AAAAHHHHmazing

Well...it's official...our first Family VACAY was a huge success. The beach was pristine, the weather was perfect, and seeing the two little ones react to seeing the Ocean for the first time was priceless! It was so nice to relax on the Beach and not worry about everything else for just a little bit! Our motel was literally a minute from the beach, and everything was within walking distance. It was so nice not to have to drive anywhere! I definitely want to make this a summer tradition!

This one's for you Cindy...

My tattoos...

My first tattoo is along my lower back, my sister took me to get it as soon as I turned 18! I wanted to surprise my parents and couldn't wait to go home and show them..haha! When I got home, a huge grin on my face, my mom said...so let's see it! I said "what? see what?" How did she know? I guess it really is true that parents have this magical, telepathic, ESP skills, although I have yet to find and develop mine! No, actually, come to find out, the tattoo shop called and left a message at my house to confirm the appointment! LOL, it figures!

My second tattoo, the one around my belly button, unfortunately was drawn/designed by my ex-husband! And appropriately, it hurt like HELL!!! I think I may have cracked a few bones in my sister's hand that day! LOL But no worries...it is a painful scar to remind me of my past, and how I've overcome it...and at least its not his NAME!!!! Ha!

Lastly, I added a butterfly above my lower back tattoo...because I thought it needed something...and what girl doesn't LOVE butterflies! I think it represents quite the metamorphosis in myself...I emerged pretty well from my "old" life and have an AMAZING "new" life!!

I have to say though, it's been a while and I am starting to get the "itch"! Ron has none and wants to get one too! We have decided that we will both get one in Vegas...our trip that we've been dreaming of for quite a while and has yet to be scheduled:(! I was thinking that I would like to get one that incorporates my zodiac sign, Pisces, with Ayva's zodiac sign, Cancer, or a four-leaf clover because I am ridiculously good at finding them, a trait I inherited from my Daddy!!

I love getting tattoos but have a real pet-peeve about where I will put them. I don't want them to be anywhere where they will show if I want to dress up and look nice. I think there is a time a place to show them, and I like to be able to pick the time and place...LOL.

Summer Loving had me a BLASSST

Ayva with her "tied" shoe!!


Ayva and Cam in the pool!

Ayva jumping in the pool!

Ayva and me at Million Dollar Beach in Lake George!

Ayva doing Cam's hair at her new Beauty Salon that she got for her birthday!! LOL

All the little Kiddos at Ayva's Birthday party!

Ayva getting ready to hit the ball with her new tee-ball set, also a b-day present!

This summer has been particularly good to me! We've had Ayva's birthday party, trips to the local beach... We put up one of those Kwik-set pools, which is pretty big, (small to adults) but perfect for the kiddos. Ayva has overcome her fear of water and is becoming quite the little swimmer! She even gets up on the ladder and does this jump that can only be compared to a flying squirrel!! The other day, she had her 5-year check-up/physical for Kindergarten and she did very well! After that, we went school shopping, she is definitely going to be the most stylin' little chica in Kindergarten, lol! Yesterday, Ayva and I went to CVS and printed out a TON of pictures and we made a scrapbook, for her. (she got a Hello! Kitty scrapbook kit for being a good girl at the Dr. and getting a shot)! I told her to include all the people she loves and we made a page for everyone. She picked in order...Kelsey, Cameron, Poppy, Me-me, Ron, Mommy, Uncle Mark (Ron's Brother), Uncle Ken (Ron's other brother), Grandpa and Stacey (Ron's father and step-mother), Daddy, Uncle Kody (my brother), her cousins Shaylah, Sebastien, Jestyn and Braxtyn, Aunt Alycia and Uncle Marky (My sister and her fiance). LOL...I;m just glad I made it in! We had a lot of fun cutting up pictures and decorating the pages. It came out super cute, and she wants to bring it for show-and-tell in Kindergarten. Yesterday, I also taught her how to tie her shoes! She was getting so frustrated then we started singing this song from Yo! Gabba Gabba! "Keep trying, keep trying, Don't give up, don't give up!" LOL it really did work, because by 9:30 last night she had it and she called my dad, her Poppy to tell him and she even called my mom, her Me-Me at work to tell her! Ayva amazes me more and more everyday! I love her so much!

This weekend, Ron and I are taking our annual trip to the Syracuse Nationals Car Show (we have gone every summer since we started dating, so this will be our fourth rip!) I can't wait, because this year, we both have arranged to have no kids and booked a hotel room for Saturday night!! We NEVER get any alone time, so I am so excited!! Ayva will be having a weekend sleepover with her Aunt KaSandra, (my best friend since the womb) and I know she will have an amazing time! Kelsey and Cam will with be with their mothers. And to make things even better...in two weeks, we have planned a family vacation to Hampton Beach! I am SUPER excited! I can't wait for Ayva to see the ocean! And I have REALLY been craving some salt water and sand in the worst way!!! I haven't been to the ocean since my trip to Florida in the summer of 2004! It's been WAY too long!

All in all, this summer is looking pretty good, I've been staying busy, which is good, because when I have nothing to do, I go crazy!! Well...chat with you all soon!!

Tradgedy strikes

**** I am taking Adrienne's Advice and putting a disclaimer on this, please be prepared to maybe cry****

Just two weekends ago, Ron and I were lounging on a usual Saturday Morning when he got a phone call from his Uncle Jerry. There had been a TERRIBLE fire. Ron's Cousin Sammy, her boyfriend and their SEVEN children ranging in age from 1-12 were in the house sleeping when the fire broke out. Of course the events of that day unfolded in a blurry kind of whir...but as the details came in, we were told that the two parents had been taken to Westchester Burn Center to be treated for smoke inhalation and burns, and that there was no word on any of the children. It seemed that Days went by with no confirmations, but the signs were bleek. All six children that were in the house perished, and miraculously, one child, 8 years old, who was spending the night at her friends that night is the sole child survivor. This was heart-wrenching for the whole community.

Lat night, Ron, his daughter Kelsey and I attended the calling hours. Now while I had met Sammy, the mother, a few times, I had never really met any of her children, but let me tell you, walking that longggg walk up to the front of that church and walking by six child sized caskets, was something that I NEVER want to do again in my whole life!! As Ron gave Sammy a hug and told her how sorry he was...she looked right at Kelsey and then back at Ron and said, "Cherish your daughter." I definitely came home and held my own daughter really tight that night. I cannot even fathom what those two parents must be going through right now. But it really makes you slow down and realize how precious each day is and how the "small Stuff" seems even smaller! I am so glad to be where I am right now. I am living with a man who means more to me than anything and is EVERYTHING I ever could have asked for, and I have an amazing beautiful daughter, and his children as well. Everyone is really coming together as a family and we are all looking forward to our first real family vacation when we go to Hampton Beach in 3 weeks!! I hope all of you cherish every moment with your own families and live each day to the fullest!! Carpe Diem! Love you all!