Spring Happenings

Katy passed the next belt test with flying colors! She is now a 'blue green' belt and continues to express interest in going all the way to getting her black belt. Here, she is with Sensei Bobby, who gave Katy her test.

We had a lovely Easter! Katy, Kirk and I went to Sky in Norwood for their fabulous brunch. Katy enjoyed a 'made to order' omlette! Her taste buds are gettting sophisticated! After brunch, we headed up to Waltham to spend Easter afternoon with the rest of the Cauchon clan. The triplets enjoyed lunch before going on an easter egg hunt (Jacques was the star of that show) and spending some time outside with their cousins. Pictures above are of : Alec, Justen (who was kind of mad b/c we woke him up from his nap) and Jacques (where did he get those curls)???

At the end of Katy's April vacation, Kirk had a conference in Boston, so we all returned to our old stomping grounds for an enjoyable overnight. After arriving on Friday morning, Katy and I set off for a shopping expedition through Copley Place Mall. We met up with Kirk in the early afternoon and took the T over to Cambridge for lunch at Mary Chung's, still serving the most amazing wonton soup in the world! Katy has developed a taste for this soup so we were raving about how Kirk use to get it for take out on Friday nights on his way home from Cambridge Hospital when we lived in Back Bay. Anyway...after a great lunch, we hit Harvard's Museum of Natural History, headed back into Boston for dinner at another favorite spot, Sonsie on Newbury Street. We had an interesting evening, as about a hour or so after we'd had 'lights out,' the hotel evacuated everyone due to a fire alarm going off . Without elevator use, we had to travel down 24 flights of stairs onto Huntington Ave. Whatever the reason (we never found out what really happened) the all clear was sounded, so we returned to our rooms within a half hour. Talk about a disorienting experience!

The next day, Katy and I embarked on walking the Freedom Trail. Twenty-six years of my living in Boston and I'd NEVER done this! It was totally Katy 's idea...influenced by the enthusiam of her Social Studies teacher, Mrs. Sheer. We made it through the Boston part (the Charleston part can take an entire additional afternoon), walking in what turned out to be a record high for the day of 90 something! Katy liked Paul Revere's house the best...and we both enjoyed stopping for lunch in the North End and then having pasteries at Mikes (we took boxes home for Kirk and us to enjoy).

With Katy's softball season staring in early May, our days this month have been filled with karate, chorus, softball and piano practicing. I had a lovely Mother's Day with breakfast in bed and dinner at Quan's Kitchen in North Attleboro, where they have yummy sushi, great 'comfort' Chinese food (homemade noodles) and pineapple Stoli! Kirk scored a beautiful Coach bag for me that I'd been coveting, and Katy gave me a Troll bead for my bracelet and a 'Best Mother Award' certificate she'd designed on her own. Unfortuntely, she also came down with strep over the weekend, so was not feeling great on Mother's Day and spent the next two days at home, letting the good drugs take hold.

The next few weeks promise to be filled, with Katy's chorus recital, numerous softball games (her team is undefeated and will most likely be in the playoffs in June again), my running National Scrapbook Day(s), our participation on the karate school's Relay for Life team, and the last day of school being June 23rd. Welcome Summer!

Katy's 11th Birthday Spa Sleep Over

Katy's 11th birthday party was a huge success! The girls really got along well and seemed to appreciate the spa atmosphere we created that evening. Between foot scrubs, facials, hair color, make-up and a bath salt craft, they were kept busy for a couple of hours. Wish I could say that the treatments relaxed them into falling asleep...as most of them were up until 4 am! But, I've been told that is a hallmark of a successful slumber party...so I won't complain.

We are now crossing over into the busiest time of year for Katy...between softball starting up, talent show and chorus rehersals, piano lessons and karate, she is a busy young lady! We were very proud of her as her grades came in over the weekend and she managed all As and Bs during a term that is historically not her best...and during a year that has been more challenging for her academically. Yay Kate!

Kirk's Birthday in NYC!

So I somehow managed to forget to publish this photo in the main blog about our NYC trip...don't you just love Katy's hat??? She bought it on the street and wore it 24/7 last weekend! This photo was taken at Kirk's birthday dinner at our favorite Times Square eatery: Ruby Foos. There is something about the decor (dark, asian artifacts) and the music (very eclectic...spanning several decades) and the food that all just works! Katy had amazing wonton soup...Kirk and I split a noodle dish and several sushi rolls...and a lettuce roll appetizer. Our waiter, Will, was great...and recommended an awesome dessert (chocolate bananna egg rolls with caramel and chocolate sauces...he also included Thai peanut sauce saying it was his favorite with this dish) and presented it with a candle. Anyway...figured this was a good pic for everyone to enjoy...

New York City!

We are settling back into our routine after spending 3 days in New York City. We took the train down on Thursday afternoon and arrived around 7p. Dinner was at the Carnegie Deli...a very quiet scene compared to what it is like at lunchtime! If I'd only had my camera to get a shot of the sandwich Kirk and I shared. And we had to have a slice of cheesecake...which all three of us polished off together! Saturday, Katy was very excited to go ice skating at Rockefeller Center. We were there at 8:30 that morning for the first session. After getting her 'skating legs back' after a 5 year absence, she had a blast. We also were excited to meet up with my college friend Allison and daughter Marin, who joined us on the ice.

After skating, we walked over to American Girl Place for some shopping with the girls, who had each brought their doll with them. First stop was hair styling...and ear piercing! Since some of the newer dolls come with pierced ears, the store is offering this service for older dolls...and Katy and Marin jumped at the chance! We had lunch reservations and enjoyed each other's company as we (and the dolls) enjoyed a leisurely meal.

After saying goodbye to Allison and Marin, Katy and I continued onto the Museum of Modern Art, which was only a block from our hotel! I was amazed at the number of famous paintings that were on the 5th floor alone...and thing Katy was a little impressed that her mom knew a good number of the artists and paintings without reading the descriptions! I love these two photos I shot...only wish I'd realized the flash had washed out much of the Cezanne (a print of which I use to have hanging in my classroom at BHS)!

Katy and Paul....

Katy and Jackson...

Friday night, we had tickets to see the musical Mamma Mia, which was such a treat! What a wonderful production! Anyone would love the show, but those of us who remember the Abba hits must marvel at how wonderfully the writers wove a story around so many of those songs! And yes, they had us dancing in our seats by the end of the show!

On Saturday morning, Katy and I took off for Times Square and some shopping, facing 20 degree weather and a cold windchill! We scored a couple of 'Coach' bags on a side street...so she had a mini Canal street experience. Alison dropped Marin off with us at noon and we went out to lunch with Kirk who had a break from his conference. Then, I headed up to the Natural History Museum with the girls, and we spent the afternoon looking at dinosaur bones and planetarium exhibits. Saturday was Kirk's birthday, so Katy and I celebrated with him at our favorite haunt, Ruby Foos, with sushi, Chinese food and yummy drinks. Sunday, Kirk had some time to walk with us around Times Square again after breakfast, and we headed out to Penn Station to take our train home. Altho exhausted...I felt like we really took good advantage of our visit to NYC and enjoyed ourselves despite the winter weather!

Merry Christmas to Friends and Family!

Christmas Eve Morning: We are all home relaxing before the big day, so decided to start a new Christmas tradition: Santa head pancakes! Yum! Kirk also made Popie's brown sugar bacon...more please!


Christmas Eve was spent with the Cauchons at Tom and Roxanne's house in Waltham. We got some great shots of all the Cauchon cousins together...and a nice family shot of Tom, Roxanne and the boys! We ate a great Italian style buffet, participated in a neat 'setting of intentions' ritual led by Roxanne, opened gifts and visited until almost 10pm. Then it was a hairy ride home through fog and rain as the temperatures around here soared, melting most of the blizzard snow from last weekend.

Christmas morning started at 6:45....ah, the days when we had to wake Katy up with loud Xmas music! We started with stockings and took the traditional 'Katy with her stocking' picture. One day...I'll put them side by side in an album! Thanks to all family who sent stocking stuffers...they were great!

Katy's annual 'grandparent gift' was a special one this year...a My Twin doll made especially to look like her. The annual gifts are one way I keep the memory of my parents alive for Katy.

Katy and Kirk just opened a family gift...the game of BUNKO!

Boy, was Katy surprised to receive her first 'Benjamin' from Popie! She just couldn't believe it! Thanks to Popie from all of us! We are sure that her gift will help us have some special times in New York City in January!

We carried on the tradition that Kirk started all those years ago...of Santa's Last gift. Kirk send Katy and I on quite a scavenger hunt, filled with riddles that kept Katy and I going from one end of the house to the other for some time! At the end, Katy got her Troll bead bracelet and Swarovski crystal cat. I had to open the garage door and was surprised by my very own Kayak!!! Kirk went through some maneuverings to get the kayak here and ready to surprise me...and man, was I surprised! Bets are on that I won't use it much....but I'm setting an intention right now to plan a few trips once the weather gets warmer here
Well, it is about noontime here in 45 degree Attleboro and the presents are opened and many surprises were had! I've posted some of the best pics...enjoy and hope to talk to many of you as the day goes on! Enjoy the warmth and peace of the day!

Ode to our 'Everlasting' Christmas Tree

Oh

much maligned tree

of plastic magnificence!

We resisted your

seductive call for years,

not wanting to give in.

Yet how many hours we have saved,

how many pine trees we have conserved,

how many more moments enjoyed since you were purchased?

Watching sturdy aluminium poles fit together,

pre-lit branches glow as plugs engage,

our tree goes into full splendor in less than an hour, ready for decoration.

No more hiding the 'hole' on the back,

no more messy waterings, only to have needles fall copiously and early.

Branches bend to accommodate the ornaments of our choice!

Your fragrance, no longer from freshly sawed trunk and branch,

now permeates the air from our terracotta dove filled with essential oils of evergreen.

Oh, why did we wait?

We love your warm glow, cast out into the night, high above Metacomett Drive, lighting the wintry air!

One Week Until Christmas...

...and I've been thinking a lot about traditions. So I've taken my trusty camera and tried to give you a snapshot of some of those traditions that seem to stand the test of time. This year marks the 10th anniversary of our friend Dot getting together with us to build gingerbread houses. We've tried 'em all...from cut outs to molds (which is what i used this year) to prefab from Michaels...to the one Dot found this year that was even already glued together! No matter what disasters we've encountered...we've always ended the afternoon with completed houses (sometimes held up by cans from the inside) and good memories of sharing time with Dot.

Of course, there is the North Pole village that we erect every year. We started our collection 10 years ago after moving into our house, fulfilling a dream Kirk had of having a Christmas village. In my day, I've carved styrofoam, come up with wiring schematics that let an entire village turn on with the flick of just one button, and combed the craft stores for all sorts of decorative materials. This year, we tried something new. Each of us chose one spot of the house to set up our village made up of houses we personally loved. Katy chose houses from Elf Land (a sub-set of the NP...can you imagine...), Kirk chose his favorite houses (mostly colorful one) and I put up my all time favorite, Route One North Pole...home to Mr. And Mrs Clause. Can you tell that I needed a break? LOL!

Another 10 year old tradition is the making of gift bags. The year Katy was born, we started making bags that contained a home made cookie mix in a jar, chocolate covered and decorated pretzel rods, a handmade ornament by Katy, and a little handmade gift from me. I was hoping to teach Katy how much fun and meaningful it can be to make gifts. We've continued the tradition all these years...the ornaments went from tempra painted wood stars (when she was 10 months old) to more complicated beaded icicles. I've now got friends who count on those cookie mixes to help in their holiday baking!

For many years, we've marked the 24 days before Christmas with a Playmobile Advent Calendar. They are so cute and detailed (my favorite was one of Santa's bakery, where you put together the kitchen and angels baking sheets of cookies...) and every year, we take all the pieces and put them in a special basket that Katy can play with the following year. She has set up some elaborate scenes for Santa in years past. We were saddened last year when we couldn't find one that had a Christmas theme (they released a pirate one for boys and a doll house for girls...no Christmas at all) but gladdened when we found our current calendar at a local Learning Express...with a Christmas in the Woods theme. What is it about these little plastic items that make them so irresistible?

When we moved our family Xmas tree upstairs to showcase in the large window over our new garage, I missed having a tree downstairs as I spend so little time upstairs. Fortunately, I found this skinny little rustic tree that year which is perfect in the kitchen. I decorated it with all stars and moon ornaments that I have collected through the years and the white lights keep me in peaceful company those dark, 5:30am mornings and shine out brightly as it gets dark now before 5p.

So it is a week until the big day...and we are in good shape. With nothing on our calendar, we designated Sunday as 'baking day' which is probably a good thing given the weather we are suppose to be having over the next 72 hours here in New England. So I went out shopping for everything we need for a cozy weekend together, punctuated by a few visits from friends. It seems so important to spend some time together enjoying all the preparations and decorations and traditions and I think we will be able to do just that during the days before Christmas.