Hysterical YouTube Clip (the first one)

Check out the first YouTube clip! It is hysterical. It totally sums up parenting, especially at bedtime! Danielle, I thought of you especially because we were just talking about how bedtime is so prolonged, and the girls seem to know exactly what to do to make it near impossible! Matt and I laugh hysterically everytime we listen to it...I just had to find a way to include it on my page. Just make sure you turn off my "other" music down below and crank up your speakers!

How it all Began...

I was just going through some files of pictures on the internet, and thought I would include this ironic little background story. So here goes... Here is my wonderful parents, Jim and Barbara McMonigle.



They had me and my sister, Nicki (two years apart). I won't advertise our ages, because quite frankly, we are getting OLD! hahah

My mom couldn't wait for grandchildren. But, I don't think she quite knew what she was in for... Because, you see, in 7 years, my mom and dad acquired SEVEN grandkiddies, all to love, spoil, and spend time with! We have Jessie (8), Gia (6), Kaylee (5), Ryan (5-Ryan and Kay are 5 weeks apart), Mackenzie (4), Joshie (4- Joshie and Mackie are exactly 3 months apart), and then there is Daniel (1). Shewww...I think I got that right. So now everyday pixs went from this...

Jessica and Gia (August of 2002).... To this......

Poconos (Summer of 2008)

Baba and Pop-Pop's deck during the summer of '08

And....Baba's Christmas card picture! Like I have said before, my mom and dad are the most wonderful parents in the world and treat us all like gold. Even though there is SEVEN, plus my sister and I, they seem to have enough love to travel around! Ok, so just for whatever reason, felt like including that today! Back to current events.

I am really attempting to make a valiant effort to keep this updated, even if it is brief. Last night, Matt and I were supposed to meet Jeff, Danielle, Cambelle, and Chloe for dinner but unfortunately Cambelle got sick. So we decided to try Pizza Hut, against my better judgement, not a huge fan. These are the unhappy faces because we didn't go to "BumbleBee's" as Kaylee calls Applebees....

Expressions sure changed for Kaylee once she got her plate of spaghetti!

She loves her pasta!

Kaylee not so fond of Mackie trying to eat her food. There is one thing you learn very quickly about Kaylee, DON'T TOUCH HER FOOD!

This toothless smile is my favorite! Especially the wod of gum in the back!

Dinner at Maggionos

Friday, November 28th

Can't forget to include the amazing night Matt and I spent with Jeff and Daniel..ha ha I mean Danielle. We went to an Italian restaurant in the city called Maggiono's, not really sure how to spell it. Well can I just tell you how delicious it was? It's endless eating...and I mean endless! On top of the food never ending, the wrap up everything you don't eat and send it home with you!

This cake is endless...you can eat it all, and order MORE! Have you ever heard of such a thing?

After we stuffed our faces for hours, Danielle had an amazing idea! She suggested we take a walk around the city block for two reasons, one being to walk off some of the calories, but most importantly, to give out our leftovers to the needy and hungry people on the streets. How selfless is that? Giving something small to those in need, something I probably wouldn't have even thought of, but will from now on! Thanks Danielle!

Can you guess who this is? I just had to include these couple of pictures...if you guessed Gia, you are CORRECT! She was an adorable baby, extremely photo ready, and had the biggest smile/mouth I have ever seen...well I guess it's kinda like mine! Hence her nickname, "shark mouth".

Giavanna - December 2002 (10 months old)

Hello family and friends! Are ready for an update for the past month? Okie dokie...here goes...

The weekend of Matt's birthday, November 22, Matt and I and our wonderful friends Scott and Lauren went to Penn State for an awesome football game. Although it was about 11 degrees, with the wind and snow, we had a blast, minus the couple of toes that fell off due to frost bite! Our journey began at around 5am on Saturday morning. We arrived at around 9:30am, parked, fired up the grill and began cooking pork roll and cheese sandwiches.

The snow began to increase just in time for the game! Matt and Scott were in their glory, Lauren and I were a wee bit chilly, to say the least!

It was a fantastic weekend filled with fun, friends, and laughter! Oh and may I add, tons of eating! Hopefully, this will become an annual event...can't wait till next year!

On Monday, 11/24, we celebrated Matt's 31st birthday! Of course Mackie was right there next to the old man, helping blow out the candles!

My Mom, Dad, Nicki and the gang also helped us wish Matt a Happy Birthday!

Matt, the girls, and I spent Thanksgiving at my sister's house.

Not a bad picture taken by Mackie!

Everyday I try to remember to thank God for blessing me with such wonderful parents, that support me through thick and thin! My sister, Nicki is an amazing sister/friend, who is ALWAYS there to help me out no matter what! Even if that means volunteering to keep all three of mine overnight ontop of having FOUR of her own! I could never handle that, but yet, to my sister, it's simple- she just does it...and actually smiles about it! I can't forget to be forever thankful for Matt- Gosh? Where do I begin with that one? His amazing family has welcomed me and the girls with open arms and hearts! His brother Bill and sister-in-law Nicole , cousins Jeff and Danielle, best friends Scott and Lauren, just to name a few, are now part of my family. They don't judge me for what I have been through, but on the other hand, support and love me and the girls as family! I can't begin to express in words what that means to me....but I most definitely spent this Thanksgiving HAPPY! Happy for the wonderful family I have, and the new family I found with Matt! Isn't God amazing?!

Pumpkin Pickin'

So..... I am behind at updating my blog. But the old saying says it best...Better late, than Never! My sister Nicki and I took the kiddies to Duffield's one afternoon for the hayride that drops you off to pick out your very own pumpkin. All 7 of them- Jessie, Ryan, Joshie, Daniel, Gia, Kaylee and Mackenzie had a blast!

Ryan, Josh and Kaylee....excitedly awaiting the hayride!

Look at us! We are sitting in a pile of hay....

Gia claimed her pumpkin after much thought.

Mackie is saying...this one is MINE!!!!

Kaylee striking a pose in the middle of the patch!

Some Miscellaneous Pixs

How could I resist adding these pictures??? These are from two weekends ago.

I love Kaylee's expression and the shock on Chloe's face! Too funny!

Check out the Penn State hat on Chloe, isn't this picture priceless?!

Gia reading to Emma.

On Sunday, September 6th, after church...what cuties!

This picture is SO typical of Mackie. The funniest part was she kept saying she was in her "comfy" clothes...and "don't I look too cute, Mommy?!" It was hysterical! I am in trouble when she gets older....

It's been Forever!

I know, I know, I am a little behind. Nicole says that being back to work isn't a good excuse, but the mere fact that my mornings begin at 4:30am and don't end until about 9 pm, when I finally sit for the very first time, it certainly does count! Right, Nicole? hahaha Anyway, I have been trying to find a second to at least get the girls first day of school pixs on here. Gia and Kaylee started on Thursday, September 4. They looked adorable!

I was shocked on Friday though. I received a note from Kaylee's teacher (whom I know very well because Gia had her last year) that Kaylee had to change her card on the SECOND day of school. Apparently a boy at lunch got slapped by Kaylee and the teacher talked to her and moved her seat. Then, while sitting next to the new girl, Kaylee scratched her. (Now according to Kaylee, the boy touched her food and the girl's leg hit her hand by accident.) Needless to say, I was mortified, had a long talk with Kaylee and all last week she was perfect. Sheww....cause if she turns out a "bad" apple, I will have to duck my head! Mackenzie started on Monday, September 8th. She is in full-day Preschool and rides the bus with Gia and Kaylee.

Mackie, outside of daycare, at about 6:20 am

Mackie and Mikey (my godson, also in Mackie's class...what funny stories we hear!)

Gia and Kaylee ready for the first full week of school

The gang getting off the bus. See my friend Carol and I both work at the Middle School, so we hang out at work from about 1:30 until 4 when the kids get the bus back to the daycare we drop them off at about 6:40 am.

2008 Fish Party

The "Fish" party is an anual party hosted by my mom and dad every August since 2001. Many people assume we eat tons of fish, hence the name. But that's not it at all...see...my mom decorates every inch of her downstairs in "fish" and you are supposed to come dressed with something fishy on and it's just a great time to hang out with friends and family. This year, I actually used my camera alot and have a ton of great pictures to share.

My sister, Nicki, and her crew all decked out in fish!

The Hampton Family....from left to right....Collette, Dana (holding Gabe), Christy, Sammy and Haley. Bottom right is Joshie swimming by...

Sarah and Carol - not too thrilled I am taking their picture while they eat...

My Mom and Dad with some of their friends.

The Botbyl family striking a family pose!

This is my cousin Stacie (with the cool rainbow glare on her dress from the sun), my Aunt Marianne and ME :)

Aunt Georgean and Nadine...my aunt and cousin :)

Cambelle and Emma had a blast playing in the beach-like area.

And when I asked my friends Scott and Lauren what they thought about my new blog page, this is what they did. Totally JK, thought this was an embarassing photo and just had to include it. Check out my mom peeking her head above the fence in the background.

Lauren and Kaylee- not quite sure what Kaylee is doing....

Well, I hope I didn't bore you with my pixs from Saturday. I know I sure had a great time. It's kinda sad because this is the last week before school starts and I am not quite sure what happened to summer. Oh well, I guess the saying is true - Time flies when you have fun!