S'mores on a stick

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Last Day of Dance

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. 

Baby Shower Gift

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!!!

 

Jason's Confirmation
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.

                                              Jason's confirmation class

                                                        My cake for our party

                                                   Jess with red on for Pentecost Sunday

                                      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)

                                       Our church decorated for Pentecost Sunday with a guest oboeist

                                           The children processing in

                                               Jason doing a reading

                                                   Jason doing his speech

                                        Jess with cousins Maya and Bobby

                                                   Jess with cousins Peter and Maya

                                              Jess and Bobby

                                                  Jess and Cousin John, Baby Cousin John, and Aunt Edie

                                           Jason with Cousin Matthew

                                          Jason with the Cross he received from Thrivent

Boston

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!!

                                                   Jess ready for her swan boat ride.

                                                  The famouse Make Way for Ducklings statues

                                              Jess with some Dr Seuss-looking flowers at the Public Garden

                                                  Dumplings and friend rice at PF Changs

                                        Playing in the fountain

                                          Sign of a good day

Princess Birthday Party

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.

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.


                       Back view of the princess hairdo                                 My little princess

                                                   Birthday lineup

                                              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.  

                                                 The treat table

                                                  Jess and her friends Bella and Victoria.

                                                    Jess with Miss Massachusetts and Miss Massachusetts Teen

                                                  Beautiful cake

                                          Jess's plate. She's not a real sweet eater so after the cookies, she was done.

Happy Easter

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.

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.

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).

Jess and Jason with the Easter Bunny at church

Jess with the Easter bunny at Fridays.



















Jess with her decorated eggs.

Christmas 2011

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?

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.

Jack playing with his new catnip toy.

How did Santa not notice he was missing these?!?

And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care




















Jess with her new doll, Alicia

For the boy who has everything - his own popcorn cup. His main gift was Calumet

Christmas Eve 2011

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.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Plymouth, MA














Sprinkling reindeer food














Modeling new pj's



















Jess and her Nana

Getting the manger ready.

Ready for church Adding carrots to the snack for Dancer