I cannot resist a cherry tree in full bloom...or a crabapple...or a dogwood. Soon, it will be my birthday and I will be 39. It seems like just yesterday I was 29. Time flies. Fleeting, like the blossoms on a cherry tree...beautiful for a moment and then gone.
So, recently our dryer shit the bed. It turns out it didn't REALLY shit the bed, but the entropy that is our laundry room conspired to knock out the plug to the dryer and we surmised the thing had broken. It wasn't anymore broken than it had been, which is not great. It turns out the dryer vent also had become disconnected. Mom undertook the challenge of climbing in the no-mans-land that is the space between the washer and dryer.
Luckily, one of the first things she found was what we call the "grab-nabbers" which are a vestige from one of my dad's hip surgeries. They were handy for pulling items out from the back of appliances. The first thing she pulled out is in the laundry basket in the foreground...it had us all in stitches of irony. Can't see what it is? Here...let me show you:
Elena went to her first real dentist appointment. It went great! She was such a trooper! Of course, it helped that the dentist was a pediatric one and was just awesome with kids. Two thumbs up for pediatric dentists!! Booooo for six cavities caused by acid reflux as a toddler.
They love the bath so, don't know why I hate bath time. I think it's that feeling I get being prisoner in the bathroom. I want to run and do things, not sit in one place, but at bath time, that's what's expected...just sitting...getting splashed upon. At almost three, we are getting to the point where it's actually ok to leave Liam (who chats non-stop anyway) for a moment or two to shuffle off to, say upload some pictures to the puter or fix a snack. He's so constantly noisy that the barrage of constant noise keeps me aware of his aliveness. Thank goodness for that...sometimes.
First day I actually agree that this big metal bridge should be called the Whitestone...
So, a bonus one from yesterday...here they are skipping stones. I love that big boulders by the river bank has huge rusty spikes sticking out of it. Really safe! But, at least it made for some pretty cool photos!
We had a lovely day. We had lunch at the GW Tavern in Washington, CT and the weather was spectacular. I took the kids down to the river edge to skip stones. They were really into it...pitching rocks into the water. It was only when Liam threatened to pitch himself into the river (after being repeatedly warned NOT to go down the bank) that he wound up in time out. As is his way, even his time out was cute and punctuated with conversation.
"Mommy, I don't wan be bad. I don't wan get in twouble!" Um, too late! Poor little bug...
Photo essay...What happens when a Peep meets the chimnea?
Peep Tragedy:
Peep Gather at the Crime Scene to Investigate:
Peep Coffin:
Note: do not try roasting Peeps like marshmallows. The sugar on the outside gets so hot and looks tasty, like it's been caramelized, enticing the roaster to touch it. BAD IDEA. The blister on my finger doesn't look like anything or I would have a picture of it too!
It's so hard to pick a single picture to represent the day when you have an eventful one like I did on Friday. At seven in the morning, I picked up my friend Lorraine, who had just flown in from Seattle. I had the kids with me and we went to get breakfast and then headed to the Bronx Zoo. Just as it's hard to pick a single photo, it's also hard to name our favorite animal! I think it was toss up between the baby giraffe named Margaret, the litter of river otters and the African Wild Dogs. There were plenty of beautiful species and the zoo was glorious in 70 degree weather and full sun. Heaven!
Margaret:
Litter of River Otters:
African Wild Dog:
I have been on a low carb diet for over a year. It works for me. I have cut out things that used to be highly addictive to me such as bread and sugar. After the first few months, which were very strict, I allowed a few carbs back in. I eat corn chips for example. It is only in the last few months that I have allowed kettle corn. I might have to NOT allow kettle corn in the future since it is so yummy it teeters on the edge of addiction.
Oh well, I can eat because (and this is what I always say) my diet doesn't have a name and thus, there is a not a book written on it, nor rules to follow. I don't have to answer to any one or feel guilty or bad if I make up a new guideline to follow...it's all part of my diet which is really nothing more than a healthier way of eating.
Liam was needing to get ready for bed tonight, but I realized I hadn't photographed his new sneaks yet. I got out the camera and got him out of his clothes. All of a sudden, I was transported to seeing my Grandpa Sassano in his shorts, dark socks and sneakers (or dress shoes) back in the day. A nod to you up there in Heaven, Grandpa! We love you!
He loses his Grandpa look when you see his whole bod...
I think I blogged about this before, but oh well, here goes. This is Lambie. Lambie is my son's lovey. He sleeps with Lambie every night. We actually have three lambies to ensure we always have a back up. In case you don't this little gem of wisdom, never have "back-ups" of a child's lovey unless you intend for them to attach to snuggling multiples of said lovey. That's exactly what happened to us. We can get by with one Lambie, but two is always better. And, as was the case this evening, sometimes he has two and wants his "second" Lambie (which really means third).
Anyhow, I played around taking loads of Lambie shots this evening. I had fun with poses...Lambie in repose, Lambie serious, Lambie smiling, Lambies getting some action...etc...Liam was checking out the pictures I took and immediately had to have his "Wammies" NOW...He trotted off to get them and proceed to come back down with two. He used them to make a "widdle garage for his Lightning Dequeen car" and then proceeded to announce, "Awwwww, wook Mommy! Wightning is sooo happy is his widdle Lambie garage!" Gosh, I love this age!
REPOSE:
LOVE:
LITTLE GARAGE:
Quintessential Easter.
Obligatory outfits CHECK
Baskets CHECK
Candy wrapper in hand CHECK
Investigation of brother's basket to ensure fairness abounds CHECK
Candy coated holiday that should be about Jesus CHECK
My favorite part of the holiday? The Easter vigil service on Saturday night. The first half is in the darkness, awaiting the risen Christ. The second half, replete with lighting of festive candles, uplifting hymns sending chills down my spine and Alleluias, the peak of the Christian year. BREATHTAKING
Sincerely, this is the answer to prayer. The fact is that up until about five months ago these children did not find each other at all interesting and, in fact, the older one might have quickly disposed of the younger one had she had the means. No, they were not friends. They barely tolerated each other. It was a sad state of affairs for a mother who had hoped and prayed for siblings who would be fast friends. I might have had an only child, except having one scared me that that child would be lonely without the fraternity found in a sib. Well, I thank God, friends they now are...good friends. Liam puts up with being bossed around and rolls with it. Elena puts up with Liam's teasing antics and loud screeches. It's heaven on earth...hence the title of this blog.
On Thursday night, the old ties came out, clean white eggs were purchased and vinegar water was boiled. The ties were dismantled and cut in squares. The eggs were wrapped in the silk and then wrapped again in squares of cotton T-shirt. Then, they were boiled for twenty minutes or so. The results, although not as spectacular as last year, were pretty...to be continued in the daylight with DAY 100.
Liam really loves playing with his cars and trains. As I got ready for work, he surrounded me with an entire city of vehicles. He made caves and garages for them out of laundry baskets and the bedskirt. He went through my legs over and over again as if it was a "bridge."
I went to a meeting in Staten Island. I am not sure if I had been there before. I know my aunt's godmother lived there, Godmother Gay, and I might have been there with family at one point when I was too young to remember, but this was the first time I can remember in a long time. On the one hand, I felt like I was still in Brooklyn or Queens, on the other, I felt like I was in another country. I couldn't believe it when I got to the edge of Brooklyn and still had twenty miles to go before my destination (thank you GPS). I had always wanted to drive over the Verrazano and the Goethals bridges and this was my chance. I got to do both. I actually think I crossed six bridges getting to Staten Island. Probably would have been more prudent to have come by boat.
The neatest part of the trip was right at this moment I photographed. This is going over the Verrazano (I am pretty sure) and off to the left is the farthest point of the NYC area reaching into the Atlantic. There is no sound, no harbor, no protection, just the wide mouth of a harbor with giant cargo ships ushering in and out. It made me acutely aware of New York's port city roots. Plus, the Verrazano is so high up to let these massive ships pass underneath it. It was an interesting drive to say the least.
One day, I had gotten home from work and felt very tired. My dad, who is the proud new owner of a Shelf Genie franchise, had worked his tail off all day too and was also very tired. We were relaxing in front of the tv while the kids ran around outside frolicking together. This is one of my new pleasures...that they enjoy running, skipping and playing together outside. It's wonderful and buys me some much needed alone time. The price to pay steepens, however, when it is wet and muddy out.
Liam came in the house and before tired Mommy and the stellar Boppasitter had noticed, he had managed to track muddy footprints around the entire downstairs. He was covered up to his knees in mud. As the scope of destruction dawned on us, I felt panicked. How on earth would I clean it all up? Then I remembered that mud is merely dirt and water. Water evaporates and dirt vacuums up. The next morning, it was all able to be sucked up by the Dyson. Hooray!
I love this picture. I love it because Jeff doesn't come back East from his Naperville home very often. And I love it because it's a moment between mother and son that is so dear. It doesn't matter that Jeff is over fifty and his mother over eighty, when she offers him a bite of her brownie, he cannot resist. She cannot resist biting along with him in the great tradition and habit of mothers everywhere while feeding their children. Mouths mime mouth opening, spoon licking, and biting in an involuntary response. So sweet to see it never stops.
I know the quality of this picture is poor, but it's the moment that is really special. My dad's brother and sister surprised him at his band's gig on Saturday night. It was sort of an informal 60th birthday present to him. Needless to say, the night was a blast and he was duly surprised. Can you tell?
Yes, he is that. He is my early bird. Somehow, morning seems to come between 4am and 5am for Liam. Not my favorite trait of his. He's getting better about going back to sleep if I grab my pillow and crash beside him in his twin bed. Let me tell you, this is the pinnacle of comfort. Arms fall asleep. I lay there, terrified to move an iota, lest I wake up the lightest sleeper in the world. At least he awakes cheerful and chatty. That's a good thing. (Note: please read that last line with dripping sarcasm)
Osso bucco with lamb instead of veal for my father's birthday. It was fabulous...I can't type more...exhaustion setting in.
This child is attached to his mother. So attached. And, in an unrelated story, he likes to get up at 5 AM and wants me to come downstairs with him. He wants me to to "Tum with me downstairs, Mommy! Tum with me now!!" Joy...
The other day I was trapped on the Williamsburg Bridge.There was some sort of police activity just about ten cars in front of me. All of sudden, people in front of me started getting out of their cars to check it out. It made me think about "crowd phenomenon" and how certain events bring people together. In this case, in front of me chatting and palling around like they had known each other for years was a hasidic man, an asian man and a black man. Made me think about the melting pot that is NYC.
The other day I received an email from a client who was heading out turkey hunting. I glanced to my left and saw this out my window. I thought how ironic that this women was going to leave work to go hunting for turkeys to shoot, and here at our office, the turkeys flock to the office windows. Smart turkeys to only hang out at offices where people don't keep guns in their cars.
