Sunday Funday

Today we headed to mass, then brunch outside at Kid Shelleens...great day to be outside and be together as a family!

Girl Time

Friday I had a chance to WFH...and the girls were off from school...so, after our eye doc appts, us 3 gals headed out on a mission...!  FUN!!!  I was WAY overdue with my 'rewards' program...Haylee had accomplished all her stickers for her chores and Ashlee had a perfect month at school for good behavior, so they were allowed ONE thing at the toy store.  After that we headed to the mall to their fave store (Justice) and they picked out some new slippers, nail polish, hair bands, snuggies...and man did THAT add up, ugh...but they were so excited.  After THAT, we had a nice lunch...such a nice day for mommy-daughter bonding...:)

Ashlee's new 'twinkle toes' by Sketchers

ME...my faults...and, I...

I feel so over attacked lately, so where else can I go to release my feelings, but my own blog.  I'm not here to try and 'offend' anyone by my posts.  My blog is for ME...my purpose to express how my day went...how I'M feeling...how I want to express myself.  Some things are just 'stats'...not necessarily pointing the finger at anyone...gosh, lately I have had more than my share of grief and now I have grief that I didn't even EXPECT.  So, to that, I give you what you want...,my FAULTS (like you don't know!)

I AM:
selfish
judgemental
opinionated
over bearing
snobby
critical
outspoken
emotional
a pushover (why???  because I am happy with whatever you want)
sassy
too eager
lazy
impatient
screamer
2-faced

...and I definitely can't seem to please everyone...I have managed to piss off more 'friends' than ever...but IF they are my REAL friend's...we found our way back...because every friendship...REAL friendship, has flaws...has been beaten UP, broken UP...we fight, and we speak UP...and if you can't handle it...you are gone.. for good.  But those who see past it, we forgive, we MEND and make up... and we are even STRONGER than before!!!  So, all of you reading this RIGHT now...you know, you were one of 'those' fights...and guess what, we made it thru...THAT is what I call...a reallllll friendship!!!  Years prove it!

I am sure I can come up with more (flaws)...but these roll off my mind....and... I bet you can relate!?  I am not perfect...I try to be there for everyone, all the time.  But one thing I definitely am....is....forgiving.  And, maybe that is more of a fault than it is anything else...:(

Sister Luv

oh the fun of having siblings...Love them!

Oct 1st...50 Year Anniversary!

It amazes me when I hear about couples with such big anniversaries...and luckily I come from a huge family where every single aunt and uncle remain true to their vows...to death do you part!  Unfortunately Marriage is way under rated these days...everyone gets divorced before they hit their 10 yr anniversary, let alone see their GOLDEN anniversary!  75% of my friends have all been divorced!!!

So, here is a couple that truly put every vow to the ultimate test...

*For richer or poorer...raising 8 kids, my mom was the traditional 'stay at home mom' while my dad worked 3 jobs just to put us all thru 12 yrs of private Catholic schooling.
*In good times and in bad...trust me on this one, 50 years you are BOUND to have many rough spots!
*In sickness and in health...10 yrs ago my mom had stage 3 breast cancer...she went thru hell but is alive to tell her story, and my dad was there for her every step of the way.  My dad is now battleing both pancreatic and lymphoma...it's been a very difficult time for both of them, but they remain dedicated to beating the beast!

Here's to proving marriage is WORK...you work thru it and work it out!

Birthday Lunch at Motos!

Trying to find time to all gather together, (let alone celebrate a birthday), is proving very difficult...kids have school, homework, sports, etc.  So, it seems much easier to incorporate lunches into the mix...and that we did.  We (me, Denise, Diana) hit Miki Motos today for lunch...love their food (and wine).  Had a great time!!!  Happy Birthday, Di!

Indian Summer...

Today was a gorgeous day for end of September...girls had 9am soccer games (and we had to be there by 7:40am for team pics--really?!?!)...so we decided to take advantage of this gorgeous weather and hit the beach one last time this year while the gettin' was good...so glad we did!  Picture perfect weather!!!!  No traffic either...and no meters to feed (YAY!)  Great family fun!
So, we were at Lewes Cape Henlopen by 12pm, showered at 4pm, headed to Dewey for a nice dinner on the bay, then to Rehobeth for ice cream...!!  So luvn this Indian Summer thing...:)

a surprise visit from nan & pop

Ash takes a dip

Haylee braves the water

build a sand castle with some stranger

Ashlee's fave thing to do, jump the waves (you build great arm muscle)

Light House

Saengerbund/German Festival

What was supposed to be a 2 hr event for us, turned into a 4 hour event...running into family friends (the Markleys), we had a GREAT time hanging out at the Saengerbund
rides, games, food, beer, wine, dancing...FAMILY & FRIENDS...you can't beat that!




Haylee and mommy moment!



German girlz at work!

goofy Ash

Haylee and dad

Haylee chills

HAPPY ASHLEE!

Colored tongues!

Best buds from HS!

John and Ash bust-a-move

Robin and kids dance it up

daddy and his lil' Ash

The kids above (Mulvena/Markley)...Madison is 9, but look how TALL she is compared to Haylee who is 8....then Megan is 6, and Ash is 5...

Birthday Celebration

Due to some scheduling conflicts amongst friends, we celebrated Jody's bd a week early...Dinner at HARVEST was on the menu, then followed by Trolley for drinks at Toscana!
Not all that impressed with Harvest...food was average/ok, service was nice, but it took 3 tries to get poor Jody's steak "WELL"...def a pricey place...but had a great time with my girls!

September is Cancer Awareness Month

Today is the one yr anniv of Patrick Swayze's death...he died of pancreatic cancer.  Sadly at this time, I had no concept of what pancreatic cancer was, until my dad was diagnosed 3 mos later.  Just knowing it's the worst cancer you can ever get, is heart breaking. 

I also never really took the time to read or understand The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch, who too died pancreatic cancer, 7/25/08...it's such an inspiring book!  Last night they did a segment on TV about him, and I couldn't stop crying...his family is an inspiration to me, as I struggle to accept and deal with the 'hand we were dealt!'  Any cancer is a HORRIBLE cancer...and I pray with all my might that one day, they WILL find a CURE!!! 
I know alot of people might think,...hey, your dad is 77, he lived a long, full life...sure he did, doesn't matter...he is still my DAD, and every day I have to watch him suffer thru this horrible beast..nobody should have to watch a loved one go thru that...but, I'm learning, we have to live for each day and be thankful, and make the most of what we have!
One of my favorite quotes from The Last Lecture is:
"I have a theory that people who come from large families are better people because they’ve just had to learn to get along."       I couldn't agree more!