g is for greta

I’m finally getting around to posting pictures from the trip Tony and I took in late August. Here’s the happenings of our first day:

We flew into Hartford, Connecticut to visit with the Sharpe family. However, there was no going home to rest for us. We were on a mission to see how many states/restaurants/historical sites we could see on our 7 day trip. The states on the east coast are so small that it wasn’t too long before you’d cross a state line. We took pictures to document:

Crossing into Massachusetts

Through New Hampshire

Continuing on to Vermont

We went to the highest point in Vermont called Hogback Mountain. You could see the 3 or 4 surrounding states. It was beautiful.

There was a store at the top selling all kinds of yummy things. We tried pistachio fudge, some Vermont cheese, and bought Mason a bottle of maple syrup to go on his beloved chocolate chip pancakes. Then we just enjoyed the view.

After loading everyone back up in the car, we drove back to Boston for dinner and an evening stroll around town. Since we are such food lovers, we had to go to the Quincy Market. It is an old building converted into a row of restaurants. We looked around and settled on Ned Devine’s which was, well, divine! I LOVED my corn chowder. I’d drive all the way back just to have another bowl. Here’s some sights at night:

Quincy Market

The Cradle of Liberty

Fun first day. Especially considering that we didn’t even land until 1:00 or so in the afternoon. Try not to fall off the edge of your seats while you eagerly anticipate the post for Day Two.

-g.

A-Attached or Single: Attached
B-Best Friend: Misti
C-Cake or Pie: BOTH! (with ice cream)
D-Day: Saturday
E-Essential Item: Book to read
F-Favorite Color: Orange
G-Gummi bears or gummi worms: bears dipped in chocolate
H-Hometown: Hartford, Ohio
I-Indulgences: Sweets
J-January or July: Neither. I’ll take October.
K-Kids: 3 (Stooges)
L-Life is incomplete without: television (I know. I’m shallow.)
M-Marriage Date: August 14, 1997
N-Number of Siblings: 3–one sister then two brothers then me
O-Oranges or Apples: Apples–crispy, tart ones
P-Phobias or Fears: Leaving my children motherless due to an untimely death
Q-Quote: “Fake it ’til you make it!” (It’s gotten me through many an awkward experience.)
R-Reason to Smile: Tony will be home soon!
S-Season: Autumn
T-Tag: Stephanie F, Robyn B, Leann B, and Misti M
U-Unknown fact about me: I’m a dental hygienist that DOESN’T FLOSS!
V-Vacation destination of choice: Would love to see Hawaii
W-Worst Habit: Worrying about things outside of my control
X-X-Rays or Ultrasounds: I take x-rays at work all day so I guess I’ll pick ultrasounds?
Y-your favorite food: WAY too many to list. Maybe margherita pizza.
Z-Zodiac Sign: Virgo–that should explain some things about my personality.

The Rice family has been uber busy. After the hurricane hit us, Tony was out of town for the week. Thank goodness for his mom and sister. Stephanie didn’t have power for the entire week so she and James spent lots of time here. Tony’s mom came down Tuesday while I was at work to help me with the kids for the rest of the week. We missed Daddy (don’t get me wrong), but I slept like a champ in that big bed all by myself! Aaaaahhhhh. We spent last weekend in my tiny hometown of Hartford, Ohio attending the Apple Festival. Hopefully I’ll get around to posting about it with some pics. Tony got Monday off from work since he was traveling the week before. We went out to Bob Evans (aka Bob Bevins by my kids) for breakfast then spent the day doing errands and shopping. It was an expensive day. Now things are semi back to normal.

Ethan has gained the ability to scale mountains. Not literally but the boy can climb. I’ve found him on the coffee table, on top of my bed, at the kitchen table eating Corinne’s dinner that was cooling down, the couch, etc. He is so proud of himself. It freaks me out. I’m afraid to leave the room for fear where I’ll find him when I come back!

Mason’s potty training is going much better. It’s amazing what a silly song about pooping in the potty can do! I’m proud of him. Hopefully he’ll keep it up.

Corinne is happy as a clam at school. She is getting all geared up for Halloween. She changes her mind every few days about what she wants to dress up as this year.

Hope is all is well with you and yours!

-g.

The aftershocks of Hurricane Ike hit Columbus today. All I can say is that I feel HORRIBLE for the people that went through it in Texas. The wind blew so hard here that drywall actually fell from our ceiling upstairs. Crazy! Something must have hit the house. We heard thumps but aren’t sure of damage. The kids had fun running around in the wind. It literally blew Ethan over. Poor guy could barely breathe when it blew in his face. We didn’t play for long.

Tony has to fly out tonight to Baltimore for work this week. Driving to the airport was not a trip I wanted to make in these strong winds. We were without power for about 4 hours so we had to open the garage door by hand to get out. The kids were clueless about the storm, but I was freaking out. I’ve never seen anything like it. We left early because we knew we would have obstacles on the way. Here were some we saw:

–downed trees (at least 5–some in the lane of traffic)
–branches down (15+)
–traffic lights with no power (all but 3 were out–one was hanging super low)
–orange barrels that had blown over into traffic making the road an obstacle course
–downed traffic signs
–fences with sections blown off

Ugh. Poor Tony is still at the airport waiting for his plane to take off hours after his original departure time. I wonder if he’ll sleep there. My superb sister-in-law and husband came a few hours ago to make sure we were alright. Bless them. I was worried about keeping the kids entertained while I tried to plan ahead for a night with no electricity. Finally the winds have died down and the power is back on. My prayers go out to those that had the bulk of the storm. I can’t imagine.

-g.

One of our favorite events of the summer is the Ohio State Fair. It has to be the coolest fair in the country. The food, the rides, the entertainment, the extremely odd people to gawk at, did I mention the food? It’s the REAL reason we love the fair. I missed out last year. I was a tad busy…

That’s Ethan at one month old. Ha! Goofball!

Tony’s family came down this year to enjoy the feast. However, the kids seem to have taken over. They have one thing on their brains: RIDES!

Tony and Mason

Papa Tom and Corinne

Stephanie and James

When you get off the Skyride, it lands you in Kid Kingdom (my own name…catchy, eh?). This ride was the ride of 2008 for my kiddos. I honestly cannot tell you how many times I waited in line, went up 100000s of stairs carrying two scratchy “Magic Carpets” just to whiz back down in a matter of seconds. Bah humbug! Actually, it was worth it for the scream and giggles it got out of Corinne and Mason.

I think I got a nosebleed this time.

Corinne and I racing down (I tried to explain physics and basic laws of nature…she didn’t get it. I won.)

Maybe this was the nosebleed trip (I never got a nosebleed. Just venting.)

Mason loved this ride more than chocolate milk (which is saying alot).

This ride ran a close second. Bumper Boats!

The first ride of the day

The pictures continue, but I’ll spare you. They loved the mini-ferris wheel, the swings that go around in a circle, the roller coaster, the funhouse, blah, blah, blah. It was a kids’ paradise. Of which they partook for HOURS. Where was Tony during all this family bonding you may be asking yourself? On food runs: getting Crystal Light, chicken on a stick, corn dogs for the kids, more Crystal Light, fried garlic/bacon mashed potato balls wth dipping sauce (DELICIOUS!), more corn dogs, french fries, yet another Crystal Light refill, funnel cake, etc. etc. The day of happiness ended with Tony and I trying out a new fried food. The mashed potato balls didn’t count because they contained a vegetable which is borderline healthy. We tried fried oreos. Pretty good. Nothing mind blowing, but I can’t knock them. The kids were easier to please for their dessert:

Funny how those disappeared once we made it to the van… Overall, another fabulous year gorging and getting a sunburn. But do you know what, I honestly can’t wait until next year!

-g.

Yesterday was my 32nd birthday. Strange. Anyway, I just wanted to thank everyone who called, wrote, emailed, SENT MONEY, etc. It was a nice day. Yesterday for dinner I had take out chicken lettuce wraps from PF Chang’s while the rest of the family feasted on Wendy’s. Nice to have a night off from figuring out what to eat, cooking it, having the kids pick at it, then cleaning it all up. The office gave me a double decker chocolate cake with peanut butter filling covered in milk chocolate icing and chocolate chips. One word: YUM! Tony knows how much I love snacks and gum with Recaldent so he got me a bunch of goodies. My main present this year was my choice of a Broadway show to attend while we were in NYC. (I swear I am getting around to that post!)

I picked Boeing, Boeing. Every heard of it? I hadn’t. Picked it blindly. It was a play and not a musical. That was the main reason I picked it. Mind you I was in musicals in high school (nerd, I know), but I just wasn’t feeling it. Besides, Tony gets irritated that people break into song and dance spontaneously. Not sure why. I do it daily around the house. But let me get back on track…

Hilarious show about a man who has three girlfriends/fiancees all of which are stewardesses from different airlines. With the new fast jet introduced, his life unravels. VERY funny. Few inappropriate moments but nothing to ruin the show. Plus, a KILLER cast.

We hung around after the show and met the cast. It was a true NYC experience to see famous people come out, sign autographs, hang out for a bit, then fade into the crowd. I’m glad we went.

Back to my happenings on my actual birthdate. After dinner last night, I attended a meeting for parents with kids interested in Girl Scouts. Corinne brought home a flyer from school last week and had it read before she got off the bus. Her first question was, “Will you come up to the doors with me when I sell the cookies?” Weirdo. We’ll see what happens with it. Seems like something she would enjoy. Problem is that meetings will likely be on Monday nights twice a month. Sigh.

The night ended with the air conditioner breaking. Now I am waiting for a repairman to come somtime this afternoon between 12-5. Gotta love that. Not like I had anywhere to go anyway.

Overall, a good day filled with the things I love most: friends and family.

-g.

So I finally am getting around to posting pictures of Ethan’s birthday cake experience and his 12 month pictures with his elephant. Let’s start with the boring stuff and work our way up. Ethan’s stats at his 12 month appointment were normal for him and strange for me. He’s 31.25 inches long (85%) with an 18.5 inch (70%) noggin. That follows suit with the other two kiddos. It’s his weight that freaks me out. He’s only 20 lbs and 7 oz (17%). Do any of you remeber my other kids as babies? FAT.

Corinne chubby and happy at 9 months

Mason as an obese penguin.

Oh well. I can’t feed Ethan more than he is eating. His belly is huge. Must have hollow bones. Anyway, his mugs:

When it came to a theme for his first birthday party, I was at a loss. For the other two kids, I just picked something that they liked:

Goldfish for Corinne

Tractors for Mason

Ethan, however, is so easily pleased that nothing came to mind. Then my wonderful Aunt Suzie suggested a dirt cake. The boy LOVES dirt! It was a winner.

Ethan was hesitant at first about the whole eating cake with his hands idea. I thought he’d be the one to really dig in.

Once we got him a spoon, he got the idea.

Pausing for a drink of milk

Afterwards, he got to take the traditional bath in the kitchen sink at Abuelita’s house.

A little privacy here…

Then presents from our thoughtful family with help by Cousin Daniel.

A great party for a great kid!

-g.