Fall Crafts

Today I decided to do something different with the kids. we made our own salt dough, used pumpkin cookie cutters to cut out the dough, baked them in the microwave, let them cool and then painted their craetions. they had a great time, especially since I had them help make and stir the dough!

Learning to give back

On Sunday we will be walking in the making strides for Breast Cancer walk in Exeter. Our team name is Steps for Shanna. (My sister Shanna is a two time Breast Cancer survivor) . Our team will be us, of course. Shanna, Dave and Mackenzie and Alyssa. Shanna, Dave, Mackenzie and I went tagging at Walmart a few weeks back, we managed to raise about $400.00. In total with other peoples donations on line we raised about $700.00 Since we knew that Brady and Cameron would not be too ammused with tagging we thought that Brady could help in a different way, He and Brian rolled all the coins that we got and worked on his counting and sorting skills. We told him this money was for people who are sick and really need it. When we went to the bank drop off night last night he told the lady that this was for sick people! I thought that was really sweet. If there is one thing I want my children to learn is to be giving individuals of themeselves, whether it be of their time or money, I want them to learn from an early age that we are truly fortunate to have what we have!

A day at Topsfield fair

Brian and I decided along with the wicks' to journey out to Topsfield fair today. We had Mackenzie Saturday night so my sister and Dave could celebrate their anniversary(Happy aniversary!) so we decided to take Kenzie with us to the fair on Sunday. Thus began the adventure of taking 5 children to the topsfield fair! It was right around Cameron's nap time so he was a little cranky and he won't sleep in a stroller. Thankgoodness I took the snugli as that seemed to work to get him over his naptime slump. We had the wagon for Brady and Mackenzie, the single stroller for Cameron and the wicks' had their double stroller for David and Shaun along with their bjorn. At one point, I had Cameron in the snugli, Pam had shaun in the bjorn and all three older kids decided to walk, so there we were, three modes of transportation and not one child in them, We walked in single file at one point so as not to take up alot of room and someone commented that we looked like a train. I digress... It was actually a good day! the kids got to see the animals and the huge pumpkins and we all got some fresh air! It was a beautiful day!

Happy Birthday Brady!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Birthday Party Fun!

Sunday we had the boy's birthday party at the house for 40 of our close friends and relatives. We had pizza, cake, watched the Pats beat the niners, and had a great time! Too bad the Sox couldn't close out their series.

Make a Smilebox photobook

My Baby is 1 Today

Cameron officially turned one at 11:15 this morning. We celebrated with the daycare kids with some cupcakes and singing. We will be having a joined Brithday party for cameron and Brady next Sunday.

(mommy side note) I can't believe Cameron is 1. This has been such a fast year, I really do feel like he just came home from the hospital. It makes me sad to see how fast time really goes. It just goes to show you, you have to live in the moment, because before you know it the moment has passed.

Daddy had to work late

The other night Brian had to work late, so I went for a quick trip to walmart with the boys and found some really cute PJ's. we came home and had some fun in the play room just the three of us. Although I may be home with them it isn't often that it is JUST the three of us, we always have daycare kids here, so it was nice to have so quality time togeter. I took all the pictures so the oned with me in them aren't very good.

Apple Picking!

So I can now check one thing off of my list for fall, However we had so much fun we may do it again later in the season. Saturday afternoon we went apple picking with Shanna, dave and Mackenzie and Grammy and Pappa. It was so nice to have a family day out. we got some good pictures. Brady still doesn't like having his picture taken so alot of his are profile shots, he looks as though he is pondering the wonders of the world. Brady's favorite part was riding in the tractor and Cameron pretty much took it all in but I think he mostly likes spending time with Grammy and Pappa.

Summer's Final Beach Trip

Well, we made our last trip to the beach tonight to bid farewell to summer 2008. It was actually quite hot today (for mid September). There wasn't much left to do at Hampton...most of the shops had closed up for the season, but at least we could enjoy a slice of Christy's Pizza and the playground.

So long summer, we are nw ready for fall. Beofre we know it, we'll be hitting the sites at the Big E with the Wicks Clan and then perhaps head out for some apple picking in the crisp fall air next month! We bought a radio flyer wagon just for the event!

2 hospitals in one week.

Last Thursday I woke up at 1am with stomach pains. Brian stayed home and took care of the daycare kids while I stayed up stairs, figuring this was going to be a quick thing and I'd probably feel better by lunch time. This was not the case. by 11:00 I had become so sick that I was dehydrated and was in severe pain. Brian's sister Alyssa came and took me to the ER. I figured they'd give me fluids and send me on my way again not the case. They did an ultrasound, an X-ray which showed nothing then decided to do a CT scan. This showed inflamation in my intsetines, that is when I got the news that I wasn't going home. I was told I could have nothing by mouth not even water. They had been giving me morphine for the pain but that gave me a migraine so they switched me over to dilauded, that made me a little loopy. I got up to a room around 9:30 on thursday night and there I stayed until 7;30 Sunday night. they helped manage the pain with meds and then started me on a clear liquid diet for a few days then on Sunday I finally got some real food, you would think after not eating for 3 days I would have been happy about this but I mainly just ate something to get out of the hospital! A special thank you to Shanna and Dave who took the boys all day Friday and over night, and thank you to Dustin and Elizabeth who took care of the boys and my inlaws who took care of the boys and to my parents who stayed with me at the hospital while Brian was trying to do his part with the boys.

Today Brady had to go to the hospital at 6:30 to have a tube put back in his right ear. He did really well! he asked to go home about 10,000 times but he never really cried or whined. I felt bad for him because he did get sick after comming out of the anesthia but we were home by 9:45 and by 10:00 he was running around like a mad man! A special thanks to Grammy who got up very early and took some time out of work to come with us to the hospital! Thanks Grammy We Love You!
Lets hope that this is the last time we see the inside of a hospital for a long time!

The fall is upon us

My favorite time of the year is upon us. Fall is my favorite time of year, the crisp air, the chance to wear jeans and sweatshirts again, knowing that the holidays are right around the corner. I just love this time of year! With this time of year also comes the begining of a new school year, which for me means more daycare kids. In total including my own children I have 7 kids that I take care of. now some only come in the morning others in the afternoon, there are some overlap times but not all 7 kids are all hear at the same time. This year I have decided to run the daycare more like a preschool and pick a theme for each week. This week our theme is apples. So we are talking about the letter A, we have made apples during arts and crafts time, and today we sat downand talked about things that we knew about apples, the kids are ages 18 months- 4 years and they came up with some great things. Brady I am proud to say came up with, they grown on trees!

Top 5 Things that I'm looking forward to in september/October
Cameron turns 1!
Brady turns 3!
We're going to the big E
All the fairs come around (topsfield, deerfield)
Apple and pumpkin picking

What about you what do you like about the fall??

Pimped-Out New Stack Ride

We aged at least ten years yesterday when we became the proud new owners of a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country. I figured if we were going to buy the ultimate "soccer mom" ride, we should at least pimp it out. This one comes complete with heated leather seats, doors that open with the push of a button, and three DVD screens. There are even connections for X-Box....which means we should get one.

Erica will call this her car, I will take over the Escape, and we are looking for a buyer for the Explorer.

New Kitchen Floor

Today was the day my brother-in-law Dave and I replaced the kitchen floor. Erica and I were getting a little tired of the old, scratched & stained peel-and-stick vinal tiles that we had, so we upgraded to a new laminate floor that looks like tile.

First we had to scrap up the old tiles and lay down some construction paper (because the floor was sticky!!!). Then with a little blood (Dave cut his finger), sweat (Brian was hot), and tears (Camern was hungry), the floor took shape.

Check out the before and after pictures...what a difference!

Out of the mouths of babes

I must preface this blog by saying, NO I am NOT pregnant! Today Brady was going to take his nap and said
"mummy, I need a kiss"
(I give him a kiss) "Have a good nap."
B: I want to kiss your belly
ME: WHY??
B: Because there's a baby in there
ME: no there isn't
B:" "Jack's mommy has a baby in her bell and Thomas is in Crystals Belly"
ME: "You're right about that but mommy doesn't have a baby in her belly."
B: oh, can I kiss your bell?

And the conversation continued and I'm not quite sure if he's convinced that there is no baby in my belly. I guess he figures if most of the other people we knoe have babies in their belly then I must have one too. Out of the mouths of Babes!

11 Month update

Cameron is almost 11 months old! I can't believe it. He has finally learned to crawl (in his own wierd way) and after a lengthy visit from the Early intervention specialists will be receiving services to learn how to crawl better, pull himself up and to get walking. I have had a concern about his shoulder for a while and now that EI is involved they will be able to give us some answers. In the gross motor category he is at about a 6-8 month level. In everything else he was right where he needed to be. I think part of this may go back to this winter when He was so sick and had such a hard time breathing we couldn't put him on his belly alot. No worries though, I'm sure he'll catch up in no time and be running around with brady!
The things cameron can do right now, clap his hands, uses the sign for more when he wants more food, we can give him whole foods now like chicken nuggets with out cutting them up and he takes nice small bits and eats great. He's pretty much off the bottle, he really prefers his cup. He says mama and dada and papa, loves blowing raspberry and playing with his toys. Through it all Cameron has remained a good sport about everything, but I think he is very frustrated that his body can't do what his mind is trying to tell it to do. I will have an ISFP meeting (individual family service plan) with the EI specialists and I will be coming to the table with my set of expectations and concerns. As a parent in the special education field this was a hard pill to swallow, but I just need to be happy that he will get the help he needs and know that I will follow through with whatever they would like us to do. I can't believe only onemore month and my baby will be 1!

My First Baseball game

Hi Everyone, It's me Brady! On sunday I got to go to the spinners game. I had lots of fun despite the hot temps. It was 91 degrees on the field. I got to go in the bounce house, ate a whole box of popcorn all by myself and had some icecream. Although we only stayed through the sixth inning (it was getting close to bedtime) I had a really fun Day!!! Thanks Dziadu and Dad for taking me to my first game!

Disney World, Here We Come!!!!

We've decided the time is coming to venture out on a vacation with the boys. Disney World is our destination, and we are planning to go in March. As it turns out, I will be attending a three-day conference for Sanborn, but we are going to stay six nights so that we'll have some family time. We'll also be traveling with another young administrator from the District, his wife, and their two children (ages 2 and 3).

Now that we have told Brady, he keeps asking us if it is time to go. It is going to be a long six months if he keeps that up!!!

"The Boys"

Just think.....in a few years, these 4 boys will be part of a great football team of DiPippos, Wicks, and Stacks. Here we have Brady Stack, Cameron Stack, Shaun Wicks, and David Wicks. Due up soon: Thomas DiPippo.

62-23-48 HUT!

Go Team!

Dave and Brian's Hawaiian Pig

Start with one 30-40 pound pig, cleaned. Fill the cavity of the pig with 10 whole onions and bread stuffing. Close cavity up by wrapping the pig in butcher twine. Inject a flavor marinade of honey, soy sauce, and pineapple juice into the meat. Cut about 30 slits into the skin and stuff with whole garlic gloves. Place the pig on a spit and put onto charcoal grill. Use heavy-duty aluminum foil to make a drip tray to catch the pig drippings during cooking.

The grill needs a hot fire, so start your fire with a 50 pound bag of charcoal. Plan on adding about ten pounds every hour. You may want to "preheat" the charcoal in a chimney starter before adding it to the hot fire to keep the temperature constant.

Every 10 minutes, mop the pig with a mixture of apple cider vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, and maple syrup. The pig is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 161 degrees. Allow the pig to rest for 20 minutes before carving.