Celebrating My Birthday

With all the crazy snowstorms through the winter, we missed celebrating my birthday, so we finally got together today. We did hit a minor snag...the UConn women were playing their Sweet Sixteen games so we got pizzas and settled in front of the TV at my mom's to watch the
nail-biter of a game!



After we made it through the game and were assured the girls made it to the Elite Eight, we got down to business and brought out the cake!

Of course, Tucker had to help me blow out the candles....



I got a lot of great things...a new shirt, a Rascal Flatts CD, a Sara Evans CD, and Wii Dance on Broadway!





It was a fun day and made even better by the girls winning! Go UConn!!!

Daybook

For today...Wednesday, March 23, 2011

On My Mind...I have been sick since last week with bronchitis and an ear infection. Planning to return to work tomorrow.

Outside My window...the calendar says Spring but we are expecting snow.

What We're Reading...since I haven't done this in two weeks or so, I have finished a few books: Room by Emma Donoghue (if you haven't read this book yet, you need to get your hands on a copy. I waited for it for three months from the library and read it in two days!), Gathering Blue and Messenger both by Lois Lowry (I've been wanting to read these since I read The Giver. Definitely enjoyed them both very much), and The Memory Palace by Mira Bartok (for the Memorable Memoirs Challenge. This was about a woman who's mom is a paranoid schizophrenia and how that affects her and her sister. Very interesting book)...I'm now halfway through Little Bee by Chris Cleave and really enjoying it...with Tucker, we finished Danny the Champion of the World and Michael's now reading On the Field...with Derek Jeter with him...he''s just finished the Shiloh books in school and really liked them so I will be reading those soon.

What We're Listening to...finished The Kite Runner and really enjoyed it. I want to read more about this culture, I'm thinking of reading Running in Tehran...I'm now listening to Freedom by Jonathan Franzen.

I am hoping...to feel better.

Quotable Quote...I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened ~ Mark Twain

In the Kitchen...not too much because I've been sick although I did make chicken pot pie and tonight I'm making French's onion chicken and trying Mari's Spaghetti Casserole tomorrow night.

Around the House...laundry to be folded and more to be washed...really needs some cleaning fairies to come over and help!!! lol

Coming Up This Week...my mom's watching Tucker on Friday afternoon (half day and my daycare's closed)...soccer game Fri night...Tucker's going over his friend William's Sat night...celebrating my birthday at my mom's on Sun (yes we're over two months late).

Some Picture Thoughts...

Last weekend it was in the 70s, Shrek and Fiona really enjoyed sitting in the open windows! Because we got them in the end of November, it was a whole new world for them!

Project 64- Scarlet

I have been absent from Project 64 for many weeks but I am jumping right back in with my favorite color!

Scarlet!
(Or Red to us normal people! lol)

Happy First Day of Spring!

After all the snow we had this winter, it seemed like Spring would never come! But here it is--the 1st Day of Spring! We've had some nice warm days to celebrate its arrival. Unfortunately, that means I have been sick, sick, sick! Probably worse than I have been in a few years.

In fact, I'm missing today's 1st Rounds of the NCAA Women's basketball tournament. (That means I am really sick) My mom and her friends bought the tickets for me and Tucker as a birthday present for him. So my niece Cassandra is going in my place; I'm sure they'll have fun!

Today would have also been my dad's 68th birthday. Happy birthday, Bubba! We think about you a lot and love and miss you!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
~Irish Blessing

Daybook

For today...Monday, March 7, 2011

On My Mind...I really need to blog more often! I'm pretty much down to just the Daybooks!...I
wasn't on Facebook a lot last week (for a variety of reasons) and I survived! Life does go on and I think I may start limiting my time on there because it really does suck you in and I could be so much more productive, I'm sure, without it! It's a work in progress!

Outside My window...cold and windy.

What We're Reading...Finished One of Ours by Willa Cather and really enjoyed it...Now reading Room by Emma Donoghue about a 5 yo boy who lives in one room with his Mom, who is a victim of a kidnapping. The story is from his perspective. I was on the waiting list for it for 3 mos and I have to say it is pretty good so far! I can't seem to put it down!...with Tucker, we finished Journal of James Edmund Pease and really enjoyed it. It was the journal of a Civil War Soldier and though it was fiction, was based on actual events and battles...we read The Pebble in my Pocket and The Pancake Boy and just started reading Danny, the Champion of the World, which I remember my 6th grade teacher reading to us and don't think I realized it it was written by Roald Dahl. I really liked it back then and I'm hoping Tucker likes it.

What We're Listening to...I'm almost done with The Kite Runner and I have to say that I definitely see what all the fuss was about. An amazing book...makes me want to read more about Afghanistan and that part of the world.

What We're Watching...Survivor-they finally got rid of right person and hopefully he loses at Redemption Island and it will be Bye Bye Russell!!!...Amazing Race-still rooting for the Cowboys, the Globetrotters, Margie and Luke...American Idol-I'm happy with all the choices, particularly for the boys and I think, other than Thia, I'm going for any of the guys...we went to see Rango this weekend and it was really cute! I love that Tucker giggled the whole time!

I am Hoping...to catch up on my sleep!

Quotable Quote...from my Mary Engelbreit calendar that Michael got me for Christmas: There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favorite book ~ Marcel Proust

In the Kitchen...chicken pot pie, roast, spaghetti, probably McDonald's Tues because we'll all be on the run.

Around the House...dishwasher running...laundry in the dryer, more to be washed...St Patrick's Day decorations up...still could use more attention.

Coming Up This Week...a busy one!...PTO Expo in MA on Tues...PTO Meeting Tues night...baseball clinic Tues night...my cousin's twin's 2nd birthday party on Sat...soccer game Sat night.

No Picture Thought this week

Daybook

For today...Wednesday, March 2, 2011 (Dr. Seuss Day)

On My Mind...Since I last posted, we did end up getting a new camera because there were just too many issues with the Nikon. I did get the Canon Power Shot and have been pretty happy with it so far...I realize I haven't been on here lately but I just haven't felt very motivated to say anything. Anyone else ever feel like that? I usually want to do my Daybook but somehow don't get to it on Monday and then it just gets later in the week (like this week) and I wonder "why bother?"

Outside My window...it's very windy...today was actually a nice day, the sun was out and it was one of those crisp winter days that are so great!

What We're Reading...I have given up on A Tale of Two Cities and moved on to One of Ours by Willa Cather. I am really enjoying it; I have never read anything by her and I may need to read some more by her!...I finished reading Fantastic Mr. Fox, which Tucker recommended after reading it with his class. I thought it was great!...with Tucker, we are finishing up The Journal of James Edmund Pease (the historical fiction book for his Reading Hall of Fame at school. Then he just needs to read two poems and two magazine articles and he'll be done!)

What we're Listening to...I'm finished with 20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea and am now listening to The Kite Runner, which I have wanted to read for awhile.

What We're Watching...really enjoying American Idol this year and it's only just started! Although none of the girls I liked made it through and I like most of the guys!...Phillip needs to take a hike on Survivor and I've about had it with the gaggle of girls who follow Rob around...not sure who to root for on Amazing Race because I like so many of them! Glad the cowboys got it together because I am partial to them!...Also watching Undercover Boss, Glee, and Harry's Law...Of course, Tucker and I don't miss any Uconn women's games...still enjoying History and Discovery channels.

I am hoping...to catch up on my sleep soon!

In the Kitchen...ham steaks, chicken with risotto, not sure what else.

Around the house...laundry to be folded, more to be washed...Tucker told me not to clean this weekend "because all you ever do is clean the house"; I thought this was pretty funny because I don't and my house definitely needs all the help it can get!...I'm thinking it may be time for a good clean out. There are so many toys that Tucker doesn't even play with any more; it's convincing him we can get rid of them that's the problem!

Coming Up This Week...soccer game Friday night...tryouts for Majors on Sat (no we don't think he's quite ready but it will give him an idea of what is expected when he is ready. More than likely he'll remain in Minors.) ...going to see Rango either Sat or Sun (Tucker and I have been looking forward to this since we first saw the preview!)

A Picture Thought...It poured like nobody's business on Monday and I liked how the raindrops looked in the puddle!