Flashback Friday

Tonight we're getting reading to attend our third annual Monarch's New Years Eve Game. One of our few traditions. This was our first year in 2007. The boys always look forward to it. The more the merrier!

Christmas 2010

I didn't bring my camera to Christmas Eve. I really need to start bringing it. It is so much more fun to have memories documented with pictures. Auntie Barbara did bring hers and email a few...someone was thinking :)

We continued our Christmas Eve tradition of going to Jim's cousin Kim's house. They do not live too far and have children and cousins that come that are the kids ages too. Even though we don't get to see them too often the kids always look forward to it. Joshua likes the idea of parties and Jacob looks forward to decorating cookies with tons o frosting for Santa. And people always look forward to what I bring to eat. I always pick something yummy that is always a big it. Truth be told, I kinda like being famous for something (besides big blond hair, red lipstick and purty nails) :) This year I brough Buffalo Chicken dip. It was a hit. Jeffrey actually came. He hasn't been to any family gatherings in so long. People didn't know how he was getting there. They were shocked when we said, "he's driving himself, he is 18".

The gals played a little trivia and a game of spoons. Auntie Barbara and I were a team for trivia but not for spoons. Game on Baby! I'm a competitor and won at spoons!

Christmas was a quiet day at home. Times they are a changing. Uncle Johnny is in FL, Uncle Ed's truck is on the brink, Jeffrey splits his time so it was us, Auntie and Robin. We had a beef rib roast and seafood alfredo. Jim said it was the weirdest Christmas dinner he had ever had, but I had what we both like and didn't want to have a bunch of waste.

Jacob has been creating a list for months on Ebay and any other site that pops up when he types in "toy ATVs" so he was excited to see things from his wish list.

Joshua was equally excited to unwrap something that wasn't on his wish list...an airsoft gun. It was a lot safer for Santa to bring that than a puppy which was on the list. Santa would have been in deep doo doo if he did that!

This mess is depressing after all is said and done. Where to start? Let's just say most of if made it's way to the down stairs to no where and has gone no where since then.

Flashback Friday Part 2

I just looked back and noticed I posted the same picture last year for a Flashback Friday. I didn't want anyone to feel jipped so here is another one :)

Looking at Joshua now, I can not imagine that he was ever as tall as the second shelf on my refrigerator door.

You're welcome :)

Flashback Friday

Can someone tell me where these Santa hats are? Joshua wanted one this year and I knew we used to have some...this picture proves it. A lot happens in 7 years though so who the heck knows what happened to them. I just can't believe that I can share pictures of my kids 7 yrs ago. Just doesn't seem possible.

Merry Christmas to All!!!

Christmas Cheer

Now that the letters to Santa are on their way, it's time to sit back and enjoy the holiday season. Heck who am I kidding. The kids can enjoy while we scurry frantically up til 6pm on Christmas Eve.

This Saturday we went to celebrate some holiday cheer with our Merrow friends. We were greeted by the fancy smancy table. It is fun to eat at a nice table once in a while. The kids wanted to take the napkin rings home as partying gifts, after asking what they were first.I came prepared with a candy craft idea. I knew the only way I was going to get Jacob's attention was if it included candy.This is a picture of me cracking myself up. Poor Noah's candy cane cracked and he had to sleigh skis that looked a little wacky.Here is the fleet of Santa sleighs. And the creators.

Next we cuddled up in blankets and watched Home Alone. As you can see, Noah was loving the movie and Chris was not a great photographer. Afterall, the two hot mamas are not even ready!

Happy Anniversary

It's not too frequent that I get this call at school from the front office, "Mrs. Korsak, you have something pretty waiting for you in the office". I think this was only the third time in my 14 years there. It makes them all the more special. They are also good subjects to play with my camera.

Flashback Friday

This picture is from the boys' very first sleep over with Auntie. As you can see they were so excited. It's a good thing they took a picture because they have had less than a handful of sleepovers :( Hint Hint.

Flashback Friday

This flashback Friday will have more than one picture. This is our 10 year anniversary. Dec. 3.

My girlz.

Yummy Cake.

Jeffrey realizing what it means when you catch the garder belt.

Flashback Friday

This flashback is a video instead of a photo. Thank goodness for these little clips, because since the digital age, the video camera has been gathering dust. I love going through the camera files and finding these little treasures.

There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

Wouldn't you know I chose the coldest day of the year so far to go for a walk around the old Benson's Animal Park trails. Luckily I dressed with winter coat and gloves and warmed up with the walk. We took the 2.5 mile trail to see what it would be like for future trips with bikes, friends, friends with dogs. I have been hearing about the refurbishments they have been making to the old Animal Park and wanted to check it out. I never went there as a kid, but heard they fixed up the Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe building so that was what I really wanted to see. It was of course at the very end...because of the way we started.

This picture reminds me that I am never surprised what I see.

One year we saw this at the beach...and today we saw this on the trails.

Here We Go Monarchs Here We Go

Last Saturday Joshua begged them to bring him to the Monarch's game. He really likes the hockey games. We go each New Year's Eve and Robin used to have season tickets so he really got into it.

The Monarch's couldn't compete with UFC fighting so Jim was out. The couldn't compete with a Grammy and Grampy visit so Amy and her boys were out. And Auntie couldn't get away from all those Christmas shoppers....so it was me and the boys.

Earlier in the day Jacob was seemingly quiet at the dining room table. They are not as into drawing as they used to me so I was a little surprised but soon he came out with a sign and I knew what he was up to.

He made a sign to bring to the Monarch's game. I told him a cute kid and a Monarch's sign was sure to get him on the Jumbotron. Unfortunately we were too close to the glass for the camera guy to really get him so after seeing other kids up on the Jumbotron he put his sign down and said it was a waste of time.

Fast forward a few minutes and who should walk up but Max the mascot. Jacob was so excited he showed Max his sign.

This is Max. He's a king lion. I had to scour through my pictures to find this old one. After many Monarch's games, I have stopped bringing my camera. I was thinking you can only get so many pictures of the same thing. And then voila...something like this happens and no camera :( Max took Jacob's sign and we didn't know what he was going to do with it. But then we saw what he was up to. He was so excited.

Flashback Friday makes a Return!

So who out there thinks my kid will kill me someday for posting this picture...and is it a little weird that I don't remember this shirt at all? I should put your minds at ease and let you know these are clean :) and he for some reason did this on his own accord.

Heard at a Celebration of life...brought me to tears!

The Dash by Linda Ellis

There was a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came her date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash stands for all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;
The cars the house the cash
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

We'd be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
With your lifes actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

Cos that dash stands for all the time
That you spent alive on earth
And only those who loved you
Know what that little line is worth

It matters not how much you own
The cars the house the cash
What matters is how you live and love
And how you spend your dash

What matters is how you live and love
And how you spend your dash.

Corn Maze

Last weekend we headed out to Coppel Farm to hit the corn maze. I brought a friend, my friend brought a friend, Joshua brought a friend, and we left the Daddys at home to watch the Patriots game.

This is Joshua and his friend Tim. This is the second year they are in the same class. The boys were excited to see that chickens like to ride four wheelers too. Even more excited that the machine of choice was a Grizzly just like Daddy.

We started off with a wagon ride pulled by these guys.

Unfortuneately, this was our view for most of the ride as Jacob wanted to sit right up front. Let's just say this is the polite view I am sharing with you. Most of the time, the tail was up :(

I dragged Amy out to the farm too. She looks pretty smily for having a self-proclaimed grumpy day. No worries Amy, Tuesday was my day :)

Horse drawn wagon ride over, time to get busy...but first things first! Love the ambiance they tried to create.

And the adventure begins.

It was cute, they had little mailboxes throughout with answers to the clues leading you left, right or straight. It kinda kept people from running aimlessly throughout the maze. Kinda...they are kids inall.

The topic was owls so as you can see, we were not experts. (Photo credit given to Auntie Jeanne for the "look sad" technique.

Flashback Friday

I know this is a little TMI...but when I have to go, I have to go. I don't have time for doing stuff like this :)

Columbus Day Weekend

I was hoping to get some nice foliage pictures this weekend, but it was hard to find some good color. I played with the camera a little and took this shot. This tree is sooooooo tall, as you can see it is up with the sun :) I love the way the sun photographed. The picture would be perfect if the relection wasn't up in the right corner. The colors are really weird this year and I'm convinced it has to do with the lack of rain we had this summer. Up north it looks past peak. Most of the trees are more golden brown. What confuses me though is the number of trees that are still green. This tree is right next to the camp.

As you can see from this view, the colors aren't that great. I'm a little surprised because they are near the water so I figured that in the very least these trees would be pretty. The water is chilly! I felt so bad because Jim had to go in twice. Once to clean the point which is the water source for the camp and the other time was to take in the dock he built this year. He waited a little too long to take it in. And by feeling bad I mean I was kind of giddy on the inside :) Better him than me! I would have paid someone to do it :)

We planned to do some riding while we were up. Auntie was going to ride with me. On a whim I called my Uncle who also has a four wheeler and lives in Berlin. He was loaded up to go riding so we all went together. I am glad we did, it is fun to go with a group. We had a great time. Unfortuneately, the first trail we did was a double black diamond. Jim didn't read the sign, or at least that is what he told us. The worse part of it was that there was no turning back you just had to do it. Turns out it was 1.8 miles (of big ass rocks, tree stumps and steep inclines with big ass rocks and tree stumps).

One of the best parts of riding is the views. These are some of the sights from riding.

Of course, no trip is complete without a breakdown. Two weeks ago Jim brought the boys riding up north. Joshua's machine broke down, then Jacob's. Jim had to work on them in order to go again this weekend. This weekend was no exception. Half way through riding we noticed Joshua's oil plug was gone and the oil all drained. Jim had to tow it back to the truck and Joshua rode with Jim. We continued riding and toward the end of the ride Jim noticed that he had blown his back end of his four wheeler. It was quite a sight to see me driving back with Auntie in the cargo seat with Jacob in the middle (Joshua rode his back). I know we definately exceeded the weight limit for my machine!!!!

Here are some shots of fishing to end the long day. No luch here though. It was a bit cilly for the trout I think. I'm pretty sure they swam south the follow the birds.Joshua getting a little distracted from his mission. I hope your holiday weekend was as enjoyable.