Remain Changed.

I told my story of where I was, how I felt, and even how I was able to see it first hand here .
The news has been reliving the day as though it were yesterday. Sometimes it seems like it was.
The other night, I decided to check out the documentary Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup. You can read up on it here, if you'd like, but watching it might be worth your hour and a half. While I am not really a huge conspiracy theorist, I do like to watch those types of things, so I don't become a naive person who just accepts any explanation given for a situation. That is my nature, to be trusting and just believe people. I think that can be good and bad, and that knowing (thyself) is half the battle. While I would never say that my belief system has been changed by this documentary, my eyebrows were raised. There were some unanswered questions. Some things that did not make sense.
But I was in Manhattan for the purpose of work with victims and their families less than three weeks after the attacks. I not only saw and smelled the acrid burning rubble first hand, but I saw the eyes of those in grief and mourning across my Salvation Army assistance table, begging for help. I saw the walls plastered with missing persons posters. I saw people wearing sandwich boards, with any hope they had turning to dread each day that passed. Though I admittedly have a terrible memory- but these ones were burned in, impossible to forget. At 21, though young and green, I was changed.
And that, I think, is the bottom line. No matter what the facts or unknowns are- we all were changed. Our spirits, our outlook, our way of loving and appreciating others, and our level of thankfulness and our freedom- changed.
So, let's keep remembering, so we can remain changed.

Happy Sister's Day!

Growing up with sisters, there is rarely a dull moment. Especially when there's 3 of you in a 33 month span. It was cool to always be just one year apart in school, have many of the same interests, and always have someone around to hang out with!
No one who has sisters can deny that there's also a fair amount of bickering, teasing, and torture that goes on too. Even those memories are thought of fondly today.
It's great having two best friends built in to everyday life.
Love you guys, and Happy Sister's Day.

One of the classics

8502 Munson Ave.

This one is actually taken in my mom's current house, then "Mrs. D's"

Every Niagara Falls Native probably has one of these somewhere...

New Year's in Style!

Ahhh... the middle school years.

Wedding Day!

Most recent... we get better with age (-:

Best Wedding Ever.

**All photos courtesy of Sarah Bridgeman Photography**

Never have I seen more personal touches (the bride and groom sang together in lieu of a first dance), unique details (a candy table, old windowpanes for the program), and fun ideas (cool sunglasses for the wedding party- C'MON!, and a yellow school bus for our ride- gotta love the high school sweethearts throwback).
And, the wedding happened to be my closest cousin and one of my best friends, Marisa. Her guy, Matt (or cousin uncle Matt, as he's known by my boys), has been around us for so long he's simply family.

And, Sarah Bridgeman (http://www.facebook.com/sj.bridgeman.photography), a friend of both theirs and mine, did the second shooting of the wedding, and continues to WOW with each shot. Here's just a few... she's amazing. I would highly recommend if you're looking for amazing talent, a sweet personality, and reasonable prices. And, just sayin', you should contact her now before she hits the big time. It won't be long.

Seriously??? SERIOUSLY!!


Stud.

A little airbrush makeup never hurts...

"Somebody, Somebody, Somebody's Getting Married.... TODAY!"

Our days of cartwheels in the basement and banging the pots and pans on New Years Eve may be over, but here's to the future...so bright you might need to hang on to those shades...

But When You Think Tim McGraw, I Hope You Think My Favorite Song...

I love country music, many of the lyrics are ones that have spoken to certain places and times in my life. Have you noticed several references in my blog? Like here, here, here, here, and here

My Aunt Kathy was amazing enough to GIVE us some concert tickets to Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, and The Band Perry this past weekend. I knew they'd be great seats, but had no clue they were going to be FIRST ROW center.


I have a feeling they are definitely up and coming... The Band Perry.

Luke Bryan was really good, (and just a little bit attractive)

In case you want a second look
TIm McGraw... we were sooo close!!

Me being cheesy

He Did It!

My sweetheart "got five" as he likes to say. He's been looking forward to this day, well... pretty much since he "got four".
Love, love, love him and all his little funny sayings, faces, and ideas! So proud to be his mom! Hard to believe 5 years ago I was holding him in my hospital bed, without a clue about what was to come.

In front of the "Bob Wall" (aka, Fisher Price Little People)- Adam's tried and true favorite toy ever. Our surprise birthday trip was to East Aurora to see it first hand at the Fisher Price Store.

July 30th is Coming!

Getting so excited to be a part of this day!

Who'd have thought... high school sweethearts to husband and wife....

This is going to be one FUN wedding, lots of love to you Marisa and (Cousin Uncle) Matt

COULD IT BE...

Garden's planted (and Adam's gone gangsta)...

Tee-Ball is in full swing (the coaches are kind enough to let Z sit on the bench)...

The pool is out...

Bike rides are on...


....THAT SUMMER IS REALLY HERE?

Happy Anniversary to Us!

In this "I'm in it until it doesn't work for me anymore" society, , I am very proud to celebrate eight years of marriage to a wonderful and committed man- committed to God, our family and hard work. He's always been a rock-steady and sensible. Perfect for me, who probably says "I feel" about a thousand times a day. Giving the old cliche, "opposites attract" another proven case.
And, after all this time, we still have fun!

Us, the night before our wedding!

March 2011, one of the FEW pics we have together since the kids!

Can Someone Get Me An Easy Button for Explaining Easter???

Christmas.. Jesus' birthday. Born as a baby in a manger. Wise men visited, gave gifts. Kids get that pretty good, even with the whole Santa debacle. At least you can tie in the gifts to Jesus' birthday while still doing the whole Santa thing.

Easter... It's just darn hard to explain And I am a horrible explainer, and love opportunity to say "because I said so". There has been a lot of excitement around her derived from school parties and candy overload... about the Easter Bunny and Easter candy. I love the Easter Bunny and am not opposed to that fun, but as we know this holiday is the holiday that defines it all.
Since last year, they for sure do not remember our conversations about the real meaning of Easter. I am not sure they "got it" then, or would "get it" now, but I tried. Here's how it went:
Me: Hey Adam, did you know that Easter is about Jesus and that he died for our sins and is alive again"?
Adam: Mom, don't you think Jesus, Noah, and God look alike? They are the same, except Jesus did not put the animals on the ark". (me, condsidering if now was the time to get into the Trinity... nah...)
Zachary "I'm hungry"
Me: "Yes Adam, they do. Did you know that Easter is here for us to celebrate Jesus rising from the grave after he died on the cross for our sins, like what we read in the Bible?"
Adam: "Well, that sounds tricky"
Me: "Yes, it was, God helped him"
Adam: "Hmmm, I wonder who would win, Jesus, God, or a pirate"
Me: "Jesus"***SIGH***
Enter Veggie Tales "Twas the Night Before Easter".... it will leave you singing "When I think about Easter, I think about God's love...", and is unapologetically Christian and kid friendly, all while diving into the real meaning of Easter.

60!!!

Happy Birthday to my mom, who has always been there for me and my family. I have no idea what I would do without her.
Here's a look back through the years...

Sweet Jane at 3


Madonna Class of 1969!


About 1985, at our Munson Ave. house


Loving Ami


4 Generations

Mom and daughters

Happy Birthday to the sweetest blue-eyed boy I know...the one who keeps us on our toes, and always laughing.

2008

2009

2010

Today

“The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” Lucille Ball

It was another great year, and I celebrated my 25th birthday simply with friends and family, and for the 6th year straight!

It began on Thursday night, where my sister and I celebrated our birthday's with our mom(we're 72 hours shy of being Irish twins). We had an amazing dinner at Encore in Buffalo. Check out their menu, and yes, it's as good as it sounds. I had duck. It was awesome. Then, we checked out Dreamgirls at the local theater, Shea's. What a treat!

The big news for The Vinkle LIfe:
It's now published, thanks to my thoughtful hubby who somehow in his techie ways, made me these beautiful book- hard bound versions of this blog. There's just something about flipping through the printed version of the last couple years of our lives that really is amazing and touching...you cannot put a price tag on that feeling.


And, thanks again to Paul and the boys for helping me enter the world of e-readers. I am loving The Nook so far. I already borrowed and loaded two e-books from the public library on it! It's a whole new experience for me, and so far would definitely recommend it! This was sort of a "bonus gift", as we had decided to get one anyway, so it just turned into a present. My sister Sarah also knows me well, and the Barnes and Noble gift card she gave me will be put to great use!



This gift from my friend Nancy was quite a pleasant suprise as well... I have been admiring this pattern and thinking "well, when it's on sale with an additional 30% off and free shipping then I will get it"...
What a blessing!

And, I luckily get to have more fun this year, as my sister Eileen knows full well about my mascara problem... can't wait to try them all!

Is Santa coming today?
That was Adam's first statement today. Quite possibly before he even opened his eyes.
The Christmas magic is alive in our house.
Trying to stress the "reason for the season" can be challenging with two little boys whose eyes light up at the mention of Santa, and whose mouths drop at the plentiful lights in our area.
Adam did say "Jesus' birthday... hmmm... is Jesus' last name God?" He's sort of obsessed with people's last names. And Zachary saying as we read a Christmas book "who is that baby, does he pee on the potty?", shows he noticed the baby but has his own.. ahem ...obsession at the moment. Here's what I am hoping they might ask soon enough...

We decorated the tree as a family and powered through the near meltdowns of a 2- year- old whose motor skills do not yet allow for effective ornament hanging, but whose level of independence refuses help of any kind. It was fun. Lots of ornaments are concentrated front and center at about the 3' 2'' mark. I am going to leave it that way. They're only young once, right?