Friday, May 29, 2015

7QT Friday: Shopping for Spring

Well, well, well, it's almost the weekend and the weather is gorgeous, and spring/summer clothes are so cute so here's what I've been eyeing or wearing lately...


1)
I've been trying to accessorize more, and I love the layered/statement necklace look.  This one is so pretty and dainty:



And this Cape Cod bracelet is constantly on my wrist (Phil commented that I wear it more than my wedding ring - oops!):


2)


Old Navy is having a great sale on their tank dresses in store today.  They are only $10!  I have a couple of these dresses, and they are so comfy and easy to throw on, I always wear a cardigan over them because they can be a little revealing, but worth it for the price!

3)



This cute and easy summer dress for Maggie is only $7 in Old Navy stores, along with their other tank dresses.  Also today only!


This one would be great for July 4th! Same great price today :)

4)

I'm wearing these pretty new sandals today.  They look great dressed up or down, but I think they will be my go-to summer church sandals.  So cute!

I also picked up these ones


 I know it sounds like I shop a lot, but I use coupons and sales and gift cards and birthday money...and score great prices.

5)


Declan is wearing this adorable romper today (finally moved up to size 18 months!).  I love love love putting my baby boys in one pieces like this.  They are so easy, their shirt doesn't ride up all day, and they look like put-together little preppies :)

6)

Speaking of rompers, I still want to get up the nerve to wear one.  Look how pretty this one is...


But since I'm not 5'10" and a size zero, that dream will be on hold indefinitely.

7)

How hard is finding some shorts that are modestly long enough for this momma of six? Super hard, but Loft to the rescue!



And the rest are so cute too!





OK, that's enough eye candy, happy shopping!  And happy Friday!



Thursday, May 28, 2015

Memorial Day Randomness

Memorial Day parade photos mixed with random thoughts...


Phil: Declan looks so cute!

Me: He looks like he's from 1940.


Declan loves to walk around, but is so so good about staying close to us.  I've never had him run off away from me yet, which is exactly how our first baby was.  The rest of them ran off as soon as their tiny feet hit the pavement.  Andrew could be convinced to follow me only if I promised him I had an M&M, which he pronounced "m-n-m-n-m-n-m-n-m-n-m".


You know what you get when a Dad is totally hands-on involved with the child rearing?  Children who love their fathers.  Endearing.  Excuse me while I go mop my heart up from the puddle on the floor.


Look at all those people in our postage stamp of a front yard!  We had over my parents, two of my sisters and their families, and two of my friends and some of their families.  We are lucky to have such nice friends and family and to live on the parade route.  


Today in the car, Andrew requested to hear "Dear Future Husband" by Megan Trainer (a Cape Cod girl like myself!) and after listening to the words closely, said "Wow, there sure are a lot of rules".  Ummmm yes, girls are demanding and nothing but trouble, so stay away from them ;)


Alexander woke up three times last night and came down whining "Why do I always have to sleep?" and we finally figured out that his room was too cold when Phil felt his icicle feet.  Whoops!  Here's hoping his air conditioner is set perfect for tonight!


Mary, Sarah, and Kristen all had their babies!  This marching band is celebrating you ;)


There have been many, many moments in my motherhood that I have praised the Lord for being a (mostly) boys mom.  Even my one girl has a lot of tomboy in her.  When her girlie side comes out...watch out!  I just really, really, really love boys and men.  They are so easy!  Girls and women can be so difficult! (Myself included)


So...about the friends that came over this day... Do you all have a friend in your life who teaches you how to be a better friend?  Mine is Michelle (in the red shirt below).  She is so thoughtful and helpful and gives great advice.  I need to be more like her!  She just gets me, and we have tons in common.  Laura has been my bestie for a long time now, although I don't have a good picture of her from Memorial Day.  She is probably standing behind me saying something funny.  She is the friend who is always available to text or spontaneously go out or make me laugh.  If I'm at an event where Laura is, you can bet I want to be by her side.  OK, enough friend mushiness.


Friendship is something that makes me so happy, but I have limits.  I really prefer to have a few close friends (introvert alert) and they need to understand that I'm always busy.  Like, I'm a really bad friend that way, but I would die for you if it would help you somehow.  Just don't expect me to remember your birthday.  But call me if you need a kidney.


All kids would do anything for a stinkin' tootsie roll or gross Hubba Bubba if it's tossed out of a moving car.  Amiright?


We are beyond blessed to live in America.  Let freedom ring.


These are my sweet parents.  They just celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary, and when I texted to say "Congrats you two love birds!", my mom texted back "You got the love birds part right, thanks be to God!"  To be madly in love after all those years - inspiring!


We had an Open House on Sunday, and five people came.  One was interested in renting.  Ugh.  At least our house is clean and we have a showing scheduled for this coming Sunday.  As they say in Hollywood, bad buzz is better than no buzz.  Maybe they don't say that...but they should!


The police officer, wearing the kilt below, got a picture because I love me a man in a skirt.  I mean kilt, don't shoot me!  


I remember being at my cousin's wedding with lots of relatives from Ireland and Scotland and one of them was wearing a kilt. I asked him if it was true that they wear nothing underneath and he wouldn't tell me, that bugger.  But his wife said believe what they say...nothing underneath!  I guess it's not windy in Scotland?!?!?


How do fire and rescue workers sleep at night?  I can't even watch the news about a fire or accident, and they have to respond to it in real life!  I guess that's why I am an accountant.  Thank God for the men and women who serve us day in and day out.  I salute you!




Friday, May 22, 2015

7QT: That's What He Said

It's FRIDAY!!  Joining Kelly and the other quick takers with seven Xander quotables...

Always eating.  Always dirty.

1)

Helping me with the laundry...

Xander: Which one is the dryer?

Me: That one.

Xander: So that's the dryer...and that's the...wetter?


2)

In the car with Phil...

Xander: Can you put on Mom's song?

Phil: What's Mom's song?

Xander: (singing) Ba ba ba ba ba bass.  Ba ba bass.



3)

Practicing everybody in the family's full names...

Me: And what's my name?

Xander: Mommy

Me: But what's my real name?

Xander: Mommy Martin

Me: Well...what's my whole name that adults call me?

Xander: Mommy Philip Martin.


4)

Counting down to his birthday...

Xander: My birthday is in 2 months!

Me: That's right!

Xander: So it's tomorrow then?


5)

At Mass, rifling through the diaper bag behind my back:

Xander: What's this thing?

Me: (ignoring him)

Xander: Mom, what's this thingie here?

Me: Shhhhh

Xander: Look Mom, what's this? (shoves feminine product in my face)

Me: (bright red and desperately shoving it back into diaper bag) That's a lady thing.

Xander: And you're my best lady!



6)

Discussing the characters in Thomas the Train...

Me: (joking) And the girl one is Thomas?

Xander: NO!!  Thomas is the cheeky one!


7)

After I told him he wasn't allowed to wear his crocs to school...

Xander: But can I at least wear some handles?


Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Life Lately

This past week was pretty busy, and I hate myself for saying that all the time.  As if it will ever be not busy with full-time jobs and six kids and too many sports and school events?  

Get over it already, Colleen.  

Ok, geesh, Colleen, you can be a real meanie sometimes.

Last Tuesday, my niece, Megan, got confirmed, and I was honored to be her sponsor.

It was windy trying to take this picture, and when I told Megan that I was having a Marilyn Monroe moment because my dress kept flying up, she didn't understand the reference.  Am I that old?

It was a beautiful Mass, but so so so hot that I seriously made about three exit plans because I kept thinking I was going to pass out.  But I persevered and fanned myself like the Southern Belle I'm not, and made it through.  Megan chose St. Catharine Drexel as her Confirmation name, and told me she wants to be a Campus Minister when she grow up.




What a sweetheart.


On Friday, the kid's elementary school had a Fine Arts Night.  All their artwork was displayed and grades Kindergarten through 5th sang songs from music class.  I should type "sang" songs because my 4th grader was most certainly just mouthing the words while my 1st grader was screaming-singing at the top of her lungs.  So funny!  


And exactly none of my big kids won any arts awards - blame their mammary genes for that one.

On Saturday, Eamon & Maggie played lacrosse in the morning while I walked with the two littles in the double jogger, and Phil helped my dad bring junk to the dump.  


The town where they play lacrosse is so beautiful, and I'll take any chance to run or walk there.








Gorgeous, right?

In the afternoon, JP and Andrew had fall soccer tryouts.  Andrew's hopeful coach told him to play really poorly at tryouts so that he could pick him for his team.  Since his team had won last year, he had last draft pick this year.  So Andrew was kicking with the wrong foot and being so silly.  I hope it worked, because this coach has a team of his classmates and goes to our church.  We'll find out in a few weeks if they made the teams.  I can't believe JP was trying out for U15...when did he get so old?

Sunday was our anniversary, and Phil woke up with a sore throat.  Since a few of us had strep recently, he went to the minute clinic at CVS and got tested.  Ding, ding, ding: positive!  He also brought Declan to the doctor because he's been sick since Thursday, and he got started on antibiotics too.  Ugh.  Today, Andrew tested positive too - we just love to share ;)



The surprise date Phil had planned turned into pizza at home, it reminds me of Phil Vassar's song "Just Another Day in Paradise".




On Sunday, we also had the Catholic Schools Track Meet against all the Catholic elementary schools in the area (we are so lucky to have so many!).  It was supposed to run (ha, I said run) from 12-3 but actually lasted until 5!!  My red forehead and nose wish they had a little more coverage - ouch!  Only JP and Andrew were old enough to participate in the track meet, and they did so well.  Their whole team did really well, actually!  What a nice group of hard-working kids. 




Andrew won 1st place in all of the events he ran.  His times were: 200 m in 33 seconds, Half Mile in 2:57, and 4 x 400 relay where he was the anchor.  He's crazy fast, but doesn't love running...yet...we're trying to change that!


JP's trophy was from running anchor on his winning 4 x 400 relay.  He also got a personal record in the Mile with a time of 6:44!!  Not bad for a 12 year old who never trains because he always gets a cramp or hurts an ankle right before he's supposed to run.  Suspicious?  You betcha!



And that's all she wrote because she's the Angela Lansbury of the blogging world.  Even I barely understand that reference...time for bed!