Happy Anniversary

Today is my parents 44th wedding anniversary.  44 years - WOW that is a long time.  I also know that it is a whole lot of work.   I know that it hasn't always been easy for them or for any married couple.  I know this because being married is not easy.  It takes a whole lot of work and my parents are a great example of this hard work.

God Bless you Mom & Dad - and to 44 more years!

Small Successes - July 29

1) made it through last weekend's family reunion

2) visited our old church in Avon Lake and had such a great time.  talk about being at home.

3) scheduled my haircut and partial highlights for next week.  I am so excited.

4) started school supply shopping.  uniforms are already bought at the begining of summer. 

What a weekend

This weekend went a mile a minute and it was all in all a good time.  Initially I was not looking forward to the weekend but sometimes things work out for you in the end.

1. I had a 2nd mammogram on my right side and everything is AOK!!!
2. The kids spent the afternoon with the in-laws. Normally my parents watch the kids when I have things going on in Cleveland but they are in Alaska for a cruise.  The kids had a good time which they always do and my in-laws took us out for dinner - which was nice.
3. Spent the night at my parents empty home the kids loved it because they were able to watch kids shows on Grandpa's huge HDTV.
4. Altomari family reunion was on Saturday - i dread family reunions.  I think this is because when I was young my mom's family had reunions and I was stuck in the middle.  People were either 5 years older of 5 years younger so I stayed with my immediate family.  It turned out to be fine and the kids had fun
5. Saturday night we went to Bar Symon for dinner.  I love Michael Symon and have eaten at Lola's now Lolita's and had such a great meal and time.  The food at Bar Symon was good and they even had a kids menu.
6. We spent the night in Cleveland and survived a power outage
7. We attended Mass at our old church - Holy Spirit in Avon Lake - prior to our move to Marion.  I have read many people say that church feels like home.  I do not feel that at my church in Marion but the minute we walked in Holy Spirit I felt it.  My oldest son felt it also.  It was unbelievable.  I really miss it up there and even though we weren't part the community (Avon Lake) I knew we belonged at the church.

eShatki dress

Small Successes - July 22

Haven't done this in a long time... here it goes

1) since our church did not have VBS this year we are trying the Holy Hero's Summer Faith Adventure. It is our first time doing this and it is going OK could be better.  The kids loved VBS last year but I don't know if it is us but they are fighting it

2) doing my best to stay out of it

3) I am running out of clothes to wear.  Everything is too big!  Got to love that.

Wednesday without words....

Stay Out Of IT!!!!

I have to reminde myself to stay out of it or I will dragged into it

Church & Life

I really love being Catholic.  I love taking the Eucharist and participating in Jesus' gift to us.  Lately though I have these feeling that I am not Catholic enough for a lot of the Catholic Blog-o-sphere.   I read these blogs and listen to the pod-casts and just feel inadequate in my faith.  I listened to  recent Faith & Family podcast talking about books they are reading this summer and I truly enjoy the books that do not require a whole lot of thinking on my part.  I read for pleasure and joy.  I read trashy beach novels, mysteries, and non-fiction.  I also am reading books on my faith.  However, I did not like that these ladies kept referring to the type of books that I like as outside the faith.  I can follow and believe in my faith while reading these books - can't I????

Another sports 'hero' gone

want a horrible evening in my life and my kids lives.  I know that this is silly to be upset about -- this person is just a basketball player, no one who has a direct effect in my life or my kids life.  However, once again a sports 'hero' decides to leave Cleveland.  This is the first one in my young kids lives.  I hope this will be the last.  It hurts - we will move on - but still SUCKS

wanted to post these photos.....

Daniel at about 3 months......

Daniel at nearly 8 years old....

last day of the month

It is nearly July and I am looking forward to what it has in store some good and some OK.

The good is that we have family reunion at the end of the month, 4th of July (I love fireworks), and a bunch of off days from work.

The OK is that Tony is in MO for 2.5 days starting July 12.  The upside of this is that I get to play stay-at-home mom those days.  We are heading to Cleveland on the 13th but outside of that not much planned.  The other OK on the down-side of OK is that I have a workshop at work - not looking forward to those days.  I guess you have to take the ups with the downs.

june is now over

as i say every month - where did the time go.  I know I have time to blog I am just choosing not to.  SAD really.

This month we celebrated my birthday, my mom, Daniel's and Grandma Ts. 

We also celebrated the last day of school, t-ball and baseball!

I love summer!!!

Gifted Testing

Boys are being tested for the gifted program with the local school district.  Hopefully they do well! 

Happy Birthday!!!! To ME!!!

Today is my 43rd birthday and I am at work. The kids told me to take the day off and go bowling with them (they would have to miss school to do this).

This month is full of birthdays - mine, my mom, my grandmom and Daniel!