tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197788092024-03-13T12:36:14.697-04:00Bringing Meimei HomeComings and goings of our family since Jess joined us 3 years ago.
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<a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/">
<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10716;104/st/20070225/e/Gotcha+Day/k/64c2/event.png"></a></p>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.comBlogger233125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-26997691417106433252014-07-27T12:47:00.001-04:002014-07-27T12:47:03.147-04:00Blowing Off the DustWow, it's been quite a while since I've been here. I mean to get back but it life gets busy. Anyway, I'll post some pics and try to catch up. Here's one of my favorites I took this summer. Jess loves the beach. <br />
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Highlights since the last time I was on:</div>
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<li>We celebrated our 7th Gotcha Day anniversary. This year, instead of New Tokyo, we went to Fridays.</li>
<li>Jason has been playing soccer since last fall both at school (fall season) and during the rest of the year through a local rec club. He runs track in the spring. </li>
<li>Jason started working at his first job last week. He's a lifeguard at pool in a town about 15 minutes from home. </li>
<li>Jess started acro classes in the fall and the studio owner approached her this spring about joining her new team. She tried ballet over the summer to make sure she liked it and she's hooked. So, in the fall Jess will be taking ballet, jazz, and company (team). She has 1 competition and a recital. She had her first recital this spring for her acro class and had a blast.</li>
<li>Jess auditioned for the South Shore Conservatory Children's Chorus and was accepted. She'll be going to weekly practices and has 3 concerts. She'll be singing at the Plymouth Philharmonic holiday concert and with the African Children's Choir in April. She's going to be a busy girl!</li>
<li>We went to visit family this summer in PA and we visited a monument in Gettysburg with my great grandfather's name. It was a great time. </li>
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<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-83963129156612510662013-11-02T21:30:00.000-04:002013-11-02T21:30:02.179-04:00HalloweenI love Halloween. I like the pumpkins, the dressing up, the music, the haunted houses...all of it. This year I was a bit behind. I wanted to do things but I found it hard to get my act together; its been kind of like that since my mom died. Anyway, even though I didn't do everything I'd hoped, we did have fun.<br />
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Jess as a flapper ready to go trick or treating at the mall.<br />
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A quick costume change and ready to hit the neighborhood.</div>
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Haunted Hallways at Jess's school</div>
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Jess's zumba class</div>
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<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-91424718716405172212013-11-02T21:18:00.004-04:002013-11-02T21:18:45.679-04:00September/October 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sports players have to dress up for away games. There was an away game the first day of school so I got a nice picture of Jason in a shirt and tie. I wish I'd planned better and had taken it outside like I did Jess's but at 6:30 I was lucky I was awake enough to focus the camera.</div>
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Jess picked out her first day of school outfit from Justice. I miss Gymboree but she's definitely a Justice girl now.</div>
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Jason went to the Homecoming dance with Jordan, the same girl he's been dating since the end of 8th grade. He was supposed to go with Jordan to her friend's house so we could get pictures but unfortunately she had a track meet that day and it went late. She got home just in time to grab a quick shower and get to the dance. I dropped Jason at the dance at the same time she got there. I was disappointed not to get pics of the two of them but at least I got a nice one of him.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyi0tmljNIBXlTyAI6HG84NmsUJGdnKhkPDIsf3t_VEQgAZRxQq4eTxxeSEDqndVDVBJe2hV-12C_8zO-31cEJc2yP9-Kx6l1pxavhYxhhcOpNXyGBY83UKSNnfLFkvoJv33T/s1600/homecoming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyi0tmljNIBXlTyAI6HG84NmsUJGdnKhkPDIsf3t_VEQgAZRxQq4eTxxeSEDqndVDVBJe2hV-12C_8zO-31cEJc2yP9-Kx6l1pxavhYxhhcOpNXyGBY83UKSNnfLFkvoJv33T/s320/homecoming.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-82442407904192083712013-11-02T21:03:00.000-04:002013-11-02T21:03:04.526-04:00The Worst Feeling So Far as a ParentIn my last post, I wrote about not knowing where Jason was one day at soccer. I was so scared something happened to him. While I know he is 15 and that the chances of something horrible happening are very slim, there's the knowledge that horrible things do happen and even at 15, he's still my little boy (okay, considering I hate to look up at him, maybe not so little but you know what I mean).<div>
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Last Saturday I went to a scrapbooking crop. Jason was home with Jess. I told Jess not to go outside without telling Jason. About 11, I get a text from Jason asking where Jess is. I call him and ask what does he mean, where is she? He said when he came downstairs, the backdoor was wide open and she wasn't in the house. He checked the cellar where her playroom is - not there, checked the backyard - not there, checked the house 3 houses away where her friends live - not there. I was home in 5 minutes (crop was only about 2 miles away). I called the neighbor behind me and no one answered. I went to the house diagonal from me and they said Jess wasn't there. I was hysterical at this time. As I was cutting back across the back neighbor's yard, my neighbor came out and asked what was wrong. I told her I couldn't find Jess as I was bawling. Jess was in her basement playroom. She hadn't answered the phone because they didn't hear it ring and it hadn't looked like they were home because one car was gone and the shades were all down. Jess came upstairs and I was so mad. I told her to go home. She said she'd told woken Jason up and told him that she wanted to go out but that he fell back asleep and didn't remember (that's entirely possible). Once I was calm, we talked about it and said next time leave a note as well as telling us where she's going. I charged her cellphone (yes my 8 year old has a cellphone but it is a very basic phone - no internet). That night I found a note she wrote after she'd come home to me telling me how sorry she was she scared me and how God must be mad at her. Ouch. I reassured her God wasn't mad and neither was I, that I'd just been very scared when I couldn't find her (when the neighbor came out as I was cutting across her yard, I was on my way home to call the police). Having no idea where your child is....definitely the worst feeling ever.</div>
Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-90730957441969912482013-10-07T20:56:00.002-04:002013-10-07T20:56:30.671-04:00Soccer - Caution -- major vent ahead.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Jason loves sports. Me? Not so much. I like that he's busy with something healthy. I like that he enjoys the camaraderie of a team. What don't I like? The coach's expectation that sports top everything; that everyone in the family should put their lives on hold for the sport. Wrestling hasn't been so bad in this respect. Jason's wrestled for 4 years so far and is planning on wrestling again this year. He ran track last year, sort of. Due to his wrestling injury and the lack of exercise he did during that recovery, he quickly injured his knee and was unable to run for a bit. This fall he decided to try soccer for the first time. We got the spiel from the coach - please pick your kid up on time; coaches can't leave until all kids are gone; please get your child to the practices and games - they're on the schedule so you know when they're coming. Okay, sounds good, right? Wrong. First of all, practices and games change and it is expected that you will drop whatever you have planned for that time so that soccer can be attended to. The kids will do charity work - noble yes but again, not on the calendar at the beginning of the season so you know its coming but you don't know when....and its mandatory so if you had plans for that weekend that supposedly had no soccer commitments, you had better cancel them. As for the "please make sure you pick your kid up on time....", yes they want you there on time but the coaches will show absolutely no regard for your time. They decide practice should go an extra half hour then its going to go an extra half hour. Your other child has to be at dance? Too bad. If a child is doing poorly in a class and needs extra help, then you can pay for a tutor because your child should not be taking advantage of the extra help the teachers offer after school because that will interfere with practice. I do get that you make a commitment to sports but if my child's grades are suffering, that takes precedence. Soccer, wrestling, track are not going to help him pass the SATs. If he had to miss multiple practices, then one should rethink whether sports should be in the mix but one practice to figure out one area of a class that is confusing...yeah, being late to that one practice is worth it. Wrestling and track both start half an hour after school ends so that the kids can meet with teachers for that half hour. Soccer? Right when school ends. </div>
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I'm angry with the coach but I can't really say anything without Jason being penalized so I'm venting here...my blog....my safe place. Today Jason texted me that he'd be done with practice at 4 at Forges Field (local field a few miles from school; a bus takes them there). I told him I had to pick up Jess first and I got there about 4:10. No Jason. No kids from his team anywhere. Jess and I walk around the field and all we see is the girls soccer team. Go back to the truck and drive to the other entrance which he doesn't usually use but just in case....no kids. Again we go back. It's getting later; I'm starting to get freaked out. By this time its 4:30. Half an hour later than Jason told me he'd be. I don't know where my child is. I'm looking through my emails to find one of the soccer mom's phone numbers when he calls me at 4:40. My reply as I answer the phone...."Where the hell are you?!" He said he was running late and would be out in a middle. I asked again where he actually was and he said "the far field". Apparently there's another field in this complex of fields that can't be seen through the trees and which, in the entire time we've lived in Plymouth and the many activities Jason's had at Forges, he's never used so I didn't know it existed. I was livid. I am supposed to be sure I am there to pick my kid up on time but you keep him 40 minutes extra and don't have the kids let the parents know? And you're in an area you usually aren't in so anyone who doesn't know the field wouldn't know their kid is there? I am counting the days until the end of soccer. </div>
Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-89093441345317575472013-07-03T00:15:00.001-04:002013-07-03T00:15:12.835-04:00Starting with the happy stuffI've been stuck. I wanted to post about my mom's funeral and about the stress of this spring with Jess's cardiology appointment but I couldn't find the words so I didn't and since I couldn't blog about those, I didn't blog about anything else. I decided that I'm going to blog tonight about Jason's birthday party. Something happy, light, and nonstressful. In 2 hours and 20 minutes, my baby boy will turn 15. It's hard to believe!<br />
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July 3, 1998 1:47 AM 8 lbs 10 oz 20.5 inches<br />
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Now <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ8GvZ_OQ4AutZYZGJa8ReXgGmhrslIZSszyGW5nE3Fng1khdDB9koHlMZzHbFU-gHIWGENybfkq2P_o-wYiSlrJ8PJ7TDdYysM8spmCqMLPQK29wZESGwp83hyoh9wViRMO0/s1600/IMG_8860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ8GvZ_OQ4AutZYZGJa8ReXgGmhrslIZSszyGW5nE3Fng1khdDB9koHlMZzHbFU-gHIWGENybfkq2P_o-wYiSlrJ8PJ7TDdYysM8spmCqMLPQK29wZESGwp83hyoh9wViRMO0/s320/IMG_8860.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Since family lives at least an hour away, we had his birthday party last Saturday. Due to Blizzard Nemo and Hurricane Sandy, the kids didn't get out of school until Wednesday. My last day at work was Friday since we had to go in for an inservice. That made getting ready for the party a little tougher. We were really worried about the weather. I wanted the party outside but the weather report said there was going to be thunderstorms so we figured we'd set up everything inside. By the time our first guests came, it was warm and partly sunny so we set up chairs outside to enjoy the fresh air. I went with an ocean theme. Jason would have been just as happy to go themeless but I saw a cookie cutter I wanted to use and so I planned the party around that. Being a teenager, the best present comes in envelopes. His big present from us and from his grandparents is two weeks at Camp Calumet; this is what he's asked for for the past few years. He also got money and a gift certificate to a local scuba store. He wants to buy a regulator for when he goes diving on our cruise. Jason hung out with the adults as usual (we don't allow sitting in a corner playing electronics during family parties). Jess enjoyed playing with her cousins, Shannon and Alison. The little girl who lives kitty corner behind us came through the fence to visit. </div>
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The cookies that set the theme.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9cUwnNullCBvDoWvCBKUSpn23CB-LDmwZlkfitTithj-x-NONR2HLHyMlpyL9USywfbhMLz_9JFtEazevMjGFFIlgkb76Q74do3NWxL8tI9Zs8NLFEXTxj-9vY63UX6f2_GG/s1600/IMG_8848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9cUwnNullCBvDoWvCBKUSpn23CB-LDmwZlkfitTithj-x-NONR2HLHyMlpyL9USywfbhMLz_9JFtEazevMjGFFIlgkb76Q74do3NWxL8tI9Zs8NLFEXTxj-9vY63UX6f2_GG/s320/IMG_8848.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Food - chicken pineapple bites, caprese salad on a stick, flip flop cake, and for my non cake eating birthday boy, a giant chocolate chip cookie</div>
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flip flop cake with chocolate shells</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCMR8HTDyE_uJAJjJh8Tg80fvWJ9MUnFu670Aik7KxlzNLK30tN-_8PgB2ise4QlwvSS22VFlq6RWumkqFz-6lYjGI-ql_Wb_ZmNu4n4AqXe4fsPrU0M71e6iQKG3E97LMe4p/s1600/IMG_8849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCMR8HTDyE_uJAJjJh8Tg80fvWJ9MUnFu670Aik7KxlzNLK30tN-_8PgB2ise4QlwvSS22VFlq6RWumkqFz-6lYjGI-ql_Wb_ZmNu4n4AqXe4fsPrU0M71e6iQKG3E97LMe4p/s320/IMG_8849.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Jess</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuqZm-Bzdl4QKw8do7frDr_AgDvfwdTZNe_cYoayFiYw-WkyK21eNJCYIKlWl0JcSR9ljFhQIT95AMZZUaOqaW7PR6KL-ujw1UmopeJNvo9NIxf25z5jzURnb90ij1n4LOGAJ/s1600/IMG_8866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuqZm-Bzdl4QKw8do7frDr_AgDvfwdTZNe_cYoayFiYw-WkyK21eNJCYIKlWl0JcSR9ljFhQIT95AMZZUaOqaW7PR6KL-ujw1UmopeJNvo9NIxf25z5jzURnb90ij1n4LOGAJ/s320/IMG_8866.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The girls hanging out</div>
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Who's taller?</div>
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Miss Mary Mack (apparently Miss Mary Mack has experienced inflation. When I was little it cost her 15 cents to jump the fence; now it costs 50 cents.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrQhVucQSpCB8Xsd1A1WZj8WdsWM_eRY97SOnTcuh8WjDnHPff1sahn7bqOv_ABs6w7ZXm1Jjd-FBPORmFi3D4a4k5EvWZU5h-b7qdIWqCJxNJYhrZXez54qwApp2ljZFjBVL/s1600/IMG_8883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrQhVucQSpCB8Xsd1A1WZj8WdsWM_eRY97SOnTcuh8WjDnHPff1sahn7bqOv_ABs6w7ZXm1Jjd-FBPORmFi3D4a4k5EvWZU5h-b7qdIWqCJxNJYhrZXez54qwApp2ljZFjBVL/s320/IMG_8883.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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In other happy news, Jess got her report card. All E's in reading (meeting grade level expectations at an exceptional level) and the rest was E's and M's (meeting grade level expectations). She got a Citizenship Award for being kind and helpful; the para from the ASD program nominated her for the award. She also got a Super Student Award for reading. For doing so well, Jess got 2 new outfits from Justice, her new favorite store. There was a huge sale on or she wouldn't have been able to score 2 outfits as the place comes with a bit of sticker shock when looking at the price tags.<br />
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Jess with her awards</div>
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One of her Justice outfits. My little sports fan!</div>
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Her other Justice outfit</div>
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The school Jessica goes to houses our town's Autism Spectrum Disorders program. Some of the children in the program are entirely mainstreamed and her class was the one the mainstreamed first graders went to. Jess participated in a social skills group as a peer sometimes at lunch. She asked me if she could go to their summer program as a peer role model. The kids in the ASD program go to school for 5 hours, 3 days a week. Jess will join them for 3 hours in the morning and then go home at lunch time. They'll have cooking, do crafts, and play games. She's excited. She wanted to take the bus until we found out how long it would take. There's 1 bus for the whole town during the summer. Our town is 100 square miles. The school the summer program is being held at is in the southern part of town. Her bus ride would take one hour and 20 minutes. If I drive her, it will take 20-30 minutes. I'm driving her. </div>
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We haven't gotten Jason's report card yet. Finals went up until the last day and high school report cards are mailed out, not brought home in backpacks like elementary school. Jason's schedule has him in honors classes though so I'm assuming he did well. He'll be taking all honors courses - history, ELA, algebra 2, science, engineering 3 (for some reason, they're letting him skip engineering 2), and spanish 3. Very proud of my smart and motivated boy. Motivated because the history teacher wanted him to go on to 10th grade CP1 (college prep course, right under honors; he did 9th grade CP1 this year) but Jason apparently had me sign (I was sick and don't remember this at all) the form to override the teacher's recommendation and take honors level. </div>
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Well, this is the happy stuff that's going on. At some point I will find the words I want to blog about the funeral but I'm not sure when that will be.</div>
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<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-4259976993177132052013-03-30T17:17:00.002-04:002013-03-30T17:17:59.846-04:00How do I tell her?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today my sister and I made a decision that was the right one but still one that hurt so badly. My mom has not been healthy in a long, long time. She's had her good days and her bad days and then it went to having good moments and bad moments. She went in for kidney stone surgery yesterday. Surgery lasted longer than they thought. There was more damage inside than they thought there'd be. She had a build up of CO2 so they put in a breathing tube expecting to take it out today. Today came. She was worse. Nonresponsive, unable to breathe on her own. My sister walked into the hospital room today with my mom hooked up to all types of machines. Hospital said all a DNR meant was that they wouldn't use the paddles to bring her back and that if we didn't want her kept alive by machine we had to request she only get comfort care. My mom had made it clear all of her life she did not want to be kept alive by machine ever. Patricia called me and Mike and I left for the hospital. I'd been sick so I hadn't been around here yet but I was coming now. Jason was home in case Jess came home from the friend's she was at plus I did not want this to be his last memory of his grandmother. I called Pastor and he said he'd meeet us there. We got there, Pastor got there, we prayed, and then we went to the waiting room while they removed the machines. We went back to the room and stayed with her while she breathed her last. That was incredibly hard watching life slip from her. I know she's in a better place now; she's with all of our loved ones who went on before - my father, her parents, her in-laws, her sister. She's free of pain and whole of mind. The pain belongs to those of us still on earth. Jess still isn't home. How am I going to tell my baby girl that her beloved Nana is gone?Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-4599513334277996042013-01-06T15:09:00.000-05:002013-01-06T15:09:04.204-05:00Rules for the cellphoneA somewhat local woman gave her 13 year old son an IPhone for Christmas. Her story has been all over the local news and actually made notice as far away as Australia (yet another crazy American story). I do agree with a lot of her points but there are some that I think are way off. <br />
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. It is my phone. I bought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you. Aren’t I the greatest? <span style="color: magenta;">Nice. Isn't the point of getting a present it's yours? As a mom, I have no problem whatsoever in taking something of my children's for a period of time if behavior requires it; doesn't make the object mine. In my possession, yes but mine? Not really.</span></strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 2. I will always know the password. <span style="color: magenta;">One of the top rules in my house.</span></strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 3. If it rings, answer it. It is a phone. Say hello, use your manners. Do not ever ignore a phone call if the screen reads “Mom” or “Dad”. Not ever. <span style="color: magenta;">We agree with two in a row; we're on a roll. </span></strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 4. Hand the phone to one of your parents promptly at 7:30pm every school night & every weekend night at 9:00pm. It will be shut off for the night and turned on again at 7:30am. If you would not make a call to someone’s land line, wherein their parents may answer first, then do not call or text. Listen to those instincts and respect other families like we would like to be respected. <span style="color: magenta;">Disagree. If there were issues with my son's usage perhaps I'd agree but Jason's old enough to talk on the phone after 7:30. If I found him texting at 2 am and not sleeping on a schoolnight, yes then there'd be an issue.</span></strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. It does not go to school with you. Have a conversation with the people you text in person. It’s a life skill. *Half days, field trips and after school activities will require special consideration. <span style="color: magenta;"> Disagree. Yes, I do expect my son to talk to people rather than text them when he's with them but should he need to tell me he's staying late, needs money for lunch account (I pay over the internet), etc, I want him to be able to contact me; texting me is the quickest way. </span></strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. If it falls into the toilet, smashes on the ground, or vanishes into thin air, you are responsible for the replacement costs or repairs. Mow a lawn, babysit, stash some birthday money. It will happen, you should be prepared.<span style="color: magenta;">Agree</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; float: left; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 566px;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Do not use this technology to lie, fool, or deceive another human being. Do not involve yourself in conversations that are hurtful to others. Be a good friend first or stay the hell out of the crossfire. <span style="color: magenta;">Agree</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; float: left; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 566px;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">8. Do not text, email, or say anything through this device you would not say in person. <span style="color: magenta;">Agree</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; float: left; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 566px;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9. Do not text, email, or say anything to someone that you would not say out loud with their parents in the room. Censor yourself. <span style="color: magenta;">Agree</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; float: left; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 566px;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">10. No porn. Search the web for information you would openly share with me. If you have a question about anything, ask a person – preferably me or your father. <span style="color: magenta;">Agree</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; float: left; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 566px;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11. Turn it off, silence it, put it away in public. Especially in a restaurant, at the movies, or while speaking with another human being. You are not a rude person; do not allow the iPhone to change that. <span style="color: magenta;">Definitely agree. This is HUMONGOUS pet peeve of mine and it's frequently not teenagers who are guilty. I don't allow the phone at the table or family parties. </span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; float: left; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 566px;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12. Do not send or receive pictures of your private parts or anyone else’s private parts. Don’t laugh. Someday you will be tempted to do this despite your high intelligence. It is risky and could ruin your teenage/college/adult life. It is always a bad idea. Cyberspace is vast and more powerful than you. And it is hard to make anything of this magnitude disappear – including a bad reputation. <span style="color: magenta;">Agree.</span></strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">13. Don’t take a zillion pictures and videos. There is no need to document everything. Live your experiences. They will be stored in your memory for eternity.<span style="color: magenta;"> Absolutely disagree. Yes, live your experiences but there is nothing wrong with taking pictures and documenting them. I wish I had taken more pics during my school years. Nothing is stored for eternity unless this woman happens to be part elephant.</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; float: left; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 566px;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">14. Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision. It is not alive or an extension of you. Learn to live without it. Be bigger and more powerful than FOMO – fear of missing out. <span style="color: magenta;">Disagree. Feel safe and secure in not using the phone to check facebook or your email but I expect my son to have his phone with him and on so that I can reach him. </span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; float: left; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 566px;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">15. Download music that is new or classic or different than the millions of your peers that listen to the same exact stuff. Your generation has access to music like never before in history. Take advantage of that gift. Expand your horizons.<span style="color: magenta;"> I don't really feel one way or the other about this. </span></strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">16. Play a game with words or puzzles or brain teasers every now and then. <span style="color: magenta;">Agree.</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; float: left; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue Light', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 566px;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">17. Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling. <span style="color: magenta;">Agree, not so sure about the talking to the stranger part though. Its hard for me to really say anything on this one; I used to walk from Kendall Sq station to Draper Lab every day reading a book while I walked. Probably not all that different.</span></strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">18. You will mess up. I will take away your phone. We will sit down and talk about it. We will start over again. You & I, we are always learning. I am on your team. We are in this together. <span style="color: magenta;">Agree.</span></strong></div>
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<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-44733661135489133842012-12-26T13:48:00.002-05:002012-12-26T13:48:23.181-05:00December 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
December was a very busy month. Amazingly, I was able to get everything done that I wanted even though it seemed like I'd be short on time. I had a tubal ligation and they checked for uterine cancer on the 10th. I was out of work for a week; I did a little shopping but a lot of lying on the couch and relaxing. I got tired very quickly. We made fatigmon. I'm glad that although Jason doesn't like to eat the cookies, he enjoys making them. My grandmother Alma Papamarcos taught my mom (her dil) to make them, my mom taught me and I'm teaching my kids. They're time intensive but so worth it.</div>
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Jason frying the fatigmon</div>
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Jess cutting the dough.<br />
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Friends invited Jess and me to the fairy Christmas at the Hedge House, a historic house in Plymouth. It was a lot of fun and great to see friends we don't get to see very often. Jess went to kindergarten with Corin in Carver.</div>
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After decorating the tree, Mike posed with Jack. This is a rare photo opportunity as Mike pretends he doesn't like the cats.<br />
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While I was on leave for the week, I found that I'd lost the Christmas cards I'd ordered. I needed to make a new one and decided to include the cats so I had a cat photoshoot. Any catlover can imagine how that went! Jack and JJ were very understanding of my limitations and didn't run away since I couldn't have chased them. They let me put ribbons on them and pose them in different areas. <br />
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Here's one of many shots I didn't use.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GF7i46bc6J06Z44IygOb2VxWn4HyjwxGH7nc8K1yePSvm_QuooMaM9LABfzYE5rGiaSHfDl1XWh4-jsJUuol6deDxMb1q9aTkR0Zzp-ABVp5q_SBLKn0mJpCVnpLZ4SSGJKFhw/s1600/IMG_7527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GF7i46bc6J06Z44IygOb2VxWn4HyjwxGH7nc8K1yePSvm_QuooMaM9LABfzYE5rGiaSHfDl1XWh4-jsJUuol6deDxMb1q9aTkR0Zzp-ABVp5q_SBLKn0mJpCVnpLZ4SSGJKFhw/s320/IMG_7527.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's the shot we went with.</div>
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Jess was an angel in the pageant. There originally weren't any angels in the story they were doing (it was about the animals in the manger) but Jess and another little girl wanted to be angels and hadn't gotten to be them last year<br />
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Jess and Nana Pat at the Radisson. We took her to see the pageant and then went to brunch at the Radisson. Every year they put this sleigh up in the lobby area.</div>
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Usually we stay at the Hyatt on Christmas night after visiting Mike's parents. Mike had to work this year so we decided to go away the weekend before to the Cape Codder instead. Jess sat on Santa's lap. He said she looked like a peppermint stick and called her Pepper.<br />
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Roasting marshmallows at the Cape Codder.<br />
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Wave pool time<br />
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Visting the Elms in Newport. My mom used to take me to Newport all the time. I love being able to share that experience with Jess.<br />
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We went to Jordan's Furniture to see the Polar Express 4D, the Christmas carol lite show, and the enchanted village. I went to the enchanted village as a child at Jordan Marsh with my mom.<br />
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Christmas Eve at church<br />
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New Christmas nightgown<br />
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Since Mike had to work Christmas, we opened the family presents Christmas Eve.<br />
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Jason's favorite snack<br />
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Elfie left reindeer food for Jess to sprinkle on the lawn.<br />
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Cookies and milk for Santa<br />
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Kitties get presents too.<br />
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Stockings galore! Jason said the stocking is his favorite part.<br />
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Jason and his IPod<br />
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Jess and her hairstyling head. She wants to learn how to frenchbraid.<br />
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Jess was very sad to see Elfie go but he left her an ornament to remember him by until next year.<br />
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Merida's shoes from Brave<br />
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On the way home from Ruth & Chuck's the kids and I detoured through Millis to see the Winter Wonderland. Their entire farm is set up with lights and Christmas scenes - very cool!<br />
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!</div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-63983525342619939792012-12-23T22:28:00.000-05:002012-12-23T22:28:16.433-05:007 years ago7 years ago today, my daughter entered the Jinan SWI. She was in cardiac failure and was brought to the army hospital for surgery. I think about her birth parents on this day. Do they wonder where she is? Do they think she's still alive? Dr Miller from Tufts Medical Center read over Jess's chart when she first came home and said our little girl had been very, very sick. Is that why her parents couldn't take care of her? Our guide had told us that most families don't have insurance and the cost of surgery is prohibitive. I know that I couldn't afford open heart surgery without the benefit of insurance. When we were going into adoption, we wanted nothing to do with open adoption. Now, I would love the chance to tell Jessica's birthparents what an awesome, loving, smart, fun child we have. I can't help but wonder whether they are thinking of her on this day as well.<div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">An excerpt from a Mothers Day poem by Jennifer Wilson-Pines. </span></span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I am a mother</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">every second of the day.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">My daughter is stitched </span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">into every fiber of my life.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I love her with an intensity </span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">that took me by surprise.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Surpassed only by the fear</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">of losing her.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">But she has another mother,</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The woman in the mirror,</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The shadow, who comes</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">and goes through invisible doors.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">You first felt her stir, roll </span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">and kick inside you.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The contraction that announced</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">her impending arrival,</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">heard the first cry, touched </span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">the downy fuzz on her head,</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">And left her.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">And I grapple with this,</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">As she will sooner than I wish.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Can I say I would never do the same?</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">No</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Judge not?..</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Perhaps it was the desperation </span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">of a mother</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">who throws her children </span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">from a burning building.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Hoping and praying </span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">that someone will catch them.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">That they will be safe.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Perhaps, perhaps,</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I will never know.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Do you miss her,</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">wonder at what might have been,</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">where is she now?</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Our daughter is dancing, far away,</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">dressed in a Cinderella blue gown.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Serving tea to a stuffed turtle,</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">singing songs of her own invention.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">You will never hear her voice.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">She will never see your face.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">She is neither you or me.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">She is the third way,</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">already crafting her own story.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">You gave her life,</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I give her a future.</span><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /></div>
Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-16151643652587585292012-12-19T00:04:00.000-05:002012-12-19T00:29:38.736-05:00My heart hurtsMy heart hurts<br />
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I'm not a crier. I don't like to cry and I don't do it often. But I feel like I've cried more in the past couple of weeks than I have since my mom went into the nursing home. Nine days ago a 14 year old boy was killed in our town. Sitting in Michaels parking lot while Jess listened to the end of a song, I was looking at facebook on my phone. A local friend commented that there were helicopters flying over her neighborhood. When I got home, I asked Jason if he'd heard anything and he said no. A few minutes later, he was on facebook and told me a boy had been killed in a hit and run while he was on his dirtbike. Dirtbikes are a common sight around here. Kids ride the powerlines and scare the heck out of me cutting across the street from one side of the powerline to the other. I thought the child had been killed by a car while on his dirtbike but that wasn't how it happened. He was out with his little brother and his dad dirtbiking on the powerlines when he went around a corner and a man hit him head on while riding his own dirtbike. The man said he'd go for help (I'm guessing they don't carry cellphones when they're riding so they don't get broken because apparently no one had one). The man never came back. That's who the helicopters were looking for. He was found hours later at a hospital seeking help for his minor wounds. That's what I don't understand. Why didn't he send help? Would the child be alive if he had? I don't know. That's just it.... no one can know because this 40 year old man who hit a 14 year old boy head on and said he'd get help, didn't. They held a memorial ride for the boy a week later and I said to Jason that I don't think if I was that mom I could let my younger child ride a dirtbike again. Jason said that the kid loves it so of course he's still riding. Jason can't understand of course; he's a kid. He doesn't know what its like to look at the picture of a young teen and then at your own young teen the same age and think "What if it were him? What if it were my baby?" <br />
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Then, the following Friday, a crazed gunman went into Sandy Hook Elementary and killed children, teachers, and a principal. So then, I'm looking at my little 7 year old and thinking "Oh God, what if something happened to her?" <br />
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These two events hit me hard. My cousin blogged about how things hit you differently once you have children and that's exactly it. Before having children, horrific events or tragedies would make me sad of course but it wasn't the same. Once you have children, you put yourself in the parents' place and realize it could be your child. I see a facebook post about James and I picture Jason in his place and I can't breathe. I hear a news story about the children of Sandy Hook and the thought of life without Jessica stops my heart. I was home the Monday after the Sandy Hook tragedy and I put Jess on the bus in the morning. As she stepped on, I had the desire to stop her and say "You know what? You're going to stay home with Mommy today." Jason doesn't dirtbike like James did but he does participate in dangerous sports - he loves to wrestle and is on the high school team; he just got certified in scuba diving this fall and he and his friends have airsoft wars. All potentially dangerous activities. But, as much as packing up and moving my family to a remote island somewhere where nothing bad ever happens, I know that's not reality and I have to let them live their lives. I know some people think I'm overdoing it by making sure either Mike or I are at every one of Jason's wrestling meets. After all, the bus takes him there and back; he can't ride with us and they tend to be long, boring and, if they're on a weekday, late. But, God forbid that something happen to my boy, I want one of his parents to be there with him. I don't want him hurt and alone. Is that really so unreasonable? <br />
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I saw this video about Sandy Hook and while it made me cry, I thought it was beautiful. It's from the show, The Voice. I saw it on the last online post I opened about Sandy Hook. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="288" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" scrolling="no" src="http://www.hulu.com/embed.html?eid=0wrykxpbhuq3nbv0wc8p7q" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="512"></iframe>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-63977284448245091702012-11-02T23:31:00.005-04:002012-11-02T23:31:57.390-04:00Pumpkins and Halloween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love October. I love Halloween, the beginning of fall, and pumpkin patches. Jess and I went to a local farm and got lost in their corn maze. Sauchuk Farm has the BEST apple cider and cider donuts. We spent a few hours there between the corn maze, the jumping pillow, buying pumpkins, and taking a wagon ride. When it came to trick or treating this year, we went to Haunted Hallways at Jess's school, the mall, and the neighborhood. I always laugh when people say their kids can't make up their minds what they want to be right up until Halloween. Jess decides in February what to be the following October because for the past few years, my friend has bought her costumes for me when she did her annual trip to Disney World. Her parents worked there and she got a great deal on them. Her parents have left WDW so not sure what we'll be doing next year. Although.....Jess is talking about being Merida next year so I'll need to keep an eye out for a sale. Haunted Hallways was fun. We used to go to this event with Jason when he was little. People decorate the school and the kids trick or treat as they walk through the halls. On Halloween, we started off at the mall where Jess saw a friend from her kindergarten class last year. We spent about an hour going from store to store getting candy, stickers, and advertisements. Jess's bag got a hole in it which we didn't realize until I saw the trail of candy we were leaving. A stop at Target, a princess gift bag, and we were good to go again. We headed home and hit the neighborhood. An hour and a half later, Jess was one tuckered out princess.</div>
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Heading into the corn maze at Sauchuk Farm</div>
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Jumping pillow at Sauchuk Farm</div>
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Heading with Mike through the entrance at Haunted Hallways</div>
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Jess and her friends at Haunted Hallways. Her friend, Sadie, was also Rapunzel but wore the wig. I didn't bother with the wig because I knew Jess wouldn't want to wear it. In our house, the rule is if you ask me to buy it, you have to wear it so Jess decided she didn't want me to buy it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOAF8Uone5Qk1C0gqJ7Anrv-LKOIEE7Q5Nx_9lKZ_l3D8vUgtZjUnxD0AUrhSav4BD3ThUQfv7m8e53jEU9QEPcPrNHJekJYrQrGSzSghrq9TQuAEbyqI-HmDEGOS5TunbXAcbg/s1600/IMG_7288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOAF8Uone5Qk1C0gqJ7Anrv-LKOIEE7Q5Nx_9lKZ_l3D8vUgtZjUnxD0AUrhSav4BD3ThUQfv7m8e53jEU9QEPcPrNHJekJYrQrGSzSghrq9TQuAEbyqI-HmDEGOS5TunbXAcbg/s320/IMG_7288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Jess with the pumpkin she picked out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYopNj_xOFfPoIdfhhKSzvQxk7wA3p9GE1zKlcKmVPnNus8Y2ZfrqSzrimZ08cpqG8fk22S37Lc2ZIU6DXZV2QSFF3qUmzwL8QovgUqJqCKD_o6ExkhYzaK4QrycpJ7kIImMlVw/s1600/IMG_7291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYopNj_xOFfPoIdfhhKSzvQxk7wA3p9GE1zKlcKmVPnNus8Y2ZfrqSzrimZ08cpqG8fk22S37Lc2ZIU6DXZV2QSFF3qUmzwL8QovgUqJqCKD_o6ExkhYzaK4QrycpJ7kIImMlVw/s320/IMG_7291.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Scooping out the insides</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXNZ5Ir6isIBA3lmVaM0NtB0fG_xfVMC4I9Uz5meUIAytKyARmeKkgWH6cuE2PnYy-kdhxS-93FwuaZrGi_uuILJer8LBmLrcjNV9z-yh-bgSH17feFChOtpUAZZsJwNxc9A08Q/s1600/IMG_7293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXNZ5Ir6isIBA3lmVaM0NtB0fG_xfVMC4I9Uz5meUIAytKyARmeKkgWH6cuE2PnYy-kdhxS-93FwuaZrGi_uuILJer8LBmLrcjNV9z-yh-bgSH17feFChOtpUAZZsJwNxc9A08Q/s320/IMG_7293.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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She wanted a scary pumpkin. Here's she's poking out the pieces I cut.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlqOaO1x3hsBH5NePVE7h9PFJV0Q5QKM_xn8yd0ClH5RsE6QkN3l12sqlQ_68IbxgSqh0nU4aKo7oXq0UrU2hfE-inEJ0QgXUlxkkVOXuR5k349CyflIxQ8O3QCTq2spjagHSIA/s1600/IMG_7297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlqOaO1x3hsBH5NePVE7h9PFJV0Q5QKM_xn8yd0ClH5RsE6QkN3l12sqlQ_68IbxgSqh0nU4aKo7oXq0UrU2hfE-inEJ0QgXUlxkkVOXuR5k349CyflIxQ8O3QCTq2spjagHSIA/s320/IMG_7297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Last year, a squirrel stole her little pumpkin out of her big pumpkin's mouth. She's hoping they'll do it again. Last year, she wasn't so happy that the squirrel did that.</div>
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I made chicken pot pie the night before Halloween and instead of a regular top crust, I cut out pumpkin shapes with a cookie cutter and used a knife to cut jackolantern faces. All we had to do when I got home from work on Halloween was put it in the oven to warm up and we were ready for a night of trick or treating.</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1htqYttsrsdYYIfKE6Ng-yJJDConpxZ7dmOdIeeyInOHVXDqE-R70vwSlD-txh4jEtIJ2CjOjGAPZYgrFeS1h5jJFtduRfF463dBPs4B24dq1H1AU6TPfrYe5JdGeX5IU2RdPw/s1600/IMG_7289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1htqYttsrsdYYIfKE6Ng-yJJDConpxZ7dmOdIeeyInOHVXDqE-R70vwSlD-txh4jEtIJ2CjOjGAPZYgrFeS1h5jJFtduRfF463dBPs4B24dq1H1AU6TPfrYe5JdGeX5IU2RdPw/s320/IMG_7289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We use a woodstove a lot when the weather gets cold. You can often find a cat hanging out on top of the wood and enjoying the warmth from the stove.</div>
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My little princess. She didn't want to wear a long sleeve shirt under her dress so went with a sweater instead. </div>
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Trick or treating at the mall.</div>
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Trick or treating at a family from church.</div>
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The princess's loot</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdAVIOZzSGDBDVPUV3NOq5Xo4FbmjJyInt7ODCJfDU6E2wcJp7bHIeg_f0Q6FdlufLc9v2kVPay1NakB_NgAzZwJ2BSdeRtiiQuSWvsUibU0aDi-vm_m9jhKGT-KvOK1J7KLWyg/s1600/IMG_7325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdAVIOZzSGDBDVPUV3NOq5Xo4FbmjJyInt7ODCJfDU6E2wcJp7bHIeg_f0Q6FdlufLc9v2kVPay1NakB_NgAzZwJ2BSdeRtiiQuSWvsUibU0aDi-vm_m9jhKGT-KvOK1J7KLWyg/s320/IMG_7325.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />One tuckered out princess</div>
<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-39620720078129665712012-10-08T09:22:00.002-04:002012-10-08T09:22:30.726-04:00<h2>
<b>Playing catchup <i>again</i></b></h2>
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I always have good intentions of keeping my blog up to date but I never seem to find the time. Here's the psat couple of months in our lives.</div>
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<b>Jess's 7th Birthday</b></h3>
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We got a bounce house for Jess's birthday party and invited about 20 kids from the neighborhood, church, and last year's kindergarten. Jess wanted a Tangled theme. When the kids were leaving, one neighborhood boy proclaimed it the "Best party ever!" That definitely made it worth all the work!</div>
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The invites I made. The white scratches are because this is the photo I used to show it on another site and I didn't want my address out there. </div>
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Jess ready to go down the slide in the bounce house.</div>
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Blowing out the candles on the adult cake. The kids had cupcakes to frost and decorate with sugar eyes I made to make them look like Pascal.</div>
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Pinata. Mike scored it so it would break easier. Now that Jess is older, we need to stop doing that. Only a couple kids got a turn before it burst. </div>
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My Pascal blowers - aren't they cute?</div>
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Paintbox favors. Rapunzel loved to paint so I thought these were cute. I took advantage of the back to school sales.</div>
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Sun cookies. One of the symbols in the Tangled movie was the sun.</div>
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Jess with her Tangled braid. We'd taken pics of each kid wearing the crown and braid.</div>
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September 2012</h3>
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Jason and Jordan at Plymouth North High School's Homecoming</div>
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Jess has Bieber fever!</div>
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Jess and her schultuete. I read about this German tradition on line and thought it'd be cute to do. Traditionally they're filled with school supplies. I filled the kids' with candy although Jess did get some new pencils.</div>
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Jason and his schultuete</div>
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Jess ready to go to first grade</div>
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First time taking the bus to school</div>
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Apple picking</div>
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My cats have shoe fetishes. No shoe is safe from being slept, scratched or nibbled on.</div>
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Jess and Auntie Jen after riding Codzilla. The ride was Jess's birthday present from Auntie Jen. She had a blast!</div>
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Jess's favorite food is mac and cheese so when we came across this sculpture in Boston, we couldn't pass up the photo op.</div>
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Annual cardiology checkup. Her ekg was fine but the echo machine broke down so we have to go back in the spring. We asked if there are any restrictions - roller coasters, etc and Dr. Rhodes said no restrictions at all. Yeah!</div>
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Jess and I went to the PawSox with our church. It was Jess's first baseball game. PawSox lost but we had a good time.</div>
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Camel ride at the Marshfield Fair. We took Jason and his girlfriend, Jordan, to the fair for his birthday. I got them the ride bracelets which is SO much cheaper than paying for rides individually.</div>
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We went to see the Golden Dragon Acrobats at the South Shore Music Circus. They are amazing!</div>
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<b>Birthday, July 4 and the beach</b></h3>
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Jason and Jess at Long Beach. </div>
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Jason's birthday. What does every 14 year old boy want? A rotating waffle iron, of course!</div>
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Using his waffle iron</div>
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4th of July</div>
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Fun at Long Beach</div>
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<b>The Cruise</b></h3>
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In July we went on a cruise to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. We had a blast. Lots of eating, walking around town, and relaxing. We had to unplug since cellphones and internet are ridiculously expensive onboard. That was amazingly freeing. We visited a Titanic exhibit, Jason and I went to a towel folding demo, I went to a cooking demo. The shows were awesome. All in all, a very good time.</div>
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The family with the Captain. <br />
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Jess and her favorite soup - strawberry<br />
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Our ship<br />
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Sitting on the dock in Halifax<br />
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Sunset</div>
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The view from our porthole<br />
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Magician and assistant - that was an excellent show!<br />
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Jason and Jess at the Citadel<br />
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Jess in her cubbyhole. She'd pull the curtains and have her own space.<br />
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Jason coming down the waterslide</div>
<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-37130740839799604842012-06-28T22:10:00.000-04:002012-06-28T22:10:26.486-04:00S'mores on a stick<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif;"><a class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" data-original-id="BLOGGER_object_6" href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Cimg%20src=" id="BLOGGER_object_6" img2.blogblog.com="" img="" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; height: "240"px; width: "320"px;" video_object.png"="">"><object height="240" width="320"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" />
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Every Saturday, with a couple of exceptions, during the school year we drive into Chinatown so Jess can go to her class at the Boston Chinese Dance School. It makes for a long day - we leave an hour and a half early to give us a buffer on getting stuck in traffic, we park at a garage, walk 10 minutes to class, walk up 3 flights (that's the killer for me especially when its humid and hot out) and then I sit in the hallway while Jess goes in and watches the older girls until its time for her class. We took the train once last year; we will never do that again. We ended up getting bussed part of the way because of problems on the red line and had to run to make it to class on time. After dance, we walk back to the parking lot, start the drive home and eat somewhere on the way. The long days are worth it when I see her shows because she loves doing them. Last summer we stopped in mid-June because Jason had to go to confirmation camp the last weekend. This year there was no confirmation camp so she did the annual Chinatown street festival today. Practice over the past few weeks has been running 90 minutes or longer rather than the normal 60 minutes. Today was the festival. The speakers went on a little long at the festival and the girls were very hot but they did a great job. Jess had a blast. It was a good way to end our dance year. The school is year round but Jess likes taking a break in the summer; we'd be missing half the sessions when we go away (cruise, NY, picking Jason up at camp); and the thought of walking in the heat, climbing 3 flights of stairs and sitting in an unairconditioned hallway makes my lungs hurt. </div>
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<br /></div>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-5285032116065690652012-06-13T22:02:00.001-04:002012-06-13T22:02:19.715-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Baby Shower Gift</span></b></div>
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I have been waiting for someone to have a baby shower since I saw this craft in Woman's World Magazine. The neighborhood threw a shower for a neighbor last weekend. Jess and I weren't able to go because we already had plans to go to the Dragon Boat Festival in Cambridge but I made the bear on a motorcycle diaper cake and dropped it off at a friend's to bring to the shower. I love the way it turned out!!!</div>
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<br /></div>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-66843648066889934182012-06-04T21:16:00.001-04:002012-06-04T21:16:20.353-04:00<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jason's Confirmation</span><br />
Jason was confirmed on Pentecost Sunday. It was a beautiful day. I had asked Jason if he needed to bring his speech but he said no, that Pastor had it. Wrong! He did a good job of adlibbing. My honest child started his speech with "I don't like getting up early on Sundays...." Tell it like it is, dear. He went on to say that he did get up because he works the soundboard at church as a way of working for Jesus because it makes the service sound better. After the service, Pastor confirmed with him that he will be continuing to do the soundboard even though he doesn't have to go to Sunday school any longer. After the church service, we had a luncheon at our house. It was wonderful to spend time with friends and family, especially those we don't get to see often. <br />
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Jason's confirmation class<br />
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My cake for our party<br />
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Jess with red on for Pentecost Sunday<br />
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A rare sight - Jason in khakis, dress shirt, and tie. He was going to wear cargo shorts and a short sleeve button shirt but he has an 8th grade dinner dance that he has to dress up for so the clothes are doing double duty (actually triple duty since he'll be wearing them for his graduation as well)<br />
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Our church decorated for Pentecost Sunday with a guest oboeist<br />
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The children processing in<br />
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Jason doing a reading<br />
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Jason doing his speech<br />
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Jess with cousins Maya and Bobby<br />
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Jess with cousins Peter and Maya<br />
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Jess and Bobby<br />
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Jess and Cousin John, Baby Cousin John, and Aunt Edie<br />
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Jason with Cousin Matthew<br />
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Jason with the Cross he received from Thrivent<br />
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<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-83676508286068993462012-06-04T20:56:00.004-04:002012-06-04T20:56:52.190-04:00<span style="font-size: x-large;">Boston</span><br />
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I took Jess into Boston for the day in May. We started off at the swan boat in the Public Garden. From there we walked to the Christian Science reflecting pool and fountain. I'm glad Jess is up for adventure because that was a bit of a walk. Along the way we stopped and looked at some statues and fountains. We ate at PF Changs (didn't live up to the hype for me) and then Jess played in the fountain. On the way home, we stopped at Pinkberry - YUM!!<br />
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Jess ready for her swan boat ride.<br />
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The famouse Make Way for Ducklings statues<br />
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Jess with some Dr Seuss-looking flowers at the Public Garden<br />
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Dumplings and friend rice at PF Changs<br />
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Playing in the fountain<br />
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Sign of a good day<br />
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<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-3260759484003309332012-06-04T20:31:00.000-04:002012-06-04T20:31:03.555-04:00<span style="font-size: x-large;">Princess Birthday Party</span><br />
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Jess received a beautiful invitation in the mail to an enchanted birthday soiree. Only problem - she didn't know the birthday girl. She goes to Jess's school and is in kindergarten like Jess but Jess's school has 6 or 7 kindergartens. I emailed the mom and asked if Jess was supposed to get the invite. The mom said her daughter had given her her classmates names from the kindergarten directory and thought she had the right child but she wasn't sure; she said whether she knew her or not though that she was welcome to come. Jess was so excited by the invitation she said to me "But Mom, you said I should meet new people." I explained that I had had to make sure another little girl wasn't being left out by accident. Turns out there is a Jessica in the birthday girl's class. The birthday girl's mom invited the other Jessica as well. Jess made a point of looking for the girl at school and talking to her before the party so she wouldn't be a stranger at the party.<br />
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The birthday was held in a theatre where the girl takes jr. glee club. The invite said to wear your fanciest dress or a princess costume. My friend Bonnie picks up a dress for me for Jess each year at WDW. Her parents both work there and they get a fantastic discount which she passes on to me. Jess chose to be Belle for the party. Everyone was dressed so beautifully. Miss Massachusetts and Miss Massachusetts Teen were both there.<br />
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Back view of the princess hairdo My little princess<br />
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Birthday lineup<br />
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Getting a sash after the mini pageant of walking, twirling, and answering a question. Jess's question was what is her favorite holiday to which she answered Christmas. <br />
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The treat table<br />
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Jess and her friends Bella and Victoria.<br />
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Jess with Miss Massachusetts and Miss Massachusetts Teen<br />
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Beautiful cake<br />
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Jess's plate. She's not a real sweet eater so after the cookies, she was done.<br />
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<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-77091362381179977792012-04-08T16:04:00.002-04:002012-04-08T16:23:59.957-04:00<div><span ><b>Happy Easter</b></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Jason and I went to church on Friday. I always find Good Friday service so touching. This year Pastor carried the wooden cross up to the front and everyone had been given pieces of black paper that were sticky to represent our sins. We walked to the front of the sanctuary and placed our sins on the cross. </div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Saturday we went to TGI Fridays for lunch to see the Easter bunny. We got there right when it opened, took pictures with the bunny, ate lunch and were on our way out as it was getting busy - good timing! We met Patricia, her fiance Joe, and Michelle at Sam Diego's in the afternoon for dinner (I had an appetizer, Jess just ate the chips since neither of us were really hungry). Then we went to the pool where they were staying and Jess went swimming. That was a bit nervewracking since there were several large families there and apparently only 1 adult who was just as bad as the kids - splashing everyone, throwing people without looking where he was throwing them, knocking into Jess, etc. Ugh. Jess enjoyed the swimming but I kept it short.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Today we were up much earlier than normal for a weekend. We got up at 6:30 for the kids to do their Easter egg hunt and see what the Easter bunny brought. Then I did Jess's hair and got ready for the Easter breakfast that the confirmand's put on. It is for a good cause but I will admit this is not one of my favorite traditions and I am glad I don't need to be involved next year. There was a quinceanera at our church's hall last night so all our set up had to be done today. We got everything set up, food out and we made the most money ever. After the breakfast was over, it was time for the second service to start so Jason went up to work the soundboard. I stayed to clean up and by the time we were done, Jess and I ended up sitting in the loft with Jason, the trumpeter and the pianist because there was no room left. Where are all of these people the rest of the year?!? After church we came home and got ready for dinner with the family. Patricia, Joe and Michelle went to pick up my mom before coming. Thankfully it was one of her good days. I was very sad not to be able to bring her to church this morning. I think its the first Easter service she has ever missed. She talked about Aunt Betty and how good she looked recently; Aunt Betty has been gone for about 40 years or so. For dinner, we had ham, green beans, mac and cheese (my mom's recipe made by Patricia), rolls, strawberry and spinach salad, and orange buttermilk cake. It was all very good (well, I found it all good except the green beans but then I never find green beans taste good). </div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Jess and Jason with the Easter Bunny at church</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSZ6sgTykeFJf1PMOkabm51-ICyz7T6DXzUgny9q45vtdNFaYKaFVQ-RDX9lkutWRhSXYTOqJI02riI8DdneOqed87Chu_HC0TO0i8B5q1jlXmNJr16Ak7v9q_pxz2JdPbV-z9A/s1600/IMG_5047.JPG" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSZ6sgTykeFJf1PMOkabm51-ICyz7T6DXzUgny9q45vtdNFaYKaFVQ-RDX9lkutWRhSXYTOqJI02riI8DdneOqed87Chu_HC0TO0i8B5q1jlXmNJr16Ak7v9q_pxz2JdPbV-z9A/s320/IMG_5047.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729124668367217122" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jess with the Easter bunny at Fridays.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuI8dx-4nYZwtGRefWpb_mOswQCXdz9e28RTa1C3Z-ZpEVjXgmumJSslKPwh_lnYtXZuz9uXN02nYj0Nz-apVFFs9_n0C7CbTYUdNK7Jw5riP3VrELA5ke5wHjQg1bz_WrhYel1w/s1600/IMG_5005.JPG" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuI8dx-4nYZwtGRefWpb_mOswQCXdz9e28RTa1C3Z-ZpEVjXgmumJSslKPwh_lnYtXZuz9uXN02nYj0Nz-apVFFs9_n0C7CbTYUdNK7Jw5riP3VrELA5ke5wHjQg1bz_WrhYel1w/s320/IMG_5005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729124662440762642" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jess with her decorated eggs.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ402v9osb1_QY5e5Je0ixHRS0JME7Q1fP3zbSHgoMGy3tQyZhYBvxSw14KmZpiUYM5q1LPw_cNifldkzWui_xc1N5YlBq-FIaVksThmrhO2hBPErZwS7gbuyo7UL2eajE84TFg/s1600/IMG_4998.JPG" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ402v9osb1_QY5e5Je0ixHRS0JME7Q1fP3zbSHgoMGy3tQyZhYBvxSw14KmZpiUYM5q1LPw_cNifldkzWui_xc1N5YlBq-FIaVksThmrhO2hBPErZwS7gbuyo7UL2eajE84TFg/s320/IMG_4998.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729124653335578578" /></a><br /><br /><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-74972072853654352652012-03-03T21:04:00.002-05:002012-03-03T21:26:17.349-05:00<div><span ><b>Christmas 2011</b></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; ">We got up Christmas morning and opened presents. Jess was very excited to get the Jessie and Bullseye dolls she wanted as well as Buzz Lightyear. Jason was very happy with his dragon incense burner. Jess found a couple articles that Santa lost - a button and a piece of cloth - maybe from his sleeve?</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; ">We went to Ruth and Chuck's for an early dinner and then the other relatives joined us for dessert. It was nice seeing everyone. We stayed at a local hotel rather than drive back home. Jason was hungry later that night so we went looking for McDonalds. Margaret had said earlier that night that she'd heard several commercials on the radio about them being open Christmas night. </div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kXmlqXU3vk7FwxTRDyNxGHsvcbNvsqwyALRxmX2LJOEN_hZ1VCgpZ8yw0qHL1osIhGXZSx84V-SuB2mKaEmLdi2_gInU8Ado_DsnTaxkDls-BKwn3G6ieTCSD0EAb_9rWIfh1w/s320/IMG_4466.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715860404534910914" /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Jack playing with his new catnip toy.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9myH1GIkmEuxnCQPy85hfhNJfenUu-9xtwfEZoJ5bVspwMy_ry0dl3ivfIqJxfIpKorT8eeAqbRJrkzaaz-6svbHDc7jXTJmsxtJjlN5fcF26-WayAURY6aYeBOLIHOiOmfRPA/s1600/IMG_4462.JPG" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9myH1GIkmEuxnCQPy85hfhNJfenUu-9xtwfEZoJ5bVspwMy_ry0dl3ivfIqJxfIpKorT8eeAqbRJrkzaaz-6svbHDc7jXTJmsxtJjlN5fcF26-WayAURY6aYeBOLIHOiOmfRPA/s320/IMG_4462.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715860397821098098" /></a><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u>How did Santa not notice he was missing these?!?</u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2UDoVCHtKfpBmzOHP3QRw2XUk0sGfdfTKTm_qcJI2JhYFmqc8vigwAIpD4scZdR3h00d9376F6_4nx1c7GiUJrOukjyvIwG_yDnM_pTeuykyKFeiLchTSV5XviKeLMrNZLrIEw/s1600/IMG_4460.JPG" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2UDoVCHtKfpBmzOHP3QRw2XUk0sGfdfTKTm_qcJI2JhYFmqc8vigwAIpD4scZdR3h00d9376F6_4nx1c7GiUJrOukjyvIwG_yDnM_pTeuykyKFeiLchTSV5XviKeLMrNZLrIEw/s320/IMG_4460.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715860394701307570" /></a></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><u>And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care<br /></u><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VdVoDltW-Of8zdvAQyPlLaUE_2YJu6nhUgN_4NHmWy8CWDS-1GNwvivFwqZmL1n9pMap1l5NPu8VkS2hUUnl-d3JKodVwMm4Wj-o-q2agWc5OBF96KVVSC0Vg8OcVAVCQf7dNQ/s1600/IMG_4425.JPG" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VdVoDltW-Of8zdvAQyPlLaUE_2YJu6nhUgN_4NHmWy8CWDS-1GNwvivFwqZmL1n9pMap1l5NPu8VkS2hUUnl-d3JKodVwMm4Wj-o-q2agWc5OBF96KVVSC0Vg8OcVAVCQf7dNQ/s320/IMG_4425.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715860387219843858" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jess with her new doll, Alicia<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycmCMoaG7U9qYo-adDJSls87H0KhNOb80OvEgRvE68SN8luMtYAJgAwKDEmRr8Ry02xTIXNiGk007pqOzvbWJ1EgbJG-_FdNuTjOks4tQ6Gg1nCey8lOiGc33cJxdzayEKrdrow/s1600/IMG_4440.JPG" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycmCMoaG7U9qYo-adDJSls87H0KhNOb80OvEgRvE68SN8luMtYAJgAwKDEmRr8Ry02xTIXNiGk007pqOzvbWJ1EgbJG-_FdNuTjOks4tQ6Gg1nCey8lOiGc33cJxdzayEKrdrow/s320/IMG_4440.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715860382638294994" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For the boy who has everything - his own popcorn cup. His main gift was Calumet</div>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-66958573582520868942011-12-24T21:30:00.003-05:002011-12-24T21:51:26.382-05:00<b><span >Christmas Eve 2011</span></b><div><br /></div><div>It was a busy day today. I'm on vacation time so I went to bed around 1:30 last night. Up at 8:30 today so not too bad. I let Jess stay up late last night (not as late as me!) and she also slept in until 8:30. When Mike got home from his parents this morning, I ran some last minute errands. Some people may be lamenting the lack of snow this year but I was loving running around on Christmas Eve in a sweater. I hate wearing a coat. I made brownies for the nursing home staff, wrapped some things, and got Jess ready. At 3:30 we were on our way to the nursing home to pick my mom up. By 4:30 we were at church. We were early but we wanted to make sure we were sitting up front so my mom could see. It was a beautiful service. The Sunday School kids sang Away in the Manger. I loved when we lit our candles and the lights were dimmed for Silent Night. After church, we went to eat at the Longhorn Steakhouse. Dinner was good but it was late for my mom and it showed. After dinner, we dropped her off and then went home so the kids could open one present. Jason opened a package of magnet balls and Jess opened a bizarre plant kit. Afterward Jess put on her new Christmas nightgown (Kanani got a matching one) and put out the reindeer food she'd made in school. Then she got Santa's snack ready. We just checked to NORAD.org to see where Santa is. He's in Greenland so it's time for her to get to bed before he starts heading down the east coast. </div><div><br /></div><div>Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Plymouth, MA<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45fG886iCKi9izixKaAlJ_8jkGr_LaMk39SYglldEAi2mGYxqvQMXP8m7spDfE5Dylgxa9teZCXCSI_fXSLfI0HfhVes-oSKVn3e_wq00MlqbdEy39Kgq4lTFyzlxh6uSeGXE8g/s1600/IMG_4386.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45fG886iCKi9izixKaAlJ_8jkGr_LaMk39SYglldEAi2mGYxqvQMXP8m7spDfE5Dylgxa9teZCXCSI_fXSLfI0HfhVes-oSKVn3e_wq00MlqbdEy39Kgq4lTFyzlxh6uSeGXE8g/s320/IMG_4386.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689888964076198818" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sprinkling reindeer food<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcP3dtKegs2DMT1Toz7xGNTHWVqj0TddITmaemNK7_cvqjKzK-4fTOw9HHtIilsvg9nLL5LWLVVcgCSlGw-t5xnm78pSmhhb-YUogG4kBbkBtNSBvkvBTrxQ8a6lqe9BzRzGM6gg/s1600/IMG_4406.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcP3dtKegs2DMT1Toz7xGNTHWVqj0TddITmaemNK7_cvqjKzK-4fTOw9HHtIilsvg9nLL5LWLVVcgCSlGw-t5xnm78pSmhhb-YUogG4kBbkBtNSBvkvBTrxQ8a6lqe9BzRzGM6gg/s320/IMG_4406.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689888464402013186" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Modeling new pj's<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglx5qLvvv3aMR3tw14QR4diUHyyca6UPX_bFOXBMKrxhvfxq3Id12wTrpa8c5Vgbcb9X4HhtU7TaTtdf4w3O1zm4Xq_GV7P9bo4pFObGvpLIqqf2eE13c7Cv0YS3LP_N9ff-72BA/s1600/IMG_4400.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglx5qLvvv3aMR3tw14QR4diUHyyca6UPX_bFOXBMKrxhvfxq3Id12wTrpa8c5Vgbcb9X4HhtU7TaTtdf4w3O1zm4Xq_GV7P9bo4pFObGvpLIqqf2eE13c7Cv0YS3LP_N9ff-72BA/s320/IMG_4400.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689888460309736690" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jess and her Nana</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKEaHUsjJTgWuOilLt5g3AvLP5amGb2NvOxrbbPbEEVIpoW-FnyZWfFm_ZNSN4mp5B0L3J71SbIftmpR7z2DDoQZKcvXrH-Iat5utwV38osHAvdXvHU3XsJjdLyhMjhX9QhwaAA/s1600/IMG_4390.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKEaHUsjJTgWuOilLt5g3AvLP5amGb2NvOxrbbPbEEVIpoW-FnyZWfFm_ZNSN4mp5B0L3J71SbIftmpR7z2DDoQZKcvXrH-Iat5utwV38osHAvdXvHU3XsJjdLyhMjhX9QhwaAA/s320/IMG_4390.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689888441350481506" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Getting the manger ready. </div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0fDP5xbarEENlQFCB8KAGm74n_MmUPFCJFOoPPqhwquAJhjoBR4g6SCfuc55xcbGbfUMxvs7aeiEVhKG6R-h_4-IfH912PTnlsFrqGCS3rbMNirHuDD9k_Nz84N5x87naw4jDg/s320/IMG_4379.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689888425319344402" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Ready for church Adding carrots to the snack for Dancer</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVvUyCS5HPL3SPvWDg2FQ9BufMqE_wDb1BkrhS4BzFF9B_qIi-rkJnK8g_mgsa7hmPEoY5qcfcH2HYEGE-lK9rS4SYRLjnrSFaaLDkN1t05k7LD28kf-2-0Tie9xQ6CvuMUq20g/s1600/IMG_4382.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVvUyCS5HPL3SPvWDg2FQ9BufMqE_wDb1BkrhS4BzFF9B_qIi-rkJnK8g_mgsa7hmPEoY5qcfcH2HYEGE-lK9rS4SYRLjnrSFaaLDkN1t05k7LD28kf-2-0Tie9xQ6CvuMUq20g/s320/IMG_4382.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689888429337821442" /></a><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishCT_njIQeqUW8GlRDw8XWL_nnmDkMnOoFj83Zna9uYEZRMa_-myOlwjmdNKLebm0wYmeYXjN8PorW_lGhYv58RBDpk60YAbx2KpqyWD1n8wK9gtwGN8YOcanBhSof5dXRKpMtw/s320/IMG_4413.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689888969643409138" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0fDP5xbarEENlQFCB8KAGm74n_MmUPFCJFOoPPqhwquAJhjoBR4g6SCfuc55xcbGbfUMxvs7aeiEVhKG6R-h_4-IfH912PTnlsFrqGCS3rbMNirHuDD9k_Nz84N5x87naw4jDg/s1600/IMG_4379.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0C81Q-0aAl5K8H3XpMjndFWEAXnwXfQL7llnZQQKBfY1V0lafMXbyFQ4w2O82fQAQZzVu7aulLHCtXUmbWwooN8ngXPladtv8HhgiGlmYQ4B1S20Xu6iqQWFhZzcXkWFbZ_DDw/s320/IMG_4412.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689888967678622418" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIPOZIRq8Zs-3FjiWMqH9uREdvT94Rq5pl_FeU3t2rokHNRT02SsVpdPmPiXhRjwQp9txi1DLkX18hn5zRQD4sLgy_fDlw0J4wlGa43RRokTMC_Tcu_P5Opy7OOg1EFyeaUH06g/s320/IMG_4414.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689888989591510418" /></div></div></div>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-69206028442659991572011-11-13T15:57:00.008-05:002011-11-13T16:28:49.938-05:00<span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Beautiful Day<br /></span><span><span style="font-size:100%;">Today was beautiful - in the 60's and a little breezy. Our tree in the front year lost all of its leaves and Jess loves to throw them in the air and try to catch them.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdz0KYTSahTHwHfSPOBeDz4ixBno6NBLSjwY_JqeYxABzHJ-wnnwY4NHWVybaeuVbqeqgZmZezc6fXV8YwXDgedP5F7yeFA8sithFzjj11a72JFhvf1GhFLYiFvGSwaQpEOKP6w/s1600/IMG_3995.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdz0KYTSahTHwHfSPOBeDz4ixBno6NBLSjwY_JqeYxABzHJ-wnnwY4NHWVybaeuVbqeqgZmZezc6fXV8YwXDgedP5F7yeFA8sithFzjj11a72JFhvf1GhFLYiFvGSwaQpEOKP6w/s320/IMG_3995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674594862640237842" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1zqnzDxJdTazOpvD_IYvSNN7sZZrR1bYNQwGiyyt9yH8dUci0UoOAXgsGu8Wh4las6gNPx_XUSCAcTUDDjQHOPU_ABsyNyOhl-k7eizlBWrWf7aRf8QpDdKLBneCxjzLlzTesg/s1600/IMG_3992.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1zqnzDxJdTazOpvD_IYvSNN7sZZrR1bYNQwGiyyt9yH8dUci0UoOAXgsGu8Wh4las6gNPx_XUSCAcTUDDjQHOPU_ABsyNyOhl-k7eizlBWrWf7aRf8QpDdKLBneCxjzLlzTesg/s320/IMG_3992.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674594844992459362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MNN-HIEGIQOZsEjJNo5ZL6PmIVdF6yOrh1sHjeDHnAJHI-98K9X7xBDKCZYGkGvL23pHhDcFOUeu_WM_LITMsIn514kdD8-STXzueKGFAZ1kavIvVW6bfw1ZgnNo0-KhaETcHw/s1600/IMG_3997.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MNN-HIEGIQOZsEjJNo5ZL6PmIVdF6yOrh1sHjeDHnAJHI-98K9X7xBDKCZYGkGvL23pHhDcFOUeu_WM_LITMsIn514kdD8-STXzueKGFAZ1kavIvVW6bfw1ZgnNo0-KhaETcHw/s320/IMG_3997.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674594855081314914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />October</span></span><br /><br />Try as I might, I just can't keep this updated as quickly as I'd like. Life gets in the way, you know? So, as usual, I'm playing catchup.<br /><br />We celebrated Jess's birthday as a family in September. We had her friend's party in October because I wasn't quick enough to plan it to get it in the right month. We are limited to Sundays because of dance and we're limited to after 12 because of church. We had her party at Big East Gymnastics where she takes lessons. It was a blast. We invited several of her friends from the neighborhood and church as well as all the girls in her class. They swung on the rings, jumped on the trampoline, climbed the rock wall, jumped into the foam pit and cartwheeled. Jess gives me a heart attack every time she does a flip in the air.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHcJY2QQLknQCYblFqZvIsDWi1a5dF7S-NEb_Vg_qBESpUjY8S0FdA5CHk-1w-E911oAeSJLBvRk_3YPZhTYSNhFcyGpkoc5D1lc5r5pfb4M_fixV05TaOqDiD1XAGxgZY7SXfQ/s1600/IMG_3831.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHcJY2QQLknQCYblFqZvIsDWi1a5dF7S-NEb_Vg_qBESpUjY8S0FdA5CHk-1w-E911oAeSJLBvRk_3YPZhTYSNhFcyGpkoc5D1lc5r5pfb4M_fixV05TaOqDiD1XAGxgZY7SXfQ/s320/IMG_3831.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674590320610429378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I laugh when people tell me their kids can't make up their minds what they want to be for Halloween until a couple days before. Jessica makes her choice in February when my friend goes to visit her mom who works at WDW. So far, Jess has been Tinkerbell, Cinderella, and Belle. We got 2 years out of Cinderella but I think it might be only one year for Belle because this year's costume was a tiny bit tight (it doesn't help that she needs to layer underneath it to go trick or treating unless she wants to go out in a winter jacket over her costume).<br /><br />Halloween took over much of the month of October this year. We went to a magical munchkins party at Liz's house on 10/1, trick or treating at Jess's school on 10/21, Halloween party at Plimoth Plantation on 10/28, and trick or treating around the neighborhood on 10/31.<br /><br />At the magical munchkins party, Jess and the older kids had an egg hunt by flashlight. Jess won at pin the tail on the cat as well as getting the most eggs in the hunt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkmYQ5UqnYMagAnHdDfFcpNjRW4LOSsCA-46Wp6qtYzzRg6IvHoUBDHuqtdRnF9YK91eaqeIrO0KLw1A1BoekBzSkzVWjVXQ5MXdZfmBd8vffgfnSlbQOAY1rDulSr4_mjQq_Kw/s1600/IMG_3757.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkmYQ5UqnYMagAnHdDfFcpNjRW4LOSsCA-46Wp6qtYzzRg6IvHoUBDHuqtdRnF9YK91eaqeIrO0KLw1A1BoekBzSkzVWjVXQ5MXdZfmBd8vffgfnSlbQOAY1rDulSr4_mjQq_Kw/s320/IMG_3757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674591754574752546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwclPvN2e5Hl54ZhvUhWyBcEXU6lWzY_8t__V0yeHflo9fJJpLW84RBpoVLv8wKfdkhXsnA_59geUxvlwzjume-PvaSWzGVV_gxl1Te1icvIUsgcig3vKx0CRLlvGsnQHT7DiVw/s1600/IMG_3743.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwclPvN2e5Hl54ZhvUhWyBcEXU6lWzY_8t__V0yeHflo9fJJpLW84RBpoVLv8wKfdkhXsnA_59geUxvlwzjume-PvaSWzGVV_gxl1Te1icvIUsgcig3vKx0CRLlvGsnQHT7DiVw/s320/IMG_3743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674591751255587554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jason went to his friend's house on Halloween and I took Jess out. We were out for around 2 hours. We'd planned on going to the mall first but decided to meet up with the neighbors instead. We outlasted everyone. At the very end, we started getting really cold and Jess's feet hurt so we headed home around 8:30.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKTJXxKUCDJHfVP-sAY03slQ2rjHMgpCdtAEuXoYB2Ig8EYNzHC33k6OkXFfPnhPuzeTp5vbag2jKkqcifw74P9msyco2hr5dsOuAI1hbQxaj5WhDKa5rasM6aEEdAWP9m6ofUA/s1600/IMG_3948.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKTJXxKUCDJHfVP-sAY03slQ2rjHMgpCdtAEuXoYB2Ig8EYNzHC33k6OkXFfPnhPuzeTp5vbag2jKkqcifw74P9msyco2hr5dsOuAI1hbQxaj5WhDKa5rasM6aEEdAWP9m6ofUA/s320/IMG_3948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674592931423309458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A couple days after Halloween, we watched a squirrel take Jess's little pumpkin out of the big pumpkin's mouth and carry it over the fence in his mouth. That was one determined squirrel! He dropped it a couple of times and would look at us in the window watching him and then at the pumpkin as if he was trying to decide whether it was worth it or not. Apparently it was because he went back each time and picked it up again. Finally, he did make it over the fence with it. Jess was upset at first that he took her pumpkin but I told her that the pumpkin would rot anyway so at least this way she was feeding the squirrel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1sGAxx2DNeVvBE0ItvgG4qnwwBj5JFu8LedPq3z32w9msFMKPV5Xg-IYYqqbySZTyR2F4jpM8Hmmruidt3yFB69wFs7aSQLWx1bpwv9N5Snv2ba9fqmR16xjTW8lZJ_ojvpQ6g/s1600/IMG_3959.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1sGAxx2DNeVvBE0ItvgG4qnwwBj5JFu8LedPq3z32w9msFMKPV5Xg-IYYqqbySZTyR2F4jpM8Hmmruidt3yFB69wFs7aSQLWx1bpwv9N5Snv2ba9fqmR16xjTW8lZJ_ojvpQ6g/s320/IMG_3959.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674592933316932210" border="0" /></a>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-310822428377091832011-09-23T18:51:00.003-04:002011-09-23T19:03:05.022-04:00<b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Jessica turns 6!!!!</span></b><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span>Jess had a great day today. Last night I decorated cupcakes to put together to look like a spotted puppy for Jess's kindergarten class to enjoy. I was a little worried about how they'd look in the morning because our kitchen felt so hot but I think they looked fine. She wore her "My Birthday Rocks! shirt to school. I wasn't sure she'd want to because its long sleeved and today was 75 and humid but she wanted to so I let her. She chose to go to Bertuccis for her birthday dinner. We've always gone to Bugaboo Creek but unfortunately they have closed. Bertuccis was very good. She was not too impressed with the card I found that had happy birthday sung by Altered Images. She was like "WHO are THEY?!?!" Oh well. She was much more impressed with her present - the Kanani American Girl doll. The doll's current name is Sarah but with Jess, that could change by the moment. Bertuccis gave Jess a free dessert and sang happy birthday to her which she loved. Happy Birthday, my darling girl!!!!!<br /><br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1p5cWS157BQJcFMn2MvCRh-Wb3UR6jJ8vpCMYmAbsIvzFjrGg3RUg4Kb9C6X5Id2EJqNzBpOPgwzOBXoAp83wUS35eB9L5obZQXgILmRFwC4aA8gQeHndahDBXeSJ50oXOFErQ/s320/IMG_3688.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655692190969014530" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RYoZSTC1mdMb_hVtYPGuvr9LOtjCcGuLTdfv4-tzuQ4Ck8Mmg9Flvkq6GDsP5QplfLNsjuYcFtkQTnhWEyft9Oaa6gS4kwRreghdcy8b2Jfb_LkCddYYmVMjHAE5lveCoxMY5Q/s1600/IMG_3690.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RYoZSTC1mdMb_hVtYPGuvr9LOtjCcGuLTdfv4-tzuQ4Ck8Mmg9Flvkq6GDsP5QplfLNsjuYcFtkQTnhWEyft9Oaa6gS4kwRreghdcy8b2Jfb_LkCddYYmVMjHAE5lveCoxMY5Q/s320/IMG_3690.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655692194126644322" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span><br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oDHr_5j4eQRnlexCp7IRO5WGkDZZktFCUjbLRdo7i-91AXJ2cCS085RYp_VphPF7fdzMvO3luHZr1WZQN63FfNR-3XVudIKqPC_9Nso4RMIKwgBNUPpbTPx-Rzyi6JqMAIRBnQ/s320/IMG_3691.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655692195929481202" /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5AemcNXXkI9lYNfNVJhHd6VjNGppdcVSVrJ2t8PP6gXLU0ulqmAoHAjJ1iQhKX-j43kpWqCNAL4dYm5SCwY7246uV7PpaXnhBi2O5dcvsCLadvsJvsAaC1uzRe82_B9LC5Z2_A/s320/IMG_3706.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655692203165673602" /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTb33K6f2g5uJXP9I4Zx_BZynlI_l-DICpjY_CFBYqUNgaRsS-XeVES4f9DSDrD0gTFbP_YGe3u_ofwwxGrtsbpkVcrG9rErjAYIXLagRrHaPSmsxtDnWQtC6KawH2PYv4HbF5yg/s320/IMG_3712.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655692207101822642" /></div></div>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19778809.post-227691317095546082011-09-11T16:59:00.005-04:002011-09-11T17:17:53.183-04:00<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >10 Years</span><br /><br />It's been 10 years since planes crashed into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon and one crashed into the ground in Shanksville, PA. All over facebook, people are asking "Where were you when...." I know where I was. I was standing in front of the cloak closet in my kindergarten helping a child get his snack. Calendar time had just finished. My para came in and told me what happened; she'd been in the office and had heard the secretaries talking. The office staff set up a tv and staff took turns going to the office to get updates.<br /><br />I wanted to go to the dedication and consecration of a steel beam from the WTC that was given to the town memorial by NY but Jason was alcolyting so we weren't able to make that. We did go down later to see the memorial (I'll get pics up a little later). At 1:30, I took the kids to Plymouth Remembers. It was a very well done program with singing, prayers, and speeches. There are a lot of things going on in our town today since it is the 10th anniversary; the program we went to was very well attended.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01239906850935331782noreply@blogger.com0