ellie's point of view

so ellie has this camera.....

i think it's kinda funny the things kids take pictures of. she took it for our trip to florida over thanksgiving. cousin jack enjoyed takng a lot of pics too....there are like 20+ pictures of peoples feet. it gave me a little person perspective (less than 4 feet) and i thought some of you might enjoy it too.

ellie's camera

Look Right.

12 days of Christmas.
8 days of Hanukkah.
4 days of shopping.
2 beers for Joe.
1 biiiiiiggggggg glass of wine. (for me)

It's Ellie, Jay & my lame attempt of trying to put together a "holiday" tree. For those readers who don't actually know me, I'm Jewish. I'm not a great one, but I count as a tribal member nonetheless. So we celebrate together in our split household (can't say the same about nov 4th outcome--we were also split household).

Anywhoooo......I'm taking pics this month of our fun filled month of December & will attempt to update the slide show to the right with additional photos weekly. For those who are still puter challenged, click ON the picture.

Enjoy.
Happy holidays.
L'chiam.
Cheers.
And to all a good night.

gobble gobble

CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE MORE (for those who still don't get it, LOL)

Gobble Gobble 2008

Above are the Thanksgiving pics from our trip to Jupiter!!! Exciting stuff, LOL.

I took the kids solo to see my family...everyone came, except Joe (teardrop falling, seriously). He was def missed. We had a great time--a little exhausting, but it was so nice to see everyone. My granny was def missed this year too. She would have LOVED all the kids and people.

I will get more pics from other people's cams soon--but here are the ones i managed to take. Attendees were: My dad (Pittsburgh) & brother Michael (San Fran), The Stettners (Denver) including Jill, Jack, Cutie Chloe and Richard, who is very special--so be nice to him. Also--Keith & Kelly (Greensboro), The terrific Zweibacks (Livingston NJ) who include Amy, Michael and curly haired Lexie! And of course, our amazing hosts...Jane & Gerry. They are amazing for having all those people & kids to entertain. Many thanks!!!!

So-i'm sure you want clued into my header picture?

It is December 1st. I think the holidays are officially upon us. Holiday parties, gifts, candy, shopping and holiday cards. I've decided to try & take it easy this year.

One thing I discovered on my trip to Florida is that Jay & Ellie like Snoopy....it mezmorized them for almost 20 minutes! In kid-time, that is an eternity! It got me thinking about how excited I was as a kid to watch the "Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" and all the holiday shows.......and not only that--as seasons change--- We enjoy the little things that make it so special to that very particular time of year. Even if it's only for a few days or weeks. For me, the smell of spring & fall. And during the holiday season...it's always the classic shows like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.

We have a lot of to be thankful for this year...big and small.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

BVI PICTURES

For the life of me i can't figure out how to post 2 albums?

I'm waiting for others to send their pics.... but here are the basics....

I had 2 cameras.
1st was a smaller underwater one that could go anywhere. the battery and/or its charger died on the latter end of the trip. Click on the picture to get to the site.



2nd was a fancy schmancy digital SLR that i attempted some beauty shots with. I was careful about where i took it & how i used it---even though i still came home with 395+ pics on it. click on picture...



So there are 2 albums!!
Enjoy!!

I am in a mad rush this week at work...so i'm short on the posts along with a few other things.

i have a blog.

it actually took someone to remind me about this blog? my mind is in space somewhere???

gimme a few days to settle back in.

monday was my first day on a computer in about 2 weeks....it's taking me a little longer to adjust to the real world....this would also include wearing clothes other than bathing suits and driving. it's all coming back to me though.

i'll post soon.

and for anyone out west in the midst of the wildfires, please stay safe. it's hard to watch.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!!

happy birthday to my brother, michael!!!

I hope it's a great one. I'm so proud of you & all you've done. I wish you another year of growth, good health and much happiness.

see you soon for turkey day!!

playing catch-up

So the posts have been far & few in between....and it will likely get worse!! haha. November is a busy month.
So, a little catching up...

The big race.... Joe & I ran the 1/2 marathon on the silver comet trail. 13.1 of flat.
Joe finished in 1:53

I did it in 2:10. I would've been 2 minutes faster, but i had a shoe tying issue. Overall, no complaints except that I'm super sore and avoid stairs like the plague. We both won medals!! I think it's my first.
Next race is the ING 1/2 marathon....and it's hilly so it will be a new challenge.

We visited a little pumpkin patch before heading to a pumpkin carving party on Saturday too...here are few pictures from that.

In all honesty, I'm just lazy about taking pictures lately??? I will take some tomorrow because Turner has the annual Halloween event---so we'll all be dressing up.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Walking

My little man. Walking. I love it!!!! Will post again later. have a great weekend & wish us luck on our 13.1 race tomorrow!!!!

hurrying up to wait

we have a bunch of just nothing going on these days...mostly preparing for something.

1. Race day...is saturday. 13.1 miles on the silver comet trail. I'm up to a solid 11 miles without passing out or throwing up in the end..wahoooo!!

2. vacation. Latitude: 18° 28' 0 N, Longitude: 64° 45' 0 W .....on the sunny Sandy Grounds of Jost van Dyke.....lots to do....

here are a few pics i took last week when i butchered an innocent pumpkin.

redemption

It's one of my favorite recipes from Hungry Girl.
I've been using dried cranberries & a tablespoon of pumpkin butter from trader joe's instead of the blueberries.

Ingredients:

2/3 cup uncooked oatmeal (not instant)

1/3 cup Bisquick Heart Smart Baking Mix

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tbsp. brown sugar

2 tsp. Smart Balance 37% Light Buttery Spread

1/3 cup light vanilla soymilk

3/4 cup blueberries

Directions:

Set oven to 400 degrees. Mix first 6 ingredients in a bowl. Fold in berries. Spray baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and form 4 mounds of batter on sheet (leave room in between 'em -- they expand!). Bake for 10 minutes. Makes 4 large scones.

Serving Size: 1 scone

Calories: 130

Fat: 3g

Sodium: 195mg

Carbs: 24g

Fiber: 2.25g

Sugars: 7g

Protein: 3.5g

* 2 Points

2+2= 1small world

what are the odds?

This morning Cindy messaged me that she overheard someone talking about MY BLOG at the Mexican restaurant in Loganville last night??

Is there only 1 Mexican restaurant out there BTW? ???? LOL

So--of course I am more curious....well..what were they saying, what did she look like??? I didn't know i had readership? and i don't know if i'm creeped out or flattered?

after probing a little more...and after the description... & that they both live out there...LOL

i'm figuring out.....


It was Leslie!!!!! (at least I think?)

Just wanted to shout at you both--because i think it's strangely funny. Cindy is our old roommate and dearest friend from when we lived in midtown and worked at the watch store. Leslie is Ruth's (Joe's sister) BFF.

I'm gonna have to pull some old pics of both...fun, fun....bbbwwwwaaah. actually, i don't have any of leslie. ruth, you may have to do the honors on that one!! LOL

Have a great week!!

Happy Birthday, Jay!

Dear Jay,

Happy Birthday!! Today you turn 1 year old. Only 1 of many more to come.

I know you don't understand it. I know you won't remember it. Today was just a regular day. Waking up at 5am on the dot. screaming in your crib till 6a--going back to sleep right when I need to get get up. Watching Ellie argue about putting on her clothes & her socks. Eating your yummy little waffle....well, one piece for you and then one piece for max. it's nice that you like to share with him. you don't cry in the car and if you don't fall asleep, you watch Ellie the entire ride in. You had a nice little day in school and even made excited smiley noises when we saw Judy on our way out. At home you light up when you see Joe. Rightly so. Ellie does it too. He is the ideal daddy. You watch Ellie tumble around & play....and dinner, again, one pea for you, one pea for max. you love to eat. You have 1 tooth in--it's a vampire tooth. You have one that popped through on the bottom but it's not all the way in. You are taking 1-3 steps now & then. So close. You are either cruising the furniture or sitting back sucking your thumb--observing. You giggle & smile all the time and say "AXXXX" but it's more like " ACCCHHXXXXS" when you see max. you watched your balloons and then we had a nice little nighttime routine.

it's nothing different to you, and not much different for me--but birthdays are worth celebrating and stopping to appreciate the birthday person's life. that you are appreciative of them being a part of your life too. maybe that's why I'm posting this sappy post? your birthday also falls in the midst of the Jewish new year...which is always a time for self reflection, celebration, remembrance and reminders of our priorities in life.

Today you're one. From the day i found out you were to be, a little extra pink line on a stick...it felt like I waited a million years until your birth-day. like i was actually holding my breath for your safe arrival. i don't think a day has passed since that day last year that i haven't looked at you & thanked my lucky stars for every minute that I've had with you...even if you wake up at 5am.

so, Ellie, on your birthday wanted to read the book Carolyn got her for her 3rd! it's hands down the longest Dr. Seuss book EVuh! but i thought the last few pages towards the end that i generally skip to were fitting (given the cake incident)

From Dr. Seuss's Happy Birthday Book:

And here comes your cake! Cooked by Snookers & Snookers,
The Official Katroo Happy Birthday Cake Cookers.
And Snookers & Snookers, I'm happy to say,
Are the only cake cookers who cook cakes today
Made of guaranteed, certified strictly Grade-A
Peppermint cucumber sausage-paste butter!
And the world's finest cake slicers, Dutter & Dutter
And Dutter & Dutter, with hatches a-flutter,
High up on the poop deck, stand ready to cut her.

Today you are you! That is truer than true!
There is no on alive who is you-er than you!
Shout loud, "I am luck to be what I am!
Thank goodness I"m not just a clam or a ham
Or a dusty old jar of sour gooseberry jam!
I am what I am! That's a great thing to be!
If I say so myself, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!"


Happy Birthday, Jay! I love you. I look forward to every single day of watching you grow in every way. I cannot wait to see many many more of your birthdays and life milestones.

All my love forever & ever,
Carrie
a.k.a. "MAMA"

ps.
there are 250+ birthday party pics. i will post them as soon as i can. including proof that people actually ate my cake. It was a great party & thanks to all that came to celebrate!

To all the members of the tribe....L'shanah Tova!!! I love you!

piece of cake.

i attempted jay's cake design myself.

christ, carrie. what were you thinking????

pictures really are worth a thousand words. or laughs in joe's case.
more to come from the party.






final result.

first fall camping trip

we went camping over the weekend!

to the right, you can see i made a slide show. when i have time this week, I will pull out a few of my favorites--photoshop & post them. i'm testing out a few new cameras & you guys will just have to bear a few more pictures than usual.

for now, click the slideshow to the right.

speaking of birthdays...

I can't believe my little guy is going to be ONE.


I cut out the place, just in case i have any "questionable" readers or stalkers. LOL. It's at nearby park for the activities.

If you are interested in coming, by all means, e-mail me.

baby cupcake party

There is a little girl in Jay's class (his little girlfriend), Maggie. It was her birthday last week. So her mom, my non-blogging work friend Sara, LOL, sent me all the pics from the birthday cupcake party they had at daycare.

I forget that they are like real little people, sitting around eating & talking about whatever. Jay is becoming so social, hahahahha.





Maggie the birthday girl
















Have a great week!!

P is for Pancake

Letters of the Week.

Ellie is learning a new letter each week at school. Last week, Quinn's mom--ANGELA, made banana PANCAKES. P, Pancake. Yummmm. So she totally saved me a post...hehehee. Ellie calls pancakes, PANPAKES.

This week-- the letter is D. Maybe I'll be slacker mom & just bring in Dunkin Donuts...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, donuts.

Ellie is also having a D-Day tomorrow....lucky girl.
Errr, that would be Daddy-Day.

boo!

So it will be THAT time of year again.



Yep, Halloween. Above are Joe's pumpkins from last year. The big question has now doubled in size...COSTUMES. FUN!!! Last year, they were the Tortoise & the Hare. it was cute & fun.


Although..Ellie HATED the ears...here she is below...i made her wear them. she is mad!


This year for her?? I don't know? I may let her decide what to dress as. My guess is that she will pick a princess or a mermaid. I swear, to convince a 3 year old to do anything but what they have already decided--you need to be in sales!


And what about MAX? he always gets left behind... I don't know that max will live up to being SPIDEY DOG. This Jack Russell is way cooler than him....lol

He may be better as a Tarancha-Pet.

For Jay.. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. He can't argue yet. He can't decide. He can't walk yet either. So he is ALL mine to dress up however i want. LOL. Another note: HE FINALLY has a few teeth and they are the...you guessed it, vampire teeth! Just like Ellie's first teeth. So-maybe a vampire? OR Ehhh, i don't know.
I can't make him a car freshener....or a whoopi cushion. WHAT ARE YOU GONNA BE?