Mexico!

Every year since we have been married, Chris and I have taken a vacation around the same time as our anniversary.  This year was no different.  We took Harper to Playa del Carmen Mexico and it was muy bien!  I think Harper's favorite part were the cats that lived at the resort.  She chased them trying to feed and pet them simultaneously!  My favorite part was the glorious sunshine...and as you can tell, I got my fair share of rays while there!  We taught her some simple spanish in the weeks preceding our trip, so she impressed many of the work staff with her language skills! 

And In The Last Five Weeks...

For those of you who have not heard, we are moving to Fulton, New York.  Chris got a new job as the Athletic Director.  We (Harper and I) are very excited for Daddy.  Although moving is not the most pleasant of activities, we look forward to the new adventures we will soon be embarking on!  If you know anyone who wants to buy this large home, have them contact me!

No More School...for this year...

Harper ended her school year last week.  She received a super cool certificate and got to have her class picnic at Camp North Point.  We sure are going to miss the proximity to the YMCA.  Here are a few pictures of her class picnic:

Help!

Anyone of you know how to fix the photo thing?  Drives me crazy because I cannot get them to line up!  How does one "collage" them?

Trampoline!

Day One:

Memorial Day Weekend

Husband went to Montana for the weekend to raft and drink with his buddies from college/San Diego days.  He has never been to that state, it has been years since he has hung out with them and well, he has earned some time to himself, so I basically shoved him out the door.  Meanwhile...

Harper and I stayed home.  The weather was incredible!  Husband had opened the pool before he left, so we swam almost everyday.  Saturday my Aunt Chris and Uncle Ron had a picnic/pig roast on the Cornell land outside of Alfred.  This is a yearly event with lots of food, laughs and...a POKER RUN!  Poker runs involve poker, money, four wheelers and usually plenty of mud.  I love them!  Harper started off the afternoon with immediately terrorizing her favorite guy (after Daddy) - Uncle Dan!  He was nice enough to take her out for a little ride on his fourwheeler.  I think they both loved it.  Here's proof: 

I am going to include a few extra photos of that day just because they crack me up. 

In case you were wondering, Husband had a good time and he is now home safe.  President Obama decided to go home to Chicago for Memorial Day and grounded tons of flights coming out of O'Hare.  Husband had to sleep in the airport overnight and get sent to Buffalo instead of Rochester.  Harper and I had to get up early Tuesday morning to pick a very tired Daddy up at the airport.  But at least he is home.

Mother's Day

These are my favorite two images from all the kids playing in the playroom on Mother's Day!  Seriously, they have a blast...playing with the kitchen, dressing up and having just general fun with each other.  The only arguements they have usually revolves around shoes and dresses (yes, Nick too!)  Harper goes NUTS when she gets to play with her cousins - it is heaven in her four year old mind.  She even enjoys having Ty, who is 14, there.  Brent, who is 7, still plays with her.  This time, he did not join in the dress-up mayhem...although he has been known to throw on a boa and sing a tune!

Our Mother's Day celebration took place on Saturday.  Dan, Bel and the boys came up and brought McKenna with them.  Jim and Peg could not make it because they both had to work.  I made lasagna and Dan stopped by KFC to get a bucket of chicken and a bucket of cole slaw (he loves that stuff!)  I rained and was a bit chilly, but we ate on the sun porch anyway.

Overall, a great day.  I am pretty sure my mom's favorite part was having all her grandkids there with her!  It was mine, too :)

More Mushrooms and Green Bikini, Please

As you may have already read, Husband and I have started the South Beach diet.  We are eating a lot of vegetables; Harper too.  Last week in an attempt to have something a little different, I marinated some mushrooms, peppers, onions and zucchini along with chicken breasts for the grill.  Harper has had this before, whether she remembers it or not, so I loaded up her plate with small portions of chicken, mushrooms and zucchini.  For those of you who have not had the pleasure of eating with Harper, when she is enjoying her meal she "hums" while chewing.  This is a quirk of hers that has been ongoing since solid food...we'll say about 5 months.  So, she is humming away, enjoying dinner when she stops and says, "Mom, I would like more mushrooms and green bikini, please."  Absolutely, Girlfriend!  The irony is that by eating the very thing she asked for more of her mommy hopes to see more of a green bikini this summer too :)

Easter 2010

The Easter Egg hunt was held at our house this year.  Last year, it was at my grandparents home in Almond.  Although we didn't exactly know it at the time, it was the last holiday to be held there by members of the immediate family.  And it was, in reality, a nice way to pay homage to all the gatherings held at that little house on the hill.  It was cold, but fun!  This year, it was a record heat wave!  The kids all had fun hunting for eggs filled with melted candy and other goodies.  My personal favorite part of the day was watching Nick go bonkers with squirt guns!  That child is out of his mind...good luck Dan and Bel. 

Here are just a few little snapshots:

Day One: South Beach

Being overweight tends to run in my family.  Not morbid obesity, but rather "chunk."  I have been battling the bulge since about twenty eight.  Prior to that, I could more or less eat what I wanted and still wear a size 6 (this is not including a spell in college where binge drinking 5 out of 7 days a week blew my butt up into a size 12.)  Now that I have had a child and am nearing the big 4-0 I find it more difficult to keep my weight down.  Did I mention I really, really like to eat?

Several months ago, my older brother started a life change plan that included The South Beach Diet.  My thirteen year old nephew joined him.  Needless to say, they have both lost weight and look great!  Which got me thinking...

Then yesterday I had to return some DVD's to the Gates Library.  As Harper was looking through some books I perused the Book Sale.  Low and behold, there before my chunky eyes was a copy of The South Beach Diet and it was only fifty cents!  Oh Karma, maybe you aren't such a bitch afterall!  (That or us bitches really look out for one another.)  While I cannot say that I have read the book cover to cover, I can tell you I have skimmed enough of it to understand the basics.  It really makes sense.  And the best part?  Husband is committing to the life change plan as well.

The Little Girl Who Cries Wolf

Yep, she sure does.  Whether it is pretending to have to go to the bathroom or pretending to be hurt, she likes to cry "wolf."  Under a great amount of frustration I told a quick version of why we do not, under any circumstance, pretend to be hurt when we are not.  It has not stuck.  It continues...and with it grows my frustration.  Any suggestions as to how to curb this new form of entertainment?  I think tomorrow we will be taking a trip to the library where I will pick up a book (or twelve!) about this topic.  Let me know what all you Mommy blog-buddies have to say about this.  Thanks.

Happy, happy, happy!!

And if this sunshine was not enough, I received an update via Facebook that AKUS (that is: Alison Krauss and Union Station to the newbies) is touring this summer and will be playing at The Highland Bowl RIGHT HERE in the ROC!! You can listen here:

 www.alisonkrauss.com/content/jukebox.php

You know spring is here when...

When the ducks come back! We have officially been at this house for three springs. The first year, I was surprised and delighted by our visitors - a pair of Mallard ducks. We fed them bread and watched them. The next year (last year) we weren't quite as surprised and even more happy to feed them bread. This year, we expected them! "Donald" and "Daisy" now get bird seed (which they love,) swim in our pool and answer to "Here duck, duck" when we open the sunporch to throw them food.

Remember coloring Easter eggs when you were little? I do. I loved it. I loved all of it - eating them, too! Last night was our night to color eggs. Harper had a blast. She is quite the artiste, if I do say so myself. (I think she gets it from me.) The shots I took are new-to-me techniques I am finally, after four years, getting the nerve to experiment with on the camera. I kind of like the artsy-fartsy look of them. I plan on making egg salad and deviled eggs with the eighteen eggs Harper made beautiful.

And finally, spring wouldn't be spring without a picture of a bunny. So here she is: 'Tis Herself, Giselle Enchanted. Isn't she cute?

Catching Up

So, the past few weeks have been pretty eventful. St. Patrick's Day and Husband's birthday went well. The food was great, the company even better and the "big" game of Phase Ten...the usual. Harper was exhausted after the Parade and staying up very late the night before, but she was a trooper and did attend her friend, Porter's, birthday party on Sunday. For the Rock Star theme, Harper dressed in her very best Lilith Fair, tree-hugging, folk singer best. *Wiping tear.*

Husband left Tuesday after work for three days to attend a conference in Saratoga Springs. While he did attend several workshops, it tends to lean heavily toward a glorified bender. And good for him! I stayed home and worked on the leftovers and editing material for a friend's website.

And finally, this week I have been helping my mom. She had some major dental work done on Monday. I am grateful that she allowed me to take care of her until last night. She is doing much better and is well on the road to recovery.
Which brings me to this weekend - can you believe it is Friday already? Where did the week go? I am looking forward to the Annual Maple Festival in Andover, NY. It is fun for me to wander aimlessly through craft booths and carnival-like food. I always seem to come home with a nifty little hand-made treasure. Of course, there will be maple candy involved. My teeth hurt just thinking about it.

So Much To Do!

The woes of being a domestic over-achiever! So very much to do in, what seems like, so very little time. On the to do list: finish shopping for remaining ingredients & breakfast items, make Irish soda bread, rye biscuits and (2) batches of shamrock cutouts, clean spare room, bathrooms and dining room, get St. Patrick's Day decorations out of the basement...Ahh!! Good thing Husband will be home early to take over as Entertainer for Harper.

Is it Spring Yet?

Ahh, the crocus. I am awaiting their arrival...though not very patiently. As a fan of winter, it is difficult to admit I am looking forward to spring. I enjoy spring most years, but not as much as summer, fall and winter. Spring is so MUDDY. But this year, I have had enough. I am ready to open the windows and get outside.

Speaking of outside, this Saturday is the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in the ROC. Rumor has it, it is the largest parade this fine City puts out. And a tradition for the family. Harper has picked up some of her finest moves watching the Irish dancers in the parade. Can't wait to see what she will bring home. This year, it falls on Husband's birthday and we are doubly excited! I have committed to being the driver this year, as well as, Hostess Extraordinaire. We have some friends coming over after the parade. The Coffie's are making it an overnighter. If you know Marc's appetite like I know Marc's appetite, one can't help but wonder: Do you think twelve pounds of corned beef will be enough?

First Post

This is it. This is the beginning. Looking forward to posting and sharing some of the lunacy that is my life.