Trick or Treating

A couple of weeks ago we were driving to school in the morning, and Emily announced, " I either want to be a princess or Sacagawea for Halloween this year!"  Since we have about six princess dresses I was hoping that she would decide on one of them, but a couple of days later the verdict came down that we were going to be in search of one Native American costume.  Luckily, I was pretty sure where I could find one.  My dear friend from work was kind enough to pull her daughter's Lenape Indian costume down from the attic...a costume that her now adult daughter wore in her 4th grade NJ play.
As you can see, her fourth grade costume seemed to fit my kindergartener perfectly!  And after searching through a bag of hand me down costumes, we were able to throw a Davey Crocket costume together for Noah, even though he REALLY wanted to be Chief Redstick (don't ask me how my kids come up with all of these ideas).
We had a great night trick or treating with some of Emily and Noah's friends and then visiting some of the girls that I work with.  

PS: Mrs. S if you are reading this...the pumpkin flashlights were a huge hit!  Noah took his to bed with him!

Special K-Challenged

Yes, that's right.  I have to admit that I am Special K- challenged.  I am, of course, referring to the "lose a pants size in two weeks" diet, the diet that seems so simple that even the most commited junk foodie could do it, the diet that promises those pesky six pounds that everyone wants to lose will vanish in two weeks.   Two weeks!... a fortnight, fourteen days...a mere blink of the eye in our fast paced lives. Sadly, though, I have tried and failed at the two week challenge more times than I'd care to put into print.  I would have to say that I am diet - challenged in general.  Pretty much there isn't a food that I've met that I don't like.  There are some exceptions to the rule like succotash (so gross), tofu (not really sure that it even qualifies as food), oysters (slimy!) and tartare (something you should really only eat if stranded on a desert island, but somehow qualifies as gourmet). Other than those few culinary no-nos, it's safe to say that I'm in love with food.

Unfortunately my love affair with food is causing a hate hate relationship with my jeans right now.  After baby number three everything seems to have shifted, my center of gravity is down around my ankles, and as luck would have it, I have about six pounds standing between me and a weight that I would be really happy with....well, a weight that I can live with.  Cue the Special K commercials.  This time WILL be different.  I know this because I have enlisted help.  My friend, Casey, who is a tennis coach, and who once in a while humors me by chasing my serves around the tennis court, has agreed to forego her fondue and Slurpee addiction for two weeks so that I can once again fit comfortably in my jeans.  If that isn't friendship then I don't know what is.
So, wish us luck!  Weighing in at 1xx and 1xx, two self proclaimed foodies are about to tackle Operation Quit Being a Fatty next week.  If anyone would like to join us you can get all of the diet info here. Stay tuned.

The Gloves Come Off...for a Good Cause

It's that time of year again....that time of year that I wish I didn't have to open up Emily's backpack, because I know what I will find...the dreaded school fundraising packet.  Although most of the catalogue items are buyer friendly: pizzas, cheesecakes and Gertrude Hawk chocolates, there is nothing worse than troubling your family and friends to buy items that they may not want or use.  If that isn't bad enough, there is always the "what we'd like every family to sell" dollar amount, deciding what prizes you want in the event that you actually sell between $499 - $699 (we're eyeing up a very nice art set in case this happens), and of course the daily contests at school to see who is racking up the most sales.  These contests are what led me to a little self reflection this weekend.
It all started last Wednesday night as I was perusing the various flyers and contest rules.  Enclosed was a paper to be returned ASAP that gave permission for Emily to attend a "Nifty Fifties" ice cream outing should she be one of the top sellers. And at the bottom it promised that the first ten students to return the form would get a special prize the next day.   So, while filling it out, I gave Emily directions to give it to her teacher right away and maybe she would get a prize.
Now, every morning it is pretty much a fight to the finish until we get out of the door.  Mostly this is because of Emily's hair which I threaten to shave off on a daily basis, but that's a topic for another blog.  Typically we are racing out the door at 8:04 am, and I am telling Noah to put his shoes on in the car and Emily still only has one side of her hair done.  However, on Thursday morning I noticed Emily getting ready at a breakneck pace.  It was 7:45, teeth were brushed, hair was combed and she was telling Noah that he could just put his coat on over his pajamas.

"What is going on?"  I asked.  To which she replied, "MOM...we have to get to school so that I can be the first to hand my paper in.  I'm GOING TO GET a prize!"  Feeling relieved that there was going to be no blood spilt over the hair brushing, I chuckled to myself as we got in the car and made it to school ten minutes earlier than normal.   As I pulled away I wondered...was she more interested in getting a prize or just the idea of being the first?  I got my answer when we picked her up that afternoon.  Smiling from head to toe she exclaimed, "I handed my paper in and I got a prize!"  Feeling incredibly satisfied myself I prompted her for more details, "What was the prize?"
"Oh it was just a donut, BUT I was the only one in my class that got one!"  And there it was.  The competitive urges of a five year old summed up in one simple contest.  What was even more surprising to me was how excited I was for her....here I was having a spike the ball in the end zone type of moment over a paper and a donut?
So, being completely aware of my competitive spirit, I've been asking myself...how does it start?  Nature or nurture?  Maybe a little of both?

Open Air Markets and the Other White Meat

Yesterday, we went to a great farm market hosted on a working farm.  Because it's the end of the season, the vendors didn't have much out to sell, but we are excited to go and check it out next summer.  There's something about open air markets that make you want to go home and make a fabulously fresh salad or an apple tart of some sort.  It is, of course, more pricey than picking out your produce at the grocery store, but I love supporting local farmers....what dedication!  I cannot even keep a garden alive through the entire summer.
So, since we weren't in the market for cauliflower and fall peppers, we decided to do our part by getting our lunch from the food stand.  Noah went for his standard mac n cheese lunch, and Emily and I split a pulled pork plate, which, by the way is the best thing that you can do with a pig....there is nothing better!  Knowing that Emily wouldn't eat it if told what it actually was, I pretended to ignore her when she assumed that it was chicken.  After we were done, and the secret was revealed Noah asked, "What kind of animal is pork?"  And later, "Did they raise the pig on this farm?"

After a nice lunch, and listening to a rather scary rendition of Brown Eyed Girl from a local guitar player we headed home.  As we pulled in the driveway Noah lept out of the car, raced in the house and exclaimed to his dad, "Dad!  We went to a farm where they grow vegetables and they have sheep and pigs!  AND...Mom and Emily ate one of the pigs!!!!"

Birthday ~ Phillies Style

                                         Me saying, "Not with hot dog in your mouth!"

Since Noah and Emily both have fall birthdays we usually have one party, and this year it was a Phillies party.  Our birthday parties are always small with family and a few close friends, but they always have a great time.  After a little crafting, playing on the park, riding bikes and scooters and playing princess (for the girls) it was time for some cake.  Unfortunately, Noah was feeling a little rushed to finish his hot dog before he blew out the candles.  Yep, hot dog on the cake...pretty gross, but I guess that kind of thing doesn't phase parents with little kids, because most people still had a piece!

Chincoteague

We had a great time this September in Chincoteague, VA.  It is the perfect place to go if you want to do nothing.  And that is exactly what we did!  Our days at the beach were followed by a relaxing dinner, a trip around the wild life refugee and a stop at the Creamery for the best ice cream ever.

Easiest Baby Ever

Addison was born June 4th at 10:10 a.m.  She is the easiest. baby. ever.   After many months of sleepless nights with my son, Noah, I was prepared for the worst.  We have been pleasantly surprised!  Addison started sleeping through the night at two months and has been sleeping eleven ~ twelve hours ever since.  She smiles at everyone, laughs at everything and will eat anything!  I am finding that I am really able to enjoy all of her baby moments.  With Emily I was nervous about everything, because she was my first.  Noah cried all of the time about everything.  With Addison I am calm, relaxed and loving it!