Merry Christmas!

The week is beginning to wind down for me, although there is much left to do! Just finished planning the Christmas dinner menu and shopping list. It's kinda sad that Christmas will be over before we know it and then we will be looking forward to next year already. The boys are so excited they can't even stand it. One more day of school left until next year! So I am wishing all of my family and friends a very Merry Christmas. May the new year be filled with good health and much happiness. Remember to take a moment and reflect back on this year. Take a minute to be thankful for what we have right here in front of us. Here's to 2011, may it be another amazing year! Until then.....

It kinda stuck with me

I heard this quote the other day and it just stuck with me. I don't know who the 'author' is to give credit but here it is.....

"Some of the greater things in life are unseen that's why you close your eyes when you kiss, cry or dream"

My boys...where has the time gone?

This year I wanted our Christmas pictures to be updated. I packed the boys up and we went down into town to take a few pictures. While looking through the lens, I realized then just how fast they were growing up. How each has matured in the past year and how very handsome they are! Call me prejudice but they are!!! So here are some shots of the boys...being boys!

Congratulations Stacey and Kevin!

Pete and I had the honor of attending a friends wedding down in Fort Lauderdale at the end of October. Kevin was Pete's old partner in the city. We stayed right along A1A across the street from the beach. We spent 3 beautiful days in sunny Florida. The wedding was beautiful and the rain held off long enough that day to have the ceremony outside on the golf course. Had a blast! Congrats Stacey and Kevin! Many, many more!

Meghan...our sweet little Meghan

On June 4th, 2010, I once again became an Aunt!!! Meghan Kathleen arrived a few days before her due date. We were all so thrilled! She is the youngest of three girls. Kasey is 12, Erin is 10 and little Meghan. She is now nearly 7 months old and is such a joy! When my Grandfather passed away in October, he gave us the greatest gift, even in death. My brother, sister-in-law Trisha and Meghan flew up to New York for the wake and funeral. Just being able to meet my niece for the first time and have her with us for a few short days, made the saddness that much easier to deal with. She has an infectious smile!!! We were able to grab a few photos of her sweet little smile!!! We love you and miss you all so very much!

2010 Softball Champions!

It's been about 8 years now that I have been playing with some of THE most amazing women. We are affectionately known as "THE PINK LADIES". After a long, hot summer, we went undefeated for the season! It was onto the playoffs where we kicked some serious A$$! Each year I start to think that I am just getting too old to play because I am nearly crippled after first game of the season. But...how could I possibly quit on such an amazing bunch of girls? It's the only time that I get to be a sweaty ball player. Well, here's to next year ladies! Let's make 2011 our year again! See you all in the Spring!

Why wait for next year....

I was going to wait until the beginning of next year but I came across some pictures of the last few months....I will post them below....until then, see you next year!

It's Been Awhile....

wow...I cannot believe that I have not updated my blog since July. Let's see.....the end of the summer was uneventful. The boys finished camp and we started our back to school shopping. Nick has entered the 8th grade, Kevin is in 7th and the twins are in 5th grade. Where has the time gone? I can still remember the days of bottles and potty training. Seems so sad that they are all growing up and moving on.

In October I lost my grandfather. He was 91 years young. I miss him terribly and I am ashamed to admit that I have not gone back to the cemetery since his passing. It's still too difficult to go back there. I have made the decision that I am going to take the kids this coming Saturday and go visit him for Christmas. The boys took his passing hard, but I have to say I was so proud of the young gentlemen they were at the wake and funeral. Grandpa would have been so proud of them. This will be our first Christmas since I was a child without him....I can't even imagine it. He is in a better place now with my Grandmother who passes away when I was 7. They are finally spending Christmas together. That definitely brings me some comfort.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. We spent the day at Pete's sisters house and had a wonderful meal. Nadine always does such a beautiful job hosting. There were many laughs! Now to get ready for Christmas. I am done shopping and have started wrapping. The house looks and smells like Christmas.

That is it for now. I promise to post pictures in the New Year. For now, may you all have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

xoxo

Montauk 2010

Pete and I decided back in March that we wanted to go on a family vacation with the boys since we took our 'alone' vacation to Aruba. We booked a room out in Montauk for the July 4th weekend. It turned out to be the best vacation we have taken so far! We could not have asked for nicer weather. Beautiful blue sky during the day and a star filled sky at night. We had family and friends out to visit and just relaxed on the beach. Pete and the boys built a bonfire every night where we toasted our marshmallows and sat back and for the first time in a long time, enjoyed one another. We are excited about going back next year as we met some new friends who we plan on seeing again in the near future. Here are some photos of our trip!

I am now the Mother of a Teenager!!!

So, my baby, my first born, my first bundle of joy turned 13 yesterday!!!!!! God do I feel old. Nicholas Vincent was born at 11:30 a.m. that joyous morning. I can remember being at my parents the night before having dinner. There was a beautiful full moon and my mom said something that was about to come true. She said babies are born when there is a full moon. I laughed if off and secretly thought to myself, wouldn't it be funny if it were tonight? Afterall, I was one day past my due date of June 19th. I was feeling quite large and was a bit scare of what was to come. We went home and I waddled into bed. At exactly 12:07 a.m. I felt it, the first of many contractions that were to come! I do not remember the drive to the hospital because I was in the most excruciating pain that no man could ever prepare you for! Later that morning, I witnessed the most amazing thing any woman could experience....the birth of my first child. I can remember holding him and feeling the warmth of his skin against my cheek. I can remember the smell of my newborn baby. I can remember the sheer joy and excitement of becoming a mom. It is now 13 years later and I have a teenager who is the epitome of a teenager....complete with eye rolling attitude! He is a good boy who loves life. Nicholas has been a blessing and I am looking forward to watching my little boy turn into a man. I love you Nick!!!

Happy Father's Day

I don't even know where to begin to convey the love I have for my father. He is simply, my hero! He is my strength, my rock, my everything. My father has taught me about honesty, integrity and most of all, he has made me the person I am today. So, dad, I may not say it often enough, but I love you and I am the luckiest girl in the world to have had you as my father!! I found this poem that speak about dads...I loved it so much, I have posted it here....to all the father's I know, Happy Father's Day!!!

What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so,

He called it ... Dad

My babies turned 10 the other day....

It seems like yesterday when I was the mother of two very young children when I suspected that I was prego again. I thought to myself, yes, three children would be nice. I think I could handle three. I scheduled my OB appointment for a my first pre-natal visit. I remember sitting back on the exam table and my doctor at the time was doing the first sonogram to determine gestation. It was an internal sonogram...fun!! Dr. Jackson looked at me, then the screen and then back at me again and said, "I have to tell you something". At that moment, my heart sank cause I had a miscarriage a few years back that was absolutely devastating. She then turned the monitor toward me and said those magic words..."there are two babies!!" and I said "what?????!!!!!!" Yes, I was pregnant with TWINS!! Double the blessings!! My original due date was July 12, but John Anthony and Ryan Michael arrived on June 14th at 5:10 and 5:11 a.m. I am truly blessed to be the proud mother of four beautiful boys!!! I am in no way saying that life is easy, but I wouldn't have it any other way!! So to my sweet, sweet boys, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! You are finally in the double digits!!! I love you both very much and I am so proud of the little men you have become!!!!!! Keep reaching for the stars!!! xoxoxoxoxoxox

I am an Aunt Again!!

Meghan Kathleen was born on Friday, June 4th weighing in at 7 lbs, 1 ounce! She is the most beautiful baby! This is #3 for my brother and Trisha. They already have two amazing daughters who will be THE best big sisters. It's times like these that I miss my brother and his family more than words can express. When I got the news that Meghan arrived, I cried both tears of joy and sadness because I knew it would be a long time before I could hold her, kiss her, smell her and just get to know her....I am looking to book a flight some time in August to go visit the family. So, a huge congratulations to my brother and his amazing wife! I love you all and miss you more than you know!!!! Welcome Meghan Kathleen...you cousins in New York cannot wait to meet you!! xoxoxoxox

Sunday morning in Montauk

This past Sunday, Pete and I decided to drive out to Montauk for lunch and a day of relaxing by the beach. When we got out there however, the weather did not want to cooperate. So, we decided to have an early lunch at O'Murphy's. For those of you who have never been, O'Murphy's has the BEST mussels I have ever tasted!!! Seriously!!! They are that good...so good in fact that we drove 1 1/2 hours to get some! We walked the beach some and then we took the ferry over to shelter island and then hopped over to Greenport on the north fork. We ate Oysters on the half shell at Claudios..such a nice relaxing day with my honey!