crazy fall

the snow has finally melted here….we were VERY lucky.

towns close by were out of power for over a week, the damage was devastating, kids out of school for a week, Halloween cancelled….after our crazy summer of crazy weather (tornados, earthquake and hurricane Irene)…we were ready for the worst….and came out of the storm with only 2 feet of snow.

we have been feeling lucky for every warm sunny afternoon i can send the kids out to play….       

Cooper cracks me up EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. he does hopscotch!

tongue out, jumpy legs, crazy arms…full body motion!

so in addition to the crazy weather, back to school, hubby working his 2nd job as a college professor at night……i went on an interview…..and after 7 amazing years of being lucky enough to be a stay at home mom…..i am now back to work.

after the initial shock of it all…because it really happened so fast…one minute i’m working on my resume, the next minute i was looking for an interview outfit….and then 2 hours after i interviewed i was accepting the position….i woke up the next morning thinking….this is the next chapter of my life….bitter sweet….having both kids in school was a BIG adjustment for me…and now i’m no longer a stay at home mom.

and because i am not very good at handling change….i have lost a LOT of sleep.

but what has gotten me through it all…..this wonderful proud feeling…that i have for myself, that my hubby has complete confidence in me, and how EXCITED the kids are for me….

my cup runneth over.

i am starting to feel less overwhelmed….and more excited.

counting my blessings that things seem to be falling into place.

the other day, as i was sitting in my office….which just happens to be in my kiddos’ school (how LUCKY am i!!!)……i felt so content.

no matter how crazy…change is good.

Trick or Treat 2011

an eventful night!!

hubby and the kids were on the news AGAIN!!! our favorite reporter, Julie, came back!!! check it out HERE.  look for the witch and Scooby!!! and they filmed our house too!!!

a minor costume malfunction…but a few pins did the trick! and we had to add on another layer…cause it was freezing!!! and boots…cause there was snow!!!!

First things first…. i let them have a treat first…carrot cake cupcakes for an afterschool snack!

and our orange dinner!

and away we go to our festive neighbors house!!

she is a teacher who gives out candy AND pencils…the kids love that!!!

 

through the snow…

one of my favorite houses….

Snow in October!!

 

the kids and hubby had their 5 seconds of fame…when the Fox news crew came to report about our crazy snow storm…we got over a foot…almost 2 feet of snow!!!!

i can’t seem to figure out how to post a video…but i can link it!!!

check out Fox News Here 

Cooper…trying out his interviewing skills…

 

and then it was inside for hot chocolate

and carving pumpkins!

 

the kids get totally grossed out by it!!!

   

 

a few Halloween crafts…thanks Scarlet for the great idea!!!! we tissue papered a couple of baby jars to make candle holders.

   a few painted pumpkins inspired by Meg over at Whatever.

all set for tonight…should be interesting…Trick or Treat in the SNOW!!!!

1st snow

 

8:33am

took us a few minutes to get the winter gear out.

the kids are in snow heaven!

hubby is looking for the sleds.

I’m going to enjoy a second cup of coffee by the fire.

Saving our pennies

the kids asked for chores!!

so we tried out a chore list to see how they would do…..and they loved it!!!

i wanted to come up with 10 chores each week….and one extra to earn .25 for a church project.

Make Bed….i expect them to make their bed right when they get up…5 times in a week…they have 2 days they don’t have to….i think once they get in the routine of doing this i will faze it out of the chore list and just expect them to have this done every morning.

Dust….i let them each pick one room in the house….i hide 10 pennies…and as they look for the pennies they dust….this way they dust in all the right places and they think its fun!!

Basket Pick-Up….at the bottom of the stairs they each have their own basket (for me to put things that need to go upstairs) When i call for a “basket pick-up!” they get their basket and go around the house looking for their stuff they they left out, they need to then bring it upstairs and put the stuff away…they can fill in the circle when the basket is returned to the stairs empty.

I also leave a blank chore…for during the week when i ask them to do something….clean off the bathroom sink, match socks, empty the dishwasher.

after i knew the written chore list would work i typed one up….so now all i have to do is print one out each week.

the first week went great, second week…not so great.

i was ready to forget the whole thing because i had to nag them to finish their chores….but i am finding that they are highly motivated by this system, if i can just keep my cool and use gentle reminders…and they are saving EVERY $1.

every penny, nickel and dime is going towards…..can you guess???

they decorated their “banks” with Mickey Mouse stickers….we are planning our first trip to DISNEY in the spring….so exciting!

so…fellow bloggers…any advice? where to stay? what not to miss? what to miss? I have started research for this trip and i am totally overwhelmed by all the information!!! I would love to know what worked for your family…..

this and that

this is a group of pictures that has taken WAY too long to get on the wall….beach pictures from last years trip to the Outer Banks and Charleston in the spring.

i am in awe that my blue hydrangeas are now green and wine color…perfect fall flowers.

i am trying to decide what color to paint this bench….i am thinking a turquoise color to brighten up the navy dining room…..

     

we are crazy about fried eggplant around here…eggplant parm, eggplant lasagna, and even right out of the pan with a little salt and pepper…yum!

 

we are having an amazing fall…..the kids are still wearing shorts! and last weekend we went to the Cape and we were on the beach…in October!!!

the kids had a half day a couple weeks ago…so we decided to go to one of our favorite spots…..Naumkeag

the kids got right to work on a couple of fairy gardens…while i enjoyed the view.

we even did the house tour….AMAZING!

  

and lastly i leave you with this….our shower walls.

    

Happy Fall everyone!

Hello

anybody out there???

what is going on??? now that the 2 kids are off to school….i have more time for myself….but i can’t seem to come up with one interesting blog post.

I'm in limbo…my days are pretty boring.

i clean…..finally got around to cleaning out my closest, my car,the kids’ rooms…the junk drawer is even organized….actually ALL the drawers in the house are organized….Boring.

i eat….totally emotionally eating these days….I'm surprised I'm not eating right now.

i shop….yup….i can get a lot of shopping done when i don’t have the kiddos with me….i have already started the Christmas shopping…i know right….crazy.

you might even be saying….this girl needs a job…i know…..i really do! is there a job out there that involves shopping, cleaning and blogging???

the kids??? they are great….

Cooper is loving soccer, Kindergarten, and learning how to tie his shoes!!

Caroline is loving Irish Step class, soccer, and wiggling all her loose teeth!

Cooper’s 1st day of K

i am a big mess typing this post,

everything blurry…. from the tears,

and the knot in my stomach,

ache in my heart.

oh the drama!!!

this guy is off to Kindergarten!!!

hubby took the day off to watch both kiddos get on the bus…..

and to help me get through the day.   

i am a wreck.

i have been emotionally eating for weeks days!

i have even had crazy thoughts of wanting another baby!!!

Caroline being so grown up, excited for her little brother!!

  he kissed us goodbye…

and never looked back.

i need more tissues…..and a drink…..with some chocolate cake.