Category Archives family

Mistake of driveway proportions

A little over a week ago the boys and I were visiting my grandmother for lunch and an afternoon together. Mimi made fresh chicken soup with giant matzoh balls for them to gobble up. For a treat after she had gone to the local farmers market and bought fresh ears of corn. The boys LOVED this part as you will see.  

My two corn crazy kids

Toward the end of our visit my father called my cell phone. He wanted to tell me something interesting that had happened. He arrived home to find that the end of the driveway was blocked off so nobody could drive on it. When he got out of the car he saw that it had been sealed.

You are probably thinking to yourself  . . . "So what? People have that done all the time."

True, but the difference here is that my parents were not supposed to have this done!

When my father got to his front door there was an envelope with a bill inside. He looked at it closely. It was for 43 Grover Street and they live at 43 Big Bird Lane (obviously made up names – since we do not live on Sesame Street).

Ooops! Yes, someone clearly made a rather large mistake. The street signs are quite clear, so that was not an excuse. Plus when we went by the other house it is a shared driveway, so quite different actually.

My father put in a call to the company letting him know that they had made the mistake and that he was not paying for this since he did not have a contract. Sure, my parents were thinking of having it done soon, but it would have been done AFTER major repairs to their house were done so as not to be ruined by that.

The company must have been quite embarassed since they never called my parents back. For their sake it will hopefully serve as a lesson. 

Oh well, thank goodness they did a decent job and did not ruin my parent’s driveway.

TheAngelForever

 

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Croquet game anyone?

Several weeks ago Nana and Papa asked NHL what he wanted for his 5th birthday. Without missing a beat he quickly requested a croquet set.

Hmmmm. . . .  I immediately figured that he had no clue what he was talking about. I assumed that he was confusing crochet with croquet and was saying it wrong.

The joke was on me! This is what he was truly asking for: 

 

He described the game of croquet perfectly. I did a double take and asked him where he learned about it. Apparently he had seen an episode of Maggie and the Ferocious Beast and thought it looked like fun. So he put it in his little mind and when asked recalled it.

Sunday at his birthday party NHL received the croquet set from Nana and Papa. Yesterday Nana had the day off and we went to spend time with her. In the afternoon we went outside and let NHL some croquet.

I took all of the pieces out and got them ready. There were a lot items and I was amazed that NHL knew exactly what everything was called thanks to the show. The kid hungry to learn anything and everything he can, thank goodness kindergarten should help with his desire by teaching him how to read. 

Birthday gift request granted

Next NHL checked everything out. 

Checking the parts out

Then he set things up HIS way. Clearly, the wickets were way too close together, but who were we to stop his fun . . . . at least not right away. Please also note the extreme concentration with the tongue sticking out! 

Setting it up his way 

Hmmm. . . . perhaps too close?

Nana was finally able to convince NHL that by spacing them out it would be easier to play. 

Nana helps to space things out

NHL was not really interested in listening to us tell him how to play, so a lot of patience was needed. It will be interesting to see what happens next time we try to take out the set and use it at our house. 

Patience is the key with a 5 year old

Thank you Nana and Papa for the fun new croquet set!

TheAngelForever

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Mount Dinocake

As previously mentioned, NHL asked for a dinosaur and volcano cake for his birthday. We practiced making it with the giant cupcake pan and then made the real thing this weekend for his 5th birthday party with our family on Sunday.

Rather than tease you, I will play nice (this time) and reveal Mount Dinocake. . . . 

Mount Dinocake

Of course since it was a birthday party and we had lots of family over, so additional food was also prepared. JL and I stayed up late Friday and Saturday night making sure everything was made. The only items we did not do ourselves were the pizza, flat bread, hummus, and rolls. We made the vegetarian "meatballs" in sweet and sour sauce, peanut butter pasta with broccoli, edamame and red pepper, along with the cake/cupcakes and zucchini bread. Here they are for you to view: 

Party Food

This is all that remained of Mount Dinocake when everyone was finished.

The remnants of Mount Dinocake

NHL had a fabulous time playing and talking with everyone there for his 5th birthday. He loved the attention and posed for photos with a lot of our family. It was his idea since he wanted photos of everyone for his photo album. Below from top/left to bottom/right: NHL with (1) Aunt S and Uncle M, (2) Cousin B, (3) Uncle J, (4) Uncle M, (5) Mimi, and (6) Cousin H. 

The birthday boy with family

Between lunch and cake NHL opened his presents. He received fabulous gifts. Here are a few photos of him opening items. 

Opening presents

Meanwhile as he was opening his gifts all of the "kids" were playing and keeping busy (yes this included my two adult cousins). 

Play time during the party

Before we knew it the end of the party had arrived. NHL was quite sad to see Cousin B and Cousin H leave early. It was so cute to watchhim interact with B. He keeps talking about him and wants to know when he will see them again. For now he will have to settle with photos like this: 

My cousins

Then Bubbe and Grandpa left and eventually Uncle I, Aunt M and Cousin S. Here is Nana saying goodbtye for now to S. Next time we see her will be her first birthday in September. 

A Nana hug for the road

I am still in denial that I have a five year old son. Two weeks from today I take NHL to meet his kindergarten teacher. It truly does seem like he was an infant just yesterday. Where did my baby go?

TheAngelForever

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Five

To my big boy NHL,

Five years ago today you came into the world and changed my life forever. You made my dream of being a mommy come true. Daddy and I were so thrilled that you came into our lives and helped our family to grow. We spent hours just watching you sleep, playing with all of your new toys, and getting to know our new baby boy.

He grew so quickly

You and I spent the first year of your life together at home. We had so much fun. We would get up in the morning, have breakfast, snuggle for naps after Daddy went to work, take long walks, and play for hours while learning to love The Wiggles. We had so many adventures as you experienced many firsts right before my eyes. You even went with us as we found our first house and moved into our home. Right before your first birthday we started a tradition. Each year we would go with Papa and have your photo taken on the Merry-go-Round. Here is your first ever time on a horse.

2004

Soon after turning one you started to go to daycare because I went back to teaching. You loved the extra time that you had with Daddy. The two of your really started to bond. Our time at home at night and on the weekend was extra special. You always loved going to my classroom and playing with the desks there. Just before your second birthday, while visiting Uncle I and Aunt M you finally started to walk on your own. We were so proud of you and watched as you started to explore your world from a different point of view.

2005

You have always loved to read, talk and learn about everything and anything you see. If there was something in front of you, you always wanted to know what it was and how it worked. You learned to talk in sentences long before turning one and have not stopped. Daddy and I love to hear you tell us about everything that you do each day and know how you see things.

2006

Over the last year you have really blossomed so much. You went to nursery school, met new friends and most importantly became a big brother. You were the center of our universe for almost four years and it all changed when your litlte brother, JSL, was born last May. You made us so proud and quickly welcomed JSL into our family. It has been so much fun watching you show your little brother how everything works. He absolutely adores his big brother and I love watching both of you.

2007

This past week you said you did not want to turn five or become a grown up. I know it is hard to experience changes and new things are scary, but we will be by your side. You have a very exciting year ahead of you. In kindergarten you will learn to read. Soon you will be able to read books to us. JSL will love his big brother to read to him. Before we know it you will be writing letters to us, and typing us notes on the computer. We know that you are up to this challenge and will make us even more proud as you turn five, like you did the last five years of your life.

2008

You have grown so quickly right before my eyes. The little boy is completely gone and in his place is a big boy who is ready to start kindergarten in a few short weeks. Although I am sad about this, I know it has to happen. I may miss my little NHL, but I so look forward to watching you spread your wings and be all that you can be. NHL, please know that Mommy and Daddy are always here for you. There is nothing you have to hide from us and you can always tell us anything and everything. We will always be there for you, cheering you on, protecting you, and most of all loving you with all of our hearts.

Roar

Love,

Mommy

 

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