Anything But Gray

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  • Ben’s Birthday

    Zak has been home and things have been really busy but very nice! It's so nice to have him back….and now I'm playing catch up on a lot of stuff! Like my blog!

    Ben's birthday was small and fun.  Zak got back on the Sunday before his birthday (Ben's bday was Monday) and we took him to a huge lego convention in Boston…which..umm..how do I say this? SUCKED! Totaly waste of money, poorly organized, total joke and just a free for all for advertisers. It was truly disappointing and kinda pissed me off.  Ben, of course, loved it.  But really…it was absolutely terrible.  I don't regret going, as it was for Ben and he enjoyed himself but next time boy…we will so find something more fun to do than that! Ugh!!

    We had a small party at home on his actual birthday and that was fun. Nothing major, nothing spectacular and I feel a little bad. A little like a bad mom. With Zak getting back the day before and just the craziness leading up to that, Ben's party was a thrown together, grab a cake (thank you Niki and Rick!) and have everyone come for cake..no banner for him, like I did for Jaime, no tons of balloons, no friends….bad mom. : (  Luckily Daddy coming home was good enough for him and he did not notice what was missing….all he cared about was what was there.  So that is good…it makes me feel a little better and we're all allowed one kinda sorta lame birthday for our kids…yes? God, I hope so…I mean, we're only responsible for 18 of them and I've already screwed one up.  And to you all, this may seem silly and stupid…but for me? My goal as a parent is to make their birthdays so amazing that their future spouses think "Ah man…I can't compete with that!" LOL No joke…I want them to ALWAYS have amazing birthdays…and I guess I figure if I'm trying to goud their spouses into competing with their childhood birthdays…that's one way to do it! Right?  Okay, okay..whatever. LOL

    Enjoy the pics!

     

    Ben bday 2010 (13)

    Ben bday 2010 (27)

     

    Ben bday 2010 (42)

    There's more in my Library in the Ben Birthday gallery…but I wanted to post one more  here….

    This photo was taken in Boston after the lego convention when we were walking back to the truck…I LOVE this… 🙂

    Ben bday lego convention 2010 (34)

    They love chasing pigeons!

    🙂

     

  • A little late…..

    Last week was a little bit (okay…a lot a bit…) stressful.  Zak had a minor health issue that HAD to get addressed.   Kids and school….and a few other  things around here just made for an overwhelming week….

    I had wanted to write a post, wishing Kim a happy birthday…..didn't happen.

    I had wanted to post about Zak coming back and what we have planned for that day….didn't happen…

    I really, really need to get back to my daily "to do" lists…..I was so much more efficient when I did that….

    So a litle late….but Happy, Happy Birthday to Kim! I am hoping to get to talk to her this weekend…fingers crossed we can make it work.  Shit…actually I'm realizing that we are going to my cousin Sean's birthday party that day and then the next day,  Zak is back….actually I'll still have Saturday morning and night….party is in the afternoon. Okay, it WILL work. Talking to her Saturday night will actually take my mind off Zak getting in the next day…..I have no clue how I am going to get through Saturday, to be honest with you. LOL 

    And now for some fun stuff….

    On Mariah Carey's website there is a little promo video  for her new Christmas album. Whatever song is playing in the background…I LOVE IT ALREADY!!!! LOL It makes me excited for the album…..check the video out, here. Mariah Christmas promo

    ANNNND…Bon Jovi has the video to their new song "What Do You Got?" posted on their website…What Do You Got video

    My thoughts? To be honest…a little cliche' and a bit boring. Although I do like the song better the more I hear it…..as a fan, I'm a bit frustrated with this guy…..there are new songs that are SO BORING.  He could write this crap in his sleep…..lazy, lazy, lazy songwriting. It bums me out and I'm hoping he's just taking a "middle age" break or something….LOL. I miss an album I just DIED for..drooled over and couldn't hear enough. 

    Now, I will say, THIS next song….this, I freakin' love…check this out…I have never been a big fan of "It's My Life' or "Have a Nice Day"….any of those "rocker" songs have just been so so for me…this one? Now this one, I LOVE….and I read somewhere that the Patriots will be using it for their touchdown celebrations this year….SUH-WEET!!!!!

    This is Our House

    Enjoy!!

    And I am STILL trying to figure out the best way to get my media stuff off of Vox…<sigh>. Fun stuff, I tell ya…NOT!

     

     

     

  • nothing exciting….

    Not a whole lot has been going on this last week…..

    just getting the kids adjusted to school and do a little bit of work. My biz has been slow this week and I am actually very thankful. I kind of want a break…I feel like I am thinking about work 24/7 and I just wanted some down time. I got an order (design a postcard) and I have to do my weekly blog post and I am about to start working on some planner pages for Lisa…but other than those little things, it's slow and I am enjoying it!

    The kids are doing well, with school. Ben got a note sent home, already! LOL Geez oh man, this kid.  He is having a hard time not talking when he's not supposed to be…hmmm..wonder where he gets that???

    Tomorrow there is an open house at the school and I'm looking forward to it. Not thrilled that I have to do it without Zak, but oh well….I'll survive. Unscathed, even, I bet!! 

    🙂

  • School

    The kids started school last week and like it. They both love their teachers and are enjoying school so far. Very cool! I, of course, am thrilled. I have my moments where I miss them something awful but it usually passes quick and I am SO over it and loving working in peace and quiet. 🙂

    Everything with going back to school has been great, fine, wonderful….except one thing. They want me to let them walk to school alone. I am decidedly NOT ready for this. At all. It's MY JOB! To make sure they get to school okay…I LIKE walking them/taking them to school. I don't understand what their problem is, really. I mean, I would've LOVED if my mom could've walked me to school. 

    I know there are moments when you have to let your child go. I KNOW this. Believe you me….I have let go of a lot just fine, thank you. However. This is NOT ONE OF THOSE TIMES. I really don't know if I can do it. If I can watch them walk away. I know I'm going to stalk them…ugh.  Okay..maybe I won't because that will probably traumatize them or whatever. (Not that I'm not managing to do THAT just fine, either….). 

    Argh!!! We'll see….play it by ear. Actually I think I will let them walk alone today because my mom is off, so she can be my "cheerleader" lol!!!!

    Here is a picture of their first day of school….AND my boy lost his front tooth!!!! He is so stinkin' cute I can't hardly stand it, so there is a picture of that in there too!!! LOL

     

    Fisrt Day of School August 2010

    Ben lost front tooth sept 2010 (1)

    Enjoy! And now I'm off to stress out, trying to decide if I'm going to let them walk alone or not….

  • Adjusting…new digs.

    Okay….so I knew eventually Vox would close down…it just wasn't huge. Whenever you heard about blogs you never heard about "Vox" so I knew that someday…it would be gone. I had done some research about moving my blog and stuff because I REALLY didn't want to lose all of my blog and just start over. So didn't want to do that, it's not even funny.

    Well…looks like I don't have to.   Vox gave us an option of moving everything to Typepad and it was relatively painless, so I decided to do it.  I'm still figuring it all out and it's going to take some getting used to…but I know I'll get it in no time….

    Soooo….in the meantime….what do you think? Besides wanting to knock my head off for just making you all sign up for Vox and then I do this….not my fault, this time.

    I don't know how "hidden" posts work on here or if you even can do that, here…we'll see. So for now…it will just all be out here…

    I have to figure out what to do with my photos and videos….I have a feeling that's gonna be a major pain the ass to figure out….

    And I have a couple of cool pics to post later….but I'll link you guys when I do.

    Cool to be getting this done but so NOT how I planned on spending any of today….

     

  • Break for Mama

    Shelly had a birthday party on Saturday and I was super excited about it…..couldn't wait.

    Then Billiejo told me that she was having Juan's party that same day. And I figured Niki would be going, so that would leave me with no babysitter to go to Shelly's party. I was really bummed cause I really look forward to this party every year…we have a great time and this year because I wouldn't have Zak to drive, I was just going to sleep over.  But with Niki going to the cape, there goes that.

    BUT….my sister and mom said they would take the kids to the cape with them so I could go to Shelly's party…YAY!!!! So the kids left Friday night….and were gone all night Friday and all day Saturday and then I was gone Saturday night and came home Sunday morning…

    The break was incredible. So effin' nice….I didn't go out on Friday, which got Shelly jumping up and down freaking out..always fun to do..ha!….but I didn't want to be tired or hungover on Saturday. I wanted to enjoy that day, I wanted to wake up and work and not have to deal with kids…I wanted the day to myself and just….be. So I opted to just chill out at home on Friday so that I could enjoy Saturday….and boy did I. It was SOOOO nice. I wound up getting some good work done and I got to go and browse the stores all by myself…it was just all so, so nice. And then Saturday night I packed up and went to Shelly's and had a blast!!! It was a really fun party, as it is every year….and I'm so happy I got to go. 🙂

    And another bonus…..I don't know what it is, but something about driving through Fitchburg early in the morning just screams "home" to me…..it's probably my absolute favorite time to drive and going through Fitchburg is especially nostalgic for me, at that time of day. It's rare that I am down there early in the morning, probably the only time is when I sleep over Shelly's, so I got to do that this morning….and ahh…how I loved it. If I had a little bit more time, I probably would've went through Cogshall, too…..but I was kind of in a rush and God knows, if I stepped foot in Cogshall at that time of day, I wouldn't leave for hours…LOL 🙂

    And if that wasn't enough to make my morning perfect….

    James text me this…."93.7 on the radio…listen." 
    And I change the channel and hear one of our songs playing...so love that!!! .
    and it was the perfect "finale" to a perfect morning….that text and that song couldn't have come at a better time.
    Thank you James….Love you!!!! 🙂

    Now I'm off to get the kids dressed, get crickets for the toad, find some curtains because I FINALLY found some hardware for my huge living room window, grab one more pair of sweats for Ben and maybe a couple of shirts for Jaime……busy, busy!!!

    And how 'bout that…more than 2 posts in quick succession…maybe I'm back? Maybe….just maybe. 🙂
     

  • It’s coming quick….

    Every year, usually the week before school starts, Jaime and Ben's school hosts a "back to school BBQ". The kids get to find out what class they are in and go see the class and their new teacher. And of course, hopefully bump into friends. It's really fun and I love that they do this. I get to see what doors they will be going in and out of, where their classroom is in the building and of course, meet the teachers.

    Jaime's teacher was not there, which was a bummer but we got to go in her class and I like it! It has actual blackboards instead of the typical whiteboards that most classrooms have now…that made me happy in a silly way that she will have at least one classroom where she gets to experience that. It sounds ridiculous but I think it's a connection….she will have the same thing Zak and I had, as kids. I think that's it. Her teacher's name is Mrs. Ramos (how funny..my sister's last name..) and she has one kid from the neighborhood in her class. (who is here right now, as I type..lol.) Last year she didn't have anyone in her class from the neighborhood and I was actually happy because I had hoped that would help her make more friends….it didn't. She doesn't really have school friends….she's really shy when it comes to that. She's well liked and she likes everyone, but she just doesn't get phone numbers, want playdates with them or anything like that. It's an odd quirk to her and it worries me a little, but she's happy and really, that's all that matters. But this year, I was happy for the familiar face in her class.

    Ben's teacher was there and I love his classroom and the teacher seems very sweet and nice! She had us fill out a little questionnaire type thing and at the bottom it said "any other questions or comments" and I almost put "good luck!" LOL I didn't but I told her I was going to….LOL. Poor kid, I give him such a bad rap but he is really good in school. He has his moments but he is a typical little boy….nothing ridiculous. Ben is very excited about his new class and teacher and to start school. Well, they both are, actually…and so is Mama!!! I can't wait!!

    We went and did a little more back to school shopping after the BBQ and we are pretty much done now. Yay! Maybe a few more shirts for Jaime but for the most part, they are set. They are both in between sizes this year and it's made for some frustrating back to school shopping and of course this is the year I had to do it alone, but it's DONE. 🙂

    Tuesday…they start Tuesday. YAY!!!!! 🙂

    Here's a pic of my little poser….when we went shoe shopping, the sales clerk told us that she could fit into a small adult size shoe….which is AWESOME…it gives her more options and shoes that fit her better….poor thing is gonna be like her mama….bigfoot!!! She spotted the heels and wanted to try on a pair, so I let her. Then took a pic so I could send it to Zak and give him a heart attack. ha!!!!  I love this picture! So cute!

    Jaime trying on heels aug 2010
    Jaime trying on heels aug 2010

     

     

  • Dinner date…

    I am so excited…me, the kids, Gabby and mom are going to Sean and Autumn's for dinner tonight.

    It's blowing my mind….going to my little cousin Seany's for dinner. In our adult life, we have never been able to do this…just go over to his house, or him to mine….it's pretty awesome. And his fiance' is cool, I dig her.

    We grew up super close to our cousins….they were more like brother's and sister's than cousins….and never did I ever think for one second that we would not live right around the corner from each other….we couldn't fathom the possibility and sometimes it pisses me off that we are so far apart. But the distances are getting smaller…slowly but surely we are all coming home.

    I cannot wait for the day all six of us can be in the same room together again, I think the last time that happened was 1995. 15 years….CRAZY!!!! 

  • Romance

    So J did a post today and in it she talked about what she thinks
    romance is…and it got me thinking…what do I think romance is? What do I
    consider romantic….

    I always say Zak isn’t romantic as a general rule…but
    when he does it, he sure does it right. He sweeps me off my feet….it makes me
    feel like a princess….it’s amazing. So I thought back to those times…when he’s
    done that…when he’s taken my breath away because the feeling was so
    incredible….and each and every time, it came down to a pretty basic thing.

    He showed me he loved my way. Not his way, but my
    way….

    We go through our lives  together and we learn how to read I love in
    the things our spouses or significant others do for us. I know when he goes off
    to work every day…that means he loves me. I know when he comes  home and kisses me and tells me to go up and
    take a nap because I look dead tired…that says he loves me.  When he brings me home a coffee because I said
    I didn’t feel like making a pot…that say s I love you. But all those things are
    his
    way of saying I love you.  And I hear it…but
    they don’t sweep me off my feet or make my heart race. They make me grateful
    and happy but they certainly don’t say “romantic” to me.

    Now when he says I love you, my way…..by calling  me and saying “this song made me think of you
    today”  Or he writes me a love letter,
    even if it’s through email….Or he touches my face when he kisses me….

    Those are the moments I know he’s telling me he loves
    me in my language…in a way that leaves no room for doubt, that I hear it…loud
    and clear.

    That, to me, is romance.

    Showing your significant other you love them, their
    way…the way you know they will hear you loud and clear.

  • good.

    There is so much that I have not blogged about that certainly SHOULD be talked about…:-)

    I cannot believe the summer is almost over and we are 8 days away from the kids starting school again.  Crazy how fast this summer went by….

    All in all, it was a good summer….the kids got to go to two amusements parks.  They read over the summer and did some math work to keep their minds active. They enjoyed the sunshine…they went to the pool..they went to a lake…they did a lot this year and they are both excited for school to begin, which is FANTASTIC for me. LOL 🙂 I, too, cannot wait for school to start!

    But one of the best things of the summer was Kim's visit. She went to Europe and she stayed here for a few days on her way back to Alaska.  It was beyond nice to have her here. To look up from my computer and see her reading on the couch. To have coffee with her in the am. To see my kids chat her ear off and seeing how excited they were to see her. To hear her and Zak laughing together. To sit outside in the hot summer sun with a glass of wine, in the middle of the afternoon and just chat. All of it..just pure bliss.

    Whatever she wanted, that's what we were going to do. If she wanted to do tourist stuff..that's what we'd do…but boy was I hoping she just wanted to sit around and drink and talk. I didn't want to share her. I know it sounds crazy…I'm 38 years old and I did not want to share my friend with tourist attractions. LOL But, there it is. And, lucky for me,  that is exactly what she wanted to do. Just sit and chill and talk and drink and just….be. Nothing major, no agenda. Just chill.  For me, that is the BEST kind of visit….just being together like everything is normal. Like she's just stopping by for a visit on her way home from the valley except I got her for three whole days. AWESOME.  The only downside….it made me miss her even more. Okay 2 downsides….the bugs were bad when she was here and she got BIT UP. I did too but mine weren't as bad as hers. But back to the one downside….LOL…..it reminded me just how amazing she is…how fun, funny and just….enjoyable she is to be around and I can't wait to see her again, already…..:-)

    Thank you, Kim….for visiting and for just being so awesome. 🙂 I can't wait to get up there and do it again!
    I ♥ you!!!

    Kim visits 2010 (8)
    Kim visits 2010 (8)

     

    Love this picture! 🙂

    Kim visits 2010
    Kim visits 2010

    I love this picture! I adore how Ben is holding her and he's just so content. I really love that my family loves her as much as I do…:-)