It was Inevitable

There is a laundry list of things that I wanted to prolong the exposure to or never introduce to my kids. French fries before the age of 1, sweets before they tasted their first bite of birthday cake, endless hours of TV watching, game boys, and (sound Star Wars theme) Chuckie Cheese. Well, it was inevitable that eventually the world of the big Cheese would enter HS's realm. We had been able to dodge that bullet for the past six years. Chalk most of that ability to the fact that we kept him out of country for so much of his early childhood so by the time he was in the states he had no idea what the place even was. Well, good things don't always last forever. Sometimes they plummet downwards and sometimes they make everything even better than it used to be. In this case, the dreaded Chuckie Cheese visit turned out to be wonderful, enjoyable, and we all left with smiles.

HS's little friend from across the street invited him a number of weeks ago to her birthday party. He came running in the house waving the invitation high above his head while shouting, "we're going to CHHH-UUUU-KKKK-IIEEEEE CHEEEEEEEZ!"

HH and I tried very hard to stifle the groan and quickly began trying to figure out how many Tylenol would we need to survive a birthday party at the kid zone full of pizza and token laden games. "I think I'll need to take Tylenol all day just to get ready for this" I whisper to HH who nods yes in a daze.

The day of the party, HS came home from school and raced to get his homework done, go to karate, and then await the big moment. The doors of Chuckie Cheese flung open and a new world opened up.

Chucky Cheese greeted HS the moment we stepped over the threshold. HS wrapped his arms around this brilliantly devised creature who inspires happiness and motivates a child to the best behavior possible just to earn a visit to this place. With HS's smile, no one would have known that he had never laid eyes on this creature before, especially when he took his mouse hat and placed it firmly on his head (and it would stay there until he changed into his PJ's!).

WOW!!!! Look at all this!!!!" he exclaimed with huge eyes. Where do I begin? Look at all the games! She's shouting about winning tickets galore...I want that, too...but, what exactly do you do to get those precious pieces of paper that translate to a block of Hubba Bubba chewing gum? All these questions swarmed about his 6 year-old head as though he were a hornet's nest alive with activity.

The party was a blast. The kiddos danced a special birthday song with Chucky and then paraded around the place in a konga line shouting/singing the songs between bursts of giggles. The cake was brought out by assistants of Chucky and then distributed with lots of birthday wishes for the special birthday gal. HS devoured the pizza, enjoyed the songs, and reveled in the great pilgrimage to the mecca of childhood.

"As we headed home in the car with an exhausted little guy proudly and tightly holding onto his well earned tattoo from playing all his games, I asked him what he had thought of Chucky Cheese.

"It was exactly what I thought it would be mommy. It's all about fun in there. Maybe we'll go again on my birthday."

When I made that pact long ago with myself when I was a nanny and had just spent two hours with a bunch of very loud kiddos and was trying to nurse a splitting headache, I really thought that I could do it. A world without Chucky cheese wouldn't be the end of their life as they knew it. Well, I was wrong. It may not have been the end to a great childhood if they didn't know what the place was, but after watching HS enjoy the heck out of the place, chaos doesn't seem so bad.

Moments spent happily screaming out in joy with a group of friends, zooming between really cool games, and thinking that turning in tokens for a tattoo is awesome are what it is all about. It was inevitable that Chucky Cheese would be a part of our world and now as an incentive to good behavior...only LD won't have to wait as long for her introduction.

An Apple a Day

HS and I had been counting down for weeks. It seemed like our day would never come. Well, yesterday it did come and with huge smiles on our faces and an apple in HS's backpack, we headed out the door to school. Both of us together to enjoy the morning with one another doing an apple art project and then a phonics lesson.

"You know my mom's a teacher....you'd better listen to her" HS says very seriously to his table of cronies.

"Like, a teacher teacher or just a mommy?" one bravely asked.

"A teee-ch-er." HS says slowly as if this other little friend had maybe not heard him. "She's retired right now until we're really big."

What? Retired? I tried very hard not to giggle out right. That would be the worst thing to do when you are standing amidst a very serious discussion with 1st graders.

This week is all about apples. Johnny Appleseed's birthday is being celebrated since he was born September 26, 1774 (do you think hundreds of years from now someone will be celebrating my birthday? how cool would that be?) Monday they heard all about Johnny Appleseed and wrote stories and illustrations. Tuesday, volunteer day, we began the apple-centered activity by listening to HS's teacher read The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons.

We all followed the story with interest and several comments were made by a very interested group of 6 year-olds as we listened to tales of what Arnold can do in his treehouse during each season of his precious apple tree. (note: papa, HS raised his hand on several occasions to announce to the class that he has a fort, too). The kids were mesmerized by such things as buds forming on the branches (wow! leaves start that tiny! God must have needed a magnifying glass to see!), leaves changing color and then oh my goodness...<em>falling off the branches (what do you mean you have to rake them up?!? Jumping in dirty leaves if fun? Is that kind of like jumping into a pile of sand?), and then snow falling in the winter while Arnold bundles up to head to make a snowman (we don't have snow here...how much snow do you need for one of those things anyway?).

It was after reading the story that the real fun began. Mix paint and kids together and what do you get? A giggling mess of globs of paint going in all sorts of directions. It was my task to wander between two groups of 5. They were a riot to watch as they created their own special apple trees.

"Honey, apple trees don't have flowers during the winter..." I say as I'm helping out a little gal.
"But, Mrs. O'C they do here..."
"Yes honey they do, but we're doing an apple tree painting not a plumeria tree."

"We're working on the Fall tree now, what colors should you probably use?" Ummmm...some blank stares...and a timid response, "green."
"Oranges, reds, yellows!" others who had been off this island during changes of seasons shouted.

What a hoot. You take for granted experiences. Most of HS's class are military so they've been exposed to Fall...but there are a few in the class that think green is the season for a tree the entire cycle. It's not until the tree dies that the leaves turn brown and the flowers go away.

They had a blast creating, painting, giggling, and trying their hardest to listen. I had a wonderful time getting my "classroom" fix while enjoying HS's voyage through school days. After all, I'm retired and lovin' every minute of it!

As he munched on his carrots for snack and then began his homework, HS asked me "when are you comin' back to school with me?"

Ahhh...an apple a day with your children keeps you happy, healthy, and wise!

Power of Little Words

Paradise is many things: warm sun shining down, crystal blue waters with really cool fish, waving palm trees standing like huge sentinels to the ocean, and a taste of fresh pineapple or coconut just ready to be eaten. What it isn't is a predictor of what season the rest of the world is in.

After a brisk walk around Ford Island today, I headed back to my life organizer: my calendar. Not a day goes by that I can't stop in front of it and marvel at how my days can go from empty to jam packed in a matter of hours. For the past few days I've felt a little off kilter. I chalked it up to HH being on night watch again and crazy behavior for HS at school, and a little girl who seems to be growing faster than I remember HS ever going. So, I decided that maybe my calendar would help me understand. Well, today's agenda is no different than it should be...I exercised during the time I wrote and I've got the laundry washing away and ready to be folded and used again. What was different, and what did get me to pause and say, "oooohhhh...that's why I feel this way," was the little message written in fine print: First day of Autumn.

Now on the mainland you are probably laughing. You are probably like me and pay no attention to the fine print. I spent the majority of my life (minus those first years of my life spent in Panama) not needing a reminder. I always thought it was pretty hysterical that calendar people spent the ink on sharing those little bits of tidbit that noone really needed since the clues were all around. The air was getting crisp, apple everything was being pumped at stores and on cooking shows, and fall festivals with all of nature's bounty were popping into the daily section of the weekend newspaper. New birds came in as other flocks fled to warmer climates. There seemed to be little need for a written reminder that said, "hey, wake up. It's AUTUMN!"

Well, I've got to say, I stood and stared at those little words today. I teared up. I sighed. I flashed to last Fall when I made HH drive me all around New England even though I was huge and pregnant, just because I wanted to savor all of my favorite season. I remembered conversations with people when they found out we had the orders to paradise and the facial expressions that greeted me as I shared that yes, paradise would be fantastic, but I would miss the seasons...especially Fall. After standing in silence with my cawfee growing cold, I'm not ashamed to write that I...cried.

Yes, I'm living in "paradise" but oh how I wouldn't give anything to have the air turn crisp, smell cinnamon and think that any day the leaves would be turning into brilliant hues of crimson red and flaming orange. Enjoy seeing the sunset change and paint the sky in another set of God's handiwork reserved just for this season. Put up the scarecrow in the yard and surround it with little pumpkins that we've gathered from the local pumpkin patch just to enjoy the squeals of delight from HS that his mommy put superman shirt on the scarecrow and every other one just had plaid. Rake the leaves into a pile just to have them scattered by the jumping of the kids into the pile. Slow cook a big pot of chili for enjoying during a Patriots game. Sip cider on the porch after an outing to the park with rosy cheeks and light jackets and looking forward to HH coming home to light a fire in the fireplace that would cackle and hackle and send warmth and comfort with each flicker of the fire (these were the days of not needing the fire to warm us, just to inspire us its glow and invited cozing up as a family on the sofa).

All these things and more pop into my mind when I see on the calendar that it is the 1st day of Autumn. I needed reminding this year. I'll need those fine words for the next three years. Once our tour here is done, those fine print little tidbits will never be taken for granted again. I'm a seasonal kind of gal and welcoming each new season and sharing in the joys that go along with that are priceless. Happy Fall Y'All!

How do you spell YUMMY?

For HS and I you spell yummy "M....A...L...A...S...A...D...A...S" especially when you pull into the NEX compound and you smell the familiar freshly baked sugared little treats that are sold out of a brightly colored red and white wagon. This can only mean that Leonard Jr.'s is on the scene. For a mere .90 we can step into heaven for a second or two and savor the bites of our malasada (mine is gone in 4 bites...HS is a speedster smacking his lips after 2).

If you are on a diet or trying to loose some weight forget it for a minute so that you can savor the delicious taste of malasadas filled with haupia (coconut) handed to you by a delightful local who somehow avoids eating all the Leonard Jr.'s Malasadas during their shift (I'm not so sure I would be as disciplined).

"Before I destroy my girlish figure (or boyish figure) on these things what are they?" You may be wondering. Well, I may not be able to get all the portugese influenced food like I could while we lived in Rhode Island, but here on Island, I can find the Portuguese influence in malasadas. A form of a doughnut. Malasadas (Mel-a-sa-dish) were brought to Hawaii from the Azores around 1847, when Portuguese laborers came to work on the plantations. Thankful I am that they did, because these heavenly tasty deep fried balls are crispy and golden brown on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. You can get them many ways, but the traditional is with just a sugared concoction. HS and I are partial to the coconut filled malasada.

What a great way to spend quality time...taking in the smells and tastes of Leonard Jr.'s yummy malasada! Our kine of good stuff, Maynard! Now back to my girlish figure watchin' until next time the wagon makes its rounds.

Leonard Jr.'s has a great website that will make you craving these little pockets of yummy at www.leonardshawaii.com

Hold On Little Darlin'

LD is beginning to bud into a very inquisitive and active 9 1/2 month old. I've been sorting through the bins and bins of toys that we had carted around this wonderful planet of ours for the last five years. She has taken to most of it like bees to honey and will sit for quite some time with me on the rug examining all the little nuances to the newfound treasure trove.

Instead of cheering with a rattle, she has found new freedom in crawling...looking...
and crawling to her comfort zone...my feet. It is indeed a riot, and lately it has been fun to play with her as she attempts to play "peek-a-boo" behind the sofa with me or see if she can grin wider than me (I think she takes the cake for big gummy grins!).

This week when I put the feet on the Leap Frog table I thought LD was just going to burst with excitement. It is placed exactly where she always likes to be...nearest to mommy and if big brother is home, than close to him, too. So, the kitchen is ideal. However, by day two of the table being out and listening to the millionth squeal of delight, you could hear newspaper presses coming to a screeching halt and mayo being held from sandwiches all over the state. Our LD can stand now holding on to the table. Granted, her tree trunk legs and hefty little hands shake and try to steady her frame, which only lasts in an upright position for a brief moment, but stand she has and with a smile that could melt my heart, I'm screamin' inside. Hold on little darlin' lets not be so quick to grow up!

Karate Mom

Ahhh...how good it feels to sit in a dojo and watch your six year old son shout out the loudest and most ferious "kiai!" of all the other students or spar with someone twice his size and not be afraid. Senpai looked at HS today and gave him two thumbs up as he shouted and then proceeded to go through his forms with a vicious energy that I wouldn't want to see played out anywhere but in the dojo or a tournament. I'm not quite sure where he gets this pent up switch from seemingly carefree happy-go-lucky kid to the aggressor. But, he has it and my does it serve him well in the dojo!

I'm glad that he has been able to be so focused on a sport that HH and I knew virtually nothing about. We've tried to see if he would like to go participate in the more common sports, but we can't seem to pull him away. Guess that's a good thing because the focus, dedication, and memory that is needed to due a martial arts doesn't do well when you flit from thing to thing. HS just about squeeze hugged me when I finally had success in finding the right dojo. It took us a while to find here, but we've been really happy with the traditional aspects of Japan International Karate-Ki Center . Sensei doesn't fool around and already we have seen a drastic improvement in HS's ability.

You'll see that he is no longer wearing his green belt. The style of Karate is different thus making him begin anew. He wasn't too thrilled at the beginning, but after a couple of classes and a chat with another one of the Senpai (assistant instructors), HS is now on the way to achieve his exam in December.

Yes, it's true. I never saw myself as a "karate mom" but oh my is the title ever starting to sink in as I watch him dedicate himself to a sport that challenges him to center his concentration, focuses him on gaining achievement, and fosters a love of doing something because if feels right. OSU!

Lazy Sunday

I adore the days when HS asks me what we're doing and I can reply...with a big smile...looks like the day is completely free!

Yee-haw!

This week was alive with activities at school, homework, karate twice, birthday party sleepover, and mass Saturday evenin. Today we are kicking back our heels and just having some down time. We may just bake some cookies or bread as the laundry is being washed. Get out the tubs of play dough and create some other planet,cruise around on the bikes, and take a walk around the our island before dinner.

Regardless...it's a lazy Sunday in "paradise!" Hope y'all are being lazy, too. We all deserve it.

Do you Remember?

Last week I blogged that not to much was happening and that is why I hadn't blogged. This week is polar opposite. I've had so many ideas swimming around in my head that I think instead of a brain I just may be the first person who has an ocean instead.

The biggest event is the one that slipped through my fingertips and try as I may to sit down on the actual day to type I was always taken away (Kendo's hairball, the cricket who made itself at home near the TV and gave me a run for my money trying to capture him, LD chatting through what should have been a nap, or walking with HS in a school event).

Well, I'm typing now and nothing can stop the rhythm of the keys as the crickets sing outside, geckos chirp on my lanai, and the kiddos snore in their beds with visions of adventures in their heads. I have my time now....Happy Birthday, Papa!

Do you remember:

*reading to sis and I in the camper or by the campfire in all kinds of crazy accents further sucking us into the story?
*playing games camping and then hearing the 'wood sprite' bounding around like a little ping pong ball?
*having a tomato squirted at you from an elementary school gal who thought it would be funny, but quickly learned from your facial expression and booming voice that...nope...that wasn't the best choice she could have made
*bringing home a bundle of fur that fit into the palm of your hand to two girls who thought it was too cool that they had a papa who would "save" a rabbit from being eaten
*allowing a pet menagerie and traveling with those family members to every new duty station even if that meant the fish traveled in the sink of the camper
*having "office" chats in the basement to make sure that your daughters were always staying on the high road
*making it difficult for any other guy to ever take the place of the joy you brought as we danced and enjoyed a dinner at the base O'Club at the father/daughter banquet
*walking me down the aisle and patting my hand and telling me my life would be whatever HH and I made of it from here on out
*teaching me everything I know about saving and money matters...thank you for forcing me to sit. It has made all the difference.
*getting stuck in the Nebraska mud in the middle of the biggest thunderstorm we'd seen in a long time
*asking me to open the door on going to the sun road because the fog was so thick we couldn't see
*driving around the golf cart on the tarmac at Offutt and me asking why there had to be so many "civilans" visiting our nice base
*watching countless hours of plays put on by our theater group of stuffed animals and being a good enough sport to pay a penny a show
*holding your grandson and granddaughters for the 1st time and bringing tears to your own daughters' eyes
*giving me a hug for the last time before we all moved to the other side of the pond again because I was bawling and stewing that we were trekking away again

I could go on forever with all the memories that I have of you each year we celebrate the day you were born. You have touched the lives of many, enriched understanding of hundreds, and been our hero and now our children's "awwww...popop" magnet. Happy Birthday! Here's to all the new memories we'll form during the coming year. We love you!

9 Month Milestone

"Nooooo!!!!"

I'm silently screaming inside...only I think you may have been able to hear me all over the island the other day as our princess turned 9 months. Someone said to me when they asked how old she was in the commissary, "well only 3 more months until she is 1...what are you doing for her party?"

Oh my God! That's just not possible...I can still see her bald as a billiard ball and snuggling against my chest...and so tiny!!! Please let her continue that snuggles with mommy, the patting of my cheeks and then the head laying against my shoulder are so dear. I've waited so long and God is making her grow so quickly. HS keeps telling me not to worry. "Mommy, it's Ok...we're not going anywhere. We'll live with you...forever."

Well, if LD could talk maybe she'd say the same thing as she plants wet, open gummy kisses on my lips, giggles into my ear, and lets a sigh of contentment escape everytime I hold her before she sleeps. Oh, how I adore the face, little toes, and little giggles of my 9 month old princess.

Favorite Foods:
Broccoli
Green beans
Apples
Pineapple
Cheerios
Puffies
Expressions:
~Air puffs with her lower lip over her upper
~Furrowing of the brows as she concentrates on little details in
her toys, clothing, or tags
~Cheerleader LD! She adores putting her chubby arms over her head
and bouncing them as if she were holding pompoms. She makes a
"ra-ra-ra" sound and then giggles
Toys/Games
~Chase the mommy
~Little people farm animals (to chew on)
~Mr. Octopus circle sorter (anytime she makes the music go on she
giggles
~Kendo Kitty (what a pushover he is. there is no denying that she
has him wrapped around her little chubby finger...LD can lay on him
and pounce and he purrs)
Words:
Momma
baaa (for bottle)
rraraa (sometimes said when she looks at HS)
Quirks:
~If I'm around, don't think you'll be holding her...she is fine
until she sees me and then it's all over...hand her over because
she'll push until she gets to me (this drives my poor HH insane)
~Wakes up at the same time every early morn and chats to herself
and then goes back to sleep

Moms and Muffins

As I was surfing the net this mornin' for something special for my papa, I came across this hysterical poem. I must admit I'm still laughing and my cawfee is sitting nearby while the dirty socks are waiting to go into the wash, and LD is certainly showing signs that there has been an explosion near her behind.

If You Give a Mom a Muffin

If you give a mom a muffin,
She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
So she'll pour herself some.
The coffee will get spilled by her three year old.
She'll wipe it up.

Wiping the floor, she will find some dirty socks.
She'll remember she has to do some laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She'll trip over some snow boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper for tonight.

She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She'll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With a Pound of
Hamburger.)
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill which is due tomorrow.
She will look for the checkbook.

The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two year old.
She'll smell something funny.
She'll change the two year old.
While she is changing the two year old the phone will ring. (Of course!)
Her five year old will answer it and hang up.

She remembers that she wants to phone a friend to come over for coffee on
Friday.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
She will pour herself some.
And chances are,
If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Written by Kathy Fictorie

Based on If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

Where in the World

are my blogs? I can't believe that this many days have past since I have turned down the opportunity to blog. Myabe it has something to do with the exhaustion I felt by the end of the week, a busy weekend hanging out at the Bishop museum followed by a really mean game of "Life" with HH and HS on Saturday, or the Monday gloomies that strike whenever we begin a new week. Whatever the case, I've not been on in a while and I think I'm seeing stars from blog withdrawal. Until the mood strikes to write more, I'll post a few pictures that sum up what we've been up to since last Wednesday after which I became MIBW (missing in blog world).



On Labor Day we headed with our DF's up to one of the best viewing spots of Honolulu from the mountains. It was a gorgeous spot to have a picnic and then check out the trail. Notice the sign with the boys...note to self...no hiking on a full moon, Sunday, or Wednesday!



HS and LD continue to bring a great deal of laughter to a very stressed house. I know we may be in "paradise" but try the duty HH is pulling and you'll see why it is easy to be tired, stressed, and in need of the smiles and joy that these two kiddos provide me. LD is a crawling fiend and loves to explore whatever she can find. The other day, HS came down the stairs with his coveted "quiet book" from my mom and Aunt and said that he thought that she would enjoy it now that he was "grown." Enjoy it she did...many minutes were spent feeling and exploring that book. Wherever did HS learn to be so kind and considerate? He's been that way since birth. One day some lucky gal will appreciate him as much as his mommy does (mind you he won't be marrying until he's finsihed college, started his career, and is at least 35! Hee-hee-hee!).



LD was introduced this week to one of HS favorite baby/toddler toys: the cool kid mover. She is addicted and prefers cruising around the neighborhood on our nightly walks in her car as she chats on the phone, beeps the horn, and smiles a big gummy grin at whoever we pass. HS says he was never that little. Maybe it is time to get out the baby pictures to show him that yes, once upon a time he was a little guy.

We chatted quite a bit with family back home. I don't think I would live very long without unlimited long distance. I adore calling home way too much! HS has been into talking with family for a long time now...I got him addicted when we were still in Japan. Now it is LD's turn. She is quite the chatterbox even when waking from a nap



The Bishop Museum is wonderful. It was here that we could find ourselves inside a volcano, become a good creature or a bad critter as Hawaii views them, envision other Pacific Island coming to life, witness the amazing world of whales (one of the current exhibits) and relive some of the monarchy that once existed in Hawaii. The museum kept us occupied for so long that HS wanted to retrace his steps to his "favorite" spots. LD had other ideas...like eating.





Last by certainly not least, SM (Sock Monkey) has a new friend in the house, Simone. Thank you to Mom, my Aunt, sister, and niece for creating another lovey that is certainly a big hit in our house! LD is addicted to Simone just as much as HS is in love with SM (he can't and won't go to bed without his lovey!). HS also think Simone is pretty cool since he thinks SM may have been lonely without another monkey around (doesn't he realize that this house if full of monkeys?!?).




There you go, we've been busy for sure, but blogging fell to the side. My apologies to those of you who are avid readers...I'm grateful that someone reads what I sit down to type! Mahalo!

Movin' and a Groovin'

LD has really made some monumental steps this month. We are now officially parents of a "crawler". After spending a good part of July rocking on her knees and sitting up, August found our LD trying to get her hands, body, and chunky legs to do what her brain was telling them to do. Last week, LD began crawling without pausing to sit or rolling forward. HH was home to witness the event and HS came home to watch us encourage her to show-off her new skill to her beloved big brother.

Gone are the days that you could place her in the center of the carpet and know that she would be there when you got back from the bathroom. Now, she follows you into the bathroom and wherever else you may think of going for a second or two. The house has begun its transformation into safe zone and Kendo is now one of the favorite targets to attempt a successful crawling mission. HS has found that our rule of keeping his legos only in his room was for his benefit not as a cruel punishment that adults love dishing out.

I think in many ways the steps we will see her take from now until her 1st birthday will leave us all in wonderment of God's ability to make so many changes occur in a mere 12 months. Not a day goes by that I don't peek into her room and thank God for sending her to us and completing our family. It is so surreal to watch first crawls, first word (mama!!!), and realize that these days are so precious. She is indeed movin' and a groovin'!

PS: LD's 9 Month Well Baby Check was today. No immunizations (yeah!) but she did have to have her little finger pricked to due a standard check for anemia. Here are her current stats:
Weight: 20 lbs 16 1/2 oz (75-90 percentile)
Height: 28 1/4 inches (75-90 percentile)
Head Circumference: 17 inches (25-50 percentile)
Teeth: None sighted
Overall: Amazingly healthy and Achieving developmental stages successfully
Next Visit: 12 Month Well Baby

Under the Glow of Lobsta'

Settling down this evenin' with my glass of wine and laptop after spending a great evening with kids (HH is sadly on his round of night watches) and getting them into bed, I'm feeling wicked good thanks to dear friends who are still in New England.

The other day, two packages came in the mail days after one another. One contained a Sox book for HS, Dunkin' cawfee for the two adult cawfee addicts, and a toy for LD. The other was just what we needed to help set mood lighting on the lanai...lobsta lights! Oh how good it is to know that even though I may be miles upon miles away from New England, I've got the Sox, Lobsta, and Dunkin' any night I want.

For those neighbors, not lucky enough to be chilled to the bone during a winter in Newpawt, who will come over to share a meal under the glow of our lobsta' and they'll leave with a new appreciation for a place other than this "paradise."
As for those who have been lucky enough to land a tour and live in New England (I fully admit that I am bias!), the lobsta lights and Sox book will serve as reminders of all the smells (some not so nice but oh my God do they taste delicious!!!) and charm of the New Englanders during Sox and the Pat's seasons (think of that nice Red "B" and flying Elvis hats as your instant tickets to be liked by the locals). Visions of historic and quaint towns with a central square and beautiful Catholic churches and historic homes will conjure up fond memories of attempting to live the lifestyle of a bygone era (quirky 100 year-old houses, oil deliveries, and chipping ice off the steps in the late afternoon before the temp. plummets again).

Thank you to two dear friends who knew just what I needed to make this new place feel more like home. Your housewarming gifts touched my heart. I love you! Come on over now so we can hang out on the beach and then enjoy some wine under my lobsta'!