Happy Anniversary!

Today was a busy day!

The majority of the day was spent with family, which is always fun!  The kids and I headed out to Alpha, NJ to celebrate my Aunt and Uncle's 25th Wedding Anniversary with a surprise party that was organized by my cousin, their daughter.  

The kids got to run around and expend tons of energy and I was able to catch up a little bit with family that I haven't seen in awhile.  

Happy Anniversary Uncle Mike and Aunt Janet!

This would be an even nicer picture if Addison wasn't guzzling liquid cocaine, AKA Hawaiian Punch!

 We call him the Happy Uncle

 This was right after my uncle took his own thumb off....it did NOT go over well!

 SURPRISE!

 25 Years

 Cousins

More Cousins

Breakfast with the Princesses

Addison and I got to have a special day together day!

I try to make sure to take at least one day a month to spend with each of the kids alone.  It makes a WORLD of difference and it's so nice to just spend the day doing things they love to do!

Today, Addison and I went to breakfast with the Princesses at Imagine That in Florham Park, NJ.  Addie got to meet Cinderella, Belle and Snow White.  She didn't want to meet Sleeping Beauty thanks to Cinderella and her big mouth!

After breakfast, Addie had free run of the museum to play.  She enjoyed running around and playing in all of the different rooms like the supermarket, giant dollhouse, and music room.  Once we were done there we ran a few errands and then went over to grandma and pop-pop's to celebrate grandma's upcoming birthday!

All in all it was a really nice day with my Princess!

Remember the Titans

One of our favorite movies around here, and a movie I use in my classroom, is "Remember the Titans".  While Disney, admittedly, took liberties with the story, the message and lesson of the story is one of great importance.  The message of tolerance and respect is something that I make sure I teach Nicholas and Addison and my kids in school, too.

Today, I had the opportunity to meet and listen to the REAL Herman Boone, the head coach of the Titans who was played by Denzel Washington.  Coach Boone was invited to my school as part of a new athlete program we beginning at Morris Catholic.  He was an incredible speaker and kept the students, and the adults, captivated.  He was very honest about the discrepancies in the movie versus real life and answered numerous questions that the students asked.  He shared a message of hard work, tolerance and respect and told all of us that with out those things success in life is virtually impossible.

I am incredibly glad that I had this opportunity and I only wish that Nicholas and Addison had been there, as well, to hear him speak and meet him.

Breast Cancer Walk 2010

When Nicholas was just a baby he and I participated in the second Annual St. Clare's Walk for Breast Cancer.  With the exception of the year that I was pregnant with Addison, we have done the walk every year since then.  This year, we participated as part of a team building exercise for the girls' Softball team that I coach at work.  

We were up bright and early and met up with most of the JV and Varsity team, and my Varsity coach.  We totaled up all of our fundraising efforts, which came to $365, and then we headed out for the walk!

When Nicholas and I started doing this walk, there could not have been more than 150 people, today there was well over 500 plus!

It was a gorgeous morning and the walk was a success! I am quite proud of the girls and Nicholas and Addison for dedicating their Sunday morning to such a worthy and important cause!

Apple Picking

After having a ton of fun at the Cat in the Hat, I decided to take Nicholas and Addison out for a treasured Fall activity- Apple Picking!  

We are surrounded by plenty of orchards and wineries where apple picking is available- it's one of the things that I like about living up here (one of the few).  We headed up to Glenwood, NJ to a small farm called Pochuck Valley Farms.  The kids have been to the farm with their school and we went apple picking there last year, too!  It's a small family run farm with delicious apples, doughnuts and cider and we just love going there!!

We got TONS of apples and I'm in the process of finding all sorts of recipes to make using all of them!

The Cat in the Hat

Our weekends are often spent doing activities with the playgroup that we're part of.  This Saturday morning was no different.

The Borders Books near us will often sponsor an event that revolves around a popular book and character.  This week was the Cat in The Hat.  These events never have the characters visit but they do include a whole bunch of games, prizes, a craft and storytime.  They are a GREAT way to kill an hour or 90 minutes and the kids have such a good time.  Plus, it's free!  Although, I'm a sucker and hate denying my kids books so I never actually walk away without spending money!!

The kids had a great time playing hot potato with the Cat in the Hat and even sat and listened to the entire book!

We're looking forward to October and the Olivia event and a Spooktacular Event!

Addie with her prize

Listening to the story

First Day of School

Nicholas started Kindergarten yesterday!!

He was so excited on Monday night couldn't stop talking about starting his new school and wearing his uniform.  The fact that he didn't seem nervous helped me a lot, but not enough to keep the tears at bay when I dropped him off on Tuesday morning.  I'm pretty sure I was the only parent there who was crying.  Nicholas even patted me on the shoulder and gave me a kiss to let me know it would all be ok!

He really enjoyed his first day although he mentioned to Pat that he had to sit next to a weird girl who was allergic to everything!!

Nicholas and I drive into school together each morning because his new school is just about 5 minutes away from where I teach and hopefully very close to where we'll be moving sooner than later!!  The first two days have been a bit hectic but knowing that he's in an awesome school with an incredible teacher and wonderful kids has made it all worth it!

He was very excited to go back today but is really looking forward to Friday and his first half-day!

All set and ready to go by the front door!

Quite the pose for so early in the morning!

Every year on the first day of school, my mom would take a picture of my sister and I in front of our house.  I'm fairly certain there is a picture somewhere where I am wearing a HIDEOUS green jumper and doing a pose VERY similar to this one!

At the End of His First Day of Kindergarten!!

I have a few other pictures that I posted to Facebook from my phone but they weren't all that great since I could barely see through my tears that morning! 

;)

Labor Day 2010

We celebrated the last official day of Summer with a BBQ!

We invited a bunch of friends over, gathered a ton of food and lots of drinks and had a great time with great weather!!

It was the perfect way to spend the last day before everyone fell back into the routine of early Fall and Back to School!!

We had plenty of chairs...everyone felt like sitting on the grass...

If there's a pool, she's in it!

A Little Bocce Fun

Bocce Spectators

They've Known each other since they were 8 years old!

Imagination Station

The weather has just been so nice here the past few days that we haven't been able to come up with any excuses to stay inside!  :)

This morning, the kids and I had a playdate with the playgroup that we are a part of.  We headed to Roxbury to the Imagination Station playground.  This was our first time there, but definitely NOT our last!  It was a great park that the kids had a ball at and it was all contained so it gave the moms a chance to sit and chat for a bit!

It was a great way to spend a gorgeous Sunday morning!

Can you believe he is starting Kindergarten on Tuesday!??!