Make a Smilebox slideshow

Christmas fun

Ellie playing the piano!

Ellie waiting for Santa!

Ellie at the Mall

Making Christmas Cookies

Grammy's Birthday Lunch

As a yearly tradition started before Ellie was born, my mom and I go shopping and to lunch as her birthday celebration each year. We've traveled to Manchester, VT and Cambridge, NY as well as to Albany and Lake George. Since Ellie is now part of the tradition, we've stuck to things we know and love. So the Log Jam restaurant in Lake George was the place for the 2nd year in a row. It fits so nicely with a trip to the outlets and a nice lunch out. In the theme of an old cabin, complete with burning fireplace, it is a wonderful place for us. Here's the proof that a good time was had by all!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Ellie, Papa and Daddy went shopping for a tree for Papa's house today while I finished up some shopping (and enjoyed some QUALITY alone time!). Although Ellie was bundled up in her snowpants, jacket and hat, it was still so bitter cold that they were unable to ride the train in search for the perfect tree. And as you can see from the pictures, the ice storm we had over the last few days made finding a tree a challenge too! Right here in our local area over 100,000 homes were without power. We were fortunate and survived without losing it for a prolonged time. Ellie thought the candles and flashlight made things an adventure. The only thing she really didn't like was not being able to watch "Dora" on tv.

Quote from my new favorite book,
The Whole World Over by Julia Glass
"Most inexperienced cooks believe, mistakenly, that a fine cake is less challenging to produce than a fine souffle or mousse. I know, however, that a good cake is like a good marriage: from the outside, it looks ordinary, sometimes unremarkable, yet cut into it, taste it, and you know that it is nothing of the sort. It is the sublime result oflong and patient experience, a confection whose success relies on a profound understanding of compatibilities and tastes; on a respect for measurement, balance, chemistry and heat; on a history of countless errors overcome."

December is the month of miracles

"December's gifts - custom, ceremony, celebration, consecration - come to us wrapped up, not in tissue and ribbons, but in cherished memories. This is the month of miracles. The oil that burns for eight days, the royal son born in a stable, the inexplicable return of Light on the longest, darkest night of the year. Where there is Love, there are always miracles. And where there are miracles, there is great joy. At last embrace the miracle of authenticity, changing forever how we view ourselves. Our daily round. Our dreams. Our destinies. Days we once called common, we now call holy."

- from Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach

Getting Ready for Christmas

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks in the Dining Room & in the Heart
by Sharon Randall

"We're having Thanksgiving dinner at home again this year. I guess I can't complain. Three turkeys in 28 years of marriage doesn't exactly make me a martyr. The first time I hosted the annual family feeding frenzy was so long ago I can barely recall it now. Except when I hear a smoke alarm; then I recall it clear as a bell.

My family remembers it too it seems, because since then we've had Thanksgiving dinner anywhere but here. However last year things changed. Funny, isn't it? We like to think that family is a constant, a kind of rock that never changes. But even rocks can change, given enough time, enough pressure. Families change too, over time, and under pressure. They recreate themselves every day. A birth, a death, a marriage, a divorce, a move to another city. The changes may be good or bad; makes no difference, really. What matters is what we do with them.

It's good to remember who we were and where we came from. But it's better to know who we are and where we're going. We need to talk less about how things used to be, and more about how they are. We did that last year, my husband and I took a look at our family and decided the traditions that had served us so well for so long no longer seemed to fit. It had been a rugged year, dealing a series of blows that struck us individually and as a family. My mother died. My father-in-law had to be placed in a rest home. And my husband had yet another surgery for cancer, only to be told a few months later that the disease had spread to his liver.

So when it came time to plan Thanksgiving we took a family vote and I lost - 4 to 1 - meaning I had to stay home and cook. It wasn't bad, really. We invited some friends - who are like family - except they help. We all said, "Best Thanksgiving ever." Nobody said, "Best turkey ever," but I take compliments where I can get them. So we're going to do it again this year. We invited the same friends and they accepted. I took that as a compliment, too. And my sister is coming from South Carolina. Her children are all grown and if she stayed home they'd expect her to cook, she said. I'll wait until she gets off the plane to tell her about my plan.

On Thanksgiving day, while she wrestles the turkey, I will set two tables - one in my dining room, the other in my heart. And I will seat, in fact or in spirit, all the people I've known and loved. No, I won't be feeding them all. But I will be thankful for them. It will be the best Thanksgiving ever. Because now is the only time that counts. Who can say what another year will bring? I wish you your best Thanksgiving ever. It's the only one that counts."

This newspaper clipping has been in my wallet for over 10 years - it's faded and torn, but it still brings tears to my eyes every year when I pull it out and read it on Thanksgiving. This year I'm sharing it with each of you. Happy Thanksgiving!

Cassidy's quotes ..

Cassidy's mom, Erin, passed on these hilarious things that Cassidy says to her at home. I couldn't resist sharing them and hoping they are still friends in high school so we can share these funny quotes back with them!

"Ellie and I draw on each other and got a time out." (She says "time out" loudly while pointing her finger into the air).

I asked her who made muddy footprints in the car, and she replied, "Ellie did it."

I asked her who took the cheese out of the refrigerator, and she said, "Ellie." When I tell her that Ellie is not here, she says, "She was here for a little bit but now she's home with her family."

Ellie's art work

While Ellie was at Grammy's for a sleepover Saturday night she learned to watercolor. These are her latest creations. Grammy so cleverly outlined and made them into actual pictures! What a treat to be presented with a 'present' upon Ellie's return Sunday morning. Hopefully her creative outlet will continue with the rest of her art projects!

Ellie's new puppy!

Alright, this one has batteries, but she carried it around like it's real. Papa got Ellie a puppy that she has named Jake. In the meantime she holds him and coos, "it's okay buddy." She just loves her puppy - and this one works out just fine for us.

Haircut Weekend!

Our haircuts are so much fun because they involve going to Aunt Mimi's shop. Ellie said, "Mommy, is Daddy going with us?" When I said he was she said, "But Mommy, he doesn't have any hair!" Oh well! Here Ellie shows she has gotten the trick of sitting while Aunt Mimi works her magic. And in the end Ellie had a terrific trim and a french braid as well! The rest of the weekend was a thrill as well. Ellie went to Grammy's house for Saturday to visit the horses and make cookies with M&Ms in them, while Bill & I attended our United Way Bowl for Charity event in Clifton Park. You'd think the two of us were old the way we still ache on Sunday. We had a great time with folks from work and the big thrill for us was when Bill threw 3 strikes in the 10th frame of our 2nd and final game. Bill made scampi for dinner as Papa and Grammy joined us for lots of laugh - and garlic!

Making Voting History!

Ellie went into the voting booth with me to vote in this historic election. Since she was there for history in the making, I wanted to have a memento of the occassion. Here she is holding The Saratogian with the headline, "Obama Makes History".

Ellie was a ladybug this year! After her costume parade at daycare with all her friends, we picked her up to go to Grammy's 'white house', The Washington Inn as Grammy was working last evening. We laughed as she told us her antics of the day. Then we picked up Papa and pizza and went to Aunt Lisa's house. Ellie loved answering the door - we even found one of our old friend's with her son, Dylan dressed here as a pirate. His mom, Krista and I used to work together and now she lives in Lisa's neighborhood. Small world! Ellie finally made it to bed at 8:30pm exhausted from her day and promptly fell asleep!

On the Farm

Ellie loves to feed the horses with Grammy. She knows her way around the barn, where to find the grain and the hay to feed them. Nothing scares her! Here cousin Ashley took this gorgeous shot of Ellie with Grammy.

Ellie having fun!

Happy Anniversary!

6 years ago today Bill and I were married, what a difference 6 years makes! Through all the changes, good and bad, today we are happily celebrating our day. We just returned from an overnight at Foxwoods. We stayed at Bellissimo Grande Hotel in the Presidential Suite about 10 minutes from Foxwoods with limo service to and from the hotel, which was so convenient. Our anniversary dinner at Paragon, the only 4-star restaurant in Connecticut, was amazing. The best part of the meal for me was the table-side prepared warm spinach salad. Truly one of the best meals Bill and I have ever eaten.

This photo shows where we've come from, keep checking here for where we will continue to go! Keep in mind, we're still smiling the same way today!

Ellie's Half Birthday

This year for Ellie's Half Birthday ( 2 1/2) we celebrated with half of a pan of chicken parm and half a pan of eggplant with half an ice cream roll from Friendly's with Grammy and Papa. As always, we practice the "Giving, no Getting" rule for the half birthday. This year Ellie's charity was St. Jude's Children's Hospital in honor of her Nana. It amazes me that we already have 3 charities in her scrapbook commemorating every half birthday with a different cause. Some day soon she'll understand the concept and be able to choose her own charity to donate to - and we'll have the scrapbook to show her the history of her charitable dedication!

Golf Tournament Weekend

The Pocono Mountains were the scene for the 16th Annual Rocker Klotz. Ellie's 2nd Year, Jude's 7th and Bill's 16th! My how time flies - especially for Milissa and Craig who celebrated their 15th anniversary on 9/11/08 - and the reason for the commemorative weekend each year. Here's some highlights from the weekend! Here's a comparison from Ellie's 1st (2006) tournament to this year's (2008)!!