I Partied Like It Was My Birthday. Because It Was.

So now that I'm 24, I'm officially older, wiser, and know everything.

Just kidding.


But do not expect this post to be about how turning 24 changes my life perspective and how I see the world through different eyes. Get ready for a recap of my birthday and how I had a fabulous time.

On Thursday we headed down to my parents to pick up my youngest sister. On the way to their house I got a phone call from my older sister with some great news:

SHE'S ENGAGED!

This is some pretty exciting stuff. She's been dating a fantastic guy for about 6 years now and I'm so happy for the both of them. 

And I may or may not be SUPERDUPERPUMPED that someone close to me is getting married and I can look at wedding things and talk about it, BUT DON'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS! The best.

Okay, back to my birthday.

So we get to my parents, get excited about the wedding that will be occurring next summer, grab my little sister, and head down to his parent's. The babies were tired.

We spent some time with his family, and went to bed.

We woke up bright and early, said goodbye to Bruin, and were off?

To where you may ask?

I decided I wanted to spend my birthday at SIX FLAGS!

This may not sound all that exciting to some of you, but I had never been to a Six Flags and had a coupon that gave me a wicked deal for admission. 

I MEAN WICKED.

On our way there we realized we had forgotten sunglasses. So as fashion divas we clearly stopped at the nearest gas station to pick up a two-for deal.

 

Six Flags New England is approximately 3 hours away from our starting point, so we settled in for the drive. Unfortunately the weather did not want to cooperate. My fancy phone, which took most of the photos in this post, told me thunderstorms would be looming over the roller coasters that we were planning on bossing. So we stopped at a rest stop an hour away, ate, and tried to make a call.

Weather at the rest stop after some rain. Debbie downer trumpet WAH-WAAAAAH.

After much deliberation and some delicious sandwiches, we decided that anywhere else we might choose might be a let down, and there were plenty of spots to hang out if it did rain. We made the uncertain decision to head to the park.

And guess what, everything worked out perfectly!

Because of the nasty weather, there were barely any lines.

 We wanted to get back to my parent's at a decent time to eat dinner, so we knew we had to make the most of the time. You need a whole day to get on every single ride there. We had three hours, so with the exception of a few water rides we had to really zone in on what we wanted to do.

What rides did we decide to do in our limited time? All of the hardcore rollercoasters of course!

We did not want to get our cellphones wet, so we don't have any pictures. 

Well, except for this one.

I cropped out the other people in our cart, but six flags cropped out my little sister. Well, you can see her legs.

We had to wait 45 minutes for this ride, not because of crowds, but because at one point many of the roller coasters were having maintenance due to rain. This roller coaster does not go upside down, but it had the biggest drop I have every seen. It was awesome.

The last roller coaster we went on the person running it asked if it was okay if the three of us sit up front. I was more than okay with that. We all got to sit together. Here is how we felt about this one, which did go upside down.

It's blurry, but as you can see, we're all screaming. And apparently we color coordinated as well.

Needless to say, it was a blast. 

We settled in for the long drive, and Erin and I took a picture to show how exhausted yet happy we were. This is what I captured.

Unfortunately a tractor trailer truck thought it would be funny to kick up a rock and crack my windsheild.

While that was bummerific, we're getting it fixed  tomorrow, and despite what people may think, it's not as horribly expensive to fix as you might think. (Around 200ish).

We made it back to my house safely, and I decided I wanted to keep it low key after traveling, so after we picked up the little mad at my in-law's so we headed to my parents' house and ate food they had love-ingly grilled. 

After cake and some laughs, it was time for presents. My parents gave me a Mt. Washington t-shirt as I totally bossed that mountain last year, and a giftcard. (I'd already gotten to some other gifts in the mail. Thanks Gram and Judy! I'll be sending out those thank you cards soon, promise!)

Dave then looked at me with a silly grin and had me open the card, it was no surprise that it had dogs on it. He eagerly handed me my gift, that was apparently from my parents, all of my sisters, and Dave. 

This is the part where I start to get excited. 

What did I find?????

Please enjoy my headband and pajamas. Oh, and chipping green polish.

For those of you who are familiar with my plight of having a Canon Rebel that is film only, you may know that I've been yearning for a digital DSLR. I had mentioned it in a few posts but in no way expected to get one so soon!!!!

It is a Nikon D5000. It has tons of features including video capabilities, live view while shooting on the screen, a screen that flips around so I can shoot in crowds and take self portraits, and sooooo many other features. The extent of my photography knowledge is from the one class I took in high school and the photography blogs that I follow. I'm just super excited that I have a camera that will have what I need as I *hopefully* expand my knowledge and skills.

Dave didn't get me a bag, not because he forgot, but because he is an angel from heaven and wanted me to pick one out on my own that I loved. So I shall be doing a post on all of that later.

So that was my birthday friends. I hope to be going out with some friends next weekend to continue the party. So just in case you were worrying, the celebrations are not done.

Have a fantastic Sunday!

Just In Case You Didn't Know

I turn this today.

No Big Deal.

Just my birthday.

I know you're all thinking this. It's fine.

I won't be posting any more today, I've got some things penciled in.

Enjoy your weekend!

My Independece Day (Spoiler Alert, Not As Cool As Will Smith's)

As someone who is a say yes-er and enjoys having disposable income, the 4th of July has always been a holiday that I have a hard time saying no to as far as working my summer job.

I mean I love fireworks and barbecues just as much as the next person.

It just hasn't been in the cards for me to have the day off the past few years. This year is no exception, I'm working the afternoon/night shift serving frozen strawberry custard to hysterical people who have been asking for it for at least a week. No joke.

Dave is working tonight since he already got time off for my birthday this week .

So what did we do on this, our day of independence? We  slept in, vacuumed our cars, weeded our garden, and took the dog for a walk together.

Doesn't sound exciting to you? Well it wasn't.

But don't underestimate the feeling of accomplishment when you vacuum enough dog hair out of your car you could build a full-size replica of the real one. Of course I didn't do this. But I had enough fur that if I wanted to I could.

My point is, that I was able to do whatever I wanted. I was able to sleep in without worrying about my house falling in on my from bombs.

I was able to vacuum out my SUV. You know the one that I don't have to worry about fueling up, because have enough gas to go around in our country. (For now.)

I was able to weed the garden, a garden that I am able to keep, because I created it.

I was able to take my dog for a walk safely down the street without worrying about being taken away from my home or mugged.

I was allowed to do a lot of very basic things that I often take for granted, but in some other countries around the world I could not.

So thank you to those who served, do serve, and will serve in an effort to keep our country free.

And thanks George Washington for being such a badass. And all of those other guys in wigs too.

Speaking of doing what I want, in an effort to look somewhat cute in a t-shirt and jeans and patriotic for the customers, I painted my nails blue and red. Because tourists and regular customers alike usually like lame stuff like that.

Awkward claw. Hand modeling is not for me.

Remember: It's Patriotic to go get ice cream on your way to the fireworks, but it's even more patriotic to tip the girl at the window. Especially if her nails are fabulous.


Happy 4th. :)

Birthday Month

You know that  obnoxious guy that, the moment it becomes just the month of their birthday, they start getting super excited about it?

They constantly remind you that yes, this is the month of their birth and yes, they are excited, and of course yes they just want to have fun and enjoy themselves because guess what IT'S THEIR FRIGGIN BIRTHDAY MONTH?

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Uhhh, yeah, I'm that guy.

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As of yesterday, it was my birthday month.

Tomorrow it will be my birthday week.

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but my birthday month is the most fabulous.

I mean who does not love July? It has all of the ingredients of the perfect birthday month.

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No I will not try and get others to do outrageous things because it is my birthday month. No I won't talk about it all the time.  I will only use it to my advantage when I can, but not all of the time. I wouldn't want people to think I'm abusing it.

I promise I will only use my birthday month to my benefit when absolutely necessary. Some situations where this may be applicable:
-Choices for dinner.
-What movies to rent/go see.
-Whether I should get that shirt I've really wanted ever since I saw it. 5 seconds ago.
-Second dessert.
-Having to take the dog out to pee.
-What fruit we get for groceries this week.
- The weather. That's right, I get a say in the weather this month. Because I said so.
- Making a decision on whether we watch the history channel or Jon and Kate plus 8 reruns. (They were so cute when they were like 2, and before Maddy screamed for half of the episode and Kate got Lipo. )

So don't hate me because it's my birthday month, embrace it.

And send me a gift. I promise to cybershare my cake over the internet with you.

If that doesn't work out, I'll at least take a picture of it and post it here for you to look at.

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You're welcome.

Motherhood is No April Fools Joke

The past 5 April Firsts I've played the same joke on my older sister.

"So uh Nikki, are you somewhere private? I need to talk to you."
"Ohmygod are you okay?"
"Yeah, I mean I just....I think I'm pregnant."
(Silence)
"APRIL FOOLS!"
"Trish you're a brat."

Even the first year when she knew it wasn't possible, every single time I get her. She'd laugh eventually, after calling me a few choice names that I remember fondly from our high school days when we shared a room.

This year I really gave her a jump, because, "Well Tricia now it's like actually possible, it's like real now that you're married!"

Oh sorry then, I guess I wasn't aware that women were infertile before they got married. In that case someone needs to explain "16 and Pregnant" to me. If that's all a hoax then I'm a little upset. There goes fifty horrible yet wonderful hours that I felt better about myself, that MTV can never give me back.

Since it went so well I decided to try it this year on a few other family members. When I called my younger sister Shannon she fell for it, but laughed right after I told her. She then continued to act like it was true so she could hang up the phone and pull the prank on her boyfriend in the car next to her. It's nice having two middle children in the family. :)
I decided not to play it on my youngest sister. That would send that little three sport athlete, every possible extra curricular, must get honor roll child off the edge. I'll wait until she graduates highschool.

So after the sisters, we thought You know what? Why don't we try the moms?

We called my mom first.
"Mom, I'm late. I think I might be."
"...Are you sure? Did you take a test?"
"Well you know, we got married like a month ago...and today's April 1st..."
"....Tricia, if this is an April first joke.."
"April Fools!"
"Don't you ever do that again! You just made me so nervous! Do I hear Dave laughing in the background? I expect you to play a joke like this but he married you and he's supposed to stop you from doing things like that!"

Next time she saw him she punched him in the arm and told him to keep me under control.

She laughed afterward, after she went on about how I'm never allowed to play that joke on her ever again or she'd kill me.

But there was something about her voice when she believed me. I didn't hear the nervousness. It was serious yet, very put together. Like, she didn't expect it to happen but was ready with whatever answer I gave her.
Something in me told me that if that April Fool's baby had been no joke, despite it being about 5 years earlier than Dave and I are planning on, my mom would have helped us find a new one. If I had started freaking out about how I wasn't ready, she would've have agreed but told us that we would all figure out something and to stay calm because things would be fine. As soon as she told my dad.

I guess that when you're the mother of four girls, you expect the unexpected. When you're the mother of girls you learn to keep calm and collected when your daughters, sometimes all four, are in crisis mode. When you're the mother of four girls you learn to make plans and decisions when they're needed. When you're the mother of four girls you love them no matter what. When you're the mother of four girls know how to make them feel safe. When you're the mother of four girls you support them in whatever decision they make, it's the college they go to, where they want to live, the man they want to marry or the color they want to paint their nails that day. When you're the mother of four girls you know when and how to take care of them, because you know best. After all, you're the one that stayed at home with them during their most important developmental years making sure they were taken care of by the woman who loved them most.

When you're the mother of four girls, you know how to treat each of them equally, yet different. When you're the mother of four girls you know how to make each one feel special. When you're the mother of four girls you always call back; whether it's about planning the wedding, the name of that yogurt I like, or one of those awkward personal conversations that only the mother of four girls needs to know about. When you're the mother of four girls, you give and give and never want anything given. When you're the mother of four girls you care, you hug when it's absolutely needed, are always ready for a visit, share personal stories in hopes that it will help one of your four daughters in their journey through life and the choices they need to make. And when you're the mother of four daughters you love enough for those four daughters and more.


Now I don't want to forget my husband's mom, who is the mother of three boys. Her reaction was similar to my mother's. Surprised, and wanted to punch me in the arm afterward, but when she thought it was real her voice was calm and with strength, knowing that things would be fine.

She followed it up with the statement of, "This better not mean that you got another dog though instead. Because you're not ready for another one of those either."

No. But expect another fur baby before a real one comes around...:)

So, Happy Mothers Day to you Nan. And Happy Mothers day to Vick. I'm sure you'll both be the best grandmothers around...but not anytime soon. It's nice to know when I have my turn to be celebrated on Mother's Day that I have two wonderful women to look up to and stay calm for me. Because we know that's not my forte.

Also, Happy Mothers Day to my grandmothers. Both had 10 children and therefore both have too many grandchildren to count. Both of them are the most caring women I have met each in their own way. How they remember everyone's name and birthdays is beyond my grasp. I don't even remember what I ate for breakfast and it's barely noon. Also Happy Mother's day to my new grandmother-in-law who made me feel like I was a part of the family way before I was.

And happy mothers day to all of the mothers out there. I don't know how you all do it, I can barely get myself breakfast in the morning, never-mind breakfast for someoneelse that you're trying to get dressed and make sure did their homework all at the same time.
You all deserve to be celebrated for everything you do and all that you give of yourselves each and everyday.

And that my friends is no joke. :)

My First Grown-Up Easter/Holiday.

Today was a milestone.

Today was the first time that Dave and I split up the holiday between families as a married couple.

Now, we've been together for 5 and a half years. I hate change, especially when it comes to family traditions and where I eat my overdone poultry and pig. So while dating, and even for the first half of our engagement Dave and I would kiss goodbye and go our separate ways for the holiday. I love my man and couldn't wait to start making traditions of our own, but with one of my sisters still at home, and myself in denial about adulthood, it's tough to start switching things up.

In my humble opinion, holidays are for family. After you send your text messages to friends and call your beau for 20 minutes, it's time to turn off your phone, change into your comfy clothes and prepare for a 2 hour long game of monopoly where you hope you're the banker and get ready for some crying over park place. Because that's what family is all about.

I digress.

With the wedding quickly approaching in February last Thanksgiving we were nervous that we'd have to make one of those adult "so do we start doing this together?" decisions. Fortunately for us my younger sister who is an RA drew the short stick between her coworkers and was on duty for Turkey day. So my family decided to celebrate the day after.We spent the actual Turkey day with his fam and the next day with mine.

Two Thanksgiving dinners two days in a row? YES PLEASE. But alas, I found that there was a downside. Now that our miniature family (Bruin is surprisingly human like, as I will write about in the future I am sure. So yes we count as a family)  had finally spent a holiday together with both families Christmas glared its big red-green glowing head around the corner. Had we set a precedent? Are we now expected to be together for Christmas?

I don't know about you but Christmas in my family is one of those days where there is an unspoken code of conduct. The exact same, yet different thing everytime. Sister presents by the Charlie Brown Tree, then stockings,  then wake mom and dad up, picture on the stairs, presents, handfuls of bread from the kitchen throughout the process, everyone goes upstairs and fondles their gifts, back downstairs for leftovers, movie, games, change into a different pair of pajamas, more games. Every time.

Moral of the story: Don't mess with my Christmas.

Dave is also in the same position with his family. Younger brothers, and tradition as deep as canyons.
We both love both families a lot and were avoiding a decision as long as possible. So when his family said that they were going up to Canada for Christmas to visit the grandparents, Dave checked his work schedule at the time and found that he was working many of the nights so couldn't travel that far. Another person's misfortune again worked out for my best. We did Christmas with his family before, and then the actual day with mine. Easy.

So then there was Easter. No relatives needing a visit, no schedule snafus to be had, no moving around of days. And, the clincher: Dave and I are married now. I want to spend the holidays with my husband, which trades off to mean that I have to start making decisions.

Well, we need to start making decisions. You get it.

Regrettably, both of our families are understanding and easy going. We didn't have any demanding in-laws or begrudged sisters demanding us to spend the whole time. Both of our families said that we could do whatever we'd like and they'd understand. DAMN.

When presented with one of our grown-up decisions we did what any other responsible adults would do: avoid making a decision.

Friday before Easter we still had no clue what we were doing. I knew we had to make a decision. In the end, it was easy enough to split the occasion up by baskets and church, and then travel elsewhere for dinner and dessert. I polled the parents, still no-one cared which part of us they got. Just as long as they got to see us. And of course Dave is understanding and easygoing so he would, "Blah BlahDo whatever I'd like to do and is important to me. Blah Blah."  UGH. I love that guy. But someone throw me a bone here.

Confused and avoid all decision making possible I did what any adult would do: I called up my baby 16 year old sister and forced her to pick.

 She wanted to have dinner. Decision made. Thank god. I got the feeling though that I was the only person who was really stressed about this decision.

Today, everyone was wonderful. Happy to see us there, understanding when we had to go. We had a blast with both of our families. Watching the Bruin's own the Canadiens with his, and playing that super cool dance game with the xbox kinect that you get all sweaty playing with mine.

Though the word is often overused, I have to admit, it is a little bittersweet. I miss being able to just sit back and let the holiday happen as it does. I miss being around for every moment with my family. And fulfilling the tried and true traditions that we've created. On the other hand, I like being a part of his family's traditions, spending the day with my husband, and making new traditions.

So for now, we'll split up the day, and probably leave the decision to the last minute and possibly up to a minor. Which is okay.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm kind of glad that the next huge holiday isn't for another few months.

Until then I'll get used to the idea of traveling.

Bruin, I have a feeling, certainly won't mind.