L-O-V-E

I love this little girl so much! When I look at this picture... I get a flutter in my heart, a smile on my face, such amazing wonderful feelings, that I am her mother. A mom. Me. WOW. I am blessed. She completes me - truly - she does.

This morning we were driving to work/school, and I glanced at her in my rear view mirror. Her big brown eyes gazing out the window - smiling eyes she has.... and we played our NO SMILE game... which of course we were ALL SMILES! :) anyway... I love her more then I thought LOVE could be LOVED.

Time flies by too fast it seems... we've had a spectacular crazy jam packed of fun in the sun kinda wonderful summer... Just today I was thinking about this site.... how I've lost my BLOGGIN ways. I haven't stopped taking pictures, and I haven't stopped keeping in touch... just kinda stopped popping on here. I do want to start up again... and figured I would say hello. I'm back. :)

Hoping you all have that flutter and smile in your heart feeling every kinda day - someway - somehow.... the best kinda feeling when you feel that smile deep in your happy heart!!!

CHEERS & SMILES to you all!!!!

Fantastic At Four!!!!

One...Two...Three...Now FOUR!!! :)

My not so little Jolie is now 4 years old!!!! Can you believe it?!?! I surely can't. I'm in denial! She's growing up way too fast, I just want to stop time and love this age forever. She amazes and delights me every single day ~ her love for life, her curiousity, her amazement at the littlest of things, the joy she brings to Jim & I, to everyone around her, she is a happy go lucky little wonderful soul, and I am so proud to be her mother! I love her more then words could ever say, and you know I can say a lot!!!

Jolie's 4th birthday party was a blast! We had it at the Beverly YMCA Gymnasium, the kids got to tumble, jump, bounce and play (as did some of the adults). It was a tad overwhelming with 19 kids and 30 adults/teenagers!!! But it was so worth it as Jolie was just beaming the entire time, loving every bit of ALL of her friends mixed together and playing! After gymtime, we packed into their party room and enjoyed appetizers, pizza & yummy birthday cake! Jolie got spoiled with wonderful presents!!! I am a tad sad I didn't capture all the pics I would have liked to have taken, but watching jolie LOVE every bit of it was priceless and I'll never ever forget her fantastic 4th birthday!!!

Here are a few memories from her fun fourth birthday:

HAPPIEST 4th BIRTHDAY WISHES TO MY BEAUTIFUL WONDERFUL JOLIE!!!!

My First Photography Show!!!

I finally did it! I put together some of my favorite photographs, professionally mat them, framed some, and participated in my very first craft show! It was a surreal kinda day as I proudly displayed my very own work, and then got so many wonderful compliments from strangers (my biggest fans are my family & friends, so to hear it from strangers kinda reaffirmed to me that my work is likeable and good).

I had quite a few people ask if I had a web site to display some of my work, and I figured I had this site, so I decided I will add some of my photographs here. I did put together quite a few prints that are ready (a lot of 11x14 matted prints, and a few 8x10 matted prints). So, if you see one you like, email me at: wojoboston@verizon.net and make me an offer that I can't refuse!

In my photography I like to capture serenity and simplicity. I like to take pictures of things that makes me smile, that make me stop and appreciate the beauty of it all.

I hope you too smile and enjoy it as well. Enjoy...

Halloween Everyday!

Jolie wants it to be Halloween every day! She keeps on asking if she can go trick or treating yet? And I keep on saying, no not yet... but we are getting closer, only a couple of weeks away now!

The question was, what did Jolie want to be this year?! Her first year of life I made her a Beautiful butterfly. Her 2nd Halloween she hated me when I made her Bob the Tomato (from Veggie Tales). Last year we were undecided and ended up making her a Retro Fairy. This year she picked out her very own costume. I knew it was the one, when she squealed in delight while we were shopping in Costco, and she spotted the last remaining Tinkerbell costume amidst a rack full of others. It was meant to be… a Disney Fairy she shall be! Actually she’s been a fairy almost every day since spotting that costume. If she had her way she’d go to sleep as Tinkerbell, and go to school as Tinkerbell... If only she had real fairy dust and could sprinkle us with some of it, and we could fly away to some kind of Fairytale Neverland… oh yes… somewhere warm and tropical would be nice right about now… Alas we are stuck in New England... But NO complaints here, this fall has been just picture perfect wonderful… and I can’t wait to celebrate Halloween with Jolie again tonite after work and school!


Happy October, Happy Fall & Happy Halloween to you all!!!

Fall Already?!?!

WOW!!! Those summer days just flew by... and now the leaves are falling... the days are shorter... the weather colder... and Jolie is getting older... Crazy how it just flies by!

Life is going wonderfully well for us... can't complain at all! Jolie is just amazing as usual, she brings such a joy to our lives every single day! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful life, sure there are days that I complain, that I want more, that I want less.... but then there are days like these fantastic fall days where life is just GOOD.

New England in the Fall is the place to be! One of my favorite seasons is Autumn... crisp clean air, quiet empty beaches, long lazy strolls, leaves changing colors, hay rides, apple picking and yummy cider donuts...

The other day Jolie & I went apple picking (she just LOVES her apples), and then she had the challenging task of picking the perfect pumpkin! Too many to choose from so we ended up with not ONE but THREE...

Wishing you happiness, joy, laughter, smiles & much LOVE!

Those Summer Days...

HOLY WOW! The Summer Days sure do fly by!!! So far we’ve been having a spectacular summer! I don’t even know where to begin… so I won’t… I will capture a few summer memories here instead...

I hope you all ENJOY the last weeks of summer! We will, as we are heading up to visit my family and stay at the cottage for just over a week, and I am beyond thrilled! It’s been too long. I can’t wait for everyone to see Jolie and for Jolie to see everyone… and for many more happy memories to be had!!!

ENJOY THE REMAINING SUMMER DAYS!

BUONO FIESTA!

St. Peter's Fiesta has rolled into town, and we had a spectacular nite last nite!!! Yesterday after work ended up being gorgeous; the rain stayed away, so we had a quick bite to eat and then took Jolie to the Fiesta! Let me tell you she was ecstatic!!! Her jaw dropped at the sight of the lights, she danced to the sound of the carnival music, and squealed when she saw the rides! She had the biggest perma grin all nite long! She went on every single ride that she could possibly fit on, and even went on her very first ride on her own – a little dragon rollercoaster… my big girl was so happy and LOVING life at the fiesta! After round one of the rides, we played a water game which I beat Jim, and 3 other people and won Jolie a crazy fluffy orange/yellow hippo, and she proudly hugged him as she asked to ride the rides all over again! As the clock struck 8:00pm (her bed time), no sign of tiredness from our jolie… nope, she heard the music and wanted to dance. Jim needed to order the infamous carnival hand cut fresh fries, as Jolie & I danced to the Macarena, YMCA, and other fun tunes. She just gleamed and smiled as we danced, and then she helped her dad devour the delicious fries… agh… life was good last nite at the Fiesta!

BUONO FIESTA!

Just Jolie...

I just had to post this fun collage (created in Picasa), of pics I took of Jolie this past weekend. We went to a park that had this pond full of tadpoles and jumping frogs. Jolie wasn't dressed to play, but she did anyway!

Happy Day everyone! Another weekend is almost here!!!

It's Raining Again!

So... the other day I was so excited about the summer and the sun... and what goes and happens?!?! RAIN. Rain. rain. r.a.i.n... I am so done with this weather... and what do they say for the weekend? You got it... more of the wet stuff... Right now it seems more like tears falling from the sky... it is depressing, it is gray, it is getting to me....

BUT... every once in awhile you see something that makes you think the rain will go away, and the sun will return! Why not just enjoy other things until the sun is ready to shine...

Case in point: This morning Jolie squealed from the back seat of the car pointing at the sky screaming "The SUN mommy, I can see the sun!!!". I glanced up not believing it to be true, and what I saw, made me smile... I could see the slight shine of the sun rays trying to break through the thick gray clouds... Trying its hardest, not totally succeeding, but enough to give us hope... BUT... the best part of the whole "The SUN - the sun mommy" experience, was me glancing in the rear view mirror at the sparkle in my daughter's eyes... the dreary days don't get to her... She lives and loves every single day - sun or no sun. Rain or shine she delights in all that the world has to offer her. She is the SUN of my life... she is the spark in my life that jump starts me every single day. She is the reason I want to LOVE life like I've never ever imagined I would. When she smiles... I feel the warmth of the SUN.

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE, and may you also enjoy the warmth of the SUN, rain or shine!

Welcome to June!

Bring it on! Summer is here - let the sun shine, and warm us all up! WoO HoO!!! Happy Days to come!

I love this time of year when everyone just seems to enjoy life a little more! Everyone just seems a little friendlier, a little happier... Everything just seems better in the sunny warm sun!

ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!!!

Happy Anniversary & Happy Long Weekend!

Happy Friday Friends!!! And more importantly... happy Friday of a long and wonderful Memorial Day weekend!!!

This weekend Jim & I are celebrating our 6 year Anniversary! Crazy... isn't it?! Who would have imagined me… living in America? When I came to visit Tina in the North End of Boston that fateful week back in June of 1996.... Who would have thought that the cute boy with the curly hair, almond eyes, and sweet smile would now be my husband? Wow! Well, lucky for me he is my husband, and 6 wonderful years have flown by!

Since then, we bought our first home, won $40K, went Shopping, had our first daughter, Jim’s sons moved back home to Gloucester, Jim started his own company, I finally found a job closer to home, our best friends moved back home, and the best is only yet to come… right?! Anyway, Happy Anniversary to the love of my life… The reason I am who I am today is because of you. Every day life is hard, but having you by my side…. Well I know we’ll make it through. I’m proud of you, in love with you, and can’t wait to grow old with you… Hmmm…. Okay… maybe we’ll take our time growing old! LET’s just LOVE every day like we did back when we first met…. LET’s appreciate the amazingness of life every single day together! LET’s remind ourselves that we aren’t perfect… but together… we’re pretty close… LET’s be the best parents we can possibly be. LET’s be the best partner we can be… LET’s just be the BEST! Happy Anniversary to you, my best friend, my love… I LOVE LIFE WITH YOU.

A Clear Blue Day!

A week of rain can sure put a damper on your spirit! We had some crazy New England record breaking rainfall for a week straight. No sun just rain. And then out comes the SUN... beautiful brilliant SUN! You almost forget that we were lost in the rain and gloominess for so long, looking at the gorgeous day outside today! I forget about the rain, the gloom, and can only smile...

Of course, I'd love it more if I wasn't stuck at work. Walking in to work this morning, I saw a plane way up in the sky, leaving it's trail behind it, almost cloudlike in the perfect clear blue sky.

I began to wonder... where was that plane going... who was up there... was it headed somewhere tropical? Somewhere far far away from here... oooh I so wanted to be up there, getting away from it all!

Alas, no vacation for me! Reality set in as I dropped Jolie off at daycare, and walked into my office. Another day at work... but another day closer to Friday and the weekend! Hmmmm... I think I'll take my own mini vacation this weekend... no plane... just me, my family and my car... our goal: to have lots of fun! Weekends are meant to have fun fun fun!!!

So, here is to a fun weekend for you too! And to my family and friends back home - PLEASE have a nice cold Canadian beer for me this oh so happy May 2-4 weekend!!!! HAPPY WEEKEND WISHES to you all!

CHEERS!

Happy oh so Happy Friday!

Stop and smell the flowers... yeah right - as if I have time for that! The days sure fly by when you are and are not having fun! I can't seem to slow down and stop long enough to enjoy one thing... before BAM the next thing happens. Life is crazy right now. Crazy good. And Crazy bad at times.

Work is buzy and stressful, but that makes my days fly by. Jim's work is going fantastically well! I am soooooooo proud of him. He just called me as he walked out of a meeting with a brand new and exciting client! He landed their ad campaigns (totally new market that Jim has tapped into wonderfully well), their trade show booths, their promotional products, and all of their design!!! Holy COW & WOW! I am so incredibly proud of Jim. ...So proud, I just called our friends and we are now having a PARTY tonite!

So... wherever you are tonite - Please fill a glass up with something bubbly and TOAST to happiness, to new and exciting things to come, to life, to family, to friends, to everything good... Just toast and smile and love life a little more tonite - because life is good! (well... not always good... but it's Friday, and the weekend is here... so it's good right now!)

Just for today...

Today I want to stop a little more often, and not stress about the little things. I have been running non stop with a huge list of things to do, but never seem to get to finding that list. Crazy isn't it? How did life get so crazy buzy? When do we get to slow down?!

Well I'm throwing that list out the window today. I'm stressing too much about things that need to get done, when today I just want to kick off my shoes and enjoy LIFE! No stress. No worries. Just for today.

For now... I offer you a moment’s peace... Visualize yourself here, on Long Beach in Gloucester... waves crashing in front of you... warm salty breezes blowing thru your hair... soft warm sand sifting between your toes... children laughing... a smile on your face and in your heart…

So who am I to make you visualize this?!

I am me, a simple soul who likes to try and make others happy, as I so desperately want to be too! I have been taking this online RELAX program – and it reminds me that it is so important to take care of yourself. To appreciate the life you have. It may not always be perfect, but it’s yours. You need to nurture it every single day. We only get this one chance to make a difference. Why not make it happen today? Believe in yourself. Believe in your life. Smile Everyday. And life will smile back at you...

CHEERS to you all – May you also kick off your shoes and enjoy the day too!

A flower for you!

Jolie was so excited when she found me this flower! She ran up to me with the biggest cutest smile, and proudly gave me my simple bouquet.

Have a spectacular weekend, and may all the flowers you see make you smile too!

The Easter Bunny Delivered!

We had a wonderfully Happy Easter this year. The weather was wonderful and Jolie & Jude got to experience their very first Easter Egg hunt in Rockport! They were a little dazed and confused by all of the kids, but when the whistle blew they ending up figuring it out, got some great treats and had a fun time!

I had to take a picture of this blooming tree (made me smile)... and I wanted to share it's blossoming bud's with you too!

Easter Sunday we spent over at the Gentile's, it was just wonderful! We feasted on fantastic foods, had several breakfast and brunch stations... I overdid it, but how could I not, so many wonderful treats to choose from. Jolie had a blast with Jordan & Jadyn... they were so cute together...
And then there was Jolie... Just sitting on Frank & Kellie's new gorgeous couches... the sunlight coming in sooo nice... My Sweet Sweet jolie!!! :o)