You know you're old when...

...your cake catches on fire. Just sayin'. Happy Birthday, Sissy!!

Penultimate Cross Over

It was a day of back to back events. Julia had a party in the middle of town, then we zoooooomed over to Bloomfield for the Cross Over ceremony. We made it just in time to see our Webelo 1's become Webelo 2's. This will be the last time Devin crosses over to a Cub Scout rank. If he continues with it, next year he'll become a Boy Scout (or MAN SCOUT as they say at sleepaway camp).

It was funny to watch our grown up boys acting as role models while I watched the younger scouts running amok. It wasn't but a few years ago it was our little Tiger Cubs who were dancing with ants in their pants.

Ellen and I were very much thinking about the 5th grade yearbook as we gathered our boys together for a "class shot". Ah, one of 4,000 pix down.

Devin and E were running around after the ceremony (ok, so they aren't as far from being Tigers as I thought) and Devin wiped out on the pavement. One of those really hearty, left all my skin on the pavement kind of wipeouts. Since it was pretty early in the season, the recently trained lifeguards swarmed over to him like he was a shoplifter at Macy's. We initially said he was fine, and we'd clean it up at home. But after seeing the sad looks on their faces as they were dying to use some first aid skills, we relented. They did a great job, all bandaged up!

Celebrate!! (WH)

June? Must be time to Celebrate WH!! This involves crazy parking, expensive craft booths, yummy but expensive food and ridiculous lines for $5.00 ferris wheel lines. But that's ok, it's all for a good cause...oh wait, no, it's just for the coffers of our town. Oh well.

The kids adore it and it was a beautiful (though hot) day. Papa, Lindsay and Lis joined us too which was cool. Got to hang with "the girls" and Papa went on all the rides with the kids. When did my inner ear start to hate rides that spin?? God, I'm old.

Bumped into lots of folks we know and drank fresh squeezed lemonaid. Julia got her face painted. The woman who did it liked the design so much when she was done she asked if she could take her picture for her website. Gosh, NO, wouldn't want her face splashed all over someone's blog...hee hee.

These Cats ROCK!!

On a whim we took the kids to a Rockcats game in June. We invited Grandma and Oompa since we know they love baseball too! Every time we go to a Rockcats (or Portland Seadogs) game we always remark about how great a family night it is! The tickets are cheap (we had FABULOUS seats for $12 a piece) and the food is very reasonable. Great between innings fun and a fantastic nail biter of a game!!

We saw a few families we knew, and entered a charity drawing. Well, wouldn't you know we get a call in the middle of the game that Julia won a big basket in the drawing she entered? The luck of the Hartzogs!! She got a big bag full of great summer toys and games. She was thrilled!!

We had a tiny bit of rain, but it didn't spoil the fun at all. We can't wait to go again! What a nice way to kick off the summer.

Conspiring Against Us

One day I found the kids sitting in the front yard having a discussion in hushed whispers. What were they talking about? I don't know, but I think we're officially in trouble now.

Spring Scout Camping

Ah camping...words you won't hear from me unless they are preceeded by "Neil took both kids and I had a night to myself..." Well, it was supposed to be 2 nights to myself, but I digress.

They packed up and headed to Otis, Mass with a boatload of food and supplies. Julia had never been camping and Neil, in a clearly gregarious mood, decided to take them both (note from photos, yes, she was the only girl.) After the first night they spent the next day hiking ( a 4 mile trail, by accident), boating, fishing, playing endless Uno games and just having fun.

When I saw Peter C., Sr. (Neil's co-asst. Pack leader) he laughed and said, "It was just like having you there (to have Julia along)." I laughed and asked, "Am I that bad?" He laughed and said "No, but she was just like a wife, convinced we were doing it all wrong!"

Who? My daughter?

Sadly, all the fun came to abrupt halt when Dev woke up at 1:45 am and threw up all over the tent. Neil decided it was just easier to come home and leave it all there until the next day. So, in walks my family at 3:00 a.m. One of these days, my heart WILL give out.

But, stomach upset not included, it sounded like a good time. Even better, because I got to enjoy it through pictures!!

Spring Fair Madness

Hate the spring fair at school. Hate it hate it hate it. Stresses me out, total chaos, dread it every year.

And then it rains. And they bring it inside the school. And then I lose my mind.

My darling husband knows this. He hears me freak out on an annual basis about the noise, the crowd, the awkward chit chat. These are all things that are 100% him. He LOVES this stuff. Right up his alley.

This year, he may have qualified for husband of the year. My friend Manj was here from Germany, and the fair got moved inside the school (aaaaaaauuuuuuuurrrrggghhhh). He literally banished me from the fair and sent me out with Manj.

How much do I love this guy???

He even remembered to take pictures of the kids when they came home with their face paint. And thought it was even funnier and took MORE pictures when some of it was still on.

Did I mention I love him??

Mini Reunion

My high school friend Kristin and her family came to CT late this spring for a visit from the mid-west. She was walking at her graduation from Yale with her PHD, clearly an accomplishment worth celebrating!

We have not seen Kristin and Dave and the kids since their oldest daughter was little. So, we jumped at the chance for a little reunion.

They cooked an amazing dinner of shrimp curry and Mexican chocolate cake that my kids STILL talk about and beg me to make for them weekly. It was a wonderful time seeing the kids play and interact and to catch up with the grown-ups. (When did WE become the grown-ups??)

Uh-Oh...

With Oreo's passing we have noticed an over-abundance of critter activity in our yard this summer. Birds, chipmunks, other cats, but mostly bunnies.

This wasn't quite so concerning when we only saw one. But one day there were three, and well, you know the rest. But aren't they cute??

Memorial Day Weekend

Ventured up north to Mom and Dad's for the weekend. Realized that leaving LATER is the trick to the Mass Pike/495 now. Yeah!! Spent the weekend shopping in Kittery (Trading Post, lunch at Flo's) and hanging at the beach.

Julia and I got matching Wellies boots with cherries on them. I wore mine around shopping in Kittery (well, it was raining, a little). Neil pretended he didn't know me and Julia thought I was da BOMB.

Ah, the pace in Maine is always something to look forward to!!