"To Celebrate Growing Old"

A friend sent me this in an email today. It was written by a woman who had just turned 90 years of age! These are what she considers to be the most important lessons life has to teach us...go ahead and read. I guarantee you will see yourself in almost every one!

Life isn't fair, but it's still good....
When in doubt, just take the next small step.
Life is too short to wast time hating anyone.
Your job won't take cuare of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will.
Pay off your credit cards every month.
You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
It's OK to let your children see you cry.
Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
Everything can change in th blink of any eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you.
When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special
occasion. Today is special.
Over prepare, then go with the flow.
Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
No one is incharge of your happiness but you.
Alwasy choose life.
Forgive everyone everything.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
However good or bad a situation is, it will chage.
Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Believe in miracles.
God loves you because of who God is. not because of anything you did or didn't do.
Don't audit life. Show up and mke the most of it now.
Growing old beats the alternative---dying young.
Your children get only one childhood.
All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
The best is yet to come.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
Yield
Life isn't tied in a bow, but it's still a gift.

9/11...We Will Never Forget

It's hard to imagine that 8 years ago today, our world would be forever changed. So many things have changed since then and yet so many things have stayed the same. I can remember the absolute horror when we put the television on that fateful morning. My brother had called from Florida and asked us if we were watching.....I can't help but feel a bit helpless this morning. It's a day that we know will come around once a year and yet, it never gets any easier. I watched the news this morning and was reminded of the sobering realization that this will happen again...it is just a matter of time. I fear for myself, my children, my family and all Americans. My heart just breaks knowing there are families waking up this morning and re-living the deaths of their loved ones...I on the other hand was able to hold my babies and kiss them good morning. My heart breaks knowing that there are so many people hurting this morning...hell, everyday, over the loss that they have experienced. I don't even know how to put my own feelings into words. May God bless us all and especially those who lost so much on that day ...and for those who continue to give their lives for our country. We will never forget 9/11...it will be forever etched in our memories and our hearts....

Backpacks packed....check, Lunches made...check, School bus tires screeching 'round the corner....PRICELESS!!!!!

So, it's Wednesday, Sept 9th and it is the first day of school. My baby is now going to middle school!! His bus was scheduled for 7:12 a.m. but the school requested that he be at the bus stop by 7 a.m. to account for the new busing schedule. I told him that I would wait with him at the stop until the bus acutally arrived....but....NNNNOOOOOO! That was never going to happen...."But Nicholas" I said...."Just let me sit in the car across the street so that I know you got on safely" and again, I got a huge NNNNOOOOOO! With my sad look on my face, he relented and said "OK...as long as you don't look at me or wave goodbye to me"...."Deal" I said...and so, I sat down the block in my car wathching my 'baby' get on the bus for Middle School...where has the time gone? It feels like yesterday when we were walking him into pre-school with his little dinasour name tag that said "MY NAME IS NICHOLAS"....God do I feel old :( .........then it was time for the elementary school bus. This bus comes at a more decent hour of 8:50 a.m. I went to work a little late so that I could send my boys off with a warm mommy wave....and a small jig in the middle of the street...ha ha ha!!! Kevin is going into 6th grade and will be the kids who "rule the school" as I am told! John and Ryan are going into fourth grade. Needless to say, they were all very excited about today....Hope it's a great year boys!!

Lazy Sunday afternoon in Montauk

Last Sunday, Pete and I decided to take a ride out to Montauk..for two reasons...the waves were amazing compliments of Tropical storm/category 1 Hurricane Bill and we wanted to have lunch at O'Murphy's. For those of you who have never been, O'Murphy's is a small town bar right in the 'circle' of Montauk. They have THE BEST MUSSELS know to mankind! Words cannot even describe!! We enjoyed a few hours lounging on the beach, watching those beautiful waves under a blue sky. It was a great day, just being together.

Congrats to our Friend Dan!!

Our friend Dan has been doing a lot of swimming this past summer...and I mean a lot!!! Back in July, he swam the 'cross bay swim' which was 5 miles!!! 5 miles!!! I can't even swim across my pool (cause I still have to hold my nose and all!!!) and he makes it look so easy. He does it all for charity! Dan asked Pete to help him this year by kayaking ahead of him as his 'spotter'...they did awesome together!!! Two weekends ago, Dan was in another swim down in Amityville. This was a two mile swim for Juvenile Diabetes. Pete joined him again and needless to say, they rocked!!! I brought the boys down to the beach that day and they were so excited to see both Pete and Dan approaching the finish line. I admire all of the people who participate in these events. Especially when it's for such an amazing cause!!!! So here's to Dan and Pete for giving their time for others!!! We will always be there to support you....just let us know the time and date and we will all be there to root you on!! I did take a few pictures of John and Ryan in the kayake and wearing Dan's swim cap, which by the way has it's 'place' on the hutch in the boys room!! Here is a video of Dan coming out of the water...it was hot and I am sure he was tired!! We are proud of the both of you!!!!!

Congrats John & Ryan!!!

Friday, August 14th, John and Ryan took their karate belt test. They did amazing and are now official Purple Belts!!!! I am so proud of you both!! Keep up the great work and before you know it, you will be taking your black belt test!

Our Florida Trip...August 2009

We just returned back from an amazing week in Orlando, Florida. Pete and I and the boys flew down last Tuesday where we were greeted by my brother and beautiful nieces at the airport. Funny cause Kasey had called us to say that they were not going to be able to come. I was upset, I have to admit, cause I have been waiting months to see the girls. When low and behold, I was bear hugged from behind by Erin...or "E" as she likes to call herself! What a great suprise!!! We spent the days at the beautiful pool where the kids literally swam for hours on end! The six of them (my four boys and Kevin's two girls) would stroll up to the pool bar and order their 'virgin' pina coladas daily...it was hysterical to watch. We all went to Disney on Thursday and lucked out with the weather. We did get the usual afternoon thunderstorms, but we only waited I would say 40 mins for the longest ride. The lines were not terrible. The kids had an absolute ball together. On Wednesday night, Pete and I put the kids (all 6) in camp at the hotel. There they ate pizza and icecream, decorated a t-shirt with fabric markers and stencils. They played miniature golf, rode the bicycles built for 8 and then finished off the night with a movie and some basketball. What a great experience for all of them!

Saturday rolled around way too fast....too depressing to even think that we were going home. How could 5 days have passed so quickly? We spent Saturday at Kevin and Trisha's house..kids were in the pool for the last time....I was already getting misty eyed. When it was time to say goodbye, Nicholas was the first to 'lose it'. Then they rest fell into place...Kasey was next I think, then Ryan, and so on and so on.....what an amazing time they all had spent together. It is always hard leaving my brother and his family. We don't get to see each other nearly as much as I would like. At least we have these memories...memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you Pete for taking us on this trip...I will never forget it! You are one in a million!!!!!