Food, fun and games

Today was our neighborhood's annual summer block party. Most of the families from the three connecting roads in our neighborhood come together for some good old fashioned fun. There are exactly 50 kids in the neighborhood, ranging from high school age down to Matthew, who is the youngest.

Each year, the block party kicks off with a bike parade, where all the kids ride their decorated bikes down the road. This year's party featured an Olympic theme, complete with competitive events including a frisbee throw, relay race, limbo, tug-of-war, and a food contest, all with medals for the winners. There was also volleyball, ping pong, face painting, spin art, and a homemade skate park - very cool!

In addition to the food contest, each family brings their own grillable items (several families wheel their gas grills down the road) and their favorite beverages. There was also an old-time popcorn popper and a make-your-own sundae station, along with the typical snacks, juices and soda.

Since Matthew took a late nap today, we only stayed for a couple of hours before heading home for his dinner. He was mesmerized the whole time - staring at all the kids and just taking it all in. He now loves the "Limbo Rock" - we danced to it as it played over and over and over again. I sang it to him at dinner and cracked him up!

Here are a few shots we captured from the day...

The kids do the limbo....

And the grown-ups do, too....

Tug-of-war....

Matthew with our neighbor, Kerri - she adores him (but didn't want to be in the picture!).

I can't wait 'til next year. Matthew will be 19 months old, and we can decorate a bike for him. Check out this bad boy....

I know, I know...I'm getting ahead of myself.

Let the games begin

Well, it took a little while, but in the last couple of days, Matthew has figured out that it's fun to play with his food. Tonight was especially fun, since it was the first time he was trying avocado. He loved it - both the taste and the texture!

And here's a picture of him with his play phone. I told him Daddy was calling. Miss you and love you, Daddy!

Just sharing

Nothing much happenin' around here lately, so I thought I'd just share a few cute pictures. Enjoy!

Allow me to get political for a moment....

I love this pick!

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming...

A new niece

Our new niece, Ella Josephine, arrived yesterday. She's a little peanut - 6 lbs. 10 oz. - with pretty little lips. See for yourself....

Photo by Gini
See more at her blog

Congratulations Chris, Allison and James! We can't wait to meet her!

A new perspective....

Thought I'd share some pictures of Matthew's latest milestone. He's officially sitting up on his own, and LOVING every minute of it. It's like a whole new world has opened up for him to see.

Check him out....

And here's what happens when you spend all day at school practicing your newfound skills, only napping for 1/2 hour!

Until the end....

Happy 2nd Anniversary, Babe!

I love you like crazy!

8 for 8!

Just awesome!!

I'll bet you....

How could I have forgotten in my last post to mention our absolute favorite stop at The Big E? It's got to be this place. If you've not experienced these fabulous little treats, let me just say that you are truly missing out. Although there are many varieties of fillings, we opt for potato and cheese -my two favorite foods - how can you go wrong? Add a big ol' dollop of sour cream, and now you're speaking my language.

The people behind the counter wear these big red and white hats, and the booth is all decked out with the polish eagle. Even though a few of our local grocery stores carry the pierogi, they're just not the same as when they're served by these folks. Check them out....

Our first visit to this booth each year is filled with mixed emotions. You see, there are times throughout the year when, if Dennis and I disagree on something, we resort to a bet. When the betting gets serious, the stakes escalate, and we'll bet a Polish Plate from Millie's -- as in, the winner has to watch the loser eat one. I know....cruel. So cruel, in fact, that we've never been able to follow through on it once we get there. We always end up ordering pierogi and a golumpki, and making short order of them together.

As it turns out, the Polish Plate has way too much stuff on it - what exactly, you ask? I can't tell you, because even as I sit here writing this, we're remembering it differently. Maybe I should bet him a Polish Plate over what's in a Polish Plate.

If you can't make it to The Big E or can't find these pierogi in your local store, you can apparently order them online (which I learned while "borrowing" the above pictures from their website). I may just have to give that a try to have some on hand in case of an emergency.

OK, seriously - did I just write an entire post about pierogi? WOW. That's gotta be a first.

30 days, people!!

Did you happen to notice the counter on the left sidebar? Do you see what it says?? Only 30 days until The Big E!! I can't wait! I hope Matthew learns to love it as much as we do.

In case anyone needs any help getting in the mood (which I can't for the life of me understand!), here are some shots we've taken in previous years (except for the chicks, which came from The Big E's website).

The Farm-A-Rama - one of our favorite stops


A mama pig and her piglets


Baby chicks hatching!


Harley, friend of the Hallamore Clydesdales


We love to watch this guy wash down the Clydesdales


The Giant Slide! (Man, I was tan and skinny then...)

And something new this year - I think this is right up my alley. I think I need to be a judge. I mean, come on....what could be better than that? Although I wonder if my passion for the fried cheese curds might get me banned.....

12, 40 and 8.8.08 - our weekend by the numbers

Lots going on this weekend. On Friday, we went to our 12th Saw Doctors concert. It was supposed to be Matthew's first show (not counting the four he attended before he was born!), but with the threat of thunderstorms in the area, we just couldn't chance taking him to the show, which was held at the outdoor Pines Theater at Look Park in Northampton. The skies brightened a bit around 6:00, so we decided to go. Nanna and Poppy were more than happy to stay home and watch Matthew. Danielle came along with us, and we made it to the show just a couple of minutes before the Docs came on stage. Despite our late arrival, we ended up with only 2 rows of people in front of us (not quite the same as being pressed right up to the stage, but excellent nonetheless.) As always, they put on a great show, mixing it up a bit with some oldies but goodies. They played our wedding song, Never Mind the Strangers, so any time that's on the set list, I'm a happy camper. It rained lightly for maybe 20 minutes, but the weather held out for the most part. Here are a few shots from the evening...

Davy

Anto

Leo (with Eimhin on drums in the background)

Then, on Saturday, we went to a 40th birthday party for my friend, Mary Lou. They had a private room at Vivo Seasonal Trattoria at the Marriott in Hartford, and we had a wonderful time. The food was delicious, the jazz band was awesome, and the company was fantastic. Here are a few shots of the evening...

Mary Lou and Rob - looking fabulous!!

Awesome jazz band - ML, what was their name again?

Happy Birthday, Mary Lou! Thanks for having us!

Then today, we went to the hospital to visit our friends Adam and Chrissie, who just had a baby boy, Timothy Joseph, on Friday. Yes, that means his birthday is 8-8-08 - cool, right? He's beautiful, and we were so happy to get to meet him. Here's a picture...

Just kidding! I promised his Mom and Dad that I won't post any pictures of him on my blog until they've had a chance to post their own online.

Congratulations guys! We're so very happy for you!

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

First haircut

Today we took Matthew to get his first haircut. I've been fighting it for a while, but I knew it was time as it was getting quite long over his ears. We took him to Snip-its in Canton, CT. They only do kids' haircuts, so we thought that would be a good place to go for his first time. The place is all decked out for kids, with bubbles, computer games, animated mascots and a prize at the end. Very cool, even as an adult.

He got his haircut by Lena (sp?), and she and he both did a great job. He didn't mind a bit, and actually seemed to enjoy the experience. We were able to take pictures and video the whole thing, so we have it for posterity. They also took a picture of him that they attached to a certificate of bravery, along with locks of his hair. I didn't think it was possible for him to look any cuter, but see for yourself....

Before....

During...

After...

After we finished up, we went out to lunch. We went to Flatbread right in the Canton shops, and had the best pizza ever! They use all local ingredients, and you can pretty much customize anything on the menu any way you like it. Dennis had a nitrate-free pepperoni and mushroom pizza...sooooo good!

And I customized mine - 1/2 Coevolution (Kalamata olives, fresh rosemary, red onions, oven roasted red peppers, goat cheese, mozzarella, garlic, and herbs) and 1/2 Test of Love (the daily veggie special - Homemade tomato sauce, roasted garlic, organic caramelized onions, local goat cheese topped with mozzarella, parmesan and organic herbs). Fabulous!

Matthew had lunch in a restaurant for the first time...no pizza for him, though. Oatmeal and pears.

Since it was pouring outside (of course it was!), we decided to linger for a while on the comfy couches and have dessert. Dennis had a brownie sundae with local J. Foster's vanilla ice cream...

and I had gingerbread, also with vanilla ice cream.

Yeah, we made short order of those...

We had such a nice lunch. So relaxed and cozy, spending time with our handsome little boy who no longer seems so little. I felt so full of love.

We did a little shopping in the shops, and then headed home. My wonderful husband, who always takes me to my favorite places, took me by my favorite tree in the whole world. Yes, I have a favorite tree. I used to pass it daily on my way to the Simsbury office I worked in. It's a gigantic sycamore tree - the Pinchot sycamore, the largest tree in Connecticut, and I have always admired it from the road but never stopped to see it. Well, Dennis drove us down to the park at the base of the tree so I could see it in all its glory. It was last measured in 1998, at 26 feet around, 95 feet tall, with an average canopy diameter of 140 feet. Check it out!

If you click on this picture, you'll notice a car going over the bridge behind the tree. Gives you an idea how humongous it is.

Then, as if the day could possibly get any better, we stopped in Southwick on the way home for dinner. No, not at the Summer House.....

And, in case you're wondering - no, I'm not surprised that none of my old clothes fit me.