Day 12- Your favorite musical artist’s life story.

My favorite musical artist is Jimmy Buffet.  I just love listening to his music and through his music my brother and I became friends.

Here is his story from his own webiste:

Day 11- Favorite picture ever taken of yourself.

taken on our 10th wedding anniversary
 at the Sleeping Bear Dunes
in Michigan - we were x-country skiing

Small Successes - August 26

It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph.

Here are my successes for the week:

1) Kids started school!  YEAH Kids!  I think they are enjoying it but with certain of my children it is hard to tell.

2) We are working on a new routine for the kids.  Trying to get them to be responsible for their space and themselves.  Trying not to be a nag about cleaning up their rooms, etc. but they know the consequences - hopefully Mom and Dad can keep up with this one :)

3) Just finished Rocking the Cradle Catholic and How do you tuck in a  Superhero - both great books and am passing them onto other people that I know who would like these.

Day 10- A dream you had this past week described in detail.

I had a dream that my kids and I were picking tomatoes in my garden and all of a sudden a huge combine was chasing us!  It woke me up and I could not get back to sleep,

Day 09- Five things you want to see change.

I am going to focus this on things that I can change in my own little sphere - outside of that my influence is nil

1) get my kids to clean up their breakfast dishes
2) stop snacking on junkie food after 8PM (my witching hours)
3) lose that last 10 pounds
4) stop my careless spending - to much wants are being bought
5) tell my husband and children I love them and be NICE to them (sometimes I am the meanest to those I love the most)

First Day of School 2010

Today was the first day of school!  Mom & Dad were very excited to have the kids back in school.  The kids were excited to see their school friends.  The day started off well.  We arrived at school a little before 8.  On the first day they line up in the parking lot for prayer, school photo, and march into the classroom. We left them off as they were walking into the building.  I went to work and Tony returned home (he is on 2nd) for the day to do what it is that he does when he is alone.  I know what I would do by myself - but he is less lazy than I.

Here are some photos of the kids.....

picture time

Happy to go to school

resting before the start of the day

colleen & her teacher

dan sad ;(

pat with his friends

Day 08- Someone you think would make a good president

Who do I think would make a good president --- I am not really sure.  I don't think this is a job I would want anyone I know and love to do.  You are hated by more than half of America at some point of your term, you go from youngish looking to an old man in a matter of 4 short years, you can never do anything right!, and you are blamed for everything even if it was not yours to own at the start of the game.

Day 07- Favorite cover of your favorite song

My favorite song is One Particular Harbour and I don't think anyone has covered it.  I am sure there are people who cover JB but I don't know their names.

Day 06- Earliest thing you can remember.

The earliest thing that I remeber is living in a double house that housed us on the top floor and my great-grandmother on the bottom floor.  I was 5 when we moved away - but I remember going to visit grandma when I was tired of my little brother and baby sister.  She would give me coffee (this was 1972) and cookies at her kitchen table.  She passed away when I was a teen but I always loved visiting.

Week in Review

This week has been crazy!  It is our last week of summer vacation and I think everyone is ready for the kids to go back to school.

On Sunday we returned from the annual Aukerman Family weekend away.  This is the last year for that.  After this year it will be a one day afair unless you want to stay.  I like that option.  This year we did the one day because our family vacation crossed day 1.

Monday we headed back to work!  It was nice to get back into a routine for Tony & I but the kids are still so out of whack.   We finally finished summer homework requirements! YEAH US!  that was a struggle of all struggles.  My boys like to read but only if they choose what they read.  They dislike reading from a list.

The rest of the week was spent wrapping up school supply shopping, getting new haircuts, washing uniforms and putting them away (reminds me we need to check under supply), taking the supplies to the classrooms, and me getting back into my work out routine.

Day 05- A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life

Dear Tony,

I am writing you this post to thank you for entering my life.  Prior to meeting you I just assumed I would be a single professional women, that is why I went to get my MBA.  I was turning 30 and at that time just assumed that I would be happy with a career and that was that.  Well you know what they say about assuming anything  :) 

Then I met you that night at Dave Wood's home.  I thought you were nice and would be fun to date but nothing more than that.  Little did I know 2 years later we would be married.  I am thankful to God for sending you as a blessing to me.  I am thankful to you because without you -- who knows where I would be (we know not Marion ;) ).

I love you,

Lynn

Day 04- What you imagine paradise to be like.

To me paradise would be introducing my kids to my granparents that they do not know.  They only know Great-Grandma Rose and she is wonderful!  But I know I would like them to be able to meet my other grandparents at the ages that I remember them being awesome (prior to each becoming rapidly ill and passing on).

Small Successes - August 19

With vacation last week and school next week life has been very hectic at the Altomari household.  Still lets rejoice in what we have accomplished.

1) Finally bought all the school supplies for the kids.  They are now labeled and in their backpacks for drop off on Friday morning.

2) Kids are getting back to school haircuts today!

3) Thankful for my trainer - went back after two weeks off and I can not believe how good it felt to be back.

bonus.... cleared out the study area for the kids so we can start school on the right foot on Monday.

Wordless Wednesday

great wolf lodge - niagara falls canada

Day 03- The five songs you would have with you on a desert island and why

The five songs that I would take are:

1. One Particular Harbour - my all time favorite Jimmy Buffett song
2. Lord of the Dance - I heard this song two Easters ago and it brought me to tears and still does everytime I hear it.  My favorite version is my kids singing it at Mass :)
3. From This Momment - Shania Twain - our first dance
4. Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes - reminds me of happy college days
5. Dreams - Brani Carlise

Day 02- Something that inspires you.

Right now good recipes are inspiring me to cook for my family.  I love to peruse cookbooks, cooking websites, magazines, and what ever else may hold a meal idea.  I really enjoy to cook and think that this makes my family happy!

Day 1 - Guilty Pleasure

My guilty pleasure is Reality TV especially the shows on Bravo & E!  I just can't get enough of these.  My husband thinks I am nuts but when he is at work on 2nd shift this is what I watch.  Now he is switching to 3rd shift starting in September so I better get all my watching in... :)

30 Days....

Read this on A Rosey Oulook on Life...

The topics are:
Day 01- Guilty pleasure.
Day 02- Something that inspires you.
Day 03- The five songs you would have with you on a desert island and why.
Day 04- What you imagine paradise to be like.
Day 05- A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life.
Day 06- Earliest thing you can remember.
Day 07- Favorite cover of your favorite song.
Day 08- Someone you think would make a good president.
Day 09- Five things you want to see change.
Day 10- A dream you had this past week described in detail.
Day 11- Favorite picture ever taken of yourself.
Day 12- Your favorite musical artist’s life story.
Day 13- A memory that never fails to make you laugh.
Day 14- Best mashup you’ve ever heard.
Day 15- A moment, phrase, or song that has changed your life the most.
Day 16- Something that you want to do within the next five years.
Day 17- What you want to be remembered for.
Day 18- A picture that makes you feel.
Day 19- A passage from a book that has touched you.
Day 20- A band that you immediately liked and the song that made you like them.
Day 21- Your favorite medium of art.
Day 22- Someone you would give your life up for without question.
Day 23- Most awkward first impression you feel you’ve ever given.
Day 24- Something you did as a child that other people remember you for.
Day 25- Something you would do if no one stopped you or if you knew you wouldn’t fail.
Day 26- Your definition of love.
Day 27- Your definition of the meaning of life.
Day 28- A moment you remember being completely happy in and a description of why you believe you were. What is your definition of happiness?
Day 29- What you live for.
Day 30- Ways you believe you have grown over the past thirty days.

FUN!! So with that....off I go to write on Day 1!!

The Falls....

Back Home

There is no place like home......

On Vacation....

see you when we get back....

one of those days

Ever have one of those days where you just want to get back into bed and pull the covers over and start again - like Groundhogs Day.  That is how I feel today.  It just has not gone well for me and it is all my own doing.  1st yelled -- not yelled but bellowed (is that harsher than yell) at my sons because they did not want to do their summer reading.  The oldest wanted to read some College football preview guide and the middle one wanted to read Super Mario Bros Wii User manual.  Don't think these are on the teachers list. So I suggested the books we picked out at the library - that specifically meet the requirements.  They both said NO and walked away with their previous books. 

Well being the CALM person that I am  -- i just let loose with both barrels about how I do not want them reading that crap (yes I used that word) when I tell them to do their summer reading.  If they want to read that crap (2nd time) they could do it on their own time (i.e. prior to bed).  Then I said crap one more time about their choice of reading material just for good measure.  The ended up reading their school work but also crying and very angry at mom.  


I eventually apologized (even thought) I did not want to but I knew that I should and things are fine - - - BUT how I wish I could turn the clock back and that never had happened.

Small Successes - August 5

This week has been a busy one for our family.  Here are a few of our successes.

1) We took the kids to the zoo for the day on Sunday.  We had such a great time.

2) I went to Cleveland to get my hair cut and colored and came home with a totally different look.   As of today I love it.  (hope to have picture soon)

Old Haircut:

New Hair - bad self portrait

3) Finally got the mini-van into the shop for service...oil change, tire rotation, and tune-up.  Good things since we leave for Niagara Falls on Monday (8/9)

Hope you are having a great week!

Wednesady without word

just plain nutty

edited -- by lma

Faith & Family Live! : Baby Name Statistics

This is really neat -- I found out that the year I was born there were 475 other Lynnette's born that year

Faith & Family Live! : Baby Name Statistics

Welcome August

We had a great start to August.  

We headed to the zoo for the day.  As a special bonus we bought tickets to Jungle Jack's Landing, a mini amusement park.  The kids were excited until they went on the first ride which was a spinny in the air type ride.  Tony rode with Colleen and the boys rode together.  Mom got to sit it out since only two people per car.  Colleen loved the ride, the boys would have passed, and Tony go sick.  After that Tony did not ride another ride and I got to ride all the rest of the rides with the kids.  Colleen went on everything.  She is very very Brave (her words).  I think she is daring.  She will definately test us these years to come.