*I'm a selfish mom......

I knew this day would come. I have prepared for it since he was born. On August 23, 2010- my "baby", Corey,  will start school. 

 I cried on Ariel's first day of school. She smiled and waved at me, and the video camera I was holding, as I sobbed behind the lens. I cried on Joey's first day of school . Corey and I walked Joey to his class. With his backpack dwarfing him, Joey smiled and waved goodbye .......I had tears running down my face all the way home.

It is almost two weeks until the start of school and I am ALREADY crying. I don't know if it is because he is my "baby".......maybe because I know the house will be too quiet all day now- no more playing, talking and laughing with me all day.......could it be because he and I became super bonded when he was in his body cast for a couple of months when he was two? Whatever the reason, I am having trouble coming to terms with it. I KNOW he will have fun. I KNOW it is good for him socially and academically. I KNOW that he will live and so will I. But I have to say that I did start questioning whether or not to send him. It is Pre-K at the Elementary School. It is not mandatory, in fact, there are just 15 slots available and we happened to get in. Yes, I secretly hoped that we would get passed up so that Corey could stay home with me for one more year. But, for those of you who know me....what do I always say??? "Everything happens for a reason"!!

Since I have been home with the kids for the past three years I have become SO selfish. I almost never do anything without them. They have not even been "babysat" in three years, other than time with Granny and Pa Pa. I just do not enjoy tons of time away from them. I know to some of you parents I sound absolutely crazy, but it is true. I worked so much (see my earlier posts) before, that I have savored every fighting, laughing, potty training, hugging, kissing, movie repeating, heat rash having, body cast wearing, smiley face moment!!! I am SO thankful to have my children. The love and pride for them is immeasurable.

 So, where does this leave me? What will I do while someone else gets to hear all three of them laughing, making sure they eat, and telling them to stop finger painting with spit?!

*Sigh*

*Meet My Girls

Ok....here we are, the long awaited post of my girls........Meet My Loves!!

Meet my sister, Corianne Henry, Officiant:

She married me and hundreds of stuffed animals growing up.....After a decade of pretend marriages, I felt she was the only one fit to marry me and Joe. She has been ordained a minister and will make our childhood, girlie dreams a reality!

Meet by childhood friend and surrogate sister, Abby Manchesky, Matron of Honor:

I knew Abby before she was born. Our fathers have been best friends their entire lives. When Eileen, Abby's mom, was pregnant with her and my mom, Darlene, was pregnant with my sister (at the same exact time and due dates two weeks apart), the excitement for me was through the roof! I gained two sisters in two weeks. My childhood Michigan memories that I hold so dearly (hence the wedding locale), all include Abby!

Meet our daughter, Ariel, Maid of Honor:

Ariel is my heart and spirit! She completes and balances me. The yin to my yang......I do not remember what life was like before her, nor do I want to. She keeps me grounded and stable, she has made me who I am today!

Meet my best friend, Shelly Roy, Matron of Honor:

Shelly and I were fast friends. With like minds and a passion for life......we have been best friends for a decade! She not only knows me better than I know myself, but she knows me and Joe together. She truly is the epitome of what a best friend should be and there is nothing that she would not do for me. She's had me since hello......(hee hee)- oh yeah....and she's the funniest girl I know!

Meet my cousin, Elizabeth Bellotte, Junior Bridesmaid:

Meet my cousin, Hannah Grace Bellotte, Junior Bridesmaid:

Meet my niece, Amara, Flower Girl:

Meet my surrogate niece, Holly Roy, Flower Girl:

So, there you have it......my lovelies, my heart, my day would not be complete without them!!

*Home Sweet Home

So, at some point I thought it was a great idea to take Ariel, our newly 15 year old daughter, on a cruise with my aunt and her two daughters. It was SO exciting........until I got ON the ship. =/ The yearning for Joe and the boys was IMMEDIATE and hit me hard. I cried like a baby, and called Joe to say goodbye.....5 times...

Do not get me wrong, this lovesick feeling of being away from them was not in the obsessive, co-dependant form...but rather, a bit puppy love, a bit BFF's being away from each other for the first time ever -with NO contact, and a bit maternal and wifely instinct that shit was going to hit the fan back at the house......

Well, everyone, even all of the pets, survived =) Ariel and I had a great time despite her seasickness and my missing Joe and my boys.

We tried things that we never thought we would........and we ALL accomplished new things. Ariel sang karaoke with her two cousins aboard the ship for a St Jude fundraiser.....

We tried escargot (ahhhhhhh....I knooooow)......swam with dolphins and rode on their belly.....

Ariel learned that she CAN stay with 4 other girls in one room and not lose her cool.......

I learned that I CAN allow myself some of life's enjoyments once in a while.....just because I have back problems, mom things to handle, and I freckle too easily- I DO deserve to have some fun and soak up the sun!! It just might take me longer to get there and more sunscreen to lather on.......

Joe learned that he, the boys and pets would survive without me......they might not like it and may lose a couple digits, but they'll survive.....

All in all, we all learned a little a lot!! Some just have more permanent memories from it.......

My heart is so full.........

*And the winner is.........

I have been going insane....driving myself (and Joe too I am sure) NUTS over these color decisions. Well.....there, I'm done. A decision has been made and I feel SO MUCH BETTER! =)

We are simple, FUN, excited, children loving, cheerful and happy people and THIS is what best suited us.

*Sigh* Now I can stop fretting and start enjoying this planning. Thank you Abby for your insight!

*Gotta Have Kid Appreciation Too

So, still on my wedding planning journey, I have been gathering up ideas for favors. And I can assure you, that the babies on up to teens DO NOT WANT a jar of jam or coasters. So, being that my "wedding week" will have these kids away from home for some time, and not to mention they are constantly being told to behave in the MOST boring situations ...I really need to step it up for them!! I have a ton up my sleeve and while I will not share AAALL of my goodies, these are a few ideas I have come up with.....

For my baby and toddler guests....who could forget them?!




All from The Land of Nod....from top Teethers - Set of 3 3.25 x .5"h ea., 50 Multi Block Set1 - 2.25"h each, Noddo Flip Book, Pulling Some Strings Toys, The Roller, the Sorter, the Stacking Ring Maker, Stacking Blocks, First Pops, and last but not least Curious George in the Box.






For my pint sized, school aged-loved ones.....




All from The Land of Nod....from top Land of Nod A Wise Little Lunch Box, Lunchasaurus Box and Lunch-Bot 5000, Pillow Pals, make your own jewelry kit, Opposites Word Puzzle, United States Bingo, Scribble it Postcard Makers, binoculars, and tic tac toe

All sure to be a hit with my shorter friends and family =)




And for my tween and teen lovelies....




All from Amazon.com ...... from top Green Giraffe Designer Inspired Animal Print Handbag Purse Bag Tote, Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea, Moonlight Path & Cherry Blossom Mini Body Lotion Gift Set, Red Large Zebra Print Faux Leather Satchel Bag Handbag , Amazon.com $25 Gift Card (0108) (for those avid Kindle readers), Yellow Flowers Journal (Notebook, Diary) (Small Format Journals), Hand Stamped Pendant Necklace - Name of Precious Little Girl and Heart, iTunes Gift Card for those i pods =)




So, there ya go......just some out of the box ideas for those younger ones as your guests or who may be in your wedding party, especially if you are having an out of town or destination wedding like myself and guests will be in tow for a long weekend or week.

*Bi-Polar??

So I am planning my own weddng......after almost 10 years together and 3 children, we are FINALLY havin' a hitchin'.....ha ha, sorry, I couldn't help myself. I have two TOTALLY different visions for my wedding. Joe is just as stumped as I, so I am mulling it over. Hopefully we can decide soon, because much of the "wedding week" will be DIY.

We will be married on Mackinac Island in Michigan. It is one of my absolutely favorite places in the world. I just get a feeling of *content sigh* when I think of the island. It is like an old world stuck in today's times.....there are no cars allowed, well no motor anything, for that matter. You get around by feet, horse back or carriage, and bicycle. And the lilacs....oh those lilacs.....I heart them A LOT! Anyways......I have feeling that this next year of planning all of the "wedding week's" events will bring some smiles, entertainment, and ideas to others.....I hope you enjoy! I will leave off right now with these two themes I have going on.




This one is what I call Muted Love.......it romantic, soft, vintage....












This one....completely different.....is also "ME" (well and Joe also of course). It is cheery, retro, summery and sun shiney.....








So, there you go....my dilemma for the past two days.......*sigh*

*Feathers Satin and Lace....Oh My.......

I hosted the most fun bridal shower EVER for my new sister-in-law. It was held in a private lounge atop the Louisiana Downs Racetrack Sky boxes. The theme was lingerie…..and LOTS of it =) I thought about every.single.detail. from feathers and jewels adorning each table, to favor bags made of satin and lace and filled with fragrances and hand sanitizers from Bath and Body Works, as well as a pen and a card to fill in giving the bride some bedroom pointers. There was a candy table with all pink and red candies to go and also the corset shaped, bustier cake handmade by a friend, for sweets. I pre-made a scrapbook with all guests in attendance each getting their own page. The oval shaped invitations to the party were 3 part and the last page being a questionnaire to fill out describing that person’s relationship with the bride. I also included each girl’s ”bedroom advice” card and attached it to their page. The book was all done and ready to be taken home by the bride that night when she left.
We had games galore with FUN prizes. From bathrobe and matching slippers to a gift card for Victoria’s Secret so the winner could score her own lingerie. We had so much fun and were not ready for the night to end, so of course we carried the party on late in to the night. Now I get the enjoyment of planning my own wedding for next June, to be held on Mackinac Island in Michigan. Stay with me, because I have soooo many sweet and unexpected surprises up me sleeve for that wedding week………