Flu Shots

This morning I had an appointment to get the girls flu shots. It was a great morning. The girls cooperated, and I was convinced that I would end up getting them to school on time. My appointment was at 8:50am and I made it a point to be there a little early. The ped office usually runs on time- thankfully. Both Katie and Allison were ok with the idea they were going to shots. I talked to them about it and everything seemed fine. When the Dr. came in Katie became really nervous and stated clearly that she didn't want the shot. So Allison went first. She was so brave... said ouch and pretty much that was it. She stayed still and was great. Katie on the other hand was really getting anxious. I had to tackle her and very difficultly put her and hold her onto the table while she screamed!!! After the shots were finished she got off the table and threw an absolute temper tantrum. She was so angry. She stomped into the corner of the room, and keep on screeching (anyone who has heard her screech knows exactly what I am talking about) She carried on so that the other Dr. on this morning knocked on the door to see if we were ok or if we needed help. I was horrified. They had both taken in their webkinz to hold on to. After many warnings I took her webkinz away (because of the horrible tantrum) and of course that made things even worse. I had to practically push her down the hall of the office because she was trying to physically get her webkinz back. She finally started to calm down in the car... thankfully because I was on my way to Minnesauke to drop them off. By the time we got to the school she was better and had even apologized for her behavior. I can only imagine what next month will be like when I have to take her back for the flu booster shot!!!!

Last weekend... Columbus Day weekend... we went upstate to Catskill, NY with Rich's family. Rich and his family have been going to "the cabins" every year since as long as they can remember. Rich's parents actually spent their honeymoon there (gives you an idea of how long). I have been going with them since Rich and I started dating. It was a really nice and warm weekend. Last year it had rained a lot, so it was nice to have the warm weather this year. I have included tons of pics in this post... I couldn't help myself. The picture above is one of my recent favorites of the girls.
This picture below is of Katie and Aunt Nancy (Rich's sister) I just think it is a really nice picture of the two of them, we were having breakfast right before leaving... because as usual the pics are not in the right order.Jennifer and Allison waiting for the frog show. On Sunday we went to the Apple Festival in Cairo. The festival is small, and really nice.

This year we brought all the bicycles. The girls didn't ride them as much as I thought... only a little bit. I wasn't really thinking, because there are lots of hills and I think there were too much for them.
Aunt Nancy and Uncle Rich during dinner on Sunday night.

Happy Birthday to Jennifers boyfriend Rob!!! we wish you many many more!! We have know Rob for many years as Richie and Robbie's best friend... but a few months ago sparks flew between him and Jennifer. They are so happy together... as we are so happy for them.
from left to right: Anthony (Jackie's boyfriend), Jackie, Aunt Pam, Uncle Freddy, Samantha (in his arms), Jennifer, Rob. This was taken on Saturday at the Oktoberfest on Hunter Mountain.

Samantha seemed to really enjoy the girlies... and in return they adored her. She is 6 months old now and really showing her personality. It was really nice to spend so much time with her!

When we were at the Apple Festival in Cairo, they has a few carnival rides... including this slide. I think Katie and Allison went down about 4 times!! They love it.
How does that apple taste Allie???

Heading to Hunter! You can see here how wonderful my neices and nephew and their significant others... look how attentive they are to the girlies!!! They are just the best and so good with their young cousins. :)

At Hunter they has the ski lift going. The girls and I took a ride up the to the top and then back down. It was soooo beautiful. The leaves were changing and the weather was right.

Going up Allison!!
Here is Katie as were heading up!
on the way back down! Amazing... the pictures do not do it justice.



My nephew's girlfriend Jessica treated the girls to a ride on a motorcyle.

from left to right: Rich and the girls, Rich and Nancy, Robbie and Erica, Freddy and Pam, Rob and Jennifer, and Jackie and Anthony, Samantha is sleeping in the stroller in front!
Jessica and Kathryn
My neice Jackie and her boyfriend Anthony.

We had a blast.. and are already looking forward to next year!!!!

Looking forward to relaxing...

Last nights dinner at Tellers was very good!! Rich and I has a great time, and really enjoyed our dinner and time alone. I recommend this restaurant for anyone. Today however, was crazy!! I get the girlies on the bus after a very trying morning with Allison. She is normally very cooperative, but this morning was the exception. Nothing was right, first her milk, then her clothes, then her hair... ugh... it was whine after whine. We thankfully made it to the bus stop on time and off they were. I ran right away on fumes to the gas station and filled my car, and then headed into work. I was there all day handling tons of administrative tasks. This new position is really keeping me busy. It seems that everything started this week. Katie's first brownie troop meeting for the year was today from 3:30 until 4:30, Allison is supposed to start her Daisy meetings tomorrow, but since we are going away for the weekend, she will unfortunately miss the first meeting. Religion also started today. I am co-teaching with another mom Katies 2nd grade class. It went really well, except that religion is from 4:30 to 5:30 and there are 4 girls from the the brownie troop in our religion class... and they ended up being 20 minutes late. We will have to figure out a new system. Rich dropped Allison off at the parish center at 5:15 because he had to go a commissioner meeting at the firehouse. After class was over the girls and I hit Target for some stuff and then had to run and pick up Grandmas Leute laundry and drop that off to her. We didn't get home until 8pm. I made them hustle and get ready for bed quick- skipping the showers tonight and finally they are asleep. Now I am taking a deep breath and doing some laundry. We are heading upstate to Catskill tomorrow for the holiday weekend. Rich, Nancy and the kids will be there as well as Freddy, Pam and the girls. My Father in law and Pat and my mother in law are also coming. I really look forward to the time we all spend together up there. I am charging the camera battery as I write and I will make sure I post lots of pics from the weekend.

Ten Years

Richard and I are married 10 years today. I cannot believe that ten years have passed... it seems like just yesterday we were standing on the altar at Infant Jesus Church saying our vows and promising to love each other forever. People tell you all the time how fast time flies and how you need to treasure every moment... and really you think "I know- I know", but these last ten years have flown by. I guess it is true what they say- time flies when you are having fun. These have been the best years ever... we have a wonderful life together, and I couldn't feel anymore blessed. We are celebrating tonight by going out to dinner. One of guys at work recommended Tellers, it is a steakhouse in Islip. http://www.tellerschophouse.com/ It looks like it will be a really nice dinner. I was checking out the website for the restaurant and realized they own one of my all time favorite restaurants H2O in Smithtown.http://www.h2orestaurant.com/. SO now I am super excited. I don't think that Rich and I have been out to dinner just the two of us in a long time. Usually if we get a sitter to go out, it is with friends- friends that we don't get a chance to see often and really enjoy going out with. I think taking this time to go out and enjoy a nice dinner will be special for us. Big thanks to Pop-Pop and Grandma Pat for babysitting for us tonight!!!
You know originally we had planned our wedding for October 10th. We had booked the East Wind, the church and photographer when my Dad approached me and told me that October 10, 1997 was Yom Kippur that year... and because my step-mother and her family and a bunch of their friends were Jewish, he asked if we would consider changing the date. Naturally I instantly thought "I can't" so much is booked already... but I told I would try and see what we could do. After making phone calls it worked out that the hall, the church and the photographer were open for the 3rd. Everyone else is thinking great, done! no problem... but not me, I was concerned and superstitious about that date because that was the date my parents were married, except they had been divorced nearly 20 years at the time. I thought it might be bad luck until one conversation I had with my Dad where he told me that it could never be bad luck... because if he hadn't married my Mom on that day he would not have had 2 wonderful children. So October 3rd it was.
I still look back on our Wedding day with such wonderful and heartwarming memories... it is one of best days of my entire life. That day however was just the beginning of a life filled with love and happiness. Richard is my best friend, my companion, my teammate and my lover, and without him by my side I would be lost. My heart is full and overflowing today as I count my blessings...

ps- Happy Birthday to Tom Gallagher and a Happy 3rd Anniversary to Jon and Julie Cohen!!

A Baby Shower for Baby Lotten

On September 22nd we has a baby shower for my Sister-in-Law Erica. She and Doug and expecting their first child at the end of November. They do not know what the sex of the baby is... which is so exciting!!! I am thinking that it is a boy...but you never know. The shower was a success and I hope everyone had a wonderful time. Above is a picture of my cousins Maria and Jenna. It had been too long since I last saw them and I cannot believe how big they are now. Below is a photo of the radiant mom-to-be!!! Pregnancy definitely agrees with Erica and she looks fantastic.
The Parents-to-be Doug and Erica. I think with all the wonderful gifts they received they are pretty prepared for the arrival of the little one.

How appropriate for Doug's child... a firetruck placemat.
As standard for me... the photos are out of order... one day I will get a handle on that.
One of the "activities" at the shower was to have every guest pick a number and take a notecard. They were asked to write a card or letter to baby Lotten to be opened on his/her birthday (the number they picked was the age at which their letter will be opened). I think this is going to be wonderful the baby as he/she grows up and also for Dougie and Erica to enjoy for many years to come! Below even Katie and Allison participated in the birthday letters... Allison wrote a card for the 1st birthday and Katie for the 2nd.

Surprise!!

ok.... so clearly I am behind.... it is has been over two weeks since I last blogged. Two weeks ago Grandma Vegas returned to NY for a short two-week visit. She decided pretty last minute to fly in for Erica's baby shower. So because it was sort of last minute, and she had just left in July after a long stay, it was pretty easy to keep it from the girls and make it a surprise. She arrived on a Saturday night at Islip... so we told the girls that we has to pick up one Daddy's friends (Rich had been in FL for the 2 days before inspecting a firetruck that is being built, so we told them that one of his friends has flown home one day late). They fell for it... and were very surprised to see Grandma walking toward them from the gate. Kathryn ran to her and gave her a big hug!! After Allison gave her a welcome hug and we started walking toward the baggage area....Allison asked Rich why we were leaving and what happened to his friend ( so cute).

Finally.... some photos from the aquarium

These photos are from the day before the first day of school. Rich's dad took Kate, Allie, Taylor and Emily to the Aquarium in Riverhead for a special day. I gave my camera to Taylor so she could take some pics for me. Here are some of the pics they came home with.