Indeed, what a happy Halloween it was. This past Friday - I love Halloweens on Friday - we celebrated Halloween in great fashion.
First, Kiff and I worked outside and set up our lights. We try to have a nice display outside for Halloween. We then came in and had our standard Sweet and Sour Meatball meal. Emmie always loves that to usher in Halloween.
It took a little time to get ready, but we put on our costumes.
Emmie was a medieval lass.
Bri, who had gone as a pirate fairy for a school function, went as a Native American princess.
Kiff went as a police officer.
I was a pirate. I am going to do this costume again.
We went trick or treating in our neighborhood. It was hardly busy. We only saw a handful of people...which is sad. Many people left candy bowls at their doors....usually, we only run into three houses like this; but this year, I think we found ten. We were able to see some neighbors get into it, which was great. Nana held the fort at our house. We only had about 12 visitors, down from 26 last year.
We did our typical routine and actually wanted to extend it...but the kids were tired.
We came back, they had a visit from the Great Pumpkin - who always visits in the back - and then we came in to have a few bites of candy. Bri wanted to watch the Disney Legend of Sleepy Hollow (I love that show) which we did. Then, we watched some fun Halloween shows while they fell asleep downstairs campfire style. We brought them upstairs then watched a Halloween History show (which was cool) and the end of Bride of Frankenstein.
What a Halloween!!!
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Sunday, August 3, 2014
What a Windmill
Last week we were able to enjoy a special treat down Cape Cod. The Judah Baker windmill, located along Bass River, was open for visitors.
Growing up, I spent summers down Cape Cod. The windmill was always a constant landmark. We visited it, we talked about it, we went to the beach that dotted its periphery. However, only once was the windmill open...and then for repairs. I may have visited it that one time, but never again.
Yet, the windmill is now open for a few hours several days a week in the summer. We happened to be there when it opened. And wow....what a treat. We were able to go inside and saw the amazing structure. First, it was three stories high. It has an amazing view from the second story - you can't go to the third one . And it truly shows that a windmill looked like. The volunteers sharing about the windmill were great, too.
What a treat! As a family, not only were we able to see a historic landmark - complete with much of the original wood - we were able to see a part of the landscape of my memories.
It is definitely worth the trip.
Growing up, I spent summers down Cape Cod. The windmill was always a constant landmark. We visited it, we talked about it, we went to the beach that dotted its periphery. However, only once was the windmill open...and then for repairs. I may have visited it that one time, but never again.
Yet, the windmill is now open for a few hours several days a week in the summer. We happened to be there when it opened. And wow....what a treat. We were able to go inside and saw the amazing structure. First, it was three stories high. It has an amazing view from the second story - you can't go to the third one . And it truly shows that a windmill looked like. The volunteers sharing about the windmill were great, too.
What a treat! As a family, not only were we able to see a historic landmark - complete with much of the original wood - we were able to see a part of the landscape of my memories.
It is definitely worth the trip.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
One Bad Bumper Sticker
Earlier today, I saw a bumper sticker that stuck out to me.
It read:
Unless you are a hemerrhoid, get off my butt!
Well, the word butt was replaced with another choice word, but given the nature of family audiences, I have changed it to be more "sanitary."
Now, don't get me wrong. I am a fan of bumper stickers and honestly, I get the point of this one. Still, upon a closer investigation, the bumper sticker is actually scary. Nay, disturbing.
In essence, the person is actually suggesting that you should get off their butt unless you are a hemerrhoid. But, honestly, who really wants a hemerrhoid on their butt, either. Let's face it, there isn't too much you want on a butt and hemerrhoids are chief among them.
So, I am thinking that the bumper sticker should be rewritten. Something like:
Don't be a hemerrhoid...get off my butt.
Gets right to the point. Pleasantly!
It read:
Unless you are a hemerrhoid, get off my butt!
Well, the word butt was replaced with another choice word, but given the nature of family audiences, I have changed it to be more "sanitary."
Now, don't get me wrong. I am a fan of bumper stickers and honestly, I get the point of this one. Still, upon a closer investigation, the bumper sticker is actually scary. Nay, disturbing.
In essence, the person is actually suggesting that you should get off their butt unless you are a hemerrhoid. But, honestly, who really wants a hemerrhoid on their butt, either. Let's face it, there isn't too much you want on a butt and hemerrhoids are chief among them.
So, I am thinking that the bumper sticker should be rewritten. Something like:
Don't be a hemerrhoid...get off my butt.
Gets right to the point. Pleasantly!
Friday, July 11, 2014
Buzzzzzzz
We had a weird incident happen yesterday.
As I was cleaning out a portion of a garden weeding, little did I know that a group of yellow jackets had been working on one of their ground nests.
My knee - it appears - sat squarely on where their nest was.
Before I knew it, I felt a sharp piercing in my arm, then neck, then knee. I quickly lept, batting at the air. Then I dashed to the driveway, waving about furiously. I quickly ran to Kiff and Bri and rushed them inside, my sides, neck, and arm burning.
I got inside and found two of the yellow jackets still on me.
After putting an ice pack on my neck and having help me out, I started counting. I had about ten stings.
Yikes.
As I was cleaning out a portion of a garden weeding, little did I know that a group of yellow jackets had been working on one of their ground nests.
My knee - it appears - sat squarely on where their nest was.
Before I knew it, I felt a sharp piercing in my arm, then neck, then knee. I quickly lept, batting at the air. Then I dashed to the driveway, waving about furiously. I quickly ran to Kiff and Bri and rushed them inside, my sides, neck, and arm burning.
I got inside and found two of the yellow jackets still on me.
After putting an ice pack on my neck and having help me out, I started counting. I had about ten stings.
Yikes.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Happy Graduation
Well, the day finally came. Like a whisper in the wind.
The day that Kiff finally graduated from preschool.
We knew it would happen. But, it seemed like it would be forever before he would be in preschool, let alone graduate from it. Those first few steps. His first few words. That sparkle in his eye when he played with his first few cars. It was only the foundation.
Then, came the day when he first went to preschool. What a moment that was. We decided to send him for two years instead of one, so we knew the journey would be slow, but steady.
And we were right. For two years, he enjoyed the fun, learning, and joy of preschool. Sure, there were some bumps along the road. Worrying if his parents were late to pick him up (they weren't), or who he might play with, or if his best friend was going to be there.
But, one this was always a constant...preschool. He was there.
Magically, this journey has come to a close and a new chapter has begun. It is hard to believe. But this past Friday, June 6th, Kiff graduated preschool at 4:00 PM. Both sets of grandparents were there to see him. He marched in with cap and gown. He sang. He even danced (to the Tooty-Tah).
And then, it was time to leave school (or in this case the YMCA gym for graduation) one last time. A slow march down the hall...and onto kindergarten,
Congratulations Kiff. One chapter down in the long book. A new one is waiting for you.
The day that Kiff finally graduated from preschool.
We knew it would happen. But, it seemed like it would be forever before he would be in preschool, let alone graduate from it. Those first few steps. His first few words. That sparkle in his eye when he played with his first few cars. It was only the foundation.
Then, came the day when he first went to preschool. What a moment that was. We decided to send him for two years instead of one, so we knew the journey would be slow, but steady.
And we were right. For two years, he enjoyed the fun, learning, and joy of preschool. Sure, there were some bumps along the road. Worrying if his parents were late to pick him up (they weren't), or who he might play with, or if his best friend was going to be there.
But, one this was always a constant...preschool. He was there.
Magically, this journey has come to a close and a new chapter has begun. It is hard to believe. But this past Friday, June 6th, Kiff graduated preschool at 4:00 PM. Both sets of grandparents were there to see him. He marched in with cap and gown. He sang. He even danced (to the Tooty-Tah).
And then, it was time to leave school (or in this case the YMCA gym for graduation) one last time. A slow march down the hall...and onto kindergarten,
Congratulations Kiff. One chapter down in the long book. A new one is waiting for you.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
The One with the Roller Skating Birthday Party
Ah!!!!
We had one of those fun memories recently. Bri had her birthday party at the nearby Roller Palace. The local hotspot for birthday parties for decades in these parts, we had been told by many a parent that we would be spending some time here from Kindergarten on.
And sure enough, those parents were correct.
And, it was a ton of fun. it was the second time Kiff had been there...and he definitely wanted to be on his own as much as he could. As for Bri, she was spending an amazing amount of time on the floor, getting her patented move down. She has grown better over the year.
The party itself was a blast. The place helped to time it well: 50 minutes of skating 15 minutes of pizza, 15 minutes of cake, another half hour of skating and arcade games (they were a hit) - and even one person actually successfully pulled a toy out of one of those games that no one ever wins.
The party flew by - Bri had a good time - and before we knew it, it was time to go. Kiff wanted to play one more video game, so he and I went to the car racing game. As we left, it was clear - we were the last people to leave the place...besides the workers.
I told Kiff, "Let's remember this moment."
So we looked around took in the fact that, for the first time, Kidd was "closing down a place."
We had one of those fun memories recently. Bri had her birthday party at the nearby Roller Palace. The local hotspot for birthday parties for decades in these parts, we had been told by many a parent that we would be spending some time here from Kindergarten on.
And sure enough, those parents were correct.
And, it was a ton of fun. it was the second time Kiff had been there...and he definitely wanted to be on his own as much as he could. As for Bri, she was spending an amazing amount of time on the floor, getting her patented move down. She has grown better over the year.
The party itself was a blast. The place helped to time it well: 50 minutes of skating 15 minutes of pizza, 15 minutes of cake, another half hour of skating and arcade games (they were a hit) - and even one person actually successfully pulled a toy out of one of those games that no one ever wins.
The party flew by - Bri had a good time - and before we knew it, it was time to go. Kiff wanted to play one more video game, so he and I went to the car racing game. As we left, it was clear - we were the last people to leave the place...besides the workers.
I told Kiff, "Let's remember this moment."
So we looked around took in the fact that, for the first time, Kidd was "closing down a place."
Sunday, May 4, 2014
The One With the Parade
Yesterday was quite a day, filled with many things.
But one that sticks out was the event that started out the day...the SoftBall Parade.
This is the first year Bri has decided to play softball and we started the day by heading to the center of town at 9:30 for the softball parade. There, the teams gathered to march with the Little League through the center of town to their prospective home fields.
Bri was nervous at first that we might be late - after all, this was a new event to her. But, was excited when we got there. She found a friend and together - with her team - held the banner and shouted "Let's Go Dukes" through town.
It was fun to watch the procession...which was long indeed....go through town, by Tapley Hall, cutting down Essex street before Gios, and heading to Pickering Street, past the YMCA, and to the school. But, they hung in there well.
There were many people we knew as well, which made it fun. But, what stood out was the past that it was like the passing of a tradition...I remember walking in the parade in Natick back in the 1980s...just like her.
Now, on with the season.
But one that sticks out was the event that started out the day...the SoftBall Parade.
This is the first year Bri has decided to play softball and we started the day by heading to the center of town at 9:30 for the softball parade. There, the teams gathered to march with the Little League through the center of town to their prospective home fields.
Bri was nervous at first that we might be late - after all, this was a new event to her. But, was excited when we got there. She found a friend and together - with her team - held the banner and shouted "Let's Go Dukes" through town.
It was fun to watch the procession...which was long indeed....go through town, by Tapley Hall, cutting down Essex street before Gios, and heading to Pickering Street, past the YMCA, and to the school. But, they hung in there well.
There were many people we knew as well, which made it fun. But, what stood out was the past that it was like the passing of a tradition...I remember walking in the parade in Natick back in the 1980s...just like her.
Now, on with the season.
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