Maine, Part 1

The new car was totally packed and we were off.  You can see how excited the kids look for it being 6:30 in the morning.  Eric tried to wake me up at about 3:30 or 4 to leave, but after being diagnosed with strep throat the day before, I respectfully declined and went back to sleep until about 6. 
Grace's expression pretty much sums up how we feel about traffic in the D.C./Baltimore area. After 5 hours of barely moving (for no apparent reason), we decided on the way home we would take an alternate route.
This is Windemere, our home for a week on beautiful Sebago Lake. 
Grace felt it appropriate to do her best swan pose (she has seen Barbie's Swan Lake a few hundred times). This was part of the beach at Windemere.

Ok, more to come. I figure I can stretch these vacation pictures out for a few posts. 

The Great Outdoors

I have decided that Michael should spend as much time as possible outside. Naked. It just makes cleanup easier.

The One With the Mustache

Grace: In North Carolina do they have those guys who ride their bikes and throw newspapers at your door?

Daddy: You mean paper boys?

Grace: Yes, paper boys, do they have them?

Daddy: Well, yes. You know who was a paper boy when he was a little boy?

Grace: Who?

Daddy: Geet.

Grace: GEET! Did he still have a mustache?

My Boy

I love this boy. I am pretty sure you already knew that, but I felt the need to tell you again. Love him. And for the record, he kinda likes me, too. 

The Girls

Popsicles

Mud

The other afternoon, Annabelle and Grace wanted to play in the backyard while Michael and Faith were sleeping. 

MAMA: Fine. Let's go outside. But - DO NOT PLAY IN THE MUD (It had rained)

The girls oh so sweetly agreed, and out we went. It was not 5 minutes later that Grace came to me looking like this....

And then while I was cleaning Grace off, George decided that if Grace could get all muddy then he could as well. 

At least Grace didn't get into the same mud that George did, because he came home smelling like a sewer.

Saturday Afternoon

Where Babies Come From

Daddy was being his normal self, teasing the children. He was trying to convince Grace and Annabelle they were not born, but instead were purchased them from the store. Annabelle seemed to be in on the joke, playing along. Grace, however, was not amused by this one bit. It took a bit of coaxing to get her to play along.

And then Daddy took it one step too far...

GRACE: So, what store did I come from then?

DADDY: WalMart. You came from WalMart and Annabelle came from Target. 

GRACE: WHAT? WALMART??? No way. No, NOT WalMart. I would definitely have come from Target. 

Super Michael

Grace Graduates

Grace's Kindergarten Class at St. Anne's

Grace and her teacher, Mrs. Asher. 

Very close to a great pic of all the kids. Faith was sleeping, and by the time I got her the other three were long gone. 

Grace and Annabelle - they really love each other. 

Mama and the First Born - I don't know where she got the idea she could go and grow up so darn fast.  SLOW DOWN, child. 

Oreos

I am out after dinner running a few errands. Eric is home with the kids, presumably putting them in bed. My phone rings...

MAMA (walking into grocery store at about 9pm): Hello? Hello? HELLO?!

CHILD: Hi Mama

MAMA: Grace? (I am startled because at this time, clearly they should be in bed)

CHILD: No, it is Annabelle. Hi Mama. 

MAMA: Hi Bellie. Are you ok? (As many of you know, Annabelle NEVER talks on the phone)

CHILD: Yes. Can you buy me some Oreos?

MAMA: I am pretty sure we have Oreos at home. 

CHILD: Not anymore.

DADDY (joining the conversation): Oh my Gosh, Annabelle! Did you call Mama ALL BY YOURSELF?

CHILD: Ummmm

DADDY: Dear, I had no idea that she called you. I was so busy putting Michael to bed, and dealing with Faith. 

MAMA: Really (please note extreme sarcasm)

DADDY: Yeah, ask Bellie. Bellie? Tell Mama what Daddy was just doing...

CHILD: Sitting on the couch eating Oreos. 

5 Months

Making Life Better

Anything titled makinglifebetter gets my attention. I mean really - who doesn't want to make their life (of the lives of others) better? So when Mom Central asked me to spread the work about how makinglifebetter was going to make dinnertime easy and fun, I was excited to do just that. 

I headed over to their website and was quite eager to see how exactly they were going to make my dinnertime better. And there I found recipes. Lots and lots of recipes. Tons of time and a huge budget are not things that I necessarily have, and makinglifebetter clearly understands that. 

makinglifebetter has a huge number of recipes, using ingredients easily found and probably already in your pantry. Quick, easy and priced for the times, there are so many that I cant wait to try. 

Here is just one that I recommend you try:

Grilled Pineapple a La Mode

3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
6 Tbsp. I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!® Spread
3 Tbsp. rum
8 slices fresh pineapple
3 cups Breyers® All Natural Vanilla Ice Cream
1/3 cup chopped toasted pecans
Bring sugar, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!® Spread and rum to a boil over medium heat in small saucepan. Boil 1 minute, then set aside.

Pour 1/4 cup rum sauce over pineapple in small bowl, turning pineapple to coat. Grill or broil pineapple, turning once, until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Cut into bite-size pieces.

Scoop Breyers® All Natural Vanilla Ice Cream into 6 dessert dishes. Top with pineapple and remaining rum sauce, then sprinkle with pecans.

Cost per recipe*: $11.10

Cost per serving*: $1.85

*Based on average retail prices at national supermarkets.

Not so comfortable in the kitchen? You can even link to their YouTube channel for cooking coach videos. See many ideas on how to make dinnertime fun for the whole family, not a chore for the cook. Check out this link for recipes and ideas for a family game night.

Mamapedia

There are many situations that Moms have been dealing with since the beginning of time. The terrible twos, teenage angst, weird rashes, allergy treatments, when is the best age to introduce a pet - the list is endless. They are universal struggles that most parents will deal with at one time or another. 

Wouldn't it be great if there was a place people could go and ask anything (and I mean anything)? A place where we can learn from the mistakes of others and maybe even soak in some well earned wisdom of those who have already been there, done that? A resource and sounding board all in one...

Well, a magical place just like this does exist. Blogosphere, meet Mamapedia. 

 

Mamapedia enables you to search answers for your most pressing questions, such as childhood crushes, renting a house, and summer camps, to get empathetic and insightful answers from moms around the country. Everyone know of Wikipedia, right? Mamapedia is like that - only better. 

An encyclopedia of motherhood? Umm, sign me up please. 

Whether you have kids, or nieces and nephews, or have friends with kids and you want to have a small clue as to what they are complaining about all the time - you need to check it out. 

Take One

We are attempting to get a picture of all 4 kids together. I think Michael may have to be asleep for this to be successful.

Rogers Family Jeopardy

Answer: A pacifier, a small truck, a marker, 7 pretzels and 2 wipes. 

Question:  What is the pile of "stuff" I pulled out of the VCR yesterday? 

*

Answer: Michael

Question: Who is the one responsible for the aforementioned pile of stuff pulled out of the VCR?

Earn Your Stripes: Help rebuild America's playing fields

Mom Central teamed up with Kellogg's Frosted Flakes back in January to let our community know about its Earn Your Stripes (EYS) field renovation program. Aimed at renovating neighborhood sports fields across the U.S., thousands of fields have been nominated  - some with as many as 700,000 supporters! 

The semifinalist fields were chosen based on the feasibility of the field makeover, the location and age of the field, how often it gets used, how many events take place, what teams use it, the number of other athletic fields in the community, the demand, condition, and the impact a field renovation would have on the community. 

100 semifinalists are now counting on you to vote, and hopefully your favorite field will get a makeover. Maybe there isn't a field near you, but maybe there is one near where you grew up. How about near your favorite vacation spot, or even near distant family or friends who you know would appreciate the upgrade in their community. 

Whichever story or field strikes a cord with you and your family, make sure you vote for it. We will all benefit from happy, healthy and active kids! Voting runs through this month.

Miss Faith

Sisters