Making new friends...

Yep, that's me and Josh in the middle! Do you maybe recognize the faces on the left and right?

Alright, lets start at the beginning. Last summer while having a glorious dinner, by ourselves, in Ocean City, MD, Josh handed me an envelope with an itinerary for a future trip in December. He had booked a room in Atlantic City, NJ at a very posh casino, The Borgata. We would enjoy massages at the spa and dinner at the restaurant of my choice and then go to a show, all of this happening in one building! (The two men above being the stars of said show, any ideas?) We were at the end of one of the most amazing meals, looking out over the bay as the sun set and here he is setting up the next adventure...I love him!!!

When we get home I look over the website, we book hot stone massages at the spa and dinner for two at Bobby Flay's Steak House. I have been giddy with excitement for months about this trip. To make what could be a very long story short, the massages were amazing...I only wish we could have had more time to take advantage of the spa itself...dinner was everything I hoped it could be, and then some.

After dinner we went into the Music Box, found our seats and got ready for the show. We chit-chatted for a bit when Josh says, "I still know something about this trip you don't." Just a simple as that. I looked at him, "What in the world are you talking about?" He then pulled out of his back pocket two after-show back stage passes! All of a sudden I was nervous, excited, stunned, confused and happy all at once. The show that followed was great, they we're really funny, in ways I didn't expect (not personally being familiar with their comedy albums). More importantly they were amazingly hospitable back stage, even recording a quick intro for Josh's new band.

We made it home today after a long 7 and 1/2 hour drive, happy to have had a great time and an outstanding family to pull together to allow us to go. Now I ask the big question. Are you still floundering around in your memories (or google), or do you know who my "mystery men" are? If you click on all of the links you might get a little help. I don't have a prize but I'd love to see who figures it out first! (Thanks for the competition idea Kate...even though I had no hope at your's.)

One stripe at a time

Summer is way behind us(almost hard to remember) and the days of frigid temperatures are upon us, forcing us to find some indoor activities. After months of waiting for the end of soccer and football, Colton's greatest wish came true. He is now a student of Lake Placid Martial Arts Academy, studying Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate. That sounds amazingly serious, and in some respects it is. The kids class is for 5-12 year olds and is very life skills oriented. Each night seems to carry a theme such as, looking a person in the eye when they are talking to you or helping out around the house without being asked. Two weeks ago Colton was surprised to be presented with the first stripe on his belt. It was an inspiring moment, watching him shake his Sensei's hand and bow with bursting pride. After class the senior students all shook his hand and congratulated him. He looked ten-feet tall as he walked over to me and Lennon, and was at a loss of words to explain what had happened. It was all he talked about for days. I think he really likes it!!

Lists of lists

My list of "things to do," which actually includes making further lists, is long and tedious this moring. I have justified this post with the fact that the kids bedding is in the washing machine, therefore I am doing something on the list, right?! I suppose I am only accountable to myself.

We had a glorious Thanksgiving weekend complete with sledding, lots of family and lots of turkey. We forgot our camera on our annual sledding adventure with Mom and Chris (maybe Mom will email me a few highlights to post), it was a blast as usual. We did get a few shots of us around the house, Tim took over our camera...but forgot to turn it on himself!

Red cheeks from sliding!

One "Great"Grandma!

My little princess.
A little background music...

On Thanksgiving day I found myself in my kitchen, carving my turkey, stuffing in the oven, gravy bubbling on the stove, at 10:30am. Josh ventured off to Peru for a Turkey Trot 5K and I packed up my goodies and my kiddies and met him in Malone. Everyone brought something and Grandma didn't have to do a thing! It was wonderful. The gang was great and the kids had a lot of fun playing with their "cousins."

Enough procrastination...off to tackle the list. Happy Holidays!

Floodwood Mountain...or bust

Mom took last Monday off from work (enjoying a four day weekend) and the kids and I met up with her for a "hike." We packed sandwiches, water, tea and a few snickers bars (good idea Mom) and set of for Floodwood Mt. As soon as we parked the car, both kids were hungry...not a good omen. Mamee came to the rescue with her snickers bars and we started walking. You can't drive to the trail head and so we had to walk a good distance in before hitting the trail. Bailey ran circles around us, sniffing every twig in sight. Colton talked, and talked, and talked to Mamee. And Lennon, her little legs weighted down with big boots did her best to keep up. Finally we reached the trail head, Lennon insisting on helping and adding to her load...

We started up the trail, snow specked and muddy, all of us hungry now. Talking about food and leaping on slippery rocks to keep out of the mud we keep pushing forward, in hopes of actually getting to the hiking part. Then we heard the sound that turns any wise hiker around. Gunshots. Damn hunters...or maybe not. We walked back out to the trail head and stopped for lunch. The tea that Mom had packed refused to be let out of the thermos, no matter how hard we tried.

Lennon had lost any interest in walking and I gave Colton the pack so she could ride on my back, her snowsuit and my vest violently repelling each other giving me a great workout trying to keep her from falling off. In the end we made it back to Mom's for hot tea (we did get the thermos open...it wasn't warm) and hot coco. Another great family adventure on the books.

Mt. Baker on a sunny November day.

It was a little tricky navagating down the mountain (it feels funny to call it a mountain)today and took me a bit longer than I thought it would. The trail was full of mud and ice, but the air was refreshing and cold. When the weather turns cold and wet I just can't wait for the snow, it's so much easier to navigate than mud. My goal is to pull out the snowshoes I got for Christmas last year and hike at least twice a week this winter...maybe.

My sweet Colton

Mornings around here are somewhat of a chore and I am usually exhausted by 8:30 and ready for a nap. Today was a little different because we were headed for the award breakfast at Bloomingdale Elementary. (I bet you are all jealous...I got to eat school food, ha, ha, gag!) We are so proud of him! His teacher, Mrs. Munn (aka Kara Pandolf) gave him this certificate and glowing comments. Colton has been searching for a little time without Lennon recently and we have dedicated Friday night to be his night with Mom and Dad. So far we have played a few games of Sorry and Clue Jr. and created a "Monopoly Monster." I have never had so much fun, watching him try and trade Water Works and Electric Company for Josh's Boardwalk and Park Place...he was so serious. Now, every night he stays awake in his room for a little quite time after I read. I never know what I will find when I check on him. Sometimes he is in bed, lights on, glasses on, book on his chest. Other times there in a pile of papers on his desk covered in either drawings of monsters or math (the kid loves to add long numbers). One night last week this is what I found:
Lyrics to a new song. I just love watching him grow. He puts a smile on my face everyday!!

Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Super Girl had a great time "flying" around town and protecting me from the villains on the loose.
Lucky for me my "Hulk" was friendly!
We went out on Halloween and therefore had to dress up. Josh has been playing with a new band, Professor Chaos, and stepped up for 8 songs that night. It was nice to not have him on stage all night. We didn't get any pictures earlier in the night so my hair is flat and Josh's "wound" fell off, but you get the point.