Samantha has a party

I just said to Steve last night that I am not overwhelmed at all with 5 kids. I hear it all day from people "I don't know how you do it...blah blah blah" I just do it that's it there is no clear explanation. With that said I will tell you I have LOST MY MIND. Seriously, it's gone. I don't know what happened. First where did October go? Do you know next week is Halloween - freakin Christmas is gonna be here before I know it. I put things down and can't remember where I put it. Just this morning it took me 20min. to find my sunglasses.

So this brings me to Sam and her party. It was a Halloween themed party for 40 kids. We were having it in the backyard and it would have been perfect. Well then it RAINED ALL DAY. I had a rain date on the invite but once I saw Sam's face the morning of the party I couldn't put it into effect. So here we go transforming the inside of the house into a haunted house and preparing myself for all these kids to be running around. This is where I tell you I have LOST MY MIND.

For about 20min. we have non-stop kids coming through the door. Toward the end when most of the kids had arrived Steve looks at me and says "This is nuts have you lost your mind?" YES YES YES I am trying to tell you I have lost it.

Here's the calm before the storm:


I had the kids group themselves into 3's and then they had to pick a mummy and the other 2 members then had to wrap the mummy - the first team that had a fully wrapped mummy who could walk won - here you can see Grandma cheating and aiding a team:



here you can see Steve cheating and helping a team:


Bella looking the best so far. See this team was smart - they picked the smallest to be wrapped:


Steven,Jr. was the mummy on his team - they are working on it:



here are the finished Mummy's - Oh Bella's team soooo won this - I mean look at her....



8 large pizza's later and the kids are fed:


Some had the nerve to ask for a seat....what are you kidding me?!?! Sit on the floor what do I look like a restaurant? Hey I had seats but only for like 1/2 the group.


After Pizza they wanted more games so freeze dance it was:



Singing Happy Birthday - Cha Cha Cha


Most of the scary crew:



Lesson learned: Even though the giant pixie sticks look cool and made for cool centerpieces they are not smart for 30 ( luckily 10 kids didn't show) 4-8 yr olds. One Pixie stick was like the equivalent of giving them a 6 pack of red bull - it wasn't pretty.

Sam did say that Monday morning in class everyone was practically dead from all the craziness. Oh and 2 boys got sick after the party FROM ALL THE SUGAR - JUST SAY NO!!!

Crazy Soccer Weekend!

This past weekend was the East Islip Fall Soccer Classic. It's huge tournament that is opened up to any town that wants to participate. There was lots of towns from North Babylon and Massapequa to Mastic - who by the way should be banned from ever participating in any event because the coaches were just horrible horrible people and shouldn't be allowed to be around children. The kids have to be asked to play and luckily both Samantha and Steven got invited. Honestly we were all looking forward to it even though it was a HUGE commitment. On Saturday Steven played at 8:00am and then again at 11:20am Samantha played at 9:40 and then at 1:00pm. On Sunday Samantha played at 9:40 and 11:20. Steven played at 2:40 and 4:20. So you can see how crazy it was and how much time we spent at the fields.

This is how we loaded up from the car. Yes the baby is in there snug as a bug and sleeping peacefully through all the cheering:





Now here is the "cheer" squad. OK not really a cheer squad more like a "keep on Sam's ass and yell plays and directions confusing the crap out of her for the whole game getting stares from the "quiet" ones" squad. This was my view when I had to feed the baby. Actually if I remember I think I was kind and got up and stood a few feet away to take the picture so it wasn't so up close and personal. Here represents 1 Aunt, 1 Dad, and 2 Uncles (1 being Uncle Lou the soccer coach so you can only imagine the scene) Hey I am the the first to admit I am the CRAZY soccer Mom screaming on the sidelines through the WHOLE game - but these guys have me beat!





In between games the kids and Steve got a ride from Uncle Lou on the golf cart - Not sure who enjoyed it more Lou or the kids.



Steven played well but his coach SUCKS so much so that I am seriously considering Coaching his team next season. The team could have been better had they had a Coach COACHING THEM! Ugh don't get me started on that but hopefully if I can Coach in the spring the kids will be so much better! We all had a great weekend - the kids were very excited after each game to get their patch. In the end though Sam's team placed 2nd - we were soooooo excited. Not every team won a trophy. Only the teams which placed 1st and 2nd. Samantha was so excited. She played hard all weekend and learned alot. We look forward to her games this weekend to see her new moves.

38

Today Steve turned 38! I know that's crazy right?!?! I swear it was just yesterday I was throwing him a surprise 30th birthday party that he asked me NOT to do. Yeah right - it was so one of those things you ask but you really want. I am already planning the surprise 40th he doesn't want - it will be SPECTACULAR!



Happy 38 years Steve - So lucky to have been apart of the last 12 or so. I promise your 38th year will be filled with lots of insanity and craziness. Lots of love x 6. I promise there will be no surprises that come in small packages this year - or any other year after this...lol. Oh and I promise to not let you run out of socks this year.

I love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love you!

It's been 8 years!

8 years ago today Samantha was born. I have a horrible memory but I remember Samantha being born like it was yesterday. I remember the drive to the hospital in the morning and Steve getting breakfast and eating in front of me knowing full well I wasn't allowed to. I remember stopping at church and asking the man upstairs to make sure all went well. I remember the look on Steve's face when our Dr. said it was a girl and how proud he was. He smiled and smiled for days. He still smiles when she's near - she is Daddy's little girl. I on the other hand was freaking out because I was certain she was a he but she clearly was a she and not a he and I didn't know what to do. I thought I would have boys and play with bugs and dig in the dirt. Little did I know Sam would turn out to the closest thing to wanting to play with the bugs and dirt. I had to wait for Bella to play with the make-up. It was so weird holding Sam for the first time - I mean I wasn't scared or nervous at all. It was perfect and I was a Mom - nothing could be better.

Steve reminded me of something. That morning as I was getting ready to leave for the hospital Steve was taking a ton of pictures. Just as I was getting into the car the brilliant one realized there was NO FILM in the camera and made me re-enact the mornings events so he could get them on camera. Now ask me if I have those pictures today.....nope! Story of our lives..lol.

She was so chubby. Just a ball of chunk and roundness.



Samantha with her Great Grandpa. I so wish I would have remembered to take off her bib!


Hanging over her Daddy's shoulder


Where's Sam ?!?!?


Sam and I at the Oakdale Arboretum

Samantha's 1st Easter!



The bathing beauty in Vermont


This is crazy! Samantha's 1st birthday


This is Samantha calling her Daddy - all excited about her 1st pigtails!


Happy 8th Birthday Sweetheart - Mommy and Daddy are so very proud of the little lady you are becoming! Your are the best big sister anyone could ever want! We love you!

Another fine example of Pepe parenting at it's finest -

So with all the work we did this past year to the pool we had to get a new cover. Actually the old cover was as old as the pool and needed to be replaced regardless. We wanted to test it out to make sure it was installed properly - bring in the guinea pigs!

Of course, Steven and Sophia are the 1st ones out on it



After seeing that they aren't going to drown - Samantha decides to join in with Dexter possibly following.


So everyone made it across it safely - minus Dexter he and Bella chickened out.

This weeks many "looks" of Anthony

He was propped up nicely on this pillow but slumped over rather quickly and stayed like this:


WIDE AWAKE !

Oh so very tired....

dreaming of something good...


probably breasts....lol I couldn't resist - come on IT'S FUNNY!


When Steve leaves for work Anthony steals his spot....snuggles right in


Getting ready for his 1st bath - I am explaining to him what is happening:


He is not amused one bit!


Dumped water on him and he still hasn't flinched:


Tried everything for some kinda reaction....nothing - well Sophia reacted rather loudly with laughter.


All done!

He is soooo mean!!!!

Yeah that's right I said it - HE IS SO MEAN! Oh I'm talking about Steve. So I am a bit sick. Well OK a little more than a bit. I have been running a fever since Thursday. The fevers have been kinda high - alright it hit 103' last night but gimme a break I just recently bought a thermometer - it only took 5 kids to finally buy one :) So after seeing death last night - and I mean death - I called the Dr.. Luckily she let me stay home and didn't make me go into the ER instead made me come into the office first thing this morning to run tests. Turns out I have an infection stemming from the delivery. I should have gone to the Dr. 2 days ago instead of letting this go. Now I have drugs but I am still at risk for getting more sick if I don't take it easy for the next few days and stay away from the germ machines in this house. The other problem is that the Dr. doesn't want me to feed Anthony until they are sure I am OK. Needless to say Anthony is NOT happy about this. So this brings me back to the mean one. He came home at 1pm - now that in itself is a feat. I mean Steve just doesn't come home like this but he did and I should be thankful except HE IS BEING MEAN. He has no bedside manner. He has quarantined me to bed. He told me to go to bed and watch Oprah. Ughhh Oprah doesn't come on until 4pm - JEESH!! He keeps jabbing me with the thermometer to check my temp. He is making me drink fluids. He is talking sternly. He won't let me finish the laundry or clean anything.

Let me tell you when he's sick with the littlest of colds the world stops. He whines and is very needy. He doesn't move from bed. He can't handle being sick at all without a full staff of nurses at his beckon call.

Thanks Babe for coming home to take care of me - your not really mean I am a BAD patient and should just stay in bed and get better and let you handle everything without arguing with you - xoxoxo