It is Fourth of July weekend and I am working. Not only am I working Saturday and Sunday. I am also working Friday and Monday. This year, the whole weekend has been sunny and warm and perfect weather to enjoy the holiday. I am in such a bad mood! I don't even care about the weekend and holiday pay. I just don't want to work! Everyone around me is having cookouts and planning parties and doing fun stuff outside. I just can't shake off the grumpy attitude.
I guess it is because we have good friends to spend time with and the kids are at a fun stage to take places. The 4th is such a Patriotic holiday and I am grateful for my freedom. I love all the pomp and circumstance that goes along with the fireworks and the celebrating. New England is a cool place to be on the 4th and I don't like to miss it.
This afternoon a friend dropped off a treat for me at the lab and people acknowledged that working while everyone else is playing stinks and that made me feel better. Next year, I think I need to remember how bummed I was and try to enjoy it even more. Hopefully it won't rain.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Lipstick and gum
Today, as I watched my daughter finish her first year of preschool, I was surprised at how emotional I felt. I can't believe how fast the kids are growing and that there are times that I our days fly by so fast that I forget to pay attention to the little moments. Today, I was more aware of how quickly time can pass while we just do our everyday things. I made a point to enjoy my daughter and to pay attention to what she was doing today.
Sophia is really into lipstick, well, lip gloss, really. At one point awhile ago I showed her how to apply it and then to press her lips together to ensure even coverage. She does it quite well! So everyday, her routine is to ask for lip gloss and "sparkles" (eyeshadow for the rest of us) on her eyes.
She is also obsessed with chewing gum. Well over a year ago, I caught her chewing an entire pack of gum that she found in my purse. Now that she is a little older, I occasionally let her have a piece to chew. But she asks for it everyday, many times a day.
Today, we were getting me ready for work. I did my make up and gave her sparkles on her eyes. Then we went downstairs where Sophia likes to help me put my lunch and snacks in my bag. She knows what I pack and will bring it to me. As we were getting ready she helped me put stuff in my bag and then she studied my face for a minute. Then she said," Mom, you need lipstick and gum." I felt honored. She was taking care of me. Precious girl.
Sophia is really into lipstick, well, lip gloss, really. At one point awhile ago I showed her how to apply it and then to press her lips together to ensure even coverage. She does it quite well! So everyday, her routine is to ask for lip gloss and "sparkles" (eyeshadow for the rest of us) on her eyes.
She is also obsessed with chewing gum. Well over a year ago, I caught her chewing an entire pack of gum that she found in my purse. Now that she is a little older, I occasionally let her have a piece to chew. But she asks for it everyday, many times a day.
Today, we were getting me ready for work. I did my make up and gave her sparkles on her eyes. Then we went downstairs where Sophia likes to help me put my lunch and snacks in my bag. She knows what I pack and will bring it to me. As we were getting ready she helped me put stuff in my bag and then she studied my face for a minute. Then she said," Mom, you need lipstick and gum." I felt honored. She was taking care of me. Precious girl.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Just bang it out!
Where does the time go? The last time I posted there was snow on the ground and my bathrooms were both in demolition stage of renovation. Today, I am enjoying my two new bathrooms and there are beautiful flowers and green grass in my yard.
Life has been crazy busy since February. I have often thought about something that I wanted to blog. My dear husband has a favorite saying. "You just have to bang it out." Typically, I would roll my eyes but there is some truth in it. Stop being overwhelmed and worried. Stop analyzing and thinking about how you are going to do it and just do it. So, I'm back and I am just going to start writing again and "bang it out" Stay tuned.
Life has been crazy busy since February. I have often thought about something that I wanted to blog. My dear husband has a favorite saying. "You just have to bang it out." Typically, I would roll my eyes but there is some truth in it. Stop being overwhelmed and worried. Stop analyzing and thinking about how you are going to do it and just do it. So, I'm back and I am just going to start writing again and "bang it out" Stay tuned.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Project Bathrooms: Week One
Our bathrooms are twenty five years old. They still have all their original fixtures and 80's charm. But, it is time to make a change.
Norm left town on Sunday for work so I got to be in charge of everyone, kids, cats, contractors. Monday night into Tuesday morning, I didn't sleep. I was in terrible pain, my head, my neck, my throat, they all hurt. The Lab Scientist in me started running through all the things it could be. Starting with the worst things first, of course. I hoped that my son would remember to call 911 if he found me comatose and septic. I figured since I could still think about all those things, I wasn't in that bad of shape.
545am: The phone rings...school is cancelled due to impending snow storm. Snow Storm!!! I know that Norm showed my how to run the snowblower last winter. I am thinking I will need a refresher by phone. Our contractors arrived and began work. They moved my washer and dryer downstairs to the basement and began ripping down the walls and the ceiling in the first floor bath. Brayden asked, "Why are you wrecking the bathroom?" Mr. Bob, as the kids called him, was great. He worked hard to not make it too messy for us and he made sure that he left a vanity and a toilet for us to use. It didn't start snowing until about 500pm and then it snowed a lot! My snowblowing experience is very limited, but I did it.
Wednesday morning I woke up to a foot of snow on the ground. I had to dig Brayden out of the driveway to get him to the bus. My very sweet and helpful neighbors helped dig us out just in time for some guys to come get our old boiler out of the basement and for work to start again on the bathrooms. Mr Bob started pulling out the floors. Sophia is not feeling so well by this time. We hid from all the noise in my bedroom. Since I am not feeling so well either, I took the kids to Friendlys and called it a day.
Thursday there was more construction and more fever. They built the subfloor for our new shower. Friday morning Brayden threw up on the new subfloor. At least Mr Bob and Mr Kevin could laugh about it. They have kids too. I am sure I will laugh too, later.
By the end of week one, both bathrooms were demolished down the studs. We have a new shower ready to go and a usable vanity and toilet. Compared to the snow and sickness, the construction has not been so bad.
Norm left town on Sunday for work so I got to be in charge of everyone, kids, cats, contractors. Monday night into Tuesday morning, I didn't sleep. I was in terrible pain, my head, my neck, my throat, they all hurt. The Lab Scientist in me started running through all the things it could be. Starting with the worst things first, of course. I hoped that my son would remember to call 911 if he found me comatose and septic. I figured since I could still think about all those things, I wasn't in that bad of shape.
545am: The phone rings...school is cancelled due to impending snow storm. Snow Storm!!! I know that Norm showed my how to run the snowblower last winter. I am thinking I will need a refresher by phone. Our contractors arrived and began work. They moved my washer and dryer downstairs to the basement and began ripping down the walls and the ceiling in the first floor bath. Brayden asked, "Why are you wrecking the bathroom?" Mr. Bob, as the kids called him, was great. He worked hard to not make it too messy for us and he made sure that he left a vanity and a toilet for us to use. It didn't start snowing until about 500pm and then it snowed a lot! My snowblowing experience is very limited, but I did it.
Wednesday morning I woke up to a foot of snow on the ground. I had to dig Brayden out of the driveway to get him to the bus. My very sweet and helpful neighbors helped dig us out just in time for some guys to come get our old boiler out of the basement and for work to start again on the bathrooms. Mr Bob started pulling out the floors. Sophia is not feeling so well by this time. We hid from all the noise in my bedroom. Since I am not feeling so well either, I took the kids to Friendlys and called it a day.
Thursday there was more construction and more fever. They built the subfloor for our new shower. Friday morning Brayden threw up on the new subfloor. At least Mr Bob and Mr Kevin could laugh about it. They have kids too. I am sure I will laugh too, later.
By the end of week one, both bathrooms were demolished down the studs. We have a new shower ready to go and a usable vanity and toilet. Compared to the snow and sickness, the construction has not been so bad.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Mema's Chicken and Dumplings
I have been blogging for over a year and I think this is really the first truly Southern entry that I am posting. It is February in New England and I am officially "over" winter. Unfortunately, there is still at least two more months of winter weather and then a couple of months of cold and mud. All that being said, I have been thinking about warm and comfortable things. One thing that comes to mind is my Grandmother's chicken and dumplings.
I have had the recipe for a long time. My Mema, as I affectionately named her as a preschooler, actually told me the recipe and had me write it down. She lived next door to me and my brother and I would go visit and she would make it for us. I can still picture myself in her kitchen. Her kitchen was decorated with strawberries, even on the carpet. We would sit at the white wicker table and eat dumplings...mmmmm.
To make the chicken broth:
4 Chicken breasts and a few thigh pieces
4 cups of water
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 or 2 garlic cloves
Bring the water to a boil and cook the chicken.
Remove the chicken pieces and drop the dumplings in.
Tear chicken pieces and add them back in to pot.
To make dumplings:
1 1/2 cup sifted flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp Crisco
1/4 c. milk
1/4 c. water
Sift dry ingredients together, cut in Crisco, add milk and water. If it is to wet, add more flour. If the dough is too dry, add more water. Roll out and cut into squares. Drop in chicken broth and cook 10 minutes, uncovered.
I have had the recipe for a long time. My Mema, as I affectionately named her as a preschooler, actually told me the recipe and had me write it down. She lived next door to me and my brother and I would go visit and she would make it for us. I can still picture myself in her kitchen. Her kitchen was decorated with strawberries, even on the carpet. We would sit at the white wicker table and eat dumplings...mmmmm.
To make the chicken broth:
4 Chicken breasts and a few thigh pieces
4 cups of water
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 or 2 garlic cloves
Bring the water to a boil and cook the chicken.
Remove the chicken pieces and drop the dumplings in.
Tear chicken pieces and add them back in to pot.
To make dumplings:
1 1/2 cup sifted flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp Crisco
1/4 c. milk
1/4 c. water
Sift dry ingredients together, cut in Crisco, add milk and water. If it is to wet, add more flour. If the dough is too dry, add more water. Roll out and cut into squares. Drop in chicken broth and cook 10 minutes, uncovered.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
2009 Memorable Moments
Sometimes it is so easy to launch into a new year and think about what's next without taking a few minutes to reflect on the past year and remember all the things that occurred to get us where we are this year. I felt particularly reflective this year. It seems that we changed a lot and experienced a lot of things so I thought that I would just write down the most memorable of our 2009.
In January, we travelled to Kentucky to visit our family. The first couple of days we had a good time and did a lot of visiting. Midway through our trip we all came down with a 72 hour stomach flu, all but one of us. We were all miserable for about 3 days and Norm was stuck taking care of all of us. It was so bad that we still don't talk about it. One of the bright spots of the trip was going to the Lexington Children's Museum. It was so much fun to watch the kids enjoy it and spend time with us and their Grandaddy.
Winter brings the promise of snow. Last year, it occurred to me that if I were at home by myself with the kids during a snowstorm, that I would have no idea how to use the snowblower to dig us out. Of course, my goal is to not go anywhere when it is snowing, but if I had to, I should know. Norm taught me how to run the snowblower and I blew my first few rows of snow. Meanwhile, Brayden demonstrated a "no fear" attitude towards sledding. We found a really good sledding park in town and Norm and Brayden went down together the first few times and then Brayden went down on his own, again and again. Then went down on his tummy and all the while he is yelling, "aaahhhhhhhh!!!!" So funny. I think I am going to get him a helmet for this year!
One of Sophia's big accomplishments this year was that she became fully potty trained at a swift pace. She LOVES Disney Princesses so I bought her Princess undies. That was it, she wanted to wear them and when she went, she got a jelly bean. Done.
One of the most unexpected things that happened to me this year was the formation of a group of girls in town called the Puma Club. It started because our husbands were getting together for breakfast. We girls decided we should start getting together to do fun stuff. I enjoy these women because we come from all different places in life and we have lots of different things to talk about. One of the highlights of our times together was a trip to Boston to have tea and shopping on Newbury Street.
Brayden turned 5 this year. We had a huge superhero party. All of his friends from preschool came as well as some friends from church. It was a beautiful day and they all got to go outside to run and play. Fun was had by all!
Norm's business took off this year. He had a great opportunity to partner with a local greenhouse and received opportunity to work on several big projects in the area. One such opportunity was to be able to give the New Hampshire Children's Museum a landscape make over. On Dover Clean Up Day, we got together a group of friends and we cleaned up the museum front yard. Norm was then able to adopt the museum and can now care for the landscape on one of our high profile points of interest in the city.
Brayden graduated from preschool this year and really enjoyed his summer. He played baseball and really started to enjoy swimming. He is realizing that he has more ability to do the things that he wants to do. He also finally decided that he loved the beach and the waves. I wish we had more opportunities to go but we had a lot of rain and Sophia is not convinced that the beach is fun, maybe next summer.
In June, Sophia and I took a trip to Kentucky to spend time with my Mom and Dad. We had a great time and Sophia was a great flying companion. Norm and Brayden had a guys weekend here. They went hiking and fishing and did "guy stuff". I hope this will turn into a tradition that our kids will look forward to each year.
This summer we did a few fun family outings. We took the subway in to Boston and visited the aquarium. It was very cool. The kids loved the aquarium and being in the city for the first time. We also went up north to Storyland theme park. It was great fun to get away and ride the rides and watch the kids enjoy the park. They are still talking about both trips.
Norm turned 40 this year. We had a big barbeque in the backyard with lots of friends. Norm's brother flew his family up to visit to celebrate with him. It was nice to have them here and the cousins enjoyed playing together.
Fall came and brought about a big change for us. Brayden got on the bus and started kindergarten while Sophia headed to Bunnies and Blocks for preschool. It was a big change for all of us. It is amazing to watch Brayden learning to read. Sophia has shown great interest in art and color.
We wanted to celebrate all of these new things as well as my Dad's retirement. We planned a little beach vacation in Maine for September. Mom and Dad flew up here to go with us. Unfortunately, it was rainy and cold and everything was closed down. We came home early and went bowling. It wasn't the way we planned but we had good quality time together.
Sophia turned 3 this year and all she really cared about were the cupcakes that I made for her birthday. She loves the Disney princesses and jewelry and that is most of what she got.
We signed Brayden up for soccer and he loved it! It was so much fun to watch all those little kids running around trying to kick the ball.
Since I had a little more free time, I trained and ran my first 5K. It was pouring down rain and I almost backed out but Norm encouraged me to do it and I am glad that I did.
In November, H1N1 influenza came to our house. The kids were both sick the better part of November and I had a cough that lasted for a little more than 5 weeks.
Finally, we spent Thanksgiving and Christmas at home. It was a time to establish traditions and be together as a family.
This is the longest post to date and it was fun to look back. Now I am looking forward to making more memories in 2010. Happy New Year.
'
In January, we travelled to Kentucky to visit our family. The first couple of days we had a good time and did a lot of visiting. Midway through our trip we all came down with a 72 hour stomach flu, all but one of us. We were all miserable for about 3 days and Norm was stuck taking care of all of us. It was so bad that we still don't talk about it. One of the bright spots of the trip was going to the Lexington Children's Museum. It was so much fun to watch the kids enjoy it and spend time with us and their Grandaddy.
Winter brings the promise of snow. Last year, it occurred to me that if I were at home by myself with the kids during a snowstorm, that I would have no idea how to use the snowblower to dig us out. Of course, my goal is to not go anywhere when it is snowing, but if I had to, I should know. Norm taught me how to run the snowblower and I blew my first few rows of snow. Meanwhile, Brayden demonstrated a "no fear" attitude towards sledding. We found a really good sledding park in town and Norm and Brayden went down together the first few times and then Brayden went down on his own, again and again. Then went down on his tummy and all the while he is yelling, "aaahhhhhhhh!!!!" So funny. I think I am going to get him a helmet for this year!
One of Sophia's big accomplishments this year was that she became fully potty trained at a swift pace. She LOVES Disney Princesses so I bought her Princess undies. That was it, she wanted to wear them and when she went, she got a jelly bean. Done.
One of the most unexpected things that happened to me this year was the formation of a group of girls in town called the Puma Club. It started because our husbands were getting together for breakfast. We girls decided we should start getting together to do fun stuff. I enjoy these women because we come from all different places in life and we have lots of different things to talk about. One of the highlights of our times together was a trip to Boston to have tea and shopping on Newbury Street.
Brayden turned 5 this year. We had a huge superhero party. All of his friends from preschool came as well as some friends from church. It was a beautiful day and they all got to go outside to run and play. Fun was had by all!
Norm's business took off this year. He had a great opportunity to partner with a local greenhouse and received opportunity to work on several big projects in the area. One such opportunity was to be able to give the New Hampshire Children's Museum a landscape make over. On Dover Clean Up Day, we got together a group of friends and we cleaned up the museum front yard. Norm was then able to adopt the museum and can now care for the landscape on one of our high profile points of interest in the city.
Brayden graduated from preschool this year and really enjoyed his summer. He played baseball and really started to enjoy swimming. He is realizing that he has more ability to do the things that he wants to do. He also finally decided that he loved the beach and the waves. I wish we had more opportunities to go but we had a lot of rain and Sophia is not convinced that the beach is fun, maybe next summer.
In June, Sophia and I took a trip to Kentucky to spend time with my Mom and Dad. We had a great time and Sophia was a great flying companion. Norm and Brayden had a guys weekend here. They went hiking and fishing and did "guy stuff". I hope this will turn into a tradition that our kids will look forward to each year.
This summer we did a few fun family outings. We took the subway in to Boston and visited the aquarium. It was very cool. The kids loved the aquarium and being in the city for the first time. We also went up north to Storyland theme park. It was great fun to get away and ride the rides and watch the kids enjoy the park. They are still talking about both trips.
Norm turned 40 this year. We had a big barbeque in the backyard with lots of friends. Norm's brother flew his family up to visit to celebrate with him. It was nice to have them here and the cousins enjoyed playing together.
Fall came and brought about a big change for us. Brayden got on the bus and started kindergarten while Sophia headed to Bunnies and Blocks for preschool. It was a big change for all of us. It is amazing to watch Brayden learning to read. Sophia has shown great interest in art and color.
We wanted to celebrate all of these new things as well as my Dad's retirement. We planned a little beach vacation in Maine for September. Mom and Dad flew up here to go with us. Unfortunately, it was rainy and cold and everything was closed down. We came home early and went bowling. It wasn't the way we planned but we had good quality time together.
Sophia turned 3 this year and all she really cared about were the cupcakes that I made for her birthday. She loves the Disney princesses and jewelry and that is most of what she got.
We signed Brayden up for soccer and he loved it! It was so much fun to watch all those little kids running around trying to kick the ball.
Since I had a little more free time, I trained and ran my first 5K. It was pouring down rain and I almost backed out but Norm encouraged me to do it and I am glad that I did.
In November, H1N1 influenza came to our house. The kids were both sick the better part of November and I had a cough that lasted for a little more than 5 weeks.
Finally, we spent Thanksgiving and Christmas at home. It was a time to establish traditions and be together as a family.
This is the longest post to date and it was fun to look back. Now I am looking forward to making more memories in 2010. Happy New Year.
'
Friday, January 1, 2010
Brayden's Christmas Eve Quotes
"Dad, looking at lights is a waste of time. I want to go put together my Legos."
During a very moving rendition of "O Holy Night" "Mom, when you die, do your eyeballs pop out or fall into your head?"
"Hey, does your shirt light up?" Asked of a lady at church with a very brightly colored sweater.
"Dad, I am a little crestfallen." After he received his Christmas PJs as a gift instead of a toy on Christmas eve.
Merry Christmas
December 2009
During a very moving rendition of "O Holy Night" "Mom, when you die, do your eyeballs pop out or fall into your head?"
"Hey, does your shirt light up?" Asked of a lady at church with a very brightly colored sweater.
"Dad, I am a little crestfallen." After he received his Christmas PJs as a gift instead of a toy on Christmas eve.
Merry Christmas
December 2009
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