Myrtle Beach 2011

We trucked it to Myrtle for a quick getaway with Uncle B, Aunt D, and the kids.

The weather?  Perfect–in the 70s.

The pools?  Heated.

The beach?  Awesome.  No sweating whatsoever.

A far cry from our July Hilton Head trips.

Our time with family?  Priceless.

And Clemson won in a nail biter, too.

I haven’t mentioned that Clemson is 7-0 this season.  What unfamiliar and exciting territory we roam!!

Some pictures of my growing boys and nephews:

Frack

Just Hangin' Out with Frick

80s Cover Album

The Whole Boy Band

We missed you Nini and Pops!

Beach Vacation 2011

Each year we take a working vacation to Hilton Head Island, SC.

Let’s be real here.  The only ones on “vacation” are the kids.

I digress….

Nini, Pops, Uncle B, Aunt D, and the cousins join our family for loads of fun, sand, pools, sweat, whining, sibling fighting (kids ones and adult ones), etc, etc, etc.

What do you do as soon as you get there?

You head straight for the sand and water.

There’s nothing quite like a sandy crotch to start your vacay off on the right foot.

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 We rented bikes this year and spent our evenings biking around the island.

And Frog chilled in the back with a book, some juice and his beloved pacifier.

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This year, we had professional beach photos taken.

We used our camera for outtakes.

All of these shots were taken with BP’s iPhone 4.  He used the Hipstamatic App.

Fabulous.

Dontcha think?

As fun as going away is, it sure is good to be home.

Valentine’s Day

My parents have been married 42 years today…Valentine’s Day!

Do you know how hard it is to find one card for a Valentine anniversary?

They.simply.do.not.exist.

 

February 14, 1969

Mom had blood poisoning in her leg after she fell down some stairs taking her wedding gown to be altered just days before they said ‘I do’.

Dad lost his false teeth (he’s had them since he was 13 from a football accident) in the days leading up to the wedding, only to be replaced in the nick of time.

But they managed to get hitched anyway.

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I posted the above in 2009 for their 40th anniversary.  In the comment section, my mom, Nini, wrote this:

 

Thanks. But Janie (she has called me Janie FOREVER), get your facts straight! It was not my wedding dress, it was my “going away” outfit. We went to Pittsburgh, as our honeymoon weekend in New York was put on hold due to my leg.
You get your clumsiness from me.
Also, Dad did not lose his teeth, that was PapPap!
Daddy bit into a grilled cheese sandwich at noon the day of the wedding. His front teeth broke off.
Hey, that plate lasted ten years; but what a day for an accident.
Still remember the call from Grandma. “Nini, Pops’ teeth broke off. He’s looking for a dentist. He is very upset, ran out of the house yelling he would not be married unless he got his teeth fixed.” There I was, my leg wrapped with an ace bandage, a wheelchair on hold in case I could not limp down the isle, and Pops running around Scottdale Pa. like a crazy person with no front teeth.
Just like when you read the comments of the Mother of a serial killer. “He was perfectly normal. Nothing really stands out.” Oh, how we fail to see the signs. We see them, we just choose to ignore! And, sometimes it lasts forty years!
Did you tell everyone what Dad and I are doing tonight for our anniversary?

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To which I replied:

LOL, Mom! I stand corrected.  I knew it was something to do with teeth and your clothing. I was close.

Whatever.

Why, for your 40th anniversary, you are selflessly babysitting our children so my husband and I can have a romantic night out and make it to 40 years, too!

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And BP’s  retort:

Nini said…”what Dad and I are doing tonight for our anniversary?”

Nini, Dear it’s not that kind of a blog. We have to keep it clean for the younger readers. But have fun anyway.

_________

Ahhhh, memories.

Happy Anniversary to Nini and Pops!

And Happy Valentine’s Day to my valentine for the last 13 years!

 

Dude. Three Years Is a Long Time.

…life’s about a dream has been around for three years.

Sheesh.

It doesn’t seem that long.

But then again, in my mind, I am still 20 years old and a size 8.

I digress….

My virtual scrapbook/baby book has evolved into quite a creative outlet.  I am able to update my family and friends in far off places (sniff, sniff) and right here in Downtown, Smalltown, Southeastern USA with pictures and anecdotes.  I have reconnected with my ΑΧΩ sisters from Clemson and discovered several readers are sisters, too!

I usually do a post commemorating this momentous occasion where the behind the scene secrets of the blog are revealed.  Without further ado…

Behind the Scenes, Version 3.0:

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During Christmas 2007, BP was doing computer stuff with a coworker here at The Money Pit (more on that later) for several days in a row.  During a break, the coworker told me his wife had a blog.

A what??

HyperactiveLu was the first blog I ever read.   Through hers, I started reading others.  Then, one Saturday morning, BP came to me and said, “I set a blog up for you.  It should be much easier than the website we have.”

Whah-lah.

A blog was born.

The title …life’s about a dream came from Frick.  He was actually singing the song, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and instead of singing, “life is but a dream” he sang, “life’s about a dream”.  We thought that was pretty profound, especially coming from a three year old (at the time).  And, it is what it is.  Our life is a dream.  BP had his sister make it into a sticker above our back door.

He calls it our mantra.

I call it cute.

BP’s name is derived from his initials.  It’s also short for Big Papa, taken from the song Big Poppa by Biggie Smalls.  It’s my ringtone for BP because he’s cool like that.  Or I’m even cooler like that.

Frick and Frack are nicknames for our older boys.  I used to teach part time in the public schools, job sharing a classroom with another girl.  She and I would joke around, calling ourselves Frick and Frack.  I thought it was clever and started calling the boys Frick and Frack around the house.   It worked well for the blog since I didn’t want our names “out there” in cyberspace.  Sometimes we refer to them as Chaos and Havoc (because they prefer wrestling as an after school activity) or The Farmers (because they are up with the sun each morning).  Uncle B tried to get me to change their blog names to Fred and Barney.  Click HERE for that reasoning.  Alas, Frick and Frack remain.

Frog is the nickname for our newest little guy, born in November, 2009.  After asking the blogosphere for ideas for a nickname, there was quite the debate as to what his nickname would be.  Frog was chosen because some of the other nicknames had  interesting connotations.   Sometimes I refer to him as The Newborn, but obviously he’s not one of those anymore.

Some of our posts refer to a place called The Money Pit. That’s our 110 year old house.  We started a major renovation process here in May 2008.  In true renovation fashion, our budget tripled as they began to chip away at our house.  The Fix It Guys kept uncovering all kinds of damage.  And our bill kept growing.  Hence, The Money Pit.  Like the movie.  Only better.  Then, BP started finishing the inside of the house while I was in Pittsburgh visiting Uncle B, Aunt D and Steeler Training Camp. It was my very own HGTV show!

2010 brought something new around the blog.  I set up a Facebook Fan Page to update my friends who don’t use a reader like Google or Bloglines.  I prefer updating the fan page instead of my personal FB page, but sometimes share the links on both pages.  So if you are not a fan yet and you keep up with us via Facebook, you may want to click that “like” button on the FB link to know about blog updates.  Mom, I am talking to you. K.  Thanks.

Dreamers refers to you, my loyal readers of …life’s about a dream.   As I said above, this is a virtual scrapbook for my children and our memories.  But when I see that others are reading and commenting here on the blog, on Facebook, or through emails, I know my words are not just for us.  And that’s flattering.  Thank you for reading.  And commenting.  :)

 

Things I’ve Learned Since Becoming a Mom to Boys

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Motherhood throws you for a loop.  I still fret over the smallest of issues and baby Frog is my third child.  I have joked with the boys’ pediatrician many times since Frog was born about still feeling like a first time mom.  I don’t think that feeling ever goes away, regardless of the number of children you have.

I was eating lunch with some friends a couple of weeks ago.  All are or will be moms to all boy clans.  Our conversation was wildly entertaining about motherhood and the antics of our children.  Listed below are some of the finer points we covered.

Since school has/is started(ing), the teacher in me is currently demanding these valuable nuggets in a list format:

1.  People are going to say stupid stuff to you while you are pregnant.  Really stupid stuff. You know the comments…“Oh wow. You have really gotten big.” Gee thanks.  “Don’t you know how to stop having kids?  You will never have a girl anyway.” Is it any business of yours how many children I have?  And my personal favorite (insert sarcasm HERE) “Another boy?  You sure are going to have your hands full.” DUH.  Now leave me alone with my chocolate.

2.  It’s OK to ask for help. And I don’t just mean asking someone to cook you dinner.  Although, that would be great.  By the way, this one goes for moms of boys and girls.  I seemed to sail through postpartum with my first.  After having #2, I felt as if I was drowning.  I have never been in a place so dark and isolating, yet I was anything but alone with my supportive family all around me.  I was a victim to postpartum depression and it’s NOT FUN.   If you ever feel this way, don’t be ashamed.  It’s not worth it in the long run.  Get the help you need.  Your kids and husband will thank you.

3.  Having all boys automatically earns you a special place in heaven. God said so.  Ok, maybe that was only in a dream I had, but who else deserves one than a mom of all boys?  I mean, c’mon.  Only the strong can survive the constant wrestling, growling, and bodily functions.  For realz.

4.  Children make you plan for the future. Think about it.  When else do you get your junk together as far as your will, pick out godparents, and start saving for college educations?  Not to mention the hopes and dreams for great daughters in law and  adorable grandDAUGHTERS.  I need to dress SOMEONE in pink.

5.  It’s an excuse to watch more sports. This one may only apply to me, seeing as how I actually taught my husband everything he knows about the sport of hockey (Let’s Go Pens!).  I seriously go into withdrawals when I cannot attend Clemson games or watch Steeler games on TV.  Thanks to my dad, Pops, for instilling this love of sports in me.  My husband thanks you, too.

Life has changed so much since welcoming three sons.

And I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Beach Bums

We just wrapped up our family vacation at the beach.

6 adults and 5.5 kids (Aunt D is pregnant with their #3) under the age of 5, all in a three bedroom condo.

It’s getting crowded.

We are finding that as more children come…

…more ice cream is eaten (by children AND adults).

…less time is spent leisurely reading.

…more time is spent swimming at the beach and pools (to tire little ones out).

…less time is spent sleeping (by children AND adults).

Sweet Little Frog continued his water fascination as he was introduced to low tide, sand, and salt water.

Success.

Frick and I waded in the water with a stingray–not by choice, mind you.
I have never scooped that child up as fast in my life.

Must have been an interesting sight.

Taking My Blog Over Again….

These last few days of 30 Days of Me are going to go out the window.

I should rename it to 25 Days of Me.

Regardless…

I met Dorothea Benton Frank Friday night.

She is a riot.

I have a picture, but we’ll just save it for my personal records.   It has everything to do with the fact that it is a terrible picture of me and having cyberspace view it is just not an option.

I had such a good time listening to her stories about her life and seeing how they parallel the story lines in her books.

Let’s not forget the fun I had drinking some wine with my friend, Jennifer.

Good times.

We also met Karin Gillespie, who was in attendance.  Ms. Gillespie wrote The Bottom Dollar Girls series and The Sweet Potato Queens in collaboration with Jill Conner Browne.

I realized three things that night:

1.  Too much time passed since the last time I went out with friends.  Thanks, Jennifer, for hanging out with me.

2.  I was being a total groupie when meeting those two authors and I didn’t care.

3.  Just like Dot Frank’s character, Caroline, begins to look and act like her mother, Miss Lavinia, I see Nini in the mirror and my actions more and more each day.

It’s a good thing you are cool, Nini.

Day 10: A Photo of You Taken Over 10 Years Ago

A few throwback pictures of yours truly:

December, 1976

6 months old

Groovy pants, Pops.

1978

2 years old

Rockin’ the blue velour.

There’s An App for That

The Stanley Cup playoffs have started and the Pittsburgh Penguins are in again.

Uncle B was busting my chops for not watching the initial games that have already been played (Pens won the series with the Ottawa Senators).

What’s my excuse?

Frog has been sick.

That has made me a tad busy.

Too busy for hockey.

But I found the solution.

Here’s the email I sent to my father (Pops) and brother (Uncle B) explaining  just how I will get by:

Pops and Uncle B…you will be thrilled to know that I installed the Pittsburgh Penguin application for my iPhone.  I will be updated with more informaion than you could ever dream of getting. Well, unless you go to the official web page for the Pens.  Anyhoo, call me.  We’ll chat hockey and I will sound like I know something.

Uncle B’s reply:

Awesome. You’re back in the club.

Remember:  Pens good.  Sens bad.

Let’s Go Pens!

Easter 2010

Nini, Frack, Cousin J, Aunt D, Frick, me, BP in the back row; Cousin J2 and Frog in the strollers.  Uncle B is behind the camera.

Check out Frack’s face.  He thoroughly enjoys making the silliest faces possible while taking photos.

We all strolled to Mass after this picture was taken and are on our way to a neighborhood egg hunt shortly.

Have a blessed Easter.