Pen, Avery and Jack

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T19:43:00.000-04:00

Spring has sprung in the hood

2011-04-07T20:46:00.000-04:00

Not too sure what's going to bloom here...we think some bulbs fell into the ground last year...not sure what they were!

These, I think, are lillies

Forsythia budding!

Photo montage of my little chickens

2011-03-15T08:22:00.000-04:00

A tale of 2 cities

2011-01-28T19:18:00.000-05:00

So unless you have been living under a rock, you know that the East Coast has been buried under a pile of snow so large...well, I had a nice chance to leave this snow hole for a couple of days for Marco Island, Florida. Here are some pictures of both.

First snow!

2010-12-27T10:30:00.000-05:00

A day late, but a very nice effort on the part of Mother Nature. Of course I wouldn't be saying this if I had to go to work today. The snow started early on Sunday, December 26th and it still flurrying a little now at 10:30 am on Monday, December 27th. Very cold, and very windy, but my very crazy children went out into it.

Tree Decorating 2010

2010-12-27T10:22:00.000-05:00

I know I am late posting this. Better late than never I always say.
From our house to yours...peace on Earth.

Jack is now playing basketball

2010-12-27T10:14:00.000-05:00

He's on the Heat. No one was allowed to have #6, which I think was smart of the rec league. There would have been fighting over it. (LeBron James #)
Notice the very sweet John Stockton era shorts.

Jack and Jax.

Happy birthday to my sweet girl

2010-11-28T13:42:00.000-05:00

Avery Rose turned 9 on Thanksgiving. Its the first time that her birthday has fallen on the holiday. I cannot believe how time flies...I remember the first time I saw her. Doesn't seem that long ago, really.

I caved and bought her a Pandora bracelet for her birthday...she's been asking for one for awhile now.

Happy birthday, baby girl. Since the day I knew of you, my world has never been the same.

This pic is a little late in arriving

2010-11-10T17:10:00.000-05:00

But its so very wonderful. This is Jack after his team won their last game of the season. Although I sound like a total cornball when I say it, I can't express how much joy this very moment brought to my heart. Thanks Tracy for capturing it...

BOO!

2010-10-31T19:01:00.000-04:00

Avery is a vampire, and Jack is Harry Potter. Although truthfully, I think he looks like a cross between Harry Potter and Simon from Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Jack's soccer team won their last game of the season

2010-10-31T10:20:00.000-04:00

The Fireballs had a tough season, but they really pulled it together at the end. Trophies will be awarded at a very fancy ceremony/dinner on Thursday at the Pizza Shoppe...the finest in East Longmeadow dining.

Now on to basketball...

Besties...

2010-10-31T10:18:00.000-04:00

This is Jack and his best buddy, Jax. I love that they are still young enough that they will still hug each other. Right after this picture was taken, they immediately dropped to the ground to wrestle. :)

This is Avery and her BFF, Mya. It was Mya's birthday yesterday, and Avery gave her a "best friends forever" necklace with the heart that breaks into two parts. Cutest thing I ever saw.

A very cool fact about Jax and Mya are that they are brother and sister...makes play dates very easy :)

Pumpkintown USA

2010-10-22T17:31:00.000-04:00

Went with my friend Jen and her cutie girl, Maddy.

Avery took the last 2 pictures. I like her eye.

Apple picking!

2010-09-25T08:45:00.000-04:00

Jack has started playing soccer

2010-09-14T16:15:00.000-04:00

Here are a few pics from his first game last Sunday
He's a natural, of course. And cute as a button

Now for a few updates

2010-09-06T11:36:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned, Avery is now in the 3rd grade. And leave it to my darling daughter...she met the school nurse in record time...day 3. Got a call that she had a fever, headache, sore throat and a stomachache. WOOHOO! Let the games begin. She's not had the best holiday weekend. I am going to try to get her outside to play a little today. She walks home from school to Dan's house, so she got her first cell phone. I was not thrilled about this, but I do feel safer knowing she has it. Its come in handy a couple of times already, actually.

Jack is in 1st grade now. I asked him how he liked his teacher and he said "I think I will do just fine with her, but I think she is going to be hard on the ones that have trouble learning". Can't wait to meet her. This kid is all boy. Eating and moving 100% of the time.

I am still happy at my new job, and I am still teaching at HCC. Classes start tomorrow actually, and I have my 2 biggest classes ever. Should make for an interesting semester. I know I have promised it before, but I really do plan to try to keep this blog going. Happy Labor Day!

Didn't I say I was going to keep up with this?

2010-09-05T13:03:00.000-04:00

Rats. I promise to try harder.
Here is a picture from the first day of school....Avery has entered 3rd grade, and Jack has entered 1st. I am not sure where the time has gone.

Sorry that I am so slow...here are Day 5 pics

2010-07-13T08:25:00.000-04:00

These are all at a beach in Wells, ME, which is a place I have very fond memories of. The day was perfect here, but we only stayed a few hours because I think we were all ready to come home. Next vacation might be right here, however...I just noticed that Avery looks miserable in all these pictures...I can assure you she wasn't. Just tired I think.

We are home

2010-07-01T07:34:00.001-04:00

We actually got home last night-I will post last day pics in a bit. I took this one to show you how many miles we went...my trip odometer flips over at 1000....

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

and sunset...

2010-06-29T20:08:00.000-04:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

And by tired, I mean wound up

2010-06-29T20:05:00.001-04:00

So we are in the parking lot next door getting the rest of the sparks out.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Day 4. 800 miles logged. Never so happy to see a Comfort Suites Hotel ever

2010-06-29T19:55:00.000-04:00

Not too many pictures from today. Most of the day was spent driving. And fighting in the car. And throwing stuffed lobsters at each other. Seriously. Between the 2 of the kids they have bought 6 on this trip. In different sizes.

So we got up early and left Machias.

Then we drove, and drove, and drove. We stopped a couple of times...but this one I captured on film, because it came at a point when the three of us were so irritated with each other that we had to get out of the car. Some travel angel smiled down upon us right outside of Damarascotta and gave us this little rest area. Car stopped. Everyone falls out. Everyone runs off in a different direction.

Its amazing what 5 minutes slightly apart will do.

We pushed the rest of the way through (shockingly it was Jack that said "hey, why don't we watch a movie?") and we made it to Biddeford in one piece. We are tired.

Tomorrow we will go to the beach somewhere if the sun is out, potentially stop again at the Kittery Trading Post, and then head back to Western Mass. I needed to take this trip with them, but if I mention doing it again next year, remind me to go back and look at these blog posts, would you please?

3 people. Small car. Over 1000 miles in 5 days. Yikes.

day 3 extended...

2010-06-28T20:21:00.000-04:00

It stopped raining, and we all had cabin fever so we went to Roque Bluffs before dinner. This is the beach that I went to when I was little...

Vacation Day Three....or Waterlogged in Washington County

2010-06-28T17:19:00.001-04:00

Ok, so you saw the picture from the deck of the hotel. Ew. But really, it just got better (sarcasam intended)....take a look.

This is out our car window before we left out for Canada. Torrential downpour.

These two pictures are on Campobello Island at the Roosevelt Cottage/Visitor Center.

Campobello Island is in New Brunswick, Canada-about 40 minutes from Machias. We stayed on the island for about an hour. Well worth the nearly $300 I spent on passports for us. Grrrr.

Even in the rain, its a pretty little island. I hope that you can really see this next picture for what it is. Raindrops on the window.

Off the island. On to Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Lubec, ME. The easternmost spot in the US. Its beautiful. You may have to trust me.

Back to Machias. Many of you may not know there is a fine university here.

Last pic of the day...back at the hotel. It stopped raining, but is very wet...Ave decided to draw outside, so I snuck a pic.

I may post one more set of pictures tonight. Its stopped raining now and I think I need to take them to the beach to run...off for now...

Day 3

2010-06-28T10:21:00.002-04:00

This is what I was afraid of. Pouring. Sigh...on to Canada anyway.

vacation, day two...

2010-06-27T19:35:00.000-04:00

this was a loooooooonnnnnnnnng drive. partially because of actual mileage, and partially because we had to stop 52 different times...either to go potty, get a snack, stretch our legs....the day seemed endless...but it has ended. thank the lord. here are some highlights.

This picture is in front of LL Bean in Freeport. We got a little turned around in Portland, so it took us a little extra time to get on the road, and they were already a little mental by the time we hit Freeport, so I used it as an excuse to go.

In the previous post, you saw the picture I sent from my phone, because at that point (I can't remember exactly where we were) they were SUPER mental, and I made them run laps around the car and do jumping jacks. Finally, we made it into Machias, and we went straight to do what would be the least fun event of the trip. We went straight out to the cemetary that my parents are buried in...so here's a shout out to Jack and Edna. I miss you always. Now, at the exact same time, I have to give a shout out to the very same crazy kids that I was mentioning before, because as I sat next to this very gravestone, they sat with me and held my hand and rubbed my back as I cried. A wise friend I have told me that this trip might make me stronger than I ever could have known, and maybe that's true, but I thank my lucky stars they were with me. So to my crazies...I love you. (these next pictures are from the long ride up, when they were a little punchy)

Next order of business...Jasper Beach. Had to drive by the old house, and to say that its in ruins would be an understatement. Even my old apple tree is gone. Losers. But, I digress....Jasper Beach.

We kept driving down that road, because I wanted to see if we could get to Starboard, but it sort of looked like someone's yard, so we turned around, but got this shot...Ave took it.

Cool shot, huh?

Then on the way back, we stopped at Fort O'Brien...Google it and you can see the historical significance in a war or two, I believe...

And last but not least for today, this last shot is outside our hotel. We had a lovely dinner at Helen's complete with fish and chips and pie. Hooray. More tomorrow....

We had to stop for them to get

2010-06-27T10:47:00.001-04:00

Some energy out...they ran laps around the car and did jumping jacks...onward

One more pic from day one...

2010-06-26T19:30:00.002-04:00

Vacation...day one

2010-06-26T19:14:00.000-04:00

This is a journey we are on. Its an 8 or 9 hour trek to the homeland and me+ave+jack+9 hours in the car at once=disaster. So we are splitting the trip up into 2 days. Currently, we are in South Portland in an extremely lame Days Inn near the equally lame Maine Mall. However, one mom's lame, is a kids perfectly awesome. Pool? Check. Vending machines? Check. Cable? Check. That's all they care about. We stopped at the Kittery Trading Post, and I managed to find my way back to a beach in Wells that I hadn't been to in easily 12 years...

First...this was at 6:53 in the morning. That is the closest to the Jack Griswold school of travel that we could get to...plus since we weren't going the whole way to Machias today anyway, if we left at 3:00am, we would have gotten to Portland about 6:30 am and THEN what the heck would we have done? So this worked....

Then...Kittery Trading Post:

Then...Wells. Can I just say that I specifically went to this beach because there was a takeout place I used to go to that has FANTASTIC fish and chips, and I really, really wanted some...and we got there and THEY WERE OUT. I'm sorry, what? Out? And then one of the ladies was mean to us. Sigh. Here's the beach:

Then we made our way to the lovely city of South Portland, where we are currently settled in for the night. Here's the kids at the pool...(ps. we came all the way to Maine and ate at....On the Border)

More tomorrow. Pray for sunshine.

2010-06-24T14:32:00.000-04:00

I have just learned how to post to the blog from my phone. This opens up a whole new world to me. Here are a couple pics of the kids.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

2010-06-24T14:30:00.001-04:00

This is how Jack feels about Manny Ramirez
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

We had a play date with some of my RHI friends today.

2010-04-10T19:31:00.001-04:00

Here are two awesome pictures of my kids.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T15:51:00.000-04:00

The annual bunny cake!

The first egg hunt at the new house.

Gosh, I am not keeping up with this like I wanted

2010-02-16T14:15:00.000-05:00

Here are some random pics since last time I was here:

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T13:25:00.003-05:00

From our house to yours...have a safe and happy holiday season. Its been a tough year, so here is to brighter days in 2010.

Now, we have been tracking Santa with the help of NORAD's website (www.noradsanta.org) for years, but I just learned the back story and its adorable...read this link from CNN today: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/24/cnet.norad.santa.tracker/index.html

Here are my favorites from Eskewold Christmas

2009-12-18T06:53:00.007-05:00

The Eskelands are some of my very favorite people in the whole world and it did my heart good to see them after WAY too long of a time. Did my heart good to see some Griswolds, too. :) XOXO Love you all very much.

The tree is up

2009-12-13T09:42:00.005-05:00

Based on the way the morning has been going since I took this picture, this might be the only Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward Men moment I get...but they are some awful cute, aren't they?

things Jack has said lately...

2009-12-05T15:33:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving: while decorating the paper table cover with Ave-(they were trying to use paints that Ave got for her birthday that they couldn't make work) Avery: "I guess I could read the directions" Jack: "Avery, directions are for cheaters"

Yesterday (Friday, Dec 4, 2009): Me: "Jack, would you like eggs for breakfast?" Jack: (with total disgust in his voice) "Mom, I only eat eggs on days that there is a parade, we don't have school and its sunny. Look outside...not so sunny, I have to go to school and there's no parade"

What the kids want for the holidays

2009-12-02T17:34:00.002-05:00

A couple of you have asked, and last year it seemed to work well to post suggestions here, so here's a list...

Both kids are getting Nintendo DS game systems for Hanukkah (which hasn't happened yet, so dont' tell them) so games for that, or gift cards for Toys R Us so they can pick out their own would be good

Avery LOVES reading, so books from either the Magic Treehouse series or the Junie B Jones series would be good, or gift cards for Barnes and Noble. She also likes music, so ITunes gift cards work as well. She is a size 8 in shirts (usually a kids medium) and has recently gone through a growth spirt so is probably wearing a 8 in pants as well (much to our dismay since we just bought her a bunch of 7's). Fancy hair ties, earrings, etc. She also loves Webkins, much to my dismay, but you would be her favorite if you got her more.

Jack is a art project/drawing machine. Pens, markers, crayons, paints, colored pencils, paper, tape, glue...he still loves Star Wars too. He is also into books-Avery reads to him :) He is a 5T in pants-or sometimes a kids XS. Same for shirts.

Also, we have no board games for my place, so that could work. Hope this helps.

I had my 20 year high school reunion last weekend

2009-12-01T19:03:00.003-05:00

I was really hesitant to go-wasn't sure who was going to be there, a little insecure, didn't know how my hair would look...you know, basic girl issues. But I am so glad I went. I saw people that I haven't seen in years that I really used to have a good time with. And now that I know that some of them might read my blog (Hi Sharif!) I will really try to keep up with it.

I have another reunion next month with another set of friends and now I am REALLY excited for it.

2009-12-01T18:58:00.006-05:00

these pictures were taken on the day of Avery's "friend' birthday party. She is in her pjs because we had a pj party :)
(Not sure why that part is underlined)
She is 8 years old now and Jack is 5 1/2. I cannot believe how time flies.

To start the holiday season...

2009-12-01T18:58:00.001-05:00

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/YKsD7jaMl40J9APHnSl2

Waste not, want not

2009-10-31T20:32:00.003-04:00

This is what my life has become. Its actually sort of what I have wanted for awhile, but I didn't know how to get there. Being on my own and being responsible for me and the kids is a whole new ballgame but I am okay with it. I don't seem to want as much stuff-I don't need it. I had an extra paintbrush that I didn't use to paint the apartment so I returned it to Home Depot and bought curtain rods for the bedrooms. Before I probably would have just hung on to it-I mean who knows when I would repaint a room, right? Don't get me wrong, Jack didn't need the grey hightops I bought him today, but I wanted to buy them to make him happy-not me. I was originally feeling a little lame sitting here by myself on a Saturday night catching up on some of my shows while the world outside was trick or treating...but I am lucky. Its quiet, we had a victory with Jack trick or treating tonight, and both my kids told me they loved me. Life is good.

We have the flu

2009-10-21T18:03:00.002-04:00

Well, Avery does. She got sick last Saturday night sort of randomly, but only threw up once and then seemed fine. Monday night it hit her. She stayed home Tuesday, today and we will be keeping her home the rest of the week. Nothing monumental...low grade fever, chills, aches, cough. Poor baby.

Here is a sign of the times. The school nurse called me today to ask how she was and what her symptoms were and then asked if when Ave returned to school, if I could bring her to the office so she could verify that her fever was in fact gone. Its new protocol that the school system is rolling out.

They haven't announced any incidence of H1N1, but I suspect they are trying to keep the mass hysterial under control.

I do not like cold

2009-10-14T09:17:00.002-04:00

Admittedly, I don't like really hot either, but I really hate the cold. I am sitting in the apartment right now waiting to go to an appointment and its freezing. I refuse to turn the heat on at least until I get that plastic stuff up on the windows. I tried to do it yesterday but failed miserably. I also don't like not being able to do things for myself. Rats.

Here is my public service announcement for the day. If you are experiencing out of the ordinary symptoms that don't go away, get them checked out. It might be scary, the preparation for the test might be nasty but get things checked out before its too late. Note: I am just about to leave for my 3 year almost colon cancer checkup. 5 years ago I had symptoms that I ignored for awhile and had I waited any longer I would have been in a world of trouble. The test is disgusting (well, really you are asleep, so you don't realize how disgusting...its the prep the night before that is worse) but I promise you that you will live through it. Its also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Check your front and pat yourself on the back :)

Wow

2009-10-12T20:47:00.002-04:00

Its quiet in this big old house with no kids here. I am actually distracted by the silence.

Here's an update on our little world

2009-10-09T19:37:00.002-04:00

If you decided to come here to read this because you got an email from me then you know that Dan and I are splitting up. Hardest decision I have ever had to be a part of, but I know it will work out for the best in the end. I have moved into the second floor apartment of my sister Jackie's house in Springfield and am trying to figure out how to live on my own. Here are some things I have learned over the past few weeks:

1. The apartment was so dirty that it took my friend Jen 2 full days to just get the kitchen and bathroom clean. I owe her so very much for that-I don't think there are enough rounds of drinks in the world to repay her. She got sick after helping, and I will always think that it was the chemical fumes that she ingested while trying to clean the stove.

2. I have killed a hornet in the bathroom, cleaned up cat vomit and ventured into the scary basement (sorry, sis...it is scary) to do laundry. But I lived.

3. Paint and pretty paintings can do wonders for a tired apartment (and a tired me)

4. I have a sh*tload of books. All kinds of books. And what I have here has been weeded through twice in the past year. I guess buying books is better than buying crack, right?

5. Jackie put flowers on my dining room table last weekend and they were so beautiful that I am going to buy flowers for the apartment every week.

6. Kids can be really mean when they are hurting. But they can also be very brave.

More to come

Now that I have placated you

2009-07-12T14:39:00.002-04:00

With pictures of my kids, here's an update:
Avery finished first grade with flying colors. Reading sometimes at a 3rd grade level. Spelling her heart out and writing the most wonderful stories you have ever heard. She illustrates them too. Yes, yes...I know she's a genius. :)

Jack graduated from preschool and is ready to head to kindergarten this fall. He is turning into quite an artist himself, and he is also a natural athlete. He wasn't allowed to play t-ball this spring because he wasn't old enough but I think the other parents wanted to keep him out because he's so good. :)

Jack and Avery will go to the same school next year, much to the dismay of Avery. She has agreed to be helpful and show him around but "only once, Mom". I am so very proud of them both, but am a little sad that they are so grown up.

This summer we skipped camp and are lucky enough to have 3 lovely people watching the kids for us. My sister Jackie, Dan's mom Shirley and our friend Ari. Ari has been a big help this year and we are not sure what we are going to do when he leaves for college in the fall.

That's it for now...the familiar cry of "Mom, I am hungry" is coming from the other room...better feed the beasts. I promise to be better about keeping up with this.

WOW! Have I been a bad blogger or what?

2009-07-12T14:28:00.004-04:00

Here. Bet you will forgive me when you look at these beautiful pics (that I took, btw) of my kids.

Happy Holidays

2008-12-23T10:55:00.003-05:00

This hasn't been an easy year. There's trouble with the economy-globally, and sometimes personally, we have lost loved ones and have had broken bones. But some lovely things have happened too. We adopted Daisy dog, we had great birthday parties at home for our kids, and new family members have joined us. We have learned that no matter how hard we try to be organized, some days we forget to give Avery milk money and forget to bring extra shoes to school for Jack for when he takes his boots off. And they are still surviving....:)

This time of year is about friends and family. So from our house to yours...happy holidays. Lots of love.

I have been rotten about blogging here...

2008-11-28T15:51:00.002-05:00

Let's see if I can catch up. I will have to come back in and add some pictures after, but here's some news. Most likely NOT in any sort of date order...

1. Jack got his cast off. I realized that I never posted a picture of him with his cast...I will do that. He actually broke part of his first cast off, so he had to get a second cast, and now its off for good (well, until he breaks something else). The doctors say that he is healing very quickly-his arm looks a little crooked, and apparently it will for a bit.

2. Jack was Alvin the chipmunk for Halloween. Avery was Theodore the chipmunk. As I suspected, we drove to where we trick or treat, we got out of the van, and Jack promptly said "I don't think I want to trick or treat". So he and I watched Peter Pan in the van while Avery and Dan went trick or treating.

3. Avery turned 7 on November 25. 7. I don't know how this is possible. I remember the day she was born like it was yesterday. She is turning into quite the big girl.

4. Avery also got her ears pierced. And witnessed her first shoplifting bust. We actually had to wait to get her ears pierced so the manager of Claire's could bust the shoplifter. Imagine the fun I had explaining why the cops were showing up.

5. Santa called the kids the other day. He told Avery to keep up the good work, and he told Jack he was at the top of the good list. :) So cute. Their eyes were as wide as saucers.

Those are the high points. I will post some pictures when I get home.

Its another first!

2008-10-03T08:53:00.005-04:00

our first set of broken bones. Can't believe it actually took this long. Jack broke his wrist in 2 spots yesterday at school by leaping off of something (shocking, I know). Poor baby was in the ER until 1 am with Dan and tried very hard to talk the doctors out of putting a cast on, but he lost that battle. I'll post a picture once he calms down enough to realize he looks cool. :)

The new faces of the Springfield Jewish Community Center

2008-09-19T10:22:00.003-04:00

Oy.

The new bad guy in Batman...

2008-09-16T12:23:00.002-04:00

We talk about A LOT of different things at our house, and our kids can recognize lots of famous people from Dustin Pedroia and Josh Beckett to Ben Stiller to President Bush. And they have really interesting thoughts about people. Like the day Avery asked me if the reason I liked Barack Obama was because "his family was exactly like ours". Interesting observation.

Anyway, the other day, Dan was riding in the car with the kids and he told them that he had heard that they were going to make another Batman movie with the Joker in it-he said "Guess who they might get to play the bad guy?" Without missing a beat, Avery said "Is it John McCain?" Dan almost drove off the road he was laughing so hard.

Out of the mouths of babes...

I am attempting to raise $1000

2008-09-01T12:40:00.002-04:00

for the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk that is held by the American Cancer Society. Most of you know that I usually participate in the Susan G Komen 3 Day walk, but this year I was unable to, so I have joined a team of walkers from my company and I have set my personal goal at $1000. Can you help me? I am walking October 5th. Thanks. XOXO

For cancer information, 24/7, 365 days a year:
1.800.(ACS)227.2345
www.cancer.org/NEsupport

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCFY09NewEngland?px=7701472&pg=personal&fr_id=11704&et=j-RjQA27Ad46-Cbvp2yljw..&s_tafId=194269

So I tried to take them to work with me on Friday...

2008-09-01T12:27:00.002-04:00

It didn't really go so well. The best thing about the attempt was this picture. I work on the 15th floor.

First day of school pictures

2008-09-01T11:36:00.004-04:00

Ave has started first grade and Jack is in his final year of preschool. Not exactly sure where the time has gone.

This post is a little late

2008-09-01T11:31:00.003-04:00

But we were having some technical difficulties...like this underlining...can you see it? Anyway, last week when we were on vacation, Avery, Jack and I went to the Forest Park Zoo and we were lucky enough to witness the sighting of 2 mortal enemies actually sitting next to each other and getting along. I got a picture. Thought I would share it with you.

So long, Manny

2008-08-01T12:52:00.001-04:00

Don't let the door hit you...

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view/2008_08_01_No_Dodging_it:_Manny_Ramirez_just_a_bad__bad_man/srvc=home&position=0

The garden!

2008-07-07T10:46:00.004-04:00

Ok, so I am not a good weeder. But apparently I can grow things! LOOK!

On a more serious note

2008-06-17T17:17:00.003-04:00

I am sad about the death of Tim Russert. I wasn't an avid viewer of Meet the Press, but I had seen him involved with many different things, and I always found him to be, well, normal. Sometimes I think that newscasters can be a little uppity, and I never got that impression about him. Plus he seemed to smile a lot-how can that be bad?

PS. I just went to my brother's blog-I usually remember to read it when I post to mine, and he said practically the same thing about Tim Russert. I think that's funny. Just more proof that he and I are twins separated by a few years....his blog can be reached by going to: http://www.imaginarythreedimensionalblackboard.com/

Last day of kindergarten

2008-06-17T17:08:00.002-04:00

Avery's last day of kindergarten was today. I can't believe that the whole school year has gone by. I took a picture of her on her first day for this blog, and I've taken a picture on her last day...

Jack as Spiderman

2008-06-17T16:59:00.002-04:00

Holy cow, Jack is 4!!

2008-06-17T16:42:00.003-04:00

Here are a few pics from his party...good time had by all.

Summertime...and the living is easy

2008-05-26T11:53:00.004-04:00

These pictures I took with my phone, through a screened window. So they are a little distorted, but I think they look cool. Its Ave and Jack on the swingset yesterday...

The garden.

2008-05-26T11:25:00.005-04:00

Right now it doesn't look like much. And maybe it won't ever look like much. But Avery and I are certainly giving it a whirl. Note the regulation Elmo sprinkler.

Future Major League Baseball Player

2008-04-25T09:37:00.003-04:00

Game face.

Future Farmers of America

2008-04-24T07:16:00.005-04:00

Avery and I have been planning all winter to plant a garden. Our yard isn't quite ready yet, but she got some practice planting in Ami Jackie's garden.

The words were still hanging in a bubble over my head...

2008-04-03T17:18:00.002-04:00

I was talking with my cousin Karen last Friday and we were comparing Jack and her son Nick, who are practically the same. Except Nick has been to the emergency room a lot and Jack (despite his best efforts) has never been.

On Sunday we all got up like normal and I was rushing Avery around so we could go run errands and Jack started to complain that his neck hurt. He kept holding it and holding his ear. He had fallen off the couch, but lightly, and he has fallen off the couch a million times (oh wait. should I admit that out loud? bad parent alert)...we finally decided he wasn't faking it (he is learning a lot from his sister the drama queen) and called his pediatrician, who suggested we bring him in right away. The doctor didn't think that he had done anything but maybe pull a muscle in his neck, but sent Dan and Jack to Baystate for xrays just to be sure. Thankfully nothing was wrong, but it wasn't so fun for them. So now we have the first hospital trip out of the way.

Peep Show

2008-03-10T06:56:00.002-04:00

Got this from my friend Amy. Hilarious.

Avery took this picture of Daisy

2008-02-22T09:59:00.001-05:00

I think its cool.

Snow day!

2008-02-22T09:52:00.002-05:00

It was already vacation week, but its snowing today, so we are home in our PJs.

Mexican Standoff

2008-02-22T09:30:00.007-05:00

We have REALLY big news!

2008-02-15T16:23:00.003-05:00

No. I am not pregnant. Jeez. Why do you always jump to that conclusion when its "big news"?

There will, however, be a new member of our family in about 2 hours. Here she is...Her name is Daisy. She is a sharpei/black lab mix. Hopefully she won't eat the cats.

Here they are!

2008-02-10T12:53:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I know. They have underwear on their heads.

Uncle Griz made this for Jack...

Aliens in East Longmeadow...in our front yard. Really.

2008-02-10T12:43:00.001-05:00

See? There's the ship. And one little alien.

I haven't posted anything in almost a month..

2008-02-08T16:42:00.001-05:00

for all 3 of you that read my blog, sorry about that...I will take some pictures of the kids and post them with some funny things they have been saying.

What a bunch of sore loser babies...

2008-02-08T16:40:00.000-05:00

http://www.petitiononline.com/XLIItrut/petition.html

I say its my birthday...

2008-01-09T16:41:00.000-05:00

37 years ago today I graced the world with my presence. :) Nancy would say I ruined her life. In that vein, I was trying to explain to Avery that someday she and Jack would be very very good friends and I tried to use Nancy and I as an example...not sure if it stuck or not. Anyway, lots of people made my day very special, so thanks.

holy cow

2008-01-07T16:07:00.000-05:00

I know I have mentioned this on the blog before. Or I think I have. My nephew Matt and his delightful soon to be wife Paulette take the most amazing pictures. Go to www.saypickles.com , go to the blog, scroll down past the cute dog and 11 cute children and you will see some pictures of Avery that made me cry. Because they are so beautiful.

out of the mouths of babes...

2008-01-06T18:26:00.000-05:00

There is a show on the Disney channel that centers around the fictional White House chef and his son...anyway we were watching it tonight and the son was up to his usual antics and Jack said "Boy Mom. They are SO wierd in the White House"

If he even knew.

Bronson the wonder boy...

2007-12-30T15:36:00.000-05:00

Bronson is my great nephew. His dad, Ben, is my nephew (he's great too)...we don't get to see him very often, so we were excited to see him (and his mom and dad) at Christmas. Here's a picture or two of the cutie face...

This year...

2007-12-30T15:16:00.001-05:00

Jack liked his big gift from us more than those silly old gifts from Santa....here's what he got...

Here's a couple more pictures from Christmas. Hope everyone's was merry!

(Avery was a little bit jealous of the guitar)

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T14:39:00.000-05:00

I was going to gripe about the fact that the powers that be have decided that we have to keep our office open until 5:00 today, despite the fact that the phone has only rung once since 1:00-its 2:41 right now...but I won't. I have lots of things to be thankful for. Here's a list:

My kids are healthy and hilarious, as is the rest of my family
I have a roof over my head
Maybe the traffic won't be so bad on the way home since I have to stay so late!
The "Santa is still watching" threat still works like a charm
My kids are currently with their Ami Jackie baking cookies like mad for the man in the big red suit
The second season of Big Love just came out on DVD
I am not cooking a thing for tomorrow's dinner with my family

From our house to yours, please have a safe and happy Christmas. I'll try to post pictures from the Hour of Greed tomorrow.

First real snowstorm

2007-12-16T10:01:00.000-05:00

Would have been a good holiday card picture. Oh well. May you all have a safe and happy holiday season.

Much peace and love.

Pen, Dan, Avery and Jack

Parent Teacher Conferences

2007-12-07T17:22:00.000-05:00

Today we had our first real one for Avery. Most parents (at some point anyway) think their kids are brilliant and kind. Sometimes its really nice to hear it from someone else. Avery is testing in the 97% percentile with the standardized tests they take at her age and is reportedly always looking out for her fellow classmates. Rumor also has it that she speaks lovingly about Jack while at school, which is proof that she is on her best behavior there.

Assorted things my kids have said lately.

2007-12-02T16:16:00.000-05:00

The other night I had gone out for a drink with one of my friends and when I got home Avery told me that I smelled like beer. I told her that I didn't like beer, so that wasn't what I had. Jack said "Oh did you have a latte"? Think they come to Starbucks with me too much?

Avery and I have been watching Dancing with the Stars again this season and once she told me that she thought I should go on the show. I explained to her that you had to be famous to be on the show. Anyway, the other day we drove by a nativity scene and I told Jack and Ave that churches put nativity scenes out around Christmas because it was supposed to represent the night that Jesus was born. After about a minute Avery said "Hey Mom. Jesus was famous-maybe he could have been on Dancing with the Stars"

Jack and Avery bring home ridiculous amounts of paper every day from school. Avery happened to make a cornucopia and brought it home. The 4 of us were sitting on the couch talking about something completely different and all of a sudden Jack saw it and said "Oh look at that lovely cornucopia!" Pronounced it perfectly.

Avery's 6th birthday

2007-12-02T16:01:00.000-05:00

Ok, I am only a week behind on this one...well, 2 weeks from her friend party...here are some photo highlights:

Take a look at the two cakes. See if you can guess which one I made and which one Mema bought.

Avery's birthday/Hanukkah/Christmas

2007-11-04T17:44:00.000-05:00

I am stealing an idea from my brother's blog and writing some ideas for all of us...
Avery can always use art supplies, games for her Leapster system, hair ties, anything pink with sparkles on it (except shoes...she's way too picky), books, CDs (Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, anything Disney), and you would win points if you got her some sort of super frilly princess dress. I do not know where this kid came from. She's a size 6 or so.

Jack loves baseball. And baseball. And Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And pirates. He is being raised as a Red Sox and New York Giants fan. He loves "Cars" too. And he always needs socks.

Dan would love gift certificates to LLBean, ITunes, the Gap, oh and he is a shoe whore, so mall gift certificates work too...you could also buy him Lens Crafters gift certificates because he continues to break glasses. Well in all fairness, Jack really breaks them. (PS, I am sort of kidding with this...I don't think he really WANTS this). Dan is also being raised as a Red Sox fan, so hats, shirts...

And last but not least, me. I too like gift certificates. JJill, Ann Taylor, Gap, Target, Ochoa Day Spa. Sephora too (I do like some sparkely things...just not always pink). There is a diamond star necklace on the Tiffany website too, but its $15K, and I think that's over the Secret Santa limit. :)

See you all soon for the holidays.

Halloween

2007-11-04T17:41:00.000-05:00

So we lost the battery charger to our camera so we bought some disposable cameras to take pictures on Halloween. Needless to say, the resulting pictures sucked, so I have no pictures of Wonder Woman and Leonardo the Ninja Turtle to post. Don't dispair, however. I will be putting the kids back in their costumes and taking the pictures over. Once we buy the new battery charger. :)

I can't believe I didn't post anything about this

2007-11-04T17:38:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have been living under a rock, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series for the 2nd time in 4 years a week ago. Yes, I was one of those crazy fans that stayed up way past my bedtime to watch the final out and have tears come to my eyes when Mike Lowell was named MVP of the Series. I know its just a sport. But its really good to have something to believe in, isn't it?

It is 4:53 pm

2007-10-16T16:50:00.000-04:00

And I have picked up both kids from school, and they are currently eating dinner. Granted, I picked up a pizza, but still. This being on vacation thing is awesome.

Jack calls him Coo-coolis

2007-09-29T19:47:00.000-04:00

Kevin Youkilis is Jack's favorite Red Sox player and he's got a great kids charity that he has established...Hits for Kids is raising money and working with children's charities in New England and in Kevin's hometown of Cincinnati.

Nice job, Youk.

A VERY easy way to make a difference...

2007-09-29T19:15:00.000-04:00

Here's an email from my sister...

October 10th is "In the Pink Day" in every Coldwater Creek across the country. Each and every CWC employee will be wearing a special pink shirt that day in support of the Komen Foundation and the research they do to find a cure for breast cancer.

October 10th is a day YOU can help as well - and you don't have to spend a dime. Just go into your nearest Coldwater Creek store and try on a pair of pants. That's it. For every customer that comes in on October 10th that tries on a pair of our pants, a donation will be made by CWC to Komen. How easy is that?

As you all know, helping to raise money to help find a cure for breast cancer is something I personally am very involved in and working for a company that is a National Sponsor for Komen gives me even more pride in what I do to try to make a difference.

So, here's a simple way YOU and your friends can help too! So mark it on your calendar! October 10th - nearest Coldwater Creek (don't know where one is? Let me know I'll find one for you!) - try on a pair of pants - know you've done good!!!!

Pumpkintown, USA

2007-09-27T17:25:00.000-04:00

Bet you didn't know this existed, did you? East Hampton, CT. http://www.pumpkintown.com/

I am guessing its A LOT cooler on the weekend...but here is proof that Jack and I went.

Looking for a deal?

2007-09-27T17:15:00.000-04:00

I love Parents magazine. Loads of great info...here are some websites you might like...

www.thethriftshopper.com

www.swapstyle.com

www.swaptree.com

www.makeupalley.com

oh, and at www.hallmark.com, you can design really cool online cards...they will even mail them for you!!! I sent one today.

Team WhyMommy

2007-09-27T16:41:00.000-04:00

I read about this blog in Parents magazine and once I started reading, I knew I had to join the team. Please see the link to go to the site...you all know how dedicated I am to the fight against breast cancer and this is just one more way for me to help.

http://toddlerplanet.wordpress.com/

Avery's self portrait

2007-09-24T18:32:00.001-04:00

The Elm Street cage match

2007-09-14T19:41:00.000-04:00

Avery and Jack have taken to wrestling with each other. Which is fine, but the new rule in the house is if you are going to choose to wrestle with each other, there's no crying when someone gets kicked in the head....anyway, the other night, they got out of the bath and were wrestling and Avery wasn't playing fair (hey, THAT'S weird) so Jack yelled "FINE", and then sat on her head (with his naked behind) and yelled "EAT MY BUTT". I can't even type it without laughing.

Take a minute and say thanks....

2007-09-12T17:07:00.000-04:00

I got this email from my brother this morning...and I feel pretty strongly about participating...

US Marine Colonel Simcock, the commander of USMC Regimental Combat Team (RCT) 6 in Iraq, is asking for 6,000 positive emails to his Marines. That's one email for each Marine in his RCT command. COL Simcock is concerned about the effect of the negative barrage that those Marines are getting through the electronic media. So far, they've only mustered 2,000 emails.That's a crying shame compared to the amount of crap I get daily in email. This is a legitimate request. It's not one of the "little Johnny wants to break the world's record in Christmas cards" situations. It takes only 30 seconds of your time.

Here's the emailaddress: RCT-6lettersfromh@gcemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil

If you're reading this email, then you can probably click on the address, type a few words, and then hit "send" to be all done. It doesn't have to be the Gettysburg Address. Something as simple as "Hello,Marine. We thank you for what you're doing. You are in a noble task. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Best wishes & get home soon" is more than sufficient.

An excerpt from an interview with the Colonel:GRIM: Is there anything that you and your Marines needthat we could send you? COL. SIMCOCK: (Chuckles.) I'll tell you what, the one thing that all Marines want to know about -- and that includes me and everyone within Regimental Combat Team 6 -- we want to know that the American public are behind us. We believe that the actions that we're taking over here are very, very important to America. We're fighting a group of people that, if they could, would take away the freedoms that America enjoys. If anyone -- you know, just sit down, jot us -- throw us an e- mail, write us a letter, let us know that the American public are behind us. Because we watch the news just like everyone else. It's broadcast over here in our chow halls and the weight rooms, and we watch that stuff, and we're a little bit concerned sometimes that America really doesn't know what's going on over here, and we get sometimes concerns that the American public isn't behind us and doesn't see the importance of what's going on. So that's something I think that all Marines, soldiers and sailors would like to hear from back home, that in fact, yes, they think what we're doing over here is important and they are in fact behind us.