Ten on Tuesday - 10 Things to bring on a camping trip!

This week's topic is "10 things to bring on a camping trip!" Let me tell ya, I did alot of camping when I was a kid. Ok, it wasn't the 'roughing it' kind of camping ... we had a 35' travel trailer complete with gas stove, refrigerator, microwave oven, and an air conditioner! But it was still camping ... at least in my book. Anyway, I digress ... on to this week's topic ...

1. Shelter ... tent/pop-up camper/trailer, what have you. You'll want to be out of the elements at least some of the time!

2. Water ... life's main essential, don't ya think?

3. Insect Repellent ... I love camping, but I hate the little bugs & critters that go along with it. No fun scratching all weekend!

4. Firewood ... 'cause it's all about the campfire!

5. Hot Dogs & Beans ... nothing brings me back to my childhood like hot dogs & beans on Saturday night. Well, unless it's my dad's charcoal blackened steak and greasy french fries cooked over the open fire. But, again, I digress!

6. Chocolate bars/marshmallows/graham crackers ... what's the point of having a campfire if you're not going to make s'mores?!

7. Chairs ... who wants to sit on a buggy old log? A nice comfy chair, preferably with a drink holder in the armrest!

8. Towels & bathing suit ... doesn't every camping site have a pond or a lake?

9. Books ... reading while camping is a must.

10. Knitting ... 'cause you can knit anywhere, right? :)

Ten on Tuesday - Ten Things You Like About Where You Live

This week's subject was the easiest yet ... 10 things you like about where you live! Since I live in New England, it was not difficult to come up with 10 things. It was difficult to limit it to just 10, actually! Here we go ...

1. Our accent ... sure, we catch alot of grief for dropping our R's and adding them into places they don't belong, but seriously? Who doesn't love 'Pahkin' the Cah in Hahvahd Yahd?'

2. Changing seasons ... I don't have a favorite season. Well, I do ... whatever one we're in at the time you ask me! I love that we have 4 very distinct and different seasons.

3. History ... doesn't get much more historical than living close to Boston. From Paul Revere's House to the Freedom Trail, from Plimoth Plantation to Salem, we've got History covered!

4. Lobstah. 'Nuff said!

5. The Boston Red Sox. Yeah, we may have waited 86 years between World Series wins, but it was totally worth it. I love my boys!!

6. Mountains ... there are probably more impressive peaks in the world, but none I love so much as the green ones in VT and the white ones in NH.

7.  Farmstands in the summer ... I know these are dotting the countryside in all parts of the United States, but I find it hard to believe that produce would taste any sweeter or fresher than right here in New England in the summertime.

8. Atlantic Ocean ... it's comforting to know that I can be dipping my toes into the ocean within a half hour. Love staring out at the Atlantic Ocean during any season, it's beautiful all the time.

9. Lakes Region, NH ... my in-laws have a house up there, and I count myself as one of the extremely lucky few to be able to spend alot of my weekends there. Nothing like a boat ride on crystal clear water!

10. Changing weather ... you've heard the saying, "If you don't like the weather in New England, give it 5 minutes ..." Well, it's TRUE! I love that you can be sitting outside in the hot, sticky sun and 5 minutes later the sky is black and you're running for cover. 5 minutes after that, it's hot and sticky and the sun is shining again.

LOVE New England!!

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Ways to Enjoy Summer

This should be easy since we're officially in the midst of a New England heat wave!

1. Go to the beach ... there's nothing like a little salt water to cool you off when it's hot. Fresh water will do, too, but the ocean is really the best.

2. Go for a boat ride! Love going out on the boat on a hot day and just tootin' around.

3. Have a cookout ... or go to one. Nothing says summer like burgers & dogs on the grille.

4. Lobster. Lots and lots of lobster. Steamed, in a bisque, or a lobster roll. Mmmmmm!

5. See some fireworks :)

6. Go to a fair or carnival, go on some rides, enjoy some fair food (corn dogs, funnel cakes, fried veggies, fried dough).

7. Sit by the pool (or in the pool) and read a trashy novel.

8. Sit in the outdoor seating area of your favorite restarant and enjoy the summer breezes. Well, hopefully there will be breezes.

9. Sleep late. Yay for school being out for the summer, no schedules to keep!

10. Knit a cool summer top. I've done this already ... can't wait to show it off :)

Ten on Tuesday

Today's "Ten on Tuesday" subject is ... 10 Books on Your Summer Reading List!

Hmmmmm ... books? Like paper and ink books? Goodness! Since I started knitting I don't think I've picked up a book. I have downloaded a few audio books, but can't quite warm up to that whole approach as yet. Since I've been engrossed in knitting patterns and knitting books, I haven't been paying much attention to what I might like to read this summer. Honestly, I plan to knit on the beach instead of reading. I bet I can come up with at least 10 that I would like to read, should I break my arm and not be able to knit, hehe!

1. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson ... this is currently on my Zune. I've listened to a few chapters and would like to finish, whether it be audibly or actually picking up the book.

2. Ghost - Confessions of a Counter Terrorism Agent, by Fred Burton ... another that I started as an audiobook. It expired before I finished, but I really would like to finish this one, it intrigues me.

3. Swimsuit, by James Patterson ... ahhhh, I love James Patterson.

4. Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert ... recommended by a number of my friends, I truly want to see what this is all about.

5. Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson ... I'm almost ashamed to admit I haven't read this yet. Especially in light of my soldier-son!

6. Alex Cross's Trial, by James Patterson ... loved every single one of the Alex Cross books, need to finish it off.

7. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett ... another recommendation from a friend. Sounds interesting.

8. Storm Prey, by John Sandford ... another author/series that I love, mmmmm, Lucas Davenport!

9. Medium Raw, by Anthony Bourdain ... my son turned me on to Anthony Bourdain's TV series, and I love him. Would love to read this one.

10. American Assassin, by Vince Flynn ... *love* Mitch Rapp, 'nuff said!


With my list done, I have to admit that it will be a minor (ok, perhaps a major) miracle if I get even half of these books read by the end of the summer. Darn knitting! LOL

Ten on Tuesday.

I joined a challenge to post a "Ten on Tuesday" topic each week ... this week's (my very first) is "Ten Ways to Entertain a Child." So, here goes ...

1. Read to them. No matter how old a child is, they love to have books read to them. There's something very special about the time you spend reading with your children.

2. Give them a bottle of bubbles! Another ageless pastime.

3. Grab a ball and head to the back yard. Whether it's tossing a baseball/softball/football back and forth, shooting some hoops, or kicking a soccer ball around, you'll both have some fun.

4. Cook something together. Even the little ones can join in with measuring & stirring!

5. Take a walk. You never know what topic(s) will come up during a walk with a child.

6. Play a board game ... Monopoly ... Trouble ... Parchesi ... Life ... Candy Land ... the list of great board games is endless.

7. Teach them a craft. Kids love crafts :)

8. Watch something on TV together. Discovery channel, Animal Planet, there are a ton of great shows that will help your child learn something ... and who knows, you might learn something, too!

9. Water. Give 'em a little or give 'em a lot ... water is an endless source of amusement and learning!

10. Crayons, paper, scissors, and glue. They'll be entertained for hours!!

My latest obsession

My friend Carole recently taught me to knit, and I'm truly hooked! (Groan, I know, bad bad pun!) I love that it takes all my concentration and I can just knit and think about knitting and nothing else. I've gotten "good enough" so that I can watch TV at the same time, though!

Projects I've completed so far ...  

A baby blanket for Jason & Jaime's daughter, Taylor Ann. It felt really good to be able to gift something handmade :)

A pretty pink hat (with a matching scarf that I forgot to photograph).

A baktus scarf. This was my first attempt at truly following a pattern, and it came out perfectly :) You use one skein of yarn, knit to the halfway point and then finish w/ the second half of the yarn. Unfortunately the skein wasn't large enough so I can wear the scarf ... but I think it'll look cute on one of the girls. And it was great experience!

 A raspberry and black striped hat ... for ME! I love the colors together, and I made up the stripe pattern myself. Most knit hats are too tight on my head & get itchy, but this one is nice and loose, and I love it.

 My very first pair of socks! Knit with sport weight yarn, they're big and heavy (and soooo warm) ... and I'm so proud of myself for knitting them :)

On the needles now is a purple skirt for Katelyn (haven't taken a picture of that yet) ... and another pair of socks! This time I'm using sock yarn and really really tiny needles, so they'll be a pair I can wear year-round. I'm so excited! I love the pattern, the combination of stitches makes a really cool effect, and I can't wait to finish them. Carole gave me a beautiful skein of sock yarn for my birthday ... she's going to teach me to wind it into a ball that I can knit from & then I'll make another pair of socks out of that. Yep, I'm hooked!!

Mackenzie is FIVE!

Ok, so seriously? How did *that* happen? Seems like just yesterday she was a newborn!! Well, today she turned 5 years old, so the time has passed, I just don't know where it went. She brought cupcakes to school & her classmates sang 'Happy Birthday' to her. We'll have a cake after dinner, and she'll get to open her gifts from us :)

We're going to have a combined birthday party for Mackenzie and Katelyn sometime in February, when James is home on his 2-week R&R from A'stan. His leave is scheduled for early-to-mid February, we'll get invites out as that firms up.

Thought I'd post a few pictures of Mackenzie as she's grown from an infant to age 5 ...

Here she is on Thanksgiving 2005.

September of 2006, at Rocky Nook.

With Katelyn in October of 2007 at Santa's Village.

In my Easter Bonnet, 2008.



Preschool picture, December 2009.

Another Thankful Thursday!

As we get closer to the most Thankful day of the year, I find myself reflecting more and more on the fact that I need to focus more on the many things I have to be thankful for each and every day.

1.) Great Doctors & Nurses. I know so many of them, and I'm grateful for each and every one. It all starts with Doc, Sharon, & Maria ... the place where I can call, get right in, get home, & start feeling better! I've been fortunate in my life to have received care from a slew of great doctors & nurses, and I'm thankful for all of them.

2.) Awesome Adoptive Parents! I was adopted when I was eight weeks old, brought to live in the wonderful little town of E.B. My birth mother knew she wouldn't be able to provide me with the things I'd need, so she selflessly gave me up for adoption ... and I was lucky enough to get my Mom & Dad out of the deal. I had a wonderful home, ample food & 'stuff' growing up, and more opportunities to grow and learn than you can shake a stick at. As I grow older, I find myself more and more thankful that I was able to have 41 years to enjoy my dad (although I wish I'd had much, much longer) ... and that I still have my mom with me. When I think of how many little things might have impacted my adoption, I know that I was truly blessed.

3.) Kiwanis. I have met so many wonderful friends (some of whom have become my extended family) through Kiwanis! I've fulfilled my deep-seated need to give back to my community in lots of ways, and I've received so much more than I've given. Kiwanis was there for me during a particularly rough patch of my life, it was there for me after my father passed away, and it's there for me each and every day of my life. I'm grateful to be part of the E.B. Kiwanis Club, to share in the camaraderie and fellowship each week, and, in some small way, to help improve the quality of life for those we touch.

Thankful Thursday - Nov. 12, 2009

Well, today is the day that Shawn has his hernia surgery. So, while I am totally stressed out about that (in addition to the other stuff I am currently stressed about), I am still thankful. Here are my three 'Thankful Thursday' items for today ...

1.) I am thankful that we live in the United States, where we are able to get excellent medical care & don't have to wait forever to have something fixed. I pray daily that this continues.

2.) I am thankful for all the men and women who selflessly serve(d) this great nation in military service. The long list includes my son, currently deployed in the Middle East, my father who served in Italy in WWII, my uncle, 2 of my brothers, my nephew, and countless others who gave of themselves to ensure that we are free. God Bless those who serve today, and all those who served in the past.

3.) I am thankful for the gorgeous stretch of autumn weather we've been enjoying. It's delightful to walk Katie to the bus stop in the morning with the leaves crunching under our feet, and breathe in that fresh fall air. Life is truly good.

Thankful Thursday

My friend, Carole, posted a 'Thankful Thursday' on her blog Carole Knits this morning, and it inspired me to do the same. The theory is to post 3 things I'm thankful for each Thursday. I think too often we all dwell on the negative aspects of our lives, rather than focusing on the positive. We all have so very much to be thankful for, to feel blessed about ... why not celebrate it? In that spirit, here is my very first 'Thankful Thursday' post!

1.)My family. Immediate family, extended family, Kiwanis family, or friends who feel like family, whatever. I love them all, and feel very blessed to have them all in my life. At the top of the list is the fact that I found a wonderful man who I love, and who loves me back ... and I have four awesome and healthy kids (James, a PFC in the US Army currently deployed to Afghanistan; Jake, a sophomore at UMass Amherst & a member of Alpha Delta Phi; Katelyn, my wonderful first grader; and Mackenzie, my delightful preschooler).

2.) My home. So many people, especially in these times, have no home to call their own. I have a roof over my head, and a place to keep my (too-much) stuff. Seriously, what more can a person ask for?

3.) Friends. I am lucky enough to have some of the best friends in the world. Tops of the list is Shawn, my best friend and my husband. He's always there to support and encourage me, unwavering in his love. Jana, Tracee, Carole, Vivian, Diane, Dianne, Alicia, Glen, Jim, Dee, Dave, the list goes on and on and on. I have friends that I know I could call in the middle of the night with any request & they'd be right there for me, life is good!

Thanks for the inspiration, Carole! I encourage anyone reading who has their own blog to do the same ... c'mon, let's blanket our lives in positive thoughts and count our blessings :)

Mackenzie started soccer!

Today marked Mackenzie's first foray into soccer :) She is playing on the fall league at the E.B. YMCA, just like Katie did when she went to preschool there. Even though it rained today (thus canceling Katie's opening day ceremonies & game in the town league), Kenzie still had practice ... they moved it inside to the gym at the Y!

First we do our stretches ...


Then a lap around the gym ...


Next we listen and get instructions from the coaches ...


Learning to stop the ball ...


Finally, I can touch the ball! LOL

First day of chool pictures

Here are Katie and Kenzie on Katie's first day of 1st grade (Sept. 2nd) ... Katie has Mrs. Cowan and just loves her :)



Running to the bus stop ...



Getting on the bus ... and in case anyone was curious, never a backward glance to Mom & Dad!!



Mackenzie started preschool on Sept. 9th ... she had to get all dolled up in the pretty dress that Auntie Nancy bought for her, complete w/ fancy white 'tappy' shoes & her matching purse!



Running up the walkway to the Y preschool ... see a pattern with my kids? LOL



A first day of school hug for Miss Toni, the 'bestest' preschool teacher EVER!

School Has Begun!

Yesterday was Katie's first day of first grade! Yes, my little Katie is now a big first-grader :) She has Mrs. Cowan and is ~LOVING~ school ... yes, I know it's only the second day, but c'mon, she LOVES it!!

Mackenzie will start school next week, back to the YMCA Small-Fry preschool & Miss Toni on Wednesday! She is so excited & frequently asks, "Momma, is it time for ME to go to school YET?"

Jake goes back to UMass this weekend. It's been awesome having him home for the summer (even though my food bill increased quite a bit), and it will take us a while to get used to him not being home. We're driving him out to school tomorrow w/ a van load of stuff & helping him get situated a bit.

Did I say how much I *love* back-to-school??? LOL

Long overdue update!

My gosh, how the time flies! I really need to make a mid-year resolution to update the blog more frequently. Lots has happened since January, so here goes ...

Jake ... Jake has finished his first year at UMass Amherst w/ a GPA of somewhere in the vicinity of 3.65 :) We are very, very proud!! Next year he'll be living in a different dorm, with several of his friends. He's excited about his classes & really enjoying himself. He's keeping himself busy this summer, working on his dad's house & doing odd jobs for people. He was asked to speak for the Kiwanis Club during their annual scholarship recipient honor night, and he did a great job!

Katie ... Katie did a great job in kindergarten and will be a first grader in the fall! She got glowing reports from her teacher, and has improved oodles and oodles since the beginning of the year. She's now reading books (mostly) on her own, doing word puzzles, and enjoys playing on the computer & on the Wii. She scored extremely high on her standardized tests :)

Kenzie ... Kenzie 'graduated' from preschool, but will be attending again this fall. This year she only attended for a few months as sort of a 'trial' run. She did very well, and can now write her own name & is starting to spell a few short words. Her biggest recent accomplishment is wearing panties to bed, she's understandably very proud of that!

Shawn and I ... Shawn's dad passed away at the end of March, and we're still dealing with the grief of that loss. Shawn is keeping busy helping his Mom with the paperwork and misc. items that need to be tied up in regards to that. He's also been doing some side jobs, and is s-l-o-w-l-y moving up the Union list.

We've been up to the lake several times, got the house all opened up (Shawn's Mom is now up there for an extended period), and got the boat in the water ... YAY! The girls are totally loving the boat, especially if we're really going fast!


The business is doing ok, still slow but lots of people are having appliances repaired instead of buying new ones. I guess that's one upside of this economy.

We took the girls to the circus this week & they had a wonderful time. This is the same circus that my dad used to take the boys to (and sneak them in at intermission, LOL)! Katie is still talking about the acrobats & the motorcycles in the cage, and both girls were fascinated with the man being shot out of the cannon.

Here is a picture of all four girls (we went with our friends) ...
(from L to R ... Anna, Katie, Kenzie, Jessica)

Our good friends, the Griffins, are coming up from Texas to visit in just 16 days!! We're so excited to be able to show them the Boston area. We have plans to visit Plymouth Plantation, the Mayflower, Boston Common, the Public Gardens, the Freedom Trail, and we'll be taking them up to Lake Winnepesauke as well. Hopefully the weather will cooperate (we're due some sun, right??) and we can do all we've planned. One night the grown-ups are going in to Boston for dinner at the Melting Pot & then to see Blue Man Group! We're lucky that Jake is available to babysit the four girls :)

My latest project was to reupholster our small couch in the living room. Shawn bought it at a yard sale before we got married and it was in decent shape then, but has deteriorated over the years to the point where he thought we'd have to throw it out. It's got a great rattan & bamboo frame, so I figured I'd try to reupholster it. Shawn found a bolt of nice fabric by the side of the road a few years ago & it goes well in our living room so I used that.

Here is the 'before' photo ...


And the 'after' photo ...


And a photo including the small antique children's chair that I recovered in the same fabric ...


I think that's about it for now, and I promise to update more frequently!!!

I am one *VERY* *PROUD* *MOMMA* !!!

Jake just called to let me know he'd gotten his grades for his first semester at UMass Amherst ... and I am sooooo proud I could just about bust! First, he took a really difficult course load ... second, he was totally on his own, no 'reminders' to 'do your homework' or 'work on that project'! Here is what he accomplished ...

Greek Civilization ... B
Anthropology ... B+
Art History ... A-
French Films ... A
Relativity ... A
Dean's Book ... A

His GPA is a 3.55!!! He has a Grade Point Total of 56.8, which means that technically he could be considered a sophomore! After just ONE semester :)

I am sooooooooooooo proud of Jake!!

Christmas was GREAT!

The Coles family had a GREAT Christmas this year ... both boys were home, the girls loved every second of the holidays, and all the presents were hits! Santa was very good to everyone :)

Katie was in our church's live nativity. We were astonished when she had MAJOR stage-fright ... to the point of taking off her angel costume & declaring, "I QUIT THE SHOW!" I managed to get her back in the costume and up to the altar with everyone else, where Katie proceeded to have an absolute blast, complete w/ waving and winking at all of us!



Christmas Eve service at church was wonderful. The teens from Sunday School carried the nativity figures up to the altar one by one and then held candles while the congregation sang. It was so peaceful and beautiful ... I always love a church lit soley by candelight, faith, and hope.

The poor boys ... their birthday kind of gets lost every year w/ all the hustle and bustle of Christmas. We did have an ice cream cake & sang to both of them (separately, as we wanted the girls to be able to sing to at least one of them & James wasn't home until after the girls were in bed), and they opened their birthday gifts. It makes me so glad that I always gave them a 'half-birthday' party in the summer, just so they'd get some attention of their own!! I can't believe they're 19 ... both such responsible young men.

The boys both slept here on Christmas Eve (after poor Jake had his Rodeo towed home from Dedham ... the axle broke & he didn't make it to Christmas Eve service) and woke up to open presents w/ their sisters.

The boys then spent the rest of Christmas Day with their father, while we trucked to Weymouth to spend the day with Shawn's sister & family, and Nana & Pop. The best gift of the day was Sean's present for Pop ... a BIBLE!! Yup, that boys got some sense of humor ;) Managed to get a good picture of Nana, Pop, Nancy, and Shawn ...

Mackenzie's birthday follows on the heels of Christmas, January 4th. She turned 4 this year, and we held the party on the 3rd so James could be there (he had to go back to base on the 4th). It was just a family party, but Mackenzie was thrilled and got lots of nice presents. Best present of the day (I think) is her brand spankin' new 2-wheeler (w/ training wheels of course) & helmet!

Bowling!

Shawn has been affectionately called the 'bowling electrician' by some friends, and this year I finally joined him in bowling! We bowl at Westgate Lanes on Wednesday evenings on a mixed league. It's so much fun!! Our team is ~awesome~ and we all get along great. One member is out because he had to have knee surgery (speedy recovery, Jim!!) so there are just four of us on the team right now ... it's us & Dave and Lisa Gomes.

I was not sure how effective I'd be on the team, or if I'd be the token bad bowler, LOL. I started out as that bad bowler ... the first week I only averaged 83! We started bowling the Wednesday after Labor Day, and now have 15 weeks (45 games) bowled ... and I've brought my average up to a 103! I've even qualified for a couple of awards ... my high game was a 182!

One great thing about bowling is that we get a date night every single week now. Yeah, it's not a candlelight dinner or some other romantic outing, but it's fun, it's good exercise, and we're having a blast :)

Katie lost her first tooth!

It's been loose for a few weeks, and she's been working at it & wiggling it. Well, yesterday it came out :) What an excited little girl we had yesterday!! When Daddy was talking to her about the tooth fairy, Katie excitedly asked, "I wonder if she'll leave me a yo-yo and two dollars??" Apparently the tooth fairy didn't have any yo-yo's because she left Katie a brand new five dollar bill ... it must have been because it was her very first tooth to come out!

Trick-or-Treat!

The girls had a wonderful time trick-or-treating on Halloween. Daddy "won" the draw for getting to take them out, and Mommy stayed home to dole out the treats to our visitors! (Best costume of the night was a teen who came dressed as a basket of laundry ... complete w/ underwear on his head!!)

Katie dressed as Princess Ariel and Mackenzie was Tinkerbell. Here are some pictures...



Some of you may remember that since Katie's first Halloween, we have put a "big" inflatable pumpkin in our front yard and taken pictures next to it, sort of a size gauge for each passing year. It's become a Coles Family Tradition, and I thought you'd like to see the progression from year to year ...

Katie's first Halloween, October 2003 ...

Katie's second Halloween, October 2004 ...

Mackenzie's first Halloween, October 2005 ...

October 2006 ...

Last Halloween, October 2007 ...

And finally, this year, October 2008 ...


Suddenly our "big" pumpkin is seeming kind of SMALL !!!

Autumn Leaves

What do you get when you take one HUGE leaf pile and add two giggling little girls? Lots of great pictures and a whole lot of fun ...











Here are a copule of short video clips of the fun ...


Here is Daddy blowing the leaves on top of the girls ...