Our life via Instagram lately

Our life in pictures lately <3

My boys are growing so fast & amazing me each and every day! 

Until next time friends,

XO Jessica 

Super Hero Party!

Happy Tuesday Friends! 

Before I get into today's post I just wanted to take a moment and say a prayer for all that lost someone in the senseless act that occurred in Orlando on Sunday morning. I cannot imagine the amount of hatred that goes into such a despicable act.  This was such a reminder to me as a mom the type of young men I hope to raise. To teach them LOVE, tolerance, passion, compassion and to always turn to God in hard times. Put our pain and burdens on him, he can handle it. #orlandostrong

On Saturday we took the boys to a Super Hero Party! They got to dress up like super heros, play games, do a craft, meet Captain America, win prizes & have snacks! :) 

It was so CUTE and geared towards boys 5 & under so everything was age appropriate! We had such a good time!

If you friends with my on Facebook you probably already saw these :) 

XO, Jessica 

Friends Visit!

My best friend is currently in the Sunshine state with her husband & their two little girls! Hi Samantha! :) They didn't bring their 4month old because it just didn't make sense for this trip! SOOO we got some one on one time last night with Baby Louie!! <3

Dominick is such a little lover & he LOVES babies! 

Aidan, doesn't care either way! 

Aunt Sam, we will take Baby Louie again any time!! 

XO, Jessica 

Show & Tell Tuesday- What's in your bag?

Happy Tuesday Friends! 

Today I am linking up with Andrea over at momfessionals for show & tell ;) Today's topic was whats in your bag.

This one made me laugh, I knew their would be kids stuff in my bag...because well such is life with kids :) My bag almost always is a catch all. I am constantly emptying it out. Today did not disappoint! 

In this picture we have my wallet, the little owl zip up holds Dominick's epi-pens #allergymom, a leap pad, the connection card from church sunday, sunglasses, a book, little figurines Aidan had in church, lipstick, chapstick, lip gloss, keys, apple juice, candy from a parade Saturday, WOW wipes...

The bag on the left is the winner that held all these goodies LOL and I cant forget the lego packets. Dominick always takes them with him to look at in the car..

Cant forget pens & hand sanitizer from a workers compensation training I attended...

Its CRAZY how much my bag accumulates! 

So show me, whats in your bag?

Until next time friends, 

XO Jessica 

What's Up Wednesday- Whats going on in our lives edition

Oh hey friends! Its only been about FIVE months?! 

I thought I would do a little Whats Up Wednesday to get back into the swing of things. I really love blogging and knowing that I will forever have this little place to look back on and see what was going on in our lives :)

We are in a really busy season of life right now. Read: my kids make it their mission to annoy each other on the daily, I am almost 3 weeks post-op for R knee surgery. We are trying to get things wrapped up and finalized for Dominick next year for school. He will turn 5 two DAYS before the December 1st cut off and will technically be kinder-aged. He has a lot going on right now and will be doing 5 day pre-k in the fall, but that's a post or another day :) Aidan is full on terrible twos when he is tired or his brother is pestering him LOL he's such a sweet boy but man oh man, when he is tired...watch out! My sweet husband is now deputy chief of his fire department on top of working full time & being a husband and daddy. I am gearing up to return to my full time job on Monday, I am running my own business on the side, mommy-ing, wife-ing & everything in between. Things are just BUSY but we are so so so blessed and I am making a point to remind myself of this daily <3 

What we are eating this week 

The weather is finally getting warmer in NY! think upper 50s so we have been doing as much grilling as possible! :)

The rest of the week looks like this:

Wednesday - pork steak, asparagus, mashed taters 

Thursday = hoping to have friends over for dinner! we have missed them! BBQ chicken on the grill, rice, corn & biscuits 

Friday- pizza

Saturday- steak on the grill, rice with vegetables

Sunday- MOTHERS DAY! hoping brunch during the day & then a dinner I don't have to cook LOL 

What I am reminiscing about 

My babies are getting SO BIG! and time hop keeps reminding me (March 2015)

What I am loving

Self growth! I did a post the other day on Facebook about filling your cup first "Are you filling up your cup first? In my 4+ years of parenting I have learned some things along the way. This may be one of the most impactful. You know how when you fly they tell you to put your air mask on before helping others? That's because your no help to everyone else if you can't breathe. I think this applies to being a mom & a wife too! Whether you take 10 minutes each day to drink a cup of coffee in peace or catch up on a good book, drink a glass of wine on the back deck when the kids go to bed. Taking time for YOU is so so important. If you can't breathe your no good to anyone else! I used to find myself constantly adding to my to do list on things that needed to be done & never having enough time to get them done. I would snap at my sweet husband or my adorable boys because I was overwhelmed. It wasn't fair. So I started slowing on down & doing what I can do and nothing more! I'm enjoying a few minutes to myself everyday & ya know what? Life is pretty darn good"

❤️

What we have been up to 

What I am dreading

nothing really :) I have had some things weighing on my as of late but those are almost all resolved!

What I am working on 

Building my business, my team & earning my spot on a FREE all inclusive cruise in November?! Yep, you heard that right! things are busy over here but in such a good way! :) 

What I am excited about

The warm weather is coming! Spring has almost sprung and I am so so excited! I am ready to get back to afternoons outside in the warmth! Windows open & fresh air in! I am almost cleared to get back into soaking my knee so we will be getting back into our normal rhythm at the Y soon and the boys and I are SOOO excited! :) 

What I'm watching 

These three shows have been a constant on my DVR lately and I'm loving them 

What I am reading 

I <3 Karen Alpert and her books make me LOL about motherhood, because its real, raw & hysterical! Her first book "I heart my little a-holes" is fantastic as well! 

What I am listening to

This song gets played a lot around these parts ;) it makes me tear up every time but I LOVE it & find it so powerful! <3

What I am wearing

LAYERS! right now its chilly in the morning & warmer in the afternoon :) and PS I am finally getting to wear jeans comfortably in the KNEE area again! Its the small things! ;)

What I'm doing this weekend 

Hopefully getting out to enjoy the 70 degree weather Saturday with some friends, a few chores around the house, and then celebrating mothers day Sunday! :)

What I am looking forward to this month

Getting back into the normal routine with getting back to my normal job, building my business, more time with my babies, a work trip to VT, you get the idea :)

What else is new 

Not a whole lot, just busy in the day to day :)

What I'd like to get for Mother's day

brunch with my family, a nap maybe & dinner I don't have to cook LOL

Happy Wednesday Friends! I WILL be back tomorrow :) 

Show & Tell Tuesday - A reintroduction 2016

Happy Tuesday, Friends! 

I know its been a few weeks since I have been here, life has been crazy. The holidays came & went, we had hockey games, family time, some sickness & a health matter on my end that needed surgery to be dealt with. But, that's a post for another day! 

I am just glad to be back HERE. This is my little escape and slice of life. It lets me have a place to look back on, so I can see just who we were and what we were doing :) 

Getting back in to the "normal" routine for the boys yesterday went better than I had anticipated. They fell back in to their routines with ease. 

Dominick was so happy to go back to school & Aidan was happy to get back to daycare and see his friends. Dominick and I topped off his good school day with a quick trip to the hospital to meet sweet baby Louis, my best friend had her last baby yesterday and completed her family of girls by having a boy :) To say we are smitten is an understatement! <3

Today I am linking up with Andrea over at Momfessionals for a reintroduction and resolutions for 2016. 

For those of you new around here, this should catch you up quick ;)

I was born & raised in upstate New York and still live here with my family :) 

I met my husband when I was 8 years old, obviously having no clue he would be my husband some day. 

My husband and I went to a really small school, I graduated with approx. 89 kids! 

My husbands mom & my parents/grandparents live on the same street! About 10 houses between them! 

My husband (Giovanni) & I started dating in March 2007. 

We were engaged in October 2008. 

We bought our first house in April of 2009. (I say first because we hope to move in the near future)

I started my career with a great insurance company in June of 2010. 

We were married in September of 2010.

We welcomed our first child, Dominick Vincent on 11/29/2011. 

We welcomed out second child Aidan Michael on 11/05/2013. 

We are still undecided if our family is complete. There are a few factors that have to be worked out before we would consider another :)

I have two younger sisters, Stephanie & Shannon. 

I have two fantastic parents who have been married for 28 years! 

My best friend and soul sister Samantha has been in my life since I was 15 years old! 

I have a small close group of friends i talk to DAILY and see as much as I can. 

So there's a little bit about us & the people I often talk about :)

On to the Second part of the post...

I always say that I am going to be MORE organized, declutter often, get more sleep & read more...sometimes I am able to work them out, but not as often as I would like.

My main focus this year is patience & simplicity. 

Patience with myself, my family and my friends. All good things come to those who wait, i know that. Everything always has a way of working itself out my best friend reminds me often <3 so this year, I plan to be patient and see what God has in store for us. I have a feeling its going to be a really great year! 

I find calm in the simple. I often over do, over schedule, over plan etc. I find we are happiest with no plan and a simple day. 

I am hoping to find the balance this year, I hear it exists! ;)

We are off to the dentist this morning, my sweet Dominick is having dental work done. Say a little prayer for us <3

Until next time friends,
XO Jessica