Happy Easter!!

We had a FABULOUS Easter.

I couldn’t have picked a better day. The weather was GORGEOUS! The company was GREAT! The kids were HAPPY! It was story book wonderful.

So wonderful that I took 500 PICTURES!

500! No I am not going to post them all. I edited them down to 215…still not going to post them all!

We left our house at noon. We didn’t get home until 10pm. No meltdowns! The kids were laughing and playing with Auntie Krissie right up until we left!

I didn’t want the day to end. It was the first day I have had in a long time that was completely stress free. I just enjoyed every. single. minute.

I loved watching my kids interacting with everyone that loves them so very much!

I loved watching Katy & Patrick love and enjoy time with everyone.

They were so excited with each and every Easter gift. ( Is Easter the new Christmas?)

I feel energized. I feel happy! Really happy… not the sappy happy/sad the consumes so many of my days!

I felt genuine happiness… I still do… it feels good!

Already at 13 pictures!! We haven’t even left the house…

Excuse my dad’s beard!! He is usually clean shaven!! It’s his playoff beard!! GO BRUINS!!!

The Easter Bunny hid 8 dozen eggs at Papa’s!

A Day at The Carnival

The carnival is in town. Katy spotted it while driving down town on Wed. “Mommy!!! Look a MERRRYYYYY GO ROUNDDDD.”

I was instantly transferred back to the Woburn Cinema Parking Lot Age 14 riding the Round Up for the 18th time.

The carnival was creepy then and it was creepy today. It will probably be creepy next year too.

But, we will go again and spend a ridiculous amount of money to ride the rickety Merry Go Round, and lets not forget the $3 ride down the slide, I am almost certain the slides at The Big Slide Park in Arlington are just as fun!

Regardless of the creepy factor We all had a great time.

We all ate an insane amount of sugar.

Then rode the same three rides again!

Creepy or not… we had a blast!

Endicott Park

Today the kids and I headed out on an adventure!! We met up with a few mama’s and their babes at Endicott Park in Danvers SO fun so easy to get to. Definitely adding it to our list of our favorite things to do.

It was nice just to breath in the fresh air and watch the kids play. Briefly (too briefly) to catch up with mama friends which is difficult when we all have a handful of kids in the 3 and under crowd.

It was a bit windy, but not bad.

After the park and some snacks we went off in search of the animals!

We say horses, pigs, chickens, sheep and a goat!

Spring Cleaning

It’s kind of funny… for someone who HATES cleaning… I mean I despise cleaning. ( complete opposite of my mom, who loves to clean and will often clean my house ; ) )

But, similar to my feelings regarding New Years… spring time is yet another opportunity to clean, reduce, and organize again.

Admittedly, Mike does A LOT around the house. I think that Kate thinks I can’t cook and she is not completely wrong. As our years in this marriage have gone on… my cooking skills have actually gotten worse.

My main chore… the one I own 100% and Mike pretty much refuses to do. Although truth be told he will help me when I get so lost in it.

IS:

Clothes Organization… particularly K & P clothing.

Please don’t judge… yes we have a lot of Clothes. 75% of them are hand me downs the we are so very thankful for. The others you can take it up with the Grandma’s my mom, Krissie and Tracy. They love my kids and sometimes find it hard to resist an adorable outfit (or two ). ( I don’t blame them… I ‘m thankful that my kids are loved and spoiled by many.)

So Mike got all the current clothes (4 laundry baskets full, and all the bins from the attic of Spring Summer (some are from last year, because Katy will fit in to them still) (then there are the bins of hand me down clothes both boy and girls)

So it’s a big job and I never know when it is safe to do it…. we have already had 80 degree days and yesterday was 27 degrees so we are going to have to do some layering.

I did it… its done. Now I know why it was a full day event for Kate from Jon & Kate plus 8. I can not imagine.

Still have to make the switch for Mike and I. Which truth be told we will be living out of bins for a few more weeks.

I don’t have any after pictures since it was a mad dash to get them in the drawers and closets…but I can tell you it feels good to have this chore crossed off my list for the next 5 months!

The Details

There is so much I want to remember about our life right this moment.

I want to remember how much Katy loves all things pink and princess.

I want to remember her sense of humor. The girl gets sarcasm at 3 years old.

I want to remember what Patrick's kisses are like, wet and slobbery and oh, so sweet!

I want to remember his side eye face, and the way he sizes up strangers and once he is comfortable he gives them his shy smile.

I want to remember how much Patrick loves helping his daddy with EVERYTHING. Cooking cleaning, fixing, yard work!

I want to remember Mike being such an amazing husband and father. Always doing that little extra to make our days great. Going to the grocery store at 7AM on St. Patrick's Day because I forgot Lucky Charms.

I want to remember the sacrifices I have made going to school nearly every Saturday to finally finish my degree, and the support from Mike, K & P and my parents. I COULDN'T and probably wouldn't of done it without them.

I want to remember the way that Patrick adores his Papa... I love watching my dad with my kids.

I want to remember my mom and Tracy always helping out cleaning and watching Patrick during our long days at Children's with Katy.

I want to remember how Kate sleeps with her hands placed perfecting under her face...s sweet.

I want to remember how kind and caring Patrick and Katy are to each other.

I want to remember when Katy declares herself as Kathryn today and NOT Katy Girl.

I want to remember Patrick's LAUGH my gosh he still has the same belly laugh he had at 6 months old.

I want to remember how a hug from Mike at the end of a long bad day, can rejuvenate me, and remind me to keep on plugging.

I want to remember my living room resembling a tornado at Toys R Us

I want to remember painting Katy's toes because she wants them to look "Just like Mommy's"

I want to remember snuggling kids in my bed, some time's slipping into their room and bringing them back to my room just because I want to snuggle them.

I want to remember Mike encouraging me to that.

I want to remember that no matter how hard I try and how many people buy Katy American Girl Dolls... she just will not budge.

I want to remember Katy singing the McDonald's Hamburger tween your toes song... makes me laugh and and every time.

I want to remember how much Katy loves TARGET and proclaims it as her favorite store. (I wonder if it will still be her favorite store when she is 13)

I want to remember the days when we are dashing off to birthdays and play dates as much as the days we spend in our jammies.

I want to remember Katy singing FIRE like it's her job.

I want to remember sitting on the couch reading the same stories.

I want to remember how creative Katy and Patrick are making boats out of laundry baskets and their elaborate tales.

I want to remember how trying this chapter of our life is as we wait for Katy's heart.

I want to remember how we got through this and remember that we can survive anything.

I want to remember the details.

Prayers for Sweet Sweet Harrison.

The CHD world was rocked to it’s core today, as the news spread that yet another little heart warrior had earned his wings, a too young of an age.

I imagine that he is happy and his heart is healed as he plays at the playground in the sky.

I worry for his parents. I pray that they have a strong support system to help them pick up the pieces and carry on. Harrison, is not here… but he is and always will be in their hearts.

I am sad today so very sad… at times the tears have come down so hard. I am grieving a little boy who until his passing I had never even heard of. I’m mad about that… I wish I “knew” him while he was a live. I wish I had followed his mom’s care page and prayed for him, as I do all our heart “friends”

I know that there are lots of different outcomes as we write our heart stories. I usually can find comfort from the babes that a triumphant and rejoice with their families, and it gives me the strength to face another day.

Then a story like sweet Harrison’s comes a long and shakes me to my core. I let my mind go to that place that is always there and that I keep buried with memories of chalk and ice cream. Praying with all my might that my girls story ends with a Happily Ever After. Because that is what I need and want so desperately for my sweet baby girl. I want exactly what I know Harrison’s mama wanted for her beautiful little boy…and I am ANGRY that she didn’t get that.

All kids are special! All kids are a miracle…. but there is something about these heart babes… they have a twinkle in their eyes and smile that will melt your very own heart. They don’t give up.,.. they fight for each and everyday they have here on earth.

I was so oblivious to this before I had Kate. I am angry that I was so oblivious….and I am angry that I no longer have that ability.

Please as you say your prayers tonight say an extra for Harrison and his family.