Wordless Wednesday

10 on 10 - Day in a Life

I pinched this from picking.up.purls who used it from the 10 on 10 photoblog.

The idea is to chronicle the 10th day of the month by taking 10 consecutive photos -- one an hour for 10 hours. You can see another example here.

As this is my first time doing this and my camera isn't that powerful, it's a bit ordinary...but I feel inspired and excited to do it again next month. Join in the fun!!

Here goes June's edition of a very ordinary day in our lives...

8 a.m.


9 a.m.


10 a.m.


11 a.m.


12 p.m.


1 p.m.


2 p.m.


3 p.m.


4 p.m.


5 p.m.

Molten Monday Musings

Happy muggy, melting Monday to you! And hopefully wherever you are, you aren't in the middle of this same heatwave.

We're roasting here!

Thankfully, we're nearly through the worst of it.

The forecasters are promising lower temperatures by Wednesday. Mind you, that only means highs in the 80s F, but that is definitely cooler than the high 90s F.

We're continually thankful for the air conditioning in our house.

We had a busy weekend which ended even busier when we discovered a leak in our bathtub that put a quarter-sized hole in our living room ceiling. Ugh. One of the "hazards" of owning an old house, I guess. Still, Stuart managed to fix the leak, and I managed to recaulk the tub and any possible hole behind the fixtures, so we should be safe for now.

Edward finished his Spring soccer season on a very hot note yesterday. He ended up dropping out of the game due to heat exhaustion, but he played well while he was in. We were amazed that more kids didn't pass out from the heat. We took our "bunbrella" -- an old beach umbrella we use to shade the outside bunnies -- so the kids on the sidelines had a small bit of shade at least. Edward was a bit disappointed that there wasn't any kind of celebration afterwards...and no trophies. *sigh* We were sad for him. His head coach wasn't able to make the last game either. But we celebrated with ice cream and donuts/bagels at the local Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins.

Emily begins her "pointe club" tonight. It's an intensive week of learning to dance "en pointe." I finished attaching the ribbons and elastic to her pointe shoes, and we went out to a dance store to take a peek at some "lamb's wool" toe pads before heading home with a 1/4-yard of faux lamb's wool to sew our own. $2.50 for the material versus $11.99 for one pair. We still have tons of material leftover and could probably make her enough pairs of toe pads to wear a different pair each night. She suggested we start a toe pad business and sell them. Hmm...tempting. *wink*

I got the kids some Poptarts this morning when I went out very early for more caulk. We have them maybe once a year, and since it's Summer I thought it might be fun to have another "classic" treat. Emily asked me if they were around when I was a kid, and I said yes. Edward laughed and said with a wink, "They'd be pretty old and moldy by now though."

* * *

We've been debating names for our new addition, due in mid-September.

We have settled on the boy's names and a girl's first name. But it's been difficult finding a name to go with it. Of course, it has to be another "E" first name and "S" middle name -- we have two of those already. But there aren't many "S" names that go with our girl's "E" name. So I suggested another "E" name that sounded pretty with it.

Stuart kidded and said then she might decide to write everything in lowercase letters like the famous poet, "e e cummings."

Then he sent the following to me with a note suggesting that the double "E" name might not be so bad.

"To be nobody but yourself --in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else -- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." ~ e e cummings, poet

No matter what this next child's gender is, I love this quote and will write it somewhere in his/her room and baby book.

It is so much a part of what I've felt in recent years...especially when it comes to my kids.

God created us each to be unique...to be ourselves.

After all, there's only one "you" in the whole world. Why does the world want us to change that?

That's something to celebrate -- not change!

Think about it.

Sayonara, Spring Soccer Season

On the hottest possible day so far this year, in the middle of a heatwave, Edward had his final soccer game of the spring soccer season.

To say it was hot would be putting it mildly.

It was sweltering.

It was broiling.

It was downright nasty.

Somewhere in the high 90s F with a "real feel" temp of 102 F.

(It did bring to mind and heart our troops in the Middle East where the average daily temperatures have been reaching 136 F. Really puts things into perspective, huh? Our prayers are with them.)

I would have to say that Edward learned a lot in this particular season. It might be that he learned that even though he loves, loves, loves soccer, he doesn't really want to play again in the autumn.

Sigh.

He had excellent coaches is season, but they made him work and run a lot. *grin* That was the point, right? *wink*

Stuart and I reflected on the different coaches he had in each season and realized that each had his good points. Edward certainly learned a lot from them.

Hopefully, he'll use the break this summer to really miss playing his favorite-most sport.

We're hoping, too, if we practice a couple of the more difficult skills that maybe he'll feel more confident.

If not, there's always the power of persuasion. *wink*

A New Musical?

Those who know me well know that I am a HUGE fan of 24.

But when I found this...I couldn't resist posting it.

Believe me when I say that I don't believe that the creators of this are poking fun at 24...just having fun with the story and characters. The songs -- music and lyrics -- are actually very catchy, too.

So enjoy...24 - Season Two - The Musical!

Friday Funnies

This cute video should bring you a few chuckles on this hot and humid Friday!

Enjoy and have a funny Friday!

A "Duh" Moment?

Go directly to jail...do not pass "Go," or collect $200...

Incompetent Criminals

Glenda asked Terry if the seat next to her in the classroom was taken. It's not an intimidating question, but Terry went ballistic and threatened to shoot Glenda. She then stormed from the classroom, broke a display case in the school lobby, and damaged a door. Terry was arrested for intimidation and criminal mischief, but the cops had a tough time subduing her and had to use restraints.

The class she was taking?

Anger management.

Wordless Wednesday

Dancer's Dreams

Here are some photos of Emily before and after her recital:


Dress Rehearsal


The class (minus two)


Before the recital



With her roses


Tired, but happy, dancer

The Photo Meme

This is something fun from Elizabeth:

Instructions
1. Go to Google Images.
2. Type in your answer to the question in the “search” box.
3. Use the first image that comes up.
4. Copy the html and paste for the answer.

1. First name?


(I'm not sure who she is...but she shares my firstname.)

2. Favorite color?



3. Celebrity crush?



4. Band you're listening to right now?



5. Favorite movie?



6. Favorite Disney Princess?



7. Favorite alcoholic beverage?


8. Dream vacation?



9. Favorite dessert?



10. What I want to be when I grow up.

Musing Along on Monday

Happy Monday! The first Monday in June! (Whew! Is it June already?? Time doth dash along.)

Emily had her dance recital yesterday, and a beautiful (if not a tad bit long) performance it was. We realized she finished her 8th year of dancing this year -- although, as I said to one mom, she's been dancing since birth, I think...one of the big reasons we got her involved in dancing to begin with. She'll have a week of "point club" next week -- 2 1/2 hours each night -- and then no more dance until September.

Edward finishes up his Spring soccer season this coming Sunday. He has one more practice and one more game. I think he's excited to be finished, though he seems keen to keep practicing in the yard. We're not sure if he enjoyed the kids on his team this season. There are always one or two bullies that make it hard on the others. Still, he gets to start fresh in the autumn.

Both kids began their Summer Bridge books today. Edward was so eager that he came down around 7:30 a.m., hugging it, and had his one-page completed by 8 a.m. We had a little "moving up" ceremony for them on Friday evening, complete with certificate/giftcard/Summer Bridge book presentation by "Principal Foote" and "Pomp and Circumstance" playing in the background. Silly, but fun, for all of us.

We've set some "summer goals" for ourselves. The kids want to learn to ride their bikes, play hopscotch, and jump rope. (They've tried their "hand" (and feet) at each of these activities, but I think they're eager to master them this summer.) Emily wants to learn to do a split for dance class, and Edward is keen to learn to dribble a soccerball better. And I have three books to read out loud to them. We also hope to begin a new chore game that I read about in a family magazine. You write down chores on popsicle sticks and put them along with several blank sticks into a cup. Then each person takes one and that's the chore that he/she does for the day. Sometimes you might get lucky and get a blank -- so you get a day off. It sounds good to the kids in theory. I'll let you know how it goes in reality. *wink*

Only 7 1/2 months until the start of my favorite-most show. The 2-hour prequel is slated to show the weekend before Thanksgiving, so not quite as long to wait for that. I saw another little tidbit regarding the Mirrors movie and cannot wait for it to come out in August...though I might find it hard to look into mirrors afterwards.

* * *

5 THINGS TO BE HAPPY ABOUT
• bowers of honeysuckle
• an enchanting landscape
• small limestone cottages
• the first roller coaster ride of the summer
• fish and chips

* * *

We've had a ton of honeysuckle springing out all over the area this year.

Everytime I see it, I have the memory of a warmer early-summer day, back when I returned home from college. I was driving to work each morning, through woods filled with its sweet aroma. Most of the places we lived when I was smaller had some growing somewhere close by.

Emily always speaks eagerly about the sweet taste of honeysuckle, having sampled some one time when she was much, much younger.

Edward was curious what it tasted like, and she began to describe it as if when you pull out the little bit with the nectar on it you get a cup's worth of sweetness...when in reality you get a teeny-tiny taste.

Still, who am I to challenge such imagination?

I'm sure it felt that way when I was younger, too.

One day she might be listening to her kids telling each other about the sweet goodness of honeysuckle, and she'll know what I know.

Until then, let her enjoy her own memories.

*wink*

Taking a Stand

Yesterday, the kids participated in K12's Operation Lemonade, a weekend-long event taking place across the nation to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation -- which raises money to help fund research on pediatric cancers. (You can read more about Alex Scott here.)

They spent a total of 3 1/2 hours -- from 10 a.m. to 1:30-ish -- singing songs, chanting jingles, and dancing dances to bring in customers and donations to their stand. And it was a perfect day -- very hot!

I reminded them that every quarter helped the cause, to be polite and offer their customers change. No one wanted any.

And the whole event was something to behold...one of those admire-from-afar moments in a mommy's life when you remember how fun it is to get kids involved in raising money for something so worthy.

I'm proud to say they raised $44.50 from all their efforts.

One girl's vision became two more kids' mission.

* * *

Why not hold your own lemonade stand for Alex this summer?

You can send the money you raise to:

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
333 East Lancaster Avenue, #414
Wynnewood, PA 19096

Friday Funnies

My Friday Funnies are short and sweet today and come from my two munchkins who love jokes. (And to all my readers who are blonde...please, please forgive me.)

What did the blonde say when she saw the bowl of Cheerios?
"Oh, look! Donut seeds!!"

A blonde and brunette are falling from an airplane. Who will hit the ground first?
The brunette. The blonde has to stop and ask for directions.

Enjoy! And have a fun Friday!

Timeless Traditions

Tradition, tradition! Tradition!
Tradition, tradition! Tradition!

Who, day and night, must scramble for a living,
Feed a wife and children, say his daily prayers?
And who has the right, as master of the house,
To have the final word at home?

The Papa, the Papa! Tradition.
The Papa, the Papa! Tradition.

Who must know the way to make a proper home,
A quiet home, a kosher home?
Who must raise the family and run the home,
So Papa's free to read the holy books?

The Mama, the Mama! Tradition!
The Mama, the Mama! Tradition!

At three, I started Hebrew school. At ten, I learned a trade.
I hear they've picked a bride for me. I hope she's pretty.

The son, the son! Tradition!
The son, the son! Tradition!

And who does Mama teach to mend and tend and fix,
Preparing me to marry whoever Papa picks?

The daughter, the daughter! Tradition!
The daughter, the daughter! Tradition!

I've always loved that song from Fiddler on the Roof. To hear my family talk, I should have been born Jewish -- I love traditions that much.

But, now as a mother, I find myself forgetting to teach my children some of the timeless traditions I grew up with -- some of them important, others just fun.

Maybe it's the busyness of life or just a plain forgetfulness? But, thankfully, something usually sparks a memory, and I get my chance.

Today was one of those days.

We were in the grocery store yesterday, and Emily spotted Marshmallow Fluff, begging me to buy some.

The practical side of me said no way.

The healthy side of me said no way.

But then I spotted the words "fluffernutter sandwich" on the side of the container and found myself wistfully saying, "Oh, okay."

There was a cheaper storebrand alternative in a smaller pot, but I decided that only the namebrand would do...besides the ingredients were much more straight-forward on the good stuff.

So today Emily had her first-ever fluffernutter sandwich (Edward politely declined on the grounds that he didn't think he'd like peanut butter and marshmallows together...even though he likes both very much).

I justified the sugary sweetness of such a lunch with the fact that I only buy natural peanut butter that contains no sugar. Still, the marshmallow fluff more than makes up for that.

Afterwards, Emily exclaimed -- her lips smacking happily -- that she LOVES these sandwiches.

To which Stuart replied, "Great! You can have another one next month."

*wink*

(Slightly) Wordless Wednesday

(Leechie's "favorite food" at the moment...)

Freedom! Freeee-dom!

"Vacation's come, and we are free.
No more school for you and me.
No more Latin, no more French,
No more dunces on a bench."
--Los Angeles Times, Jun 29, 1901, p. 16

School is officially over for my two kiddos.

Apart from a few odds and ends on my end, Edward and Emily have successfully completed all of their work and are moving on to 2nd and 6th grades, respectively.

It's amazing to think of how much they've accomplished this schoolyear... and how much they've grown and changed.

I cannot believe our "little" girl is going into her last year of elementary school. (Insert wincing face here.)

So although they'll be free from structured learning, I know my two curious monkeys will continue to learn and grow throughout the summer.

We have books to read...naps to take in the sun...places to explore...and a whole big yard to play in on the hot summer days.

And at Summer's end, we'll have a new family member to meet.

Bring on those lazy, hazy days...

Memorial Day Monday Musings

Happy Monday to you! And Happy Memorial Day!

I hope you've enjoyed your three-day weekend!

Our Saturday was spent outside, doing some much needed yardwork. I cannot believe how jungle-like the yard had become! We did some weeding, some trimming, and some mulching. It's amazing how a couple of hours of work brought some tameness to it all. Unfortunately, I paid for it later on with my allergies...but that will change soon enough.

We had a lovely anniversary -- beautiful weather especially -- and are so grateful for all the anniversary wishes!! Thank you!

It was a fairly relaxed day. After church and lunch at Pizza Hut with the kids, we enjoyed time alone at Barnes & Noble and Target, followed by dinner at Red Lobster...and later in the evening, the movie P. S. I Love You. I won't say any more about that picture than "Wooof!" Excellent movie!! Box of tissues mandatory.

A BIG thank you to all the service men and women -- including my hubby and my father -- who have given of their time and energy to keep our country and our world safe! That's the point of this holiday, right?

You know how there are things in life you never expect to hear out loud? Ever? Heard this weekend from our 10-year-old daughter: "Daddy, I was playing with my brain, and it got stuck on the ceiling. Could you please help me get it down?" Head-scratching, I know...until I explain that Emily received a sticky, rubber "brain" novelty gift from Stuart's company when she went in for "Take Your Child to Work" day. Makes more sense like that, right? *grin*

We watched the old show Make Room for Daddy with the kids for our weekly dinner-and-a-movie night. It's been fun introducing them to the old movies and shows and seeing how much they enjoy them. This particular DVD even had the original 1955 commercials for Pall Mall cigarettes and Dodge cars. Hmm.... We had some discussion about how the tobacco and advertising industries glamorized cigarette use in the days before they realized how bad they really were for everyone.

A brain teaser for you from our Page-a-Day Mensa calendar:

You look at the time and realize that if it were two hours earlier, it would be three times as long before midnight as it would be two hours from now.

What time is it now?

We're off to "picnic" at my sister's house.

Love Actually

Taking a pause in my usual Sweet Sunday posts...to blog about a different kind of "sweet Sunday"...

Today marks our 12th Anniversary...12 years together. It's cliched to say this, but it really has seemed like a blink of an eye.

We met in Shaw Ridge, England, in 1988...two 18-year-olds trying to impress each other -- the English boy with his "cool car" and the American girl with her "coyness"...

It backfired.

I thought he was a geek, and he thought I was a snob.

But something clicked...because 20 years later, here we are together with two beautiful kiddos and one in the "oven." (Does that make us that "classic" American family with 2.5 kids? Just need to build the white picket fence out front. *wink*)

In honor of our anniversary, I dug out and scanned this photo I found behind some other photos in one of our frames. It's from 1992, taken during a visit I made to England while we were dating. Sadly, our friends (on the left) have long since divorced.

Grow Old Along with Me

Grow old along with me...
The best is yet to be~
When our time has come...
We will be as one.

God bless our love...
God bless our love.

Grow old along with me...
Two branches of one tree~
Face the setting sun...
When the day is done.

God bless our love...
God bless our love.

Spending our lives together...
Man and Wife together~
World without end...
World without end.

Grow old along with me...
Whatever fate decrees~
We will see it through...
For our love is true.

God bless our love...
God bless our love.

God bless our love...
God bless our love.

~John Lennon

This photo is from last summer when we hit Philadelphia for a Rocco Deluca and the Burden concert.

We're certainly "growing old" together...and it's wonderful!

Happy Anniversary, A!

Friday Funnies

A BIG thanks to my hubby for finding this little gem entitled: "The Worst Karaoke Ever." I'm guessing it was meant to stay hidden in the attic. Still, it brings a great laugh!

Enjoy, and have a funny Friday!


Worst Karaoke Session Ever - Watch more free videos

Kiss and Tell

Okay, okay. So it's a bit "staged"...and one small boy (no names mentioned) wasn't too keen on doing it, but I couldn't resist getting Stuart to take a photo with the kids kissing me in this particular T-shirt.

"Leechie" is certainly visible, huh?

*sigh*

And I have four months to go...