Five On Friday: Summer List

Today I am borrowing from my friend Leigh who posts lists on Fridays of things she loves, wants to do, accomplish, etc. I love waiting to see what she'll be highlighting each week. Today she wrote about the activities she would like to do this summer. I can totally come up with a list like that, so I'm going to join in the fun today.

1. Swimming lessons for Braeden - We actually just finished his session of lessons yesterday and I'm so happy that we took the plunge and signed him up this year. I knew he needed them and he's finally at a point where he's gained confidence and able to do new things. He loved his instructors and actually was the only one in his group so he was the sole recipient of their attention. I'm happy to say that he is more comfortable in the water now and can propel himself around with the assistance of a noodle. That's big doings in the swimming world for him. Roman and I are very proud of how he adapted and learned so much in the 12 classes.

Braeden with his instructors

2. Go Bowling - My boys love to bowl and this summer I signed up for the Kids Bowl Free program at our local bowling alley. It is free to sign up and each child you sign up gets two free games a day during the summer. I hope to take advantage more than once since it's a fun activity for them and doesn't cost anything to do. 

3. Get to Ikea - This one is solely for me. I need some supplies for an upcoming craft fair and I so love to poke around that store. But it's definitely not a trip I like to make with the family because we're in the car such a long time and then with all the car seats, there isn't much space to load my purchases to get them home. 

4. Go to the Beach - We aren't necessarily beach people, but I think that living as close to the coast as we do, we should be able to make the effort at least once a year to get our kids toes in the ocean. We're supposed to go visit friends in Maine in a couple of weeks for the day so this one should be easy to accomplish. 

Maine 2011

5. Organize, Organize, Organize - We recently moved all of the boys toys to the playroom and only left Maggie's in the living room. It makes our living room so much cleaner and easier to pick up at the end of the day. Before the end of this summer I would like to work on our whole house and try to organize what we need to keep and get rid of the rest. This has been a goal for years, but I'm really hopeful that I can get started and at least organize one or two more rooms. This will be the most difficult, but maybe I'll have so more luck and motivation now that I've written it down. 

Happy Birthday Maggie!

One very short year ago I saw your face for the first time at 7:51am. You were beautiful and happy and snuggly from the very first moment. Just perfect. I had waited nine long months to hold you in my arms and whisper how much I loved you and to tell you what an amazing blessing you were to our family. You are the daughter I didn't even know that I so desperately desired and the sister that your brothers had been dreaming about. Your daddy loves you lots too. 

We will celebrate with our family and friends this weekend, but today my baby girl, is simply about our small family of five celebrating the day that you completed our puzzle. We will give you your favorite foods, which means lots of watermelon for sure, and your first cupcake ever. I have no doubt that you will enjoy your special treat by smearing it all over your face and through your hair. Your brothers will laugh and point at the mess you have created and daddy and I will do our best to clean you up and then ultimately just put you in the tub to wash away the excess. 

 As you turn 1 today, I think about the personality that is so evident already. You are stubborn, a bit indignant  at times, but mostly a happy, joyful baby who enjoys playing outside whenever we will take you. When you are stuck inside and the boys are playing in the yard, you will stand at the door and yell to them in hopes of one of them coming to free you. They know better, but you never stop trying. You love attention and have no trouble getting other children (and adults) to play with you. I'm happy to say that you finally have teeth. I didn't know if you'd ever push those babies through, but in the last month you have gotten 7, including 3 last Friday!! You got a little jealous of your friend Brody yesterday and tried to take some steps for the first time. You were successful taking two steps twice. I really don't think you're actually ready to walk yet, but apparently you have a different plan. We'll have to wait and see what happens. 

 Happy Birthday beautiful girl. This is your day and we will celebrate from the moment you wake up until the time you go to bed. I love you so very, very much.

Put 'Em Up

The boys, Evan in particular, are fascinated with boxing. {Insert mommy groan here}. It all started with Wii Sports and then Daddy got a great deal at a tag sale for a real punching bag for the basement. Evan is desperately waiting for Daddy to buy him some boxing gloves to go with it. The whole thing seems counter-productive to our efforts of trying to get them to stop hitting each other, but maybe I'll be wrong and they will learn that it is only appropriate to hit the bag and not people. I'm chuckling inside at that thought too, no worries.

Keeping with the spirit, today while doing a little shopping for Maggie's birthday, Roman found an outdoor, water-spraying boxer. It's one of those toys that pops right back up when you knock it down. The boys LOVE it and it really is pretty funny to watch them try to knock it over. 

Oh to be a mom of boys. I'm so excited to see how different the interests will be as Maggie gets older. But with two older brothers, she may end up into boxing as well. But you better believe I will be doing everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen!

A Big Week Ahead

Picture this:

and some of these:

along with this crazy girl:

and I bet you can guess what's happening soon!

ABC's of Me

I saw this on Melissa's blog (thanks Melissa!). She borrowed it from Double The Fun and it just looked like fun so I thought I'd participate and share the ABC's of Me.

A. Age: 34

B. Bed size: Queen

C. Chore you dislike: Doing dishes and putting laundry away.

D. Dogs:  Nope. I like dogs well enough, but I don't want to take care of one. 

E. Essential start to your day: A shower. I function way better when I'm clean.

F. Favorite colors: Pink and purple. I'm such a girl :)

G. Gold or silver: Silver. I've started to buy some fashion jewelry in gold finally, but I definitely prefer silver. 

H. Height: 5'4"

I. Instruments you play(ed): Clarinet - a long, long time ago.

J. Job title: MOM! My degree is in technical writing, but I doubt I'll ever go back to that.

K. Kids: 3 - Braeden, Evan and Maggie

L. Live: Massachusetts. I have moved around as an adult, but I have settled back in my home town now for good. 

M. Mom’s name: Paula

N. Nicknames: Not so much.

O. Overnight hospital stays: When I had my kids and a 1 night stay when I had surgery at 21.

P. Pet peeves: People who can't find things to be happy about. There has to be more to life than complaining. Also, I really hate when someone empties the trash and doesn't put a new bag in.

Q. Quote from a movie: "And that is why that no work" - My Big Fat Greek Wedding. It's not particularly funny or poignant, but it is hilarious to Roman and I and we tend to say it whenever something doesn't, or isn't going to work out. 

R. Righty or lefty: Both. Yep, it confuses me too. Poor Braeden is the same way.

S. Siblings: 1 brother

T. Time you wake up: That all depends on my children. I would prefer to sleep until 8, but I'm usually up between 6:30 and 7:30. I'm not a great morning person.

U. Underwear: Finances, being a mom, and little desire to go the mall has made me a Hanes girl. 

V. Vegetables you don’t like: Brussel sprouts, squash.. I like to stick to the basics - peas, corn and carrots and broccoli.

W. What makes you run late: Sometimes my kids, but I am usually very punctual. I detest being late. 

X. X-rays you’ve had: Dental and my lower leg in high school.

Y. Yummy food you make: I just found a recipe for a peanut butter cheesecake that is amazing. I'm more of a baker than a real food maker.   

Z. Zoo animal you like: Zebras and Giraffes. I look forward to seeing those two at the zoo more than any others, though I love the zoo and am never disappointed by any of the animals. 

The 4th of July

The 4th of July has always given me goose bumps. To think about how different my life would be without our fore fathers and their fight for independence is humbling. Knowing what it was like for Roman growing up in Russia has made me even more grateful for the opportunities and privilege that are offered to myself and my family here. I am not blind or naive; I am well aware that there are many people who suffer in this country as well, but it does not change the fact that I am honored and proud to be an American today and always. I hope you and your families enjoyed a wonderful day and took time to appreciate the freedom that our ancestors fought to give us.

Did you know there were so many verses to America the Beautiful??

America the Beautiful

Words by Katharine Lee Bates
Melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

A Sneak Peak

We have had an amazing opportunity to have pictures taken a couple of times over the last few weeks. I am very fortunate to know a pretty fantastic photographer who my kids are madly in love with so they do things for her that they will never do for me... like smile!

Here's a small sample of the results. 

I am so excited to see the rest. It is such a blessing to have so many talented people in our lives. Thanks Jean!