Friday, August 31, 2007

Ugh


These past few days have been long. Adam has been off from work, as have I to help around his grandparents' house after the death of his uncle. We were supposed to be leaving this afternoon for our anniversary trip, but unfortunately that won't be happening until after the funeral service on Sunday. Our trip has been cut from almost 5 days to about 2 (well maybe 1 1/2 depending on what time we actually make it there). It really sucks and I hate feeling selfish worrying about our anniversary trip right now, but it is our 10th anniversary and we really were looking forward to the time away together for awhile.

Today and this weekend are going to be extremely busy shopping, helping family, and going to the viewing and service. Adam's mom and grandparents are utter wrecks right now and the only thing helping them deal is a whole lot of happy pills unfortunately. Please pray for them that they can get through this weekend and know that Larry is not in pain or sick anymore and with those who love him! They will really need the extra love and thoughts and I would appreciate it greatly.

I probably will not have time to get on here again before we leave for our mini-trip, so wishing everyone a nice Labor Day holiday. Will be back posting probably on Wednesday!


Posted By Melanie @ 5:31 AM (3) comments |
Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Wordless Wednesday #7 -Happy and Sad day!


Not completely Wordless this week but necessarily so!


Today is our 10 year Wedding Anniversary!






We received sad news early this morning that Adam's uncle passed away.






Posted By Melanie @ 2:15 PM (5) comments |
Tuesday, August 28, 2007

My turn... Tag I'm It!


I've been tagged for the "8 Random Facts About Me" meme by the Exhausted Intern



First, the Rules:
Post these rules before you give your facts
List 8 random facts about yourself
At the end of your post, choose (tag) 8 people and list their names, linking to them
Leave a comment on their blog, letting them know they’ve been tagged.


1. I am ambidextrous. I can print using both my left and right hand but I can only write in cursive with my right hand

2. I am a closet reality TV fan of goofy shows like Scott Baio is 45 and Single - God did I really admit that I watch that????

3. I was 17 when I joined a sorority my freshamn year of college. This did not deter me from hitting the local bars of course using an ID that was not mine.

4. I have practically all of my pictures from the last 4 years on CD or external hard drive and maybe only 100 of out thousands from those years actually printed.

5. I am a huge tea drinker! I have a tea cabinet. I love any kind of green tea, white tea, chai, etc, etc, etc. I even have my hubby hooked on it and he has his own stash of teas at work that I send him with!

6. I have a taped interview of my grandparents a few years before they died done for a Library of Congress project of growing up in Paterson area of NJ during the depression, war, etc. I love listening to their voices and their stories of childhood, how they first met, and the early stories of my father, aunts and uncle as kids. I miss them so much and I treasure these tapes.

7. I am a pack rat from hell! I keep EVERYTHING. I have such a hard time throwing anything away. I have movie ticket stubs, drawings from every child over flowing every box I can throw them in, programs, fliers, anything related to a vacation we have taken, etc.

8. After Jacob was born I wanted my tubes to be tied but my OB/GYN at the time told me I was too young and refused to do it (I was 24). I had only wanted two children, but fortunately God had other plans for our family with Aelx and Matthew yet to come. It is difficult to have 4 kids but of course I would not have it any other way.


Now who to tag??? I will cheat a little and tag a few people who may do it if they have an ounce of time - Melanie, Jesse, Amy, Amy the Happy Momma, and anyone else who wants to do this! If you do it please leave me a comment so I can come read yours! :)


Posted By Melanie @ 9:11 AM (1) comments |

It Never Fails!!!


Every single time we get ready to go on a trip, vacation, or even when we are on one something always happens with one of the vehicles we own. We leave Friday for our anniversary trip away - alone! So, of course, yesterday the minivan stalled on me the entire way to get Alex from school and the entire way home. Adam played with it when he came home last night and thinks it is some sort of fuel injection issue. He wants to try changing the fuel filter before bringing it somewhere so he will try that tonight. I am hoping that is all it is but it never is just something simple. The Minivan is old now - a 1999 Windstar - and has reached over the 100K mile mark now.
Luckily we are taking Adam's car on our trip, but I need the van to work to get the boys back and forth all over town. So today at least, Alex will miss PreK. Tomorrow I can drive Adam to work and use his car for the day since I don't have to work at night, (Adam works 1 hour away from our house so taking him to work and getting him when I have to work at night does not work out- at least one of us or both of us are very late!), but then Thrusday I will need to figure something out if we can't get it fixed by then.

Ugh!!!! I have enough to do this week to prep to leave 4 kids with my single sister for 5 days!!!


Posted By Melanie @ 8:21 AM (1) comments |
Monday, August 27, 2007



Second week of school and so far we are doing good.

Today was the boys first day on the bus. Nick used to ride the bus for the first two years of school but did not ride last year since I could not get Jake on the bus. This year with Alex in PreK at the same time as the boys start school it is easier on me, our gas budget, and good to have for when I finally find a full time job again to have the bus in place for both of them. Nick was luckily able to be assigned to the same bus as Jake and was happy to be able to go on it with him to help him out. Jake had a minor outburst at the bus stop this morning, but after a few minutes let me walk him onto the bus and got in his seat by Nick. The aide and driver are a nice older couple.

I of course was having a heart attack this morning after putting him on the bus remembering every news story of kids left on the bus or dropped off at the wrong stop. That's why I am soooo very happy Nick is riding with him. Not to mention, Jake wears a shoe tag ID for kids with Autism and I thoroughly marked all his info in his bookbag. Just in case it is needed.

Jake's teacher called just moments before I got home from bringing Alex to school and left me a message that he did good on the ride to school. Now hopefully this afternoon goes just as smooth. Fingers crossed and prayers please! This is a big deal for Jake to do this!

Now I need to go fill out the emergency paper for the bus driver and dig out a school picture of Jake from last year from the photo box in my closet to attach to it.


Posted By Melanie @ 9:09 AM (4) comments |
Friday, August 24, 2007




Appetizer ~ Say there’s a book written about your life. Who would you want to narrate the audio version?
Hmm...that is tough. I guess Julia Roberts since she has such a great laugh!

Soup ~ Take the letters from your favorite kind of nut and write a sentence. (Example: Perhaps every avenue needs understanding today.)
All little men own new digs
Salad~ If you could go back in time and spend one week in another decade, which decade would you choose?
The 1950s
Main Course ~ Name a song that brings back memories for you.
Wild Wild West - Escape Club
Forty-seven dead beats living in the back street
North east west south all in the same house
Sitting in a back room waiting for the big boom
I'm in a bedroom waiting for my baby

CHORUS:
She's so mean but I don't care
I love her eyes and her wild wild hair
Dance to the beat that we love best
Heading for the nineties
Living in the wild wild west
The wild wild west

Mandy's in the backroom handing out Valium
Sheriff's on the airwaves talking to the D.J.'s
Forty-seven heartbeats beating like a drum
Got to live it up live it up
Ronnie's got a new gun

CHORUS

Now put your flags in the air and march them up and down
You can live it up live it up all over the town
And turn to the left, turn to the right
I don't care as long as she comes tonight

CHORUS

Heading for the nineties living in the eighties
Screaming in a back room waiting for the big boom
Give me give me wild west
Give me give me safe sex
Give me love give me love
Give me time to live it up

CHORUS
Dessert ~ Do you prefer to wash your hands in cold water or warm water?
Warm, generally bordering hot




Posted By Melanie @ 10:31 AM (1) comments |
Thursday, August 23, 2007

Hypochondriac, maybe???


I get a call today from the clinic nurse that Nicholas is in there. It's about 1:55pm and he only has another hour and 20 minutes left of the school day. Apparently during PE he slipped on some concrete by the sidewalk and smacked his knee into the ground. There was no blood, not even broken skin. But after having a cold cloth on it for some time he decided he needed a trip to the school clinic. There they iced his knee and had him sit with his leg elevated for a while. He continued to complain of pain so they called me. Apparently Nick has self-diagnosed himself with a bone infection which must be why it was feeling so much worse instead of better. I am on a first name basis with the clinic assistant after Nick's many stomach bugs last year. She called and explained his situation and what he thought the issue actually was. After a small giggle between us (quietly of course), I told her to send him back to class and tell him to take it easy and hang in there for the last hour.

He returned to class. I picked him up from school at normal time. He *ran* into the house from the car to get a drink.

The infection must have healed itself.


Posted By Melanie @ 9:06 PM (2) comments |
Tuesday, August 21, 2007

I just love these exchanges....


hiccup

Alex: "Oh man! Mom?" hiccup

Me: "What, Alex?

Alex: hiccup "Mooooom?"

Me: "What honey?"

Alex: "Mom, I," *hiccup* "talkin' you"

Me: "I know, Alex and I said 'what'. What did you want?"

Alex: "I," hiccup "have the hibbacups."


Posted By Melanie @ 8:14 PM (2) comments |
Monday, August 20, 2007

Back to school!


Well they are off and at school, hopefully having a great time. This morning went smoothly. Getting them back to bedtimes and morning routines the last two weeks really helped. Everyone was up by 7:00am, ate and got dressed without too much reminding.



Adam went to work late today so he could drop off Jake and Nick for me. The two boys had no issues this morning and Adam timed the ride by taking the route I will need to all week until their bus assignment is fixed so that I will not be late getting Alex to his school or Nick and Jake to theirs.



Alex had his back pack on walking around the house at 8am even though we didn't need to leave until 8:40am. He was so happy to go this morning. Well, that was until we actually got there. He was smiling, but nervous as we walked in. When we made it to the door of his class though, we were greeted by a screaming child on the floor literally holding on to his mom's leg as she was trying to go. So that made him worry a bit to say the least. I just gave his hand a squeeze and told him "That little boy must not know how much fun he was gonna have at school today, huh?" and he just looked up at me with those big eyes. We went and found his cubby and he put his backpack away. We found Miss Tracy and his other teacher whose name I can not think of at the moment. When I tried to say goodbye to him he dropped his head and covered his eyes like he would cry, but I crouched down by him and tried to tell him about all the fun he was going to have. He gave me a hug and a kiss and after some probing from the teacher, he took her hand and was off to find all of the places with his name around the room and find something to play with before circle time.



Now I will be leaving in a little bit to go and get him! Hopefully his first day will have been great! After that we will come home and get some laundry done, have lunch and get Matthew down for a nap before we have to leave to pick up Nick and Jake.



Here they are this morning.....




Posted By Melanie @ 10:49 AM (2) comments |
Friday, August 17, 2007

Happy 4th Birthday to Alex!!!


Happy Birthday to my Alexander who turns 4 years old today!!!



Posted By Melanie @ 1:22 PM (2) comments |

School Monday!!! WOO HOO!!!!!


We had open house last night. Both boys met their teachers, saw their classes, etc. They are in the same building again this year only doors down from one another. :) This is Nick's first year not having a teacher from the previous year move up to the next grade with him so that was new finding a new teacher and classroom! But his teacher seems very nice. He doesn't know any of the kids in his class yet, but he is happy to meet new friends he said! His teacher's daughter worked with Jake in his class last year in one of their 5th grade helpers program so that was funny to meet her.

I am SOOOOOO very excited about Jake's teacher this year! She's new to the school district and was teaching at Eden (private Autism school in FL and NJ costs $25,000 yearly!) prior to working public school. She has 7 years of specialized autism trainnig and teaching experience, is certified in ABA/VBA and is so on her game!!! I am so thrilled!!! I really think she will do awesome things for him! :)

The only complaint I have was Nick's grade had an updated supply list with some items added to it I did not buy. I have no problem getting the supplies from the list because I understand that budgets are small for each classroom but these lists get a little bigger and a little more crazy each year. I am used to the supply lists with a certain number of pencils, different notebooks, packs of paper, tissues, baby wipes, markers, etc on them but Nick's new list added things like headphones and a sock to it! ?????

Anyway, list completed after a quick stop at Target on the way home last night. C'mon Monday!!!! :) *doin' my happy dance*
Honestly I will miss the boys and worry all day about their first day, especially Alex at PreK, but I will be so happy to keep the house clean and the food I buy over the weekend in the fridge!!!


Posted By Melanie @ 1:16 PM (2) comments |
Thursday, August 16, 2007

My First AWARD!!!!



I am so excited!!! Melanie from Our Happy Happenings gave me this award. It is my very first one and I could not have received it from a nicer person!

This is what The Nice Matters Award is given for, "This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you've been awarded please pass it on to 7 others who you feel are deserving of this award."

So THANK YOU, Melanie!!!! I will pass it on to Amy @ Happy Momma , LadyBug @ LadyBug Crossing, Amy @ Amy's Random Thoughts, Jesse @ For the Love of Peas and Monkeys, Dawn @ My Home Sweet Home, a new one I just started reading - DeeDee @ It Coulda' Been Worse and last but certainly not least, Heather @ Especially Heather


Posted By Melanie @ 7:32 AM (4) comments |

Thursday Thirteen - For Alex



Thirteen Things about my son, Alexander who turns 4 years old tomorrow!



1. Alex loves to dress up - he'll be a cowboy, superhero, doctor or even a princess

2. Yes, at this age he seems to be secure in his manhood

3. He loves Pokemon

4. Since he does not have any Pokemon stuffed animals he has renamed his current animals - Squirt from Finding Nemo is now Squirtle the Pokemon, etc

5. He loves broccoli! He eats all of it on his plate and then eats all of mine!

6. Alex gets sunburn under his eyes and on the bridge of his nose every single time he goes swimming no matter how many times he gets sunscreen or how often

7. He is loud! He is just a naturally extra loud child and hasn't quite grasped the whole "inside voice" concept

8. Alex is devilsh too. He gives you this smile where you just know he is about to do something he shouldn't or you are too late and he already did!

9. He is a sweetheart and will make quite the date when he is older.

10. He likes to open doors for me, hold my hand, and tell me how pretty I look

11. Alex has the best hair! It is so thin and hardly covers in some areas when it is cut too short but he has the cutest Alfalfa-like hair sticking up in the far back always. :)

12. He loves to read with me. His favorites right now are "We are Going on a Bear Hunt" and "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"

13. Alex starts PreK on Monday. He is so excited and I am happy to have him go off and do this part time, but I will admit I am gonna be sad and miss him. He's my little buddy!



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!







Posted By Melanie @ 7:13 AM (2) comments |
Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Wordless Wednesday #6 - SkyCoaster Baby! That is my 2nd time on here!

















Posted By Melanie @ 8:13 AM (10) comments |
Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Check In


This is turning out to be a very busy week around here.

The kids start school on Monday the 20th so last week we began bedtime routines again for school. This week is bedtime and morning routines so they are ready for next week. Also there is lots of running around making sure everything from the supply lists are complete, all uniforms, paperwork, etc is ready to go. Alex starts PreK the same day so he only adds to my list of stuff to make sure is done and ready to go. He is so very excited to go to his school.

I do have a dilemma - I found out on Friday that Nick and Jake and Alex all have to be at two different schools at the same time! So Friday I called the transportation department to get Nick and Jake added to the bus route, which will probably not be done by the first day but will happen soon enough. It will take longer to get them situated on the route because Jake needs special needs transport and Nick needs clearance to ride with his brother. I am hoping Nick does not get any crap from the evil kids about riding the "special" bus with his brother, but I know Nick will be good to his brother as always. Last year at a ballgame at school, he took Jake to sit with him and his friends and explained to a few of them a little bit about Autism which his teacher happily passed on to me. I just hope he stays in that mindset to give his brother that little cushion of protection and inclusion.

Anyway, Alex turns 4 years old this Friday and Saturday is his birthday party BBQ at our house. So besides getting ready for school this week I have to get my house ready for a party which means deep cleaning all week. I am off to clean the vertical blinds on the sliders and try to fix the stain on the pergola outside today.

My uncle is performing about 45 minutes from here Saturday night so we are hoping to go see his show - Magic of the Mind: The Sandman ! He performs all over the US so you should definitely check him out when he is near you. He is a riot!

Going to go visit my daily reads and then get to cleaning while the boys are being civil still this morning! :) Have a great day!


Posted By Melanie @ 8:20 AM (1) comments |
Friday, August 10, 2007




Appetizer: What is your favorite kind of pie?
Apple with vanilla ice cream!!!

Soup: Name something that made you smile this week.
Nick taught Matthew how to "gimme five" and they were just too cute showing everyone together

Salad: What do you do to cool off when the weather is hot and humid?
Shower, dip in the pool, big glass of ice water or iced tea

Main Course: You receive $1,000 in the mail with a letter that says you can only use the money to redecorate one room in your home. Which room do you pick, and what do you buy to spruce it up?
Our Bedroom - some new furniture like a big bookcase and some comfy little loveseat to make a sitting area in there

Dessert: Fill in the blank: My _________ says __________, but I __________.
My diet says I need to cut down on breads, potatoes, etc but I have a hard time with it 'cuz I love 'em!





Posted By Melanie @ 8:51 AM (8) comments |
Thursday, August 09, 2007



Today started with running around the house to do a quick clean before my mother came over. She was watching the boys for me so I could finish errands and finish getting Alex signed up for school.

She showed up with Dunkin Donuts coffee for me and Munchkins for the boys. What a woman!

I got Alex signed up for school - he came along and was quite upset when we had to leave since he wanted to stay and play outside with the other kiddos. From there I dragged him to the post office to send out some certified mail $30+ later (that was a whole lot more expensive than it used to be!) we were done there. Off to Target to finish getting the school supplies from the list and a new planner/organizer for Mom's pocketbook since my old one was covered in Juicy Juice courtesy of Matthew.

After that we came home where I was met coming in the door by Nick who asked if he could please go home with Grandma for the night alone without his brothers. I agreed, but will be driving up there to get him tommorrow and checking out the new indoor playground by her house with my mother and all four kids tommorrow afternoon. Alex was quite upset Nick was leaving him but was happy again when I told him our plans for tomorrow. Jake hardly looked up to say goodbye from his computer screen when they left.

I am toying with going back to work full time to help with expenses around here more, be able to save more and pay for more therapies for Jake. When I signed Alex up for PreK (free 3 hour per day, 5x's a week program) I asked for the full time prices and rates for Matthew just in case I was to need them. $285 per week for the two of them and this does not include before and after school care for Nick and Jake. YIKES!!! Not sure it will pay off at all to go back to work but we'll see.


Posted By Melanie @ 1:29 PM (0) comments |




Thirteen RANDOM Things about Melanie



1. I am right handed but can write lefty too, just not as neatly!

2. I was born in New Jersey

3. I am terrified of still heights (like climbing up a monument staircase) but LOVE thrill heights like rollercoatsers and free fall jumps!

4. I have one tattoo of a dolphin

5. I am waiting to reach my goal weight to get another tattoo on my lower back

6. I have been to Dinsey World more times then I can count! (Surprised??? LOL)

7. In my lifetime so far I have had 4 goldfish, 2 cockateils, a stray cat, and 6 dogs as pets

8. I have lost 25 pounds on weight watchers and have 30 to go to reach goal.

9. Most of my wardrobe consists of earthtone colors minus maybe 3 or 4 pieces

10. I did not learn to ride a bike without training wheels until I was 8 ( I was so scared I would fall and die)

11. I was always my grandmother's girl. I loved cooking with her in the kitchen, hearing her stories, and taking walks with her. I miss her terribly

12. I have been researching my family history since my oldest was 2 months old

13. I changed my middle name from Patricia to my maiden name when I got married


Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!








Posted By Melanie @ 9:40 AM (3) comments |
Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Exhausted


Ugh! I am exhausted both physically and mentally.....

And why, you so politely ask???

That would be because I ran errands around town all moring with four children in tow! The bank, the post office, the doctors office and food shopping at Super Walmart. Thank God it is over and done with. I have to say they were pretty good and Jake only had one minor outburst in Walmart. They wasn't a whole lot of fighting or touching each other or the products, so that always is a good trip then! :)

So now that the little one is napping I am going to eat finally and play online and then maybe park my butt on the couch. My Wordless Wednesday is below - an old picture but cute just the same a little late this week.

I need a nap!


Posted By Melanie @ 2:18 PM (2) comments |

Wordless Wednesday #5 - Even the Dog is a Disney Fan








Posted By Melanie @ 2:11 PM (2) comments |
Tuesday, August 07, 2007

OMG - Evil Knievil!!!


Just so we are all keeping tabs - 3 times so far today!

Matthew (my climbing monkey toddler with an apparent death wish) has fallen off of a somewhat high surface!

1- This morning he climbed onto the computer desk and walked right off of the edge as I was coming out of the bathroom and then began running toward him with my arms out just as he managed to land on his diaper padded tush!

2- He leaped off of the coffee table as I rounded the couch to get him just missing his target (our couch) and smacked his head on the floor

3- After lunch, he managed to climb into one of the dining room chairs and hosit himself onto the table to grab an unfinished plate his brother left unoccupied while using the potty. Alex was having Shells with Butter and Parmesan cheese for lunch and being a sloppy little boy, kept wiping his buttery greased hands all over the table and not his napkin and -YES!, you guessed it! - Matthew slid on the greasy spot right off the edge of the table onto the floor in a thud.

Luckily none of these accidents left so much as a mark on him, but they also did not deter him at all seeing as I just took him down from the desk again two minutes before making him retire to his room for some quiet time and hopefully a nap! Good Lord my heart races a mile a minute with this one!

Never a dull moment in this house!


Posted By Melanie @ 1:11 PM (3) comments |



A Meme I haven't seen or done before, I got this Five Things Meme from Melanie over at Our Happy Happenings.

What were you doing 10 years ago?
10 years ago I was 8 months pregnant with Nicholas, we lived in a house not too far from the one we have now in the NW corner of our city that we rented from hubby's mother. I was at home big and pregnant in FL's August heat and Adam was working on a casino boat out of the beach

What were you doing 1 year ago?
Getting ready for the boys first day of school (it was Aug 8th last year) - Nick was going into 3rd grade and Jake into Kindergarten. I had a 3 month old and a almost 3 year old staying home with me while I worked from home for my BIL's business and Adam was still designing and drafting like his is now

Five Songs That You Know All The Lyrics
  1. Any Nursery Rhyme - Itsy Bitsy Spider, Farmer in the Dell, etc
  2. Never Too Late by Three Days Grace
  3. Its Your Love by Tim McGraw
  4. In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel
  5. Hotel California by The Eagles
Five Things You Would Do If You were a Millionaire
  1. Pay off House and All debt (car loans, student loans, etc)
  2. Set up full college funds for the kids
  3. Build our dream house
  4. Give money to family
  5. Give money to various charities
Five Bad Habits
  1. Biting my nails
  2. Too much time online
  3. Procrastinating finishing laundry - folding, hanging, putting away
  4. Not calling family and friends enough but emailing instead
  5. Never getting to the post office when I need to but days later
Five Things You Like To Do
  1. Spend time with my family
  2. Go to Disney World
  3. Read a good book
  4. Talk with Adam in the middle of the night when its quiet, we're alone, without interruption
  5. Research - from child issues to family history to vacations and more
Five Things You Would Never Wear Again
  1. Neon anything
  2. Leg warmers
  3. Leotard type bodysuits
  4. Banana yellow heels
  5. Big peace sign earrings! (yup used to wear them alot!)
Five Favorite Toys
  1. Computer/Laptop
  2. TV
  3. My Smoothie Blender
  4. Cell Phone
  5. Camera

Not tagging anyone in particular but if you read it and want to do it too please let me know so I can come read yours!



Posted By Melanie @ 7:33 AM (1) comments |
Monday, August 06, 2007



Well today has already been busy, but we also got alot accomplished over the weekend.


Saturday night Adam and I got to run some errands instead of a date night, but we did it alone while MIL watched the boys so that was nice. Sunday we did a whole lot of yard work in the morning. The kids wanted to hang out at home and have a BBQ and play so that is what we did. They had a blast playing with this:





It's a Little Tykes toy that pitches the balls to you to hit. Alex was doing these "Hi-Yah!" chops at the ball instead of actually swinging at them. Both Alex and Jake hit lefty which was hard to help them with their hitting for me and Adam. Even Matthew was having fun trying it out. He was a better ball boy though gathering them all up. Jake and Matthew both kept sticking their head right over the hole to try to get a glimpse of the next ball coming and I was constantly yelling for them to move and scooping them out of the way or cringing like crazy hoping they didn't get hit in the face with one. But everyone stayed safe and had a blast. We even got Nick outside for awhile that did not include swimming which is hard to do! One thing we learned though was that Nick has one great natural swing and is interested in trying Little League this year, so I need to check into that for him. I was thrilled when he said he would like to do it so that he will get out a bit more and meet some new friends his age instead of being his normal home-body self on the computer or playing video games!



Matthew had a well baby check up today and is doing great. His weight is still on the low end - 22lbs 3 oz at 15 months old (born at 9lbs 13oz) but he is so very active and constantly eats so it seems he'll just be tall and thin. Its the first appointment he has had where they have not worried about his blood counts which is nice. He received two shots and will go back in three months. I need to get Alex in there in the next week for a physical for school. He loves going there and brings his own doctor toys with him. Luckily our pediatirican is wonderful and lets "Dr. Alex" examine him as well during the appointment.

Off to visit some of my regular blog reads while Matthew is napping and I am having my lunch break and then I need to get work done around here so I can get out to the pool with the kids as I promised!



Posted By Melanie @ 12:08 PM (1) comments |
Friday, August 03, 2007

Weekend plans


I work part time at night in retail and I actually have this Sunday off for no other reason than it was my scheduled day off. A first for me since I started working there in January other than the vacation we took in June when I requested weekend days off. This was such a shock that Adam and I decided we must make a family day out of it so we are trying to think of something fun (and not too expensive) to do for the day. So far we have only come up with a trip to the beach, but still not sure if that will be the plan or not. I am looking forward to the day together.

Ooh - We actually may have a Date Night on Saturday!!!! How exciting is that? A rock band we both love - Saliva - is playing at a local club in our town on Saturday night and my fabulous mother-in-law offered to watch the boys if we wanted to go. Hubby is gonna see if we can still get tickets to go. Otherwise maybe we can at least steal away to the movies and a small dinner.

I will be shopping for school uniforms and supplies tommorrow since it is the first day of Tax Free Shopping here for school stuff. Woo Hoo!


Posted By Melanie @ 10:26 AM (1) comments |




Appetizer ~ On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how polite are you?
Probably a 9. I strive to be as polite as possible but I will admit I can forget sometimes!

Soup ~ What was the last thing that made you laugh out loud?
Alex made me laugh out loud at the table while eating dinner last night. He was eating his steak with one hand and his corn on the cob with the other (yeah, gotta work on the 3 year old's table manners, I know...), dropped his fork and threw his hand over his mouth ever so dramatically and muffled out a yelp. When my husband and I asked him what was wrong he gave us the puppy dog eye look and said "Oh no, my teeth are stuck! I can't finish my yummy steak" Apparently he had something stuck in his teeth. We couldn't help laughing out loud at his "plight".

Salad ~ Who is your favorite cartoon character?
Mickey Mouse of course!

Main Course ~ Tell about the funniest teacher you ever had.
Mr. Tyler - he was my middle school years science teacher. The man was VERY eccentric and was always a barrel of laughs. He had the craziest things in his classroom and he always had a nutty story to tell to open up a lesson or cracked nutty jokes in the middle of teaching you about atoms or electricity. He was great!


Dessert ~ Complete this sentence: I strongly believe that __________________.
I strongly believe that family is the most important thing in the world.




Posted By Melanie @ 9:45 AM (1) comments |
Thursday, August 02, 2007

Thursday Thriteen - Radio Songs




Thirteen of My Favorite Songs on the Radio Right Now


1. Never Too Late by Three Days Grace

2. Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie

3. Wait For You by Elliot Yamin

4. What I've Done by Linkin Park

5. Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani

6. U and Ur Hand by Pink

7. Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood

8. (You Want to) Make a Memory by Bon Jovi

9. Its Not Over by Daughtry

10. Beautiful Girl by Sean Kingston

11. Breath by Breaking Benjamin

12. Never Again by Kelly Clarkson

13. Summer Love by Justin Timberlake





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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!






Posted By Melanie @ 7:34 AM (3) comments |
Wednesday, August 01, 2007



August already! It is quite the crappy day around here so far...RAIN, RAIN and more RAIN this morning. Makes me want to snuggle up in bed with a book and some tea. Taking the garbage out this morning in the rain was something awful, but it is done. I made some yummy banana nut bread this morning and the smell is still lingering around our house. Mmmm! Although, I did not have any since it would be too many points on my Weight Watchers tracker for today! :(
Matthew is on my lap looking at a book right now just relaxing while I type this out one-handed. Jake just woke up now at 10am! Lazy bones! Actually, I am just jealous that I can't do that. He's watching Peter Pan in his bed and refuses to come out yet so I am letting him loaf in there. Alex and Nicholas are playing on their laptop together quietly at the moment, until the timer goes off and it is the other one's turn at the keyboard and then there is sure to be some arguing.
I had plans to do laundry today, scrub the bathrooms, and organize the linen closet, but instead I am thinking today would be better spent lounging around with the kids, reading some stories and reading my own books, playing online while they nap, and just relaxing the day away until I have to work tonight. So, off I go!


Posted By Melanie @ 10:05 AM (2) comments |

Wordless Wednesday #4 - Movie Watching in Our House at Night







Posted By Melanie @ 8:53 AM (4) comments |
  • My Photo
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    Location: New Jersey, United States

    Mom of 4 - Nick, Jake, Alex, and Matt, Married to my best friend and other half that makes me whole, Adam. Liberal. Jersey Girl always....

    1. Adam, The Hubby, My Best Friend & True Love
    2. Nicholas, aka The Professor: tenured 9/97
    3. Jacob, aka Bam-Bam: debuted 5/01
    4. Alexander, aka Lil' Michaelangelo: creating since 8/03
    5. Matthew, aka Bun in the Oven: arrived 5/06
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  • Autism Society of America
  • Autism Speaks
  • Hugs4SmilesUSA
  • Autism Recovery Network of Florida
  • Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
  • March of Dimes Walk America
  • The Home Designer
  • Happy Momma
  • LadyBug Crossing
  • Michele Agnew
  • Amy's Random Thoughts
  • For The Love of Peas and Monkeys
  • Valtool's Box
  • Especially Heather
  • And Miles To Go Before We Sleep
  • Our Happy Happenings
  • My Home Sweet Home
  • The Goat Rodeo
  • Not Enough Hours...
  • Sarge Charlie
  • It Coulda' Been Worse
  • My Home Sweet Home
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    We're Watching You
    1. Some of my all time favorites:
    2. The DaVinci Code
    3. Angels and Demons
    4. The Lovely Bones
    5. The Five People You Meet In Heaven
    6. The Tales of the Otori
    7. All Harry Potter Books
    8. Julius Caesar
    9. Cell
    10. Misery
  • Disney
  • All Ears Net


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