When I was a kid we had a sorta family tradition of riding around the island looking at Christmas lights. It was never anything formal and not on any certain nights during the holiday season, it was just one of those "Can we go for a ride and see the Christmas lights, pleeeeeeeeeease???" things. But I really enjoyed it. Driving around and looking at the lights, counting how many houses we saw, marveling at the time and effort put into decorations.
After we moved off the island when I was in middle school, we didn't do much driving around to look at the lights.
But now I've got Ben. In Ben's opinion, Christmas lights are about the best thing on the planet. Driving home from anywhere he's got his eyes out the window looking for Christmas lights. And I get to hear things like "Mom, look at the purple lights!" and "Mom, look it's a 'nowman!" and "Mom, look at those pretty lights!" from the backseat. It's pretty awesome. I'm really glad he enjoys it, and I'm hoping we can make a few trips out this holiday season just to drive around a look at lights. Perhaps we can have our own little sorta tradition.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving!
I have a lot to be thankful for this year.
As always, I am thankful for my family. Every last one of them!
We made a lot of changes this year in our family and it seems things have really been working out for us! I made the decision to go back to school, which prompted an amazing opportunity to start working part-time in the new career field I wanted to take classes in. And while it's a bit overwhelming at times, and it means not spending as much time with Ben as I had been, I think having the extra income has really made a difference and I know I'm enjoying using my brain again both at work and at school.
We also made the decision to put Ben in daycare this year. I hate that I can't spend every minute of every day with him, but the changes in him have been amazing to watch this year. His vocabulary has just exploded and watching him play and communicate with other kids has been awesome. It's also great to see him show concern and compassion for his friends at daycare. I'm so glad that he's getting this experience a few days a week in addition to the days each week he stays home with me.
I'm thankful too that my husband was finally given some of the recognition and compensation he deserves at his job this year. He's worked for a long time at his job and enjoys what he does, and while he struggled for a time over whether or not to find something new, I'm glad that things have worked out for him so he feels comfortable staying there.
We've also had some remarkable changes with the big boys this year too. Marcus has made a huge turn around in his attitude towards school and life since last year and I am so happy! His grade are better, his attitude is better and he's even challenging himself with college classes. And while Jake is still taking his time figuring out this "grown-up" thing, he did make the decision to move out on his own and is learning how go about becoming an independent adult.
So yes, it's been a year of changes, and it seems all of them have been for the best. And I am so thankful for that.
And, of course, I am thankful to be a mommy. Without question, the most amazing thing I have ever and will ever do.
Happy Thanksgiving!
As always, I am thankful for my family. Every last one of them!
We made a lot of changes this year in our family and it seems things have really been working out for us! I made the decision to go back to school, which prompted an amazing opportunity to start working part-time in the new career field I wanted to take classes in. And while it's a bit overwhelming at times, and it means not spending as much time with Ben as I had been, I think having the extra income has really made a difference and I know I'm enjoying using my brain again both at work and at school.
We also made the decision to put Ben in daycare this year. I hate that I can't spend every minute of every day with him, but the changes in him have been amazing to watch this year. His vocabulary has just exploded and watching him play and communicate with other kids has been awesome. It's also great to see him show concern and compassion for his friends at daycare. I'm so glad that he's getting this experience a few days a week in addition to the days each week he stays home with me.
I'm thankful too that my husband was finally given some of the recognition and compensation he deserves at his job this year. He's worked for a long time at his job and enjoys what he does, and while he struggled for a time over whether or not to find something new, I'm glad that things have worked out for him so he feels comfortable staying there.
We've also had some remarkable changes with the big boys this year too. Marcus has made a huge turn around in his attitude towards school and life since last year and I am so happy! His grade are better, his attitude is better and he's even challenging himself with college classes. And while Jake is still taking his time figuring out this "grown-up" thing, he did make the decision to move out on his own and is learning how go about becoming an independent adult.
So yes, it's been a year of changes, and it seems all of them have been for the best. And I am so thankful for that.
And, of course, I am thankful to be a mommy. Without question, the most amazing thing I have ever and will ever do.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Just Say No to Scurvy
Jake came home today for Thanksgiving Break. What, exactly, he's taking a break from, I'm not really sure, but he's here, he's staying to eat turkey, and that sounds good to me.
He actually just came home the weekend before last for a quick hello. He had a friend drop him off while we were grocery shopping and, being responsible parents, we offered to buy him some groceries to take home with him.
It was going fine, we picked up a pack of macaroni and cheese, some snacks and pasta, nothing elaborate. Then we walked through the taco aisle.
Me: "Would you like some taco stuff?"
Jake: "Ummm, yeah, I think we're out of taco stuff. That's what we cook when we eat real food."
Oh dear.
If he's living in a house where tacos equate home cooking we have a bit of a problem. Don and I both shook our heads and beelined it to the fruits and veggies. We sent him home with a bag of apples, fruit cups, baby carrots and salad mix. We gave him a bag of potatoes (who knows if he will figure those out) and a box of minute rice. It wasn't an amazing selection of food, but who knows when he last ate a vegetable. Argh!!!
I swear I've tried to teach them both to cook! I guess I've still got some work to do....
He actually just came home the weekend before last for a quick hello. He had a friend drop him off while we were grocery shopping and, being responsible parents, we offered to buy him some groceries to take home with him.
It was going fine, we picked up a pack of macaroni and cheese, some snacks and pasta, nothing elaborate. Then we walked through the taco aisle.
Me: "Would you like some taco stuff?"
Jake: "Ummm, yeah, I think we're out of taco stuff. That's what we cook when we eat real food."
Oh dear.
If he's living in a house where tacos equate home cooking we have a bit of a problem. Don and I both shook our heads and beelined it to the fruits and veggies. We sent him home with a bag of apples, fruit cups, baby carrots and salad mix. We gave him a bag of potatoes (who knows if he will figure those out) and a box of minute rice. It wasn't an amazing selection of food, but who knows when he last ate a vegetable. Argh!!!
I swear I've tried to teach them both to cook! I guess I've still got some work to do....
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Just Another Month
Every month I struggle with the fact that I'm not going to have another baby. It's a struggle to watch friends and family happily expand their families while I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'm not. But as difficult as it is I have a bit of a confession:
As cute as this was:
As cute as this was:
I would take this any day:
Ben was a hard baby, and I remember it vividly. As much as I would love to feel more baby kicks, and smell more baby smell and snuggle a little mini-me, I adore the little kid that I have now so much more. He's smart, and funny, and quick to learn. He's polite and kind and loving, and I don't think I could ask for much more from a little kid.
So as much as I might struggle with the idea of not having another baby, I'm very, very content with my amazing little guy!
The black and white photo is by my cousin, Sierra Kristen Photography...the other is obviously by me. :)
Monday, November 12, 2012
An Open Letter to a Customer
Dear Sir-or-Madam,
Might I start by saying, I'm a very positive person. I'm very kind, and as I'm sure many people would tell you, I always seek out the best in people and believe that people are generally kind when given a chance.
But you sir-or-madam, are a douchebag. (And no, this is not a term I use often or lightly!)
When you failed to leave me a tip last week after pouring you a beer, I chose to overlook it. Sure I was annoyed, offended, and when I saw you coming to one of my tables tonight, I grimaced; but I decided to give you the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps you'd had a bad day? Perhaps you are merely showing your age and had moment of forgetfulness last week.
After tonight I am fairly certain that you are just an ass.
After occupying one of my tables with your "buddies" for FOUR hours, during my dinner rush, my ONLY rush, might I add, it was really all I could do not to come back and stuff the $2.50 "tip" you so generously left me, down your shirt.
Yes, $2.50.
A bit of advice sir-or-madam, should you find yourself in a similar situation in a restaurant with a server not as pleasant as myself, when your bill comes to $47.50, and you hand him or her $50.00 and say "Keep the change," you might want to be prepared for a pitcher of ice dumped on top of your head, or perhaps a fist fight in the parking lot.
I would have liked to take your change back to you, tell you that you obviously need the money more than I do, just to see what you would say, but I'm fairly certain you would have just pocketed it, not getting my point, not learning a lesson. I would have liked to have explained to you that while yes, I am a waitress in a bar, I am NOT actually desperate for your $2.50. I'm married. We have two incomes. I have a college degree. I am working on a second college degree. I am waitressing so I can be home during the day with my amazing son, and because I enjoy it.
Except waiting on you. I do not enjoy that.
Someday, sir-or-madam, I hope you have that server that dumps a pitcher of ice on your head when you leave a 5% tip on a busy Friday night. Because despite wanting to do that to you, the next time you come in I will most likely greet you with a smile, bring you your food and drinks and be equally as attentive a server to you as I am to all my other customers. Why? Because you don't actually matter to me. And neither does your $2.50.
Sincerely,
Me
**I actually wrote this a few months ago. I don't think any of the customers from the bar read my blog, but just in case, I thought I would give it some time for anonymity's sake.**
Might I start by saying, I'm a very positive person. I'm very kind, and as I'm sure many people would tell you, I always seek out the best in people and believe that people are generally kind when given a chance.
But you sir-or-madam, are a douchebag. (And no, this is not a term I use often or lightly!)
When you failed to leave me a tip last week after pouring you a beer, I chose to overlook it. Sure I was annoyed, offended, and when I saw you coming to one of my tables tonight, I grimaced; but I decided to give you the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps you'd had a bad day? Perhaps you are merely showing your age and had moment of forgetfulness last week.
After tonight I am fairly certain that you are just an ass.
After occupying one of my tables with your "buddies" for FOUR hours, during my dinner rush, my ONLY rush, might I add, it was really all I could do not to come back and stuff the $2.50 "tip" you so generously left me, down your shirt.
Yes, $2.50.
A bit of advice sir-or-madam, should you find yourself in a similar situation in a restaurant with a server not as pleasant as myself, when your bill comes to $47.50, and you hand him or her $50.00 and say "Keep the change," you might want to be prepared for a pitcher of ice dumped on top of your head, or perhaps a fist fight in the parking lot.
I would have liked to take your change back to you, tell you that you obviously need the money more than I do, just to see what you would say, but I'm fairly certain you would have just pocketed it, not getting my point, not learning a lesson. I would have liked to have explained to you that while yes, I am a waitress in a bar, I am NOT actually desperate for your $2.50. I'm married. We have two incomes. I have a college degree. I am working on a second college degree. I am waitressing so I can be home during the day with my amazing son, and because I enjoy it.
Except waiting on you. I do not enjoy that.
Someday, sir-or-madam, I hope you have that server that dumps a pitcher of ice on your head when you leave a 5% tip on a busy Friday night. Because despite wanting to do that to you, the next time you come in I will most likely greet you with a smile, bring you your food and drinks and be equally as attentive a server to you as I am to all my other customers. Why? Because you don't actually matter to me. And neither does your $2.50.
Sincerely,
Me
**I actually wrote this a few months ago. I don't think any of the customers from the bar read my blog, but just in case, I thought I would give it some time for anonymity's sake.**
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Catastrophe!
Despite being an overall productive day, yesterday was also one of "those" days where it seemed every time I turned around disaster was striking!
I got up and made a batch of ricotta scones for breakfast. I was almost out of cinnamon so I ended up making them "chai spiced" with a little ginger, cardamom and vanilla. They were very yummy. Unfortunately, I left them on the stove to cool and completely forgot about them until I was about half way through my shower. Which, coincidentally, was roughly the same time that the dog remembered I made a batch of scones and left them on the stove. When I finally ran downstairs to check, Max was mid-bite and there was only one left on the pan. Bummer.
Later in the morning I sat down to work on homework. I was able to get all of my assignments finished for next week and even wrote my speech due next Saturday. Success! Until I walked away from the computer for a minute to fold laundry and the cat took a flying leap onto the computer table knocking my tea all across the laptop keyboard.
I quickly grabbed the laptop and shut it down and dumped all the tea off the keyboard (it's never a fun sight to see water pouring out of your computer). I dried it with a towel as best I could and then went straight to the bathroom where I gently used my hair dryer to dry the keys. (FYI: After I did this Don googled what to do when you get water on your laptop...you're not supposed to blow dry it...oops.) We let it sit overnight to finish air drying and (fortunately) it appears to be working fine today. The keys are a bit sticky (good thing it was tea not soda!) but it seems to be functioning fine, which is both a blessing and a curse. It's good that we don't have to shell out money for a new laptop right now...but I HATE this laptop with a passion and would have loved the excuse to buy a new one!
Needless to say, I'm glad today was a bit of an improvement. No major catastrophes...aside from a two year old that keeps "forgetting" to pee on the potty. Unfortunately I'm back to work tomorrow, long weekends I guess aren't in the cards for me anytime soon. Oh well, at least at work I won't have to deal with pee! Hopefully...
I got up and made a batch of ricotta scones for breakfast. I was almost out of cinnamon so I ended up making them "chai spiced" with a little ginger, cardamom and vanilla. They were very yummy. Unfortunately, I left them on the stove to cool and completely forgot about them until I was about half way through my shower. Which, coincidentally, was roughly the same time that the dog remembered I made a batch of scones and left them on the stove. When I finally ran downstairs to check, Max was mid-bite and there was only one left on the pan. Bummer.
Later in the morning I sat down to work on homework. I was able to get all of my assignments finished for next week and even wrote my speech due next Saturday. Success! Until I walked away from the computer for a minute to fold laundry and the cat took a flying leap onto the computer table knocking my tea all across the laptop keyboard.
I quickly grabbed the laptop and shut it down and dumped all the tea off the keyboard (it's never a fun sight to see water pouring out of your computer). I dried it with a towel as best I could and then went straight to the bathroom where I gently used my hair dryer to dry the keys. (FYI: After I did this Don googled what to do when you get water on your laptop...you're not supposed to blow dry it...oops.) We let it sit overnight to finish air drying and (fortunately) it appears to be working fine today. The keys are a bit sticky (good thing it was tea not soda!) but it seems to be functioning fine, which is both a blessing and a curse. It's good that we don't have to shell out money for a new laptop right now...but I HATE this laptop with a passion and would have loved the excuse to buy a new one!
Needless to say, I'm glad today was a bit of an improvement. No major catastrophes...aside from a two year old that keeps "forgetting" to pee on the potty. Unfortunately I'm back to work tomorrow, long weekends I guess aren't in the cards for me anytime soon. Oh well, at least at work I won't have to deal with pee! Hopefully...
Friday, November 9, 2012
Friday Fun!
Peek-a-Boo!
I took Ben to the Peek-a-Boo Center in Westbrook today. Which was pretty kind of me since he decided to wake me up at 5:30 this morning because he "took two napses" and was "done napping." Which makes even less sense at 5:30 in the morning than it does right now, trust me. I had been planning on taking him all week since the rest of his daycare was going there today for a field trip, so it worked out well. We got there at 9:30, his friends showed up around 10 and he played with them, with me, and by himself until about 12:30.
If you have little kids and haven't been there, you really should consider checking it out for a few hours. It's clean, it's big, and there are TONS of toys, none of which resemble a Chuck E Cheese game.
We spent a lot of time at the train table (shocking, right?) but also played a couple games of memory, did a puzzle, painted, drew some pictures and bounced (and bounced, and bounced) on a mini trampoline.
It was fun, it was different, and I got to spend some quality time doing what my kid likes best...playing!
And now I'm looking forward to a weekend at home with the little goober. Weather looks nice so it looks like we're going to be playing outside! Nice! He can help me put up the Christmas lights. And I'm sure it will go nothing like last year.....
I took Ben to the Peek-a-Boo Center in Westbrook today. Which was pretty kind of me since he decided to wake me up at 5:30 this morning because he "took two napses" and was "done napping." Which makes even less sense at 5:30 in the morning than it does right now, trust me. I had been planning on taking him all week since the rest of his daycare was going there today for a field trip, so it worked out well. We got there at 9:30, his friends showed up around 10 and he played with them, with me, and by himself until about 12:30.
If you have little kids and haven't been there, you really should consider checking it out for a few hours. It's clean, it's big, and there are TONS of toys, none of which resemble a Chuck E Cheese game.
We spent a lot of time at the train table (shocking, right?) but also played a couple games of memory, did a puzzle, painted, drew some pictures and bounced (and bounced, and bounced) on a mini trampoline.
It was fun, it was different, and I got to spend some quality time doing what my kid likes best...playing!
And now I'm looking forward to a weekend at home with the little goober. Weather looks nice so it looks like we're going to be playing outside! Nice! He can help me put up the Christmas lights. And I'm sure it will go nothing like last year.....
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