GARRRYYY!!!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

Nothing feels better than feeling loved and appreciated on your birthday.  I think most of us learn as we get older that things do not remain the same.  So in life, you live and learn and lower your expectations a little bit.  But I must say that the love I felt on my birthday this year was beyond my expectations which is the best surprise I could have got.  Both my family and my friends very much went out of their way to spoil me and make me make a big deal of the annual event.  I received phone calls from all of my immediate family and a handful or more my extended family including Ed’s family who never forgets and always makes me feel like one of their own children.  My friends who I happen to work with brought me flowers and balloons and took me to lunch and bought me a beautiful iPod deck, your consideration blew me away!  It makes me feel good to have friends that know me so well and celebrate our friendship.  I hope I can and do make you feel the same warmth.

One sad note, I didn’t see my Mom on my birthday but I got to see her last night and she made up for it.  She bought me a beautiful, bricked-colored leather purse.  And she got me the History Channel’s “The Presidents”  DVD.  YAY!  I’m such a nerd but really loved the series.  I’m going to make my kids watch it – HAHAHA!

So I hope that I also make you all feel as wonderful as you made me feel the past few days.  I can’t say Thank You enough.  The bar has been sent really high.  How am I ever going to get my expectations back down?  And to Ed, there’s always next year…

11.04.2008

This has been a long and wonderful night.  I just finished watching President Obama give his victory speech to thousands in Grant Park in Chicago.  For most of his speech, I was in tears.  These are not tears of sadness but instead tears of overwhelming happiness.  I didn’t scream or yell or jump up and down.  I wept.  For the first time in many years in my adult life I have felt hope and inspiration for the future.  Seven years ago, when our country was attacked, I started thinking “why have I brought a child into this horrible world?”  And as the next seven years went by, my questions turned to “how am I going to raise children in this world and what will be left to give to them?”  Tonight and for the past several months, my outlook has changed.  What Obama may lack in experience and qualifications, he makes up for in character and charisma ten fold.  I look at him and see a man.  A normal man with an understanding in his eyes.  Someone who listens to the people who talks to him.  Who asks these normal American people about their lifes and beliefs.  Obama oozes a geniuneness that is undeniable.  Honestly, I have nothing against Senator McCain.  Absolutely nothing.  Obama just moved people – plain and simple.  He brought together ages, races, classes, and religion who could all agree that it was time for a change.  He spurred inspiration in us.  The inspiration to do something when we were unhappy everything.  To take a stand, unite, and vote. He believed in us and we believed in him.  If you want to know why I voted for Obama, here’s just a few reasons:

Because in the past 7 years, my husband has been out of a job three times b/c of small businesses closing, lay-offs, or the inability for a company to make payroll.  Because we have gone without healthcare when our children were 1 and 4 years old b/c we could not absolutely afford or had no way of getting it.  It was very scary.  When we did have to go, we received bills for hundreds of dollars for simple procedures.  When we finally did get the opportunity again to purchase healthcare, it cost me half my paycheck.  Because at one time, we were on food stamps.  Because there were times we desparately needed food stamps and were denied.  To put food in my refrigerator and in my kids’ bellies.  To keep my utilities on.  To have the gas to go somewhere.  To know my children are getting a solid education.  To bring home the men and women in Iraq who risk their lives to finish someone elses’ war.  To be able save some money for a rainy day.

I could go on and on but it is approaching midnight and I have to go to bed.  My heart is overjoyed.  I have such a renewed sense of hope for our future.  I tremedously looking forward to the next four years.

Nailin’ Palin’?

So Halloween was super fun this year.  I always have lots of fun on Halloween but this year instead of hosting the family party, Ed and I went out to a “grown-up” (using that term loosely) party and kicked it old school.  Yes, there was a keg and a bonfire and the cops showed up so it was just like old times.  We didn’t leave until 2:30 a.m. and I was pretty wasted but a fun time was had by all.  I got an extraordinary amount of compliments for my Sarah Palin “costume.”  (It was actually my hair and my clothes so I don’t know if that constitutes a costume.)  A few said I gave Tina Fey a run for her money but they were all drunk.  I can say that my dance moves were better than the real Sarah.

By the way, the next day Lexi got all her hair cut off in a “swing bob.”  She looks adorable and loves it.  She looks so much older and sophisticated.

My Barack O’Latern

I am extremely proud of my Barack O’Latern.  I was really nervous about pulling this one off.  Every year my husband and I trying pulling off something elaborate.  We usually have no problems being artistic and creative people.  We just never have the time to exercise our talents.  So when pumpkin carving time comes it’s great b/c the kids are excited and so are we.  It’s become some what of a hobby and I would do it all year if I could.  It’s is almost therapeutic.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Barack Obama pumpkin- It just popped in my head to get on the internet and find a Obama stencil and amazingly had no problem.  They have McCain, Palin, Biden, their wives, the logos.  Completely overwheming.  So glad it turned out like it did.  Now I have to keep it from shriveling!

Lex’s Alien Vampire pumpkin- That is what she picked.  She did really good doing about half of it herself.  Very proud of my future pumpkin carver.

Spongebob pumpkin-  Our house is on a huge Spongebob kick.  Not sure why, not sure why now.  But regardless that is what Dom wanted on his pumpkin.  So Ed did it for him.  There is no way that boy could carve.  In fact, he was taken off seed duty b/c of his inclination to fling pumpkin guts.   But as you can see from the picture, he is very proud of his pumpkin, nonetheless.

Dragon pumpkin-  This pumpkin is actually five years old.  This is a stryofoam pumpkin that I carved five years ago and obviously it holds up great.  I don’t think they sell them any more b/c they have the propensity to catch on fire especially when you put the top back on.  We actually had one catch a small part of our basement on fire.  Thankfully no one was hurt and not too much damage was done.  We keep that one outside.

Can you tell I took the pictures off my camera????

Picture time.  Last weekend we took a trip to good ole Eckert’s Farm in Belleville.  It was a beautiful day and everyone had a good time.  This is what weekends should be about.

Check out the scary girl…

Baby Blues

Time to brag on my children.  They have the most beautiful eyes.  Wonder who they got ‘em from?

The picture of Lex is kinda scary.  Like I see dead people scary…

Here are pictures of my toothless Son

And the one to it’s left is now loose too.

Baby is not a baby anymore…

Friday night, much to my dismay, my baby boy lost his first tooth.  I mean he is 5 and it is appropriate for his age.  But nonetheless, it took me by surprise and made me feel like I was losing my little baby boy.  He on the otherhand was a tad scared not sure what to expect.  He asked me if I had another tooth in the bathroom to replace the one that was lost.  He also informed me that I could call the doctor to let her know what had taken place.  HIs older sister assured him that he would make it and best of all that if he put it under his pillow, the tooth fairy would bring him a dollar – which he did.  Of course, we are all still in a heated debate about whether the tooth fairy is indeed a boy or a girl.  I will keep you updated.

My Top Ten Chick Flicks…

In no particular order…

1. Pride & Prejudice

This movie makes my toes curl.  Plain and simple.  The heat between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy comes through the screen.  It can be a little hard to understand what they are saying but the body language makes up for it.

2.  Legally Blonde

 

Okay, this movie has the “over & over” factor, meaning you can watch this movie over and over and over.  I find that everytime it is on cable I turn it on.  Sure Elle Woods is ditzy as hell but the movie is entertaining – what more could you ask for?

3. Sleepless in Seattle

This is a classic by my standard.  This is Meg Ryan at her finest.  You can’t help but want for these two people to find each other.  Awww…

4.  Pretty Woman

Okay, while it is not my dream to be a prostitute, I know it is every woman’s dream to be swept off her feet by a rich, powerful, and handsome man (Hello!  Richard Gere never looking better!).  We love those classic rags to riches tales.  And hey Viv, I’m a safety girl, too.

5.  A Cinderella Story

Yes, this is a very recent movie with very young actors but I love this movie.  Again, nothing is better than trumping the old stepmother and the ugly stepsisters.  Plus, it is obviously a modern twist on an old tale and there is something very likeable about Hilary Duff.  And Chad Michael Murray ain’t bad to look at either…

6.  A League of Their Own

Stilwell Angel!  I LOVE this movie.  Geena Davis looks phenomenal.  Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell are great and let’s not forget to mention Tom Hanks.  All-Star cast, All-Star performances.  This is a classic that you can watch “over and over” with the whole family.

7.  Steel Magnolias

Ladies, grab a tissue.  In fact, grab the whole box.  This movie will make you sob and you will like it.  It’s sick but it’s completely irresistable.  I know everytime I watch this movie that I’m going to ball all the way through the funeral scene but it does not stop me from watching it “over and over.”  I can’t seem to help myself…

8.  Fried Green Tomatoes

This movie has it all.  Racism, murder, spousal abuse, maybe a little lesbianism.  This is a classic!  Set back in the days were things were so simple and bee-charming never looked so cool.  Masterson is amazing.  Parker is excellent as well.  Bates and Tandy are wonderful.  Makes me want to be a Threadgood!

9.  Never Been Kissed

 

Drew Barrymore is absolutely adorable in this movie.  Molly Shannon and John C. Reily provide a great supporting cast and David Arquette is really good in only time I can remember him in a movie.  Wouldn’t it be great to go back to high school and confirm that you wouldn’t have changed anything except caring about what other people thought about you.

10.  Baby Boom

J.C. Wiatt, the ultimate power player dominating in a “man’s world,” suddenly inherits a baby and everything changes.  This a woman who clearly did not want children.  But after inheriting Elizabeth, she realized she didn’t really know what she wanted.  In the end, she learns she CAN have everything and on her own terms.  You go girl!