Last Year

Back to School Traditions

It is that time of year again... you shop until you drop, and you spend a ton of time labeling school supplies. ALL OF THEM. Every pencil, crayon, marker, notebook and Kleenex box. So our "tradition" is to spread a blanket on the front lawn and spread out all of the supplies and start labeling. I made up a sheet of paper, in a handwritten font and each year I print them off - cut them into tiny strips and tape my "label" onto the school supplies. It is easy enough for the child to help and I don't have to make up a new sheet every year. (You can see the bowl in the photo... it has all our little slips in it)

So Sunday, we spread out our loot and got to work. My husband even joined in on "the fun".
When it was all done..... it was time for a bit of R & R.

Do you have any special traditions before you go back to school?

mood: Frustrated

We have a gas grill, which comes in handy - even though I prefer charcol over gas. But I can NEVER seem to light it (except last Sunday). My husband always has to come and recuse me and fire it up. It isn't hard. You turn on the gas, you turn the knobs and hit a button. But it always seems to go out on me.

Now, I have to make our lunch inside....

My shadow is back

(ahem, I mean Dennis the Mennis) Late last night. And remember that neat and organize pack I made for him.... well....

I have to say, I used not even ONE WHOLE ROLL of TP the whole 4 days and everything stayed neat.

Guess what he learned on the camp out? Put everything back. (hum, I said who does that sound like)


and my newly vacuumed floors? SAND already. SIGH

Only I get excited in a cow barn......

So my husband says to me. He didn't even want to go in. I love animals, but I wouldn't make a very good farmer because I could never sell any of them or kill anyone.

Then I tortured him in the horse barn. Yes, a man who can race motorcycles at top speeds is afraid of horse - can you believe? After taking several photos, of a whole row of horses he said "Come ON" you have a whole barn to get through.

There was a beautiful grey and white one. We were eye to eye. It was so hard not to reach out and touch this beautiful animal. I bet you'll never guess. We went to the State Fair. Everyone should go. They are always a lot of fun. The shopping - they have almost everything on "As seen on TV", food, drink, concerts games! Something for everyone. They had a milking contest, see this little girl? Prizes for the best flower arrangement and various displays. The bottom photo was NYC. I took that one for you Marinka.



My husband and I went alone this year, we held hands and walked and looked and talked. I teased "Buy me this dad", Dad, I wanna win this prize. Then we remembered the last time we were there alone. Our son was about 1-1/2. I didn't want to bring him to the fair, as I was afraid someone would snatch my precious baby.. LMAO. The whole time we were at the fair, we talked about the scout and wondered what he was doing. We didn't have as much fun as we had tonight.

Enjoy and good night!

Wordless Wednesday

And then there was one....

For the last four years, I've pretty much been a single mom. My husband opened his own business and works 6 days a week, 12 or more hours a day. We hardly ever see him.


So it has pretty much has been myself and the little scout - UNTIL now. Somewhere my husband got hooked up with a guy in Rochester, MN and $3,000.00's later we are into go-karting (yes with a K).

So now the past three weeks on Saturday and Sunday, I've pretty much been on my own. Today was the first day of driving on the practice track. The season is April until October.


I guess it is going to take some time to get use to being all by myself. Today I didn't know what to do with myself, so I wasted the whole day watching rerun back to back episodes of "Deadliest Catch".

Farm Shopping

One day, I was reading our local paper and noticed all these robberies at a farm. (People were stealing apples) I googled the name and found Barthel's Fruit Farm.

That was three season's ago. We went apple picking. I got on their mailing list and last year I took my mom on "an outing" and bought her a hanging basket for Mother's Day. This has now become a tradition with us and this year, we went on Father's Day while the guys went golfing.

All of the flowers are Organic and more than reasonable in price. The red flower basket I got, was $17.00's. With a Clematis, my hanging basket, a perennial and my mom's hanging basket, my whole order came to $54.00's. You can see my mom loaded up on a few items as well.

We have gone as a family to pick apples and pumpkins, again organic. This farm does sell to the local stores here, but it is way more fun to go and pick them yourself. I encourage you to find a local farm, and spend some quality family time together picking apples, flowers and/or pumpkins.

It's in the bag

My parents and I are at "war". A bag war! They would come over and "bring things" in paper bags and I would try to send them home, but they would not take them - they didn't want the bag. They were dumping it ON ME. (hee hee)

So on the fourth, I went over the night before to bring my cheese cake I had no room in the fridge for and left a bag. The next day, I brought two more "bags" of things. When it came time to go home, I crammed everything in my backpack and carried the left over cheese cake and left a bag on their breakfast stools. My mom came running out with something else to bring home in that bag.

This morning my dad shows up with my son's shoes and some legos he left over there. Guess what? They were in another Hallmark bag with handles...

parents 3
me 2

I was thinking about making a banana bread and dropping it off with a ding dong ditch style at the door step.

Does your family have any "wars" going on?

MIA

I know, I know, I've been neglecting my blog lately. Sorry, but I've been busy, busy, busy!!!

We kicked off Friday with a presentation at Discovery World, for my son's week long class - On and Under Lake Michigan. We had a bit of time at the end, and were able to run through the Les Paul exhibit. Les Paul is from Waukesha, Wisconsin and invented the Electric Guitar.

Saturday, I spent most of the day cleaning and then quickly getting ready for my brother n'law's last US concert in Illinois. We hand a 1 -1/2 hour drive to Johnsburg, IL - a small village just over the Wisconsin border. I enjoy country roads, so it was a nice peaceful drive. We didn't know that they didn't start playing until 10:00 p.m. and had a nice two hour visit with the band. Emotions were running high between, The Black Molly's and Million Dollar Reload. The friendship between the two were unbelievable. It was fun to watch and be included in. My husband was able to spend time with his "baby brother" and we were able to hang out on the bus after the bar closed. (missing middle brother is here) I drank water all night and my husband had a really nice time . Before we knew it, the sun was coming up and we really had to get home. It was 5:30 a.m. and we headed off in the sunrise. I never look back, because then you really aren't saying good-bye. We are looking forward to their tour this fall. They have been great for my spirits and a pleasure to have at our house one night. Such sweet and respectful lads. They were so nice to my son and he actually called me at a really good time, I was sitting outside with Kie, B.A.M and Davey and he got to talk to all of them, as well as his Uncle Kieran. I was grateful to my mom for keeping him over night, so we didn't have a time limit - I never knew we would stay out all night and he was a little sad that he couldn't come.

The best part of the night for me, was when someone asked me if I was with the band. I was a bit taken back, then smiled and said - 'ya know, I've always wanted to say that! - That was a good laugh - or as they say in Ireland "good crack". (Slang for Good Fun - :) )

So Davey, BAM, Andy, Phil, and Kie, thanks for the best two nights in a long while! We miss ya lads! (wipes small tear from her eye)

I'll give a little plug here for Reverie, we heard them the first night of the tour and hung out with the dummer the last night.

Sunday was a very interesting day to say the least. I set two timers and told my son when the first one went off to walk the dog and when the second one went off, to wake me. (thank goodness for independent 11 year olds) I caught two hours of sleep and took him down the street to Little Joe's birthday party. A four year old who loves my son! I came home about 2:00 and my little scout came home about 3:30. We got ready to go to a merit badge counselor meeting at 4:00. We picked up dinner and after that, I was down for another two our nap. My husband of coarse, slept the whole day.

Monday we headed to Summerfest, the worlds largest music festival. 10 days, 11 bands playing at one time - yada yada yada. Sorry no photos folks, I didn't want my camera confiscated. So after seeing the sign that camera was illegal, I didn't bring it out. We did hear Darryl Stuermer play, went on the John Lennon Educational Peace Bus, did the kids activities, won a few head phones and a $1.00 lotto, then headed home about 4:00. My son got a little overwhelmed with all the people, and found out he is exactly like me. He looked at the ground and I steered him out of the park - of coarse we were at the farthest end and had to walk to the opposite end, but he did OK. At least he didn't start hyperventilate like I usually do. Karen wrote a cool blog about things to do at Summerfest, you can read about it here.

Yesterday we rested! Today I've been to Menard's by 9:00 to return some hoses we bought this season and they sprung leaks already. I can't say enough about the customer service I received today. Everyone was pleasant, friendly and positive. I had to ask three times to find something and the employees BROUGHT ME to where I needed to be. I had my husband's credit card to do the return and the gal came out to the machine to get it printed for me. As annoyed as I was, as to how long it took me to do everything, I could not complain as the service was so outstanding.

I stopped by the McDonalds to grab my son the hashbrowns I promised and the window lady was nice and friendly. I asked to have my meal double bagged because I had a 15 minute ride and didn't think I would make it to the McDonalds by my house before they stopped serving breakfast - her reply NO PROBLEM. I got to the take away window and the man asked if I had something special, I replied the double bag need and he replied OH, No Problem and promptly did what I had requested with a SMILE and a have a great day. Maybe there is hope for the world - yet!

So much for Wordless Wednesday. Well, that's me for today. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to unstick my butt from the chair and make some lunch for the scout and his little scout friend. At least we caught up and you know where I was for the past few days! Have a great one (smiling) and let me know what you've been up to!

Parenting Tips

I think the hardest part about being a parent for me was not be able to finish what I was doing from start to finish and thus becoming disorganized AND having toys all over the place just drove me nuts and again making me feel disorganized.

I'm not sure why it is so hard for kids to clean up, but it is. So here is a parenting tip. If your kids play with Lego's, have them play ON A BLANKET. That way, when it is time to clean up, you pick up the blanket and dump everything into your tub or basket to put away. My son calls it the "blanket method" and we learned it from a classmate of his.

Another tip, that is particularly helpful if you have young children is, when you are going to a restaurant that has a drive through and you are staying there to eat - use it. Go through the drive through and when you collect the food, just ask them to put it at the front counter and you will park and be right in. That way, you walk in, the food is ready and you don't have to try to order and watch your kids OR wait in line for you food and worry about watching where the kids are. On that side of the building there is usually more parking.

Do you have any tips to share?

Dennis Sullivan

Right now, my son is just taking off on his cruise on the Dennis Sullivan.

It is made of wood and was made here in Milwaukee. I don't remember how long, but it did take several years.

For our week long Discovery World Camp, On and Under Lake Michigan, you get a ride on the Dennis Sullivan. I don't ever remember these opportunities as a kid and thank you to my mom for such a wonderful birthday gift for my son!

You can read more on the Dennis Sullivan Home Coming here. It is an experience first hand from one of my blogging buddies Play in the City.

I hope someday you will get to ride on the Dennis Sullivan. We did last summer and it was a memorable experience.

Update: Telling me about his day - in a Jamaican accent - one of the crew mates he hung out with today. Ya man.

HOW do they know?

I had a talk with my dog that he shouldn't bark at my husband's brother and his friends. They were in town, from Ireland, for a band tour. We were lucky enough they were able to stay over night one night with us. Not one peep out of the dog, when they arrived and he greeted each one as if he knew them! (he cries)




Either he really listens to me, or he knows the relation. He didn't bark at my father 'n law or uncle when they have come to visit either.

I wonder, do they know or do they really understand what we say to them.

Time of my life

I've been busy the last two days or so - if you noticed I was missing. I found out Tuesday that my brother n 'law had a cancellation for their first night's gig in Ill, due to flooding and he and three of his band members could come up for an overnight visit. To I was in a world win of cleaning, bedwashing and baking, shopping and cooking.

The boys arrived Sunday in Chicago from Ireland and arrived Milwaukee on Tuesday noon. My husband drove down and picked the lot up and brought them to lunch at County Clare. Most of them had an Irish Stew for lunch and loved it!! The five of them ate for $100 - which I thought was quite reasonable.

They arrived here about 3:00 and I had just wiped the last counter just in the nic of time. The boys gave me the biggest hug and were so greatful to come up for a visit. We should them our family room where they were staying. This was just "class to them", especially based on some of the hotels they were staying in on their UK tour. Davy and my brother 'nlaw fell asleep and Brian and Andy - the two guitarist came along with my son and I for a tour of the city.

We first went to The Rave. (1st photo) We had gotten a tour of the facility. The had four band stages and The Ballroom up top. The boys were amazed with the size of it. I am glad they got to see it, because it is so hard to describe over the phone. I've read the place is haunted and maybe that's why none of my photos turned out.

The next stopped was the lake front and we checked out Summerfest! (2nd photo) We found out how to apply to play there and had fun driving the whole length of the grounds.

After that, we made our way home up the lakefront stopping at Discovery World and the Milwaukee Art Museum. I had the best three hours in a long time. The bottom two photos are from the night of the concert. I will post the rest on Flickr, since I can never seem to get the photos to work for me on this blogspot.

As we drove up Lincoln Memorial Drive, we got a treat courtesy of MMSD and our heavy rains. (P-U). And just after showing off our new Lake Front remodel too! (special link and - shout out to Karen one of my regular reading blogs Play in the City)

Just as we were entering back into Whitefish Bay, my husband phoned to say my parents came by for a visit. We sat and chatted for awhile, got the boys sorted out for beds and showers, then started dinner. We ate late, but had a lovely meal outside by the fire and ate under the stars. The boys never had s'mores before so we had those for dessert and then they were all ready for bed again.

They got up about 10:00 and ate 36 eggs, bacon, sausage, a loaf of bread, with homemade blueberry muffins and banana bread. My husband was an angel for cooking their breakfast, while my son and I met his friend and mother for the Movie Alvin and the Chipmonks for the Marcus Kids Rule Program. T$2.50 cent movie and a popcorn - check it out!

By the time I got home, my husband left for work and I made up left over porkchops, brats and burgers for the boys to take back to their 12 bed sleeping tour bus. We headed to the venue about 3:00. We must have been a site, Frompy house wife, 4 rock and roll bandmembers and two middle school kids crammed into the back of the wagon with a bunch of their stuff. I couldn't even see out the back windo on the right side of the car. OOH, how I wish I would have had a photo.

The next couple of hours were spent hanging out in the tour bus - which the boys loved and I made it home in time to barely have a shower and get ready for a the show.

We had a great time, it was sad they had to go and we hope they will be back again soon - you Rock!!

Check them out!! Million Dollar Reload

He loves me, He loves me not........

You know how on the Price is Right, the people that win the cars jump up in down in excitement? Well that was "ME" today!

My husband told me he had to take my car to work yesterday to do some work on it AND then I could take his car to a play my son and I were going to that evening.

We had HORRIBLE rainstorms, thundershowers AND tornado warnings and watches today. I called him about 4:45 and told him the tornado sirens were going off and he better take cover. He told me he was locking up and heading home. Watching the news, I called him back and said if you are coming home, you better come home now because you have 15 minutes on the bad part of the storm. Yada, Yada, Yada he says. I paced back and forth waiting for him and as he pulled in, he was in a different car - my ultimate dream car! So I open the door, yell come in, come in - a tornado was sighted at McGovern Park and we run down to the basement. How we got into the office, vs the family room with all the pets safely inside, I'll never know. We are standing there wet and my husband wanted to know where our son was (movies) and I still thinking he brought home a customer car, slips in.... so who's car is that? (I always ask hoping).

He said it was mine, handed me the keys and told me HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I was what? and started jumping up and down like they do on the Price is Right and hugging him. I race up the stairs and out to the car - tornado warnings, thunder storm and all and sit in the car! I am laughing, crying and borderline hyperventilation. I checked out the cup holders, stereo, and moon roof, a/c, and ran my hands over the dashboard and leather seats.

I climbed from the drivers side to the middle seats and found the netting the separates the wagon from the middle seats. The only thing my 2001 D70 Volvo Wagon does not have is the third seat - but he has one on order for me! I loved my 1993 240 Dark Gray Volvo Wagon, but I love my new silver one!

I woke up at 3 a.m. and went outside to admire it AGAIN!

To finish my title.... He loves me!!!

P.S., I got our 1993 car vs this one BACK in 2002 because we would had to trade in our Camry and still owe $5,000 AND have our '87 Volvo. I have longed for this car for 7 years, but took a lesser one due to "practicality" of having kids and a dog and TRASHING a car - as they do!!

I will post a picture once the weather is better and I can get outside!

Ramblings

I woke up at 5 a.m. We had such horrid storms, they woke me up all the way in the basement. I fell asleep watching TV in the family room. Me, woke up - a bomb could not wake me, but these storms did. I went looking for the cat, he doesn't like storms. He was in the bedroom, sitting on the ottoman. I said to my husband do you know where the cat is, and Charlie made his little "wookie" sound - he knew I was looking for him.

Charlie is getting old, we moved the ottoman to the foot of the bed. He can no longer jump all the way up, he falls when he jumps down. Thinking of him this morning, I started to cry. 16 years is a long time. He is my longest commitment. :(

Meg, the neighbor dog is getting old too. She can not run far with her mom anymore. We have a MEG Job today. (dog sitting) She is coming this morning, instead of after school, because she is afraid of the storms too. This way, she will not be home alone.

Tornado warnings until 11:00 a.m. My husband and dad are going on a golf trip today and tomorrow. Husband just left for work to do something he forgot. Life sure does go on - "weather" or not.

6:24 a.m. another rumble... I love it, pets do not - except Seamus. Nothing bothers him. Not even fireworks.

Child still sleeping.

I love storms, I love quiet time in the mornings with my coffee.

Saturday Night Fires

We had our first fire last night, and I sayed in polishing my countertops. As I looked out my kitchen window, I saw my husband and son chatting away. It was a picture perfect moment, and without arranging the lights or trying to go outside to get a picture to get rid of the "screen view", I opted for the memory instead.

Seeing the two of them, with their backs to me, chatting away like best friends was so precious. I thought it was best to leave them alone and started polishing my countertops instead!

Good for Star...

Magazine that it. My neighbor frequently gives me magazine she and her friends read. We recycle them, I give mine to my neighbor - then she gives them to her daughter. It really is a nice little set up. 5 people read one magazine subscription.

This weekend, my neighbor gave me Star Magazine. First one I've ever read. I have to give them credit for pointing out some activities the "stars" let their children do - the title of the article was "They let them do WHAT?".

So in this one instance, I can repeat because I know it is true. Any one that likes reality TV and has seen Keeping Up with the Kardashians, can usually walk away shaking their heads. This particular episode, they were pointing out, shows the youngest 10 year old pole dancing in their parents bedroom - nonetheless. I am really.

Sometimes you have to wonder about parenting in this world. (shaking head)

The BEST cupcakes ever

I'm serious - you'll never go back to boxed and they are quite simple.







Ingredients:
1 stick Butter, room temperature
1 1/4 C. Sugar
2 Eggs, room temperature
3/4 C. Flour
1 t. Baking Powder
1/4 t. Salt
1/2 C. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, best cocoa powder you can afford makes a huge difference
1/2 C. Whole Milk
1 t. Vanilla

Yield: 12-14 cupcakes


Method: Preheat oven to 375 degrees, then turn it down to 350 just prior to baking

1. Beat the butter with an electric mixer until it is soft, then add sugar. Beat about 3 minutes.
2. Add the eggs, one at a time beating until they are well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients and whisk them to incorporate them.
4. Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar and beat it just to combine. Add 1/2 of the liquids (milk & vanilla), scrape down bowl and beat to combine. Continue adding the dry and wet ingredients alternately making sure you END WITH THE DRY.
5. Fill muffin tins 2/3's of the way and bake for about 20-22 minutes. Allow to cool, then frost.



For frosting I use one 8 oz container of Heavy Whipping Creme. 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla.

Enjoy!

My Little Bird

My son is growing up. Last week we lost our "last" baby tooth and the Tooth Fairy Came for the last time. (Little Stinker HID it and I never found the tooth. I think he was trying to "prove" that I am the Tooth Fairy since this, Santa, and The Easter Bunny is the only thing in his life I refuse to give a straight answer on.)

So my "little bird" is growing up to be a very nice young man. He is in 5th grade, and is "big" compared to the 2nd and 1st graders. They are the oldest class at the elementary level. It can be sad, looking at the younger ones and remembering those cute times and fond memories. First day of school, K5, T-ball, Tiger Cubs. Now, they are moving on into the middle school, and are definately growing up.


Saturday night, my little bird, received his Arrow Of Light Patch. It is the highest honor a "Cub Scout" can receive. I thought here is another "growing up phase". After he walked across the bridge from the Cub Scout side, to the Boy Scout side - He stood in line with all the Boy Scouts, no longer a Cub. WAIT - there was a glimpse of hope, he is back to little again! Standing there, I noticed he was the smallest one. I can hang on for atleast one more year.