You know you're a Mom when -sDaze....

Here is a good friends link and it is soooo fun to read what other moms have to say! Thanks Arizonamomma....



So today I don't have much other then...

• Along with asking your 3 year old if he has to potty.. You also ask Nanny, Gpa, and your hubby... hahaha
• Dinner tonight consisted of Mac n cheese, hotdogs, and watermelon (Yes that is what we all ate.. PS. I don't like hot dogs... )
• Your heart melts when your 6 month old baby leans over and gives you an open mouth, slobbery kiss right on your eye!
• Tickle battles are a nightly occurrence...
• You frequently are fixing Buzz Lightyear's wings as they keep falling off.. hmm they don't make toys like they used too....

I love being a mom! I love all the little crazies that happen each and every day... sorry nothing too silly today!

Toy Story 3 and so much more fun....

(Nanny and Gpa with the kids..chilling in the backyard after a long day in the sun..)

We had a fantastic weekend. Nanny and Gpa (my parents) came to visit and we jam packed the weekend with fun.

(Matt and Jake showing some brotherly love in the beach tent! so flipping cute!)

Friday, started with a long awaited Beach Day! We spent almost 4 hours.. It was gorgeous. Sunny, 80 something, and a cool breeze. We had a blast building sand castles (Matthew stomping on them), Gpa digging a hole and Matthew splashing in it for almost an hour, and ICE CREAM for lunch! Yes I am a mom that allows an ice cream for lunch every so often! and it was so YUM!

(Jake exhausted after the zoo on the way back to the car... so sweet!)

Then on Saturday we headed to the zoo. Matthew and I have loved the zoo since day one. Jake is starting to look around at the animals more and Nan and Pap enjoyed watching us kids... The otters were in full out play mode. Diving backwards and swimming right up to the glass. Matthew would just giggled and enjoyed the action.. Then he wiped out in the splash zone and conked his head on the cement. Thanks to a nice women who gave us an ice pack he was fine and a tough kid (if I do say so myself..) Also, an ice pop heals all wounds in the summer!

(Sweet shades Nan!!)

Sunday was the best day of all! We saw Toy Story 3, Matthew (and Jacob's) first movie in the theater. We ate popcorn, M&M's, and Swedish Fish. Matthew wore his 3d glasses the entire time and Jake fell asleep. I teared up a little at the end... I loved the first two movies and absolutely adored the third. Matthew did too. Now we need to buy all (ALL) of the Toy Story guys.. he is having Jon and I make up Toy Story stories before bed and everything! Cars is out and Toy Story is in....

What a fun filled weekend!

(I just couldn't help throwing this sweet picture in...)

You know your a mom when Daze...

First off... Thanks Arizonamomma for this post.. I love it!

So.. "Do your breasts hang low.. do they wobble to and fro...."

Seriously, I love my children and love breastfeeding but I don't think they can hang much lower... I breastfed my first born until he was a year and am trying to do the same with the second if I don't trip over them first...

Can anyone else relate? ;)

The Circle of Life...

This past week has been very bitter sweet for our family. My brother in law and sister in law adopted a beautiful baby and are bringing her home to the family as I write this. We are so super excited for this new addition to the family and a little girl to boot! WAHOO!!!!

I am so proud to be an Auntie. I have no siblings so being an Aunt is something I will treasure in my heart forever. I (as well as all the Gregory boys) are so excited to meet this new addition! Welcome home sweet baby girl!

On a very somber note... Jon's beloved Gram and my boys GG, past away this past week. It was sudden, we all thought she would live until she was 100... She was an amazing women. She lived every day of her life, enjoyed all her family and friends, traveled, loved, and laughed alot. She will live in our hearts forever.

Lucy was my surrogate Gram as both of mine passed away several years ago. She was classy, loving, fair and a HUGE Red Sox fan. She adored being a grandmother but held a very special place in her heart for her Great Grandkids. Matthew and Jacob were so very lucky to share some cherished memories with her and I know when they are grown they will appreciate those moments. Here are a few pictures of their very first meetings..

Above: Matthew and GG's first meeting in March 2007... It was love at first site!

Jacob and GG's first meeting. She was overjoyed to have another Great Grandson... December 2009.

Here is a picture of Jon and Gram at a wedding a few years ago. She was cutting a rug well into her 80's. Gram holds a very special place in Jon's heart. Over the years he has spent alot of time with her. Enjoying jeopardy, and watching bowling. She (and Arty) even took Jon to Disney for his very first real live encounter with Mickey Mouse. His love for her runs very deep...and his heart is broken by her passing.

Gram (GG) Lucy you will forever live in our hearts and our spirit. Thank you for loving so openly and honestly. You are one beautiful person! Inside and out....

Baby Allison we are so overjoyed to have you in our family to share in the love and laughter!

and so the circle of life continues on.....

You know your a mom when Daze...

I know you all have done this.. You reach in your purse/bag/diaperbag/etc.. to pull out your wallet to buy a coffee...

You first pull out some play doh, hmm not that..
then you grab some kind of toy (?).... nope not that either...
then..eewww what is sticky.. definitely not that

uhoh.. yep my wallet is on the counter at home. hmmmm

Oh yeah I definitely have the change in the bottom of my bag to pay for that coffee. As you hand the cashier the money (all in change that is) you apologize because it is actually STICKY~

I love being a mom! :)

Mom and Me Mondays..

Okay, so this is a day late but I work third shift..so this is my Monday! We had a famously fun filled weekend. My hubby and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary. And funny enough... we spent it in separate beds. Not sure about all of you but our kids never sleep well in hotels. So, Jon slept in bed with one, and I with the other (at least for a little while).

Well here it is...A picture from our visit to the Mystic Aquarium. I love this place. The beluga whales, the shark and ray touch tanks and the birds of the outback.... so so so much fun and Matthew enjoyed all of it! (especially touching the rays). I think Jake got a kick out of seeing all the people and watching the whales. I of course enjoyed every minute of it. Sharing something I love with my boys (including Jonny) is always so fun. The ocean and all the wonders it holds is always so amazing to me. How these enormous animals can swim so gently through the water. Jon tried to catch the whale swimming by, sorry all you can see is the tail!

My parents...

So, we all feel that are parents are amazing. (Right?) Well I know mine are. They are the most kind, loving, big hearted, adventurous, talented people I know. I thank god everyday that they are mine.

They are ordinary people on the outside. My mom is a RN and works in the ER. My dad is a retired computer scientist. They live in a nice home and have a dog. (Normal..Right?) Until you get to know them that is. I'll start with my dad. Growing up my mom worked third shift every weekend. So dad and I spent alot of time together. We would make these "killer breakfasts" with eggs, pancakes, bacon, oj, etc... Then we would go hiking, or build something fun like a bird house, maybe hit a bookstore, and then home to have dinner with mom before she headed back into work. We had alot of fun. I'll never forget one time we went rock climbing with a few of my dad's buddies in the Gunks (sp).. We got up there pretty late one night and hiked to the top of the mountain. There was an amazing meteor shower... Instead of pitching a tent we all slept under the stars and feel asleep to mother nature's amazing show.

My dad loves to rock climb, ice climb, hike, sail, take pictures, build anything with wood, and have amazing adventures. The last adventure..him and a very good ol' buddy of his hiked the John Muir Trail. In two summers, (mind you they are both in their 60's) hiked well over 140 miles. The stories and the pictures are amazing...

His latest project is building a boat. Mind you since I was 8 my dad has always wanted his own boat. Well finally at the ripe ol' age of 63, he is finally building his own. here's a pic of his handy work...

beautiful, eh...

Now on to my mom... She has more talent in her pinky then anyone I know in their whole bodies. She can do anything! I swear it. Growing up, I was the kid with the BEST or everything. Mom would make cupcakes for school and they always rocked!!! She would help me with an art project or a report or anything and they were always fantastic with a little help from my mom. She always knew the extras to add to anything. She can knit, cross stitch, weave baskets, make beautiful stained glass lamps, make jewelry, paint, and so many other things I cannot think of them all. Her latest craze is scrapbooking. (thank goodness since I suck at all of it..) My babies both have beautiful baby books thanks to her. She even wrote me an amazing poem when I became a mother. She is unbelievable.

In her 50's my mom ran a marathon. Yep a freaking marathon (this is amazing to me since I hate to run..) She has always worked and is fantastic at her job because she cares so much. She has a heart as big as Texas...

Oh did I forget to mention, she is also a massage therapist. Yep, that's right with all the other things she has done in her life she had time to go back to school to become a masseuse as well!

I can't tell you the times my dad has walked away shaking his head at mom and me because we are laughing so hard some kind of drink is coming out of one of our noses. We have had pillow fights and food fights more times then I can count. She can always make me laugh and always makes it better. She has this infectious laugh that you cannot be around her without smiling and laughing as well. My mom walks into a room and it just lights up because she has this positive energy that just radiates from her.

Both of my parents live their life to the fullest. I have learned alot of life's lessons from my parents and I can only hope to be as good a parent/person as they are! I am blessed to have them as parents and my children are blessed to have them as the amazing grandparents they are! So here's to you mom and dad. I love ya!