The Beach….Or Bust….Bust

It was last Saturday and the excitement was unbelievable.  The kids were amped and ready to go.  The car was packed and we were getting ready to head to North Wildwood for our 2014 beach trip with the cousins and aunts and uncles and Pop-Pop.  Thats when I heard it.  The croupy cough that that makes a mother shudder.  Seamus.  Ugh.  And so it began.  We started with a hot shower and lots of coughing and deep breathing and blowing of the snot-filled nose.  Things started looking up.  So, we decided to chance it and left.  The car ride bagan and the coughing started, tissues were flying, and the cheeks became flushed.  Seamus. Now Maya…..then Kieran.   Ugh.

So we get to the shore house and then I heard it again.  The cough.  It was Catie.  She said "aunt becca, I'm sick."  She didn't look or really sound sick so I didn't really think too much of it.  Until the next morning when Jen said to me.  "Catie is sick too."  It seemed as if all the cousins had somewhat of the same thing.  However, the other ones seemed to be acting a little better than mine.  My little ones were miserable.  Not sleeping, crying, whining…just miserable.  Therefore, Mommy was miserable.  After a couple days of no sleep and whiny, crying babies, Kevin and I decided to pack it up and head for home.  We did manage to get a couple happy shots of the kids.  Snot and all.

Some days...

Most days in our house are pretty much on a schedule.  Its how I keep chaos to a minimum with our crazy work calendar and various activities.  Today though, I couldn't take being on a schedule, cleaning anything up, or doing anything that really required any effort what-so-ever…..so we played, and played, and played….from sun up to sun down.   No naps, no formal meals, nothing….just time together playing……it was awesome!

 A Seamie Sandwich

 4 in the tub

 Everyone loves a tractor ride with Daddy

 Puppets

 Washing hair in the sink?  Not sure why he wanted to do that but whatever

Bathing suits (hmm, little chilly) and the little pink car.  

A loooooong winter...

Christmas Pictures

Kevin snowblowing all 72 inches of snow this winter

 Maya trying to look like she is innocent

Seamus reallllllly trying to look like he is innocent.

Mom went home to be with the Lord

 Kevin and I celebrated 5 years of craziness together at Capital Grille

 Kieran is 4 months old.  Wow, that flew!

More recent….yea, he likes to eat. 5 1/2 months

Maya and Seamus finding the largest mud puddle in the yard and making "chocolate milk"

Maya entertaining us on a daily basis

 Seamus' 1st visit to the dentist.  No cavities!

 1st gorgeous day outside….so we had a picnic in the driveway

Seamus doing what he does best….getting into EVERYTHING!!!!!

Dad and I having a "daddy/daughter date night"  up at Bear Creek!  Awesome time!

The movie Frozen has finally been released.  My children now are the characters of the movie.  I have Princess Anna, Christof, and Olaf (poor Kieran doesn't even get to be human)

Today

Today I would have called you obnoxiously early to wish you Happy Birthday.
Today I would have sent you flowers to your classroom like I did every year.
Today I would have made plans to see you for dinner.
Today I would have had my daughter and son guess your age so you couldn't help but laugh at how old they thought you really were. (7 or 8).
Today we would have talked 4 or 5 times, so you knew just how special you were to me.
Today I would have given you another Pandora charm, a garnet, that I bought last month, hoping we would be celebrating this day together.
Today you would be hearing the squeals of laughter and joy from 10 little angels, loving that it was YOUR special day….maybe you still are.
Today you would have been 63.  Still so young, with so much more life in you.

Thinking of you today my dear Mom and missing you oh so much.  I love you!  Happy Birthday!

video

ok, so the video won't upload.  i don't know why.  anyway, the video is of Maya going out on stage as the Rockstar and getting her jacket and dancing with the Fresh Beat Band.

My Rockstar!!!!

For Maya's birthday, all she wanted was to see the Fresh Beat Band.  I'm not sure she realized that it would be at a concert but she kept asking for them to come over for a playdate.  Kevin and I got her concert tickets to the show in Reading at the Sovereign Center.  He was going to take her and it would be "daddy/daughter date night."  She was stoked to say the least.  She was excited because of the Fresh Beat Band (still don't think she really understood) and she was excited because she had a night to spend all by herself with Daddy. ( and Nooooooo little brothers!)

So, it decided to snow last night and create havoc on the roads.  Kevin and I knew how excited she was so being that we have a Suburban, he decided that he probably wouldn't have too much trouble getting there.  Traffic was a nightmare because those people who don't have 4 wheel drive decided it would be a good idea to drive….don't even get me started.  Anyway, they arrived at the concert about 10 minutes before it was about to start.

Our neighbor and good friend, is a radio show host/photographer and get this…KNOWS THE TOUR MANAGER OF THE FRESH BEAT BAND!!!! and in fact, had just spent the last couple days photographing them for the tour!  He adores Maya and when he found out Kevin was taking her, he made some calls and totally hooked them up.  He didn't realize how much he did until later that night.  The seats were good, but Mr. Duncan did muuuuuuuucccccccchhhhhhh better!

Maya got to be the Rockstar!!!!

She was also given VIP access so she and Kevin were able to hang out with the band after the show!  What an amazing night for my little girl.  I'm not sure who was more excited, Maya or Kevin!

Fun family pics

ugh, 3 days before I delivered!

My sweet boys

4th of July sparklers

Bubbles, bubbles, and more bubbles

She looks good, doesn't she?