Serenity Now....

Serenity Now at Dawn...

2012-01-06T11:43:00.001-05:00

Mindfullness

2012-01-05T15:56:00.000-05:00

The absolute struggle of staying in the here and now is a challenge so great, I forever fall short. Recognizing that THIS moment is all that is guaranteed, all any of us have, is a concept hard to contemplate and fully acknowledge. Seizing the moment, nurturing the present reality, finding clarity, and wholly appreciating the gift at my feet, will be my intentional journey this New Year.

It is clear to me that our lives and daily experiences should be used for creating meaningful and lasting relationships. Learning how to better love and care for those who surround us. Life is essentially about love. Loves leaves a legacy, nothing is clearer. After losing my father, all I had left were his memories and the lessons that he gave me through my lifetime with him. My father was unmatched in his ability to create and maintain intimate lasting relationships. People were important to him, a priority for him, he made time for others, his commitment was unmistakable; and when he left this world, it was obvious he had made a difference to many.

Rick Warren writes,

"The best use of life is love, The best expression of love is time, The best time to love is now."

So I step forward with the best of intentions. Stay mindful of my many blessings and the indisputable gift of the loving presence of my wonderful family and amazing friends, who are both near and far. Quiet my mind, be still.... Open up my heart, let the love shine in. Look to the horizon occasionally and assuredly know my real life has already begun.

Barn's Burnt Down- Now I Can See The Moon...

2011-11-15T16:10:00.001-05:00

I am often moved by words so simple, it seems difficult to explain the depth of emotion they evoke. I find deep comfort in the words I read and at times the words I write. The famous Haiku written by Japanese poet & Samurai warrior Mizuta Masahide speaks to my soul:

Barn's burned down
now
I can see the moon...

This is the first time I speak publicly of our pilgrimage. We are so proud of our oldest son, Peter. How moving it is to see his compassion, drive, dedication and courage during his most desperate hour. He has survived the unimaginable and has gracefully found his way. Peter's world disintegrated... extinguished before his eyes. How painful it is to watch your child grieve and be able to do nothing. How difficult it is to grieve for your child, who is grieving for their child. How helpless you feel, how unimaginable the loss.

We are left to hope that there is a reason for this journey. A purpose yet to be revealed. It seems we have caught a glimpse of that elusive moon. How extraordinary Peter's journey and what a blessing it is to watch him emerge from the ruins. With character, determination, and unconditional love he has persevered from the most desperate of times. In reverence and admiration, we feel honored to bear witness to his rebirth, in Ella's name.

Girl time

2011-09-03T21:10:00.004-04:00

Lovie & Genevieve helped me make this slideshow this evening! They include pictures from July 2011. Lovie has titled the slideshow, "The girls play on a sunny day" even though the deck looks wet, lol.... Enjoy!

Grooming the Next Generation Hockey Star....

2011-08-31T13:37:00.002-04:00

After Hurricane Irene hit it was time to play. Daddy took the two youngest girls out for a little hockey session. Baby G in particular seems to really take to the action..

Happy Birthday to me....

2011-08-07T21:16:00.002-04:00

All is love!

This beautiful handmade gift given by to me by the love of my life is the most cherished thing I have ever received. Todd created this Adirondack inspired beauty this Spring and presented it to me on my birthday. He harvested the cedar himself and joined every piece of wood without any screws or nails... true woodworking joinery at it's most authentic. Half-lap joints and hand created cedar "spikes" are just a few of the techniques he employed.

Such a beautiful, pains-taking, piece of art.... created by the love of my life.... I am forever grateful and humbled by his efforts. What an extraordinary gift. I love my life... I love my husband!

Forever Sweethearts....

2011-07-26T16:57:00.005-04:00

Happy Day to the "LOVE OF MY LIFE"!

You know when you have those moments when you realize out of the blue how absolutely blessed you are? You remember all over again how amazing the person is who you once dedicated to spend the rest of your life with. I seem to be having a lot of those moments lately. My better half is truly that... my better half. I'm not nearly as amazing as he is... but for some reason he chose to spend the rest of his life with me. I've never met another man who is more caring, patient, compassionate, loving, dedicated, or committed to his wife and family. I feel like I've won the lottery... absolutely blessed that this person is dedicated to ME! Not sure what I did to deserve this... but it's pretty great.... and our children... well, they've won the lottery too. Xxxoo to the love of the life.... I love my life... I love my husband!

Swimming with Alligators....

2011-05-31T13:26:00.001-04:00

Baby Genevieve and Lovie kick off the unofficial start of summer by swimming with this very large & scary alligator. The heat index hit 100 degrees and a little cool down is in order.

Mitchell's 12th Birthday Celebration....

2011-03-14T18:55:00.002-04:00

Shame Shame on Me......

2010-09-20T21:14:00.000-04:00

We had a very busy... difficult... challenging.... heartbreaking...blessed few months... Shame on me for not documenting it all.... I promise to start touching base on some of the things that have shaped our lives these last few weeks....

In due time.... patience.... we'll get there.... I've forgotten how much fun this is....

Mim & Papa visit April 2010...

2010-05-19T16:02:00.001-04:00

April was a busy month with visits from both sets of Grandparents... How lucky we are and how much we wish that the visits could happen more often than once a year... Here are a few pictures from the most recent visit from Todd's parents who the kids so lovingly refer to as Mim (Maya perfers "Mimsy") & Papa... Please come back soon!

Cooking video with the Grams...

2010-05-19T15:32:00.002-04:00

Last week Grammy visited from New York. Here Lovie cooks with Grandma Kate (Cake) a "chocolate pudding cake".... Lovie multi tasks by eating pizza pie at the same time. Don't ask how the pudding cake turned out... the kids and I are sworn to secrecy... but let's just say that Grams redeemed herself by the end of the vacation with a kick butt double layer chocolate cake which fully disappeared in 24 hours... Oh, please come back soon Grams...

A few pics of Lovie meeting Cathy's new Golden...

2010-05-19T14:56:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter.... A special picture for you!

2010-04-04T12:32:00.000-04:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Baby G receives gift of love....

2010-03-23T19:50:00.001-04:00

On Saturday March 20th..... We we had a wonderful get together with our neighbors... long overdue. Here are some pictures and video of the visit. As they arrived with broad smiles and armfuls of goodies.... Todd and I did wonder a bit why we were the recipients of such good fortune. The Froscheiser family had a wonderful evening planned... (that they brought directly to our abode no less)... Bottles of wine, flower decorated cupcakes, Chinese lettuce chicken wraps, and an overflowing fruit bowl were a few of the treats that arrived on our doorstep.

We later discovered the purpose of the visit was to present Ms. Genevieve Meadow with a beautiful hand-stitched quilt made by Angie herself... This beautiful quilt took Ang over 8 months to make. Words can't ever express how special a gift like this is to receive for one's child. I'm not sure what we did to deserve such kindness but we certainly feel so blessed!

The evening was filled with good drinks, great food, and lots of laughs. What a wonderfully loving gift for Baby G to treasure... What a great night to connect with friends. Here's to many more!

Happy Birthday Grandma Johnson!

2010-03-17T21:14:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday Grandma Johnson.... Today is March 17... St. Patrick's Day.... Emily Johanna Johnson was quite a character... Born in Norway, she ultimately settled in a picturesque New England village in Connecticut. I believe this picture was taken right before her 93rd birthday.

She was a feisty gal with quite a sense of humor. Very generous with a strong love for God. Every morning, I can remember her loving a cup of scorching hot Joe with a slice of pumpernickel bread layered with butter and cheddar cheese. An equally strong memory: every day at noon when the local fire station sounded their mid-day siren.... she would proclaim with her thick Norwegian accent...."12 o'clock and all is well..."

I hope she is keeping Dad company... oh' how she loved her Johnny Boy. How I miss them both....

No room for my Costco groceries.....Maya's Cooking Creations!

2010-03-12T07:53:00.005-05:00

My pint-size cooking obsessed 3 year old demonstrates here in this picture her favorite creation, "Birthday Cake Surprise"..... As many of you know, Lovie spends most of her down time making pretend cakes & cookies, cutting pretend veggies and cooking pretend meals! She is constantly in and out of the fridge placing her carefully created concoctions amidst mom's marinating chicken.

No cartoons here..... It's all Paula Dean, Rachel Ray, Giada, and the Barefoot Contessa.... My TV's are permanently tuned in to the Food Network. I suppose it cold be worse... but all day long I hear... "Mom, I missed her chopping garlic.... rewind the DVR, quick....."

I can't make a bowl of cereal without having full participation of my little gal. Sometimes it's a bit of a burden when she insists sitting atop the countertops to watch me prepare a simple sandwich.... but honestly, what a darling.

On a recent trip home from Costco, I opened the refrigerator to find this display.... not a stitch of shelf space for anything..... but oh, how sweet....!

My favorite Lovie... chasse chasse chasse.... and turn!

2010-03-05T14:24:00.001-05:00

I know this may be Ballet overload for many of you... but I just found this clip that I never included and it's just delightful. I think maybe my favorite of the recital... You can hear the instructor telling Maya to "Chasse, chasse, chasse....." and reminding her to "turn"...

It's just darling....

Lovie's First Ballet/Tap Recital Footage

2010-03-03T16:34:00.006-05:00

"...Your love for yourself is only shown when you are dancing freely..."

For those of you who have a few lifetimes to kill.... I have posted Lovie's first Ballet/Tap Dance Recital here on my blog. I wanted to be able to keep this all in one place and so I posted links to Youtube via my blog which show various parts of the recital. Some videos are longer than others.

Todd and I had a hoot of a time. It was so much fun and she really seems to enjoy every second. Certainly some clips are more entertaining then others... Maya insists on being in full drag and so sometimes finds her pettiskirt more of a hindrance than a help.

My personal favorites are videos 2,3,4,6,8,11 (check out the cranky classmate), and last but not least, "The Finale!" Alright... maybe I just like them all. That's a mother's prerogative, right?

She's ready for Series 2 and will be starting next week. Yippee!

Mitchell's Happy Birthday Sing-a-long....

2010-03-02T18:10:00.001-05:00

For those of you who are interested in what a typical Seymour/Johnson "Birthday Song" sounds like (not sure I can recommend this).... listen to the video! I'll be the first to admit that this comes from the heart and doesn't sound pretty. A true harmonic disaster no doubt... but oh' so much fun!

Mitchell turned 11 on Feb. 22... and had a great birthday celebration. He had a boy's sleepover night the week before with five of his little friends... What fun we had!

Mitchell had a goal to raise money for The Smile Train so he could help to give a needy child a new "smile". He asked friends and family to support him in this endeavor and he was able to raise $265. Woo Hoo! He was able to provide one lucky child a "new smile" and even had a few dollars to spare. We are so proud of him.

http://www.smiletrain.org/

Baby G has somethin' to share!

2010-03-01T16:26:00.001-05:00

Sweet lil' Baby G (now 8 months old) has got some new moves that she just can't stop doing... This last few days she has gracefully put herself in the most lady like "sumo wrestler" stance... and with all her might shoots her tender bod straight in the air. She looks to be conquering the world... (well, not quite yet)... But it won't be long before this sweet little something will be exploring the world on two legs.

Lord help me!

"That's what she said..."

2010-02-17T18:53:00.001-05:00

I was reading The Huffington Post and came across this article..... Those of you who are fans of the office may get a giggle. I have a feeling if this happened to one of our kids Dad might be proud.

"The joke's been done to death, but when it comes out of the mouth of a middle schooler and he gets detention for it, we can't help but applaud. Sure detention sucks, but it was totally worth it. Well done, Dalton, well done. "

Brett Favre Superbowl Footage and Hyundai Commercial

2010-02-08T13:08:00.000-05:00

Here is the Hyundai Brett Favre Footage that is just plain hysterical.... Below I will also post the short commercial shown during the Superbowl..... We can only dream of another 10 years with Favre....

Snowstorm 2010.... A Slideshow!

2010-02-08T12:31:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pictures of the monster storm that hit us a few days ago. We were slammed with a massive snowstorm which completely paralyzed the entire metro area. The snow fell all day Friday and Saturday leaving us with around 32-34 inches of lovely white stuff.... Dulles Airport officially reported 32 inches shattering their all time record.

We've lost several trees.... had no power for about 30 hours resulting with our in-home temperature at 46 degrees.... The Federal Government has shut down today while DC digs out. We are starting slowly to get things under control... The neighborhood is somewhat plowed... a one lane escape is available... What an experience.

The kids have missed quite a bit of school... and I don't think they will be going back anytime soon... Hopefully make up days won't keep them going until July 4th... hee hee... Feet are on the ground... ready for more... the next storm is scheduled to hit in 2 days with another 12 inches possible. We are on record to break the record for the snowiest winter ever recorded for the Metro area....

Maya is sad the "purple team" lost....

2010-02-01T12:04:00.001-05:00

Here's a small clip of Lovie's reaction when I told her the "purple team" was losing (the NFC Championship game). Later that evening after the Vikings lost the game.... Maya asked if the "purple team" won or lost the game. I gently told her they lost.... sadness filled her face and she climbed up in my lap and started to cry. I felt like crying with her...

In the clip you can hear Todd yelling to bench Adrian Peterson.... those fumbles were costly. It was a hell of a game.... either way we had an amazing season....

Skol Favre and the Vikes!

2010-01-31T17:52:00.002-05:00

Not much I can say except Brett Favre played his heart out. My heart is broken... I need some time to lick my wounds and accept that the better team did not win the NFC Championship game...

Brett thanks for an awesome season. I am so greatful for these last few months... I think Favre's return to football singlehandly lifted my postpartum depression.... I can still remember the second I heard he was returning (and to the Vikings no less )... it was like I won the lottery. What an absolutely awesome year! I am truly thankful for all the fun our family and friends had watching him play... SKOL Brett Favre!

Vikings play your heart out!

2010-01-22T11:01:00.001-05:00

It's the moment of truth.... and as I write this.... I am physically nauseated... I am so nervous my stomach is turning over itself. The Vikings play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at 6:30 pm for the NFC Championship. I worry because the Vikes have not played well in any Sunday evening game this season.... If I'm not mistaken, I believe 3 of their 4 losses were Sunday evening games. Harvin, Edwards, and Williams have all missed practices this week.

The Vikings will be playing the Saints at home in their Superdome... It will be loud, really really loud. The Saints have everything to play for... America's heart is with them and the franchise definitely is hoping for their first Superbowl win.

Keep in mind that the Superdome has always been kind to Favre and the Vikings. Favre won his Superbowl with the Packers there. Vikings played there last year and won. This is the 40th NFC Championship... and guess who turned 40 this year? For a few of those reasons... maybe the Vikings will actually be just fine...

I like the Saints... I want them to win a Superbowl... just not this year. I hope that's how it goes. Now Vikings go play your heart out!

Let the Tap Dancing Begin....

2010-01-19T14:53:00.001-05:00

Here are a couple very brief videos of Lovie Girl showing off her new moves. For whatever reason pictures are not allowed during class (gimme a break)... but I was able to catch a short peek on video to satisfy my parental indulgence to see my little girl enjoy her first Tap/Ballet Class. She had a fantastic time and came home and talked nonstop about doing a pirouette just like "Cinderella". By the way, Lovie has the rockin' green/blue pettiskirt on.... there is no mistaking her.

Vikings slaughter the Cowboys... Scandinavian Brett does it again!

2010-01-17T17:07:00.002-05:00

Complete domination... The Vikings crushed the Dallas Cowboys 34-3 in their Metrodome... 9-0 this Season at home. Brett Favre threw 4 touchdowns (3 to Sidney Rice) and proves once again that he's playing the best football of his life. On to the NFC Divisional Championship against New Orleans next week.

"I'm kind of worn out right now," Favre said in an interview with Fox. "It was emotional before the game, just to be in this position after all the stuff that took place. It's a wonderful moment."

Haiti Crisis: Please consider helping....

2010-01-14T13:36:00.002-05:00

Since I feel absolutely helpless during the wake of this most recent tragedy... I find myself posting a plea for help/donations for the urgent aid/needs in Haiti. Please consider donating monetarily to Haiti during this humanitarian crisis. Estimates of death tolls range anywhere from 100,000-500,000 people. Avoid scammers by sticking to legit agencies like the Red Cross, World Vision, and our personal favorite charity The IRC: International Rescue Committee http://www.theirc.org/ (a top ten gold star charity).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34844561#34844561

Baby G playing "Peek a Boo"...

2010-01-12T22:59:00.001-05:00

Little Baby Genevieve started crawling at a little over 5 months old. She is fully cruising now but here is a glimpse of her playing her favorite game of "Peek a Boo" a few weeks ago... what a sweetheart!

A Visit from Peter Christmas 2009

2010-01-12T14:01:00.001-05:00

Here are a few pictures from Peter's visit home this Winter Break. We were excited finally have Peter home again this Christmas 2009. He brought along his very sweet girlfriend, Alex, from Arizona. We had a wonderful two week visit and spent all kinds of family time together. The kids and Dad spent hours playing Starcraft- 4 players- each on their own computer. The fam also had all kinds of laughs with Mom playing Super Mario Bros on the Wii... It was so nice to reconnect, relax, enjoy family dinners, movies, poker games & snowball fights. Lots of fun! It was so sad saying Goodbye....

MNF... Make it happen Vikings!

2009-12-28T13:26:00.001-05:00

It's now or never.... Hopefully tonight when the Vikes take on the Bears we'll see if this team is for real. It's time for Favre, Peterson, and Harvin to make things happen.... Forget last weeks events and the pummeling by the Panthers who are just red hot... (and they play the Saints next week, yes!...) so it's critical the Vikes win tonight (and next week against the G-men) and hopefully secure home field advantage and a sweet first week bye...

It's definitely do-able... but these guys need to get off the pot and stop playing like jokers... Adrian get those leggies moving and get out of that slump of yours.... Make your Mamma proud!

Christmas Memories 2009

2009-12-26T17:26:00.003-05:00

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other...”

We had a wonderful Christmas.... Here are a few pictures that highlight the holiday. We are so blessed and so lucky to have one another..... Merry Christmas to all our family and friends.

Oh, by the way.... we also need to take this opportunity to announce yet another addition to our family clan.... "Clementine the Horse" made her official debut. What a Christmas it's been.

Snow Storm DC.... Dec. 2009!

2009-12-19T20:17:00.001-05:00

Here are just a few pictures taken today! The December 2009 Snow Storm has hit us full force and is still going strong. We currently have 27 inches and are hoping for a bit of a break. Christmas parties tomorrow... (can't wait)... and lots of fun! School will probably be out until Christmas break... What a wonderful gift from heaven above!

Baby it's cold outside!

2009-12-16T05:23:00.000-05:00

Here's a few pictures of our early December escapades.... A first snowfall always puts you in the mood for Christmas.... Hope you've got yourself a little snow too!

Congratulations to the Bronx Bombers!

2009-11-06T22:04:00.000-05:00

As soon as the Yankees won the World Series I could hear in my head the excited and booming voice of my father... "Go Bronx Bombers"... I can envision the swing of his forearm up in victory.

My father would say winning the world series as a Yankee fan never gets old... This victory is as sweet as any other. Growing up I remember hearing stories from my Dad about his escapades of living in Brooklyn and taking the subway to see the Yankees play. He would travel with his older brother, both alone, at tender young ages. A different time that was.

Grandpa John is close right now... we can all feel him... Maddie, Mitchell and I have all had seperate dreams within the last week about him. I bet he's really enjoying his victory while crusing the blue horizon.

Celebration of Day of the Dead/ All Souls Day! Miss you Grandpa John....

2009-11-03T08:05:00.000-05:00

Maya plays a tune on her harmonica for Grandpa John....

We celebrated my Dad today with lots of talk about everything that made him special. His altar contained his picture, candles, beautiful flowers and some snacks. We left out a glass of red wine from me, and water & cheerios from the kiddies. This offering is to fill his tummy after his long trek back from wherever he has been...

Unfortunately, it was not the idea that Gramps may make a visit which scared Maddie; it was the fact that he actually may eat the treats we left him when he did infact visit... No worries! I knew the stale cheerios wouldn't go far!

Peace be with you!

2009-11-02T15:33:00.001-05:00

Vikings vs Packers at Lambeau yesterday. Round #2..... Vikings on top once again... What a game.... I spent the game doing dual duty.... watching the game on TV while simultaneously watching the Favre cam on foxsports.com.

I wonder what Ted Thompson is feeling today? I'm sure his ego won't ever allow him to regret the way things went down in Green Bay Summer 2007. I never flawed the Packers for wanting to move on. I mean, I think it was foolish and a damn asinine decision... but honestly, they are entitled to move on with a new QB if they so choose. Giving up the best QB to ever play the game, while he can still "play the game"... is ludicrous... but whatever, it's not a smart decision but it is certainly the Packer's prerogative.

What did bother me about went down in the Summer of 2007 was the Packer Administration trying to blackball Favre. Offering him 25 million to stay retired and keep quiet. Telling him he couldn't be "their" quarterback... and unwilling to release him at the same time. Demanding that he not play in the NFC North (sorry Minnesota) nor the NFC at all (sorry Tampa Bay)...and all the rest of that of that trash. If you don't want Favre that's one thing... but to not release him and allow him to follow his own path is nonsense....bitter,nasty business.

I imagine Favre had something to prove with these last two games against the Packers... and he did an admirable job! Vindication is sweet... Brett handled himself with grace. He was respectful and gracious. Interviews both prior and after the game illustrated an emotional guy with the best intentions in mind. The hate that has been spewed his way is tasteless and crude.

I kept thinking last night of the movie Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts revisits a person who harshly judged her earlier in the movie... Her response... "Big mistake... big.... HUGE....." and she confidently walks off.... What a big mistake Ted Thomspon ultimately made, perhaps in the end he'll be the one who is marginalized, a taste of his own medicine.

Happy Halloweenie Pics from the Crew!

2009-10-31T21:00:00.001-04:00

"Once in a young lifetime one should be allowed to have as much sweetness as one can possibly want and hold..."

Here are the kiddos in all their glory! What a night...

Happy Halloween... Visit my blog to see a very scary picture.... BOO!

2009-10-29T19:33:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween to all our friends and family... Have a wonderful day and special wishes for lots of chocolate candy (and none of the bad stuff)!

“If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you.” ~Winnie the Pooh

2009-10-28T14:36:00.001-04:00

Happy Anniversary to Toddsy Babes and I. Hard to believe that we have known and loved each other for about 23 years now... It is my firm belief that just about everything in life can be solved by creating a proportion (thanks to my 9th grade Algebra teacher...) According to this, Todd and I have been in love for more than 60% of our life. Pretty darn sweet and I'm not just talking about the Mud Pie in the picture above... High school sweethearts, who would have ever thought?

I can remember him telling me when we were 15... "I am going to marry you one day". I can also remember being highly annoyed by that statement because who in gods name actually marries their first boyfriend? Who would have thought, against all odds and a lot of adversity that true love actually does prevail!

How lucky and blessed we are to have each other and our crazy big family. We had no idea what was in store for us... Five kids (that were five surprises) and a whole lot of challenges, commotion, confusion, and chaos... There is one thing that I tell Todd now quite frequently, "There isn't anyone else I'd want to experience this journey with other than you..." And that's the absolute truth.

How happy we are and what an adventure it's been so far. I love you my sweetheart... I love my life, I love my husband!

“And Now,” cried Max, “Let The Wild Rumpus Start!”

2009-10-16T07:31:00.000-04:00

We certainly know what we will be doing this weekend. Where the Wild Thing Are has always been one of the kids all time favorite books. It's released in movie theaters today. Little Maya reads this book several nights a week.... one of her absolute favorites. Mitchell has had a picture depicting this book framed on his wall since he was a toddler. He used to say that he was "Max".

Maurice Sendak, also the beloved creator of Little Bear, is an interesting guy. Many years ago I read about him and his iconic childhood creations. Some of his characters have a dark side...and others like Little Bear, are the most tender and loving stories you could ever imagine.

As I recall, Maruice Sendak is quite a conflicted man. I believe now he's in his 80's and has lived a very quiet isolated life. As a child he was sickly and his younger years were filled with a lot of sadness and fear. His father, a Holocaust survivor, told stories that ultimately terribly traumatized him. His relationship with his father was a difficult one. I remember reading he was permanently scarred as a child over the Lindbergh kidnapping, and always worried if he would be stolen in the night.

All this turmoil ultimately lead him to create some of the most interesting and wonderful children's stories and characters of all time. He is famous for touching not only on the dark but the tender side of childhood often producing controversial children's stories. Not only a writer, Maurice Sendak is also the illustrator of all this magic too, which I feel really places him as one of the most talented artists and authors we have in America.

I can't wait to experience this movie... let's hope it's a good one... It has a lot to live up to. The soundtrack has at least two great songs one by Arcade Fire, "Wake Up" and the other by Karen O, "All is Love"... now on my blog.

Here's the official movie trailer:
http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/where-the-wild-things-are/trailer

Happy Birthday Gunslinger..."From His Cold Dead Hands..."

2009-10-11T12:15:00.000-04:00

I really hate to quote a slogan popularized by the NRA... but somehow it's fitting for Brett Favre, the guy who just won't ever give up, retire or go away. (For better or worse.)

Favre is the King and has been for some time. He's surpassed every meaningful quarterback record and he's not done yet. Many are ready for him to step down, take a leap, move on, retire for good.... That time is surely coming quickly. Maybe we will actually have to take the football out of his cold dead hands in order for him to finally retire, who knows. As long as he can still play at a high level and it's obvious he can, he should...

Just a quick Happy 40th Birthday to my pal Brett. He happens to be 4-0 with the Vikings and will be playing today for his first ever 5-0 season start! Some things do get better with age..... cheese, wine, Brett Favre?

One thing is for sure.... Football is a whole lot more interesting with him playing the game.

Steel Nerves Please... Ditch the Serial Killer Mentality!

2009-10-05T10:05:00.003-04:00

"He's an emotional guy and I'm sure there will be a wave of emotion before the game and then kind of hopefully a cold, kind of a serial-killer mentality when the game starts," Vikes coach Brad Childress told reporters.

Ok... Chili may have gone a bit overboard on the quote... I'm just hoping for steel nerves tonight when the Vikings take on the Packers at the Dome. This has got to be the biggest, best, most important game ever of all time, in the history of mankind....no?

Sending all my hope, thoughts, prayers, good vibes towards the Vikings and Favre, Peterson, Percy Harvin.... The Norseman must dominate!

My mom is in the land of 10,000 Lakes as we speak... I'm so sorry she can't see the game in person but she says the energy and excitement in Minnesota is off the charts.

They're calling him Benedict Brett along with the Miracle Man... Sounds like he's more Savior than Judas. I guess it depends on which side of the fence you sit.... either way let us not forget... it's just football. Some of the vitriol being spewed at him is just a bit over the top...

A gathering scheduled at our house this evening has gotten the kabosh due to two sick kiddies of mine.... I hope this isn't a premonition of what's to come...

Happy Birthday Baby.... Lovie turns 3!

2009-09-19T14:40:00.000-04:00

What a big day for the little gal! Little Lovie turned three (going on 16)... She's had a very big couple of weeks reaching some very important milestones. She talks on the phone like she's a tween. She's now got a big girl bed and has mastered the art of the big potty. Her signature locks are still yet to be trimmed.

Her love of Rachel Rae and all things cooking continues and secured some awesome wooden cooking toys so she can pretend to cut, chop, and dice to her heart's content. Here's hoping that her love of food sustains, my personal chef in the making!

It's amazing how fast time moves...the kiddies are certainly growing up!

My Life is like The Flight of the Bumblebee!

2009-09-09T17:45:00.001-04:00

Ok... We are pottytraining.... 'nuff said really. Any parent with children over the age of three knows the misery. Little Lovie gal will be turing three in a couple weeks. Baby G is here and the kids are in school. The world is finally more ordered and moving more slowly.

So what's a parent to do?

Instill chaos!....and so potty training has become our newest challenge.

It goes a little something like this....

I Wake up

Lovie wakes up

Run to the Potty

Fix breakfast

Run to the Potty

Shower

Run to the Potty

Snack and a show

Run to the Potty

Nap

Run to the Potty

Lunch

Run to the Potty......

I think you get the picture.... We're getting it done... We're baby-stepping... If I live through this I'll smell the roses... until then... It smells nothing like roses; actually it smells a lot more like pee most of the time.

Are You Ready 4 Some Football?

2009-08-18T18:16:00.000-04:00

It's official... my year has been made.... Baby G is offically having her name changed to Bretta (only with a Superbowl win tho'). I have to say it's been a tough few days after coming home from our Summer 2009 at Serenity Now on Lake Champlain.

When I heard this fantastic news it was an instant antidepressant! Now as the song says on my blog... All he's asking is for "is a little respect...."

Don't dog the man, it's hard to say Goodbye, especially when you're the best! Welcome to Minnesota Brett... Ok... now to contact all my family in MN., tickets anyone?

2009-07-18T11:03:00.000-04:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Baby Girl Genevieve is 4 weeks old today....

2009-07-18T10:29:00.000-04:00

The video above is not a reenactment... I promise! I know lots of couples look forward to the magic 4 or 6 week timeframe after having a baby... For me, I like to secure a good 3 months (at least)...

It's official... She has a name! Visit our blog!

2009-07-15T15:05:00.001-04:00

We are happy to announce the birth of our daughter Genevieve Meadow Theodora Seymour… Here is everything you ever wanted to know about her name!
It’s a mouthful, but she’s a bundle with a lot of attitude! Genevieve entered this world on June 18th, 2009 at 7:16pm. She was born just outside Washington DC in an old historic birthing center and delivered by a midwife. The delivery came so quickly that she was ultimately an unplanned water birth. Genevieve was so blessed to have entered this world surrounded by her loving family by her side. She weighed in at a perfect 8lbs and was 20 inches long.
Genevieve is of French origin and gives a nod to her father’s heritage. It is also a variation of Jennifer and so her mother has been blessed with a namesake. The meaning Genevieve means “lady of the people, tribal woman”, which seems especially fitting given she is the last daughter to be born into our very large “tribe” of seven in our family.
Saint Genevieve is the patron saint of Paris. Legend has that she had visions and made prophecies, many of which are said to have been fulfilled. In 451, when Atilla the Hun was marching on Paris, Geneviève convinced the Parisians not to flee their homes, but instead to fast and pray, saying that God would protect them. As the enemy got closer, people began to turn against her, but in the end, Atilla turned his army away from Paris. St. Geneviève is remembered for her generosity to the poor, and as a protector against disaster.
The name Meadow is inspired from the last family excursion we took before the baby was born. We visit a local flower meadow every year in the early Summer to take pictures of the kids. This year it seemed especially serene and peaceful as we had the entire acreage to ourselves. It was as though you could hear the whispers of the flowers themselves welcoming us. Both Todd and I anticipated next year’s visit, with another little one toddling at our feet. As I was leaving, I thought then if we were lucky enough to be blessed with a girl; Meadow would be a part of her name.
Lastly, Theodora is of Greek origin and means “divine gift of god”. We have always loved this name and are big fans of Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, our nation’s 26th President. Theodore Roosevelt spent the summers of his youth exploring the Adirondack Mountains. He loved nature and revered animals. He became President, after the assassination of President McKinley, while hiking Mount Marcy on a trip to the Adirondacks with his family. He established himself as one of the most innovative conservationists in history. His progressive insight provided protection and the creation of many national parks including the Grand Canyon, Crater Lake in Oregon, and the Adirondacks…. all places where we as a family have created special forever memories that will last a lifetime.
We are blessed to have little Genevieve Meadow Theodora Seymour become a part of our family. We are anxious for you to meet her!

We joyfully announce the arrival of our Sweet Baby Girl!

2009-06-26T11:14:00.000-04:00

On Thursday June 18th, 2009 @ 7:16pm.... Baby GIRL finally arrived into the world. We have not much time for details now but wanted to share some pictures of our beloved daughter and the birth process with our family and friends. She weighed in at an even 8lbs and is 20 inches long.

She was born at an old historic home/birthing center near Washington DC and delivered by a midwife. She was born peacefully into a tub of water and was welcomed into the world surrounded by her loving family. As many of you know, we work on a delayed naming schedule... so no name has been chosen... but you'll be the first to know once we take the plunge.

Thank you for sharing these special memories with us!

Visiting the Flowers...

2009-06-05T12:58:00.001-04:00

The Family took a quick trip down the road to our favorite flower and meadow fields. There is an elderly woman who never "sold out" her lovely farmhouse and land to developers... She has gorgeous flower fields that bloom every spring and she allows visitors to stop and take pictures... The land is always filled with artists and flower lovers galore. We've been visiting for years... and it's always a hallmark of Spring/Summer in our area when we see the Irises and Peonies in her garden in full bloom. Oh, how we love this little spot... "a little slice of heaven" in the big Metropolis of ours... I'm very pregnant and am now inspired by the name "Meadow" if it's a girl... I guess better than the name "Cookie or Pizza Pie"...

Maddie has now earned her "Young Lady" status....

2009-05-06T15:20:00.001-04:00

Here Maddie and her girlfriends have finally "earned" their Certificate of Achievement by attending the final Junior Cotillion Spring Ball... A great time was had by all... What a great and pretty bunch of young ladies!

The Restart!

2009-05-06T14:35:00.000-04:00

Just a quick post showing that Mitchell made it up to the tree house... we don't want him to have any hurt feelings!

A Comic Boost!

2009-05-06T09:36:00.000-04:00

Madeline and Mitchell give each other a boost to reach the new tree house in progress... Todd finally gets involved and we ultimately find that one of our children may be a bit more athletic than the other!

A Dynamic Duo Returns?

2009-04-30T11:04:00.000-04:00

Favre & Madden
What are the chances we can get both of these lovely men out of retirement? It looks like they both are enjoying their honeymoon and time off... but the "itch" should be just around the corner...!

Here Comes The Sun?

2009-04-29T18:23:00.000-04:00

"Nothing has changed. At this time, I am retired and have no intention of returning to football"...
Brett Favre
Quotes of the week

Do I dare to dream?...

The Stars Are Ours Tonight!

2009-04-25T02:31:00.001-04:00

The weather is getting nicer and the kids have wanted to "CAMPOLINE" for the last year or two. We finally had a beautiful night and Todd agreed to take on the challenge of sleeping outdoors on the trampoline. It was a crisp, chilly evening with lows in the 30's... but the sky was beautiful and the stars were bright. All the kids were game for the adventure... even the youngest of our crew.

By 2AM Mamma was lonely and went to retrieve the smallest of the group and bring her inside for some snuggle time for the rest of the night... Lovie didn't seem to notice the change in surroundings but was eager to get outside first thing in the morning.

What a great little adventure everyone had outside on the Campoline! Enjoy the photos...

When I look at these pictures all I can think of is the song by The Nylons....

The Stars Are Ours Tonight...

The stars are ours tonight
They sparkle and shine so bright
Because
you're mine tonight
The stars are ours
The moon that's up in the sky
Is shining for you and i
Because you're mine tonight
The stars are
ours

Pure Indulgence...

2009-04-06T19:47:00.000-04:00

Here's a picture that when I saw it... my immediate thought was... "My Cup Runneth Over".... Little Lovie loves her pettiskirts (as does Little Lovie's Mamma...) We have a couple that are just fantastically adorable.... Is there anything more girly and fun then twirling about with yards and yards of gorgeous, fluffy, billowy, chiffon swinging by your sides?

Maya's pettiskirts are a perfect metaphor for her life.... She seems to be living a life that is so full, joy overflowing, and just bursting at the seams. Dreams are made... No cares in the world, pure sweetness and delight. When I see her face light up as she pulls on her skirts... I am just plain happy.

So... I try to offer her this complete indulgence at her whim...Although it seems that Maya Quinn never fails in wanting to wear her pettis at some of the most inopportune times... Let's just say that 45 yards of chiffon does not easily work well with a 5 point harness...

I guess that's wear the fairytale begins to fade... Either way, I hope Maya never stops dancing...

Happy Family...

2009-03-25T13:35:00.000-04:00

Lovie sings with joy...

2009-03-25T12:50:00.000-04:00

Is there anything more sweet than your little one offering up a little serenade? Here's a clip of Lovie singing her heart out... Enjoy the song~

"Farewell My Friend..."

2009-02-13T18:05:00.001-05:00

I have to say it's a bittersweet announcement from Brett yesterday.... I am a fan... a big fan. I felt I had won the lottery when I heard he was coming back this summer... but I have to say when he was forced to join the Jets... it never felt right to me... I was thrilled to actually see him play in person this past August at the Meadowlands... that was cool, as cool as it gets... but still, it never seemed right.

As much as I have a flair for the drama... and this little 'ode to him may be a bit hokey (hence the music selection on my blog)... I really will miss him!

A quote on what Brett did after letting the Jets know he was retiring (and one of the reasons why I love him so much…)

"I was on a bulldozer for a little bit, pushing up some down trees and stuff
and just was doing a little bit of yard work. I had my phone on me, but I didn’t talk..."

Look at this AMAZING mother earth goddess portrait!

2009-02-06T09:49:00.000-05:00

I love this...

All I Can Say is "Support Your Local Midwife..."

A Visit to Georgetown Cupcake...

2009-02-01T20:19:00.001-05:00

The day before the Inauguration of President Obama we all took a drive down to Washington DC to be a part of the hoopla... The city was abuzz, and no doubt the energy was palpable... and once again we were reminded of the absolute privilege it is to be a part of the culture of our Nation's Capitol.

We decided to stop by the now infamous Georgetown Cupcake which has been featured on Martha Stewart and the Today Show... and just about everywhere else. The wait was 30 minutes just to get into the shop. Can any cupcake be that much better than the ones I make at home? Ummm... yea... our question was answered pretty definitively.... These are simply amazing, we all agreed. Some of the ones in the picture above have the special "presidential inaugural seal"... super neat!

http://georgetowncupcake.com/home.html

A Snowy Day With The Kids!

2009-01-28T11:42:00.000-05:00

We enjoyed our first "real" snowfall of the season. Lovie had a fantastic time and we couldn't believe what a toughie she was. She made Snowman Popsicles with Dad and had fun making angels with Maddie. I think she would have stayed out all night if we let her. What a treat... it was long over due!

The kids favorite song to sing lately is the "Snow Miser Song" from the The TV show... The Year Without A Santa Claus.... If you don't remember it... I've put it on my blog.... Come Listen!

Ok, Charlie and Sara will it be Cecilia or Sussudio?

2009-01-24T21:37:00.000-05:00

I talked with my brother and sister in law today... They are absolutely ecstatic about welcoming their new baby into the world this February 2009... We don't know if it's a boy or girl but what we do know, is the girl's name is still up for grabs.

On the short list of girls names is the adorable name "Cecilia"... Of course... most of us would think of the classic song (and one of our all time favorites) written by Simon & Garfunkel in 1968. A great song, period.

Not Charlie... He has a mind all of his own... He can't remember Paul Simon's masterpiece... but he can remember that great song by Phil Collins... you know the one, "Ce-ce-celia....whoa oh".... The only problem is... the rest of us in the world remember this song a little differently, it goes a little like this...

"There's this girl that's been on my mind
All the time, Sussudio oh oh
Now she don't even know my name
But I think she likes me just the same
Sussudio oh oh"

If anyone has trouble remembering either of these great songs... I've put them on my playlist on our blog for a few days for a quick refresh and your listening pleasure... Just click on Serenity Now's link...

Sussudio quite possibly could be the worst song ever made.... "I feel so good if I just say the word, Sussudio". I don't think so...

What does Sussudio mean anyway?

WILL YOU BE WATCHING THE BEST SHOW ON TELEVISON?

2009-01-16T15:43:00.000-05:00

Okay... I have to admit I have waited MONTHS for the return of the Critcally Acclaimed Series Friday Night Lights (Season 3), shown on NBC Friday Night at 9 pm. In my opinion there isn't a better show on television... granted we don't have all the fancy pay channels, but on plain 'ole cable... I don't think there is anything better. For reasons I can't imagine, this show happens to be ratings challenged... But if you ask anyone who has actually taken the time to watch it... you can't fathom why it isn't the highest rated show on TV.

Now for those lucky ducks who were able to watch Season 3 on Direct TV this Fall... I am asking you to mercifully keep your secrets to yourself.... No spoilers for me as I hear the final two episodes are "breathtakinly priceless"!

Do yourself a favor and set your DVR... This show is the best most heartfelt family drama on TV... and the gripping football games make it a whole lot of fun!

"Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose! "

Maddie attends a Winter Ball!

2009-01-13T08:03:00.000-05:00

Here's a little pic of Maddie (3rd from the left-tartan dress) and her girlfriends at IHOP after a night of dancing and fun. Maddie is part of a local Cotillion where she is doing her best to learn manners, formal dancing, and proper behavior (white gloves and all)... She has attended many classes and now is celebrating all they have learned with the Winter Ball...

It's amazing how wonderfully pleasant she is at class but then comes home and thinks nothing of sucker punching her father in the tummy when he teases her about the boys she danced with. I think she'll need a few more classes...

Everything you want to know about Cotillions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotillion

2009-01-06T12:48:00.000-05:00

The kids have been enjoying the mild weather and brought out the magic bubbles wands that Santa Claus brought Lovie. They had a delightful time with them... and I have to say, some pretty terrific bubbles were created....

"I wish I liked anything as much as my kids like bubbles..."

From one of our favorite movies Knocked Up.

The Girls Smile....

2009-01-03T14:15:00.000-05:00

How great it must be to have a big sister... Here's Maddie and Lovie on Christmas Eve as we settled down for the evening. I can still remember the excitement of Christmas Eve as a kid. Counting down the minutes until you were able to open gifts from your family & friends... It was a long painful wait... after church... and then dinner... and then clean-up of dishes... and then.... always another task until FINALLY it was time to celebrate! What magic...

"You've got a friend in me...."

2009-01-02T10:19:00.000-05:00

With Christmas on the back burner, we're finally getting ourselves back on track. Lovie was fortunate enough to gather some new friends this season. Her favorite two being her new Big "bear-bear".... sent from Grandma Kate and also a Cabbage Patch Doll (offically named Luana by Xavier Roberts) but she insists calling "baby" from Auntie Sara and Uncle Charlie.

She doesn't' go too far without either of these new pals. I can't help but thinking about her old favorites and reflecting on the movie Toy Story when these new toys appear. I try to keep the oldies but goodies close by and placed in a special toy basket available for her to revisit her old friends whenever she may find the need..... Remember the song....

You've got a friend in me
If you've got troubles,I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together and can see it through
Cause you've got a friend in me

It's 2009!

2009-01-01T10:55:00.000-05:00

MySpace Widgets

Maya Quinn's Big News!

2008-12-29T22:36:00.001-05:00

Life is full of surprises!

2008-12-29T15:00:00.000-05:00

We joyfully announce (after a short period of adjustment on our part)....

Our Big News.....

We welcome with open arms Child #5 to our Clan......

Todd kicks back.....

2008-08-08T11:08:00.000-04:00

Todd works hard, really he does... but look at this pic... Does it get any better? Here he is floating away in Lake Champlain while Lovie takes her afternoon nap.

There is no doubt that she's a "Daddy's Girl".... especially after he went home to Virginia for a week of onsite work this summer.... She definitely seems even more attached than ever... I think it really bothered her that he left. She's connected to him whenver she's not physcially connected to me (via boobie).

Maya on a billboard!

2008-08-08T10:54:00.000-04:00

Ok... for Lovie's 2nd Birthday we bought this billboard display at the local skyrise building.... What do you think? I know she'll love it! What a sweetheart...

It's hard to believe she'll be turning 2 about one month. She's getting to be such a big girl and will be starting Mommy and Me Preschool in September.

Favre is a JET!

2008-08-07T07:13:00.000-04:00

Lovie girl at the beach!

2008-08-03T21:51:00.000-04:00

Ok.... What's it gonna be Brett?

2008-08-03T11:59:00.000-04:00

I love this picture.... Do you think we will see Brett in purple? Hopefully we'll know real soon! I can hardly stand it anymore...

Maya Goes Surfing!

2008-07-31T15:51:00.001-04:00

Pictures of the kiddies...

2008-07-25T11:57:00.000-04:00

Riding Lessons

2008-07-24T16:38:00.000-04:00

So the kids (Maddie and Mitch) started their horseback riding lessons this week... Boy... what a great time. It was a big surprise and honestly I worried about whether Mitchell would be at all interested. I have to say... I was quite surprised at his enthusiasm.... I think he was even more excited than his big sis'.

The two each had a dedicated hour. Maddie rode a beauty of a horse named "Fiona".... Mitchell rode a cute horse named none other than, "Mitch". He was tickled with that. Mitch had to get used to the "barn smell" which is a bit of a challenge for him.....

They want to conitnue their lessons for the rest of the summer... I guess we'll go ahead and do that... I'll post some pics...

Maddie girl

2008-07-22T08:22:00.000-04:00

I just stumbled upon this picture.... I just love it... I can't believe how big she's getting... The mural represents all the different things Madeline learned in 5th grade this year.... What a NEAT picture!

Dinner at the Jade Buffet

2008-07-21T17:45:00.000-04:00

Ok... I just thought of last week when we went out to dinner.... It was about 9pm at night... searching all over town for an open restaurant. There wasn't much to pick from... so the kids begged for the "fine dining" at the Jade Buffet Chinese Restaurant here in our vacation town. The kids make us visit this every year... we might as well get it out of the way early on... Nothing like fake american chinese food.... fried up the wazoo... and kept warm for hours under heat lamps... ummm-mmmm!

Well I let the kids go up to the buffet first... wanting to get Maya settled with a drink... On Mitchell's way back to the table he had finished almost half his plate. There is one and only one chinese dish he will eat... "Sweet and Sour Chicken"...

Within moments he was back up at the buffet getting a second heaping plate to bring back to his seat.

I decided to go up and start with a cup of won ton soup... and before I was back to my seat, Mitchell was already making his way back up to the buffet... Do you think ya know what for?.... Yup... a third plate of sweet and sour chicken...

Before I had finished half of my first plate, Mitchell was once again sitting down with a heaping plate of his beloved Sweet and Sour Chicken... We all marveled at his eating capabilities and thought he really knew how to get the most out of his buffet bucks! Grandpa John would be proud and perhaps in a little bit of awe at the impressive display of this 9 year old boy...

Before I finished my plate, Mitchell had finished his fourth helping... he was starting to feel not so swell. We couldn't even entice him with the all you can eat ice cream bar! I knew then that something was up....After 4 plates of mounding deep fried chicken... I knew he had to be feeling a bit full...

Mitchell was complaining of being hot and sweaty.... tummy starting to hurt.... so we all were a bit annoyed about having to call our buffet short... but we thought we better head home.

As we rounded the Head on our way home... we hear an ominous sound coming from the backseat... Mitchell is hunched over hurling like he's never hurled before. I couldn't believe it.... as we pulled over, opened the door and allowed him to continue decorating the roadside with what was once his dinner delights.

We had lots of spectators..... and passers by asking if we need help... They quickly faded to black once they could see the display our son was putting on.... I was such a proud Mamma...

At least he kept it all on the heavy duty rubber floor mats....

Grandma and Maya Quinn in the Lake

2008-07-21T11:10:00.000-04:00

Check out this video of the gals in the lake... just hit "play"....

Time for some ZZZZZZZ's.....

2008-07-21T01:27:00.000-04:00

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-07-21T01:12:00.000-04:00

Planes, Trains, & Automobiles.... (and boats & metro's too...)!

2008-07-20T23:37:00.000-04:00

Toddsy Babes leaves at 4am in just a few short hours for home.... He needs to put in a week of work before returning to Serenity Now.

He'll be leaving New York via car to travel via ferry across Lake Champlain.... in order to fly out of Vermont.... and fly into Maryland... Just to go by bus and then by train.... in order to travel to Washington DC to catch the metro which will finally bring him to his final destination in Virginia...

Whew! And this all happens before 9am! Five states before we'll eat breakfast!

What a commute....

I'll miss him terribly.... Love you sweetie...

Brett you're killing me!

2008-07-20T23:25:00.000-04:00

WTH is going on with Brett Favre...???? For the last two weeks I have ridden the rollercoaster of feelings... Feeling like I had won the lottery on some days... and feeling like I lost my best friend the next...

I have to say... I'm sad inside and want to know if I'll be able to see "old" #4 playing this year. I have to say it's pretty unfair to do this to those of you who love you most. The twisting and turning of emotions... going from elation to heartache is more than I want to bear.

Please just get it figured out... Ted Tompson... stick it up your butt!

Happy Birthday To Me!

2008-07-20T22:39:00.000-04:00

Celebrated my 37th Birthday today.... Boy, oh boy.... I just keep getting older... I guess better than the other alternative.... I feel old... It's a bit of a blow to the ego.

We had a couple celebrations this weekend... It was so nice to have family around.... We miss little siter Maggie... as her birthday is a couple days before mine and we have ALWAYS celebrated it together....

God I'm tired..... Haven't been sleeping well.... Isn't that a symptom of old age?

Lovie visits the Emergency Room...

2008-07-19T17:51:00.000-04:00

Maya took a fall off a chair yesterday... she hit really hard... I picked her up and noticed that there was blood all over my hand... PANIC! Her head hit the hardwood floor and she was bleeding pretty bad...

I couldn't stand to look at the laceration but Todd did... We couldn't decide if she needed a visit to the ER or not.. but after looking at the blood everywhere and the cut which seemed to be gaping open.... I insisted on heading out.

Turns out... after waiting for 2 hours in the ER... She was okay... We were told that she could have 3 staples/stitches... or we could decide against it. Well geez, which option do you think we picked?

Lovie seems to be doing okay... but her head is still pretty sore... She finds it a bit difficult to sleep or rest her head on it... but she'll get by... Me too... I think...

2008-07-18T11:30:00.000-04:00

Dinner for two!

2008-07-18T11:25:00.000-04:00

OK... Last night we were fortunate enough to have dinner for two (Todd and I) without our fabulous kiddies. Uncle Charlie and Auntie Sara presented my birthday gift.... A certificate to Butcher Block and a NO KIDS POLICY.... They volunteered to babysit our trio...

The dinner was fantastic... and it was fun have "date night" again. I had a great Long Island Ice Tea.... and enjoyed a steak. What a treat! Thanks guys for a great evening.

Vacationing Now

2008-07-17T04:06:00.000-04:00

Hi all.....
Here we are spending our annual summer weeks on beautiful Lake Champlain in Upstate NY.
The Adirondacks are always a treat in the summer.... The warm summer days and cool summer nights are the best combination out there....

Serenity Now is coming along nicely... We finished a fence at the seawall to help keep people safe from falling "overboard"... Todd worked his butt off... just as he always does to make things look great....

After a rough day two weeks ago... our dock sustained some damage.... We had 3 foot waves that evenutally chewed up and twisted up a few pieces... We're now waiting for a fix... a welding job... but for some reason in these parts is like an "Act of God" to get accomplished...

The kids are happy... and content... busy busy busy!

2008-07-17T03:25:00.000-04:00