Caricatures...

This was taken at Disney World in January. I don't think this artist quite captured them, especially the girls. They still look cute, however!



Please tell me...does my youngest remind you of anyone?

A Lilly Giveaway

The Preppy Princess is hosting another great Lilly giveaway.

She's giving away two items from the new line, both in the Cabanarama pattern. Her giveaway includes one of the Latte Da! mugs and the Take Note Mouse Pad. The Take Note Mouse pad consists of a standard-size mouse pad topped by a pad of Lilly note paper. Go check out her blog post for your chance to win…you can enter up to 5x.

20 February--

Happy Birthday, Ned and Nora! Your sisters and brother will be blowing out some candles for you tonight.

Ned and Nora were born 7 years ago today (02.20.02 at 05:12 and 05:13). Ned lived almost 10 hours and Nora, 15 hours. It’s been a heck of journey since their births and our loss. But, if this was the only way I could have met them, I would do it all over again. They impacted my life so deeply, irrevocably changing it for the better.

In those first days and months after their passing, though, I never believed that life would be OK or better!

It is better!!! Ned and Nora have me the gift of HOPE. I’m an earthly mom now as well as a “’heavenly” mom. After 5 months of bedrest, Banana & Tank were born in October ’03. KK, (“the Trip”) was born in May ‘05>

Time has a way of making you better, no matter how much you need to laugh, cry, grieve, etc. Thankfully, it does not have the power to make you forget. I will never forget my Ns.

Summer Loving!!!

I'm patiently waiting for Spring to arrive. I'm tired of seeing the bare trees and brown grasses. I'm looking forward to scooting around on our Razors and teaching the kids to ride bicycles. The twins and KK got their first bikes with training wheels back in October. Unfortunately, we have not had much riding time.

On this cold blah day in February, I received some much welcomed mail, so much so that I want to wish Spring away (not really, but close). It was our lease agreement for a beach home in the Hamptons this Summer. I wish we could stay the whole Summer, but I'm thrilled that we are staying a little longer than normal.

I grew up in NYC and from the time I was 10yo, my family spent the whole Summer in the Hamptons. We even made the 1.5 hour trip every weekend throughout the school year. That was actually a drag when I was in high school. My parents still have their place there, but unfortunately our family of 5 has outgrown it. We've been fortunate, though, to find reasonable rentals within 5 miles of their home.

So, this is what I'm looking forward to!!!

So Sleepy...

Happy belated Valentine's!!! I hope everyone got struck hard by Cupid.

Never again will I brag about looking forward to sleeping in!!! I haven't had a decent night's sleep since I wrote that post on Wednesday. First, Tank got sick. He was better by Friday when KK started with the high fevers and vomiting. Then, yesterday afternoon Banana started feeling hot. Great...just great!!!

Another Fun Giveaway

Semi-Slacker Mom at Confessions of a Semi-"Slacker" Mom loves to play bunko. For the past 5 years, she's been playing with a group of 12 women that meet monthly. Not only do they get together for a fun game and cocktails, they also host fundraisers and adopt one or two families at Christmas-time. There's nothing semi-slacker there!!!

If you like to read, she's giving away a copy of The Bunko Babes, a story about friendship among a group of women of varying ages facing life's challenges and triumphs. Go leave a comment if you want a chance to win.

My neighborhood circle has a monthly bunco game. It's fun to get out without the kids and the husband and just DISH about anything and everything.

Weekend Preview

I'm really looking forward to the 3-day weekend coming up. Let me count the ways...

1. I get to sleep in 3 mornings in a row. Granted, that usually means I'm lucky if I'm still in bed an hour after the kids get up. But, an hour is an hour...

2. For the first time in 6 years, Mr. O and I have a date on Valentine's Day. We were damn lucky to get reservations anywhere. We waited until last week to place them. Most places we could be seated only before 3p or after 9p. Uh, I don't think so. We finally landed a primo reservation (6:15p) at McCormick & Schmick's...not too shabby!!!

3. We are going to see Mickey Mouse again. No, we are not heading back to Disney World; that would be nice, though. We are going to see...



...at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC on Sunday. The kids are PUMPED. Do you notice the mad teacups in the photo? I can't tell how many times I was spinning in a teacup. Tank is excited to see that the Incredibles are featured in this show...I think he's getting tired of being outnumbered by princesses.



After the show, we're going out for dinner someplace nice but kid-friendly!!!

4. No matter how late we're out on Saturday and Sunday, I get to sleep in the next morning. I already addressed this in this post, but the more I keep repeating it to myself, the more I'm smiling. :)

Awesome Giveaway

My sister at Mom Times Two is hosting a great giveaway. Go check out her blog and leave a comment for a chance to win either Ina Garten's back to basics cookbook or Bunny Williams' Affair with a House.

Mags needs....

This post is inspired by Sue at As Cape Cod Turns.

Go to google and put in 'your name' and 'needs' in the search button.

It doesn't bode well for me...Here's what I need!

1. Maggie needs an Alibi! LOL...

2. Maggie needs a Home.

3. Maggie needs to be near Mom. LOL!!!

4. Maggie needs help.

5. Maggie needs your prayers.

6. Maggie needs some food.

7. Maggie needs new shoes.

Power Rangers...

One of the highlights for Tank on our recent trip to Disneyworld was meeting the Power Rangers at Hollywood Studios.











Whenever I take his picture nowadays, he always assumes a Power Ranger stance.





His sisters are even getting in the act...

The Blahs...

The February blahs suck!!!

I thought this year might be different. Between the excitement of the Christmas holidays and our New Year's Day party, then getting ready for our magical trip to Disney World, then spending 7 wonderful (but cold) days in the land of Mickey, I thought the euphoria of it all would carry us into March.

Nope, it didn't happen!

February is a hard month.

So, I'm working hard to make it better for me as well as the family. I made it to the gym twice this week...I plan to go once this weekend and 3 days next week. Mr. O and I are going out for dinner by ourselves on Valentine's Day. The next day we are taking the kids to see Disney on Ice in Washington, DC. We'll have a family dinner in the city afterward.

I've done something special on the 20th for my children since they've been born in honor of my firstborn babes...I have no idea what to do this year.

I'm looking forward to the end of the month when my mom, sister and I are hosting a couples' baby shower for my big bro and SIL. What better way to end a blah-month with a PARTY!!!

P.S. The baby sitter is already lined up!!!