Back To The Classics

I would definitely be considered what some would call a "book worm".  I love books for a variety of reason of which I won't bore you with, but I could spend a daunting amount of time in a bookstore and still wonder if boredom could find me.  I doubt it.

Anyway, I could confidently say I have read a million books (or almost), but I cannot say I have read some of the most endearing classics.  I almost feel guilty when someone says ... "Have you ever read?"  Follow that wide open question with "A Tale of Two Cities",  "Oliver Twist", "Emma", "Gone With the Wind" or even a full tale of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn and I would answer with a resounding no.  I know enough about each one to grapple through a conversation, but there are a number of classic literary giants that have shaped so much and I have never read a word.  So, being the true nerd I am...(and Santa knew it) I did have  two of those works stuffed in my stocking.  So, hopefully I can trim the list a little this winter.

I think this adventure will spill over into cinema as well.  I JUST watched "Miracle On 34th Street" for the first time ever!  There are a few other cinematic treasures I will probably view just for my own self indulgence if nothing else.  Plus, it's a good excuse for buttery popcorn and a big ol' blanket.  Wanna come? :)

A Little Chuckle

I am taking a slight blogging break, but still had to share something my mom wrote to us kids and my dad about her day yesterday. So, far be it from me not to allow a guest blogger....
I more than welcome fill in's while I stall out for a bit...

So she wrote:
So...today has been a long day...a very profitable day (for store owners) but my tale begins a couple weeks ago.....One night on my way down to the basement I saw a critter run across the basement floor...
Bad news...it looked like a rat.
Good news... Dennis walled up a hole (used for drainage) believing the rat was gone.
Bad news...2 nights ago the rat trap was sprung and there was a blood trail to the wood pile (told you this was not for the weak stomach)
Good news...it should die.
Bad news...last night as Dennis was going down to take care of the fire when he got home the rat was on the top step but did go down.
Good news...it moved slowly...obviously injured...hopefully will die.
Bad news...it was back on the top step when Dennis went down last night to feed the fire.
Funny news....he went and got his BB gun and shot at it. I think he hit it.
Bad news..it ran.Good news..Laureen will NOT feed the fire.Interesting news....Laureen spent ALLLLL day in Oneonta... seeing many people to talk which was nice but made the day VERY long...
Bad news...by the time I got home (at 7PM) Dennis had left to do his shopping
Good news...he wouldn't see what I had bought him.
Bad news...I opened the mudroom door to a wall of smoke.....
There must be good news..oh yeah....my house was NOT on fire but the stove pipe had come apart and had filled the house with smoke
Bad news...I had to go into the basement (remember the rat) and try in the midst of eye hurting.. throat hurting smoke to get the pipe together
Good news...when I kicked the fallen stove pipe no rat ran out of it.
Bad news...my house was FILLED with smoke and I had to open windows and doors and freeze as I carried in arm loads of stuff (did I mention how happy the store owners are?)
Good news...I cannot believe the rat could survive all that smoke inhalation.
Bad news...I can still smell a little smoke
Good news...I love Dennis...I have my house and tomorrow night we can have smoked rat for supper.

Oh yea...still waiting on some sun ray pictures.... ok, until next time...:)

Is Jesus In There?

There were two things this past week that my son Austin (2) has said that have stuck. His innocent little words have kept repeating in my in a way that just makes you smile and realize that children are truly God's design in allowing us to see slightly beyond the world we create as adults.
As we drove home from church Sunday morning, Austin held up one of our small Bible where the cover of the Bible zips in protection around the pages. He opened up part of the zipper and look inside the Bible almost like prying open a present, but you sneak a peek before you tear the wrapping off.
"Mom?" I turned to lok at him. He held up the Bible and showed me the partially exposed pages throught the zipper. "Is Jesus in there?"
I could only smile as he looked back down at the pages and tried peering into the zipper hole again.
"Yes, Austin." I laughed at the pure reality of the question. Of course my answer caused Andrew to raise his eyes as if to say...mom, let's be real...here.
"Ok, well the stories of Jesus are in there." I said with a wink at Andrew that seemed to satisfy him.
"Oh wow," Austin repeated still peering into the pages and looked at Andrew to show him. "Look Adrew (we still don't say the "n" yet) Jesus is in there. Andrew nodded and smiled, then looked at me once again to share our inside knowledge that it was actually the true stories of Jesus that we were all referring to. But it was a simple reminder that when we look at our Bible...that Jesus is in there.

On another note; as Austin and I were driving to pick up Andrew from school Austin kept repeating something I could understand.
Finally, after a few consecutive "whats" I realized he was talking about "sunshine". As we rounded a turn on our road I looked up at the mostly cloudy sky. However, the sun did manage to poke through just enough. It was one of those scenes that you slow the car down just to look at for a second because its just so beautiful. The rays of sun stretched from sky to ground. It was the only place where the sun was shining, the rest of the sky was cloudy and dark.
So, I looked back at Austin who was smiling at finally conveying his message with success.
"What did you say?" I asked him to repeat his words. He looked at the sky and pointed again.

"Look mom, the sunshine is falling."

So, albeit for me to not have my camera with me at the time, I am now dying to try and photograph or find a photograph that would represent something of what we saw....the kind where the sunshine is falling. So...if any of you find something...let me know :)

You Should Not Fall Asleep When I Have A Camera...

So, I completely amuse myself. EVERY holiday or family get-together my beautiful, precious grandmother falls asleep. The nap usually begins right after dinner and she falls asleep right at the kitchen table! THIS is amazing. The hurricane of family swirls around her and she can simply close her eyes and leave it behind. Last time we were all together, poor grandma fell asleep in the kitchen and I posed her several pictures while she was asleep. I think I might post those too...just because for no other reason, it makes me laugh. My dad also fell victim to the sleeping portrait. After this....no one else fell asleep.

Hee hee.

Undercover Domestic Diva

The Barefoot Contessa I am not. Emerill would only shake his head at me and Rachel Ray would have to remind me to get more EVOO soon.
Though, I am not a culinary artist by any mean, I broke my self-made mold the day before Thanksgiving. I cooked and baked with a whirlwind of ingredients and a flurry of holiday necessity. After working throughout most of the day, running to the store to get all the ingredients I would need and returning home to two pairs of young, eager helping hands to get food ready.
Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind cooking…it’s just not something I get excited about. I have friends who are always coming up with new and wonderful ideas whereas I am happy if I have managed to somehow incorporate vegetables into the meal so my kids will eat them.
I like to try to make new things..until the ingredient list passes about seven things….then, I just start to shudder.
However, I uncovered a little domestic diva and I stress…little….only because she will go back into hiding soon. But we baked breads, made a soufflé, put together an array of finger-foods and even pleasured the kid in all of us when we wiped frosting on a few cut-out sugar cookies.
The mess in my kitchen was part awful. My feet kinda hurt and I just couldn’t wait for a soothing cup of hot chocolate and my blanket…but alas I kinda forgot that I still had to make dinner.
So…since I was so inspired by my previous endeavors in the kitchen…I fought through the fatigue and made the best stuffed pizzas EVER! That’s right…EVER!
And on another note….dishwashers are just a splendid invention.

Ok - so this was the beginning to the incredi-bread day of a million loaves.

Broccoli is ok, but this cheese and broccoli souffle' is sooooooo yummy.

At one point I was going to add the stuffed pizza picture- but ode' to the food network people who make food look good on tv and in pictures...because it looked like a saucey massacre...but in real life...it was a yumm-o. So, I will omit the picture and you can take my word for it :)






Despite cooking and baking and flaunting my small penchant for culinary accomplishments...I still put on a smile to jump right into making and decorating a few Christmas cookies. But, Andrew was just too excited and I just couldn't say no. So......




This was me being part domestic diva.....part saint:) haha - just kidding...sort of.

AND - this is where I prove..I am no diva...as these poor non-surviving loaves will never make it. This is what happens when one diva starts making cookies, doing laundry and talking on the phone:) oooooops. Oh well...casualities. It happens. They will make good weapons tho!

The Art of Procrastination

So, it's not a big deal...but every week I have to compile five stories for the newspaper I work for. The stories must contain an interview with at least one person and a photograph or a series of photographs with each story.
Now, every Tuesday is deadline. It's the same every week, but somehow I manage to procrastinate just long enough to make Monday a miserable day of last minute interviews and writing forays. I perpetually put off the writing, but under the stress of trying to get it done it seems my mind works better.
The pressure to get my articles in on time mounts greatly by Monday morning, especially if I have spent the weekend playing :) The zest for creative ideas is in absolute demand by Monday afternoon and usually by Monday night I am sitting in a pile of notebooks, begging the thesaurus to give me something wordy and clever. Coffee is a must and the question of "why did I not start this last week?" is perpetually repeated as I exasperate myself with thinking of unique excuses as to why I will be missing my deadline by a few hours.
Despite the ever mounting pressure I still decide that other things have to be done first, further pushing my work deeper into the wee hours of the night and I will surely see midnight or beyond by the time I shut down my working brain.
As you can see I am still very concerned about the writing I am getting done, as I am blogging instead. Perhaps it’s a disease or an incurable fault that I will just have to live with when it comes to work. Despite the procrastination, there is in fact a whirlwind of stress and pressure that pushes me to get some of my best work done. So, perhaps instead using procrastination in a bad way, we can muster up a better way to phrase such a trait. "The Art of Procrastination"…that seems nice. It could be followed by a literary work, "The Procrastinators Guide to Success." I wonder if I would meet the publication deadline on that one? Probably not, but in the final days- I would whip off some delightful chapters I am sure.
Oh well, I guess at some point I should start on the four of five articles I have left that are due by tomorrow. But first, a snack, fold some laundry, check email and then we’ll focus. Oh wait, I gotta make a phone call too.
Cheers.

Bloggers Are Introverted Geeks

I have no idea how to explain to the masses how this title came about, but lets just say its to so-call "dis" stereo-types across the board. In a humorous exchange between two bloggers , who if I may say are by no means introverted…and if I do say so myself..um…no geekiness here the topic of bloggers and scrapbookers were a means of slight hysterics.
Let's look at this.
So, after I read a hysterical and satirical blog on the whole scrapbooking idea….I figured if you can knock the scrapbooker, you can definitely knock the blogger as well as any other general stereo type.
Let’s talk about scrapbookers first…are scrapbookers people who like pictures but just have a little too much time on their hands? Perhaps scrapbookers are the ones that are busy pasting, cutting and coloring with braids in their hair and overalls on..(hee hee..what a picture). Are they the same people who have lawn ornaments (pet peeve btw. )? The DIY network has a whole segment dedicated to those who enjoy cutting out small pieces of pretty paper and making exquisite scrapbooking masterpieces. I do not have that kind of time, but I MAY have a scrapbook or two. (ahem – the scrapbook knockers…who I still love!)
Perhaps bloggers are introverted geeks who have no one to talk to so they blog to the world wide web frequently checking their comment box in hopes someone out there has heard them. I severly disagree with that description, I mean, if you’re introverted, the last thing you really wanna do is put yourself out on the www. Bloggers, for all general purposes have to be slightly self-indulgent, though some blogs are very meaningful…those blogs are held for a higher purpose. But, we have to deny that bloggers all fall under the same general "type". Some bloggers ramble for no reason whatsoever (hee hee) …some post a billion self portraits and have become addicted…some go on about their children while others are perhaps a little more artistic…whatever the reason..bloggers are not introverted… I can’t say bloggers aren’t geeks…some are..but embrace it! The word "blogger" can simply be defined as "someone who really likes to write about themselves". And if you are insulted, get over it, you know its true. (the disclaimer on this would be the medical blogs…once again..a higher purpose). The reason blogging is popular is the same reason feature stories are the post popular section in the newspaper I work for. People, in general, like to know about other people. Facebook is the prime example of people’s interest in other people. Even if you like to scrapbook and you stumble upon some who does not…it’s interesting to hear why and then laugh about it!
Hmm…if you are wondering what spawned such a topic… check out www.mymorningcaffeine.com. That’ll give you a better idea.
What other stereo type can I think of. Hmm……how about…"dumb jocks" , "artsy fartsy", "nerd", seriously could it all be more boring!. Athletes are only dumb to the people who can’t run fast or hit a jump shot, artists are only "fartsy" to those who can only muster naked stick figures when they draw and nerd name-calling is only thrust upon those who aren’t afraid to say they would rather read than watch Sports Center….
Oh yea and band geeks…not a big deal…those same geeks somehow turned into Josh Groban…so…nuff said.
Computer geeks…oh boy…yes. However, where in the world would we be without the notorious computer geek? Seriously, you may have been shunned in high school, but now everyone comes a calling when they have no idea how to turn their computer on.
I could bash a million other stereo types, but then I would just be rambling for no intensive purpose ;)

The Cup of a Coffee

Ok, so there are many simple pleasures in life. A good cup of coffee is so one of them. However, it's also about the cup too. I have my absolute favorite cups. I am sure there is some psychology behind the whole thing, but in its simplicity - I love big, deep, comfy cups. Not sure which is my favorite of the favorites....but the nominees are....

See: deep stuff here. Lots to leave you thinking about! But crucial to one of life's simple indulgences and I know some of you agree emphatically!

It's Just A Game...

Isn’t that the old adage that is spoken when a team loses or someone gets too emotional over a sport? It’s just a game. I would have to agree. It is just a game. I usually don’t go into depth about coaching, because for the most part, it’s not well understood.
For instance the pay equals about two cents per hour and that could be a generous estimate. Choosing to work with 18 adolescent females is enough to leave anyone shaking their heads and wondering why…
However, it’s those very 18 athletes that keep me coming back for more. In a season that begins in August..and if we are lucky enough to keep winning, ends somewhere in November.
When the last game is played, I realize it is definitely not just a game. I have watched 18 wonderful young people work through some sweat and tears to all accomplish a common goal. There are extreme highs and extreme lows that somehow transcend the whole "game" of soccer. Anyone who has ever played or coached can probably gather exactly what I am talking about it.
In case you can’t…it’s about the experience. As a coach you try to figure out what makes each girl tick and how to demand the most out of a team without breaking their spirit to win. It’s trying to find the balance of when to expect more and when to have a little fun. It’s about watching them put personal feelings aside and gut it out on the field to win. It’s about them looking at you and wondering what I am going to ask of them next. Wow! What a responsibility! Coaching is about knowing something special about each one. Knowing what books they are reading, knowing who had a bad day and who has mom enduring chemo therapy. Yup, soccer is just a game. But, the athletes add the element that makes sports worth it. They are worth the time, the frustration, the winning and the losing.
So, since August this team of girls has done everything I’ve asked. They made it to one of the most recognized platforms in New York State as Section II Finalists. They lost the "big game" , but they gained so much over the past few months. I did post a picture of this wonderful team. Though, I am sad the season is over, I am proud too :)
Oh and by the way, Thanksgiving is in like three weeks!

Ok, first of all. I am not happy about the picture I am posting with this blog. It’s October and we are going to have shovel our way to the great outdoors. My only solace in this snowy event is that it is supposed to be 60 degrees for Friday on a day that we take our children around dressed funny and ask perfectly good strangers for candy. It’s a swell tradition. I am hoping the snow all melts away.
As I am writing this, the power has turned off. No power means the coffee that was starting to brew….not brewing. The shower I have been looking forward to all day because my morning was so crazy… not happening.
So, since we have been snow-bound it’s caused two kids to be delirious about playing in the snow. In the light of their smiles, I can tolerate the white stuff. In light of getting them dressed every time they want to go outside, I’m ready to invent the all-in-one boots, mittens, snow pants, jacket, scarf ensemble that just needs to be zippered. :) Now THAT would be an invention.
On a side note, on my next trip to the store I am buying approximately 100 pairs of those little gloves in hopes to at least have five matching pairs by the time winter is over. Between socks and mitten, we are not doing well in matching-world.
So, I have spent today getting work into my boss ( who was extremely excited that I couldn't drive in today) organizing various facets of my house and thinking about working out. We have colored, painted, baked (when the power was actually on), built towers, played in the snow, made hot chocolate and now were are getting our boots, hats, mitten, snow pants, jackets and scarves back on to enjoy this wet, windy, snowy – it-not-even-Halloween-yet weather. :) Praise the Lord.
P.S – By the time I am actually posting this…we went 12 hours with no power. :)

Baby Amber, Baby Austin...too funny

I think we are pretty close to the same age here...

I wonder if I still have this bathing suit???

Rice and Randomness

I am really good at random. I swear, my mind misfires in a billion directions all at once. I can start in one place with one thought and end up planet away three thoughts later. Let’s see if I can explain. Ok for instance.
Read on if you wish:
So, this is how it works…
Wow, the leaves look awesome this time of year, especially on this road. Too bad fall leads to winter. I hate driving in winter. Ugh, I hope I don’t have another accident on the ice. I’ll just stay home every time it snows. I could get a lot more done if I stayed home more. I wonder if I should paint my kitchen while I’m home in the winter. Actually, I’d really like better lighting. Speaking of the kitchen, I need to be more creative with cooking. Oh shoot! Did I remember to pack a spoon for Andrew’s lunch, I think I did. I can’t believe he’s gonna be six soon. Hmmm, what to do for his birthday party…..
See how that goes. Brain circuit misfires in several directions. I start somewhere and who knows where I’ll end up.
Which kind of leads me into a couple of points. None of which have anything in common.
For one: Did you know that if you drop your cell phone in water, it could still be salvageable? It is! My cell phone got soaked, drenched, completely water logged and it was complete dead despite my best revival efforts. A guy I know told me to take the phone apart and put the battery in a bowl of rice overnight. I thought: yea right. But, what did I have to lose, my phone was completely dead. So, into the random bowl of rice it went and wouldn’t you know the next morning the rice must have sucked out the moisture and my phone actually worked. I couldn’t believe it!!!!! So, I thought I’d share my random nugget of knowledge.
In other randomness: I love apple crisp. I am not a big pie person. So for those who still have an issue with mums, take comfort in the fact that despite my love for the fall season, I HATE pumpkin pie, but I LOVE apple crisp. So here is the SIMPLE recipe –
4-5 apples (peeled of course)
slice em up and throw them in a pan
In a bowl:
Mix 1/4 cup of sugar
½ cup flour
¼ cup of butter (melted)
1 tsp cinnamon.
Make it. You’ll thank yourself.
Mix together and pour over the apples. Bake at 350 for a half an hour….and YUMMY!!!! I actual double the ingredients to mix together, I love the crisp…so I make lots!!!
Ok quick points, rapid fire randomness
*Hairspray gets out pen ink
*Vix vapor rub on feet calms a cough
*I am glad I don’t live near a Starbucks, I would go everyday, no doubt
*Coaching a girls’ soccer team is just crazy. Fun, but crazy.
*I love the scent "Fresh Linen" from Bath and Body- try it…yum.
*I stay up Monday nights just to watch Jay Leno’s headlines…maybe its because I work for a newspaper that I find this especially entertaining.
*I heard Christmas music in the store already
Ok, phew…it was good to get that out. I know, I’m random.

Everything Fall.....

So, today was a day of everything fall. We attended a fall festival, watched a parade, grabbed lots and lots of candy that was thrown generously from parade vehicles. Seriously, what a great tradition to witness when you are a five-year-old and a two-year-old. People drive by real slow, wave, smile and throw loads of candy at you. You get to run and play in the road that otherwise would be a big no-no. Does it get much better than that? Actually it does, if I had my way, I would have taken the mouthy boy next to us and thrown him on the "Schoharie County Cloggers" parade float to be taken away if he shouted, "Dude where'd all the candy go?" one more time.

After that it was lunch time and then to a local orchard to go apple picking. Now, I have lived in upstate NY for most of my life and I can't recall ever going apple picking before. It was gorgeous!!!! The trees are in the peak of their color changes and they are vibrant and spectacular. I will pretend that this does not signify that winter is looming around the next bend, it seems a shame that something so beautiful will give way to snow flurries soon:( Anyway, we picked a huuuuuuge bag of apples and even rode in a hay wagon to the complete and overwhelming glee of two little boys. The apple picking took us late into the afternoon and way beyond nap time...myself included.

So, after a short (mind you, waaay too short) snooze, we were up for round two of "everything fall". Andrew has been desperate to carve pumpkins. So, I finally relented and we carved two small pumpkins...the big ones we are saving for that day when we go around to strangers houses, knock on their doors and ask them to give us candy. Crazy, but for some reason we meet up with other random people dressed all weird doing the same thing.

So, we carved pumpkins, baked the seeds and ate a few of them.

Oh no, we are not done yet.

We moved on from our pumpkin carving to making applesauce from four or five of the one million apples we picked today. However, the boys got bored of that quick and applesauce making got left to me while they decided sumo wrestling was much intriguing.

But, the applesauce was sooooo good and now my house smells like cinnamon and apples, so no complaining here. On top of it all, I was chugging pepto bismal just to keep this awesome stomach bug under control!

I, of course took pictures (of "everything fall" not me chugging the pepto). I'll probably put more pics on facebook.

Just a little bit of fall

Fall is starting in NY.... this my backyard :)

Just because I liked it...

Out my back window....

On the way to mom's house...its starting to look like fall....

No more mum hating

Ok, so fall is so here in NY. It's beautiful and totally tantalizing to the fall taste buds:) For those of you who have an issue with mums, I hate to break it to you...but mums do return year after year. My mom has a mum (as pictured) that has grown five feet in diameter and has returned every year. (haha..."my mom has a mum"...that was oddly funny to me) ANYWAY, so in defense of hearty fall mums, they are pretty, they do return the next season and this was way too much time spent on discussing a plant!

Anyone else gotta an issue?

Fall....

Upstate New York is near perfect during the fall. The weather is in the 70’s, its sunny, skies are blue and the leaves are just starting to change. If fall didn’t lead right into winter, it would be my favorite season. However, it’s just a pretty prelude to the devastatingly horrible cold that is just waiting to consume me. Despite the fact that snow and ice are just around the corner, I do love the fall. I LOVE the pumpkins and the dorky scarecrows that popup (sorry mom) and the fresh apples. We have five huge apple trees along our road, so we’ve already picked and made applesauce. (How completely domestic of me) I completely enjoy pulling out the "fall clothes". I like my jeans and sweaters, so it is a nice change of pace.
Up until yesterday, I even liked mums. You know, those pretty plants that sprout up at all of the farm stands and people place them every so strategically on their doorsteps or windowsills. I thought mums were the perfect fall flowers. I am not so sure anymore. As I was having a conversation with my JV girls’ soccer coach, I realized that not everyone approves of mums. In fact, she despises them, passionately. Why? You ask. Simply, put, "They serve no purpose, they don’t grow back and they just die. Mums are stupid." She emphatically insisted that it makes more sense to go with tulips. "Tulips at least grow back." That’s right, I held an entire conversation on why tulips were better than mums. So, now every time I see those pretty Hearty Mums ( which I was told, if they are so hearty…they should survive a frost. But they don’t….thus…mums are stupid) and I think how pretty they look…and then the bad thoughts come about how stupid mums are. So, tragically, my whole "embracing the fall" has been somewhat tainted by all the mum-hating.

Just Because...

I took this picture just because. Then I posted it just because. And since it's my blog, I can do that:) The picture slightly hinders how pretty it really was, but you get the idea.

Confession...

Isn't that the theme to a very well- known Josh Groban song? Well, yes I think it is. However, this is not THAT kind of confession....though it would be a juicy blog for sure if it was.
No. Just minor confessions that should be known...then you can decide if you still want to be my friend or love me anyway:)
1. Saturday night I ate an entire bag of cotton candy all by myself. I didn't share. Not one bite.

2. A friend called me to invite me to a bbq three days ago, I still have not called her back...yikes. I am an all-around horrible caller-backer person.

3. I use caller ID ALL THE TIME. If you call and I don't answer...well...take that how you will. I am probably just not home...suuuuuure.

4. I groan ever so slightly with every birthday invitation that comes home from school for Andrew to attend yet another party. However, EVERYONE better come to my kids party!!!

5. I got the movie "Enchanted" for selfish reasons, but said my kids really wanted to see it. Andrew wondered why Robert plays a doctor on TV...haha. (If you have never seen Enchanted or Grey's Anatomy - Confession #5 will make no sense to you whatsoever).

6. I hide from people on Facebook. Sometimes I just don't want to chat...sorry. Though I am sure your life is as interesting as mine...

7. One time, when I was IMing...my friend used a word I didn't know. So I had to quickly use a thesaurus before I could respond.

8. I am ever so subtle when I tell my friends that they should talk about me on their blogs.

9. I HAVE used my kids as an excuse to not attend an event I REALLY didn't want to go to.

10. Ok, here's a biggie: Yes, I have sent text messages while working in the nursery at church....to someone who was sitting out front in the service!! I KNOW...baaaaaaad.
Ok, I'm done. If I go beyond 10...well that could just get crazy.

First Day

Andrew left this morning for Kindergarten. It’s a milestone for every child and inevitable change in the day-to-day life at home. Andrew seemed weepy last night and said he had decided he didn’t need to go to school. The tug at my heart began and there was a slight nudge in me that said, "You are right, you don’t need school. Let’s just stay home and play together forever." Of course, that is not reality. So, this morning I braced myself for a teary-eyed Andrew not wanting to leave home. Instead, he bounded out of bed, found his new school shirt and even smiled willingly for the classic "back-to-school-on-the-first-day" picture. There were no tears, no begging to stay not even one last wave as he raced out the door.
That was all good. I mean, he could have maybe begged just even a little, but God probably knew that the mom in me wouldn’t want to resist any begging.
Now, it’s just Austin and me and surprisingly Austin is pretty quiet and self-amused. He asked for big brother a couple of times, but has been content to just play the morning away. I have realized that the baby-stage of these two crazy boys has begun to quickly fade. Though some days have felt like eternity, altogether, the past two and half years since there was an infant in my arms have passed quickly. Like any mom, there may some nostalgia for cute-baby days, but I welcome this stage as it is now. Diapers have become almost obsolete, sleeping through the night is a mainstay, words have replaced crying, and energetic playtime is much more entertaining than trying to soothe an upset baby.
So, today was the first full day of Kindergarten and I will probably look back at what I have written and cry my eyes out as I look at college tuition costs. Until then, I’ll focus on the fact that Monday, is Green day, milk for snack time is 40 cents and Andrew has to bring snack for his class on the last Friday of the month.

Home Decor? Beauty Routine? .....Reality.

I think it is so incredibly easy to indulge in magazines. I love to get Home magazine or House Beautiful and even a few parenting magazines once in awhile. I admit, I’ll even pick up a random entertainment magazine if the line gets too long at the grocery store. Seeing as how my spare time is limited, so is my superfluous reading. I love new ideas on home décor or grabbing a quick look at the newest (and way too expensive) innovative beauty product that will ensure perfect skin and ravishing locks of hair.
Early on, I tossed any subscription that tagged "fashion" on its pages. Realizing how quickly and easily it was to compare the beautiful (and air-brushed) faces of the magazines to the one looking back from the mirror. Seriously, unless someone is going to come and airbrush me in the morning, I’d rather stick to reality….which is…happy to be hair-brushed, teeth-brushed, clothes on while doting on two boys who want to "help" me get ready to go anywhere. Someday, when mornings are little quieter, I’ll give that whole make up, hair and body routine a go… For now, I’ll make it presentable and avoid the sweats or "mom" jeans and ragged t-shirt in public, but hey, I am not making any promises.
On the home front, I’ve decided to accept normalcy. Home magazine is great to flip through and garner a few creative ideas that might spawn an afternoon of painting or rearranging. But I would love to see how long a fancy candle display on glass rocks sitting in the middle of my living room would last. The white plush carpet draped across a hardwood floor of some fancy Cottage Living display page, in my house, it would look fancy with some chocolate milk spilled on it.
My house isn’t made for a magazine that’s ok. I don’t really subscribe to house magazines anymore for the simple fact that I realize I get critical of my own. That’s silly, who wouldn’t want matchbox cars across the living room floor? The black and red pillows matched well with the rest of the furniture, but the color scheme was interrupted by a forest green blanket that was given to me by my soccer team last year. Each of their names were stitched into it with the school name at the top. So, sentimental value over-ruled the home décor trend. The same goes for the miscellaneous toys that litter a corner of the living room and the random hand-scribbled drawing on the fridge. It’s no magazine issue, but its real and its all mine!

A Day At The Lake

A Day at the Lake...

After a swim...all shivering and cute

Austin toes, mommy toes and Andrew toes

Looking for snacks

Building an imagination

3-0

Ok, so it happened. I turned 3-0 yesterday. Nothing cataclysmic happened. I didn’t need a cane to get out of bed, my face wasn't stricken with wrinkles and I still have all my teeth, so I am thinking surviving 30 will be a-okay.
Sure there is a slight gulp when I have to admit I am actually 30, no a longer a twenty-something, but like an official grown-up or whatever. I take solace in the fact that all my friends have already surpassed this mark or will encroach upon it within the next year. So, we all take this leap together. I don’t mind.
I was thinking yesterday, would I go back? If I turned the clock back just one year, I would have to give up this entire year in which so many things have happened. If I go back five years, well then that would be my life without two amazing children. If I go back even further well then I would have delve back into the angst of high school. I loved high school, I loved my friends, but not enough to rewind and do it all again.
I might rewind for a little while and enjoy college life for a week or two, but once again I would not choose to stay there indefinitely.
So, 30 it is. I had someone ask me, " so how are you handling it? Don’t take it too hard. It’s not so bad." I looked around. "Who? Me?" I didn’t think there was any "handling" it. Was I supposed to be facedown in my bed crying begging for time to reverse? Should I be kicking and screaming in a tantrum begging time to stop? Nah.
I also love the glances of those great high school kids that we work with. They find out its your birthday and simultaneously raise the eyebrows when its announced, yup, 30. I remember that glance myself when I was 17 and someone I thought was relatively young said they were 30. WHAT!? But, 30 is so old!
Yup, I’m 30 and I can’t say I am really all that depressed, I spent the entire week eating various birthday cakes, opening presents and went out to dinner on three different occasions. The only thing I might be sad about is the post-30, non-celebratory week. No more cake, presents and impromptu surprise dinners. Oh well. Bring on 30! I can handle it.
Btw…I got a birthday card from Rocco!

Perspective On Craziness

Ok, so 15 minutes after I posted my last blog and effectively embraced the craziness in my life. Austin, who is near perfect in his potty-training announced he had pooped. So, like a good mom, I checked his potty only to find out that he had decided that a secret place in his playroom was much more accomodating. I looked at him, he looked at me...and said, "I showed you my poop."
Yup, you did. Craziness continued, time to clean the carpet.

A Blessing In The Craziness

It was one of those days when I really thought God has somehow mistaken me as someone capable of being a mother. By the third food spill and the eighth tug-of-war argument over some toy that had not been touched in a year, I was ready to crawl under my blankets and await the storm of motherhood to pass. Austin has quickly realized how to antagonize Andrew and Andrew has garnered the talent for provoking little brother all resulting in a whirlwind of craziness.
Exasperated, I just closed my eyes and waited for the morning to pass. It did. For those who are parents, there is no need to explain that even the hardest of days does not challenge the depth of love you have for your children.
I was reminded of that driving home the other day when a radio station was having a "radiothon" for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. No, surprise where this is going. The stories were heart-wrenching and left you ready to empty your bank account right there to help some child you didn’t even know. It took all of two minutes to cry and I continued my sob fest for at least 15 miles as I listened to mothers and fathers talk of their child’s battle against cancer. I knew some days my boys challenged me to the brink of insanity, but they are precious and bring more smiles than frustration to my life. For an instant I placed myself in the shoes of one of those parents dealing with a sick child. I could start to fathom the pain and I really thought I could suffocate under the idea of my child having to fight such a disease.
So, that night we prayed together before bed and I realized I was more than happy to soothe a couple of disagreements and wipe up the spilled cereal. I was relieved that at night I was tucking them into their own beds just down the hall from mine and we weren’t in some hospital room trying to keep the lights low to get some sleep. God has been good to bless Andrew and Austin with health and I pray that it stays that way for them. Though, no one knows what is in store down the road, I am more thankful today for the energy those two boys possess and for the craziness they bring to every day.
So, bring on the craziness!
By the way, fair warning, if you are going to listen to something on the radio about St. Jude’s while you are driving, its wise to pull over.

Idiosyncrasies

Saying the word idiosyncrasy is just a fancy way to say… I have uncanny, weird, nerdy traits.
Ok, well this isn’t really a nerd alert for those people that know me well. Albeit, some former roommates, family and a close friend or two will only validate the fact that what I am about to say is initiated by truth.
There are certain things that everyone does that they have to smiles and wonder “if anyone knew”. Why, because we are all capable of being completely idiotic. For instance, I made several of cousins pose in pictures demonstrating the not-so-sexy pouty faces we all possess (my dear friends Lacey, Cheryl and Sarah know this face all too well). It was laughable and they cringed under the umbrella of nerd-dome I provided for them, in the end…they all wanted copies of the pictures.
Or there are those of us who I know have actually watched High School Musical (1 and 2) or have sat through entire episode (or 2) of Hannah Montanna…with no company under the age of 15 present. You pretend that you have no idea who Miley Cyrus is and you have never heard of the Jonas Brothers…ok. Not me of course, but some of you know what I am talking about.
Or how about the fact when back-to-school-supplies come out you wish you had a reason to buy new Crayola markers or the coolest notebooks on the shelves. Not that I think this way, but some people I know find that new colorful, shiny, well-organized trapper keeper fun…totally nerdy if you ask me.
I also know some people who would spend a little too much time in the Hallmark store reading the funny cards and laughing, causing other people around them to make that side-ways awkward glance. Get a grip you guys, pick a card and move on.
Or how about those people who post crazy weird status messages on their facebook pages? Only the nerdiest of nerds would put exactly what they are doing when they are doing it. Facebookers all around have nerdy compulsions…have you sent a flair lately or about a super-poke? See. Nerds. On the topic of the Internet communication…if you type LOL and you don’t really LOL…that’s just wrong.
If you have ever curled up with a group of friends to watch Golden Girls…well…I can’t even imagine who would do that? Nerd Alert for sure.
Some people I know actually have a library card, a Borders Rewards card and has earned crazy points for books bought through amazon.com. I just shake my head.
I even know someone who buys Lucky Charms cereal and when they eat a bowl of it, they eat the cereal first and save all of the marshmallows for last. Can you imagine? I know someone who is secretly happy when her children want the latest release from Disney..that way she has a total cover-up for watching them.
I would also define being nerdy as someone who would actually take the time to write about it and post it to a blog….

GPS...

Ok, so Sunday night we headed out to a Rascal Flatts concert in Bethel, NY - the original sight of the notorious woodstock. Due to some flooded roads our original route became obsolete. Thanks to my brother who had brought his GPS system we were re-routed...albeit some crazy back roads....
So, now I am a fan of the slightly new tech toy...
It is actually quite fascinating to watch this thing work..maybe I'm just too easy to please.
Now, we are off to Boston...gonna find some whales:)

Supermom....

Ok, for all you moms out there…who don’t own a cape or have supernatural powers, this one’s for you. So, you know the type of superhero I’m gonna talk about. She’s supermom, the kind of mom you aspire to be, but real life tripped you up and you landed back on your not-so-supermom rear-end.
It all began this year with Andrew’s first school year as a Pre-K kid at Middleburgh Elementary. It was within the first week, I had her pegged. Supermom…aka Kerri. She swooped into school life with her adorable son and immediately volunteered to be classroom mom. She knew all of the kids by name within the first week and signed up for every extra curricular activity that was possible. I eyed her warily and I knew my extra curricular involvement would be slightly limited due to the fact that I still had a two-year-old at home. Thanks to my mom I was able to do field trips and various classroom parties, so I was engaged and involved in Andrew’s school-life.
The whirlwind began quickly with library books that came home every week…we lost one within the first month. Kerri, however helped organize the books and sign out sheets. She told me that it was no big deal to lose a book, it happens all the time. I smiled, it does happen all the time, but not to Kerri.
We had to bring healthy snacks every month for a class party. I was the parent that realized snacks were needed the night before and lost my head in the cupboards trying to find something suitable.
Kerri brought fresh picked strawberries from the local farm complete with whip cream and little dishes.
On a bus trip I could hear Kerri and her sing-song voice, “Who wants to play the I-Spy game”, the request was met with a few eager children. I was thinking, isn’t this nice to sit and ride as long as the kids are being good. I spy something, I spy 22 children actually being quiet, enjoy the moment supermom!
I usually have a pretty good energy level, but Kerri’s energy superceded my own and she’s not even a coffee drinker. I thought I could avoid contact, but Kerri pegged me early, there was no avoiding her supermom smile and . “Andrew is so cute, what a doll you have,” ok, I’ll take that…compliment my kid…point for supermom. “By the way that color looks good on you,” ok…compliment me…another point for supermom. So, slowly, we became acquaintances despite the fact that she actually took notes at the Kindergarten registration this year. I was happy I remembered it was that Wednesday night and I wasn’t late for it. Kerri knows her son’s complete schedule. I am sure Andrew’s is somewhere in my school drawer. Kerri takes her kid to T-ball, soccer and gymnastics, oh yea..and swimming lessons.
I thought for sure I would be the antithesis of supermom until one day, I arrived at school to get Andrew and I realized superkid was still standing there waiting for supermom. We waited with him for a little while and finally supermom flew into the parking….late. I stood with superkid until mom got there looking slightly frazzled and apologized to the teacher and to her son for being so late. She had lost track of time. I decided Kerri was going to be tolerable. Her superhero persona had flaw…tardiness. She loses track of time. She thanked me for standing with her son and I told her it was no problem. I inwardly smiled at my small victory. Supermom…tardy, Amber….on time, point for me.

I Had Dinner With Rocco

I had dinner with Rocco. Ok, let me give you some background due to the fact that my mother asked me.."Ok, so who is Rocco?" Rocco Mediate is a professional golfer. He is not above average looking in a Patrick Demspey type way. However, he carries a charm about him that has won over the media. His sportsmanship and easy-going demeanor has captivated and won over everyone he plays with and against. Just today they showed him joking around with his caddy during one of the most intense moments of the British Open. He is easily one of my favorite people due to his ability laugh and be kind to everyone. So, in my quest to become the ultimate Rocco fan, I will get a t-shirt that simply says: ROCCO. So that's the brief background on Rocco.
Anyway, last night at dinner while we waited to be seated, the nice girl as for Gregg's name. With a straight face he looked at her and said, "I'm Rocco", to which I choked and was thankful I was not drinking a soda as it would have surely come out my nose. I tried to stay within the moment. The girl simply nodded, but I think she suspected that Gregg was not a Rocco.
But, we had dinner together and my receipt order simply states: Local Order Requisition For Two: Name: Rocco.
HA!
"Don't Knock the Roc." - yo!

Letters? Stamps? Mail?

I grabbed hold of a brief moment of inspiration to start going through our garage and “cleaning out”. We moved last year and I felt the boxes that were left were just begging for my attention. So what began as a brief overhaul of a few boxes began a trip that lasted all afternoon.
My mom was diligent at keeping scrapbooks. That’s right I’m the grown up that still can find a 5th grade report card and a flattened balloon from my sixteenth birthday party. I have notes from teachers and plaques from sports banquets still at my viewing disposal. Once I made the move to a house, my mom gladly shifted all of “My Boxes” into my capable hands.
I was amazed at how much of my life was in those boxes. Do you remember the hand written letter? You know the one I’m talking about. You get out a sheet of paper, you take a pen and you spend time writing to someone by hand. Then, when you are done you stick the paper in an envelope, find a stamp, address the envelope and take it to the mailbox. Crazy huh? Well, I found notebooks and shoeboxes filled with letters from friends. Many of them were passed during high school Biology class, but a number of them came in the first couple of years of college. I couldn’t believe how long some of those letters. I haven’t written an actual letter in some time. Email, Instant Messenger and cell phones pretty much keep me in touch with the outside world. There was something different about holding all of those letters from friends and family and I realized I was gawking at them. Who would sit and do this now? As much as I love my friends and family, I know I would succumb to the convenience of an email. I wondered if I should set up some sort of museum for my children. I would have to grab a couple of glass cases and install some mood light to reflect that “long ago” concept. Inside those boxes I would put a handwritten letter and envelop side by side. Along side the letter perhaps a VHS tape and a cassette tape. I still have my “boombox”, perhaps I could get that in there. There would be a Walkman, a rotary telephone and a camera that actually uses film.
I would run a red rope around the glass encasing and we took take time to ooh and ahh. “Mom what’s that?”
“Well, when I was young and I took pictures with a camera I couldn’t see the picture instantly on a screen. I had to take at least 24 pictures, rewind the film, drop it off at the store and wait three or four days to get my pictures back.”
“Wow. That is just silly”.
“I know can you imagine?”
Of course if anyone’s interested, I do have a physical address with a box that accepts mail… the kind you have to put stamps on 

Color Me Crazy

It’s not like I go out to a sit down dinner at a restaurant often. Let’s face it, chicken nuggets, french fries and a playground are more on pace with my lifestyle these days. So, last night when I was out to dinner at the Macaroni Grill I smiled when I didn’t have to grab a high chair and dig through my bag for Matchbox cars. I didn’t silently hope that we were seated in a somewhat secluded area where my beautiful children and their constant chatter wouldn’t drive our neighboring tables out the door. No children to entertain, it was just dinner tonight.
We were seated and the cute little table was covered in paper with four crayons centered on top. I had to smile, “the boys would have loved that”. A whole table top of paper just for scribbling. Now, I know a number of restaurants do this. The waiter or waitress comes over to make their introduction and while they are rattling off the specials they dazzle you by writing their name upside down (right side up to you and me) and not just with one crayon, but TWO. The color combo affect takes over and suddenly you can’t wait to grab the crayons and start trying to write your name upside down with two crayons. It took a couple of tries…but I got it.
Now who thought of this slight phenomenon? Paper tablecloths? Because as I looked around, there were no children in the restaurant ( we were there kind of late), but every table had been drawn on. If I had some sort of impressive drawing talent I would have let loose, but I am “doodle challenged” so I had settle for stick figures and cool ways to write my name. As I looked around I didn’t feel so bad…the three women cackling next to us had only come up with swirlies. However, cool dude at the other table had managed a few cool animals and some geometric designs that definitely out-did my doodles. Oh well. But still, who thought of that? Is it because our culture is saturated in ADD and the restaurant managers know this so they give us something do while we wait impatiently for our food? Is it the hope that an undiscovered artist will find his inspiration just before dinner and someday claim that his whole career started with a paper tablecloth and some crayons? I am not for sure, but I didn’t pass by one used table where the crayons and tablecloth had not been used. It’s just too tempting to not write on that perfectly clean white paper. Kids or no kids, crayons before dinner kept me entertained as well as every other adult in the place:)

Phraseology - Key Words I like To Hear

A few great phrases make my world go 'round.

"Mama, will you snuggle with me?"

"The coffe is ready"

"Let's go out to eat"

"Forecast looks hot and muggy"

"Wanna get some ice cream?"

"Hey this song is for you" (Let's make sure this is a sweet, meaningful song and not Baby Got Back or anything)

"Oh you don't have to pay for that"

"Ok boys, time for bed!"

"I made dessert"

"You're pretty"

"Hey coach remember when you said...?" (This is a clear indication that within the hundreds of hours I have spent with female athletes that at some point something I said stuck!)

"I see the same stars you see"

"I love you, I miss you"

"Hey, there is still coffee left"

"Let me get the door for you pretty girl," I say thank you to the 100-year-old man holding the door open. He says, "That's a beautiful smile... if only I was younger" (I wonder...how much younger we talkin' here? 70 years?) All the same he made me laugh.

"Mommy, I can tell you how I came out of your tummy." (Long pause...conversation gets sidetracked) phew.

"I think Rocco Mediate just waved at you!!" ha ha (Ok so this phrase has never been said, but ya never know!)

There are probably more, but its morning and I haven't finished my coffee yet...so I'll add 'em as I think of 'em.

To cook or not to cook

Hmmm...ok so Wednesday night I cooked for family and friends. Thursday we cooked for more friends. Friday we hosted a Fourth of July party in which we cooked...for family and friends:) Today is Saturday. I'm ordering Chinese Food...nuff said.

Cocoa Puffs and Other Blessings In Life

"Count Your Blessings, Name Them One By One…" isn’t that the song from the early days of Sunday School class? You know the class where if you sat and paid attention, you got a snack and craft time at the end….I highly suggest that for adult Sunday School class as well, but it has yet to catch on. However, I have decided that despite any major exasperating points in my day…and sometimes exasperating is just the way it is. I have decided to count my blessing, one-by-one. These blessing come in shallow, inanimate objects incapable of returning my affection. However, should these blessings disappear the world would not end, but would certainly be a darker place.
Now don’t get be wrong, I am thankful for my family, my home and our health all of the major and inevitably life-altering components to my overall happiness. But, in an effort to avoid completely deep and introspective thinking, lets keep to the fun, one-by-one blessings such as extra chocolate chips in chocolate chip cookies…yum. How about a slight, mind numbing addiction to caffeine? I completely relish reading a really, really good novel (reading one right now in fact and it is severely hindering the accomplishments of my day-to-day chores: Twilight – check it out) oh well. When I put my key in my car, turn it over and the car starts…that’s a good thing. A good hair day, even if I don’t go anywhere…however I would prefer if my hair was going to look good that it could be better appreciated out in public rather than viewed by a five-year-old and a two-year-old. Finding money in my pockets. That's good.
A blessing is when you pick up a pen to write and well…the pen works. OOH…caller ID…a blessing for sure. Toilet paper. Hey, don’t laugh… ever not had toilet paper??? Ah..then it is a blessing now isn’t it?
Facebook…now that my college friends have finally caught up with the rest of the world and I can find them in a couple strokes of the keyboard – I am blessed. Facebook is another reason my chores are not getting done. You all distract me (in a very fun way) and my friend Lacey almost got me in trouble at work last week when she was chatting. Nothing was funny in the office, but I was laughing. Ah, a blessing all the same.
Little Critter Books…always a pleasure and cheesy 80’s movies never get old. Seriously, where would we be without Ducky and Pretty and Pink or "Nobody puts Baby in the corner."
I love mail. Email is great, but it’s a great thing to get the three dimensional envelope with a handwritten address just to me. Snail mail, it’s an oldie, but a goodie.
I love my fish. He resides in a tank just above my kitchen sink. I talk…he listens…need I say more about why this relationship bodes well for me? A blessing.
Though I could go on and on (see rambling) I will end with the fact that I indulge in Cocoa Puffs and my new crush is Rocco Mediate. If you don’t know about it him, just google him, I don’t feel like explaining. He’s a golfer…who would have thought I would crush on a golfer.
My fish is named Rocco.

I Am A Blog Stalker

I am a self-proclaimed blog stalker. I think it is slowly turning into an addiction that may need professional attention in the near future. Ok, well maybe not. I am fascinated by the number of people that blog, but I am even more enamoured with what people write about. I spent this morning (at least 45 minutes or more) reading a variety of blogs from friends and even a few from people I don’t even know.
So, I indulged in the entertainment of reading through the incredible variety of self-expression. It could easily some day replace the traditional morning paper and cup of coffee….of course I mean…replacing the newspaper…not the cup of coffee. Some blogs are purely fun others are a little more insightful and some jump right into the serious and thought provoking side of life. It is almost as good as reading a page-turning novel when you just can't wait to get to the next chapter and find out what happens. For instance in one morning I read about being a mom of three children under the age four, a wife’s struggle with her husbands cancer, a soul-journers insight into praying to God, and why someone would choose to go white water rafting on class 3 rapids and an artists depiction on a current work in progress. I would challenge a writer to get all of that into one book. I think it would make a phenomenal piece of literary work.
So, it is my selfish act every once in awhile to go blog stalking. I leave my world for a brief instant and get lost in someone else’s. It slightly compares to people-watching at the mall. You know when you sit on the bench waiting for someone or to finish the mocha latte you just treated yourself to from Starbucks, you sit and watch people walk by. You take the time to notice clothes, attitude, hand-holding, crying children, sleeping children in strollers, busy people, clueless people, people who just spent way too much money on themselves…you get the idea. Except in blog stalking you get the good stuff. You get thoughts, emotions, feelings. Who cares what anyone’s is wearing (let be safe with that oneJ ) I get to see, read and feel the internal dialog of some amazing writers. It’s inspiring and many times, it is comic relief.
So, if you are a blogger, careful…I’m a stalker.

A Blog...But For What?

Ok. Ok. Ok. In the past month I have been asked at least four or five times about why I don’t have a blog claiming real estate in the vast landscape of cyberspace. I don’t really have an answer other than, I just never thought about it. In addition I question if I really have anything worth reading or for that matter writing. I guess we’ll find that out. Maybe, perhaps it is because I write for living and sitting down to write just for fun just seems like overkill. The two worlds of writing run in parallel universes, they are nothing alike. One abides by the rules of newspaper, the other follows no rules. One is regulated by fact while emotional forethought and perhaps even a little creativity regulate the other. Both facets of writing appeal to me and actually writing for a newspaper can spawn more creativity then you would think. Btw the picture is just that, a picture of a day-in-the-life. Austin, Andrew and mom in a strawberry patch. Not a bad day.
So, I have no idea what this blog will entail. I guess we can take the journey together.