Kitchen Help

I made some brownies today.  I wanted something different so I added some walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts to the mix and then threw in some dark chocolate chunks and white chocolate chips.  Once I was finished, I got some offers to help clean the mixing bowl.   Here are pictures of my helpers.

Museum of Science

We went to the Boston Museum of Science today.  We got there early before the crowds arrived.  It was crowded but we had a good time and enjoyed the new exhibits.  Here are some highlights:

Jacob and a moose.

What a cute little bear.

Digging for dinosaur bones.

Office workers...

Jacob, me and a big grasshopper.

Benny in the "habitrail" setup.

Benny's favorite exhibit.

He would watch this for hours if we let him.

These guys posed for a shot while we waited for Ben.

A giant tire.

The triceratops - only 4 full skeletons exist in the whole world!

The entire dinosaur.  His name is Cliff.

Thanksgiving

We went up north to Vermont to celebrate Thanksgiving.  We first visited Grampy and then headed over to my mother-in-law's for Thanksgiving dinner.  We had a good time and a great meal.  Ripley also met Grammy's dog Bo.  The two got along great!

Here are some pictures:

The boys and Grampy.

Grampy, Ben and his favorite hobby!

Grammy preparing the feast!

Thanksgiving dinner - Yummy!

Relaxing after dinner - Lego's, football and dogs.  What could be better?

How to Cook a Turkey

How to Cook a Turkey - by Benjamin Snow

Benny's kindergarten class put together a book that contained instructions from each member of the class on how to cook a turkey.  Here are Benny's instructions:

"Take it home.  Grab the turkey from your car and go inside.  Cook the turkey in the oven for 55 hours at 5 degrees.  When it is done cooking take it out of the oven.  Put some yellow pudding on the turkey.  Set some fruit on your plate with the turkey.  Have water to drink with it."

Do you ever wish...

Do you ever wish that you could turn into the Incredible Hulk - especially when faced with annoying co-workers or kids that just won't stop.  I had this feeling when loading the dishwasher this evening while being relentlessly pestered by both boys and my dog who was trying to lick the dishes.  (The dog was trying to lick the dishes not Jacob and Ben!)  I wanted to shake, shout and then turn into this green beast that would demand respect or at least get everyone to stop for a minute or two.  Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your outlook) nothing happened and I merely loaded the dishwasher and found other ways to handle the kids and dog.  I can dream though!  

Birthday Party #2

Today we had the "family" birthday party for Jacob. My folks, my sister and mother-in-law were able to attend. Jacob got more presents, checks and gift cards - it is amazing how much stuff the kid got! One of the gifts from my parents was a Nerf dart tag game. Of course it is for two players to Jacob and Ben were shooting each other all afternoon. So our house rule is no shooting downstairs - take it upstairs! The boys do wear safety goggles so what can really happen?

Here are some pictures:

The boys playing a nice board game with Grammy.

Opening up presents.

Aunt Michele sporting the latest fashion look - safety goggles!

Blowing out the candles on the cake (with safety goggles no less!)

Ben being Benny.

In their Nerf gear!

The Birthday Party

So nine kids and 3 hours later I have decided that next year's birthday party will be held outside of the house at some other venue.  The party was fun and the kids had a great time but it was a bit much!  I think I am tapped out for any new party ideas (as in no more ideas for the rest of the my life!).  

This year we did:

1. A penguin craft project
2. Make your own pizza
3. Played a game of pictionary but used clay
4. Musical chairs
5. Lego relay race
6. Dance party - really just the kids going crazy in the garage.  

Despite all of this I think the kids really wanted to go up to Jacob's room and wrestle, jump around and cause mayhem!  

Here are some pictures:

The calm before the storm...

Eating pizza.

Benny trying to be good so he is allowed to stay and hang with the big kids!

The penguin craft project!

Musical chairs (in the garage).

Grab a seat, quick!

Look at the moves on that boy!

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Jacob turns 10 today! 
Hard to believe!

Here are some baby pictures of my boy:

A boy and his dog...

Getting to Know You - Holiday Style!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both.

2. Real tree or artificial? A real tree in the family room and a small fake tree in the dining room.

3. When do you put up the tree? 1st weekend in December.

4. When do you take the tree down? Day after New Year's.

5. Do you like eggnog? No. I don't even care for the spiked version.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? There were lot's of good gifts...probably my first pair of designer jeans - Calvin Klein's - too much money and two sizes too big!

7. Hardest person to buy for? George - he wants electronic things that don't make sense to me.

8. Easiest person to buy for? The boys.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Nothing specific is coming to mind.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The original Rudolph.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Middle of November. I am a notorious late shopper!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? The desserts -cookies, pies, cakes!

16. Lights on the tree? Yes, colored ones for the big tree and mantle. White ones on the fake little tree and about 2,000 white ones on the trees in front of the house.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Holly, Jolly Christmas!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? The in-laws come to our house for Christmas Eve and then we head to Portsmouth to my folks on Christmas Day.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Maybe.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star.

21. Presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Both.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Rude people.

23. Favorite Ornament theme or color? Ones from my childhood.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Time off with family and friends.

Survey Time!

Survey Time! Thanks Lorraine of The Ferland Family blog.

10 YEARS AGO I . . .

1.) Was 27 years old.
2.) Was married for 3 years.
3.) Was just days away from having my first baby.
4.) Did not color my hair.
5.) Had a house with pink carpet and pink counter tops (not our choice!)

5 THINGS ON TODAY'S TO-DO LIST

1.) Go to Vermont and do fall clean up for my mother-in-law.
2.) Help Jacob with Veteran's day school project.
3.) Give Benny a bath. (Not going to happen as he fell asleep early!)
4.) Work out. (Not going to happen - too tired from raking leaves.)
5.) Unpack car and get organized for tomorrow's school and work schedules.

5 THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A MILLIONAIRE

1.) Quit my job.
2.) Buy a family vacation home on a lake.
3.) Open a community center with George.
4.) Buy a new car (maybe an Audi!).
5.) Volunteer in the community.

5 PLACES I HAVE LIVED

1.) Valley Stream, NY
2.) Springfield, VA
3.) Portsmouth, NH
4.) St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (just for a few months)
5.) Nottingham, NH

5 JOBS I'VE HAD

1.) Girl Scout Camp Counselor at Camp Seawood
2.) Cashier at Papa Ginos
3.) Pantry Cook at Stage Neck Inn
4.) Newmarket Software Systems
5.) UNH

It's hockey time!

Jacob's hockey schedule started tonight.  Between Benny's soccer and Jacob's hockey we won't be able to sleep in on the weekends until the spring.  Luckily none of the morning hockey practices are earlier than 7:30 am.  Here are a couple of pictures from tonight's practice.

Jacob in his gear.

Benny watching the action.

7:30 PM

The daylight savings time change has been hard on the Snow family.  Here is a picture of us this evening at 7:30 pm.  I was on the bed too in the empty spot between George and Ben.  

Two sleeping children, one tired dog and a napping husband!

Monkey Business

Yesterday George and some buddies went to the UNH football game.  The plan was to tailgate, watch the game and then head home.  George's buddy, Ryan, wore his Halloween costume to the game - a gorilla suit.  Somewhere along the way and after too many beers their plans changed - the football game was forgotten and George ended up wearing the gorilla suit into downtown Durham.  

The gorilla visited Scorpion's Bar, Libby's, and the Durham Marketplace and was pounding his chest and making other gorilla-like noises.  Luckily the gorilla did not end up talking with the local authorities.  Apparently the folks at Libby's Bar and Grill were so impressed that they gave the "Gorilla Man" a $20 gift certificate.  

It is moments like these that make me a proud wife.

Here are some pictures taken by Ryan, the owner of the gorilla suit:

George the Gorilla deciding where to go!

Embracing the locals...

Sharing his gorilla opinion...

Enjoying a drink at the bar.

Wish I Had Brought a Camera!

Yesterday Ben and Erin Shaughnessy went to a birthday party at the Hilltop Fun Center.  The party was for one of their kindergarten classmates and the entire class was invited.  I figured the kids would play some video games, eat pizza and have cake and ice cream.  Little did I know what was in store for those kids!

Benny and Erin both played laser tag, rode in go-carts by themselves and finished a round of miniature golf.   And they loved every minute!

I was most surprised by the laser tag.  I did not think Ben would be able to handle it and would not enjoy being in an unfamiliar dark space filled with loud noises.  The entire group of kindergartners decided to try laser tag, but then a few minutes later half of the kids left and a couple were even crying.  Ben and Erin were not part of that group.  They played for the entire 15 minutes and had a great time.  

Apparently Ben shot Erin by accident (they were on the same team) and Erin said her gun would not shoot right.  Jacob and Brendan who also came to Hilltop with us thought it might have been operator error.  

The kids surprised me a second time when they rode by themselves in go-carts!  Benny and Erin were in the same group for their spin around the track.  Those kids cracked me up.  Erin kept bumping into Benny.  When their time was over, the attendant directed them into the pit area but Erin ignored him and went around for another spin!  She was too busy looking at the crowd of cheering parents and classmates!  Way too funny!  

So, I think I am going to ask for a small camera this Christmas so I can keep it tucked in my purse and not miss these great shots!

Finally, if folks are looking for a fun place to go I recommend the Hilltop Fun Center.  The facility was nice and the staff was great.  They were very polite and patient with the kids - impressive when dealing with 12 kindergartners!

Trick or Treating

We broke with tradition last night and I finally got to take the boys trick-or-treating. Benny was extremely excited and even wanted to go to the "scary" house - a house down the street from us. Our neighbors, Joe and Jody, dress up in very scary costumes and scare the kids that come to trick-or-treat.

A couple of years ago they had a coffin set up in front their house and told kids to go to the coffin to get candy. Then, as the unsuspecting trick-or-treater approached the coffin, Joe would jump out and scare the heck of the kid. Ben witnessed this and was traumatized for a while!

This year Joe was dressed as a scary clown-ghoul thing and was on the roof of his house. As kids approached he would bang an ax on a metal pipe. He did this for Benny. Benny was actually okay until Joe said "I know you Benny." Ben then got a startled look on his face and asked - "How does he know me". Joe then said - "I know your dad." That is when it fell apart and Benny got very scared. Joe took off the mask and all was well again.

We had fun with the rest of the houses too and enjoyed bumping into our neighbors. Here are a couple of pictures before the kids headed out:






Here is one courtesy of the Shaughnessy tribe!

Missed my True Calling?

For the last couple of years I have been putting together a Halloween Coffee Break at work for my department. I really enjoy doing this and try to find creative ways to display the donuts and cookies and to decorate the table with a Halloween theme. I was particularly pleased with this year's effort. Perhaps I should retire from my computer job and be a caterer? (Just kidding!)


The coffee break treats...


Another view.


From the side.