The Central Vermont Caboose 100th Anniversary Celebration

Avery at Work.

Cousins on the back of the caboose.

Daisy, Alexis and Pinky

Avery and Pinky

Avery driving the train.

Cousins and Auntie on the train.

First Day of School

Today is the beginning of a new school year for the kids. I have 2 fifth graders and 2 ninth graders. I cannot believe how fast time has gone by. As I stood on the playground with Pinky and Daisy this morning I remembered their first day of kindergarten. They both clung to my arms and Pinky cried. They both begged me to stay.

Today the ran off with their friends and chatted in line. Only Pinky looked over at me ever so often just to see if I were still there. I stood over against the wall and watched my two youngest daughters and their friends. It seems like Pinky and Daisy grew up a bit over the summer. They were a little more self-assured and relaxed with their peers.

They'll be 11 years old in October. In my Mommy mind it seems like it was just yesterday when they were two tiny scared 3 year olds standing in my living room with their 8 year old brother. I did not know they were going to be my children then.
We've had some rough times over the years, but I have no regrets.

I hope they all have a wonderful first day.

Ohio State Fair 2009

It was hot. and not in a good way.
We met up with my sister and her family

We enjoyed Funnel Cakes, Mini Donuts,

Smoked Turkey Legs, Lemon-Shake-ups, Iced Tea and who knows what else.

My dear sister hamming it up with the Ohio State fair Marching Band.

We ran into Abraham Lincoln at the Natural Resources Park.

Pinky and the gang went for a spin on the Bumper Boats.

Little Black Girl

There is a little black girl on my street.
She has big brown eyes and long dark hair,
She lives in a tall white house
With her mother, her father, her sisters and brothers.
She loves school and loves to read.
She knows big words that most 8 year olds don't know.
Her imagination guides her on adventures everyday.
I watch her from my door.
She smiles and waves.
I smile and wave back.
I see many things when I look at her...
I see that she wore the same clothes all week.
I see that she played outside all day and never went in to eat.
I see that her sister's hair hasn't been done all summer.
I see that her mother sleeps till noon,
and her father has a "job" that involves making lots of phone calls
And meeting people outside her house all hours of the day and night.
I see that she has been a wonderful friend to my daughters.
I see how she watches them
I see how she looks at their clothes.
I see her sadness.
I wonder if she knows that she deserves the world
And that she is worthy of being alive
And that there are people who care.
And that she doesn't have to be alone.
Today I gave her clothes.
I listened to her sing.
I watched her play.
I watched her go home when the sky darkened and night came.
I hope she has sweet, happy dreams.

Yo Ho, Yo Ho a Pirate's Life For Me

So we went to Chicago and almost everyone got grounded on the trip.

The level of rudeness was amazing. Kids running around like they've never had ANY home training.

Kids whining and complaining about EVERY little thing.

It was so bad that my usually calm, collected sister lost it and gave everyone a stern talking to.

The trip itself took 5.5 hours longer than it should have. Due to a Series of Unfortunate Events.

Everything was good until my sister had the misfortune of leaving her cellphone at a rest stop. She was able to track it down, but we had to turn the bus around and go back for it. That really wasn't soooo bad.

Then the bus blew a fan belt on the highway, somewhere near Holy-Cow-Where-The-Heck-Are-We, Indiana. The driver tried to fix it...but couldn't so we limped to the next exit which was 3 miles away.

After at least an hour or so of mechanics trying to fix it and waiting for a part, we were rescued by a mechanic who not only came with the right part, he also brought a bus....just in case.

So we were off again. I think we were somewhere in Illinois when we hit a five-mile long traffic jam.

We made it our hotel about 7:30pm. Tired. Exhausted....and the hotel misplaced our reservations. Lovely.

By about 8pm everything was straightened out and we were in our rooms. (which were beautiful)

We misplaced the boys for about 35-40 minutes. (They ended up in a room in another tower) By the time we found them and got out of the hotel, the fireworks were in the middle of the finale.

***Day 2***

Started out with a very nice buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant. Then we were off on our grand Chicago adventure. The weather was gloomy, and we all KNEW it was going to rain. (or judging by our luck, Chicago would have it's first hurricane) We visited the Hancock Observatory, took the Gray Line Double Decker bus tour. It started to sprinkle on the bus tour, but we stuck in there and rode to the Taste of Chicago. The big food festival. It was crowded. I hate crowds. We sampled a few things. The kids tasted Gelato, which was heavenly.

We hopped back on the Gray Line, by then it was raining and we were laughing like maniacs as the rain was pelting us in the faces on top of the double decker bus. We rode over to the Field Museum. (not crowded) We took in a few exhibits and ate lunch.

We fought for hailed a taxi and headed back to the hotel.

It was there that 3 of my children decided to act like they needed an Exorcist.

Luckily it was time for the bus to come so we could head back home.

It was a short trip, but it was the most exhausting trip I've ever taken with my kids. They just do not do well in larger groups. Too many distractions.

Pictures from Chicago

Pictures are from Hancock Observatory, Field Museum and Hyatt Regency Chicago

It was an interesting trip.

I'm Soooooo Excited

We are spending part of the 4th of July weekend in Chicago. I've never been there before. I can't wait !!