Lazy Saturday

  It's almost time for me to go to work and I still haven't even gotten dressed. That's the type of day I had in mind when I got up this morning... my kids had a different plan. Why is that they are content to do nothing when they are home with Daddy, but if Mommy's home we need to actually DO something?? This is definitely the unanswered question in my house.
  So I was able to watch a few minutes of "Me or the Dog" when Phoebe plopped her Cake Bakery kit on my lap. This is one of the gifts that Santa thought would be a great idea. Why, oh why, doesn't Santa ever actually think through the whole gift selection thing? He always seem to think about what the kids would most want and NOT about how much of the activity would actually involve mommy. lmao! Next year, there will be a lot more "independent" gifts under the tree... of course, I always say that.
  So with the box on my lap, I was able to buy a little time claiming that I needed to read the instructions. It seemed pretty simple. Add some water, throw the batter into the little shapes and microwave for 30secs. Then add some water to the fondant, mix, roll out and place on the cake. No Problem! HA!
  So the cakes were mixed, cooked, and cooling on the table. Now the kiddos picked the white, pink and yellow fondants. I added the water and tried to mix. This process was NOT going well. We had to add a little more water. Then a little powdered sugar cuz the 2 freaking drops were too many... 25mins later I had a 1-2inch ball of fondant of each of the colors. Then we started to roll it out. It looked good... until we tried to pick it up off the mat.
  I was trying sooo hard to keep my wits about me, because today is also the first day that I've had to start decreasing my coffee intake. Apparently, a pot a day on a empty stomach, isn't good for you. So I got to start with Prilosec today and will be scheduling an Upper GI and ultrasound this week. Not cool!
  After a LOT of struggling and a few tears... from me. We were able to finish the cakes. I was responsible for covering the actually cake and the kids decorated the rest all by themselves... tada... The faces of the happy artists. BTW - if Food Network is reading... they are both training so that they can have a cake show when they get older!!! You can't make this stuff up :)

Payton and her master piece!

Phoebe with her mini layer cake :)

We Shall Be Free

Garth Brooks - We Shall Be Free

Another year older

 

Yesterday was my 35th Birthday. Yup... I am officially half way done with my 30's. I think it's funny because I don't feel like I've done enough. I feel like I should be somewhere more... I have the house and the hubby, the kids, the dog and the hamster. I have a career. I'm on the PTO and helping run my husband's campaign. I've managed to learn how to cook, to do some basic cosmetic stuff in the house, even started taking care of the yard... but today I realized why I've been feeling like I should be doing something else. Like something else should be done.

I actually figured it out today. I never thought that I would ever be in the this much debt. UGH!! I mean, it's not the "bad" debt that the collection people are calling us at all hours of the night to track down. It's mortgage, student loans (undergrad AND grad school), cars, and the monthly bill for the kids tuition. It's just non-stop. 

We have a plan and we're working towards getting everything done and gone, but right now, I wish we could do more. I wish we could bring the kids to Disney, like so many of our friends. I wish that Henry didn't have to work the second job. BUT then I realized something else. I was looking at my Positivity bracelet that I got from Laura over at Piece of Cake, and realized that there has to be a better way to look at this situation. Our kids watch us everyday working to do what needs to be done. They see us doing the right thing and understand that if you want money, you need to work hard. 

I also realized that love is all you really need... and I have PLENTY of that. I have the most loving husband. He is truly the man of my dreams. My world revolves around my kids and I would do anything for them. For all of this I am truly blessed. So what more could I ask for, right... oh yeah...

Finally finishing a project... almost!

I thought I was done with this project... I really did, but when I was taking the pics just now, I realized I have one step left to finish. Man oh man, I really do have something against completing things, huh?

Anyway, this is the project I did yesterday. It was not on my initial list OR my added to list. BUT I have wanted to do this project since the very first day I moved into this house. This is what you would see when you walked into the front hallway of the house...

scary, isn't it?

The shag carpeting greets you.

I told a friend that I would check out a local store to see if they had any bikes. It just happened to have a serious lack of bikes, but I did find these...

 They were perfect!! AND made in the USA!! So I had to rip off all of that disgusting carpet, pull up all the tacks, and wash it down. It would have been much better if I sanded and refinished the steps, but come on... that would take time and MORE money. Did I mention that this project cost me just $20. I was more than excited about that part... hehe

This is the view from the top of the stairs. I should have gotten a before pic to compare, but I realized that I should be taking pics only after I had taken half of that nasty runner off. Hey, better late than never, right?

When Payton saw the new carpet tiles, she told me "Mommy, now we need new walls!". Thanks, Kiddo.  I can always count on my kids to help me out. I am debating on finishing this entire hallway up in time to have the family over for Easter. Not sure if it's possible, but I already have the paint and spackle. I even have the frosting kit for the front window. I would have to spend about $30 to install 2 new ceiling lights and put a welcome mat at the front door.

I cannot believe how good it looks!! I kept getting up and looking down the stairs last night... hehe :)

See, isn't it beautiful??

Adding to my list...

I've been doing projects in my house since we moved in. Thank God I was blessed with such an understanding husband. He loves me even with the house half finished in just about every room!

I started working in the front hallway, and no I haven't taken down the wallpaper OR painted like I was supposed to. Actually, I am working backwards. Payton actually came in and said "Mommy, now we need new walls". That's how bad my hallway is... my 4yr old can see it! lol

Anyway, I will be posting pics soon :) Guess you are going to have to keep reading... hehe

One of those days... again...

 

Baby, now that I've found you I won't let you go.

 

Time in a Bottle

My Bestfriend

 Imagine

 

Wishing and Hoping

 

Butterfly Kisses

 

Independent Love Song

 

Outside Looking In

Each of these has a special place in my life and heart. I'm not going to explain each one, but just picture wedding day, kids, love, college and life. It's amazing how much music can transport you somewhere. How it can make you realize how much time has passed. How it can put you right back into the very moment you where when you listened to it originally. This is my little journey for the day. Did it remind YOU of anything?

I love food!!

No, seriously. I LOVE food!

Chocolate
    Ice Cream
          Pork
             Chinese
                  Pizza
                     Sushi
                         Breakfast!
                             Pasta....
            FOOD!!

It's funny. People ask me what my favorite restaurant is and I can never figure it out. I can tell you what my favorite Chinese place is, or pizza place, or my favorite fast food, ice cream, or burger joint... but a favorite restaurant?? I don't have one.

I have my husband and he is a chef.
He is an AMAZING chef!
A Certified Executive Chef actually.

He can whip me up something Iron Chef style anytime I want... I am a lucky girl :) Tonight, I called him and asked if I can have seared scallops accompanied by cheese ravioli tossed in a roasted red pepper pesto... and when I got home... ta da! Dinner! Told ya I was lucky.

Well, there are other perks that come with Chef Hubby's skills in the kitchen. We get to go to cool stuff like Food Shows and Tastings and American Culinary Federation Dinners... oh my. Last night just so happened to be one of those times. My mom watched the kids, we got dressed all cute and headed to The Celestial Cafe in Exeter, RI. The people were amazing, so conversation was not short... neither was the food.

Cocktail Hour

Grilled local oysters drizzled with a smoked Ledge Ends chili 

and balsamic reduction topped with micro basil.

Carpenter Farm butternut squash made into a wonton filled with 

Narragansett Creamery ricotta and drizzled with a Rhody Fresh cream 

with Ledge Ends Produce organic garlic.

Local Kenyon Grist Mill johnny cakes topped with hummus, fresh hand cut salsa 

and Narragansett Creamery sharp cheese, then well baked.

Tender sliced Maple Leaf Farm duck breast seared to perfection, rolled in an egg 

roll wrapper with bok choy, S&P Gardiner onions, Ledge Ends Produce carrots, 

Laurel Hill micro greens, and drizzled with a ginger peanut Thai sauce.

 

Dinner

Schartner’s Farm native winter squash, S&P Gardiner roasted red peppers, winter 

spice, and a splash of Amaretto almond liquor.

Baby greens tossed with a Sakonnet red wine vinaigrette and topped with 

Reynolds’s Farm goat cheese, candied Green Farm cranberries,  South County 

Apiary honey and Cajun tossed nuts.

Filet wrapped in a homemade piecrust dusted with a smoked sea salt and served 

with an organic mushroom mix including Shitake mushrooms from Farming Turtle 

Farm, served with garlic whipped S&P Gardiner potatoes and sautéed Ledge Ends 

Produce organic greens.

 

Chef's Choice of Dessert

Local apples from Barden Family Orchard flambéed with rum and South County 

Apiary honey then served over Celestial’s frozen custard made with Pat’s 

Pastured egg yolks, and Rhody Fresh cream.

~AND~

A warm flourless chocolate cake topped with a scoop of homemade gelato ice cream 

made from Pat’s Pastured eggs and Rhody Fresh cream.

Oh and did I mention they even did a wine pairing for each course? Yeah, I'm a big girl now and I drink wine... lol. I remember back in the day when I thought that Arbor Mist counted! All in all it was a great night, with great food, great people, and most importantly... my hubby ;) I love that guy!

So, all in all, after racking my brain, I have to admit that my favorite place to eat is my dining room. I love having breakfast every morning with my kiddos before school. I love coming home to dinner at night. I can't resist a dinner, cocktail, super bowl, pastry... you name it, PARTY... in our place. 

It's the best restaurant in town!

Spring might actually be here?

Today my mom and decided to pack the kids up and go for a walk around Buttonwood Park Zoo. They got dressed, hair done, wagon in the car, Rebel on a leash... we were set!

Then I realized that there was a 5K there that day. I was bummed at first because we missed it. I was ssoooo going to run it again this year, but thought it was next weekend. Oh well. Then I was bummed because parking was INSANE! We found a spot and headed out.

The kids didn't want to walk. Rebel didn't want to walk.

This wasn't the walk I had imagined.

I ended up pulling 2 kids around the first half of the park. Then my mom took over, so I kicked Phoebe out. There was no way she was going to be able to pull both of them.

Then we made them switch I kicked Payton out. About 5 feet into her walk she decided that her feet were too tired to move, so she wiped out... I was less than sympathetic. These are the kids that run around insanely on the playground. Seriously, this is only a 2 mile-ish walk around the entire park.

So we decided to race. They liked that, but Rebel was very against this idea and I ended up dragging the little guy. Once again - not the walk I had imagined :(

I am hoping that if we do this little by little, they might actually get in shape? Of course, if they keep riding in the wagon, my ass is going to look amazing!! LMAO  I could totally feel the burn in my hamstrings and glutes! Maybe this lazy kid thing does have a perk... but I'm still gonna kick em out :)

Saturday Morning Music

Over at Piece of Cake, Laura has been posting what she's been listening to on Saturday morning. I like it because then I get to check out some new stuff. I already loved the song she posted today, but had to listen to it 2 or 3 times anyway. I'm cool like that! lol

This morning, we woke up, ate, and ran out of the house so I could cover the Freshman Softball game. The kids came with me which is cool because they are finally at the age where I don't freak out if they aren't right with me. Which is very helpful by the way, especially when an injury occurs and I do actually have to do my job. Anyway, about 45 mins into the game I realized that we had forgotten to sign Phoebe up for Soccer :(

I am seriously never going to earn the "Mom of the Year" award... EVER!!

This is the first team we were ever signing her up for and I completely forgot about it. I also forgot to pack snacks for my kids... which is a VERY bad thing.

Trust me... it was frustrating when Payton was crying that she was starving even though she had just eaten 2 1/2 hrs earlier. BUT not nearly as frustrating as it was when she started screaming... and I mean SCREAMING from about 50yds away, because there was a bug on her. Yeah, everyone was looking to see if she was missing an appendage or something. Then Phoebe started screaming an crying because she saw the bug on Payton!! It was a little bug... a moth or something. It was awful.

Well, hubby came and delivered some food and beverages. Isn't he the best :) Then he headed out to pick up the recumbent bike I found for him on Craiglist. I love that site... I really do. He's been losing weight too, which is very helpful this time around on Weight Watchers. I mean, he's always been supportive and my mom lives downstairs and is on the program, but I still felt a little alone. So when he said that's the piece of equipment he wanted, I started searching.

We already have a treadmill, elliptical, and punching bag in the basement, but we don't use any of them because they're in the basement. I wish I could get rid of the playroom and turn it into a workout room. That would be sooo cool, but seriously, the whole room would fit like 2 pieces of equipment and it would be full.

So the bike is parted in the middle of my double parlor next to the bar... lol. It's pretty ironic actually. I've decided that we definitely have too much stuff but I don't know how to get rid of any of it. I think I have to take a serious inventory and figure it all out. I don't know. Anyway, I started with the music... and in the car we got to listen to the kids music. I know a lot of people don't do this but I let them get their time too. Here is one of their favorites...

  789 by the Barenaked Ladies

One of those days...

Remember that cute little hamster I told you about a week ago, Caramel? Well, she escaped last night. Yup... one of those days.

Now I get to tell my kiddos that they hamster is gone again!! 2 times in 8 days. Is that some sort of record? At least this one didn't just die. Maybe I can tell them she went back home or something. Think they'll believe it? I think I'm not going to say anything yet. We'll see if they notice...

*** Update - The hamster HAS BEEN FOUND!! lol
She is now confined to a single cage without any of the attachments... at least until she grows a little and can't fit through the damn slots! Man, the kids were bummed. I was a mess. I have this need to be in control and she is determined to prevent that. Phew - I'm hoping this was the first AND last time. No more hamsters after this. EVER!! 

Songs that keep me going right now...

This is the song the kids and I listen to on the way to school, almost every day. I love this song. Payton LOVES this song and sings it at the top of her little lungs! I love that kid. This was the only song on the entire workout playlist my brother made me, that I NEEDED on it. The only one I wanted on it. 

Then you have "Burning Heart" by Survivor. This one is written about 2 men duking it out in the ring, fighting for their country. I have to admit though, I think it goes a little deeper now. You can pretty much use it as the USA's theme song. Man, I love my country :)

And then the song that I have set at about 28mins on my 5K training playlist... it goes me pumped and running like crazy! BTW - It took me FOREVER to come up with this song. I listen to Cat Country 98.1 all of the time... lmao

Beacons in Life...

I never ever bring up religion... ever! Most of my life I've walked this line of belief, non-belief, unsure. I don't know how to explain it. I've always known there is something greater, something better, definitely something smarter than us out there. I mean, seriously, this can't be it - right?

Well, I was baptized catholic and made First Communion in the catholic church... all alone, in a BIG catholic church. Unfortunately, the day the rest of the my class made First Communion, I had developed the chicken pox. This meant that as soon as I was better, I got walk that aisle alone (my big brother said he'd already done it, and was NOT going up there with me). Great!

I don't remember going up to the altar, although, we have pictures. I just remember sitting in the pew and then being called to go up there alone. It was daunting. Oh well, I got over it. From that point, my grandmother would come over our house every Thursday night and teach us CCD. She had the books and we were assigned homework and readings. Most of which, I didn't do. I wasn't a great student at school and to be assigned MORE homework by Nana... seriously??

As a family, we didn't stay in the Catholic Church because both my mom and my stepfather had been married previously and obviously, had children. The priest would only marry them if they were both willing to get annulments, which they refused, so we moved on.

This brings us to some of my fondest memories... St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Dartmouth, MA. Our reverend was Rev. Ben. He was an amazing man. He made it fun. I was in the choir and helped with the coffee hours. I was even an acolyte. I helped set up the altar for the masses, prepared the readings (ok... put the bookmark) filled the bowls and pitchers. It was fun and I loved to listen to Rev. Ben speak. It made sense. At least in church.

I never really understood the whole prayer thing. I mean, when I was in 3rd grade, I moved to Dartmouth from Fall River and got picked on. I prayed that it would stop, but it didn't... not for a while. Then I made a friend and she had tattered clothes and wore her shoes on the wrong feet and was never really clean. I prayer every night for her. I still remember sitting in bed begging that she wouldn't get picked on the next day. I prayed that maybe her parents would help her, the teachers, someone. But nothing happened.

I started to think that the whole religion thing, God, all of it was a scam. And I declared myself an "Atheist"! Which ended up making my grandmother cry. Sorry. I just didn't know what to think. He wasn't helping, was he?! I was angry. I kept seeing it happen over and over. I was bullied on the bus in middle school. Then I made a friend in 8th grade that was in a foster family. She would sneak clothes and make-up to school because she wasn't allowed to wear that type of stuff. We all knew, if her parents ever found out, she was "gonna get it".

How could my grandparents "know" there was something out there if this was the type of stuff that happened to people?? Why bother?? I went through the motions, and made confirmation at St. Peter's. Rev Ben moved to Florida, I think... and the new Reverend seemed significantly more concerned about the amount of money going into the basket. She didn't really talk to us anymore. She just "was". And we stopped going.

At this point, I realized that there probably was something. God, Budda, something, but didn't really care. I discovered the word "Agnostic". So when I got engaged and my husband said he wanted to get married in the church, I said "why not". I signed a form saying we would raise our children in word of the Catholic Church. We were married. We didn't go to church, we were pregnant... then it happened.

I had a baby. I looked at this little blessing and realized that there HAD to be a God. There had to be something. There was no way this could happen without something amazing. I wanted to go to church but the one we were married in was HUGE!! Even bigger than the one I had to walk in alone for First Communion. I wanted a church that people knew each other and chatted. I wanted to get that feeling that I had when Rev. Ben would speak.

We started going to Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and I love Father Bob. He is so nice and open. He high fives the kiddos as he goes down the aisle at the opening of mass. We see friends and neighbors, and know some of the people that you say "God be with you" to. lol. I feel better after mass. I feel like we're doing the right thing. We are raising our girls the way they should be raised. But I still have a problem... I have never received communion at the church because I have not reconfirmed myself to the church. I have not gone to confession. It scares me.

Now, don't get me wrong; I haven't killed anyone or done anything really bad, but it terrifies me. I also am quite sure still why it is, I can tell this mortal man my sins, my thoughts, etc and he can "forgive" me. I am still in the mindset of a conversation between me and God. I guess I need to have a chat with Father Bob, huh? lol

Well, we are in the middle of becoming official parishioners and making arrangements for my girls to be baptized and preparing Phoebe for CCD so she can make First Communion with her class... in a church that she is welcome and comfortable in. We say our prayers together each night and although I know His job isn't to change the things that happen around us, I know that we are changing as people, because of him, and I'm ok with that.

Weight Loss Challenge Update

I'm going to be honest... I have another blog all about weight loss and healthy recipes, etc, but I can't keep up with both, so I'm going to merge them. Basically, I'm just going to do ALL of my rambling and posting on here, if that's ok with you :)

So this morning was another weigh in at WW. I knew that I had to have lost something, but my scale at home hasn't been the most accurate lately.  It's probably time for a new one soon. Oh well. Anyway, as usual, I woke up and got the kids set and off to school. Then I have to wait another hour and half before I can go weigh in. Now, during this period, I don't eat or drink and I go searching for my lightest clothes... lmao. OK, maybe it would be more funny if it wasn't actually true, but hey that's my system.

I got there, waited in line and climbed on the scale. I lost 3.4lbs!! Go me :) I'll take it. That puts me at 158.4lbs now... down about 55lbs at WW or 65lbs from my heaviest, which sadly enough, wasn't while I was pregnant. I want to drop another 25 but my hubby thinks that too much. Well, have to see. I'm incorporating exercise again now so I'm hoping the results will start showing more in terms of inches. I will keep you posted!

Oh... and I'll leave you with a recipe.

Pizza Bubble-up Casserole

1 - 1 1/2 pound 96% lean ground beef
2 t. onion powder or 1 onion, chopped
16 oz. tomato sauce (or spaghetti sauce... Hunt's with Sausage is very low in fat and ROCKS!!)
1/2 t. dried basil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 t. Italian seasoning
Veggie Toppings (mushrooms, peppers, olives, any of your favorites – BE CREATIVE)
17 slices Turkey Pepperoni (optional)
15 oz. refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1 1/4 c. part skim milk mozzarella cheese, shredded 
salt and pepper to taste (add while browning)
 
Preheat oven to 350 F. In skillet, saute the garlic and onion in a little oil. Then add the meat over medium heat with the dried seasonings until browned, stirring to crumble. Stir in onion powder or onion, tomato sauce, basil, garlic and Italian seasoning.

Add veggies (mushrooms, peppers, black olives, etc…whatever you like) and pepperoni. Add cut up biscuits; stir gently until biscuits are covered with sauce. Pour the mixture into a sprayed 9x13 inch baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese, and bake an additional 10 minutes or until biscuits are done. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. 

 My kids LOVED this! Payton didn't event want to try it and then ended up going for seconds. I prepared the mixture and poured it into the casserole dish in the morning and put it in the fridge so hubby could just throw it in the oven when he got home. It worked out great!

Getting to the Finish Line

I have been on the weight loss journey most of my life and it definitely has its ups and downs. Right now I'm signed up for not one, but TWO weight loss challenges. You'd figure that this will help me get to my goal. I'm thinking it might be working. I think the bigger factor is that for the very first time, my hubby and I are doing it together.

Most of the people I hang out with right now never knew me back when I was "big". They kind of chuckle when I say I used to be an chunka or an Umpa Lumpa. It's weird because even when I was big, I never felt that way. I always thought I was a little chunky. I was always strong and I was able to do most of the exercises I was having my athletes do... just not as many! lol. But I was confident. Now, 65lbs less I actually have a complex when I get dressed.

It's so frustrating to have the muffin top with even the loosest pants. I had toned up quite a bit when I was working with my trainer, but ended that last summer. I know what I need to do. I create programs to get other people in shape. Actually, just finished one for some of the Lacrosse/Football players, that would do exactly what I want to do, but have I done it? Not once! Oh well, maybe this will light a fire under my butt... This is me at my starting weight of 223lbs!! Yuck! Not what I ever want to see again. Gonna go workout now!

What I've been up to...

Shrimp and Veggie Lo Mein

 The last post, I was able to talk about the Chinese food and could NOT for the life of me find the pics I took. Weird, I know... lol, but I found them!! Don't these egg rolls look yummy?? They tasted even better and the lo mein totally ROCKED!! You have to check out the recipes and make them immediately :) I didn't have any leftovers. OK, I had about 1oz of seaweed salad (out of 1lb) and a few cups of egg drop soup. I think the meal was a complete success and will definitely be making all of these recipes again.

Shrimp Egg Rolls

Phoebe was in a play. It was Annie Jr. She was an orphan. You would not believe how excited she was to be dirty. Really! When they started rehearsal, the director told them that they needed some old clothes, ripped tights, scuffed shoes, messed hair and dirty faces. She came home sooo excited. She said "Mommy, we need to mess our hair and then they're going to put dirt on our faces!! Mommy, I've been waiting my whole life to be dirty!!" I'm not sure but I think that means I've been doing my job :)

 I'm not sure I mentioned this, but I was on a committee for the school, to help organize a Father-Daughter Dance. It was Saturday night. It was a HUGE success! The school hasn't had a dance in many years and  this was a "trial" to see if people would be open to it and if we could pull it off. Needless to say, we are already discussing the possibility for a Welcome Back to School Dance for the beginning of the year, for ALL students! Keeping my fingers crossed!

Payton's Cinderella Dress

 

Phoebe's Princess Dress

These are the dresses that the girls picked out on themselves. Notice the "high heel" shoes. That was a must have item. Payton specifically told me "Mommy, I NEED high heels for my dress!" Do you think I'm giving them a bad impression? Come on, seriously, who can really blame me for completing an outfit (a "going out outfit") with heels?? I'm only 5'2 and a half. Hey at the doctor's the other day, they added the half, so can I.

 

We also had a sleepover the other day. This little kiddo has such a special place in my heart. She's pretty much my niece... and we LOVE having her over. She just fits in so well :) They all had to get dressed up and then pose for a bunch of pics. This is one of my favorites... hehe. My little princesses. I think I might actually miss this when they get older - and I don't say that much. 

 We had a little tragedy this past week. After only 9 months, Sparkles passed away. I went to feed her Wednesday night and wasn't greeted by a happy, hungry little hamster as usual. So I tapped a little, called her, and then searched. She was in her "bed". OK - so maybe I should explain about the searching. Our hamster was SPOILED... she had 2 cages connected by the tubing with satellite pods and wheels. She had a lot of space to play. 

Anyway, she was not moving... and I cried... a LOT. I'm really pathetic. I get VERY attached to things. I cry at those commercials for the humane society and hate hate hate those youtube clips about poaching and pretty much anything else about animal abuse. It's awful. So the next morning we broke it to the kids. Payton was fine until she saw Phoebe crying and then she got a little sad. Momentarily, anyway. It did not take her long to look up with those sad little eyes and say "But mommy, we can buy a NEW hamster!!", to which Phoebe agreed. So welcome our new member... Caramel:

    

 Oh, and here are some more pics of the Father - Daughter Dance!!

And finally, My hubby is running for City Council. I am so proud of him! He's got so much heart and has the needs of our community on his mind all of the time. Actually, as I'm writing this post, he's watching city council meetings. Fun, right? lol. He really cares and I love him for that. We had our first campaign fundraiser last month and here he is with some friends. Notice the chef coat, because he came right from school (he's a culinary instructor). Did I mention how hard he works?? He's amazing.

And, finally, this is me with the co-owner of the Shawmut Diner. That's the place we had the fundraiser. It's an awesome little place with great food and great people. If you're ever in the area, you should really check it out! So thanks Phil and Celeste... I think it turned out to be the perfect venue!

If you want to learn more about my hubby and maybe even want to help with his campaign, check out his website... www.henrybousquet.com