January Sledding - Live Footage

That is Kristen yelling "Weeeeee" while Paul & Brooke are pulling the sled up and down the driveway.

Winter Time Fun

We've had record snowfall for the month of January in CT and we are expecting more later this week - oh joy !! On more than one morning, we've been awakened by the joyful squeals of Brooke announcing "it snowed last night - let's go sledding"

Bundled Up

 Ready to Ride

 The girls share a sled ride

At first, the girls were impressed by the whole snowman, sledding, snow angel thing but even the novelty has worn off for them.  It takes me longer to get them dressed in their snow gear than we last outside.  I have cheap winter boots - they leak, they lack insulation and the flipping zippers are always getting jammed.  We don't normally get a lot of snow, so they have served their purpose and not warranted a more sizeable investment.  This Winter The Snow Gods are doubled over laughing at me.  So today, after shoveling for a mere 15 minutes,  I came in with frozen toes.  The Snow Gods win - - - I ordered new, expensive boots.  I am sure I have seen the last sizeable, boots needed snow for the season. 

All you people who are sick and tired of the snowy weather can thank me - I took one for the team!!!!

365 Project

When I grow up, I want to take pictures .... really good pictures.  For now I am happy with my point and shoot camera (thanks for the recommendation Mark Burbidge) and the pictures I snap of our everyday life. Since I need to save for the more sophisticated camera and have the time to devote to learning how to use it I decided that I was going to attempt a "365 Project" this year as sort of a warm up.  What's a 365 Project you ask?

A 365 Project is a photography project where you take 1 photo each day for a year on a subject of your choosing and share it with the world.

I'm a little worried that I'm going to forget one day ... so if you see me in person or virtually, ask me what I've photographed that day.

You can follow my project here http://365project.org/hromanski/365

Here's two that didn't make the cut .....

Yup, I've got lots of room for improvement .......

Christmas 2010 Memories

Now that all the chaos of Christmas has passed I'm finally finding time to post some photos from the Holidays.  Brooke was so excited to see Santa at the mall.  As we got closer to the spot she was filled with anticipation but visibly distressed when we rounded a corner and she didn't see him.  "Mom, I don't see a man in a red suit anywhere ..."  Thankfully we spotted him after taking a few more steps.  She was so proud to tell Santa she only hoped to get a new sketch pad on Christmas Morning.  Santa came through.

Santa Claus also made an appearance at Miss Carol's Daycare.  The kids returned from playing down the hall to discover him waiting in the living room.  Love the looks on their little faces.

Brooke was so happy to be on Santa's lap again and this time getting an early present.

Kristen, well let's just say this wasn't her year for Santa Claus

Dancing with the Stars ????

Paul has a favorite Backyardigans episode, the one where they Polka ..... we have affectionately named it "The Redneck Polka", since underneath it all, we really are just a bunch of Rednecks in this house.

For your viewing pleasure, I present live footage from a July evening when Daddy and Brooke danced along with the TV and Kristen watched.

*** Disclaimer: 1) Yes, he knows I posted this and sort gave his expressed permission.  2) This was previously only available on my Facebook page and was loaded here on Romanskiville by request (seriously - people wanted to see it here)

For every thing there is a season

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance ........ a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace" Ecclesiastes 3:1-8


I purposely didn't post here on Jan 1 ....  I've been thinking seriously about New Years Resolutions for 2011 the last few weeks and every time I thought about them, I got a little discouraged.  You see it takes me all of about 2.8 seconds (OK, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration) but within a few weeks of the "New Year" I've faltered or stopped all together, you know the eating healthy, the exercising, the doing this or not doing that.  The list is too long to be practical and it leaves me feeling discouraged and disappointed. I'm not doing it again ...

Don't get me wrong, I was excited about a New Year, 2010 was exhausting for us, physically and mentally.  I was ready to be able to draw that proverbial "line in the sand" and start fresh but I needed to approach it differently then in the past.

January 1, 2011 was a good day.

We spent time with close friends and with each other.  We did chores and we played.  It was not over planned, over scheduled, or over stressed ...... it was calm, peaceful and balanced.  It was SO GOOD.

Brooke & Daddy & Frosty the Snowman

This year, 2011, is going to be all about a "new normal." Where clean dishes out the dishwasher and clean laundry out of the basket is OK, a year where I'm going to embrace "One day at a time" and "Just keep swimming", where balance is going to be paramount ...... and rather than resolutions its going to be about recognizing when it is time - - time to plant, heal, build, laugh, cry, give up, be silent, speak, love, fight, and be at peace. 
 
We'll see how it goes .......

Two of the Most Exceptional People I Know

On Saturday, November 27, we honored my parents at a surprise retirement party at the Groton Inn & Suites. It was the perfect celebration to honor them.  After 40 years of marriage and long and successful careers they are now getting ready to hit the open road and start "living the dream!"

I ended the formal part of the evening with the following tribute:

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I was going to say to all of you tonight about our parents. There is so much that could be said, they truly are 2 of the most exceptional people I know. I could talk about when my Mom first brought my Dad to a family gathering at her house and how her Mother was slightly annoyed. I could talk about my Dad’s tour of duty in the Army or my Mom having the distinction of being the first woman on an ambulance crew in Mystic. I could go on about how my dad worked all day long and then went to school at night to get his Associates’ Degree. I could talk about how while that was difficult for him to juggle and balance, that the person who sacrificed just as much if not more during that time was my Mom. While all that is quite impressive, it just didn’t seem like it was enough.

A few nights ago, I asked my husband what I should say about my parents here tonight. He barely thought before he answered simply “they always put everyone else first” - - - He was exactly right – whether it was coaching a team, leading a troop, devoting countless hours to the North Stonington Ambulance Association, teaching the babysitter course, acting as the Chairman of the School Building Committee, they always seemed to find the time when no one else did. Their lives have been committed to service.

I think if you asked my parents what their biggest accomplishment is, what the one thing they are most proud of is they wouldn’t mention any of those achievements I listed. I think they would say it was their family. They taught us to be honest, trust-worthy, generous, and thoughtful. To help out when you can, in whatever way you can. We learned by example that if you worked hard and did your best good things will come to you. My parents believe that a family is, above all other things, loyal to each other. A family supports each other in good times and during the struggles, that is what has been instilled in us.

My sister and I attend a church where every week the service starts with the proclamation “Whoever you are and where ever you are on life’s journey you are always welcome here.” That could easily be painted on a plaque and hung on the wall at 11 Mains Crossing Rd because that was the way my parents built their house - the house that built Heather, Heidi and David and all the other friends and family that were welcomed inside those walls.

I speak for our family when I say that we are privileged to call these two people Mom and Dad. Please join us in congratulating them on their distinguished careers and 40 years of marriage.