1 Bedroom For 86 Dollars!

Over the last couple of months its been on my mind to complete our construction project we began two summers ago. You see when we planned our addition, it revolved around adding on a third bedroom. Our architect designed plans that would more than double Anna's room. Our contractor completed the addition two years ago (along with enlarging the kitchen, adding on a bathroom, a family room and laundry room). We said when we were ready, we'd put up a wall in Anna's room and make it two bedrooms instead of one. For the time being she had a huge bedroom. Well, for the last few months, I've been thinking about how we still have to put the wall up, and breakthrough the hallway to make a new entry door for the third bedroom. I've been dreading it though because I remember all too well the mess involved. Our plan was to complete the construction when I became pregnant however I also remember being pregnant with Anna while Ron and his dad renovated our bathroom and the smell of paint fumes was enough to throw me over the edge! So keeping all that in mind, I've been stewing over how we should just get this over with now especially since it is the summer and Ron's schedule allows us to ocassionally see him in the light of day! So rather than fretting over it any longer, Ron and I decided rather spontaneously to put the wall up today. Here are our results. And it only cost us 86 dollars to make our little 2 bedroom house, a 3 bedroom home! Oh, and the mess wasn't as bad as I expected -maybe not being nine months pregnant makes a difference in how you view things!

Girls' Afternoon Out

I think the weatherman said this morning it has rained 21 out of the 25 days we've had in June. Today, the sun is almost out, its humid and 80 degrees. I promised Anna I'd take her to the lake if the sun was out when she got up from her nap. Ron has graduation this evening and the girls have the house to themselves for a while. I told her we'd get a slice of pizza too. Chloe wants to know why four legged girlfriends can't join in on the fun. She's still pouting that we gave her a bath in the kitchen sink yesterday.

Rain, Rain Go Away...

I'm not sure if yesterday would have gone down as the best first day of summer vacation for Anna because we cleaned the house all day. My goal is to really get the house back in order over summer and my goal was to tackle one job a day. But since yesterday was raining, I told Anna we should make use of our time at home. We accomplished a lot and I have now found someone who LOVES to dust the legs of all my furniture (I hate that job!). Anyway, Anna and I had fun (at least I think she did) and we accomplished a lot. While she took her nap, I walked around the house outside checking on our flowers and our vegetable garden. I came across three surprises for her on my walk...
A beautiful lilly in our garden that had just bloomed.
Our very first zucchini starting to grow.
A nest in the birdhouse Grandpa built us complete with baby birds!

First Day of Summer Vacation!

Anna and I begin our summer vacation today. I never would have believed it if someone told me I'd start the year out as teaching assistant and finish the year as lead teacher/director. It was a great experience but I'm ready for a break! I told Anna we'll be planning lots of fun activities this summer. I want Anna to see the fireworks display for the first time this year. We'll also hit Jones Beach once or twice in Long Island. There's also the Danbury Fair Carnival I want to take her too. We want to take her to the Bronx Zoo again and Ron would even like to set up our tent in the backyard and have a campout with her. I'll sit that one out! We also signed her up for the town's swimming lessons. I told her that we also have to cook from a brand new recipe at least once a week too since we have been getting in a big rut! She's at a great age now and its almost like we're two best friends hanging out together. Here are some pictures of some birthday parties she attended lately. She has been quite the social butterfly! I'm also including a picture of her on her new swing Ron made. We wanted an old fashioned swing in our backyard under the crabapple tree. It has been perfect -until the rains came. Now the rope has shrunk and Anna can't get on it by herself! Anyone know a rope we can use that won't shrink?

My Mom

Mom, Thank you for always being my best friend. Someone I can come to and talk to about anything. Someone who always understands me and my quirks. You're always supportive, encouraging and you never give up on me. I've learned you're always right -even when I think the outcome you have chosen could never possibly work out, it somehow does. Thank you for always willing to talk to me about my fears and concerns and worries. Thank you for always being there for me. I love you.

Finally Back!

When we began the addition, one of my saddest days was when my dad and brother arrived to help Ron take down our 'old' -really 'new' deck. Ron's dad had built us a beautiful deck when we bought the house 1 1/2 years earlier but when we decided to add on, the only logical place was where the deck was. So they took it down, stored all the wood and I honestly missed it every day since then. This past weekend though, Ron's dad graciously came back again to rebuild it. And let me tell you, we are loving it. It doesn't matter if its cold, windy, or even raining. We've been out there using it every day. Here are some pictures. The first two are of the new deck. The last one was taken as we took the old deck down.

Anna after dressing up in her princess outfit:

"Mommy, do you think I look pretty enough that a prince would ever want to dance with me?"






Yes, my sweet girl. You are very, very pretty.

Anyone Else?

Call me crazy but in these two pictures I can see Anna in me and I can see me in my mom. Anyone else?

Best Friends

Growing up, my dad always took tons of pictures of us and had them developed into slides. We have a whole collection of slides in the basement collecting dust. Since my dad recently retired, he has started going through them and scanning them on the computer. Every so often I am thrilled when he sends us some to look at. I could sit and look at them for hours at a time. Here are some of my favorites that he sent today.

Grammy's Surprise Party

This past weekend we were in Maryland for Ron's mom's surprise birthday party. We had a great time visiting with family and Anna loved playing with all of her cousins. Here are some highlights from our trip.

Sweet Chloe

Chloe has been enjoying some downtime by the new fire too. Here she is taking a sunbath in our toasty warm family room.

Snuggles on a Snow Day!

Sit Back and Relax

Our new stove recently arrived and we have really been enjoying it. Winter really isn't so bad when your snuggled in your warm cozy house currently at 78 degrees! We have been enjoying warm cocoa by the fire, stories by the fire and movies by the fire. Ron claims one of these nights he's going to sleep by the fire, but I prefer my comfortable bed to a hardwood floor!

He's packing for Albany.

If All Goes Well...

If all goes well today for Ron, his wrestling students will win sectionals, the wrestling season will be extended a week longer and then he will be away for a three day period to compete up in Albany, NY for the state competition. If all goes well for me today.... they'll lose. I'll be honest in saying I haven't prayed at all that they'd lose, but I haven't prayed that they'd win either -Lord, its your will.

Mid-Winter Break

Ron, Anna and I have this week off for Mid-Winter Break. Although Ronnie still has to go into work each day for practice, its nice having him home the rest of the time. Unfortunately, Friday evening, Anna came down with a cold and within 24 hours, had what we thought was pink-eye and pain in her ears. I took her to the drs and they said it is a bug going around that causes eye goopies (and an excessive amount!) as well as ear infections -and bam! she had one. I'm pleased she made it to three and a half years old never having one before! She's a great patient and handles not feeling well nicely but boy, let me tell you, she DOES NOT like getting her eyedrops. Ronnie and I have to pin her down, kicking and screaming -which honestly is not in her nature. She is doing better now though and sleeping peacefully as I write this.

Chloe is doing well too. I weaned her off of meds yesterday and so far, she seems to be pain free. Praise God! She's handling crate rest so much better than last time -minimal whining and crying. She's happy if she's near the sliding glass door so she can keep an eye on her turf!

We're steadily approaching the time of year I like least of all -Spring. Don't get me wrong, I love warm spring days but I can't stand the damp, cold ones where the ground is wet and muddy and seems to find its way in my house each day! I also have the hardest time figuring out what to wear -I'm always cold unless I'm hot so I really struggle with three quarter length shirts and light pants on a fifty degree day with no sun. I'd rather just skip straight to summer.

Not Again!

First of all I apologize for the lack of posts lately. Life has been rather busy here lately. Unfortunately on Tuesday, poor Chloe's back gave her problems again. When I got home from work she stayed in her crate and didn't want to come out -even when I tempted her with food. After about two hours she came out and was walking with her tail between her legs as well as shivering. She'd lay down very slowly and gingerly. I had a feeling it was her back but I thought maybe something else was bothering her. Then after dinner, when I went to walk her, she yelped several times when I went to pick her up. It was then that my heart sank because that's a telltale sign. We immediately crated her, started her on meds and called the vet. She's on crate rest now for the next few weeks. I must say that she seems to be doing incredibly well. Thank God she is a much better patient this time and only whines occassionally about being held prisoner. Her tail wags quite a bit too and she is walking normally when allowed to come out and go potty. I think we dodged the bullet this time.

Life Really Boils Down to Two Questions....

Should I have children...

Should I get a dog...

Snow Day!

Update on the Whiteheads

First for some wonderful news: My mom called me earlier today to say that her cancer antigens have dropped 30%! This is the first time in a long time she has gotten good news. It means the new chemo is working! We are thrilled. She'll be meeting with the dr later this afternoon to discuss what they will do although I'm sure she'll be continuing with the treatment. Praise God!


Anna and I are home today. She has a cold with a low grade temperature so we are hanging out together. Plus its only 20 degrees so we'd rather be indoors! She is feeling well though and has decided to sing "Jingle Bells" in lieu of her nap today. I told her we'd watch a princess movie when she gets up so although she isn't sleeping, she's playing happily in her bed, entertaining herself.


I'm working on refinancing our mortgage since rates our so low. It is so confusing though because you get different figures and information from different banks. Plus I'm mathematically handicapped so that doesn't help. I need to write everything down and then figure out the math once I get off the phone with them. Pray for God's guidance -and lower rates :)