I know it has been a while...

For some reason our new computer will not let me post...so I have to write then use my iPhone to post...such a drag! Anyway...Thanksgiving is on it's way and Julian is so excited this year...for all the holidays! I will say I am so looking forward to it as well! I love to decorate, spend the holiday with family and friends. We have so much to be thankful this year! So let's do a little list:

1: thankful for our GOD and his everylasting love!

2:thankful for our health!

3:thankful for my wonderful hushand

4:thankful for my beautiful, kind and smart son

5:thankful the friends that I have, my best girls...Katie, Melissa, Maria, Melissa, Sue

September is just about ouver!

HI all...so sorry I haven't posted in almost 2 months! wow, so much has been going on...Jules is in school...Jeff has been working OT and I am STILL looking for a job! But I am enjoying this time with Julian! On the 26th it was our 4th anniversary of Jules' adoption day! Wow 4 years! Seems like yesterday! Such a blessing! Today Jeff and I went to a private prep school to check it out for Jules. We really don't want him going public, so the search is on for the perfect fit! Jules would really like the school we were at today...but it is very expensive...so we are turning it over to Him to provide for us and to let us know if this is the match for him...we have 2 other schools we are looking at as well.

Summer is coming to an end...

So there are 20 days left to this wonderful summer we have been having...Julian starts school in 20 days! I can't believe it! We have had so much fun! Reconnecting with an old dear friend I think has been one of the high lights of my summer...but the photo above is the most wonderful child I know. I have been able to tell our story to so many people this summer, that I feel like I give hope to those who are struggling with things in their life and know that dreams do come true! Last Sunday, we had to rush Julian to the ER...they told us he has pneumonia...well, it think it is allergy induced asthma...so we are are working figuring out what needs to be done in order to make our child the best he can be! We had a wonderful play date today, playing, swimming, an early lunch and so much fun! The laughter was so loud from the children we could hardly hear ourselves talk...it was just wonderful!

This fall I am starting a book club, doing a "favorite" party and figuring out where we are sending Julian to Kindergarten. I really don't feel in my heart that the school we are suppose to go to is the right fit for him...so I am going to try to do open enrollment and look at a few private schools. Jeff and I are on the same page so all is good. One of the reasons why we decided to have an only child is because we wanted the best for him...everything he ever wanted and needed...that was promise that was made to his birth mother...and we intend to keep that promise. So far so good!

I can't wait to see who his teacher is going to be this year...I have been saying many prayers for a certain teacher...so we will keep praying and hope we get her! Sending hugs and blessings!

Our baby is 4!!

These 3 are such good buddies!

My beautiful boy!

Too cute!

Cutie pies

Wow does time fly by! Some of you have been following me prior to the birth of our son, Julian. We have been so blessed to have this wonderful, beautiful, bright, funny and creative child into our life. This year we had a wonderful party...it started at 3 and ended at 9pm! It was a very long day filled with so much fun and family! I think this was one of the best parties we have ever had. Our families were here, our best friends and lots and lots of children! My house was full of children, which is what I have always wanted! Katie and Pat were here with their 3, Melissa and her 3 were here, Julian cousins, and school friends...we had a few surprises and lots of laughs. We couldn't have asked for more. All the people who mean the most to us and who have been there for us all while we were waiting and after have shared in the joy of julian. Julian has 3 girlfriends but his best girl is Brenna...he just loves and adores here and she him...it is just so cute. All the children got along great...no fights, a few tears and laugher abounded out back yard.

On another note...I am down a total of 89 lbs! Holy cow!!! How exciting!!! I feel so much better...I look better and know that I have more to go, but I am not stopping...I would love to lose another 75lbs!! But the final trick is to keep it off! My very close girlfriedns are all shender...so it helps to be around them...they eat healthy and make good food choices and are wonderful support! Couldn't have done it with out them!!!

What a day...

We all have them...but today was one of this days, where I was not in the mood to play, think or feed anyone! So Julian ate, shredded wheat and fruit snacks...his favorite...every kid once in a while can eat what they want...today I was not in the mood to cook! I Cleaned my entire upstairs...scrubbed the bathrooms...all 3 mind you...Murphy oil soaped all the wood work...all while not feeling good. I had to go on steroids due to a flare up with my back...side effects...I am MISERABLE! yes capital letters!!! So in order not to yell too much today, I resorted to cleaning...lord knows I wanted to crawl back into bed and pull the cover over my eyes...but Julian prevented that...THANK GOD! So it was a very productive day...but 7pm can't come soon enough! Jeff has been working 12 hour days and I am not complianing but by the time he walks in the door I am ready for bed! Thank god for good friends that keep me afloat and always there when I need them! This too shall pass!

Our block party is tomorrow...and since we have no kids on our street Julian will be going to Nana and Papa's for the day and night...some much need time off!

Great weekend...

Well all last week, Julian had VBS, but the weather was well over 90 almost everyday, so Thursday I kept him home...it was a nice break for mommy and Julian for him to do this so I signed him up for one more the week of his birthday, so this way I am able to get some things done before his party! On Saturday, Julian and I had a great play date. We were there from 11:30 till 4:30! That was the longest playdate ever! But we all had fun! This was with a high school best friend of mine that we lost touch and reconnected via facebook and a party we saw each other at. It was a great time. The time went by so fast the next thing I knew it was 4:30! Holy Cow! And of course Julian is in love with her 7 yr old! He just loves the girls! So we are planning this big party for him...go big or go home!! So I am praying the weather is nice...please be nice!!! So that is where and what we did Saturday...today we hung out at home and then went to my parents for a pizza party. Julian is a fish...he is now swimming with his face and head totally in the water...goggles and ear band it and all...my little geek! But he is cute and loves it! So do I!!

In less then 3 weeks...

our Julian will be 4! Wow 4 years old...where has the time gone. I will say...I have so loved and will continue to love being his mother. He is the best gift that God has given me. He is so happy,intellegent, funny, beautiful, stubborn, and loving all rolled in to a cute little boy! He is goin back to Pre-K this year to the same school...it is worth the distance to drive him there. Some of his friends won't be there this year, they are going to do universal pre k instead. I will admit, I am not ready for him to do 5 days. We are doing VBS right now and it is 5 days and I think it is too much for him. Yesterday he was fine when I picked him up, happy and funny...today he was not so much fun to be around! Maybe because it has been so darn hot here! UGH! I mean really!

We got an award from the Village that we live in...it is for our gardens...I have put alot of energy into our gardens this year...it has been well worth it! On the side is our house...and my awesome lavender that I refuse to split in the fear that it won't come back the same way or I might kill it! I make gifts for my girlfriends with it.

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a text message from an old friend. She was my very best friend for many years...and I have missed her dearly...we went out for coffee and have planned an outing with our children. THe great part was it was like we never stopped talking. We both said we were sorry for the past and agreed that it had been far too long not to talk. The funny thing was she didn't have to say she was sorry, she did nothing to me...It was me who was going through a difficult time and to think she had 3 children during that time and I missed it...and she missed Julian...so I feel so blessed to have her back in my life again. I see her sister all the time during school, he daughter goes to the same Pre-K as Julian. It is just nice to have her back and she feels the same. Sometimes it is worth bringing an old friend back...sometimes it is not...this time it is! Well I can tell you this..we will never go 14 years again without talking to each other. That is for sure.

Our summer so far has been awesome!

4th of july fireworks

my birthday cake

my girls!

Kite flying on fathers day

Making Papa his father's day gift

Julian full of mud...but having fun!

Our yard

Lobster Fest 2011

BFF's...opps and our wine

Jeff and Patrick...hanging out at a friends house for some drinks...

Joe and Sue our dear friends...I have known Joe for almost 20 years...Ouch!

OMG! Look at the deer eyes!!! Yes, I had a few glasses of wine and it was very late...Sue looks wonderful!

My best friend and I at her Birthday Party, we have been friends since grade school

My BFF's husband

My mommy and I...also my BFF (80lbs lighter in this photo from last year...woo hoo...for me! Woo Hoo!)

My hubby and son and I on my Birthday

My Daddy and I

We have had a wonderful summer so far. Jeff is back to work so it is Julian and mommy alone again! 12 hours days for daddy...we are enjoying playdates and daytime adventures! Sending you all hugs and blessings

Sorry!

Our laptop hard drive died, so I haven't been able to get online for a while! I hope it is back soon! I hate to keep my stalkers...I mean readers waiting! We have had so much fun this past month! Our yard has never looked better and the kids love to play here...and frankly so does Julian! We have gone on many Playground runs on the days that he is bored. We are doing 3 VBS this summer and Julian is of course over at Nana and Papa's house!

My awesome Hubby is throwing me a 40th...yes 40th birthday party next week...I am so looking forward to it! I am not sure how big he is planing on having it...all I know is that there is a party here on the 24th. He is such a wonderful baker...I am sure he has had his menu planned for months!

We are doing staycations this summer...Daddy is on vacation for 16 days!!! woo hoo! So I will be posting pictures I am sure! We have had a busy June...Lobster Fest, our best friend's Patrick and Katie's 4oth BDay Party, my dear friend and weight loss buddy Mary's 40th bday! Well on that note...I will not be up dating the other blog tonight, so I will just say, I am at a grand total of 80lbs! YEAH!!! I have kicked it up a bit with gardening, yoga and pilates! So I am feeling great and getting stronger every day! All is good here! Hugs and Blessings to you all!

Sorry it has been so long!

First Jump in the pool of the season!!!

At the parade...

Julian and Desiree

Andrea, Desiree and Julian ready for the parade...

Sorry it has been so long...there are no real excuses, just we have been busy! The weather has just started to get nice and we have been outside enjoying it while we can! Today it is going to reach 90 so we are going to be heading over to my parents to swim! We have been blessed to have met a wonderful family. Desiree and her mommy Andrea are just wonderful! Andrea and I are like two peas in a pod! It is amazing how much we have in common...Julian and Desiree are in the same school, so we are hoping that they will be in the same class this up coming year! They just love each other. So we are trying to get together every week. I have posted some pictures from our weekend together...Every other Wednesday I am hosting a play date with Julian...providing that the weather is good...I am so looking forward to it! I know he will have a blast as well!

I know that people come into our lives and go...I am so glad that Andrea, her husband Brian and Desiree have come into ours! They are also Christians like us, so having the same belief system, and child rearing makes it so much more special! We have been blessed that is for sure!

This weekend we are going to Lobster Fest with our best friends Katie and Patrick and their family, so I will be sure to post pictures for that! My husband is throwing me a 40th birthday party at the end of June as well...so we have a lot planned for the month of June already! Jeff is off from work for almost 3 weeks in June, so it will be great to all be home! Enjoy your day and know that God loves you and so do I!!

Moving Up Day!

Julian's awesome teachers!

I just love this picture!

Mommy and Julian

Julian and his little buddy

Not smiling...

Julian smiling...

So today was moving up day at pre school...what a great day and bitter sweet...to think he is going to be in the 4 year old program next year is mind blowing! We had a great day. Nana and Papa were able to come watch his program...it was great! Julian was too cute! They did the toody ta song...how adorable was that! I wish I used my camera to video tape it instead of the camcorder...So I have posted some pictures of his day!

On a darker note...Our dog Eugene caught a bird in the yard this morning...it was horrible! I was shaking and was really upset by it...Julian asked what happened and I told him the bird fell from the tree and died! Hugs and Blessings!

We have been busy...

The weather has been wonderful week! We have been on a shopping spree! Baseball, sand box and more balls to play with! I went to PT today and Julian was playing with his water table all day...he loves the water! We can't wait for the pool to open!!! We have had a great weekend! Daddy has been home since Friday...it is his long weekend...so we have been going on long walks, farmers market runs and so much fun in the yard! We have a bunch of new neighbors on our street so it is nice to meet them all! The house next door to us is for sale and we are excited to see who moves in! I am starting to plan our summer out and we are packing it in with alot of fun stuff...so keep an eye out for us! Julian has been doing yoga with me...we are having so much fun! Can't wait for the yard to finally be dry so I can do yoga in the yard while he is playing! Well that is what we have been up to! See you all soon!

SO I was thinking...

what can I do with Julian this summer that is free...I am not into spending money anymore...wait...did I just say that? Hmmmm...priorities have changed I guess. SO there is the play ground...we have a pass to the museum...there is always play grounds and parks...but we bought Julian a TBall set...man oh man...can he hit a ball! For almost 4...I am impressed! Not only is he handsome, smart but he is athletic as well! (can you tell I am his mother?) LOL So the last few days we have been playing in the yard...and does it feel good to be outside for a change! I have a feeling I am going to be sporting a nice tan this year! Oh yeah...and of course...swimming at nana and papa's! Well I hope you all had a nice mother's day...we did...or should I say I did! Hugs and Blessings!

Happy Mother's day!

My mom and me...I was just born...look how beautiful my mom is!

Mom and I back in the 90's

I must have been about 2 years old here...maybe 3...I love the way my mother is looking at me!

And finally one of my all time favorite pictures of us!

I know it is a day early...but I must say...today was such a wonderful day! Julian was a dream and such a good helper. The weather was great! Sun was shining. Since I am the president of the block club, I had to deliver the list of neighbors names and our planting information. He was such a wonderful help! And it was a great work out as well! Walking up and down stairs...we were walking for 2 hours...down our little street! So after his nap, we went outside...our neighbors across the street had family over and the kids came over to play in our yard with Julian...and he had so much fun! The kids played so nice together...I sat outside and chatted with the kids while they played...2 hours! Finally I had to tell Julian that it was time to eat dinner...well that didn't go well...he cried and cried...I felt so bad...but it is what it is!

I have posted some pictures of my beautiful mom...she means the world to me...I wouldn't be the mom I am today without her helping me grow as a mom! She is my best friend! I just love her so much!!! We are going to brunch tomorrow with our little family...Julian is going to be so handsome...I will post pictures!!!