Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. I think I went out with my younger sisters, and my friend, Ellen, until I was a senior in high school. And I can remember being so happy when we bought our house, that I could give out candy--so I was really thrilled that I had a reason to go out for Halloween when Jack was born...and he was only 4 weeks old.
Ten years ago, I spent Halloween day up in New York City with my sister, going to see The View. I was very pregnant with Lily--she was born 9 days later. It was the second time I was called out of the audience at a show hosted by Rosie O'Donnell to chat with Rosie O'Donnell, who has always been one of my favorites.
This year, we are down to one real trick-or-treater. Lily decided in early September that she wanted to be a diner girl from the 50's. I don't know where/why she came up with this idea, but once she decides, that is it. So, I got one of those costumes (no way I was going to try to come up with it myself.)
Monday, October 31, 2016
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Happy 17th Birthday, Timmy!! October 4, 2016
I am starting to hate these birthdays for my children. I never really minded my own birthday...I always said "it is better than the alternative." But today, Timmy turned 17, and that makes me sad, because I still remember him as that screaming baby.
And while I am happy he is here to celebrate with us, it is hard because both Jack and Anna are not here. He and Lily were off today, so we went to Fil A Bagel for lunch, and then I drove him up to see a movie with a friend. And then tonight, we celebrated with the meal he wanted...pasta, followed by a special cake--his favorite ice cream cake! Not all that great of a celebration on this gloomy day, but so happy we could all be together for it!
And while I am happy he is here to celebrate with us, it is hard because both Jack and Anna are not here. He and Lily were off today, so we went to Fil A Bagel for lunch, and then I drove him up to see a movie with a friend. And then tonight, we celebrated with the meal he wanted...pasta, followed by a special cake--his favorite ice cream cake! Not all that great of a celebration on this gloomy day, but so happy we could all be together for it!
Monday, October 3, 2016
Happy 21st Birthday, Jack!! October 3, 2016
Happy Birthday, Jack! 21 years old--it is unbelievable that 21 years have gone by since I became a mother...the day Jack was born. We couldn't go to my sister-in-law's 21st birthday party the day before Jack was born, because I was in labor with Jack...and that doesn't seem like it was 21 years ago. It is so odd having a child turn a milestone birthday, and you are not there to celebrate with him or her. I know we won't be there for 22 either, but we can hope that we are there for 23 and on!!
Sunday, October 2, 2016
The HIghs and the Lows of Parents' Weekend at Boston College--September 30-October 2, 2016
On Friday, we all left our respective jobs/schools early to get on the road early to drive up to Boston College for Anna's Parents' weekend. Well, that didn't happen. It started raining around here on Wednesday night, and the weather forecast for Boston was highs in the mid-50's with a combination of rain, showers, and drizzle. What? How many different ways can you just say lousy weather?!
So, I had to pack. And I packed way too much, but that is partly because I just didn't know what to pack for 55 degree rainy weather...and, in the end, I ended up being so covered up all day, no one could even see what I was wearing!
But we pulled out, ready and happy to be on our way...and then got caught in the worst rainy weather. It just rained the entire way up to Boston. It was just miserable (you will hear a lot of that word!) And because the rain was bad, the traffic was slow, and we didn't want to get killed by one of those trucks spraying everything up in our windshield. We didn't pull into the hotel until after midnight, so we called Anna and told her that we would see her in the morning. If it had been a beautiful starlit night we could have gone over, but it was pouring, and it was miserable.
The next day we got up, and got to campus around noon. It was really great to see Anna. She was so happy to see us. She literally ran up to us and hugged us all. So unlike some of her siblings...who don't really want us to acknowledge that we are his parents.
We decided to go to the Dining Hall, which was really nice. I really just wanted to get time to really talk to Anna, to see how she was doing, and to fill her in on what she has missed at home. We had (not smartly!!) bought tickets to the game, so we felt somewhat obliged to go to it. We got there at the 3rd inning, and sat in the most miserable misty rain. I had an umbrella, but it really wasn't a help...it was just that misty stuff that just comes at you from all sides.
After the game, we walked over to get ice cream at Cold Mountain...an ice cream store like the one Anna works at here at home. And then we got the car, and drove over a mile or so to Brookline, to a place called Pino's, for dinner. This is us at dinner:
During dinner, I decided I wanted to go see John F. Kennedy's boyhood house, which we did. It was on a beautiful little street, and Brookline is a beautiful town. And I think it is really cool the way we saw the house that a president lived in. I am surprised it was basically unguarded. I thought there would be a guard there or something.
We drove Anna back to her dorm, then went across the way to play some ping pong at this community-type center place. The whole day, I was pretty quiet, and in the background. I was just so happy to see her having so much fun with her siblings. She was really happy.
Anyway, we came home, and I pretty much went right to bed, The others went down to the pool to swim. I was asleep when they came back, and they were quiet, so I never really woke up again.
When we woke up at 8:30, we were all tired. It was hard...all 5 of us in the same room. If Lily sneezed, we all heard it. And then, the fire alarm went off. We had to evacuate immediately. I realized that we were on the 2nd floor, and that we had a little terrace, and that we could jump down to this hill which was only about 10 feet below us, if it really truly was a fire, but I was pretty sure there was no real fire. I also decided that we were taking everything with us, since we didn't see any smoke. We packed up everything in about 6 minutes, and left. I have never seen such efficiency. I even took the water bottles from the refrigerator.
I decided to just get on the road. It was 9, and this had been a long, wet weekend, and I wanted to go home. Just then, they let us back into the hotel, so we ate a delicious Sunday brunch. I called Anna and let her know that I thought that we were just going to get on our way, and I am pretty sure that she was still sleeping, so I think it was fine. Plus, her Fall break is next weekend...she will be home in 5 days!!
So, it was wet, and miserable, but it was incredibly good to see Anna. Lily just came down to tell me how sad she is that Anna is away at school, and I kind of agree with her. It is really hard to have her so far away!!
So, I had to pack. And I packed way too much, but that is partly because I just didn't know what to pack for 55 degree rainy weather...and, in the end, I ended up being so covered up all day, no one could even see what I was wearing!
But we pulled out, ready and happy to be on our way...and then got caught in the worst rainy weather. It just rained the entire way up to Boston. It was just miserable (you will hear a lot of that word!) And because the rain was bad, the traffic was slow, and we didn't want to get killed by one of those trucks spraying everything up in our windshield. We didn't pull into the hotel until after midnight, so we called Anna and told her that we would see her in the morning. If it had been a beautiful starlit night we could have gone over, but it was pouring, and it was miserable.
The next day we got up, and got to campus around noon. It was really great to see Anna. She was so happy to see us. She literally ran up to us and hugged us all. So unlike some of her siblings...who don't really want us to acknowledge that we are his parents.
We decided to go to the Dining Hall, which was really nice. I really just wanted to get time to really talk to Anna, to see how she was doing, and to fill her in on what she has missed at home. We had (not smartly!!) bought tickets to the game, so we felt somewhat obliged to go to it. We got there at the 3rd inning, and sat in the most miserable misty rain. I had an umbrella, but it really wasn't a help...it was just that misty stuff that just comes at you from all sides.
After the game, we walked over to get ice cream at Cold Mountain...an ice cream store like the one Anna works at here at home. And then we got the car, and drove over a mile or so to Brookline, to a place called Pino's, for dinner. This is us at dinner:
During dinner, I decided I wanted to go see John F. Kennedy's boyhood house, which we did. It was on a beautiful little street, and Brookline is a beautiful town. And I think it is really cool the way we saw the house that a president lived in. I am surprised it was basically unguarded. I thought there would be a guard there or something.
We drove Anna back to her dorm, then went across the way to play some ping pong at this community-type center place. The whole day, I was pretty quiet, and in the background. I was just so happy to see her having so much fun with her siblings. She was really happy.
Anyway, we came home, and I pretty much went right to bed, The others went down to the pool to swim. I was asleep when they came back, and they were quiet, so I never really woke up again.
When we woke up at 8:30, we were all tired. It was hard...all 5 of us in the same room. If Lily sneezed, we all heard it. And then, the fire alarm went off. We had to evacuate immediately. I realized that we were on the 2nd floor, and that we had a little terrace, and that we could jump down to this hill which was only about 10 feet below us, if it really truly was a fire, but I was pretty sure there was no real fire. I also decided that we were taking everything with us, since we didn't see any smoke. We packed up everything in about 6 minutes, and left. I have never seen such efficiency. I even took the water bottles from the refrigerator.
I decided to just get on the road. It was 9, and this had been a long, wet weekend, and I wanted to go home. Just then, they let us back into the hotel, so we ate a delicious Sunday brunch. I called Anna and let her know that I thought that we were just going to get on our way, and I am pretty sure that she was still sleeping, so I think it was fine. Plus, her Fall break is next weekend...she will be home in 5 days!!
So, it was wet, and miserable, but it was incredibly good to see Anna. Lily just came down to tell me how sad she is that Anna is away at school, and I kind of agree with her. It is really hard to have her so far away!!
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