Mommies need relaxation...

Yesterday I took a bath, in my large master soaking tub. I lit two candles, poured a half glass of cabernet sauvignon and put some invigorating peppermint bath crystals in the very hot water before I got in. 
In my bliss, I remembered the time that I was completely exhausted and too tired to do any of the above, but nonetheless I drew the bath and sat there, in the dark, hiding from my kids so that I could have a moment of peace. Then, this happened...

When Roman was a baby, I used to try to hide when I was taking my bath, behind the shower curtain, in the dark, since when he found me he would typically start to strip his clothes off and get in OR he would sit outside the tub and make me sing "Happy Birthday" to him over and over as he blew out my candle and make me relight it. Now I have Marissa, 3 years old, adding her special touches (or I should say toy dinosaurs and squirt guns) to my bath.
Back to present day, I am laying there and thinking about how hard it is to take a peaceful bath, alone, when you're a mom and maybe... just maybe... I will actually have an uninterrupted, quiet and peaceful bath. The I hear it, screaming. Both of the kids are screaming, at each other. Who knows what the fight was about, all I could hear was Roman, "Marissa won't leave me alone!" Then Marissa, "It wasn't me!" Roman, "Yes, it WAS!" Marissa "NO IT WASN'T!" ... and then on and on back and forth. By now my dear hubby settled the dispute, but as he walked back in to the master bedroom I said "Hand me some ear plugs" and decided they are not quite old enough for me to assume that it is "my time" to have the relaxing bath of my dreams.

4/30: List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.

Post 4/30 on THE LIST,"30 Things that my kids should know about me"...
List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
That's a tough one, since I feel like I didn't really have much of a choice when it came to how to live my life, at that time. I was legally emancipated at 16 years old and living away from both of my parents, working a full time job, and trying to make something of my life. It wasn't easy, but I won't say that I didn't have some amazing fun during my teen years. I had the most fun. I had the best friends and some memorable life experiences.

Here is my "List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if I could"...
1. Hang in there, it gets easier.
2. Enjoy the simple life. When you don't have much, you have less to worry about.
3. Don't rent a 1 bedroom apartment, you don't need that much space.
4. Don't rush into college, just to finish it... decide what you want to do before you invest your time and money.
5. Don't rush into making big purchases... like cars or houses. Not really a good idea... if you do, you will regret the buy when you will change your mind later.
6.Vulnerability can be a good thing
7. Spend your money on experiences, not material things.
8. Keep close contact with your high school friends, and your extended family.
9. Drive the ugly car, if it's free.
10. Do not have pets, they take up more time than you have right now.

Furthermore, I will add "5 things I did right when I was 16"...
1. I finished high school early.
2. I had a steady job from 13 years old and working full time by 16 years old, making money that I saved and spent... on myself.
3. I spent my time doing what I wanted to do. I have absolutely no regrets on how I spent my time.
4. I educated myself on the things that I felt were important to know.
5. I stood up for myself and directed my own life.

3/30: Describe your relationship with your spouse...

This is post 3/30 on THE LIST "30 Things My Kids Should Know About Me"...
Describe the relationship with your spouse... Well, lets just start out with our love story...
Meeting my soulmate...  my memories of the first day we met.
Starting out on our own... my memories of the first two years of our relationship.
Taking the next step... my memories of our engagement and marriage

With all of that covered, I will talk a little bit about our relationship as I see it now, 10 years after the "first meeting"...

Oscar is my best friend. Over the past 10 years we have been through the better and the worse, the richer and the poorer, and mostly in health... but sometimes in sickness, too. Everything I have ever needed, Oscar has provided for me.
I didn't grow up in a family that expressed their love, openly. Though I know my family loves me, I didn't feel loved and cared for, or protected the way that I believe that a child deserves to be. When I met Oscar, and his family, I finally felt the love that I felt was missing in my life. I remember the first time that Oscar's dad hugged me, and I felt so awkward, because no one had actually hugged me for years before that. I think that meeting Oscar and being loved by both him and his family has changed me forever. I believe that being loved, supported, and protected by Oscar gave me the courage to mend the hurt feelings I had with my own family, as well. I honestly don't know if I could be healed from the past hurt that I have experienced, without Oscar. I know that my family would probably agree that Oscar being in my life has actually brought us closer together, and I suspect that is a big part of the reason that they love him so much.
Oscar isn't regularly a very romantic guy, but he is surprising and very romantic when it counts. Our engagement, for example...if you read "Taking the next step..." you will know that our engagement was somewhat non traditional, but nonetheless he made it very special, on his own terms. Oscar is just that way. He does things the way that he thinks they should be done, but he is so thoughtful. Last Christmas he couldn't wait to give me my Christmas gift... I think I got it at least a week early, it was a fancy pair of Ugg boots. Those that know me best, know that I have always wanted a pair but being the reasonable and conservative spender that I am, I will typically purchase a similar off brand boot to save the extra money, but still get "the look"; however, off brand isn't Oscar's style and he thought I needed them. I was so shocked when I saw them that all I could say was "I never would have purchased these for myself, thank you so much!" ... later I confirmed that the boots were the best boots I have ever owned, and they "feel like I am walking on clouds!" haha. Our first Christmas was the same... I had been eying a new pair of Seven jeans for months, but I already owned a pair (they were my favorite jeans) and just couldn't justify spending $160.00 on a pair of jeans when I made $8/hr working at Macys. He bought them for me. Oscar really wants the very best for me, even if I don't feel like I can have the best, because I typically put everyone else's needs before my own. 

Oscar has been by my side through unimaginable heartache. He has held me while I cried, he has helped me to open up my closed off feelings, because with him I feel safe and like no matter what I could ever say, he will accept me as I am and love me all the same. I could tell Oscar anything and he knows more about me than anyone in this world. 
Oscar is an amazing father, the best father I could imagine for my kids. He loves them and guides them, he is tender and caring, and he is firm when needed. He backs me up with the kids, and I do the same for him. We are a team. He appreciates me. He is my partner, the love of my life, and my best friend. 

What I want my kids to get from this is that...
1. I love their dad with all my heart.
2. I want them to each have, in their own relationships, what we have in ours. I want my daughter to accept only a husband that will love and care for her, support and protect her. I want my son to be the kind of man that loves and cares for his wife and family, and the kind of man that supports and protects his family, too. Nothing is perfect and no relationship will ever be perfect. The key is to accept the other person for their positive attributes as well as their faults. You must also seek personal growth. Sure, no one should want to change you, and you shouldn't change yourself for anyone; however, positive changes and adjustments are what keep the relationship together and keep the love alive. Giving love is the key to receiving love and accepting someone, including the faults and sometimes mistakes, shows you what it is really like to unconditionally love someone. Give to receive and marriage is forever.

The Pumpkin Patch

Maybe some of you mommies and daddies out there can relate to this story...

Every year we go to the pumpkin patch, always the same one; however, the past 2 years I have chaperoned school field trips to 2 different pumpkin patches and so we haven't been to our favorite pumpkin patch since Marissa was a baby...

The Pumpkin Farm 2010

Now that our baby girl is 3 years old, (and we don't have a pumpkin patch field trip this year) the mission was to get to our favorite pumpkin patch to take some fall photos, let the kids get dirty and run off some steam. I took over 400 pics at the pumpkin patch, hoping to get a few good shots of our challenging 3 year old. My 6 year old has always been a shining star behind the lens of my camera, and though I don't think he loves to have his picture taken, he humors me. We did get a handful of good ones, but not great ones of baby girl...

Isn't my son so handsome!? Look at those adorable dimples!

So, I got a lot of great ones of my son, a couple of decent group photos and at least a couple that are presentable of my dear Marissa. Shall I share some "outtakes"?
This is what most of the 400 pics looked like ...

And for the grand finale, here is officially the worst family photo I think we have ever taken. Notice how the shadow of my nose makes it appear that I am missing at least 1 front tooth...

Those of you that have experience with 3 year olds may be familiar with the struggle. Yesterday, we went back to The Pumpkin Farm to finish off our activity cards, since we didn't get a chance to do the hayride, last time. This time baby girl had a nice long midday nap beforehand and you probably won't recognize this sweet girl, compared to her "grumpy twin"...

What a difference a nap makes! LOL

My Quarter Century Birthday Party... #5 on my Bucket List

#5  on my Bucket List is "Have a Birthday Party in Vegas", and it is the first item on the Bucket List agenda to be fulfilled. I celebrated my 25th birthday in Vegas in August of 2011, and it was probably the best birthday of my life. 

 Our first night in Vegas

On my birthday...

First we ate lunch at the Bellagio Buffet and then I photographed the Bellagio Conservatory.

(Please excuse the picture quality... these are not my original images)

The Bellagio Conservatory...

  

Our romantic gondola ride at The Venetian...

 A birthday kiss, going under the bridges...

  

Madam Tussaud's, Las Vegas

Here you can see some of our fun at Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum. Read My 3 Legitimate Fears, #3 to hear about how this fun experience turned into the fright of my life.
Below, I answer the phones in the Oval Office with President Barack Obama, confront Jerry Springer about his vile show, and Oscar poses for a photo with Michael Jordan...

 

For dinner, we went to "The Wicked Spoon" in the Cosmopolitan. I highly recommend this buffet restaurant, the food was amazing!

As you can see, this is normal buffet where you might scoop something on your plate. At "The Wicked Spoon" everything is individually plated on small plates, little pots and saucepans, etc. You simply take the dish back to your table and eat!

In the forefront you will see my CUSTOM MAC N CHEESE... yes, you read that clearly... CUSTOM.

You get to pick your pasta shape, your cheese, and your toppings... caramelized onions, mushrooms, BACON, and more!! The server works at the MAC N CHEESE BAR and you just tell him what you want in your mac n cheese, he puts it all in the pot and then heats it at the mac n cheese bar heating station... then you take your custom mac n cheese and enjoy!! It was sooooo good!!

That night, we went out to a club (can't remember which one, or even what hotel because I have obviously just had too much fun with the whole Vegas nightlife) and I will share my smokin hot dress and perfectly matched shoes (so proud of myself! ha)...

Bucket List

So, here is my "Bucket List", full of the things I want to do before I "kick the bucket"...

1. Go to Bora Bora.

 2. Go on a camping trip with lots of friends.

3. Be a home owner.

 4. Go to Disney WORLD.. at Christmas time!

5. Have a birthday party in Vegas. --CHECK!

6. Go zip lining.

 

7. Experience Christmas in New York City...

  

8. ...and kiss at the top of the Empire State Building.

9. Wear a beautiful wedding dress.

10. Get a tattoo.

 

11. Photograph the Great Reno Balloon Race.

12. See a flash mob, in person.

13. Watch my children get married.

14. Be an awesome grandparent.

15. Run a 5K.

 

16. Throw someone a surprise party.

 

17. Road trip in and RV with no clear destination.

 

18. See the Roman Colosseum.

19. Buy and restore a vintage travel trailer.

20. Visit Vermont in the fall.