Todd's Employee Apprication Day

Todd works for an amazing company that treats their employees very well.  Every year, they have an Employee Appreciation Day.  The last few years it have been at Universal Studios.  They pay for everything!  It is such a fun day for our family.  This year was much more fun since our kids are able to do pretty much everything.  We spent the entire day there!

Hogwarts

How cute is this??

We had a feast at Three Broomsticks.  I think we will eat here every time we come to Universal.  The food was so flavorful and they gave us a lot!  We were full all day from this huge lunch.  

 We couldn't let this photo opportunity pass. 

The Studio Tour Tram Ride is my most favorite thing to do. 

The company had a "Kid's Zone" for all of the Employees.  They had games and prizes, ice cream and dancing!

 I don't know what Sponge Bob was doing to Todd, but he sure was pushy about it!

Super Cool 3-D Glasses for the Minions Ride

The DiMillo's

We take a picture in front of the Universal Studios Sign every year.  It is fun to see how the kids are growing!

 

Tyson McGee

As a child, I never had a pet.  I remember begging for one for one and my mom never gave in.  She would say, "When you grow up and have a home of your own, you can get whatever pet you want."  That is exactly what I did.  When I moved out of my parents house into my own, I got Tyson.  He was the sweetest little Maltese/Poodle mix.  He was born on the one year anniversary of 9/11 which I thought was super cool.  I moved into my house in October and Tyson was the first thing I brought into it, he was just old enough to be weened from his mama.  In a way, we grew up together.  I took him everywhere with me.  He was my very first symbol of adulthood. 

Tyson and I have been through everything together.  He saw me through a broken engagement, the blossoming of a new love, adopting a brother for him (Tony), marriage, miscarriages, Taelyn and Trent. getting mauled by our neighbor's dog and many, many more life events.  Tyson was loyal, loving and just plain wonderful.  I loved him, I loved him more than I even knew myself. 

Late on April 18th, Tyson was acting strange, falling over and having what looked like seizures.  I took him into the animal ER and they told me he was having Cardio Syncopy.  His heart was failing and we could attempt surgery, but because he was nearly 15 years old, he had a low chance of surviving the anesthesia and an even lower chance of surviving the surgery.  The vet said he was in a lot of pain.  He was suffering, so we made the tough decision to let him go.  I called Todd and he woke the kids up and brought them to the ER so we could all say our final goodbyes. 

Saying Goodbye to my boy was hard.  It hurt.  A LOT.  Watching Taelyn and Trent cry and hug him and tell him that they love him was HARD. 

Our last family picture together

Taelyn was really sad and cried the entire time. Trent was excited for him because, "He gets to be with Jesus!"

He was so LOVED!!!

Our final hug

Tyson McGee DiMillo 9/11/-2-4/18/17

It has been almost 4 months since we lost Tyson and it has gotten easier, but I think about him every single day.  I used to think people who lost their pets were silly for being so upset when they lost them, but now that I have had my first pet and lost my first pet, I can say, it is NOT silly, they become family, you love them just like family, when they are gone, you mourn them, just like family because the ARE FAMILY.  He was a fixture in my life for almost 15 years, he's gone and I miss him!

Dominican Republic

About to take off!

The day after the 4th of July we woke up at 4 in the morning and headed to LAX to catch a flight to Miami connecting to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.  We traveled all day and arrived in Punta Cana at 9:30pm their time.  We didn't get to see anything because got in so late, we checked into our room, ate some dinner and wandered around the hotel.  We didn't get to bed until nearly 1am.  I woke up to Todd and the kids in the Jacuzzi.  This is the way to start a vacation! 

We met up with my East Coast Family from my dad's side.  My favorite Tia and Tio.  My cousin Jennifer, her husband, Sam and their two kids Deitric and Cecilia. 

 It was so cool vacationing with family.  Deitric is 17 and is SO good with the kids.  He was a trooper when it came to Trent wanting to do every single thing with his big cousin.  Cecilia and Taelyn were two peas in a pod.  It really was ideal. 

So it just wouldn't be a real vacation if I didn't get hurt somehow.  I stepped on something and it punctured my foot.  It hurt initially, it wasn't bleeding, so I kept walking, then I looked down and my food was all bloody. I went to see the medic on sight, he cleaned it up, asked me when my last tetanus shot was and sent me on my way with a band aide.  I was fine really, it looks much worse than it was.

Our whole vacation consisted of us spending time at the pools at the resort and going back and forth to the beach.  Everything was so so beautiful. 

The skies were breathtaking, the waves were super strong, but the water was warm. The sand was so soft and not grainy.  We loved every bit of being on the beach, even me, I usually hate the sun, the sand and the water.  It was tolerable in Punta Cana!

The girls painted a beautiful picture

Every night was some sort of dance Party.  Every single one of us enjoyed all of the dancing, the entertainment and all of the FOOD!! Did I mention it was an ALL INCLUSIVE RESORT? Oh. My. Word!!

Trent showing off his neon paint at the Neon Party

 I love a good dance show and every night was something different.  There was a Michael Jackson Tribute Show, Tropical Show, Magic Show, Disco Show, Carnival, Crique Du Soleil Show.  Every show was impressive.  Then after the show we would dance all night until the kids were exhausted and we went back to our room to sleep. 

The kids with the dancers of the Tropical Show

We went on one excursion on a Boogie Ride.  It was so FUN!! They were like go carts.  Todd drove while I took as many pictures of the country side and wild life I could.

The Boogie Ride was super fun, but boy was it DUSTY!! We needed to wear masks to protect our faces and glasses to protect our eyes.  

We rode the Boogies to a cave and we got out and we were actually able to walk down into the cave and swim. 

 The cave was deep and kind of creepy because it had the gorgeous, but odd blue tint.

Deitric looking up at me

Deitric and Trent were the first ones in the water

Trent was loving every minute swimming in the cave

The water was cold, but refreshing

This was the best family photo I could get under the waterfall in the cave: Epic Fail

Todd in the blue cave

The kids in front of the Resort

Heading back from the Cave excursion, my cousin Jennifer and I were talking to this couple and we found out that he happens to be a football player for the Colts, Jon Bostic! He was the coolest guy.  I liked him before I knew he was a football player, now I am a fan!

Speaking of football players, the Gronkowski Brothers, who play for the Patriots, were also at the Hard Rock. 

Pool Party

Pool Party

Foam Party

Foam Party

This is the most Taelyn was on the beach the whole week

Our last night, Taelyn and I had matching hair

It was a wonderful family vacation! I'm so thankful that I was able to spend it with my east coast family.  I will cherish these memories forever.