Meet the newest member of the NYPD!

OMG I can't believe I forgot to blog this! So my brother graduated from the New York Police Academy! I was/am so proud! I mean look he's my little brother and he's a pain in the ass at times but what little brothers aren't?? More importantly he is the only one out of the 3 of us that graduated from something! I didn't go to college (I know Steve you made the most effort to get me there) and I say I will get there someday but for now I will just be excited over this graduation. Graduation was held at Madison Square Garden and there was just over 1500 graduates

The graduation was amazing! It was over before I knew it but it was so nice!




I loved this - They are all clapping - the white gloves moving so fast was so funny:



This was the money shot! I was warned about it and prepared! I was so excited that I got it. At the end of the ceremony the new officers throw their gloves in the air - it's pretty cool!



Then at the very end canons filled with confetti goes off and it is a sight to be seen:



Anthony trying on his Uncle's bullet proof vest:



Now I get to speed and do other illegal things and get away with it right???

Very True!

If only people would get this! Not communicating gets you no where. It's very simple to me

A. you have a problem
B. work to fix the problem
C. if problem can't be fixed then..... WELL THAT'S JUST RIDICULOUS CAUSE THERE IS A SOLUTION FOR EVERYTHING

More importantly family is family and no matter what the issue is somehow it should be able to get worked out - with communication - of course!

and so it begins.....

The pod is here and our adventure of 2012 is to begin shortly. It's been a long time coming - 13 or so years. 5 kids and 3 houses later we are finally able to say this is the last house and we are finally making it exactly what we want. You could say in a way we are incorparating the last 2 houses into this one.....with some extra's :) We are bringing back the garage from the 1st one and our beloved porch from the 2nd. I'm most excited over the 2nd washer and dryer that we are adding upstairs. Seriously laundry for 7 is INSANE!!! The pod needs to hold the contents of our attic so I am gonna take advantage of the weekend and warm temps to pack it out. I want to spare Steve the hassle of doing it (ok really I want to spare myself of listening to Steve complain about how many christmas decorations one house needs) I'm not stupid :) You'll never know how much shit was ever up there babe...hehe!

I plan on documenting the whole process from start to finish. I'll throw in some birthday's and such here and there but since Steve is never home I don't want him to miss any of it.

Let's hope for a warm winter so come March I can be awoken by the sounds of hammers and saws - oh my!

Happy Everything this holiday!

Christmas Eve 2011 was a huge success! This is our 4th year hosting xmas eve for 45 people! WOW we've been hosting for 4 years now! Next year is year #5 - I'll have to pull out all the stops next year! Oh boy Steve I think we need all the reindeer and Santa with his sleigh next year...the ideas are already coming! It really is my favorite party to host! I love all the glitter and the sparkle of it all. My table is set weeks in advance and I fuss with it everyday until the day to only have it all torn apart when the family hit the table to make room for the food - jeesh can a candlestick get any respect?

Let's eat!

Kids opening gifts! Yes that is Steven's "OMG it's exactly what I wanted" face!

Organized Chaos

This year Santa came and it was the highlight of the evening. I can't speak for any of the other parents but my kids were just in complete awe of it

Samantha's face above Bella's face below say's it all:

Sam and her cousin Frank

Anthony and his cousin Michael:

Some of the men:

Here are just a few from christmas morning:

Insanity:

Steve all excited over his dinosaur:

New PJ's from Great Grandma:

It was a great weekend and that's why I really shouldn't focus on any of the negative but alas there was, as there usually is in some family's, when the holidays come around. Let me just say this - there were family members missing over the last 2 days of festivities. It is a shame that their differences couldn't have been put aside even during the holidays when this is the time that family should be together. It was disrespectful to parents and grandparents that only wish to see their family all together. The anger and bitterness that has been so consuming over the last few months should have been put aside during this time of year. After this I sadly see no resolution in sight and it will not be my loss nor will I let it be my children's. We all have choices to make to live our life to it's fullest and it saddens me to think that my family would have such a negative impact on someone else's life that they would feel the need to remove us from theirs.

So to my family that loves and respects me I wish you a wonderful 2012 and may all your hopes and dreams come true!

Don't be mad!

I know I promised to come back the next day and it's been like 3 weeks. I am a bad blogger! I have no excuse other than life and all my chaos!

Here's a random mess of pictures enjoy:

Samantha turns 10:

The best friend!

The boys:




There was a halloween party at the kids school I organized:





There was a 40th birthday for Steve. This picture sums it all up!





The cake!!!



The birthday boy:



Celebrating Guiseppe's 40th:



Breakfast with Santa last weekend:



OK I'll be back!

Oh My God! It's November 13th!!!!!

I can't even begin to say how crazy life is at the moment but seeing how my last post was September obviously I'm not crazy well I am crazy but in addition to that I'm crazy busy.

There is a lot to to update you all on but at the moment I am fitting this in between waiting for the wash to finish and needing to fold the clothes fresh outta the dryer before the wrinkle and then I am forced to rewash - YES I do that don't judge me cause I'm wrinkle free :)

So in short - Sam turned 10! 10 holy cow where did the years go?!?! They really do fly! We gave her a big over the top party cause well i'm crazy and Steve just comes along for the ride and I like to do big over the top birthdays! Plus she's a super great fabulous kid and deserves crazy over the top parties! Pictures to come!

Steve turned 40! He came out of it unscathed. He really hasn't had time for the mid-life crisis yet due to his current work schedule. Please check back on that in a few months. We celebrated with a "small" dinner party. Small meaning 36 people cause that was all the restaurant would hold and of course after the fact he admitted he should have let me throw that big over the top party I wanted to - there would have been less mad relatives that way. Pictures to come!

What else...what else.....I am drawing a blank right now but I know there is more a lot more. The kids are all having a great school year so far which is always good! They all had a great soccer season! I coached Sophia's team and it was a fun season with 10 little 5 yr olds with 2 left feet. Sophia though she was good - I called her the ringer. She was tiny and she would get on the field and would just score one goal after another the other side never knew what hit em! Pictures to come!

Today was a good day to be Mom to my kids. Bella came in 1st place for her last cheer competition and with this win it made the UNDEFEATED for the season! That is incredible! I know they are only 6 but if you ever saw her compete you would get it. I am so proud of her! must celebrate in some big over the top way! Steven had his last soccer game and they lost but that didn't matter. The best player on the other team after the game came up to my son and shook his hand and said "you are awesome"! How great is that! Made Steven's whole day and I am sure he won't forget it!

It's a busy week coming up. Steve and I are taking a few days to recharge. Looking forward to not having to hear a kid, see a kid, change a kid, feed a kid , wash a kid, tutor a kid, drive a kid, essentially anything to do with a kid - I welcome the break.

We have our annual holiday shopping fundraiser on Saturday! It's always a good night with lots of friends, booze, food and of course shopping - what could be better?!?

OK I have already spent to much time trying to catch up and now I fear the wrinkles have set in.

I promise to be back tomo!

11 YEARS

It's 11 years ago today that Steve and I said I do. I know how people say all the time "oh it feels like yesterday.....". For me - it really does. I remember every detail of the day from the sweet note that Steve sent over that morning as I was getting ready. To seeing the rose bush finally bloom for the first time just one single yellow rose. To getting to the church and walking toward him knowing that we were meant to be together and I would never let him be without a pair of shoe laces again. Ask him - it's his story.

We have a lot to show for the last 11 years. I can truly say I am more proud of the last 11 years of my life than any other time. We are a perfect match and we compliment each other well.

Steve, I will love you forever and ever. We have created an incredible life together and I am thankful everyday for it and for you!! We have 5 amazing children that make us the luckiest parents in the world. I don't hope I know that the next 11 years will be even more remarkable than the last.

This one's for you - you got moves.....