my baby...

looks like a jack o'lantern! He lost his top tooth & looks completely gorgeous! It was a busy weekend...Aunt Mooshie was away, I worked on Saturday, we visited Barry's grandparents at the hospital & it looks like Grandpop might just be coming home today...keep your fingers crossed.

My lovely in-laws had Brandon sleep over on Friday nite & then watched both kids on Saturday while Barry & I worked. Then, they had Bran Saturday nite until 10ish (while Barry & I took Kate to the Colonial Diner for pancakes, yes, we were the parents with our 3 year old in the diner at 9, the kid wanted pancakes & I wasn't in the mood to cook them!)...then they spent their nite at Underwood.

It was a long, hectic weekend...but, Stacey Maugeri had a birthday on Sunday & Brandon walked around singing to her all day...it's so nice to have them back in our lives!!!

and tomorrow...TIA LORRAINE YARBOROUGH turns 33 years old!! Happy Birthday, T!! We love you & hope your birthday is just as beautiful & sweet as you are!!!!!!!!

if you're lucky enough to be Irish...

then you're lucky enough! My Pop Dugan always said that & I'm almost certain I told you all that last St. Patty's Day...I hope the luck of the Irish is with you all today! I've had some Irish potatoes...I'm wearing my green & so are the kids...I love today!

and...today just so happens to be Dawn Crowding's 33rd birthday...so, to you my love...thank you for our perfect Friday night dates, you know how much I love a standing date. And thank you for getting to know me, for taking the time & for really listening to your heart. You honestly & sincerely are a friend I am grateful to have. You make me a better person. I love to talk with you & laugh with you & just get to know all of the things we don't know about each other. I enjoy the perspective you can give me as a person who is relatively new to my heart. You can look at things & give me your honest opinion & because you care so much, it's always exactly how you feel. I love the way you love my hubby & kids and I love that you have given me the opportunity to prove to you that first instincts can be wrong. I love that we're "NORMAL" moms...& that we, my sweet Dawn, are friends in the truest sense of the word.

Thank you for a new friendship & Happy 33rd Birthday...here's to us celebrating this first birthday of yours together...& to at LEAST 66 more for us to love! I love you, sweets!!!

what a weekend...

Went with Margie on Saturday to get our hair done...we're gorgeous! We were looking forward to a great Saturday nite...then came the howling winds...& Barry running in from the garage to tell us all to get in the basement...then the neighbor's tree fell down across the electrical wires & we were in the dark!!! The winds continued to whip & howl...until we decided to make a break for it...M went home & we ran to Mom & Dad T's house...we were safe & enjoying TV & lights...until their power went out!!!

We dejectedly went back home & had a slumber party in the basement in front of the fire place...got up on Sunday (it was a tad chilly at Club Thompson & we couldn't cook without electricity...)so we went to the diner for breakfast. Mom & Dad called to tell us their power was back...so we were excited! Went home & ours was still off...so we went to their house again...ended up sleeping there...as our power isn't on YET! & THAT has been our weekend! We're all tired & grumpy...but I'm at work!

My fridge is now completely BARE & so is the freezer...hopefully, they'll have the tree cleaned up at some point today!?! How can it possibly take 2 days to restore power??? Wish us luck! & some electricity!!!

3/7/08

Happy Birthday Andrea Lynn!!!

I've been so super busy...we had the most amazing time at the beef & beer...I have to tell you all about it! Brandon had his News Show yesterday, I have to tell you about that too!!

But...today is Red's birthday!!! Hoping today is the most perfect day ever & that you have zillions of beautiful birthdays ahead! You absolutely mean the world to me, Barry, Brandon & Katie & I can't thank you enough for 20+ years of friendship, love, laughter & memories. You are my family & I can't put in to words how much you mean to me; I honestly can't & I'm rarely at a loss for words! I have been so blessed by amazing women in my life & you're at the top of that list, my sweet girl. You have always been right by my side & I know you will be for the rest of my life.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

If you threw a party & invited everyone you knew...you would see the biggest gift would be from me & the card attached would say...THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND!!!

(you wouldn't be able to invite your Dad, he'd show me up...LOL!)

HAVE A GORGEOUS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kiss your babies...

tell them you love them more than all of the M&M's in the world!!!

I hope to see you all at the beef & beer this Saturday...think I'm taking off tomorrow, not feeling very well. Hoping Pop has some antibiotics at their house...otherwise, I'm gonna have to go to the doctor tomorrow! M & I have hair appointments Saturday, nails Friday, T is getting hers done tonite...we're gonna be gorge!!! I just hope I feel better...I'm going no matter what...I'd just like to feel great & have a perfect time! I have this sinusy thing...I'm thinking it's an infection...ear ache, headache...a few antibiotics & I'll be all set!

Please say a prayer for the Tennesson family...hoping you feel the love & best wishes we're sending...Braeden will be just fine!

Happy Thursday!

(let me just say...THANK YOU Moosh...for the perfect pic of me & Brandon...i love seeing those moments you think are just between the 2 of you & being able to share them...it's so sweet when it's caught on film...i love that neither of us knew this was being taken...just us loving each other!)

eclipse, snow, snow day...

This is what we've been up to...looking forward to the weekend!!! #9's for Mommy & some fun with our faves!!!

Come to the Beef & Beer on 3/1...it's so important!!!

SAMMI MOYER...

GOT INTO PENN STATE TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAY TO GO, SWEET GIRL...WE'RE ALL SO VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU!!!!

I might just become a Nittany Lions fan for a while!!! At least 4 years...!!!

VD...

In the words of Al Leytham…Happy VD!

I’m looking forward to my dinner date tonite with Mooshie, Mommy, Meggie & my babies! It’s Barry’s late nite so he wanted us to do something fun…& we can’t wait!

The kids loved their Valentine’s Day gifts & were all chatty this morning about how many valentines (or balentimes) they were going to get, what fun treats Mom Mom was going to have for them & how much fun their parties at school were going to be…I remember the anticipation of a great party at school in the afternoon…remembering my youth never gets old!!!

Miss Kate has been such a big girl on the potty, we’re just so proud of her! So, the Disney World vacation planning has begun! Brandon might just burst out of his skin in anticipation of this trip! All Kate wants to talk about are the Princesses she’s going to see…& how tall she thinks Mickey Mouse is going to be…I am too excited for words at the thought of their reactions to WDW! I was 18 the first time I went & it was still this incredible, magical place to me…I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like to see it all with my children…& my adorable hubby!

Happy Valentine’s Day to you all…I love you!!!!!!!!!!

& MOST IMPORTANTLY...Happy Birthday to my beautiful mother-in-law, Carol Thompson! You are incredible & we love you so much more than you can imagine...thank you for being a phenomenal mom & grandmom! You raised a remarkable man, that I am blessed daily to love & he is; in return...the world's greatest Daddy!!! Thank you for making my life perfect, I'd be lost without you & all you've done!

i may have lost the battle...

BUT, I'M WINNING THE WAR!!!!!!

Ok, so Barry didn't vote yesterday...which breaks my heart! I did beg & lecture & I forced him to sit with me to watch the election coverage all night (after we watched American Idol like any other red blooded American family...LOL!) But he didn't vote...why you're wondering...wouldn't it be easier to SHUT me the hell up & just go pick someone???

He has this theory that he doesn't know enough about politics to choose someone...even though I'm a huge fan of a debate & he's seen them with me. He thinks, "One vote doesn't count!" He tried..."I'm tired after work"...I think it's all BULLSHIT!!! It's your job as a tax payer, as a person who enjoys these freedoms thousands are dying for & as a PARENT; if nothing else...to vote. To choose who will be in charge of the country we're blessed to live in. To decide who will be forming the world we're giving our children!!!!

So...I let him off this hook for the primary...I did however tell him he WILL vote for our next President!!! Or he will be very sorry!

I have to say...this was the first election in a long time...probably since the very first time I voted at 18...that I SERIOUSLY felt excitement! I was excited to watch the #'s coming in last nite...I know it's just the primary...but knowing that something ENORMOUS is happening & I'm part of it is electrifying! I challenge you all to find your candidate & support them, RESEARCH them...do your part to be an educated voter! You don't have to support Hillary Clinton just because I do...I enjoy discussing politics (not like my mother does) with people who take it as seriously as I do. This is a BIG DEAL...this decision is life changing- you should feel blessed to be able to make it FREELY!!!

So...I lost Barry for the primary...I voted with butterflies in my tummy & practically skipped out of my new polling place!!! But, I got home, told Brandon I had just voted & he gave me SERIOUS STINK FACE...I asked him why, told him how important it is to me that I vote...& he replied...


MOM, I WANTED TO GO VOTE WITH YOU, WE ALWAYS GO TOGETHER...I LIKE TO VOTE TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My work here...with these children...shows itself to me daily...I'm doing a pretty damn good job if I do say so myself...I have a 7 year old who was COMPLETELY bummed that he didn't get to vote!!!!!!!!!! BRANDON ROCKS...& I think his mom might just be pretty stinking cool too...he was later telling Kate how "we're the luckiest country in the world because it's our freedom that lets us pick whatever we want to eat for dinner or to have for President!" He's funny...but he's been paying attention!!!

by the way...

GO VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

REPORT CARD DAY

was yesterday...a PERFECT report card from my sweet boy!!!! I'll be scanning it in to show all of you...all VG's & G's again...this kid is THE MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEW YORK GIANTS!!!!!!!!!

I can't even believe it...I'm still pinching myself! It was a moment I'll never forget...I know some of you are thinking it's just a game...& I know it is...but, football is one of my greatest passions & last nite, I totally won! I will admit...there have been games in the past that I've shouted at the tv & bitched in my blog that we had the wrong Manning...I can't apologize enough for thinking that...Eli has been playing incredibly well. He believes in himself...you could see it. Eli wanted this way more than Tom Brady...who came in there just knowing they had no competition from my New York Giants. We showed them...I am so happy...you have NO IDEA!

I am so proud of how well my Giants played...they were beautiful! I loved the dancing lizards commercial...you know I'd have to...it had Thriller in it! It was an incredible weekend...

Saw my girl Laura Cheadle on Friday nite with Moosh, Dawn, Kev, Katie, Zach & Dezi...Saturday morning breakfast was perfect, the Thompson fam took a great nap on Saturday afternoon, I cooked my tail off for our Super Bowl party the rest of the day & on Sunday, my favorite team in the world became the World Champions & ruined Tom Brady's perfect season...what's better than that??????????????

Oh...I've got about 50 home made meatballs leftover...if you're hungry...STOP BY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry that yesterday was the last party of the Football Season at Club Thompson...we missed Zach, Dezi & Brent...but I'm glad Stevie stopped by...Moosh had to be there, it wouldn't be football without her...Mommy, Meg & Shel...loved you girls being there & of course...the Choyce family...how sweet it is to be loved by you...all of you...THANK YOU FOR A PERFECT ENDING TO THE PERFECT FOOTBALL SEASON!!!!

& a special THANK YOU to all of you who texted me all nite...THANKS for cheering on my boys & supporting them with me...& for letting me know how happy you were for me...it means the world to know that while we're not physically together...we were watching that moment of greatness together...& that you LOVED IT just as much as I did! & I hope the Magic had you remembering...perfection!!!!


WAY TO GO GIANTS...I'm lucky to love you boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


as a brilliant & beautiful boy once told me...there's only 1 game needed in football to determine the winner, because it's a real man's sport...& anyone can win that one game...ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY! ~sjm

Thursday nite & my MAN!!!

Our new Thursday nite date is with the Crowding family...the kids get to play & the Mommies get to relax & catch up on our week! Last nite Katie & Savanna played dress up & were "sister princesses" according to Katie! It was so cute...then the girls put on a show for me & Dawn...it was so funny! Savanna is a dancing machine, just like her mommy!

Brandon & Josh had the ultimate Wii competition...they're so funny! The kids get along so well...it makes my heart happy to see that they have these 2 little sweet friends that they just love as much as I love them!

So...thanks to my sweet boy...we all get new friends! What's better than that??

Also yesterday, I got a note home that my MAN is Student of the Month!! FOR MATH!!!!!! Go figure...I'm the proudest Mommy in the Universe of this little guy! I tell him all the time that I am so blessed to be his Mommy...it's completely the truth!! Thank you, Brandon...for being an incredible human being...I must be doing something right!

Looking forward to date nite tonight...can't wait to see you all!!! Hope you feel better real soon, Tia...we'll miss you!!!

Lots of love...ALWAYS!!!

GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thin mints & a manicure

thank goodness it's Wednesday!! This week is going by fairly quickly...of course now that I've said that it's going to poke along...LOL!

Last nite me & M went for our manis...she got a pedi & waxed too...we're gonna be lovely for date nite! I can hardly wait!!

She brought me my Girl Scout cookies...GOD BLESS BELLA...I'm having Thin Mints for breakfast as I write!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What's better than that??? Not much is RIGHT!

I know I'm insane...but the thought of a NKOTB reunion tour has me completely fired up!! Heatho thinks it's nuts...but I wanna take Katie Kate...I LOVED those boys BEYOND words!! I figure, it won't be happening for at least a year, she'll be 4 by then...plenty old enough to see a concert! LOL! We'll see what Barry has to say about that!

Check it out...i'm not nuts...it's coming!!! http://www.nkotb.com/

Why can't you eat just one Thin Mint?? I'm almost done an ENTIRE sleeve...& I can't stop...I'm a Thin Mint addict!!!!!!!!!!!! I need a damn meeting!!!

Here's hoping you all have a beautiful Wednesday...CHEERS!

1.24.08...NO THAT ISN'T SAVANNA'S BEER IN THOSE PICTURES!!!!!

it was one of those weeks last week...so on Thursday, we decided we needed some #9's, some pool & some pizza...

Pop knew it was a rough one when he came home to me & Norton in the basement playing pool & enjoying a few #9's. Brandon & Katie loved it...even though Norton thinks it's ok to heckle a 7 year old about his pool playing abilities, they think he's pretty cool!

Dawn, Kevin, Josh, Savanna, Tia, Drew & Margie quickly arrived & joined us for a nice relaxing Thursday, the perfect way to unwind & do our Friday dance a little early...even though Friday was inventory day!!!

The kids had a blast & Kevin...the biggest kid was a great playmate for them all...he had just returned from a convention in VEGAS...tough gig if you can get it! They played pool, a game of catch & he let them tackle him! The boys loved it. Katie & Savanna played girl stuff all nite & it was so sweet to watch. Katie wasn't her usual bossy self...at one point, she was even snuggling Josh on the sofa...UH OH!

I so needed a stress free nite with my girls, no drama, no nonsense...just some laughs, some drinks & some good times...& somehow, the yearbook made it's way out of the closet again!!!!!!!! So scary to see those eyebrows...how am I still friends with you all...I needed some serious waxing back in 1993!!!

We can't wait to do it again real soon...although, Barry would like to feel like he's not the party pooper next time...everyone left like the party was just busted by the cops when he got home Thursday nite...it was pretty funny!

So, it was a great time & I was in bed early enough to be at work by 5:30 on Friday...good times!!!

Thank you Margie, Tia & Dawn...I needed that...I'm glad I've got such great neighbors...a good time is never more than a few minutes away!!!