7 Quick Takes: Don't do it

Joining Jen for some 7 Quick Takes: Vacation Style! 1. The past couple of days we were blessed to be able to head north for a little family vacay to sunny Orlando. It was super nice to just be away with de munchkins, Mags (my sister), and Matt.  But really, is it ever truly vacation when young kids (x4) are involved? Maybe not, but it is always vacation when my wonderful husband is around for 3 full days and not answering his phone or making a business call even once in my presence. Now that was lovely, simple lovely. 

Mags with 3 of our littles. 

2. Awhile back when I was like 180 pounds preggo with our sweet baby Hope, we took the kids for an outing to the Bass Pro Shop. For my boys walking through this ginormous store full of everything boy, fishing and gathering is the equivalent to Disney World. (Seriously, why take your kids to Disney, when you can go to Bass Pro for free.)  So, while walking through this haven a super nice lady was selling trips to Orlando. In my mega pregga state her vacation stand was like a big fatty cheeseburger, fries, and oreo milk shake just begging me to eat, eat, eat (or buy, you know what I mean). So, we did and were super excited about our promised 2 nights and 3 days at the awesomest resort with pools galore and food at your service for only $125. (Plain and simple my heaven is a hotel room with room service.) AND on top of that $100 in gift cards. Pshht, no brainer, right? The only thing you had to do was listen to a 2 hour presentation about the resort. No problemo, where do I sign... 

The day we bought our vacation package. 

Their rides at Bass Pro Shop. 
3. Now fast forward to a week ago when I found the package stuffed away in my night gown drawer, that never gets touched because I don't wear night gowns. I look at de folder and realize that we have like uno month until it expires! So now I start dialing the number and praying they can give me the only dates that will work for us, which is like the next day (planning in advance are words that don't breach my everyday life). Well, God was looking out for his little girl (me) and they said we could come! 4. So a day later we arrive at our resort destination, but check in isn't until 4pm. 3days my arse! Since when was a day considered to start at 4pm. Anyways, no biggie, moving on (kind of)... Our "first day" (starting at 4:30) was good. We swam, played splash bball, enjoyed the kiddos, and explored our new little apartment size room. 

5. Day Two: We start the day off by letting the kids have popsicles for breakfast, making us the the most awesome parents around. Then we head out to enjoy the pool once again. At 11:30am, though, we have to rush the kids back to our room, so that we can make it to our 2 hour presentation about the resort. So, Mags watches the kiddos and we speed off with my hair dripping wet. 

Isaiah enjoying his morning popsicle. 

6. Then we enter the pressure cooker/dungeon of regret. This very nice man begins talking us through the why's of why we should invest bucco bucks and thus make vacations our top priority. So an hour into our guilt trip of "the only way we are good parents is if we invest in their vacation resorts for our kids and then pass this investment all the way down to our grandkids," I tell the nice man: "I just want you to know that I have a nursing baby back in our room with my sister, so we really need to stay within the 2 hour time frame that was promised us when we bought this package."  "Okay, no problem," he says.   Well... another hour goes by and we are still there, looking at vacation resort destinations that we will never be taking. The pressure to buy is now beginning to make me a little nauseous. I say again, "I do need to get back to my baby really soon, because she is a nursing baby."  "Ok, no prob," he says again. 

Matt waiting in line for our presentation/meeting/hell. (Don't worry he is giving the fake finger)

Another pointless hour goes by while we are still trying to say NO we are not going to buy into your great deal because we are obviously very, very stupid and don't love our kids and don't want to provide the best vacations possible for them. By this point I begin to discreetly put my hands over my ears, drowning out some of his noise while now feeling like I am listening to Charlie Brown's teacher. Still he keeps talking and talking.  So now going on 3 1/2 hours,  I interrupt once again saying: "My baby only gets her milk through the breasts that are on my body, so I will be leaving now." My standing up helps him to catch my drift, but still he has the nerve to ask before I go if I could give him 5 referrals. Hell no! I would not put anyone in my phone contacts through this 3 hour misery. Then somehow I slither out and leave Matt to deal with the rest of the headache where I speed to my babe, who really does need to eat by this point.  7. So the next day (our 3rd dia), we are ready to vacay it up, but check out time is 10am. So much for 3 days! The first stared at 4pm, the second was interrupted by an infuriating presentation of buy, buy, buy and the 3rd was cut short at 10am.  7.5 So, short cut to the chase: The kids had a blast, we made some great memories, loved swimming and being able to have popsicles in the morning. But, we will never and I mean never sit through another time share presentation again. Just sayin'. 

I look a little stoned in this picture, but I'm not, promise. Just full of kid lovin'.

Happy Birthday, Gracie Girl

Our Gracie Ann is 3 today. Hip hip horray!

We celebrated yesterday with lots of princesses, makeup, dress up and dolls - all per Gracie girl's request.

Before I tell you all how much we love and adore our Grace, I must make a slight interlude.

It is a simple fact that Matt and I love throwing parties. For us there is nothing better than having friends and family over with good food, good booze, and good company. But most times when we are cleaning, cooking, and trying to corral our 4 kiddos in the hours pre-party, we feel like we have gone and shot ourselves in the foot (literally, we are both in pain) for planning such a big shindig and if we were mic'd you would most likely hear many a unpleasant words under our breath. This angst always goes away as soon as our guests arrive, which then we experience true party bliss, lasting until everyone goes home and we throw the kids in bed. Even our 2 hour clean up seems to be done happily (tiredly, but happy none the less). So what I am trying to say is that our party bliss/high covers a multiple of sins from our pre-game, which seems to make it all worth it, hence how we continue to throw the big digs over and over again. (And for some reason my typing fingers just had to let you into this interlude of thought.)

But this time for Grace's party we kept it to family. And let me tell you it was the same type of bliss without the pre-game pain! We had so much fun just chillin' with our family and were SO blessed that they made the trip down.

We started the morning off with Grace in her bday crown while having a tea party and pancakes.

Later in the day my family made the 2 1/2 hour trip for the parTAY. Grace was tickled pink to have Mia, Ziggy, Aunt Mag, Grammy, Jaja, Emily and Uncle Michael here.

My dad playing football with all the kids! 

It is a crazy thing to see your kids get bigger. I can't tell you how many times a month I hear from every stranger and friend alike: "This time with your little ones will go by quickly, so make sure you enjoy them while they are young." And yes, I totally get what they are saying, because it seems like just yesterday I had Grace right next to me in the co-sleeper nursing all night long, but in the same breath it really does feel like 3 years have gone by. And I am so glad that I have experienced the beautiful gift of HER everyday.

Grace is our little girl who is so full of life that she shines. She keeps us laughing and dancing day and night and she loves her brothers and sister to the ends of the earth. God has blessed us with the gift of her life and we are so thankful to call her our daughter.

Gracie girl, we pray that you always stay close to Jesus and Mother Mary and that your life continues to bring joy to all who are around you.  We love you baby girl.

Do you think they look alike?

A New York Minute

Wow. I have taken such an unintentional hiatus from blogging. 

I have missed it. My thoughts need an escape :). 

Hope and I were in NYC with Mags, Mary (Mags bff), Mom and Aunt Katrin for a girls weekend! We really had a fabulous time doing everything that was humanly possible in the city that never sleeps. My feet were throbbing but my heart stayed full as we spent time with each other.

Ready for take off.

The 5 amigas.

BFF's

Happy girl, this was how Hopie was the entire time. 

Sista's 

Carriage ride in central park. 

This guy really made me laugh. 

Happy 18th!

A little ways back I introduced my sister Maggie to you here and now in the blink or two blinks of the eye she has turned 18 years old.

During my non-showering, 20 years old, spring chicken days,  I was this on Fire for God girl, traveling on REACH (a youth ministry team) and counting down the days till Maggie turned a mere 3 years of life. I was overcome with love for her as a baby and I still am!

Like I have said before, she has always been special. So special.  Independent from the time she could walk and bound 'n determine to make her mark on our family and now the world. For the first 15 years of her life I was probably too hard on her, treating her like I was her mom and she was my child. Thank God for Matt and my mom helping me to see the error of my ways and telling me that all I needed to be was simply her sister. And that is what I have become and love to be, her big sis.

One oh-so fond memories I have about Mags is that when she was little she always loved animals and kitty cats. My family has the cutest tradition at Christmas time of having all the kids reenact the nativity story for the rest of the family. One of the little girl cousins would of course play Mother Mary and the rest of the girls would be beautiful little angels. But Maggie always chose to dress up in her lion, cat or cow costume in order to be an animal that sat by Jesus' manger.  It was so incredibly sweet.

The reason that this shout out is late, her birthday was Feb. 22, is because I have spent countless hours trying to put together a movie montage. I am so amateur at this, it is almost embarrassing, but all for love of Mag.

Marjorie Lynette,
I love that I have entrusted two of my babies to you, as your God children.
I can't stop smiling that you have chosen to go to my alma mater FUS as your college of choice. I am sure that as well as your bachelors you will get your MRS there (wink, wink).
I love your hair and the way that you do your makeup.
I love your smile and how you are always up for a good time.
I love that you love Matt and my kids. And that you are willing to watch them if I want to take a nap.
Sorry for the times I have been too hard on you; know that even in the midst of that I do love you so much.
Sorry that I have been so boring the last 7 years due to child birth and child rearing. Hopefully someday soon I will be fun again.
You are a gift. And God has such big and amazing plans for your life.
I love calling you friend and sister.

This video is for you! :)

7 quick takes

Joining Jennifer for the first time in 7 Quick Takes.

-1-
Hmmm... where to start. Is it sad to say I am looking forward to seeing what Beyonce brings?? Yes, probably. Here's to hoping she will be somewhat clothed...

-2-

Mags and mom came down for a visit this past Sunday and Monday. The kids were in Heaven. When I told Grace that Aunt Mags and Grammy were coming, she screamed such a high pitched scream that it made Isaac cry. Then she did it again when I told her Mia (her 3 year old cousin) was coming too. Making Isaac cry again. Poor Doggie (his oh-so-endearing nickname from Grace).

-3-

Matt is going to the Super Bowl this weekend for a "work trip". Nice, huh. So me on my own with all 4 kids... yes, I am going to Tampa where my mom, dad, brothers, sister, and sister-in-law will help entertain the little ones/watch them for me when I need to take a nap or a break. I do indeed lead the good life.

-4-

One of my best friends, Sahmy, just started a blog. Yeah!! I loved her post of her adorable little Addie saying, "Mare, Mare." Check it out!

-5-

Hope is officially out of newborn clothes. She is also enjoying a new view of the world through her bumbo. I think she likes it. And I just love her, seriously, I can't get enough.

-6-

Matt and I celebrated 8 years of dating this past Tuesday. Matt spoke a little about it here. We left all the kids at home, including baby Hope, and sprinted to the beach (before her next appointed feeding time). We had a fabulous time. I really did marry up. He is so good.

-7- 
Feel free to skip this one. I'll end with something pretty boring, I mean, exciting. In one of my first posts I wrote about a sinus infection and trying to cure it with shots of Apple Cider Vinegar. Well... I think it worked and I can't stop talking about it. I am warning you though, that chugging a tablespoon of ac vinegar is like the worst tasting thing I have ever done. Buutt if it keeps me functioning and taking care of the family, then I do it. Off to take another shot...

Number 7

Maggie, Baby #7

As hundreds of thousands of people March for Life today in Washington D.C., I am reminded of the day my mom told me that she was expecting her 7th baby. I was 17 years old at the time.

One day we all piled into our blue minivan for a Perkins breakfast. It was there that my mom broke to us the big news of another baby growing in her belly. At the time my mom was 41 years young, she had 4 kids in High School and 2 little active boys.  Was her body worn out from carrying so many babies by this point in her life? Maybe. Was it an inconvenient time to be tired for next 9 months? Probably. But, she never mentioned it. It was never even spoken about or thought of. My mom or dad never even alluded to it. The only emotion that was expressed to us was joy, laughter, and anticipation. So, of course my brothers and I exclaimed immediately: "Cool. Another baby!"

Me and baby Mags

I had always prayed for a sister, wanted a sister so badly after having 5 brothers and I thought:
This baby might be the one. I might finally get a sister! All of us were nothing but thrilled. There was no choice, no option to have or not to have this baby. No debate over whether she was or wasn't a person. She was. And we were so excited to meet her.

Maggie was my flower girl.

Majorie Lynette Mazanowski was born on February 22. I was there. I helped deliver her. I cut the umbilical cord. I was the first to hold her. I was completely amazed. It was the best day in my life, until I had my own children. (Which funny enough she was there, watching when I had baby Isaiah!)

My parents are over 55 now and still have a child in High School. Would they like to be completely free of teacher meetings and the normal in and outs/drama of having a child in High School. Maybe? But they never talk about it. It is never even mentioned. Maggie is the best thing that has happened to our family. She is our little miracle. Our baby sister.

On this day, I thank my mom for being courageous and having 7 children. Loving 7 children. And giving me 5 brothers and a last chance sister, who are all my best friends.

Baptism

There is something so special about a baby's baptism. I mean how can you top the day that you officially become a member in God's Church. Woot-woot!

She really is just so angelic. Aahhh I love this face. 

This pic was taken seconds before she spit up (yes, I caught it all in my hand, saving her beautiful dress) and had a major blow up, which had been building up for 3 whole days. 

Of course, Hope was already God's little one; she was ordained that at the moment of conception. But now she has official begun her relationship with Christ.

Godfather- Michael and Godmother- Mag. Yea, I think Hope has the hippest Godparents around :). 

Awwwe,  I love the moment that my children are baptized. I remember that exact moment for each one of them. Yes, I have a hard time remembering my next thought while talking to Matt, but I can remember Isaiah's small baby head being soaked with Holy water. The grace at this moment for me is palpable. I experience it with all of my senses. This time, however, was the first time that I wasn't actually holding my baby when she was baptized. Her God Mom, Maggie, my sister, was.

This is a bonding that Hope and Mag will hold forever.

Funny enough I remember when Maggie was baptized (I had begged my mom to let me be her Godmother--she did not concede, saying I was too young) and when she received her first communion. Now she is walking with me and holding my babies. Oh, the beauty of life.

On a side note, the baptism of my sweet Hope with 3 other children to tend to, especially one particular girl named Gracie-girl, was quite the challenge. If only I could figure out an effective way to put my children in time-out during mass without others listening to them scream. My threats under breath just don't seem to work!

She started off in the pew, but don't be fooled though, she did not last long there.

I have to brag while writing this post. My Brother, Father Zyg, is a Rock Star of a Priest, of course he would probably cringe at hearing that, but he is and I just can't hold it in! Not only does he allow my boys to be his altar servers, he gets them to pay attention. And I just love his homilies. It totally blows me away that my own brother is persona Christi. I am a proud sis.