The Great Pumpkin Patch

Today was the day. We'd heard about this amazing "200 Acres" with a pumpkin patch, corm maze, farm animals, bakery and knew we'd need to schedule it. When we got up today we saw it was going to be a perfect sunny fall day .. and thought 'today is the day!'

As you can see from the photos, it was an amazing day. Ellie loved the 3 little pigs, the noisy turkey and all the hens and roosters! I loved the pumpkin trees, the tractor ride and the warm sunshine. Bill was happy to find a wagon to load the pumpkins in, a great view from the top of the corn tower and having a happy family day!

We have so much fun here ...

9/11 Remembering and Rejoicing

Most of you know my 9/11 story, so I won't repeat it here. Know that today I watched the tributes on TV remembering my story and how it fits in to the one being told. It's the one I'll tell Ellie when she's old enough to understand. It's a day in our nation that changed our world, and a day that changed the trajectory of my life. I'm happy today to share my hero with Ellie - as the best dad in the world!

The heat has returned and Ellie wanted to play with the hose. She made her own sprinkler of sorts. Doesn't matter I always tell her, 'you won't melt in the rain, you're not made of sugar.' So the same applies here. It made us smile on a day of remembering.....

Girl Scout Open House

Ellie and I had a terrific day today! We did our errands in the morning, helped Bill get prepped and ready to tile the backsplash .. and then went to the Girl Scout Open House! They are still forming troops and Ellie will be in one formed out of Grove.

She got a tatoo on her hand, her face painted, played corn hole and ring toss! What an afternoon! I'm exhausted :)

St Louis - Labor Day Weekend

We had a wonderful weekend in St. Louis. We began at the Anheuser Busch with a tour featuring clydesdales and a tasting! Our tour guide was Elizabeth, which kept Ellie engaged the whole time. We moved from building to building learning about the process and the history.

From there we checked in our hotel The Hilton at the Ballpark which over looked Busch Stadium. Our room directly overlooked the ball park. Amazing. After a quick walk across the parking lot, we were at the stadium. In 90-plus degree weather we found our seats and enjoyed nearly the whole game. Ellie lasted until the 7th inning stretch! She sang "take me out to the ballgame" and then we made our way back to the hotel.

Saturday night we cabbed it to The Hill to find real Italian food. We tried Cuneto's, which came highly recommended, but ended up at Lou Boccardi's. Ellie ate a wonderful plate of pasta and Bill and I enjoyed veal piccata and eggplant parmesan.

Sunday the weather was much milder so we enjoyed our time at the St. Louis Zoo. Ellie loved the penguins, the giraffes and petting the stingrays! We spent a wonderful morning walking around visiting as much as we could. For lunch we spent time at The Hard Rock Cafe at Union Station. By then it was nap time for everyone! By evening we went to the top of our hotel at the 360 Lounge with views of the whole city. We watched the end of the Cards v. Reds game and enjoyed the views! From there we went to dinner in the section of town called The Loop. We dined at Blueberry Hill .. famous for their burger and Chuck Berry music.

Monday morning we visited the Arch. What a wonderful museum and shops underneath the arch run by the Forestry Service. Just looking up the arch was awesome! We had a terrific weekend, and left plenty to come back and see next time!!

Friends...

from the Happiness Project:
These are the qualities a person wants to see in a spouse and in co-workers. They’re important in all kinds of circumstances.

According to these authors, the essential friendship skills are:

The enjoyment of the company of others
A capacity for reciprocity, turn taking, cooperation, and sharing
Empathy
Realistic, generally positive expectations that allow you to approach the world with confidence
Problem-solving ability
The ability to regulate aggressive impulses and other emotions
The ability to read emotions, especially subtle and mixed emotions
The ability to tolerate frustraton
The ability to “hold others in mind” [to think lovingly about absent friends]
Trust that others can and will hold you in mind
Self-disclosure—the willingness and ability to show vulnerability

I've had a good 'friend' week.
Talked to an old friend today who always makes me laugh and feel smart
Received a call from a mentor in VA who told me how proud of me she is
Had happy hour with two new IL friends
Building new friendships with new folks willing to give me a chance ...

Having Fun!

Ellie riding the helicopter at the mall!



Doing a Funny Dance!

New Friends

We hosted the Hartwell's yesterday for a cookout. They lived in Charlottesville when we did, and now live here in Bloomington with their 3 year old daughter, Katelyn. Ellie had a chance to be the 'big' girl and host Katelyn! They played with all Ellie's toys inside and out. We had a great time, and agreed to do this again soon. Both the girls love State Farm Park so throughout the fall that will be a great place to entertain them both!

Travers' Day today and yesteryear

Travers' Day 2010 - last summer

Travers Day 2004

Travers' Day 2003
Bill and I have been celebrating Travers' Day together for 10 years now. Every one prior to this year was at the track. Many years he'd get up and head to the track at 2am with Craig, Bill (mini me) and anyone else willing to not only wait outside the gates until they opened at 7am but harder yet, make the MAD DASH inside the gates. From the 'jockeying' for position, hoping your side's gate gets opened first, to throwing the $5 at the window as an entrance fee to actually getting the tables in 'our' spot! Whew .. all done by 7:10am. And then the drinking begins. Mind you, I have historically arrived about 10am. I happily miss all that fun!!

Our giant picnic has created many memories. We've weathered rain, wind and extreme heat! We've been blessed with the company of both lifelong friends and new to our circle friends. All are welcome. They know where we are.

Tradition has both Homey's Pick's (after careful consideration and hours of handicapping) and Mrs. Homey's Picks (dubbed as such by Mike Rayburn) chosen by name of the horse. I've prepared my list and happy to have it complete by post time!

Today we'll be watching from Illinois. Although that's a tough place to be when you want to be with family and friends, we'll be celebrating alongside you .. via TVG! In light of the weather, we'll stay put avoiding both earthquakes (8/23) and hurricanes (8/27)

... 'and they're off ......'

Race 1: #8 Same Sparkle - gotta love the 'bling
Race 2: #3 Fire on Ice - tribute to my Stanley Cup winning Boston Bruins
Race 3: #12 Daddy Nose Best - 'nuf said
Race 4: #11 Pianzza Di Spanga - sounds delicious, doesn't it?
Race 5: #2 Try to Catch Her - as I prepare for 9/10/11 Race for the Cure
Race 6: #1 Juliann's Approval - to honor another Gator Grove mom
Race 7: #6 Fizzano - sounds like Fricano
Race 8: #8 Strike the Bell - thinking school bell and Ellie's complete week of school!
Race 9: #6 Hot Summer - first one in the Mid-West
Race 10: #4 Bronx City Girl - sending a hug to Minka in her time of need
Race 11: #7 Uncle Mo - cause I have a sister Mo
Race 12: my very first exacta wager because I have a few favorites in this one Exacta Box 3-4-9
Moonshine Mullin (for my Mooney heritage); Ruler on Ice (Tim Thomas Bruins' goalie); Stay Thirsty (my friends, Dos Eguis)
Race 13: #1 Windafull - Irene time for you to go out to sea!!

August 18th Significance

August 18th is shaping up to be a significant date in my history.

Consider this ....

2001 - Jude & Bill have their first date (daytime track), evening dinner and drinks
2011 - exactly 10 years later Ellie has her very first day of school

If you had told us that in exactly 10 years we'd be married, have lived in Virginia and Illinois, and have an amazing daughter who would start her very first day of school .. we'd have laughed ourselves silly!!

Other memorable things that happened on August 18th

1910 - Birthday of a very special dad to me: Jack Winters
1920 - 19th Amendment ratified guaranteeing women's suffrage
1936 - Birthday of Robert Redford ... remembering The Way We Were, Out of Africa - two of my favorites!
1957 - Birthday of Denis Leary - my new favorite funnyman; star of Rescue Me and a huge Bruins fan

Ellie's breakfast

Today was a Shannon's day ... After much picture hanging, laundry folding and getting ready for the week .. Bill decided at 10:30am it was a Shannon's for breakfast day. It was delicious!

Lunch at Chuck E Cheese's

Ellie went to Allison's 5th Birthday Party today .... at Chuck E. Cheese. My head started hurting driving to the party just thinking of the noise level. When I got there Allison's mother said, "you don't need to stay. There's only 6 kids coming and I have my husband, my sister and my 12 year old here to help!" What a treat - 2 hours to myself! So I found it a great time for a walk-in pedicure! Ahhhh..... Miami Beet on my toes!

Another School Day

Ellie LOVED Grove Kindergarten ... She knew her lunch bag goes in the green pail (for no peanut allergies), that her backpack is hung on her hook AND she was allowed to buy chocolate milk at lunch with her Grove credit card! She met kids in her class: Lucy, Ainsley and Josh. She had Gym and Music today. "But we didn't get to play any music. Today we learned about listening."

Tonight after a wonderful dinner of sushi, roast chicken, thai noodle salad and baked potato salad, we went outside with Ellie for her to ride her new bike!

First Day of Kindergarten!

Ellie's officially a GROVE GATOR! She's been promised she'll learn a song to go along with the membership! Her teacher's name is Miss Dillow. We went to her class today to learn where she'll go, sit, eat ..... and she put away all her school supplies!

Here's a few photos from our adventure!

The Happiness Project

My Secrets of Adulthood (link)

The days are long, but the years are short.
Someplace, keep an empty shelf.
Turning the computer on and off a few times often fixes a glitch.
It's okay to ask for help.
You can choose what you do; you can't choose what you LIKE to do.
Happiness doesn't always make you feel happy.
What you do EVERY DAY matters more than what you do ONCE IN A WHILE.
You don't have to be good at everything.
Soap and water removes most stains.
It's important to be nice to EVERYONE.
You know as much as most people.
Over-the-counter medicines are very effective.
Eat better, eat less, exercise more.
What's fun for other people may not be fun for you -- and vice versa.
People actually prefer that you buy wedding gifts off their registry.
Houseplants and photo albums are a lot of trouble.
If you're not failing, you're not trying hard enough.
No deposit, no return.

Neighborhood fun

Ellie got to meet several more kids this weekend. On Sunday afternoon we were in the front with Ellie on her bike and many parents and kids arrived to share stories and kids to chase after.

Next door on the other side is Jen and Stan with 3 year old Gabriel. As Ellie would say, "You could just eat him up" Jen is also State Farm as an Analyst in Enterprise Solutions. Across the street Lexie (1st grade) and Lindsey (kindergarten) arrived with parents Dave (Systems Business Analyst) and his wife, stay at home mom, Jen.

The girls brought their Barbie mobile and scooters for an afternoon of fun for all the kids!

As we were outside grilling this evening we met the neighbors directly behind us, Michael and Jen (HR Asst Mgr at State Farm) with 14 month old Stella and 4 year old Gracie. They moved in 4 months ago.

10 Years together ... on August 18th ...

On our date to celebrate 10 years together!


10 years AGO - one of our first dates!!!

Bill and I had the opportunity tonight to celebrate our 10 years together! Ellie stayed for PTA (Parents Time Away) from 5:30-8pm tonight while we went on a date!! We picked out granite for our kitchen and bathroom, and then made our way to have a drink and bite to eat!

What a wonderful night we had at Distihl. Its been recommended by so many people, and I went there for a girl's night a few weeks ago with 'the girls!'

Successful night all around!

Rabbit, Rabbit

We had our first visitor to the egress window this evening .. a tiny baby rabbit! Since we were able to get to him we used a plastic shovel to scoop him out and release him back to the yard ... he sat for a bit and then hopped happily off to find his family!!

National S'mores Day

Ellie celebrated with graham crackers, toasted marshmallows and chocolate bars!

National S'Mores Day!!

Look Mom, No Cavities!!

Ellie's pre-Kindergarten visit to the NEW dentist today was a success. She said, "Mommy, I really like this new dentist's office!" She was happy to get a new toothbrush, paste, flossers AND a sticker when we departed. She happily told all the women at the front desk she was off to Chipolte for lunch as her treat!

She did awesome!!

Summer Saturday

After a full day of Saturday errands, we settled in to watch a couple innings of the Yankees v. Red Sox and of course, the two races televised from Saratoga.

Ellie was so content in 'her' chair with a bowl of Cheez-Its and her video player!

Saying good-bye is hard

A new friend here in Bloomington lost her dog last night. We've been following Ollie's story on his blog. He had cancer. He was suffering. His family now is dealing with the sadness of him being gone from their home, but not from their lives or their hearts. As I read his blog this morning at my desk, my eyes overflowed with tears. It reminded me of things that meant to so much that I've lost. Ollie had some great advice .. through his amazingly smart and insightful human-mom, Stephanie.

From: www.olliethewonderpuppy.blogspot.com
Alas, I have a few thoughts on life I would like to share. Maybe it's a way of letting my legacy be known...although I know I will always live on in my family's hearts. So if I could talk, and through this blog I can, here's what I would say about my life:

The best place in the whole world is right at home where I belong. Having loved and been loved is lots more important than fancy toys. The best entertainment in life is usually free. Especially when I am the entertainment...and my tail-chasing act has won the world (or at least our friends) over, time after time. Bunny rabbits in the grass are not playthings. White snow is meant to be yellow. Or brown. Grandparents are allowed to spoil us grandkids. It's their right. A hug can make almost anything okay. For humans or for dogs. So can a good nap. Friends and family are so important, so always be a good friend. Share your treats. A good burp makes you feel better and makes everyone else laugh. The most important things are not always said, but felt. And I feel lucky that I've felt all those things. And yes, it's true. I really could tell your emotions and I felt them too. That's just how I rolled.

As a wise man once said:
"Don't cry because it's over.
Smile because it happened."
Dr. Seuss

Here comes the kindergartener!

A few more cutie patootie pictures!

Haircut!

What a treat! Ellie has been asking for a haircut as the hair on the back of her neck is too long, she tells me. So I found a great little place today with no waiting .. $10! Great woman finally gave her a GOOD haircut. I'd explained that we were used to Aunt Mimi giving her a good haircut .. experienced! .. and we'd had two bad ones in a row with inexperienced stylists who left her with straggling ends by the time we reached home.

So happy to for new 'do! She looks adorable!

Cornbelters at the Corn Crib!

Saturday night we went to our first Normal Cornbelters game. Ellie was much more interested in the concession stand offerings than the game, but we had fun nonetheless!

Happy Life

Ellie visited Carl's Ice Cream and didn't realize she couldn't get sprinkles on a hard ice cream cone ... so the woman who scooped it treated her to a smiley face made from candy.

People are just SO nice here.

75th Wedding Anniversary

Today would have been my grandparents Mary and Victor Mitchell's 75th wedding anniversary. I woke up this morning thinking, 'today is July 23rd it was my grandparents anniversary .. I wonder how many years?" To my amazement today would have been 75 years! After some research I found that it used to be called the Diamond Anniversary .. but after Queen Elizabeth marked 60 years as the queen as her Diamond Jubilee, seems there must be a different name for 75!!


"The passing of another year together marks a deepening of the couple's commitment, an accumulation of time irreplaceable. To help in celebrating these occasions are special gifts, one assigned to each anniversary and each with its own material and symbolic value. In the United States, the wedding anniversary symbols begin simply, with paper and flowers, and gradually increase in substance and value. The order of gifts reflects the investment that the couple gives of themselves to each other. In Germany, by comparison, couples use a list of symbols that represent the progressive strengthening of the marriage relationship."
Source: Gretchen Scoble and Ann Field, The Meaning of Wedding Anniversaries, page 7.

Today I celebrate the celebration of anniversaries .. of marriages .. of the love of family!