Tea Party Dance

Spontaneous dance along to the tea pot song. Kelly loves to boogie down. It must be in the genes. Rory joined in.

Wally the Green Monster Dance

Kelly loves Wally, the Red Sox Green Monster, and walks around singing Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamonds song is a staple at Fenway). Thank you, Uncle Eric & Aunt Celeste, for sending her Wally! He's also represented via cardboard cutout in every Dunkin Donuts around here so she's constantly spotting him and thrilled.

Poop on the Potty!

She announced she had to poop, leaned up to the potty like Rory, so I put her on and wouldn't you know she actually pooped! She is 19 months old. Could it be possible that I could get her out of diapers by age 2???? A friend of mine said that if you catch them interested before 2 you can get them trained. Oh glory.

Food Stress

I have so much food preparation to do and I'm at work today instead of my usual home day...I hope all the stuff doesn't go bad!

1. Braise cabbage from CSA bag
2. Try Baby Back Ribs recipe
3. Cook apples we picked: Applesauce, freeze raw apple crisps (this involves cleaning out the freezer again. Must get an extra freezer!)
4. Make Potato/Leek soup
5. Do something with the bunch of kale from last weeks CSA bag

And, I have a new fruit share today with a case of tomatoes I ordered for roasting. Yes, I'm going to try again. The last time was such a disaster.

Fall DVR

My DVR is completely packed right now. Fall is when I feel like a complete loser. At least over the summer and Xmas time it's only premium channel shows (HBO, Showtime, AMC, Starz). Now, it's all channels! Sadly, we are up to date as well...

• Mad Men (AMC) - Just fantastic this year...Don is imploding. Not quite enough Betty for me though.
• Boardwalk Empire (HBO) - Like it so far, but it's not completely wow-ing me yet. I'll hang in there though. I like the cast, the set design and costuming are fantastic, and it roots from Scorcese and Sopranos writers.
• Dexter (Showtime) - Last year was so incredible...I couldn't wait for the opener this past Sunday and it didn't disappoint!!
• Weeds (Showtime) - It's definitely boring me as it did last year. For some reason, I haven't stopped watching, but it's the last choice on any given night.
• Eastbound & Down (HBO) - Should have started I think - I have to check that it taped. Great show. Trashy, but solid.
• Sons of Anarchy (FX) - In my top 3 - Love this show and it's been pretty exciting so far this year.
• Modern Family (ABC) - Good first episode!
• 30 Rock (NBC) - Good first episode!
• Office (NBC) - I watched this right after 30 Rock and had to admit that 30 Rock was ten times funnier. The Office is seriously waning. More Daryl, Kelly Kapur, and Dwight please.
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - I watch this on my own, so I have to find time to squeeze this in when Joe isn't home. I think I might have missed the last few eps last year.
• Grey's Anatomy (CBS) - Same here...I did watch the season opener when Joe was out the other night after watching last years finale just a week ago. Wow. Intense. This is totally a guilty pleasure. It's really such a soap opera.
• the League (FX) - This was pretty funny. A few people have recommended it so we watched it. Joe gets more of it since it's about Fantasy Football, but I like it too.

Taped, but just not interested in starting:

• Rubicon (AMC) - Seemed interesting, but I just haven't pulled the trigger.
• Terriers (FX) - Because it was on FX I taped it, but I guess I just don't care.

I'll probably delete both.

Got to get out to see The Town ASAP!!

Apple & Pumpkin Picking

On Sunday, we spent the day at Russell Orchards in Ipswich for a morning of Apple & Pumpkin picking. The trees were PACKED with fruit. We took a hayride out to the trees, picked for a bit, each ate an apple, played in the playground, visited all the animals (including a 1000 lb pig named Big Boy), ate donuts and cider, and head home pooped!

Rory and Kelly posing by the pumpkins. I love pictures of the kids with pumpkins.

Shelagh and Joe have been extra tight lately...I think the soccer coaching was an awesome idea (Shelagh does too!).

Time to make the donuts!! (Reminded me of that movie we watched in grade school showing how donuts were made. It had to be from the 50's or 60's).

Totally exhausted!

Farmers Market: More Food!

These are the gorgeous carrots and the heritage bacon I got from the Farmers Market at the end of August. The bacon was something like $11/lb, which is ridiculous, but it was fantastic.

Serious Star Wars

Rory set up all the "good guys" for some serious Star Wars playtime. Then, he explained the setup to Grammy.

Cool Fall Day

You'd never know that an hour earlier the kids stroller flipped over with me landing on top. Beautiful day and fun at the park!

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38

It's my birthday today and I'm officially 38 years old. It sounds so old when I type it, but I feel the same as yesterday. I think birthdays don't phase me anymore. Ask me again in 2 years...maybe I'll change my mind.

Joe and I had a beautiful dinner at Menton (Barbara Lynch's new restaurant in Boston that just got Top 10 best new restaurant in the US by Food & Wine) last Saturday with friends. We are attempting to get away this coming Saturday for a quick overnight in Maine - York, Ogunquit maybe? Other than that, I think I'll have Joe grab some take out chinese and hope he was kidding when he told the kids we were having broccoli cupcakes tonight (although honestly, I love broccoli).

I had my brother up for a quick visit this week and he and the kids had a really nice time together (Rory especially who had a Star Wars battle partner and got 2 new guys from Uncle Mike). He doesn't have kids and Joe and I were just talking about how different our perspectives on life and everyday living were pre-kids. I don't even remember...I really embrace getting older and feel wiser, more experienced, and more open to differences and change as I go.

Yeah me.

Narrowing Choices

I stumbled onto this picture on my phone when going through pics last weekend. This is the inside of the changing room at Marshalls. So simple, yet it made my day when I was trying on clothes and I could organize my stuff.

Then, I went out and tried on sunglasses only to poke myself in the eyeball with the security tag and render myself almost blind in one eye for a good 15 minutes. Why do they put those tags on the nosepiece?????

Possible Costume & Wa-Wa

Kelly insisted on playing dress up with Shelagh and her cousin, Ali, last weekend. I think this is a potential Halloween costume.

Also, Wally is a huge favorite (for the kids at least). Kelly walks around singing "Sweet Caroline" now...the "bum, bum, bum" part, that is.

Scorched Tomatoes

This totally didn't work out.

Joe & the Kids

Just a few shots of Joe and the kids that came out cute...

Tea Party

But isn't it all about the organizing and set up really? Shelagh prides herself on her skills. She is definitely my daughter.

They actually agreed to "arms around each other". This used to be no problem, but lately, with all the bickering, it hasn't seemed likely. Yeah!

Rory in a Dress, Oh My

I don't know how this happened, but it did. These will be worth money to him one day....hehe

Farmers Market: Fresh Pork Chops

I used the beautiful pork chops and leeks I got from the Farmers Market to make the Food & Wine recipe for Pork Chops with Leeks in Mustard Sauce. The recipe is not online yet. It was AWESOME. Delicious pork (should be at almost double the supermarket price for chops)! You let the pork sit with a salt/dry rub, cook some bacon, cook the pork in the bacon fat, cook the leeks in the pork & bacon fat, add some garlic and liquid and herbs and then cook the pork in the leeks like a braise. So, so good.

I'm Busy Reading, Mom

I read magazines at breakfast so Kelly must be wanting to do it too. I do not, however, lick my fingers to turn pages. Not sure where she got that one!

Shelagh Lost a Tooth!!

Who bites into a brownie and then swallows a tooth??? Shelagh! She started to freak out until some older girls at the pool reassured her that the tooth fairy would still come. She wrote her a letter explaining just in case.

By the way, the going rate for a first tooth came in at $3 with a nice pink ribbon tied around it.



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