Whoopie !!!!

Brooke and Daddy love Whoopie Pies.  For Christmas, Santa left them a Whoopie Pie mix complete with sprinkles.  We took advantage of a snowy Saturday Morning and baked them up. Brooke was so excited.

After baking in our PJ's, Brooke got all decked out for the tasting party.

They were delicious!!

Snow Days

Winter was slow to arrive here in Southeastern CT.  Last week, things changed.  Snow overnight brought a 2 hour delay on Tuesday. A 2 hour delay in Morning Kindergarten means you don't go.  Off Brooke went to Jeanne's house - snowpants in hand.  They had great fun playing outside.  They read the book Sadie and the Snowman and then made the characters in the snow!!!

Saturday brought the much anticpated 3-6 inches that actually ended up being more like 10 .... we dressed everyone up and headed out.  Kristen couldn't pick up her feet to walk it was so deep.  I grabbed the sled and settled her in.  She loved it ... NOT!

This might have been right before she said "May I please be excused?" 

When Brooke joined in the fun she seemed to enjoy it more!!  We ran up and down the driveway and they took turns pulling each other.

 Today at school - Kristen was an old pro. Good thing I was finally able to locate her "Snowman Pants" late Friday night. Talk about just in time!

I'm back

Dear Romanskiville Blog,
I know it seems as though I have deserted you and, frankly, at times I have.  I love creating funny and clever blog entries and would do it for a living if I could. I let 2011 and all that came with it -- clutter, chaos, the anguish of losing our beloved Storm (no, we aren't over it), transition to a new routine, school, uniforms and weekday dance class swallow me up.  As the year wore on, I was more and more consumed by work and home ... and potty training (yup, still fighting that battle too.) Then the holidays arrived and Paul's hours increased - exponentially.  We grew tired and frustrated and started to count the days til Christmas would pass all the while putting on a brave face for the girls.  The girls LOVED Christmas so we seemed to do ok there. I bought more then 85% of my gifts online or in stores like Kohl's, Target and Walmart that are open til midnight or 24 hours. I was still shopping on December 23.

We declined multiple invitations. That hurt feelings and caused disappointment. I felt guilty and some saw fit to add to that guilt.  Then there were those who "got it" ... the ones who put their arm around you and said "you can only do so much" ..... the people who reminded you that Christmas is for enjoying your kids and the wonder and excitement that seeps from their pores ... the people with grown children who sympathetically told you "it won't always be like this" We are so fortunate to be blessed with so many more of the people who provide support and encouragement in our lives.

I read my 2011 New Year's blog post again the other night -- I talked about 2011 being all about learning a "new normal" ... I realized as I re-read that post that learning and accepting are not the same.  I did learn that new normal, but I did not accept it.  On the outside I played it like I was all "good" .... inside not so much.  I'm not telling you anything you didn't already know -- keeping up a charade like that is exhausting.  By December, I wasn't even really able to pretend anymore, it became glaringly evident when a colleague said to me "Oh Heather, you sound so weary."

I'm so thankful for every single person - friend, family member, co-worker who helped pull me thru December 2011. I appreciated every phone call, email, conversation, errand and babysitter. 2012 has started off better.  Paul is still working long days but most nights is home by 8:30. I have better control of the evening routine. I'm excited about all we have planned for our family this year. The girls are healthy.  I've come to terms with the fact that what works for us will not make 100% of the people in our lives happy and I'm ok with that- I really, really am.  I accept my new normal.

So Romanskiville Blog and Followers, watch out - - I missed you and all the smiles that you bring me. I'm back and I promise to be more committed.  The residents of Red Neck Blvd have big plans and we hope you'll join us for the adventure.

Where does the time go?

Thursday is Thanksgiving ..... THANKSGIVING .... how did that HAPPEN?

We made it through Halloween, Parent Teacher Conferences and budgets .... budgets are literally the WORST part of my job, but Yahoo, the most time consuming part of them is done.  Just in time too, I have bronchitis and it seriously is taking the wind out of my sails. I am very much looking forward to 4 days off and hopefully getting some rest.

In 2009, I wrote the following Thanksgiving Post on Romanskiville.  It might be my all time favorite, I am thankful and I smiled when I re-read it again this week.

I'd like to think that I am the type of person who is thankful everyday for something, but I find myself particularly reflective around Thanksgiving.  My Tetlow Grandparents had a November Wedding Anniversary and that Grandmother died the day before Thanksgiving in 2000.  They were married over 50 years and their house was the hub of family gatherings and Holiday dinners.  At times it was utter chaos.  Thanksgiving dinners have changed since then  - the menu is largely the same but the guests are fewer.  We all gather on Mains Crossing, Mom and Dad prepare and cook the entire spread.  I bring the wine and Heidi brings the desserts and in 2005 ... we added in the first grandchild and the babies continued to arrive.  It is a quieter, more relaxed gathering then those of my childhood but frankly, in my mind, it is just perfect.   We are together sharing some of the most delicious food and some of the heartiest laughter and yes at some point every dozes off on a couch.

I love Thanksgiving, I mean what isn't to like about a holiday where the main event is all about food!  I love Christmas for the wonder and excitement on the kids faces, Easter for reminding me that Spring and sunshine are on the way but Thanksgiving feels like less pressure (maybe because I'm not thawing and basting a turkey for 3 days) and allows me to really appreciate all the blessings in my life.

There are so many blessings in my life and I am thankful, so very, very thankful ~

I'm a PC ....

"I'm a Mac and I'm a PC" .... most of us have seen the commercials produced by Apple.  The theme of those commercials is Macs are easy to use ... for anyone .... and they just "work".  They imply the same cannot be said for a PC.  I am painfully aware of this since I spent Wednesday in the office working with the desktop team in an effort to get my "new" laptop from July up and running again.  I have never been one much for Macs .... it might stem from days at the Helpdesk where we routinely got trouble tickets for them. I hated troubleshooting issues on them - at the time they didn't make sense to me.

Then came the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iMac and the iPad... all the brain child of Steve Jobs.  I have 2 iPods and an iPad .... all of which I won. Lucky me!

I have to admit I can't remember when I "knew" who Steve Jobs was.  I think it was probably when his illness was made public.  It is no secret, Steve Jobs had pancreatic cancer.  It is also no secret that raising funds for cancer research is near and dear to my heart.  For years, I volunteered on the planning committee for our local Relay For Life and was the captain of a team.  Brooke and Kristen were pushed or carried around the track before their first birthday and over our years of involvement, our team raised in excess of $15,000 dollars.

As Apple and Steve gained more and more popularity ... I figured out how to use my iPod and iTunes.   My sister and brother in law got iPhones, my cousins got iPhones and then Macbooks.  Then my Aunt ..... and then I won my iPad.   And then I fell in LOVE with my iPad.  We take it on plane trips or long car rides.  The girls can use it without any help.    Hmmm, maybe this Jobs guy WAS onto something.  I mean my Dad retired and got himself an iPhone and he can use it.  Even if he did buy an iPhone after I spent 35 min on the phone telling him why he should go with the Droid, I hate to say it, but I think he made the right choice.  I need to replace my phone and I'm considering an iPhone. 

I'm not ready to dump my IBM Laptop anytime soon .... I mean I did just get a brand new one Wednesday and, so far, it is working great.  So, I'd still say "I'm a PC" ...... but now add with Mac tendencies. The vision and brilliance of Steve Jobs is responsible for that shift for me and SO many others.

The passing of Steve Jobs reminds me that life is precious and unpredictable. That you can have plenty of money, be a technological genius, in your 50's, and have incredible determination yet your life can still be taken too soon.  It reminds me that we still have so much work to do in the research for a cure.  Hug your kids a little tighter, kiss your spouse and tell them you love them, don't sweat the small stuff, oh and don't forget to charge your iPhone!

Kindergarten 101

It is a little hard to keep up with things around Romanskiville these days.  Packing bags for daycare, school, making dinner, getting to dance class and oh yeah, there's WORK !!! Brooke starting school was actually a really good thing for us.  It totally "up'd the ante" on time management and being religious about an evening routine.  We seemed to be firing on all cylinders until last week ....

Monday was school picture day.  I reviewed, completed and included payment made out to Lifetouch as the instructions stated.  Brooke choose to wear a navy jumper and not the tan, I even ironed her little cotton light blue blouse ... I HATE ironing ... but she looked adorable with her little lace ruffled socks and school shoes.  I reminded Brooke that she had an order from in her backpack and to remember to take it when it was time.  She asked if she could wear the new shirt she received for her birthday from Aunt Judy a few days earlier and I reminded her it was a school day and she needed to wear a uniform.  Off she went.  Later that day I arrived at daycare to pick her up.  I asked how pictures went and she says "All the other kids had on different clothes" ..... "CRAP " I thought .... I knew that I should have asked someone.  She had already been written up on the 3rd day of school for wearing sandals ... how was I supposed to know? She is in Kindergarten and she is my "first" ... the paperwork said nothing about deviating from the dress code and there had been the issue with the sandals ....

Tuesday night while I am emptying her backpack I find a notice from the Cafeteria that she owes a $1.00 .... how can she owe $$$ she is in HALF DAY Kindergarten and she eats a snack (that I pack in the morning) in her classroom .... how can she owe money??? Did anyone tell her that you have to PAY FOR THAT STUFF if she did actually take what IS available for purchase or does she just think it is a buffet???? I thought that was all sorted out and then I got a automated phone call from the Cafeteria tonight .... still looking for the buck ... AHHHHH !!! Score one for the Food Service Office, I give up and I'm paying the flipping dollar.

My third strike occurred on Wednesday, yep batting a 1000 I was.  Packed the usual healthy snack that morning - part skim mozzarella string cheese, yogurt and 100% juice drink box.  We are chatting about the day while I'm cleaning up from dinner and another blow .... "Mom, you didn't give me a spoon in my lunchbox.  I couldn't eat my yogurt, but I ate my string cheese and drank my juice.  I ate a BIG lunch when I got to Jeanne's house"  Apparently, she did not mention to her teacher that she was missing a spoon, I am certain she would have been able to solve Brooke's dilemma.

I was on the receiving end of that face more than once last week.  I wonder what this week will bring????

First Day of School

Yesterday was the First Day of School.  It wasn't the sunny warm day we hoped for.  Boy was I glad we picked up a new raincoat when we were finishing our school shopping a few weeks ago, she needed that AND the sweater Gigi and Poppa thought to add to the collection of school uniforms they gifted us with.  The morning went great, no meltdowns [well there was mine - but that doesn't count] and everyone was ready on time.  We took pictures with Kristen and Daddy and they were off to Miss Carol's so Daddy could make it back to watch the first day of school without distraction or interruption.

Gigi and Poppa arrived and there were more photo ops.

Then we loaded up and headed to Jeanne's house.  Brooke gets on and off the bus there since Kindergarten in Norwich is only half day.  I was worried about her actually having to get on the bus and head off without us.  I mean talking about it and actually doing it are two completely different things.  With the rain, we were forced to wait inside and Brooke was losing interest.  She wanted to stay and play with the Preschoolers and Matilda, the kitten.  

We got her to wait at the door and watch for the bus.  She saw it coming down the road and yelled "The bus is here", opened the front door and was off down the sidewalk with her new friend, Zachary, in tow.

She climbed up the steps to the bus, told the driver her name and headed for the back.  The driver, Sharon, quickly reminded her she was in Kindergarten and needed to sit in the first 2 rows. 

She never looked back and the bus drove away.