Maxie, You're My Best Friend

So last night when we were headed to bed and Max was trying, as usual, to worm his way into my bed "for a quick snuggle" he told me we were "best friends forever".  Some days his closeness to me is exhausting but having such a sweet little BFF sure makes up for it! If only it were true... I'm hoping boys don't go through that "I hate mom" phase teenage girls are so fond of. And of course, if he could skip growing up and getting married that would be great too. For now I'm trying to remember to hold on these sweet little boy times, I know how fast they fly by! Trying to take time and give him that quick snuggle when I just want to go to bed can be harder than it should be, especially after spending all day every day with him (usually wrapped around my body in some way, literally!) I know I'll miss it when it's gone. Even though there will come a time (sooner than later!) when video games and even yucky girls trump mom, Maxie will always be my best friend forever.

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Time flies when you're having fun... and raising a family!!

I cannot believe that it has been so long since I've updated my blog!! I keep telling myself I'm gonna spend more time here and then.... shit happens. Life gets in the way, as it is wont to do. So, since I AM gonna spend more time here I'll give everyone the quick update on life as we know it.

Summer was busy and fun! We spent a lot of time at the pool... here at the neighborhood and at the YMCA. Ben did several rounds of swimming lessons, he's a little fish! Max refused lessons because the other kids were "babies who couldn't even hold guns." Hey, shit could go down at the Y at ANY time. You have to be prepared and know who's got your back!!

School is back in full swing. Cole is loving life as top of the elementary food chain (6th grade) he gets text messages from girls all the time (OMG so cute!!!) but is too into video games and hanging on to the last bastians of kid-dom to pay attention to any of that.
Benji is happy go lucky, as usual. He is doing well in school this year with reading and his handwriting being his tough spots. We're trying to work at home more but getting that kid to sit still can be tough! We're trying to work on some ideas to help him be more focused and successful.
Taylor loves school this year. Also top of the school (9th grade) she's on the Varsity Volleyball team, head editor of the Yearbook, getting ready to start driver's training, and still pulling all A's and B's. And at home she literally walks in traffic. (yes, that happened a few weeks ago in the grocery store parking lot) I have never met a person who so fully embodies their astrological sign. That little Gemini is 2 people for sure!!
Riley has 2 more credits to finish before graduation... should take her another 7 or 8 weeks. Wowzers. Then she is planning on moving out ASAP and wants to attend BSU next year.
Max on the other hand dropped out of preschool. Ok, his teacher did tell us he is "gifted" and already knows everything he needs for Kindergarten. He just seriously hated it so much and was working himself up to near panic attack level at night when he had to go to school the next day. Poor thing. So he's now "homeschooling"... a topic that could play a big part in our future! ;)

Hope everyone else's lives are as full and blessed as ours are these days!!

Inked!!

I finally did it! I've been wanting a tattoo forever. I've been thinking about it for about 10 years or so. The last few years I got serious about it.  My first tattoo is my grandfather's signature and "love you" in his handwriting. I love it. To me it isn't just a reminder of him but a reminder to myself to live my life with fewer regrets. When he passed away I had so many regrets... I wish I had said a proper goodbye. I wish I had thanked him for always being there for me. I wish I had spent more time with him. I regret every single time I passed on a game night invitation or drove by without stopping in just to say hi. I wish I had one last time to give him a hug and hear him say, "Hey Martsarelli".  I miss him, and I miss the moments I didn't have with him. I am trying so hard to make sure I spend more time with the people I love and to let them know how much they mean to me.

I love you Poppy and we all miss you every day.
On the lighter side, now that I've gotten over the fear of the unknown I can't wait to get another tattoo!

I just realized I suck!!

I was looking at the "things I've crossed off" section and realized just how many of these new hobbies and things I've tried I am just genuinely bad at. Awww, poor me!! Maybe someday I'll find a hobby I'm good at... besides reading and makin' babies!! ;)

It's fun to play at the Y.M.C.A!!

We have been toying with the idea of a family membership to the Y for a long time. We finally bit the bullet last week and are so glad we did!! Besides getting a great member discount on the swimming lessons, volleyball/BBall camps, and other activities we were planning on doing this Summer (roughly 50%!) they have SO much to do!! Our new house is only about a 5 minute drive (one of our reasons for holding out before... distance!) They have 4 swimming pools including a toddler area, lap pools, and super fun water slide. The boys are in hog heaven!! I'm pretty sure Benji is part fish, he has already decided he's going to take all the swimming lesson "levels" so he can jump off the high dive. Oh dear! Their lessons start on Tuesday and they are SO excited!! The girls have been having fun using the equipment and are taking their first spinning class this week. Taylor and I are trying Zumba this weekend (Yikes!) Cole and Ben are dying to try the rock climbing wall, and they even have tons of preschool programs and activities for Max to do this Fall when his playmates (aka brothers!) return to school. The Y has really saved my bacon this week since the boys sampled the neighborhood pool last week they've been clamoring to go non-stop... the weather has NOT been good enough for Mama to get in that cold water so we just jump in the car and hit the Y! The best part is I can get them to do all their chores lickety split first!! Yay!!

It is better to give than to receive!!

In celebration of Summer (and my latest hoorah as Guest Blogger!) Go-Go Babyz is giving away one of their sweet Travelmates!! Perfect for Summer vacations with the rugrats!! :biggrin: You can choose between their original gogo kidz Travelmate or their new, totally awesome Infant Cruiser AT. Yay!! :biggrin:
(check 'em out here) http://gogobabyz.com/products.aspx


In addition to that sweetness I will be giving away a BeQuick in Fuchsia Blossoms (go Bradley Cooper! :wink: ) to beautifully handle all your goods on the go this Summer!! :D

Couldn't be easier to enter, simply follow @GoGoBabyz on Twitter and/or "Like" them on Facebook then check out my blog post and leave a comment!! Please let us know in your comment if you follow via Twitter (and your Twitter name) or FB (ditto!) and leave a valid email address so I can get ahold of you if you're the lucky winner!! You can earn 2 entries by doing both!! WooHoo!! :biggrin: I'll be choosing a winner on Friday, June 17. (contest ends at 12PM MST so enter before then!!)



http://gogobabyzblog.wordpress.com/

Keep your kids safe at the pool!

This was a really (scary!) but great article on the signs of drowning. It was completely new information to me and I am so glad I read it before spending the Summer at the pool! You can bet I will have all big kids, grandparents, etc. read this before hitting the pool with the kids. I love how much fun we have in the water but I admit the fear of drowning is always with me! The thought of losing a child in such a senseless way, doing something that was supposed to be fun.... it's just awful. Please read and share and have a fun and safe Summer!

http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/

Rain Rain GO AWAY!!

Mother Nature is a cruel bitch this year.  After a LONG cold winter that refused to die we thought Spring had come at last (just in time for SUMMER!). A few days of sunshine and weather in the 70's had us all wearing shorts and getting some much needed vitamin-D. Now we're on day 4 of unending rain, wind, and COLD! Maybe she has PMS. Can someone throw her some Midol and a chocolate bar so we can get this show on the road??!!

On the plus side, the fishing in the stream out back has been fantastic lately! The kids barely have to throw a worm out when they've got a fish on. It is so much fun to watch the whole family out there fishing after dinner (on a weeknight!) No planning, packing, and driving! And in case you caught that "watching"... yes, they fish while Mama reads. Ahhh, the good life!! :)

Let the countdown begin!!!

T-minus 9 days and counting until Summer Vacation!!! YAY!!!  The little boys are all signed up for swimming lessons, the neighborhood pool is open, the snow cone shack is open, we are ready freddy!! :)

10 Commandments my children should learn if they want to live

Because today, it's a longshot any of 'em make it to 18. Mama wants to run away from home, and alas the weekend escape I had planned has been sidelined by the stomach flu. Yeah, because cleaning up vomit is way better than planning a sushi dinner, movies, cocktails, breakfast in bed. ***sigh***

1.  If thoust (is that a real word?!) open it, close it. (see also; if you get it out, put it away; if you turned it on, turn it off; if you emptied it, fill it; and if you smelt it, you dealt it.)

2. Do not covet thy mother's goods. Shampoo, chocolate, shoes, etc. This is not a marriage, what's mine is not yours. (however, what's yours is mine... a catch 22 perhaps but that's what happens when you aint' got no job. Also, if it belongs to your brother, sister, school, Target, or baby Jesus hands off)

3. Silence is golden.

4.  Thou shalt not roll your eyes at your mother if you do not want them slapped out of your teenaged head.

5.  Life is, indeed, NOT FAIR! Get used to it now and please stop reminding me 15 million times a day.

6.  Cleanliness is next to Godliness. (aka the pick up the dirty underwear, stinky gym shoes, and dishes out of your room because it literally stinks rule)

7.  Honor thy Mother and thy Father.  Honor thy Maker (yes, Me again. Cosby wasn't joking when he said "I made you and I can make another one that looks just like you." Of course, I've already made backups so stop pushing me.)

8.  Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain. Except for the phrase "sweet blackberry baby Jesus" because that shit is funny.

9.  Actually, EVERYONE is really NOT going/doing it/getting one. Just like at a Frat party,  No means No. Stop bugging me.

10. I am required by Law and Humanity to provide you with the following: food, shelter, medical attention, and education. All that other shit? Extras baby. Cell phone, computer, iPod, new shoes for every outfit, cash, rides, video games, sports equipment/lessons/training, toys, internet, etc, etc, ETC. EXTRA!!! Be appreciative.

Maximus Enjoyment!!!

Ok, I may be just a touch prejudiced but this kid is just pure awesome-ness. He is so sweet and smart and funny. I love hanging out with him every day. The best thing is he is still firmly Mama's boy!! He is all boy and adores the rough-housing with his Daddy and his brothers but at the end of the day, Mama is still the center of his universe. To him I am the smartest, the funniest, the sweetest, the warmest, the softest (his words there LOL) and his idea of a good time is with his Mama! I know (from experience!!) that this too shall pass. He'll head out into the wide world of people and his teacher will suddenly be smarter than Mom. Someday little Susie will be prettier than Mom. Someday he will even ROLL HIS EYES at Mom. (well, if his sisters are any indicator anyway!!) I can see in him the traits that will make him a good man someday. He will be a good father and husband. But he will always be my sweet baby boy and he will always adore his Mama!!

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.  
~~~ Robert Frost
 
 
Ok, as I type that I realize it would be a stellar start to some grand poignant post about the choices one makes in life. Alas, this post is literally about a road. Perhaps I should have titled it, "Turn Right For Once!" or something more mundane. In reality, the road did make me feel poignant and poetic so what the hell, I'll go with it.
 
We moved into our new neighborhood in late November which means that although the walking paths were a huge draw for us we have yet to make proper use of them. I've gone for a handful of walks, most in the "housey" parts of the neighborhood, just up and down the streets and to the little park. When I get to the end of my street I hang a left and just go up and down the streets on that side. It's a nice walk. The paths are really nice... they're wide and away from the streets and mailboxes. The houses are gorgeous and there are usually people out walking their dogs which is fun. We also pass a coupleponds and say hello to our ducks. (I say they're ours because the pond feeds into the stream behind our house and we feed the ducks there.)
 
Yesterday, I turned right. I went deeper into the neighborhood and stayed on the main street the whole time, no up and down the side streets where the houses were. Man was this walk different! The path winds around (away from the street enough) past ponds and waterfalls, up and down hills, under trees most of the way. You feel like you're walking in the woods. We saw our ducks, new ducks, geese, and even a crane. The views were amazing. The hills made a great workout. (My legs are KILLING me this AM!) 
 
So, just by doing one tiny thing different the usual became a new experience. Makes me wonder what else I'll find if I keep trying new things!!
 
 

I'm Baaaaaack!!!!!

Man time flies when you're having fun!! Also when you are moving, raising a family, procrastinating, and everything else that got in the way of my Bloggery. I've decided to jump back in though (gotta love New Year's to kick your ass into gear!!) so here's what you've missed:

***We moved. Gave our money pit of a house back to the bank and are living in a rental in a new 'hood which we adore.

***I lost 20+ pounds. Yay! Gained a few back. Boo! Fell off the wagon completely. Boo! Hopped back on. Yay! Have since lost 3 pounds. Yay!

***New school year, Holidays, 18 year Anniversary.

***Cole turned 10 and started Bball, Max turned 4 and is just pure awesomeness. Taylor is skipping Bball this season, looking for a Volleyball camp. Benji has a love/hate thing for First Grade, Riley is finishing high school online and is set to graduate this Summer... a year early.

***I'm still kookoo for cocoa puffs... well, JJB bags anyway. Totally in LOVE with their new Spring stuff!! I also won a OOAK bag! Be still my heart!!

***I have been a Guest Blogger (I say it w/ capital letters to make myself feel fancy!) on Go-Go Babyz blog.

***I got an iPad for Christmas. Yes, it's worthy of making the short list of high points.

***I have been slowly but surely accomplishing stuff off The List... baking, organizing, etc. It's a day to day but I'm getting there.

***I have declared 2011 my own personal "Summer of George" so be tuned for big excitement there!!