How to Buy a Pez Dispenser

A couple weeks ago before the Adirondack air became crisp and cool we spent the day walking through a giant Garage Sale in the neighboring town. 

It is miles and miles of vintage and antique happiness. 

My husband loves it for the food...sausage, onions and peppers to be exact.

My oldest likes it for the hunt of a pile of Pokemon cards real cheap.

And my youngest, well, he never really knows what he wants until he finds it.

Magic with a Mason Jar

My 6 year old is all about magic these days. 

He watches every you tube video he can find on how to do the tricks.  

I love how interested he is in this craft.

So without further ado, I present The Great Little Monkey and some magic with a mason jar....

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Music to my Ears 

{Teachers Change Lives}

One of my very first students was a second grade girl named Sarah*.

She was shy. Painfully shy.

I could barely get her to say two words most days, let alone really tell if her reading was improving.

She did the work that I gave her, but oh how she struggled.

As a reading teacher I worked with her for 4 years in a row before she left to go to the middle school; however, I didn't feel I was making a difference in her life. 

And much to my despair, I would hear others say that she wasn't very smart, but not do much else in the way of going to college or having a career.

Never once did I give up on her.

Love that Boy…

Love that boy

like a rabbit loves to run

I said I love that boy

like a rabbit loves to run

Love to call him in the morning

love to call him,

“Hey there, son!”

          -Walter Dean Myers

                   *First stanza

We're just trying to enjoy the last bit of summer vacation around here.

These days are fleeting. 

And although the kids {and I} can be cranky at times….I know these days are numbered.

Soak up the sun, friends!

A Six-Word Love Story…Hers

Remember the movie, "Phenomenon"?

John Travolta (George) and Kyra Sedgwick (Lace).

What a movie. I still cry every time I watch it. 

Lace got really mad at George when she saw all the chairs she made, that he had bought, piled up in his house. She didn't yet understand that he was madly in love with her. That it was a metaphor for his love.

Towards the end when George was dying, Doc got fed up with Bains and the other guys gossiping about him. 

Doc said to Bains, "Lace is sticking with him. You know why? Because he bought her chairs. It’s pretty smart to me. Did you ever buy Lisa’s chairs? You see, every woman has her chairs, something she needs to put herself into, Bains. Did you ever figure out what Lisa’s chairs were and buy 'em?"  

A Six Word Love Story…His

The night I met him was a sweet summer night.

I didn't know it at the time, but 16 years later I have come to realize that his heart’s six-word love story was written that night.

After meeting him at my favorite fraternity house, we went downtown to play darts and talk.

The whole of the conversation eludes me...maybe I was super nervous because he was so cute or maybe it has just been too long to remember all the details, but I do remember this part...

Six-Word Love Stories

Last year, Layla from The Lettered Cottage wrote a post about six-word love stories that were in the book, 2 , that her friends wrote.

We were so inspired, Matt and I wrote our own six-word love stories for our anniversary gift to each other last year.

It only took me an extra 379 days to make the canvas of our best stories.

There are stories behind our stories.

Please came back on Monday to read "his story".

PS...I made a few Miner adjustments to my story on the canvas. The first one didn't tell a particular story that we could remember.  This one does.

Sweet Summer Days…

The Story of When My Life Began

Many love stories start during the sweet summer.

Sweet summer days at the beach.

Sweet summer nights sitting by the camp fire.

Sweet summer evenings on the roof of your favorite fraternity house.

And after a long shift at the shoe store, a thousand years ago at a college far far away, I found myself walking to that fraternity house.

All of my sorority sisters were already there and I could hear them, but couldn't find them in the giant house.

So, I took my cute-green-tank-top-short-shorts-flip-flop-wearing-self upstairs.

Out the second floor window I saw a ladder leading to the roof. 

Just Say No to Resolutions... Say Yes to Goals

"Whose woods these are I think I now

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow."

The woods are lovely dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

                             ~Robert Frost

That is part of one of my all time favorite poems.

It reminds me to slow down a little and enjoy my surroundings, but to also keep focused on my goals.

Is it Happy Hour yet?

To my best friend, Tina...

You've been there for me through the great and the not so great.

You've offered honest advice and dodged F-R-O-G-S with me.

You've traveled to shop for wedding dresses
and talked thousands of hours on the phone about nothing at all.

You've been so good to me (and my family)....words could never express my gratefulness.

No matter how many miles separate us, we will always be connected! I wouldn't make any Miner adjustments to our friendship!

I wish for you a new year of adventure and pure loveliness in every one of your days!

I love you forever!

Is it happy hour yet?

{Trina}

Ever have one of those days....

You know....one of those days when everything is going fantastically.  You couldn't think of a better way to have your day go and then everything goes horrible wrong.

Today is that day.

Scary Roller Coaster Source

Alas, the roller-coaster of life continues!

Try to enjoy the day or have a "mommy needs a drink" drink.

{Trina}

Always Remember

Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001?  

I doubt that most people will ever forget. And I will spare the story of where I was, as it is boring and unimportant.

Instead, I will take a moment to be still and silent for all the people who were lost that day 11 years ago.  

With Love,

~Trina

40 Years and Counting

A couple weeks ago, I heard Dr. Oz say that 40 is the official end of your youth and the beginning of the second half of your life. Talk about depressing.

Well, it just so happens that today is the 40th birthday of my best friend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Love!  Here is to the birth of the second half of your life! We are not going to listen to the good doctor.

You are...generous, caring, funny, a fabulous father, an outstanding teacher, and a wonderful husband!

I hope that you will not need to make any Miner adjustments in the coming year!

Happy Birthday!

~Trina

Our Week in Review:

Summer Vacation Rages On!

In the spirit of trying to get everything from our Summer Bucket List accomplished, we were busy this week! I think we even made some Miner adjustments to the list and added a couple adventures. 

We went to Howe Caverns on Monday.  At the beginning of the tour they had this mechanical guy (Lester Howe) telling us about the caverns.  He was kind of creepy, so it was nice to see the TV on the wall light up with these cute animations.

Do you know the difference between stalagtites and stalagmites?  I didn't either. Stalagtites are on the ceiling (hold tight to the ceiling) and stalagmites are on the floor (watch out, you might trip on them).  The active stalagtite is always on the ceiling above the stalagmite.

It seems that I rarely get a picture of me and the hubs and wouldn't you know it, B. hijacked it!

The Turtle.
He is done growing as his water source has been cut off.
He must be really cranky stuck there with no water!

Looks like something out of "Aliens".

On Wednesday we took our canoe to the lake. We went down a canal at the bottom of Tongue Mountain that opens up into the lake. What a glorious day! We couldn't have asked for better weather.  The only thing that could have made it perfect was if the boys sat still and didn't rock the boat!

Traffic Jam!

To finish off the week, we had a pizza making party and painted some bird houses. 

One last thing...I couldn't resist a sneak peak of our cutie project.

How are you doing with your summer bucket list?

Happy Adventures!
~Trina

Blog Headers: Too Many Choices

I seriously have too many options right now. And if you know me well, you know that I am the type of person who goes into a store and carries an object around hemming and hawing about buying it until I get to the counter only to change my mind and walk it all the way back. Or I will buy it and then return it in a week after having buyer's remorse.  I think I get this trait from my grandma. Sorry, Gram...it's true.

So when I figured out how to make my own blog header I played. And played. And played.  I can just hear my dad now. "You need to get a life." But hey, when you have small kids who go to bed at 7:30 and your husband is gone 4 nights a week for work (only in the summer, thank God) there isn't a whole lot to do.

Well, I guess I could bake, decorate, craft, read, sleep, do laundry, twiddle my thumbs, drink wine. But right now, this is my obsession. And hey, this is a cross between crafting, decorating and reading, so there!

Then after I made these, and even a couple for Christmas that I am saving for December, I figured out how to make a collage. And I think that maybe, just maybe this page is as it should be (for now).

What do you think? Did I pick the right one or is there a different one that you like better? 

I hope I haven't scared anyone away with my indecision. Thanks for being patient with me.

Happy Crafting, Decorating, Reading....Designing!

~Trina

My Week in Review - Water, Water, More Water

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It was a  whirlwind of a week. I was going to blog about some other things today, but I was overwhelmed with all the photos and videos that I took this week.  Just needed to share some with you, my friends.  So here is our week.

On the way to the beach the boys started singing. I was lucky enough to catch the tail end of the concert!

We had a major torrential thunderstorm on Wednesday evening.  We unplugged all TVs and computers it was so close.  Luck for us, we were home because there was a flood in our basement at our crappy scape well window.  So glad that we haven't gotten around to finishing this room yet. (Time to make a few Miner adjustments).

And so after that stressful evening, we headed back to the beach the next day.  A little vitamin D and water fun does the soul good.

I had more videos...the basement waterfall, the boys swimming, and a battle between a very cute Batman and Spidey, but alas they would not upload.  (Sigh).

Anyway, Happy Weekend! We will be at the beach.

~Trina

It's my party and...

I won't cry, but I am not...I repeat...I am not turning 36.  We'll call it 35 and holding or how about 29 again...that is even better.  And I am not changing ages because now I am on the down hill slope to 40.  And we all know how fast time goes when you are facing the down hill.  

someecards

So today, while I have the privilege of celebrating my day (I love this day...not the number), I will leave you with a few of my favorite birthday pins and a couple of pictures of my past birthday celebrations.

2011

 

stylish correspondence

2009

1997 - My 21st birthday with mom and dad...those were the days.
My dad is such a goof!

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And if it is your birthday today as well...

Have an amazing day full of love, laughter and maybe a present or 2!

Happy Day!

~Trina

Visitors!

So excited! My parents are coming today!  We haven't seen them since the beginning of May.
Unfortunately, we live 4 hours apart.  The kids get so excited to see them!  And my mom is staying for 9 days! 

So I might be M.I.A. for a little while.  But we have projects to do and places to visit, so I will hopefully have some good ideas for you!  Have a great week!

This is one excited boy!

~Trina

12 Today

12 years ago on this day I said, "I do."

12 years ago on this day I said, "I will."

12 years ago on this day I said, "Yes."

Forever.

I still mean it....no Miner adjustments.

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Happy Anniversary, Baby!

Love, Trina

71 Days...

That is a lot of time to sleep in

That is a lot of time to learn how to swim

That is a lot of time to read books and learn about new places

That is a lot of time to play croquet

71 Days...

That is a lot of time to make projects and paint

That is a lot of time to go on impromptu road trips

That is a lot of time to eat ice cream cones and go to the beach

71 Days...

It will fly by, but I promise that I will be as "happy as a bird with a french fry"

For those all those days.

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Happy Summer Vacation!

How are you spending the next 71 days?

~Trina