Lilly pics

Lilly is my little budding photog. She took pictures throughout the trip. Here are a few of Jack.

Travel log - Day 4

Saturday we spent the day with Ed and his family. We went to the beach (again bone chilling weather) and then headed to plymouth rock.  Check out cute Sam in the hat I made him for Christmas.

 Here is the actual rock.  Ed and Lynn had warned us that it was underwhelming so I was not disappointed in the size at all. It was amazing to be there in the same spot that the pilgrims stood.  You can't see very well but 1620 is engraved on the rock. Amazing.

Travel log - Day 3

Friday we met up with Jim's brother Ed and his family at the New England Aquarium. 

 Then we walked the north end of Boston and followed a bit of the Freedom Trail.  Did I mention it was absolutely freezing??

Here we are in front of the Paul Revere statue right outside of the old north church, where the lanterns were hung to alert Paul Revere that the British were coming.

It was fascinationg to see all the historical spots in Boston. Sadly, too cold to venture out for very long.

Travel log - Day 2

On Thursday I took the kids to see Salem.

I have wanted to go to Salem for a very long time! 

It was absolutely freezing and apparently all the witch stuff is not appropriate for small children.  They were scared, but no hysterics. I am sure they are fine, no damage done.

 I then drove over to see The House of the Seven Gables.  As you can see from the picture Lilly has already adopted the surly teenager approach to sightseeing.

They were pretty worn out from the hour long witch tour, so we skipped the Nathaniel Hawthorne tours and just enjoyed the outside of the house.

Travel log - Day 1

Last week Jim had a conference in Boston and we got to tag along. We had a fantastic week!

We stayed at the Seaport hotel in Boston.

We had a fabulous view of the harbor and the art museum.

We arrived late Tuesday night.  On Wednesday we took a lovely nap and then I took Jack and Lilly to the children's museum.

It was a great childrens museum, lots of climbing and exploring.

Then we met up with Jim for dinner on the town, followed by swimming in the hotel pool. Great day.

Leopard Day

I had no idea that St. Patrick's day was a day where I had to actually do something.  Apparently, the leprechauns come to your house and leave stuff.

What?? That's a thing?

I have now learned that it is a thing. Leprechauns or "leopards/lepers" as Lilly calls them come to your house make a huge mess, turn furniture upside down, leave glitter, chocolate coins, necklaces, sometimes presents, turn milk green, water green.....do you get the point?

Sadly no leopards visited our house on the actual leprechaun day, but they were up until midnight last night sewing on a shamrock to a special shirt for Lilly because they couldn't find any at walmart.  They tried to sew on the word LUCK but they were sad to find out that they seriously lacked sewing skills, so they attempted a shamrock.  Then they made a cute matching hair accessory.

Lilly pointed out that the leopards "don't really sew the best" but that it was still acceptable.

They cut out little foot prints and left candy and pins.  They also made a big mess with my sewing stuff and my cricut machine.  Lilly told me that they probably didn't go into the other rooms in the house because they were too messy. Awesome.

I seriously can't believe that St. Patrick's Day is a thing.  Next year we are supposed to leave out the right kind of cookies so they come on the actual day.

In the end, Lilly was thrilled, jumping up and down screaming the "The leprechauns came!!!" (By that point she figured out how to say leprechaun and stopped referring to them as lepers.)

Luck of the Irish

I spent hours and hours making this stupid jello layer dessert.

I don't think I have the luck of the Irish.  I found the idea from my friends blog who found the idea from another blog.  I can assure you that mine does not look like hers:

source

So even though it took hours of my day, the colors bled together, it didn't really taste all that great, AND it looks nothing like the model picture (I lack the photography skills and the camera and apparently the jello stacking skills) ; Jim and Lilly loved it.

In the end that's all that really matters.

Happy St. Patrick's Day (tomorrow).  Kiss me I'm probably 1/16 Irish.

Answers

Here is the answer to that old question of "Where is Jack?"

Rain, rain, go away

We are up to our eyeballs in rain here in good ol' PA.  It's Friday, it's raining, and I am house-bound for the day.  All of the bedrooms in my house are clean. Right now. At the same time.  If you ever wanted to stop by unexpectedly today is the day to do it. Beds are made, floors are vacuumed, and everything is quasi-presentable.  Although, if you do stop by, don't think it weird that I make you look at the bedrooms. They are clean you know.

It is a good week for house work here at casa di pitcavage (I don't really know any spanish grammar, not sure if that is right, maybe a combination of italian and spanish??)

I am working this weekend...no grand plans for fun.  Just dreaming of this print for Jack's room from Sarah Jane Studios.


Source

Rain

It's raining and the snow is melting.

Last night the missionaries from our church showed up on my doorstep at 5:25PM.  I jokingly said "What, are you here for dinner?"  They (not joking) said "Yep."  Instead of playing it cool and pretending that I totally knew they were coming to my house for dinner I said "What?!? I was kidding."

Awkwardness ensued and I was just grateful we were all dressed and my house was in order. Even better I was already setting out the leftovers for dinner.

Some trickster signed me up to feed the missionaries without my knowing.

In the end it worked out. Everyone had dinner to eat and they tried to share a spiritual message while Jack did acrobatic tricks on the couch.

Snow Day

We woke up to a blanket of snow this morning.  School is cancelled and my babies were awake at 6:30 (ugh).  By 9:00 we were outside shoveling and playing and by 10:30 we were all completely exhausted with a full day ahead of us.

I took the week off from crafting and I am on the look out for a new project. Nothing is inspiring me lately.  I finished up this little pair of pants I made for Jack last night (I started them awhile ago).  I made them to match the sweater I made for Jack, only now I can't find the sweater.....

Will someone please come to my house and clean my child (and floor)?

7.1 Miles, Uphill both ways

Yesterday Jim and I completed the Humdinger race.  It was a 7.1mile trail race uphill both ways. No joke. It was a trail race through the 'hills' which felt more like serious mountains.  Steep climbing on hands and knees followed by sliding down on your rear end/knees to avoid breaking a limb.  Up to my knees in mud with my hands and legs bleeding it was a solid 2.5 hours of misery for me. Of course Jim finished a lot faster than I did and circled back to help me finish the last leg of the race which included a steep climb up a hill where some guy had to pull you up the rest of the way.

Let me address your questions:

Yes, it was ridiculous and yes I finished.


No, I will never do it again.

Yes, my legs feel like bricks today and it is difficult to walk/move at all.

 Yesterday was my birthday, It was a great birthday. In the morning my friend brought over a donut cake (pictured above).  Jim came home early from work and took care of the kids for me then we had a night out for dinner and shopping. Great time had by all.

Today I took the kids to play at my neighbors house and on our way home Jack started screaming.  Apparently he was attacked by wolverine (or more likely the branches scraped up his face as we walked home).  Poor Jack!