A Good Weight On Me

A Good Weight On Me

So I think about weight a lot and I talk about weight a lot! Probably to a detriment! But I'm determined! I'm eating clean as often as I can and I'm working out harder than I have in my life! I'm proud of myself! And I want to be healthy and strong!

But this isn't about my body weight!

I often think about the weight of stress! I'm thinking all the time. I have lists upon lists upon lists! 

But this isn't about the weight of my thoughts either!

Instead tonight...I'm completely relaxed with the weight of my children on me! LITERALLY!

I can't get up to capture this moment in a picture and it's all ok!

It's a Tuesday night!
We finished homework.
Domenic and I exercised (with Nick and Zack exercising with us here and there!).
We had dinner.
Did baths.
And we all laid on the couch to watch Survivor...and everyone's asleep.
Luke's legs are across mine and both Nick and Zack are laying on either side of me!

The weight of another body on you is funny!
It's warm and heavy!
And as their body's rise and fall with each breath, I don't want to move to stir them!

They are so peaceful!

I am so filled with love at this very moment!

And I'll probably stay up later tonight...just to prolong feeling the weight of my boys I love so, so much!

So thankful

Just so Thankful....

Parades, family's, food, football! 

One of the best years ever!

#nowicanmatchmyelf

So much love!

It was a big turkey! 

#kingofgrassstains

#earninghiskeep

I'm done with pictures mom.

#pleaseturnoffthepolkamusic

#turkeyfootball

#weneedbucklestogotothemuffinstore

It was a tough one for pops! But he was Thankful!

This Boy....And I'm Back on Track!

This Boy....And I'm Back on Track!

My last post was 1/7/15 and I feel like a whole year has gone undocumented.

This pictures above is from November 21st (2015)

This picture below is from November 14th (2014)

Same sweet face and yet he has grown so much!

Zack, 

You are the perfect recipe of sweet, sympathetic, polite, funny, wild, crazy, and kind!

I love you more than you know!

A year has gone by and here is where we are now....

You recently started carrying around a Curious George monkey everywhere you go. It's adorable!

You are copying every word your brothers say include: "What the heck.....(fill in the blank)"

"What the heck are you doing?"

"Where the heck are my pants?"

"Where the heck is my breakfast?"

Its hysterical and frightening! We are trying to correct you without busting out with laughter!

You are a great cuddler! You love to snuggle with mommy when you wake up early and I'm trying to squeeze a few extra moments under the covers.

You love chocolate milk, playing puzzles, and dressing yourself. You have also begun surfing Youtube. Which we are so not proud of...but we find it hysterical that you will jump from 1 toy review video to another.

You spend your days at Miss Kim's and Nan's and some days you just hate to leave home...which often leads to tears at drop off. But its adorably cute that before Dad leaves he says, "and remember...." and you finish his thought...."no crying at Miss Kim's!"

Your vocabulary and memory are astonishing. I'm not attempting to predict your future but you surprise daddy and I everyday!

I'm saddened by the fact that I've lost a year on the blog.
Its been busy and not always focused.
Not always breathing in the moment.
Not always finding the happy.
Instead getting easily distracted by schedules, coming and going.
Stressing about details of life that you can't change.
Placing too much emphasis on my level of tired.
Not in the mood to write on the Happy Matters blog.

I didn't take a break, I just didn't force myself when I wasn't feeling it!

Now I'm taking a more active approach to redirecting all my thoughts and actions to find the positive!

Appreciating silver linings!

Recognizing that in the chaos, still breathing in the moment and observing my surroundings will make for many amazing memories.

And with that....Tomorrow is Thanksgiving!

Stay Tuned!

La Vie Boheme

La Vie Boheme

I don't know whether I should be proud or embarrassed but La Vie Boheme from the Broadway show RENT came on my shuffle today and I was surprised at how I remembered every word to this crazy tune. As I rocked out in my tiny car with 2 kids in the back (with headphones on) I was reminded of happy memories from Bluett Theatre with Thom, Jenny, Bobby, Tim and so many more in our off minutes at Cap and Bells practices.

Ahh memories.

La Vie Boheme!!

#nodaybuttoday

#howdoyoumeasureayear

Can a Tiny Phrase Really Change Your Mood

Can a Tiny Phrase Really Change Your Mood??

What a week to start a goal to blog daily?!?!

It's been a week filled with fevers, pink eye, coughs, colds, transitioning back from break with kids missing school and this morning I had an epic meltdown. And now its all saved for everyone's memory because of a goal to blog everyday! :)

Not a proud mommy moment!

I needed to take the day to stay home and I was unprepared to be faced with that decision. Last night, Domenic and I ran through plan A, B, and C and none of them included me taking the whole day. 

There was some forced perspective! By 8:30 my lesson plans were done and we had doctor appointments for all 3 boys. 2 hours later we had 2 pink eye diagnoses and 3 shots with fever side effects....grrrrr!

Nicholas was feeling disappointed about missing school because it was one of his teachers birthday's today. So we stopped by Dunkin Donuts, got some coffees for the teachers, and donuts for the kiddos. His classmates were happy to see him! His teachers were shocked and so appreciative. So. Grateful!

We spent the rest of the day eating soup, laying in our pj's and snuggling. Honestly, it was a gift! A gift wrapped with eye drops that burn and lots of dirty tissues. But a gift!

Domenic and I swiched off since I had a late doctors appointment and needed to run some errands. On my list... thank you cards.

This package of cards caught my eye!

I had to have them!

Grateful....

Glitter...

That was gold...

With a purple envelope!

It might as well had MADE SPECIAL FOR THERESA MINGACCI right across the packaging!!!!

I had to have them!

So I bought them and put them on my desk. They caught my eye all night long as we went about our routines. 

Once Zack was asleep I sat to write the thank you notes. 

I was so aware of how my mood and reflection of the day was changing.

I need to be more grateful. Every day. Every moment. Through the craziness. When plans A, B, and C require a plan D!

It's insane that I was brought to tears because my babies were sick and I had to stay home.

As painful as it is to write that sentence, it was the disappointment that my babies were sick that lead to all the overwhelming feelings that caused my meltdown.

I sat as I finished my cards and stared at one. I promised to frame it and place it at my desk as a constant reminder to be grateful...even through the little hiccups that present themselves daily.

Be Grateful!

xoxo

Focus On The Good

Focus On The Good

Today I'm thankful for....

Being able to wear my hair curly (and have it "done")...

Having boys that help each other get out the door in the morning...

Having wonderful people around us that spend the day with our boys when we're working...

Working in a place that's so much more than a school...it's a home away from home...

Working with friends every...single...day...

A tiny momento from a students trip to India...a little wooden elephant I will cherish

Students that make me laugh...

Teacher friends that don't mind helping out with non-teacher projects...

Audiobooks...

Jodi...

A hubby that cooks...

And cleans up after dinner so I can work out...

The ability and the time to excersize...

Giggling on the couch with the littles...

Being able to take care of Luke as he's on day 3 of fevers (really trying to focus on the good here)...

Tubby time...

Story time...

Knowing Bob Marley songs to sing to my babies...

A hot bubble bath...

A delicious cup of coffee...

 The Bachelor...

Flannel sheets...

A book to finish...

A hope for a restful nights sleep...

Xoxo

A Bittersweet End to the Holiday Season

A Bittersweet End to The Holiday Season

(Warning: Fuzzy pictures below!)

Great Wolf Lodge, blow up lawn decorations, visits with grandparents, visits to Santa, Peddlers Village, Christmas shows, Christmas Eve and Day traditions, Pats, Art Museum, Rocky, date night in AC, NYE, basketball, couch time, and preparation to get ready to go back to school!

So thankful for these little faces!

Such happy memories!!!

Xoxo