Cousin Easter

The hubs comes from a big family. As a result of such expansion over the generations, everyone does there own thing. However, last Christmas we did a Cousin Christmas for all the kids. It was great! The kids got to play together, and all was well and relaxed. So when the niece shot me a text about doing it again sometime, we hatched Cousin Easter!

Apparently it's her and I hosting. Her husband is a great cook, and I'm coming up with crafts and activities. We will all have an afternoon together and it will be wonderful. I'll save my griping about living the farthest away for later, and I'll hold my breath for 70 degree and SUNNY in March.

What I'm struggling with now is entertaining everyone. I can easily entertaining a room full of small children. I can haul out sensory bins for babies! It's those big kids that ruin the fun! They don't want to play with the little kids, they'll whine about pictures and cop attitudes. Ugh, the big kids. The preteens!!

So what do I do with them??

I really want to make cascarones, but that fun will be short lived. Is it even a game? I'm imagining it being egg roulette. And do you think decalcifing them a bit in some vinegar would make the shells too weak?

For the group as a hole, I'm planning egg races and relays. Spoon size will be relative to age! I'm also hoping to make bunny ears for the little to use in a bunny sack race. Now where do I find sacks? I think Joann's has burlap on sale... I really need some back up indoor plans!

So do you have family parties?
How do you occupy the wee, and not so wee ones??

Phone Dump

Winter

Mrs. FF, some winter sunrise for you. ;-)

I should note, these were all taken from the car while moving. My camera skill haven't degraded that much this winter!

Green spot- not a UFO. Fear not! Just a reflection from the dash.  

My favorite. This morning the sun was "beaming" and I feel like this was the first time I have ever noticed. 

Thankfully the sun is rising earlier and earlier! Spring is on the way!

M&S

So the day before Valentine's, I cashed in my Valentine's gift from last year. 

Mumford and Sons.

It was every bit as wonderful as I had hope. It was exactly what I expected. They're still growing as musicians, and while I wasn't disappointed, I would have enjoyed a little more deviation from the record. I wasn't overjoyed with their opening acts. The lady in front of us said they were genius to tour with such horrible acts, it only makes them more amazing. True, true. 

I was horribly disappointed! Photography and media wasn't prohibited! 

I DIDN'T HAVE MY CAMERA!

So here are cell phone pictures. 

Shameless bathroom pic.

No pony means no kids. 

Also reminds me I desperately need a haircut. 

Oh the anticipation!

I was nearly estatic to find out that my row CC was down at floor level and not up in the sky! 

These last two, phenomenal! 

They snuck off stage and onto a platform directly in front of me to sing acapella. 

They sang my most favoritist song. I cried. 

I also recorded it with the 7% battery life that remained!

It's all about the experience. Kudos to the hubs for such a thoughtful and "me" gift. He's the best. I still have a mommy day to redeem! Score!! I'm surprised he didn't leave me that night because I'm sure I was a total embarrassment. HA! 

Sweet memories!

I'm Tired

• of missing the weekends
• of missing family time
• of the ring around Claire's mouth
• of the lack of vegetable eating in this house
• of the living room
• of complaining to husband I don't want to work, and him telling me to quit
• of not quitting
• of the half finished projects plaguing my house
• of progress that doesn't show itself 
• of old dog being barky
• of young dog making old dog barky
• of daydreaming, it really gets you no where
• of missing my camera
• of not being impulsive enough
• of missing my husband
• of being tired

Holy bullets, I'll stop there. I need to focus on the positive today, like the project life kit coming my way!! :) 

Happy Weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

Mumford. 

Me. 

Tonight!!

Photo Challenge

I'm finally linking up with Marcia! Finally!

I thought having a web of technology would make life easier, maybe it's just blogger and not me. So sound off on your favorites and please be kind with my feet!

My hand. Getting that engagement band off was traumatic! Maybe for my next anniversary I'll get a new set. *Hint, hint*

Winter feet. Gross.

This is why I can't go for a pedi, the embarrassment!

Glorious Sunday morning bed head shot. My mother semi-insister the ladies stay with her so Mommy and Daddy went out!

Puppy snuggle, something I love a little more each time. 

Wearing something!

Sucky Mom

What is it about winter that sucks the life out of you? I love grey skies, but the howling winds and bitter cold can scoot! Especially if you're not going to give me a blizzard Mother Nature!!

Dear Emma reminded me I used to be an active mommy. She was scrolling through photos, because playing on the iPad is completely acceptable during winter months, and stumbled upon the zillions of pictures from this summer. ZILLIONS! We played outside. We explored! We interacted with nature and grew things. We were active!

Staying in your jammies till 10 a.m. just isn't an option when the sun is shining. But it's so much more than being active. I was involved. We didn't just paint; we squeezed painted on the side walk with fizzy paint! If we were into bugs, we had bug themed lunches that were eaten outside. The dishes waited until nap because I wanted to get back out. I wanted them to have the experiences. I wanted to capture the moments. If I've taken 200 pictures thus far this year it'd be a miracle. I used to take double that each week!

Am I alone here?

What is it about winter??

That being said, I'm bitter Boston is hogging all the snow! I would love to have a good blizzard to take the ladies out in!! Maybe I could make a snowy lunch, and we could make snowcream and maple candies. President's day don't fail me!! But immediately after that it can be 70 in March...

Beat It

So I used to be very proud of being a homeowner. In my mind that stood for something, not to say that I was better than anyone else, just a symbol of my stability and responsibility. It was the physical proof I needed to scream I'm an adult who needs to be taken seriously! There are things in life that you know will happen and expect, but when the sky starts falling you feel totally unprepared. Like when your heat goes down for the third time this winter, just after getting over a two week illness and after your dishwasher and toilet fail while you're shopping for living room furniture and new big girl beds. There was no chapter in the new homeowner guide about hemorrhaging money!

So trying to simplify life, I call the first repairman I get my hands on despite having a service contract elsewhere because I know it needs a valve replaced that isn't covered. Mr. Repairman comes, nice as can be, and checks everything over. Finally says, I really hope it's not this. Famous last words. It was that, a $770 aquastat that they a.) don't carry and b.) can't get. What the hell? The second part needed is only going to be $462 and he tells me he won't replace it. Great! Turns out he was being supppppper helpful. The first part will be covered under my service contract wih the other company. The second part can be done cheaper through a plain Jane plumber. I deliver news to husband who is none to pleased, and hear some banging.

Mr. Repairman whacked the broken aquastat with the back of his screwdriver and presto, we have heat! 

Lesson learned, beating on things just might help!

Sadly my service contract people won't replace the part until its not working again. However, Mr. Repairman showed me where to beat so at least I have a chance at restarting the heat and staying out of family bed! Yes, it is always something. So back dishwashers, toilets, sofas, and beds!

Back Home

So when you come home to fridge temps...

 

You clearly cannot stay home. Not being able to stay home, you're clearly looking for the next best thing. However what determines next best varies between situations. If it were just the hubs and I, it would probably have involved a swanky hotel with harbor views and lots of eating at nice restaurants. Sadly, it involved the ladies too. So off to grandma's house we went. 

The reading materials were a bit lacking. 

    

And I am the THIRD generation to sleep on this bed with my spouse-VOMIT. I told the hubs he was truely part of the family now! Ha! The sheets were fresh though, and this lovely floral pattern had all the comforts of my childhood. 

Still, I can't complain. I came home from work this weekend to hot meals. My children were watched and catered to. They were eagerly bathed and readied for bed each night by Mother. I would have been a fool to turn down child care complete with playroom, hot meals, and a warm bed for free! Especially since it right around the corner. 

If my father were so annoying and if Mother didn't live to fatten people up, I just might move back home!!

Fucking February

Are you kidding me?

I hyped myself up for a fresh start today, finally. The last three months have been a series of what-next. I was eager to simplify and be all crazy-zen-earth-mother dammit!! Instead, it's currently 25 degrees out with howling winds and the heat is out again.

Are you fucking kidding me?

Of course it's Friday night, so I'll be getting some over priced emergency service call. The boiler has fire and water, so I think it's a repeat of the "loose wire" from last time but my jiggling efforts have been unsuccessful. Luckily for me it's going to be freezing or below for the foreseeable future which means we will be living with my parents.
FML
Thankfully husband reminded me I'm on countdown to see Mumford. Then cousin told me there's a Mumford concert on showt.ime tonight. Sadly the upstairs box isn't work so I'm downstairs in the basement freezing. But after a nice cry I'm settling down to the dulcet tones of Marcus Mumford.

Here's to a better tomorrow.