House Guest

We had a house guest


This Praying Mantis was out side the door on the porch for 2 days. I was going outside to hang the clothes and I almost stepped on it because it was now inside the house. I used a yard stick to pick it up and relocate it to my plants that I got for mother's day(Outside). There it stayed for many days. It got real windy one day and my plants jumped off the railing, trying to commit suicide or homicide? I found the praying mantis. It was still alive and well so I moved it across the yard to the hedges. As I was goin

fans of figures

Jeff and Trinity looking at his Star Wars figure collection. I am surprised how many people she can name. She played the LEGO Star Wars game and it helped to boost her knowledge. Her Father's Daughter. Today she asked if she could dust them because "Padmae doesn't like dusty hair." These are for looking at only. I call them toys, Jeff calls them collectibles.

4 generations

We went to Jeff's Grandmother's for her birthday. I won't say what age because Ms.Manners says not to. Here are the 4 generations.
Top row: Jeff and Linda
Middle: Shayla, Riana, Sophie
Bottom: Trinity

Bobbing in July

I guess Shayla wanted to practice for fall. She wanted to bob for apples. Maybe because she didn't have any loose teeth or because her front teeth have grown in enough. She got one!

Potty Training

These are pictures still from July:

Here is Riana learning to use the potty.

BFF's together again

Shayla had a best friend in school since Kindergarten.
At the end of 1st grade Shayla came home in tears to tell me that Kaylee was moving to California.
Months later, out of the blue, we get a phone call from Kaylee. Come to find out she isn't in CA but still here in CT only 20 minutes away in Stratford! They talked occasionally on the phone for a few minutes every few months.
This summer her mother and I talked and set up a play date. It was a surprise for both of them. Shayla didn't recognize her at first and was very shy in the beginning. The kids started to play and best friends were returned. Kaylee had bought Shayla an ankle bracket that had the broken hearts with "best friends" written on it. Kaylee lost her half at the end of the play date. Her mom said they would find something better.
Trinity wanted to be part of the "best friends" but hopefully she will make her own this year in Kindergarten. Kaylee did bring her younger brother to play but he was a boy and not readily excepted. Kaylee and Shayla would need some time by themselves to catch up and re-bond. (That would happen at a sleepover on a later date.)

Trinity, Shayla, Kaylee
I really like this one. I had to crop Trin out but she doesn't know.

Playdate for Girls

All the little Irish Girls
We tried to get everyone together from the mom's group but summer was just too busy. We were able to get together with Siobhan and her 2 girls at the playground one afternoon. As it turns out they were only girls. No boys. Girl Power!!Trinity, Morgan, McKenna, Shayla, Riana
Myself, Siobhan and Morgan.

My little performers

The kids invited us to watch a "show" that they were putting on in the back yard. No scripts. It was mostly dancing. But we loved it. Uncle Jimmy had gotten a written invitation in his mail box. As it was time for the show, The thunder clouds started to roll in. But they had fun and finished before the rain got here. I do turn the camera durning the show. sorry.

80 times 2

Red White & Blue...

To get everyone ready for The 4th of July I decided to paint nails. I got Red, White, and Blue nail polish from Walmart to do our nails. So 4 people, 10 toes each, 10 fingers each and 2 coats of paint. I was busy but what a fun result we got.

I read, you read

A few months ago I started reading as a hobby. I look in my weekly People magazine at the book reviews. I don't go by how many stars but by what the book is about. I have found many different types of books on many different topics. The library has made it very easy for us busy or lazy people. I look up the book on line and click for it to be pulled or brought from a different library. Then they call me and I pick it up at the front desk. How great is that?! I also feel that the kids seeing me read for pleasure will encourage them to do the same. Shayla like to see how many pages are in my book and watch as the bookmark moves quickly through the pages. I am including a list of the books that I have read in case anyone else has also read them, that we can discuss them.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Stormy Weather by Paulette Jiles
Disquiet by Julia Leigh
Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wrobiewski
Sing Them Home by Stephanie Kallos
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by C.J.Box
Bad Mother by Ayelet Waldman
Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult
The Things We Do For Love by Kristin Hannah
Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah
True Colors by Kristin Hannah
Multiple Blessings by Kate Gosselin
Courting Trouble by ?
Mistaken Identity by VanRyn and Creak
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Crazy Love by Leslie Morgan Steiner
The Girls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow (reading now)

Happy Reading!! :-)

Short For The Summer

It was hair cut time in our house. I went to my hairdresser and got a new do. When I got home, Trin told me," You look like someone we don't know." I guess she is so used to the same look all the time. I of course can't get it just like the hairdresser did it but I like it all the same.
Today I brought the kids to "Aunt Cindy's" for haircuts. Shayla wanted short like mommy, Trin wanted a quarter of an inch off only and her bangs cut. Then she changed her mind.
Riana is 2 1/2 and hasn't had a haircut yet. With all her curls, she doesn't need one.
Here are the results:

selling my legs to science

sun less tanning
I occasionally participate in studies for a local company. This one was for sunless tanning lotion. I went for a week, every morning and they measured the color. Next they put the product on 8 squares on my legs (4 on each). I sat and let it dry for a few minutes. So I was there for about 20 minutes. In which I brought my book and read.
The following week I went every morning just for them to measure the color so I was out of there in about 10 minutes.
It wasn't all that great walking around with these square looking things on my legs. Thankfully it hasn't been all that warm so I didn't need to worry about the "no suntanning" rule. Now I am done and it is barely noticeable. I will be watching my mail for my check of $230!

Babysitting

I was more than willing to help out my friend, Becky, with babysitting. Her 4 year old daughter, Janelle, had a dance recital so we got to watch 6 day old, Ariana. I was there the day she was born and now I looking forward to having a little in the house for a few hours. She was very easy to take care of. She only stayed awake for an hour and a half. The kids each wanted to hold her for a picture.

Shayla wanted to keep her.
Trinity didn't want to let anyone else hold her.Riana loves that her name is almost the same as Ariana. She keeps saying,"She like me!" Miss Riana didn't want any help holding her this time.

Then we got to give her back. It was fun for all of us.

Playing Hookie

Yes I let my kids skip school yesterday. Were they sick? No! But it was my mom's last day here so we kept them home. For lunch time we went to Chuck-E-Cheese. This is a big treat for them because we only go about once a year. They had a blast. Riana caught on to the whole ticket and token thing real quick. After 2 1/2 hours it was time to go home. They each got several little prizes and a blue cotton candy to share. Riana doesn't like Cotton Candy. ..not yet. We loved our special afternoon.




After that fun day, Grandma came up to play with the 3 girls before bed. She brought some magic popcorn. They had never seen popcorn made this way. It was the old style that you pop on the stove. They were fascinated by how big the top got and wanted to see it explode. No explosions but they ate the popcorn anyway.
After that fun day, Grandma came up to play with the 3 girls before bed. She brought some magic popcorn. They had never seen popcorn made this way. It was the old style that you pop on the stove. They were fascinated by how big the top got and wanted to see it explode. No explosions but they ate the popcorn anyway.

Shayla's First Communion

May 2nd
Shayla was very excited for her 1st Communion. Any time she spoke to someone she would ask them if they were coming to her communion. There were 71 kids split between 2 time slots. I picked the 12:00 knowing it would take awhile to get everyone ready. Here she is in the basement of the church waiting to go upstairs. She wasn't nervous about reading a part of the prayer in front of a packed church.

After mass we all went to her favorite place to eat... the Chinese Buffet. This was Dawn's idea. A brilliant one at that. I thought this would be better than having it outside at home. Then I would have less to worry about, like the weather(which was rainy), how much food to get, who to invite and who to leave off the list. So we had a family party at the restaurant. I had them reserve a section for us so we had a whole area to ourselves.
Those who attended were: Shayla, Me, Jeff, Trin, Riana, Jeff's mom Linda, My mom Sue(from Minnesota), My Grandparents (from Vermont), Uncle Jimmy and Rita, Bobby, Dawn(from New Jersey), and Tara.
Here she is after the party. She even kept her dress clean!
I am sure this is a glimpse at her future as a bride.
God Bless Shayla.

Earth Day

For Earth Day, Shayla had asked if we could clean up the parking lot a block away from our house. We visit this empty parking lot often in the summer to ride bikes. Also there is a permanent puddle that has formed. In the puddle we collect tadpoles. So I agreed. Wednesday it had rained so we went on Thursday, April 24.
I used a very large trash bag and we filled it. The bottles and cans we found I left in a pile for the guy who comes around each week and collects them out of recycle bins. I was surprised to find that 3 cans still had beer in them. Even though we could have filled 2 more bags full I feel we made a little difference in making the Earth cleaner. Good idea Shay!
My mom was here so she helped out too.

painting the kitchen

I finally decided to paint the kitchen. Jeff had started a year ago but after the paint had spilled onto the floor, he lost modivation. So now it was my turn. Everyone knows if I can do it myself I will. I also thought it would be a great time to turn the outlets right side up. So the kitchen before was light pink on top and white on the bottom. I had redid the white years ago. Now I wanted something different. I picked White on top and "Airy Mint" on the bottom half. I am so happy with the way it came out. Of course the kids wanted to help.
Here is Trinity "helping."

Riana couldn't be left out:

This is my biggest helper. She was doing the lines of the panelling. Then I went over all of it with the roller. That is why it took so long, because of the panelling.

DONE

Easter Fun

The girls had so much fun dying the Easter eggs. Well not Riana. That would be a nightmare. She did watch for alittle while. We did over a dozen so we could bring them to Easter Dinner. My sister Dawn came up from New Jersey. She cooked at my Aunt Christine's house.



Let's back up a moment and say the Easter Bunny didn't come to our house until after 2 am. Shayla woke up with a sore throat around 1 and had trouble going back to sleep.
The kids got up and checked out their baskets. Then I gave them breakfast.


Checking out the loot. They didn't want to come pose for a picture so I had to take one fast.


Egg Hunting!! It was so cold. Notice the hat and mittens. When they were done we went upstairs to see what was in the eggs. The one below was found by Shayla. Inside was dried apricot slices(some had candy and chocolate). I think the Easter Bunny was tring to help with the new food thing. Something found it over night and really wanted it. Then it was time for church. The girls sat really well for me. After the first song, Riana yelled "yay!" Although while the priest lightly splashed holy water at the people Riana told me very loudly that she got some in her eye. LOL. (I don't know how to take this underline off.)
Then it was off to Jeff's Grandmother's to show off the dresses! I think Dawn and the girls picked out some nice ones. I was too full to take pictures at Aunt Christine's. We had a Happy Easter!

Janelle's Dancing Party

My friend Becky invited us to her daughter's birthday party at a dance studio. Shayla wasn't sure she wanted to do it but came along anyway. Becky's mom supplied tutus for all the girls. The dance studio supplied the ballet shoes. Even Riana had a pair! They had a great time dancing to Hannah Montana songs. I tried to drive home the long way hoping Riana would nap in the car but she was too busy going through her goody bag.

Egg Decorating Contest

I was about to tell you all about how the kids had decorated eggs for the contest and how busy my day was on this day, but I lost power. I guess it zapped my creative juices because that was several days ago. So now I am just going to tell the short version.

As most of you know I am on the Derby cultural Commission. We host an Easter egg hunt on the green. The original date got rained out so we had it the next day. We didn't buy enough chocolate eggs but we know better for next year.

There is also an Egg decorating contest. The kids bring them from home already decorated. Trinity made Black CatWomen(from Batman). Shayla made a butterfly. Last year Trinity won. This year she won again! here is her egg.

Zoozie Zoo

On a nice day we went to Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, CT. It has some animals but isn't very big. We can get through it in about and hour and a half. I had picked up the girls from my MIL's and we came home and packed a lunch. We sat at a picnic table and watched the bison as we ate. Riana called them elephants so I guess we will need a trip to the Bronx Zoo in NY to show her the real elephants. If they still have some. Then it was off to the rest of the zoo. It was starting to cool down so we made our way to the monkey house. It is always so hot in there but being winter it was just right for us humans. It was a fun day.

Fish Tail

What I learned today
When I was younger I knew someone who had a different king of braid in her hair. She told me it was a fishtail braid and it was done with 4 strands instead of the usual 3. I taught myself to braid and french braid. Now 20 years later it is time to learn to fishtail. I have tried on Barbies and my children but I couldn't figure it out. Thanks to the computer, I looked it up on YouTube. Here is Shayla's fishtail! It takes alittle longer to do but I love having something different. I don't think many people know how to do it. Now I do and I am proud of myself.

Why can't I say no?!

This problem starts on Cultural Commission. I am a member and now the secretary. It is an unpaid position. We organize lots of events for the city. To name a few: Halloween and Easter egg hunt for kids of the city. Summer concert series on the green for most of the summer. Tree lighting at Thanksgiving. The biggest is Derby Day. That takes months of planning. Now we are in charge of having a Farmer's Market. Somehow I am now co-chair person for this.
Next is Shayla's school. I attend the PTO meetings and helpout once in awhile. I went to the last meeting and am now the chairperson for the May Mother's Day Plant sale. I also volenteered to help pass out the last fundraiser when it came in.
I go to Trinity's school for their "PTO" type meeting last month and there was only 1 other parent there. VERY sad. They even offer free babysitting! Anyway, after I drop off Trin the secretary catches me on the way out and asks if I will corodinate the fund raiser for them. Sure!
The day before Valentine's Day I went to the 2 classes and read The Night Before Valentine's Day. The day before St. Patrick's Day I went to the classes to read The Night before St. Patrick's Day.
All this and not a penny for it.
On the upside- I got a job offer! The Valley Art Console wants me to teach Scrapbooking at the new Valley Arts center! The perfect job for me and finally I will get paid for it. I won't start for a few months.

Free Ice Skating...Not worth it.

Feb 11 the skating rink was giving free skating lessons. I called and signed up Trin and Shayla. I was told it was from 4-5. So Shayla came home from school and I rushed to get her a snack and be at the place (15 mins away) on time. We got there and the kids put on their skates. They have their own because Rita is nice to supply them with some when they get outgrown. The kids got on the ice at 4:00. There were tons of kids there as you can see from the pictures. The were shown a few things. Then they got all the kids off the ice at 4:23! they had a whole 23 minutes of instruction. Not worth my time but I did get a few pictures.

snow walk

Riana and I walking in the snow!

Brownies

I finally made the new Brownie recipe.
No one knew there was anything different.
Everytime anti-veggie Riana asked for another I just smiled and gave her one.
It was an awesome feeling!! I knew what was in there and still couldn't taste it!
I am sending them in with Shayla for her Valentine's Day party on Friday. Since the school is no junk food and no peanuts and no candy and no blahblahblah. Healthy Brownies were okay.
Here is the secret:

1 box of brownie mix
1/2 cup spinach puree
1/2 cup carrot puree

Follow box directions and add purees into mix. Bake as directed.
LET COMPLETELY COOL! if they are warm the spinach taste will still be there.

*to make puree, just get a can of the veggie, drain, puree in blender.

Enjoy and don't smile too hard!

New Years Resolution

My New Years Resolution is to cook healthier food for my family. Sounds easy. But with 5 people all liking different things it can be sooo much harder. Enter my new best friend...Deceptively Delicious. Food made with veggie and fruit purees! That's right, no one will know. I will try no to smile too much at dinner to give away my secret. Riana has thought that the egg puffs were ok. She didn't know there was butternut squash inside! Score 1 for me!!!! She is the worst eater of my bunch. The kids liked the fruit and yogurt pops I made. But I found if you use a mixed berry they come out very seedy. So instead I now use blueberry/strawberry mix. My mom used tomake us pudding popsicles when we were young and now I can do the same. (She sent me some molds)
I have also made Aloha Chicken kabobs (w/pineapple and sweet potato) and Meatball soup (w/ carrot and sweet potato). One morning I took blueberry pancake mix and in the blender put in fresh strawberries. They came out a pink/purple color which the kids thought were cool. Even Riana ate them. So I will let you in on the brownies after I make them and the guinee pigs, I mean Kids, have tried them. Stay tuned.
Here is the recipe for the Yogurt pops.

Frozen Yogurt Pops

2 cups Plain lowfat yogurt (or Strawberry)
2 cups frozen berries thawed in micro for 1 min
(can use strawberry, blueberry, cherries, raspberry)
1/2 - 3/4 cup confectioner's sugar

Combine all in a blender or food processor until smooth. Pout into popsicle molds and freeze.


That's it! You can also use dixie cups with popsicle sticks. Let me know if anyone tries it.

Tag, I'm it

I was tagged by Trisha's blog to post the 4th picture in the 4th album on my computer and write about it. Let's see what I have:
Since I put my albums by date in alpha order I got April 2007. This is the Derby Cultural Commission Easter Event. I am part of the DCC. These were our 2 bunnies that we had to entertain the kids and parents. Trinity loved one of them, don't really remember which one. Maybe the next time we do this I will have a better pic.
I am supposed to tag 4 people to do the same. I don't know that many people with blogs so if you read this then I pick you and you are it!

Funny story

I had went to run a few errands. I went to the gas station and pumped my gas. Then to the Video game store. I stopped at good will to drop of a bag of clothes. Then I stopped for cigarettes. All my things were done and I went home. I started to wash the dishes when Shayla said she could see my underwear and I had a hole in my pants. I was very surprised so I went to look in the mirror. Now I was really surprised! The hole was about 3 inches big. Now the questions start: When did this happen? How many people saw my underwear? Thank goodness I wasn't wearing a thong or going comando! The people at goodwill must have thought I should look in the pant dept. Then I put my jacket on, thank goodness, it covered it! Now I am sad because these were my FAVORITE pair. I included a picture for your laughs!

Riana's new bed

I had taken off the front rail of Riana's bed, months ago. She was climbing out so it was no longer safe. My friend called me and asked if I wanted her daughter's toddler bed because her daughter didn't want to sleep in it anymore. I jumped at the chance. The next day I went to pick it up and I brought it up stairs. I took the mattress from the crib and but it in the bed. Riana jumped right in. I felt after her nap it was safe to take down the crib. She loves her "big girl" bed and has had no problems adjusting.
It has worked out just fine. She looks so small sleeping in it. It is just her size, like the little toliets at Trin's preschool. As soon as I find a place for all the toys and stuff on the changing table I will take that down too and they can start to have a big girl room instead of a nursery.

Andy's Bounce Barn

We all had a Bouncing Good Time at this new place. It has all inflatable bounce things in doors. This is Little Riana climbing up the big steps to go down the slide by herself. I did have to go with her the first 5 times. But then she got brave and did it herself.


It took alot of energy to get up all of the steps. My feet hurt from the small step things. Once going down I had 5 kids with me to all go down together. I guess we have a place where the grown ups can have fun too. I was tired.
Shayla coming out of the long caterpillar. I had to go in twice with Riana. At the end you squeeze out of the opening and you get a feeling of being reborn!Trinity playing on the large twister. This is where I came to sit and have a break. Riana would only go on it with me.
Here is Riana. She later found the Twister spinner and liked to play with that.

Shayla must have learned how to do this flip on Toby and Cassidy's trampoline.