April Showers bring May Flowers

April has started out just like the saying goes, "April Showers bring May Flowers."  Amy and I didn't let that keep us inside.  We went puddle jumping and singin' and dancin' in the rain. She even took time to smell the flowers.

Maple Sugaring at Five Rivers

I had a great afternoon with my girls and the Brownie Troop at Five Rivers.  The girls learned all about how they make maple syrup, starting with how they collect the sap.  All of my senses were awakened.  My eyes were wide open and I stopped to see many things that others didn't.  My ears were listening to the chirping of the birds and the chatter of the girls.  Oh, did my nose enjoy the sweet smell of the boiling sap being made into syrup.  It smelled wonderful.  And at the end we even had a taste test to see if you could tell the difference between pure maple syrup and pancake syrup.  But better than that was when I tried what I like to call a grown up lollipop, no artificial colors or flavors...a maple sugar lollipop.  It was the first time I ever saw them, it was really good.

 

This was the cutest thing ever, Amy couldn't see through the binoculars so Emily figured out a way to help her all on her own.  As a friend of my said when I showed her the picture, "now that's teamwork."

Signs that Spring is almost here

Even though the first day of Spring isn't until March 20th we are showing signs of Spring here in the northeast.  Our first crockus bloomed today.  Amy had a lot fun picking it and putting it in a vase this afternoon.

NYC Feb 15, 2011

Had a great time in NYC.  It was very interesting seeing what goes on behind the scenes of a television show. I had no problem getting up early since my adrenaline was already pumping.  My day started very early to get to the train station on time.  I left the house at 4am took the 5:10 train from Rensselaer arriving at 7:35 in Penn Station. Got off the train and walked down 7th Ave to W26th between 7th and 8th Ave to Chelsea Television Studio where The Martha Stewart Show is taped.  My sister and I were in an all sister audience for the Sister Show.  When we arrived at the studio at 8am there was already a line of other sisters waiting in the cold.

 We stood waiting in the cold under the striped Martha sign for about 45 minutes before they let us in.  Even thought it was a very cold a windy day in NYC, my excitement kept me warm.  The show was great but Joey Kola the warm up guy was really what made it a lot of fun. When he came down let us know what the show was going to be about, give us some directions and warm us up, he actually gave me the first 1, 2, 3 giveaways...bottles of water.  Of course the giveaways at the show were great too, but books are very heavy to carry around NYC. 

After the show we were able to meet up with our cousin and spend the day walking around the city.  We walked and walked in and out of shops. We stopped for a delicous lunch at one of the restaurants participating in Restaurant Week.  A gourmet lunch with cocktails, and dessert.  After lunch we strolled the streets of NY some more.  Stoping in Saks 5th Ave and trying on some very ugly but very expensive hats, laughing the whole time.  We had the best time together that we lost track of time on our way back to the train station. We had to run the last few blocks to Penn Station so we wouldn't miss the train.  Talk about making it to the station on time. 
 
I arrived home to find a happy ending to my already wonderful day.  My kids, mother and husband made me a welcome home sign, complete with a drawing of Lynn and I and a Martha Stewart Sign.  It was so cute.    In all my excitement I didn't realize how excited they were for me. 

It makes you feel good when you get to check things off your list, BE List that is.

Amy 5th Birthday

My baby girl is 5 years old today.  I can't believe it.  It's been a very busy weekend preparing for her parties.  Sunday we had a family party for her and today we had a small tea party with her 2 best friends.  So that meant 2 cakes.  They both came out so cute Amy loved them.  For her family party I made her the cake all little girls dream of, a Barbie cake, hers was Ariel the Little Mermaid. 

For Amy's friend party I made tea sandwiches and tea cup cupcakes.

What are we waiting for?

I wrote this 1/18/11 on my blackberry memo.

What are we waiting for? by Laura L.Brittain

What are we waiting for?
More ME than we but we sounds better for making a statement.
I've lost focus and need to get my motivation back.
The time is never gonna be right to get things done, you just have to do it.
Make time, not excuses.
The kids have a snow day today and all I wanted to do was stay in bed,
but I took my husbands advice and got up and exercised before breakfast.
Now I just have to keep it up and not make excuses.
Wish me luck~
I must Re boot, Re-vamp and Rejuvenate.

I'm So Excited!

I'm so excited!!  I get to check something off my BE List, actually a couple things in one shot, go to NYC and go see The Martha Stewart Show.
We're going on Feb 15th!

I decided to put in a request for tickets for my sister and I to go.   Here is my submission on December 14, 2010 to be in the audience on The Martha Stewart Show "Sisters".

My sister and I are 4 years apart.  Growing up we shared a room and didn't always get along.  Now that we are grown up, have children of our own we are closer than ever before.  My sister is a teacher in addition to being a wife and mother of 2.  I am a stay at home wife and mother of 3.  We both have very busy lives.  My mom taught me how to cook and sew, watching your show helped me "put the icing on the cake," that my mom taught me how to bake.  Our mother is the only girl in her family with 5 brothers.  She always told us how she wished she had a sister, so I always keep that thought and my sister close to my heart.  I would love to have a special day with my mom and my sister in your audience.  I love your show!  Thank you for sharing your wonderful talents with us.

When I wrote this and made the submission for tickets it was my hope to go with my sister and my mom.  But after talking to the women from the audience department "it's a sisters only show."  I feel badly that my mom can't come with us but I'm still very excited about our adventure to the city.