A Madison Mom

A softball helmet and a leotard. Why not?

2012-05-30T23:08:00.001-04:00

I don't know many people who could rock this outfit while walking down main street.

Ana... she can do anything.

If she feels like it.

Grace in Small Things - 148

2012-05-27T20:27:00.000-04:00

1. A Friday afternoon play-date where the kids had a blast and the adults enjoyed a beer (or 2). We all decided we should do that again more often!

2. Being to the point where the girls are old enough to enjoy waking up and heading downstairs to watch TV or play a computer game alone (well... Zoe alone. Ana with Zoe). A little bit of kid independence is AWESOME! (And a little extra Mom and Dad sleep is pretty sweet too.)

3. A family bike ride on the Loantaka Brook Bike Path. Zoe is amazing without her training wheels... and thank goodness Ana still (just barely) fits in the bike seat on my bike.

4. A frappe at McCool's after a bike ride on a hot day. (If you are local... you need to get to McCool's!)

5. Kitties in a basket. I don't know that it gets cuter than kitties in a basket.

Meet Emmett and Bailey!!!

A chocolate bunny ran right by...

2012-05-21T21:57:00.001-04:00

I'm sitting here finally going through the pictures I took at Easter. How is it possible it was over a month ago? Time seems to be rushing away from me again lately. It just seems to slip right through my fingers. I believe the saying is something like "The days are long... but the years are short." So very very true.

I imagine Zoe saying "Aw Mom... are you really going to make people look at pictures of our Easter dresses NOW?!?!" I hear it in a tone much like I imagine her using when she's about 14.

I decided I just had to share some of the photos though. The day was so beautiful... and Nanny (my grandmother) always picks out some of the prettiest holiday dresses for the girls.

Ana has this crinkle nose smile.

The twirl factor is important in fancy dresses.

Zoe and Ana are both obsessed with "Beanie Boos" lately. The Easter Bunny brought some smiles with these bunnies.

Sigh. It seems Zoe is just about beyond finding the twirl factor important. She just wanted to pose with her bunny.

I wish Zoe and Ana would always be as sweet to each other as they look in this photo. Lately they've been full into the sibling battles. I'm at my wit's end sometimes. I should just blow up shots like this one to remind me they really aren't fighting ALL the time.

This could be my favorite Easter egg hunt photo of all time. The thrill was definitely there for Ana this year at the church egg hunt.

Another egg hunt waited for them at Grandma and Grandpa's house. The kids would probably hunt all day if there were enough eggs. Although... Zoe would take breaks to check out what was in her eggs.

The cousins have always seemed to have a good time together. I know that when I was little I enjoyed some time with my cousins... but the relationships that Zoe and Ana seem to be forming with their cousins (both here in NJ and away in FL) seem special. There is a bond that I feel growing strong... and I hope they always have it. (I also look at this photo and imagine the bunch of them getting into all kinds of trouble as they get older... Andrea... we better watch out!)

And this? This just shows you that the day was a great fun success.

April Instagram

2012-05-14T13:25:00.001-04:00

I really love Instagram. I take quite a few pics on my phone using it. Even when I don't use any of the filters I just seem to end up liking the pics better. Maybe it's because they're square? I have no clue.

If you follow me on Instagram, or Facebook, or Twitter, or Tumblr (um... is there anywhere I'm not?) you may have seen these already since they're all so nicely connected. But in case you missed them... here are some of my April Instagram pics...

W legs
I know a lot of kids randomly sit this way. Zoe sits this was ALL THE TIME though. It seems her hip dysplasia has some lasting "side effects". Sitting cross-legged (Indian style/criss-cross-applesauce) actually starts to hurt her after a while.

If you leave things out... I will chew on them.
Is there anything a toddler won't put in their mouth? Most of my pics of Phebe seem to look like this one.

This is how we deal with Florida chill.
When I go to Florida I always take a cold front along with me. I was warned it was in the 90s before we arrived. It dropped 20 degree (or more) the day we arrived. Doesn't deter our pool time though.

Easter is about bubbles and towel dresses, right?
Zoe and Ana spent the whole day on Easter in towel dresses since that was what the Easter Bunny brought them (and since Easter at Grammy & PopPop's involved nothing but swimming for most of the day). Towel dresses and nothing else.

Breakfast of Champions

Easter Shoes
Phebe started walking!!!!

Small World

Platypi

Y'all come up and see me sometime...

Palm

Sunshine

Pick me! Pick me! We did! We did!
This riesling? Very yummy.

We need a vacation after our vacation.

It WAS white sangria.
A rare date night with a non-family babysitter. Crazy!

Happy Mother's Day... Love, Me

2012-05-13T10:48:00.001-04:00

For Mother's Day... I just wanted to share one of my favorite Mother's Day videos. (I'm sure it makes my Mom miss the times when my brother and I were younger.)

I could use a little "happiness" right about now.

2012-05-09T21:11:00.001-04:00

On the wall at McCool's Ice Cream & Coffee - Madison, NJ

Grace in Small Things - 147

2012-05-06T20:57:00.002-04:00

1. Two girls who, on a rare occasion, will somehow BOTH decide to sleep until after 8:30 on a Sunday morning.

2. Living on a low traffic street. (It blows my mind how much Zoe loves riding her bike back and forth and back and forth.... repeat 6 dozen or so times.)

3. No lice!!!!! (Even though I was sure the little buggers would show up in our house since we received notice last Monday that it was in Zoe's class AND Ana's school.)

4. Conversations on plastic princess phones.

5. The joy my girls both got out of being involved in May Day in Madison. Who knew weeding and spreading mulch could be such a social event?

Tulips are my Favorite

2012-05-02T09:30:00.000-04:00

A Dozen of Disney

2012-04-30T21:28:00.001-04:00

During the week of Easter Ana and Zoe were both on Spring Break so the 3 of us left Nick at home alone (on his own type of break) and went to visit Grammy & PopPop in Florida. While we were there I took the girls to Disney (Magic Kingdom) by myself. I figured it would either be awful (and we would be home before dinner) or it would be fabulous (and we'd stay as long as possible).

It was a gorgeous day (not too hot... not at all chilly) and Zoe and Ana were SO excited.

I almost didn't rent the double stroller (because oh.my.gosh $31!!!!) but it was the best money I've ever spent at Disney. BEST.

We got to the park just before lunch and it was perfect timing to walk right into the best parade seats I've ever had at a Disney parade.

I asked a little boy in line behind us if he would take our picture (so I would get at least 1 of all 3 of us together). I think he did a pretty awesome job. (Thank you little boy!)

Let me warn you now... in about 10 years everybody better stay off the street of NJ.

Zoe loves just about every single ride. She wants to go on just about everything.

Ana deals as long as she can sit by Mommy and snuggle.

If you ask Ana... you would think the Carousel is some kind of torture device.

Amazingly... for the majority of the day... Ana and Zoe looked and acted like these 2 little sweet girls. They had their whiny/annoy-the crap-out-of-my-sister/drive my mom crazy moments. But 90% of the day Disney was the happiest place of Earth for us.

In 6 1/2 years of life, and 3 or so visits to Magic Kingdom, Zoe (and Ana) saw the Electric Parade for the first time. I wish I could have gotten a good photo of the look on their faces while they watched it.

So, we had a pretty fabulous time. We absolutely weren't home for dinner. Unbelievably, we even saw the 10:00 fireworks. Grammy actually called my cell phone at 11pm (while we were getting on the ferry towards parking) to make sure we were OK.

I wasn't sure how I would do on my own in the park all day with the 2 of them... but I think I'll have to brave the parks on my own again when Nick isn't able to go with us. (He might actually prefer it. heh)

Life of Ease - July 1944

2012-04-25T11:52:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I shared any of my favorite scans. Aunt Prudy passed away in July... and I'm still spending some time scanning and organizing photos. The scanning is quick. The dating and labeling takes longer. It's definitely a job... but it's a really enjoyable job for me when I find photos like these.

The back of this photo says "George & Wally - Life of Ease". George is Pop George (my grandfather) and Wally is his brother (my great-uncle). Pop George was 14 in 1944. Uncle Wally was 16 (? I think) I just love seeing them as boys just hanging out being boys. You don't usually think of your grandfather that way.

You don't tend to think of your grandfather "gazing at the Esquire pinup girls" either. But... that's what the back of this photo says. Love it. I just love it.

Taken on the same day, with the same chair, and the same hat... "Prudy writing a letter." Aunt Pru would have been almost 18 1/2 that summer.

My one question... what was up with those hats?

I'm going! (Bloggy Conference Plans)

2012-04-20T10:29:00.000-04:00

You may have noticed the little badge off at the top of my left column.

I'm really excited that I'm going to get to go to BlogHer again this year. It will be my third time. The first year (in NYC) was OK. Last year (in San Diego) was AWESOME. Hopefully this year will be whatever you could use to say better than AWESOME. I have 2 roomates set up (Michelle and Courtney) and we're already starting to talk about some site seeing plans and getting excited about sessions and events. I'm also looking forward to seeing friends that's I've met at the previous 2 BlogHer conferences and to making more connections with online friends.

But... before the BIG conference I have plans to attend a smaller scale event.

I received an "invitation" on Facebook from Elise. (Elise actually lives VERY locally... but I didn't actually meet her until BlogHer10 in NYC at her Mommybites event.) I think this is the 3rd time I've been invited to the Mommybites Summit... and I'm finally able to go. I'm taking along my friend Amy (a non-blogging friend. imagine that!). It seems that going into NYC on a regular basis is becoming my thing this year. Adventures all around. Mommybites Summit should be a fun evening. Interesting speakers and venders. A little wine and food. Surrounded by other moms. Sounds good to me!

If you happen to be going to The Mommybites Summit let me know. I'd love to meet up! And, if you're going to BlogHer let me know that too. It's never too early to start planning to meet up there!

I love (to laugh at) my children.

2012-04-16T23:47:00.000-04:00

Me: Hey... did you like the Buzz Lightyear ride?
Ana: NO!
Zoe: YES!

Me: Hey... did you like Splash Mountain?
Ana: NO!
Zoe: YES!

I can't help it. I look at these 2 pictures and can't help laughing at Ana and Zoe (and at everyone else). I just love ride photos. Does it make me a bad mom because I look at these and can't wait to take them both on more rides just so I can see these kinds of pics? That would be torturing them right?

Just for the record... the girls did like a few rides. Zoe's FAVORITE ride at Disney this time was Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride (and everything else). Ana's FAVORITE "ride" was the Country Bear Jamboree (and nothing else).

Grace in Small Things - 146

2012-04-05T17:04:00.002-04:00

1. Finally being able to answer Ana with "YES, WE ARE GOING TO GRAMMY AND POPPOP'S TOMORROW." (Getting asked that question every single day since February was getting a bit old.)

2. Having Ana walk up to me with a comb and hair clippies and announcing "hold still... I need to make you stylish."

3. Zoe's excitement over Mismatch Day at school... but her nervousness over possibility that we might have dressed all mixed up on the wrong day. (We absolutely had the correct day.)

4. Sunshine and blue skies... even after 5pm.

5. Being all caught up on my dvr viewing... just in time to be away for a week.

My day today... as summarized in a facebook status...

2012-03-28T15:19:00.000-04:00

There you have it... suck suck suck. Advil. The end.

Sniffle. Sob. Ouch. My back hurts.

I dreamt we went on a cruise.

2012-03-26T10:14:00.000-04:00

Well... I would think it was a dream if we didn't have photos (and credit card bill) to prove we actually went.

It feels like it was ages ago that Nick and I dropped the kids with my parents and snuck away on a child-free trip. I say "snuck away" because we didn't tell the girls we went on a cruise. We just made a big deal about how they got to have a special vacation at Grammy and PopPop's house without us. They were in heaven and couldn't have cared less about us leaving. They didn't even ask where we were going... or where we went. And WE were in heaven because we got to have some relaxing time alone doing things we haven't done in years (or hadn't ever done).

I wonder... how long do we have to wait before I have this dream again?

Grace in Small Things - 145

2012-03-21T20:31:00.000-04:00

1. A shower in the middle of the day.

2. Starbucks Via instant iced coffee. If I knew it would be so good I wouldn't have avoided it for so long.

3. Finding a moment to just sit. Nothing else. Just sit.

4. A smile and a wave from across the room.

5. Spring shoes.

This is what we looked like...

2012-03-14T11:51:00.000-04:00

when we were on a cruise with no children.

We spent a lot of time alone together.

We did silly things and then laughed about it.

We did things we just can't do with little kids in tow.

Things we've NEVER done before. EVER. In my whole 39 years.

We were ourselves. Just without kids.

Beware of Leprechauns

2012-03-10T09:52:00.000-05:00

Crowd that got off our train to switch to the Hoboken train.

Last weekend Andrea (my SIL) and I went on the train into NYC. It happened to be the day of the Hoboken St. Patty's Day parade (which was actually cancelled and I guess unknown to a HUGE number of people).

Be aware that today is the Morristown St. Patty's Day parade. I am sure the crowd will look EXACTLY like this.

I love these people.

Grace in Small Things - 144

2012-03-05T09:47:00.000-05:00

1. Watching my girls actually become friends who enjoy playing with each other.

2. An afternoon in NYC with my sister-in-law, Andrea, for a show and dinner.

3. And... I'm so lucky I married a guy who's brother married Andrea. Not everyone likes their sister-in-law as much as I like mine.

4. The opportunities this little blog sometimes hands to me.

5. Ridiculously unseasonable weather.

Closing out #FebPhotoADay

2012-03-04T21:12:00.000-05:00

The February challenge has come to a close. Sometimes it was simple. Sometimes it was difficult. It was always fun. I especially loved seeing what other people were sharing each day. I have a couple new blogs I'm subscribing to because of it. I made a couple new connections.

Thanks to Fat Mum Slim for creating and hosting the #FebPhotoADay challenge. I will absolutely do it another month... although March already seems to have started running away from me. Maybe I'll jump in again in April. In the mean time I'll just sit back and see what everyone else shares for #MarchPhotoADay.

Here's how I finished up the month...

Day 24 - Inside my bathroom cabinet (2/24)
Um... I was on vacation. I didn't actually have my bathroom cabinet with me. So, this is what WOULD have been in my bathroom cabinet... if I was home. So you actually get a picture of "on my mom's guest bathroom counter".

Day 25 - Green (2/25)
Again, I was still on vacation. Green seems to be my mom's color of choice for decorating lately.

Day 26 - Night (2/26)
"Blue canary in the outlet by the lightswitch, who watches over you..."
I couldn't resist buying this night light (well, 2 of them actually) as soon as I saw it. It makes me happy. It makes me think of my college friends.

Day 27 - Something I ate (2/27)
Not what I planned for breakfast that day. Sometimes you get what you get and you don't get upset. I ended up at the car service center unexpectedly... and I'm just grateful that the Honda dealership has their lovely coffee maker and a variety of breakfast/snack bars.

Day 28 - Money (2/28)
It's just about time to go cash in. I'm always surprised by how quickly pocket change adds up.

Day 29 - Something I'm listening to (2/29)
The day Davy Jones passed away. When I was little I used to love watching The Monkees show. I used to have quite a few cassette tapes too. I just had to get on iTunes and buy this album again.

Did you join this month? Let me know so I can follow you (especially if you're on Instagram! I'm amadisonmom there!)

Robbers in and out of jail

2012-02-28T10:44:00.000-05:00

Zoe and Ana are constantly drawing and writing... so there are always pieces of paper everywhere. I really love the random art that shows up around our house. I'm always happy to find the little love notes, hearts, smiley faces, flowers... the normal "girly" art. But my favorites? Those have to be the ones that make me wonder where in the world their little brains have been.

Robber, Bars, Robber in jail

I can't quite figure out what had Zoe thinking of robbers and robbers behind bars in jail... but this is my current favorite piece of Art.

Cruise Days - #FebPhotoADay

2012-02-24T22:36:00.000-05:00

Nick and I went on a cruise to celebrate our 10th Anniversary (which was actually January 13th). We left the girls with my parents. While they enjoyed their time with Grammy and PopPop we enjoyed our time cruising around the Bahamas. I'll post more details on our kid free trip when we're actually back home (we get a couple more days with my family)... but for now... you get some quick #FebPhotoADay shots (which weren't always easy to come up with!!!).

Day 18 - Drink (2/18)
Yep...officially the best day ever.

Day 19 - Something I Hate to Do (2/19)
It's hard to think of something you hate to do while on a cruise... but I sure do hate drinking bad coffee. It wasn't all bad. The little coffee shop was actually pretty good. I could use a coconut latte about now! But, some of the coffee was downright evil.

Day 20 - Handwriting (2/20)

Day 21 - A Favorite Photo of Me (2/21)
We enjoyed a slightly different type of trip while kid free. I hadn't been snorkeling since before Zoe was born. Really snorkeling. Coral reef... off the catamaran... snorkeling. So, while this isn't a fabulous photo of me... it's a photo that reminds me that I still have a little adventure in me. (I also road a horse! On the beach! IN THE OCEAN! for the first time in my life!!!)

Day 22 - Where I Work (2/22)

While I was on the cruise this was my job. Let me assure you... it didn't pay well.

Day 23 - My Shoes (2/23)
My cruise feet were not happy that it was "only" 65 degrees when our ship docked back in Cape Canaveral. These shoes are already wondering when our next cruise is going to be booked.

We're back to my parents' house in Orlando. We have a few more days to ease back into life before heading back to the "real world". Re-entry can be tough.

A Few More #FebPhotoADay

2012-02-17T14:49:00.001-05:00

Day 15 - Phone (2/15) My iPhone. I'd be lost without it now. I had the cover personalized last summer before heading to the BlogHer conference.

Day 16 - Something new (2/16) I bought the girls each their own new suitcase today. We're heading to Grammy and PopPop's house tomorrow (2/17) and I figured it was about time to get Ana her own suitcase. Usually her stuff gets packed with my stuff in the LARGE suitcase. Now she's been upgraded. And you know... you can't buy one girl a brand new pink suitcase and not get the other one a pink suitcase too! (Or is that just me?)

Day 17 - Time (2/17) Just waiting for the school bus to bring Zoe home and then we're off! Grammy & Poppop... here we come!

Catching up with #FebPhotoADay

2012-02-14T10:44:00.000-05:00

I have been keeping up and taking my daily shots. I got lazy about posting them here every day though. So... catching up!

Day 12 - Inside My Closet (2/12)
Hmm... I guess I'm a pretty colorful person.

Day 13 - Blue (2/13)
Ana's blue toes. They were blue (Clever Girls blue polish from BlogHer11!)... but now they're kind of blue (sad and pathetic). It might be time for a new pedicure!

Day 14 - Heart (2/14)
Happy Valentine's Day! My dining room table is fully scattered with hearts and pink and red. Love love love.

I'll try to post a few at a time instead of 1 at a time for the rest of the month.

A NYC Adventure with Zoe and Freckleface Strawberry

2012-02-13T23:57:00.000-05:00

On Sunday I stepped out of my comfort zone and went on a bit of a NYC Adventure. Don't get me wrong... I enjoy going into New York City. There are a couple criteria usually though.

If I go into NYC it's usually with Nick. Nick used to work in the city... so he's just at home there. Driving, on the train, hailing cabs, getting in the subway. No problem for Nick. So I just connect myself to him and barely pay attention to where I'm going (other than to gawk a bit and stare in awe at the awesomeness of NYC).

The few times I've been into the city without Nick I could probably count on one hand (unless I count the couple times while we were dating that I got on the train alone and he met me at the train station in NYC).
1 - I went with my parents to see the Rockettes Christmas show once (I think).
2 - I went in high school for a band trip (just a day trip).
3 - I went in to meet my college friend Amanda for dinner (I don't remember how I got there... maybe Nick dropped me off??? It might not count.).
4 - I went to BlogHer 2010 (but I actually went with Danielle and then I was surrounded by 2 or 3000 bloggers).
5 - And, I left my iPhone on a cruise ship... so I took a train directly to a cab directly to the cruise terminal to get my phone. Then I walked back to the train station and came home.

We live an hour (depending on traffic) from NYC. I never go. I'm just SO adventurous!

This time was different.
I drove by myself with Zoe.
Myself.
With Zoe.
I DROVE.
EEK!!!

It was kind of spur of the moment. (I was invited Tuesday evening for Sunday.) We already had Sunday morning plans and afternoon plans. There was no way I could catch a train. I just couldn't say no to this invite. Freckleface Strawberry the Musical AND meeting Julianne Moore. No. Way. So I sucked up my anxiety and nerves and we went.

And do you know what? It was SO worth it!

The drive in was simple. It took less than an hour from the time we left until the time we walked in the door of the Manhattan Movement and Art Center. There was no traffic. I didn't get lost (thank you TomTom app!). I didn't get sideswiped by a taxi. I didn't even come close to hitting a pedestrian. I found the parking lot the MMAC suggested with no trouble, and it only cost $10, and it was less than a block from the show. (All of my fears... totally uncalled for. At least this time.)

And Zoe? She had a blast.

It was a nice small theater... and we sat in the 3rd row.

The show was AMAZING. We love Julianne Moore's Freckleface Strawberry books (there are 3). And while the show had to contain more story than the book (or the show would be 5 minutes long) it really stayed true to the book. (Sorry for this horrible photo... but there were no cameras allowed during the show... and I snapped this with my iPhone near the very end.)

After the show Julianne Moore came out with The MOMS to chat and answer a few questions. I don't have a picture, but Zoe and I also went up and asked a question. So... just imagine Zoe and I standing there talking to Julianne Moore (maybe The MOMS will have one to share with me?). Zoe asked if she always liked writing books. She talked about how much she always loved reading but never thought she would write. She also asked if Zoe liked to read and if she liked school. Then I asked how much involvement she had in turning her book into the musical. I was amazed when she said other than giving permission to absolutely go ahead with it... she wasn't involved at all. It really is a perfect extension of the book. I was sure she must have had input. So... bravo to Rose Ciaola (the writer/etc. of the musical) for staying so true to Julianne Moore's writing!

Zoe was excited to talk to a real author, especially since they talk a lot about authors at school. Writer's Workshop is a big part of our first grade... and Zoe has been authoring quite a few short "books". I will say I was slightly starstruck by Julianne Moore (oh my gosh I talked to Julianne Moore!!!!) and she was so nice. I was especially impressed by how she took the time to really answers the kids.

And Zoe... while she was impressed by meeting an author of a book she likes... I think she was more excited when she got to talk to Freckleface Strawberry and Danny.

We had a little after show snack and then we headed back to the car. We listened to our new CD all the way home (because we both decided we couldn't live without one). Unfortunately (or fortunately) there was no traffic heading home, and once again I succeeded in not getting lost... so we didn't even get to listen to the whole CD!

I'm pretty proud of myself for actually driving myself into NYC. There will definitely be more trips in the future.

Disclosure: I was given tickets to see Freckleface Strawberry by The MOMS and presented by Target. We were also treated to an after show snack and a gift bag. In return I had to do a shout out on Twitter with some mentions and a hashtag. No review was required. This post was written solely to share my NYC experience and personal thoughts and to tell everyone I DROVE MYSELF INTO NEW YORK CITY!!!