It's OK

Man, am I glad this week is almost over?!?  I have been so exhausted.  I can't wait for the weekend to roll around so we can hang around the house and pretty much do nothing.  Plus football will be back on Saturday!!!  I'll be sporting my new USF dress all day (even if it means cleaning in it!)

It's OK......

~to be excited about Em's first dance class on Saturday
~to be keeping my fingers crossed that these B12 injections help stop my horrible leg pain
~to be totally stoked that I'm starting my day today in the OR observing a bone marrow harvest
~to be glad that I was able to celebrate my grandfather's life today at church at a Mass in his memory
~to be planning (in my head) the BBQ we'll be hosting next month
~to be nervous that I might not finish our Fantasy Baseball season in 1st place
~to be in disbelief that I've actually written 300 posts!  Here's to 300 more!
~that I have plans to turn my kids's Where's Waldo guessing game (from their kids meals) into a drinking game (check out my instagram pic for a preview....I look AWESOME.....not!)
~that a phone call from a great friend can give me exactly what I need
~to be thankful that I've meet amazing people through blogging who saved me from throwing something at my computer screen trying to make my social media icons work.  This girl is amazing!!!
~to be a proud USF alum and wear green and gold this weekend!!!  Go Bulls!!!!

A little bit of Random

Here I am again, all by my lonesome, in our big house.  I really think there's something wrong with me that I'm not loving this feeling as much as I should.  Oh well.  I was in the mood to be a little random today so here goes......

~We survived Tropical Storm Isaac.  And by survived I mean life went on as usual.  The kids were off from school, the Hubs worked from home, and I went to work.  I think we have worse weather during normal thunderstorms.  Such is life in Florida during hurricane season.  I am keeping my prayers aimed at the Gulf Coast where Isaac is supposed to make landfall.
~We signed Em up for dance this weekend. I feel like a complete fish out of water in this arena.  I'm a sports girl.  I've never done tutus and ballet slippers.  I never imagined how expensive dance outfits are, especially for toddler sizes!!!  I'm going to go broke!  But she looks so dang cute and I know she's going to love every minute of it.  Her first class is Saturday so you know I'll be there, camera in hand.

How perfect does she look?!?!?!?!

~The kids did well with their first week of school.  We only had a minor meltdown this morning, courtesy of sweet Emily, who did not want to go back.  But once she was there, she was fine.
~Saturday the Hubs planned a movie night for us.  He popped in Knocked Up, one of the funniest movies ever!  We can recite the whole movie.  It's always fun to watch something that we both enjoy and end up in tears over.  We've actually been having movie nights a lot, come to think of it.  We've watched Hunger Games, Crazy Stupid Love, and now Knocked Up.  Go us!!!
~I went to bed at 7pm on Sunday.  Yes that is 7pm. Like before the kids went to bed.  I woke up at 10:45pm, only because the cat wanted out of the room and then it was back to sleep until 6:15 the next morning.  I think Noah thought it was funny I went to bed before him.  And the worst part, I woke up completely exhausted.  I'm hoping my lab results will shed some light on the subject (which I found out are sitting on my doctor's desk for review, which makes me very anxious)
~Speaking of labs, I have the most beautiful bruise on my right arm from the labs I had drawn on Wednesday. The phleb brutally attacked me with a HUGE needle.  OK more like straight needled me with a 18g and kept messing around with the tubs so they would fill.  Worst lab draw ever!!!!!

It looks like the Hubs beats me.  Which he doesn't.  I'm almost embarrassed by it.

~I finished a great book last night.  Becca let me borrow it weeks ago and I just couldn't get into it...aka...I fell asleep every time I read it.  I read over half the book last night and it was intense.  You need to go out and get Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  It will be worth it, I promise.
~Today is my last day off during the week for a long time.  My schedule changes next week. I'll start working 7-3 (3:30) Monday-Friday.  I'm excited for the change because it will mean more family time, less eating out, and more control over my life.  I'm definitely going to miss a day off during the week and only having to work 4 days a week but my family comes first and this is what we need.
~Now I'm off to either a)start another book b)catch up on Days or c)curl up in my bed and sleep for the rest of the day (yes I'm still that tired)
~And another ballet picture, just because:

   

Sunday Social

I survived the first week of school (barely). We've signed Em up for dance lessons too.  What is my world coming to?  I don't have babies anymore.  I have kids who go to school and who are involved in things outside of school.  Thank goodness I have my version of a minivan (a Ford Flex, which by the way, is an AMAZING car!!!)



This week is all about the internet.  The Hubs will hate this post because he thinks I'm too attached to social media and the internet.  He might be right but I'll never admit that ;)

1. What is the first website you log on to each day?  The order changes from day to day so, in no order, it's my personal email, my work email, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

2. Give us some funny websites you visit that we need to know about.  I don't know of any.  I'm kinda boring like that.

3. Pinterest or Facebook? Why?  If you asked this question 6 months ago it would have been Pinterest, hands down.  I was OBSESSED with it.  Like I'd log in and hours would disappear from my day.  So I stopped logging in.  Now that school is back in session, I'll probably be starting to scour the site since I have to keep up my rep as that cute crafty mom.  But lately I'd say its Facebook.  I have tons of family on there so it's nice to keep up with them.

4. Twitter or Instagram? Why?  Not a fair question.  I love them both!  I didn't think I'd like Twitter as much as I do but I've fallen in love.  It would be even more awesome if I didn't have unlimited text messaging every month.  I've gotten really good at getting out what I want to say in a very small number of words.  And if you follow me on Instagram, you'd know that I post all the time.  I love photography and I love that I can edit pics all in one little arena.  You should come follow me on both!!!  Find me at @lifewithmyloves (shameless plug I know)

5. Favorite YouTube video.  There's 2 I just love.  I cannot say that I found either of them.  This is all because of my brothers.  The first is from Aladdin and is down right hilarious and extremely inappropriate.  The language is horrible so please don't watch it with little kids around. Like I'm laughing right now just thinking about it.  And for some reason, it won't load on here.  Must be a sign.  But if you want to see it, it's Aladdin from Compton.  The second is just so catchy!  I could watch it all day long and the song is already stuck in my head!!!

6. Biggest online pet peeve?  I don't know if I have any right now. I don't enjoy people who try to be someone/something they're not.  I know that I'm not the coolest person and I probably write horribly but this is my space and I'll write how I want!!!

Hope y'all are having a great weekend!!!!

All By Myself

I'm slowly getting a glimpse into what life's like when you're home with no kids.  I'm not sure if I like it, ironically enough.  This is what I always imagined it to look like:

I'd get up, get the kids ready for school, drop them off and head home, after hanging out talking to the teachers (and my mom) and the other moms.  Then I'd stop at Starbucks for coffee and then return home where I'd lounge around all day, not a care in the world.  I'd catch up on my soaps and other DVR'd shows that the Hubs refuses to watch.  I'd occasionally do a chore or two.  I'd bask in the silence, a sound that never is hear in my house, ever.  I wouldn't have to watch a cartoon, kid show, or movie that I didn't want to watch.  It would just be lovely.

Tuesday was the day.  I got a few hours to myself after dropping the kiddos off (it was a 1200 dismissal).  I did a few errands for my mom, stopped at Starbucks (got my 30th star...Gold Card here I come!!!) and came home.  I got caught up on Days of Our Lives (yes I still watch soap operas).  I did some laundry.  I lounged on the couch, basking in the silence.  There were no cartoons, no fighting, during these few hours.  And you know what?  I hated it.  I did not love it as much as I imagined.  I felt lost not hearing someone call "Mommy" every 5 seconds.  I found myself clock watching, just waiting until the moment I could go pick them up from school.  I was emotional all day.  I felt like a part of me was missing.  It was at that very moment it finally dawned on me.  I'm a mother.  Plain and simple.  As much as I try to define myself as other things first, I'm a Mom.  My kids are my life.  My world revolves around them.  Yes, I've known this and have said these things over and over again, but for some reason, not having them around, even for a few hours, made my world turn upside down.  And you know what?  I'm okay with that.  I'm okay being that silly Mom who gets emotional over seeing their daughter's first school work or being sad when I leave the classroom and they are totally okay watching me walk away.  I'm okay being that mom.  I'm okay with it because it's just who I am.

So what's my solution to dealing with the lonely hours?  Switch my work schedule so that I'm working five hr days a week instead of four 10hr days.  That way I can avoid it all together!   Isn't avoidance the best solution for anything?!?!?  It's my favorite coping strategy.  Just ask the Hubs ;)

I can't wait until I get home from work so I can see these two lovies:

It's OK

It's OK......

~to be an emotional mess this week
~to talk nonstop on the blog about the kids going to school (I promise I'm done after this week)
~to not like alone time as much as I thought
~to stop at Starbucks every morning after dropping the kids off at school
~to be excited that I've earned my Gold Card!!!
~to dread folding laundry
~to be ready for football season to start!
~to be planning outfits for the USF games and UF games we're going to
~to be sad that baseball season is coming to an end
~to do things just to cheer myself up
~to be scarred for life after having my labs drawn this morning
~to be nervous about what said labs might show
~to want this excruciating leg/hip pain I've been dealing with for 3 weeks now to go away
~to be proud of myself for having posts scheduled all week
~to be excited to have some new followers on this lil blog
~to be obsessed with headbands
~to be totally random
~to be me!!!!

The curls were cut

It happened.
Emmy had her first haircut.

I tried to put off this day as long as I could.  The Hubs started talking about cutting her hair the minute it could be pulled into a ponytail.  I was horribly against it.  Then about a month ago, I took Noah to get his hair cut (boy's hair grows like a weed) and Emmy wanted Marlene to brush her hair.  So she got up in the chair, put the cape on, and let Marlene brush Em's horrible hair.  At this point, we noticed that Em's hair came to a point in the middle of her back.  Marlene said we should cut it off and make it even.  My heart sank.  Of course, I wasn't prepared for this monumental occasion (ie no camera, no ziploc bag) so we postponed it until the weekend before school.

Side note about Emmy's hair....she has the most ridiculous hair.  It is wavy/curly.  She can have perfect ringlets one minute, then the ringlets are gone and she's got waves everywhere.  I'm so jealous of her hair.  However, it is a hot mess about 95% of the time.  It gets all nappy and matted after she sleeps on it.  It takes about 15 minutes to brush it, if she'll let you.  Detangler is the only way it will brush out.  The knots that I find are crazy.  It's like a rat's nest on the back of her head.  And then, poof, it's back to beautiful curls.  It's ridiculous I tell you.  Here's photographic evidence of the crazy that is attached to my daughter's head

And the best part is, that's not even close to the worst hair Em has had.  It's just be best picture of it

I think this day bothered me more than the first day of school.  Em did amazing.  She jumped right up, got in the chair, and held still for the majority of the haircut.  I was so heartbroken as I saw those cute curls fall to the ground. Of course, I scooped them up and placed them in the ziploc bag where they will forever be cherished.  Once her haircut was over, she kept staring at herself in the mirror, playing with her hair, in true girl fashion.  I was secretly crying inside.  I couldn't get over how short her hair looked.  Now that the shock has worn off, it doesn't look that short but in the moment, I was appalled.  How could I do this to her hair?  The Hubs was ecstatic to see her haircut.  I'm over it now but wow...I never imagined I'd get so emotional over hair.  Maybe Emmy really is making me a little more girly!

She did so good!  I guess it could have been a lot worse.  

I couldn't have asked for a better experience for either of my kids.  Our hairdresser, Marlene, is amazing.  She did Noah's 1st haircut and now Em's.  She also did my 1st haircut.  She doesn't look that old, does she???  She went to high school with my parents and has been cutting our hair ever since.  She's actually the only person to ever cut my hair.  That's dedication right there!  When we lived in Orlando, I'd drive home just to get my hair done.  That's how much I love her!  She's part of the family by now.

I guess haircuts are a part of my life now for Em.  I just hope the Hubs doesn't think this means she will get a trim whenever he feels like it.  And there will be NO BANGS!!!!!
  

First Day of School

I don't know when it happened but my kids have grown up.  They are no longer my sweet little babies (no matter how much I tell them that).  They are kids now.  Like actual people.  Noah has become so independent and Em is following right behind him.  I guess it took today for me to realize that there's no turning back.  That they are going to grow up, no matter how much I wish they didn't.  And this is where I start crying, almost ugly crying.

Noah has been looking forward to today for weeks.  He has been so excited about starting Kindergarten.  It didn't matter that he's going to the same school he's gone to for 2 years.  He's wearing the same uniform he's worn for 2 years.  None of that matters.  All that matters is that he's in Kindergarten now and he'll be 6 (in January).  Em had a little bit of convincing when it came to school.  She was excited but didn't want to go.  Last night, she kept saying she wasn't going to school.  That I couldn't make her.  What was the first thing out of her mouth this morning???  "Momma you have to do my hair.  I have to have my Tangled braids."  Guess she was on board for school today.  It was a little surreal for me.  I've done the first day of school for 2 years now.  The first one was hard.  I couldn't believe I was sending my baby to school.  I'm still having a silent panic attack with this one.  This is my last "First Day of School."  Sure I'll get to have a 1st day of school every year but this was Em's first day ever.  The first day she put on her school uniform.  The first time we left her in the classroom and weren't a room away.  I'm tearing up just writing this.

So anywho....after I finished Em's hair, she instantly said "Bye Mom." I almost died.  She was so ready to go.  She wasn't even in her uniform yet and she was already saying goodbye.  I knew at that moment, no matter how much I wanted her to not want me to leave, that she would have no problem today.  So we got dressed, she said "Bye Mom."  We got into the car.  She said "Bye Mom."  We pulled into school.  She said "Bye Mom."  And when it was time to leave, we pretty much had to pry her away from playing to say goodbye.

Noah didn't even want us to bring him to his classroom.  He was so ready that he didn't need us.  He was totally let down when I said that wasn't an option.  He practically pushed us out of his room.

So once we said our goodbyes and did a last minute peek into Em's room, the Hubs and I went to breakfast, wandered Target and KMart, went grocery shopping, and took advantage of the quiet that filled our house for the few short hours we were home without the kids.  Then we headed to pick them up and take them to lunch.  Both kids loved school and were ready to go back.

Of course I couldn't make it through the day without taking a picture.  What kind of Mom would that make me?  So here you go!!! And I just figured out how awesome PicMonkey is!!!

I can't believe how much he's grown in 3 years.  We had to recreate the backpack picture today!!!

Em wasn't as excited for pictures as I was.  Check out her crazy face in all of them!

Noah was very excited for today!

I'm so proud of my kiddos (and the Hubs for not crying).  I can't wait to see what this year has in store for us!!  Hope everyone else had a great 1st Day of School!!!

Happy Birthday to me!!!!

Today is the big day.  I'm officially in my 30s.  I'm excited to be 30 (weirdo I know) and I can't wait to see what life has to offer me in this next decade.  I have a feeling it's going to be a great one!!  I'm so excited!

While I'm spending my birthday at church for the School Mass and PreK and Kindergarten Orientations (shoot me now), I figured y'all can  be entertained by what I was like in High School.....

I also grew up before digital cameras were invented so I really don't have any pictures of me in middle school or HS.  I'm at the mercy of FB and still, not too many pics.  Oh well.  You'll just have to imagine me!!

1. What was I like in Middle School/HS?  In middle school, I only had 30 kids in my class.  I went to a small Catholic school, so we had all grown up together.  Depending on what month it was, I was the top student in the class.  I was Student Council President.  I played every sport.  You get the picture.  When HS came around, I continued to the Catholic HS, which was still pretty small.  I was in all honors classes.  I played volleyball all 4 years of HS.  I was in that group of people that weren't the popular kids but weren't the "not popular" kids.  You know, the group that could move freely between all the different cliques.  I loved it where I was in the dreaded social ladder of HS.

2.  What were your favorite past times?  Once I hit 8th grade, I fell in love with volleyball.  That's when I started playing club volleyball during the school off season.  For the next 5 years, volleyball consumed my life.  I played competitively 11 months out of the year and during the 12th month, we were having voluntary open gym practices (unofficial HS practices).

3. What songs were you obsessed with?  I was a pretty big NSYNC fan (sorry all you BSB girls!).  My brother and I also rocked out to some DMX and Juvenile on the rides home from school.  I was also pretty big into country.  I discovered RENT in HS too!

4.  What fashion statement do you look back on and cringe?  I won't lie....I had a few pairs of overalls and rocked them all the time.  I had denim ones and olive green corduroy ones, which I wore all the time.  With long sleeved shirts, tank tops, you name it.  What was I thinking?!?!?!?

5.  Who was your celeb crush?  I was a fan of Ryan Reynolds (I loved him as Berg in 2 Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place) and Chris O'Donnell.  What ever happened to him???

6. What were your favorite TV shows/movies?  I don't remember what movies I was obsessed with but I loved Gilmore Girls, Even Stevens, 7th Heaven, 2 Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place, Friends, ER, the list goes on and on.

Why my friends are the best

I'm really lucky.  I have awesome friends!  Not only are they just amazing to begin with but they definitely made turning 30 so much fun!  I mentioned earlier that I was going to see Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean last Friday night for my birthday.  Well let me tell you, it was one of my favorite birthdays ever!  And it isn't even my actual birthday yet!!!
Be prepared for photo overload
We planned out our tailgate (I wish I took a picture of our planning sheet) and met up at the Hard Rock Casino to consolidate cars and head over to the amphitheatre.  We set up shop in a nice little spot and started our tailgate.  They decorated a little for my birthday:

We had some food, even if there was only sourdough and white bread ;)

An intense game of Flip Cup ensued

Followed by what I think was modified corn hole or "throw the bean bags at whoever/whatever you could throw them at"

And of course there were millions of pictures taken

And Mindy ended up on the roof of our car.  I still don't know why or how that happened!

Then we headed in to find our seats.  The Hubs was nice enough to let Mindy take his ticket and sit down low with us while he sat in the lawn with the boys.  Luke Bryan was amazing as always!  I just love him!!!  Can't wait until he starts headlining his own tours.

Then we went up to sit with the boys on the lawn for Jason Aldean.  He was good too but definitely not as good as Luke.  Although I might be a little partial!!!

Then we headed to the cars, where we sat for like 40 minutes without moving.  We made it back to the casino, grabbed some pizza, and then called it a night.  I could barely keep my eyes open. Yes, I'm officially old.  I can't even stay awake past midnight!

I know this sounds cheesy but I am so blessed to have met such amazing people.  They are the best!  They still love me regardless of my limited availability, my crazy husband, and my kiddos.  I think my 30s are definitely going to be the best years of my life!!!!
 

It's OK

I've been a little MIA when it comes to It's OK Thursdays (which is definitely not OK) so here we go......

It's OK......
~to be counting down the days until I have my first day off all to myself....EVER.  Any day off from work I've had in over 5.5 yrs has involved a child being home with me.  Both kids will be in school on Monday and Wednesday is the first full day!  This Momma can't wait!!!
~to plan on getting dressed to take kids to school that day only to come home, change into PJs, sleep all day long, wake up just in time to get dressed and go pick up the kids in the afternoon.  Sounds like heaven!!!
~to take the kids to Starbucks today for breakfast because I have money on my Starbucks card and because I knew that I'd make multiple transactions which means I might hit Gold Card status today!!!
~to be one of those crazy moms who will be running around all weekend like a chicken with it's head cut off finishing up school shopping
~to be excited that I don't have to go back to work until next Thursday!!!
~to think my birthday should be a national holiday!!!!
~to be excited to be 30 on Sunday
~to be blessed with an amazing husband, great kiddos, a wonderful family, and the best friends a girl could ask for!!!

Birthday Fashion

Em's birthday did not disappoint when it came to fashion.  She has TONS of princess dresses, which she wears on a daily basis.  She even wears them to Disney, accessories and all.  So it was no surprise that she got a few new outfits for her birthday.

This dress she's had since we first met Merida, before we even saw the movie.  She sweet talked her Daddy into buying it.  This time, we actually got our money's worth out of it.  She completed the look with the bow and arrow that Noah got her (which we have to buy him...should have known we needed 2 of them)

Her Nonno and Nonna (the Hubs's dad and step mom) bought her the other Merida dress.  This is the dress she wears throughout the entire movie

That's her excited face mixed with a little "hurry up and take the picture"

They also bought her a mermaid tail.  She's kinda big on mermaids too.  This is an outfit that you can put on when you go swimming with a bikini top or just to wear around the house.  Em, being as tiny as she is (as in she wears 18-24 month clothes), wears hers as an evening gown

Gotta love the fake smile

The Hubs's mom, who has made her plenty of dress up outfits already, made a dress mirrored off of Rapunzel's wedding dress from Tangled Ever After.  The one in the Disney Store is absolutely gorgeous but who wants to spend $150 on a dress for a toddler.  Not this girl!  My MIL did a great job on the dress and Em just loves it!  And it gives the Hubs panic attacks, which is an added bonus

Notice the smile again

My twins!!!

A party fit for a princess

I don't know how I ended up with such a girly daughter.  I am not girly at all.  Yes, I do prefer to wear dresses and have a slight obsession with shoes and purses, but that does not mean I am girly.  I was surrounded by boys growing up.  I played sports.  I didn't play with Barbies or have tea parties.  So how did I end up with a girl who believes she's a princess and loves all things pink?!?  Now I won't deny the fact that I've embraced the princess theme that runs through my life now and maybe even encouraged it as Em's gotten older.  But believe me, I did not plan on this.  Just ask my mom.  Or better yet.  Ask my grandma, who was devastated when I said she couldn't make anything that had princesses or ballerinas on it.  Poor lady.  Now my world revolves around that.

So of course, we had to have a Princess party again for Em's 3rd birthday.  Her 1st birthday was a pink princess theme.  Last year was Little Mermaid.  I expected this year to be a Rapunzel/Tangled party but we have a new favorite princess in this house....Merida from Brave.  Em has fallen hard for this crazy haired wild child (maybe because it sounds just like her!).  So we had a Brave celebration fit for our princess.

The hardest part was finding a cake.  No one has a Brave cake yet. But have no fear...Publix to the rescue.  I found this cake and decided to see how amazing the Publix bakers really are.  I asked if I could have this cake but have the pond a lot smaller (without the old man in the boat).  They told me they could do it and I held my breath until I picked it up.

via

What they created was nothing short of perfection.  If you haven't seen it, Brave takes place in Scotland and Merida is the princess.  She's not the typical princess because she likes to shoot her bow and arrows and ride wildly through the forests.  With that in mind (and a few of Em's Brave toys), this was her perfect cake.  I couldn't have asked for a better cake.  Em didn't appreciate having her own toys on the cake but she quickly got over it.

The rest of the day was very low key, just our family was invited.  We opened gifts, where Em was showered with more Brave stuff than I knew existed.  The Hubs's mom made her Rapunzel's wedding dress that put the Hubs into a panic attack when he saw her in it, along with her veil and bouquet.  We spent the rest of the night changing dresses and learning how to shoot her bow and arrow (which by the way, was next to impossible to find.  I'm so glad Toys R Us got a new shipment in, 2 weeks after my dad found it online)

All in all, it was a great way to celebrate our sweet girl's birthday.  Now I have to start preparing myself for the first day of school on Monday.  Where's the Xanax???