2010 Updates (PART 3 of 3)

After that hellish summer weather, fall really rocked it. We spent most of it outdoors, taking full advantage. For some reason, this year we decided to hit the region's favorite pumpkin patch. I use the word "region" because we had to fill-up with gas and drive 10 light years to get to this place. It was more than a pumpkin patch however, in fact, I'd have to say pumpkins were the lowest priority.








By the time Halloween came around, we had really exhausted the costume preparation topic, which resulted in a homemade Super Carly costume and a Teddy the Sad Puppy costume (not homemade). In our neighborhood, Halloween is taken very seriously. Neighbors create haunted displays, set up beer tents, and hand out full-size candy bars. We even had a party of our own.






And, this year, as a fall bonus, I met my mom and sister in NYC for a little fun weekend. And fun it was. Great food, a hilarious show, some sightseeing, some pampering and many laughs. Also, I did not return home with bedbugs. Whoohooo!

Fire Day

In early October, our little local fire house hosted a "Family Fun Day" at the station. Helllllloooo, greatest thing ever. Food, tours, moonbounce.

I think they knew the atmosphere of excitement that they were creating because they posted this:


Yeah, not a chance.

2010 Updates (PART 2 of 3)

...continued

The Thursday before we left Michigan, as I was sipping a glass of white wine at the beach with the entire crew and waiting to hear from Greg that his flight was going to arrive on time, I got a call on my cell from my neighbor. Apparently a storm had come through. A tree fell. Within a few hours, I got numerous cell pics of the event from my friends who were doing drive-bys. So our neighbor wasn't kidding.


And that, my friends, was the end of the Mazdarati.

But, who had time to dwell on broken gutters, stairs, grill, and a crushed car when we had another roadtrip to take. Off to Massachusetts we went.















But our weekend stay just wasn't enough. Little did Grace & Wern know that we intended to stay all week. It was totally worth it, and not just because we got to see a real live shark. I'm not kidding. A FREAKING shark. It was alive while Grace & Carly were out on the kayak, or at least it was spotted soon after they came home, but then it didn't make it through the night. Sad. Also, terrifying.



The rest of August was painful. I am not going to lie and say we enjoyed the 99 degree heat and sweating our asses off at the playgrounds and sandboxes. But, I feel like God does this to parents in order to make sending off the little ones to school that much easier. Some may say irresistible.






Yet, the heat continued. And continued. And in late September, we ate outside in the scorching heat for Greg's birthday at our favorite birthday restaurant. Greg, not one to embrace the limelight, gave me the eye when I asked about doing cake at the restaurant. Guess who didn't give a hoot what her dad wanted? In fact, Greg and I weren't paying any attention when Carly mentioned to the waiter that it was her dad's birthday, so when the waitstaff came over with the sombrero singing "happy birthday" in Spanish, we were all a bit surprised. Well, all of us but one.




So you are almost caught up....

2010 Updates (PART 1 of 3)

I've missed quite a few big moments this year, but [insert typical "too busy" excuses]. Bygones. Here's the Reader's Digest (does that magazine still exist?) update:

We began what became the hottest summer ever with Carly in camp and with Teddy and I hitting a sh*tload of sprayparks. Once July hit, the three of us got crafty with sprinklers, our backyard blow-up pool, and what my friend Julie dubbed "pool whoring". We are not members of a pool, but I have several lucky friends who are. And, let me tell you, that luck is contagious!! We found invites to various pools all summer long. So, here are some June & July pics:







July would not be complete without a major birthday celebration. And this year, we surprised Carly's friends by booking a zoo party on the hottest day of the year! Boy were they thrilled, as were their parents. In all seriousness, though, the zoo party was adorable as was the birthday girl's excitement.







We had to book the party a year in advance, so glad it worked out. For all of you scoffing at my ability to plan that far in advance, you can suck it. I must have had a babysitter the day I logged onto the zoo website and gave them my credit card info. Anyway, it was a very fitting party for a little girl who has dubbed her massive posse of stuffed animals her "team". This is another Carly-ism with an unknown origination. But you should know that the Team is a vital part of her life, an entourage if you will. She will carry a few of the Team to breakfast and they will watch her eat. She often asks the Team to do stuff for her. For example, when I ask her to keep an eye on Teddy so I can take a quick shower, the Team comes in handy. "Ahhhh, well mom, the Team will do it." She told me recently that it's a lot of work managing the Team. Oh, I know.

Summer 2010 did not disappoint when it came to our trips to Michigan & Massachusetts. Cousins, Aunt & Uncles, Aunties & Unclies (remind me to use this one), and Grandparents rock. Bigtime.

We began our journeys with a lovely 8 hour roadtrip to Michigan, where we promptly ditched our children (all but one, Sully made the cut to stay with us) and headed up north to celebrate our 10th anniversary with an adults-only weekend at the Rock.






I'm actually glad that these pictures don't tell the whole story. Let's just say that these hunks with their backs to us and very specific jukebox preferences ultimately joined our late night dance party. Let's also say that it's been 4 months and my mother has not found any evidence that things got a tad messy at the Rock. I'll leave it at that.


Carly and Teddy were so busy with Nana's social schedule that I don't think they even knew we were gone. She drove them up on Sunday and Greg, being the loving father and loving swimmer that he is, waited until they arrived before taking the relay back down state for his flight. My mom tried to get Scott and I to place bets as to whether he'd make his flight. Not a problem. Only fools bet against Greg's ability to drive recklessly.

Finally, the Pietrosante clan arrived, just to up the ante of fun...and loud enthusiasm. So, I could include a billion pics here, but I'll keep it down to a million, mostly to guilt my sister into bringing my nephews and niece out to visit their cousins who miss them dearly:





























to be continued....