My Goodness

After a week of trying to upload my photos to my hosting site, I've finally managed to get them to upload. Sorry for the delay, but it was worth the wait.

Have you ever been to the Botanical Gardens of Erie County? Well I strongly suggest going. It was so much fun to just wander around, see the beautiful gardens, and know that you don't have to weed and water them.

The Grand Entrance

We found this set of checkers nestled in a beautiful whimsy garden

The wishing well. It is right outside of an ivy love nook.

I had fun taking photos of the flowers and editing them with photoshop

Can you tell?

This is a Staghorn Fern. It clings and grows on anything. This thing is wild!

My personal favorite. Even before I found out its name is "Devil's Backbone"

I love this flower within a flower

A Nerve Plant-And my new background for my computer

We even found a movie character there...Shrek

Not that one...

This one, doesn't it look like Shrek's ears?

The cactus room was my favorite

Jeff's too, until he sat on one.

New Screen Saver

Would you believe they have a beautiful fantasy forest there? Check out these roots!

Just kidding...its a bonsai

Aren't they gorgeous?

And did I mention the waterfall garden?

I felt like I was on the set of LOST

A great trip indeed. I recommend everyone going. You'll be addicted!

Happy Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day and boy was it a good one. Though it didn't start out that way. Have you ever had a migraine? Well, evidently I had not. Until this morning that is. I woke up with my brain swelling against my skull until tears were flowing and I was sick to my stomach. I was going to cancel Mother's Day Brunch and go to the hospital. Surely I was having an intracranial bleed of some sorts. What? I'm no hypochondriac...those things happen. Right? Well, some Excedrin Migraine and some Claritin later, I was good as new.

We headed to the Adam's Mark Hotel for Brunch with Jeff's family. It is a yearly thing we do. But our first time there. We will never go to any other brunch as long as we live if we cannot have Adam's Mark Brunch. It was wonderful. Where else can a kid get Pizza and French Toast on the same plate. Ask Tucker, he was in heaven. And I had to be rolled out of there. I have no idea what possessed me to take two large dinner plates up to the dessert table and come back and devour everything. Hello bread pudding to die for. I am craving it right now!!!!

We were able to take a new family photo...

No, but seriously

OK, the best part was when Mario from Super Mario Brothers walked in the room and my boys acted like Santa Clause himself had just flown in from the North Pole just for them. No one in the world can compete with Mario. Except for maybe Luigi who was at home with a cold. They went absolutely NUTS!!! But when it came time for pictures, Carter had to be cool. Someone tell me when he became 20 years old, 'cause I swear that's how old he looks here.

This is what happens when you sneak the camera out.

Can you hear the romantic theme music playing as Spongebob and Carter ran for each other?

I had to get in on the action. That makes mom cool too.

Oh boy, they just keep coming out of the wood works.

Where's Tucker you ask? He's at the dessert table eating his 3rd Rice Crispy Treat and 4th Whoopie Pie. That's my boy!!!!

Then we headed home for a nap and more headache medicine. A little bit of planting then off to Uma and Upa's for pizza. This family just can't get enough of each other.

One of Uma's presents of the day was from Miss Poppy. I dare you to guess what this is.

No Clue? I bet if you keep an eye on Pursuit of Poppy you will find out eventually.

Gotcha Mark! I know we are photo-nerds. Always attached to our cameras.

All of the kids were waiting to catch a glimpse of the bird singing such a beautiful song to us in the back yard. I still think it was a Mockingjay.

All in all, a great Mother's Day. All I was missing was my Mom. Happy Mother's Day Mom. I love and miss you so much. And please a prayer out for my Grandma who is in the hospital right now fighting Sepsis. If you don't know what it is, it sucks. Google it and pray for her speedy recovery and health so we can enjoy her this summer.

Wanna know what I got for Mother's Day? Check it out here! Of the Charm Bracelet variety.

An Unlikely Duo

Bella and Rosie really bonded this weekend. When you spotted one, you'd most likely find the other. We could not pry these two apart. Rosie lived and breathed Bella this weekend. And as soon as Bella woke up and stretched out her legs, she went looking for her new friend. I've never seen a dog and a cat so close. It was really funny to see the dog play with a cat, then the cat goes back after the dog to play. It was hysterical.

From what I hear, Rosie is bored at home now. No longer satisfied with just getting lovin' from her parents. I think she needs a playmate now. And Bella, well...she's just getting some much needed rest.

Easter

This Easter was amazing!!! My parents came to town and brought their new addition Rosie. Rosie is an adorable adopted doggie that added much fun for the weekend. See my next post for an unlikely friendship that blossomed.

The Easter Bunny was very gracious to the boys this year. Big baskets filled to the brim with candy and eggs hidden around the house.

Nana stepped in for some Easter Card making fun with Tucker and Carter!

Aren't they adorable!

Saturday was our Annual Perogie Making Party. All of the women of the family get together and make perogies for our Easter feast. We have so much fun gabbing and cooking. Not to mention tasting our goods!!

Sunday we went over to my in-laws for our Easter Dinner and had so much fun! Complete with good food and Easter egg hunt.

The kids are lining up and ready to run for the eggs.

Carter was all over this!!! Candy everywhere!

Tucker is a pro.

My nephew Sammy just wanted to hang out and enjoy the festivities.

We managed to wrangle all of our punks together for a quick pic.

And my little family too

And Dad, well....he was just enjoying picking on his son-in-law. They are almost the same size now...

And last but not least, the best pic of 'em all!

We had a great time this weekend. Thanks for coming up Nana and Pop-Up.

Bellatrix LeMorris

No, not the next bad guy in the Harry Potter series. Our newest edition to the family. Bella has brought great joy amongst our household. I have never seen Tucker more attached to one animal in my life. He wakes up and immediately runs into her room, where he stays until the very last minute to go to school.

Here she is...My little Princess Bella!!!!

Thats right!!! We got a cat. Now we are not "Cat" people so to speak. Or at least, we didn't think we were. As a matter of fact, at one point I remember Jeff saying and I quote "I will NEVER have a cat under my roof as long as I live." Well, looks like things change.

I have been wanting a cat for a while. After going to the SPCA multiple times looking at cats, making sure I'm not allergic, several minor incidents with large cats later...I decided that a kitten is more my speed after all. Finally I found her. "Peanut" was her name. I found her online through the SPCA. She was being held at the PetSmart in Orchard Park. Jeff agreed to go see her. And only see her. We are not getting a cat!!!! Well, one look at me and Tucker with her in the family play room at PetSmart and he knew he was in trouble and about to add another animal to our brood.

Just to set the record straight, we are not animal hoarders. 2 dogs, 1 cat, 2 fish, 1 hamster, and now a frog (thanks again Matt and Jen) is not too bad. But like my friend Julie says...you save us a zoo membership!

So Bella is now a part of our family. She is my cat! Or so I thought...

"I'm not a cat person" yeh, yeh, yeh...whatever you say Jeff.

Are you noticing a pattern yet? She is with every one BUT me!!!!

Yep...her favorite spot! As soon as he sits down. She is up there. It's so cute.

And we can't forget our little Tessa! Tessa and Bella are having fun getting to know each other. They are both kids after all.

Here is Carter holding our much bigger Tessa while she checks out the kitty.

Look closely, and you will see Bella's paw on the lamp. She is about to push that lamp over on Tessa's head if she gets any closer.

So, she may be loving up on everyone else, but at least Bella and I have something in common...

We both love Macs!!!

Emptying of the Cell Phone Camera

188 pictures later, I decided that you should purge your poor cell phone camera more than once a year. I mean, why else did we take the pictures in the first place, if we are not going to share them with the world? Here are a few samples of what I have found lurking in the SD card of my Samsung Droid.

I took Tucker to the movies on his last day off and what a ham he is!!!!

If you liked that one...check him out in this one. Yes...this is what we do with our 3D glasses.

We also take every opportunity to fight over who gets what horse on the carousel, EVERY time we go to the mall. Once it's all straightened out, they actually have a good time.

Yes, that is my little man's school picture. I had taken a quick snap of it with my phone to show my mom. Now it is my background on every computer that I own.

And yes, this is a very large snake that Carter and I held at the Sportsmen Show. Other than the 6 ft long Boa, I am a good mother, I swear!!!!

Target got new carts!!!!! That was the title of my text to Jeff along with this picture. Is it sad that I live for little moments like this. It actually was a very big deal. As I am sure it was for a lot of other mothers out there who couldn't steer the old ones.

And finally, meet Froggy. Thanks to Matt and Jen and the BEST B-day present ever (which will be remembered and promptly re-gifted back to them), we now have a frog. Which eats REAL crickets!!! Ugh! Now we may have a minor league zoo in our house, but this is not one pet I participate with.

Birthday Galore!!!

I love the beginning of the year. February and March mark my boy's birthdays. Carter just turned 3 and Tucker is now 7 whole years old. Really? When did this happen? For some reason I do not have any pictures of Carter's birthday. What a great mom I am.

I do however have tons of pics of Tucker's. We hosted pizza night at our house for his birthday with the family. Tons of kids running around, pizza, and cake. What more could you ask for?

That weekend, we had a bowling party for Tucker and all of his friends. It was so much fun.

Check out his cute bowling cake I made.

Daddy tried to show Carter the "right" way to do it...

But he had his own way of doing it.

Tucker is such a ladies man. Forget bowling, give me the babes!

Carter was over bowling really fast, he moved on to the hand blower-offer.

And started a trend. Can't take this kid anywhere!!!

Jeff was the "keeper of the kids". He, in his organized, list making, goodness, was able to keep kids in 2 different lanes in order and get the game done.

PRESENT TIME!!!

What a long day!!!! Enough is Enough!!!