UNTrimming the Tree

O Christmas Tree

We headed out yesterday, to the Christmas Tree farm, in the hopes of chopping down our tree. The first farm didn't have anything we were looking for and the second farm had too big a hill to schlep for us to even get a good look at what they had. No one was happy about returning home without a tree. We never thought we'd find what we were looking for at Home Depot!
This morning after Daddy trimmed the base and set it into the stand, Maria and I put on the lights and Emily and I decorated while Lucy and Daddy took a nap.
Lucy was so excited when she saw the decorated tree...so excited, I guess, that she felt compelled to UNDECORATE!
It's doubtful that the bottom half of the tree will remain decorated until Christmas morning.

First Snow of 2009

Grandma treated Maria, Michael, Emily and I to a live performance of "A Christmas Story" yesterday. When we left the house a light, pretty snow was falling. The kind of snow that looks pretty as it's coming down but is mixed with rain so you know it will be gone by tomorrow.

Two and a half hours later, the rain had stopped during the preformance and the flakes got bigger and were coming down hard and fast. Still pretty, but not fun to drive in. Thankfully, we got home without incident.

When we woke up this morning the snow still covered the ground, the trees and everything else not moving.

I wonder if the season of snow, ice, pulled back muscles, school delays and school closures has officially begun?

'Tis the season!

Cheap Labor

There's nothing better than spending a crisp afternoon raking leaves, however, our backyard never seems as large as when it's full of leaves to be raked!

One and a Half!

We celebrated Lucy turning one and a half with birthday brownies.

Here come the Terrible Two's!

I'm not down...just angry!

I had an appointment at a placement agency in NYC today. I was nervous, but excited to be going into the city and thrilled to "get the ball rolling". I was soooo wrong!

Metro-North should upgrade the seating for what I paid for my round-trip ticket, but what a view! It was so gorgeous riding along the Hudson that I even had to put my book down every once in a while to admire the scenery. And yes, I said book! I got to read! What a pleasure it was...I haven't been able to read anything that doesn't rhyme or have have pictures in ages! What a joy!

If I hadn't gone to visit my awesome friend Dana, first, I'd have said that the day was a waste.

There's nothing like being told by an overweight gay man in a white turtle neck and wool jacket sporting a yin/yang pendant (btw, he changed his last name when he got married!) that I'm not polished enough to be seen by their permanent placement division, to motivate me to find a job on my own! I was the only person dressed in business attire in their waiting room. Apparently in the temp division jeans and sneakers or ballet flats is perfectly acceptable, but Mr. "I changed my last name to my husbands name" shuddered at the thought of bringing me over to the "other side" of the office...maybe they would have fired him when they saw HIS outfit du jour! He stood throughout the entire "interview", bending over the table to scribble notes in the margins of my (frickin awesome, kick-ass) resume. I can only assume (work with me here, folks) that I intimidated him so much by the confidence I was exuding that the only way he could feel superior was to stand over me.

I'm not down...I'm angry...and motivated!

I've started a new blog...365massas.blogspot.com. Check back daily to see the picture of the day. (I thought of having Nick take a pic of me holding up my middle finger, but I'll save that for the day I land a job!)

Garlic Festival

I love garlic.

I've hosted many dinner parties that left my guests reeking of garlic as they left and my mother told me that one time the frozen breast milk she thawed for one of my kids smelled like "garlic milk". (Gross? Too bad!)

Imagine how thrilled I was that I didn't have to travel all the way to Gilroy, CA for a Garlic Festival...there is one in my own backyard! Well, OK, and about 60 miles or so.

I didn't find any chocolate covered garlic or garlic flavored coffee (I know, I'm strange). We did try garlic ice cream (a letdown), garlic popcorn (yum), garlic pickles (Lucy's fave), garlic chowder (YOWZA!) and fresh, raw Magic garlic (Holy Moley!).

Mom bought garlic necklaces for Maria, Michael and herself...good thing since Vampire season is upon us!

A Cautionary Tale

This is what happens when I forget that Emily is alone in the bathroom...

Yay Autumn!

I'm loving this cool weather we've been having in the Hudson Valley!

Not looking forward to our next season, but I'll enjoy what I've got while I have it!

Married!!!

I watched my baby brother (there's an almost ten year age difference between us) get married last weekend!

Congratulations!!!

September 11, 2001

I'll NEVER forget...

Back to School

First Day of School...

YIPPEEEEEEE, WAAAAAHOOOOOOO, HOORAY, YAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

Summer Wrap-Up Part 3

Maria and Michael took some time every week to work on schoolwork and we also spent time at the library.
Lots of time was spent being silly...

and Em and Lu even found time to take naps every once in while!

School starts in a few days and we're all looking forward to all the fun things we do in the fall!

Summer Wrap-Up Part 2

We celebrated Nick and Dan's birthdays, Emily's half birthday...

Maria, Michael and Emily did crafts every week at Club Galleria, we had fun at the Balloon Festival even though the wind was too strong and no ballons took off and we did our part to help keep the Village Creamery in business.

Sadly, we also hosted four hermit crab funerals. Army, pictured below, is the last man standing.

Summer Wrap-Up Part 1

(Because I have so many pix to post, I've decided to do it in parts)

As usual, summer sped by. The Massa family didn't do all the things we usually do during the summer (due to money, weather and distance) but we still managed to have plenty of fun.

We spent lots of time at the park, we saw lots of movies, Harry Potter at the drive-in and made many visits to the Children's Museum.

When it wasn't raining we relaxed in our yard and cooled off in our pool, slipped all over our slip 'n slide or played soccer, football and frisbee.