View

Just a view from our pond of my parent's house. Check out all the corn! It's crazy how fast it has grown in the past 2 months. Max's new favorite hobby is jumping in the ditches at invisible objects - I'm pretty sure he thinks there is something there. He kept stomping around the same place the other day - I told him whatever he thought was there was certainly long gone. He's too cute though.

Gotcha Day Party

Sunday was Max's 3rd Gotcha Day! I feel like he's been around forever, not just 3 years. He had a great day. We had a picnic with my Grandma, Aunt and the Devendorf's (family friends with 5 year old twins - the perfect guests for this event).

I made some Pupcakes for Max and Neika and and cupcakes for the humans. We had a big picnic and spent the afternoon and early evening out in the yard and on the deck. We took the kids up to the pond where they searched for frogs (with no luck) and for a wagon ride behind the lawn mower (with Neika in the wagon and Max running behind since he doesn't like riding in it). I love the picture of Reid sitting next to Max up by the pond - every boy should have a dog!

We are also thinking about our friend Tillman this week - his Birthday is coming up - Happy Birthday Tillman!!

The day before Max had a bandage on his leg. He decided to get away from my Dad while looking at the horse in the field up the road. Max loves the horse and we are always up there looking at her. She's very friendly and does a little dance for you when you come up to visit. Max chased her all the way down the field and then much to my Dad's surprise the horse chased Max all the way back. I guess Max was running full out on the way back. We are pretty sure that the horse thought this was great fun and was playing, but I'm not sure that Max thought the chase back was fun. Anyway, he cut himself while all this was going on and was bleeding on the floor - so he had to have a bandage. He was really good with it and kept it on all night.

Max is loving the country! I love this picture of him running behind the wagon. What a life ...

Welcome, little guy

Bridget and Mike have a new addition to their family - John Joseph - or Jack. Here he is - and he's a cutie. Congratulations Bridget & Mike!!

Tomorrow I should have some Gotcha Day pictures of Max.

I've been going through a lot of old pictures and scanning them into the computer. I'm hoping to make CD's and put them in my parent's safe. My worst fear is a fire and loosing all of the family pictures. My grandparents had a fire long before I was born and we don't have many old pictures from my mom's side of the family. I am the keeper of all the old photos for my Dad's side and want to get them all stored away.

I've also found some pictures from when I was younger. I particularly like this one of Becky Hill and myself (I'm on the right) at the local State Park. We entered our dog, Jenny, in the costume contest as what else - a hot dog. I don't remember her being as old as she looks in the picture, but I remember parading her around for the judges. I think I might have even won a ribbon. I will have to share this picture with Becky and see if she remembers.

In other news, Bridget has had a baby boy - John Joseph or Jack for short. Once I figure out how to get the pictures off my phone I will post one - he's very cute! Congrats Bridget and Mike!! I'm looking forward to meeting the little guy.

Operation Tuna Salad

As most of you know I've had my profile up on Match.com since the winter. Inspired by Ami and Gene, I thought it might be a way to meet that special someone. I never really found anyone in MA that I wanted to even make conversation with. When I started the new job I figured I would change the zip code and see if there were any takers here in UNY. I did get a wink and email from "Brian." Quite honestly, I emailed his profile around asking what people thought and if they thought he was gay from the details in his profile.

Anyway, I had lunch with him one day last week and it went ok. My biggest complaints were that he seemed a little into himself and he didn't really ask me any questions. He wanted to go out again, so I decided that maybe he was just nervous and I'd give it another shot. We met for dinner on Friday night - it was about the same as lunch. He's interesting, but not interested in finding out about my life. No questions about my family, how I ended up in Rochester or what I do for work - just a little strange to me. On the other hand I seem to know alot about him. I'm just not really attracted to him either.

I was talking to Julie before I went in to meet him. I told her I was going to have to make up something crazy to say if it seemed like he wanted to go out again. However, I came up with a better solution: Operation Tuna Salad. If I had tuna on my salad at dinner then he wouldn't be able to get that close to me, right? I highly recommend this plan to any of you single gals out there. It completely worked! But now I do need help since he wants to go out again. I'm going to have to put an end to this - he's just not for me. Any crazy suggestions? He just texted me again.

"Life is made up of moments and choices. We can choose to do the small things we must do with great care, or we can choose to stay focused on the "big things" and miss everything in the process. It's the small, step-by-step, creatively and beautifully engaged act that changes us and ultimately changes the world." Todd Henry

A quote posted on the Ali Edward's blog today. All the scrapbookers should check out her blog - I find her very inspirational.

A little laugh

Some of you might appreciate this. Here is the clown picture that I promised in one of my first posts. This is not my proudest moment. However, my Dad and I used to do some functions and charity events. My clown name: Jellybean. I'm sure this will give you guys a good laugh! What would we do without the 70's?

Tonight I'm headed to a Rochester Red Wings game - yes, local AAA baseball. Gone are the days of the fantastic Red Sox seats. We are bringing about 30 clients and a few staff members. It's just not the same going to these work events without the gang from Res/Title (I miss you guys). Please don't really seem interested in talking much. I'm just so used to being able to take a break and chat with someone. Both Frank and Anthony called me last night to check in - it's always good to hear a familiar voice. I'm hoping that once I have people working with me that I'll be able to make some friends. Don't worry - no one can replace my MA friends.

Wells Visit

Just a shout out today to all the Wells College gals. This picture was from April when we were in New York for Ami's Bridal Shower. We had a chance on Saturday to take a trip back to campus, have lunch at the Aurora Inn (thank you Ami), visit MacKenzie-Childs pottery and to tour some of the Cayuga Lake wineries. We dragged Roxanne along with us (no kicking and screaming though). Ami's wedding has been a blessing. I was able to become friends with Roxanne; who is my crafting solemate. And I have been able to reconnect with Dena. I'm hoping to get everyone to take a girls vacation later this year or in the spring. Hopefully I will also see Ami when she visits her parents and Roxanne can hitch a ride. There is a great scrapbook store right near Ami's parents that I need to take them to.

If you have never heard of Mackenzie-Childs check out their website. www.mackenzie-childs.com. It's a store that is near to the hearts of the Wells women.

Happy Wednesday to all. Don't forget ... Project Runway tonight! Does anyone have a favorite?

Max and the Bike

I think I've told some of you, but my Dad bikes with their dog, Neika. He is also training Max to run along side the bike as well. It's going ok. Max doesn't always pay attention to the bike so he needs lots of reminding. He is starting to pick up the pace though - he's been clocked at 9 miles an hour (for a very short period of time); Occasionally my Dad takes both the dogs at the same time; crazy - huh?

Our other weekend activities included a yard sale of a woman who used to run a scrapbook store (I bought 3 albums for $15.50 - 2 of them are 12 x 12) and a bunch of other goodies. The finds even included some pink and brown items for Ami's Bridal Shower album (Rox & Ami - I picked up some for you too). We also made a trip to Syracuse to purchase new running shoes. There is a store out here called Fleet Feet where my Dad gets all of his running sneakers. They actually take the time to measure you and make you walk and run so they can see how your feet work. Then they bring out sneakers that they think will work best for you. I couldn't believe the difference. I chose a pair of Brooks - and I really love them. I ran with them last night and they seemed to make a difference in my stride. Maybe they will help in my next race.

I was happy to sleep in a little yesterday. The new job has me up at 5:45 a.m. every day. I'm not really a morning person, so this is a challenge for me. Actually, the real challenge is going to bed earlier. I hope everyone had a great weekend. More tomorrow...I have a lunch date!

Cousins

In June my cousin, Tim, and his family were in Boston for a few days. I was back in Acton packing up my things and was able to spend a couple of days with them. They live so far away, and it nice to see them whenever they are in the Northeast. On the first day we visited the Aquarium - I hadn't been there is such a long time. It's so fun to go there with kids. The second day I met them bright and early and we spent the whole day seeing the sights. We took the trolley (I felt like such a tourist), but mostly walked. We went to the USS Consitution, which the kids loved. The first picture is of Mary and Todd. They really are the best kids around. Mary will be 14 in September (I can't believe it) and since I'm her Godmother I always try to spoil her. Todd will be 13 in December. He's become such a little man. He is such a delight to talk to.

We also visited the Bunker Hill Monument; which I had never been to even though I worked in Charlestown for two years. A warning: don't climb to the top of the monument if you are planning on moving for the next two days! I had the sorest legs I've ever had. I thought it was just me being out of shape, but then my cousin mentioned to me that everyones legs hurt the next day. I love this picture of Mary sitting in one of the windows at the top of the monument. I'm going to frame this for my office.

At the end of the day we found some water to play in. The kids immediately took of their shoes and did a little running around. We finished with dinner at Legal Seafood - one of my all time favorites and a treat to share it with the Lincolns. I'm hoping to get down to visit the girls in Alabama this year - it's just too much fun to spoil them.