3 monkeys jumpin on the bed

Why is it, That when my bed is made, the kids love to play on it? :)

Riana's new look take 2

These are the glasses Riana picked as her glasses. They also have pink with dark pink pokadots on the inside. She loves them and loves wearing them. She really understands how much better she sees with them. So freaking cute!!

sledding fun

We all went sledding at the Derby Softball Field hill. It is great for sledding but I have never taken the kids. Of course Trin was the first one down because she is the brave one! We all had such a great time. I even went down a few times. I hope we can get there again. I don't really want more snow but if we do, we will make good use of it.

Trinity:
Riana's wipeout:
Riana:
Shayla:
Here comes Trin on the First ride:
This is how big the hill is:

Riana's new look

Riana has been seeing the pedi eye doctor I work for( alittle punny). After a year, her weaker eye is getting weaker and her stronger eye is getting stronger. Which we were following, hoping that didn't happen. But our first course of action will be glasses. If that doesn't help the problem then she will need to patch her stronger eye for a few hours a day.
These glasses were the ones covered by our insurance. I did order another pair from work for her. They weren't as cheap as I had hoped but I saved alot with my employee discount. Plus I figure she is the one that has to wear them and if she doesn't like them, she won't wear them. So these cute ones will become her secondary pair and she will have (in her words) more colorful ones. :)

HaHaHa

My Favorite Billboard:

Winter project

I wanted something new for my bedroom. I have gotten tired of the wallpaper that I have had since we moved it. But BOY what a project it turned in to.

Thursday I started ripping down the wallpaper. The top part (stripes) came down with out any problems. The bottom part (green) was horrible. I read on line that I could use Dish soap and warm water to remove the glue and backing. That did help but I don't think I will be using wallpaper again for a LONG time, if ever! The first color I picked was too dark so I went for a lighter color. It is called Sensual Silver. Not to be confused with Centrum Silver.

I also needed to repaint the trim and base boards. I also painted the doors to my room and closet, and the two cubby hole doors. They really needed it. I had to work Saturday morning so my painting had to wait.

When I had one wall left I let the kids draw on the wall. I told them this was the ONLY time they were able to write on the walls. They were so excited. They drew pictures and wrote their names. Then I painted over it. I finished Sunday night. Now I love my new room!!

little of this and that

Trinity pulled out her first tooth on Christmas night. Months ago when it started to get loose I told her maybe the Tooth Fairy and Santa would come on the same night. I really didn't think she would cut it so close. She was really brave when she pulled it out herself.

Then a week and a day later, she pulled the other one out. What a cutie she is with her missing teeth.

Shayla's in the Band

Shayla wanted to play the Trumpet in the school band. We were finally able to get it yesterday. She has practiced a few times already in school. This was her first time with her own (rental) trumpet. She was so proud. Wondering if we need a sound proof room.

First Day of School

First Day of School

Shayla 4th grade

Trinity 1st grade

Riana Pre-K

Halloween Preparations
With Halloween coming soon, I decided it was time to clean out the old costumes. I had some willing little models to help me.


Trinity as Dora. I thought I threw out this wig but I guess I knew better and saved it for eBay.

Riana as a white bunny and Ladybug.
This CareBear costume has gotten so much use! All 3 girls have worn it. When Halloween comes around we have a few events to attend so each costume is worn about 3 times in just one season.

I started each one at $.99. I checked the Care Bear one last night. It is up to $17. Not too bad for something that I am happy to get out of the cubby hole.
Notice Riana's pose in each picture. She did it on her own and that makes it even cuter.

Christmas

Riana got a bike from Santa. It is big for her now but she will ride it someday.

At Uncle Jimmy's house for Christmas Dinner. These are the dresses my mom made for them.

A mini Winter Vacation

Jeff came up with the idea to go to Santa's village in New Hampshire for a long weekend. We kept the kids out of school on Friday and Monday. We packed the van and left at 7:00 in the morning. We were about 45 minutes awya when it started to snow. I was not to happy to be driving in the snow, didn't know exactly where we were, or how much longer we would be going. Finally we got there. He got us a very nice 2 bedroom cottage. We all enjoyed the warm fireplace. Jeff slept in one room. I slept with Shayla in the other room and Riana and Trinity slept on the futon in the living room. Jeff took the kids out in the snow for a little while. But I didn't have their snow pants with me so we dried their sweats but the fire.


This "Christmas Tree" was in our cabin. There was a little gift bag waiting for us. In it was a few little toys for the kids like a yo-yo and a stencil. Also an ornament for us to take home and put on our tree. The room also had some board games in it. We had fun playing Wheel of Fortune.

The next day we went to Santa's Village. After I went to Walmart to get some long johns to wear under my jeans. It was 17 degrees! The kids were cold but didn't seem to mind too much. Jeff and I were frozen.
The kids went on a few rides. There were little elves around the park and they got necklaces with the alphabet on it. Each elf was a different letter and they stamped the necklace. We didn't make it to all of them. It was too cold so we went to feed the reindeer. (No animal problems with Trinity. She doesn't have good luck with animals) They even had a few baby reindeers.
The next day was a little warmer and we went to a tree farm for a wagon ride. The kids of course wanted to ride on the horses. But it was a nice sunny day and a little warmer. We also got a wreath and the kids each picked out a music box. Our room had come with this package, a wagon ride, wreath and cut your own tree. We didn't need the tree so they gave us a store credit for the difference.
I hope one day we can go back in warmer weather.
We then went to my Grandparents' house in Vermont. It was only an hour and a half away. The girls played in the snow for about an hour. We stayed the night then headed home in the morning.

House Guest

We had a house guest


This Praying Mantis was out side the door on the porch for 2 days. I was going outside to hang the clothes and I almost stepped on it because it was now inside the house. I used a yard stick to pick it up and relocate it to my plants that I got for mother's day(Outside). There it stayed for many days. It got real windy one day and my plants jumped off the railing, trying to commit suicide or homicide? I found the praying mantis. It was still alive and well so I moved it across the yard to the hedges. As I was goin

fans of figures

Jeff and Trinity looking at his Star Wars figure collection. I am surprised how many people she can name. She played the LEGO Star Wars game and it helped to boost her knowledge. Her Father's Daughter. Today she asked if she could dust them because "Padmae doesn't like dusty hair." These are for looking at only. I call them toys, Jeff calls them collectibles.

4 generations

We went to Jeff's Grandmother's for her birthday. I won't say what age because Ms.Manners says not to. Here are the 4 generations.
Top row: Jeff and Linda
Middle: Shayla, Riana, Sophie
Bottom: Trinity

Bobbing in July

I guess Shayla wanted to practice for fall. She wanted to bob for apples. Maybe because she didn't have any loose teeth or because her front teeth have grown in enough. She got one!

Potty Training

These are pictures still from July:

Here is Riana learning to use the potty.

BFF's together again

Shayla had a best friend in school since Kindergarten.
At the end of 1st grade Shayla came home in tears to tell me that Kaylee was moving to California.
Months later, out of the blue, we get a phone call from Kaylee. Come to find out she isn't in CA but still here in CT only 20 minutes away in Stratford! They talked occasionally on the phone for a few minutes every few months.
This summer her mother and I talked and set up a play date. It was a surprise for both of them. Shayla didn't recognize her at first and was very shy in the beginning. The kids started to play and best friends were returned. Kaylee had bought Shayla an ankle bracket that had the broken hearts with "best friends" written on it. Kaylee lost her half at the end of the play date. Her mom said they would find something better.
Trinity wanted to be part of the "best friends" but hopefully she will make her own this year in Kindergarten. Kaylee did bring her younger brother to play but he was a boy and not readily excepted. Kaylee and Shayla would need some time by themselves to catch up and re-bond. (That would happen at a sleepover on a later date.)

Trinity, Shayla, Kaylee
I really like this one. I had to crop Trin out but she doesn't know.

Playdate for Girls

All the little Irish Girls
We tried to get everyone together from the mom's group but summer was just too busy. We were able to get together with Siobhan and her 2 girls at the playground one afternoon. As it turns out they were only girls. No boys. Girl Power!!Trinity, Morgan, McKenna, Shayla, Riana
Myself, Siobhan and Morgan.

My little performers

The kids invited us to watch a "show" that they were putting on in the back yard. No scripts. It was mostly dancing. But we loved it. Uncle Jimmy had gotten a written invitation in his mail box. As it was time for the show, The thunder clouds started to roll in. But they had fun and finished before the rain got here. I do turn the camera durning the show. sorry.