Not So Wordless Wednesday

Happy 5th Birthday Sweet Baby Girl!

5 years ago at 5:30am a couple days after an ice storm, with roads that were still icy (b/c NC doesn't have the proper equipment to help the roads or clean it up)we headed to the local hospital to get induced a week before her due date, b/c I begged to have a Jan. baby. See Feb. is a full b.day month for our family and we didn't have any babies in January yet in the family. Anywho...as they started the process at approx. 7:00am I asked to be done by lunch, the nurse said ok, and at 11:47 we had our beautiful baby girl!!
Here are some pictures from her b.day party over the weekend, but today is her real b.day.

My Bucket List Answers

So I have received this in my email from Krisi,(my friend since 6th grade)and when I went and looked at Amy's blog this is what is posted and everyone is tagged so yes she gave me blog material for today as well but let's knock all the ones I will receive today in one shot. So anyone else who may read this blog is tagged if you want to play along. If not~ no worry=)
Here is what you do if you are playing along....
Place an (x) by all the things you've done and remove the (x) from the ones you have not Then send it to your friends (including me). This is for your entire life!


1. ( ) Been to Europe
2. ( ) Been on a cruise
3. ( ) Been on a blind date
4. (x) Skipped school -
5. (x) Watched someone die
6. (X) Been to Canada -
7. ( ) Been to Mexico-
8. (X) Been to Florida -
9. (x) Been on a plane
10.(x) Been lost
11.( ) Been on the opposite side of the country-
12.( ) Gone to Washington , DC
13.(x)Been to Vegas
14.( ) Climbed a lighthouse
15.(x) Swam in the ocean
16.(x) Cried yourself to sleep
17.( ) Seen the Cherry Blossoms in Washington , D.C
18 (x) Played cops and robbers
19.( ) Flown a plane -
20.( ) Owned a boat
21.( ) Watched grandchildren grow- too young for this!!
22.(x) Recently colored with crayons
23.( ) Been to the Kentucky Derby
24.( ) Been to Key West
25.( ) Been to a rodeo
26.( ) Sang Karaoke
27.(x) Paid for a meal with coins only?
28.(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't?
29.( ) Made prank phone calls.
30.(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose.
31.(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
32.(x) Danced in the rain
33.(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
34.(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
35.(x) Watched the sunrise with someone
36.( ) Seen the green flash at sunset - (what is that—it is true-you can see it in Key West sometimes…)
37.(x) Blown bubbles
38.(x) Gone ice-skating
39.(x) Gone to the movies
40.( ) Owned a convertible

1. Any nickname? Sam

2. Mother's name? Rosemary

3. Body Piercing? down to 1 hole in each ear

4. How much do you love your job? it is what it is

5. Birthplace? Oswego, NY

6. Ever been to Hawaii ? no

7. Ever been to Africa ? Hell no

8. Ever eaten just cookies for dinner? and breakfast and lunch=)

9. Ever been on TV? not that I am aware of

10. Ever steal any traffic signs? How about a street sign? just a cone-opps

11. Ever been in a car accident? yes

12. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4

13. Favorite number? 5

14 Favorite movie? Grease

15 Favorite holiday? Christmas

16. Favorite dessert? anything chocolate~ ditto

17. Favorite food? bread/italian

18. Favorite day of the week? Friday

19. Favorite brand of body wash? no favorites

20. Favorite smell? clean kids

21. How do you relax? in bed asleep

22. How do you see yourself in 10 years? Older with alot more wrinkles- ditto!!

23. Furthest place you will send this email? depends who reads this blog

24. Tattoos? Nope-never got brave enough

25. Who will respond to this the fastest? not sure

...And the Runner - Up is....

So #2 was in his elementary schools Geography Bee. He was 1 of 10 kids that made it to the final round to compete and potentially move onto the next level. He did great! It came down to our #2 and one other child. They were tied in the final elimination round, which was best out of a series of 3 questions. Well since they tied after that round they went to single elimination, one question at a time until someone was out. Needless-to-say our #2 was runner up!! He did a great job and I tell you I knew NONE of the answers to the questions, other than what I helped him study. As I recall I slept/zoned out whatever you want to call it, in social studies/geography class through out my educational career, sad but true! Therefore I have no idea where they get their interest or brains when it comes to that area b/c you know they get all their great qualities and brains from me=)
Our #1 was in his middle school Geography Bee and made it to the top 10 then he was tied for 5th place. However the difference between elementary school and middle school is that in middle school they don't give you a rough guide to study and parents are not welcomed to watch them compete in the top 10. Therefore I only have pictures to share of #2 and not #1. Here they are....

Happy New Year 2009!!!!

This year we went to Disney World to celebrate the New Year!! We had not vacationed at all this year and my tech guy threw this together for the family. We really didn't have the money to spend on all that comes with taking this trip however my tech guy has been traveling for work and earning reward points through Marriott. So we stayed a couple exits away from Disney at a SpringHill Suites @ Marriott resort Village in Orlando absolutely FREEEEEEE!!!! We only had to pay for tickets to the park (which was part of xmas this year) and food to eat. The kids received McDonald's gift cards from Gramma and Papa and we had a Wendy's gift card so combined that paid for a couple meals. The kids received Disney dollars for Christmas and they can use there anywhere on anything in Disney! That covered their snacking and the pins they like to collect! We went from Dec.29th - Jan.4th. Just went to the 4 main parks.

The first day we went to Hollywood Studios- most of the same things there, a new stunt action show the boys LOVED




and other typical same old same old sights. Like the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area.




If you have never experienced Christmas/New Year there- it is breath taking! At night the New York and San Fransisco area buildings were lit up and the lights danced to music and they made it snow (came from the top of the buildings)Here are some pics. I hope you can see the snow in the pictures.











New Year's Eve we went to The Magic Kingdon!! It was PACKED and I would not recommend it at New Year's with little kids. For the wait until midnight is long and the crowd is so HUGE that there is no where to move or stand to ring in the new year. My tech guy heard people talking and they were saying that they close the park to anymore people coming in at 3pm that day b/c it was at capacity! CRAZY!!!! Now,I loved the time we went in November. That was hardly no waiting, no long lines etc... New Year's Eve different story ~ standing room only! 120+ minute lines. However, only one that actually sees ringing in the New Year at Disney can say that was a priceless moment. When it came time to count down to the New Year-imagine this on both sides of the castle fireworks burst displaying numbers 10-9-8-7-6... all the way to 1!!! Then Everyone yelled Happy New Year, we had on our New Year hats that Disney gave out and our horns that they also gave out!! It was amazing!!!! More fireworks- just beautiful!!!! #1 and #2 Very Tired-we had been there since a little after 8 that morning, they saw the fireworks and were in aw. #3 totally asleep on my tech guy therefore you will see NO PICTURES of the countdown ~UGGGG!
Here are a few pics from Magic Kingdom!

The long line to get in.


Mickey and Minnie!!


The only parade of 3 that day where we had a good seat to watch and get excited about!!







Minnie and Mickey's houses:



This last picture I have to share! #3 wanted so badly to ride this ride and telling her no was not an option she wanted to hear. So as they say, pick your battles. My tech guy and #3 waited in a 90 minute line for this ride-there are NO FAST PASSES for this ride but a must have for little kids once they see it! #1 and #2 and I went and had lunch in HUGE lines, got done headed back to where they were and they were STILL in line! We waited and watched and finally they got on this ride. It lasted, I am not kidding...less than 2 minutes!!! What a good sport my tech guy is and see how happy #3 was that she finally got to ride the Flying Dumbo Ride!!!

Christmas Eve at the in-laws

This had to be one of the best Christmas Eve's yet! My father-in-law was very, VERY tipsy and quite entertaining for all to see. I had to take a picture of him telling us a story about his other YOUNGER drunken days. We were all in stitches even the kids.



See... we don't normally see Papa that way. We all started trying wines and I must say wine isn't for me so I slowly had 1 glass, my dad, my father-in-law and one of my brother-in-laws were really trying the different wines. I don't even remember how many empty bottles there were as we were packing up and heading out!

Anywho...xmas eve at the in-laws is like waking up xmas morning!! Here are a few pics from that evening. It was GREAT!

This is the kids tree:




This is the adult tree:


Here are a few pics of the kids opening gifts and stockings:












PT was fascinated by the three dogs. She was looking out the door at Wally-my brother-in-laws cocker-spaniel.


Then another one of my in-laws has a new dog. PT is all about a dog she she quickly warmed up to the owner of Wally to see this little itty bitty puppy...



All in all it was A GREAT evening filled with family and fun. I am so lucky to have my dad here again this year and my sister and PT as well!!

SURPRISE!!!!!!

We had quite the surprise on Dec. 21st. NO NO NO!!!! I am not pregnant, remember we are done=) Anywho this was #2 and #3 as we wait at the airport for....





This is Paityn,(my niece) and my sister Shannon. We knew they were coming however my dad did NOT! Isn't she cute!! The last time we saw PT (as I call her) and my sister (1 of the 3) was in August 2007. PT was only 2 months old then and this is what I picked up at the airport!!! I was shocked at how big she has gotten!! Let's just say my sister isn't the best at sending updated pictures! PT says so much and we had a great time with them here!!





O.K.~~ Now for the surprise for my dad! I had called him to see if he wanted to come over for dinner and let him know that #3 had something for him- I got caught up in the moment and forgot to get a picture of it. Anywho I had her make a handprint on a xmas ball for his tree. See, we did them years ago of all the boys (grandsons) and I kept forgetting each year to make one of #3 for him. We also made one of PT-since she was here=)He opened #3's, was happy to have it and then we handed him PT's and he was happy to have it and asked how I got it, then out came Shannon and PT. It was GREAT!! He was sooo excited and almost cried-you that know me- I was=) It is just great to see and be able to do surprises like that for my dad- I can't say he hates the holidays but they have not been the same for him since 1986(when mom passed away)This one he will remember and he was so happy throughout the holidays!

Here they are, getting to know each other!





She warmed up nicely =)




Here we all are (except my tech guy behind the camera)

A Little Catching Up.....

OK I have been gone from the blog world and have a few things to share. First and foremost I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Christmas and New Year!!!

Again this year hosted my 3rd cookie exchange on Dec. 7th. Every year I forget to take a picture of the table with all the yummy cookies and this year was no exception. I took a picture of my 19 guests but forgot to take a picture of the table before we started exchanging a few people at a time while the rest of us laughed and drank champagne punch!







To continue with the rest of the weekend story....
The hubby was out of town working so the kids went up to dads for Sat and Sun. Long story short there dad had a stomach bug and #1 picked it up and had it by the end of that week!I felt super bad for #1 he was soooo super sick!!!