Oh my heart...

Summer has officially ended and today was it...the first day of Kindergarten! Our baby...my last baby, boarded that big yellow bus without a backward glance. But before I get into that big pile of heartache...lest we not forget the big kid...the teenager...Miles the 8th grader. So handsome.

But he only let me take one picture. WTF? After all of these years, you would think he'd know that it's just better to give up the fight. C'est la vie...I shall continue to hound him...his own personal maternal paparazzi.

And then this little boy...Sammy is an official kindergartener. Look at him...he let me take more than one picture, although he's developing that little "I am so done with the picture taking, Mom" attitude, far too early in my opinion.

My biggest and littlest loves...

A little bit of that "don't take my picture" tude in this one...

Our big boy...such a ham sandwich...

And a special little mention here because she's my mom and I would be lost without her.

Both Miles and Sam are beyond lucky to have a family that love them both so much and Sam in particular was fortunate enough to have been born here, where both our families reside. He has been smothered in love and surrounded by so many wonderful people since the day he joined our family. Tuesday Grandma...you are amazing and you a have a special piece of this little boy's heart, all to yourself. Thank you for all of the Tuesdays. Here's to all of the adventures ahead. xoxo

He's all ready...

A boy and his backpack...

Like I said...not one backward glance...

Stepping off the bus and into his next big adventure...

You are more than ready for this my little skeeter bug. We all love you immeasurably...spread those little wings and fly!

Vacation from hell...

Long story short...this year's trip to Maine kicked my ass. Short story long...the trip starts off quite well. Miles, Sam and I manage to get on the road early with the only hiccup being that Sammy is running a temp of around 100. He snoozes in the car on the way though.

Unfortunately, four hours and one more dose of motrin later, we arrive in Maine and Sam has a whopping 103 degree temp. Shit. After ringing our pediatrician at home and being told to monitor the temp and check the little bugger's throat, I manage to get his fever to come down a bit. M's friend Ryan, whose family is vacationing nearby, is dropped off to join us for the next few days and we decide on a little seafood takeout. Just as I'm about to take my first bite of lobster roll, Evan calls. He was on his way out to meet us after work, only to have his car die on the Mass Pike. Seriously? Yes...unfortunately. Lobster roll and chowder high, put on hold. We spend the next hour orchestrating a tow off the pike and a lift from Ev's dad, back to our house. One minor emotional breakdown on the phone with my mom later and my single mom mode is engaged. Deep breaths...I can totally pull this off alone. We finish dinner, watch a movie and crash out...Sam's fever breaks in the night. Yay! Wait...no...a sore throat Sammy? Are you sure honey? Yes mom...my "froat" hurts. Ugh...ok...it's just a little sore throat...oh wait...you do still have a fever. Ok...a little breakfast and a shower...I can totally do this. Get directions to the local walk in clinic and movie times for a matinee...because it's raining. Rock. This is the clinic...complete with super nice check in lady, snack, coffee and juice station and a place for the kiddos to hang out while we wait on Sammy's strep test.

Sick, but still our smiley Sammy. Strep test comes back negative...woo hoo! Score for the home team! Evan calls to say that his car died because the timing belt, that was just replaced, shredded and because it's under warranty, it has to be towed all the way back to our local mechanic. My good mood, induced by the negative strep test is thwarted by the fact that I will be flying solo for four more days with a sick five year old and two teenagers. But I can do this...shake it off, grab some pizza and we get in line for a matinee...with everyone else in Maine because it's still raining. Half a dozen people in line cut us and then ignore my protests...I nearly lose my shit but we eventually make it to the ticket desk and head to our movies. Sam drops his bear that they gave him at the walk in clinic, in the toilet. Sweet. We watch Nanny McPhee Returns, which was very good by the way, and the boys see Scott Pilgrim vs The World. My mom ends up renting Evan a car and he is on the way out...I love you mom. Ev pulls in just in time for all of us to grab a lovely dinner at one of our favorite spots. Sam's fever spikes again, but he's still smiley.

Day one over. Day two...no sun but no rain, so we head to the beach only to find that the "No Swimming" red flag is flying. We hang out on the beach for an hour or so and very nearly get blown away.

The water was actually not too bad...much warmer than last year. Ok...so scratch the beach. The boys are game for the motel pool, but abandon that idea after a few minutes of freezing their little tails off in it. We forego any sort of water related fun and opt for a little shopping and a trolley ride.

An early dinner at another favorite restaurant, Sam and I chill out at the motel and Ev takes the boys out for a round of mini golf. Stick a fork in the Skeeter...day two is done.

This was Wednesday...all day long.

We brave the elements for a trip to Portland's Children's Museum...which as it turns out, is geared toward kiddos who are Sammy's age...but M and Ryan were very cool about the whole trip. Good men...er...teenagers. The car rides there and back were another story...does anyone know at what age, random fart noises become un-funny? And Wednesday ends with Evan leaving us to head back home for work the next day. Another minor emotional meltdown later, I rally and treat myself to the best fried scallops ever. Arcade, ice cream and back to the room to call it a night. And wouldn't you know it...we wake up to gorgeous, sunny blue skies on Thursday morning...our day of departure. Rather than interpreting this as a cruel joke, I go with the "better late than never" philosopy and we finish off our week from hell on a high note. Here comes the sun...

I suppose that every family needs a good nightmarish vacation story or two...although one would be just fine with me. All is well though...we made it through and we were together. Sammy is healthy as a little horse, we ate lots of good food and even managed that one sunny day at the ocean. It feels really really good to be home and Evan just put a glass of red wine in front of me. Onward and upward...bring on the next adventure!

Maine, here we come...

This is what I will be looking at, hopefully within the next 48 hours. The weather says rain, for the next three days in ME, but I refuse to accept that. Ok...so yes, rain through the entire vacation would really suck, and yesterday the glass definitely seemed much less full, and I thoroughly lived up the title of this blog, and nearly packed a bag for just myself after listening to brotherly bickering all morning long, but there is a lot to be said for a good night sleep. I am on my second cup of coffee and about headed upstairs to erase the little raindrops and umbrella that Miles drew into my family beach portrait on Sam's chalkboard wall. We are on vacation and it's going to be awesome! Lobster rolls and chowder...here I come!

Just what I needed...

I'm a collection girl for a funky little company and I love it. I know, right? Collecting money...blah...where's the fun there...but it's more about where I work. It's an ordinary job in an extraordinary environment...and I'm not your typical collection girl either. I'm a firm believer in that whole "you get more bees with honey" school of thought, and that seems to work well with most people. MOST, anyway. On occasion I lock horns with an a-hole or two and today, brought with it one of those moments. They don't happen often but when they do, I hate it and it makes me feel just plain shitty. But all that I need to leave that behind is this...

My sweet little skeeter who never fails to greet me with a huge smile, hug and "Mommy you're here!!!" when I pick him up at the end of the day.

And then of course, a side of this also does the trick...

My big kid, who is actually spending the week with his dad, but who called while I was sitting here writing...just to say hello. Ahhh...my heart.

And then bringing my day full circle with this...

He's adorable...what can I say...kind, sweet, funny, loving, passionate...and he's a chef. I am a lucky girl.

Top that off with three seriously creative lego creations now sitting on my night stand (wait...it's four now, and I've just been informed that number five is being built) some good comfort food (pasta in this house) and a frosty mango, lime summery drink...my cup runneth over.

What bad day?

And away we go...

This is my first shot at blogging and I have to amit that I'm not entirely sure of what I'm going to do with this...but I've always loved writing and occasionally have an entertaining tale to tell...so here we go...blogging...take one.

A couple of Sundays ago, I was just having one of those days...tired, a little short on patience, ears blocked (a whole other blog post there)...anyway. Sam was in rare form that day...seemingly on a mission to push every possible button that I have...and then topping off our day of running around and whatnot, was an almost full strawberry milkshake, spilled all over the back of the car. So we get home and I get right onto clean up duty...Honda Element, I love you...and your rubber floors. I'm hosing down the mats in the driveway and ok...I'll cop to crying a little...tension release and all. Sammy comes outside, eager to offer his help...which I politely decline so instead he sits down in the driveway with two of his monster trucks that are tied together with a string. The red truck then proceeded to pull the green one around...crabbing at it over this and that and eventually I overhear the names that he's given his trucks. The green truck being pulled and bossed around is called "Connor" and the red truck is..."Da Grumpy Mudder." That's it kiddo...turn the screws on your ol' mom. Jeez. And while this little passive aggressive driveway role playing incident did, at the time, severely up the level of mom guilt I was already feeling for being off my game all day long...it also made me chuckle. "I can't wait to tell everyone this one!" was all that I could think to myself. And thus was born this blog title. Thank you Skeeter...and Regina for suggesting it.