Shutterfly | Photo Cards

Shutterfly | Photo Cards

Christmas Card

I spent some time today trying to get pictures of the kids for a Christmas card. It took a Herculean effort to get Abby to co-operate (2 days of fighting and tears), and you can see what it was like with Ben. You might think I mistreated or tortured them. Geez, if the worst they had in life was to put on nice clothes and have a picture taken, then what a blessing life is! Maybe they need a little more hardship in their lives to understand Christmas card time isn't so bad after all.

The Best Gift of All

Abby and a friend have been rehearsing a couple of songs for a performance the music teacher at her school will be directing for the second grade parents.  Here is a video they wanted me to make for him.

Le Petit Chef

Ben LOVES to bake. Really, to help me with anything I am cooking. I try to let both of my kids help with as much of the work as they can (except working with the stove) because I think it builds their confidence, helps them with their math (counting measurements, etc.) and the sooner they can take the task over for me the better! I've been doing family cooking for about 30 years and to be honest, I'm pretty sick of it. I also started doing the family grocery shopping when I got my license at 16 years old. I figured if I was doing the cooking, I might as well do the shopping too. That way I could make sure I had what I needed on hand. My mom was working full time, and it made perfect sense. I'm sure she was glad to have one less chore to do. My brother always came with me and made fun out of it.

As I'm making this blog entry my husband is at the market with both kids doing the grocery shopping. Thank goodness he doesn't mind it too much because I've been avoiding it at all costs lately, even using online shopping w/ grocery delivery services!

Our Commemoration of the Red Sox in the World Series

Now, there's no doubt that these guys will *never* play anything more than wiffleball, but maybe they'll feel more at home on stage at the Improv. This is my husband Jerry and our friend Brian goofing around in our yard over Labor Day weekend. Yes, Brian does have a steel plate in his head. Feel free to e-mail your comments to my husband Jerry.

Pumpkin Time

Abby and Ben working diligently on decorating their pumpkins.

Ben is determined to hammer in all the pegs that will light up when he is through. (Remember "Light Bright"?)

The finished pumpkins. Ben's is on the left, Abby's on the right.

The Harvest

Ben sees an apple at the top of a tree that he wants to pick.

Abby has shined her apple to a brilliant red. Now just for the eating.

We made the annual pilgrimage to the Tougas' Farm to pick our apples this year. We were too late for our favorites, Honeycrisps, but found plenty of Macouns and Cortlands for baking. The kids and I have been eating a couple a day and we have a peck so I don't think we'll run out soon. I'll be scouring the Weight Watcher's cookbooks for some new apple recipes.

Abby's First Day of 2nd Grade

Today was Abby's first day of 2nd grade and Ben's screening for Kindergarten. The summer is over far too quickly. Our town is talking about an extended school day, trying to add about 200 hours to the school year. I am against it. My kids are away from me too many hours as it is. My husband and I don't like other people having so much influence over them, but they do need an education. And in our town we've seen it before where the budget cuts have eliminted the arts and extras and left only the academics, which I expect will happen once the grant money runs out. So, I fear it will be less hours with the family, and eventually less of the benefits of the talked about grant that we hope to receive for the return of the music programs, recesses, etc. My way of dealing with it all is by volunteering as much as possible in the P.T.O., in the classroom, to the principal, and keeping my kids involved in activities and with their friends. With working and running a business it is exhausting, but it has to be done.

Who Lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea?

We just returned from a vacation in Lake George, NY. If she's going to be sucked dry in an arcade, Abby's money is going to Spongebob Squarepants! I like the squishy yellow guy, but how many quarters can one machine take?

A Cut Above

A few weeks back I gave Ben a haircut which drew blood. This time he cut his own hair. Well, some of it anyway. By the time we got to the sides and back his defenses were down and he was beginning to trust me a little. That, plus the offer of $5.00 to get the ordeal over with ;-)