Take Me Back Tuesday

OK, so here's this week's picture....

Many of you will recognize this as my absolute favorite lighthouse, Cape Neddick Light, a.k.a. Nubble Light, in York Beach, Maine.

I used to drive up to York Beach by myself in the winter and stay in a hotel on Long Sands Beach. I used to sit out on the rocks by the ocean, and I could see Nubble Light from there, but at quite a distance. I tried to find it once, but for some reason just couldn't seem to get there.

So, back to the picture. It was taken on Saturday, February 15, 2003. Dennis had surprised me with a weekend getaway for our first Valentine's Day. As we drove along Long Sands Beach on Valentine's evening, I pointed out Nubble Light, and mentioned I'd never seen it up close. He took a couple of turns here and there, and we came around a turn to the most amazing sight ever. There was the lighthouse, right there in front of us, and although it was already dark outside, it was beautifully illuminated by the snow on the ground. This picture was taken the following morning, when we went to see it in the light of day. It was almost as beautiful.

We've made many, many trips back there since, but none can top that first night in the snow. In retrospect, it's amazing that I was never able to find it on my own - it's ridiculously easy to get there from Long Sands. Guess I was meant to see it for the first time exactly the way I did.

Thanks for the great memory, babe.

Flash forward....and back

Tonight I got a glimpse into what Matthew's school years will be like. I was in the kitchen making dinner, and I could hear him playing with some toys in the living room. Every so often, I peeked in just to make sure he was OK. I could hear him playing the same song over and over again on this "CD player" we got him for his birthday. He waits until the song is over, and then pushes the same button for it to play all over again. This didn't surprise me, as he's done this for the longest time, with many of his musical toys.

What did surprise me tonight, though, was when I peeked in on him and saw this....

He was sitting on the floor "reading" one of his books, and playing the music over and over again at the same time. I could just see him as a teenager, studying in his room with music blaring. He's clearly taking after Dennis in this area. I was always amazed when Dennis was in law school or studying for the bar that he could study (and crazy hard stuff, mind you!) with the TV on or music playing. I never had that ability - I always needed quiet, focused study time. The only exception was classical music, which my high school physics teacher, Mr. Bloom, always played during our exams. He would tell us how music helps open up your brain and let you get at information more easily. I could never make it work with any other music, though; probably because I'd get distracted and start to sing along in my head.

Anyway, it was a crazy flash forward to the years to come, and it made me excited and sad at the same time.

Oh, and the flash back? Yeah, that was last night. He was having a cup of milk before going to bed, and I actually heard myself say to him - "Matthew, don't swill your milk." Funny how all those things your mother said to you as a child find their way into your vocabulary as an adult.

Life is good, isn't it?

Not on the program...

Dennis and I have been making a concerted effort to eat healthier in the new year. We've been doing pretty well - OK, except for Matthew's birthday. And...notwithstanding what I made this morning.

You see, I had lots of bananas leftover from last weekend's banana splits, and there's just nothing I'd rather do with leftover bananas than make Barefoot Contessa's Banana Crunch Muffins. These things are to die for. Check 'em out...

With 2 sticks of butter and a cup+ of coconut, these are SOOO not on the program. I'm pretty sure that having eaten two of these already I've used my calorie allowance for the entire day. Oh well. It was worth it!

Party on, dudes!!

Since it's already been a week since Matthew's First Birthday party, I figured it was about time I posted some pictures.

We had a monkey theme - since he just LOVES monkeys - complete with a monkey cake, monkey cupcakes and banana splits with all the fixins. It was a swinging good time!

Daddy was in charge of balloons, and he picked up a bunch (bah-dum-dum), including a gi-normous Curious George balloon. And, because no Massachusetts boy's birthday party would be complete without them, he also picked up Red Sox and Patriots balloons, too! (Mommy says next year will be Cowboys and Yankees.....)

Matthew got tons of great presents, including a beautiful sock monkey handmade by Nanna. If I had to pick, though, I'd have to say the tissue paper in the gifts was his favorite!

Here are some shots of the day....

As you can see, he really enjoyed his birthday cake, and even tried a bit of Mommy's banana split. Of course, he was promptly cleaned up and had his teeth brushed. Can't leave a mess like that!

Take Me Back Tuesday

Those of you who read my sister's blog know that she's recently started a weekly post she's calling Take Me Back Tuesday, wherein she posts an old picture and tells a bit about it.

I've decided to copy her idea, and do my own Take Me Back Tuesday posts. So, here's the inaugural edition....Hah! Get it?? Inaugural edition? Man, I crack myself up.....

Anyhow, I grabbed an old CD of pictures and found this one....appropriate for today, no?

This was taken on October 3, 2003. Dennis was interviewing in D.C. and we had a couple of days to see the sights. It was one of our favorite trips, and is someplace we really want to go back to when we can spend a lot of days. So much to see. If you've never been, you simply must go, even if you're not political junkies like we are.

It's a new day!

What a year...

Today is our baby boy's first birthday. Hard to believe that it's been a whole year since he came into our lives, filling it with so much love and joy, making us a family. The year has flown, and as I looked back through literally thousands of pictures we've taken in the last 365 days, I was brought to tears by the enormity of the love I feel for this little man, and for my husband and best friend, who is his amazing father.

I struggled to choose from among all the pictures - so many different phases and stages, each beautiful and wonderful in its own special way. So, I decided - keep it simple. I think these sum it up perfectly.

Then....

Now....

We love you, Matthew Francis.

Can you even imagine?

I can't.....

What the...???

If you've talked to me lately, you know that I've been getting really frustrated with the cost of things these days, especially groceries. Yeah, I know...who isn't? I'm not saying I'm the only one - just that I've been complaining about it an awful lot.

Not only are the prices going up, but the sizes are going down, all under the guise of "new improved packaging". Take for instance, my biggest beef - Tropicana® Pure Premium Orange Juice. Here's the fancy new container....

Just fabulous, as long as you don't pay attention to the fact that you're now getting 89 oz. instead of 96.

Well, now it seems that not only are prices going up and quantities going down, but the quality is suffering too. I went to make dinner the other night, and I needed some stewed tomatoes. I pulled a can out of the pantry - Del Monte® - the brand of canned tomatoes I always buy (unless I'm making sauce - then I only buy imported Italian tomatoes). Now the last few times I've used stewed tomatoes, I've noticed I seem to be getting an awful lot of the stem end of the tomato - ya know, with the hard yellow piece? Yeah, lots of them. I end up cutting them out and chucking them, so I'm maybe getting 12 oz of usable tomatoes out of a 14.5 oz can. So, I open up this can and this is what I see....make sure you click on it to get the full effect...

Are you freakin' kidding me? Not only did they leave the stem end on, they left the whole damn stem on. Next thing you know I'll be finding leaves in there.

So that's it - no more Del Monte® tomatoes for me. I'm gonna buy whatever other brand is available - they've gotta be better than this....

Woo hoo!

Mmmm.....spaghetti....!!

Ushering in the New Year

I can easily say that 2008 was the fastest year of my life. Here's to hoping 2009 slows down a bit!

Hope you all have a wonderful year, filled with all the things that make you happiest.

Cheers!