Is it level? (3 levels later ....it is still level)

Blowing out the candles isn't as easy as you would think

Get out the blowtorch for Mom's cake

Happy Birthday Mom!

Marina's Picasso Cake

Bring on the snow, Derek's ready!

We're back to winter and more snow on the way.

Mud Boggin'...with a touch of snow and ice ...just to make it interesting!

It has been 50 and raining for a few days and that has been absolutely horrible for our road. On Saturday alone I saw two cars getting towed out of the mud. Suction cupped to the road...just like I was two years ago. No fun at all. I do have my new car that has a little bit more clearance on the bottom, but I still bottomed-out everyday on the hill. Now, its 30 and snowy and icy. This has made it so that you get thrown all around in the ruts...then the icy spots make you slide. (Photo taken whilst being thrown around ...on a not so bad part though...so as to not go off the edge of a cliff) Now, that is no fun either. It is a tiny bit better because obviously they were able to grate the hill a little and get rid of the big ruts so I don't bottom-out on hard icy dirt that could ruin the car. Always a good time living on a dirt road in VT.

I just hardly ever get to see this view of Camel's Hump

The sunflower seed project. Oddly enough, a Japanese lesson plan. AND There's Lil, my little helper.

Justin's creation ...it kept him busy all night!!! Yes!

My New Allergy

I had an infection last week and went to the doctor and he gave me some Amoxicillin. I have been taking Amoxicillin forever without a problem. Anyway, I have broken out into hives (well, not technically hives) and itching my whole entire body for about 4 days now. I am going absolutely insane. I went to the doctor again, for the itching, and they said they feel that I am allergic to the Amoxicillin. So, they gave me a stronger allergy pill for a month, and some prednisone for the itching. I am a tiny, tiny bit better but still a little itchy.

Daaaaaaaaaaaad!

I was lying in bed with Mirabel the other night and she said, "I've been thinking about kissing Max." I said, "the dog?" She said, "No, the person, Max Erikkson." Mind you, she is 4 and he is 6. I said, "You are???" She said, "Yes."

Felix walked in and I said, "Mirabel said she has been thinking about kissing Max." And she piped in, "Yes, I have been." No question about it whatsoever.

So, Felix was at Playcare and told Max about it in front of his mother. And Mirabel was not very happy with him. I hope he doesn't try that when she is a teenager. He will be in big trouble!

A delicious dinner

Pizza Putt never knew what hit them!

So, Grandma Ann came to visit this weekend. School was still out on Monday and Tuesday, so she "got to" babysit. They went bowling on Monday which was a hit. The kids used a sort of roller where you put the ball on top and roll it down a ramp and it makes it go a lot faster than a kid throwing it. Physics kind of stuff, ya know. Tuesday, they went to Pizza Putt. They did every possible thing there is to do there. Justin won a stuffed animal out of the machine with the arm...you know the one....that you NEVER win at. So, basicly, Grandma spent about ten times what the dog would have cost at a regular store. But, they had a whole lot of fun. Monday night we went out for supper but Tuesday Ann cooked us a great meal. I could not stop eating! Other than that, life has been really boring and nothing much to report.

Those Darned Girlscouts!

It is THAT time of year again. Girl Scout cookie time. David Lawson brought in the loot today from his daughter's troop. I am certain that these Girl Scouts put an addictive chemical in these cookies that makes you crave them!! Then, when your box is done...Ooops...NO MORE! til next year! So, then you have to go around to the front entrance of the Walmart or someplace to get a FIX!! It's just insane. I ate 6 "Thanks-A-Lot"s today and felt sick afterward. And now, did you notice it now says "NO trans-fat" on the box..... like THAT means anything. Now they are good for you?? They are still listing 6 grams of fat. Hmmmm. Those Girl Scouts have some sort of racket. $10.50 for 3 boxes of cookies? Dang. I need to go have a cookie.

We have really not been up to much lately. Winter is dragging on...not much snow, but the weather keeps swinging between warm and really cold. I would rather have it one way or another.

Tuesday night we went over to Mom's for supper, which we hardly ever do now that I have school on Tuesdays and work late. The kids had a little parade....in the kitchen and were throwing out Mardi Gras beads, candy and food. This cracked us up. We heard there was going to be a parade...but it was so cute when the kids started throwing stuff at us. Then, they brought us downstairs for a show and more parade action.

I have been sitting in front of the computer downloading music on to my I-Pod all week. Pretty boring, but if I want music I have to do it.

Justin has been going to Live-Y'rs camp all week. Tuesday he went skating...and of course, was wild. I guess one of the counselors was timing him and another camper called him a "show - off." If you've got it..might as well flaunt it.

OH Justin.....

I was downloading music the other night and Justin was climbing on my arm as I was typing...and I said, "I swear ...if you break my arm I will have to kill you!" and he said, "It'd be kinda hard to kill me with one arm, wouldn't it??"
Where does he get that mouth from....not me. Ha Ha Ha.

The Big Sleepover

The Pond kids have not slept over at Grandma's House in ages. I was getting ready to leave Saturday night and I got attacked...hugs, kisses, pleases...."PLLLLLLEEEEEEAAAAASSSSSE!!!!!!! CAN WE STAY????" Well, what can you say to THAT. So, they spent the night away from me. I can't really rememeber the last time they were away from home. They had a blast. Mirabel said she stayed up until morning...which my mother verified was pretty close to true. She was up until at least 11pm. The Nadeau kids slept over also. So, Justin slept with Marina and Mirabel slept with Derek. I guess they played games, watched The Disney Channel and read books. The next day, they got up and went sledding and ate lunch. It was a blast. I am so glad Mirabel finally got to have a sleepover. She has been dying to. She is already saying that her birthday is going to be a "sleepover" which I find hard to imagine with a bunch of 5 year olds, but we'll see. Maybe we can do pajamas or something. Especially, when I was 5... I remember walking home from the neighbor's house in the middle of the night from a sleepover. It was just crazy. She is such a girlie girl. And the fact that she sleeps with me most of every night doesn't help her case much.

Uncle Roy turns the big 5-5. Happy Birthday!

The candy bar flowers

The Cake...and the Paparazzi

Can't have ice-cream without chocolate syrup! Lots and Lots!

Mr. Universe

Mirabel decided she was going to play Beauty Shop. We were all the victims...I mean clients. We got our hair done and our nails painted. We even got to pick out a necklace!

Uncle Roy gets a Birthday Make-Over

Great-Grandma gets her hair and nails done

Lookin' good Shel!

We went to the Playcare Art Show today. Mirabel only had a few pieces in the show because she doesn't get there in time for art. The items she had were lovly. We had some nice strawberries and cheese and crackers. It was nice.
This morning we had Justin's conference. He is obviously the smartest kid in the class.. (ok, the teacher didn't say that...but that is what I got out of it!) Anyway, he is meeting the standard or above standard in all areas. Just an all around good kid. Quiet, reserved and afraid to be wrong....a totally different kid than I know. But, then again, I was always that way in school also.
Justin is not doing baseball this year. Baseball King...the Biggest Yankee fan ever...the kid who wears baseball uniforms as regular clothing....the kid who has been awesome at baseball since age 2....not playing baseball....hmmm. Ok. Well, I did not quite believe it so I brought the forms to the school so that when I picked him up I could turn the forms in. Well, he saw the forms and said, "What is that?" I said, "Baseball sign-ups." He said, "I told you I didn't want to play baseball!" Then, proceeded to have a hissy fit in the parking lot in front of all the parents and kids. So, basicly, I looked like a parent who was forcing my kid to play sports. I told him that maybe if we just put the forms in he might change his mind and that way he would be covered. Then, he yelled out, "What are you....deaf?? I don't want to play baseball!!" So, that was the last straw and I got in the car semi-humiliated and went straight home. So, I hope he doesn't change his mind. I was not happy. He says that t-ball is stupid, lame, and boring. I totally agree with that. But, I think that you may need to do t-ball to learn the rules and get into the program. I guess I just "don't know anything about it." (Secretly, I am happy because t-ball is really, really lame and I don't even like watching it.)

Body Crayons....the gift that brings siblings together....

Mrs. Gifford found out on her own

We had Mirabel's conference on Thursday. Mrs. Gifford was pleased to announce to us that Mirabel is extremely smart. I was pleased that SHE was finally smart enough to figure that out. As I have been saying all year, her kindergarten teacher will be in for it because I will have to get on their case about her work. I guess I don't have to now.
Last night I was up until 2am working on school project stuff and I wanted to take 1/2 day today. And my license expired from my birthday ..and with my RECORD I did not want to take any chances. Anyway, I was dropping off Mirabel and I had to have an impromtu meeting with Mrs. Gifford about Mirabel. Anyway, she has tested her and she is testing at a beginning 1st grade/end Kindergarten level in several areas. This is also something I already knew. I was just waiting to spring it on them. Anyway, the joke was on me because I missed my chance to take 1/2 day and had to work all day, and I am now driving without a license! Oh well.
Mirabel the genius.....got me yelled at by her busdriver...Aunt Winnie yesturday. Apparently, she is misbehaving. She said that Alexa told her to get up and walk around. I told her that maybe she ought to do what Mirabel tells her to do instead of what Alexa tells her to do since she is in trouble now.

"Geez Mom, do you have to take a picture of every sign in the world?" "No.....just the ones that involve you darling."

Shelley is still behind us. We drove from Barre to St. Albans to Jericho in a 3 hour span!

Jackson after their second win!

Justin's tooth is hanging by a thread...it is still not out! EWWW!

Fun at the hotel!

Mirabel eating after a swim

Pizza, drinks and swimming at the hotel in Berlin

Only in Vermont ...the hotel's indoor pool is across a 25ft snowy gap and in another building

Justin celebrating his goal!

The State Tournament

Well, this is it. The end of hockey. The kids had the first game of the State Tournament last night at 8:15pm in Barre. They were on fire. Ian scored 4 goals, Sean 1 and Justin 1 and Jackson 2. Very cool. It was exciting ...but I get so nervous when Justin is out there. He is never, ever going to be goalie dang it. I would never live through it. Anyway, when he scored he of course did his usual, skate across the ice with his stick in the air, but then when he went over near the box, everyone jumped on top of him in a big pile. They were very excited. When the coach opened the locker room door for the parents to come in...he said, "Where did THAT come from?" It was not a great game because it really was so one-sided. But, HEY, Essex has been on the other end of that ALL year. So, I guess we deserved that one.
The roads were really bad so we didn't get home until 10:45. It was crazy. Justin also started skiing again with the school program yesturday. He had a blast. He is in the same group with his friend Brandon. Brandon is a cutie. He is a real bad-boy. But, he is cute. I think one day he will have girls chasing all over him. Anyway, besides the stress of trying to get Justin to do his homework, eat, get all the stuff ready for the next day and get out of the house, it was a good time.

The big 0-8

Well, the other day was our wedding anniversary. We made it 8 whole years. I am so excited about my Birthday/Anniversary/Valentine's Day gift....I got an Ipod Nano. It is really cool. I got to use it to spin today. I haven't really put any new music on it...I just basicly (after 2 hrs of trying to figure out how) took the music off my MP3 and put it on the Ipod. It is very tiny so it is weird to think that you can put 2G of music or pictures on it. I think I am going to enjoy that very much. I am going to get an I-trip so I can listen to it in the car w/o headphones...like I have been with my MP3. Very annoying.

My Birthday...and Aunt Edie's of course.

Well, the big party was on Saturday night. The usual. We were all worn out from driving to Rouse's Point, NY and back earlier in the day and then shopping at Walmart afterwards. I got lots of cool clothes. I got a rug cleaner...mostly because of my last years present...Max. He is a bad...bad..dog! Oh well, I can't wait to get it out and working. I couldn't really sleep on Saturday night, I am not sure why, but I couldn't. Sunday, we got to sleep a little because the game wasn't until 11:45 and it was in Waterbury. Justin played awesome against St. Albans and they almost won. Justin scored a goal. He hit the puck from the red line and it went as slow as a puck can go....right in. The goalie was shocked. I think everyone was. But, as I always say...those are the ones that go in! It was awesome. It changed the momentum of the game. They went from one goal to two and tied. In the last minute, St. Albans scored. Oh well, for them to hold St. Albans 2-3 was a miracle on ice really. After that, I just went home and kind of slept and hung out getting ready for my school project. I watched a movie and went to bed.

The Pacemaker is being installed soon

Well, I am pretty glad the real hockey season is coming to an end. I can't take the stress. It is so hard to sit in the stands and seeing the kids play and wanting to have a bug in their ear to tell them what to do. It doesn't help to yell because they don't hear you and if they do, it distracts them and they look up and lose focus. Friday night was a game against Burlington. Burlington's coaches seem to feel that standing on the bench and yelling instructions as loud as they can works for them. I guess it does because they won...but ... the Essex kids are not used to yelling and they kept looking over towards the Burlington coaches because it was so distracting and some kids had the same name as a Burlington kid. The score was 0-0 at the end of the 1st period, and I guess Burlington didn't like that because they began to get very aggressive and kept slashing and tripping and spending lots of time in the penalty box. They especially had it out for Ian, our big scorer. He kept getting the brunt of the beatings. Anyway, it was no fun seeing them outright slash and hit the kids. Oh well, that is the name of the game...they are allowed 5 penalties per kid...why not use them, right?

Ok. Hate to have to say it, but here it is...Alan is the coolest.

So, I have been having so much trouble getting these links to actually work. I enlisted Alan to fix it and he worked very diligently today. And, as far as I can tell, it's working. Not only that, they are actually at the top of the page again. How exciting. OOOH. Anyway, that problem is fixed. Phew!

Justin had hockey at 6am today so no hockey tonight. That is exciting. But, there is hockey Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. So, I will be busy. Only two more weeks of hockey. Then, what? Not sure. What will we do with ourselves? It will be crazy.

A month and a half until the Spinning Marathon!! Yes! We are the "Going Nowhere in a Hurry" team and we need to raise money to spin. So, I hope everyone is ready to give, give, give. Last year was super cool...and this year maybe...just maybe.... I won't have tendonitis and won't have to spin no-handed. That kinda sucked. So, Shelley and Roger will have to duke it out to see who is going to get the coveted spot on the team...or maybe, they could become the Gnarly Nadeaus and form their own team! Anyway, I can't wait!

The Pledge

Ya, know...I never really think about the Pledge of Allegiance. But, every Tuesday at the school I have to say the Pledge. Odd. I think it is kind of funny that little kids say it everyday and then when you are out of school, you really never think about it again. At least...I don't...maybe I am not a real American? Dunno.

Japanese Masks at Smilie School to celebrate Setsubun...a bean throwing ceremony for the first day of Spring. (in Japan...darn it) Here is Tavia.

Tina just loves to see me coming!

Brandon and Alex concentrating and working hard...those beans were good luck!

Chris trying to scare me...a lot of times it doesn't even take a mask!

Justin and Alex with their masks

Today was my friend Melissa's birthday. She thinks I am the only one that loves her. I doubt it.
Today was my Aunt Edie's birthday. We will have a party together next Saturday, because our birthdays are six days apart and mine is next Sunday. My birthday falls on Superbowl Sunday this year. That is just wrong. Felix said that we have to do something early in the day so my birthday doesn't interfere with the Superbowl. Again, WRONG. Oh well, I don't really care much about birthdays anymore. I don't get excited, in fact my birthday has always really sucked. In fact, most of the time we got report cards on my birthday, and I wasn't that great a student...so, never fun there. I just never got anything, noone ever cared at school or work. It was just an all around disappointment most years. Now, I am going to be half of seventy. The big 3-5. I really, really feel old....

Back in MY day

So, Justin and I were talking about favorite books and we got to talking about Amelia Bedelia, which used to be my favorite book. (the original) Then I proceeded to tell him about film strips. I used to LOVE filmstrips. My sister and I used to watch film strips when my Mom went to aerobics class at the school. Justin has no idea what a film strip is. Then, I began to think about all the stuff he doesn't know about. Like....rabbit ears...with tin foil on it to make the t.v. picture come in better. Records or record players. (and our record player used to have a very freyed cord so every single time I plugged it in I got an electric shock....and there were no outlet covers) Commercial TV (we have tivo.) Floor TVs. Beta videos. Watching home videos on a movie projector with tape that went from one roll to another. If we wanted to tape something on t.v. we taped it on a cassette player and listened to it. Rotary phones and party lines. Sitting in the front seat of the car--or back window! Eating raw hot dogs. Licking cookie dough with raw egg in it off a spoon. Rear wheel drive. 8-tracks. 110 cameras--actually, they barely know a 35mm. Riding a bike with your hair blowing in the wind. Being outside all day without a parent in sight. Bomb shelters. Transistor radios. There is just sooooo much more...not even thinking about fashion and politics and so forth. I guess there has just been so much progress in the last 35 years. So, now I sound like my parents who walked to school uphill both ways in the snow. But, it's just mind boggling.

Hockey in Westford = Snowstorm everytime!

The Parents had fun anyway...not sure what the kids are doing. Hunter's Dad (in the red coat) ...paying close attention

The practice at Westford was very difficult to get to. The roads were icy and after we went through a bunch of parents got stuck behind an accident.....which we got to hear all about from Hunter's parents since they were the first on the scene and she is a nurse. Sabrina said, "Take a picture because this IS Vermont. Only Us'em would travel out here in a snowstorm..pass an accident and still keep on going to play hockey." It was fun though...the kids played all on their own. The parents socialized and drank ...except Hunter's father who...amazingly enough, STILL kept yelling "HUNTER" during a supposedly fun practice. Then, at one point a fight broke out with the kids and the gloves were off....I think Ian and them have seen WAY too much Pro Hockey for their own good. Hunter's Dad broke that one up since he seemed to be the only one paying attention. We did not go in the house as suggested afterwards because we were just way too cold and wet. We have decided though that if we ever want it to snow we will just schedule a practice in Westford!

No wonder the Japanese need so many relaxation techniques...they've been doing ORAGAMI!!!

Well, the oragami bookmarks got done...20 minutes late...but they got done. I started out with plenty of time...where did it go?? I got more and more stressed as the time went by. By time I got to work I was stressed to the core. I ended up having to take a chill pill and that helped a little. By, 5-6pm I was getting back to normal Next week...Masks. And "I" am making them...bringing them in and the kids will paint them. More preparation for me but less stress on Tuesday! I hope... Ann wasn't there to see her idea in action. I think that maybe that was on purpose. (not really, her Mom is sick) Anyway, it is in the past and I am not going to attempt oragami again in the near future.
I did make my sales objective today for the first time in 2006. It had to be a miracle..so I sent my boss a picture of a Cross by e-mail. So, something went right.
My cousin is doing well. He is going home from the hospitol without his appendix tomorrow. I guess they did have to use paddles on him...but he survived. Thank God!
I am going to go watch a movie....and relax for another fun-filled day tomorrow. Hockey in Westford tomorrow......let's hope for no snow so I can drive home!!!

Oragami Stinks!

I have decided that I am not meant to do Oragami! It took me 5 hours today (while also on the phone) to make a kimono doll bookmark. And ...I am still not 100% sure how I did it. So, I can not wait to see how this week at school goes. I am a tad nervous. If I can't do it ...how are a bunch of 6 yr olds going to do it??? Oh well..we will get through it. It always comes together at the end. Right?!
Justin had hockey tonight and he is pooped. He fell asleep on the way home. I have no idea what he has for homework but I will find out tomorrow as we are running around the house trying to get showers and homework and breakfast together. It's just nuts.
I guess my cousin is in the hospital right now undergoing treatment for his heart so that they can perform an emergency appendix surgery. I don't really know what is up with his heart but they had to put him under for four hours to stimulate his heart before they could do anything else. I hope he is ok.
I got an email today about the annual spinning marathon!! I am trying to get Roger and Dad and possibly Shelley to do it with me...they are all just fighting over who will go with me!! It is only a measly 6 hours. Come ON!!
Since I am ready for school and it isn't even 10pm...I am going to go to bed. Yay.

A day without hockey...what to do...

Well, we had a hockey game at 7am Saturday. Then....we had the rest of the weekend. Oh my! Justin had religion and Mirabel had gymnastics. After that we went to Mom's and Shelley was in some sort of coma. I kept tellin' her to have some coffee. We ended up having to go to Michael's and the mall. That woke her up a little bit. We walked and walked and did not really find anything....which made her even more tired and cranky. But we went back to Mom's and she made RUNZAs! and chocolate cake ...two of my favorite things ever! We got home and I tried to watch "Jerry Maquire" but fell asleep as I was up at 3am sniffling and couldn't get back to sleep and had to get up at 4:30 anyway for hockey. Sunday, I tried to sleep in. I stayed in bed until 11am, even though the kids layed with me watching a Scooby Doo movie 3 times. I didn't care if it killed me... I was staying in bed!!! So, I got up and they wanted to go swimming and I really don't like swimming...I like it more than bowling but not much. Felix took them swimming and I went shopping by myself. I ended up getting a pair of boots, sort of a cross between cowboy type boots and hooker boots. I liked them. It was relaxing. I love the smell of Abercrombie & Fitch. I go in there just for the smell of it..even though I am old and I always feel like the "old lady police" are going to arrest me for daring go in a store I should not be in without a teenager along with me. So, now, I am washing the grey right out of my hair and I intend to go to bed early...let's see how that goes.

Out on the town....Richmond...Woo Hoo!

Mirabel wanted to sit at a different table

Justin treated us to Zachary's

I love this picture because.....here we are at a public restaurant and they have a fireplace going in the back....right where they keep the baby high chairs and toy box!

Am I alive??

I went spinning today. It was the first time in about two weeks due to my illness. I just couldn't breathe. I got there right on time and got all ready to go. I put on my heart rate monitor and started riding. We were doing some work on endurance so we were supposed to keep our heart rates pretty even at 75-85%. So, I was watching it and my heart rate kept jumping from like 30% to 87% or so. So, I was like...ok this is really weird. Then, all of a sudden...it went to 0. And, me...being me....actually felt my neck to see if I had a pulse. Just makin' sure. So, basicly I think I need new batteries or something in my monitor. After that...I took it off and just enjoyed myself.

The weeks go by so fast

Well, this weekend was another busy one. We had the St. Albans Mite Jamboree. That started at 7:40 am on Saturday. They ended up playing Barre to begin and lost. I met Mirabel at gymnastics after bringing the Justin and Marina to hang out with Mom. Marina complained about my car being so absolutely disgusting (which it was) that I had to vacuum it out and get some of the shake spills, ritz bitz, fries, tissues, coffee cups....you name it.....out of there! So, then, I felt really gross so I went home to take a shower and get changed before Derek's 4th birthday party. As we were on our way to St. Albans the snow started. The party was a success. We had a nice BBQ in the middle of winter...and Roger had to stand out in the snow cooking. But, it was worth it.... to me. Derek got tons of cool presents. We had cake and it was already time to leave for Justin's next hockey game. I was walking out to the car...slipped down the hill and slid under the car. That was so funny...but hurt like the dickins. Justin played Henniker, NH. They were good. Really good. So, basicly the kids were asleep on the ice considering it was after 8pm when they got started. We left the rink at 10pm. We got home in a snowstorm at 11:30pm. He had another game at 9:45am on Sunday. So, back to St. Albans we went. I went through a whole tank of gas this weekend by the way. They played St. Albans and they looked good but the goals were not there. So, we waited around until 12:45 to play the next game. This was against Barre and they played awesome. They all looked alive and were skating very aggressively. The best playing I have seen by them in a long time, if ever. They got 6th place in the tournament (out of 6.) It was fun though. The Marlborough, MA tournament is cancelled. So, no trip this weekend. Which is good...I really need a rest. But, luckily (?) they have been able to schedule games for us against CSB at 7am. That is just great news. We may go to Ottawa in February instead but that is still up in the air.
Yesturday I worked, but Justin had the day off with Dad. They got to go to watch a UVM girls game which I heard was amazing. Then in the third period the kids got to go out back to meet the UVM boys. They got autographs and a tour of the locker rooms. I guess the kids had a blast. Then, after the girls game they got to meet the girls and get a poster of them.
I went straight home after work and planned for the first grade. We did Zen gardens. It ended up being so Zen. We did a little meditation, we had nice music in the background and the students were just so into the raking. A lot of the kids were saying they felt like they were going to go to sleep. It was very cool. Everything fell into place and it flowed...very zenfully...if that is a word.

You are so beautiful to me!

Mirabel after Madeline's 4th birthday party. The Princess Reunion...