Busy Busy Busy

So I've been a slacker in the blog-world. On the plus side, it's because I've been anything but a slacker in the real world!

In mid-November, Izzy and I took a plane ride to Delaware to visit family and friends. I got to catch up with an old friend from high school who I grew up with but who I haven't seen in years, and that was awesome! Then, I got together with a great group of friends who I've known for years but only known most of them via email conversations. We had a great night hanging out together and catching up. Finally, I got to spend a day at my brother's house, for his annual Pre-Thanksgiving dinner. Yummy and a great chance to see a few old acquaintances and meet some of his friends.

I came home just in time to host Thanksgiving dinner for us and hubby's family. 12 of us gathered for turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and all the other yummies. It was good to see all the cousins who are spread far apart these days.

Since then, I've been busy Christmas shopping (including Black Friday-a first for me!), decorating, and sending Christmas letters.

I've also been busy working on a new business venture....T-shirt Blankets. A few years ago, I took all of my college fraternity shirts that I rarely wore anymore and turned them into a blanket. At the time, I figured it was pretty simple and nothing special. But 3 or 4 years of using the blanket at the park for picnics has made me think otherwise. So many people stop to comment on it, and think it's a great idea, and something they'd love to have but never could do themselves. So....I figured I'd give it a try making blankets for other people. Heck, I've even put together a website for it. Wanna see??? Here's the page!

One last thing has been occupying my mind this last month. And unfortunately, I'm going to end this post on a sad note. I've been forced to realize just how lucky I am recently, because of some terrible things that have happened. First, a friend of a friend's family was driving to Disney World when their car was rear-ended. Sadly, their 4-year-old daughter, was critically injured and passed away. Shortly thereafter, we learned that DH's cousin's newborn daughter may be diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Details and a definite diagnosis are still pending, so right now we are playing a waiting game. Then, I learned of a friend's 5-year-old son diagnosis with stage four neuroblastoma. So far, he's doing well through stages of chemo and fighting hard. Finally, hubby's aunt passed away suddenly a week ago.

It's truly been a heart-breaking and emotionally exhausting few weeks. I am trying so hard to be thankful for everything I have, and to do all that I can to support those who are dealing with such terrible loss and pain at what should be the most wonderful time of the year. So send your positive thoughts, your prayers, or do whatever it is that you do, and make sure you say "Thank you" for all the good things in your own life.

Cute Moments from our DE trip

Just a few cute random shots from our trip last week. I've gotten behind on my posting and I wanted to get these out there.

Reading the directions to build birthday LEGOsHanging on Uncle Tim

Playing Mam-gu's harp
Playing the piano

Of course, I've got lots of other photos to post, so maybe today will be the day of many posts!!

Da Beach

It's Beach day!! And in the end, it was a great day. It was a good idea to postpone and wait, but it was hard to convince the kids of that.

We left my folks house after breakfast and started the 2-hour drive down-state. Yes, Delaware is the 2nd smallest state, but thanks to no interstate, it's still 2 hours to go 90 miles! Oh well. About 1/2 way there, Trevor decided he no longer wanted to go. After various stall tactics, and re-direction ideas, we gave up and told him he was SOL...we were going to the beach. Then the fit started. For a while we ignored it, but that didn't work as his screeches got louder.

Finally, I pulled over into a parking lot, took him out of the car, and told him he was welcome to stand and scream and have a fit for as long as he wanted. I would be waiting in the car. (Yes, he was safe...he was in a grassy fenced area, where he couldn't leave since I blocked him in with the car). He looked at me like I was crazy, and watched me walk to the car. When he realized I wasn't leaving, he decided he was done with the fit and calmed down, came over to me and apologized. And so we continued to drive to the beach...

Once we got there, you would never have guessed this kid didn't want to go to the beach. He, and his brother and parents, had a BLAST!! We met up with my long-time friend Linda, her husband, and family there. We waded, built castles, dug holes, went tubing, ate lunch, had ice cream, and just lounged around for the whole day. Steve spent a TON of time in the surf just enjoying the waves. It really made the whole trip feel like a true vacation!

Trevor covering himself in sand
Eating sandwiches on the beach
Blake as far in the water as he would go!
Trevor trying out tubing, like he saw Daddy and Ron do.
Trevor LOVED tubing!

Both kids slept the entire car ride home, but the of course, they wouldn't go to bed!!!

No Beach....Trains Instead!

Well, this morning dawned damp and rainy, so beach plans have been delayed. It was hard reasoning with the boys (when is it ever easy to reason with 2 kids under 5??), but eventually they were convinced that our alternate plans were just fine.... a old-fashioned steam rail road!!

We hit the road with Mam-gu and Pa-Hugh, and went to the Strasburg Rail Road in PA. We got to go on a 45-minute steam train ride through the GORGEOUS country side (gosh, I miss the hills and landscape of the East!). The boys thought the whole thing was a blast, seeing tons of old engines, carriages, and cabooses, as well as a few other train related paraphernalia! After the ride, we had a bite to eat, and checked out some attractions and the gift shop. They also had on display an 1898 Frick Steam Tractor. (My maiden name was Frick, so WAY cool). All in all a great day.

Mam-gu and Pa-Hugh on the train
Daddy and B pondering something. I now see the family resemblance of father and son (most days I have no idea who my kids look like!)
Trevor and Pa-Hugh enjoying the countryside.
Our beautiful steam engine.
Trevor powering the "cranky car".

Watching the Cagney train... the boys loved this tiny one!
My parents by the Frick Steam Engine!
Trevor and Blake riding in an Amish wagon, while Mam-gu added some ambiance by pretending to be a horse!!


After dinner (which included fabulous FRESH sweet corn...yay!), we decided to visit a few local parks. The kids were playing on the parks at the Elementary school where I went to Kindergarten and my brother went to 3rd grade (in between those years, they closed the school temporarily). I also spent many summer camps in the fields/forest by the school, and the boys even ran the bases on the ball field my brother spent so many years playing on. It was weird to realize all that, and to watch them reliving my childhood play areas.... weird, but cool!

After the park, it was off to Friendly's for ice cream. No trip out east is complete, for me, with out at least ice cream at Friendly's.... lots of fond childhood and high school memories include their ice cream. The boys loved their clown-face sundaes, and were thrilled to find tons of Reese's Pieces candy at the bottom of their sundae.... you'd think they never had ice cream!!

Tomorrow, the beach, take 2!!

Hello from DE!

We made it! We're in Delaware visiting my parents!

Yesterday was full of plane rides, 2 to be exact. Other than a small delay at the beginning the two flights were on-time, and the boys were pretty good. They LOVED watching other planes take-off, and they really liked our take-offs. Waiting to get off the plane....not so enjoyable! But since we were sitting at the back of the plane, we could watch the baggage get unloaded, and the plane get gas...pretty cool! Oh, and on the first trip, the very nice flight attendant arranged for us to visit the cockpit before we got off the plane. What a hit!






Once our second flight landed, it was off to car rental, and the drive-thru dinner on our drive to see Mam-gu and Pa-Hugh! The boys were super excited to get here, and didn't want to go to bed.....even tho it was about 10 pm eastern. I.e. WAY past bed-time. But eventually tiredness won out and sleep they did.

Today included, a walk around the block with Pa-Hugh, a random conversation with an old neighbor, birthday presents for Trevor and I, and a great BBQ with friends. At my request (thanks for accommodating me guys!), my group of friends out here (the Jesters) put together a casual BBQ get together. A large percentage of the group were there including 6 of the 7 kids of the group. They all played together really well, and the rest of us had lots to eat....great pie Tony!!! It was just a nice casual chance to hang-out with some good friends who I've known since college, but don't see very often at all! Thanks guys!!!

Tonight was birthday celebration number 2. Mam-gu made us (T & I) a cake, and we even got to sing and blow out candles. Cake and ice cream are always yummy.....I think Trevor is liking this multiple birthday celebrations too! (Oh, and he loves random birthday gifts-THANKS BETHER!!)


Tomorrow....it's off to the BEACH!!!!

Oh, and pictures come later, as I didn't pack the cord to upload them...oops!