Comic Relief

Its been a very busy past couple days here for me as it probably has for most of you as well. We had Thanksgiving at my mothers beach house on Cape Cod, which isn't really a beachy house...its actually a five bedroom colonial but whatever. It was nice. We spent the night and on Friday i had tickets to see my favorite comedian! I have been looking forward to this night since the summer when i found out he was coming to Boston.

Jeff Dunham!

If you've never heard of him i suggest you check him out on youtube! He. Is. Hilarious. He's actually a ventriliquist with puppets like Achmed the Dead Terrorist, Walter (the grumpy old man), and my favorite Peanut! The show was two and a half hours of non-stop, cheek hurting, dry throat, tears pouring laughter. I'm NOT exaggerating!! He did all new stuff, which is good because i've watched him on youtube and comedy central a hundred times. It was a full house in the stadium which kind of surprised me because i only heard of him this year, but apparently he's been around for years. I was also surprised by the amount of kids that were there. It was in no way child appropriate....at all.

He's such a good ventriliquist, you honestly forget that he's doing the talking for the dolls. They really do come to life. Its incredible. Just so you can see for yourself, the video posted below is him and Peanut (my favorite). Please watch it....i promise you wont regret it!!

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Weekend in Philly

I'm back from my weekend roadtrip to Philly with the girls!! I had so much fun!! I seriously need to get out more because i really enjoyed the 6 hour car ride too. Saturday we left pretty early in the morning and headed out. We got to our hotel around 4:30. We stayed at the nice Double Tree...and the beds were super comfy! I wanted to take home the pillows and sheets. After check in, we walked to the convention center to get Alice's number for the marathon and had dinner afterwards.

We got back to the hotel around 7pm, and we were exhausted! The party animals we are were in bed and asleep by like 8pm. I think we were just so tired from the long drive. Not one of us was motivated to go out to a bar....at all!

Sunday, Alice left before 7am to get to the race and Angie and I were gonna meet her at the finish line. We left only about an hour after her, got directions from the woman at the hotel desk and headed towards the finish......Or so we thought.

About 45 minutes into walking around the entire city of Philly we were walking with the "walkers" of the marathon. We passed by mile marker 7.

Oh yeah, totally no where near we needed to be.

We were over by all the Universities.

Walked down frat row.

Every cop we asked had no idea where the finish line was and just kept saying we had a ways to go. I think they thought we were part of the race...yeah...in our jeans with our Dunkin Donuts coffees!

Finally, someone told us the finish line was at the Rocky steps and told us how to get there. So, after an hour of "touring" the city, we finally made it to the finish line. However, we had completely missed Alice!! We were really bummed because that was the whole reason we were there. But after the race we did some sightseeing.

We ran up the Rocky steps:

Found some random gigantic game pieces:

Sorry gamepiece:

Monopoly's wheelbarrel:

A giant domino:

Saw the Liberty Bell:

Went to the Southside for Philly Cheesesteaks:

Mmmm...Yummy!!

and headed home for our 6 hour drive back:

Yup, all in one day!! I've got tons of great pics!! Philly was a great city. Lots of history. Next time, i'd like to do a little more sightseeing but i'm pretty satisfied with what i saw this time.

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Christmas Giveaway....

Amy at Thoughts from the Mrs. is having a 12 days of Christmas giveaway!! I just stumbled on this blog after reading a post about it on Toni's blog...and boy am i glad i did! She's giving away some GREAT stuff. Head on over there now because its almost over!!

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Blog Party Day 8

Its Day 8 of Momdot's Blog Party!! Today is sponsored by: Koshas, Leapfrog and Soda Club.

Todays Question is: Do you shop on Black Friday? What time do you start? Do you finish all your shopping on that day? What’s the best deal you have found? What’s your shopping strategy?

Aaahh the busiest shopping day of the year! Do I get my ass up wayyy before the sun does to "maybe" get some good deals?? Hell no!! I'll be sleeping thank you!! I shopped on Black Friday once. Once. And i swore i would never do it again. I had gotten up at like 4am to stand in an obnoxiously long line only to have what i had gone there for, to be gone already. Yup, apparently everyone wanted the same deal as me. However, last year my family and i realized that you can get some Black Friday deals online on Thanksgiving!! Yup, thats right!! One day earlier and in the comfort of your own home!! You can thank me later!!

As you know from the previous blog party posts, i have already started my shopping and finished! I like to get it done early before there's any crowds and rush. Now and i can relax and enjoy the entire holiday season without the stress of buying presents.

To participate in all the party fun head on over to Momdot and sign Mr. Linky!!

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Philly Roadtrip!

I am going on an all-girl Roadtrip this weekend!! That's right, no kids!! I can't even begin to tell you how excited i am. I, obviously, don't get out much! I don't travel. Not that i dont LOVE traveling, i just don't have the means to do it. I LOVE seeing new places and taking Tons of pictures. Which is exactly what i intend to do this weekend.

We're roadtripping to Philly. It's supposed to be a long 6 hour drive, but for me, i'm completely stoked! I've never taken a roadtrip before. And i've never been to Philly. Actually, pathetically, i can list the places i've been outside of Massachusetts on just two hands. I dont even have a passport! So, even a trip this small really is HUGE to me! As if you couldn't tell already just by reading my blog....little things always excite me!

I'm going with my friend Angie and her friend Alice who is running the half-marathon on sunday. We're leaving Saturday morning and i'm really hoping that we can see some sites on saturday after we arrive. Thats really all i wanna do. I want to see as much as i can and take plenty of pictures. Oh, and i have to have a Philly Cheesesteak too! We plan to leave on sunday night after the race. I just realized i'm not working monday so double bonus!! Bring on the long drive!

Hunter is going to spend the weekend at my grandmothers house with some of his cousins. He's thrilled. He's making me drop him off tomorrow so he can spend an extra day with them!! I'll be sure to post some pics on monday and tell you all about my mini-vaca!! Aaahh....two full days with no kids....BLISS!!

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Vote for Me!!!!!

I am so excited to announce that Hunters picture is a finalist on 5m4m's Fun with Food photo contest!! I was literally jumping up and down the O.R. today!! I would really appreciate your vote!! The winner will receive a $500 gift certificate for groceries!!! Who couldn't use that?!? So this is me on my knees begging and pleading for you to cast a vote for us!! So please go vote right now, because its not pretty seeing me beg like this!!! Here's the link:
http://www.5minutesformom.com/4857/prego-photo-contest-finalists/

We're number 17!!! Thank you all....your votes are deeply appreciated!!!

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Parent-Teacher Conferences

Scare the hell out of me!! I must have some sort of repressed memory or something because even as an adult i'm scared. It brings back feelings of going to the principals office or staying after school because i wouldn't stop talking.

The Uh-Oh, i'm in trouble feeling.

I guess i'm just one of those parents that feels that my child's behavior is a reflection of me. And what if she says my kid isn't up-to grade. Or that he's disruptive in class. Or that he's just not "getting" it. My own paranoia i suppose.

I had parent-teacher conferences the other night. And of course, i get nervous as hell!! As always, it turns out fine...no big deal. His teacher, who is the size of a first grader and just graduated college last year, is really sweet as pie. She said Hunter was chatty and fidgety but if she called him he would get the answers right. He participates very well, gets along with all the kids. He's also above grade level in math and right at grade level for reading. Not. So. Scary. At. All. There was no big bad monster or detention slips getting thrown at me. So overall, the conference went pretty well. I can't complain about his progress at all.

I'd love to say i'll be fine at the next parent-teacher conference but i know i'll be scared to death again. I was like this last year too. I don't what i'm gonna do when he's a teenager and getting into REAL trouble!

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Blog Party Day 3

Day 3 is upon us!! Today's questions are:


Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Do you budget for the holidays? Do you always stick to your budget? Share with us any budgeting tips you may have!


Have i started my Christmas shopping yet? I am just about done!!! That's right...D.O.N.E. I have a Christmas club that i started through my work about a year and a half ago. They take $25 out of every paycheck (money never seen is never missed) and on October 1st they send me this nice big fat check! Its the best thing i could have ever done....i highly recommend it. As soon as i get that check i start my shopping....for a number of reasons:
1. I hate the crowds. If i don't have to go shopping around Christmas time...then i'm not!
2. If you start early, chances are you'll find everything you need. I don't want to have to rush around the few weeks before Xmas looking for that "one" thing he really wanted, and not be able to find it.
3. The longer i have the money sitting there...the more likely i am to spend it on non-christmas related things.

I almost never stick to my budget. Because i start so early and usually use the Christmas club check rather fast, i end up buying things here and there up until christmas. I might buy one or two things a week (if i'm out). But that's my Christmas shopping routine in a nutshell!!

Today is sponsored by Appledonia, Hippos Toes and My Bag
Vip blogs are Parent Reviewers , Mom Most Traveled, Mommy Zabs, MomStart, HipposToes, Run DMT

To participate in all the blog party fun, head on over to Momdot and sign Mr. Linky!!

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Blog Party Day 2

Yesterday was day one of Momdot's blog party. I unfortunately was unable to post anything due to the craziness at work. So here is my entry for day two. Day two's question is:
What are some of your favorite holida family traditions? What are some you would like to start?

I'll start with Thanksgiving. Our holidays have changed a lot in the past few years. We now spend all the holidays at my mothers with just my immediate family. My entire life up until a few years back we would go to my great aunts and spend the holiday's with ALL of my family. I'm talking 40 to 50 relatives!! Now my mother hosts it for just "us". On Thanksgiving, i usually head to my mothers early to watch the parade with them. Dinner is almost always spent cracking up laughing. We tell stories about when we were all younger and the funny things we would do and say. It really is a lot of fun. After dinner, we always watch Christmas Vacation and Elf and eat pie. Because you can't stop the laughter at the dinner table!!

Before i continue with our Christmas traditions allow me to introduce to you my rather unusual family dynamics. My immediate family consists of : my mother, step-father (who we consider our dad), myself (i'm the oldest), my brother Matt (25), my sister Kayla (10), my brother Brendan (6), and my son Hunter (7). Rather interesting, huh? My younger two siblings are "technically" half siblings, however we don't use those terms in our family. They are my dads only two biological kids. And yes, my son is older than his uncle. So, as you can see, holidays are quite interesting in my family.

Now, onto Christmas. Christmas Eve is usually spent at one of my aunts houses or my grandmothers. My mother is the second oldest sibling in her family and is one of 5. My aunts all have kids who are 7 and under. 12 kids in all!! Santa usually comes to the house, gives a present to all the kids and then we all exchange gifts. We used to do a family grab but we no longer do that, now we just buy for all the kids instead. Its complete chaos!!

I'd also like to share with you my New Years Eve traditions. I actually just started this last year but enjoyed it so much i think i'll continue with it. I feel like New Years Eve is pretty much amateur night....i don't need to go out and "party" it up like the young kids do. I always take call so the younger girls can go out and they usually take call on Christmas, so i don't have to. But last year, Hunter and I spent New Years Eve watching a movie, eating happy meals and shirley temples. I can't even tell you how much fun it was!! I think this year i might change it up a bit and make sundaes!!

Today was sponsored by LaPlates, Lets Go Strolling, and Natity's Design.
Vip Bloggers are Parent Reviewers , Mom Most Traveled, Mommy Zabs, MomStart, HipposToes, Run DMT

Go visit MomDot and sign Mr. Linky to participate!!

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Wordless Wednesday

Like mother, like son.....

Hunter and Miss Blondie at monster mini golf for his birthday.

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All for me??!!

So, my dear good blogger friend Toni at A Daily Dose of Toni has so graciously blessed me with not 1, not 2, but 4..yes 4 awards!! How awesome is that?!? I'm like a kid at Christmas whenever i get 1 award, so imagine my giddyness when i learned she was giving me 4!! Yay, i have fans!! People like me....Woo-Hoo...You have no idea what this does for my ego.

The first award is the Superior Scribbler Award

Next awards is the Sparky Blogger Award...i'm glad someone finds me inspiring..hehe.

This one i have to say is my favorite, The Rock Star Award. Now there's proof that i'm not the only one who thinks I rock!

And last but not least is the Kreativ Blogger Award.



Thank you again Toni, and if you haven't checked out her blog already i seriously suggest you go now. You won't regret it! I'm gonna steal her idea and instead of sending out these awards to bloggers individually, i'm gonna just pick 7 of my favorite blogs and give them all 4!!

So here are the 7 bloggers i'm giving All of these awards too:

1. Amanda (aka Sissy) at Mama's Other Side, because she honestly says exactly how i feel. I think she may be long-lost sister.
2. Outnumbered 2 to 1 simply because she wrote a very similar post to mine about Christmas music
3. Bridgette at The Not So-Blog Blog for all the great giveaways!!
4. Just the Girl at Just the Girl with something to say, just because she has a great blog to read!!
5. Lynette at KooKoo For Cocoa Puffs because she was able to control herself when someone made an extremely rude comment to her...i would have slapped him!! She deserves all 4 awards for that!!
6. Heather at My Quest for Sanity for sharing a very personal, heart-felt story with us.
7. Jessica over at Nothing But Purple because well...who doesn't like purple??

Now, if you've never checked out these blogs head on over there and check them out. They are some GREAT reads!!

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Chocolate Facial Hair

Over at 5minutes for Mom they are hosting a photo contest called Fun with Food. The winner will receive a $500 gift certificate for groceries!! How awesome is that?!? With the economy the way it is, who couldn't use some extra grocery money?! So here is my photo entry for the contest. That is chocolate sauce on his face at a restaurant. Now that is some Fun with Food!! Wish me luck!!

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Whats between Halloween and Christmas???

There i was, just this morning driving in my car, running errands, listening to the radio when i flipped the station. I am a big flipper. I can't help it. Too much of the same music drives me crazy. So i start flipping through my favorite stations. Nothing. So i hit scan.

And suddenly....I stop!

What was this??

It can't be!

Say it isn't so!

What i heard on the radio made me want to scream out in horror!!

Christmas music!!!!!!

Yes, christmas music....the first week of November. What is going on here?! Isn't there another holiday between halloween and christmas?? Now i thought it was crazy when i was at the mall on halloween and saw the christmas decorations up already but c'mon...this is really pushing it. I'm all for cheery winter wonderlands and jingle bells and shit but not yet! I mean its been 60 degrees out here!! (highly unusual for New England this time of year).

Even though i finished my Christmas shopping already, because i like to get it done and over with so i can enjoy the Christmas season, I'm just not ready for the music yet. Don't get me wrong, i love the holiday season....but it doesn't need to be dragged out this long. Can't we just keep it short and sweet?! I dunno, maybe its me...but does anybody else feel this way?

Maybe people should start creating Thanksgiving carols. I could deal with that. And then right after the holiday that is BEFORE Christmas (Thanksgiving) we could start on the Christmas carols. How hard is it to come up with some Thanksgiving songs, here are a few i just came up with:

"Oh holy Turkey"

"I'm getting Turkey for Thanksgiving"

"I'm dreaming of corn bread stuffing"

"Have yourself a little slice of pie"

"Here comes Pilgrims"

See, now how hard was that?? I'm sure in a week or two i'll be singing a new tune but for now....it's a little early!

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Sumo Time!!

I hope everyone had a great halloween....we did!! We went trick or treating at my mom's neighborhood as we do every year but this year all the kids were done about halfway through our normal route. Of course, i wanted to keep going, so we could selfishly get more candy that I could eat. But they were bored and had had enough! I probably shouldn't complain because we didn't get the usual over-the-top obnoxious amount of candy and that'll save me from gaining about 15lbs because lets face it.....he's not gonna eat it all. So i thought i'd share pictures of his costume with you all...he picked it out because he thought it was funny...which it is.

He was a Sumo Wrestler!! This is so his type of humor too.

Didn't he make the cutest sumo wrestler EVER?! He had the stance down and everything!

Here I am with him totally in character.

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