School Begins

So the summer is over and the new school year is starting!  I think I was as excited as they were to start school again!  I think it's funny how they were counting the days till school was over in June and then they started counting the days till school started again.  I hope the excitement continues throughout the year!

In case you can't read the signs they are holding:
Anne 6th grade
Tommy 4th grade
Patrick 3rd grade
Eddie 1st grade
Bernadette Pre-K

Getting ready for school was a lot of work!  All those forms to fill out!  It gets a little crazy and frustrating when I keep writing a lot of the same information over and over again.  Then all the school supplies to buy (for 5 kids!), the sorting and packing and then hauling to school.  Luckily, uniforms were pretty easy this year.  Anne got the middle school uniform this year and the boys just kept what they had last year.

The kids have been sleeping in all summer but today they all jumped out of bed ready to go.  I found myself pretty chipper when I woke up but slowly started to remember the craziness of the morning routine and then started frowning and getting short tempered when I was packing snacks for the older kids (half day for them)  and a lunch for Bernie.  I was getting very discouraged when I thought about having to pack 5 lunches the next day, plus snacks.  I think I want to cry now.  This gives me the challenge of being extra efficient in the morning, yah right!  Here's hoping...

Soon enough, we were outside getting ready for pictures.  I start raising my voice to get everyone organized and then wondered if my neighbors could hear me screaming!  Joggers were  passing by witnessing my outdoor spectacle.  

This year, Bernadette is going to Pre-K!

She kept asking me all summer how many days till the first day of school.  Even after I counted the down the days visually on a calendar, she didn't have the concept of time before school starts.  I dropped her off this morning into her classroom.  She settled in right away just waiting for the experience!  She had no anxiety about me leaving her there.  I can't wait to hear how her day went.  She is there for the whole day - I can only imagine how tired she'll be.

After trying to get some good family photos this past summer, none of which Eddie had a great smile, he smiles perfectly here!  It's a beautiful one, isn't it?  With his oral apraxia - I'm hoping he'll keep progressing like he has been!  He gets homework this year.

Patrick will be getting a teacher that actually taught Joe when he was in 3rd grade!  She was also Anne's 3rd grade teacher.

Tommy is looking so much older.  He'll be turning 10 this year.  As I dropped them off in the packed gym this morning, I had to run after him because he forgot something.  I saw him in the 4th grade line right next to the tallest person in his class!  He looked so tiny!  I found it quite funny.  To me he is growing up, but next to his classmates he's my little boy again.

Anne has had a growth spurt this past year.  On her last birthday in May we measured her and she had grown 4 inches!  We talked about this spurt and this now makes her the second to last shortest girl in her class.

This girl was excited about the first day of school!  She kept talking about how many school supplies she had, how heavy they were, and if she would be able to haul it all the way to her classroom.  She is also excited about the changes that come when entering middle school.  She's hoping to be challenged academically, but is a bit nervous about by how much.  I don't think she'll have a problem.

The excitement was high this morning and it all came out in the form of noise in my already clouded head.  In the moment it feels overwhelming, but once I finished, what felt like a whirlwind of activity crushed into a few hours, I got home with my sweet boy and sighed a breath of relief that the kids are in school and I'm at home.  I may complain, but I also appreciate the routine it gives me and feel blessed to be able get my kids ready and off to school.  Hopefully, I can do it with more grace tomorrow =-p

Here's to a fantastic year!!

Mystic, CT

This summer we decided to head north towards Maine and check out parts of the Northeast since none of us have really been there or remember any of it.  After seeing so many pretty parts of the country last summer on our cross country trip (which I really never finished blogging about) I was looking forward to seeing the northeast.  We decided to take our time up and down and see places along the way.  A lot of those places were suggestions from friends and family.  Our trip was going to be a lot shorter than last year since Joe got jury duty this month and had to be around.

We started north on 95 - what a busy interstate!  We got stuck in traffic in New York but made it to Connecticut to stay the night.  We woke up and went to Mass.  We were so close to Yale University, we stopped by the campus for a quick campus tour so our kids could get familiar with what could possibly be their future :-p  No, we were just so close - had to take a looksie.

We then headed towards the Submarine Museum in Groton, CT.

I've never been in a submarine nor do really know much about them except from what I see in the movies - I've seen a few of them.

For a free museum, I found this place to be very hands on for the kids and very informative!  Although, I wish I had more time to read all the information, I was to distracted with keeping track of the kids.  To be placed in a submarine, with such small spaces and control panels that look like this, seems very overwhelming to me.  However, the kids had fun with all the buttons to press.

After exploring inside the building, we headed outside to check out a real submarine - The Nautilus, the first nuclear powered submarine.

Talk about tight spaces!  I'm not claustrophobic, but imagining being submerged in water and confined to those spaces, I might as well be.  We took a self-guided tour, each of us with a gidgy-gadget to guide us through the submarine.  It didn't take long to get through it all.

We were able to see our car!

Just some railroad tracks on the way out of the Submarine Museum.

 Near Groton, is Mystic, CT.  I've heard about this place from my cousins growing up and was looking forward to visiting.  I've also heard much about the famous Mystic Pizza made popular from the movie, same title.  Which came first?  I don't really know.  I watched the movie not too long ago - not a big fan of the movie, but the pizza...

was soooo good.  I didn't have high expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised.  Our family likes good pizza!!

Kids got a cheese pizza, Joe & I got a jalapeno, onion and anchovy pizza - mmmmm...

The town of Mystic was so charming.  One of those picturesque seaside towns bustling with people enjoying the beautiful weather popping in and out of shops, getting ice cream or just taking a nice long walk.  I couldn't take any pictures that really captured this cute place.

We took a walk around town and down near the water.  We were lucky enough to catch the bridge go up to let the sailboats through.  The kids liked that.  On the way back to the car, I noticed a cute coffee shop and wanted to get some espresso.  Sort of get something non-commercial, get something local and get a little caffeine in me!  I was surprised when Joe asked me to get him a double espresso.

This is Joe waiting for his espresso with the kids.  A cute place - and it was very good!

We headed to our car and headed over to Dubois Beach.  This was a public beach area where we spent the end of the day.

Some of that rocky shoreline.

Kids enjoying the beach.

Bernadette wore the goggles but never went in the water - so funny, that girl!

Anne was exploring the beach.

Found some crabs that didn't look like the blue crabs I'm used to seeing at home.  All I could think of was, can I eat these?

Tommy is burying himself into the sand.

Max doesn't remember the beach, it was like his first time!

I often find Anne standing like this - this is her stance.  She's growing up!!

We went back to our hotel and went swimming.  Called it a night and were heading to Gillette Castle the next day.

Mother's Day and Pneumonia

I've noticed Max has this face, every once in a while, when his tongue is sticking out just a bit between his lips.  He's usually staring at something or perhaps, just thinking about something.  I caught this picture during Easter while he was out and about looking for Easter eggs.  I had to take a shot.

I don't notice it as much anymore, however when I see it I think it's the cutest thing ever!  If he's still doing that when he's a bit older will I still think it's cute?

Max is doing really well!  He's at that stage where he's getting into everything and is very strong-willed when it comes to what he wants.  I might say he's my  most strong-willed kid I've had, but I might also say that about any of my kids in the middle of this stage of childhood!  He's very athletic, too!  He's very coordinated with a ball and just gets excited every time he sees one.  He throws everything - balls, spoons, cars, trains, etc...  Watch out!  Right now, he's throwing a balloon at me and it lands on my keyboard.  I hit it back into his direction and he's chuckling.  He does it again... sigh...

He was in the hospital for pneumonia during Mother's Day weekend.

He sort of had a leftover cough from a previous cold.  I thought it was getting better but all of a sudden he started to have that forced cough sound and then wheezing the next day (Saturday).  I called our doctor and she said to be safe, take him to the ER. I thought we'd spend a few hours there, but it turned out to be three days!  The x-rays revealed it mostly in his left lung.  He was in a good mood considering, however that evening he started his temperature and his worse labored breathing - so sad to watch your baby suffer.  Thank goodness, the antibiotics started to make him better.  Slowly, but surely.  I really had to practice patience to watch every bit of progress he made in three days.  I wanted it to be immediately!

God is really good.  My children all came by the hospital to visit their little brother - they all love him very much.  They also came by with Mother's Day gifts made in school and little treats!  As I sat in the hospital that day, I smiled at the thought of my time in the hospital being a mother to my baby.  I truly didn't want to be any where else but by Max's side as he got better.  I was being a mother, what better way to celebrate?

I think it's remarkable how you could see the turning point when someone gets better.  All of a sudden, just feeling Max in my arms, you could feel him get better.  His body temperature changed, his playfulness and curiosity returned and he slept peacefully without his fever returning.  By Tuesday morning, we were released.  Thank you Lord for this blessing of being back to good health.  I also thank God for giving me the sense to bring his blanky and binky with me to the hospital!  I am also thankful for God making it possible that my husband was around that weekend and my in-laws around to help out before they left for vacation that week!

Cambridge, MD

My mother-in-law offered Joe & I a chance to get a way, just the two of us, for a short break.  As you may or may not know, our travel usually revolves around football somehow.  I can see the benefit of making the best of these trips even if they have to be work related, but a bit of me resents it because it isn't just about us, as a family.  My  mother-in-law said she'd watch the kids on one condition - it has nothing to do with football.  A little party was going on inside of me - weehooo!

As soon as football season was over, we entered into football clinic season and our family did our travels.  The weekends began to fill up and the chances to have a get-a-way weekend were almost gone.  I was beginning to wonder if there would be any time at all!  Joe's mind seems occupied when it comes to his goals and work.  I could tell if I wanted this time away I'd have to plan this myself.  I seem to shy away from taking the initiative on these sort of things.  I like working on it and getting excited about it together, but I realized that wasn't going to happen.

I first made sure we found a weekend.  Thank God - there was one weekend left.  I, then had to find a place to go.  I didn't want to fly some where.  I wanted to drive some where close.  There are tons of places to just have a nice weekend, I just had to find them.  I chose to find something in Maryland.  My parents used to talk about how they found some really great places near Annapolis or out that way!  So, I went onto the Internet and found Dorchester County, MD.  I looked at all the places around there and thought Cambridge, MD sounded great.  They had a lot of history in their little town.  The houses dated back to the 1700's and they sat along the Eastern Shore.  Downtown Cambridge had a lot of cute shops and restaurants that feature fresh caught seafood and microbreweries.  It sounded perfect since Joe & I love seafood and beer (Joe).  I sort of pictured it in my head like a little Charleston, SC.  I also found a place not too far away called the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge to do some hiking/jogging on their trails while looking at the wildlife, mostly birds.

So, our weekend finally came.  It was the weekend right after Easter.  I would tell Joe about the places I found and the places I wanted to eat.  Joe was really excited about getting away.  We ended up staying at a Comfort Inn.  There was a really fancy-shmancy Hyatt Resort right near our hotel, but I chose the affordable option just because we were enjoying the town and not the resort, right?  Sigh...I like fancy-schmancy.

As soon as we arrived at the hotel, I couldn't even imagine what Cambridge would look like.  It didn't seem like there was a cute little downtown anywhere.  We drove to the first restaurant I wanted to try called the High Spot.  It was located in downtown on High Street.  As soon as I saw downtown, I was disappointed because it didn't look like I thought it would.  Not that it was a horrible looking street, but not as cute as I saw on the Internet.  The restaurant, however rocked!  The food was fabulous and I was very pleased with everything I got!  I had the broiled Rockfish over Dirty Arborio Rrice with Buffalo Fried Oysters as an appetizer.

After dinner it started to rain.  We decided to drive around to see if we could see the "happening" part of town.  It wasn't easy to find!  We still didn't see it.  We ended up walking to the Pier and taking a walk in the rain.

It was cold!  We went back to our hotel and enjoyed the rest of our evening.

The next day, I planned to visit the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.  We got our jogging clothes on and went to the Refuge.  Some of the trails were very muddy so we hit the paved trails.  It was absolutely beautiful place with perfect weather.  We set our RunKeeper app onto our iPhones and started running.  Have you ever heard of a fox squirrel?  They are like regular squirrels except extra large!  We saw one run across the trail.  We also some bald eagles which the website said we'd see.

There is something about jogging in a new place where you're not to sure where you're going.  You jog a lot longer and further than usual - it's all mental!  I jogged 4.5 miles according to runkeeper, not to mention all the walking that wasn't recorded.  Yeah!  Joe of course did two extra miles.  I took this picture while waiting for him.

Before we left, we spotted a couple of bald eagles.

They were hanging out with each other!

Before going back to the hotel, I got some pastries from a little bakery shop across the street.  I had read about it on the Internet.  I saved them for later!  We went swimming at the hotel and then got ready for a late lunch at Jimmie & Sooks.  Hopefully, we'd find the pretty part of Downtown Cambridge.  I got my raw oysters, some ceviche and a big chunky crab cake!

We found it!  Apparently, Poplar Street seemed to be where all the happening things happen.

Here's another view of Downtown.  I found all the cute shops and restaurants.  We walked all around downtown and saw some of the houses that date back to the 1700's.  They were really beautiful and in great shape.

Not to say there aren't any other beautiful parts of Cambridge, there are!  For instance, the Marina.

We walked around a while looking at the names of the boats.

Right next to the Marina were a lot of neighborhoods with beautiful homes.  I could see how peaceful it would be to live near the water in a cute historical town.  I think I would be fishing for seafood every chance I could get!

I found this really fun place called Reale Brew.  They offered four of their own brews and then 6 other beers of their choice.  We sat and had a drink.  I got an apple cider beer.  It was really good.

After this, we went and ordered a pizza and headed back to our hotel and relaxed the rest of the evening.  We had done a lot of walking/jogging that day.  We enjoyed a great day enjoying our time together.  After pizza I had my pastries - yummy!  Weekend was a success!  Thank you God for a great time together and for the opportunity (thanks Gran/Bips!).

Candy Crush Saga

I have this morning ritual of getting up in the morning, getting the kids ready for school, dropping them off at school and then coming home to eat my breakfast in front of the computer to check my emails, read Facebook, browse through the headlines to see what's up.  That used to be it and then I started to end my routine with a little computer game.  Sort of wrap things up with something mindless and fun to play before starting the endless work ahead of me.

The mindless and fun computer game used to be Bejeweled or some other color ball elimination sort of game.  I don't know why I choose those sort of games.  Why not something that makes you use your noggin?  I used to stick my nose up in the air when I'd see people playing these games.  I used to think, what a waste of time!  Eventually, I came around and had the need to just get lost into something.  I had grown tired of those games mentioned above and had knocked it out of my morning routine until I found people playing something called Candy Crush Saga!  What could this be?  People seem to like this one.

I don't know when it started, but I think when I'm at the computer and I think about all the things to do during the day or hear the volume of kids at play in the next room - you sort of want to just stay in the zone and add a few more minutes to computer time!  I thought I would see what this Candy Crush Saga was all about.  I got on via Facebook and could see all my friends who were participating and saw how far along they were on this endless episode of saga after saga...level after level!  I saw Moms playing Candy Crush and thought, ok - let's give it a go. You won't be the only mom...

I could see how this was addicting because each level brought on harder challenges and then they added new twists.  It's as if each level trains you for the next.  You could compare your scores and your progress with all your friends - it turns into a little friendly competition!  Not to mention the affirmation the game gives you, "Sweet!", "Tasty!", "Divine!", "Delicious!"  Oh yah, got this game in the bag!  All the fun sound effects make the game more fun and not to mention how fun striped and wrapped candies are!  Oh and those gumballs!  Is that what those colorful balls are called?  I also think it's brilliant how they make you stop after 5 lives so that you can move on with your day!  Unfortunately, you just want to go back and play more.

I'm on level 273 - been stuck here for a while.

Fun game.  My kids come watch me play and help me along.  One of my sons always asks me after school if I've passed any levels on Candy Crush.  My son put it in one his Mother's Day questionnaires (which was a gift) that I was a cool Mom because I play Candy Crush, awe, how sweet - no wait, now every one knows I play Candy Crush!!  My name is Jana Patterson and I'm addicted to Candy...Candy Crush.  Nah...not addicted (I'm in denial).

Anyway, this deserves a post because it's something I have fun with.  Although, once I walk away and dive into the day's chores I'm good to go - however, you give me a dull moment in the day or get me in a moment of chaos in the house (which happens every so often!) I may find myself escaping into the world of Candy Crush!  So, I'll thank God for my little escape or bit of fun here and there or my time-filler between chores - whatever you want to call it.  Time to clear the jelly!  Have a good day, ya'll!

Cross Country Day, Day 11 & 12

July 8 & 9

So, we said goodbye to Wisconsin and started driving west towards Minnesota.  When I think of Minnesota, I think of when I was in college and even though I can't remember who was from Minnesota, I remember thinking people from there seem to be really nice.  The second thing I think of is Mall of America.  I remember women from work taking a girl's vacation to go shopping there.  The world's largest mall?  Well, what good is it if you don't have money to spend?

Nonetheless, I like malls.  I like window shopping, looking at what's in style and getting ideas for what have you!

We checked into a hotel for the evening and then headed over to the mall to get some dinner and look around.  We did have some shopping to do, like swim trunks for Patrick.  The Mall of America seemed to look like any other mall I've seen, just plus-sized.  We walked around the many floors and the multiple food court areas.

After we ate dinner, we found a Marshall's and bought the swim trunks for Patrick.  The kids found a mirror maze.  Tommy and Anne both wanted to spend some of their money getting through the maze together.  They took the video camera with them.  They had a lot of fun.  Afterwards, we found a toy store where the kids had some fun buying things with their own money.

Then we decided to stop by the Nickelodeon amusement park that was right smack in the middle of the mall.  I couldn't believe they crammed roller coasters in a mall.  Since Anne just did a zip line ride at the zoo, she found another zip line adventure where you are harnessed and you walk across many rope courses and basically try not to fall.  Also, you are high above ground - of course!  Joe, Tommy and Anne did this together.  The rest of us watched.  Joe & Tommy were more timid than Anne and finished a bit earlier.  Anne kept on going and had a blast.

The little ones found a ride they could do.  I believe it was bumper cars?  Geesh, don't remember.

We all went back to the hotel.  The kids played with their new toys while also getting ready for bed.

Bye, Mall of America.

We woke up, loaded our van and headed west toward South Dakota.  We were headed towards the Porter Sculpture Park in Montrose, SD.  I've never heard of this place nor did I even pay attention to the itinerary when we stopped in the middle of no where surrounded by miles of long green grass.  In the middle of no where appeared these art sculptures made of metal.

The pieces of art were sculpted out of metal by Wayne Porter.  He learned to weld in his father's blacksmith shop as a child and now has his art displayed in the middle of no where off of I-90 exit 374!  We stopped to check it out.  The weather was so beautiful!  It was late afternoon where the sun is just golden.  The wind was blowing a warm breeze and the skies were blue.  The best part was being surrounded by miles of green!

I have to say, his art is really odd but interesting.  Made of mostly junk metal, he came up with some of these sculptures.

A giant hammer.  Odd, huh?

I wonder what his inspiration was here?

This one, I get.

This one seemed to be the most prominent sculpture.

Some of them were a little disturbing, but fun to imitate.

I think this one was my favorite - I like happy.

I think of Sting's Field's of Gold when I look at this picture.

Ahhh, so beautiful!  I don't get to see this every day.  

We all got into our very messy van.  We trashed it!  I wish I took a picture of it.  Our next stop was Murdo, SD and Wall, SD not too far away from each other.  We were going to 1880's Town, Wall Drug and the Badlands!!