Princess Acadia

One of my best friends has a little girl D, who is Acadia's best friends. They LOVE, LOVE each other. Acadia asks about D all the time - they have sleepovers and any time we get together, they ask if the other can spend the night. D told Acadia at the last sleepover that she wanted her to be her sister :)

D's mom, Miche and I had lunch one day and the girls were playing downstairs like they always do. Miche went down to check on them and came up a few minutes later with a serious look on her face, but she was trying not to laugh. She started with, "Ok...don't get mad....and they're both ok....BUT" LOL! That's never good.

They had gotten into my make-up! And I must say - they did a pretty good job with it. LOL!

Happy anniversary

Another amazing year with my best friend...I wish we had as much time as we did 5 years ago to tell each other how much we love one another...I wish we had more nights alone together to just sit and talk over a quiet dinner...I wish we had the energy at the end of the day to have a glass of wine together every night...

Do you remember when we used to sit and talk over quiet dinners and glasses of wine about our future? How many children we'd have? What their names would be? Where we would live? We'd have candles surrounding us and we'd talk about our dreams and wishes.

Can you believe that we're living our dreams now? We have everything we've always wanted...everything we've ever wished for...Acadia...Emma...us...our home...our friends...our family...life is good...and it's only going to get better...

I love you yesterday, today and forever...

Working girl

Don't bother her - she's working...

Daddy!

Matt has been renovating our bathroom and the kids - especially Emma! - can't understand why they can't play with him in the bathroom while he's working. They hear him talking, see him, and just want desperately to be with him. We had to put a gate up so Emma wouldn't go in but she wants to SO badly!!

She got me!

Playing Hide and Go Seek with a 3 year old is pretty funny, because in their world - if they can't see you, they think you can't see them. So she's done a lot of curling up in a ball in the middle of the room with her eyes closed, hiding under the covers with her entire body sticking out, etc.

But today, she actually got me!! Normally when I say, Acadia! Are you in the bathroom?? As I'm looking in the bathroom, she'll say, No! I'm in my bedroom under the covers! LOL!! Today she didn't utter a word and it took me FOREVER to find her!! It was so funny - it was literally the first time I really honestly had NO clue where she was!

I don't know if you can tell by the pictures, but she's in her room in her hamper in the closet :)

Acadia's first soccer practice

We decided to sign Acadia up for soccer this year :) I'm crossing all my fingers and toes that she loves it so she can wear the #5 jersey on the field some day. My mom met us at the first practice and it was actually pretty fun! They worked on some skills, learned the rules of soccer and played a few games (Red light, green light, etc.) I think it was more fun for mommy, daddy and Grandma though! Maybe next year...

Acadia's first day of Preschool

That's right. Acadia had her first day of preschool today. Even as I'm typing it out, I can't believe it. I was reminded of this post this morning while getting her ready for school.

I went over everything with her again, like I've been doing on and off for the past few days. Remember to stop talking the minute your teacher starts talking. Remember to share. Remember to wash your hands when you get to school and before you have snack. Remember to put your jacket in your cubby. Remember to be kind to your friends. Remember to sit quietly during story time. Remember to say please and thank you.

But what I didn't say...what was going through my mind the entire time...was all the advice she would need later on in life. Her life flashed before my eyes and I saw her when she was 23 instead of just my little 3 year old.

Don't make friends with someone who finds it funny to make fun of people.
Only let kind words leave your lips.
Don't ever date anyone that you wouldn't introduce to your Grandmother.
Don't ever believe anyone who tells you you can't do something.
Never get into the car with someone who has been drinking.
Be nice - especially to those kids who don't have a lot of friends.
Dream big.
Marry someone who makes you laugh. Someone who would do anything for you.
Do something you love and the money will follow.
Get a dog. They will love you unconditionally.
Be good to Emma...you don't realize this now, but she will be your best friend some day.
When you have your first child, try not to sweat the small stuff. Just enjoy them, because it truly does fly by.
Be a good person.
Be kind to others.
Remember that you can do and be anything you want to be.
Remember how very special you are.
Remember that mommy and daddy will always love you.

And have a great first day of school...

First day of school

I can't believe my baby is in preschool!! We absolutely love her school and teachers!! And all the children seem so sweet - it's been great getting to know them and their parents :) I don't know why blogger isn't letting me move the pictures around, but they're not in order. Her first day went really well - she was so excited to get to school and find out where her cubby was, play with her new friends and have circle time. It was so much fun for her!!

Reading "The Kissing Hand" at circle time

Photo album they have at school for the kids to look at at any time during the day

The snack time cup. The children are supposed to find their name on their own stick which is painted to look like them. Once they have had snack they are supposed to put their stick in the can so the teachers know who has and hasn't had snack

Making her first wood project

Playing at the food table

Dress up!

Making her name tag

Signing in - she will do this every day she gets to school


Miss Dawn showing her where her cubby is

Getting to school

Getting ready to leave for school!

Girls' Weekend!

My mom, sister and I took a road trip to NH for some shopping and Tortillas this weekend! We had the BEST time - it was so warm out that we were able to lay by the pool with our wine and magazines :) We spent some time in the hot tub, shopping (Target!), eating and - of course - drinking! It was so much fun - I think it needs to be an annual event!

Winding down

Sadly, today was the last time we'll go to the beach this summer :( We went to the beach with our friends EVERY single week - normally at least twice. I'm so sad the summer is over with!

Neighborhood bbq

We went to our annual neighborhood pig roast recently and I want to kick myself for not taking more pictures. I can't believe how well they decorated it! The theme this year was cowboys :) We absolutely love our neighborhood and look forward to the pig roast every year!

For One More Day

I had a dream about my Grandpa last night...
It was different from any dream I'd ever had of him.

Instead of it being a past tense dream,

It was a dream that happened in present day.

He was gone. And I missed him more than words can explain. I ached at the thought of him.

And suddenly...he was here. With me.

And I got to hug him. I got to hear him laugh. Hear him say "Jennafear" one more time. Hear him say "Jeasum" one more time.

We were in my Grandparent's living room and I was on the couch talking to my Grandma and suddenly my Grandpa appeared in his chair. We talked and laughed. I frantically called my mom and sister begging them to come over as quickly as possible because Grandpa was here. We called Mimi, Kimmy, Kirstin, Laurie, Tim, Craig and Sandy. All of a sudden our entire family was there. In their living room. Laughing. Talking. Telling himwhat we had been up to. Ella's loose tooth. My photography business. Michelle's school. Jimmy's new job. Kirstin's vacation.

We were talking to him. And I could hear his laugh like it was yesterday. I could see him look at my Grandma...with the love he held for only her.

And I woke up. And realized it was a dream...and I cried that terrible cry. You know...the one that people can hear from miles away...the animalistic cry that you try to do into your pillow so that no one else will hear you...the one you do until you can cry no longer and finally pass out from exhaustion and hope that you will forget about in the morning.

But you don't forget...about him...which is a blessing and a curse. I don't want to forget him and yet I don't want to hurt any longer. So I sit here in a state of confusion...not knowing exactly when or where the pain will strike. So is the price we pay for love, right?

So, wherever you are Grandpa, just know that I loved hearing your laugh for one last time...and I love you...a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck...xoxo