Frag'n Friday

Another edition of emtying my brain out...

*I failed NaBloPoMa. I tried. I really really tried, but I missed posting yesterday. Yeah, it had something to do with wine, tears and brain overload. Not necessarily in that particular order. I am still going to try to post every day for the rest of November, though.

*It feels good to get back to writing. I even started writing my Christmas letter the other day. Don't let me put you all to shame....

*There were some fabulous news stories I found on FB tonight.

-One was about the SF batkid. Make A Wish is the best non-profit. My nephew was able to take a cruise through Alaska with them and our good friend Brad was able to go to Normandy last fall.

-Also, the Tufts lacrosse team signed a 7 year old who is battling cancer to their team this year. Such a cute story and so glad that many college teams are "adopting" these kids.

-I love the MBTA tweets of the week. The MBTA is Boston's t system. It's funny what people tweet about and BostInno puts together the best top 10 MBTA tweets of the week on Friday.

*Of course I have a Kindergarten comment. Today, my little buddy J was talking about Toys R'Us. He calls it, "Toys and Us".

*I have taken a few senior pictures this fall, but nothing compares to taking them today. I took a friend of mine's son. He has some special needs and was adorable. I think I got a few that do him justice. All I know is he kept wondering why K wasn't there with me. (She is best friends with his sister).

*K is in a play this weekend at her High School. The play is a reading type play about how women have affected and fought for peace since 1916. It was fascinating to go back in history and learn of these brave and powerful women.

*K has to do a report for History class and she drew Black Friday as a topic. We both thought it had to do with the day after Thanksgiving shopping which we both love. Hmmm, we were very wrong.

*It seems weird to not include a picture in my Friday Fragments (or any post for that matter). Just for you I have included one of B and my snap chats. I much prefer texting my friends because I don't necessarily like looking at pictures of myself 100 times a day, but I like being included in hers.

Yes, she is much better at it than I am :)

*Happy Weekend!!

Frag'n Friday

I love Fridays because I can be completely random....

*A friend of mine just posted on Facebook that she was going to a restaurant by herself for dinner. This is one thing that amazes me. I have a hard time going out and eating my myself. Let me rephrase that, it paralyzes me to think of going out to eat by myself. And yes, I have done it, but only for breakfast or lunch, never dinner. Are you ok with going out alone?

*My sister and my niece started potty boot camp today (you know, for my niece, not my sister. She's been trained for awhile now). The diaper fairy came last night and took away all the diapers.

And left the bathroom set up, I guess. Who else has the choice of 2 potties, reading material, stickers and toys in the bathroom?

*I cannot tell you how happy, happy, happy I am that we have a 3 day weekend this weekend. Please thank a veteran. I know I will!!

*Found this on my frenemy, Pinterest, the other day and really liked it.

*One month in the new house and it is getting almost put together. I am hoping to take advantage of some time this weekend to hang some pictures and change some sheets. I know, I know, big goals, but I have got to start somewhere!

*Movie rental suggestion for the weekend? Watch The Heat. It is so flippin' funny!!!!

Frag'n Friday

TGIF because I have a lot of random things to say. I was looking at the photos I have taken in the past week or so on my phone and it was a treasure trove of randomness. See for yourself...

*Dairy Queen in Yarmouth this week. Hats off to the clever employee who came up with this sign. It sure turned a lot of heads!!

*One of my teacher colleagues is having a baby in August (but I think July). Another teacher made her this diaper cake and inside it was even more treasures!! I know what she can do in her retirement!!

*I guess there is an unwritten rule in my house about cutting brownies; you start at the side. Evidently, with boys, it is every man for himself and if you want the best brownie, you go right for it.

*Thanks to an article in Real Simple this month: 

*2 towns are building a new High School and combining districts. All the students and staff got to sign the top beam of the building last week!

*I started seeing a lot of bubble wrap around the classroom in the past month. I couldn't figure out why until I saw this....

One of the girls would bring her banana to school wrapped in bubble wrap so it wouldn't get bruised in her backpack.

*School ended Tuesday and summer school begins on Monday. I am looking forward to seeing the look on one particular student's face when I wear this t-shirt. I have been drawing "the turtles" for him for a few months now at school. They are his latest love.

*The tradition at our elementary school is for all the teachers to come out of the building on the last day and wave to the kids as they leave on the buses. The buses even do an extra lap with horn honking and fan fair. This was my first year participating and I think I heard a collective, "phew" from the teachers when the last bus was out of sight.

*Have a great weekend!!

Frag'n Friday

Lots of bits and pieces for a very rainy Friday...

Love Mrs. 4444's new button!!!



*I can't believe it is Memorial Day weekend already. The streets are already starting to get busy with traffic which ultimately says, "summer is here".

*I love Kindergarten. Case in point:

 Translation: What is your favorite food? Corn on the cob, don't forget the butter!

*I know the best family to stay with your kids when you go away (without them, yes, I went away without my sidekicks for 2 nights!!). The Hines family showed up last Friday with a box of Sharpies, a box of nail polish and a bunch of waxing strips. Kurt is an artist and drew tattoos on everyone and then waxed every one's eyebrows. The girls were in Heaven!!

*This is my favorite bridge in the world. It leads to Maine.

*Here is a picture of me on the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, ME which just so happens to be my favorite place in the world.

Why do I look so damn happy in this picture? Because I am in love with the person taking it.

To be continued....

Frag'n Fridays

This issue of Friday Fragments is dedicated to Kelly who told me she loved FFs the other night and I didn't even know she read my blog.

*The 5 year old that I mostly work with at school said,
"I don't feel good."
I said, "Where don't you feel well?"
And he said, "In my feelings."
Love that kid.

*April vacation starts in 6 or so hours. Ahhhhhhhhhh......
Although, B is going to Florida on Monday and K is going on Thursday and I am left here. This would be more enjoyable if the weather here was like last April vacation when it was so warm I went to the BEACH!

*In art class the other day, the teacher asked the kids to draw flowers in a vase in Sharpie and then watercolor them. One of the boys drew dead flowers in a vase.

*We love Duck Dynasty in this house. B thought wearing this vest while watching the show might make it more authentic.

*This made me think of my friends Elizabeth and Debbie who live in Pencilvania. Thank-you second grade.

*Flat Sue is living the life in California right now. She had lunch with famous blogger and actress, Lisa Arch, yesterday.

You can follow the adventures of Flat Sue on twitter at @FlatSue or on Facebook. Also, Melisa who is traveling with Flat Sue right now is posting pictures on Instagram @melisalw. Of course, I will keep you posted here.

*Have a wonderful weekend! :)

Frag'n Friday

Let's catch up from the week, shall we?

*K now has a bright pink cast on her thumb. This has proven a few problems with showering, putting on make-up and writing, but she's being a good sport about it.

*B sang in a school talent show and of course I have to share it with you....





*We had a 2 hour delay today on the second day of spring. 7 inches of the white stuff fell over night. It was like a cruel joke looking out my window this morning. I will say that it was pretty and a lot of it melted in the balmy 37 temps by the time I got out of school this afternoon.

*I finally got my car back today from the accident 2 weeks ago. It looks great on the outside, but on the inside it looks FANTASTIC! The auto body shop detailed it. Holy crap, it almost makes me want to have body work done on my car every 6 months or so just so they will clean the inside!!! I may not let anyone into it for a week!

*I admitted on facebook that I bought hummus for the first time the other day. This was a big step for me. Since September, my two teacher friends force me to eat it every day at snack time and I decided that I liked it and should probably buy it for myself! A friend of mine sent me this on FB.

Yup, she's got me pegged.

*I am in a college basketball pool which is hysterical because I am not really a fan of basketball (playing it, watching it, breathing it....). My top 8 are still alive. Don't ask me my strategy, I didn't have one. We will see how far that gets me.

Happy Weekend!

Frag'n Friday

Perfect day for a Fragment Friday.

*We are getting a bit of a storm tonight and tomorrow. Maybe you have heard about it? Stormtopia.com put up a great picture of our friendly storm, Nemo.

*My sister braved the wind and went down to the Lighthouse and snapped a picture of the storm flags.

Me, I have been using every appliance that uses electricity before the power goes out. I have baked brownies, made pot roast, done the dishes, still (always) doing laundry.... Of course, it is still just snow/raining here. We had a half day of school and the Governor has said that there shall be no driving after 4:00. Obviously, he is in Boston because he may not have made that severe of a rule if he were down here. Guess I better return kids to their proper homes and pick up one of mine before 4 :)

*We had a busy weekend planned with a swim meet and a music concert, but they have all been canceled. Now there will be plenty of time for sledding as long as the no driving ban gets lifted before the snow all melts.

*I have a few cracks in my thumb and fingers from washing my hands so much. At school, a kid sneezes on me, I wash my hands. I finger paint in art, I wash my hands. Someone looks at me, I wash my hands. I might bleed Purel at this point.

So these cracks are more painful than childbirth. How can something so small be so painful? I cringe when I have to tie a shoe, open some one's snack, zip a jacket or reach to grab something. It's so stupid that it is so painful. I may just soak my hands in lotion all day tomorrow.

*My brother lives outside of Boston and could be slammed with more than 2 feet of snow. The man (haha, I wanted to write "boy") loves his landscaping tools and his snowplow more than the average man. This was our exchange earlier today....

I have no doubt that he was waxing and polishing it last night and the reason his neighbors will be excited is that he gets so overzealous, he plows them all out, too!!! I wish he lived next door to me!

*Stay tuned.... I am sure that I will have some storm updates and pictures as the weekend goes on! If you are in the path of this cute little fish, I mean very scary storm, BE SAFE!!

Frag'n Friday

As it gets closer to Christmas, the thoughts get more fragmented. Think it is just me? Nope, go check out the others.....

*Today is the last day of writing every day in November. You could say I failed at that, but I tend to look at the glass half full. I have written 19 days which is more than half of what I usually write in November. Congrats to the people that actually wrote every day. I bow to you.

*Thanksgiving was fun and we had 16 people at our table(s). My cousin came down from Boston and the girls couldn't have been happier! They could all be sisters!

*My aunt sent this onesie for my nephew Fin. Perfect right?

*Chatham Bars Inn always invites the elementary school for Thanksgiving "dinner"/lunch. For some(haha, MOST) of the kids, this is their only experience in a high end establishment. I got to partake this year which was much more delicious than being one of the parent's taking pictures. (Parents do not get to eat). This is the view as the kids get off the bus....

And this is the view heading toward the bus.

                                     

Not too shabby, right?

*Update on K's headache that will never quit? Went to Children's Hospital in Boston and they ruled out anything drastic. They are calling it migraines, but my mother's gut is telling me to keep searching for a different answer. Next up, chiropractor and ENT, with potential allergy test.

*I was getting dirty looks writing out my Christmas card envelopes last night at the pool. Then I came home and one of my Facebook friends had spent the night wrapping and posted this picture...

She had better have a lot of family overseas where they need to send things out early!!

*Hopefully some decorating will get done this weekend! Do you have any plans?

Frag'n Friday

*Thanksgiving is next week. The crazy thing about that is that Christmas will be here about 24 hours later! Time really seems to pass quickly in November and December and then change to slow motion for January and February. Anyone else feel this way?

*K still has a headache. Poor little girl. MRI next week.

* B's birthday is coming up soon. hollaaaa! Love ~ B ;)

*So funny, I didn't know she wrote that because I left the page open for a few hours, while I did housework and dinner. Here's a pic of her stuck to a bush from earlier today. Of course, I had to take a picture first before I wrestled her free.

*My nephew J's Birthday is tomorrow and I will be writing a post about him tomorrow, per his request.

*I went back in my online pictures and this is a picture I took on this date in 2005. K and her horse, Clint. She was 8 back then, love it!

*And a shout out to a very special girl who I consider my niece even though (technically) she is not; Happy Birthday JR!!! You are a beautiful, smart, lovable girl whom I am so blessed to be able to love and see all the time. (I know you are 12 now, but this is a really cute picture of you when you were 6).

*What are we going to do without Twinkies? I cannot tell you the last time I had one, but just knowing that there will be a big Hostess hole on my shelves in the grocery store, makes me a little sad. 

*Have some Hostess products and have a good weekend!!

Frag'n Friday

Welcome to the last Friday of the school year. 3 1/2 days and counting!!! Yes, Midwesterners, we are still in school..... Go check out Mrs. 4444's for random thoughts from lots of good people.

*Bear news: The bear was taken off the Cape earlier this week and relocated to Central Mass. I hope he finds lots of girl bears there. The reason they wound up taking him off Cape was not because he was causing any trouble, but too many people were trying to get a glimpse of him! Celebrity Stalkers!

*This is a YOLO (you only live once) face, if you wanted to know. This is what happens after you do a project for school of how to make and eat crepes and you've had just a little too much sugar and there is a swim bag laying around.....

*Just want you to know how classy I am. I needed another table for P's party last weekend, so I used 2 saw horses and an old shower door. Maybe I should just call myself creative? And yes, I put a lovely table cloth on it, voila!

*I was watching the news this morning and listening to how many millions of dollars Obama and Romney made in fundraising dinners just last night. Is it just me, or do you think it is a little silly to raise all this money for a campaign where the money could go to much better use in so many other places?

*Chatham celebrated it's official 300th Birthday on Monday (there are 300 days of things to do, so you haven't technically missed all of them). There was a lovely ceremony at the band stand and later in the afternoon they opened a time capsule that had been "buried" 50 years ago at the 250th celebration. It was funny how unexciting the stuff in it was. There were a lot of names of people in different groups around town, a plate celebrating the 250th birthday, a recording of a meeting, and a picture of a bunch of men in beards. In my eyes, the best things were a 4 cent stamp and a map of Chatham from 1962.

A new time capsule was filled with much more exciting stuff like photographs, menus from restaurants, church bulletins, information about fishing, books, an iphone and a guest book that everyone at the event signed. In 50 years, I can go to the next celebration and say, "I was there!", see there is my name.

This man did a re-creation speaking as if he were the first Chatham settler, William Nickerson. Fantastic!

*In exciting family news..... the high school had a night of excellence the other day( um, night). We knew ahead of time that K and P were getting an award. It was very exciting and a proud moment for me, but the real kicker was when K got the Blue and White award. Basically, the teachers picked a good for the school, good grades, all around good kid in each grade to win this award and they picked K!!!! She received a paper signed by our state representative and a gift card to Amazon! The look on her face was priceless! Total surprise and my faced mirrored hers!

*Phew! That was a lot to get off my mind! Hope you have a great weekend!

Frag'n Friday

Fridays are perfect for fragments!! Just ask Mrs. 4444s!

*Perhaps you have seen our Cape Cod Bear on National News! Last night with Diane Sawyer and today on Good Morning America! Want a peak, check it out! The twitter feeds are hysterical. If you watch the video, you will notice the absence of the canal that the bear swam across on the map. Who edits these things? Also at about a minute into the feed, you will see a familiar site; my brother in law's boat which is also my header! Cool, right?! Can I stretch it and say that my blog was sort of on GMA today?

*It's graduation weekend around these parts! We are going to a graduation party tomorrow for a friend of ours that is going to UMass in the fall. I figured he would get plenty of cash, so I went with something different. I bought a UMass t-shirt and a throw pillow and sewed the t-shirt over the pillow. Too cute!

*I know I haven't gone on and on about my garden lately, but it is looking quite nice! Remember before:

Here is the latest:

Blooming flowers, planted by me! Seriously, I never thought I would get excited about this. EVER! And yes, I know I need some more mulch.

*1 1/2 weeks until school is out. I know the girls cannot wait and I think it might be double for me!

*Happy Graduation Weekend to my Fantastic Nephew Sam!!!

*What are your weekend plans? Hope they are fun!