A & A's 13th birthday!

Pie! It's whats for breakfast when you have a birthday in our house. 

This year it's a biggie the kids are teenagers! Yikes!

 Alyssa's soccer jersey even was the right # for the day! 

#13 you rock!

 Paul didn't want to miss out on all the excitement while he was away so we faced timed him. 

So glad he came up with that idea! 

I know they are teenagers now because they want body spray, Perfume and smelly stuff for their bodies and hair!

 Every year since they have been really little we have them show how many years!

 I love that they are cooperative and still do it for me. 

Mmmmm! Oreo ice cream shoppe pie.

 Yummy any time of the day!

I love these kids! I am so very grateful to be their mom!

Happy Birthday my miracle babies!

A jaunt to the city

Our little jaunt to the city lasted all of 22 hours, but we sure did make the most of it! 

It was off to dinner at Saigon 48 then straight to Times Square.

 I love how alive NY is at night with the bright lights and people milling the streets.

 Xander decided the 1.6 mile walk each way was worth it for dessert!

Poquito came along for the trip. He didn't get the whole bed though... 

The next day was bright and beautiful! This was the amazing view from our hotel room.

 The best views we've ever had. 

First stop the subway to go and visit the 9/11 memorial

 This was the kids and Paul's first visit to the memorial. I'm so glad we went. It is something to definitely see. I love the reverence that is shown at the site for all of those who lost their lives.
I attribute the feeling to sacred ground. 

Central park with Halal Guys for lunch! Mmmm!

 On the way out we found the waffle place that we were searching for last time we were here! Of course the kids had to try them!

A trip to NY is never complete without a picture of the kids in front of the fountains. 

Such a great 22 hours of much needed time away with the family! 

September Orgainzed Chaos

To say that the first 3 weeks of school have been stressful is an understatement! It's more my stress than the kids. I don't do well with the unknown. I like to have all my ducks in a row and then if necessary I can let my ducks run amuck and get a ride with someone else! I can handle chaos if it's organized!  So it really helped me when I was able to get all of the various schedules written down even if it made my calendar ever so colorful! That doesn't include all of the kids I am either picking up or dropping off or occasionally forgetting. Yes, I forgot to take one of Xander's friends home! I got halfway home and thankfully remembered! UGH! That was a really bad day! I beat myself up for that for several days!

Here is September-

So I am ever so grateful to be able to have some quiet time during the day, even if it is quiet cleaning or grocery shopping time, because once 2 o'clock hits I hit the ground running here there and basically everywhere! 

Alyssa is doing travel soccer and school soccer and physical therapy 2x a week. Xander is doing flag football, premiere soccer (practice squad- training only no Sunday games) and travel soccer. Oh and then there's school and homework and church and and and..........

This weekend after our Saturday soccer games we are heading off for some family time in NYC. I'm looking forward to getting away from the chaos even for just a day and a half. Paul has to work on Saturday night (if you call taking customers to a Metallica concert work) but Sunday is family day and I can't wait!

Prefootball early fall walk

This year we will only be able to take 1 prefootball game walk. So we invited Grandma Sandy to come up and join us for a day of football, soccer and soccer. It was such a great day!

It was a bit early for the beautiful fall colors, 

but not for a beautiful blue sky, crisp New England day!

Well I FINALLY finished my shutterfly book for Grandma's 100th birthday! Only 2 months later... Nothing like an expriring groupon to kick your butt in gear! 

Click here to view this photo book larger

Start your own Shutterfly Photo Book today.

Youth Temple trip 8-16-13

One of my favorite parts about being in Young Women is going on the temple trips with the kids!

When we got to the temple after a very stressful day I was so grateful to have some time to walk around the peaceful, sacred grounds with Alyssa. 

It is always just what I needed!