Hillsborough Ballon Festival

Every year we try to make it to the Hillsborough Ballon Festival to see the balloons take off. Last year they didn't go up while we were there but this year we got to see them all take off.

The balloons are so bright and colorful and fun to take pictures of. I probably took about 50 pics but here are just a few for you to enjoy!

St. Peter, Nascar and The Horribles Parade

What do these three things have in common? Absolutely nothing except that that they happened all within a matter of days keeping us very busy.

Viva San Pedro!





St. Peter's Fiesta is a celebration in Gloucester, Ma. ( and I believe several other places) in which St. Peter is celebrated as the saint who watches over the fisherman. There are many days of celebration that begin with a parade where St. Peter is paraded through town and is brought to St. Peter's square where he is set on a altar. At the square there is also a big carnival set up with games and rides for the kids and of course food and traditional Italian music can be heard all day long.
Other festivities include the blessing of the fleet, seine boat races, a parade and the greasy pole.




I will try to explain the greasy pole but you really have to see it to get the full effect. The greasy pole is a long pole set out across the harbor that is greased up with some sort of environmentally safe grease. (It usually thick and black but this year it was white and looked suspiciously like Crisco.) At the end of the pole is a flag. The object is to walk across the pole and grab the flag before tumbling into the freezing water below. Depending on wether it is high tide or not you may have an incredible long and potentially painful fall depending on if you hit the pole on your way down. Many of these guys risk ever becoming fathers as they do the old splitsville on the pole. The walkers are dressed in crazy costumes and are usually pretty well liquored up by the time they start walking.



I included a picture hours before the greasy pole. We didn't actually watch the greasy pole this year. In the middle of the picture is a large structure which is where the walkers wait for their turn. Coming off the structure on the right is a long pole parallel to the water and at the end you can see the flag. As you can see it is a long walk and a long drop into the water!






NASCAR

As many of you you know Dom and I are Nascar fans and really enjoy going to the races at NHIS. Last year for the July race it was about 98 degrees and humid and it felt like you were melting sitting in the sun up in the bleachers. We ended up leaving 1/2 way through because it was just too hot. This year the weather was a perfect 70 degrees, breezy and overcast.

The girls were in Gloucester still with Dom's parents and we were lucky enough to have a reserved parking spot waiting for us so we took our time getting there. Normally we head to the race from my parents house and we end up spending a lot of time sitting in traffic getting to the track. We had no idea how close we were to the track coming from our house. We used the trusty GPS to guide us and after cruisin down some back roads came out a mile from where we were going to park. It only took us 35 mins. and barely any traffic! It was only 35 mins getting home too, thanks to the back roads! We still left the race a little early to beat the mad crush of the crowds back to the car. Unfortunately our driver, Carl Edwards had a bad pit stop that cost him the race but it was still a fun day!

For some reason blogger won't let me post any of my pictures from the race!

The Horribles Parade

On July 3rd we were back in Gloucester for the Fishtown Horribles Parade. No one has ever been able to tell me exactly what a horrible is, but it seems to refer to the people who dress up to be in the parade. Anyone can participate and as well as many different characters, there are bands,(the steele drum band is my favorite.) floats and lots of other fun stuff. Prizes are given out in different catergories. This picture is a fine example of a "horrible" and she/he even jiggled as she/he walked!

Becca, Dom and I ended the evening watching fireworks over the harbor. Kenzie doesn't like loud noises and stayed home with Nonna and Nonno.

Our adventures ended at Ma and Pa Sizemores where we were treated to Steak on the grill!

Techinal difficulties!!

Been having trouble posting pics. Hope to have something up in the next day or two so check back soon!

Recital

The girls recital was Sunday and both did a great job! Both sets of grandparents were able to attend and we had a cookout and cake after the show.

First Day of Summer!

The last day of school was Tuesday and today is the first official day of summer! Becca came home with lots of goodies from school. Including a journal she kept during the year and a friendship book that is super cute. Becca's report card was excellent. She is reading at a late third grade level and exceeds expectations in every subject except penmanship which is satisfactory. She is excited about going to second grade but is really going to miss her teacher from this year who was really great.

I thought our schedule was going to slow down with the last day of school but it hasn't happened yet. Yesterday I watched two kids for a friend and in the evening was the dress rehearsal for the girls recital. Today I am watching a child for another friend. Tomorrow I will have to play catch-up on all the things I didn't get done for the past two days due to an extra busy house.

Saturday Becca has a birthday party to attend and Sunday afternoon is the recital. Then things will slow down....at least until July 1st when Dom and I will be off to the Nascar race at NHIS!

Dancing Divas

Since most of you won't be able to see the girls at thier recital here is a sneak peek at their costumes. Both girls are in the opening number which is "You've got a friend in me." from Toy Story. Becca is all 70's funk in her purple tie-dye bell bottoms. She is dancing to "Keep on" by the Brady Bunch. I am sure any of you that watched the Brady Bunch remembers their short lives musical career. I believe it was just a lame attempt to compete with the Partridge family. But anyway it is a super cute outfit. Kenzie is the prima ballerina in her sparkly tutu. She is dancing to a song called "The Magic Garden" and I have no idea who sings it. Being the true diva that Kenzie is she declared her costume the most beautiful. Also in true diva fashion she has been having an attitude about actually performing. So I have my fingers crossed that all will go smoothly. You will of course get the full review after their performance on the 24th!

Counting down

Only 12 days left of school. Yes I am the one counting down the days, not my daughter. I am looking forward to the lazy days of summer with no schedule to adhere to. So there are 12 days of school two more dance classes for each girl and the recital, then we are free for the beach, the boat and playdates whenever we want!!

Memorial day weekend was the end of the wedding circuit for Dom and I. Dom's cousin Liz got married. It was a beautiful day and a traditonal Italian wedding, meaning lots of people, lots of food and lots of fun! It was also like a class reunion for Dom, who graduated from high school with the groom. The kids(and the dogs) spent two nights at Grammie's leaving Dom and I an empty house to enjoy. Actually we weren't even home long enough to enjoy it. By the time I got home from dropping the girls off at my parents after getting Becca from school and getting stuck in all the tourist traffic for the long weekend, it was dinner time. Dom and I did got out to dinner, which was nice. We attempted to sleep late the next morning but we are so used to getting up early that didn't really work. It was just nice to lay in bed and not have to worry about anyone elses needs. By mid-morning we were off to Gloucester for the wedding and to visit with Dom's sister Lisa and her husband Chuck who flew in the for the wedding from Colorado. We spent the night in Gloucester and on Sunday morning suprised Dom's parents with brunch out at a local restaurant. Then we all headed back to our house so Lisa and Chuck could visit with the girls.
Monday was a day to regroup after all the festivities of the weekend. Somehow, despite all that went on I didn't manage to take one picture all weekend!

Here comes the sun!

We had several days of rainy weather that, though good for the grass and flowers, was not so fun for those of us wanting to spend time outdoors. Of course nice weather in May means black flies.
Last weekend Dom was off for a night for his annual hockey game with his friends.
Whenever Dom is gone for the night or home late the girls and I have 'girls night' with junk food, movies and doing our nails and hair. This time was even more special because we invited our friends Annie and Audrey to join us. The girls had a blast dressing up and doing their nails and the moms had a great time too.
Dom has been busy working on the room downstairs. Electric and plumbing are hooked up and next on the agenda in heat and sheetrock. The girls have found the new toilet downstairs a novelty and think it is fun to use it because there are no walls or doors yet.
Yesterday, Kenzie and I went and bought some flowers so we can begin sprucing up the flower gardens outside. All we need is some mulch and a few more flowers and we'll be all set!
This weekend Dom and I have one more wedding to attend. Then I hope that is it for awhile. Weddings are beautiful and all but three in a month is crazy! We will be getting a chance to see Dom's sister and her husband which is always fun. Becca and Kenzie will spend two nights with Grammy and Grampy which they are excited about. The dogs are going to Grammy and Grampy's too. I am not so sure that Grammy and Grampy are excited about having the dogs but it is very much appreciated by us!! Dom and I are just hoping to get a morning to sleep in and not be woken up by dogs or kids!

Kenzie quote of the day

I wish that I was better at writing down and remebering quotes from the girls but here is a cute one from Kenzie today.

"Popsicles make my heart feel like Christmas."

How sweet is that??

Road Trip!

On May 3rd we took off from Farmington, NH on our road trip to Milford MI to witness the wedding of my niece Jill and her finace Miles. We left early Thursday morning with only a few moans and groans from the peanut gallery. We were even on the road a whole hour before someone needed a bathroom break. All kidding aside the girls did awesome. We made a quick stop at Niagara Falls on our way through New York then headed up into Canada to spend the night. It is quicker to go through Canada by about two hours and when traveling with kids saving two hours is major. Early Friday morning we were on the road again and after about five hours we arrived at Mark and Ellen's house in Michigan. It was great to see everyone again and get a peek at the pre-wedding activities. The girls weren't shy at all and quickly made themselves at home. They really loved Sadie, Mark and Ellen's dog.

Friday evening was the wedding. The weather was beautiful and the bride and groom look like they stepped right out of the pages of Bride magazine. The wedding was simple and elegant and the girls enjoyed bopping around the dance floor, especially Mackenzie.

Saturday we celebrated several birthdays, including Mark, Dad, Mom, Ellen's dad and her Aunt Joan. After spending so much time in the car it was very nice to just hang out and catch up with everyone. As with many Sizemore gatherings there was soon talk of a whiffle ball game and we were seperating into teams. Due to contract disputes Rebecca and Mackenzie refused to play and the game was cut short when Dom threw out his back after being hip-checked by Ellen.

After a lengthy time out, Mark got out the golf clubs for a friendly competition to see who could hit the ball closest to the pin. Just for the record, despite my brothers golf expertise he has yet to beat my dad whenever we play. Friday was no exception. Dad won and Mark came in second. I am proud to say that I came in fourth which is a big step up from my usual last place!

Unfortunately being the winner isn't always that great. The prize is usually something very unappetizing. One year it was a dead chipmunk, this year it was a used pooper scooper. We really should put someone else in charge of prizes but it is always funny to see what Mark will come up with every time he loses!

Early Sunday we were on the road again headed for home. On the way we headed back into Canada and stopped at the Toronto Zoo. It is the third largest zoo in the world and though we didn't see all of it, it was lots of fun. I included a picture of the girls checking out some elephant tusks. After the zoo we were back in the car again and headed towards the border. We decided since this was our last night of our mini vacation we would splurge on a really nice hotel room overlooking Niagara Falls on the Canadian side this time. It was so great. One whole side of our room was all windows overlooking the falls. Our room even had a little kitchenette and nice big jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. We let the girls stay up to see the falls all lit up a night.(It gets darker later up there.) It was really cool to see. The falls change colors all night long.

Penguins!

Every since seeing the movie Happy Feet, the girls have been acting and dancing like penguins. Mackenzie was especially fascinated by them. So after going to the library and getting books about penguins we decided the next thing to do was to go visit some real penguins at the New England Aquarium in Boston. I convinced Dom to take a day off from work (It is school vacation week) and we invited our good friends the Beikmans to join us. Unfortunately Tom couldn't get the day off from work but Annie and Audrey joined us. We had a great time and learned lots of stuff too!

Just outside the aquarium is a huge tank with Harbor seals and we arrived just at feeding time, so the seals were very active. Several kept swimming right in front of us upside down! We later learned they do that so that they can see whats underneath them. We also saw a interesting presentation on starfish. Did you know that starfish can actually throw up their stomachs to eat something and then swallow them again? Or that not only can they grow back an arm if they lose one but they can grow back an eye too?? Very cool! Then there was of course the penguins which were a big hit. Some of the penguins were very noisy and one kinda sounded like a donkey! There were rockhopper penguins like Lovelace, if you've seen the movie he's the one that has the funny feathers sticking out of his head. An several other kinds of penguins. The touch tank was a big hit too. The girls got to pick up starfish, sea urchins and snails. It was lots of fun!

Riders on the Storm

So it has been a crazy couple of days here. It was very much like the Mother's day floods of last year but I think it was actually worse. It started out with about 3-4 inches of snow on Sunday and then during the night turned to torrential downpours which turned into major flooding. Our road is washed out in both directions though with four wheel drive it is passable. Dom had gone out with the Focus yesterday morning and couldn't drive it back home because the roads were that bad. They had school yesterday, but I kept Becca home because the road was bad in the morning and I knew it was only going to get worse. They ended up closing school early and today there is no school. The National Guard was called in too. Many, many roads and bridges are closed in Farmington as well as all over the state. These pictures are the road in front of the house.

We did lose electricity for a short time. Our phone was out for several hours too, as well as cable and internet, so for a short time we felt a bit isolated. No cellpone reception out here either.

The snow did cause the water to back up in front of the garage and begin to leak inside but once we cleared the snow out of the way the water was able to drain.

Easter & stuff

The Easter bunny was very generous this year and the girls enjoyed hunting for eggs and candy. The Easter bunny hid everything inside because outside it was reaally chilly! After having our easter fun at home we headed to Gloucester to have dinner with Dom's folks. The girls hunted for more goodies and got big baskets with lots of goodies and new clothes. It was lots of fun. This weekend we will head to Grammy and Grampy's for more Easter fun!

In other news we have begun some home improvements. We are finally finishing the room behind the garage. I never know what to call this room. We tend to refer to it as a basement but it isn't below ground. Our house is a t-ranch with an upstairs and a garage underneath. Behind the garage is a room that we never finished. Once it is officially finished it will be a family room. We intend to do most of the work ourselves and we are off to a good start. Dom has framed in a room for the furnace/water heater and also a place for a closet and 1/2 bath. We also decided to put down some dri-core on the floor as added insulation rather than just lying carpet over the cement. The next phase will be electrical and heat.

On the top you can see where the furnace will have it's own little room. That little corner with the window will be my little craft nook when the girls decide they don't want to share a room anymore and I get kicked out of the extra bedroom. In the bottom picture the closet will be where that chair is. To the left of that will be a little bathroom. It will be a cozy room when it is done. The girls are having a blast right now with it just being a big open space. Especially since we got more snow yesterday!

Thanks

Thanks to all of you who made a case for the best place to live in the comments section of the previous post. We are really feeling the love but have no plans to move. We have everything we love here- mountains,ocean, lakes,rivers and the change of the seasons. We'll have to be content with visiting!

Also a big thanks to Aunts and Uncles who sent Easter goodies to the kids everything was a huge hit!

April showers bring....

SNOW BUNNIES!

April snow showers that is. Yes we woke up to 10 inches of snow this morning. School was cancelled and we made the best of it by making a big snow bunny. Isn't it cute?

Muddy March Madness

I have discovered a new idea for a video game called Muddy March Madness.
First you have to manuever your car, either a Focus or Expedition in and out of the driveway without getting stuck in the mud. You have to make sure that you don't get sucked in by the mud and accidently hit any other vehicles/boat that may be parked in the driveway. For more of a challenge you have to find a non-muddy spot to park your vehicle and then walk from your vehicle to the house without stepping in the super sticky mud that pulls off your boot, stepping in a puddle that is actually a foot deep when it only appears to be 1/2 inch, tromping through the snow and of course avoiding the random piles of dog poo. On the next level you must avoid all these things with the added challenge of two spastic springer spaniels who have the potential to knock you into the puddles/mud/snow/dog poo while covering you with muddy pawprints. For more of challenge you must avoid all those things while carrying in an armload of groceries and for a super-duper challenge you must do all of these while also carrying a sleeping four year old.
Of course as soon as I sell this concept to a video game company I plan on paving the driveway!

I'm Back!

Been a little distracted lately so I apologize, but I am back now.

My biggest distraction of the past few weeks was that a week ago on Thursday Dom had surgery. It was nothing major luckily. He had a lymph node is his neck that was slightly enlarged and had been for several months so the doctor wanted to remove it and have it tested just to be certain that nothing more serious was going on. It was outpatient surgery and I am very thankful to my parents for making an early morning trek over to stay with the girls. There was no school due to teacher conferences. I am also thankful to my friend Audrey who took the girls in the afternoon for a playdate.
The surgery was quick and I played nurse for several days while Dom took it easy. This included attempting to snowblow the driveway when we got a foot of snow two days after his surgery. I say attempted because, though I had never used the snowblower before, I had to deal another obstacle. The week before the storm the weather was warm-40s and 50s which was great except it turned our dirt driveway into a mess of muddy ruts that froze and then became snow covered which made it nearly impossible to drive a snowblower through because it got stuck in the ruts. I did the best I could and at least we were able to get out of the driveway.

So everything is settling back to normal. Dom is feeling good. The weather is getting warmer and the snow is melting. The driveway is still a mess but it is just a matter of time before it dries out and then I can get my carpets cleaned. You can just imagine what two dogs, two kids and a muddy driveway can do to a carpet. Despite it all I wouldn't trade the change of seasons for anything!

Sunrise

What better way to start the week than a beautiful sunrise?

A little kiss

I love Hershey kisses. Just regular Hershey kisses are yummy, but then they started making all these new flavors and combinations and limited editions. My favorites are the kisses with the cherry cordial creme inside. But a very close second is kisses filled with coconut creme. I had heard about them and could never find any until Monday. I of course should have walked away but had to try them. They are yummy. I think the Easter Bunny will have to add these to his list of goodies!

Wagon Hill

After getting about a foot of snow on Friday. Saturday was a beautiful day. The kids did some snowshoeing in the yard. After lunch we met up with friends and headed to Wagon Hill in Durham. We intended to do some snowshoeing and sledding but as we headed east we realized that they got a lot less snow than we did. So we left our snowshoes in the car and took a short little hike down to The Great Bay. The girls had fun in the snow and when we got to the ocean they enjoyed throwing rocks in the water and we even found some mussels still alive! After hiking back to the car we a had a little snack then headed over to check out the sledding. Not too great but worthy of a few runs. It started misting a little bit so we headed back to the car and over to the UNH horse barns to visit the horses. By this time it was getting late and we were hungry so we stopped at Dante's which has excellent italian food. They were very accomadating to the three girls and we ended up with our own cozy little room. It was a very busy and fun day spent with friends!

Snow Day!

It's snowing again. No school today. It is really coming down hard and has been for several hours now. It is supposed to last most of the day but at some point turn to sleet. I think we are supposed to get 6-10 inches depending on if it turns to sleet or not. We already have about four and it is only 9:30 in the morning. Picture is not so great( Boomer was jumping on me and trying to chew on my boot!) I will try to post more later or tomorrow when we go out to play in it.

Weekend without kids

Dom and I got to spend a kid-free weekend this past weekend thanks to Nonna and Nonno. Thursday thru Sunday the girls spent time with Dom's parents getting spoiled and having a great time. Friday was Dom's birthday. He worked all day but I had a clean house and a hot dinner waiting for him when he got home complete with candles and the 'good' china. Saturday we went to the boat show in Boston. It has become a tradition with Dom and I to go to the boat show every year. It's fun to go on the really big boats and to dream about all the cool places we would go if we didn't have any responsibilities. I found one we could easily afford if we sell our house and live on it full-time! Of course I am not sure if the kids would go for that. Especially Becca. The poor kid has a tendency to get seasick. As she gets older she seems to do better, but we usually have to keep an eye on her just in case. We also don't go out on the big lake if it seems too choppy. Sunday we headed back to Gloucester to pick up the girls.

Snow Fun!

It's school vacation week and we finally got weather warm enough to play outside in the snow. The temps were close to 40 degrees which felt warm after having wind chills below zero. We we

went sledding, built a snowman and just had fun!

Of course no day of sledding would be complete without warming up to a hot cup of cocoa or a plate of waffles if your Kenzie. Kenzie doesn't like hot cocoa or chocolate milk but she likes pancakes and waffles and that's what she likes when she comes in from the cold! No, I don't make them from scratch. Good ol' Eggos or Aunt Jemima will do just fine.

Best Wishes!

Just a quick post to say congratulations to my niece Jill who just got engaged and to welcome Miles to the family. We wish you many, many years of happiness! Also good luck to Miles in OSC!

15 minutes

In theory, when my husband is home, I should be able to take a shower. Approximately 15 minutes tops. But in reality it doesn't always happen. Just this past weekend I went to take a shower and soon someone was banging on the door. I open the door to find my youngest standing there with tears in her eyes. "I'm starving." she whimpers pathetically "And look what Boomer did." The offender stands next to her wagging his tail. She holds up her blanket to show me the apple sized hole that the puppy has chewed right in the middle of Pooh's face. This isn't just any blanket this is THE blanket. Commonly refered to as The Blankie of Life because Kenzie doesn't go anywhere without this blanket. Boomer has made it his mission to slowly eat The Blankie of Life. Why he has to chew this blanket when there is a multitude of other important things that he could chew-up is beyond me. So I feed the child and her sister who has appeared also claiming starvation. "Where is your father?" I ask them in frustration.
"In his office." They reply in unison.
That is where I find him playing on the computer. "How come I can't take a 15 minute shower without the world coming to an end?" I ask
"I don't see the world coming to an end." he innocently replies. I show him the blanket with the hole in it.
"This is the end of the world to your daughter." I reply "And she was hungry."
"I didn't know anything was going on." he replies. I turn and silently walk from the room.
"I guess that's the point." he replies following me down the stairs.
"Yes, that is exactly the point." I reply. "It's only 15 minutes."
"Okay, I get it." He insists turning me to face him and give me a hug.
I eye him suspiciously before putting my arms around him.
We'll see if he 'gets it'.

The Big One!

So this is it, they are predicting a big Nor'Easter for Valentines Day! Anywhere from 6-30 inches depending on what part of the state you are in. We are on the line between 6- 12 and 12-18.
So I ran out today to make sure I had milk, bread and toilet paper and fill my car with gas-Not!
I just had to add that because my niece recently had a post on her blog about everything shutting down and people rushing to the store for a few inches of snow down in Maryland. I am quite confident that we have enough supplies to last one day. I am a little suprised that some schools have already cancelled-I am secretly hoping that school is cancelled for us too, just so I can hang out in my jammies all morning. In fact Becca is so convinced that she is not having school she didn't want to write out her Valentines for her class. I told her that you can never be sure of the weather in New England and she better do them 'just in case.'

Lost

Becca lost a tooth over the weekend. This is the third one. She lost the bottom two front last year, but the new teeth had already come in behind the old ones so she never had any empty spaces. Now she has a big ol' empty space in the front. Of course she still has to lose one more to catch up to her sister!

For those of you who don't know, Kenzie has already lost four teeth. The top four in the front.
When she was two she hit her mouth on the coffee table. After a trip to the dentist and an x-ray we found out that the front two had been pushed up into the gum line and definitely had to come out. The other two on either side were very loose and he recommended that they come out too. There was a chance they could tighten up again but since Kenzie is a thumb sucker they probably wouldn't get the chance. So rather than wait and take the chance that she would have to have those removed at a later time he took them all at once. I am going to leave out all the gory details because this has been on of my worst experiences as a parent. I'll just say that she has recovered very nicely and there is nothing that she can't eat. Unfortunately this was her first experience with the dentist and since then we are pretty hit or miss as to how cooperative she is when at the dentist. Her first cleaning went suprisingly smoothly. The second not so good and we are due for a third shortly. We'll just have to wait and see!
And with no teeth in the front she can do cool stuff like touch her tongue to her nose!

While I am on the subject of things getting Lost. I need to mention the show Lost. This is my favorite show. The only show that I watch religiously. The show that made me call the cable company and get a DVR because they changed the time slot on me and I was afraid of missing the shows because I am rarely awake after 10:00pm. The show that frustrates me to no end but leaves me wanting more. I am so happy that it is back on after a three month break. Now all is good.

Out of the mouths of babes...

These are two of my children's most famous quotes. The kind that your try not laugh, but leaves you questioning your parenting skills.
The first is from Becca after I told her she had to clean up the toys that were already out before she could take out any more: "You've got the wrong kid!" she cried near tears. " I wasn't made for cleaning!"
And the second is from Kenzie on a day when everything I did seemed to piss her off. In exasperation I asked her "What is your problem today?" and she looked me right in the eye, with her hands on her hips and said "You mom. You're my problem."
I had to ask.
They really are good kids, but the amount of drama that happens around here on an almost daily basis is amazing. I guess it is probably a girl thing. What do you think? Jen? Jill?

Why is it....

that after building a new house with new appliances I have had more things break than when we rented? Even our first house that was almost 20 years old had less issues than this house. In the 4 1/2 years that we have lived here I have had the ice maker fixed 6 times. Well, it wasn't actually fixed 6 times. It has broken twice and the first time it took 4 repairmen to come out on four seperate occasions before it was fixed. It broke again recently and it took 2 repairmen. Luckily it is under warranty. My dryer has broken once and my dishwasher twice. My dishwasher is broken right now as a matter of fact and has been broken since before Thanksgiving. It isn't fixed yet because: 1) It is not under warranty. 2) I don't actually need a dishwasher, though it is really convenient. 3)I hate waiting around for the repairmen, especially during the holidays. (I don't technically consider the holidays over until after Dom's birthday at the end of February.) Yes, I am a SAHM but I still am quite busy and spend a lot of time in the car. (I'd be really annoyed if I had to take all that time off from a job to have the ice make fixed!)
I am dealing with Sears and they will give me a day that they will come out and they could show up anytime between 8:00am and 5:00pm. It really annoys me that they can't at least narrow it down to a morning or afternoon. Even the cable company does that. At least they call before they show up to make sure that you are home. And you know that they are going to call when I am picking up Becca from school.
So on Sunday we suddenly have no hot water. Okay it wasn't suddenly. The hot water heater started making a weird noise and shortly thereafter we had no hot water. Okay actually it had been making a weird noise off and on for about a week........ So anyway, Dom thought maybe the pump that circulates the water may have broke. So we spent most of Sunday without hot water. Not a huge deal but it meant no hot water for showers and doing dishes. So we called the repairman first thing Monday morning and they came right out. It wasn't the pump just air in the pipes. So he bled the pipes and replaced the valve and we soon had hot water again!

So in short they don't make things like they used to. It's all a big scam by the appliance companies. My parents had a freezer that lasted like 50 years! My ice maker lasted one.
The greedy appliance makers weren't making enough money so now they make appliances that don't last long, need constant repairs and convince you to buy service agreements, all so they can screw you out of more money. 'Nuff said!

The Sock Troll

We have a sock troll that steals socks. I know that you are thinking that it's just that weird laundry thing where one sock disappears in the dryer even though you put both pairs in at the same time. Well a sock troll is different. A sock troll only steals the socks of seven year old girls named Rebecca. It's true. Everyone else in the house has plenty of pairs of socks except Rebecca. I have searched high and low for these socks and they rarely show up. So the only explanation is a sock troll. And sock trolls don't just steal one sock but usually both. Obviously socks of seven year old girls are the perfect size for a sock troll, who of course likes to make sock puppets out of them. (What did you think they did with them? You've never actually seen a troll wearing socks have you??)
Now the sock troll is not to be confused with the sock fairy who leaves pairs of socks under Rebecca's pillow at least once a week. Really. You can go up to her room right now and I can almost guarantee that there is a pair of socks under her pillow.
....Okay, so there is no such thing as the sock fairy. Becca often wears socks to bed and her feet get hot in the middle of the night so she takes off her socks and puts them under her pillow. Now you are probably thinking that there are a bunch of her socks scrunched up under the sheets at the bottom of the bed. That's what I thought too, but no, she consistently tucks them under her pillow. Her socks just keep disappearing and I just keep buying her more. I bought her some at Christmas. Eight pairs in fact and this week she was down to two. I went out yesterday and bought six more pair. We'll see how long they last.
Now I must sign off and get back to work on my sock troll trap!

Now you know where my children get their great imaginations from. Though my brother Mark can tell a great story too. Just ask him about his traumatic childhood. Hee-hee! Love you Bro!

Harry Potter 7

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the name of the 7th book. I pre-ordered it from Amazon today. It is coming out July 21st . I have really mixed feelings about this book because it is the final one. I really want to read it but I really don't want it to end. I have read several rumors that 2 people will die in the final book and that Harry is one of them...I just have to wait until this summer to find out! Anyone else anxiously awaiting this final book????

Books read in January

I love books. I love to read. I don't read nearly as much as I would like to, but I do make time as often as I can. I also find that I go in spells where I want to read constantly and other times I could go a month without picking up a book, though this is pretty rare. I will read most anything.

I thought I would share the books that I have read so far this month. I am always looking for suggestions so if you have any please share!

I Like You - Hospitality under the Influence by Amy Sedaris- Funny book about entertaining

The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards-very good.

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult-Love her books

The Undomestic Goddess-Funny, light read- also love her other books.

The Best Life Diet by Bob Greene- The guy who helped Oprah- gonna try it! (I will probably post more about this later.)

I am lucky enough that I can trade back and forth with my mom and some of my friends but I still find myself buying books. I would like to use the library more often. I am actually there once a week for story time but never seem to make it to the adult section. I have been reading

some of the young adult/teen literature which has been kinda fun though. I really enjoyed Hoot and Flush both by Carl Hiaasen.

So that is my list for the month. I would recommend them all!

My Birthday

I have had a very nice birthday so far. I still have several hours left and intend to enjoy the rest of it too. My husband and children let me sleep in this am. My husband took me out to lunch without the children. The girls got to play at their best friends house. When we got back to pick up the girls they had a cake for me. Very yummy!

So after the responses to my tattoo post I am really considering getting one. I still need to think about it a little longer, but maybe this summer....I'll keep you posted. The whole belly button piercing is out because it would require hiring a personal trainer and getting a tummy tuck, so unless we win powerball that just isn't going to happen!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday to Me,
Happy Birthday to Me,
Happy Birthday to Me (and Auntie Lisa!)
Happy Birthday to Me!

So it's my blog and my birthday and today is all about me. But right now I don't feel like writing about me so I'll save that for later on today. I just wanted to wish myself a Happy Birthday!!
Cause it's all about ME! As a typical mom I always put family first so this is kinda fun! ME, ME, ME, ME, ME, ME, ME,(No offense Lisa) ME,ME, ME.....LALALALALA....ME,ME,ME.........
Happy Birthday to ME.........

Blog challenge

The scrapbooking website that I visit quite often has blog challenges or topics actually that they challenge you to write about. The one for yesterday was "If you got a tattoo, what kind would you get and where would you put it?"
I decided to take this challenge and reveal a little known secret which is I have always wanted to get a tattoo but have never actually had the courage to do it. (I have always wanted to get my belly buttoned pierced too!) So if I ever did get a tattoo I would get two simple little butterflies or dragonflies to symbolize my two girls. I would probably put it just above my ankle.

Becca's Birthday

It seems like we have been celebrating Becca's birthday for a week now and we kinda have. We started on Sat. the 13 the with Grammy and Grampy. They came over for lunch and cake and ice cream. Her official birthday was on Thursday the 18th. We celebrated at home with cake and presents. This is also the day that the big present arrived by pure luck. The gift was given by Nonna, Nonno, Auntie Lisa and Uncle Chuck. It was a three foot tall stuffed pony that actually moves like a real pony. Her name is Butterscotch and you may have seen them in some stores around Christmas time. It really is amazing how realistic this thing moves its head and ears, swishes its tail and actual air comes out its nostrils when it snorts! It is also amazing that it was delivered on her birthday. After Christmas there were none of these to be found in stores, so after some research by Auntie Lisa we decided to order online from Target whose price was a little cheaper and then with the extra cost of shipping it wasn't too different then if I had found it at a store. Target didn't have any in stock but was taking orders and estimated a delivery of 3-6 weeks.

Despite randomly checking the website on the Tuesday morning before her birthday I had pretty much given up that it would arrive in time for her birthday as had everyone else. Tuesday evening when I checked the email there was the shipping notice from Target! I was so suprised that I gasped out loud causing Becca to look at me and ask what was wrong. "Nothing."

I innocently replied. I wasn't able to find out where it was shipping from that night and checked first thing Wednesday morning. It had shipped from PA and I knew that it still had a shot of making it for her birthday. Weds. afternoon it hit Chelmsford, MA. and overnight it was sitting in Dover, NH. By 9:00am it was out for delivery. I couldn't believe the luck! Of course we rarely get deliveries before 4:30 from UPS. This actually was another stroke of luck. Dom left work early and was driving in the driveway as the UPS man left. The girls were playing and never heard the delivery. Dom snuck the pony into the garage and put the batteries in and the head on.(There is a warning on the box not to open in front of small children because the pony is headless.) Dom then turned the pony on and left it on the porch and came in throught the garage. I then told Becca she had a delivery and then there was much screaming and dancing around in excitement.

Saturday Becca had a Willy Wonka themed party with friends which was very nice and on Sunday we were at Nonna's for more cake and presents.

Peyton vs. Brady

Peyton Manning, after living a full life, died. When he got to heaven, God was showing him around. They came to a modest little house with a faded Colts flag in the window. "This house is yours for eternity, Peyton," said God. "This is very special; not everyone gets a house up here. "Peyton felt special, indeed, and walked up to his house. On his way up the porch, he noticed another house just around the corner. It was a 3-story mansion with a Silver and blue sidewalk, a 50-foot tall flagpole with an enormous Patriots logo flag, and in every window, a New England Patriots towel. Peyton looked at God and said "God, I'm not trying to be ungrateful, but I have a question. I was an all-pro QB, I hold many NFL records, and I even went to the Hall of Fame. "God said "So what's your point Peyton?" "Well, why does Tom Brady get a better house than me?" God chuckled, and said: "Peyton, that's not Tom's house, it's mine."GO PATRIOTS!!!

Kitty Entertainment

We have one of those bird feeders that sit right in the window and has a one way mirror so you can see the birds but they can't see you. This is where the cat spends 80% of the day. Every now and then you hear a thump as she crashes into the window trying to get one of the birds. It's not a great picture but if you look closely there is a bird sitting in the feeder. Now that everything is covered with ice there is a constant flow of birds to the feeder. (as you can see I need to fill it up again!) It's really kinda fun to watch them. Just ask Misty!

"Water is the worst nightmare!"

I am very lucky to have two well behaved children most of the time, but Mackenzie can be very challenging. At least several times a day we butt heads about something, usually clothing but it could be anything on any given day.
Last night was a perfect example. As I was making dinner Kenzie asked for some milk. Not wanting her to fill up on milk right before dinner I told her that she could have water now and milk with her dinner. This of course did not go over well at all and Kenzie went on and on about how she hated water and "water is the worst nightmare!' She continued her tirade until we sat down to dinner. In reality Kenzie drinks water all the time. In fact both girls will no longer drink juice only milk or water by their own choice. We finally sit down to dinner and the girls get milk. When dinner is over I notice that Kenzie's glass is still over half full. So I ask her if she is going to drink it.
"No, I want water." She sweetly replied as I resisted the urge to bang my head repeatedly against the wall. It is a good thing that she is so cute!

Winter is finally here

We seem to finally be getting some honest to goodness New England winter weather here in mid-January. Not that I want actual winter weather. I was in fact enjoying the mild weather very much. Today we have had a mixture of sleet, freezing rain and snow. I would prefer just straight snow but since I didn't have to go anywhere today the ice is okay. As long as we don't get too much and lose power! Becca should have had school today but it was cancelled because of the weather as was her dance class. Dom wisely chose to work from home today so everyone has been home safe and sound. When everyone is home and we can just hang out and not worry about the weather I don't mind the snow/ice/freezing rain. The weathermen are saying that the cold weather is here to stay. It is supposed to be really cold all week.







Now so you don't think I am total geek rambling on about the weather for my last two posts, onto other news:







THE PATRIOTS BEAT THE CHARGERS!!!!!!!!!!WOOOHOOO!!!!!!!







I am not a big football fan but I watched the whole game to support my poor husband who was a total wreck the entire time. How they managed to pull it off I don't know but they did. Dom thinks that if they can beat the chargers they'll go to the Superbowl. Let's hope he's right!







We are in the final planning stages of Becca's birthday party. She wanted a Willy Wonka themed party this year so I have been wracking my brain trying to come up with ideas. I made the invitations and they came out pretty cute. For the front of the invitation I color copied a Wonka Bar then inside is of course a golden ticket! Sorry, pics aren't so good. I've got some candy crafts planned. I even found a small chocolate fountain on clearance at Target for our chocolate waterfall! (I love Target clearance! It was only $12.00!!) You should have seen Becca's eye's light up when I told her about the fountain. Instead of a cake I will make cupcakes and let the kids decorate them.
I will post more pics after the party on Saturday.

I am officially freaked out!

By the weather. It was 65 degrees on Saturday January 6th. There is no snow on the ground and we played outside in sweatshirts. The girls didn't even seem to mind the mild weather. Our road and driveway is a mess of mud as well as our vehicles. It is currently 41 and pouring rain. I am not complaining but it's getting a little creepy. Can you say global warming????

A dog's life

This is Boomer relaxing and just letting it all hang out. He is not supposed to be on the couch but does it look like he cares????

He actually sleeps all sprawled out like this all the time and it cracks me up. This is the best one so far.

Happy New Year!

New look for the Blog for the new year. Like it?