I know I know....

I am really really behind. It's funny cause I thought it's usually the summer that I am slow with the blogging but maybe it is the winter. Who knows! All I know is I have been reminded more than once that I am behind. So I am making a little promise to get here everyday even if it's to say Hi.

So there has been alot of hoopla in the Pepe House. We have a new 6 yr old and an 8 yr old. We took some trips. We've made some changes to things :). I've taken some photo classes that have just given me more to do. My little store on Etsy is chuggin along and I have a 2nd one I am opening soon with some other cute things I like to make. I am really excited about the name! Just wait! It's fun and it keeps me busy - yes I KNOW I HAVE 5 KIDS but if you haven't noticed I could have 5 more and still get things done - it's how I roll!

I took the younger 3 to Disney for Bella's birthday along with my Mom. My Aunt also met us from CT. It was a 4 day whirlwind adventure! We got to stay at the Animal Kingdom and woke up to Giraffe's outside of our bedroom. Anthony just thought we got new pets :) It was pretty incredible!











A birthday dinner fit for a princess:





and a prince of course - looking for his food



Sophia sucking on a lemon:




Loved Magic Kingdom - who doesn't?!?!





Now if you've seen my pictures from the beginning then this should look familiar. Except in the other one it's Steven standing here at the same age and he's wearing a red shirt with blue shorts. I need to get a side by side




Meeting some chipmunks:



this was cute:






Kids doing a lil "hoopin" in the street:



waiting patiently for the parade which got canceled due to the rain - that was a 1st for me - being rained out at Disney




this was how we spent most of the time - chasing the kid:





Bella was treated like a princess the whole weekend. Everywhere we went someone wished her a Happy Birthday. She wore a button that said so. At one point a street vendor stopped her and told her there was a phone call for her. All confused she took the phone and it was Goofy wishing her a Happy Birthday. The look on her face was priceless. She just freaked out! Of course, I don't have a picture but I set the scene for ya :)




The kids were excited about meeting the ducks....



Sophia just thought it was so funny that Daisy could write



she cracked up at all of them writing



A little goofy:



Agent Oso



So Anthony wanted a high 5 but he was covered in eggs and they weren't come near him - he's trying real hard





Once he got up he ran right over and got a hug



He turned around at one point and saw June and wasn't too sure





Excited about meeting Lotso



So on Sunday we went to Hollywood Studios but the night before we left Magic Kingdom I was told that Buzz and Woody aren't at MGM anymore and you have to see them at Magic Kingdom. I was so upset. I called Steve that night practically crying that Anthony wouldn't get to see him. Of course he would never know but it was important to me. So the next day we start off and we get to Hollywood Studios(MGM) and as we are walking we run right into the Toy Story ride (I had no idea was there) which had an 8 hr fast pass wait. It was crazy! Then I spotted a Toy Solider walking around. I knew then Buzz and Woody had to be there and sure enough they were! I freaked out. Grabbed the kids and stood on line for 50 min WITHOUT a stroller so Anthony could meet them.

The wait when through a maze with picture spots along the way





We round the corner and we are up next. At that moment Anthony starts hysterical crying. I'm thinking to myself " great all this and he won't even go near them". Well that wasn't the case. He was mad he couldn't go up to them cause I was holding him. So just as the family ahead of us walk away I put Anthony down and he runs over to Woody and gives him the biggest hug. Everyone starts crying - blubbering messes we all turned into. He wouldn't let go:







I have a lot more but this was what I had handy - the photographer took 25 pictures. She couldn't get over how cute Anthony was meeting them.

Happy 6th Birthday Bella Blue!

OH MY GOODNESS your 6!! Where has the time gone. I can't write much right now since I need to go to sleep. I am so excited to surprise you with a birthday trip to Disney World! You are gonna freak out!!! I hope you remember this birthday forever! I love you!

Come check me out!

Be sure to stop by my Etsy store!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BabyLoveChunk

Catching up...

I feel like I haven't shared any new pictures in awhile. Let me dump a ton on your lap now:

How cool - these were the teacher gifts I made this year. They are mugs I painted with chalkboard paint and I wrote the teachers name on them. I filled the mugs with hot chocolate mix, candy canes and a chocolate dipped spoon. Needless to say they were a big hit!



my birthday was shared with new friends along with their kids - It was a nice PEACEFUL birthday!



Samantha with her 2 best friends:



ughh my attempt at my annual Thank you picture this year - this one didn't make the cut but it was funny with Anthony. He kept putting the lights too close to his face and then I couldn't use the picture:



4 of the 5 at the Tree - we had a great day in the city. The weather was perfect.:



Oh Bella - she is gonna be a star when she grows up...lol



it's not Christmas until we visit the red balls. This used to be Steve's old office. I point this out cause he points this out EVERY YEAR!! WE KNOW ALREADY :)



Times Square!



Santa's visit an Anthony keeping a close distance. They did come off the truck and walked over to him with a candy cane - he happily took that:



I know this is really going back but I saw this and thought how funny to see Sophia smiling. It's good thing she doesn't have eyes in the back of her head:



We took the kids to the local Hibachi Bar and they had a blast - Can you find the apple? Look for it :) and no she didn't catch it but tried 3 more times...lol



Another Christmas Eve! The kids table



OK this is Anthony coming into the living room Christmas morning and he's seeing all the present for the 1st time. Yes the carpet is wet due to a incident with the fish tank the night before- don't ask:



Oh meet Maggie: YES I KNOW WE HAVE 5 KIDS AND 3 DOGS:

Stop.Think. Breath.

I have sat in front of this screen for the last few days trying to write something. It's been a while since my last update. The problem was that I was not coming up with anything appropriate or even remotely positive. It's been a rough couple of weeks. Death of a friend - my exact age, kids sick, husband sick, unbelievable family drama, more sick kids. Needless to say it has been exhausting.

It's a New Year and so I am putting all of that behind me and making a fresh start!
I am looking forward to 2011 and all it has in store for us. We have some major milestones this year. Steve turns 40 (he is requesting NO PARTY.....ummmm ok) and Sam hits double digits! Steven makes his 1st communion this May. We have a great vacation planned even though there is sand involved. I am surprising Bella for her birthday with a trip to Disney and taking Sophia and Anthony along with my mom for their 1st trip to Disney. We are off to the Rocking Horse Ranch for the 1st time for Steven's birthday. It's gonna be a fun year!!!

I try to make resolutions - making them is cake keeping them is the job. I do have a few though and I am hoping that writing them will help to hold me accountable for them:

I want to learn to cook more and better. It's really the one thing I loathe. Honestly I only hate cooking cause I get to intimidated in the kitchen. I can follow any recipe as long as it's in front of me and written down - oh a picture of the end result would be nice too.

I want to be more "present in the moment" with the kids. We are running and running and I need us to slow down a bit. Not to mention that our schedules are to the point now that unless Sam starts driving it will be impossible to get everyone everywhere. She can totally reach the pedal.

I want to start running again - I miss it and the lack of time I have is a problem but I will figure something out. Plus I need to be in a bathing suit by April and I already bought them in the size I want to be and removed the tags so they can't be returned. So they MUST fit!

I need to learn how to use my camera and photo programs better. I have classes lined up for later this month so I am 1/2 way to keeping this 1 resolution. Wooohooo

Finally last but not least and probably the most important one - come hell or high water this will be a drama free year. I don't mean "oh my god the kid fell down the stairs and broke his arm" drama. I mean the " I'm mad at you cause you looked at me funny and I think you were thinking of something not nice to say" drama. You know the bullshit drama. I have had my fill. Met my quota. A not so new friend said to me today "Look at your life - it's a good one ". She's right it is good - actually pretty perfect as far as I am concerned and I am not going to waste any more time or energy on the negative that isn't mine to begin with. It takes more time and energy to be mad and sad then it does to just be happy so why wouldn't you want to just be happy. So cranky is out and Happy is in for 2011. Sweet!

I have lots of pictures to put up and will get on that soon. I am just a bit busy at the moment tending to the ill and weary of the house. Anthony is breathing like crap and we are trying to avoid a hospital stay. Steve is recovering from a little surgery to help solve his breathing problems. So let me get these 2 back on their feet and I will get back to this.

Oh and remember to Stop. Think. Breath.

For Samantha, Steven, Isabella, Sophia & Anthony

My true originals! I love you!

Rest in Peace Elizabeth Edwards

Elizabeth Edwards last well written facebook post:

“You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces — my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined.

“The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And, yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It’s called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful.

I was very sad to hear of the passing of this woman. I had followed her since she was first diagnosed with cancer in 2004. With everything she was going through and having to live through her husband's infidelity it is very sad to hear of her passing this morning. She has 3 children. A daughter who is 28 and 12 and a son who is 10. I can only imagine what they must be going through tonight. So very very sad.