It happened again!

Well, we've been here for a few months and really a lot, but not so much, has happened (if that makes sense).

As some of you know, we moved back to CT to be closer to Beau's mom who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the end of June. It also gives us a chance to be near our little niece, Isabella, whose birthday is just 3 weeks from Finn's! Beau's mom was given a 6-12 month diagnosis, then a 3-6 month diagnosis. We made the decision, at the beginning of July, to pack up or sell/give away what we could and be in CT by July 21. That gave me 2 1/2 weeks to get it done!! We got most of what we wanted done, but left too much undone, which happens with quick moves. On Aug. 28, Hurricane Irene hit the east coast and took not only our electricity, but Grandma Helen Kennedy, as well. She fought to stay with us as the rains and winds whipped angrily around outside. As the storm calmed down and settled to a slow drizzle, Grandma Helen took her last breath and left this world. Her kind heart and loving spirit will be forever missed. We went w/o power that week for 5 days. I finally got Beau to "rough it," but I think that is about as close to camping as I will be able to get him. He was NOT a happy camper :-P Fast forward now a couple of months (almost to the day), and I am writing this blog from a storm shelter (that blocks FB and all e-mail...grrr).

An early heavy, wet snow that dumped about 10-12 inches on our lovely homestead, has downed trees onto power lines (due to the trees still with leaves that allowed the weight of the snow to drag them down) and we are AGAIN w/o power, and this time the governor of CT is saying it could be at least a full week before power is restored because MORE people are w/o power this time. Hmmm, I seem to remember a blurb in the newspaper where a CL&P rep announced to the world (okay, maybe just the state of CT) that they are ready for the storm this time. They really stink if this is "ready." Makes one think about switching to solar-if it wasn't so expensive to retrofit, of course. Needless to say, Beau is again not a happy camper-especially since we weren't prepared this time. We didn't fill our humongo bathtub with water so we can flush the toilet, even! We won't go into details on how we're dealing with that issue...lol. I will say one thing though, I actually like the kids having a technology and screen "down" time. They have been getting along better, playing games together, doing more craft projects, and we even started a family reading time in front of the fire before bed, by candlelight. It's a bummer that I can't get on FB, but c'est la vie :-) Even though Beau says he is ready to jump ship, I know that he and we will make it through, and God is providing this down time for us. Some might even say, a calm before the (next) storm.

Which brings me to our next little piece of news- Beau got a job!! Hooray! He starts his new position on Nov. 21 and we are very excited for him. Each of us has a different reason of course...lol. I love his continual help around the house, and will miss that when he starts to work, but I know that he is going stir-crazy, so I am very happy that he is back at work. Okay, not to mention the fact that we have been running on money fumes for a while now, so that will be extremely helpful.

On the home front, we are going to get chickens and would like to get a couple of dairy goats. I've been looking up how to make cheese-which is where I learned about rennet . That's a whole different blog post! I would like to get a couple of alpaca and learn how to spin the fiber to make yarn. They are a bit expensive, so it may be a while for them, but it's on the list. I can't wait til we can plant a huge garden and learn to can next year. Angel (my SIL) and I have been going to some pottery workshops, and I think it would be fun to have a throwing wheel and pottery workshop set up in the barn, so that's on the list too. So many ideas!!

That's about all for now. I'll have to do a separate post just to catch up with the kiddos. Unfortunately, not long after we got here, my camera broke!!! So as soon as I can, I'll try to post pics of the kiddos and the things that they've been up to.

Love you all!

Back in the Nutmeg State!

It has happened! The Kennedys are back in CT. Didn't think it would happen did you? Well it has. We've traded in the hot and dry for the wet and cold.

I have decided to start the blog up again, so I can share about life in New England in a more detailed way. With so many "friends" on Facebook, I know that some of those people aren't interested in everything that our family does, but I hope that some of you will able to keep more up-to-date with the kiddos and maybe I can share ideas and thoughts in a way that Facebook doesn't support.

Love you all! Can't wait to see what this new adventure brings. This time with an extra family member. Wonder what Finn will think of the snow when it comes...lol.

Posting Slacker

Hello all,
I see that I haven't been on our blog since June of last year. Having joined Facebook, put a different focus on where we were sharing our information, but I know that not everyone has a Facebook account to see all the pictures and happenings going on on a daily basis, so I thought that I would try and pick up on the family blog again. So much has happened between last June and now, but I will have to go into that later. Just wanted to put a note in here saying that I will be back to update on the goings on of this gypsy family :-)

Love,
Maria

Finally Finished a Project!!!

I am on a roll with these posts, so here's the last one for tonight (DesignStar is on and FoodNetwork Star comes on next). I am sooooo excited because I finally FINISHED a crochet project! It's a little blanket that I have been working on for Luke. I started it at the end of March and with a few minutes here and a few minutes there. It's finally done. For my first project with a new stitch, I think it looks pretty good. What do you think Auntie Leona? Now I hope it doesn't take me 3 more months to send it down there...hehehe!
This pic shows the stitching: It's a V-Stitch with a Picot edging...pretty impressive terminology, huh :-)

Rock Cats Baseball

Okay, I know I totally did this out of order, but this is the follow up to the earlier "Birthday Preview" post about what we did on the actual day of Emma's birthday (June 11). After we went strawberry picking and bowling, we went to the Rock Cats game. It's the Double A team for the Minnesota Twins. The kids love going in the "Fun Zone" where they have a bunch of inflatables. Aidan did the hitting one, while Emma went a few times on the slide. We also paid to have Emma's name announced over the loudspeaker at the end of the 5th inning. They also put it up on the big board. She was soooo surprised. It was nice and the money goes toward the Rock Cats foundation so that's a plus.

It wasn't too warm either, in the 80's...fabulously warm! And it was also Polish night, so there was a polka band before the game. That was cool. So I think that we made up for last couple of
years of not celebrating her birthday. She's good for at least 3 years...lol! It became kind of a birthday week celebration, too because Beau felt bad we didn't have a cake for her, so we got one the next day to have after dinner. Aidan had to stick his finger in it, of course :-)

Emma's Birthday Party

Hi All,
Here are some pics from Emma's birthday party that we had on the 14th of June. It was a Strawberry Shortcake theme, so we had personal strawberry shortcakes and strawberry cheesecake instead of cake. I kept going back and forth about canceling the party and postponing or changing it to an inside venue since the weather report said isolated thunderstorms. No good for a bounce house and water fun. But, it all worked out. I decided to move up the time of the party and the storm started just as the last guests were leaving...so awesome! I think everyone had a good time, which is always the goal :-)

Birthday Preview

Hi all,
I know that I have to catch up some stuff from the end of March til now, but I thought that while I was at the computer I would add a few pics from Emma's birthday today. It's about 4 p.m. and so far today we have gone strawberry picking, had lunch with a few of Emma's friends, and gone bowling (Emma won, too). We are leaving in about a half an hour to go to the Rock Cats baseball game where we hope to score some free stuff. More details to follow :-)

Science Fair

Last Tuesday, March 25, Emma participated in a Creation Science Fair hosted by our homeschool group. Emma wanted to display her rocks she had "dug" up at this cool place about 40 minutes south of where we live. I actually think it's called The Dinosaur Place. It's in Montville and their is a HUGE dinosaur structure in front of it holding a Coca-Cola cup (woohoo!)and sunglasses. So we did Rock Classification and she learned about the three types of rocks and where we can find them in the United States and all kinds of stuff. I know the board looks cheesy, but we almost forgot to make one and had to put it together in about 5 minutes.

Emma had a cool idea on the day before the science fair of making a volcano to show an example of where igneous rocks come from. Beau and she made it that night. Pretty great job. I have to also say, the first eruption we did at home was much better than the one we did in front of an audience. Isn't that always the way :-)

Rock Fun Fact:

The Lincoln Memorial has all three types of rocks incorporated in the it. Igneous granite is found in the base and lower steps of the memorial, the floor and statue of President Lincoln are made of metamorphic marble, and the interior columns and walls are composed of sedimentary limestone.

Easter

Hi Guys!

Got some Easter pics to share with everyone. Funny story though (in an ironic sort of way). So I'm not sure if everyone knows this, but I've had to take Emma off the refined sugar (except for the once in a while small treat) because that mixed with tiredness and not getting her own way means major meltdown. Makes for some interesting days (and by interesting I mean "oh my gosh want to tear my hair out" days). We took the kids to the local grocery store to get their picture with the Easter bunny and there was a "count the jelly beans in the jar" contest as well as a "count the smartie packs in a jar." I love those contests, so while we're waiting I put in a fun guess in for Aidan on both, but the tickets with Emma's name on them I make a real guess. Beau said 1100 for the jelly beans, so I put 1138. For the Smarties, I put something like 92 or something. We get their pictures and then leave to go to the Easter egg hunt at Golfland. On Monday we get a call that Emma has won the guessing game--oh wait! Not just one, but both!!!! I couldn't believe it! (Maybe Beau and I should take a trip to Vegas and play roulette or something :-)) I listen to the message and go, oh crap! They're going to give us both jars of candy...which they did, but they also gave her 2 baskets with a cute bunny and sidewalk chalk, one of which she gave to her brother. I kept the jelly beans for a couple of days to try using as potty treats for Aidan (yes, we totally regressed when we moved here-if I haven't told you that story, ask me to), but I kind of knew what was going to happen. They made such a fuss over wanting more, more, more candy, that I ended up throwing them in the trash. So that was fun. Emma was so excited at winning something, she kept saying, "I've never won anything before."

That same day we went on to an Easter egg hunt at Golfland. It's a miniature golf place like Boomers in SDC (San Diego County). We let the kids go to that one because they put token and free miniature golf tickets in a lot of the eggs, so it's fun to go back when it's warmer and redeem those. I have to say though, their mini golf course is short and not as cool as the ones I grew up with. Same as last year, it was freezing out when we went egg hunting. Emma was disappointed that she couldn't wear a sleeveless dress and sandals for Easter again. (We're working on that, maybe next year she can). Golfland always has a TON of eggs. We let the kids go out and have fun. I usually walk next to Aidan to make sure he doesn't get trampled on. Boy are some parents aggressive! Obviously Aidan and I were in the 1-3 year old section and there was this one mom who kept "coaching" her 3 probably almost 4-year old on what to do. I think the dad was getting aggravated at her-that was amusing to watch...hehehe.

The next weekend we went to another egg hunt at someone's house. A co-worker of Angel's invited us last year and again this year. They also have a ton a eggs and lots of food. They are Swedish, I think, so there was a hazelnut cake and all kinds of yummy dessert foods. That was fun.

BTW, notice how Beau still has coffee in his hands? I think when he dies, I might have them put him in the coffin with a Starbucks cup in his hand...Hehehe!

For Easter we went to church, had a ham and sides and hung out. Another relaxing holiday.

Hope yours was great! Talk to you all soon!

:-) Maria

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope you all have a fabulous day! We love you!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love,
Emma and Aidan

Updates

Hello all!
So I haven't been keeping up with the updates as much as I've wanted, so here's the latest for Christmas and January. As you can see, we made gingerbread houses at Christmas time. Unfortunately these are the only pics that got taken for Christmas. When I did the last blog, the camera got lost in the piles around the desk and we couldn't find it. I didn't even think to go get a disposable from Walgreens right up the street---DUH! But the kids loved their gifts and we had a pretty relaxing holiday. Beau's parents also came up and it was nice to see them and the kids got to hang out with them for a few days. I actually didn't do anything. Other than buy the food, I didn't offer to make it, I didn't decorate, and basically hung with the kids. There was no stress that people would scoff at the menu or get testy about the way things were being done. It was awesome! I did go in the kitchen, though, and help out when I saw that Angel was getting a little overwhelmed.
For New Years, the kids made it to midnight and we toasted with sparkling apple cider. Emma lost another tooth a couple of weeks ago, so there's a big space on the bottom. The tooth fairy only brought a $1 this time, but she was okay with that since we told her ahead of time.
Aidan is going to be three in April, and we are getting into our more independent, defiant stage. I found out that I have a hormone imbalance, so it makes him not listening a little more intense and annoying. I don't have as much patience as I used to due to that fact, so I go from calm to mad in no time flat. Hopefully I get balanced soon because I am annoying myself! LOL!
Nothing else exciting except some baby news...no not me. Micah had a little baby boy, Luke Patrick, on Jan 25, 2008 at 5:31am, weighing 6 lbs 4 oz, and 19 1/2" long. Congratulations guys!
Our next baby news and milestone is from Jilly!!! She turned 30 on January 31st. THIRTY! Can you believe it? I can't. Only because I don't feel it (on most days) and I am right behind her! Time really flies! And to boot, she's pregnant! Woohoo! I am having the hardest time not picking up something every time I go to Target or Old Navy because everything is soooo cute! 21 weeks cannot come soon enough. My first feeling is that it's a boy, but we'll have to see :-) Relax and enjoy your pregnancy, sweetie, because the second one goes by so fast.
So that's all for now! Talk to you all soon!
Love,
Maria

It's out!

I was soooo wrong! Apparently Emma's tooth was looser than I thought...It's out! We were at one of our favorite places...Guesses? Anyone? COSTCO! WooHoo! So here are the pics of her new hole-y mouth. I'm also adding the pics of the reindeer sandwiches I made for the kids the other night...so cute :-)

Loose Tooth and Mr. Boy Boy

That's right! Emma officially has her first loose tooth! It's been wiggly for a couple of weeks, but now it is really loose. The dentist, last week, said that it may be out by Christmas, but I'm thinking maybe by New Year's.
So I am adding this next pic so everyone can see Aidan's shiner. It doesn't look so bad in the pic, but in person it looks worse. Yesterday he tried to pull down a stocking from the mantel, at a friend's house, but it was being held up by a really heavy pewter or heavy metal stocking holder and fell right on his face. I thought that he might have broken his nose at first, but it was just a black eye. Poor kid...he got the accident proneness (is that a word?) from his mother. What can I say...

The one thing that I do like about the NE is all the history that is encapsulated in the area. Yesterday we went to an old house in Hartford that was built in the Colonial times, but has the original Victorian decorations and furnishings that were owned by the family. We learned about some Victorian Christmas traditions and got to take a tour of the house. It's called the Butler-McCook Home and the last owner in the family died in 1971 at the age of 94, then she turned over all the records, diaries and the home itself to the CT landmarks society (basically the historical society).
Let's see, what else is going on...last week the kids decorated gingerbread men at the library and had a blast. We've watched just about every Christmas classic cartoon that's been on TV, Thursday we're going to make Christmas cookies for the neighbors, and hopefully string some popcorn and cranberries to put around the tree. I have, of course, waited til the last minute to send out Christmas cards and pictures, so if you get them after Christmas, I apologize. At least you should have them before the New Year :-)
That's all for now, hope everyone is staying relaxed at this hectic time of year, especially with last minute shopping. Have a fantastic week! Lots of Love to you all!