Spreading Wings and a Sunday Saying . . .

Yesterday, I watched my oldest son, Connor, pull out of the driveway and leave for the next leg of his college years.  He is going to be attending SUNY (State University of New York) Plattsburgh.  It's about five hours from here and is near Canada.  Needless to say, lots of snow and cold.  Even more than what we've been having here this winter!!  I knew it was going to be a rough morning emotionally.  I could feel the tears coming up as I finished his laundry and packed up his clothes for him.  Thoughts of the day he was born.  Thoughts of his father, Grandpop and Nannie watching him from above.  Thoughts of him driving all by himself to a place he's never been before and not knowing anyone when he gets there.  As I had my breakdown in the kitchen (yes indeed I cried like a baby!!) when it was finally time for him to leave, I told him how much I loved him and how incredibly proud I am of him for so many different reasons.  I told him how amazing he is for being able to make that drive alone, not knowing anyone when he gets there.  I told him I didn't think I would've been able to do something like that at his age.  Maybe not even now.  He had tears in his eyes which made me cry even more.  He's a remarkable young man and I am so very proud to be his Mama!!!  In the blink of an eye, it's time to let them spread their wings and fly!!!

Many blessings for a beautiful Sunday and a peaceful week to come ~ Wendy

College and Christmas Cards . . .

Last night we got a very pleasant surprise in the form of our oldest son coming home from college a couple of days earlier then expected. The front door swung open at 9:15 and in he walked. I had just been thinking about him and how much I wished for all of us to be home safe and sound under one roof on the cold, rainy night we were having and in he came. Don't you just love moments like that??? So now he's home until next Wednesday and then back to school for another day or two and then he's officially back home full time. My son made a huge and very mature decision to not go back to Hofstra after his first semester. The amount of student loans that he would've had to pay back after attending four years there would've been astronomical. We explained this to him but it was something that he had to find out for himself. I think the realization of how bad our economy is finally hit him when he spent a day at Occupy Wall Street (before it got crazy down there) and spoke with some of the people who were in the same boat he was putting himself into ~ no job, minimal job opportunities and major debt hanging over their head already at a very young age. He told me his biggest fear is that he'll graduate from college and there will be no opportunities for him. He's now enrolled in our community college and will be starting the end of January. He's also going to be working where he worked over the summer until school starts again. I'm so proud of him and the knot in my stomach for him has gone away. He's such a great kid and I know there will be lots of opportunities for him when he graduates but now he won't have to live with us until he's 40 while he's paying off his student loans!! : )



Yesterday, I finally sat down and made up our Christmas card for this year. I find it extremely difficult to get all four kids together for a photo. I took some pictures of them at the beach this summer and I thought they came out nice. I used Picnik for my editing and ordered them online at our local Walgreen's pharmacy. It took me about a half hour for the whole process. I'm crossing my fingers that they came out okay. I still have lots of Christmas shopping to do. December always seems to be a busy bill paying month for us and since we don't use our credit cards anymore we have to rely strictly on cash. It's pay day for both of us next week so I'll be able to finish up then. I work well under pressure so I'm not worried. It will all get done!! How are you all doing with your shopping? Are you done and wrapped or are you more like me???


Many blessings for a happy Thursday ~ Wendy

Around Here . . .

. . . we've been nursing Megan back to health after being in the emergency room with 105.4 fever yesterday morning. All tests were negative for anything serious so we're treating it as something viral. Doing the Tylenor/Motrin, lots of liquids and baths thing. I don't know about you but fevers scare the heck out of me and 105 was the worst fever any of my kids has ever had. She had quite a morning yesterday but was such a good girl. We follow up with the pediatrician later today.

. . . I had all of my chickens home to roost this weekend. You don't realize how much you miss somebody until you get to hug them again. Even when they're only an hour and a half away at school.

Connor and Megan the day he moved into his college dorm.


. . . we've been watching the approximately twenty hydrangea bushes that line our property grow into the visions of loveliness that they've grown into every year . We cut them back a little late this year and I wasn't sure if they'd grow or not but, thankfully, they did and should be at their peak in a couple of weeks. I love to give them away to people so please feel free to ask if you live near by. I have so many, I don't know what to do with them all!! Such problems, I know!! : )



. . . we've made arrangements for our favorite little man from the Bronx to come and visit us over Columbus weekend!! The kids have off from school on that Monday so we thought we'd take advantage of it and spend some time with Jakhai who was the boy we sponsored as part of the Fresh Air Fund over the summer. We miss him so much and can't wait to see him again!!

This is Brendan and Jakhai right before he left to go home. I didn't handle saying goodbye very well. : ( Jakhai always says, "Later" instead of goodbye. His mom told me it's because he thinks goodbyes are forever so he doesn't like to say it. He is such an old soul and I know that he'll be a part of our family for many, many years to come!! : )

What's happening in your neck of the woods?


Many blessings for a wonderful and peaceful day ~ Wendy

Bitter and Sweet . . .

My son just pulled out of the driveway headed toward Hofstra University where he'll be attending his freshman orientation for the next three days. I feel like I'm in a dream and someone is going to be waking me up any minute and he's going to be the baby in the crib in our bedroom upstairs instead of my daughter. I don't think that anything can prepare a mother for how quickly the time goes from when you first hold your newborn baby to when you watch him drive off to the beginning of his adult life.

Roots have been pretty easy. It's the wings part that I seem to be having a little trouble with. : )


Many blessings ~ Wendy

NHS Class of 2011 Prom Night . . .

Our oldest son, Connor, attended his prom on Friday nite. It was a little emotional for me on several different levels but so exciting at the same time. My first born is about to graduate from high school and begin the next phase of his life. He is so ready to spread his wings and fly!!

Aunt Stephanie (my sister) helping Connor with his bow tie. Thank goodness she was there. I'm terrible with this kind of stuff!! : )

This is Connor's beautiful date, Allison. They've been friends since elementary school. Most of his friends went with each other just as friends. I really think that's why they all had such a good time. Less drama that way!! : )

I just had to get a picture of Allison's shoes. They were gorgeous and her toenails matched the color of her dress perfectly!!

My handsome son looks just like his father. Although John was not physically here to see Connor on his special day, I have no doubt that he was looking down on his son with nothing but pride for the young man that he has become.

Connor with his football coach and a few of his closest friends. They were all so handsome!!!

It was a special night, filled with lots of friends and special memories to look back on. Everyone had a wonderful time and made it home safely. Who could ask for anything more?!!?

Next stop . . .

GRADUATION!!!! : )


Many blessings ~ Wendy

A Wonderful Mothers' Day in Pictures . . .

We had a wonderful Mothers' Day around here. It was filled with lots of food, family and fun and my mother was thrilled she got to spend it with all eight of her grandchildren!!





My mother and Megan in the Sailor outfit she bought for her.





Jim trying to keep my niece, Annie, from eating her fourth brownie.







Brendan and Annie relaxing on Nana's patio.





Trevor playing wall ball in Nana's house. Don't tell her!!




The best carrot cake you ever tasted!! I'm not kidding!!!!




First cantaloupe of the season and it was dee-lish!!!!!




Megan practicing her yoga poses.




Jim and my nephew, Tristan.




A rare photo of my son, Connor. I have to sneek pics of him and then I take a rash of you-know-what for taking them!! : )



My niece, Taylor, and nephew, Danny hanging on Nana's patio.

Girl power!!!

Daddy got his baby girl dressed so Mommy could put on some much needed make-up. We were up late the nite before on a date nite in Manhattan to celebrate our third wedding anniversary. I'll tell you about that next time. It was phenomenal!!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Mothers' Day!!

Many blessings ~ Wendy

A Rant on a Monday . . .

I'm sitting quietly, sipping coffee. Son #1 is still asleep. He doesn't have to be to school until 10:30 since he loaded up on classes freshman, sophomore and junior years. Today I have to contact the financial aid office at Hofstra to see if we are eligible for any aid other then the scholarship he's been given if he decides to go there. The middle class gets screwed out of everything, don't we? It's really very sad to me. As of now, my generation will be leaving our children a mess that is beyond our comprehension. Promises are made and never kept and our children are the ones that are suffering for it. Our schools are bulging at the seams and more cuts are going to be made. Cuts to teachers, teacher's assistants, school activities, sports, special ed, and the list goes on. I follow several blogs where children are home schooled and I honestly used to frown upon that idea. Now it's looking pretty good to me. Unfortunately, I'm not a very structured personality and I don't think it would work for me. Truth be told, I like that they leave for part of the day. It makes me love and appreciate them all the more upon their return. : )

By the way, I'm having trouble adding pics to my blog. Is anybody else? Everything just freezes up when I try to add them.


Many blessings ~ Wendy

Random Summer Photos . . .

It's so hard to believe that summer vacation is almost over around here!! Nine more days and it's back to school for the boys. Connor is going to be a senior, Trevor is going to be a freshman and Brendan will be a big third grader. Soon it will be just Megan and Mommy on the days that her Daddy is working. We had lots of visitors this summer to see Meggie and lots of sleepovers with the cousins. I took a lot of pictures so I thought I'd share some this week.

My niece Annie and Brendan are a month apart and looked like twins when they were babies. Both with big brown eyes!! They are pictured above.

Below are the four cousins after a sleepover.

Tristan is my nephew. He and Megan have a mutual love for each other. It's the sweetest thing!!

Cousin Andre and Aunt Michelle

Cousin Jason with a "mohawk" compliments of Trev. I wish this pic was clearer!!
Jason is Aunt Michelle's other little man. He'll be a year old in a couple of weeks. So hard to believe!!

Trevor's friends spent a lot of time here this summer swimming in the pool, hanging out with Meggie and making me laugh. The picture above is of Trev, Dylan and Joe after we sang "Happy Birthday" to Trevor. These guys are fun to be around and are a great group of kids. They all start high school next week. I can't believe it!!!!!


Can you tell this was taken very early in the morning?!!? I call these my husband's "sleep sexy eyes." Is that TMI?!!?


Tomorrow I think I'll share some beach photos. Have a wonderful and peaceful day!!





Many blessings ~ Wendy

A Whirlwind of Activity and Lazy Days Too . . .

It's so hard to believe that it's been a month since I posted last. I'm turning into one of those bloggers that I don't like very much. I have certain blogs that I love to read and, when they don't post or God forbid go more than a week without a new post, I lose interest or become obsessed with when they're finally going to be back. Obsessed might be a bit too strong of a word but you know what I mean. :)

Here are a few pics of what we've been up to since the last couple of weeks of school.

Brendan was a praying mantis in an adorable play that was written and performed by his class. His friend, Tristan, played an army ant. All of the costumes were made by parents of the students. Lots of creative people!!

The end of flag football season. It was Brendan's first year playing and he did a great job. He's like his mother and doesn't do well in the heat but he hung in there like a trooper!!

I could never understand why sports jerseys come in black for summer sports. I'm sure if women were in charge of this they would come in lighter, less sun-absorbent colors. Don't you agree?

We had a graduation from middle school to high school. It was a tough year for Trevor so we're very happy it's over. :)

Trevor and his very proud Pap.

Now two out of three grandsons are taller than their Pap!!

Trevor and his very proud parents!!

We look a little worse for wear due to being in an auditorium without air conditioning (except for the bathrooms!!) and it was 90 degrees and humid the day of graduation. My poor husband came straight from work and wasn't able to change so he was drenched by the time the ceremony was over. UGGHH!!

Our oldest son graduated from Fire Training School and is now officially a firefighter. He didn't attend his graduation from the class so I don't have any pics to show but he did get his name in the local newspaper so we have that as a memento. He is also now a senior in high school. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone. I remember his first day of pre-school and now he's going to be graduating next year. The day of our baby shower for Megan was the day that Connor left to fly to North Carolina to look at colleges. Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum!!

Which brings me to a couple more pictures . . .

Miss Meggie is now almost 8 weeks old!!! She is smiling and starting to coo and is such a sweet baby. She makes the sweetest sounds when she's sleeping on her Mommy and Daddy's shoulder. I feel like I'm constantly holding her but I can't help myself!!

This is one of my favorite pictures of her.

I have to admit that I'm really enjoying dressing a little girl!!

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Seventeen Candles . . .

It's been a pretty quiet week around here which is why I haven't blogged much. November is the month that my first husband passed away. Tomorrow it will be five years. I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday but, at the same time, a whole other life time ago. My father's anniversary was on Monday. It's been four years for him and I swear I could cry at the drop of a hat still when I think about it. We buried him on my husband's one year anniversary. In between those two sad days there is a wonderful day, though.



Our oldest son turned seventeen on Tuesday. I drove him to school on his birthday so he could sleep in a little bit. I looked at him in the car and told him that I'm too young to have a seventeen year old. Do you know what his response was? Are you ready for this one? Without missing a beat, he replied, "yeah and you're too old to have a baby." Needless to say, the melancholy feelings went right out the window and I punched him. : )








Ahhhh, the joys of Motherhood. And to think I'm gonna start all over again!!!!! : )




(My first baby. Isn't he handsome?!!?)







Many blessings ~ Wendy