beach or bust

 my kiddos had spring break split into two diff. weeks this year. it was a bummer cuz i really wanted to run off to the ocean.

so i decided to go ahead and run off with my eldest & youngest

during my eldest's week off,

so dad could stay home and work & the other kids could go back to school.

we had a blast.

the drive was so peaceful with only two kids in the car.

and we made it in record time... not having to stop every other minute ;)

scenes from the ride out....

                                                      

we finally made it!! yay!!

S found some seaweed with tons of live starfish on it.

my mama came and met us at the beach & made sand castles with R. i clearly just relaxed and watched.

me & my main squeeze

noni & her main squeeze

we ate at world famous and it was just perfect. we were so hungry. they sat us at this perfect table over looking the beach.. the servings were huge and delicious... after eating, we were completely ready to spend the rest of the day lounging on the beach.

beautiful S

another sand castle. they were so proud.

S made a huge sand turtle

salt water sandals right where they belong

R enjoying some ice cream. S ate hers in the ocean.

we had such a nice relaxing time. thx to my mom for letting us crash with her. she cooked for us & spoiled us. it was heaven. R was the perfect age for the beach... old enough to not put sand in his eyes and run away... but still young enough to be a little nervous of the water... so he was so content to just hang out by my chair and dig in the sand all day. and S was in heaven playing in the waves and finding little creatures in the water and sand.

it was perfect other than i realized my nice expensive blow up mattress has a slow leak in it. i found myself laying on cold tile a few times in the middle of the night. unless i am just over the weight limit... now we know that can't be the case... so it must have a leak.

good times

i was reading a friend's blog and she had posted about a few delicious quiches to make on Easter.

finally around 9pm i couldn't stand it anymore.

i had to make one.

it was delicious. i had two pieces.

i was looking forward to eating it again in the morning.

but i left it out on the counter all night.

;( i was sad.

check out the recipes here

soaking up this beautiful weather after school one day....

this little pup has found it's way back to our home.

he is the cutest thing, but needs a new home.

anyone looking for a labradoodle??

best buds.... for the moment.

flower girls

these two were asked to be flower girls in our neighbor's daughter's wedding.

it was quite an honor.

they were quite excited.

they did quite a great job.

the wedding was tons of fun. we finally decided to call it a night when 3 of the 5 children were asleep at the table.

d turns 8

my little d

turned 8.

she is really into soccer.

she really wanted a soccer themed birthday party at the park.

so that is what she had.

she even had her last soccer game of the season that morning.

i am bummed i didn't get pictures of all the little details.. banners, straws, napkins, etc...

we didn't even have our phones out for pics.

good thing my fam took some pics :)

D really wanted this outfit from justice. she really really wanted it. she felt so cool and cute in it i think.

she looked cute too :)

irish green stuff....

we started out our day with a quick trip to dd. man those donuts were good.
however, I didn't eat anything after the early donuts before heading to 11am church.... therefore my naughty little leprechauns left me quite irritated after mass.

but after a stop at a deli for a reuben, I felt like a new person.

then we headed home for some quiet time. i may have locked some of those leprechauns outside to run wild in their shamrock underwear.

erin go bragh.

hangin' with R

one of the many self portraits i find on my phone...

enjoying lunch with a new matchbox car.... nuthin' better

i love the way he looks sitting on that chair getting his haircut...

 he knows he is not supposed to have gum, but every once in awhile he sneaks a piece. but then his guilt gets the best of him and he spits the chewed up piece back into the container. really fun to find later...

having his morning coffee...

a fun swim date at the gym. he had the whole pool to himself.

lent, valentines & things of that nature...

  we are kicking things into high gear this lent around here.

we decided to post our lenten sacrifices up

so that the whole family can see.

the children are enjoying holding the others accountable...

but not so much of being reminded themselves.

hmmm...

the kids gave up tv and all electronics

except for sundays.

and if they need the computer for a homework assignment.

we the parents kindly suggested that one (mandated)

i love it so much when they don't watch tv. they play better, find other things to do,

get more exercise... etc. etc.

i gave up biting my nails and am planning on hitting the gym more often.

and a few other things too.

its going pretty well so far.

 we had some pretty flowers around these parts for valentine's day.

 they looked lovely with the new counter tops in the bathroom....

R very proud of his first preschool artwork..

a valentine painting

valentine banner...

my 4th little flower to wear the valentine smock to kindergarten.

sniff. sniff. time passes so quickly.

R and i had a splendid day with some friends. we went to the children's museum where he got to explore a firetruck & see curious george. he had an "encounter" with curious george...

R accused him of punching him in the head.. a misunderstanding...

soooo...

we decided to check out the valentine making station

then we headed over to the dinosaur museum.

R LOVED it!

we bought a membership.

his responses were so different than the girls' were

back when they were his age.

P loved his new coffee mug i got him.

the kids loved their valentine cookies i got them....

after enjoying cookies, we took the kids to feed the homeless.

they loved it and all wanted to do it more often.

it was awesome.

when we got home, we got the kids settled & had a sitter come over

so we could go on a romantic valentine date.

we enjoyed delicious thai food

and then did all of paul's favorite activities...

make up shopping, maternity bra shopping & wandering the aisles of baby stores

looking at cloth diapers.

he was in heaven ;)

and to wrap it all up....

our dinner club theme this month was

valentine's day.

we made some love stumps, chicken piccata & chocolate decadence.

it was pretty good if i do say so myself.

here are the recipes i used....

chicken piccata

arugula salad

chocolate cake

(we also made homemade whipped cream & topped with fresh berries.

i kinda burned it... so watch the time :)

weight shmeight

the dr. mentioned i had a little weight jump this month.

hmmm....

i have no idea why.

whatever.

so i went to the gym today.

i feel so skinny now.

The professor

parenting and stuff

i was solo parenting last week. 

we survived.

when we found out soccer practice was cancelled, we had a spa night instead. i straightened everyones hair. they liked that. this was the pic we sent to daddy in the morning... on their way out the door to school.

this weekend L & D had soccer games. L's team has been a team for quite some time, so they do fun things like a "make up station"... black under eye stuff... whatever that's called... so they can see in the sun.
R wanted some too.

the games were at the same time... so I was at L's & dad was at D's. auntie sarah & chillen joined us. R liked that a lot. they rolled down the hills, attempted to dump everyones water bottles, etc. darling.

this little girl lost her first tooth. 

it was very exciting.

 all of her sisters lost their first tooth at 4 yrs. old.

she's 6. she was getting a little worried.

i personally was soaking up that adorable baby tooth smile for as long as i could.

we are so enjoying our sweet 6 yr. old  right now.

she has been very cuddly, happy at school, excited for the baby & generally happy about life lately.

it's adorable.

refreshing compared to some of the tween behavior we have been experiencing.

don't get me wrong, the tweens are just as delightful in their own way. hilarious at times.

but at other times..... look out.

i may have suggested that one of my cherubs should possibly go dunk her head in some holy water.

she kindly suggested that i might do the same.

luckily we both thought that was pretty funny.

one last goodbye to the cutest little puppies ever...

 the other day P and I were able to enjoy a day date thanks to my ma. we headed over to chili's. we used to love to go there in college. we would split the single order of fajitas (they were $7.99) add on two side salads (.99) and split the fudge brownie sundae (4.99)

well the prices have gone up a little bit... and it's not quite as delicious as i remember it being in college...

however it was just as fun.
                                                    

i really love this pic from a recent ladies game night at my friend's house. helpful ladies i tell ya.

i have started watching season 1 of downton abbey. i have never been a big fan of period pieces. i can't stand them. but i'm sticking thru it to see what all the fuss is about. it kinda makes me crazy how they are always needing to rest... from what? they do absolutely nothing all day. i only like the doctor so far... cousin matthew. but what's with all the cousins getting married? weird.