Let The Decorating Begin

Don't let the title fool you. There won't be too much decorating going on. In fact, this year I plan on scaling down. Every year I'm compelled to put out every Christmas/winter item we own. NOT good.

This weekend we started out simple.

Can I be done now?

Just kidding. We will get a tree.

But the next thing on my to do list is to purge some of our toys from our playroom. It is SO crazy that I do this just to make room for MORE toys they'll get at Christmas. I don't want more. We have too much. There's got to be a way to have more "keeping Christ in Christmas" and less Santa without being a complete Scrooge. I just haven't found it yet.

On a lighter note, don't you just love how toddlers, like cats, can be just as happy with the packaging as the toy that came in it?

A Day At The Park

My baby....

How cute is he that his jacket matches the play equipment?

How lucky am I that I get to hang out with him everyday?

A Week In Pictures

Last Wednesday night the seven of us worked on our First Annual Thanksgiving Tree. It was a great way to start off the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

The finished product. I think we need  a bigger poster board for all of our blessings!

Thursday morning was the first of many lazy mornings.... can you tell we weren't hosting?

We traveled to my brother's house later in the day. My sister in law has been hosting Thanksgiving for my side of the family for 17 years straight!! Incredible. It's always a great time.




Kathy, the chef



Moira, my niece, home from college!





My Dad and brother Bob











Friday was such a beautiful day we took a drive to the Delaware Water Gap and did some "hiking." We're not sure what the difference is between a hike and a walk. Bill said if you wore a backpack it was a hike.

Bill did carry a backpack of snacks. After 3 minutes of walking the kids wanted to stop and eat. So typical! They're still trying to figure out if Dad's watch really does have a "Bear-meter" on it to let him know bears are close.

Saturday we went to a memorial mass for Bill's side of the family. It's done every year the Saturday after Thanksgiving and it's purpose is to remember the members of the family who have died. Such a wonderful event to gather and remember with the extended family. Bill's uncle is an Augustinian and he celebrated the mass in the parish in which he is now the pastor. Private family masses are so special.

Later that day, we visited my Dad and then my sister invited us to gather at her house to see my niece who was home from college. She  probably just caught her breath from hosting Thankgiving and had to entertain us! But it sure was fun!Always a ton of laughs with my family. So much so that I forgot to get out my camera! The best part was reliving some memories of Hillside and seeing my nieces get a kick out of the craziness. They must think we're nuts!

Next we headed to Bill's parent's house. They had just returned from Maryland for the weekend and brought with them a load of crabs to eat. The kids had a ball banging away at these critters with their Gran and Gramps, Aunts and Uncles, and cousins.



Ann's not so sure this is fun.



Talk about lasting memories all weekend long. I think I've mentioned this before, but I have the best family EVER! And I am very thankful for each and every member!

Holidays At Hillside

I can't help but think of my Mom when the holidays are here. So many years, so many memories of her making each and every one special. We didn't have a big extended family and the job of host landed on her every holiday, year in and year out. And she did all this with a smile. She was just that kind of person.

I now own the untensils from her kitchen. They are heavy duty-will last forever-utensils. But more importantly, I can't grab one from the drawer without thinking of her.

Here is the breakdown of some memories when I look at these.

The Spatula: Used for Apple Fritters. What are these? Frozen apple pancake-type things that she often used as a side dish. Family memory: My uncle saying, "Please pass the Apple Critters."

The 2 Prong Fork: Never used. Why? Because  instead of using this, she used an electric knife to carve the turkey. Family memory: When this turned on no doubt my Dad would shout out, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre!!"

The Potato Masher: Once the potatoes were done cooking, she always called my brother Bob out to the kitchen to mash them. Family memory: No lumps in the potatoes, but there sure were a few times when we found a bit of metal from the pot in them. He didn't know his own strength!

The Ladle: I can't recall this being used for holidays, but it helped scoop out endless bowls of her famous chicken stew. I make this now for my family. Family memory: "It always tastes better the next day."

Now we continue these holidays without her. She lives on in all of us though and the one thing we can bring to the table is the gift of her love.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Ps. Anyone up for a game of Trivial Pursuit?

Out Of The Mouth Of.....

THOMAS ( age 7 )

While driving home from church:

Thomas: I think life is kind of annoying.

Me: Really, why?

Thomas: Because you live on earth until you die, then you go to heaven and you keep on living and it just goes on and on and on.

Billy: So, don't you mean it's boring?

Thomas: No, it's a-NOY-ing.  And boring because there's no video games in heaven.

First Dance

I thought: 

~he'd forget about it.

~his friends said they were lame.

~he'd rather stay home and play Xbox.

No such luck. Billy went to his first school dance. A sixth, seventh, and eighth grade dance. UGH!

I knew it was tonight. I wasn't going to bring it up. Bill and I never thought this day would come, so we didn't have a firm answer. When Billy came home from school he had the permission slip in hand ready for me to sign. What to do? What to do?  Wasn't it just yesterday I let him cross the street by himself?

We let him go, making sure he knew that it wouldn't be a regular occurrence. I mean, I went to grade school dances, but I'm pretty sure I was in eighth grade before I was allowed to go. And I went to Catholic School, so you know we had to leave room for the Holy Spirit if we danced with a boy! 

This is Billy trying to get out of the minivan to get into the dance. I wasn't going to unlock that door until I was done spewing all of my warnings and instructions on behavior, respect, etc. He looks thrilled, doesn't he?

I'm pretty sure he didn't hear a word I said.

Here is a picture I took on my surveillance of the gym after he went inside.

I couldn't stay there for long. That girl inside the door saw me snap that picture. I had visions of the police coming up behind me saying, "Move along, Ma'am."

 I had him rate the dance on a scale from one to ten. He gave it an EIGHT!!  He claims the only reason he went, and the only reason it was fun was because of the contest they had--- to shoot a basketball from the 3 point line. He really wanted to win it. Let's hope that's the real reason and he got it out of his system.

We had ice cream before bed.


I've got to at least try to make the comforts of home a lasting memory in his brain ( and hopefully be a TEN on the 10 point scale.)