Some of my recent facebook posts

I realize that I've neglecting my blog lately so for those of you who are not on fb, here are some of my posts from the past week...just kidding...enjoy!

Highlight from my day: one of my children was so focused playing hide-and-go-seek that they had an accident (#1) in the closet in which they were hiding. Oh, but not a "neat" closet, but one that has mounds of clothes on the floor waiting to be sorted into "keep" and "go to goodwill". Just another day in paradise for me :-)

My 3 & 4 year old children decided to put sand in their underwear today while in the sandbox. They told me that they were pretending to be babies who pooped in their pants. While hosing them off...ALL parts...the 16 month old got into the paint the kids had been using to paint rocks with and was painting her head and legs. I'm so tired.

I had a dream last night that the truck which brings ALL the food to our grocery store crashed and they weren't getting another delivery for weeks. The store gave out each family a ration of food AND a box of appetite suppressants....they didn't seem to work for me though.) Apparently this is the type of dream I have after watching The Biggest Loser.

I just spilled some bleach on my hand but PLEASE don't worry about my skin being damaged in any way...I'm pretty sure the white will stay white.

While downstairs typing my last post, I was unaware of the activities of a certain 16 mth old upstairs. After emerging from the basement I was greeted by a diaper-less toddler. I reluctantly began the search for the missing garment. It had been removed in the kitchen, dumped out, stepped in, and tracked down the hallway. Miraculously I neither screamed nor cried...but the day is not yet over.

I am SO overtired today that I've been rolling on the floor laughing at my own comments to other people's posts. I'm predicting that I'll blow up at my children sometime between now and 5, before finally bursting into tears and saying something like, "why does life have to be so hard sometimes!" or "STOP FIGHTING!".......I'm THAT kind of tired!

If there had been a hs yearbook superlative created just for you, what would it have been? Clearly mine would have been "Most likely to become a fb sensation AND stay-at-home mom, who eats large amounts of chocolate and hums the theme to Wonder Woman constantly." Too bad that wasn't a category when I graduated...what... the heck was wrong with the yearbook staff??

Ummmm, I'm thinking that I should NOT have just dried the blanket I just washed. I opened up my dryer and it looks like somebody just sheered a sheep in there. Anybody need some wool for their spinning wheel?

My son at breakfast: "Mom, did you ever have a mean mom?" Me: "No. Nonni is my mom. Do you think Nonni is mean?" Son: "no" Me: "Do YOU have a mean mom?" Son: (pause) "no"...why the PAUSE little man??!! I guess he's mad because I wouldn't let him use the permanent marker I was using....I'm WICKED!!!!!!1

I'm watching "The Biggest Loser" while eating a MASSIVE chocolate chip cookie.... I'll start my diet....again....tomorrow.

I kicked Monday's butt: Brian to pr-school, two grocery stores, home, shoveled BIG mound of dirt off driveway and raked it to plant grass, Brian home, lunch for kids, nap for baby, three batches homemade choc. chip cookies, dinner kids, b-day dinner husband, AND..rest!!

There is a concert going on in my living room right now...a Kate original..."Stupid man up in the cup"...I can see her name up in lights now!

Keeping my kids safe: sunscreen-check, bug spray-check, grooming for ticks-check, following them around with a pitch fork in hand to defend against the raccoon that my husband saw walk down my next door neighbors driveway yesterday AFTERNOON-check! I'm exhausted just trying to keep my kids healthy and ALIVE!

My 3 yr old decided that bringing her hot dog into the bathroom with her was a good idea today. However, I think she now has reason to rethink that idea. Supporting oneself on the potty while holding hot dog pieces = falling into the toilet. I'll leave the "it's gross to bring food into the bathroom" discussion for another day. I think the lesson learned today made quite a splash as it is.

My daughter was stuck in her seat at the kitchen table. I ran over and pulled the chair out and Kate said, "Mom, you saved the day!" Then a little while after that I was holding a barbie and she said (at least I swear it's what I heard her say), "can I play with your sister?" Kate is my new favorite person on this glorious planet earth!

Has the water main break here in MA made national news? Two million people and 700,000 households have to boil their water before drinking it. However, that's not really the most important inconvenience. Several Dunkin Donuts are not able to serve COFFEE! I repeat NO COFFEE at Dunkin Donuts! Doesn't America run on... Dunkin? Where's FEMA?? This TRULY is a NATIONAL emergency!

This has been one of the best weekends I've had in a very long time. It wasn't even the weather or the fact that I had a "day off" yesterday (although those both helped). I got to spend time with one of my dearest friends, I counted all my blessings, I breathed, and I "found" myself again. God is so so good...so good!

This morning my 16 month old was taking a bath and I left her (for just a moment, I swear!) to get a drink of water. When I came back in the bathroom she said, "Hi! How ah ya?" I burst out laughing and said, "I'm good. How are you?" She said, "good." She's 16 months old for crying out loud!!!! She's a riot I tell ya!

I wanted a peaceful dinner with my family. However, "peaceful" meals don't happen with Kelly...(she likes to do her "Kelly thing" cry, run around, get up/get down, sit on my lap, hold out her hand for a walk, etc. etc.) SO I gave her a lollipop while we ate and told her to go watch a show. I'll add that to the growing list of "things I would never dream of doing before I was a parent."

My mom came up to watch the kids today while I went to the doctor. On the way home I stopped at Trader Joe's and got the kids frozen chocolate covered bananas. When I took them out of the box and gave them to the kids my mom says, "Oh! This was on your front lawn!", and she handed me a packaged CONDOM! I wonder what reminded her of the disturbing gift she had for me in her pocket??!!

Brian found a worm the other day and was giving it a ride on his big wheels. A few minutes later I heard him say, "Wow Mom! These break really easy!" I looked down to see PART of it on the driveway. I said, "Brian, don't hurt it!" and he looked at me with a very serious face and in a concerned tone and said, "I hop...e he's okay."

I'm trying to cut back on salt so I bought unsalted butter...I buttered my toast...but it tasted flat...so I shook on some salt. I bought low fat frozen yogurt but it too was missing something...fat...so I mixed in Peanut butter. I'm a lost cause!!!

Saw a bumper sticker that said, "Grandchildren are your reward for not killing your own children." I would like grandchildren someday, so I'm going to keep reminding myself of that bumper sticker today. I also heard that Calgon only "really" takes you away if you drink it. Since I want grandchildren (and let's face ...it..I love my own children), I've decided not to take a swig.

I've never bought a pair of sweatpants with writing on the butt..never wanted to draw extra attention to that area. However, I was thinking that I might buy a pair a few sizes too small, so the letters are spread out and you can't read the word. As I lose weight people will be able to see the letters moving closer together and being able to finally make out the word. Like teaching a kid to read...

At one point this morning I think my children were all crying together in perfect harmony. It actually had a nice sound to it, just for that moment, and then it became unbearable again. If anyone feels like crying today I'd like to extend an invitation to my house because chances are, I'll be crying at some point too!

Funny post time. Want to know how I met my husband? Well, apparently my mother got tired of my being single. She went into the guidance dept. of the school she teaches at & announced, "Doesn't anybody know any single catholic guys?" I guess she asked other teachers too because that night she called me with 3 phone numbers I could call! I said, "I'm not calling these guys! But they can call me." Jeff called..

The "Diet" hahahahahahahaha....aaaaah....

On June 4th or so I'm supposed to be posting a "new and thinner" picture of myself after my month of healthy eating and "crazy" exercising. Ya, don't expect to be dazzled....I've actually gained about 3 pounds. HUGE SIGH....this would all be a lot easier if I worked outside of the home....and wasn't around food all day....and didn't eat due to stress.....because of constant crying and screeching from a few little angel girls.........
Nice day out today though, wasn't it?

Not a baby anymore...just a beautiful little girl!

Heeeeere's KELLY!

This is the face of a girl who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go for it! Lord help me!

Very Cool

Check out the rays of light around the head of Jesus in this stained glass window at St. Mary's in Dedham. It almost looks miraculous.

Will I EVER Learn?

Will I ever learn that when Kelly is quiet she's up to something?! I walked into the kitchen to find out that, not only does she know how to climb up onto the kitchen chairs, but that she is also able to get the marker caps off all by herself! I think the look on her face in the first picture is all you need to know that Kelly KNOWS she's doing something she's not supposed to be doing. I then said in an accusing tone, "What are you doing Miss. Kelly?" and she gave me the smile you see in the second shot. How can you be upset with someone who is so darn cute??

Getting Serious about losing WEIGHT!!!!!!!!

Part of me can't even believe that I'm doing this, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I have been wanting to lose weight for over a year now and I'm really struggling. I've never felt the need to eat as much as I do at this time in my life, and I've never ever obsessed over sugar/ desserts like I have been over the past 10 months or so. So I'm going to try a more public approach to weight loss. I'm going to blog about my battle and it's my hope that at the beginning of each new month I'll post a picture of a me that's thinner than the month before.
The outfit I'm wearing in this picture is probably not the most flattering outfit and I'd like to think that I don't look this heavy, but let's face it...the scale and my double chin don't lie. So here I am and this is how I look May 4th 2010. I'll post a picture of myself on June 4th (or as close as I can to that date), and at the beginning of each month from here on out until I reach my goal. I want to lose at least 40 pounds.
Part of my struggle is that I'm afraid of trying and failing. It's time I face this fear and tackle it. I'm going to eat healthy and work out like crazy. It may take months or years...slow and steady wins the race. Wish me luck!!!!!!!

MS Bike Ride...but so much more

I spent this past Saturday on Martha's Vineyard. The weather was better than perfect and my time there was nothing less than glorious. I was there to ride my bike along side my friend Caroline, her husband and several of her family and friends for the MS bike challenge.

Caroline was diagnosed with MS last year shortly after she woke up one morning to find that she couldn't see out of her left eye. It was shocking and mind blowing for Caroline and all who know and love her. You never know what life is going to hit you with, and you certainly don't know how you are going to face a challenge until you're forced to. I'm sure that Caroline has tough days, but you would never know it. To know Caroline, is to love Caroline. She is a person of great joy, faith, and love and it shows. Her father lost his battle with cancer 15 years ago, and since marrying the love of her life three years ago, Caroline and Sean have not been able to conceive a child. And still, Caroline shines.

On Saturday night I sat up thinking about the day, Caroline, my life and life in general. I had just spent one of the most beautiful days I've ever had with one of my very best friends BECAUSE she has MS. I would not have been on the Vineyard, riding my bike, going out to breakfast, riding on the ferry, looking at the beauty of the ocean, taking in the salt air, and laughing with friends, if Caroline had not been diagnosed with MS. If I could have a prayer answered the way I would want it to be answered, I would ask that Caroline would never have had MS to begin with. However, I know that God's ways are not my ways, and that God answers prayers on His terms. I'm sure if you asked anyone there they would say they would have given up that day and all the beauty of it, if Caroline could be healed.

I'm going to take this opportunity to shine like Caroline does. I'm not going to focus on the fact that she has MS rather, I'm going to focus on the blessing that she is in my life and the life of so many others. I'm going to focus on the perfect day I spent with her and her family and friends. I'm going to focus on the gift of life and ALL that life has to offer. I'm going to focus my family and friends, who have prayed for Caroline and for those who were able to donate to the ride (you know who you are and you are very much loved and appreciated). I'm going to thank God for being a loving and merciful Father, and for Mary who's "yes" teaches all of us what trusting in God can do.

I got to be just "Colleen" again last Saturday. Not "mom" Colleen or "wife" Colleen, but the Colleen who became friends with Caroline shortly after grad school, the Colleen who lived with Caroline before getting married, and the Colleen who asked Caroline to be my maid of honor. My life has changed so much in the past 5 1/2 years and in some ways I've felt like I've lost myself. This time away with one of my best friends allowed me to find myself again. I thank God and Caroline for that. I love you Caroline. :-)