Scenes from the Dominican Republic

The kids (and their parents) and I just returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic. 10 days in beautiful weather, surrounded by locals and fun culture, and making great memories.
Here's a few pictures/memories from the trip.
(I'll skip posting all 300+ pictures and just narrow it down to a few of my favorites)
Enjoy!

Local littles.

When I asked T if I could bring them home to play with us, she told me:

"You're being silly Dj. They're not even ours!"

-aw, shucks.

Sweet kids.

G and I, caught in action.

Me and my loves.





Beautiful view.



Does this little man have a liscense?

I found myself the sweetest dog, whose 'family' doesnt feed her (they probably can't afford to) so she wanders the area in search of food. You better believe I spoiled her! I found out that her name is Guilin. I was in tears when I had to say goodbye to her. A few flea baths and I would've had her in my suitcase and on her way back to the States!

I wanted to bring this little guy home too.

And also this one.

G, looking his proudest during a game of mini-golf.

Whale watching in Samana.

Sweet boy, always seen transporting horses and donkeys throughout the town.

Such beautiful views.

T, looking her proudest!

I love this girl.

(and this picture)

GO TEAM USA!

A childhood friend of mine, J*ulia Clukey, will be taking to the speedy-ice-track of Whistler on Monday evening around 5pm, for her first run out of 4 (two on Monday, the final 2 on Tuesday) as a part of TEAM USA! She and I began to lose touch just before highschool (during her luge training) but I am SO incredibly proud to know her and support her in this amazing adventure she has been on. She is a first time Olympian, and was at the track on Friday morning when Georgian luger N*odar K*umaritashvili crashed during a training run.
Could you all please send prayers her way Monday and Tuesday? For peace of mind after witnessing such a tragic event, and most importantly- for her safety?

(Maybe a few Good Luck vibes too!)

Here's to the good ole days!

Julia and I *circa WAY back when.

We may have had figure-skating form - but she was meant to be a luger!

Her older sis, myself, and Julia.

J, her mom, lil sis, and myself.

And here's to the present!

(And Olympic Medal future!)

GO CLUKEY!

Front and center during the Opening Ceremony!

I was sure to snag a shirt the last time I was visiting our hometown!

(Julia was away preparing for Vancouver, but I stopped by their *very old* house to visit her mother and LOVED every moment of it. NOTHING in the house has changed, not even the kids' artwork on the walls, and it felt like I was a kid again, showing up to play)

GO Maine!

GO USA!

Happy Holidays!

Even my Parker got in on the fun of the Christmas Spirit! (not that he really had a choice, of course). But don't worry. No bunnies were harmed in the making of this photo. He was rewarded with a carrot and told me that he would gladly partake in a simple iPhone photoshoot anytime for a little piece of crunchy orange Heaven.

The little people and I survived our week without parents.

Even adding a few extra days together due to a crazy winter snowstorm that stranded Nana in Rhode Island, and Mommy and Daddy in Colorado. Which meant Super Nanny Dj stayed on for a few extra days. But all went smoothly, thanks to a few extra activities to keep us busy and out of trouble.

We had our first (EVER!) Christmas concert at school... (is he really in Kindergarten already? I swear he was just 5 months old yesterday!)



The early riser and I had a lot of 7am photoshoots to pass the time by... (there's no sleeping in, not even on snow days.)





(We're still working on not covering up the lens...)

We had coffee dates while big brother G was at school... (I wish I could take the blurry-ness away!)

We made gingerbread people...

And one lone gingerbread pirate... Arr!

We may have watched a bit of tv. But did find out that Moose and Zee are fans of Starbucks. Which we love! So we love Moose and Zee a little more now...

We Easy Bake Oven-ed for over an hour one day. And I wondered how I ever enjoyed that stuff when I was a little people...

We made real artwork for Mommy for Christmas. Using real canvases from a local art store, acryllic paints (with colors from Mommy's office even!), sponges, brushes, and tin foil for fun effects. We're turning into regular Picasso's... (Picasso's that are dressed as astronauts even.)

Eventually Mommy and Daddy returned, and a couple of weeks later we had our own little Christmas...

We survived the chaos/Holidays.... and may be attempting to get/be serious and back to the real world.... but can't help but have a little fun still along the way.

Being serious is so overrated anyhow.

SnOw Thankful!

From birthday to Turkey-day. 60 degrees to snow.
November to December has sure been a whirlwind.

Thanksgiving at my house consists of 400+ people and 20+ turkeys.
Yes you read that right. Another benefit of a family-owned restaurant/banquet facility.
HUGE holidays. (which also means always working on holidays, too. Not so much a benefit)
Families from all over the area -even those from 'away'- call months in advance for reservations, and we do all the cookin' for them to come in and have a nice meal and go home to enjoy the rest of the day- without all of the usual Thanksgiving day cleanup. What most of them don't realize though is that they are missing out on the best part of Thanksgiving.
LEFTOVERS. Which WE do get to partake in. And lots of them. The restaurant also has turkey stock that will last until next fall.
Soup anyone?
With the coming of Thanksgiving and the winter season, that means no more weddings until April. (funny, no one ever gets married in the winter in the Northeast. Hmm..) Now it's Christmas parties galore.
Red and green. Tinsel and trees. And my favorite... snowflakes.
Speaking of:
Say hello to first snow, '09-'10! We here in the Northeast were blanketed with just the perfect amount overnight, and woke to a beautiful winter wonderland! (was it really 65 degrees just a few days ago?)

Have I mentioned that snow is one of my most favorite things? I used to stay out until all hours of the night as a child playing in it. Even to this day I'm not afraid to get into a little bit of snowfort making. The smell of the crisp cold air. The frostbite on your fingers and toes. And a little hot chocolate to warm up with afterwards. I think a snowboard and a ski-slope are calling my name...
I'm just so thankful for snow! (until it's lingers into the Spring months like it does up here in the Northeast, that is)
I'm also thankful for my iPhone and being able to take pictures anywhere. Though they will never come out like the super-mom-photographers here in Blog-land!

A roomate of mine and I took a day trip to Freeport, Maine for a little Christmas shopping today. Nothing says Maine like L.L Bean. Freeport itself is a beautiful town, and with a snowy backdrop like there was today... even the scenery on 95 was gorgeous. If you've never been to the Bean, you should definitely go at least once. It's a piece of Maine history, and you're guaranteed to find something great. I can't say exactly what I shopped for in case of spying blog-reading eyes, but I did score something "wicked good"! Yessuh!

The famous (and giganticus) "Bean Boot".

&

L.L Bean's Northern Lights Celebration

I suppose I should rest up. I have my first - by myself - overnighters with the little people this week while their parents are away on a vacation together. God help me keep on schedule and keep all of us sane while they are away. (I can do it right? It'll be good practice. Or maybe it'll cure that ticking clock that I've been hearing lately? Help me put it aside for a while until I'm really ready?)
Who am I kidding? I'm Super Nanny. I'm Mary Poppins. I've been prepared for this for weeks. I've got movies and gingerbread people to make. Veggietales and cookies will certainly make for smooth sailing. This will be a piece of cake. Or maybe a leg of a gingerbread pirate...

Wish me luck!

Two-Seven?

Someone turned the big 2-7 earlier this week.

No, it certainly couldn't have been me, could it?

Wasn't it just yesterday that I was toddling around in mud puddles?

Or in 8th grade winning the State Champs trophy for my middle school soccer team?

How about not even being 21? Still working at my first pre-school gig? (the one that I started at 16... the one that made me realize my love for children... the one that was a huge part in the path that lays ahead of me in life?)

Where did 24 go?

And 25?

How about 26? Has it really been a year since just turning 26?

I suppose it has. Though it really doesn't feel like.

Time really does fly as you get older. (granted, I'm not afraid of being older, as most of my friends are already in their 30's, I'm just simply wondering where has the time gone?)

I've watched myself grow. I've watched little ones grow. I've certainly felt that feeling of "I can't believe 'so and so' is so big/old! It seems like yesterday that he/she was just *insert younger age here*. Wow I'm getting so old!"

So, 27, eh?

Here's to another year. Hopefully just as great as the last. To living and (still) learning. Loving and laughing. And growing - because I think even at 99 I'll still being doing a little bit of that.

(Here's also to my Mom, for making my 0-27 possible!)

*I'll try not to mention that my home state failed to give me the present that I had been asking for on the day of my birthday. Who has a birthday ON voting day and doesnt get what they wish for, anyway? I suppose when that time in my life comes I'll just move to a different, more understanding, state. Right?*

oops... I guess I did mention it.