K-Seas

Vacation Day 1

I am typing this from my iphone so please forgive spelling and grammar. The vacation is off to an auspicious start. We arrived at our condo (timeshare) last night around 6. As soon as we pulled in we new we were in trouble. If there was a Ghetto in the White Mountains we found it. It was white trash city. We just weren't going to fit in at this place. After all I don't even own a wifebeater. We pulled up to our unit and there was already a family living there. There was supposed to be a lock box with the key waiting for us. I guess Kid Rock and his band beat us too it. The office was closed so we had no recourse. Not that we were going to do anything we weren't going to stay there anyway. ( although I did hear the nightime entertainment was a shotgun salute to the Allman Brothers)
The search began for our new home away from home. Not the easiest task for a family of 6 on a Saturday night. We finally settled on a one night stay at the Christmas Farm Inn. Nice and comfy right? Wrong! The accomodations were fine to everyone except the litlle fella (Beckett). Apparently he hated the place as he didn't sleep all night.
So we begin day 2. We have no plan but I can assure you that we will have fun!
On a side note Wendy had taken to calling me "Clark". As in "Clark W. Griswold".
The picture is the cottage I am typing this from.

400

Beckett came with me on my run last night.  It was the first time I've run with the little bugger.  Turns out it was a momentous occasion as I completed my 400th mile of 2008.

Welcome Back!

Joelle and Marina were back home after spending two weeks in Hollywood where Joelle participated in a youth theater/singing/dancing camp.  On her last day Joelle audition in front of representatives from Nickelodeon and Disney as well as Jason Alexander (Seinfeld).

Grandma and Papa Gordo helped us celebrate by treating us all to Lobsters and Steamers. 

The kids cleaned their own lobsters for the first time.  My hands couldn't take it anymore.

Joelle

Will didn't actually eat a lobster.  In his words he was doing "research"

Welcome home girls!

Testing iPhone Typepad App

 

Hi

The Next Super Heroes??

No words needed for this motley crew...

Worst call of all time? Lugo called out when safe by a mile

If anyone needs a break it's Julio Lugo.  He definitely did not get one here.

Red Sox Rap Video-Funny

Beckett is 5-Months Old Today!!

Beckett is five months old today!  He's really starting to become more and more alert to his surroundings, and his personality is really starting to develop.   He's definitely "one of those" babies who likes be held all of the time, which really isn't much fun for us adults.  Don't get me wrong - I don't mind holding him.  Just not all the time. Although I must say, I’ve gotten pretty good at doing things with one arm. I guess it’s good preparation in case I lose an arm in a gator attack.

Ever since we brought Beckett home from the hospital, he has preferred to sleep on his stomach. It goes against everything the “professionals” tell you – the American Academy of Pediatrics has the “Back to Sleep” campaign. Well, the AAP wasn’t helping me out while my young infant wailed incessantly all night long. I understand their concern, but really, some babies like to only sleep on the stomachs. And some parents like to sleep. Therefore, I let Beckett sleep on his stomach. Now, don’t get me wrong, this isn’t to say that I wasn’t worried and didn’t check on him like 76 times each night – because I did. I just added it to my endless list of worries as a sleep-deprived mother…

Anyway, just recently Beckett has learned how to roll himself over in his crib. This gets him onto his back, and this makes him cranky. Think about what a turtle looks like on its back – that pretty much sums up Beckett.  Not a happy turtle. Secretly I think it’s kinda funny, but I don’t think he would appreciate knowing that.

Eventually he’ll learn to turn himself back over, or learn to sleep on his back. Having to re-adjust him six times every night now is getting old…I hope eventually comes quickly…

Happy 5-months Beckett!! We love you!

Beckett at 5 months

Shaun at one year                                                   

See a similarity?                           

Dude-That's a sweet car!

WARNING-This may only be funny to me!

Last night was the rain date for the Portsmouth Fireworks.  Our neighbors invited us on their boat  to watch the festivities from the Harbor.  I grabbed Will and we boarded the boat around 7.  We filled the 2 hours before the show with a BBQ, some fishing, crab traps and a little photography.  While taking pictures of the surroundings I could not help but notice a convertible sports car continuously passing on the road near the mooring.  Every so often a gentleman would get out and take a look at his car and then move on.  Finally after about 6 or 7 passes he started shooting.....photo's...

Now maybe it's me...but taking a picture of your car seems a little odd, especially if you had to cruise this particular piece of roadway for 20-30 minutes waiting for the sun to set just right....

Back to the car...I made a comment to my neighbor Al while this was happening that I could only  understand what he was doing if he had a lady friend in the car and he was actually taking a picture of her in the car...but after carefully studying this picture I determined that he was solo..

BUT WAIT..now there are two in the car and they are both are men (not that there is anything wrong with that) .In my wildest dreams I couldn't see this happening with any one of my friends. If I even suggested this type of photo opp. they would have immediately revoked my Man Card.  (after reviewing the previous photos I determined that the passenger had "ducked" down to avoid being in the photo).

I think I am going to go take a picture of our Mini Van to see "how it feels"...maybe I am missing out on someting??

You're Going to Hollywood!

Good luck to Joelle who today embarks on a 2 week adventure to Hollywood to take part in Camp Electric Youth.  Camp Electric Youth is a theater/acting/singing camp for children.  It was started by Deborah Gibson and features celebrity instructors Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Howard Fine, Cynthia Bain  of course Deborah Gibson(and others).

Joelle got the theater bug started in a BIG way when she auditioned for a role on the "King and I" at the Ogunquit Playhouse last summer.  She landed a role as one of the King's children and got to work with the likes of Lorenzo Lamas and Rachel de Benedet.  It was an exciting time for all of us. As a side note she will be working with Lorenzo Lamas once again, he is a guest instructor at CEY.

Since then she has been in 2 more plays. HONK!  and Treasure Island (both at the Seacoast Rep Theater).

A few months back she sent in an audition video(s) to Camp Electric Youth and was chosen to be one of the children in this years camp.  She also received a partial scholarship.

Although I am going to miss her for next 2 weeks I am very happy for her to be able to take part in this chance of a lifetime.  Good Luck Joelle and break a leg!!

The Garden Room

It's been about three years in the making but it's about to be completed..and named.  When we first got quotes to build a screened-in porch (going forward named the "Garden Room") off our back deck we were astounded by the costs.  We had quotes of 20-25k to build what we wanted.  As much as we wanted this sanctuary from the mosquitoes 20k was just too much money.  So we went with plan "B".  The do it yourself plan, or in my case the do it with help plan.  With the help of our friend and handyman Rick, we were able to get the basic structure up over the summer of 2006.  We worked on it almost every weekend that summer and it was usable by September.  Unfortunately I  didn't get to enjoy the summer week-ends that I treasure so much that whole summer.  Was it worth it?  I still don't know.  Last year it was quite the paint project but we still went into 2008 with an "open ceiling" concept as well as a "we don't know what to do with the floor" concept. Well yesterday we took the final steps toward completion.  With the help of Papa G and my Mom a bead board ceiling was installed.  Today Papa G comes back for the trim work.  After that we paint the ceiling, trim and floor AND VOILA..The Garden Room.  The best part is when it's all said in done we will have done it for about 1/5th the cost spread over a few years. 

The entrance off the kitchen

The new bead board ceiling.

The view to the Garden.  Hence the name "Garden Room"

Click here for more pictures.

Thank you to all who have helped!