UPDATE!!!

Man you guys have no patience. So I opened the card. Here is what the card looks like - isn't that cute a ton of babies all over it.


Sure you can see the inside as well. If you can't read the chicken scratch at the bottom it reads "can't wait to see you - Thing #5" I am sure you have seen pics of my kids wearing their Thing 1,2,3 and 4 shirts. Get it "Thing #5"



So there you have it. The card is opened - oh but wait the thing is it's not really important what the cards reads as it is what the cards SAYS.........

TO BE CONTINUED.......

Call us Superstitious!

We're not really superstitious. We don't follow our horoscopes I don't even know what Steve is. We think the fortunes inside the fortune cookies are funny. The thing is when I am pregnant I am obsessed with all kinds of superstitions. A lot are mainly my own making. The night before we went in to deliver Samantha the phone rang at 10pm. We needed to be at the hospital at 6am the following morning and this was my first c-section so I was a bit of a wreck. Well on the phone was a Partner at Steve's firm....we'll call him Ed. Almost 8 yrs later I don't remember if "Ed" was oblivious to the fact that I was delivering the following morning or if the work problem he was having was that important. After throwing a fit and reminding him it was 10pm I handed the phone over to Steve and they continued the conversation for some time. All the while I was yelling at both of them in the background. They thought I was funny. Ed left the firm some time later for greener pastures (oh he so misses Steve) but for each of my deliveries he has always called the night before - now just to wish us luck. Steve has already given him notice of the new comer.

Since I am schedule c-sections we have been lucky to always get the first morning appt. So on the way to the hospital Steve always stops and gets his egg sandwich and coffee torturing me because I am not allowed to eat.

We always call Steve's grandma the night before and remind her to light a candle for us at church.

Now as far as knowing the sex of these kids before they arrive that is a whole other craziness I subject myself too. I don't really recall much with Sam because I just assumed she was a boy for some reason I never thought my first would be a girl. Needless to say I was a bit shocked when they said "It's a girl"

With Steven we were already almost out of the 1st trimester when I found out I was pregnant. So when we went for our U/S Steve wanted to find out. I didn't want to know. I feel there are no surprises left and this is really the only one that means the most. So I caved and left Steve to find out. I left the room and went to walk away. As I did I heard him and Sam (who was just over a year at this point) start cheering. So where they cheering because it was a boy or because Sam was getting a sister?!?!? I only lasted until about 2am that night and woke Steve up demanding he spill it. Like Sam, with Steven I don't really remember any "signs" to what the sex was.

Then there is Bella. I can't explain it but I swear I willed her to be a girl. I just knew when I got pregnant I would have a girl and her name would be Isabella Rose. I was obsessed. We never found out until we delivered but I didn't need to because I had lots of signs. One of the big ones I recall was when Sam started pre-school. On her first day she made friends with a little girl. When it was time to leave Sam turned and waved bye to the little girl. She said "I'll see you later Bella" I stopped in my tracks and asked Sam the little girls name and she said it was Bella. The little girls Mom was walking in at the same time so we waited for her. When they came out of the school I asked the Mom the little girls full name and she said it was Isabella Rose. I knew it! I knew then I was having a girl. I can't explain it. For some reason at that time it was more important to me that Sam have a sister then Steven have a brother.

When I convinced Steve to have "just 1 more" I thought there were lots of signs pointing to a boy but they were never as strong as they were when I was pregnant with Bella. Again we never found out until we delivered. I had hoped for a boy so Steve could have a brother. The kids would tell people their Mommy was having a boy. When Sophia came we thought the kids would be upset but when she had to go into the NICU for the couple of days the kids never once said anything about Sophia not being a boy and they were just concerned for their sister. Steven was a very protective big brother. It was sweet.

Here we are today, pregnant again, with the last one I promise. Thankful for this pleasant surprise I am yet again obsessed with my signs. There have been tons of signs pointing to a boy. Everyone says boy. I have none of my cravings I had with Bella and Sophia. I don't remember my cravings with Steven I just know I have nothing I had last time. The kids say boy ALL THE TIME. So much so they are driving me nuts. The thing is they are just so matter of fact about it. I was given this necklace a while back that came on a string with a mini wishbone. I was supposed to wear it, make a wish, and then wear the necklace until the string breaks. Here's the sign...I think. The string was blue. I made the wish but a few days later the string didn't break the wishbone charm fell off. So now what.....did my wish come true I mean the string didn't break. I spend a lot of my day in the car. I take a particular road every day and a few weeks back 4 houses on this 1 block had 4 stork signs on their front lawn. All the signs announced the houses had just had BOYS. That's crazy and I so took it for a sign! 2 weeks ago I was in CVS and I was mentioning to the lady behind the counter that I thought it was a little early to be selling Mothers Day balloons. She agreed and as I stood there waiting to pay I was staring at the balloons - I love balloons - anyway there in the middle was 1 different balloon. It was a "Congrats it's a Boy" balloon....holy cow that was a good sign. There has been a ton of other ones this time around. So here we are 3 days ago and it's time for my ultrasound and the chance to find out. I am unsure and don't think I want to know. Then a superstition falls upon us. We never found out with any of the others BUT with Steven - so the theory is we have to find out because then it will be a boy....of course that's how it works. I cave and tell Steve he can find out. I ask the tech to write down the sex for me and put it in an envelope. I leave the room to run to the car to get Sophia a diaper - she had a mess of an explosion walking into the Dr's office and we barely got her cleaned up when we had to go in. So I come back and now Steve knows but the boy is good - not one damn sign am I getting from him. Nothing in his eyes NOTHING. I stick the envelope in my bag. He lets the nurse guess and she guessed right. I asked Sophia to tell me what the lady said the baby in my belly was and she say's "Boy baby". That's no help that's ALL SHE EVER SAYS. Ughhhhhhh

Last night Steve comes home in time to catch the rest of Steven's first baseball game. I got him there 5 min. late but just in time to make his first at bat. With the bases loaded our son hit's a home run and takes off like a bat out of hell around the bases he was so proud!



Sorry I'm off topic...we get home and Steve leaves this on my desk. He tells me to open the card first but not to do it unless he is with me so he can see my face......are you kidding me?!?!? I was eating dinner and left the card and box there.

To be continued....

Saturday - it's just how we roll.....

First let me start with this. Last night Sam's school had a fundraiser that only the chics attend. It was a theme and the theme was Grooving through the 60-70's. This is the only pic I got - Little Steven said I looked "awesome" when I was leaving so that was enough for me. Virginia had some serious Farah Fawcett hair going but I didn't get a picture of that but she did so maybe she will share and I will add it. The night was a lot of fun and ended with glow sticks being handed out on the dance floor. I took one and wrapped it around my wrist. Since I am the one not able to drink the booze I get the pleasure of being the driver. At some point in the car ride home (after I missed the exit to go home) the glow stick cracked and the toxic glow stuff went every where. It got all over my hands my clothes and Steve's car. Virginia and Veronica were too busy laughing their asses off to take care of the situation but there really wasn't anything to do. After I got home I tried scrubbing Steve's interior but it didn't work. The next time he gets in the car in the dark he'll see the damage.....lol - Sorry babe!



This Saturday was going to be a test of my excellent (just ask Steve) micro management skills. It's important to note that Steve flew in on the red eye from Utah and he walked in the door at about 7:45am. He crawled into bed only to find Sophia had stolen his spot and was pretty comfortable. He shoved her over enough to get his ass on the bed and laid down for about 15min.

8:30am - the plumber came to start his work
9:00am - I ran Sam down to get her Baseball pictures taken. This needed to run on time or it would mess me up for the morning.
9:40 - Sam and I got home with just enough time for her to change out of her baseball uniform and get her soccer gear on. She devoured an egg sandwich in record time.
10:00 - Steve takes Sam to her soccer game
10:15 - the electrician came to go over some work that we needed done. While I am explaining things to him the plumber can't find the main shut off valve for the water. So now me, the 2 plumbers and the electrician wander around the house for the next 40 min. looking for the shut off. Only to find it at the street. WHY IT ISN'T IN THE HOUSE WHERE IT BELONGS IS STILL A MYSTERY!
1105:AM - Steve gets home with Sam and reports she had a good came. She pushed someone down during the came but later apologized - allegedly. Sam is very very competitive during the games and I am not about to discourage it :)
11:15am - I run Steven down to get his baseball pictures taken while Sophia naps at home. I ordered pizza for the plumbers and for Sam and Bella to eat while I was gone. I was hoping Steve would try to get a 5 min. nap in because I know at this point he is running on fumes. Get to the pictures to find that my son did not put his baseball socks on and has on Bella's soccer socks. Now I understand why Bella was complaining the socks she had on was too big - she had on Steven's. So here were are among 100 other little leaguers and only the shortman was wearing black socks. Luckily they stuck him in the back so it wasn't noticeable in the picture. For the record Steve got him dressed but he can't see straight at this point so maybe he thought the black was white. Who knows.
11:40am - come home to find everyone happily eating pizza and singing Dad is great.
12:00pm - I am supposed to be down at the soccer field with Steven for his game but gave him the choice to go to the game or go to his cousin Ashley's birthday party.....he chose the party. Good for me it's one less hotdog I will eat for the day.
12:30pm - I pile everyone into the truck to get them to the birthday party. I make Steve follow in his car because yesterday I had my truck in the shop getting the DVD player replaced and when I went to pick it up it wouldn't work so I needed to bring it back today. So my theory is while the kids are at the party with Steve I will run the truck over to get fixed. In case I am not done in an hour Steve needed his car so that he could get Bella to the soccer field for her practice. The catch is he can only take 2 kids in his car so he would take Bella and Sophia and his Mom would bring Sam and Steven to me at the shop.
1:00pm - drop kids and Steve off at the birthday party (Steve still hasn't slept)
1:10pm - I get the truck into the shop and explain he has 60min to fix the problem because I need to get back to the party to get the kids.
1:15pm - I have no kids with me so I walk across the street for some ice cream and come back to the shop and sit in the comfy leather chair and watch Transformers. Love that movie!!!
1:40pm - Steve calls and says I need to hurry because Sophia is a mad woman and is running all over. Keep in mind this is a Gymnastics party in a gym - let her run around. Luckily for him when he called I was pulling out of the shop with the truck fixed and was on my way back.
2:10pm - party almost over ( kids are eating pizza) but no matter anyway we needed to leave to get Bella to the soccer fields for her 2:30 practice. Pile kids back into the truck and now at the sight of their new TV they start singing Mom is great.....Steve follows in his car.
2:30-3:30 - we spend the hour at the soccer field for Bella.
3:40 - we get home and put Sophia down for another nap - she was exhausted or was it we were exhausted of her....whatever she was going down.
3:50 - crap it's ten to 4 and I need to be 25min. away at a birthday party for a kid in Sam's class. Back in the truck and race to the party.
4:15 - drop Sam off at the laser tag party and head to Target. I spend an hour walking around aimlessly to kill time until the party was over. Also spend 15min on the phone with the bakery ordering Sam's cake for her communion next Sunday.
5:10 head back to get Sam (wait 5min. while she finishes eating her 3rd meal of pizza for the day) and then run to the grocery store afterward to get dinner for tonight and tomorrow
6:00 - home and getting dinner ready. Prep dinner for tomorrow and finally collapse on the couch while dinner is cooking. Sophia is still sleeping. Steve is now delirious and is singing random songs. Oh he needs to go to bed.
7:30 - dinner is over -kitchen is clean - kids have baseball uniforms laid out for tomorrow's opening day. It's parade day then there is only 1 baseball games which is Sam's. Her first- tons of fun!!!

So that was our day and how it was done. I think the next time someone asks me how I do it all I will direct them to this post....lol OK here are a few random pics from the day.

This is my holy grail. This is what my weeks look like until June 12th. This shows ONLY sports! See the bottom box with the most writing on the right....that was today.


Steven's baseball pictures..



The plumber starting to dig his hole for the sink drain:



There are no pics from Sam's pictures because I was busy playing Tetris on my phone. Here is the gym party....



All the kids were under the parachute:


I interrupt this post for a product endorsement. My back doors are covered in colorings used with Crayola window crayons. Anyone who knows me well enough knows how I don't like messes AT ALL. I mean I won't even give my kids chocolate ice cream because of the fear of stains and I am a good stain getter outter....anyway these crayons have provided hours of entertainment for the kids. Only problem is the dogs licking the window and turning their tongues all different colors...lol Dexters is currently blue. Windows wash off with warm water.



Came home after party to see the hole was dug the drain was sunk and the hole was filled. The trench left is from when the electrician did his thing and hit one of our sprinkler lines. To be nice I asked to leave them exposed so the sprinkler man can find them easily. I'm nice like that.



Look plumbing!!! Now we just need the top with the sink - soon! Good things come to those who wait and to those who have laid down the law and has made it clear that if anyone wants to get paid for the rest of the job it will get finished in the next 2 weeks....


Dog pictures have been requested - I tried my best they are worse then the kids when asked to say cheese.


Chloe will you stop moving an sit for a picture....



thanks Dexter - doopey!


and here I sit as I finish this post. Steve just informed me I have been working on this for 16 hours......hmmmm ok. I'm off for a hot shower and some more ice cream.

It's not too late to make a change....

Just some things think about.....


Go to bed when your sick instead of pretending the earth will go into a holding pattern if you weren't there for the day.

Go ahead and burn the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melts in storage.

Talk less and listen more. (well that will be a tough one)

Invite friends over to dinner even if the carpet is stained, the sofa faded or the kitchen is being remodeled. (ok if the kitchen is getting remodeled that would be a little difficult to do dinner)

Eat the popcorn in the "good" living room and worry much less about the dirt when someone wants to light a fire in the fireplace. (OK if you have ever seen Sam eat popcorn then you know she is never eating it in the house)

Take the time to listen to your father, grandfather, Uncle, or anyone for that matter, ramble about their youth. (except if they start the story by saying ( "I walked to school with no shoes, up hill, in the snow for 5 miles...")

Stop insisting the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because your hair will get messed up. Sit on the lawn with your children and don't worry about grass stains. (well there is the issue of ticks)

Cry and laugh less while watching television and more while watching life. (watching Grey's doesn't count especially the episode when Denny dies...omg I cried for days. YES it is real!!)

Don't just buy something because it is practical, won't show soil or is guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine moths of a pregnancy, Cherish every moment and realize that the wonderment growing inside you is the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.....and really enjoy the food!!

When your kids kiss you impetuously, drive you nuts with 1000 questions (have you met Bella) Never say, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

Say more " I love you's.".

…But mostly, this is your 1 shot at life, Seize every minute…look at it and really see it…live it…and never give it back.

Stop sweating the small stuff. Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what. Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who DO love us.

And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually. Life is too short to let it pass you by. We only have one shot at this and then it's gone.

---Erma Bombeck --- wrote this as she was dying of cancer - I added some :)

In Memory of Sammy

A good friend of mine lost a very important member of her family today. He will be forever missed!

The aftermath....

I just said to Steve last night doesn't it seem like Easter came and went so quickly his year?!? This was our first Easter in this house so it was fun to find all the hiding places for the eggs the Easter Bunny leaves behind. It's clear after this years hunt that Steve can't be in charge anymore of the hiding for fear of a kids life or a TV, light fixture of anything else of value he thinks is wise to involve in an egg hunt.

This was the staging area for the all the baskets. I love Easter almost as much as Christmas. Everyone gets a basket.....at least all of the kids in my life. It takes just over a week to get it all done. I like to personalize each one. I make sure everyone gets their favorite candy and such. The only thing I could do without is the Easter grass because there is no easy way to control it and it gets EVERYWHERE. I can't believe I forgot to take an after picture. I was putting finishing touches on them just before we left to give them out. Trust me they looked cute!


Here's the motley crew getting ready for the hunt. Steve is making them wait on the stairs while I run to get the camera. Believe it or not it's not attached to my hip. Plus I have one in the shop so I only had 1 to work with.


Now the kids were told over a month ago that if they learned to ride their bikes without their training wheels that we would see about the Easter Bunny bringing them new bikes. They were all in need of new bikes and little did they know I would have just went an bought them but this worked out much better. Plus it was much more fun this way. So apparently Sam snuck downstairs in the middle of the night to see if the bikes had been delivered. All she saw was the doors to the toy room shut but never peaked in. We told the kids to go find the eggs and they ran right for the toy room. We weren't paying attention because we were helping Sophia. She is still slow to the concept of actually picking up the egg and putting it in her basket. When we didn't see the kids we walked toward the toy room and out came flying Bella on her bike. She about knocked Steve over.



I walked in after their excitement for the bikes were over and they were off to find the eggs...



Sophia pulling up the rear finally made her way in to see her little car the bunny left for her....



This is what I mean about Steve not getting to hide the eggs anymore. That TV is attached to the wall. Not that I am worried it would fall off on it's own but with a child hanging from it might have a chance....



Sure hiding them in the light fixture is a GREAT idea too!!


Look at him sit there with his coffee directing them:



Now it's about 8am lets go wake the neighborhood with the new wheels:


Bella more worried about how she looks on the bike than the actual bike:



Sam needing air and Sophia is off..



Sam goes to get on and the wheel falls off....lol I put hers together but forgot to tighten a few bolts:


Or did I forget???? Knowing full well Steve would feel the need to "test it out" and I would have missed out on this shot (This is for the DC office - your welcome!)



Finally Sam is off....


and the Bunny didn't forget about us either. Steve finally got a ride of his own in his own size. Oh and it's black.



All the cousins and Grandma waiting for the 1,2,3, go....on the start of their hunt:

Happy Hoppity Easter to all!

It's raining I had time on my hands

I added a few posts here all at once cause...well it's raining and I was bored. Now I am off to the grocery store cause I am hungry...what else is new !

The Annual Tascarella Egg Hunt!

I thought I would have a little fun with this post and give a look back through the years but that has caused way more drama than I needed right now and I will spend the rest of the evening freaking out. Some how my computer has misplaced some photo's - particularly all of 2008 and it is causing me some stress. So this is all I have for right now but plan on fixing this right away.

This is the beginning of the tradition. If I am wrong I am sure someone will correct me but this is the earliest picture I have - so this is the beginning for me damn it!

Easter Egg Hunt 2003



Easter Egg Hunt 2009



Samantha - Easter Egg Hunt 2004


Samantha - 2006


Samantha a little wet in 2009


The punk in 2004


He's back in 2006



Soaking in 09



Bella in 2006 - man what is with my kids hair taking so freaking long to grow - jeesh!


Bella singing "rain rain go away" in 2009


Here's Sophia in 2009. Now 2008 would have been her 1st one and I know I have pictures but can't seem to locate them on my hard drive at this moment:



She was just walking PAST all the eggs until I told her to stop and pick them up

"Like this Mom?!?"


Somehow she recruited Grandma for a little assistance



Here is the invincible Duo of Ryan and Steven.


Sophia finally got wise and had Grandma hold the basket while she filled it...



Louis and Vincent.......is Louis drinking while egg hunting ?!?!?

Thanks to Danielle (oh and I guess Tom too) for yet another spectacular Egg Hunt! The rain made it even more enjoyable this year - maybe next year we can get snow



OK 1 last one - first I don't normally stand like this but Virginia had to have a picture of the "vision in pink" so I had to shake it a little....