Happy Anniversary to me!

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Six years ago I walked down the aisle a blubbering mess. Pregnancy hormones and seeing him at the 'make-shift alter' had the waterworks flowing before I even stepped into through the double doors.


It's been a long, difficult six years. More up and downs than I'd ever think possible for two people to endure. I used to blog whenever I was down, more often than now it was because of him. In the past year I've cut that out mostly. I find if I think of the positives when he is driving me up a wall, every one is happier, and I don't make him out to always be the bad guy.

Our anniversary's tend to come and go with just a "Happy Anniversary" and a card to each other. Of the previous five, only one had a happy memory.


Until now. The hubs and I are not big on going out and spending loads of money we don't have. Even as a rare treat, unless the kids are with us. This year, do to the same funds we always seem to lack, we decided to stay home. We shipped out all three children for the night. I went to Hallmark and Gamestop looking for something, anything to get him for our special day. What do you get a man after 11 years together? What does he want besides a PS3? I hadn't a clue! At gamestop I saw Monopoly for the Wii. How perfect!

Let me explain. The hubs beats me at everything! And I do mean everything. Especially video games. The board game Monopoly is the only thing we have played with each other that I have always won. I am the Monopoly champ 'round these parts. No one I have ever played has won. Until last night. He beat me and the two other computers. I don't think I've heard that much laughter from him and I in a long time. It was as if it were the first year or two of our relationship again.



Before starting our game we picked up some subs from the local pizza joint and just sat and talked. Not something we get to due to often. And when we do talk, it's usually about money or the kids. Never about us.

After we ate, we took a shower, then started our game. I feared we'd both be sound asleep by 9:30-10. Proving we are an old married couple. Instead we played Monopoly until a bit after one.

When we finally were ready to go to sleep, it was nearing 3 am. I couldn't believe it! We had a night, with out fearing the children waking up, just laughing and having fun. He could not believe I actually stayed away from the computer and my books all night. I couldn't believe he didn't once try to put on Ghost Adventures. We fell asleep in each others arms.

This morning, due to him needing to go to work, we went and picked up the kids together. At my parents house, each boy ran up to us, with a handful of flowers. Not one was a dandelion!

We may go out for ice cream or to the park when the hubs gets home. We had our night, now it's time to switch from "anniversary mode" to "mother's day". Either way, we will spend tonight and tomorrow as a family.

We did not do much, nor did we do anything special. Yet, this sixth anniversary has been by far the best yet.

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Kisses for Daddy.

It was one hour ago, I put the boys to bed.
It was twenty minutes ago I had posted on Facebook about all three children being asleep.
Apparently one was faking.

Of course, after his 2 hour nap today, bedtime was not going to be that easy.
But, it's okay. He's being cute.

He came slowly tiptoeing out of his bedroom, and over to the couch where my husband lay, and kissed his arm.
Then his shoulder. Then his cheek and forehead.

At this point Daddy was smiling and my two boys were both giggling away. Of course when you laugh at Collin, or any of the kids really, he continues.

After a good 3-5 minutes of Collin kissing Daddy all over, the hubs told him with a huge grin, "That's enough Collin. It's time for bed."

Of course after the attention he was receiving he did not want to go back to bed. Then the kisses for Mommy began.

Of course I tried to kiss him back, and laid a gentle kiss upon his forehead, to which he replied, "No kiss my threehead!"

This kid is just pure awesomeness.

365 Week One Recap!

I've mentioned starting a 365 Project, on my new blog, and so far I've stuck with it!
I thought I'd share with you all my first week of 365 photo's!

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This, That, and the other blog?

Things have been a bit hectic lately around here with holidays, illnesses, money, a new blog....ya know, the usual parenting crap..

Holidays
We have not even begun to make a dent in our Christmas Shopping this year. I think we only have one small gift per child so far. Strangely, this does not bother me. We will get them a bit more of course but we are putting all the focus on family this year. My children will be getting more than enough from grandparents and my aunt. They will be taken care of. As the past 3 Christmas's I am a bit depressed this holiday season. It means it's the third Christmas with out Nana with us. And it also means the 3rd anniversary of her death is fast approaching. I still have trouble believing she is not with us. I miss her so much still. But, I will put on a brave face and cherish my children who are here with me.

Illnesses
Thomas is currently sick as a dog. On Friday morning, in the wee hours of the morning Thomas fell coming down his ladder and hit his head. Through out the day he complained of a head ache and we thought he had a concussion after puking in the car. It ended up being some wicked virus. He had a fever ranging from 102-104 all Friday night, Saturday, Sunday, & Monday. Tuesday I sent him to school as his fever was gone, but when he came home he looked like complete crap. Stuffy nose, teary eyes, sore throat. So he stayed home again today. Last night he slept 5-12 and 2:30-8:30, 13 hours. He is sleeping right now, been out for a couple hours, though has not had a fever all day.

Money
Tom is working. *Hears the cheers* We finally paid October and November's rent, December will be paid Thursday. (Tomorrow) Our landlord let us sign a 6 month lease, so we won't have to worry about trying to move in December which is always lay off season it seems. Also, he asked us to keep an eye out for 3 bedroom condo's and town houses that are up for sale or foreclosed. He is always looking to buy new property and would be willing to let us break our lease, rent to us, with option to buy. I don't think anything will come of it, but it still felt great to receive the offer. Damn me and my glass is half empty attitude.

New Blog?
With 2011 starting, I am going to try to do a 365 project. I've been wanting to do this for a couple of years now and keep forgetting. Oops. My buddy Trish is planning on doing it, so I got the reminder this year loud and clear. You can go on over to "The Unexpected 365 Project". Make sure you book mark it, or you can grab the button and link up as well!

http://theunexpected365.blogspot.com/

Wordless Wednesday

Way Back When-sday! (A wedding!)

It just hit me. I don't think I ever shared my wedding pictures here. Not that they are all that great. All taken with regular old fashioned one click film camera's. I still deeply regretting not having budgeted a wedding photographer. It is heart breaking to know I have no nice formal photographs from my wedding. It also stinks I don't remember all that much.



The few bits and pieces I do remember:

The Hubs repeating my vows after he had already said his and the JP, him, and I giggling.

My father drove me to the hall we were wed in, I was in the backseat. As we were pulling in front of the venue, my father and Made of Honor, my sister, started screaming at me to get down. Hubs was in the parking lot. I looked right at him and didn't recognize him. For a man who does not dress nicely at all, he looked amazing in his tux. The love had felt prior to that 1st moment I saw him at our wedding couldn't compare to the amount of love and lust I had at that exact moment.

Before my father and I could walk down the aisle we were both crying. Happy tears of course, but yes, we were both blubbering babies. And to think, we had just told my mother not to cry!

My ring bearer refused to walk down the aisle and his mother ruined the outfit we bought her by covering it with a black and white coat even my mother in law wouldn't wear. (my sister in law owns nothing nice, let alone formal)

My father in law, looked so handsome. I had never seen him "dressed up" before. He is such a sweet, caring, funny, weird man and before this day I didn't realize how much the hubs was like his father. He really is. In a good way.

Our first dance, to Led Zeplins "Thank You" was so awkward! Hubs and I do not dance. Just going in circles for what seemed like forever with everyone staring was so, so strange. And that is a long song!

Dancing with my father to "Butterfly Kisses" (Of course, what else) was actually much more relaxed. We laughed, we cried, he told me he was sorry for not being a good father to my siblings and I. That was the first day he really spoke to me about my soon to be first born. I will cherish that conversation forever.

After the wedding, Tom and I were supposed to find a hotel along route 1, then head into New York City in the late morning. We ended up getting lost and finding the "Rodeway Inn" around 4 am, after 6 hours of driving. Mind you, to get anywhere in our state takes less than two hours in traffic. This was 10 pm to 4 am! It was an over priced cheap motel.

We didn't have money for a real honeymoon. At all, as we were saving for Thomas' birth. We went to a NYY baseball game. It was also Mother's Day. I got a card for mother's day that year though I was only 5 months pregnant.

When looking back at the pictures of our wedding day, while it does upset me they're not the greatest pictures, they do show the happiness the hubs and I felt that day. Even if we are arguing and fighting about the most mundane things, looking back on the photographs from our "pre-children" days, especially our wedding pictures instantly reminds me why I am here with him right now. Looking at each photograph over the past ten and a half years I see so much love, happiness, and fun.

Snapshot Saturday-My Family

Our attempt at an 'almost' family picture.

"Walk a little slower Daddy."

This is a poem I just came across online.

I did not write this, nor do I know who did.

“Walk a little slower Daddy,”

said a child so small,

“I’m following in your footsteps

and I don’t want to fall.

Sometimes your steps are very fast,

Sometimes they’re hard to see;

So walk a little slower, Daddy,

For you are leading me.

Someday when I’m all grown up,

You’re what I want to be;

Then I will have a little child

Who’ll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right,

And know that I was true,

So walk a little slower, Daddy,

For I must follow you.”

Snapshot Saturday

Remember the nasty, crumb catching pubes on my hubs face?

Yea, I didn't find this look all that attractive either. 

And yes, I kindly let him know.

For months, I let him know.

In hopes he'd catch the hint and shave.

I don't understand how a man can only groom a handful of times a year.

Don't most men groom a handful of times every week or two weeks?

It wouldn't be so bad if his facial hair didn't remind me of 80's porn...

Yesterday afternoon, while Bailey and I watched One Life to Live, he finally did it!

During a commercial break I went into the bathroom to find him taming the pubes.

 

I know he needs to fix the hair line and all, and that it's not perfect,

but isn't this much, much better than the before?

Have I ever mentioned how much I hope Bailey ends up with his brows?

What a perfect natural arch.

Nice Things? Not me!

You know that one person who doesn't own anything nice? Or that person one person who breaks every thing?

That is me. I am just not meant to have anything nice. Ever.

As a child, I went through 6 different Walkmans.
Every year I was given a porcelain doll for Christmas. I shattered a few of them.
My now deceased paternal grandmother hand made a ceramic lamp for me. It fell off my dresser and shattered.
I had a beautiful gold necklace given to me for my 1st Holy Communion, it was stolen. Along with every other piece of real jewelery and everything else with value.
I have lost 4 disc-mans, 2 pagers, and my first cell phone.
All by my 14th birthday.

The 1st year Tom and I were dating he gave me a four leaf clover charm. I wore it around my neck faithfully. I woke up one morning with it gone.

He gave my a gold dragon necklace with a real emerald in it. Broke the chain, then lost the dragon.

The very 1st ring he gave me on August 14th, 2001. It had light blue and clear stones all the way around. All but 4 stones are gone.

I lost my favorite "Nightmare before Christmas" purse, filled with my wallet (all my information, $$$, unused gift cards), keys, and other crap, all by leaving it on the roof of the car and driving off. --I was fortunate to get it back over a year later! With everything still in it but the cash and gift cards. Even very stale cigarettes were still in there.

There are 3 other chains I had snapped all from Tom.

Right before Christmas '08 I told him not to get me any jewelery as I break it all. I told him the colors of Thomas', Collin's and the baby we miscarried's birthstones. I asked him to just go to a craft store or Wal*Mart and just string me a bracelet with cheap "crystal" beads. It was all I wanted. That way if it had, indeed broke, it wouldn't be money down the drain and would be easy to replace.

He didn't listen. He came home with this; it was beautiful. I cried. It had each of our names and our boys names with our birthdays, and the baby we miscarried on it with the date.

It broke within a month. It was an easy fix, but it kept falling apart. After how much he spent on it in the 1st place I felt horrible. I warned him. It broke for good back in March of this year. I need a piece to fix it.

Then on Tom's birth curseday I went to McDonald's for breakfast. I was in the drive-thru when I  looked at my hand on the steering wheel only to notice the diamond from my engagement ring was missing. Yep. Gone.

Both my lenses for my Nikon are broken, from falling off things, which is way when I used that camera I have to manually focus in each shot.


Anyway, that is just some of the things I have lost or broken. Yes, I totally do suck.. I was doing very well for a few months.

That is, until today...

Wordless Wednesday: I think ya got something on your face.

Splish Splash

Sundays are supposed to be family day.

This Sunday was supposed to be a day at the beach.
But with rains coming and going, it was hard to plan.
We decided on an hour at the splash pad (at the beach).

Thomas had an absolute blast.

He especially loved standing on the water that sprayed from the ground.

And sitting on it.

Collin was so hesitant to go in.

It's not like it was the hottest day of the summer.

In fact, it was pretty cool out.

At one point Thomas tried to tell his cousin, "Time out!"

as he was trying not to get sprayed in the face.

Thomas was so excited!

It is a rare moment for him to get a turn at the water gun.

The boys were having so much fun,

they didn't even realize they were playing nicely;

together!

(Notice Collin's hair is still dry?)

Thomas could not believe the mist spraying area was actually empty!

He had the whole spot to himself!

Of course, he went right back to sitting on the sprayers.

All while Collin was content playing with the puddles.

Unfortunately, there were older kids, well teens, 

who kept sticking the water gun thing down their bathing suit bottoms

 and aiming the ground sprayers into their bathing suits.

Thomas copied oh so willingly.

As always with this splash pad, out of no where the water just stopped.

Thomas let everyone know.

It was to cool out to let Bailey join in on the fun.

She stayed with daddy.

Finally Collin decided to fully get wet!

Of course he still stayed out of the direct line of fire.

He mostly enjoyed the mister.

When it wasn't on!

You could not believe just how excited

Thomas got when the ground circle was available!

Thomas soon realized the water gun did a complete 360.

Too bad it didn't spray when turned around!

Lucky for me!

Almost as soon as he decided to get wet,

Collin said it was "nah ny time."

Thomas tried standing under the buckets,

but unfortunately missed the pour.

Collin continued to lay on the bench,

wrapped in his new 'bzz & wuh-E" towel.

All the while, Bailey played with Daddy.

Thomas tried so hard to get his cousin,

who was freezing,

to come back and play.

Finally Collin was warm and rested.

He decided to play with Bailey.

Bailey hung at the fence and watched.

Unfortunately, her stroller was not allowed in.

She was starting to get bored,

so Daddy took her for a walk.

Eventually, the rains came in.

I let Thomas know he had two minutes left.

He had 120 seconds left of fun.

He decided to spend 60 seconds of that

tasting the water. Blech.

Thomas got his towel on.

And we were ready to roll.

Not even 30 seconds after buckling everyone into the van,

a storm rolled in.

By the time we got on the highway,

only a 45 second drive,

The rain had stopped.

Though I was miserable before we got there,

and sad that we had to leave.

It was the best hour I have had in quite a while.

And Thomas' pruned thumbs let me know

I wasn't the only one.

As if this wasn't complete photo-overload, you can see more photo's from the splash pad here.