We took the kids to Maine this weekend. It was to visit my college friends Lexi and Maureen, but ironically, we were going north and avoiding the snow. That sounds so weird to say!
We had a good time, visiting, going out to eat, shopping, etc. We went to the LL Bean store in Freeport, ME. I always forget just how big that place is, it's really a complex!
Another thing we did---we took the kids swimming in the hotel pool. They LOVED it and it wore them out. One of the things that they really like to do is jump off the side into the shallow end. they coaxed me to do it from the deep(er) end and I told them that I was trying not to get my hair wet.
As soon as I said it, I paused: "Did I really just say that? REALLY? Do I want to be that Mom? No. And so I jumped.
The cheers were worth it. The awkward SLAP against the water, was not. Nothing a little trip to the hot tub couldn't fix.
There. I'm still a cool mom. Thought we were slipping there a little bit.
Showing posts with label Salve. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Salve. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Blur
Things have been so busy lately, in a good way. It's been leases, and new tenants and all the busy things associated with being a property manager in a brand new building. Lots of kinks to work out but so far, I love it here and I think that the residents do too.
We all need a little fun, not "work work work" all the time. This past weekend, I went out with my college girlfriends for our annual "Salve Girls Night" trip. This year it was in Newport, and I had forgotten how much I love Newport! I hadn't been there in the summer since I was a kid, and it was certainly bustling with activity. It's always so great to see my friends, and I wish it could be more than once a year. This year we included kids (though mine stayed home) and made an afternoon of it. At the end of the day, we decided that it should be Newport every year. :)
Then on Saturday, it was a knitting retreat. I invited all of my knitting group friends to my mom and dad's cottage in Woodstock, CT. Three came down to spend the night with me and Mom, and we grilled dinner together and knit til midnight. The next day another person joined us and we had coffee and pastry by the lake and enjoyed some more knitting. It was so wonderful, knitting for hours, sleeping til waking naturally. I came home refreshed and relaxed.
And then WHAM! Back into another hectic week. Will started a kindergarten orientation program this week, and so far he loves it. Anxiety has not reared its ugly head, and this is a blissful thing. In fact, he's so thrilled with his "taste" of kindergarten that he's ready to make a whole meal of it. This was Nana's explanation to him when she picked him up yesterday, and I think that it's perfect. Sean is jealous of kindergarten and every morning tells me how much he'd rather go to kindergarten too. Poor buddy, wants to be just like his Bubby. They are certainly in such a hurry to grow up.
In a nutshell, things are crazy. It's a good crazy though.
We all need a little fun, not "work work work" all the time. This past weekend, I went out with my college girlfriends for our annual "Salve Girls Night" trip. This year it was in Newport, and I had forgotten how much I love Newport! I hadn't been there in the summer since I was a kid, and it was certainly bustling with activity. It's always so great to see my friends, and I wish it could be more than once a year. This year we included kids (though mine stayed home) and made an afternoon of it. At the end of the day, we decided that it should be Newport every year. :)
Then on Saturday, it was a knitting retreat. I invited all of my knitting group friends to my mom and dad's cottage in Woodstock, CT. Three came down to spend the night with me and Mom, and we grilled dinner together and knit til midnight. The next day another person joined us and we had coffee and pastry by the lake and enjoyed some more knitting. It was so wonderful, knitting for hours, sleeping til waking naturally. I came home refreshed and relaxed.
And then WHAM! Back into another hectic week. Will started a kindergarten orientation program this week, and so far he loves it. Anxiety has not reared its ugly head, and this is a blissful thing. In fact, he's so thrilled with his "taste" of kindergarten that he's ready to make a whole meal of it. This was Nana's explanation to him when she picked him up yesterday, and I think that it's perfect. Sean is jealous of kindergarten and every morning tells me how much he'd rather go to kindergarten too. Poor buddy, wants to be just like his Bubby. They are certainly in such a hurry to grow up.
In a nutshell, things are crazy. It's a good crazy though.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Moving Day
The Monday after vacation is always a doozy. Getting over the "I slept in every day and now I have to get up early are you kidding me?" feeling is unreal today. But it's Moving Day! Not my moving day, I am going nowhere. But tenants. I have tenants moving into the building today!
It's kind of like the first day of freshman year at college. You pull up a truck to the building, and family/friends help you move your stuff into your very first dorm room. After everything gets positioned and bags/boxes emptied, everyone says goodbye and good luck. Once the door closes, you have the sinking realization that you know no one, and feel alone. So what do you do? You wander into the hallway and start making friends. Or you head down to the cafeteria. Or you strike up a conversation with your roommate and find stuff to talk about. Bring your boxes and bags to the trash room and run into people who are looking to make friends just like you are.
Friday is the big annual "get-together" with my college girlfriends, and today I remember moving in that first day as I watch my new tenants come in with all their possessions and make friends. It's such a funny feeling, to watch these "freshmen", these "Original 30." Not that I'm signing 30 leases this week, just fourteen. ("JUST??" That's a lot in one week!)
It's kind of like the first day of freshman year at college. You pull up a truck to the building, and family/friends help you move your stuff into your very first dorm room. After everything gets positioned and bags/boxes emptied, everyone says goodbye and good luck. Once the door closes, you have the sinking realization that you know no one, and feel alone. So what do you do? You wander into the hallway and start making friends. Or you head down to the cafeteria. Or you strike up a conversation with your roommate and find stuff to talk about. Bring your boxes and bags to the trash room and run into people who are looking to make friends just like you are.
Friday is the big annual "get-together" with my college girlfriends, and today I remember moving in that first day as I watch my new tenants come in with all their possessions and make friends. It's such a funny feeling, to watch these "freshmen", these "Original 30." Not that I'm signing 30 leases this week, just fourteen. ("JUST??" That's a lot in one week!)
Sunday, November 13, 2011
(Knit) Girl's Night!
When I mentioned at knitting the other night that I was going to Maine to visit a college girlfriend of mine, the invariable first question was "Oh, is she a knitter?" Why yes, yes she is. She is a knitter because I "turned" her, kind of like vampires in True Blood. :) She came over to the dark side last summer when I taught her how to purl (she already knew the knit stitch) and Damn! The girl made scarves for her entire family, and is going to start her sixth pair of socks soon! I created a monster....one that loves to go and look at yarn and talk patterns with me. So this is obviously a win-win situation!
I made it up to Maine on Saturday afternoon, and we ventured to nearby Dover, NH for sushi and yarn shopping at her favorite local yarn store. (LYS for those in the know) The store's owner was very helpful and knowledgeable in their stuff, and I picked out some yarn that I will save up for to make myself a clapotis scarf. (I'm an instant-gratification kind of girl when it comes to yarn, so this is huge for me!) I figure if I'm going to spend like $80 for one project, it's got to be something that I will love and wear the hell out of!
On the way back to Maureen's apartment, we took a detour to Rochester, NH, where Brian and I lived for about a year while he was wrapping up his Naval career. The area had changed so much, I barely recognized it! Our old house had been sold again, and was being completely gutted. Since no one was around, I pulled into the driveway and we were super-nosy, peering in the windows from the car. It was so weird. Twelve years is a really long time, no? And nothing ever stays the same.
Later on, we met up with a good friend of Maureen's, for Mexican and Margaritas in Portland. Mexican and sushi in one day? Wow, that's awesome! And then after dinner we proved the old ladies that we have become and watched Bridesmaids while knitting...her working on a baby dress and me a red lace scarf for myself. I was shocked to see it was 1:00am when the movie was over and we hustled to bed. The morning found us winding sock yarn from a big, messy tangle and then heading out to breakfast. Then it was the drive back home.
What a perfect night away. I came home to both boys excited to see me, and a cleaned-up house. So now I feel recharged and ready to take on the (frantically busy) week!
I made it up to Maine on Saturday afternoon, and we ventured to nearby Dover, NH for sushi and yarn shopping at her favorite local yarn store. (LYS for those in the know) The store's owner was very helpful and knowledgeable in their stuff, and I picked out some yarn that I will save up for to make myself a clapotis scarf. (I'm an instant-gratification kind of girl when it comes to yarn, so this is huge for me!) I figure if I'm going to spend like $80 for one project, it's got to be something that I will love and wear the hell out of!
On the way back to Maureen's apartment, we took a detour to Rochester, NH, where Brian and I lived for about a year while he was wrapping up his Naval career. The area had changed so much, I barely recognized it! Our old house had been sold again, and was being completely gutted. Since no one was around, I pulled into the driveway and we were super-nosy, peering in the windows from the car. It was so weird. Twelve years is a really long time, no? And nothing ever stays the same.
Later on, we met up with a good friend of Maureen's, for Mexican and Margaritas in Portland. Mexican and sushi in one day? Wow, that's awesome! And then after dinner we proved the old ladies that we have become and watched Bridesmaids while knitting...her working on a baby dress and me a red lace scarf for myself. I was shocked to see it was 1:00am when the movie was over and we hustled to bed. The morning found us winding sock yarn from a big, messy tangle and then heading out to breakfast. Then it was the drive back home.
What a perfect night away. I came home to both boys excited to see me, and a cleaned-up house. So now I feel recharged and ready to take on the (frantically busy) week!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Annual Girls Night!
Every year my college girlfriends and I have a get-together, dinner and drinks and of course, lots of laughs. Last Friday was no exception in the laughs department. Old friends are the best! These four....they've been there for me through the years and I love our annual dinner. One of them later became my sister-in-law. :) There's reminiscing, and keeping up with what's gone on since the last time we got together. And then, there's the just plain silliness. Conversations about dead people and ghosts give us the giggles. ( Yes, caskets ARE available at Costco! Load your milk and gigantic bag of pretzels in the casket to take them into the house!) And when the waiter takes his sweet time coming back to the table to collect the bill...wellllll.......we didn't dine and dash but the thought crossed our minds!
Next year is going to be a bit different, we'll go on our first overnight! Wherever we end up better look out.....
Thanks for a great night, ladies!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wordless Wednesday: The One with the Stairwell
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Providence-Bound!
Today is going to be a great day! First, it's a half day of work for me. I'm always happy for that! And the work day will be capped at a birthday lunch at an Italian restaurant that I've always wanted to try!
Then, I'll get my long-anticipated books at the library. I went last night to return some, and apparently the budget has gone through and their hours have been cut, because they were closing just as I was getting there. But it's not as bad as other places, the town next to my parents had their library lose their accreditation. Which means no library books for that town, and they can't go to my hometown to use the library anymore. But that's another post, another time.
Then tonight, I'm meeting up with my girlfriends from Salve Regina! We call ourselves "Salve Girls" when referring to each other, like we're the only girls to ever come out of there. :) I haven't seen them since around this time last year. One is driving down from Maine, another is in from California for vacation, the rest live locally. It's going to be a lot of fun! Plus, we're going to the Cheesecake Factory in Providence, which I also adore. Awesome cheesecake and drinks, though no drinks for me this time around. Can't wait to see you, ladies!
Then, I'll get my long-anticipated books at the library. I went last night to return some, and apparently the budget has gone through and their hours have been cut, because they were closing just as I was getting there. But it's not as bad as other places, the town next to my parents had their library lose their accreditation. Which means no library books for that town, and they can't go to my hometown to use the library anymore. But that's another post, another time.
Then tonight, I'm meeting up with my girlfriends from Salve Regina! We call ourselves "Salve Girls" when referring to each other, like we're the only girls to ever come out of there. :) I haven't seen them since around this time last year. One is driving down from Maine, another is in from California for vacation, the rest live locally. It's going to be a lot of fun! Plus, we're going to the Cheesecake Factory in Providence, which I also adore. Awesome cheesecake and drinks, though no drinks for me this time around. Can't wait to see you, ladies!
Monday, December 29, 2008
A Weekend of Surprises
It just shows....you never know what things could be like and the simplest things could go wrong. So, as the Boyscouts say....be prepared!!
We were heading up to Maine on Saturday, for my friend Lexi's surprise baby shower. (I've written about her before, she's a near-and-dear friend from our days at Salve, and she's having her first child next month!) Will was comfy in the backseat, watching "Cars" and we were a hundred miles into the trip, with about eighty to go. We had also made hotel reservations in the area so we didn't have to make a return trip in the same day. Well...imagine OUR surprise when my car started to buck and vibrate!! We immediatley slowed down and it got a little less buck-y, and we were able to get to the next exit. Luckily we knew the area a bit since we had vacationed there a couple of years ago. I made some calls and found a Ford dealership, but it was eighteen miles away. (To anyone that says...why so many miles? This is Maine, people. There isn't a dealership on every corner like in MA!) So we drove slooooowwwllllyyy up Route One to the dealership, whom we had called ahead. They said that they were working with a skeleton crew that day, but were open til 4PM and would do what they could for us.
The dealer was amazing! Not only were they the nicest dealership I have ever encountered, they offered us sandwiches and use of their play area. They diagnosed the problem quickly (a misfiring cylinder) and had us out of there in a little less than two hours. They really made a rotten situation a little better! Had we been near home, all of the dealers would have been snarky about their Saturday hours and said that we would've had to wait until Monday.
Anyway, we ended up missing the shower. But we got to spend some one-on-one time with Lexi and her husband, which I think is even better!! Lexi loved her gifts from us, including the "Porn for New Moms" book that I found in North Carolina over the summer. (hilarious, any new moms should read for a laugh) Will certainly enjoyed playing with his racecars and Lexi's husband, Perry. Then it was a quick trip to our hotel room where we fell asleep fairly early in recovery from our "adventure." Next time I see Lexi she'll be a Mama!!
One of the best parts of this "adventure" is that Brian has decided that he can no longer make fun of me for knowing someone everywhere we go. I made two phone calls to friends in Maine and had the names and locations of a couple of dealerships, and if it came down to it, a place to stay the night!
We were heading up to Maine on Saturday, for my friend Lexi's surprise baby shower. (I've written about her before, she's a near-and-dear friend from our days at Salve, and she's having her first child next month!) Will was comfy in the backseat, watching "Cars" and we were a hundred miles into the trip, with about eighty to go. We had also made hotel reservations in the area so we didn't have to make a return trip in the same day. Well...imagine OUR surprise when my car started to buck and vibrate!! We immediatley slowed down and it got a little less buck-y, and we were able to get to the next exit. Luckily we knew the area a bit since we had vacationed there a couple of years ago. I made some calls and found a Ford dealership, but it was eighteen miles away. (To anyone that says...why so many miles? This is Maine, people. There isn't a dealership on every corner like in MA!) So we drove slooooowwwllllyyy up Route One to the dealership, whom we had called ahead. They said that they were working with a skeleton crew that day, but were open til 4PM and would do what they could for us.
The dealer was amazing! Not only were they the nicest dealership I have ever encountered, they offered us sandwiches and use of their play area. They diagnosed the problem quickly (a misfiring cylinder) and had us out of there in a little less than two hours. They really made a rotten situation a little better! Had we been near home, all of the dealers would have been snarky about their Saturday hours and said that we would've had to wait until Monday.
Anyway, we ended up missing the shower. But we got to spend some one-on-one time with Lexi and her husband, which I think is even better!! Lexi loved her gifts from us, including the "Porn for New Moms" book that I found in North Carolina over the summer. (hilarious, any new moms should read for a laugh) Will certainly enjoyed playing with his racecars and Lexi's husband, Perry. Then it was a quick trip to our hotel room where we fell asleep fairly early in recovery from our "adventure." Next time I see Lexi she'll be a Mama!!
One of the best parts of this "adventure" is that Brian has decided that he can no longer make fun of me for knowing someone everywhere we go. I made two phone calls to friends in Maine and had the names and locations of a couple of dealerships, and if it came down to it, a place to stay the night!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Road Trip!!
I went to visit my friend Lexi from college! Brian and I had talked about this a couple of months ago, and he was happy to have me go while he and Will got to have some guy time. And no, when I got home, amazingly Will couldn't belch the alphabet and there weren't a lot of dishes. Had it been hockey season though.....Will probably would have been able to cuss out a referee when I got home. Which is a useful skill, actually. :)
I actually had forgotten a little bit what it's like to travel by yourself! I packed a bag and was flabbergasted that I didn't have more stuff to bring with me. I felt so light and free, no pack and play, no DVD player, no making sure I had snacks, juice, sippies and diapers and Heaven forbid, Brown Doggie. Just me on the open road, blasting my iPod at will. And since we got back from North Carolina last week, my trip to Maine makes it ten states covered in a week's time!
For those that remember (or not), Lexi is my refreshingly honest, fun and funky, tell-it-like-it-is girlfriend from Salve. If you ask her for her honest opinion she will surprisingly give it to you. She has a log cabin in her hometown that she shares with her husband, a state trooper and her German Shepherd. Oh, and Lexi is pregnant with her first child, a boy, to be born this winter. Her husband was away so we actually met up at the Baby Mecca, Babies 'R Us. That store is daunting for many, but I helped guide her through, past the crap that the baby world wants you to get sucked into and to the stuff you'll really need. (And though I've said it before, Thank You to all of my girlfriends who helped me at my time of confusion! You've helped make me the savvy mom that I am...) After BRU we headed to a Mexican restaurant in Portland for a late lunch, then up to the cabin. I played flashlight tag with her dog Rufie, who is the hap-hap-happiest pup I have ever met! We had an ice cream dinner at her parent's ice cream shop (check out Blue Plate Special for details on that) and then watched craptastic TV about speeders and criminal drivers until we felt sleepy.
Now is the time that I should mention the rain. Oh my goodness...the rain! It was like a monsoon, it rained hard from 7pm till 6am this morning. I should know....Lexi has a metal roof. It's quite a noise, but it put me to sleep. Till it stopped raining and I woke right up. Lex has a kiddie pool for Rufie out in the yard. When I got there it was empty....and when we went out for breakfast this morning it was totally full!
Thanks for a wonderful time, Lexi. Since our schedule is usually see each other once a year....next time I see you you'll be a mom! And you will be a great one, I already know.
I actually had forgotten a little bit what it's like to travel by yourself! I packed a bag and was flabbergasted that I didn't have more stuff to bring with me. I felt so light and free, no pack and play, no DVD player, no making sure I had snacks, juice, sippies and diapers and Heaven forbid, Brown Doggie. Just me on the open road, blasting my iPod at will. And since we got back from North Carolina last week, my trip to Maine makes it ten states covered in a week's time!
For those that remember (or not), Lexi is my refreshingly honest, fun and funky, tell-it-like-it-is girlfriend from Salve. If you ask her for her honest opinion she will surprisingly give it to you. She has a log cabin in her hometown that she shares with her husband, a state trooper and her German Shepherd. Oh, and Lexi is pregnant with her first child, a boy, to be born this winter. Her husband was away so we actually met up at the Baby Mecca, Babies 'R Us. That store is daunting for many, but I helped guide her through, past the crap that the baby world wants you to get sucked into and to the stuff you'll really need. (And though I've said it before, Thank You to all of my girlfriends who helped me at my time of confusion! You've helped make me the savvy mom that I am...) After BRU we headed to a Mexican restaurant in Portland for a late lunch, then up to the cabin. I played flashlight tag with her dog Rufie, who is the hap-hap-happiest pup I have ever met! We had an ice cream dinner at her parent's ice cream shop (check out Blue Plate Special for details on that) and then watched craptastic TV about speeders and criminal drivers until we felt sleepy.
Now is the time that I should mention the rain. Oh my goodness...the rain! It was like a monsoon, it rained hard from 7pm till 6am this morning. I should know....Lexi has a metal roof. It's quite a noise, but it put me to sleep. Till it stopped raining and I woke right up. Lex has a kiddie pool for Rufie out in the yard. When I got there it was empty....and when we went out for breakfast this morning it was totally full!
Thanks for a wonderful time, Lexi. Since our schedule is usually see each other once a year....next time I see you you'll be a mom! And you will be a great one, I already know.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Friday Fun!
We had a great day today. First, Karen came to visit and brought her kids to play with Will, and Auntie Moe came over too! The kids all had a fantastic time coloring and playing with Will's toys while the three of us caught up on each other's lives for the past few years and reminisced a bit about good old Salve Regina. Will had a great time with Julianna and Kevin, and was sad to see them go! I have to also say that Kevin was soooooo cute, with the way he copied his Mama saying "Hello Little Man" to Will and giving him hugs!
Later on came the best part....meeting up at the Cheesecake Factory with a few more Salve girls...Shannon and Kim! Add drinks, dinner and of course cheesecake, and it was a night to remember. Thanks for such a fun time girls, hopefully we get to do it again sometime!!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Rainy-Day Music Man
Will and I are hanging out at home the next couple of days, as our daycare provider is on vacation. Today I brought out a music set to have something different to play with. My boy plays a mean maraca! The set has a snare drum too, but sadly, we can't find the sticks. Maybe not SO sadly!
We're stuck in the house the next couple of days unfortunately. It's going to rain quite a bit, and also we have a contractor coming in to insulate our attic. There's not a whole lot of insulation up there, and that makes for not only chilly winters, but really hot and humid summers. Oftentimes, it can be bearable outside and totally unbearable inside because the heat doesn't really have anywhere to go. I've learned a bit in the past few weeks about insulation and energy savings. Hoping this job makes our oil bill just a little more tolerable during the winter months!!
This Friday is going to be a lot of fun! I'm meeting some college girlfriends for a "Salve Girls Night" in Providence. Good food, good drinks, good times! I haven't seen a couple of them in a few years!
We're stuck in the house the next couple of days unfortunately. It's going to rain quite a bit, and also we have a contractor coming in to insulate our attic. There's not a whole lot of insulation up there, and that makes for not only chilly winters, but really hot and humid summers. Oftentimes, it can be bearable outside and totally unbearable inside because the heat doesn't really have anywhere to go. I've learned a bit in the past few weeks about insulation and energy savings. Hoping this job makes our oil bill just a little more tolerable during the winter months!!
This Friday is going to be a lot of fun! I'm meeting some college girlfriends for a "Salve Girls Night" in Providence. Good food, good drinks, good times! I haven't seen a couple of them in a few years!
Sleepy Music Man. I LOVE how he's holding onto the toy dangling from his crib mirror!
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