Indian Rock Nature Preserve

The orchard...

Leo, Matthew, Ellery and Fely

The entrance to the preserve

The landscape and sheep

Matthew picking an apple

In the classroom, learning about apple cider

Making cider

Waiting to pic apples

New England Scenery

OK, blogger is a PIA and wouldn't let me post these for a week...so here you go. These are pics from Matthew's first field trip with his Kindergarten class. They went to the Indian Rock Nature Preserve and picked apples, made cider, and got to see the sheep. Henry was a chaperone, so that is how I was able to get these photos. Love how New England fall is so prevalent in them!
Halloween pics tomorrow.

Sunday Six~Halloween!

Welcome to Sunday Six, brought to us by the uber talented Kelly! Questions this week were answered by Matthew, age 5 years 9 months.

1. When is Halloween?
~~Umm, it's, it's, it's, it's on Tuesday!

2. What do we do on Halloween?
~~Um, we celebrate Halloween with our Halloween stuff.

3. Why do we celebrate halloween?
~~Because we always do.

4. What happens on Halloween?
~~Well, if you don't celebrate it, God won't be disappointed, but God is too old to Trick or Treat with his friends, because he is really old.

5. Why do we wear costumes?
~~Halloween costumes are so people........I chose a ninja costume and it has a thing that covers my mouth and no one will know who I am.

6. What do you get on Halloween?
~~CANDY!!!!

Quick, boring bullet update!

Well then. Things are hectic here, so this will definately be what the title suggests!

• I started the new job on Monday...love love love it! The other nurses/MA's that I work with are all very nice, but honest...like if something is pissing them off about one of the docs they don't hesitate to vent for a few secs...which is nice, good to know that they will let you know if something is bothering them and not just act all bitchy!
• On Monday, in addition to starting my new job, I received an email requesting a third/final interview with the pediatric/pedialist group I interviewed with in September. They want to go over benefits, etc...WTF? I went ahead and set up the meeting for 9am Monday (don't have to be to work until 12pm), but what is your opinion? If they offer better money/benefits how much of an ass would I look like? It is about a 20 minute longer commute. The family medicine group I started with also sees kids so I am still involved with pediatrics, but not exclusively (which can be nice!) and we see such a variety of things that it is always interesting. WHY did they wait so long to call?
• Matthew had his field trip yesterday to an apple orchard/nature preserve. Henry was a chaperone and took pics (one of the moms asked him how he had remembered the camera as even she had forgotten...Henry replied that if he hadn't remembered to get pictures so I could scrapbook Matthew's first field trip that he might wind up divorced!) LOL. Hmmm, maybe?
• I am tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiired. This new job is taxing, 9hours a day on your feet constantly. Better lose some weight!

Ok, I guess that is it. Except Matthew is over his bug...he stayed home Monday with a fever still, but Tuesday/Wednesday were fine. He is sitting here eating a bowl of cereal trying to put off having to get dressed for school today. Ok, I am off to work. Everyone have a great day....I will post pics soon of the field trip!

Sunday Six~It's my Birthday

Welcome to Sunday Six, brought to us by the talented Kelly, mother of Jenelle who is celebrating her fourth birthday today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENELLE! Also a happy birthday shout out to my niece Ally who is turning 10 today!! We had a hard time getting answers out of Matthew today....but he did it! We had a tag sale yesterday to get rid of all the baby things we won't be needing again (no more babies for us!) and as we were preparing Friday night Matthew got a horrible runny nose....chalked it up to the chill in the air. Saturday he was ok except for the runny nose, Saturday evening he complained of a stomach ache and threw up once (he says, but no one saw this!). I gave him a children's pepto and he fell asleep on my lap watching Harry Potter. An hour later when he woke up, he was burning up with a fever of 104. Tylenol, then Motrin 2 hours later and to bed. Today he is 102, gave Tylenol so hopefully that works. So, he wasn't too excited to answer questions, but did them for me. He is 5 and three-quarters now...loves telling people that! Here are his answers, let us know if you played!

1. How do we celebrate birthdays?

~~With birthday presents and decorations. Only humans give people birthday presents!

2. Do you know anone having a birthday today?

~~Ummm, my Dad's (umm, no that was 10/3) and Ally's (yep, niece's is today) and Blake (nephew and umm, no not till March) and your birthday mom! I know it's your birthday Mom. (actually mine is next Sunday!)

3. Why do we celebrate birthdays?

~~Because we have to, it's somebody's special day!!

4. What happens at a birthday party?

~~Well if you don't decorate it the birthday boy will get made, very very mad.

5. When is your birthday?

~~Mom can you tell me? (me: January 8th?) Yeah, that's it.

6. What do you do on your birthday?

~~People decorate it, you and my Dad and everyone gives me presents and I'm so proud of everyone except Ally and blake who didn't come to my last birthday (wow, what a memory!). If you don't celebrate my birthday I get very upset!

Croptoberfest...results

Well, as I have said, last Saturday was our annual Creative Memories Great Gathering (previously known as Croptoberfest!). We had such a great time. It was from 10am to 8pm, hourly prize drawings and 3 grand prizes (don't worry my unlucky streak continues as I rarely if ever win anything!). I was able to get 17 pages done, but more importantly had a MOM'S day out. Ahhhhh. And I learned several new things too. Here are a few of the pages I got done. I have no clue why the pic quality sucks, but I will work on that later! Since starting scrapping in April I have made it from Jan. 2001 thru June 2004!! Yeah...but still a little over 2 years left to catch up on!

Halloween 2003

Cow Parade...charity event with life size cows

decorated and on display, November 2003.

Budding Artist.

Potty Training Fun.

Third Birthday...this is actually a four page layout

as the black page in the center is one that you can

turn and see the title at the top of the pages still.

Matthew's Favorite Park.

Remodeling Laundry Room, Matthew helping

with laundry.

********************

So, I talked to the Family Practice group Thursday morning and their offer topped Allergy's offer, so I accepted the job. I start Monday...so excited! Thanks for the good wishes!

Fall Foliage

So, I was driving to a job interview today, and snapped some fall foliage pictures while driving there. Shut it, I know I shouldn't be testing my horrible photography skills while driving, but no time to stop. There was some really pretty foliage on the way there, but traffic on that highway was awful. These pics were snapped on a local road near Windsor. The color this year isn't nearly as pretty as the last couple of years, but still worth looking. As for the job....well today was a second interview/test drive type thing. I got to hang out in the Family Medical office for several hours and see how I liked it. I hadn't even made it home yet and they had left a job offer on my voicemail. There lies the problem. Tuesday I had a second interview/test drive at an allergist office. Yep, you guessed it. They also called yesterday and offered me the job. I am pretty sure I am going to go with the Family Practice group, seems more my thing. But, I will get the final offer/numbers tomorrow and will then decide. Hopefully they will top allergy's offer. Can't wait to be an office nurse again...no more holidays at work, no more weekends!
Enjoy the pics!

Sunday Six~It's the Great Pumpkin!

Welcome to Sunday Six, brought to us by the lovely Kelly. This week is all about pumpkins. Let her, and me, know if you played! Answers provided by Matthew, age 5 years 9 months.

1. What is a pumpkin?

~~Well, I know what color it is...it's orange and when you're making a scary Halloween thing on it, you put a candle in and put it outside.

2. What do you do with a pumpkin for Halloween?

~~Oh wow! You make a scary thing on it, like this (makes a hideous face)-that would be scary and that is what I know about it.

3. Is there anything else you can do with a pumpkin?

~~Nope that's it.

4. Where do pumpkins come from?

~~Well, they come from pumpkin patches.

5. What color is a pumpkin?

~~Orange

6. What shape is a pumpkin?

~~Circle

And there you have it....I am exhausted today. Spent 10 hours at the Creative Memories great gathering yesterday (formerly known as Croptoberfest) and completed 17 pages...wow. How did that tire me out?? Off to cuddle with the boy.

Stolen camera???

OK, this is what you get when your child steals your digital camera!

This is what I found last night when checking on him

before I headed to bed...weirdo.

More stolen pictures....
Damn playmobile guys and rescue heroes are everywhere!

Fire Station Open House!

Tonight was open house at our local fire department. Matthew had a great time. I on the other hand suffered the entire time. I was hit by a train last night....a head cold like I have never had. Around midnight I decided I was dying. So, today of course with all the smoke from the fire extinguishing lesson and the dust, etc....yeah, real fun. But, as long as the little man had a good time that is all that matters. The pictures suck, I take full responsibility for that. I don't recommend popping 2 Benadryl and then trying to keep a steady hand for photos! LOL.

Loving sitting in the fire truck!

Fire Station's in NewEngland just seem so much

prettier than in the midwest....is it just me?

Fire Extinguisher Practice

Sitting on the side of the ladder truck

He loved this truck.
Local mom learning to use extinguisher.
Blurry, but fun...they practiced aiming the

hose at a Little Tikes Play House, Matthew wanted

to know if he could do that to his at home...ummm, no.

Ladder truck

Pretty night for a short walk to the Fire House.

Beautiful Memorial to Fallen Fire Fighters.

Fire fighters hold a special place in my heart. My father (the one who doesn't speak to me, but we all know about that after my raving post a while back!) is the Fire Inspector in Manhattan, KS after working his way up from a volunteer fireman in a tiny town many years ago. My favorite uncle (Hi Uncle Pat!!) is the Fire Chief is Cherokee Springs, SC (gotta go there...haven't seen him since 2001!!!). So many of my friends growing up were volunteer fireman/EMT's when I was a nurse in a tiny town right after college. Miss those guys....never met a better group of men than fire fighters! Hearts of gold...so thank you to all firemen for doing what you do, and risking your lives to protect ours! God bless.

Sunday Six-Johnny Appleseed

Brought to us by the inquisitive Kelly, this week is all about Johnny Appleseed who just celebrated a birthday! Apparently, Matthew (5yr 8mo) didn't learn about him in school, so his answers aren't quite on target! Let me know (and Kelly) if you played so I can check out your little ones answers! Happy Sunday!

1. Who was Johnny Appleseed?

~~I forgot

2. What did he do?

~~Well, maybe he punched a bully by mistake

3. What does his last name (Appleseed) mean?

~~Maybe he had an appleseed in his head

4. Where did Johnny Appleseed live?

~~Maybe in "our town", maybe North

5. What did Johnny Appleseed like?

~~Ummm, maybe big huge jawbreakers

6. Do you like apples? If so, how do you like to eat them?

~~Yeah, they are healthy, so are grapes. I like to eat them every way!

In a funk...

Sorry I have been so absent lately. I have been in a personal and blogging funk. Not working very much as shifts are hard to come by, which puts a strain on the finances, but hey, gotta keep the faith.

On the flip side, Matthew got in trouble at Kindergarten yesterday. A little girl in his class got a new hair cut and Matthew pointed at her and said, "Look, Phaley got a new haircut. Isn't it atrocious?" ATROCIOUS? Yeah, I questioned him on that one....seems he hasn't a clue what it means. So, he apologized to Phaley this morning and all is well.

They are learning about the food groups in a cool way.... hence the lovely picture (we all know that blogs with pictures are better, right? LOL). Anyway, the teachers are teaching them three groups: GO foods, SLOW foods, and WHOA foods. GO is obviously the fruits and veggies. SLOW is pastas, breads, red meats, etc... WHOA is cake, candy, ice cream. It is working well, as Matthew will frequently tell me the snack that I send for him is a SLOW food (cheese and crackers) and request a GO food such as grapes and apples. Cool by me. Doesn't seem to be slowing down his requests for WHOA foods, but I can now remind him that a better option would be a GO food and he seems to go for it! Yeah.

Sunday Six~Fall has arrived!

Brought to us every week by Kelly, this week is all about Fall to coincide with the change of seasons. Answers provided by Matthew, age 5yrs 8months.

1. What is Fall?
~~Fall means you have to decorate, if you have a birthday during fall you have to decorate it too!

2. Why do leaves change color?
~~Because when it is fall they change to orange or red or yellow or purple....any color.

3. What colors remind you of Fall?
~~Green and red and purple and orange

4. Why do we call it Fall?
~~Cuz if you feel like calling it fall you can just call it whatever you want.

5. What is your favorite thing about Fall?
~~My favorite thing is just, you know, getting the Easter Eggs (WTF?)

6. What is the weather like where you live during Fall?
~~Like, um, rain??