One of the BEST weekends ever!!!

For Christmas we wanted a gift that made a memory and not add to our very cluttered house. With seven winter birthday's gifts are a plenty. I laugh when I think back to a student at my old high school, who asked me when I went to talk at Career Day about being a "stay at home mom", if my kids got Christmas presents. HA!!! If they only knew...so this year my husband's brother and dad gave us a trip to Ocean City. We stayed at Fenwick Inn for a great $50 bucks a room. WE got three rooms for two nights.

It started out Friday morning when we went to 9am mass.

Then we picked up our oldest daughter and headed to Bethany Beach to pick out our beach house for the summer. We found one in about 2o min. and called to reserve our week.

We then headed to OC and played on the beach. It was so fun seeing the little guys run and jump in the sand. The teenagers lasted about 15min and decided to take the baby in the car.

2:00pm off to the hotel and to get settled. Then to the indoor pool and hot tub!!! Later get settled and dressed to go to Outback for dinner with the entire family!!! Thank God for gift cards. The kids are so excited to get to go to this "fancy" restaurant. All the kids order their food and the thirteen year old asks dad if she can get lobster tails and pay the difference:)

6:30pm back to hotel for a quick swim, charades, a visit from the generous uncle, and clone wars. Then to bed...what a great day!!!

Saturday morning:

The kids find the arcade in the hotel and the amazing vending machines...something they just dreamt about. Cereal in cups and back to the pool. We then meet the generous uncle, grandma, and the my husband's sister, husband, and four kids!!! (yeah, the cousins are here)

1pm Generous Uncle takes us to miniature golfing!!!


2:30pm Generous Uncle takes us to the Carousel Hotel for Ice skating. (most of my kids enjoy their first time ever ice skating!!!)


4:30pm back to hotel to get settled and wait for family friends.

6pm pizza party at Generous Uncle's friends deli. (he closed down to public just for us)

7:30pm to Generous Uncle's neighborhood club house for football playoff game party. (more food-ugh)

9:30pm back to hotel to try to get the little guys asleep. The bigger kids get to go to the pool with cousins and family friends.

10:30 Off to sleep, what a great day!!! To put it as my nephew said..."this is the best day of my life!"

Just when I thought this trip was too good to be true...2:30am my wonderful two year old wakes up and wouldn't go back to sleep till about 4:30.

8:30am wake up and Rob goes running. Then we all get up and clear out room to get ready to check out and get to 10am mass.

10am mass...just happen to bump into old friends at church who offer us their house for next winter Christmas trip...yeah!!!

11:15am brunch at the Clarion. Rainy day but our breakfast with reservations for 27 people with the view of the water and beach is wonderful. Such care from the waitress' is so terrific and kind.

1pm head home in the rain.

Thanks be to God for an amazing trip+

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Our vacation...great ending...

VIEW FROM OUR BALCONY


AUNT BEP BEP CELEBRATING HER B DAY WITH US

#1 CHILD RELAXING AT THE DUNES

#2 CHILD, who I thought would miss us, till we were talking on the phone with him when the van broke down...I think I heard a snicker on the other end of the phone when we had to pull over!!!

#3 CHILD...I THINK HE IS TEXTING ME A I LOVE YOU MOM MESSAGE...

#4 CHILD ENJOYING THE SANDY DUNES

#5 WITH A BIG SMILE


#6 WITH HIS FAVORITE HAT

#7 BEING GOOFY

# 8 AFTER BEING PUMMELED IN THE SAND

#9 SHOWING OFF HER WARES

#10 WHO ENJOYED THE INDOORS ALOT WITH HER 2 FAVORITE GRANDMAS...

#11 WHO WAS GOOD...FOR HIM!!!

For those who read about our bad beginning of our vacation you will be happy to know your prayers worked...the weather was great, our rental home perfect, and the kids were pretty good. I do feel sorry for my hubby who had to deal with the stress of getting the car fixed, bringing back the rental van, and going back to pick up the "fixed" car. Of course the financial stress to...of course we had the same problem fixed 13 months ago and had a 12 month warranty. I think our mechanic (a close friend) who just checked out the car before our trip was just as upset as my hubby was.

Well since my husband is pretty much the computer person in the family, he always puts on pictures on his blog before me...even if I took the really great pictures!!!

All in all it was a successful trip...and we got home in 5 1/2 hours...good we traveled on Sunday!!!
THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

VACATION PICTURES...

CLICK HERE...my husband always has to out do me!!!
THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+

Family Vacation...the bad beginning...

It took me three days to pack the van...I had kids putting their suitcases in the car on Wed., we weren't leaving till Sunday. We thought we were so smart this year to do a Sunday to Sunday rental so we wouldn't need to hassle with the traffic and get a good start to Outer Banks, NC. We left promptly at 6am.

We were doing great and the kids were being pretty good, we were making great time. We had the van packed with Grandma and seven of our kids. Following behind was my sister and three of the teenagers. We drove great for about four and and a half hours till I heard a clunk. I looked at my husband and he gave me one of those looks...you know the one that says don't say anything right now. He pulled to the side of the road and try to figure out the problem. The car was not starting and it looked pretty bad. It was hot and the kids were starting to sweat, so I took my very pregnant self over to my sister's car with the four littlest kids and kicked out the teenagers. We sat there trying to find a car rental on a SUNDAY, that had a van big enough for ten of us. We couldn't find any and we had to rent two cars from the airport fifteen miles in the wrong direction...but, we were desperate and hot.

My husband got in touch with a tow truck through triple A and contacted a taxi service to send TWO taxi's. So here we went two taxi's, my sister following with the three babies, and a tow truck with my husband and two boys following. As I was telling the taxi driver our woes. He felt really bad for us, especially since we couldn't find a van and had to go in the wrong direction to get two cars to rent. So he got on the phone and got me a number of a car rental really close to the triple A that was actually open on a Sunday and had a van!!!

I can't tell you how many times the little guys asked "how long" before the car broke down...but one thing all my kids know, is how to keep quiet when we break down...and unfortunately we break down often. The teens started to laugh and say, "it wouldn't be a vacation if we didn't break down." Then they started taking pictures to capture the family saga!!!

So we made it to Outer Banks just about three hours later than planned. It reminded me of this trip last year....

The house we rented it pretty perfect...and I will post on the rest of the "good" news of the trip later.

THE VAN BEING LOADED UP BY THE TOW TRUCK

THE VAN HEADING OFF

THE KIDS LOADING UP IN THE NEW VAN

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

HELLO FROM FLORIDA!!!

If you deal with envy issues please read elsewhere!!!

My husband has taken me to Florida for 6 days to celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary!!! We have never been away from the kids this long!!! Each year we try to get away for a night or two but never this far and this long.

We left Sunday around 12:30 and my wonderful sister took us to the airport and my two little girls to my other sisters house about an hour away. We left three teenagers home with Geama and baby E, who will be two in August. I think we are more concerned about Geama misbehaving than the kids!!! My super sister in love and her husband took the three middle boys and the babysitting 14 year old girl.

The flight went well and uneventful. We were so excited to be away we probably wouldn't of noticed otherwise!!!

We are staying at my father in loves house in a gated golfing community!!! We got picked up at the airport by my hubby's step mother's dad and his wife. We were not only greeted to a beautiful home but they had flower's and a cute anniversary cake for us!!! I have never been to a gated retirement community before. It is absolutely beautiful and quiet beyond comprehension!!! The attention to detail around here...and there are hardly any people around, not to mention young people!!! The STOP signs and other street signs are sponge painted to match the neighborhood!!! So cute and funny!!!

Did I mention the convertible Mercedes Benz in the garage...this is pretty cool especially when you are used to driving a 15 passenger van or a 9 passenger suburban!!! You should see my hubby and I cruising the streets with my big old pregnant self!!! Our cool factor is way up!!!

Sunday night we went to a Chinese restaurant, went swimming in the home pool, read, watched TV and relaxed!!! When I mentioned the kids to my man, he said, "kids? What KIDS?" At this time I am thinking this is amazing and having a blast!!!

Monday I woke up at 5:30am tossing and turning expecting to see the little guys any time...sweetie goes running and I get dressed. We head out for 8:30 mass down the road and come home, go swimming, read, eat out, go for a walk, read some more, swim, go out to eat, come home take a nap, read, go swimming, watch TV, and go to bed...I can't figure out why I don't totally pass out like I do at home!!! Oh yeah, I haven't been chasing kids and cleaning all day...not to mention the naps I took all day!!! Called all the kids...do they even care? Everyone is fine...it is raining at home...my poor babysitters are all stuck with kids in doors!!!

Tuesday we went to mass to find out that the on line mass times were wrong...so we just made a visit to the blessed sacrament!!! We were picked up by "step-grand dad" and his wife for lunch on the water. (YES, we are so spoiled!!!) We came home for a swim, nap, eat leftovers for dinner, a walk, and to watch a movie. I am starting to hate the silence and miss my kids!!! (shhh...don't tell my man!!!)

It is Wednesday and we made it to the correct time for mass. Rob went for a run, I cleaned out my inbox and went for a walk. Now we are sitting like a couple of yuppies (do they still call them that?) at a sandwich/salad shop with our laptops catching up on the real world!!!

We are heading out in a bit to visit with friends who moved here last year and then out to dinner.

More later...I think I need another nap or maybe call the kids again!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!!

Vacation is nice...but, thank God we are home...I love my house...I love my big dining room table, I love my two dishwashers, I love my two refrigerators, I love my deep sink, etc...I am not known for liking to clean...but, I really appreciate my wonderful home!!!

To top off the end of our beach trip #8 started throwing up at 1:30 this morning and #5 got sick on the way home...that is it...we are not allowed to get sick anymore!!!

WHY WE NEED LOTS OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS...

ALL THIS IN 30 HOURS TIME...

If you saw yesterday's post you will get to hear the rest of the story...

Why big families are important: (I am blessed to be the 9Th child in my family)

*so, when your car is breaking down...you can call your sister who lives close by
*so, you can borrow the car of a family of 11...who else would have a van big enough
*so, you have a sister who helps keep the kids cool...while waiting on the road for AAA
*so, you can laugh about the family van breaking down...again
*so, your brother can remind you of the time...the tire blew up on the same highway
*so, you can get your binoculars out with your other two brothers...and watch 5 state troopers drive by without checking on you
*so, when your sister gets there with the van...you can leave her with the tow truck driver
*so, when you walk in your hot house that has been closed up...your kids can watch the babies while you get the clothes ready for the family portrait
*so, you can have 15 kids singing Happy Birthday to Boompa...who thinks he is too young to have all these grandkids
*so, you have someone to get your picture with...how to you do a picture with all girls or just boys if you are the only one
*so, you have someone to share Italian Ice with...and talk about it taking 43min to take all those pictures
*so, at night you have someone to talk about your weekend with...and how mom actually let you touch a G U N
*so, when you wake up you have someone to split the left over "sugar" cereal with...who thought you could spilt 1/3 of a box 6 ways
*so, when mom has to take your brother to the airport...you have a shoulder to cry on
*so, when mom has to drive hours away to pick up the van...you have big sisters to watch you
*so, when you need the cell# of your brother or sister...you can call your other sister to get it
*so, when you need a person to help you drop a car off...you can call your big brother and have him do it...
*so, when you can't find the van key...your big brother can pray to St. Anthony
*so, when you leave three car seats at the car shop...your big sister can call you and tell you to go back
*so, when you go back...you can call your sister and laugh/cry at the day you have had
*so, when you get home...you can hug your big family!!!

Thy Will Be Done!!!+JMJ+

A family weekend away...

Our Camping Trip:

We got to go away this weekend. It was fun but as all of our family adventures go...it was full of excitement!!! We of course hit traffic on the way to the mountains. As soon as we got to the cabin the boys pulled out the b-b guns. Three of the little boys had never seen them. It was like their dream come true...is mom really going to let us touch them? So, of course that was one of the highlights. We got to go fishing (thanks to Aunt Betsy), hiking, swimming, play games, sit around the camp fire, make smores, let off fireworks, and spend time with Joshua before he leaves for the Novitiate.

mom actually let me touch this!!!

special time getting to sleep outside in a tent...

The way home was typical us...the car died about an hour into the trip...and about an 80 minutes from home!!! So we were stuck on the side of the road with 14 people in a hot van...we had to be home in four hours for a birthday dinner for boompa and a professional photo shoot for family Christmas pictures!!! So as we panicked as to what to do...we did what we usually do and call my one of my big sisters who lived not to far off...we also asked the only friend we knew in the area who had a 15 passenger van if they could help...they all had about 25 minutes to get to us as we were in a dangerous spot and needed to get a ride before the AAA guy got there!!! So like most large families we know...they were of course very generous!!! (Not to worry about their own 9 children!!!) My sister picked up their van and headed to us just 5 min shy of the AAA guy!!! So we piled into their van and left my sister to fend with the AAA guy!!! God is so good and we made it in time for the dinner and photos...of course tired and a little grouchy!!!

dad and boys waiting for the tow truck...

one of our Christmas pictures...

We give you thanks for all your gifts,almighty God, living and reigning now and forever...