Simpleness

1. Untitled, 2. The best wishes in 2008 for you !, 3. Christmas Love, 4. cranberry sauce, 5. Who needs orange?, 6. plate wall

Things I'm finding simple and pretty this morning...

Can't believe it is almost 2008. I managed to get our tree (and all the holiday stuff) down yesterday. John still needs to tackle the outside; but inside things are feeling much more manageable. I love January. I am not much of a New Years resolution kind of girl, but I do set goals and plan for the year. I usually try and set a budget and have financial goals for the year. Plus I think about what I want to get accomplished ~ this includes in my home, hobbies, maybe books I want to read, vacations or places I want go with family. Sometimes I write these down, sometimes they are just a constant running dialog in my head. I'm mulling all of this over in my head right now...as soon as they are a bit more clear, I promise to share.

Looking forward to snow this afternoon and evening...so very...January.

Now comes the real fun

So half the fun of Christmas really comes after all the presents are opened. This is when you PLAY with the treasures that you have asked for, written letters to Santa about, dreamed about and saw on TV. This is the time to line them up just to look at them, or I always loved to make my "pile" under the tree ~ I still do this and I still love perusing over my gifts just like my children. The past few nights I have curled up in bed with my new blanket and pillow cases (sheets are on back order) and salivated over a few new books that were under the tree for me. I put on my new chapstick and nighty, pour myself a hot cup of tea that I brewed in my new teapot and drink out of my new mug. I swear it is just as good as a brand new viewfinder from National Geographic (thank you Aunt Lynne).

As I type, Duncan has just whipped me up a burger with lettuce, tomato and cheese on a croissant with a hot cup of tea. He made the burger in his new kitchen and the tea was warmed in his new microwave. His is mixing something in his new mixer, it's either fried chicken or pasta (I'm not sure), but he is complete with hot glove and all. Above is Coop's new Jungle that his trains pull up to and his space shuttle lands on...oh the wonderful world of make believe.

Very happy it is the weekend again...this place is a disaster and well, most of you know this irritates the Virgo right out of me. I think the tree is coming down tomorrow...I feel a bit guilty for not leaving it up through the new year, but the way I see it...I DID put it up Dec 1st!! (or was it the 2nd?) I just need to clean up and reorganize ~ that is what I love about January, it's such a great time to start new...not to mention I have a birthday party to throw in 3 weeks!! And I have to move my entire office in 4 weeks.

AND I need to get back to pictures, blogging, scrapping for my kids, cooking dinner again and snuggling with my boys (all three of them).

Merry Christmas

Okay, so it was definitely time to get poor Johnny off the front page... Time to blog has been pretty much non existent around here, but hopefully with the holidays over things will start getting back to normal. Not helping matters was the fact that I used up ALL the space on my laptop's hard drive...apparently 80% of it was pictures...go figure. But this was slowing things down terribly. Remember I told you I got a new scanner? Well, I couldn't install the scanner until I made more space, so I had to delete a bunch of photos... Then came my new iPod for Christmas...again, I couldn't install iTunes because...yup, no space...back to deleting more photos. And then every time I went to download new pictures to put on the blog, well, you know the story by now... It's like John is always saying to me... "I need to clean out the garage before I can put something in the attic". But more hard drive is on it's way and should be here tomorrow; until then I think I have deleted enough photos to at least run things! And it's really okay because a serious clean out was in need anyway. So I hope you all had a lovely holiday, we certainly did. Quite expected the boys were in total bliss ~ it was sheer magic for them, as it should be. As for me (and John), sitting back and watching was the best gift. I managed, by the hair on my chin (that doesn't really exist) to get my homemade gifts done in time...whew! We had our annual get together on Christmas Eve with tons of good food, lots of champagne, and best of all great friends and family.

Here are a couple photos of Christmas day...

Just getting started...the boys really were a total blur.

Winding down...Dunc on the Trumpet...

The boys with Ma Jane.

That's it for now...promise to not take such a long break.

Shoe box finds

No no, you're not accidentally on the Playgirl website! I'm still going through old pictures...and falling over laughing. WHO IS THIS?? Okay, I'll stop now...my family is going to disown me. Unless I find a particularly ugly or funny one of myself - it may be my only redemption! On to other things...ONE WEEK...AAAHHHH. And too late for standard shipping now...if it ain't in Williamsport, then there are extra shipping charges involved...THIS is what 7 days left means in my house. And wouldn't you know, Duncan, who this entire Holiday season has asked for NOTHING but "Jack" (a Thomas the Train Front Loader), now decides there is actually more that he wants...so I am feverishly trying to search down his requests...sigh. I know, you've all been there - well those of you with children anyway. My Aunt Carla tells me stories of having to get "THE" gift each year and begging the sales lady to sell her the display model...and I clearly remember my sister tracking down those "must have" Christmas wishes (and she's Jewish!!!!). Just goes to show what we do for our children! But can you believe, even with all this craziness, I am SO excited for Christmas morning. I truly think I will be up before the boys in eager anticipation. Giving really is SO much better than receiving :)

1992?

I got my new scanner hooked up and been playing with it...check it out...old picture of my brother and me...I LOVE IT! By the way...my brother doesn't really look like this...check out my real brother here.

Busy weekend

I guess I sort of fell off the blog wagon there for a bit... But in catching up with all the blogs I read, I see I'm not the only one:) Even the blogs I read that seem to religiously post every day, have fallen short lately. It's just that time of year...no getting around it. Things have certainly been busy here that is for sure. Nine days and counting. John and I went Christmas shopping Friday night and before we knew it five hours had passed! I'm making cookies today along with a big batch of pork & sauerkraut. I'm still working away on gifts - grabbing a free minute here and there. We watched Bourne Ultimatum last night while working on our presents - I was scrapping, John was wittling (is that a word?). John is still fighting with the outdoor lights...there are sections not working and then he had to buy new, but they don't match the old so it's a never ending battle. Today the boys were going a bit stir crazy inside so we bundled them up and John took them outside to work off some energy and here is what they did...

Duncan's snowman...bigger than he is...with tissue paper hair (hhmmm..how long do you think that will last?)

Cooper's snowman...just putting on a few last finishing touches...

I am SO loving the hair... Cooper imitating his snowman...

And it worked - they are currently sleeping like logs. But I must get back to work...I have wrapping, gift making, picture printing, more baking, cleaning, laundry, some shopping and well, you get the picture.

Holiday projects

My poor printer is smoking...I had off today and I am trying to feverishly complete a bunch of holiday projects. I question my sanity at times like this, but at least I'm having a good time! I figure, worst case...some of you may get New Years gifts from me :-)

Festival of Lights

Hanukkah ~ it's all about the lights (and jelly donuts apparently), and Saturday night, my sister stayed true to tradition and had both. We spent a lovely evening stuffing ourselves on potato latkes, lamb chops, black eyed peas and JELLY DONUTS - yum. Sam lit the candles, the boys loved opening their first presents of the year (John Deere and Thomas the Train-I know, you're so surprised), Kate and I spent the night taking pictures, Dad watched football and all was well.

Good Yantif ~ from a diversified family.

Favorite III and IV

Mine -basic, simple and red.

John's - he says it reminds him of a shield... Because John is such the Viking huu?

My oh my

Momma got her hair done...with BANGS! I think it's been 10+ years since I have had bangs...apparently they are back in style ~ who knew?

Favorite II

Come on...tell me you're surprised? Cooper's pick...Thomas and a car of presents. It is somewhat tough to hang though, he requires two hooks (which in our house are actually just paper clips), and I can't seem to get him to hang even? Runner up for Coop would also be the John Deere... Tonight was particularly special because we forgot to open the advent calendar last night which means double the chocolate tonight. Of course the chocolate was really just the bribery for sitting in front of the tree for a photo...and do you know, I took 68 freaking pictures and got not ONE good one?! I give up.

Favorites I

We have a few favorites this year... I'd thought I'd share one a day. This would be Duncan's...no surprise here. He can not seem to understand why it must stay on the tree though. Please remind me to buy stock in John Deere...he has GOT to be one really rich man.

O Christmas Tree

Yesterday we were off to the tree farm to cut down our tree the old fashion way... Tonight my sister, niece and nephew came over for dinner and decorating. I realize it is only the 2nd of December but I am just about as excited as Coop and Dunc so I am looking forward to enjoying the tree all month long.

Picture this...hot sausage sandwiches, rocking Christmas music, TONS of giggles and squeals, a homemade apple pie and a family full of spirit ~ fun fun fun ~ thanks guys!

A time to be thankful

Okay, time to catch up a little...

Here are some (week old) Thanksgiving highlights.

Pop Pop and Duncan

A fence for the cow so he won't get out...

(isn't it obvious?)

And at our house, no one takes a bite until we go around the table and say what we are thankful for. I love hearing every one's thoughts each year, it is a wonderful reflection of who we all are and where we are in our lives - how our thanks change and how they stay the same. Every year I think I should write them down and start a journal of sorts documenting our thankfulness's over the years - I would love to pass those thoughts on to my children. This year my good friend Richard who normally always has a seat at our table, ended up spending the holiday with his own family (I know - THE NERVE!). However he did email me what he was thankful for this year and I just felt the need to share... A brief story: On a warm Sunday in July, I received a series of phone calls from Andria, while she and John were on the road home from a week at the beach. The calls revolved around how she and John had managed to get on the north east extension of the PA turnpike—without getting a toll ticket. They managed to get the lack of ticket problem resolved, with absolutely no help from me—although it took four phone calls to establish there was nothing I could do. However, in the final call, Andria mentions that she and John—ok, John—will be painting their living room on Monday, in preparation for Andria’s monthly book club meeting—at their home—on Tuesday. Now…most people would budget a little more time than 24 hours to paint, but not these two. And Andria encouraged me to stop by to lend a hand Tuesday afternoon to put things back together. Tuesday afternoon I went over, just to see what help I could offer. With 4 hours to book club, most other couples might have been panicking. What I saw was a couple, working together to put up new drapes and centering new framed prints. I was charged with dusting. Damn, there was a lot of dust. I moved through the dining room, dusting and moving and dusting everything in sight. As I reached what I would describe as a china cabinet, I dutifully removed some Anne Myers pottery that was sitting on top of the china cabinet, and dusted each item. Inside one bowl, I found a baseball. Big surprise, right? But this baseball was different. It seemed to have been painted, or shellacked. And it had either the word “love” painted on it, or a heart, or both. I can’t remember now. But it seemed so…appropriate. A couple, working together, no anger, no panic, putting their freshly painted room back together, and while they debated the placement of pictures, a little baseball pulled it all together, for me. I carefully put the baseball back in the bowl. I did not mention it to Andria or John, until now. I am grateful for that memory: my friends, happy and working together. And a baseball that says it all. Happy Thanksgiving. Among other things...I think this guy needs to start a blog, don't you? Happy late Thanksgiving everyone, hope it was filled with all things good.

Team effort

Two amazing helpers, 1 pumpkin pie, 1 apple pie,

some totally cool cupcakes, a sweet potato casserole

and some very festive holiday cheer.

And off to Grandmother's house we go...

Perspective

Anal Retentive

Perfection

Airplane

C'mon, admit it...you've all done it...and it's totally fun!

Sheer joy. (and nobody puked...always a good thing)

Love love

love cranberries... Love that it's that time of year. Love that Thanksgiving is this Thursday...love the cooking, love the parade, love the family, the sharing, the being thankful, love the champagne. Love that Christmas and Hanukkah come next...

Comments

I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for their comments on this blog. Some of you actually comment here on the blog, some of you send me emails commenting and some of you just tell me in person. The method doesn't matter, but the kind words do. When I started this blog I never even thought about the comments section, I just enjoyed writing, taking pictures and somehow trying to merge the two. But then slowly the comments started rolling in...and I love it. Your comments are like lovely little morsels that taste good on my heart. I started thinking about this and realized it's a perfect example of the Giving post that I just did on Tuesday. I realize that it feels really good for me to give/share kind words or pictures of my family, and when you comment, the giving goes full circle. I find something I like and I share it, which makes me feel good... then you comment, which makes me feel good... which makes me want post more... Instead of paying it forward, we are kind of paying it round and round. There are times when I thought that maybe blogs were just another step in disconnecting us. Do we read a blog instead of picking up the phone? Are we communicating through blogs so we don't have to do it in person? With a little thought though, I think it is actually quite the opposite. One of the things I found most interesting as my blog progressed was that many of my readers are right here in town. Take my mother, my sister, my aunt, my friends or even my coworkers that literally spend all day 5 days a week with me... I think they read to stay connected, they read to get what we don't have time to say and they read (and comment) to communicate. I know that's one of the reasons why I read the blogs that I do. I read because I am interested in the life of my brother, my sister and my friends and I want to know how they are and what they are up to. I don't have the time to pick up the phone everyday and call each and every person, but I do have time to check the blogs, get updated and stay connected. So tonight I say; thank you for comments, for staying connected to me and my family. Thanks for technology. Thank you to those of you next door, and thank you to those of you in other states and countries. Thank you for your love, thank you for reading. You make me smile. All of you.

Light

If you listen,

Not to the pages or preachers

But to the smallest flower

Growing from a crack

In your heart,

You will hear a great song

Moving across a wide ocean

Whose water is the music

Connecting all the islands

Of the universe together,

And touching all

You will feel it

Touching you

Around you...

Embracing you

With light.

John Squadra

From his book 'This Ecstasy'

Giving

Last week I had Comfort Keepers quarterly meeting in my office. I always try and make them as "fun" as possible, I mean, you can't really expect 50 caregivers to sit for three hours and listen to training videos on incontinence and walk away loving their job. So my goal is to send them off for another 3 months feeling good, enjoying their job, being re energized and having goals. Every one of my meetings have a "theme". I have done Healthy Living, Setting Goals, Getting Organized and so on. So with Thanksgiving and the holiday season right around the corner, this quarter I chose Giving. I did my research and as always, came away really inspired by my choice. Without boring you with my hour long speech, the short of it was basically "giving helps us live longer, healthier and happier lives". The evidence and studies are extensive. Did you know that volunteering for 2 or more organizations reduces likelihood of death by 44%? More than exercising 4 times a week (which was like 36%) and much more. The only thing that reduces likelihood of dying more was (not surprising), quiting smoking (49%). Volunteering reduced blood pressure, improved insomnia, hastened healing time and much more. The benefits seems endless.

I'm not writing this because I found it surprising, but rather just as a reminder. In doing my research I found out that about a year ago Oprah announced to everyone in her audience that they would each go home with $1000...but there was a catch, they had to give it away (to someone other than a family member). Oprah said that she wanted everyone to feel how good it felt to give. Apparently the reaction that occurs in our brain when we receive money (which acts like dopamine) happens with even more intensity when we give it away.

I like to think that what my caregivers do everyday is volunteerism in its own way. They may get paid for it, but the action is the same, and according to them, so is the reward. To end my talk on Giving, I gave away 4 copies of the book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein...which I believe everyone should have on their bookshelf.

Just food for thought on this Tuesday evening...

Oh, and one more thing parents...volunteering, even if forced, increases both grades and SAT scores :-)

Bunch of stuff

1. Mushroom Light, 2. Great Wheel Apocalypto - The Last Ride, 3. Light and Steel, 4. Old Florida, 5. crema, 6. tonight, 7. Untitled, 8. Untitled, 9. everday living as art 2, 10. log cabin closeup, 11. rise above the sunrise, 12. Bagan - flower & red, 13. Untitled, 14. Untitled, 15. cottage toy, 16. christmas tree bokeh

Finally back after a week from...hell...am I aloud to say that in a blog? So I needed to do something creative...another Mosiac Monday... Last week was exausting, stressful, a blur and well, I'm just very glad it's over. I was SO glad when Friday rolled around -and I had a lovely weekend. My sister, niece and nephew came Saturday for dinner...very nice. Especially nice for Coop and Dunc who just adore their older cousins. Here is Coop curled up with Sam...heaven.

Another new step this weekend...Coop figured out the computer... Part of it might have been that I finally bought him a tiny mouse that fits in his little hand, but really I think the time was just finally right, he had the interest and I had the time. We went to PBSkids.org to play some free games. His first pick was Curious George. He was clicking and dragging in no time at all! I was totally impressed. The computer was such a hit that tonight while I was playing around on Flikr, Coop crawled up in my lap and wanted to search for sharks...so while I went up to make dinner, Coop browsed hundreds of shark pictures...he was loving it...he kept hollaring up "mom, come look at THIS one". He clicks with his thumb, it's pretty cute. And last but definately not least...a couple birthdays... My dear friend Richard this past Friday. And my wonderful sister today. May you have many many more.

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you.

Crazy

Need more hours in the day...need more hours in the day...need more hours in the day...

Our life

John asked why in the world I would take this picture. It's simple, this is my space, this is tonight, but it is also many other nights. It is me and my life...it is our life. There is so much in this picture about who I am right now and who we are right now as a family. I sat here looking around thinking how much what I was looking at really defined us. My computer (essential), a pair of Smart Wool socks (also essential), a front loader tractor (of which our home has numerous), a diaper, John's Survival Handbook (light reading), John's new reading glasses (he is actually pretty cute in them), a Thomas the Train video, a container of chipboard hearts for scrapbooking, a glass of Pinot Grigio, my mason jar of pens and markers and a leather file holder with various magazines and such. It's messy and that's okay. This is my life...and I love it.

Weekend

Just kicking back this weekend... Pot of soup, bread, pj's till 10, sticky buns for breakfast. No where to go...just putzing around the house. Watching movies, lighting candles...aaahhh. You just need these weekends sometimes.

Boo

Happy Halloween everyone.

And the answer is.....

The cutest Great White Shark you ever saw,

and a smiling crocodile too!

The favorite candy of the night was; lolly pops for Duncan and Starburst for Coop. Not interested in chocolate at all (I think maybe it's the age?). And because Coop has been singing it ALL day and it's stuck in my head...I thought I would share...

They're creepy and they're kooky,

Mysterious and spooky,

They're all together ooky,

you know the rest...

Sneak peak

They have never had ANY interest in dressing up for Halloween. As far as they were concerned, handing out candy to all the fairies and goblins was much more fun than dressing up as one. Well, yesterday, 2 days before Halloween, don't they decide that they want to dress up after all... So off to K-Mart we go (me thinking there isn't a chance in you know what that there is going to be 1.)anything left 2.)anything in their size), but low and behold, what do we find...but their FIRST pick Halloween costumes!! What are the chances?? Apparently my children want to be really unpopular costumes but hey, they were 50% off so I really don't care. Can you guess? Stay tuned... On another note... Yep, blog looks a little different. I FINALLY tackled the header picture. Something I have been wanting to do for a long time. It was SO easy, once I figured it out. I'm not sure about keeping the A degrees... I kind of wanted to keep it but maybe change how it lookes in the picture. Problem is I can't make the "degrees" symbol on my laptop. It requires either the number pad which is on a regular keyboard or a reconfiguration of my computer...and well, just the word reconfiguration scares the crap out of me. But hey, I figured out the header right? Well keep touching back, watch my progress, thanks for bearing with me during my trial and error period! Happy Halloween Eve all...

Monday Mosaic

1. On the 1st of November, 2. zebra water, 3. around the circle, 4. llibreria, 5. Taking a Stand, 6. Awake, 7. cold rain, 8. Abandoned, 9. I c y *, 10. liquid petals, 11. She Loves Me, 12. row, 13. RGB - Barcelona, 14. Lanterns, 15. M o r p h o *, 16. Celebration

I have been playing around on flickr - dangerous - at least for me, I can get lost for hours. I'm just learning about making these mosaics so it's not perfect...but still totally cool I think.

Be Who You Must Be

A poem by Diarmuid Cronin I don’t know where you are on your path I have never stood in your shoes I see not with your eyes I know not what your purpose is here In this stage of your evolution But I feel blessed to know you As you are not in my life by chance And you are my teacher As I hope you learn from me I pray I show reverence to you I pray not to judge you I wish to let you be Who you are Who you dream of being I will just be beside you And watch you grow And the day will come for sure When we will know why Our paths crossed this way And until then my friend Be who you must be

Dunc

He fights to not be in Cooper's shadow,

yet look where he loves to be...

Peace and Joy - A work in progress

Yep, it's blurry. But it's also so incredibly rare lately...so I kept it. I don't know if it's their age, the fact that they are brothers, or, I don't know, maybe our parenting sucks, or they aren't disciplined enough, or hey, maybe they are disciplined too much, or maybe they eat too many vegetables, who knows...but what I do know is this; they are most generally found fighting, yelling, chasing, hitting, biting or basically pummeling each other if in fact I am stupid enough to leave them in the same room alone together for longer than 60 seconds. Please mom tell me this is a phase just like teething and potty training...

Peace and war begin at home. If we truly want peace in the world, let us begin by loving one another in our own families. If we want to spread joy, we need for every family to have joy. ~Mother Teresa

I'm working on it Mother Teresa, I'm working on it...

Remember

There is nothing stronger in the world than gentleness. ~Han Suyin

Absolutely breathtaking

It's the smell that I loved the most. What a gorgeous day. 76 degrees, peak color...it was a crime to stay home today. Rails to Trails was today's destination - 57 miles of an old railroad bed that has been converted to a biking/walking/hiking/running trail. We biked all of 5 miles (2.5 up and 2.5 back). John had the seat on the back of his bike and I had the caboose on mine. Our dear friend Richard got to go solo.

After our glorious bike ride, we were off to Little Pine State Park where the boys played at the beach and waded in the water (even though the sign clearly said not to).

And the best part of the day? The photo above. Aahh, life is good. Hope all of you had great weekends too.

For the first time

I woke up this morning and heard two little boys talking and playing in the next room. After about a 1/2 hour of playing they came and told me they were going downstairs... I laid in bed thinking we have reached a new stage...the one where they get up on their own. I came downstairs a little later and found the picture above. Hey, at least they weren't eating ice cream.