tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20891394295976315222011-07-28T11:56:19.651-07:00Wife, mother, and devoted Survivor fan.Menoreply@blogger.comBlogger671100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-6001835060923356002009-01-16T10:30:00.000-08:002009-01-16T10:31:42.754-08:00

Better late then never, right? 1. My kids made it through another year in one piece. I must say, I am impressed with them both. They are two of the happiest, funniest, sweetest kids ever, if I do say so myself. I am also excited to report that Emily, on two separate occasions, demonstrated that she has not inherited my pitiful sense of direction.2. I read 17 books. Not my personal best, but I

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-66988899186713222892008-11-17T20:28:00.000-08:002008-11-17T20:50:48.094-08:00

I am writing to discuss a rather odd phenomenon. A couple of years ago, Romy took Emily and I to see "Annie" at the Academy of Music. Beautiful venue, really wonderful show. We all LOVED it. We had great seats, a couple of rows back from the balcony. When I think back to this particular day of fun, I always get a very nervous feeling and make a note to myself that I should never take my kids

Menoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-41845574331480317522008-11-13T11:27:00.000-08:002008-11-13T12:06:42.818-08:00

I finally got my act together and came up with a post for this week's prompt, courtesy of : If I could live in any era of history, what would it be -- list 10 reasons why.This is an easy one. I would definitely live in the colonial days. Here's why: 1. Being a part of this experiment called America would be inspiring.2. The founders of our country had so much foresight and we so very smart. I

Menoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-70273882252481557432008-11-12T18:40:00.000-08:002008-11-12T22:04:57.114-08:00

I am way late on the obligatory Halloween post. We have had an extremely nice couple of weeks, including two Apple Picking excursions and a trip to the Pumpkin Patch. We also watched the city of Philadelphia celebrate their first World Series victory in a quarter of a century, saw Emily participate in her first Halloween Parade, and then later collected and ate a bunch of candy. What could be

Menoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-40363641646665817652008-11-03T19:39:00.000-08:002008-11-03T19:55:38.486-08:00

My dearest friend and fellow concerned citizen, Megan, and I have decided to start a blog about things that matter to women. It is called...brace yourself: The Women's Monthly. Catchy, isn't it!?Megan and I have known each other for our entire lives. We often see things from different perspectives. She lives on the West Coast, I live on the East. She is a newlywed, I am an old married lady.

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-75201430698320388472008-10-09T18:49:00.000-07:002008-10-27T18:45:26.936-07:00

but I had to share this picture. I found it while snooping on my sister's Facebook page. I just love it, even though it is clearly staged. My sister doesn't usually drive really fast past cornfields with a lighter in her mouth. At least I hope not. You don't, right Naomi? Anyway, I think it kind of captures a youthful recklessness that I once enjoyed. Actually I never really enjoyed

Menoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-38748496082486149502008-10-02T18:45:00.000-07:002008-10-04T20:03:42.708-07:00

My suer late homework courtesy of This week's assignment: Write about a time you hid from someone, or a time you disguised who you really were. My response:So remember my beautiful friend Megan? (You just saw her bachelorette picture in Wendesday's post.) We have known one another since I was born and she was two, so we have had countless adventures together. Countless. One such adventure

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-46603523217416751402008-10-01T18:04:00.000-07:002008-10-01T18:33:50.674-07:00

Courtesy of: " target="_blank">A few months ago, I went to my dear friend Megan's East Coast bachelorette party. That is Megan on the right. Isn't she cute? My sister (and polar opposite of me in every way) was my designated driver. She is only 20, so she just dropped me off and picked me up later at the bar. I BEGGED her to come in despite the fact that she was wearing Crocs and gym shorts.

Menoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-66335328173258697312008-09-24T18:42:00.000-07:002008-09-24T19:08:29.903-07:00

I am participating in Angie's Wordful Wednesday this week. Why not, you know?" target="_blank">This photo was taken of me this summer when I was in Seattle. My oldest, dearest friend Megan was getting married at the coolest venue you could ever imagine. It was a huge building owned by a movie set designer and had big multi-colored paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling and a really cool

Menoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-44761997609715363352008-09-23T20:20:00.000-07:002008-09-23T20:48:16.073-07:00

For my wedding shower, my in-laws bought us an awesome vacuum cleaner. My father in law is the kind of guy that will extensively search online before making a purchase. FIL searched and searched for the best vacuum cleaner to give to his youngest son and his blushing bride. I wasn't really blushing, but whatever. Anyhoo, this particular vacuum cleaned my carpet as if it had been bitten by a

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-31635425706688405882008-09-18T18:42:00.000-07:002008-09-18T05:32:20.543-07:00

It's that time again, folks. Behold, my weekly writing assignment courtesy of :I chose the following prompt:Do you have reoccurring dreams? What are they about?WARNING: There is a little bit of gross-ness in this post. Nothing too bad, but I felt the need to warn you. I do not currently have any recurring dreams, but there was a time in my life that I did. When I was a kid, I would have the

Menoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-3680567318680664392008-09-17T18:42:00.002-07:002008-09-17T20:12:53.375-07:00

I am participating in Wordful Wednesday this week. It is for people who couldn't possibly just post a picture without some sort of explanation. Which describes me exactly. Thanks Angie :)." target="_blank">The following picture represents the fruits of our labor and the success that was our ill-fated garden. We actually got real crops this year! Peppers, tomatoes, a coupla green beans, and

Menoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-389140906187873402008-09-11T20:23:00.001-07:002008-09-11T21:03:16.075-07:00

This prompt was too hard to resist.1.) Write about a brief, but scary encounter with one of your old professors or teachers.It was my second year of teaching at a local college and I took part in the "Learning Commnities Institute". My role was to pair up with a professor from another department and integrate our curriculum. We would share a cohort of students but our classes would be held

Menoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-91723859442923146822008-09-11T18:57:00.000-07:002008-09-11T19:58:51.807-07:00

My homework assignment from 3.) You are 20 years in the future, write a letter to your todays self.Dear Mrs. Whimsy,One day, you will be able to run to the grocery store to pick up that one ingredient you need for dinner, and (brace yourself) you won't have to spend 20 minutes buckling carseats, taking short little steps into the store, explaining over and over again why you don't need the "

Menoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-62527621019024798832008-09-09T12:33:00.000-07:002008-09-11T18:55:47.076-07:00

Our fourth grade spring project was to collect bottles and cans to be recycled. We learned all about the benefits of recycling, we colored pictures about recycling, we wrote an essay about recycling, the whole nine yards. To add to the excitement, there was a competition involved. The class that collected the most recyclables would be able to spend a portion of their recycling proceeds on a

Menoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-1476039173976369522008-09-07T18:59:00.000-07:002008-09-08T13:12:29.537-07:00

I was IMing with Kristy the other night and we were discussing this woman that we both respect. I was all, "She is so smart", and Kristy was all "I love her hair", and I was like "She has really cool glasses. And shoes." And Kristy was like "And her husband is hot!" and I was all, "She is just so talented. I think I love her." And Kristy was all, "ME TOO!!!".Then we both reread our conversation..

Menoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-91985948109345481302008-09-05T12:14:00.000-07:002008-09-05T12:32:56.318-07:00

In order to satisfy your curiosity, I shall now divulge the story behind Mrs. Miller the Fourth Grade Killer's christmas gift.My mother, (let's just call her Sandy), is not the type to give someone a generic gift. No candles or coffee mugs for this holiday elf. Sandy likes to give thoughtful and inspiring gifts. Sandy knew how much I disliked Mrs. Miller, but she did the right thing. She

Menoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-45967682514961369982008-09-02T21:21:00.001-07:002008-09-03T19:28:24.851-07:00

When you are a mom, rainy days are your worst nightmare. Without the luxury of "running off some steam", kids can quickly turn into whiny, combative little monsters. It sucks. In an effort to beat the "rainy day blues", we made a volcano out of junk that we found laying around the house. We also stayed in our PJs all day, ate our lunch in a fort in the living room, and painted some lovely

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-15180514974678827862008-09-02T19:44:00.001-07:002008-09-02T20:52:46.173-07:00

Here is another writing assignment, courtesy ofhttp://mamakatslosinit.blogspot.com/Dear Little Miss Whimsy,I understand that this is quite possibly the worst year of your life. Looking back after all this time, I need you to know that you are right. Mrs.-Miller-the-Fourth-Grade-Killer is a horrible teacher and a complete bitch (please don't tell Mom I said that). Her plaid bellbottomed pantsuits

Menoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-41665739795688324832008-08-27T19:04:00.000-07:002008-08-27T19:27:33.310-07:00

I wish I understood more about nature. Take these fish for instance:Do you see them? That gargantuan school of fish went swimming by us last month at the beach. They were swimming so feverishly that they were loud. Loud slapping noises. That part was a bit disconcerting to me for some reason, but it was fascinating nonetheless. It made me wonder...where were they going? To feed? To escape

Menoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-79114973993550453612008-08-06T19:40:00.000-07:002008-08-20T18:56:06.485-07:00

We went to the beach last month and it became pretty clear that Ethan and Emily have very different "vacation styles". Emily loved playing in the water and digging for stuff. Ethan loved wandering aimlessly in the sand. Seriously, I have never seen a kid walk around so much in my life. Andy or I would have to go follow him and attempt to convince him that he should come hang out where all

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-77404018540930902402008-08-04T20:52:00.000-07:002008-08-04T21:08:11.855-07:00

While getting the kids dressed for bed:Emily: What's up with Ethan's shorts? Are they mine?Me: No, they aren't yours. They are just extra comfy shorts we have laying around...they are miscellaneous.Emily: Why is he wearing her shorts?Me: Whose shorts?Emily: Miss Alaneous

Menoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-40242090761431006662008-07-02T18:32:00.001-07:002008-08-04T20:52:20.377-07:00

Hi! I had the month of July completely off from work...which never ever happens. As a result, I found myself way too busy to visit you, Internet, but now I am back! The good news is...I have a lot to write about.First up on the agenda: we planted a garden! I was not too hopeful...past attempts at growing crops have not been very, um, productive. Actually, past attempts have been pretty

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-24729776372736229172008-07-01T10:43:00.000-07:002008-08-04T20:46:59.432-07:00

I always wondered how people had time to do things like clean their patio furniture. I finally figured it out. Kids are really, really impressionable. Honestly, though..it is fun tackling big projects together. Plus, it is probably good for their hand eye coordination and gross motor skills.

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-72735962570719344812008-06-03T19:33:00.000-07:002008-12-11T12:15:55.236-08:00

Emily got a brand new bike that looks to me like it was made for a teenager. Seriously, I am having a hard time understanding how on EARTH I have a kid that is big enough to fit on this thing. Wasn't she just a toddler a little while ago? What year is it again?She does look really grown up riding it...even if she is wearing a Princess helmet. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Menoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-41325832800970596852008-06-03T18:46:00.000-07:002008-12-11T12:15:57.755-08:00

He totally cooperated this weekend and made it possible to spend some quality time in the Great Outdoors. Thanks, pal. Keep up the good work .Anyway, we totally took advantage of the nice weather and took a trip to our local State Park.I love that picture. He looks like he's thinking...and she looks annoyed. Really, they are both just chewing.We went fishing, as you can see. If, of course,

Menoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-27020682306673551992008-06-03T18:23:00.000-07:002008-06-03T19:47:57.949-07:00

Why is this little man celebrating in the middle of my messy living room, you ask? Maybe the fact that he is wearing UNDERWEAR!?! I am thrilled, to say the least. I would also like to take this opportunity to pat my own back. Repeatedly. Potty training, oh excuse me, I mean Potty Learning, is not for the weary. However, in typical Ethan style, we stuck it out. He will now be sporting

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-19649150624022028052008-06-03T11:05:00.000-07:002008-06-03T11:11:19.984-07:00

I think I have finally found the path to stardom. The cool chicks over at The Secret is in the Sauce are having a contest with really cool prizes and lots of exposure for my little old blog. I usually don't win things, but I am excited to participate. Woohoo. I just love contests.Now I need your help. in order to enter, I have to send them my 3 favorite posts. I need some suggestions,

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-32809915716269257682008-06-01T18:23:00.000-07:002008-06-01T19:17:57.428-07:00

For Emily's 3rd birthday, her uncle bought her a pink snake. A live one that lives in a cage in our house. It eats mice and slithers and I don't love it. However, I have to admit that I do kind of like having a bit of a zoo at our house. All the fish, the hermit crab, the cats, the dog, us...and the snakes. That was not a typo...snake is now plural. As in, another snake. About 2 weeks after

Menoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-19671470677484633962008-06-01T18:05:00.000-07:002008-06-01T19:48:02.379-07:00

Have you ever fallen in love online? I have, many times over. Not with people, of course; with PRODUCTS. You know, stuff that you really want that you admire and think about buying. You search for them regularly and eventually take things to the next level: the "Favorites" or "Bookmark" stage. Don't look at me like you don't know what I'm talking about.I fall in love with all kinds of stuff

Menoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-14951976012869188712008-05-21T18:27:00.000-07:002008-12-11T12:15:58.735-08:00

I have noticed eerie similarities between myself and my offspring. Poor, poor children.Emily has inherited my empathy and passion. This is a nice way of saying she freaks out over things and cries when she thinks people are mad at her.She has also inherited my love of books and artsy things. Today, she won an award at school for her book report entitled "The Lorax". OK, so everyone got an

Menoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-8991532484242313642008-05-20T13:00:00.000-07:002008-05-21T05:02:28.258-07:00

I have been tagged by Lex the mom ! This means that I am kind of popular and somebody out there wants to learn more about me. Yay!The Rules:~Each player answers the questions about themselves.~At the end of the post, the player tags other people and posts their name, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.~What

Menoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-86368672408394017782008-05-16T19:09:00.000-07:002008-05-17T13:49:37.310-07:00

When I was little, I loved being around teenagers. Mostly because I admired their really big bangs and pastel sparkly lip gloss. However, there was one young and hip chick that I especially idolized, and it wasn't because she had blue eyeshadow. In fact, to my recollection, she never wore any makeup. She had her ears pierced a WHOLE bunch of times, and she was just super cool. My aunt Romy

Menoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-61594820280959283642008-05-16T18:21:00.000-07:002008-05-18T19:04:58.876-07:00

Rumor has it, somebody else got the job. Whew! That was a close one.The woman who got the job is a fabulous teacher and all around great lady. She has been teaching there for 15 years. I am genuinely happy for her.This is good news, I decided. Really. This was the universe's way of telling me to stay put.

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-76179376112312940852008-05-15T17:14:00.000-07:002008-05-15T18:28:49.290-07:00

When I was in college, I was a member of Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity. AKA the Nerd Herd. It was more fun than it sounds, really; smart people are extremely entertaining when they are drunk. To this day, I am not really sure why they let me in. This organization followed rules to a T. One of my best friends, Kristy, was the president of Phi Sigma Pi. Under the Kristy regime,

Menoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-46072150003053811852008-05-03T18:07:00.000-07:002008-05-03T18:30:42.526-07:00

I am delighted to report that Poppop was indeed victorious. Justice has prevailed! The PoppopMobile will be restored to its original state, courtesy of the Kid. But Melt, perspiring due to synthetic fibers, reportedly hung his head while leaving the courtroom.Stay tuned for the next episode of...The Town that Time Forgot

Menoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-42855719380784575082008-04-30T19:54:00.000-07:002008-05-01T19:07:55.600-07:00

Last week, I went out on the town with my friend Linda. We went to see a really good show, Sara Bareilles, Rachael Yamagata, and David Ford. 3 awesome musicians. It was a great show. These outings are never uneventful, though, so of course there is a story that has nothing to do with the music, but everything to do with me. Here goes.After a nice dinner, we were walking down South Street on

Menoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-70140621491181143142008-04-30T19:12:00.000-07:002008-05-03T18:18:02.336-07:00

My grandparents live in an old steel town. When you are there, it feels like you have been transported to the early 90s. The roads all have potholes and the stores have strange names. The kitchens have linoleum floors and the houses appear to be a little bit crooked. It is a nice little town, but there is very limited wireless access. Like I said, very early 90s.This town reminds me of a

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-75320963398362019722008-04-27T18:48:00.000-07:002008-04-27T18:53:43.343-07:00

Things are not going so well with Project Precious. This weekend, she ripped a huge branch off of our pear tree and singlehandedly destroyed Money's skateboard. She seemed to have fun, though. I need to work on a new game plan. This child simply does not respond to nice consistent reminders and redirection. Supernanny always says to use a low tone. Perhaps my voice is too squeaky or

Menoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-91068759535540606052008-04-27T18:13:00.000-07:002008-04-27T18:48:26.014-07:00

Ethan was a turtle for about an hour today. After dumping out all the little toys out of the basket, of course. He was so happy to be a turtle, and I was pleasantly surprised at how quiet a two year old turtle can be.Emily worked on this playdough cake for Ethan for about 45 minutes. She really took her time and was so proud of the finished product. Then we sang happy birthday and cut it up.

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-92074268990338718682008-04-27T17:54:00.000-07:002008-04-27T18:08:30.299-07:00

Oh Cereal, how I love theeYour sweet crunchcomplimenting cold refreshing milk.Others cannot compare.The satisfaction I feelupon your demise.I don't care what they say:You are too "Fast", too "Easy"Let them talk. I pity them.You are the perfect beginning.The perfect ending.To any day.

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-50112783707322217072008-04-23T17:46:00.000-07:002008-04-23T18:29:35.768-07:00

There's a little girl that lives across the street. Let's call her Precious. Precious is 5. She joined the gang of neighborhood kids when she was 3, so she is well seasoned when it comes to roaming aimlessly, picking people's flowers, and standing in your flower bed talking to you through your open window when you are trying to read books to your kids. Emily absolutely loves playing with

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-81885047085562141702008-04-20T09:21:00.000-07:002008-04-20T18:55:02.575-07:00

Let's get one thing straight: a domestic goddess I am not. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy many domestic activities: cooking, sewing, crafts, activities with the kids. Now that I am thinking about it, all of these activities require making messes. This is where I excel. I am always willing to participate in any undertaking that involves getting a bunch of stuff out and making something new out

Menoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-20737119898439972482008-04-20T05:48:00.000-07:002008-04-20T05:52:26.935-07:00

As it turns out, Ben's favorite color is pink and he really likes hanging out with the girls....I think I am no longer concerned.

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-72183659767048695422008-04-15T13:18:00.000-07:002008-04-15T13:38:39.865-07:00

Today, Emily informed me that as she was eating lunch, her little friend Ben called her a name. You want to know what he called her? "Baby Girl". Yes, you read right: Baby Girl. What is up with this? Aren't kindergarteners supposed to call each other poopyhead and meanieface? I could have handled that. What is this, kindergarten or an LL Cool J song?The real troubling thing is that when

Menoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-87505461968001519402008-04-14T18:05:00.000-07:002008-04-14T18:25:01.062-07:00

Emily is quite the artist. She comes home from school every day with her backpack full of masterpieces. Just last week, she drew a beautiful picture of the two of us riding on an elephant through the desert.When I commented on the horizon line in the background, she said, very matter of factly," Yes, my friend Greta taught me to do that. It is called a landscaper." As I held back my chuckle,

Menoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-90302710506067257322008-04-08T19:09:00.000-07:002008-04-08T19:43:07.160-07:00

As some of you may know, I have an extreme love of Dr. Seuss. That guy rocks, even if he did pretend to be a doctor. In celebration of the imposter's birthday, Emily's class had a special month of reading his books and doing super cool activities, including donning funny hats and eating Green Eggs and Ham. I squelched my urge to call her teacher and offer to take over these celebrations, and

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-78192977918239330482008-04-08T17:51:00.000-07:002008-04-08T18:46:32.859-07:00

For the past couple of days I have been proctoring state standardized tests for homeschooled children in the city of brotherly love. This has been quite the experience, to say the least. Nothing like taking 300 kids who are used to working at home at their own pace and cramming them in a room for two days to quietly take a high stakes test. Ummm, yeah. It actually went well, all things considered

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-64636875033809364792008-03-31T17:38:00.000-07:002008-03-31T18:53:33.019-07:00

My freshman year of college, I learned a valuable skill. Actually, I believe it was my dear friend Jill who taught me this life-changing practice: the art of the nap. You see, before I went to college, I was never really a napper. To lay down and get all drooly in the middle of the day was not something I was into. Or so I thought. But when Jill would lay down and get snuggly after class,

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-51101942561853785422008-03-23T19:37:00.000-07:002008-03-23T20:18:20.742-07:00

Happy Easter! Every spring, we get professional pictures taken. I decided to try to take them myself this year (Why? I have no idea.) Yesterday, I forced the kids to get all dressed up say "Cheese!". They were pretty irritated with me when all was said and done, but some of the pictures turned out OK. I will eventually get them printed and give them out to people, but we all know I suck at

Menoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-86212005527888610562008-03-23T19:29:00.000-07:002008-03-23T20:18:54.331-07:00

Remember the Wonder Years? That was such a good show: wholesome family, coming-of-age storylines, great music, Winnie Cooper and her teeny little eco-friendly car . I really miss that show.One of the most consistent scenes in The Wonder Years revolved around Jack, Norma, and the kids enjoying their evening meal. It never failed that as they would sit on their vinyl seats around the table, Jack

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-8195118633743590042008-03-23T19:27:00.000-07:002008-12-11T12:15:59.040-08:00

March 16, 2008 - SundayThis morning, we were waiting to see the Easter bunny. In line, many families with pretty little children were all dressed up in their fancy duds to sit on the lap of he who will bring them treats in a basket while they slumber. First off, my children were not in fancy gear...this Easter bunny thing was an afterthought; my main interest in being at the mall was to buy more

Menoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-18634656620048856982008-03-23T19:26:00.000-07:002008-03-23T20:30:47.690-07:00

March 14, 2008OK, folks. One question: what is the appeal with the Disney Princesses? The fact that they are pretty? That they have a prince and a poofy dress and live in a castle? I’ll pass, thank you very much. Please pardon me if I sound a bit jaded. I just have a slight bitterness about the princess madness that has played a role in Emily’s live for the past 2 years. She played dress up with

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-76597912155835671722008-03-23T19:16:00.000-07:002008-03-23T20:21:16.409-07:00

March 10, 2008 - MondaySo, here we are. Two years ago today, I was holding a brand new snuggly bundle in my arms. Now, this bundle has quadrupled in size, and has grown from a floppy little thing into a real live boy. I will never forget the night he was born and when I first looked in his eyes. I just knew that he was the absolute perfect addition to our little family. Isn't he just the sweetest

Menoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-34080451794159924722008-03-23T19:15:00.000-07:002008-03-23T20:23:57.004-07:00

March 3, 2008 - MondayHave you ever accidentally tuned in to a Lifetime Original Movie and gotten so sucked into the pitful drama that you can't seem to force yourself to change the channel? Don't act like you don't know what I am talking about. The main character and victim is usually played by Melissa Gilbert, and she is most likely being lied to or cheated on...or someone stole her baby.

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-61752328591129423952008-03-23T19:06:00.000-07:002008-03-23T20:25:40.777-07:00

March 2, 2008 - SundayToday, we packed up the kiddos and went to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ. Living close to major cities definitely has benefits, I tell ya. This was a quick 25 minute ride into a whole new world of sharks, fishies, and frogs. The kids had a blast. My third child, Andy, loved it too. He spent the entire ride home discussing how amazing it would be to breathe underwater.

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-54238305035793447502008-02-26T17:50:00.000-08:002008-04-01T19:09:25.632-07:00

This Friday, we encounter the anomaly that is the Leap Year. Why the extra Friday this month, you ask? Well, truth be told, the addition of an extra day every couple of years is to keep our calendar in synch with the earth's revolutions around the sun....crazy, huh!I don't know what is crazier, the fact that someone thought ahead enough to figure this out, or that this has been going on since

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-56484701016473779572008-02-26T17:44:00.000-08:002008-02-26T17:50:30.037-08:00

We went to "Elmo's B is for Books Birthday Bash" at Barnes and Noble last weekend. The term "bash" may have been pushing it a bit, but it was fun. They read a bunch of Elmo books and then the kids got to hug their favorite snuggly monster. Here are some pics:Notice the caution tape in the background? Let's just say my boy is not intimidated one bit by flimsy plastic barriers. He escaped at least

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-44249451282761682782008-01-06T18:56:00.000-08:002008-01-06T19:03:39.835-08:00

One of the perks of being a parent is the ability (responsibility even) to mold your small troll into your own little creation, instilling in them all of the values that will put them on the path to success in life. While this daunting task can be overwhelming, as it can be met with great resistance if not properly disguised, it also carries with it the possibility for great pride. Pride in that

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-14484808892840171102008-01-04T18:07:00.000-08:002008-01-04T18:23:41.053-08:00

Oh my, have I been a busy lady. After the blissful holiday break, with no running Em back and forth to school, and no work due to the semester break, I jumped head first into my new job. Let me tell ya, this is going to take a lot of adjusting. My little man has been super cooperative while I have endured online/ conference call trainings (thanks to the mute button on my phone, I am able to

Menoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-51638611528837108772007-12-28T12:57:00.001-08:002007-12-28T12:57:49.790-08:00

These were the words Emily uttered to me as she drifted off to near-sleep last night. "What Yankees?" you ask. By Yankees I believe she meant Hanky. You know, like a wipe-your-snot hanky. This was after I had supplied her with one to wipe her runniness. Her poor little snot-chute-thingy under her nose was all red. She was feeling OK otherwise, but we all know how annoying a runny rose can be. She

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-8700771236793738562007-12-27T18:58:00.000-08:002008-01-04T22:19:29.476-08:00

It really was. The kids loved the festivities...visiting with relatives, opening their presents, putting out cookies and milk for Santa. It rocked.Emily's favorite presents were her American Girl Doll and clothes. Also, Andy made her a beautiful armoire for the clothes and it turned out really, really nice. She loved it.Ethan got a bunch of trucks and a race car track. He loved opening his

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-22593911290076569442007-12-21T18:17:00.000-08:002007-12-21T18:40:36.009-08:00

This has been a super, super busy month. Which, of course, is my sorry excuse for not posting in forever, but it is true nonetheless. What have I been up to, you ask?First and foremost, we have the Christmas preparations. We decided not to go "nuts" with buying this year, in an effort to bring back some old time charm a'la Little House on the Prairie. You know, making rather than buying,

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-44131906007978479772007-11-27T21:29:00.000-08:002008-12-11T12:15:59.597-08:00

not that anyone noticed since I have yet to inform anyone that this blog actually exists. We have had a very, very busy month. Here it is, in a nutshell:First, we had the annual pumpkin picking-carving extavaganza followed by Trick or Treating. Emily was, need I even say it, Dorothy. Ethan was a little clown (did someone say typecasting?) . They had a great time, and Andy and I enjoyed the spoils

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-41721244032649152412007-10-27T19:27:00.000-07:002007-11-27T21:29:39.080-08:00

Today was definitely what I would refer to as a very formal day. We were all going to get gussied up to attend the wedding, where Emily would dazzle the churchgoers with her flower petal dropping abilities. We had to be up and at 'em bright and early in order to assure this eventful day went off without a hitch.First on the agenda was styling my sweet girl's hair. Let's get one thing straight...I

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-88901737619438825262007-10-26T20:52:00.000-07:002007-11-27T21:28:35.376-08:00

Emily is fortunate enough to be the flower girl in a wedding tomorrow; consequently, I was the lucky one chosen to escort her to the rehearsal dinner this evening. Looking at the young couple, I was reminded of this exciting time in my own life...the frenzy of wedding planning, the anticipation of the big event, and that so-in-love feeling that just made me so sure I wanted to be a Mrs.This got

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089139429597631522.post-60473012112873059322007-10-24T20:38:00.000-07:002008-12-11T12:15:59.974-08:00

I have been feeling the need to write lately, so this seems to be just the answer to my increasingly worrisome inability to just. sit. still. Why exactly is it that the busier I am, the harder it is to relax? I think the answer to this question is somewhere in the Mom handbook....unfortunately, I have misplaced mine. If you have a spare laying around, please let me know. I think there are

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