A Hiking we will go…

This weekend we went on yet another adventure.  A somewhat last minute plan that turned out great.  Andrew has been dying to get up to the White Mountains…so we made it happen.  We packed Maya up with all our gear, for yet another 3 hr car ride.  She did great, even though we had to stop for a bio-break midride.  This time we were not travelling by ourselves, we had 3 cars of Barrys & Kinneys making the trip with us.  I’d say we made relatively good time even with the stop.

We had a neat spot in the woods of Bartlett that Andrew had found last minute.  5 bedrooms, plenty of space for Maya to run and not too expensive.  Everyone had a bed…and Maya slept through the night…BRILLIANT!  The good sleep may have been a result of our adventure that day.  Immediately after arrival, we put Maya into the backpack for a 2.5 mile hike to the top of Mt. Crawford.  It was pretty steep in the middle, but we all made it & Maya summited her first White Mountain.  Of course keeping her from running of the cliff at the top was an interesting & not so fun challenge, but we didn’t stay up there long…and snacks will usually keep her sitting for a little while.

I even had a chance to carry Maya some of the way(Actually I got to carry her to the top).  Not without Andrew’s help up the big steps, of course, we wouldn’t have made it without him.  The reason I had to carry Maya was that she was assaulting her father with her little finger nails.  Sort of like when a jockey digs a horse, Maya was wreaking havoc on her father’s neck.   About 10 minutes of the hike went like this:

Andrew: No Maya, No
Maya: Scratch
Andrew:  Owww Maya, No
Maya: Scratch
Andrew:  Maya STOP
Maya: Scratch

You get the idea…pretty annoying for all involved.  It ended with a:

Laura: Just give her to me, why won’t you just let me try to see if I can carry her…thank you!

And finally we made it to the top…just before Maya figured out I had a neck hiding behind that pony tail.  Here’s a little glimpse into the experience!  Looking forward to many more hikes with the Papaya, hopefully with fewer Maya inflicted injuries.

The Beginning

She drew blood!

Everyone’s shocked by the switch!!

The Top!

Note the neck cover!

Pillow Talk – ‘Da Middle

No – I don’t mean that kind of ‘Pillow Talk’.  Well, sort of I do.  Pillow talk in this house means the VERY random conversations Andrew & I have right before we fall asleep.  If most people could be a fly on the wall I’m sure they’d be very amused, we usually are.  Where am I going with this?  The other night was a classic ‘pillow talk’ night.

A little background, our first mattress was a queen-sized, but very old bed from when I first graduated from school, (aka cheap).  It didn’t take long before 2 people on the bed started to make it sag in the middle.  Every night getting in to bed I would say to Andrew – “Hey, you’re in the middle of ‘da bed”.  And he he was.  He would try to roll to the outside, but inevitably we would both end up sliding to the middle of our sloped bed.  It became a running joke.

Fast forward to our new house…and our nice new mattress.  While we no longer sliiiide down to the middle, Andrew still likes to tease me by climbing in first & taking up the middle of ‘da bed.  Resulting in me needing to claim my half.  The other night I was all comfy in bed – when Andrew arrived & told me ‘I’ was in the middle of the bed.  No way!  I was on my half.  This quickly resulted in some pushing and shoving and ultmately, 2 grown married adults were counting the headboard bars to determine exactly where the ‘middle’ was!  Yup, we counted.  We now know exactly where the middle of our bed is – thank goodness for that!   You would think a married couple wouldn’t need to know this, all that snuggling & cuddling…but we do, if you don’t know where the middle is, how do you know when you’re there!?  Of course that night both of us had to be as CLOSE to the middle as possible without going over…just to annoy eachother, but what fun would it be if you didn’t push the limit.

So, that’s just a little insight into some of the randomness that goes on in our house on a daily basis…I couldn’t make it up if I tried.

NYC, what is it about you?

Sung to the Annie Tune…NYC, of course.  And yup…we were in NYC this weekend.  Aunt Megan had been living there all summer and I was determined to get down while she was there.   Typical, this meant that I would wait until the last weekend she was there – but we made it.  We made a reservation, packed Maya & all of her stuff in the car and off we went.  We planned the trip perfectly with her first nap (which has been at least 2 hours lately – often 3)…perfect!  It took her a little while to fall asleep, but once she did it was perfect…for an hour!  Why is it every time you plan on a nap it’s WAY shorter?  So the rest of the trip involved me turned around from the front seat entertaining her!

I will say, she did pretty well.  Not too much fussing…as long as we were paying attention to her.  But we made it.  We listened to lots of kids music, and I discovered one thing about our kids CD that is in the car…it holds Maya’s new favorite song – Ring Around the Rosie.  The song plays twice in a row, music interlude, two more times, music interlude, and two more times.  Every time we heard the musical interlude…Maya started making the ‘more’ sign.  And everytime the song really ended she did it again.  I think we listened to the song itself at least 18 times, on the way there.  Each time we got a gigantic smile and wiggle dancing from the back seat!

Once there we unloaded and headed out to the city.  Subway ride to Columbus Circle, met the fam (Grandma, Grandpa, Erin & Megan were all there), had some lunch and then on to Lincoln Center for a poetry slam.  A stop by Times Square to see the ‘Kissing’ statue, a visit to Toys R Us, walk to Bryant Park for snacks, continue on to Washington Square Park for a NY Pizza Dinner & then home for the night. Not a bad day in the city!  Top it off with an early Sunday Brunch & a walk to Wall Street & through Battery Park to see the Statue to Liberty & you pretty much have the perfect 1st trip to NYC (for a 1 yr old).  Maya was great the whole time!  She skipped naps, and slept okay, but with so much to see she had a GREAT time!  As you can see through some of the pictures.  I was nervous about the trip, but it turned out to be perfect!  Exhausting of course & I was pretty useless the next day, but it was worth it.  We topped off the trip with a stop to visit the Andreopoulos’ and their new little one Alex in Longmeadow.  It was a good stop considering Maya woke early from her nap yet again.  All in all NYC was a success…what’s next?!

Riding the subway

Dancing in Lincoln Center

The girls in Times Square!

1st NY Pizza in Washington Square Park…mmmm,mmmm

Almost home…we can make it!

Piano

We were recently the lucky recipients of a piano donation!  Aunt Jane and Uncle Kevin had a piano in their house that they no longer used.  Since Andrew enjoys playing, and they needed an excuse to revamp their living room, we graciously accepted their offer to donate it to us!

So the other day we waited for the movers to show up in the early afternoon, which inevitably ended up being early evening.  Can someone explain to me why it is so difficult for movers to be on time?  Or even give you a reasonable timeframe?  It just seems odd to me that after ‘years of business’, they still struggle with this.  But I digress.  These movers were actually quite lovely, they offered to call a half hour before, so at least we could go out & not feel like we would miss them.  I recommend Piano Movers Inc. if anyone needs to move a piano.

So now we have this great piano in our playroom.  At first Maya was confused why it was in her playroom rather than grandma & grandpa’s…but it wasn’t long before she was up on the bench banging away!  What can I say, the girl likes to make noise.  And of course we support her habit, with the help of friends.  Maya now has a life sized piano, a ‘Maya-sized’ but very real guitar, a drum with other assorted musical toys…and theirs always the pots & pans she has full access to.  With any luck she’ll get some of her dad’s musicality.  I just hope the neighbors don’t mind too much! 

It’s that time…

Football season is here!  Which means that I am a single mother for at least 4 hours, if not many more, a week!  Why is it that when the Patriots are on, things that used to get done by my otherwise very helpful husband, suddenly don’t.  As an example – first preseason game last night – came downstairs after putting Maya to bed and the dishes were still in the sink.  Bummer!  Where was the hubby?  On the couch.  Glued to the game…ahhh, it’s the season.  At least it’s only a few hours a week.  Imagine if he was glued to the Red Sox or Celtics for every game?  I’d be in big trouble.  Not that he doesn’t watch both, but the Patriots are priority.

My only saving grace is that Maya also happens to love football!  Maybe it’s because it was always on when she was an infant, or maybe it’s all the cheering, but for some reason it keeps her attention longer than anything else on TV.  Tonight was no different.  She sat in her chair, staring at the TV…and then she started cheering, clapping, making little hand gestures, asking for more.  It was hilarious!  What can I say, she’s a true daddy’s girl.  With the 2 of them so into the Patriots…maybe I should go get a mani/pedi!  Hmm…when do they play again?

August

 

I have a love hate relationship with August.  I love that it’s still the lazy days of summer, but I hate that it means I have to fit everything in before the school year starts.  By everything, I mean both work and play.

At work we’re busy getting ready for the return of the students, making sure we have everything they need for a successful job search.  At home I’m busy making sure I’ve seen all my teaacher friends before they go back to school, taking Maya to swim as often as possible, and doing all the necessary summer stuff!

Just in the last few days we’ve been swimming in NH, to a pool party and to visit our friend Maria on the Cape…does this sound like ‘lazy’ days of summer?  Not so much lazy, but they have been fun.  As many of you know Maya doesn’t really do lazy – so to her August is great!  Here’s some proof:

(Maya trying her first lemon on the Cape…mmm…mmm!)

As I said, I have a love hate relationship with August.  It marks the end of the summer, but this year we’re going yo try to squeeze every little bit of fun out of it!  I love summer!

Chiquita Banana…

Just get this girl a fruit hat & she’s ready to do a banana commercial!  What?  Your clothes don’t look like this on a random Thursday?  Well they should!

Oh the Goats…

Just when you think a conversation may die…those sneaky little goats come right up and get you!

What do I mean by this?  Well, Uncle Kevin – who has been mentioned on this blog before for his fantastic ‘listing’ abilities, has a great kinship with Andrew.  And this is the email he recently sent to both of us:

SUBJECT: Tired of mowing your lawn?

Andrew,

While enjoying my breakfast this morning, I came across this article in the Wall Street Journal.  I knew you would be interested.   Free Range Landscaping

Here is another link for you:  http://rent-a-goat.com/Site/Welcome.html

Best, Kevin

If you take just a moment out of your day to read the article & check out the website you’ll immediately see why I am at a loss.  With legitimate enterprises like the WSJ taking on the case for goats…my argument gets dimmer by the minute.

Never fear (my neighbors in particular), there will be NO goat at 71 Barry Family Drive* – but it seems we will have to keep talking about it for a good long time!

If you’re curious, Andrew’s response was this:

Hi Kevin,
Thank you for this.  I am both elated by fact that this concept is gaining steam, and frustrated by my own failure to capitalize on this.  Please let me know if you have any interest in becoming a business partner in such an enterprise.

Best,
Andrew

There will also be NO Goat enterprises at 71 Barry Family Drive* either – if I have anything to say about it.

My furry little friends it seems you will forever be with us, in conversation that is.  Thanks Uncle Kevin for keeping the ‘Goats’ alive!!

*Addressed changed to protect those involved.

Traffic Tuesdays – The Drive By

Tuesday is a work day for me, which means it’s also a traffic day!  Some Tuesdays aren’t SO bad (Thursdays are always bad), but inevitably something interesting happens.  I’m hopeful that I’ll have something to report every Tuesday.   Today did not disappoint.

Driving down Rte 2 – after surviving a large amount of traffic on 95 – I had what I like to call the ‘drive by’.  I hear a honk, I turn to my left – in the other lane a guy in a red car starts waving to me.  I wave back, thinking I might know him.  Another quick look – nope, don’t know him.  hmmm.  I have a Stonehill sticker, maybe he went there too.  Look in my rearview mirror & he’s giving me the ‘call me’ sign.  Seriously?!  Is he hitting on me, in traffic, from a car away?  What does he think is going to happen?  It reminds me of a favorite Jerry Seinfeld skit:

“This is why you see men honking car-horns, yelling from construction sites. These are the best ideas we’ve had so far.. The car-horn-honk, is that a beauty? Have you seen men doing this? What is this? The man is in the car, the woman walks by the front of the car, he honks. This man is out of ideas. I mean what is he expecting? For the woman to stop and say “Hey you honked at me .. Ahhhh that’s so sweet .. I never knew you felt this way!”? “

I mean honestly – did he think I was going to stop in the middle of traffic?  Let alone, who hits on a girl driving a rusted out pathfinder, sporting windows down hair (because the car doesn’t have air conditioning), and packing a carseat in the back?  Is this seriously the ‘best idea’ he had that day??!  It just boggles my mind.  And this wasn’t the first time this happened this summer – it happened driving down 95 too, only that time I had Maya in the car & the guy wouldn’t give up even after I flashed my ring & showed him Maya!  We quickly got of the highway & lost him.

What is WRONG with guys?  Focus on the road!  There are so many bad drivers out there between texting, talking, eating, radios…the last thing men need is another distraction!  Stick to the road boys….stick to the road!  The honk-the-horn tactic does not work! 

(Although I will admit I know one story of people who met & married this way…but what are the odds there?)

**thos post is dedicated to my aussie roomies – Diane, Rich, Marlene & Scott.  They know why…love u guys!

Plum Pickin’

I’ve noticed that Plums are becoming a theme in this blog lately – which is funny since I never even had a plum before I met Andrew!  I was more of the strawberries, bananas & apples kind of girl.  I think those were the only fruits I ate growing up.  This is definitely NOT true for Maya!  She loves almost every fruit.  Especially watermelon!  But she also loves anything she can eat herself, whole pears were one of her first favorites.  Forget it when we get to the fruit section of the grocery store…I can’t make it through without letting her chow on a nectarine!

But I digress…this is about Plums, particularly the plum tree in our yard.  Yup, that’s right we have our very own plum tree in our front yard.  I’m the type of person who wouldn’t eat from anything that I hadn’t taken care of, but Andrew will try anything that looks okay.  Thus, just the other night we were all in our front yard chewing on these small, but I must admit very yummy plums.  Maya LOVES them!  She especially loves that she can pick them herself.  She HATES when I have to take it away half way through to remove the pit (imagine a lovely little tantrum and not wanting to take it back all squished up).  But it’s been fun having our own plum tree – we even shared with the neighbors.

I don’t think we will be a fruit farm anytime soon, but we do have a pear tree & 2 apple trees as well.  The apples are plentiful, but insects seem to have ruined them before we could spray.  No pears this year, but we’re hopeful for next year.  So we enjoyed our plums the last few days and now all we have to do is figure out how to explain to Maya that they’re all gone & she can’t pick them anymore….hmmm!