~More Cake~

~Here is the cake~

What a day......is it gonna stay?

My was it a day today...It reminded me of the summer when I got out of work at 2:30. Going to p/u the boys at school then off to practice I drove with the windows down despite all the rolled up ones I saw. I am sure they had the a/c cranked. We did not.....plus after practice there was no way I could keep the windows up with a 14 year old who just got off the ice...P U ! lol SO we got home to see our new 16X14 (seamless/no nail showing/NEVER stain/no maintance top O' the line material, it is a rich mohogany floor/stairs with white risers with really pretty white posts and rails with the most beautiful caps and bases on the rails I have ever seen) deck almost all done that we could use it tonight for dinner. We have the folding chairs and table out there until we get a set. It was so nice to be outside eating. Then we went back into the house and the a/c kicked in despite us putting it on..We have it on auto and the temp set so it got way warmer than the temp. SO I closed the windows so we can cool off fthe house for sleeping tonight. It won;t stay on long due to Mr. Frugal himself...lol Hey he can't be THAT frugal with the cash he is dishing out for this deck..our basement and this deck were about the same price....yikes a full basement remodel and a deck costing close to eachother...nuts.........lol so for sure now I will win the Drew challenge for NOT turning on the heat....LOL LOL I hope you all enjoyed your "summer" day....I know I did at the point when I got to go outside. Now off to bake a wedding cake. Pam from work and I are baking a 4 teir wedding cake that has 8 cakes they have chocolate cream inbetween with yummy buttercream icing BUT the bride wants us to do FONDANT and it is not easy to work with ...but with Pams creativity and my baking skills we will get this baby doen...I WILL post the cake on Sunday to show our handy work. Also we are making fliers to hand out with the picture nad telling how we make b-day/anniversary ect cakes.....Hey this could be the start of something YUMMY,.....I do NEED to do it with her and not alone...>She is great when it comes to creativity.....Maybe being an ART major helped her with that....LOL Blessings and sweet dreams all........

Today is beautiful......

I am admiering the beauty today is bringing. It could not be any nicer out. We are awaiting company. We have not visited in a long time and I have been longing to be with them. I am done with all of the cooking, the stuff I enjoy to do for others. Lokking forward to sharing good times with them and long awaited hugs. I am sure the girls will love the costumes I got for their bears, Little Mermaids and Arura aka Sleeping Beauty. I got little ghoast bags for the bears to hold on Halloween. V and E will match the bears this year. I have always wanted a bear to match the child. lol .......So I am going to head out front to keep watch for the clan......

Parents Night

Last night Michael and I had to go to Stephens school for a "meet and greet" night for the freshman teachers. After a long day at the workshop, trying to get dinner ready, my class then this,,,,,I still can't stop going on and on about how much I love this place. It was worth the trip...It may not be the 13 mil $ Masco building that he would of been in but like Michael and I were saying on the short, very short ride home last night, it is what is inside the building that counts not the high tech building itself. Not that Masco doesn't have its plusses ...There is something about the small class sizes and dedication these people have for the students..Not one person there works b/c they have to. They make it seem like they are so happy to be there and have a desire to love what they do. I love his History teacher and I don't even LIKE History. lol .Science was a little on the boaring side for me..lol He needed to kick it up a notch.lol...His Honors English teacher is well liked by the students but the funny thing is she reminds me of an Ogar of a teacher that was at my HS, Miss Goldberg. I was taken back at how the simialarities of the two were. As she spoke I saw why the kids like her so much. Nothing like meany Goldberg...lol I did not even have this "honors" teacher but just to pass her in the halls....Anita just gave you the creeps.....Right Normie.....lol well then again you got on her good side with your brains....lol So as we moved about in a fashion of complete lostness..not too bad..lol We mirrored his day with 8 min classes. Like other schools this place by no means makess the student run from one end of the building to the next. We walked from room to room with in the corridore that the classes were. Only at one time during the night did we have an upstairs class........So I can tell why Stephen is happy when I get him at the end of the day. I can also tell why some upper classmans parents had only wonderful things to say about the place. I am proud to say my son is a student at the North Shore Voc. Tech. H.S..........
Now next week we get to attend Ryans OH....Yeah we get to see my favorite :P principal Mrs. Fitzy.......ohhhh help me now....lol She is a trip, and not one you long to take if you catch my drift.......

Our son has a job......

You know your chidren are getting old when.......
One makes $11.00 per hour (HELLO) at his first (non-under the table) job. This summer he did landscaping for cash but was not officially employed. Tonight was his first night as an official tax deductiong person of America living the American dream. He is timekeeper for the hockey games at the 3 rinks near by. When I say near by I mean at the most 10 miles away. Some are closer. I think it is really good cash to keep trck of the time. I know you do have to know the game of hockey b/c you log penalties and other things. You have to know the signs for calls ect. I would gladly take the job ...lol IF I knew hockey that well....I should by now with all the watching I have done. Some other moms say I am really good at telling them what is going on during the game...HAH...It is b/c maybe you NEVER go to see your son play and I am faithfully there to watch and manage. LOL As we filled the working papers from the State and tax forms it brought back memories of the summer of '85 getting out of 8th grade and getting a ride from Nana T to the supermarket that she shopped at to fill out my applct. to be a bagger. I was moved up to cashier pretty fast then to the PRODUCE .......lol I can not even fatham that Stephen is old enough and resposible enough to go to a job. I have to keep reminding myself, we did well and tought him how to be a dependable kid and one who takes pride in what he does. It is still mindblowing I have a child old enough to get "working papers". The lady Linda from the previous post told me 12 years ago at a EBSB Christmas party, "the time flies you'll see" that was when her kids were about 14. My how time flies.......Cherish your time and loved ones.....Money does not matter in this life, health, faith, love, family and friends do. Without those you have nothing. Peace, love and Gods blessings to all..........

7 Months till retirement and then no more.....so sad...

As I have stated before my husband has been at his job for 20 plus years. He started as a teller in 12th grade then stayed there for his co-op for Northeastern. From that they hired him for a fulltime position in accounting...He has since made his way up the ladder with one dissapointment about 11 years ago, got over the pass up on that job and now is the Vice Pres of Operations. He has only two people over him, Exct. VP and CEO, He has always had some of the nicest bosses. His last position his boss for about 13 years took Michaels job when he got promoted. George was about 3 years close to retirement and really wanted to cool down his work pace. It was kind of a lateral move for him but it was not as responsibe as his last job was. Michael loved his last position b/c it mean only dealing with compliance of rules and regs. Very few interaction with people directly just STUFF......Michael is a laidback quiet man and it was just fine to stay in his office all day read the new rules and make sure stuff complied. (In my mind that must have been as boring as all hell) With his promotion, he was asked to take this on, did not have intentions of moving up.when asked I guess you say yes....., he has alot of differnt kinds of people to deal with and so many differnt aspects of the bank. I think it was a good move , with more $ comes more work but hey isn't that why he went for his Banking Masters anyway? SO this George man, I at first, was a little scared of him b/c he was "boss man" and had a dry I can't get him, scence of humor. As the years pasted, phone calls and bank events took place I really warmed up to him and loved his wife Linda the times we sat together at functions ect. March 08 would be time for Goerge to move on and retire early b/c he too was at the bank since creation. On his 62nd b-day he would be at full retirment benefits and was looking forward to travel, on land, Linda was not a flyer. In June Michael came home and said George fainted in work and was rushed to the hospital. Thinking he had a heartattack he was kept overnight at the hospital for tests. A man who had not been to the doctors for about 20 so odd years was then poked and probed and tested, the outcome was bad. He was told he has a really bad case of cancer and they can not tell what the outcome may be even with treatment. Being George he opted not to live his last days in hospitals but did go on a trip to Conn. with Linda. He was getting weaker as the months passed and Michael went to see him twice. He was not to keen on visitors unless it were his "kids"Michael and a girl Diane, from the bank that he was in charge of way back when. His wife is supper dependant on him, she never drove and her work was limited to the library at the kids school back when they were in school. They just had their first grandchild about 8 months ago and were so excited to have the next chapter of thier lives. Friday night when M came in from work he told me George had to go the hospital b/c the pain was just to bad. I could tell by this news it was not going to be good. When we got in from hockey yesterday there was a messg on our machine to call one of his 3 sons and I could just see the blood rush out of M's face. I just knew it was the end for George. Michael made several calls to other people at the bank to give the aweful news of Georges passing. It stinks to loose someone at any age. It just seems so weird that I lost my Papa when he was 60 and George too is maybe 2 years older than that.They said all those years ago when I was 9 he died so young, to a nine year old 60 was OLD now I say woah not so old after all... SO sad ........Michael and I keep thinking of Linda, who does not drive knows only of her and George and her 3 boys that are really far from where Linda lives. I hope she gets through this time with the peace of knowing he is out of pain now and has gone to a better place. Please keep in your prayers the strenght she needs to now go on even though George is not here.

It's Back : (

I KID YOU NOT! Stephen comes to me this morn to show me that his feet are so close to being healed. Just a few scabs left....Then he shows me his HANDS......WHAT IS THE Problem...... I am like not again....I have that sick feeling...I can't believe this. He has not been outside except for school not playing in the woods.......I am goonnnnaaa scream....He has to work this weekend, golf and play in a hockey game. I just hope they don't blow up like the feet did....He is timekeeper at the younger kids games, $10. an hour to push the buttons on the time clock, not a bad gig hey......for a 14 year old.....

So have a great weekend all, just hope I am not in ER or spending lots of cash on this stuff, we still have the meds from last weekend......

Paper work up to my eyeballs......

The first picture is the view that we get from our on the hill hotel in Lake Placid New York. The cecond is the Olympic Rink at the bottom of the hill that the boys get to play in whne they go to the Can/Am tourny in November. This will be Stephens 3rd year playing Can/Am.......It is a wonderful trip and experience to play on THE Olympic Ice that won Gold for the USA team in 80????I SHOULD KNOW THE YEAR>>>>Been to the museam 3 times. lol It is a very expensive trip but well worth it. I do get two nights of my room comped b/c of the PAPER WORK UP TO MY EYEBALLS.....Yes I have for the last eight years been "team manager" ....The job bites big time but if it is a Can/Am year liek I said free room for the two nights. Every year I have had to manage some of the best guys who are the head coaches....This year it is a bit of a struggle. He is an ex=pro ball player for the Soxs and I forget what other team. His twin sons have been on my sons teams before but he was never head guy...He owns a baseball team in Austrila and has so many other comitments that it makes my like a bit harder to manager this year. I can't even get itnot the little things at this point. Funny b/c in the past and maybe now a little so many people kiss his butt b/c of who he WAS! I have never and never will treat him as any better or worse than any other person b/c of the fact that he once played pro ball.....Whats that about anyway. SO JT has this be in control attitude but on the other hand says you do this this and this and it is everything that a mgr does not have to do...Yesterdays e-mail was one of oh well what can you do....I responded to it like that...AND HE sends out a team e-mail asking others if they know how to do this particular thing b/c Stephanie doesn' t know....A teach my how and I MAY have done it for you and B DO IT YOURSELF, every other headcoach who works full time and donates their time has done this stupid task AND I may not be MISS COMPUTER but the other parents agree that I am organized and keep things in order and all of them say I WOULD NEVER want the job.....Yes that volenteer job that yes I am getting the free nights but lots goes on the ENTIRE year.......It is nice tha tat the end of the year I do get a Bed Bath and Beyond type gift card to spend on something for baking...lol B/c I am the ONLY team mgr in Masco that gives homemade fudge and cookies to the team and parents....Last week on of the Asst. coaches said he is gonna take up a collection for my supplies for baking so it doen't come out of my pocket all the time..I was very greatful for that and said in a jk way that I don't make as much as you do Ralph...lol He is a big time commercial builder with money coming out of his butthole and has a wife that can not go a day without some kind of pampering spa treatment. Two years ago she brough 3 differnt fur coats to LP...>Yeah fur not in and 3 differnt coats....funny b./c it was seasonably warm that year...LOL LOL LMAO........Normie knows who I mean Laurienes sister.......So as I head out for my day I STILL have and still will have chasing and paper work to do for this team. I did say yes b/c I can never say no, but last week I did learn to say no to two things b/c I was just pulled to the max and was about to snap.....have a great day all.....sorry to vent but this place is like theropy without the cost...LOL LOL Like I would have time to go to theropy ANYWAY!>>>>>lol

Never Forget........

9-11-2001 A day we will never forget. I am sure you can all place where and what you were doing on this aweful day. I will keep it short, Pray for the soliders who are STILL fighting to protect us. Pray for the families of the souls lost on this terrible day. Pray, hug and give thanks for the loved ones we are still able to be with on this earth. Peace and prayers to all of you.....Cherish your days for we are blessed to have them.......

To make this worse....

Poor Stephen who is masivly allergic to poison ivy has it ALL OVER HIS FEET....Yes I said feet....Well! I don;t know how he skated at hockey practice 3 days in a row. He said it feels better when they are in the skates b/c it tightens it up....? I don;t know...He can bearly walk and we got a script from my borther in law for 2.5% Hydro cream. I hope it gets better b/c it looks like it hurts so bad........I wish I could take the pain from him. You know when your kids hurt I think it hurts you more that they have to be in pain.......I hope this kid who is a trooper and so good about it gets better fast......

A week of way too many things......

I would be here all day if I listed the way too many things the Raf family has going on mext week, I will spare you the read time. Just want to wish you all a wonderful end of the summer weekend. Summer '07 is now a memory.

We are celebrating 10 yearsof being Middletonites......Yes 10 years ago this very weekend we moved to this town and never looked back.(we even got invited the first 24 hours we were here to a neighbors Labor Day BBQ....I knew we were in the right place the moment we made the long drive) I plan on some day celebrating our 50th aniversary here that is if we don't move way down south to the retirement states of Fl, SC or Hawaii! I dream of someday hanging ten with gray hair(well maybe not I am sure I will dye it) and Michael by my side drinking our lime water out of a coconut shell with tons of grandchildren on our laps..lol

I LOVE this place we call "home", small town where everyone knows you. I could not live some place that has sections way to big for me......

As the summer winds down and a ton of activites start up for a week of too much, when it rains it pours I hope you all give thanks for the beautiful weather that we have been given the past few mouths and be greatful that we are not "under" water like some places in the US......

Happy Long Weekend............if I don;t post for a while, at least a week or so it is b/c I don;t know when I may make it to the computer any time soon................

First day of High School!

Go NSTHS Bulldogs!

Tuesday is Stephens first day of high school. I am getting teary eyed just thinking of it. I remember like it were yesterday when I brought him to preschool. Has the time just flown or what. I would give anything to rewind and replay these years all over again. Have some great final last days of summer fun because soon it will be a distant memory............Back to school time is here again.........

Is that mascot ugly or what....We went from the Masco Blackbear to this! lol I just hope that the school clothes do not have bulldogs on them...U*G*L*Y!

==================================================Wed...........
HS.....4 years that fly by....atleast that is what they say...
I am now the mother of a high schooler....At the young age of 36...Yes I will have an 18 year old when I am 40......Young Mamas ROCK! lol lol lol.....
It was really weird to bring my "baby" to high school. Yesterday I think I held up really well at drop off. I have been coughing AGAIN so I am frustrated at that so my focus was not of tears, it was keeping from a full fledge cough attack. When I picked him up I felt sad knowing that this is a place he knows few people and has to start all over again like in Kindergarten. I know he is a really confident kid and will have no problem but a mother can't help but still be a mother. Only a parent can know what I mean. No matter what the problem may be, as tiny as a grain of sand or as large as a rock a mom has to be MOM! I recall my HS days back in the mid/ late 80's and I can truly say there were awesome onesGO PJH!, Flew by, but I was ok with moving on to the next chapter. The last day of 8th grade at graduation was a differnt story. I cried and sobbed like a baby. Going to a small Catholic school with the same 20 or so kids from 1-8 you could not help but miss the "family" type setting. I even remember some of the boys getting chocked up(Not Normas brother) lol. I know Stephen was more than THRILLED to move on from his Jr High to the place he is choosing to go. I give him credit for taking the blind leap to a place that is unfimilar and diving in with a really positive outlook. Hey he even made Honors English class when he took his placement test back in May. He gets that from me......LOL LOL Ok so he doesn't lol lol I wish him well and 4 years of growth and many happy memories.....

More from Marblehead.....

Stephen and his friend Matt climbing the rocks and making me stress out.......lol
Every time we have Matt he gets some kind of injury. He is an accident prone kid even when he is with his own family. We still have him until after dinner tonight so lets hope he stays safe and in tact........they are golfing now (cross ur fingers) and want to BMX bike later. Yikes...I think it is way to hot to be biking.......

We took Rys binouculars (sp) and could see if people were on the sailboats.....you could even see the houses across the way.......They were so nice.......

Friday Night in Marblehead.....

I may not like to sit on the beach but I do love going there for a picnic and seeing Gods beautiful creation. The sunset was amazing and the brezze was wonderful. The kids love climbing on the rocks and I even went down hlaf way with Michael. In my younger days of scaling rock walls on dagerous places with out adults, I have come to realize becareful and head warning........

Hard Hat Area : Must be worn at all times....

This week we were going to outfit All of our bears with Hard Hats beacuse the mall is falling down, a gapeing 20 foot by 25 foot hole is now in the middle of the mall. Thank God not a soul was injured. A pregnant women was rushed to the hospital and released. Yesterday the Feds, OCHA, and recovery teams were swaming the mall. So just for precaution we were going to outfit all of the bears w/ the hh. I am sure the "rent a cops" would freak if they saw this,,,,lol
So becareful when going to the mall......WEAR yuour HARDHAT!

Thursday nights are firework night at the Lake....

So finnally here are some pics from LG.............It is so nice out today...breezy and cool, all the windows are open and it feels wonderful. The boys are out golfing and it is change the sheets morning. We are off this afternoon to get new cell phones, ours are 3 years old and the plan is over on Monday. We got coupons and incentives to get a hugh discount. Sunday is Canobie Lake in NH BBQ for Michaels company outing. That sould be fun. Looking forward to anouther nice day of 75*. Hearing the trees sway in the wind is so peaceful. Have a great weekend all......xoxoxoxo

It's about time.......lol

7pm waiting for the fireworks Thursday night.......
He would never take the "loot" at his real bank......lol lol lol He got caught steeling the "loot" by the sheriff at Six Flags, Great Escape.........lol
We paid $.25 cents to squirt the boys with extra water......
Pretty view......
we ate on the top deck of a lakeside pub. It was our "date" night...the boys were with Michaels brothers family. We had all the kids the night before......so romantic....

Around 5pm on the lake.......It is called million dollar beach.....ok it is nice but not worth that much lol lol

Hey all.....

My last day on the z pack is tom. I am looking forward to finishing the meds. the ear is feeling 40% better, still have a little pain. I did not swim at the pool today just in case and the water was really chilly when I put my legs in. I want to play it safe for our trip this week to Lake George. I started the iron / packing this morn. I know I always take too much but hey just in case, better to have more than not enough....lol I am just glad this does not involve a plane ride just a car ride...lol I have to work tom night till 11 and then Thurs morn 5-11 so we will leave after I get home, shower: I am sure all the stuff will be packed b/c M has off Thurs. We will be staying until Sunday night, my plan is to be home by 9pm b/c M has work in the morning. Mapquest said it will take @ 3 hours.....we'll see. I hear it is really nice there? I'll give u the scoop when we get back. I am sure Norma will remember this, I had a family that lived two doors down from me that packed up the wood panel station wagon every summer and went to Lake George. When they were gone the street was dead.....lol They had an older son one @ my age and twins younger. They were the ones that never got to go home. If they tried they were thrown out again to stay outside sunrise to well after sunset. After maybe seven days you would see the gross green wood panel wagon back in front of their house and know oh they are back and MANHUNT became fun again b/c Joe Viola was back lol lol lol Norma and I played for hours on my front proch with our Barbies and one of the twins the very "girly" one would try to play too. We would let him be "Ken" or Donny Osmond doll but he would alway insist on wanting the "Barbie" doll. SO we would give him the NON Barbie the generic one.....lol We were not being mean we were just protecting the dolls from male handeling lol ........or in James' case not so male handeling. He would randomly do kartwheels and roll overs and a few handstands out of the blue. He was the "good" twin b/c the brother was the one that had an overload of testostiron, enough for the two of them and would be the devil boy.....much trouble from Jason...
So when MIL mentioned the Lake George thing it brought me back to watching the Viola family packing the wagon on a hot summer morn and packing way too many people into one vehicle then driving up the street not to be seen for 7 long summer days.......It was bitter sweet when they left b/c we were happy to have some quiet but also sad to see them go, they made up a good chunk of the hood......lol lol lol Funny Joe still lives in that house and is raising his children there. And if I am correct, Normie knows better than I do....He has a small clan himself these days....lol Wonder if they make the yearly pilgramage to LG, NY///////LOL LOL ???????

We were on BARNES AVE.....the cute little dead end street, we were the beach street......

Have earinfection....hurts bad...... : (

Now you all know who read my posts I am a content person who has a great and wonderful outlook on everything BUT this very moment I am yucked out right now ...............OUCHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Yuck ..........my dripping ear...yes I said dripping...the drops refuse to stay in.....I am taking my z-pack and the drops and felt better this afternoon,swam w/earpulgs in a pool not a lake.... NOW after I took a shower it kills....yuck yuck......This sucks.........MD thinks I may have got it from the lake...once again LAKE < Love lakes but hate how we go and seem to catch things....is it a coincidence? I wish I knew the answer........off to lay on the bed with a towel just in case the ozzong of the drops continues........UGH UGH UGH...................

Baby # 17 YIKES........

http://www.comcast.net/news/strange/index.jsp?cat=STRANGE&fn=/2007/08/03/730554.html&cvqh=itn_17babies

This is the link to read about the

Duggars.......Yes people 17 biological children. AND they said when # 17 was born "sure we will be trying again" ////YIKES!

Off to build a playground......

This being the 10th year aniversary of Build A Bear Workshop....We are going to Build A Playground to celebrate. Not just one playground but 10! All acroos America sites in need were chossen to have a build. Michael, Stephen, Stephens friend Christian and I will be helping out Aug 1 to put this baby up. We have to leave at the crack of dawn (545am) to go to Brockton, a place not close to here that is for sure. I will keep you posted as to how it goes and might have some pictures. You all know how bad I am with posting pictures.....Well I have been getting better.......So wish us luck and much strength as we dig and shovel and build the day away.......

Just got home........

The boys and I went to Round Lake in Wakefield NH from Saturday night to Tuesday morning. We were 3 moms and 7 kids. We had a great time. Nothing like being a lazy lake bumm and floating your days away. Last night we got them sparklers after we made yummy smores.....This morning they were all so tired. I am glad to be washed up in my own shower. Theres nothing like the clean feeling of your own shower after a few days at the lake.......

You know you're a Bear Builder when....

you know youre a bear builder when:
*you find yourself bad-mouthing Vermont teddy bear factory and the bear mill*you can recite the bear promise by heart no matter where you are*the babw animals you own mean so much more to you than your other stuffed animals*anytime you hear someone mention babw you look at it as a chance to advertise this months new animal*you go into the store off the clock and sell five pairs of shoes and answer the phone*you go out with your friends and find yourself unconsciously humming teddy bear tea party or chocolate bear*you get a warm fuzzy feeling when you see the commercials on TV*you thought magic avenue was the coolest song ever*you own khaki up the wazoo*you wear your old weekend t-shirts to work out and to bed*when all your friends complain about their crappy jobs you dont say anythingyour job rocks!*you feel like maxine clark is a member of your family*your co-workers are your best friends*you visit other babws to compare technique*you get excited when you actually see a pair of solid white shoes*youve mastered the art of tying bow*you look forward to inventory*you get super excited when its time for the floor set to change*you start memorizing the skus for different items*you no longer associate st. louis with the archits bearquarters*you go to other babws and you see the product in the wrong place and you put it away*you go to reach for your sissors to cut something and your not even working*Pawsome, Bearrific and furbulous are in your daily conversations*When you can name all the shoes without looking at the back of them*When your on vacation and you still call the store to see how everyone is*When your on vacation and you feel the need to visit the store in that city*you have mastered the skill of tuning out music ..........I can attest to all of these...lol...really

Yearly trip to Boston.....

Every year since Stephen was born we have vetured in to Boston FH during Michaels vacation. Today was surpose to be Hampton Beach NH day (yes I had every intention to go to a BEACH, believe it if you may) but we had a worker coming to the house that messed up our plans...UGH...so today after he left we went. I am so very proud to report.......I yes I said I drove into Boston...Not Michael I >>>>>Yes I am not fond of driving out of my comfort zone but I am also not fond of being the passenger in the car when in a stress driving situation. I guess it is a controll thing but hey if it puts me at ease, why not........We compared the train tickets to the cost of parking and it was $12. more to park. Hey why not....The boys are out of the "yippie a train stage.." at least on a 90* day they are ...lol ...No s,elly train station. NO JERMS......lol We always go the Dicks Last Resort for nachos and something cold to drink. It is not a place for the faint of heart...lol The wait staff is trained to bug the crap out of eachother as well as the diners...lol It is very fun though......A really old women dining alone just wanted to take a load off and I don't think she knew what she was getting into.......poor thing looked at us and said this place is crazy.......Rachael the waitress said our kids were to quiet and they needed caffine or drugs to make them be monkeys and jump on the walls.....She then said really loud someone at this table farted and lit a match to get the smell away.....SO when she came back I told her it must of been the baby near us...lol she said that we have to accept that it was us and not blame poor inocent babies....lol She was a hoot....Ryan wore the famous paper hat that read I like to eat boogers on my nachos....I got a blue balloon that said when I laugh I pee trickels..and S got I heart fart smells....She left Michael alone I think b/c he is not a joker like that....BUT THEN after we got our food she put a bib on him that said "if I have to wear my diaper then I must wear my bib" Well at that point we were in stiches not only b/c of us but the other tabels around us.....lol It is a hoot going there....We also got Ryans yearly Bearded Papas Cream Puff.....OH they are heavenly.....I had a small taste of the cream and was a very good girl....Stephen got a canolli and it also looked heavenly...I to then only had a small taste of the fillin...I am so proud....Oh and Rachael said she has never seen anyone drink the amount of water that I drink and not run to the bathroom...LOL LOL I had to hav ehad 4 glasses of water and the cups were HUGH........I did get to use the BABW restroom when I dropped by to see my Boston friends....
That was our 90* day in Boston........that trip is out of the way...Still NEED to make it to Hampton Beach...We make a yearly trip there too but mostly after dinner to walk the bordwalk not to beach..but this year I vow to beach...lol Have a great night...S

My have we grow,,,,,,,, the 5 grand kids at our house for Stephens b-day 2 years ago......

Stephen and Ryan in Papa and Nannas house, my have they grown up since then.....snif snif...
The yearly Christmas picture at Uncles house........Selena is the princess with all the princes...

Stephen and Ryan in Papa and Nannas Backyard.....Selena with her favorite uncle on her 3rd b-day...........................

It is easier to Blog in the winter........

I have noticed I am not the only one. lol The posts come every so often. More often than not I am trying to get my e-mail really quick, look at some posts from others and log off fast. I guess it is just not that time of the year to sit on the keyboard. Some points to touch, Hope Jess, Kenny and the bouncy baby Nathan are well; Karen and her family looked great on the mini vacation, Norma is really into her HP this weekend, as should a diehard fan be...Paige is on the move and busy as a bee and Drew, WELL DREW he no longer blogs as well as Mel.....I miss reading btw guys....lol Also Dawn has fallen by the wayside. I hope we don't loose this circle. I really like the "theropy" of it....lol It is free and keeps us busy. As for Big Brother, I am so glad I have my fix for the summer. I long for it and wish that it were all year long. Dick is in power and showing the house he was to not be knocked down....He and his daughter are really smart. It was a tear jerker tonight when she went to her dad and broke down despite their rocky relationship. It hit home b/c not ever having a dad I was so touched at how he handled her. I know she will reach out to him more, I could just tell. I hope Jen goes home....Kail does deserve it but Jen is most annoying. Kail tries to be such a leader but NOT WORKING KAIL.........If ur a fan u go! if not sorry to bother u with my rants........Enjoy ur night and I MISS U ALL>>>>>Hope all is well and stay in touch........Blessings..and Bear Huggin andLuvin....Stephie

It won't stop raining.....

Yesterday I had Ryans 3 friends over because it was just a washout. Stephen went to the indoor skate park in NH with his friend. Ry needed some interaction without lots of cash to be spent....lol We had his friend Christian over, his twin sister and her friend. Funny 2 gals 2 boys. Beccah the friend of the sister and Ryan have been friends since second grade. They both stayed after many times together for speech help. Ryan being born 6 weeks early had not talked early and when he did talk he did not articulate as well as he should of and that lead to not being able to prononce words when reading. Phonetics (sp) ? have alot to do with reading and when you think you are pronouncing it the right way you then don;t spell correctly...So what is my problem lol ........Ryan and Beccah have made great strides since then. They are both now all A students and have basicly no speech problem at all. Funny how back them they could so relate when going through almost the same thing. She is really sporty and not all eww and girly girlish so it is ok to have her as a friend, in his mind...lol The kids were awesome. As side from one time Christian had to tease his twin sister. Hey thats common.......After they decided to watch a movie the Little Raschals.....The new one not from way back in the day, the one with Bug Hall as Alfapha.......I just had to watch in with them it is so funny, a really nice movie....
When Jane dropped the kids off she said yesterday we will be having 4 days of this rain....I was like NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish it would just end. It is so nice when the sun shines. I am sure many of you reading could not agree with me more...SUN RULES< RAIN DRULS.......Stay dry and at least I can look forward to BB tonight, live eviction.........

Back from a day at the Lake,,,,,,

Here is a picture of Lake Ossippi in New Hampshire....We went up on Friday around dinner time after we picked up a very happy camper from CHC. He was happy to see us but we know he would of stayed another week because he LOVES it there. I cooked on Friday and packed an overnight bag then drove the hour and a half or so. What a place, Stephens hockey coach and his family have a beautiful place on the cove inlet of the lake. This "cottage" I mean mansion was so wonderful. The wrap around porch and 4 level beach/yard with dock and boats was breath taking. We went on a boat ride with them to the main lake and then the boys went tubing from the boat....what a trip....Ryan held on for dear life and we were amazed that he was so dearing. Stephen had been there on Memorial Day and experienced all the activites before. It was nice to see Ry light up when he rode the jet ski with his brother ofcourse.....

Their daughter and I swam about 900 yards to a sandbar and both screamed when we saw a snapping turtle. I was called the older version of Nicole b/c I think at times we have diarea of the mouth. We just tell a story so fast and talk uncontrollably together...lol She is a great kid, really mature for her age of 11. You would think she was atleast 4 years older than Ryan but she is 6 months younger. Even to her brother who is 3 years older, you think she is the older one. Great kid. Our time was cut short when we left on Saturday after dinner about 8:30 or so, we got home at 10:10...not too bad. We were to spend all of Sunday there also but my side of the family last minute is having a HS graduation for my little cousin Rachael......Last min. thing and I could not miss it.....we are off to that today and the boys are going early to help my uncle set up and lend some hands......Have a great Sunday......It seems like the days are flying and soon September will be here....NOOOOO Slow down.........Hey a great BIG CONGRADULATIONS TO JESS AND KENNY on their new baby boy......Blessings......

Found this pic from when Stephen was going into 5th grade, day camp not over night.....He is in the middle row
3rd in.....






Counting down the minutes until we drive Stephen to CHC.......Yes it is that time again. It is bitter sweet b/c I know how much he gets out of it and loves it but we miss him so much every year. This will be his fourth year at Christain Hockey Camp. Next year he will start training as a Jr. Counc. and someday donate back his time as a fill fledge one. He enjoys the many things he learns there and comes home more mature in faith and hockey every year. He got 7 boys from his team to go this year. I was thinking of a discount for so many referals but I guess not....lol Tick tock goes the clock and I am holding back the tears. I have been giving extra hugs for him to have for the week. A camping he will go.........

July 5th....IT'S BACK BABY! BB8

Thursday night, it is Season #8...........I took a look at CBS.com and they are kind of ripping off past season 4 with a house guest from the past. It may not be an X factor one, but it is someone from their past that they have unfinished buisness with. There is one married gal 37 and one seperated gal, the rest are unattached. We will see how this one goes. You all may remember last summers dissapointment that the house guests were so called "All Stars" I am so glad to meet new HGs. We now have a DVR from Comcast so I won't have to run home from events over the summer., the family will be happy about that. I encourage your opinons and chats about this season as it plays out. I will be on the BB8 chat boards like last year to chat about this awesome show...I AM THE BIGGEST BB FAN.............Yes I am!

You're a Grand 'ol Flag.......

You're a high flying flag and forver in peace may you wave......
This week being Americas Celebreation of July 4th we must remember how lucky we are to be Americans. Lets give prayers of thanks and protection to all who fight to keep us in the free society that we are in. Most of all that we are safe.....GOD BLESS AMERICA, LAND THAT I LOVE, STAND BESIDE HER AND GUIDE HER.........