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Free Concert In The Park With The Kids

July 9, 2009 By 4 Comments

Last night we went to the Concert in the park with the kids.  We packed up a picnic and chairs and were off for the evening.  The kids were able to run all around and be kids and we were able to enjoy the music.  This is a 100% free event which is something that I always love.  The band was actually really good and played tunes from the beetles to John Lennon.  It is nice that there are still free things to do out there in the world.  With the economy in shambles and people struggling to put food into their mouths it is nice that there was something out there that could be enjoyed.  I think that sitting back, relaxing with the family while listening to some great music is what summer is all about.

Becca

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Summer Survival

July 1, 2009 By 1 Comment
New York State Capitol Building, completed in ...
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Here we are just 6 days into summer and I am more then done.  The kids are NUTS.  The house is a mess and I think that I have pulled all of my hair out.  The $30 worth of crafts I bought on Friday have all been done and I have no gas to take a trip.  I am not sure where to go from here.  We are all a little cranky and the baby is wondering why all of these other people are on her turf in the middle of the day!  I am lacking the motivation to do anything about it and the patience not to boil over.

Why is it that Summer vacation is still something that we need to have.  It was started to accomidate farming.  I am sorry to say that there are few farming families left here in NY.  I know of just 3 in the town I live in.  Why is it then that we have not changed all of this.  Why can’t the kids just go to school in the summer?

I know that all of this sounds bad but I also know that I am not alone in my angst!  Please September come quick.  I am not sure how long I can hang on here!

Becca

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Webkinz Day Extravaganza: Webkinz 4th Anniversary Celebration

April 11, 2009 By 10 Comments
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Webkinz is celebrating its fourth anniversary with a bang.  Each year Webkinz has an extravaganza and this year will be no different.  From May 1st through the 3rd all stores who sell Webkinz have been asked to participate.  Here are a few highlights on what you can expect:

  1. Stores selling Webkinz have been asked to sell a Webkinz pet for $1 with a $15 purchase from their store.
  2. There will be in store events, giveaways and prizes.

I know that last year we went to the Chester Greenery and bought some flowers and left with two free webkinz.  The kids had a chance to spin the wheel of WOW where no one is a looser.  It was a great time.  I know that all stores do it differently but I am sure no matter what your local store does it is bound to be fun.

Last year the kids each got a Webkinz and I bought two others which were on sale to save for birthday presents for parties in which we are invited to.  I would strongly suggest fining out what your local store is doing.  I know that last year we had a  blast.  I have not stopped in to the Greenery yet to see what she has planned but I am sure that it will all be a lot of fun no matter what it is!

Becca

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Easter Pictures: Spring Break Survival

April 11, 2009 By 4 Comments
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OK so as I mentioned I am having a hard time with this entire Spring Break thing!  So today my mother and I dressed all of the kids in their Easter outfits and threw them into the car and were off to Sears.  Now I know what you are thinking… why did you head to Sears.  We were off to Sears for Easter pictures.  We have not had pictures in YEARS.  The last time was when the baby was a month old.  For those of you who do not know she will be 2 in a month!  So needless to say it has been a while.

We have never been to Sears so I was a little bit aprehansive.  It was great though.  They had a kid friendly waiting area which I did not have to wait in because they were ready for us when we got there.  The girls did great although it is difficult to make them all smile at once.  Abigail kept trying to make the baby smile and Emma had the fakest smile.  Even with all of these obsticales we were able to come out of the seccion with a few really nice shots.

So day two of Spring Break has been a success.  We did the pictures, went to lunch, had a play date and now we are getting ready for bed.   I am so happy that it is all working out.  I would say that going and having pictures done is a great way to survive Spring Break!  You should give it a try!  I found that it really occupied a lot of time, the kids had fun and we were out of the house.  We will not discuss how much Grandma spent though!  We will keep that part to ourselves!  Either way day two survived.  Nine days to go!

Becca

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Spring Break Survival

April 9, 2009 By 8 Comments

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Oh my… I woke up this morning and remembered something.  IT IS SPRING BREAK.  Now, the words that are to follow are meant with the most love and affection.   I hate Spring Break.  It is not like Winter Break where we all get involved in Christmas.  This Spring Break thing stinks unless you are going away which we of course are not this year!  I remember back in high school and college when I went away with friends.  We had a blast.  One year was Ocean City another year was Disney.  Now I am home with restless kids, a house to unpack and no plan!  So what is a stay at home mom to do with three kids for eleven days?  I am compiling a survival guide in order to make it though.  I need you help though.  Here are a few questions to get started with:

  1. What is there to do that is free?
  2. What can I do with no car?
  3. Is there any activity that you can think of that a 1 year old, a 5 year old, and an 8 year old?  I am drawing a blank!
  4. Is there a magic potion to give children that makes them not whine?
  5. How much is it a mother can drink without it being a problem?
  6. How can I avoid hearing, “I am bored there is nothing to do.”
  7. What fun things can you think of to make the kids tired enough to still go to bed on time?  Oh and I have to be able to do it with my not healed correctly broken foot!

I will spend the day developing a survival guide.  I hope that it works!  Today, I am just going to wing it.  So far we have had 5 fights, Abigail has bitten Emma, Emma has scratched Abigail and the baby is a whining mess!  HELP!

Becca

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Family Easter Traditions

April 4, 2009 By 7 Comments
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I became so interested in Easter traditions this week because so many people visited. It is a shame that more people did not leave their family Easter Traditions in the comments section. I was really hoping to post all of the great ones that I hear this week. I know that one that was mentioned time and time again is dying Easter eggs. Today is our big Easter egg dying day and I am so excited! I think that we are going to have a blast. I know that the smell of vinegar can turn some off the the entire thing but I think that it is important for people to give it a try!

Another tradition that people mentioned is spending time with family. This is what the holidays are all about. Being in a room with the people who share your gene pool. I know that for a lot of people this can be the down side to a holiday but I think that without the mother who wants to know when you are going to have another baby, the stinky grandparent and the kid who is eating dirt there are no memories. These are the people who have formed us into the person we are today. They really are the fabric of our lives. If we love ourselves then we have to love them. It is a guilt by association thing.

The Easter bunny is a tradition that I had forgotten to mention. I cannot believe that I left him out! Here is a little bit of Easter Bunny History! It is said that the Easter Bunny has been around before Easter. I know this is hard to believe! He is said to have originated in Germany in the 1600s. The Easter bunny can either just leave a basket out in plain site or he can hide it. In our house he is always hiding it here and there. The kids have a blast trying to find it and figure out whose is whose. I wish he had more time to write a name or two down.

There is one more tradition that I forgot to mention. The Easter Bonnet has always been my love of Easter. There are not many times in this day in age that a lady can wear a hat without people looking at her funny. I think that the hats and the white gloves just make Easter what everyday used to be. I wish that we all still dressed to the nines like this for church. I think that it is sad that it is now acceptable to wear jeans and a tee to Church. You should be in your Sunday best. That used to mean a hat and Gloves. Now it means jeans? What are we thinking people? Either way, Easter is a time when we can dust the hat off and slip the gloves on and walk a little taller!  Oh and do not forget to play the song Easter Parade when you are walking down the street in your bonnet and gloves!

Becca

I would still love to learn some more about what Easter traditions your family has.  Please let me know in the comment section.  I think it adds to the fun!


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The Stomach Bug Returns

April 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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As I was saying last week I hate stomach bugs.  I had thought that I had escaped its bite but I spoke too soon. Abigail spent all night Tuesday sick, Emma and I woke up sick and Rob is the only one not infected.  So I will not tell you about this horrible experience.  Yeah right you know that I will!

  • Abigail did not get sick in 5 places before making it into the bedroom.
  • I was not the one who did the laundry that she created.
  • I did not sit there and help her while she was throwing up.
  • Emma did not wake up the next morning covered in stomach flu remnants.
  • I did not throw up all day that morning.
  • I did not call my sister in law to take the baby because I could not take care of her.
  • I did not sleep all day.
  • I did not ignore my older kids all day who were also sick
  • I did not wish I would rather be dead!

All in all I hope that this stomach Flu or bug as I like to call it has worked its way through my family.  I hope that it never comes back.  I am not sure when you spend a week cleaning it all up that the bug will not bite you.  I took the bleach idea and washed my hands obsessively and yet the bug still bit me.  I am amazed by its sneaky ability!  I cannot wait for warmer weather when the mosquitoes are the only bugs biting!

Becca

Update:  Rob was bitten last night!  Now we have all had it… Hopefuilly it will GO AWAY!!

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Killer Flu!

March 14, 2009 By 11 Comments
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Earlier this week I had written about a friends daughter who died suddenly last Saturday.    It turned out that she had the flu which caused her to pass way before her time.  I am floored by this.  This is, thank God, the first year that all of my kids had a flu shot.  I am thanking my lucky stars now.  This strain of the flu is aggressive.  She had not felt well the evening before and died 24 hours later!

In wake of this I hear that the schools will be undergoing massive cleanings this weekend.  The department of health is also offering free flu vaccines tomorrow!  It makes me think though.  I cannot tell you how many times I let my kids be sick.  I am not one to rush to the Dr. the second they get a fever.  I let them work through for a day or two.  Runny noses are never a second though.   I assume that it is a cold and move on.  I know that there are a lot of other parents out there like me.  I know that I am not alone.

This also makes me think about the flu.  Why is this strain of the flu so strong that it is killing people within 24 hours.  I heard about a week before this happen that there were two other girls who died on Long Island.  The day that this child died another girl on Staten Island died of the flu as well.  Why are the strains of the flu suddenly so strong?  Perhaps the flu is becoming stronger because we keep fighting it with vaccines?  Is it possible that in the long run we are doing more harm then good?

I am not a scientist so who knows.   All I know is that I am now a little worried about my kids.  Will the same fate fall upon my babies?  How do we know how much longer we will have with anyone we love?  I am again thinking about how I want to make each day count.  I want them to know that they were loved and have a happy home!

Becca

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    Death of a Child

    March 9, 2009 By 32 Comments

    This weekend something quite heart wrenching happened to someone I know.  It has shaken me to the core of my sole.  I am a Girl Scout Leader and the worst thing has happened to another leader’s daughter.  She died two nights ago.  My thoughts and prayers are with them.  I just cannot imagine if it were me.  For the past 48 hours that is all I have done.  I cannot stop imagining.

    I have not spoken to the mother herself but from what I understand their daughter was feeling a little sick on Friday.  By Saturday morning she had a fever and her mother took her to the doctor.  The doctor assured her that her daughter was fine and sent them home.  The rest of the day her daughter rested.  Then, as the mother was going to bed, the mother went to check in on her daughter. She found her daughter in distress.  I guess at this point she called 911 but it is too late.

    I am crying while typing.  This woman has a heart of gold.  She is about the nicest woman you ever wat to meet.  Her daughter was only 12 years old.  Her life ended much too quickly.  As of now they do not know what caused her death.  Her parents sat around waiting to hear from the medical examiner all day yesterday.

    I guess my point in posting this is to remind all of us of a few things:

    1. Even though your kids annoy you smile and let it go.  They are just kids.
    2. Kiss them and hold them every chance you get.  You never know when it will be the last time.
    3. Always say I love you before they leave.

    I know this all seems so obvious and simple but think about it.  I am sure that there are days that you are in a rush and forget to kiss them.  I am sure that there are days when you just wish they would leave you alone!  I am sure that there are days when I love you does not leave your mouth.  I just know I would not want that day to be my daughters last!

    Becca

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    Spring Fever

    March 6, 2009 By 7 Comments
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    I took my temperature this morning and I have it… SPRING FEVER.  I have tried to keep it at bay.  I tried to fight it off but still I am sick with it.  I am yearning for spring.  Perhaps it is all of the spring dresses in the stores, perhaps it is the posts that others are making online.  All I know is that this morning I was totally sick with it!  I was thinking about why I love Spring so much and here are the top 5 reasons that I have Spring fever.

    1. Spring is a new begining. All winter I struggle not to get caught up too much in the winter blues.  Each year I fail!  I look at Spring as a new begining.  Baby birds start coming to life, flowers start popping out of the ground, and the buds are on the trees.  It is a fresh start for everything including me!
    2. Spring is warm. It is not hot!  It is warm.  You still need a sweater but the sun feel warm on your face as it smiles down on you. The windows can be open each day to let some fresh air in and the family can take a family hike or its first family letterboxing trip.
    3. Spring has flowers.  Not only does Spring offer flowers but it offers my favorite flowers.  Tulips are the flower I love the most.  They are just as delicate as a rose in features but last and last.  I just love them!
    4. Spring is a time to play. This means that the kids want to go out more and more.  They are feeling this fever too and it is all they can do not to be house ridden with this fever!  Spring means that they can run and have some fun without FREEZING!
    5. Spring brings the sun. As I mentioned the sun gets warmer in the spring but there is something else that the spring sun does!  The spring sun makes the days longer.  There is nothing more depressing then it being dark out by 4pm.  Now the sun shines longer and longer.  I have noticed this in the past week or so.  Perhaps that is why I have this fever.

    I would love to hear your favorite things about Spring!  I know that we all have at least 5!  Be careful though, do not come too close.  I do not want you to catch the fever also!

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