Lord...I need help!
After I totally vent about not having time to keep this little blog up to date, don't I go and spend hours updating my new Facebook account!

At least in the process of uploading some photo albums, I did find ONE good picture of the marshmallow lollipops Paul, Meredith and I made for our valentines.


Nothing like a little sugar rush on a stick to let someone know you love them!

Why Can't I Be Like Them...

I have become obsessed with blogging - the only problem is that it isn't my own blogging I have become obsessed with!

I can easily spend hours reading other people's blogs - and they can be about anything - decorating, crafting, living frugally, cooking, motherhood...you name it, I'll read it - I can't wait to go through my Favorites list and see what each of my new 'friends' are sharing today. I laugh at their jokes, read their tips, make mental notes of the crafts and recipes I must try...

And yet, here my little blog sits, lonely, asking where it's love is...I don't mean to make it feel deserted...For every banner I've assembled, each new menu I've prepared, and every stinkin' thing I've spray painted (Thanks to blogging, I've seen the light, and am now completely hooked on spray painting anything and everything)my intention to was take a picture and write a little synopsis, just like all the other lovely ladies do...But for some reasons the pictures and words never came...

Oh, how I've enjoyed looking around my house and seeing all the changes these fine blogs have spurred in me and my home! Oh, how jealous I am that these folks are able to all the things they have taught me and actually blog about it too!

I want to take part in Tablescape Thursday and Works for Me Wednesday!

I want to add a comment and link to the adorable Amore banner I made for Valentine's Day!
(but alas, its now packed away until next year)

I want to share that I only spent $7.38 out of pocket at Shaw's last week but came home with $42 worth of groceries!

So here and now, I pledge that I will not:

1) Pack away another cute holiday decoration I made...

2) Rave to only my family how awesome that recipe for Teriyaki Tenderloin was...

3) Send chocolate dipped marshmallow lollipops or ice cream cone cupcakes into school for a child's class celebration...

4) Walk out of Shaws after saving 80% on my receipt only to toss it into the trash when I get home...

5) Spray paint another frame, paint another chalkboard, or use scrapbooking paper in some unique way...

Without giving credit where credit is due, and sharing the fruits of THEIR labor (and amazing talents) with everyone else!

Wish me luck! I'll need it!

P.S. For those that might be interested, I've added a Blog List of some of my new Favorite Blogs!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Meredith & I set the table


Appetizers to tide the troops over until dinnertime


The family settles in to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner

Have Stove, Will Bake...

We typically go to my sister's house for a big, family Thanksgiving dinner. About 5 years ago my husband convinced me to give dinner a try at home, with just the immediate family. Well, the WHOLE family ended up with a horrible throwing up bug, so the turkey never even got into the oven and I swore that Thanksgiving would be at my sister's from there on out.

So, here we are. I gave into Michael again this year, and agreed to once again attempt Thanksgiving at the Bilbo's.

So, wouldn't you know it? A week and a half before Thanksgiving, my oven decides to die. Don't know what the heck happened, Meredith & I were making cookies, and when after waiting the 12 minutes for them to cook, I peeked into the oven and they were still cookie dough. Because the oven was 17 years old, we decided it wasn't worth having someone come to look at it - we'd invest in a new one instead.

After shopping around, I found the exact stove I wanted and proceeded to find out that it was not in stock in any local stores, so we'd have to order it online. Not a problem, still plenty of time to get it delivered...or so I thought. We ended up with a delivery date of the day before Thanksgiving - cutting it mighty close, but I can do it!

So, my stove gets delivered at 11am on the day before Thanksgiving. I go to the store to get the connector hose needed to install it (forgot to order it when I bought the stove), then anxiously await Michael's arrival home from work. Number 1 on the Honey Do list is the stove, so he gets to work immediately. After about 20 minutes of prep, he realizes the connector hose is too short - so back to the store we go only to find out that by Massachusetts law they are unable to sell any longer hoses. Ducky! Less than 24 hours before Thanksgiving and I still haven't starting cooking a thing!

So, at about 5pm Michael and Paul end up getting into the truck for a road trip to New Hampshire to buy a longer hose. Thank goodness for 'lawless' NH! :)

We finally got the stove installed and working at about 7:30 pm and the girls and I started a mad baking session! Woo hoo! Thanksgiving dinner here we come!

P.S. We're now going to have to switch the whole kitchen over to Stainless! I love it!!

All is Right with the World

I RECOMMEND READING YESTERDAY'S ENTRY BEFORE YOU READ THIS ONE - JUST SO IT WILL MAKE SENSE!

I arrived home last night, and had barely gotten through the door when I was greeted by my baby jumping into my arms and layering me with kisses! Seems like someone else was also bothered by the morning's episode. :)

Paul & I agreed that from now on, I'd get my goodbye kiss as we were leaving the house rather than once we get to school.

But...with the usual morning rush, we forgot our new ritual on Day 1. We were half way to school, waiting for the light to turn green so I could enter the schoolyard, when I remembered.

"Hurry and kiss me goodbye Paul, before anyone sees."

He obliged.

"Were you or your friends making fun of someone that gave their Mom a kiss, and that's why you don't want them to see you?"

"Nope."

"Then why don't you want them to see you kissing me?"

"Don't you watch movies, Mom? Kids make fun of their friends all the time for it!"

I guess he's just trying to avoid the situation before it even becomes one! I can deal with that - As long as I still get my kisses.

No More Kisses?!

I am distraught...

I dropped the little ones at school this morning, just as I do everyday. I pulled up to the beginning of the driveway where the kids line up by class to enter to school together. Paul and Meredith both jumped from their seats and gave me my usual kiss goodbye...Meredith opened the door and hopped from the car, but Paul had a moment and rushed to the back of the van, hiding himself...I wasn't sure what was wrong, but he stuck his head out from behind the seat, and I could tell he was crying - "Mom are the front windows see through?!", he asked...it took me a minute, but I came to realize he was horrified that he had been seen kissing me goodbye by some of his friends!

No matter what I said, he couldn't be consoled. And I need consoling too! The mere thought of my baby not kissing me anymore is very hard to swallow. After a few minutes, he decided to sneak out the opposite door and run around the crowd to avoid those that may have witnessed his 'dirty deed'. And I drove away from the school, my heart melting for my growing boy.

I only hope that tomorrow morning all is forgotten and I get another kiss...But just in case, I think I'll ask for a few extra at bedtime tonight.

Moving On...

Abby's Pop Warner Cheering career is over. They didn't place at the New England Regional Competition this past weekend and she'll be trying out for High School squad in the spring. I don't really know whether to be thankful or not. I was not too fond of the idea of going to Disney two weeks before Christmas, but I gotta say, this team REALLY deserved to make it.

They definitely brought it to the mat at competition - in fact they scored the highest scores they'd gotten all season. Not too shabby considering they had already won 1st place to be Middlesex League Champs (hence the trophy in the picture above). Unfortunately, however, they got a huge deduction for a 'questionable' move in their routine (which they had been doing most of the season without comment). Seems a judge didn't feel their hands touched the mat before their legs did (in cheering terms: a knee drop) which is a no-no in Pop Warner. We're not really sure where they would have placed if not for the deduction, but I'm confident it would have been right up there.

After coaching many of these girls for 6 years, it's hard to say good-bye, but it's been an amazing experience watching them grow as a team and individually, and they should all be proud of everything they have accomplished. They are the winningest team in the current Stoneham Pop Warner program. Great Job girls! Time to move on to the bigger and better things that await you! Can't wait to see you at the High School games!