I wish I was here ......

This, my dear blogging friends, is Christmas, or my version of what it should be.

Here is my step-father plowing out from the 1st of the 3 storms that hit them in Massachusetts this week. How freakin' cool is this ..... A White Christmas .......

And what is missing in these pictures ??? oh me and my kids ... and my husband, but he doesn't "do snow" as he reminds me of his native Floridian status...("Q" the big eye roll)


So here is my pity party ..... I should be having a white Christmas in the cold instead of watching my kids play in 78 degree heat (well, not today it is only about 60 ...but by Xmas it's gonna be nearing 78). And its not even that I like the cold, because I complain about it the entire time I'm there. It's just the point that I'm missing it and at my pity party, that just doesn't fly.

So I'm wrapping things up in my office and then I am off for 2 weeks. Yup, I'll be back to blogging full time in about 24 hours. I have to pick up a couple more things for Christmas, because I always forget something. I'm wrapping tonight. I forgot to give Big Erin his invitation to my wrapping party that I am holding after the kids go to bed. I need him because after all the "Quinn Wrapping Party" would be no fun with just me. Perhaps I'll entice him with a Corona or two. We can all see that I'm little erked about my lack of snow in Sunny Florida and could use some Christmas Cheer......

Just so you all don't think I am going completely humbug this year. I think my crappy attitude will dwindle a tad when I step foot out of my office and start my very much needed and totally deserved vacation ...

I'm back..

I'm not MIA, just getting taken away by things that I would rather not be taken away by.

My best friend Michele's mother passed away Thursday, not unexpectedly, but unexpectedly, if that makes sense. She was sick for about 2 years and finally she didn't have any fight left. Michele is just devastated. She knew how sick she was, but there is always that denial. Peg was like a 2nd grandmother to my kids, she was so thoughtful and kind. The world was a better place with her in it. Rachael took her passing really hard, I was a little taken back by it, I shouldn't have been. Peg acknowledged all the kids accomplishments, birthdays, graduations. She attended their soccer games many times. The kids called her Grammy Peg and she loved it! The funeral was yesterday. I am glad that is behind us, it was a little difficult.

In between all the chaos, we attempted to take our children's Xmas card pictures! Wow, I had completely underestimated Trevor's stubbornness. It took longer than expected. Probably didn't help that is was both lunch and nap time. But I think we ended up with two pictures that were workable. So in the end, I would consider our picture outing successful.

Am I the only one not done with Xmas shopping?? With work being completely out of control right now, I am very far behind. My Xmas cards are going out today, I need to start wrapping asap! We are staying home for Xmas this year, due to Erin's work schedule and since it will only be us, I'm going to make a small ham and we will play with the kids all day long! I am really looking forward to that.

Here are some pics from our photo session. Yup, Kasey is missing. She didn't want to have her picture taken this year. I wouldn't have done the Thing 1,2 & 3 if she were in them, but since she was being difficult (she is being difficult, but a typical 17 year old) I went for it...I think it turned out cute.

finally .... the pictures.

Better late than never. Here are the pics from the Lightning game this past Saturday night. The Lighting lost to the Buffalo Sabres. But we had a blast!!

It was also bobble head night. Everyone was given a bobble head of one of the players. We were the only adults with kids in our general area, so everyone felt the need to give us their bobble heads. We must have had 15 bobble heads, which was a good thing, because Trevor decided he liked to decapitate them and then throw them down a couple of rows at unsuspecting victims. After the 3rd decapitation, I hid the rest. I am still finding little bobble heads, and I mean just the head, around our house. I have warned the three older's to hide theirs ... due to the serial bobble head decapitator running berserk around our home.

This picture was taken after the game. I was trying to get a picture of the kids while the "faux" snow was falling. It was pretty cool to walk out and have the snow falling around us. They all look a little sunburned. We were at the soccer field for about 6 hours on Saturday and the temperature was around 77 degrees, so the sun took a little toll .. Little Erin's eye look a little demonic, but take my word for it, he the least demonic of the group .. LOL .

Trevor kept calling the "Lightning Bug", the "bur guy" .... translation bird guy

I've been tagged ...

I've been tagged by Another Online Mom !!

The rules are simple.
1. Show the icon on your blog

2. Tag seven people to partake in the fun times (or in my case maybe a just a couple)

3. List 10 random things about yourself.

Alright, let's give this a try:
1. I'm always late. It is a bit embarrassing sometimes.
2. I not a creative cook at all. I wish I was.
3. I'm an over-doer. I try to do to much, all the time.
4. I am obsessive when it comes to clean floors.
5. I love Christmas, but the decorations stress me out. Too much clutter.
6. I think the 8 foot snow globe in front of my house is super ugly and way over the top. Don't tell my husband. I've complained so much about it, that if something happens to it, he will think it is me.
7. I miss Massachusetts and I want to move back, NOW.
8. It erks my butt that my husband loves Florida and he won't move NOW.
9. I'm not even remotely sad that I'm done having children.
10. I wish I was a SAHM again.

I'm taggin' .........

Beth's Blog
Me & My Girls

Have fun !!

catchin' up ....

The weekend just flew by...It's getting closer to Christmas. "Q" the stress ...

Saturday the older's had soccer games. It was a successful weekend in that department. Rachael won her game 3-2. Kasey won her game 6-0 and little Erin won his game 22-0. And that isn't a typo. After like the 5th goal, it became a little embarrassing. This is 7 & 8 year old soccer, no goalies, just an open net and our team took complete advantage of that. I felt horrible for that other team. It was to the point that we just gave the kids a thumbs up when they scored. I sooo hope that every game isn't like this past weekend. It could be a loooooong season. However, Erin thinks that his win was pretty cool.

We did take the kids to the Lightning hockey game Saturday night. A friend gave me great tickets (great seats too). Growing up I went to alot of hockey games, but the kids hadn't been. They had a super awesome time. Hockey is a very fast paced game, and they loved every minute of it. The Lightning is very entertaining too, so besides the game they watched the band, the mascot, the games .... etc...

What I didn't know is apparently hockey players are a hot commodity in the single world. There were many young ladies there wearing close to nothing and walking the arena stairs in stiletto's. Seriously ladies, this was a hockey game and you were in the stands, not even close to the ice. Do you really think the players were going to see you?? They were in groups of 2 and 3, drinking incredibly high priced, very small, dark drinks (I'm thinking captain and coke). And I'm not talking a couple of girls, there were MANY of them. Another thing I learned, hockey is a complete drinking sport and I'm not talking social drinking, I'm talkin' down and dirty, have to get picked up off the floor drinkin'! The ladies room was not a fun place to take Rachael, many ladies talking about things that I have only heard in the bathrooms of bars in Ybor. OMG !! As we were leaving the single's were heading over to the bar across the street, I'm guessing that's where the players go to drown their sorrows after they lose.

Otherwise, the kids had fun, I had fun and I'd definitely do it again.

I was tagged by Jennifer from Another Online Mom. I'll have that posted today. We have some New Yorkers in town working with us today, so things could get a little crazy up here!

my true home.

It's no secret that I'm always trying talk Erin into moving into Massachusetts. I love Massachusetts, it's my home. You can take the girl out of Massachusetts, but you can't take the Massachusetts out of the girl.

I really miss home during the holidays and since Trevor loves Christmas lights, I was thinking about Bright Nights in Springfield, Massachusetts. It is huge and amazing! I remember last time we were home for the holidays my kids were hypnotized. They loved it, and amazingly enough, they still remember it!

I found this little snippet on You Tube. It doesn't do it justice .... but you get the idea..

tappin' out.

I think I know why people have their children back to back. I used think they were just down right crazy, on the verge of lunatic, but I think I know why...

Our littles are spread over 15 1/2 years. The oldest is 17 and the baby is 2.

In the past we have had some hurdles to get over. Some of Kasey's music wasn't really appropriate for Rachael who is 6 1/2 years younger than Kasey. Some of the "terms" Kasey used needed to NOT be used in front of Rachael, not that the terms were bad, just didn't sound right coming from a younger child. Movies are an issue too. Now what Kasey can watch are completely inappropriate for Erin who is 8. And the same with video games, gotta watch them too. And 17 year olds don't really make the best decisions, so you have to stay on top of it. But it's manageable. I'm sure I'm not the only Mom who has to deal with this.

But now the biggest hurdle. Erin who is 8 years old loves WWE wrestling. Erin knows it is fake, the moves are not real and it is entertainment. Erin isn't a child who walks around hitting people, never was, he is very easy going. But he likes watching all the big guys in the wrestling ring. No big deal, until you find out that Trevor has been watching with his big brother. That is where the fun begins in my house.

Trevor thinks that everyone who is on the ground should be clotheslined, figure 4'd, or Batista Bombed. I'm not kidding! He even does the 3 count until you tap out. He knows all their names and he can mimic what they do when they enter the arena. It is really out of control. I have to admit, at first it was cute. The cute is gone. You can't even get a kiss from Trevor without being stiff-armed. I was hugging him last night and he tried to choke hold me. Don't turn your back to the 2 year old in my home.

This morning poor Erin was walking by him and Trevor clothes lined him right in the chin. Enough is enough. No more wrestling on the TV when Trevor can watch. I'm thinking about erasing it from the DVR, but I don't want to punish Erin, it isn't Erin's fault! Erin isn't the one going all postal on everyone!

He's getting a kitchen for Christmas. I'm hoping that will take his attention away from the Batista Bombs and he'll start making him Mommy some calming tea...

completely bummed.

Tonight was going to be such a fun night ....

But then Rach came down with a stomach bug last night and all that has changed. Rachael's soccer team are the ball girls tonight for the big High School Rivalry and I was so excited to see some of the girls on the team play. I haven't seen many of them play in so very long, it was going to be so much fun. Can you tell I want a pity party ???

But poor Rachael, she was so sick. She is feeling better now. Now she is just needy, you know what I mean?? And what a gross mess we had on our hands last night. I mean, it was everywhere. Nothing like steam cleaning carpets at midnight and loading up the washing machine. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the virus doesn't jump bodies and make all the kids in the house sick. That would be just superb.

So in prep for tonight's game... I want to give a shout out to Bdale High !! Go Bulls !! Go Jordan, Go Brittainy, Go Kara and Go Megan !!! And to Beth thanks for the steal below and I expect Twitters at every goal !!

And this weekend is the start of Lil' E's soccer season. He is so excited!! I love watching him play, he has so much energy and love for the game. Actually we have 3 games on Saturday, everyone plays! Busy day!!

I'm still here ....

I wasn't planning on taking a blogging holiday, but it ended up that way. I missed so many things while I was away. I think I am almost caught up with my blog reading. My weekend was jam packed with family stuff and every time I tried to get on the computer my kids were right there asking for their turn. So it turned into a little blogging holiday.

Thanksgiving was great! We had a wonderful dinner and shared a great day with Erin's sister Sean, Tony (her super awesome boyfriend) and Sean's daughter Taylor, who Trevor fell in love with again. We don't see them as much as we would like, but Trevor falls for her every time. He likes to be held ALOT, she is always up to that challenge.

My turkey was perfect tasting. It looked okay, until Erin decided to move it and it fell apart. But if it tastes good, does the presentation really matter ?? Oh, and Erin taste tested the top.

Afterwards the boys, and I mean Big E and Tony, played a little golf on the WII and I picked up dinner all by myself. And by doing that I was rewarded with a date night with my husband. He said he felt bad because I did it all myself. oooohhhhhh .......

The kids really wanted to play Apples to Apples with Aunt Sean, because she takes this game so seriously! LOL !! Here is a little video of the chaos. The chatty one with the braids is Rachael. The little one sitting on the table is Lil' E, Trevor is the toddler making his rounds around the table and Kasey is the one sitting on the end.

Here are a few pictures of everyone:

Rachael, Taylor and Trevor

Sean & Tony

Erin & Tony (They kinda look like brothers)

Lil' E settling in for a little Football

Kasey looking oh so thrilled, this is nothing new.

And this I found very interesting.....We were telling Sean about Trevor's fascination with wrestling and how he imitates all the wrestlers. Allow me to digress ... probably not the best thing for a toddler, but the fascination originated with his older brother.

Anyway, we were talking about wrestling and someone mentioned Hulk Hogan and then I think it was Big E asked if anyone saw the article about Linda Hogan and how she can't live off of $40,00 a month (like seriously, $40,000 a month) and Sean said that young man she is dating, Charlie Hill, dated my niece Taylor (the one in the picture above). I was shocked. They met on a cruise, he was a very nice young man back when they were "dating". And she has pictures of Taylor and Charlie together.....amazing! So there is your useless info for the holiday!