, I catch glimpses of him looking at my butt (although, after two kids, can't really miss it), he leaves the last piece of chocolate for me, he will wake up in the middle of the night after working all day and having to be up at 5am just to grab the kids, he lets me sleep in on the weekends, I feel him lightly kiss me goodbye each morning and every night before bed
he says "I love you".

So I will leave you with this: love is not an emotion, but it’s an action. It’s a choice to place that person before yourself. The Bible says this about it: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”(1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

While we may not always live up to that, it’s what I strive for in my marriage. Our relationship is not perfect, it takes hard work and some bruises along the way, but we made a commitment never to give up on each other and though hardships are inevitable we will see it through by the grace of God.
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Day 84
Pictures of us

Our Honeymoon April 18, 2005

The Airplane & Day 75. 290 days Left.

A wife's guide for starting the perfect argument with your hubby…



let your parents talk you into assembling a toy
<-----like this. Step One for creating an argument: Placement of the box before it is even opened… after all you open the box where you are going to assemble the toy right? Well, not according to the hubby. He decided to start in the garage. Why? I still do not know and if you ask or suggest the box be moved, creates a perfect reason for argument #1. After much bitching convincing, by me, the box was moved to a shaded area outside.

Step Two for creating an argument: The instruction manual and the list of tools. Your ideas of tools are far different from his. What do you really know anyway, you are just a woman. And by all means DO NOT suggest he read the entire instruction manual before assembly!



Step Three for creating an argument: Laying out the parts. Do not suggest any of the following: laying the parts out by color, number or size. Because even though he has NOT read the entire manual, he is the man and he knows best.


Step Four for creating an argument: Leaving the hubby “hanging” as he attempts to assemble the toy himself in the 85 degree South Florida heat. Meanwhile you are in the air-conditioned house trying to get two overtired and cranky sweet toddlers to nap and dozing yourself.

(Hubby's progress after 2 1/2 hours)

Step Five for creating an argument: Ask your hubby (after 4 hrs 40 min) how much longer he thinks he has.

Or even better, do this…
Unleash the anxiously waiting excited toddlers on him.




Addison: "Daddy are you almost done building the airplane?
Ok, we help you Daddy."

Total time for toy assembly: 8 hours over two days. Number of arguments with the hubby… I lost count after the first day.

Note to my mother:If you ever purchase a toy with this type of assembly again I am going to bury you under the toy, before set-up, so the kiddos can stomp all over you.

Finally! Playing with the finished toy.




According to my mom: “worth every second!”


According to the hubby:

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Day 75
Keeping busy while waiting for the airplane

Thirty-Something & Day 41. 324 Days Left.

I have officially hit thirty-something. I feel nothing; well, other than tired. I can’t really say I feel older, though I am, can’t say I am excited about my birthday, because I am not, today really just feels like another day.

I did spend the day the only way I would dream of spending my birthday, with the hubby, my mom and my two little blessings. The hubby made my favorite breakfast, eggs benedict. The kids hated it but oh, well some part of today had to be about me. (Because after all today will forever be remembered as the day I went into labor with Addison. Her birthday is tomorrow.)

The afternoon was spent at St. Jerome Fall Festival. Their annual church carnival. (I went to St. Jerome from K-8th grade so I was excited about sharing this with my children and equally exciting,it was the first time either has been to a fair.) As we were preparing Addison for the day, I told her we were going to a fair and there would be rides and games. She looked at the hubby and me and said “and boys?” Fabulous, we are going to be in a shit load of trouble come middle school. Boys. She is three. Now I definitely feel my age...Thirty-something.
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Day 41
Our Day at the Fair



Jackson enjoys his first funnel cake. He ate the entire fried dough goodness. The first time he didn't throw his food overboard.

we take a little break


We celebrate my turning thirty-something...
make a wish

Although, I already have ALL that I have wished for.