It's been way too long according to my son.......

Good-morning!
My beloved son made me read some old posts yesterday. They made me cry, they made me smile, and they reminded me of why I started this blog to begin with.
So here goes an attempt at keeping up with this on a regular basis!

Life is CRAZY, I'll get to that in the
next post.

Here's to you Chris for reminding me of some great memories. I love you!

Ummm

Well, it has been awhile. Sorry about that, but we were having issues with the computer and I couldn't get online to blog.

It's been a crazy few weeks. Dave won a trip to Disney for work. It is a special SCORE award that they give out every year. He will be headed down in May for a 4 day conference, and we(the kids and I) are going to visit my Mom while he is at the conference. We will meet up when it is over and spend the remainder of the week at Disney. It should be a fun filled and VERY busy 4 days!

Dave was in a head on car crash a few eeks ago too. His car was officially totalled. We had the option of buying it back from the insurance company tho, so we still have it! Dave hurt his back, but is doing great now.

We have had snow day after snow day here. The kids are now going to school until June 24th! Let's pray for NO MORE SNOW! I am anxious for spring.

I really don't have much to write about today, just not feeling it I guess. So, that being said, I'll log off until another day.

Where does the time go?

It's been awhile huh? I have been so crazy busy, I guess that's a good thing as the holidays were rough. So many wonderful memories that only bring tears. I miss you dad!

Girl Scouts has kept me busy, I love it. I am co-chairing this years cookie rally, so I have been super busy with that, and just organizing and trying to get new troops set up, not to mention my own troop! Boy are 12 year old girls talkative! We are involved in a postcard exchange this year and we are having great fun with it. It's cookie time again too, so if you want some, let me know!

The kids are busy too. Kaitlin has tons of homework, but she is doing very well this year. I have lightened up a bit and given her a little more freedom this year, like going to the library after school, and she is loving it!

Chris is busy with Technology club. He loves that, and it keeps his interest until soccer starts again!

Nicky, well he is just busy! He fell into a drawer this afternoon and cut his ear, probably needed stitches, but he bounced right back and is fine now! He is my little lovebug. Such a sweet boy, must take after me..... :)

Dave is a little less crazy now that the end of the year is over, he is still at Unum, and is still looking for a transfer to TN. He has also applied to a position in SC, so a move may be in the future! Who knows.

Well, until next time.
Tracy

Missing you......

I miss you so much today Dad!

Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Another Day!

It's been raining most of the day, how fun! We have been super busy, or maybe just I have been. I took my Girl Scout troop to camporee in October, that was a lot of fun. Last week, I ran a table at the polls for Girl Scout recruitment, and then I had to keep Kaitlin up all night Wednesday night so she would sleep for a test on Thursday. Now let me tell you, that was FUN!

The kids got report cards, and had conferences. Chris did ok, he's been about average. Kaitlin did awesome, she missed honors by one grade, and that was mainly because she failed a test. She studied hard, but just didn't get it! Oh well!

Nicky is growing like a weed! He is just so BIG, and so full of energy!

I guess that's about it here, until next time!

Tracy


One of my favorite pictures and memories of my Dad!








Nicky turning 4 years old



Camporee! Sophia, Emma, Delaney, and Victoria

Camporee! Kaitlin, Rachel, Jennie, and Sarah

My Dad's tree!

Happy Birthday Dad

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

I miss you so much, I can't believe this is your second birthday away from us, how time flies. I think of you everyday, and miss you so much. You will always be in my heart.

I love you,

Tracy

Happy Birthday Mungus

Dear Nicky,

I just wanted to tell you how happy you have made me these last four years. I love you so much. I love the funny things you do, and how you make me smile everyday, I love your miss and hug every morning, and rubbing you back at bedtime. I love it when you cuddle with me for no reason, and I especially love how you miss and talk about your Papa. I know he misses you too, and I'm sure he will be with us tomorrow when you have your "Uncle Tom" party(Thomas the Tank Engine) I love when you are supposed to be sleeping but I find you in bed with your books cause you are reading, I love how you can do everything your self, but when you can't you say oh, just kiddin. I love your dimples, and your cute little bum, and I really love your curlies! I love everything about you!

Happy Birthday Little Man!

Love,

Mama

Bumps and Bruises!!!

Well, it has been a crazy few weeks here in the Rayner house. We have suffered all sorts of injuries, but the best two happened to Dada and Mama. Dada broke his ankle playing softball. He got a line drive right on the old ankle bone and broke it. The first two are the day he did it, and the next ones are about 5 days after!! Pretty huh??

I spent the past weekend at overnight camp training for girl scouts, and we got to try archery. Well archery is NOT my friend. Check out this bruise on my arm from trying it!

We make a good pair! The sucky part about it all is that Dave can't work his second job, which of course make things pretty tight around here!!!!

Aside from bruises, here is a cute picture Kaitlin took of Mama, Dada, and Nicky snuggling!

Nothing like snuggling on the couch! Until next time!

Girl Scout Camp!!

Kaitlin had a blast at camp. She went to Wizards in the Woods, Harry Potter of course! She got a little homesick after getting 2 ticks, but made it through the week! It was good to see her on Friday, however, the fighting has started up again!! It's almost as if she never went away for a week. Can't wait until Chris leaves in a couple of weeks!!

Not much else going on around here, except that I turned another year older! Kaitlin's birthday is tomorrow, she's turning 11! That's another post all on it's own! Until next time........

Reindeer, Wall climbing, Log flumes, and Vermont!

Nicky and Dad checking out the reindeer at Santa's Village!
Kaitlin checking out the reindeer at Santa's Village!

Nicky Wall Climbing at Clark's Trading Post
Log Flume ride at Santa's Village!
We went to Vermont, none of us except Dad have ever been!!

We had a blast camping, we went to Santa's Village and Clark's. The bear show was pretty cool. The kids had a lot of fun, Kaitlin met a boy at the campground swimming pool.....

We drove into Vermont, and had some maple sugar. Took a picture to prove it since we(the kids and I) have never been there!

As you can see they all loved the log flume ride, of course I didn't get on it! But they had fun and Dad got the most wet!

More to come.......

Why???

Does anyone know why? Why on earth is it that every time you start feeling good, and normal, everything crashes down again, and you feel like your heart has been ripped out of your chest again?????

Grief drives me NUTS!!

This and That

Don't have much to say, so this is going to be a bunch of ramblings......



First, I made it through the 19th, Thank you to my friends who thought of me that day. It was a bit sad, but all in all OK. I miss him so much! I think Father's Day was harder than the 19th.....



The kids are out of school. They have attended Vacation Bible School this week, so it hasn't really seemed like they are out yet. They have enjoyed their time at VBS, but I think they will be glad when it is over so they can enjoy being out of school.



We are leaving for a camping trip on Sunday. I think we all need it, and I can't wait! We are headed to the white mountains, please pray for good weather! 3 kids in a tent during rain, NOT FUN!!



We were blessed by a friend, and received a soft-set pool, we just got that up yesterday, not quite running yet, but soon! It's 12 ft. x 3 ft. so should keep us cool for the summer!! Thanks to the Major's!!



Not much else going on here. Here are a few pictures, I'll post camping pictures when we get back!

The family being silly!

Best Buddies digging in the sand!

In Loving Memory

My Dad, Bob Bridges

10/15/1947 - 06/19/2007

Missing you so much, and loving you always!

Love,

Tracy, Dave, Katie Bear, Dude, and Lip Stick Boy

Happy Father's Day!

Dear Dad,
I love you and miss you more than ever. It was a day with mixed emotion, I had a hard time picking out cards for everyone but you. I wanted to, but I guess I can't keep buying cards to just go unopened and sitting by your urn now can I? This whole weekend has been hard, and I am sure Thursday will be the hardest. My heart is still in so many pieces, I miss you and think of you everyday. You were the BEST Dad a girl could ask for, I wish we had a few more years together. You will always be in my heart, and you will be forever missed. I hope Father's Day in heaven is really a wonderful thing.
Love,
Tracy

To my big brother, HAPPY BIRTHDAY(Belated)

This post is for my big brother, yesterday was his 41st birthday. Aside from my father, my brother has always been another of my hero's! He seemed so cool growing up, and I wanted to be like him, THANK GOD I am not!! :) Just kidding!
I remember how he was such a dare devil growing up. It seemed that he was always hurt. I remember the time he ran into the front porch playing football(or was it baseball?) I remember the stories of when he split his head open with the axe in one of the foundations of a new house being built, I remember when we(my mom, dad, brother and I) were shopping in Portland and he rolled over the Brat, I remember when I was on the couch with strep throat and he was beating up my other brother and they broke the leg off the couch,I remember the time dad was chopping wood and hit all three of us in the head, I remember the time he was helping dad fix the motorcycle and dad accidentally cut his finger off, and of course I remember the valentines day when he sent both me and my mom flowers. Bet you don't remember that do you??
Anyway, I just wanted him to know that I have always looked up to him, and I love him very much. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG BROTHER! Hope your day turned out to be a good one!

Love,
Tracy

No sleep

I was up a million times last night. First had to use potty(yes I have a little one!), then I thought that I heard the little one screaming/crying(but he wasn't), then my loving husband knocked over a bottle and woke me out of a nice sound sleep at 4:00 am. That was the end of my sleep for the night!

The only good thing about it is that I have done 2 loads of laundry, ran the dishwasher and unloaded it, cleaned most of the kitchen, and got on here to blog! How about that. I can accomplish something if I put my mind to it (and get up at 4:30 !)

We went to the Sea Dogs game last night and we really had a great time in spite of getting rained on. Yes we were fools sitting there while it rained, but the game was good. We did eventually leave, I was getting cold. When we left the Sea Dogs were wining. I don't know the final score!

Today is early release day, so there will be no rest(a.k.a. NAP) for me today :( Oh well, maybe I'll actually get the house clean! YEAH!

A productive day!

Nicky enjoying the parade!

Chris marching in the parade.
Tammy and I marching in the parade!
Kaitlin holding the Girl Scouts banner in the parade!

Well, I had a rather productive day today. I guess you can say that anyway. I did a lot of cleaning, made two pinatas, filled out lot's of paperwork, did two loads of laundry, watched the season finale of LOST, cooked and ate dinner, and managed to get on here and blog! I am sure I did other things as well, but just those few make for a productive day!

My kids were productive as well, at least the older two! They both cleaned their rooms, and I must say, that was a feat in itself! Nicky however just kind of "helped" everyone, and managed a nice long nap(which made easy watching of the LOST finale). He refused to eat the fish for dinner though and ended up having just veggies and noodles. Kaitlin ate some fish, but gave up when she realized there was no dessert tonight! Chris ate every bite, and had seconds as well!

Dave, I think, was productive as well. He didn't fix my vacuum like I wanted, but oh well there is always tomorrow!!

A clean house....

Is that even possible? It seems that no matter how much I clean in one day, five minutes later my house is a HUGE mess!
I once followed a site called fly lady, but somehow got away from it. I just wish there was a magic powder that I could sprinkle around, and POOF, everything would be clean!
Anyone out there have any suggestions? Any tips? Any advice at all? I swear my house is the messiest house of all!!!!!
It is somewhat clean today, wonder how long that will last??

The weekend

Our weekend was fun filled and oh so busy! Saturday was the usual errands, and cleaning, but the rest of the weekend was great fun!

Sunday, we went down to our friends home in Revere, MA. We haven't seen them in many months, and although they bought their home a year ago, we haven't been down to see it yet. They have a beautiful back yard(fenced in) and a lovely home. I didn't have to worry at all about Nicky! The kids ran and played all day. Somehow our discussion turned to wine, and champagne. No of us are big drinkers, but we got on the subject, and before I knew it, the men went off and came home with 3 bottle of wine. One was a champagne, and the other 2 wine. Between the 4 of us we polished off 1 and 1/2 bottles! YUM, and I hate wine! We had a great visit, and really enjoyed our time. I did forget sunblock thought and everyone got sunburned! OOPS!!

Monday was busy and fun too, Kaitlin, Christopher, and I were all in the local parade. Nicky and Dave joined my mom, brother, Grandpa(Dave's dad), and some friends to watch. After the parade my brother helped us trim some branches on one of our trees, and then I went to a friends house to do some girls scout stuff. Dave and the kids hung out, rode the dirt bike, and did some yard work. Then we went and got burgers for the grill, and rented national Treasure 2!

It turned out to be a pretty great weekend! Hope you all enjoyed your too!

You learn something new every day

So, you all know the old saying right? Well today it has rang true for me. Not only did I learn something new but, I learned 2 new things. Both were about my new van, first: If you take the middle row of seats out of the van, you can move the back row up, and you have much more room in the very back for trips like camping(which we are going to be doing in a few weeks), and second: the little "hooks" on the back of the very back seat (the ones that look like cup holders sort of, but aren't) they are to hook your grocery bags on, so they don't fly around when you drive home! Imagine that, two things I didn't know, and feel like such a dork for not knowing!
So, I'll offer up many thanks to my mom and my brother for graciously pointing those two things out to me! Thanks guys!
Hope everyone out there in blog land have a wonderful holiday weekend! If you are in Scarborough, Maine, look for us in the parade on Monday!!