I survived my 20 year High School reunion!

I survived! Friday night was a casual mixer at a bar. I brought my friend and fellow graduate Randi with me. She wasn't going to come, but had a blast. By 12:30 I was ready to go home. She stayed out till 3AM. I'll too old for that.

The girls looked good. Easy to tell whose who, many of them looked the same or very much the same. The guys-that's another story. Many of them, it was hard to tell who they were. Most of them were balder, if not completely bald, looked different and were heavier. There were some exceptions and I did see some "hottie" guys, but it was a little shocking.

The talk was "where do you live?", "Are you married?", "where do you work?", and "How many kids do you have?" I was so happy to say I have two beauiful girls. I was glad to see some people, there were others I never talked to in High School and really had nothing to say 20 years later.

Satuday night was the formal event. Dinner, DJ, the whole shabang. My husband decided last minute not to go. I was fine with that. He never went to my High School and knew nobody. He's also very shy. I brought Randi again and we had a good time. Some people that were not there Friday night came. It was nice to see how many people came from far away. It was sad to learn two members of our class had passed away, one just a few years ago, and rather suddenly. He was at the 10 year reunion and was very good looking and popular in high school.

It was great catching up with people. There was a slide show featuring pictures from high school! There was another slide show featuring pictures of graduates with their families/kids now. Too bad I did not know, I could have sent in a picture of my girls! I talked to the guy I graduated with who used to live in my house (we bought if from his parents in 1999). That was funny-he wanted to know if I was taking care of his house! The two guys I LOVED throughout high school did not come to the reunion, so I was a little bummed.

I had a good time talking to the ladies that still live in the area and we are going to get together with our kids soon. Many of these people, I won't see again for another 5 or 10 year, whenever the next reunion is. I hope to go to the next reunion thinner and more confident. Not having been in shape was a real downer for me and I was kind of self conscious. I wasn't the only woman there who shops in Lane Bryant, let's just put it that way.

I'll be turning heads at the next reunion!!!!

Kudos to my brother!

My brother is such a great guy! He just came back from vacation and flew in from Myrtle Beach, SC. He ate dinner and insisted on stopping by to see family and drop off their souveniers. That was so nice of him considering what a busy day he had and he still had to drive another 35 minutes north to get home.

He bought us a lovely picture frame with a lighthouse. He gave Jacqueline two necklaces, one of a turtle an one of a butterfly-which she loved! He managed to find Jenna a sippy cup with her name on it. It's so cool! He was headed to my sister's house to give his other two neices their trinkets. He's so thoughtful. I am so glad he's Jenna's Godfather. He was so glad Jac liked her gifts. He made him try each necklace on her-it was so cute. He helps my two neices regularly with art projects and does an awesome job.

He's such a great brother and Uncle. He's 32. We hope he meets someone soon and gets married someday. He would make a great husband and father. Here's a selfless plug for my brother. He's 32, single, Catholic, in retail management, works hard, doesn't drink or do drugs. He's working on losing a few pounds. His biggest problem is he is shy. Approaching women and asking for a date will never be his thing. I am encouraging him to join e harmoney or match.com, but he's not one to check his email very often.

Here's a picture of him. If you know any nice, single women in their mid to late 20's or early 30's, in the Hudson Valley area of NY, feel free to contact him through his myspace page...which he just set up.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=215906075

OK where do I complain about shopping carts???

Yes, I am totall annoyed with the manufacturers of grocery shopping carts. I often shop at the A&P. The first time I took Jenna in her carrier, I was going to place her in the front and put my groceries in the bottom of the cart. WRONG!!! Because of the ads for real estate agents, insurance agents and mortgage brokers, my Graco carrier that 3 1/2 years ago fit perfectly in the front of the cart, no longer does. It must be the stupid ads on the cart. That's the difference and why they no longer fit. The first time I tried shopping with Jenna, I was in denial and kept trying to make it fit. I finally gave up and just put her in the bottom of the cart (poor thing). Luckily my husband was with me. He took a separate cart for the groceries. The same thing happened to us in Acme Supermarket in NJ.

I think it's terrible! They say they have wagons with carriers attached. They do. They are dirty and disgusting and I am not ever placing my baby in that carrier. Forget it.

I seriously want to complain! When I go to Walmart, Home Depot and BJs her carrier fits-but they don't have ads on the cart. I guess money and greed are more important then people, safety and concern for customers.

Am I the only one that has had this problem with a carrier and shopping carts???

Back from vacation!

Yes, we are back from our 5 day vacation. The weather in Wildwood Crest was very nice. Sunny and hot. Every day was a beach day. We spent much less time at the beach this year. Jenna is too young for sunblock and very fair. We covered her up and put her under the umbrella, but still I was worried the rays would get to her. Sometimes my husband and Jacqueline went to the beach or pool and I stayed in the room with the baby. Oh well, we knew it was going to be challenging this year. I made our plans before I knew Jenna was coming into our lives. I did not think it was fair to Jacqueline not to go on vacation at all. We usually go with family, but this year we were on our own, which did not help.

I did not have to cook and did have a nice view of the ocean! We spent quality time all cozy in one room! It was a nice change of scenery. We used to spend hours and hours on the beach before kids! Eat at fancy restaurants and go to Atlantic City at night-those were the days! We'll do that again-in about 20 years!

Even with limited time in the sun, I was still happy to be there. The last time we were in Wildwood was the last week of August, 2006. It rained almost every day-we could not go to the beach-the weather sucked. To make matters worse, I had taken clomid and we were actively TTC that week, even with family in other bedrooms. We just did it because we had to. I also was to have a C section on August 25, 2006, but lost that baby at nearly 10 weeks. That thought really played in my mind last year. It was a depressing vacation across the board. Ironically, we believe Jenna was conceived that same week and unknown to us, our daughter was created. This was a MUCH better vacation.

Next year, I can slather Jenna with sunblock and spend more time on the beach. But on the flip side, she will probably be toddling around and we will be chasing after her. I have come to the conclusion that mothers never have a vacation. I was still doing all my motherly duties-just somewhere else. I wouldn't have it any other way. I still pinch myself sometimes. For years I dreamed of being on the beach with my two kids and this year, my dream became a reality.
We feel incredibly fortunate to have our two miracle girls!

A vacation with just me and my hubby would be relaxing, but I don't think I would know what to do with myself LOL!

Vacation was fun, but THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!

My dream was a visitation

I had a vivid dream last night and I know it was more than just a dream-it was a visit. It was incredibly lucid and clear. I have had them before-not in a while. I talked with and saw this deceased person and felt a sense of calm and happiness when I woke up? Has anyone ever had this happen to them? I KNOW I have a 6th sense and can sense things other people cannot. I have a connection to the afterworld and it warns me when I should beware and calms me when everything is going to be OK.

This dream involved my best friend from High school's mother, who died in 1990 of lung cancer. When I met her in 1983, she was probably 50, but years of smoking had aged her skin and I thought she looked older then her age. To me she looked old, but when you are 14 everyone looks old. She was always very fond of me and I think somewhat amused. I spent countless hours at their house when I was in High School. In the dream, she looked about 35. I remember her skin was so soft and perfect and unwrinkled in the dream. She was smiling and laughing and talking to me on the front steps of my parents house. I don't know what we were talking about, but she was so happy and beautiful, that's all I remember. When I woke up, I felt a sense of calm and happiness. I really felt as if I had talked to her and visited with her. I emailed her daughter, who I was best friends with in High school and told her the whole dream. I am curious to see what her response is.

I felt as if I had received a blessing of sorts from her. Maybe it's because I recently adopted and her other daughter had adopted almost 20 years ago? Was a sign I needed to reach out to my old friend. I don't know, but I know it was more than a dream. It was a visit. Maybe she knows I would be receptive of her visit. The word visitation may be incorrect and I don't want to offend anyone, but that is the best way to describe it.

Did my friend have a similar dream? Why did I have this dream? I had not thought of her in quite some time. Nobody even mentioned her name to me. I guess there is a higher purpose!