One Word.....

Yourself:  Crazy
Your husband:  Ex
Your hair:  short
Your Mother:  wackjob
Your Father: funny
Your Favorite Item: camera
Your Favorite Drink: Diet Coke
Your Dream Car: Mustang
Your Dream Home: family-filled
The Room You Are In: Livingroom
Your fear: Illness
Where you Want to be in Ten Years? with my kids
Who you hung out with last night: Kids
Your friends:  Incredible
What You’re Not:  quiet
One of Your Wish List Items: couch
Time: Evening
Place You'd Rather Be Right Now: vacation
The Last Thing You Did: made brownies
What You Are Wearing: Pajamas
Your favorite weather: Fall
What is on your TV: Terra Nova
Your Life: Unsettled
Your mood: calm
When is the last time you laughed: @ dinner
Your car: Yaris
Your summer: too fast
Relationship status: single 
Something From Today's To Do List:  Dr appointment

1st Day 2011

Cannot believe they are in 4th and 6th grade already...happening way too fast!!!

Rodeo Weekend....

This past weekend we attended the Clarkson Rodeo again.  This is our third year of going, and we always have fun.  This year, the Gunter and Vitaro families joined us for the evening.  The kids had a great time, and were laughing and smiling most of the night (except poor Eric who suffered with allergies).
 the gang
   the Vitaro's    the Gunter's
Before we went in, we all met for a picnic dinner to celebrate Hannah's 9th birthday...cannot BELIEVE she is nine years old already.  She was spoiled with not only cake pops from Aunt Mel & Uncle Rick, but a wagon cake with worms and dirt from Aunt Sherri & Uncle Jamie!!

We had a great time at the rodeo, and cannot wait to go back again next year!!!!

Here is a picture from 2008, the first time the Gunter's joined us...

and here is a picture of the kiddos this past weekend...

 

    

To my kiddos...

I always take for granted the things I assume you just know because I've mentioned it before, or because I think you just know it...I wanted to make sure I write these things down as I think of them so I can be sure that you do know....

Connor Thomas & Hannah Colleen: 

        *  You are the strongest two people I've ever met, you have been through so much in your short years, and you rarely ever complain.  You haven't always been dealt the fair hand, but you always make the most of it and find the positive--not a common trait of kiddos your age.

         *  Your momma is the proudest she's ever been of you.  Every day you astound me with the things you do and say, not to mention the way you treat each other--occasionally arguing, but always with respect and love.

         *  You have the most incredible support system of family, friends, and friends that are closer than family, who love you and will be there for you, no matter what

         *  I know that you will grow into respectful, caring, sensitive, honorable, tremendous adults, you have proven that much to me and others already.  

         *  You both have the best Donahue sense of humor, there is not a day goes by that you haven't made me laugh in some capacity or another...your humor is a gift, never waste it

         *  When you second guess or begin to doubt yourself, step back, take a deep breath, and call each other.  I have learned from my own brother that there is no one that can be as honest and understanding with you as a sibling.

         *  You need to slow down at times and look at what is happening around you.  You both move so quickly through things that sometimes I'm afraid you're not enjoying yourselves;  I ask that you always take at least 60 seconds every day to just stop where you are, take a deep breathe, and look around you (no matter where you are) and remember what you see and hear--trust me, it will mean the world to you when you look back at those times--it's the best piece of advice I've ever received.

         *   Always strive to do your best, no matter what it is you're doing;  never finish a project/job/assignment unless you are proud of it and have every confidence you did the very best you could--trust me, it will pay off
         *  I am the luckiest mom in the world to be able to call you my children, you truly have made it the best job I could have ever imagined.   I love you with all of my heart and soul.
                      Love,
                        Mom

                         

                       
       

Our Vacation

So, we took a vacation.  It was our very first, I mean, our very first vacation...EVER!!  The last vacation I went on was my honeymoon, 14 years ago!!  My kids have only been camping and to Pennsylvania & Virgina to visit family...never to someplace with hotels, eating out every night, no real rules, where everything done revolved around what THEY want to do!  I decided that it was time, so we went.  It wasn't extravagant--we spent four days in Pennsylvania @ Splash Lagoon--but it was perfect. 
It was, without a doubt, the very best time my children and I have ever had, ever.  We spent the first two days at Splash Lagoon, riding every ride, being lazy in the Lazy River, dunking and splashing in the pool, and eating totally overpriced pretzels, pizza and nachos.  It was amazing.  I literally was able to watch their shoulders relax, like the weight they've been carrying for the past 8 months was immediately lifted.  I laughed so hard my cheeks felt like they would split, and I watched my two children really act like children without a worry in the world.  After the 2nd day, we realized we were bored with the splash park so we packed some bags and spent an afternoon at the hotel pool (which we had to ourselves as everyone was at the park).  When we got tired of swimming, we packed up and went to the Erie zoo for a couple of hours.  We also walked around the mall, ate way too many Krispy Kreme donuts, jumped on the beds, watched cartoons, and ate at a very cool restaurant with cars & motorcycles hanging from the ceilings--totally "rad" as my son would say. 
I cannot get over how relaxed the three of us were.  My ONLY rule for the weekend was no electronics allowed (no computer, cell phones, video games, etc) and it was THE best rule.  We spent so much time together, and there was virtually no fighting...for four whole days!!!  Now that I've gotten the vacation bug, we are going again this fall...not sure exactly where, but I know it will be the best time...ever!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Ok, so it's Wordless Wednesday, but I feel these lyrics by Sugarland (one of THE greatest bands ever!!!) describe me to a tee right now...so for my Wordful Wednesday, here's a whole bunch of words.....

Little Miss down on love,
Little Miss I give up,
Little Miss I'll get tough, don't you worry 'bout me anymore

Little Miss checkered dress,
Little Miss one big mess,
Little Miss I'll take less when I always give so much more

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
Yeah, sometimes ya gotta lose 'til ya win,
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
It'll be alright again, it'll be alright again,
I'm okay, It'll be alright again, I'm okay (okay) It'll be alright again, I'm okay

Little Miss do your best,
Little Miss never rest,
Little Miss, be my guest, I'll make more anytime it runs out

Little Miss you'll go far,
Little Miss hide your scars,
Little Miss who you are is so much more than you like to talk about

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
Yeah, sometimes ya gotta lose 'til ya win,
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
It'll be alright again, it'll be alright again,
I'm okay, It'll be alright again, I'm okay (okay) It'll be alright again, I'm okay

Hold on, hold on, you are loved, are loved

Little Miss brand new start,
Little Miss do your part,
Little Miss big ole heart beats wide open, she's ready now for love

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
It'll be alright again, it'll be alright again
I'm okay, It'll be alright again, I'm okay (okay) It'll be alright again, I'm okay
                         --Sugarland

Wordless Wednesday