Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Been busy.

I promise a real update soon.

In the meantime, here's a new creation of Nathaniel's that you can ponder over.
Not sure where he comes up with this stuff.

Seems to take a while to load. Maybe I'll have to move my videos over to YouTube. There's another project added to the list.

I don't care about my hair 9-27-09 from dcm923 on Vimeo.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Where a kid can be a kid

What was supposed to be a Batman Birthday Party at the park turned into a party at the House of the Mouse, aka Chuck E Cheese. The place was packed, guess we weren't the only ones forced inside due to rain.

The kids LOVED it. Plenty of rides, noise, food, friends & family. It was great & super easy for us to have it there - they do EVERYTHING. I mean it!!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Finally. Soccer season is here.

Soccer season is here and Nathaniel LOVES it. He was a great listener and didn't hesitate at all getting in on the class. It started on 9-12-09, I was thankful for the indoor complex because it was Pouring out.



Dear Santa: Can I please have a zoom lens for my camera?

Friday, September 11, 2009

Where were you?

I remember it so clearly. I was working at Sadler in Nashua. My coworker Bill, was walking downstairs and told me that his wife Cheryl just called to say a plane flew into one of the twin towers. We actually cracked a few jokes together about what kind of idiot is that far off track and how they couldn't manage to avoid such a monstrous building.

We clearly had the wrong type of plane in mind. Boy were we wrong.

News of this mysterious plane was spreading fast. Family & Clients were calling in, the internet was failing us so we all ended up in the conference room huddled around the little tv.

No one could make sense of what was happening. We watched in shock as the second plane hit the south tower. I remember Diane Berube reached over and held my hand. We cried as we watched the horror on the New Yorkers faces. It still didn't make any sense. How could TWO commercial planes screw up so badly. We denied talk of Terrorists.

And then the Pentagon happened. We cried more. And then there another plane, possibly more, were missing. Diane held my hand tighter.

We no longer tossed around the words Terrorist Attack. If you don't say it, it's not real right? What else was about to happen to us? It was so beautiful outside in Nashua, New Hampshire. How could this really be happening in OUR Country? To OUR people?

Our boss, Art's brother worked in the immediate area in NY. Obviously, they couldn't get through to him. I remember being so amazed at Art's strength during such an uncertain time. He sat there so calm, so poised. Taking it all in before coming to any conclusions. (we found out days later that he was safe)

We watched tv for a while longer. We were given the option to go home. I went over to where Dan was working and talked to him about it. They hadn't seen the tv. They didn't realize the magnitude of what was happening.

I think everyone called their loved ones that night. You spoke to people over the next few days that you would never normally call. It gave us security. It made us feel safe.

The days after that are full of American Pride. People down the street from us had a huge party that weekend. They had played Patriotic music all night with a yard FULL of people who inbetween songs would be yelling all together U-S-A, U-S-A. It gave you goosebumps. You couldn't drive down the highway without seeing pick up trucks with huge flags waving in the back. You'd cry at the sight. We had tv tributes, We had telethons, We had funerals and fund raisers.

We had bonding.

As many songwriters did, Dan instantly put his feelings & emotions into song. "Colors Don't Run" is the result. Listen to the words. They say it all.



I'll never forget how that day unfolded. I'm sure you won't either.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Tuesday is the new Monday

Welcome to my Tuesday. The day following a long weekend of relaxation.

Load up kids, my bags, lunch boxes. Leave the house 7am.

Get 3/4 way to school, realize I left my cell phone at home.

Turn around, get phone, head back to the school. Normally would've just left phone but I have a 2:50 dentist appointment and I can't not have a phone in case kids need me.

Near the school, I get cut off in a bad way. Slam on brakes, we all fly forward but we're ok, thank God for seatbelts & carseats.

While wait turn to into school parking lot, Audrey begins to projectile vomit. Everywhere. Repeatedly. Now she's hysterically crying.

Pull into parking spot. Nathaniel starts to cough and whine. I look at him, he's pale and says "Audrey's making me cough"

He had been watching her and it was making him sick.

Bad things are about to happen. She's crying. He's green & coughing. Need to act quickly. I whip him out of the car seat & get him to do deep breaths with his arms up high. Get her out of the car and wrap her up in a blanket to hide the puke.

Clearly the seatbelt caught her belly when I stopped short. Lots of belly pressure shortly after 8oz of milk and breakfast are not a good mix.

Rushed the kids in the bathroom before anyone sees us, washed her up, changed her outfit & dropped them both off. Nathaniel pridefully tells all his friends that Audrey has the throw ups. They all think it's cool. Get weird looks from him teachers, I shrug my shoulders and pretend not to know what he's talking about.

Now I have to drop off my car for service at the dealership. Oil change, brake check & A/C fix.

Get a rental car just in case Audrey gets sick again. Jeep Wrangler - cool!

They offer to clean out the carseat for me! Even Better!

Get to work by 9. Spend 15 minutes washing all vomit covered articles recovered from the car. Work Work Work. Three impromtu meetings result in accomplishing very little in my brief time in the office.

Dan goes to doctor, Is told he has Bronchitis.

Listen to one boss whine about his busy day. Yah, my heart bleeds for him.

Leave at 2:30 for the 2:50 dentist appointment to finally finish off the evil crowned tooth. Dentist calls while I'm on my way. Appointment was at 2:30 not 2:50. OOPS. I'm given a guilt trip but am told Maybe they can squeeze me in still.

Yes, they squeeze me in. Wonderful! I ignore the comments about how late I was and focus on how I received high marks during the cleaning, compliments on how well I take care of my teeth. WAAHOOO. Dentist fixes my crown for good. Relief!! Uh-oh, he just mumbled something about broken teeth. Ask him to repeat what he said. Oh ok, it's just two top teeth that are cracked from old fillings.

Great.

Schedule appointment to fix those teeth. Worst case scenario $1,000 out of my pocket. WHAT?!?! That's if I can hold out till January when insurance starts over. let's not even talk about if I need emergency care in the meantime.

Oh and that cleaning of my glimmering pearly whites? $80 of out pocket. Lovely.

Go back to dealership. A/C fix was free, brakes are fine, Oil change reduced to $15 because of special agreement. Serpentine belt replaced. Total bill $140. Come back in two weeks for another A/C check since they can't find the leak. Ok.

Return fun black Jeep Wrangler. $50 charge. What a waste.

They couldn't get the smell out of the carseat without taking it apart, which they can't do. Bummer.

Spent the early part of my night taking apart and cleaning a really stinky carseat. Gross.

Worked from 9pm - 1am on special projects till the system kicked me out. Exhausted.

Fall asleep.

Nathaniel wakes up at 1:15am crying because his knees hurt and his sheets are uncomfortable. Weirdo. Told him he has growing pains and now he's distraught because growing hurts.

Get him back to sleep.

Crawl back in bed.

Fall asleep.

Audrey starts crying. 1:35am.

Get her resettled.

Go back to sleep. Get up at 5am, back at the office by 7am. Head to Portland, ME for a day of meetings.

At least we're that much closer to the weekend.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Four Years Old

Every time I hear Nathaniel tell someone he's Four Years Old, I can't help but remember this:




It was a good birthday day. We got up early & frosted the cupcakes together for his class party. They loved the gummy worm added touch.


While heading out to the car, a particular four year old got in my way and I dropped one of the cupcake containers. Devastation ensued as Nathaniel thought his birthday was now over.

I failed to get any pictures of this catastrophe as there were 15 cupcakes and gummy worms on the floor, frosting everywhere and a very curious little girl ready to inspect everything.

I managed to salvage the 15 cupcakes, refrost them and we were on our way

His class had a pizza party with cupcakes, he wore a crown and birthday button all day.
We celebrated at home with cake after dinner.

We've had the star candle since Nathaniel's 1st birthday party. It's been used on every cake since. That's 11 cakes. The family birthday candle called it quits.

We tried & tried to relight it.

RIP 9/3/06 - 9/3/09.

We had to improvise with some pink candles. Yes, Pink. It's all we had, thanks to Auntie Betty's thoughtfulness at Audrey's party.

He took making a wish Very seriously. He wished for more letters.

Whatever that means.

He probably should've wished for boy candles for next year.

I give you one guess where this cake ended up: