Putting Up The Tree

We headed out to Home Depot to get our tree. Here Olivia searches for just the right one.

We loaded the tree up on the roof of Nanny's car!

The tree is up and ready to be decorated.

Olivia rigs up the lights

Then, she does the garland. No tinsel this year as the kittens would surely get into it.

Olivia adjusts the garland.

Lexi does a great job hanging up all the ornaments.

Capt'n Hook does a great job at taking all the ornaments down.

Tink rests beneath the tree and doesn't know what all the fuss is about.

Colonial Days

Olivia's 3rd grade class celebrated Colonial Days. All the girls and boys dressed up in traditional colonial clothes and played games and did crafts. Here is Olivia sporting her outfit.

The Making of Cinderella's Pumpkin Coach

I decided to enter the pumpkin contest at work and thought that Cinderella's pumpkin coach was a great idea.Pick out the perfect pumpkin

Cut out the windows and spray with gold glitter

Decorate the carriage

Keep decorating the carriage, add Cinderella inside.

Viola! Cinderella is riding inside the pumpkin coach, reading the latest issue of Top 10 Most Eligible Bachelor's. On the back of the coach is a sign that says "Royal Palace or Bust"

Mommy and Me Date To The Firehouse

The fire house had it's annual open house, so off Lexi and I went to visit. Lexi poses in front of the fire house, she was so excited to be able to go inside.

This is the 9/11 flag listing all the heroes on the flag.

Mommy's little fire girl

We watched the fireman shoot down the pole, they said they still really use it. So, Lexi took a turn from about 2ft up.

Flutophone vs. Recorder

In 3rd grade, your child comes home, happy as a clam, toting their recorder. What is a recorder? No idea, this is a Flutophone. Either way, recorder or flutophone, Olivia is excited to be learning how to play it.

Turning 40

Turning 40, was pretty uneventful....although my expectation was a lot higher. I thought when you turned the big TENS, they were a big deal. I preach constantly, if you don't expect much, you won't be disappointed. In my case, I am constantly being disappointed by the people around me.

The girls made some cupcakes for me treated me to a back and foot massage. Which of course at 8 and 4, they were more excited about my birthday than I.

I on the other hand, go to treat the family for a $70 dinner at Joe's. Yes, that is right, I treated myself to a birthday dinner. No birthday cards, no presents, no cards in the mail, no phone calls from family, no nothing. I did get about 35 Happy Birthday's on Facebook and a few Happy Birthday wishes at work. Other than that, Nada, Nothing!

This isn't a Whoa Me, but is more of enlightening on who is in my inner circle and clearly who isn't.

So, as I turned 40... I took a real good look at what friendship means, what my daily life is like and what changes need to be made to make my life more fulfilling.

I have looked back on what I have offered people and what I have put up with thus far in my life....most comments can't be put in writing on a blog...but there is much disappointment on the return respect I have received.

So, heading over this hump has showed me that my girls are my life, us 3, and all others can take a back seat....

Topsfield Fair

The girls and I ventured out to the Topsfield Fair and had the best time ever. The girls can't wait to go back again.

We also watched the duck races, which was so fun and we sat and watched the dock dogs, which was an event where the dogs raced off of a dock into the pool and saw how far they could jump. The best part was the amateur dogs who would suddenly put their brakes on and slip into the side of the pool, rather than racing in and jumping in.

Olivia pats the horses, she told me that she is an animal whisperer and has a way with animals.
These were the prizes the girls won after the strong man contest.

They took a spin on the "slowest" train ever!

Lexi says she never wants to ride the panda again - it flies!

Olivia rode the horse while Lexi sat on the bench for the carousel ride.

The girls made candles out of bee's wax.

This Clydesdale was huge, 8ft 2in.

Happy Fall - Family Update!

Finally Fall is here and we are enjoying the cooler weather.

The girls are having fun being back to school. Lexi is in her 2nd year of pre-school, which is located at Olivia's elementary school and is really liking going 4 days a week. She is the only girl in class and is a little desperate for some friends. She was invited by her friend Blake for a playdate at his tumbling class, she had a lot of fun. Olivia is in 3rd grade and is in her 4th year of Girl Scouts. She is also taking sculpting classes as an after school program. She got a 100% on her first "real" test and we were all so very proud of her. Olivia has two really close friends that she hangs out with Beth and Alyssa. These girls are very sweet and I am happy she has bonded with them.

Lexi has had her rash for nearly a year now. She just completed a 3 months stint of Amoxycillin and now we are doing 3 months of Erthryomicin... this one seems to be working...I am going to give it another week or so and if not starting to improve we are going to Childrens for a consult. They did do a biopsy so we know what it is, I am just not comfortable with the aggressiveness of her dermatologist.

Olivia is healthy and is sporting her jack-o-lantern smile for Halloween.

I have been struggling with my knee pain. An MRI has shown that I have cysts under my kneecaps. We have tried a round of cortizone shots at no prevail. They want to do another MRI, but I can't pay the $1000 deductible to have this done....so he will just assume what is wrong with the other knee. It looks like there is also chrondomalcia patella. My insurance company just approved a 3 week stint of gel injections which hopefully will lubricate the knees so they can move more easily. If this doesn't work, than next step is surgery on both knees. Not sure, how I am going to pull that one off.

I am working with mom nights at MVRH, and really love my job. It is very exhausting, but I love working with all the families, especially when the outcome news of their pet is good.

I also, am doing my part time data entry job in the mornings and have taken over as being the Reading Girl Scouts coordinator for the town. So, I am constantly doing something and trying to enjoy my two days off a week - which is usually booked up with something school or girl scout related.

Mom and dad are both fine....

Our two kitty's had a rough couple of weeks as well. Capt' Hook ate a glow stick and was rushed into the ER early one morning, ended up being fine. Then, a few days later Tink went in to get spayed and had a horrible reaction to the drugs and spiked a high fever, she needed to stay overnight in intensive care. Then, a few days later, Hook scratched his way out of the window screen and found himself out on the roof not knowing how to get back in.

Nikko had a trip to the ER as well, with a small cut on her side, which has now healed. Mac and Gizmo had a trip for routine shots, which is always an adventure. And of course, we still have our 2 guinea pigs and fish.

With all that said and done, we are looking forward to fall and the girls are already making their Christmas lists....they are very much into American Girls this year!

First Day of School

Wednesday was the first day of "3rd" grade for Olivia and Thursday was orientation day for Lexi for her 2nd year of preschool. This year Lexi's preschool class is at Joshua Eaton elementary school, which is the school Olivia goes to, her classroom is actually Olivia's 1st grade class and Lexi has the same teacher Olivia had in preschool, Ms. Sally Ann. Lexi is the only token girl in a classroom of 10 boys!

Chinese Culture Weekend Final Day

On our final day, we woke ate breakfast at the hotel and headed off to the VT Teddy Bear Factory.

After the teddy bear factory, we headed over to Shelburne Farms, once owned by the Vanderbilts. The property is absolutely huge.

This is a picture of the Barn. We didn't have the pass to go up to the Inn along Lake Champlain. The barn was the size of a mansion.

The kids got to milk a cow.

And hold a chicken.

Olivia found a just hatched egg!

They had lots of fun riding the John Deer tractors around the property.

Bread! A weekend without bread and finally a whole bakery full! I enjoyed my roll so much, except when the chicken tried to take it away.

On the ride home, we stopped at the Queechee Gorge. I was afraid to look over, but got a pic!

Also, we took the wrong rode home and it took us an additional 1.5 hours to get home. UGHH!