Snickerdoodle

2010-07-06T23:27:00.002-04:00

http://michellespengler.blogspot.com/

I need a fresh start so I started a new blog.... I'll keep this one around but won't be updating it...

Come and see my new space....

July 4th on the Esplanade in Boston.....

2010-02-21T14:42:00.011-05:00

I know, this was over 6 months ago....but I really wanted to share....I meant to do this in July...oops!

The view from where we were sitting

Abby

Tommy

Our new friends

A foot bridge (not sure which one!)

The Red Line train....if look closely you can see the Museum of Science in the background!

My nephew Michael got to shoot the canon (practicing for the 1812 Overture!)

Mike and Michael

Daddy and Abby waiting for the Boston Pops and Neil Diamond!

Nate and Auntie Brenda

It finally began....very cool sitting this close!

Craig Ferguson being interviewed for the news.

The Pops!

My absolute favorite, Neil Diamond!

Abby and Auntie

The best seats in the house for the fireworks!

Abby was pooped!! (*I don't know the lady next to her....wish I knew how to blur her out!)

This was by far the highlight of my year...we had an incredible time!

Is it really November??

2009-11-01T14:08:00.002-05:00

Wow, it seems like just yesterday the kids started back to school! And here were are, a hop, skip and a jump away from Christmas!!

Not much has been going on...no injuries (yay! If you remember, last year at this time I had 2 teenagers in casts up to their armpits!), the kids are doing well in school, husband is working (there is always a threat of lay-offs...especially in the construction industry...but so far so good), I am working (same job, over 20 years now...no threat of lay-offs for me!)...etc.

I've started my Christmas shopping! This is the FIRST TIME EVER I have started before Thanksgiving (even before Halloween!). Now that Abby is in school, I have plenty of free time to shop (good and bad).....I am more than 1/2 way done shopping for her and have picked up a few things for the boys! I plan on having my shopping done by Thanksgiving with one more shopping day for the Black Friday sales. I am perplexed about what to get my nieces....they are 8 years, 6 years, 3 years and one year.....hhhmmm...

Me and my coupons got about $650 worth of groceries 2 weeks ago for free! I spent everyday that week at Shaws, making several trips each day, but it was worth it! I am not your typical "weekly shopper"....I only buy what is on sale and then I stock up. I have an upright freezer, plus my fridge/freezer so I am able to REALLY stock up. When chicken is on sale I don't just buy 2 or 3 packs, I will buy 5 or 6....same thing with ground beef, steaks, etc. From that sale at Shaws 2 weeks ago I got enough Pillsbury refrigerated dough/cookies to last this family of six MONTHS!!! Not to mention the Chex Mix, Nature Valley Granola Bars, Fruit Snacks, Progresso soup etc. etc.

Let's see...I told you, not much going on! I'll have to drag out my camera, plug it in and upload some pics.....will get to that soon, promise (*wink)!

Hello

2009-09-21T13:04:00.002-04:00

Well, hello blog! How are you?? Sorry I disappeared again....been busy, blah, blah, blah..

And by busy I mean, busy sitting around doing nothing from 12:30 to 3:30 while little miss is at school! It's been nice, this time to myself (first time in eons!)....the first week I was a mess though. But we are into the swing of things and Abby loves (LOVES) school!

The boys settled right in and are, presumably, doing well. Nate's in high school this year so there will be NO goofing off (especially if he wants to stay on the football team). Jamie loves school this year....he's taking some interesting classes....Street Law and Current Events...sounds interesting (I wish we had classes like that when I was in high school!). Tommy is adjusting well to middle school. I am a little concerned about his mouthy attitude lately though. I am not sure if it is the homework load and expectations of middle school or if it's his age....probably both!

We are enjoying watching the boys play football....Nate is a freshman (high school) and Tommy is a PeeWee. Nate is playing quarterback (scary) and Tommy, my big guy, is playing center/middle line backer. Nate's thrown a couple great passes (one game so far) and has only had one minor injury (squished hand). Tommy made a few great plays, some nice tackles.....mostly though, the boys are having fun (and staying out of trouble).

The fall is coming up right quick...my favorite season! I like the cool nights and mornings and the warmish afternoons! And my wedding anniversary/husband's birthday is coming up...on the 28th. He will be 38 and we will have been married for 13 years (together, obviously, a lot longer...).

Oh....I just realized, tomorrow is my BFF's 40th birthday!!! Happy Birthday Barbara!! I hope you have a great birthday and a great time at the Spa this weekend!!

Sorry for the silence....

2009-08-12T12:29:00.002-04:00

I somehow got all wrapped up in facebook and neglected my blog! I got a message from my friend Annie.....she has a new blog! About food! Check it out, she has a delicious recipe posted.....yummy!

So, yeah, Facebook is a time suck.... I love Facebook, but it doesn't allow me to express myself completely. It's "abbreviated"...if that makes sense. Status updates can't replace blog posts.....

So much has been going on this summer....how about a list?

The kids got out of school on June 18th. By July 1st they had ALL of their summer reading done! Then, and this is the amazing part, they continued to read and have all read well over the required amount! Needless to say we have been visiting the library often and I am tickled that they are enjoying books so much.
We decided to go into Boston this year for the July 4th festivities. The Esplanade, Boston Pops, Neil Diamond and fireworks.....you knew I'd be there! I had the time of my life, sitting up front about 5 feet from the stage watching my beloved Neil Diamond. I got to spend the day with my kids and Hubby as well as my sisters and brother, nieces and nephew...I'll be posting some pictures in a future post.
Billy took a week off this July...the first time in years. We stayed close to home and had a few day trips. It was nice to have him home for awhile and even cuter when Abby woke up in the morning delighted because "Daddy is home again?!?!?!?!???? Yay!!!"
We took the kids (minus Tommy, who was in New Hampshire with Bren and Jamie who was hanging out with his friends....) to the Museum of Science. I've always loved the Science Museum and hadn't been there in years! Thanks to the Rockland Public Library, we got in free (a savings of $77.....).
The last week in July was pretty "eventful" in a "Spengler" sort of way...... Abby had a little mishap at Auntie's and broke her arm. For all of you astute readers (Hi Mary! Hi Barbara!) you will remember that only 10 months ago Jamie AND Nate had broken arms..... It was nice to see Dr. Rynne though, he is such a pleasant man and he wasn't all that shocked to see us (again)....not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing though! No worries though, she is doing great and recovering nicely!
Due to a very wet June Nate's baseball season extended into August. Usually it's over in June but, well, the weather and all...we had a few games in July and the last one in August. His team won 18 games (including all 4 play-off games) and had only one loss! It was an outstanding season and we were so proud of the boys!
And now that baseball (at least for this kids) is over...we are looking forward to starting the youth football season. Tommy starts tomorrow (holy cow!) and Nate starts Freshman Football in 2 weeks (deep breaths, deep breaths....trying not to panic). Fingers crossed for no injuries......as much as I like Dr. Rynne (and am personally keeping him in business).....please, no injuries!
We got great news, Abby has afternoon session for Kindergarten! She asks everyday, "How many more sleeps until school?", so cute!
The boys on the other hand, not so excited. Nate and Tommy are both starting at new schools this year (high school and middle school, respectively). We have orientations and open houses coming up soon. For as much as they dread it....I am looking forward to it..
For the first time in 17 years, all my children will be in school! So, stop by my house around 12:30 on September 9th....I'll be the loon with the silly grin on her face dancing around the house!

Mommy and Abby

2009-05-03T15:45:00.000-04:00

10 on Tuesday...10 Least Liked Foods

2009-04-07T21:51:00.003-04:00

This isn't an easy one as I like most foods. Although, the foods I dislike I really DISLIKE .....

Peas
Purple gumdrops, purple lollipops, purple jelly beans
All squash except zucchini and summer squash
Melon....all kinds including watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew (especially)
Lima beans and baked beans (I like other kinds of beans...like kidney beans and pinto beans)
Milk....even with chocolate
Strawberry flavored things (I tolerate fresh strawberries, but they are definitely not a favorite)
Rye bread (and pumpernickel too)
Sweet potatoes
Peas.....I really, really, really dislike peas...

2009-02-22T13:13:00.003-05:00

Another "meme"..... When you answer, you are answering for you and your significant other. I "stole" this from That Chick Over There . She's a hoot, you should check out her blog!

What are your middle names?
Billy's is Paul (he is a junior) and mine is Lee.....goes great with Michelle!

How long have you been together?
Since the dawn of time! December 18 we started dating......

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
A couple of months, we used to hang out at the same place (my dad was a DJ, he knew Billy before I did)

Who asked whom out?
I pursued him....we only went out that first time because his friend and my cousin liked each other.

How old are each of you?
We are both 37 until March 23, then I will be 38......I am 6 months and 5 days older!

Whose siblings do you see the most?
Mine for sure.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
Hhhmmm, maybe raising the kids?

Did you go to the same school?
Until 6th grade, then I moved to another town.

Are you from the same home town?
Kind of. I lived in Weymouth until I was 12, then moved to Rockland. He lived in Weymouth until we moved in together (Rockland).

Who is smarter?
Intellectually we are equals. He has strengths (converting metric in his head for instance) and I have strengths (a weirdly extensive vocabulary...which you'd only know if you played Scrabble with me..).

Who is the most sensitive?
Of course me!

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
LaPaloma in Quincy, MA. Every Friday, unless we decide to go out on Wednesday.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, New Hampshire (about 100 miles from here).

Who has the craziest exes?
Not sure either of us has any crazy exes. I have no idea who his ex-girlfriends are!

Who has the worst temper?
Depends on the issue. Probably me..

Who does the cooking?
ME! All of it....

Who is the neat-freak?
Neither of us is technically a "neat-freak", but we are both neat.

Who is more stubborn?
me

Who hogs the bed?
He does by far! We have a king size...he sleeps in the MIDDLE...I sleep on the very edge.

Who wakes up earlier?
He does by far....he leaves the house at 4:30 AM. I get up at 6:30 to get the kids ready for school.

Where was your first date?
The movies....we saw Addams Family Values. It was the worst movie I ever saw....I fell asleep!

Who is more jealous?
Neither one of us.

How long did it take to get serious?
About a month.

Who eats more?
He does.

Who does the laundry?
Um, honestly? The kids! But, he does do more than I do.....except I fold it all.

Who's better with the computer?
Let's put it this way.....he doesn't even know how to turn the thing on....

Who drives when you are together?
I used to but around the time I turned 35 I decided he should always drive when we were together. Now I NEVER drive if we are together!

How old are you?

2009-02-18T13:03:00.002-05:00

Some very interesting things have been going on here this February vacation. Aside from Nate playing PS3 basically all day long, we have been reading interesting things. I recently bought a book for the family, The Encyclopedia of Immaturity . It is quite interesting with things like, "How to Build a Plastic Spoon Catapult" and "Top Ten Facts of All Time" and then the "Are You Getting All the Birthdays You Deserve?"....which is what I wanted to talk about.

Did you know that when you are 2 years, 8 months and 27 days old your are actually 1000 days old? And if you are 5 years, 5 months and 23 days old you are 2000 days old. So on and so forth.... It just so happens that out of the 8 kids between my sister and I, 6 of them are celebrating thousand day birthdays this year (wow).

In March Breanne will be 3000 days old, Kaylee will be 1000 days old and Nate will be 5000 days old (seems so oooollllddd). In April Devyn will be 2000 days old , in May Tommy will be 4000 days old and in August Abby will be 2000 days old. What a huge coincidence that in the year 2009 most of our kids would have these "special birthdays".

It was fun to figure this out and will be even more fun when these "birthdays" roll around. Yippee, another reason to celebrate!

I am still "Facebooking"......

2009-02-06T22:54:00.002-05:00

deleted

This is the progress of my package......

2009-02-02T21:06:00.003-05:00

I won an Ebay auction.....the person mailed it UPS...

Package Progress
Location Date Local Time Description
SHREWSBURY,
MA, US 02/02/2009 4:41 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
CHELMSFORD,
MA, US 02/02/2009 3:50 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
SHREWSBURY,
MA, US 02/02/2009 3:36 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
CHELMSFORD,
MA, US 02/01/2009 10:29 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
SHREWSBURY,
MA, US 01/31/2009 12:51 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
HARRISBURG,
PA, US 01/31/2009 5:12 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
01/31/2009 1:21 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
EAST PETERSBURG,
PA, US 01/30/2009 9:13 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
01/30/2009 8:09 P.M. ORIGIN SCAN
01/30/2009 11:06 A.M. PICKUP SCAN
US 01/27/2009 3:28 P.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

Tracking results provided by UPS: 02/02/2009 9:05 P.M. ET

Does this make any sense to you?

What the hell is wrong with UPS? Do they really need to have a pissing contest between locations?

Shrewsbury: "This is your responsibility"
Chelmsford: "No way dude, it's yours"
Shrewsbury: "Um, it's yours....now deal with it"
Chelmsford: "Uh uh, I'm not doing it.....have it back"

I just want the package...it's a snowsuit for Abby...by the time they figure out what the hell they are doing it'll be spring!!

This is a "25 Random Things About Me" meme I posted on my Facebook......

2009-01-29T21:24:00.002-05:00

1. I know this sounds corny but, from the moment I first laid eyes on my husband I knew we were soul mates (you can ask Barbara….she was there).

2. I feel safest when my entire family is home and tucked in bed…..I sleep soundly knowing everyone is safe.

3. While some people complain about their mother-in-laws….I often feel like I missed out on something great. Unfortunately my mother-in-law passed away early in our relationship. She was a wonderful woman and I miss what could have been.

4. Even though I had my first child soon after my 21^st birthday, I was still able to do many of the things people do before they settle down.

5. I have driven across the United States, driven down the east coast (several times), flown across the country more times than I can remember and visited 26 of the 50 states.

6. Of my four children, 2 of them were completely natural births…..if I had to choose between medicated birth and natural birth….natural birth wins hands down!

7. I have had the same job for almost 20 years now! It has evolved over the years to accommodate motherhood and my need to be home with the kids. I am lucky to only have to work a few nights a week….

8. I love to knit (yes Mary, I will teach you…..next time you are in town, let me know and I’ll get out some sticks and string!). I learned when I was 8 (almost 30 years ago) but have only been knitting steadily for 15 years.

9. I am a coupon user……to the point that my husband calls it a sport. I very rarely pay full price for anything and often (while combining coupons and sales) get things for FREE! Some things I never pay cash for? Toothpaste, shampoo (all hair stuff actually), razors, shave cream, deodorant, dish soap, noodles, rice, pasta, stuffing mix, frozen veggies and many more items that escape my memory right now.

10. Animals don’t like me…..cat’s tend to avoid me and dogs bark at me. But my daughter on the other hand has a way with animals. Deer, goats, sheep….they are drawn to her. While other children tend to scare off these types of animals at petting zoos my daughter quickly finds herself surrounded by them!

11. I love Neil Diamond…..really, really.

12. For someone who was born and raised in the Northeast I sure do hate the cold and snow!

13. Someday I hope to move to somewhere warmer (oh who am I kidding….I will be moving to Arizona at some point….I’m just not quite ready yet though….)

14. My friend Barbara and I have been best buds for 27 years (right Barbara?…..I was in 6^th grade…..)… The 2500 miles between us makes me sad sometimes!

15. The simple things in life make me happy……children’s laughter, the smell of a clean baby, high school football games, my husband’s smile…..the sunshine, green grass…

16. The only person I really talk to on the phone is my sister Brenda…we can talk for hours and hours everyday and still never run out of things to talk about. If for some crazy reason we miss a day…like a busy Sunday with the kids…it nags at me (“must call Bren, need to talk to Bren”).

17. I love football and baseball. The Pats and Sox….and of course the teams my sons play for (Nate will be starting freshman football this summer!!)

18. Even though I have an “almost 17” year old…it’s my “almost 14” year old that makes me feel old. I can’t believe he will be starting high school in September! That will make 2 in high school, one in middle school and one in elementary school……eeks!

19. I am not your stereotypical woman….I dislike shopping, only going to the mall if I HAVE to.

20. I love to read but have to limit myself. I tend to get so absorbed in my book I lose track of what is going on around me. The summer I was pregnant with Abby I read 32 books….

21. I recently renewed my driver’s license….I now have a “corrective lenses” restriction. I knew it was coming…..I thought it wouldn’t bother me but for some strange reason it does.

22. I have a knack for remembering dates and phone numbers……and birthdays and peoples ages (and because of the type of work I am in….fax numbers, social security numbers, pay rates etc.)…but for some reason I can’t remember what year I got married (September 28^th)!

23. I see little bits of myself in my children. Unfortunately it’s not all “good bits”…sometimes it’s the “not so good bits”….like, all of my children have the same ugly big toe that I have (who would have thought that what your big toe looked like was a hereditary trait?!)

24. It has taken me forever to compile this list…..I tend to be indecisive, often deleting this and adding that etc….

25. I have the best family in the entire world!!

He was going to wait until he was 30 to tell me.....

2009-01-28T21:56:00.003-05:00

Some surprising information has come to light recently and I need to share it. Usually something like this I would share, right away, with my dear husband.....but, in this case...waiting until Jamie is 30 seems pretty reasonable. What I am about to tell you all, dear readers, would absolutely freak my husband out (believe it or not, he (the one who has no room to talk) is not very understanding of teenage antics).

Remember Jamie's broken arm? How he broke it while skateboarding? While in the Burger King parking lot? Well.....none of that is true! It's all a crock of bull..........

He and his friend, the one that drives the red pick-up truck, were hanging out in the high school/middle school parking lot (along with about 30 other kids........in this town that is not suspect, bad or unusual...we are a small town and the kids for the most part get along great...). For some stupid teenage reason Jamie decided to lie on the hood of the truck while his friend drove around! Well his friend stopped suddenly......and Jamie started sliding off the hood and instinct told him to put his hands down and break his fall. He hit his head (pretty severely....wish I had known the truth, I would have had the doctors examine this a little more thoroughly) and was knocked out for a second..... He came to, jumped up and claimed he was fine. He realized pretty quickly he was not, in fact, fine when the 30 or so onlookers were looking at him funny. He glanced down and saw the broken arm....... His friend drove him home (I thought it was funny the friend didn't stick around.....Apparently Jamie kicked him out because he wanted to tell me the truth and Jamie wanted to give me a line of bull....).

The rest of the story is the same....we rushed to the hospital....blah, blah, blah.

Honestly I am not surprised. I wasn't totally convinced he was telling me the truth from the get go. You know how you can just tell when your kid is lying? I even asked him several times if he was fooling around with the truck......maybe holding on to the bumper while on the skateboard. I think this has been weighing on Jamie's mind lately because he seemed a little bit relieved when he told me. I think what they did was stupid and he should not have lied...but, in light of some personal things he is going through right now, I am not going to punish him. I guarantee he will never do something like that again....he is definitely someone who "learns his lesson" with consequences to his actions (very rare indeed...especially for an impulsive teen). And since he was absolutely miserable with the broken arm....I hardly think he would risk breaking it (or worse....) again!

Ah, that feels better....I needed to get that off my chest (and don't worry...my husband doesn't even know how to turn the computer on never mind check my blog!)

Oh No!!!

2009-01-20T15:29:00.001-05:00

I think I accidentally deleted my Facebook.......oh crap...... My friend Louise said, "You must have committed Facebook suicide".

I think I might cry, for real.

I have an email into the wonderful people who run Facebook.....hopefully they can get me back....

I am going to lie down now.

I feel so exposed!

2009-01-16T21:52:00.002-05:00

This is the first time in the history of me and the internet that I have posted a recent picture of myself. There are 2 other pictures on my Facebook (and Myspace) of me, one from my high school graduation (20 years ago) and one of me pregnant with my first child (17 years ago).....

I think I need to lie down...I am feeling a little anxious...

Kids say the darndest things!

2009-01-12T09:41:00.006-05:00

Between my sister and I (my younger sister) we have 8 children. She has 4 daughters and I have 3 sons and a daughter. In order of their arrival....they are 16, 13, 10, 8, 5, 5, 2, 4 months old. It's been a long time so I can't really remember the cute things the boys have said, but lately, the girls, they have been a hoot!

The other morning Breanne (8) woke up a little late and had to jump out of bed and rush to get ready for school. She says to my sister, "Mom, I am a little disney...I think I got up too fast". My sister, the woman who has 4 children and a bladder to prove it, almost peed her pants she was laughing so hard. Of course she nicely corrected her and told her she felt dizzy....not disney.

On or around the same day one of her other daughters, Kaylee (2) was watching a PBS show (Word World). My sis was in the kitchen cleaning (what else is new?) when Kaylee came in and said, "I am not afraid of the yogurt". My sister questioned, "Huh?" and Kaylee repeated, "I am not afraid of the yogurt". Bren just laughed and said, "me either, yogurt isn't very scary at all". Kaylee wanders off in to the living room to finish watching her program. All of a sudden Bren hears her saying, "I am not afraid of the yogurt, I am not afraid of the yogurt, I am not afraid of the yogurt". Curious, Bren runs in to see what she is talking about. Sure enough, right there on the TV is an OGRE! She was afraid of the Ogre on the television show....

Then, a few days ago Abby was sitting next to me on the couch, we were watching tv (probably Forensic Files or Cold Case Files.....her 2 favorite shows). She was shoveling potato chips into her mouth...really enjoying them when she pipes up with, "I am soooo allergic to these...I LOVE them sooo much". I choked on my Pepsi laughing at her! I gently explained that she was "addicted" to them, not allergic. The fact that she says she is addicted to them would have been funny in and of itself....but the whole "allergic" thing made it hysterical.

And since I am putting this all down, because neither my sister or I will ever remember these funny little things, I want to remember a couple more funny things Abby has said. Last year, or a year and a half ago, Abby dislocated her elbow at the park. From what I hear, it is quite painful. We rushed her up to the pediatric ER (my pediatrician's office was closed...we would have went there first) where a nurse quickly (right in the hallway) popped it back in, gave her a Popsicle and sent us on our way. For a few months after, every time she bumped her elbow she would cry and say she "allocated" her elbow again (she was very fearful)....... And of course when she got conjunctivitis recently she went around telling people, "don't touch my face because I have gingivitis".

She has it too....

2009-01-04T16:03:00.003-05:00

My daughter suffers from the same disease as my husband and young son Tommy. It's called Infomercialitis......

Right now, as we speak, she is watching Mr. T pimp the FlavorWave .

Her favorite infomercial is for the Magic Bullet...oh and she loves the TurboExpress.

You know how 4 year olds can be...they never sit still, bounce around the house from one thing to another? Well, if I need her to settle down and sit for a few minutes (like when I need to make an important phone call or take a shower) all I need to do is put one of her "shows" on (we recorded them on the DVR) and she will sit there and not move, for the entire show!!

The only drawback to this is the fact that she begs and pleads for me to purchase these things. Her and my husband sit and watch these infomercials and write the 1-800 number down so I can call and order these gadgets. I'll be honest, they are pretty neat. But with a family of six, we need something that will make more than single sized foods.

Take the Quesedilla maker I got free (was a free gift with an online order). We used it ONCE. It took way too much time to make quesedillas for the entire family because you can only make one at a time. Once the last one was done the first 5 were cold.

The Turbo Express is my husband's favorite. He has been asking me to order it for a while now but I kept putting it off. The other night he was watching the infomercial again and once again mentioned he wanted me to order it. I kindly reminded him that these things are SINGLE SERVE and not conducive to cooking for a large family. "Snacks" he says, "this would be great for making snacks". So, I didn't want to have to, but I brought up the George Foreman grill.....the one we used occasionally when the kids were little (pre-Abby).....the one he "forgot" to clean, that smelled and was all moldy. The one I paid $60 for, that I tossed into the garbage.

We'll see about the Turbo Express, I might just buy it for him to prove a point. It will get used once and then be put away because it is too much trouble for a silly snack.

New Years Resolutions

2009-01-03T19:28:00.003-05:00

Stop procrastinating......it took me over 3 weeks to finally call Whirlpool to come out and fix my broken clothes dryer and it took me a week to call Directv to come out and replace my broken DVR box. But, I DID call and they ARE coming!!
Put more money into savings......I want to have 1000's of dollars in my savings by year end.
Drink less Pepsi and drink more water.....I am well on my way!
Play more board games with the kids......I am well on my way with this one too! All I can say is, Abby is a sore loser....while we were playing Pretty Pretty Princess she got miffed when it was my turn to wear the crown and tossed all her jewelry at me! And the boys, now that they are older, are much more fun to play with.....Upwords and Trivial Pursuit Family edition are our 2 favorites.
Sew more.....I have a really cool craft center set up and I rarely ever use it! Lately I have been just knitting....I have some cool patterns for sun dresses and shorts sets for Abby...I intend to make those for the summer.
Blog more.....some of my friends and family (Hi Barbara) really "depend" on this blog to keep up with what's going on in the Sprinklehead household.
Take more pictures.....I have a nice digital camera and rarely take pictures. This bothers me a great deal, I want to preserve my memories (and since I have lost my mind and can't remember sh*t, I need to take more pictures).
Exercise more.....note, I did NOT say diet....just exercise (I am being realistic here....but I am guessing with exercise will come a better diet..)
Keep better records, file my "papers" and just get more organized in general......the reason it took me so long to call Whirlpool is I couldn't find my paper work for the dryer....it should have been filed under "appliances" in my file cabinet....
Spend more quality time with my husband....in all the ways a husband and wife can (wink wink)

Christmas 2008

2009-01-01T20:17:00.003-05:00

Unfortunately I did not take many pictures over the holidays....... I have good intentions, but never seem to follow through. I guess one of my New Year's resolutions is to take more pictures (among other things, like take walks on the beach and save at least 5% of our income). I did take a nice picture depicting how spoiled my kids are. I set all the presents....I mean, Santa set all the presents under the tree (and out around the edges and in front of the TV) and took a picture. I also took ONE picture of Abby and that was it......

We had a nice, relaxing Christmas. We were supposed to spend Christmas day at my sister's house but Kaylee caught the stomach bug....needless to say we stayed home. I wasn't anticipating having to prepare dinner that night and was a little low on the groceries. We settled on dogs and fries and ate in front of the tube. Good times!

Snuckin' Fow

2008-12-20T21:09:00.002-05:00

Can I tell you how much I dislike the snow (I know, Barbara thinks I am insane....)? It's been snowing here for about 31 hours straight and we have over 15 inches on the ground. Ick, ick and ick!!! I swear I was born to live in the south (southwest, where it is DRY and not humid. Although, when I was in Georgia oh so many years ago, it was quite nice in the winter). I had to run out to the store this evening and all I can say is thank dog for 4 wheel drive. You'd think the first snow of the year and the DPW would plow and sand but nooooooo. I live on a side street off the main street in town and there is as much snow on the road as there is in my drive-way (a lot).

When it's daylight tomorrow I will snap a few photos (for my bff Barbara) and post them.....

In the meantime I am going to go have a cup of coffee (with a little booze in it).

Facebook

2008-12-13T23:25:00.003-05:00

What a time suck facebook is! Anyone who's anyone is on facebook......and since I am such a follower, I joined too. You can find me by searching for me by my maiden name or my married name or both! Just a warning, this is no surprise, my facebook is as lame as my blog. So don't come crying to me when you are bored to tears....I warned you.

In other news....I did it again, I went to Target and wore my red sweatshirt (wtf?). The funny thing is is I NEVER shop there. In the past 2 weeks I have been there 4 times.......that is more than I have been there in the last 2 years!! It's just not my favorite store....I find it pricey. For the average shopper I can see the draw...but I am not "the average shopper". I rarely spend money on food stuff (except for produce, meat and eggs). I use coupons, sales and stock up when I can. But, they have stuff the kids want for Christmas (toys, cell phones etc.) so I brave the crowds.

This shopping season sneaked up on me (does that sentence sound weird...."sneaked" doesn't sound right, but it is because snuck isn't a word....even though it sounds better). I think it had to do with Thanksgiving was so late this year, before I knew it it was getting too late (for me) to internet shop (I am a fanatic about making sure I have everything a week before xmas, not the week of.....ever since I ended up having to run to Toys r Us on Dec. 23 to purchase everything I ordered because the shipment hadn't arrived....of course it arrived bright and early Dec. 24....but still, I panicked).

I am almost done with my shopping! I was able to get some neat gifts for the kids. Some unique things for the kids that they are going to love. I can't say what though because sometimes they read my blog (and complain about how lame I am. Or complain about a picture I posted.). I only wish I had more money so I could get them everything on their lists (considering they are kids/teens, they don't ask for much). I had to physically stop myself from buying more gifts for Abby....I was walking through Target picking things up, putting them in the cart and then going back and taking them out (maybe that is why it took me over an hour to get a few stocking stuffers!).

Billy took Abby to see Santa at the mall. She asked for a Wii.......we, um, already have one....but she wants her own. And she wants a TV for her room and her own MP3 player so she can listen to Teenage Dirtbag by Wheezer. She also asked for a cell phone (I got her a Cinderella one, that makes noise and comes in a jewel bag.....although I think she wanted a REAL one). The only age appropriate gift she asked for was the Barbie Stylin' head thing. I guess that's what happens when you have 3 older siblings, 2 of which are teens. I went out on a limb and got her lots of age appropriate things....I'm thinking she will be quite happy. Polly Pockets, Disney Princesses, PlayDoh etc.

Anyway, she saw Santa. Unfortunately she did not get her picture taken. My husband is no cheapskate (not like me) but even he couldn't see paying $24.99 for a 3x5 picture and a wallet size picture. Holy cow, when did they get so expensive!!!????!!! I'm sure she didn't care about getting the picture...although I would have loved it. She was happy to go to the arcade and spend $5 playing video games. She won some tickets that you trade in before you leave for a prize. My 4 year old little girl chose vampire teeth for a prize........vampire teeth......to scare me with.......there goes that "she has 3 brothers, 2 of which are teens" thing again.

Let's pretend it hasn't been forever and a day since I last posted....

2008-12-05T11:18:00.003-05:00

Well friends, I have been busy! For real. My planner was almost as full in November as it was in October and then of course there was Thanksgiving.

So, a little updating....list style!

Both Jamie and Nate got their casts off. Nate had his for 7 weeks and Jamie had his for 9 weeks. After more than $500 in office visit co-pays I am glad that ordeal is almost over.

Jamie has 2 more appointments to x-ray his arm. One in January and one again in May. If everything goes well he will be in the clear.

Nate, even after being injured every single football season, plans on going out for freshman football next year. Needless to say, I might just have a nervous breakdown.

Abby has had an ear infection in both ears since Thanksgiving that won't go away despite the Amoxoclin......her left eardrum ruptured....I know this is bad but I was a little relieved because it relieved some of the pressure and she was able to finally sleep.

Tommy is a smart ass. Really....he got all A's and one B+ on his report card. He is in fifth grade....so this is "for real" school.....you know, math with fractions and decimals, real book reports, science projects and boatloads of homework. Today he has to stay after school.......for a little luncheon with the principal. All the children at his school that scored proficient or advanced on the MCAS test are staying after today to hang out with the principal. She has some surprises up her sleeve for them!

So that was a little update...now I want to list some observations and advice.

When shopping at Target do NOT wear your red sweatshirt. People will mistake you for an employee and you will spend the entire time explaining to people you do not work there and you can't help them.

Logic would say, "take your sweatshirt off dummy" but reality would say, "keep it on, you have a giant stain on the front of your shirt...."

Ebay is good. I have been able to complete half of my Christmas shopping on Ebay..

The sucky economy is totally affecting my job....not because my employment status is in jeopardy (it is not) but because my boss lost a shit load of money and now he is GRUMPY! And I have to deal with him.

Remember the Barbie head thingy, where you could apply her make-up and do her hair? Well, get this, now she has hands so you can do her nails too!! I am totally getting this for Abby, she'll love it. And yes indeed, it is creepy (a big head with hands......eek)

So there you have it, a recap of sorts on my boring life.

Shayne Elizabeth

2008-10-23T20:44:00.002-04:00

Even when she is sleeping she looks like her mommy!! This Saturday she will be 8 weeks old.

I forgot to mention....

2008-10-20T15:35:00.002-04:00

Through all of this (broken arms, sick Abby, appointments up the ass) Tommy has been a real trooper. He has pitched in and helped out in so many ways. He washed the dishes last night (I have dishpan hands.....I needed a break!), he takes out the garbage, helps with the laundry and even helps his brothers out. Last night he made toast for Nate (although Nate is capable of making toast for himself....he gets crumbs in his cast...which is gross).

I just wanted to clarify that.....Tommy is an A+ kid and I am lucky to have him!!!!

Sorry, I am not a good story teller

2008-10-20T15:16:00.003-04:00

Apparently I forgot to tell you how Jamie broke his arm! Thanks Barbara for pointing that out.

As you all remember, Nate broke his at football practice (no surprise there since he spends (or spent) 5 days a week practicing). Jamie on the other hand....my non-athletic child, was hanging out at Burger King with his friends. (*an aside here: I really dislike the whole "hanging out" thing...I know he is 16 and that is what 16 year olds do....but also, he is 16 and 16 year olds get into trouble when they are "hanging out"*). His friend Matt drives a pick-up truck (a big red ugly truck)...his other friend's "drive" skateboards and bicycles. So Jamie borrowed the skateboard (since he doesn't have a license and can't borrow the truck) and was goofing around. One thing led to another (remember....non-athletic) and he landed palm down (after hitting his head). When you land, full body weight, onto the palm of your hand (and you are adult size.....5'9" 175lbs) you tend to BREAK BONES. So that is how he broke his arm/wrist. And to clarify something else....he actually broke both bones (the ulna and radius) in his left arm. The break in the ulna was really just a fracture...that will heal just fine with a cast. It's the break in the radius that has us worried (still).

He has another appointment at Children's Hospital Boston (Waltham campus) tomorrow where we will find out more. It has come to my attention that his pinky "isn't right" and the whole back of his hand is bruised (and swollen) still, after 2 weeks. This has me slightly concerned. But, they are taking this cast off and he's having xrays before they put another one on. I guess that means we will ("we" meaning the doctors) be able to get a close up look at it. I mean, it very well might be normal...what do I know? He had some soft tissue damage as well, so it could be related to that.

So there you go, the rest of the story (which has a moral.......you shouldn't hang out in parking lots with friend's who use skateboards...especially if you are impulsive and un-athletic).

A few pictures that sum up my life right now

2008-10-16T16:48:00.007-04:00

It's been hectic here to say the least. I have been meaning to post a REAL post (and not some lame meme) but haven't had the time or brain capacity.....but, I've got a fully charged battery (literally and figuratively) and a few minutes free.

So, the kids went and broke a few arms. If it wasn't so blatantly true then I would think it was a joke.......two friggin' kids with broken arms. Both the left arm and both the radius. Jamie's is worse....he almost required surgery. Nate, who weighs 93 pounds (with the cast), plays football with kids that weigh 165 pounds.....need I say more? There must be a math formula for force (f) + Weight (w) x resistance (r) = broken bone (b)...f+w(r)=b.....My son was tackled from behind (clean shot...he was carrying the ball) and then a bunch of players (his own teammates...this was at practice) kind of fell on him. The radius was SNAPPED in 2..... So here I am, cleaning raw chicken (I live such a glamorous life, no?) and I hear the familiar footsteps of Bill....but it's an hour before practice ends.....and the words, "it's broken". I didn't even need to turn around and see which kid he was referring to. Why? Because this is the fourth broken arm Nate has had (fifth if you include the broken clavicle from last summer). Off to the hospital to have it set (and get some morphine, which Nate doesn't like...it makes him silly and it makes him puke). After they sedated him, set the arm, casted it and made us wait until the sedation wore off, we were free to go.

Fast forward 6 days. I was just getting used to helping my teenage son, with a cast to his armpit, use the shower, tie his shoes, put on his deodorant (like I said, the glamorous life) and other assorted shitty things when I get a panicked phone call from Jamie. He's screaming into the phone and crying hysterically (yes...he is 16.5 years old...yes he screamed and cried like a baby...no he doesn't care if you laugh at him). I rushed home to find him freaking the f*ck out. He was in panic mode, screaming and yelling and pacing. After I slowed him down and looked at his arm.....I almost lost my shit. The bone was poking against the skin, his hand was distorted and his fingers were turning purple. Off to the hospital we go (in hind sight, we should have called 911). After Xrays, exams, morphine (which Jamie liked.....maybe a little too much), belligerent cursing and a doctor who wouldn't even touch him, we were transferred via ambulance to Children's Hospital in Boston for possible surgery. No surgery, just sedation (like Nate) and setting, cast, sling, waiting for the sedation to wear off and waiting for the hallucinations to stop....we finally were able to go home.

A summary:

Nate will have the long cast for 4 weeks, a short cast for 2 weeks and a brace for 2 weeks

Jamie will have the long cast for 6 weeks, a short cast for 2 weeks, a brace for a period of time not known at this point and physical therapy.

They have both figured out a way to get along with life....showering, tying their shoes, buttoning their own pants etc.

It sucks for me because now I have to do the dishes.

I have spent about $250 this month in insurance co-pays....

Moving on....

What you see in that picture is Abby's throat. Those are her tonsils touching (and her green tongue.....wonder what she was eating). This has been a monthly thing with her.....weird viruses that settle in her tonsils giving her a high fever, swollen glands that you can SEE and tonsils that swell up, turn red and get all puss like. We go through the motions testing for Mono, but it's never that. And to top it all off, it lasts for 10 days at a time. It slowly wears off and then we have a few good weeks only to start it all over again. We still need to get her 100% better so we can get her a hearing tested (did I tell you that she is having problems hearing?).

It's tough being a princess...... This picture is cute but sad, here she is all dressed up like a princess yet she can't keep her poor eyes open because these viruses kick the shit out of her. She falls asleep at 6:00 PM and sleeps through the night until 9:00 AM the next morning.

And to add insult to injury....Nate failed the eye exam at school. What the hell, what's one more appointment? That is my planner page for October..... Not included on the page is Tommy's teacher conferences on the 24th... That is just the "extra" stuff this month....not including the regular crap (like football practice Tues. - Friday or the 2 football games each weekend etc.) that we do on a regular basis.

And Billy wonders why I insisted he take me out on Tuesday for a margarita!

Another MEME

2008-10-15T11:20:00.002-04:00

I have stole this meme from Karen.

37 things about me.

1. Do you like blue cheese? yummy!
2. Have you ever smoked cigarettes? nope
3. Do you own a gun? have no desire to
4. What Kool Aid flavor was your favorite? didn't really like Kool Aid
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Not usually
6. What do you think of hot dogs? They are OK
7. Favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas Story
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Pepsi or coffee
9. Can you do push ups? no, not even 1 (I tried)
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding ring, which is made with my Mother in-laws diamond
11. Favorite hobby? Knitting, sewing and using coupons
12. Do you have A.D.D.? No
13. Do you wear glasses/contacts? yes, glasses
14. Middle name? Lee
15. Name three thoughts at this exact moment? a. I need to switch the laundry over into the dryer b. I have a tickle in my throat c. Abby should be hungry, I need to make lunch.
16. Name three drinks you drink regularly. Pepsi, water, coffee
17. Current worry? the economy and how it's going to or has affected us
18. Current hate right now? Tampa Bay Rays....they are kicking our a$$es in the playoffs
19. Favorite place to be? CVS.
20. How did you bring in the New Year? complaining about my busted car
21. Where would you like to go? Arizona
22. Name three people who will complete this? no idea
23. Do you own slippers? yes
24. What shirt are you wearing? gray t-shirt
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No, too slippery
26. Can you whistle? not really
27. Favorite color? orange
28. Would you be a pirate? um, no....but my boys would
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't sing....ever
30. Favorite girls name? Abby
31. Favorite boys name? William
32. What's in your pocket right now? nothing
33. Last thing that made you laugh? my daughter
34. What vehicle do you drive? Ford pick-up truck
35. Worst injury you ever had? Broke my leg (several times)
36. Do you love where you live? not really.....it's convenient, but I don't LOVE it
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 2

The Sprinkleheads

2008-10-14T11:10:00.002-04:00

My niece Devyn is almost 5. She only knows my last name by hearing it, not by reading it. So the other night she was trying to explain to my sister that she was going to mail me (Auntie) and Uncle Billy some cards and that she was going to use one envelope and address it to The Sprinkleheads. My sister had to ask her several times, "What? What did you say?" because she thought she heard wrong. Nope, she heard right, except for all these years Devyn has heard wrong! She really thinks our last name is Sprinklehead.....

In honor of her and her creative hearing we will now be the Sprinklehead family!!

If you don't know me personally, then you probably don't know my last name.....it's Spengler.

Spengler....Sprinklehead.....I can see (hear) the resemblance...

Two posts in one day!

2008-09-11T13:49:00.006-04:00

I stole this meme from Becky . It looked kind of fun so here goes!

The rules:

A.) Go to Music Outfitters

B.) Enter the year you graduated from high school in the search function and get the list of 100 most popular songs of that year

C.) Bold the songs you like, strike through the ones you hate and underline your favorite. Do nothing to the ones you don’t remember (or don’t care about)

1. Look Away, Chicago

2. My Prerogative, Bobby Brown

3. Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Poison

4. ~~Straight Up, Paula Abdul~~

5. ~~Miss You Much, Janet Jackson~~

6. ~~Cold Hearted, Paula Abdul~~

7. Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette Midler

8. Girl You Know Its True, Milli Vanilli

9. Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird, Will To Power

10. Giving You The Best That I Got, Anita Baker

11. Right Here Waiting, Richard Marx

12. Waiting For A Star To Fall, Boy Meets Girl

13. Lost In Your Eyes, Debbie Gibson

14. Don't Wanna Lose You, Gloria Estefan

15. ~~Heaven, Warrant~~

16. Girl I'm Gonna Miss You, Milli Vanilli

17. The Look, Roxette

18. ~~She Drives Me Crazy, Fine Young Cannibals~~

19. On Our Own, Bobby Brown

20. ~~Two Hearts, Phil Collins~~

21. Blame It On The Rain, Milli Vanilli

22. Listen To Your Heart, Roxette

23. I'll Be There For You, Bon Jovi

24. If You Don't Know Me By Now, Simply Red

25. ~~Like A Prayer, Madonna~~

26. I'll Be Loving You (Forever), New Kids On The Block

27. How Can I Fall?, Breathe

28. Baby Don't Forget My Number, Milli Vanilli

29. ~~Toy Solider, Martika~~

30. ~~Forever Your Girl, Paula Abdul~~

31. The Living Years, Mike + the Mechanics

32. Eternal Flame, The Bangles

33. Wild Thing, Tone Loc

34. When I See You Smile, Bad English

35. ~~If I Could Turn Back Time, Cher~~

36. Buffalo Stance, Neneh Cherry

37. When I'm With You, Sheriff

38. Don't Rush Me, Taylor Dayne

39. Born To Be My Baby, Bon Jovi

40. ~~Good Thing, Fine Young Cannibals~~

41. The Lover In Me, Sheena Easton

42. Bust A Move, Young M.C.

43. Once Bitten, Twice Shy, Great White

44. Batdance, Prince

45. Rock On, Michael Damian

46. Real Lov, Jody Watley

47. Love Shack, B-52's

48. Every Little Step, Bobby Brown

49. Hangin' Tough, New Kids On The Block

50. My Heart Can't Tell You No, Rod Stewart

51. So Alive, Love and Rockets

52. You Got It (The Right Stuff), New Kids On The Block

53. Armageddon It, Def Leppard

54. Satisfied, Richard Marx

55. ~~Express Yourself, Madonna~~

56. I Like It, Dino

57. Soldier Of Love, Donny Osmond

58. Sowing The Seeds Of Love, Tears For Fears

59. ~~Cherish, Madonna~~

60. When The Children Cry, White Lion

61. 18 And Life, Skid Row

62. I Don't Want Your Love, Duran Duran

63. Second Chances, .38 Special

64. The Way You Love Me, Karyn White

65. Funky Cold Medina, Tone Loc

66. In Your Room, Bangles

67. Miss You Like Crazy, Natalie Cole

68. Love Song, Cure

69. Secret Rendesvous, Karyn White

70. Angel Eyes, Jeff Healey Band

71. Patience, Guns N' Roses

72. Walk On Water, Eddie Money

73. Cover Girl, New Kids On The Block

74. Welcom To The Jungle, Guns N' Roses

75. Shower Me With Your Love, Surface

76. Stand, R.E.M .

77. ~~Close My Eyes Forever, Lita Ford~~

78. All This Time, Tiffany

79. After All, Cher and Peter Cetera

80. Roni, Bobby Brown

81. Love In An Elevator, Aerosmith

82. Lay Your Hands On Me, Bon Jovi

83. This Promise, When In Rome

84. What I Am, Edie Brickell and The New Bohemians

85. I Remember Holding You, Boys Club

86. Paradise City, Guns N' Roses

87. Iwanna Have Some Fun, Samantha Fox

88. She Wants To Dance With Me, Rick Astley

89. Dreamin', Vanessa Williams

90. It's No Crime, Babyface

91. ~~Poison, Alice Cooper~~

92. This Time I Know It's For Real, Donna Summer

93. ~~Smooth Criminal, Michael Jackson~~

94. Heavan Help Me, Deon Estus

95. Rock Wit'cha, Bobby Brown

96. Thinking Of You, Sa-fire

97. What You Don't Know, Expose

98. Surrender To Me, Ann Wilson and Robin Zander

99. ~~The End Of The Innocence, Don Henley~~

100. Keep On Movin', Soul II Soul

Wow, what a trip down memory lane. Some things I realized about the year 1989.....the music sucked! And who the heck is Karyn White? Why don't I know this music artist from 1989 who had a few hits? I also realized I don't like Madonna, I like Gun's and Roses and I really need to download Buffalo Stance ASAP!

Totally Random stuff

2008-09-11T09:19:00.006-04:00

Today is September 11.....I can't believe it has been 7 years already. Always remember, never forget.
I am a simple person. I maybe, sometimes get a little excited over small things. Like the new magic markers I bought for Abby yesterday. The covers are soooo easy to snap on. I used to always only buy Crayola. You have to admit, they are the 'superior' magic marker. But of course, my frugalness (or cheapness, however you want to look at it) usually dictates what I buy these days. So I was at Office Max last night picking up a few things for work and a few last minute things for Jamie (a new scientific calculator....the 3 rd one since 7th grade). I happened to walk by the clearance section (oh, who am I kidding?! I didn't just happen to walk by, I walked by on purpose) and noticed these cute markers.....Office Max brand. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality....and of course the easy snap on covers.
I just got a call from a friend. She is involved in newspaper sales....I love newspapers. Do you know why? Because newspapers have coupons in them and I LOVE coupons. So she was telling me how she has all these newspapers in her garage. Apparently the distributor doesn't want them back when they haven't sold. He says to just recycle them. So she is giving them all to me!! And that means I will have lots and lots of coupons (there goes that "simple person" thing again)!!!! I can't wait to tell Louise ("Hi Louise"). And since this is a weekly thing for my newspaper friend, I can have the extras every Sunday. EVERY SUNDAY!
I was thinking that maybe I would start another blog. I wanted to have a designated space to post my good deals. Some of my "many" readers ("Hi Barbara"! I think you are the only one who reads regularly.....oh, and maybe Mary does too, "Hi Mary"!) might not know that I am a coupon using, deal getting, money saver. I spend very little (really, like $notverymuch dollars) per week/month/year on groceries, toiletries, clothing etc. I want to share my knowledge as well as have a portal to document these deals. I'll let you know what I decide....
I still knit. I knit alot. I want to post more of my crafting/art things here on the blog. I have made 2 baby sweaters and a pair of mittens and quite a few pairs of socks this summer.

I hear someone calling my name.....oh crap, it's the 35,000,000 loads of laundry calling me! I have figured out how to feed my family for pennies but I can't figure out how to decrease my LPW (Loads Per Week).......Any hints?

I am pleased to introduce....

2008-08-30T22:15:00.003-04:00

Shayne Elizabeth

Born: 8/30/08 at 4:20 AM

Weight and height: 9 lbs. 1 oz. 20 1/2 inches long

So, yup, my sister had her 4th daughter this morning!! She is a cutie. More pictures later!

It's been too long...

2008-08-27T09:37:00.004-04:00

Sorry about that, time got away from me. Things have been hectic around here lately... So, to fill you in how about a little list...or a big list...

Abby is sick. She has conjunctivitis (or, "gingivitis" if you ask her). On top of that she must have some sort of virus because she also has a fever. Fun stuff trying to get eye drops in. It took 4 people last night for her first dose. I held her arms down with my body, pulled her lid down and put the drops in and Billy, Nate and Tommy hovered around and got in my way (see, 4 people).
On the plus side, one dose of eye drops and her eyes are looking a little better!
The kids start school tomorrow!!!! And not a moment too soon....have I mentioned how looooong the summers are for me?
Nate and Tommy started football a few weeks ago. I noticed as they get older they get smellier...I need to stock up on deodorant (there must be a sale on Speedstick somewhere right?).
My neighbors to the right are absolutely driving me nuts. Noisy, noisy, noisy! During the week, when my kids are trying to sleep, they blast their music...horrible techno music, really loud. And today, at 7:00 AM, they decided to replace the roof and block my driveway and wake up my sick daughter......
I love our new oral surgeon. He didn't kill my husband and my husband didn't kill him....all is good.
I realized that women are very catty...and I don't like it. Over the last 3 weeks I have had some "woman" issues and needed to go back and forth to my gyno. They recently combined 2 of their offices and now have a huge open office, with very little privacy. It urked me to no end that the whole waiting area now knows my name, address, birthday and phone number....not to mention why I was there in the first place. And as if that wasn't bad enough, I had to sit and listen to the office workers chew apart their coworkers who were obviously not present....And one secretary was really mad at her mother because she was trying to take over the renovations to her house and she was mad at her father because he bought the wrong paint....on and on and on this went. It was horrible. But at least I love my CNM and the nurses are very professional.
Abby cut her hair again........while I was at the CNM......she now has a "bob". It looks cute but is too short for ponytails....we worked hard to get it long enough for ponytails since she got it "fixed" last time she cut it.....I am saddened by this.
I haven't read nearly as many books this summer as in summers past. I knit more though, so that's a good thing.

I know, boring list..but that's my life in a nutshell, BORING!

Proud Mom Survey

2008-07-17T20:50:00.004-04:00

I totally stole this from Mary...I hope you don't mind!!

Proud Mom Survey

Names? James Michael, Nathaniel Guy, Thomas William, Abigail Helen Rose
Birthdays? April 12, 1992, June 7, 1995, June 17 1998, February 15, 2004
Time of birth? 8:07 PM, 11:36 PM, 12:43 AM, 10:46 PM
How long did labor last? 17 hours, 12 hours, 2 hours, 4 hours
Who was in the room? with Jamie: My Mom, sister Brenda, and 2 other unmentionables. with Nate: Billy, with Tommy: Billy and Brenda, with Abby: Billy
How long did you push? Jamie: 4 hours, Nate: 20 minutes, Tommy: 5 minutes, Abby: one big push!
Weights? Jamie: 9 lbs. 4 oz, Nate: 8 lbs 2 oz., Tommy: 8 lbs 14 oz., Abby: 7 lbs 13 oz
Any hair? Not much for the boys but Abby was hairy like a monkey!
Who does your baby look like? Jamie: my dad, Nate: me, Tommy: a clone of Billy and Abby looks like both of us.
Be honest...how much weight did you gain while pregnant? Jamie: 60 pounds, Nate: 30 pounds, Tommy: zero and Abby: zero
Was baby early or late? 2 days late with Jamie, 4 days early with Nate, on my due date with Tommy and 8 days early with Abby (the last 2 were self-induced......casteroil method)
Who drove you home from the hospital? Mom, Billy, Billy, Billy
How many baby showers did you have? 4
Did you breastfeed? no
Who keeps your baby the most? me of course
When do you wanna have another? I'd love one more (but I am getting too old....)
How did you pick the name? All the first names we chose were because we liked them. The middle names went like this...Jamie: Michael for me, Nate: Guy for Billy's best friend and Nate's godfather, Tommy: William for Billy, Abby: Helen for Billy's mom and Rose for my mom and grandmother.
How did you know it was time to go the hospital? With Jamie I thought my water broke (it didn't)...they kept me anyway because I was in labor, with Nate the contractions were so painful I couldn't breathe, with Tommy they had me come in right away because I induced my labor (with permission from my midwife) and it was a good thing because my labor lasted only 2 hours! With Abby they had me come in right away partly because with Tommy my labor was so short...they thought I would end up having her at home.
Anyone spend the first night with you at the hospital? Nope
Did you cry the first time you held your baby? No, for various reasons. Jamie...I was emotionally drained from 4 hours of pushing, with Nate I just didn't, with Tommy I was "under the influence" of some wacky stuff and was delirious and with Abby I was so relieved (it hurt so bad) I could only cheer!
Who cut the cord? Bren, Doctor, Bren, Midwife
Where was the baby born? the first 2 at Beth Israel Deaconess, the second 2 at South Shore Hospital
Did you record the labor? Pictures, nothing, pictures, nothing

Sunshine on a cloudy day

2008-07-15T20:40:00.003-04:00

This morning when Abby woke up she tiptoed out into the living room (where the rest of us were, already awake). She always enters the room and waits in the doorway for me to say it.... Today was no different....she waited until I said, "Hey Sunshine, good morning!!! Did you have a nice sleep?". And then she ran to into my arms for some morning snuggles and kisses.

Lately I have been calling her Sunshine and since I have a habit (I won't say a BAD habit...) of nicknaming my kids, I have been calling her "Sunshine on a cloudy day". Silly, of course. This morning when I called her "Sunshine" she looked right at me and said, "It's Sunshine on a cloudy day..". Um, OK, now she wants to be called Sunshine on a Cloudy Day..I am OK with that. Thank goodness I wasn't calling her Breathe of Fresh Air or Sight for Sore Eyes....that would be way to silly.

Challenger Crossword puzzles are sooooo easy!!!

2008-07-14T10:10:00.004-04:00

Well, it's no secret, my kids are smart. Abby is the smartest! Can you believe, that at 4 years old, she can complete a Challenger Crossword Puzzle? The proof is in the pictures!

Cute huh? I love crossword puzzles. Sometimes I indulge myself and purchase a Dell Crossword Magazine. I should buy them more often, especially now that the kids are getting older and able to complete the "Easy" ones with a little help from mom and dad. Abby was smitten with the little squares (her art has been very geometric and squiggly lately...I should photograph some of her pictures...very abstract).

She's such a ham!

2008-07-11T10:52:00.002-04:00

My little Abby, she sure does love to pose for the camera!

10 Favorite Movie Characters

2008-07-08T10:00:00.001-04:00

This is doing to be easy...I love movies!!

Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) (of course!!), "Forrest Gump"

Raymond Babbitt (Dustin Hoffman), "Rain Man"

Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding and Andy Dufresne (Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins), "The Shawshank Redemption"

Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler......a guilty pleasure), "Happy Gilmore"

Sybil Dorsett (Sally Field), "Sybil"

Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet), "Titanic"

Lt. Daniel Kaffee and Col. Nathan R. Jessep (Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson), "A Few Good Men"

Farmer Ted, "The Geek" (Anthony Michael Hall), "16 Candles"

Andie Walsh and Phil Dale, aka Duckie (Molly Ringwald and Jon Cryer), "Pretty In Pink"

Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon), "Footloose"

That's just 10, since this is "10 on Tuesday"....but I could go on and on and on and on.

Monday, Music, Michelle, MP3 player

2008-07-07T15:45:00.003-04:00

I love Mondays....I love the letter 'M' too. Is it weird I have a favorite letter? My favorite number, if you care, is 3 (or $1,000,000.....especially with the $$$$$ in front!!).

I love the color orange, cauliflower and Neil Diamond. I love my kids. I love the summer weather. I love the smell of sunscreen (smells so "safe"). I love UPS, a good deal and Kohl's.

I love my family and friends. I love my truck, my home and hometown. I love, love, love.....love.

Here's what I am listening to today...

Honky Tonk Women, The Rolling Stones
Stray Cat Strut, Stray Cats
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy, Rod Stewart
You've Got a Friend, James Taylor
Your Mama Don't Dance, Loggins & Messina
Sweet Home Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Night Fever, The BeeGees
Me and Julio Down the School Yard, Simon & Garfunkel
Dancing With Myself, Billy Idol
I melt With You, Modern English

My MP3 player is a great source of entertainment for me lately. You never know what's next (well, you can cheat...but I don't). I'd love to get more Rascal Flatts on there and more Brian Setzer.

Hope you're enjoying your Monday, I know I am!!

Ten on Tuesday a day late

2008-07-02T21:58:00.003-04:00

10 Favorite Sports to Play/Watch

First, I don't play sports. Not since I was in 8th grade at least. So my list will be 10 sports I like to watch.

Baseball, specifically the Boston Redsox .
Football, Go Pats!
Soccer
Rockland Little League Baseball
Rockland Youth Football
Gymnastics
Curling
Crab Fishing
????
????

I know, only 8...jeesh. And you would think that living here in Massachusetts I would have put Hockey and Basketball on my list but honestly......I'd rather watch paint dry. My favorites up there from my list? My boys teams of course!! Rockland has some great sports organizations and we are happy to be a part of them.

MP3 player

2008-07-02T21:34:00.002-04:00

Some people have said I have weird taste in music...... I listen to a lot of different music, mostly older stuff and stuff that doesn't "fit me" (Nelly.....Justin Timberlake....Loverboy..... Too Short (FYI, not for young ears...very explicit lyrics)....etc.). Here's a sample of what I have on my MP3 player....the last 20 songs I have listened to:

Harden My Heart by Quarterflash
Freeze Frame by the J. Geils Band
The Chain by Fleetwood Mac
Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel
SexyBack by Justin Timberlake, featuring Timbaland
Cherry, Cherry by Neil Diamond (the best ever)
Poison by Bell Biv DeVoe
Let's Live it up by the Brian Setzer Orchestra
Jam On It by Newcleus
Rich Girl by Hall and Oates
Stray Cat Strut by the Stray Cats (Brian Setzer)
Rapper's Delight by The Sugar Hill Gang
The Stroke by Billy Squier
Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley
She's a lady by Tom Jones
P.Y.T. by Michael Jackson
Return to Sender by Elvis Presley
Country Grammar by Nelly
Desiree by the one and only Neil Diamond
She's Gone by Hall and Oates

I have 189 songs on my MP3 player (I have a ways to go before it's full....it's 4 gigs). Of all those songs (and besides my all time love of Neil Diamond) the song I most enjoyed listening to tonight was "Stray Cat Strut". It brought back fond memories. When that song was popular way back when I loved it so much that I insisted that my dad buy me the album (yes, album) and a t-shirt with the Stray Cats on it for Christmas. One of those baseball shirts with the white body and colored three quarter length sleeves. I had purple sleeves....and he got me a pair of jeans to go with it.

email me

2008-06-27T20:05:00.002-04:00

If you feel the urge, you can find my email address by clicking on "view my complete profile"....my email address is there. The unfortunate experience I am having with the blog is, my name and email address are so long (sorry) that the text wraps around and it looks silly. So I made a few changes.....like now instead of Michelle from Massachusetts I am Me from MA. And I deleted my email address from the home page.

10 Inventions That Have Made Life Easier

2008-06-24T10:02:00.004-04:00

Ten on Tuesday

Ten Inventions That Have Made Life Easier

Cell phone. Even though I don't always carry it with me and I only have a cheap pay-as-you-go, I definitely think it has made my life easier. The older boys have them and it makes me feel better knowing that while they are out I can call them.
Computer w/Internet. How could this not make life easier? In so many ways having a computer has made my life easier....I use it at work for all work type things (word processing, keeping the books, payroll). At home for banking, playing, kids school work etc.
Remote controls, (if you click the link...that's the one we use).....who liked getting up to change the channels on the TV as a kid? yeah, me either.
Ebay. I have sold and bought plenty of things...I have found that "hard to find item" that I would otherwise have not. I have sold things and earned extra cash for my family. If you need it or want it...Ebay has it!
Air Conditioners.....I couldn't live without them in the Northeast humidity.
Crocs, the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. I have bad ankles from multiple injuries (severely sprained ankles...both and broken ankles...both; multiple times...so I can't wear high healed shoes and sometimes even my sneakers irritate my sensitive ankles).
Canvas grocery shopping bags. They make my life easier because they are sturdier than the plastic ones offered at the store, they hold more and they are better for the environment...it's a win win situation.
Polly Pockets, Abby plays with these for hours. This is a better "babysitter" than the TV!!
My digital camera . It doesn't have the most options and isn't "top of the line", but it is a good little, inexpensive camera. I take more pictures with it than I did with my Canon 35mm camera. It came in handy when I needed to take pictures of Billy's car accident. I am able to capture cute and funny things (that I can see instantly and not have to wait for developing).
In door plumbing, electricity, base board heat, the automobile, refrigeration, and a multitude of other inventions (the cotton gin) that we use (in one way or another) each and every day that we totally take for granted!

This list is complete with links! I linked to the things I actually use/have (so you can have a little peak into my life!).

Summer

2008-06-24T09:01:00.004-04:00

9:01 AM.

It's quiet here (I know, I know...it's a miracle). Abby is quietly playing with her LeapPad (Nate's hand-me-down), Nate is playing Playstation, Tommy is in New Hampshire with Bren and Jamie is at my mom's doing chores to earn cash (it's tough to find a job in this town! He has applied everywhere within walking distance......we live in the center of town; There is a McDonalds, Burger King, CVS, RiteAid, Walgreens, Papa Johns, DAngelos, 7-11, Tedeschis convenient store, about 10 banks, a million liquor stores, several churches and other businesses....and not one is hiring!).

Coffee, light with sugar....yum! So yummy in fact I might have 2 cups. Have I ever mentioned Heather? My friend who makes the best coffee? I once asked her how she does it and like any other super talented person she just shrugged her shoulders and said, "I don't know!" She's just being modest....she knows it's technique and skill. Or it could be the old coffee maker she has (I think I remember her saying she got it as a wedding gift....her and Steven have been married since 1991 (?)......I know it's August 1st....might be 1992). Anyway, it's the best, for real.

I love the laid back feeling of summer vacation. No rush to get up and go...we can be lazy for a bit. Since I don't have a car, we spend a lot of time close to home. In past years this has been an issue for me. Since we moved here it's not so bad. We live near the library, the Dollar Store (this is like DisneyLand for 4 year-olds!!), the town hall, all the schools, other little shops, the hairdresser etc. So when the mood strikes, we can find something to do. And with the price of gas these days, even if I had a car, I'd still stay close to home....

I have a few things I want to accomplish this summer:

Teach Abby to tie her shoes....she tries but hasn't quite gotten it yet.
Help her become more independent in the bathroom (ie., *warning, too much info* wipe her own butt)
Teach the boys to use the washing machine.....they already know how to use the dryer, but the whole detergent/cycle/load size/water temp thing is a little intimidating....maybe I'll make a "cheat sheet" and post it by the washer!
Clean out some of the junk in the basement...when we moved I packed almost everything (12 years of junk) and stacked most of it in the basement when I was unpacking.
Shampoo the carpets.
Make Abby a few more dresses and a couple pairs of shorts.
Make my friend Michelle 2 baby quilts (twins!!! a boy AND a girl!!!).
Knit 2 baby sweaters (see above).
Go blueberry picking (and strawberry picking too!)
Relax, a lot....

There are other things, but that's a start. And of course nothing is written in stone.

There, I went and did it...

2008-06-23T16:21:00.001-04:00

I combined my myspace and my blog. Well not really "combined" I just told them each about the other.....

Like I said on myspace...please be nice to me....don't judge.

Champions!!

2008-06-19T21:29:00.002-04:00

Well, me being from the Boston area you might think I'd be talking about the Boston Celtics, right? Nope...I am talking about my son. His Little League team (the Mets, sponsored by the Rockland Firefighters) won the championship tonight! And my boy did great!!

Nate was the closing pitcher and made the game winning out (caught a pop up). We are just so happy for him and his team. They worked hard and it paid off. And now that he is 13, next year he'll be moving up to another league. So this was a great way to top off his little league "career"!!

He is exhausted....it's been a long week of games. I am at work right now but I can guarantee you that he sleeps with his trophy tonight (and the game ball, which he got for making that awesome play)!

Way to go Nate!!

"Ten on Tuesday" or "I am such a follower"

2008-06-10T21:58:00.004-04:00

I read Carol's "Ten on Tuesday" blog entry today and decided I would like to do it too.

It's no secret that I have been having trouble coming up with interesting things to talk about here on my blog. Not that my "Ten on Tuesday" list is going to be that great or interesting....but, hey, at least it's something!

So this week's topic is: 10 Things that annoy you at work (this is hard because I love my job, I work alone and the things that "annoy" me are really my own fault!!).

My "to file" pile gets so overwhelming sometimes I have to devote an ENTIRE DAY to tackling it.
I am lonely sometimes.....
The walls are dull gray and there are grates on the windows (tiny basement windows....no sunlight gets in).
My chair is falling apart (but I am hesitant to replace it.....I've had it for 19 years...) and sometimes the wheels stick.
Right now, the photo copier is broken. Not surprising because when one thing breaks (2 printers, 1 laptop, 1 digital camera) everything breaks!
I lost a check stub (I am a bookkeeper) and had to try and remember what the check was for so I could apply it correctly....I found the stub....in my monster file pile! I applied it correctly...
I need my glasses to see the computer but I don't need them to read....makes it difficult when you are typing a letter for your boss that he has kindly written out for you (or UNkindly if you are my boss...he writes so damn messy I have to refer to my ancient dictionary of hieroglyphics...)
MY office is a dump. It is filled up with my BOSSES stuff....so annoying to sit here surrounded by paint cans and blueprints.
My cell phone doesn't work in here.
When I leave it's usually after 11:00 PM and it's dark and scary outside. So scary that I run to my truck, hop in, lock the doors and fly home (about 2 miles....which I would totally walk if it wasn't so late when I was done).

So there you have it, my 10 on Tuesday!

blogging

2008-06-05T19:01:00.002-04:00

yeah, well.....It's dinner time and I am making bacon and eggs. I was going to make ribs on the grill but it is raining (again). So breakfast for dinner it is! I think this is one of my all time favorite suppers...

When I was little kid we often had dinner for breakfast (once a week?) and Friday's were "soup and sandwich" nights. And once a month we got either McDonalds or pizza. Those were good times. I remember when we were old enough to walk to McDonalds ourselves (me and Bren)...my mom would give us $5 and we could get 2 Happy Meals (I was probably 12 or 13 years old)....for $5! We even had change left over....can you even buy one Happy Meal for $5?

Speaking of money...Nate has a field trip this month, to Canobie Lake Park (in New Hampshire). I got the notice last week, you know..the permission slip. It's going to cost $40 for him to go!!! Yup, FORTY FREAKIN' DOLLARS!!! When I was a kid our field trips cost a dollar or 2....the PAC paid for most of it. Now, with the state funding such as it is, the PAC needs to pay for things like books and other supplies. Oh well, what are you gonna do? Not let him go?

Well, bacon's done, now onto the eggs...scrambled in case you care.

Bad blogger

2008-05-24T18:47:00.002-04:00

I know, I know. I should blog more often. I mean to it's just that lately I haven't had much to say. My life is so boring! How interesting is severe poison ivy? Or dirty feet from playing outside with no shoes on? How about 25 missing homework assignments? Buying new work boots because your kid wrote inappropriate things on his shoes (16 yearolds, sheesh)? Not interesting.....

Also not interesting....we bought a new washer and dryer (we "stimulated the economy")...and a new vacuum cleaner. I also got new glasses, and a good deal on hamburger patties. Hhhmmm, if you haven't already died from boredom, I had a really good hotdog the other day.

So there you have it, boring stuff about me! Tune in next time where I tell you about the Mike's Hard Lemonade I drank last week (refreshing!).

Pictures

2008-04-13T19:09:00.011-04:00

It's a.................

2008-04-11T14:11:00.002-04:00

Anyone who reads my blog knows that my sister is pregnant with her 4th child. Today she had an ultrasound and now we know what the sex is......

GIRL!!

They were pretty sure it was another girl (this makes 4 daughters), just because that's what the odds were. They were kind of hoping it was a boy, because you know, they already have 3 girls. But, they are happy, we are happy and she is healthy.

Congrats to Brenda and Dennis and Breanne, Kaylee and Devyn!

Overheard Conversations/Arguements

2008-04-08T20:48:00.005-04:00

*picture courtesy of boston.com

First, How about those Red Sox, eh? Very nice, very nice indeed. The home opener was awesome, as expected. The Boston Pops, the players, Bill Buckner, Steven Tyler singing the national anthem, ring ceremony, flag unfurling....doesn't get much better than that (well, except when they actually WON the World Series....that was truly the BEST).

Anyway, have you ever been stuck in a situation where you are able to clearly hear a conversation/argument you have no right listening to? And you can't leave, you are literally STUCK? Well, that happened to me today and I was sooo uncomfortable. My boss got a call this evening, from a client (who I always thought was a good friend, now I am not so sure). Apparently my boss did something (I know what it was that he did, but don't really need to go into details....the fact is, my boss was RIGHT and dude was wrong) to piss this guy off. My bosses cell phone, the earpiece volume, is turned up so loudly that I could hear the ENTIRE conversation, word for awful word (lots of swearing....'F' this and 'F' that...very unprofessional if you ask me). I was stuck because he was standing in the door way to my office, so I couldn't leave. Now, I think that 2 things were going on...because my boss isn't the type that would intentionally let me overhear a conversation like that. One thing, he doesn't realize that the volume is so high on his cell that the whole world and their mother can hear the person he is speaking with and two, he was so stunned by this call he just stood there with a 'dumb' expression on his face....stuck like a deer in headlights. My boss didn't say 2 words the entire 10 minute conversation (well, he said, "hello" at the beginning and "fine" at the end..). After the tirade/rant was over and he was through with his call, he went into his office for 10 minutes before he came out. By his expression and actions I could tell he was shocked. And I was embarrassed...because I heard the whole thing (and what are you supposed to do? Pretend you didn't hear this a$$hole on the phone? Act like nothing? Ugghh...I just continued on with my work and pretended I couldn't hear anything....). I think my boss was embarrassed too, it was really awkward (and that is saying a lot, because when you have known someone for the better part of 30 years...you tend to get past 'awkward moments').

So there you have it...I was speechless (I know, hard to believe!).

Orange Jelly Bean

2008-03-25T21:33:00.004-04:00

Kaylee loves orange jelly beans!

Sick house

2008-03-12T20:10:00.002-04:00

Uuugghh, it's been one after the other here. First Abby had an ear infection, then Tommy had strep throat, then Nate had strep throat and Abby had another ear infection. Now Tommy is complaining his tummy hurts. I guess helping a sick classmate on friday wasn't the smartest move. But that is how Tommy is, he always lends a hand.

I'll tell you, I'll be in the loony bin if the stomache bug comes through the house.....seriously.

D is for daughter

2008-02-29T10:17:00.006-05:00

Guess what I got?

2008-02-27T17:59:00.003-05:00

A new camera....and it isn't even broken (I feel so lucky). And Nate is happy too because now he can take pictures of himself and put them on his myspace page! More pictures to follow in the coming days, weeks, months etc.

Wicked pissa!

2008-02-14T21:47:00.001-05:00

You Are 92% Massachusetts

Wicked pissa! Now go down to Dunkies and celebrate.

How Massachusetts Are You?

C is for Cookie Monster

2008-02-11T22:32:00.000-05:00

Cookie Monster is one of Kaylee's favorites! She absolutely loves Sesame Street and all the characters....especially Cookie Monster.

Princess Abbykins

2008-01-26T19:16:00.000-05:00

B is for......

2008-01-25T12:15:00.000-05:00

In keeping with the "letter of the week" thing, I need to do "B". Here are a list of all things "B":

Brenda, my youngest sister. She's quite a gal. She's smart, funny, honest, caring, loyal and generous (among many other things!). She's pregnant with baby #4 and feeling kind of icky....send some "feel better" vibes her way, she could use them!
Baby, there will be another one in September....keeping fingers crossed that she has a boy this time!
Breanne, my niece who is going to be a big sister again!
Boobies, a topic that has come up recently....have you given yourself a breast exam recently? No? Well get to it! It's important.
Binkie, Devyn gave hers up in December...what a big girl!
Basket, I have 4 full baskets of laundry that need to be folded.....I am procrastinating.
Baseball, sign-ups for Nate are tomorrow......can't forget those! And Baseball season is just around the corner! Go SOX!!
Book, I was finally able to procure a book I had been looking for for years! 'Simply Socks' by Anna Zilboorg.
Brady, Tom Brady....the best Quarterback ever! Go Pats!
Bike, Nate's bike was stolen.....again. Last time he found it in the bushes at the Middle School.....this time it is nowhere to be found. That is the LAST bike I will ever buy him. He's on his own now, since I had been telling him since Christmas to move it into the basement.

I know, I am lame....and my camera is still broken so no pictures today. Hope everyone has a nice weekend!

I kind of got the ok to announce this......

2008-01-18T12:05:00.000-05:00

My sister, Brenda, is having another baby! It's very early on, so really we should still be keeping it a secret.....but if you know me (and her), that's easier said than done. So here we go again. I am so excited for her.

We are really needing another boy in the family. The last 5 children born have all been girls (Hannah, Breanne, Devyn, Abby, Kaylee)...so it's about time we got a boy. What do you say Bren, can we have a boy this time?

Ah, who the heck am I kidding, I'll be happy with another niece (although, the youngest males in this family are Michael and Tommy....they are both 9 1/2!!!).

So there you have it....and I am quite proud of myself...I kept it a secret for 4 whole days!!

A is for Auntie

2008-01-15T21:46:00.000-05:00

Out there in blog land there is a letter thing going on. Every 2 weeks you do a blog post for that letter (we are going in order). This week it's the letter "A". And in our family "A" stands for Abby....... I post about Abby all the time so I wanted to change it up a bit.

So this week, "A" is for Auntie. It's a title I take very seriously. I have been an Auntie many times over, I have 14 nieces and nephews (Krystal, Mark Jr., Jackie, Nicole, Timothy, Matthew, Joseph, Rebecca, Maria, Michael, Hannah, Breanne, Devyn, Kaylee.......then my 4, Jamie, Nate, Tommy and Abby make 18 kids between us and maybe someday I might have another niece or nephew.....you just never know).

I like being an Auntie, I like being called Auntie and love all my nieces and nephews. I like when I call my sister Melissa and one of the kids answers and they say, "Hi Auntie". It's fun trying to guess who it is (there are six kids over there....well, five now...one is married). But each and every time they say it it is said with love and happiness. It makes me feel nice.

I like it when Devyn calls me "Aunts", she is a little stinker and has the quirky names for people (her dad is Dennis Michaelman). She kind of says it like, "Hey aunts, waz up?"......she is 4 years old....it's hilarious.

Breanne is learning how to spell her middle name and is finally making the connection that she was given my name (Michelle) as her middle name. I think she is pleased and I am honored. She is the best person ever to share a name with.

So "A" is for Auntie......I hope I get to have another niece or nephew soon....that would be awesome!

Losing it

2008-01-13T18:01:00.000-05:00

Crazy I tell you. It's been over 2 weeks since we had a vehicle and I think it's really getting to me.

I am hiding in my bedroom right now, with my laptop, a can of Pepsi and some Wint O Green Lifesavers. "type, type, type, sip, sip, crunch, sip, crunch, crunch, type, type". I was hoping for some peace and quiet but, well, I have 4 kids and a husband ( a husband who all of a sudden forgot how to "parent" his children). I haven't had but 3 or 4 minutes of steady quiet since I (ran in here screaming my head off) came in here. First it was the usual, "Mom/Honey what are you doing in here?". Then it was, "Mom can I have/do ______?". Then, "Honey where is/what is/how is _______?". And of course I was needed to wipe a butt (Abby is only 3 and still learning), take a slippery, bubble bath covered little girl out of the tub, clean up spilled soda/juice/water and hug and kiss everyone at least once. I think they think I have slipped over the edge and they figured they would get one last "lovin'" in, since it's likely I'll be hitchhiking my way out of town tomorrow (if my truck isn't fixed by then).

I went to the Mall with my sister yesterday (and 6 of our kids....Jamie wasn't with us). It was meant to sooth my soul and get us out of the house except it felt more like work to me (Abby is a full-time job sometimes). The highlight of my day (score at Old Navy, all clearance stuff was marked 50% off!) was watching Poopaylee "run". She makes all the right motions, swinging her arms and moving her feet.....but she is about as fast as a snail. And her little butt butt wiggles and she makes a real serious, "I'm running full steam ahead" face....oh she is sooo friggin' cute!!! And she was so happy to take Abby's old toys home....Fisher Price people last for ever!

Ahhhh, it's been quiet now for awhile. Maybe I'll just rest my eyes for a few minutes........

A little comparison, shall we?

2008-01-11T09:56:00.000-05:00

My Nieces, Feb. 2007

My Nieces, June 2007

My Nieces, January 2008

Kaylee Poopaylee

2008-01-10T12:30:00.000-05:00

My cute 19 month old niece Kaylee.

Superstar!!

2008-01-09T22:38:00.000-05:00

This was taken a couple days before Christmas. When Abby sees a camera she goes into "superstar" mode!

Abigail, the noisy girl

2008-01-01T17:29:00.000-05:00

Contrary to these pictures, Abby is quite noisy. Her personal "volume" has gotten louder recently. I attribute it to the fact that, to be heard around here, she basically has to yell and scream! With 4 kids, 3 of them being teens (or almost teens......is that "tween") and boys, they tend to be loud and obnoxious.

The other day she fell asleep on Billy's lap (cutest thing ever, she fits in the crook of his arm so snugly!). He needed to get up to make dinner (no, he doesn't usually make dinner but this night he was making pigs in a blanket and wanted to experiment with cheese.....who am I to argue?) so he sat her on me. She kind of woke up, with a little help from me (it was 5:30.....she needed to get up or she would never have gone to sleep later that night). So she gets down on the floor and I went into the kitchen to help Billy with the crescent rolls (you need a degree in "rolling crescent" rolls, I swear.......Jamie taught me...he learned in Culinary Arts at the VoTech). I came back in to see her passed out up against the foot rest! We let her sleep for a few more minutes...partly because it took me ten minutes to get my Stupid Camera (it's official name) to work and I didn't want to miss this moment.

Isn't she such a munchkin face? I took this the day Louise came over with homemade sugar cookies. Um, they were THE BEST cookies I ever had (and saw....).

Now it's no secret that I am lacking in the cooking/baking area. But one thing I can (or thought I could) make are cookies. I can bake chocolate chip cookies and my peanut butter ones aren't too shabby either. But these sugar cookies and ginger bread cookies were baked to perfection! Literally, perfect. It helps that she is talented with the whole cooking thing and she has a great cookie sheet (note to self, ask Louise again what pan it is so I can get one too) and between her and her kids, the creativity just "oozed" it's way onto to these cookies. One talented family those guys are!

How we are "ringing in the New Year"

2007-12-29T20:29:00.000-05:00

Black ice + truck = wipeout

Good Grief!

2007-12-26T17:18:00.000-05:00

I am so happy Christmas is over! Not that I don't love Christmas, because I do. But with 4 children it gets overwhelming. We had a "toned down" Christmas with fewer and more meaningful gifts. I was was worried there would be sad faces and maybe hurt feelings. There weren't and as a matter of fact, the kids seemed more calm and not so "over the top". The house isn't a mess like Christmases past (as there was less waste......less gifts = less paper and stuff) and the kids have been playing together. Yes, playing together! Santa was still generous, don't get me wrong, but he was a little more mindful of what is really important during the holidays. So, the kids are happy, mom is happy and dad is happy.

The boys (Nate and Tom) got a Nintendo Wii.....which by the way is AWESOME!! Abby got her "Chou Chou, Mommy make me better doll" and Jamie got a high value ("high value" for a 15 year old) Discover gift card. And then a few odds and ends (how can you buy a gaming system and not a couple games? And we live in Massachusetts, so we needed new sleds.....oh and Jamie wrecked his sneakers so Santa brought him new ones).

We spent a few hours with my mom and sister (and my sister's in-laws.....who are more than just "my sister's in-laws" to us, they are just as much our family as hers.....) and the girls and Dennis. My gifts to the girls were well received (I get a gold star from Dev.....she was quite happy). Just let me tell you, www.disneyshopping.com is awesome. I got some great deals there this shopping season, with free personalization AND free shipping. And since having nieces and a daughter, Disney is a a very important "name" around here.

So all in all, Christmas was good.

Now we just need to wait for the new year to arrive. I just know this year is going to be a great year for us! And I hope it is a great year for you as well....

Happy New Year!!!

Happy Holidays

2007-12-20T10:24:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Stupid Camera

2007-12-12T10:23:00.000-05:00

My camera is stupid. It's a dumb, broken, stupid, piece of junk camera. Why o why now? It's the holiday season, I need to take pictures. I am mad beyond belief, especially at myself. Of course I didn't get the service warranty (why should I? That would be a SMART thing to do.......). I tried to get a couple good pictures of the kids, you know, to put in the Christmas cards. I think out of 20 pictures (when I actually got the camera to work (by smacking it around a bit).....*note to those having camera issues, calling your camera a little f*cker does NOT help.......it also doesn't help when you call the broken, stupid thermostat a little f*cker either...just sayin') maybe one is actually acceptable. So we'll see. I need to try and remember where I put all my photo paper.....it's around here somewhere.

After I print the pictures and mail the cards I will post the picture. I hope everyone likes it!

In the mean time, I need to go clean the house, find the photo paper, search the web for a new digital camera and take the chicken out of the fridge to finish defrosting for dinner (and bake some cookies for Tommy......the poor kid was tortured at the dentist yesterday....now I know how people develop fears of seeing the dentist, they have an experience like Tommy had and it scars them for life!!).

See ya tomorrow!

2007-12-10T16:12:00.000-05:00

I saw this over at Karen's blog so I decided to "steal" it.

Christmas Meme
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper all the way! Who likes to open a gift bag? Tearing at the wrapping paper is, in my opinion, the 'essence' of Christmas

2. Real or artificial tree? I love fake trees, less mess. Billy likes real because he says they smell nice (I think they smell like cat urine). We used to do real, then fake, then real again and now we are back to fake (base board heating scares me so we decided against a real one....I am secretly ecstatic!)

3. When do you put up the tree? When we had a real tree we would wait until the 16th or so. Now with the fake one we put it up the weekend after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take it down? December 26th, sometimes a little later but definitely way before New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog? Ick, yuk, no way. The only one who likes it is Nate and then he only has it at his friend's house because I don't buy it!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? How could I choose? When I was a kid I loved all my presents. My mom took great care in picking out gifts for us. And now as an adult I love all the gifts I am given. My family is very thoughtful when it comes to gift giving. But if I HAD to choose I would say all the cute gifts my kids have given me over the years!

7. Do you have a nativity scene? No.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Usually no one. But this year Tommy, my 9 year old, is proving to be hard to shop for. He is at that age where they are getting too old for toys (and there is nothing 'new' out there that they don't already have) and not quite old enough for all the electronic gadgets that teens like.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Abby by far! I could go into Toys R Us and pretty much buy her whatever and she will be happy.

10. Worst Christmas present you ever got? I honestly can't think of anything!

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Do people really email Christmas cards!!??? I mail mine, which are ready to go, I just need stamps.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas Story, Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Frosty.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I just started. It seems like every time I go to the mall something happens and I need to hurry home. Of course if I had started in October like some of my friend's I wouldn't need to be at the crowded mall in the first place.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope, never.

15. Favorite thing to eat on Christmas? My mother is making spaghetti and meatballs, a family tradition, which happens to be my favorite food!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored!!!

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night, Josh Grobin does a beautiful version. His new Christmas CD "Noel" is awesome (thanks Louise!).

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Well, we just drive to my sister's a half hour away, if you call that traveling. But other than that, we spend the entire Holiday season at home!

19. Can you name all of Santa's Reindeer? Um, no, I can't......

20. Angel or star on top of tree? A tacky, all lit up with lights, silver star!! It's a beauty!

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning? Always on Christmas morning. Except when my mom comes over, then we open one gift each (my mom gets the kids their Christmas PJ's which they look forward to every year!)

22. Most annoying thing this time of year? Spending money I don't have.

23. Do you decorate your tree in any theme or color? Yup. The theme: tacky as all get out. Color: all of them!

24. What do you leave for Santa? Cookies and milk usually. This year we are changing it up a bit and leaving some Kahlua and milk and a Hershey bar (that's what Santa really loves!!). As for the reindeer, a carrot, to share.

Some pictures to share

2007-12-06T14:41:00.000-05:00

Has more than a month gone by?

2007-11-08T09:31:00.000-05:00

Sorry about that! I guess I could try to make up for lost time and try and post all of what's been going on for the last 2 months but then that would be overwhelming. So I guess I'll just "start over".

Of course I haven't taken any pictures, my camera was MIA. I found it while cleaning out a few boxes that sat languishing since we moved in. I also found my tape measure, cell phone charger (the spare one) and my Halloween decorations.

Speaking of Halloween, it was a bit "under"whelming around here. I was expecting, since we live in the center of town, to have many trick or treaters. But we only had a few and the kids that did trick or treat to our house were teens, not even dressed up!! No matter to me, I just wanted to unload the 10 bags (yes, 10 bags.....) of candy I bought. Tommy dressed up as Count Dracula. Billy did the make-up and he looked awesome (sorry no pics, camera needs batteries). Abby was going to be a witch but never ended up going out.

It was a weird day to start. I had an emergency appointment with the dentist for Tommy. He had somehow (he says he has no idea how) gotten a piece of dental floss tied in a knot around his tooth! He was afraid to tell me. So a month goes by (he said he did it around the end of September) and I'm sitting there looking at him and he is smiling at me. I noticed something on the side of his tooth that looked like food. I tried pulling on it (he tied the knot and then broke the floss close to the tooth) and it wouldn't budge. I wasn't sure what it was and thought maybe he had some food particle embedded in his gums!! I called the dentist and she made an emergency appointment for the next day (which was Halloween). We walked up there (this is where my point comes in for the whole "Abby didn't go trick or treating" thing), it's only up the street 1/4 to 1/2 mile. On the way there Tommy came clean and told me what had happened. Abby was very stubborn on our walk up there, complaining she was too tired to walk. I think the walk up and back pooped her out because all afternoon she was a witch (literally!) and very cranky. At about 5:30, just as dinner was ready, she passed out on the living room floor. I tried waking her (when she is tired she is TIRED and there is no waking her if she wants to sleep). So Billy and Tommy went out at about 6:15. I kept trying to wake her, I thought she would be disappointed if she missed trick or treating. Around 6:45 she finally woke. She was grumpy and groggy and didn't want to go.......She wasn't disappointed because I don't think she really "gets" the trick or treating idea. I am thankful I didn't spend much on her costume (under $5) and Tommy's tooth is fine! The dentist cut the knot, which was under the gums, and explained to Tom the proper way to floss. And I was able to schedule cleanings for the whole family while I was there!

I got some batteries for the camera, I'll take pictures and post tomorrow (maybe).

Have a nice day! I finally had to turn my heat on this morning! November 8th is a record for me!!

Time flies when you are having fun

2007-09-29T21:19:00.000-04:00

I still can't find my camera (did I tell you it went missing?). I think it might be in the bag Billy got from his "Breakfast with thePats". It was filled with goodies like a Dunkin Donuts gift card, a hat, a few pictures and a magnetic schedule. He had a blast and was actually in our local newspaper!

When I dig out the camera I'll have a picture filled post for you!

Until then............

Totally random on Tuesday

2007-09-18T07:55:00.000-04:00

As some of you may know I love Mondays. I also love Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I'm not so much in love with the weekends. Call me crazy but when everyone is home, it's chaotic, stressful and for me, overwhelming. So, on Tuesdays it's calm and quiet here. We've (me and Abby) settled into the week and have gotten back to our routine.

Here is a list of random things floating around in this old brain this week.

I live on the same street as the Middle school. It's very very busy (ha ha ha, I just typed "busty" by accident....oooops, it's not really all that busty around here!) in the morning and afternoon with parents dropping their children off at school and the picking them up (throw in a little construction work on the surrounding side streets). I will also mention that the high school is on the next street over and one of the elementary schools is behind the middle school. So, yes, very busy indeed. I am a little aggravated in the mornings. Not because of the traffic, I find the noise and hustle and bustle kind of comforting (I am totally nuts, I know). Tommy is only 9 years old. He's old enough to look both ways and cross the street, at a "not so busy" time of day. In the morning, at precisely 7:20 A.M. I walk him to the sidewalk to help him cross. And NO ONE stops! They all whizz by us like we aren't even there! I am the 3rd house on the right and by the time the cars reach my house they are going at least 30 mph. Might not seem that fast until you are trying to cross the street (not to mention the children walking down the street to school). Yesterday the traffic stopped on one side to let us cross. The cars coming in the opposite direction, who clearly could see we were trying to cross and the other people were letting us go, DID NOT STOP! Five cars went by before anyone stopped. A friend mentioned that she was glad she didn't live over here, you know, having to deal with all the high school kids driving to school (you know how that can be). But to be honest with you, it's not the high school kids who are being careless and rude, it's the PARENTS! The high school kids all come down here around 6:30 A.M., they are in class by the time I'm crossing Tommy. So frustrating.
I am a little jealous this morning (and when Melissa hears this she is going to be jealous too!). My husband, Bill (a.k.a. Coach) is having breakfast with the New England Patriots this morning!!! BREAKFAST WITH THE PATS!!!! He was nominated by his players and some of the parents and he won. He invited me to go along, but you know he wanted to take his assistant coach. It was really for them anyway, so I declined (even though I really wanted to go. Could you imagine? Seeing Tom Brady? Tedy Bruschi? I probably would have embarrassed myself anyway, peeing my pants or drooling). He brought my camera and if he can figure out how to use it, there may be pictures to share (the friggin' Pats, man o man).
The planets are aligned, the moon is in a zone, karma is on my side.............Jamie has done the dishes 3 days in a row.......without being asked..........
Benedryl is evil in a bottle. So much for making you drowsy. I gave Abby a dose yesterday because she has a runny nose and a tickle in her throat (or "throaf" as she would say). Um, read the fine print because at the very end of side effects, after the whole, "may cause drowsiness" it states, "may cause excitability" in some kids. Yeah, excitability isn't the word for it. About 15 minutes after the dose she was doing headstands on the couch. Then she was sliding across the kitchen floor and then she was doing jumping jacks and gymnastics in the living room. This went on for a few hours. We eventually brought her into the backyard but it was not big enough to contain her. Billy had to bring her to the park until it wore off. I am not ashamed to admit I threw it away. I threw $5.99 in the trash and didn't look back.
I hate it when I make a cup of coffee (the instant kind) and then forget about it on the counter until it's cold. Normally this wouldn't be a problem. I could just reheat it in the microwave. But, my microwave died.......
I found a new blog that I like to read. Crystal is so funny! Check it out here.
I bought some new yarn that delights me. It's Lorna's Laces, Seaside . I bought it on Ebay, from Yarnbow . She has the fastest shipping ever. I ordered it on a Thurs. I paid right away through PayPal and I received it on Monday! And the yarn is awesome too, plus she has a huge selection. If you are in the market for some yarn, check her out, you will definitely be pleased.

Tomorrow (or when I get around to it) I'll post some pictures of my honey and the Pats!

My brother and his children

2007-09-08T16:45:00.001-04:00

A very nice picture of my brother, nieces and nephew. Aren't they a great looking group?

Haircut

2007-09-05T10:48:00.000-04:00

My niece Breanne has been growing her hair long for a while now. First a little background on Breanne and then the reason she was growing it long.

Breanne is one of those kids. You know the ones, the really thoughtful and sensitive ones. She notices things that other children her age don't (she is 6 years old) and she has a strong sense of empathy. She cries when she sees injustices and feels sad when she sees others hurting. She picks up on other peoples feelings and truly empathizes with people. She has an old soul.

So one day she pipes up with wanting to donate her hair to Locks for Love. She had heard about it and really wanted to do it. She talked about it often and was really excited about donating. She never wavered, so very confident in her decision. It definitely wasn't a passing fancy or something she wanted to do because everyone else was. This was her own choosing. My sister and brother-in-law swelled with pride, their big girl has a heart of gold. We sure could use more people in this world like my niece Breanne, a truly kind, loving and caring girl!

Brenda took her to the hair dresser where they measured and cut her hair! They also packaged the hair and sent it off. We are so very proud of Breanne. Below are some pictures. *warning: be prepared, your heart is going to melt from all the cuteness!!

Sunny

2007-09-03T11:52:00.000-04:00

This weekend we went to visit my uncle and his family. My cousin Cheryl has a cockatiel named Sunny. Abby loves all animals. When we went to the Southwick Zoo she went right into the petting zoo and sat down (on the ground) with the goats. She was loving them, kissing them and just seemed to be at ease with them.

So anyway, Cheryl took Sunny out of his cage and let the kids hold him. Abby was first and she was so darn cute and funny (me and Brenda almost peed our pants laughing). I never remember to bring my camera to these get togethers, thank goodness my sister doesn't leave home without it (she is more apt to forget one of her kids than her camera).

Is she not the cutest? She really does love animals. Before we went to the BBQ I stopped at my mom's house. As Abby was coming down the stairs she heard the neighbor's dog bark. Tommy jumped, he's afraid of dogs. But Abby squeals and says, "Oh I love dogs and, um......sea turtles." She says the funniest things sometimes.

Can you hear that?

2007-08-31T21:59:00.000-04:00

That sound? That ticking sound, like a clock? The countdown is on, school starts in 5 days. 5 DAYS!! Woo hoo.

Louise suggested I sit down and have a stiff drink.....

2007-08-25T13:32:00.000-04:00

This is the kind of week I've had (in list form):

Tommy fell on his head while playing tennis, he's fine but missed football practice for 2 days due to the fact that he couldn't get his helmet on because the EGG on the side of his head was HUGE.

The boy who lives upstairs from us had a terrible skateboard accident that I kind of witnessed. It was one of the most horrifying things I have ever seen, as well as heartbreaking. His mom and dad are beside themselves with worry. (I got an update on his condition....his compound fracture to the left lower arm was operated on and then got infected and now has to be operated on again Monday. He's 14 years old and a really good kid. Please have good thoughts for him and his family).

Nate hurt his foot playing football. We had xrays taken, he's fine. His foot was just bruised, badly, but not broken.

Abby got Coxsackie virus (also known as "hand, foot and mouth"). She was miserable for 2 days with BLISTERS in her THROAT. She's doing much better now.

Nate had an accident at a football scrimmage on Thurs. He was taken by AMBULANCE to the hospital. Thank God it was only a broken clavicle (it could have been worse, like a broken shoulder or a broken neck). He'll be fine but he's out of football for the season.

Tommy has Coxsackie virus. He's had a high temp for 2 days and a sore throat.

Took Tommy to the doctor's to rule out strep throat since he's prone to it (I started worrying that maybe it wasn't hand foot and mouth, that maybe for him it was strep). He's negative. Thank God because they said one more time and we'll schedule a tonsillectomy (like I need that crap).

So, I was thinking Gin and Tonic......or vodka straight up.

*EDT: To Becky in Iowa, Southern Comfort sounds damned fine! And thanks for your good wishes. I remember reading about your sons broken arm, I'm glad to hear he's doing well.

100 Things About Me; Part 4

2007-08-19T20:54:00.001-04:00

I don't (or can't) memorize the words to songs.
I never sing along, even when I am alone.
I have a terrible sense of direction and am thrown off even more if I am within a mile or 2 of the ocean.
For instance, if I go to Quincy, anywhere except the Registry of Motor Vehicles or Quincy College, I will undoubtably end up at Wollaston Beach. If I need to go to, say, Hingham District Court for jury duty (because we all know the only reason I would need to go to that court would be for jury duty, wink, wink) I will end up at Nantasket Beach.
I can sew. I can make and alter clothing, I would say I am at an intermediate/advanced level. I've been sewing since 1982.
I can also hand embroider, crochet, knit (I've mentioned that before) and I have dabbled in origami and calligraphy.
I'm not a very good cook. I get by, but just barely.
Some people enjoy cooking. I don't. I find it boring (which came first? Do I dislike cooking because I'm not good at it or am I not good at it because I don't like it?) and tedious.
I used to like Tom Cruise but now I think he is a big boob.
I also used to like Rosie O'donnell, again, I think she is a big boob.
I suffered from post-partum depression with 3 of my children.
I don't ever hide that fact. I am not ashamed to have suffered and by being open about it I hope to be able to support other mothers who are suffering. If you are suffering from Post Partum Depression, I have a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen......day or night, don't be shy or ashamed.
I would consider myself to be a good listener.
I prefer small groups over large parties.
I used to be painfully shy.
I'm not shy anymore, at least not in social situations. But you better believe I would never, ever get up in front of a huge crowd of people and make a speech. I would fake a heart attack before I did that.
I had the same pair of sneakers for my entire Highschool years. I would have probably had them alot longer than the 4 years of highschool if my little sister (who is almost 33) didn't borrow them for softball practice and ruin them.
I don't wear out my shoes. They go out of style or I get bored with them first (usually years and years later).
I find it hard to talk about myself (that is why it has taken me so long to compile this list).
I remember exactly what I was doing and wearing on 9/11.
I was just about to get in the shower when my mother called and told me to turn on the news. I was wearing a white t-shirt and pink sweatpants. My couch was under the big picture window and the sky was so clear and it was very sunny outside. I turned on the news and watched nonstop for the next 24 hours. I even slept in the living room, with the TV on, dozing on and off.
I would have another child in a heartbeat if I could financially afford it or if I could at least guarantee it would be another girl.
We really want to have another son, but a girl would be better, she could share a room with Abby.
We are NOT having anymore kids.
This is the last one, let's see, one more thing about me.........I wear a size 9 shoe.

Well, that's it. More than you ever wanted to know about me! I wanted to post some pictures but the boys are all away (one at mom's and 2 at a friend's) and Abby is sleeping. I am going to take this opportunity to spend some quality time with my hubby instead of uploading photos (I have priorities you know!).

Is the summer over yet?

2007-08-15T22:27:00.000-04:00

I've been kind of absent lately. The summers are always long for me. Not having a vehicle is a real drag, especially during the summer when the kids are all home. We tend to spend a lot of time together, at home, in close quarters. I get a touch of cabin fever and the kids get the "I'm bored"s. Although this summer has been slightly different. We moved! To a bigger place, closer to the center of town. Karen over at http://nothingbutknit.blog-city.com once gave me a tip for entertaining the kids during the summer. She suggested we take a walk to the library. It was an excellent suggestion except that we lived over 2 miles away. But now, we live 2 blocks up!! So Karen, now we can walk to the library. I took Abby the other day, we stopped at the Deli on the way back and bought some Salami and cheese, went to the insurance agency to give them our new address and popped into the hair salon to have Abby's hair fixed/cut. It was awesome to be able to actually get out of the house and get some errands done also (without a car!).

So, yeah, we had to get Abby's hair FIXED. I knew it was coming, the day she would get a hold of a pair of scissors and cut her own hair. I cried, really, because the little pile of hair looked like so much (I saw the pile of hair before I actually saw her). But, as it turns out, it wasn't so bad. She cut a few of the wispy hairs around her face and then a small chunk from the back. I just had it trimmed to her chin in a cute little bob. It looks adorable and it's still long enough for some little pigtails.

The boys started football this week. They are adjusting to actual physical activity. It's quite sad though, you'd think being young kids that they wouldn't be so sore afterwards. I know they work them hard but my kids have been sitting around for the last month and a half, now they are running laps, doing sit-ups and other assorted drills. I figure by September, when the games begin, they will be in better shape. I'll post some action photos soon.

Another bonus of moving is we live on the same street as the middle school, high school and Memorial Park Elem. I can see the front door to the middle school from my front porch. And the boys practice at the field behind the middle school so they can walk to practice. Billy is a coach so it is extremely convenient. Plus this season I will be able to go to all the home games, and be able to get more photos of them in action.

So I put the Mystery Stole down for awhile. It required more attention than I could give it. I was so busy packing and moving and unpacking, I just couldn't concentrate on it. And in the mean time, the theme was revealed and all the clues have come out (all but one actually, but we basically know what the design is). It's not a symmetrical design, one side is a wing (swan), the other comes to a point (you can see that in my previous post). I am contemplating changing it to a symmetrical stole (as so many others are doing). I still haven't picked it back up yet, but definitely plan to soon.

I kind of got a "bee in my bonnet" and started a new little sweater for Abby. I wanted her to have a really cute hand knit cardigan for nursery school. So I pulled out my Dale of Norway patterns and got started. Photos to follow as soon as I have something good to show. The thing with using Baby Ull (Dale of Norway's baby yarn, which is fingering weight) is the gauge is like a million stitches to the inch. So the short of it, one round is 241 stitches long. So the progress is slow. And since it's the summer and the kids require so much of me, I haven't the time to sit and knit more than a round here and there. This will be my first project that will require cutting a steek (for the non-knitters that means when I am all done knitting I will CUT my work and make a pullover into a cardigan......scary stuff).

So that's it. School starts soon (3 weeks and counting), we can't wait! I'll try to post some pictures of the new place (where the heck is my camera anyway!) and some cute pictures of Abby's new haircut. And of course some knitting pictures too.

Look what I'm making

2007-07-16T22:36:00.000-04:00

It's a lace stole and it's part of a mystery knit along. I signed up after hearing about it over at Becky's.

I'm not usually one to join knit alongs (I tried and failed at an Elizabeth Zimmermann one) but I couldn't resist this one. I've never knit a stole before. I've made lacy things, like baby sweaters and such, so I am not finding this too difficult. I like to try new things, at least in knitting, so it seemed like a natural thing to do. There are over 6500 people currently signed up to do this mystery stole knit along. It's been interesting to see every one's different interpretations and to hear the guesses on the theme. But alas, it is a mystery so we won't know for sure until the last clue.

This is a closer look. I like how it's coming out. I am using a fingering weight yarn as opposed to lace weight. I like a denser fabric, this one will be warm that's for sure!

I pinned it out onto a piece of cardboard, the only thing I have handy. And I used my sewing pins, which seemed to work well.

100 Things About Me; Part 3

2007-07-15T17:05:00.000-04:00

I love Pepsi....regular, not diet

I drink coffee (light-ish with sugar....unless it's iced coffee, then I take it light-ish with Equal)

My sister Melissa and my friend Heather N. make the best coffee. They both take it the same way as I do.

I clip coupons and USE them.

I save at least 25% each time I enter a grocery store and sometimes as much as 75-80%!

My friend Louise is my "coupon buddy" and has, over the last 3 years, helped me take my couponing to a whole new level. Often sharing and trading coupons as well as turning me onto deals I might have missed. She is the true COUPON QUEEN and a dear friend.

I love to read.

I read 2 newspapers each weekday (The Patriot Ledger and the Boston Herald), 2 newspapers on Saturday (PL and BH) and 3 on Sundays (PL, BH and the Boston Globe). And surprisingly, not all the "news" in each of these papers is the same.

I get the Herald free and the Sunday Globe free (my husband's office buys the Herald and he brings it home for me and my son sells the Globe and he gives me his extra).

I sometimes find it hard to think of interesting things about me. That's why it has taken me this long to complete the list and why I need to drone on and on about my newspapers and coupons.

I love a good lipstick and am on a quest to find an under eye concealer that looks natural. I'd wear make-up more often if I didn't look so "done up".

I have O- blood (meaning I am RH factor negative). While my blood type isn't the most common, it is used in hospitals the most for emergencies and surgeries. All blood types can receive O- blood, it is universal. But, I can only receive my own type.....any other type could kill me.

I donate blood often. And, when a family member needs surgery, and there isn't enough time for them to store 3 pints of blood, I go in and give a pint of mine (keepin' it in the family).

My father had O- blood. Out of his 5 children my sister Melissa and I are the only one's who got it.

I'm not afraid of needles, doctor's or hospitals. I am considered to be an excellent patient (so I have been told).

I love Neil Diamond (I must have told you).

I went to one of his concerts, 2 weeks after 9/11. It was amazing when he sang "America" and they unfurled the American flag. I cried....because I am a sap and I am patriotic. God Bless America.

I love concerts. I have been to many. Most of them are too embarrassing to mention. But imagine some of the metal bands from the 80's and chances are I went to one or more of their concerts.

I wanted to start these 2 subsequent lists at the next number (part 2 would have started at #26 and part 3 would have started at #51) but for the life of me I can't get blogger to do it.

I am assuming the zero people reading this are intelligent enough to catch my drift.

I have another blog over on blog-city that I am phasing out. Eventually I will be sending the 5 people who read my blog over there to this blog over here.

I am in the process of moving. It sucks.

I've lived in this apartment for 12 years.....I don't want to leave but our family got too big.

I love the New England Patriots.

I am making a prediction, the Pats and the Sox are going to go all the way this year.

Ok, installment 3 complete, stay tuned for the final installment (I'll need to think long and hard for that one).

100 Things about me; Part 2

2007-07-02T13:45:00.000-04:00

I don't tan. I burn, blister and peel.
I always, always, use sun screen.
I love elephants.
I'm not a pet person (nor is my husband).
I have ugly toes. Really, UGLY toes.
I have been told, by more than 2 (ten) people that I have the ugliest big toe they have ever seen.
I don't wear sandals very often.
I got married, had my wedding reception and honeymoon all in the same town in which we live.
I've lived in this town since 1982, when I was in 7th grade.
I had my wedding reception at the same place my high school senior banquet was held.
I also used the same caterer.
That Son's of Italy hall is now a Walgreen's
I loved being pregnant and giving birth. (that's probably why I have 4 children)
I don't care for pizza, potatoes, or apple pie.
I also don't like bread.
I am proof that following a low carb diet isn't always the way to diet (I naturally don't eat many carbs and I am "fluffy").
I was the exact same age (to the DAY) when my first son was born that my mother was the day I was born (exactly.the.same.age.)
I love asparagus, broccoli and cauliflower.
I haven't rode a bike in 26 years.
I hate the winter.
I have never been skiing and have no intentions of ever going.
I could live with never seeing snow again, or having the temperature drop below 50 degrees (f).
I shouldn't live in New England, it gets cold and snowy here often.
I love Neil Diamond (have I ever mentioned that?)
I like reading other people's "100 things about me" lists.

Stay tuned for Part 3!

100 Things about me; Part 1

2007-06-28T12:37:00.000-04:00

I knit.
My favorite color is orange.
I was married on my husband's 25th birthday (he never forgets our anniversary!)
I have 3 sons and 1 daughter. They are 15, 12, 9 and 3 years old (my daughter is the youngest).
I've had the same job for 18 years, and I love it!
My best friend lives in Arizona, I miss her terribly.
I despise peas.....really, really, really.
I haven't had a bowl of cereal in over 25 years.
I prefer to drive a pick-up truck (at the moment though, I don't own a vehicle).
I didn't vote for George W. Bush (or his father).
I wouldn't consider myself to be a political person.
But I do vote, ALWAYS.
I am not affiliated with any particular political party.
Cancer has devastated my family, more than once.
I donate money to the American Cancer Society (even though it's a small amount, I believe every little bit counts).
I have 3 sisters and 1 brother
Between the 5 of us we have 18 children.
8 boys and 10 girls. The oldest is 22 and the youngest is 13 months.
I like hospital food.
I have been hospitalized 5 times (4 children and 1 surgery).
The emergency surgery took place in New Mexico while I was traveling (the hospital was so small that the kitchen "cooked to order"......I had the BEST food there!).
I'm still working on trying to solve the Rubik's Cube (I'll get it eventually!).
I couldn't live without spell check. It's not because I am an inadequate speller it's because I am a terrible typist (2 finger poky poky......but I am fast).
I love baseball.
The Boston Red Sox are my home team.

Well, that's installment #1. Check back again soon for the next one.

Tomorrow, knitting pictures so stay tuned.

Wacky Wednesday

2007-06-27T20:42:00.000-04:00

I was watching the local news this evening. The weatherman reported that it was 97 degrees (f) today! Yikes. That's hot. Boston actually broke weather records today. Right now it's about 85 degrees (f) and it's 8:45 PM. Damn it's hot. I've had the AC on since yesterday morning and have no intentions of turning it off until this heat breaks. Friday will be cooler, the weekend will be even cooler and the 4th is supposed to be a glorious day.

Anyway, knitting is my thing. I knit, a lot. And I like to read. I read knit blogs, often (who the heck am I kidding, I read knit blogs everyday, sometimes more than once in a day!). I like to read books too, mysteries especially.

I've been knitting for quite a long time, sporadically. I learned when I was 8 years old. When the whole Cabbage Patch Doll craze hit I knit like a fiend. I was a little too old for the dolls (well, I had one, because you know, everyone did. I didn't really play with her though, she sat on my bed and looked pretty...I may have been 12 or 13.) but my sister wasn't. I knit her dolls some of the best outfits ever! I never used a pattern (didn't need to really, the dolls, if you remember, were quite boxy) I basically knit rectangles and squares, to the measurements of the dolls and then sewed the pieces together to form clothing. My mother saved one of the outfits I knit. It is a special yellow and green ensemble knit with none other than Red Heart!

I didn't knit through junior high or high school. It wasn't cool I guess and I was too busy depleting (or helping to) the ozone layer with hairspray ( 80's BIG hair, oh no!!). I did learn to sew though. At the junior high I went to we were required to take sewing, cooking, wood shop and drafting. Along with all the other fun stuff (math, english, history, science etc.). We were lucky, these days, schools (especially junior high schools) around here don't offer those programs. I loved sewing (didn't care too much about the other classes). I took sewing in high school, for all 4 years. I am an avid seamstress (quilter, fabric-aholic). I can make clothes, yay!

I picked up knitting again 15 years ago when I was pregnant with my oldest child. I knit him sweaters, blankets etc. Unfortunately I was uninformed and used mostly acrylic yarn (an aside, I work for a painting contractor and one of the main ingredients in house paint is acrylic......yik!).

I also hand embroider, crochet (a little), do counted cross stitch, quilt and of course sew and knit.

I knit socks (among other things). I have a pair of basic socks on the needles (2 circular Addi turbos, size US1) at all times. My favorite sock yarn is Cherry Tree Hill but I've been known to use Koigu, Lorna's Laces, Trekking and others that escape me at the moment. I like the portability of sock knitting. I save the big stuff for knitting at home, in front of the tube or while listening to a podcast on the MP3 player (or my music).

So, that's a little bit about me. What do you like? Do you knit? Do you like to sew or read. Leave me a comment!

Me

2007-06-27T18:33:00.001-04:00

What is a Snickerdoodle? I have no idea, but it was available (sort of) and it has a nice ring to it.