Random sharing for a Saturday

This is too funny not to share. I promise this is an actual quote.


"Hey, congratulations Amy. You have a black girl booty. Looks good."



My visiting teaching companion said this to me yesterday. And apparently she is an expert because a) she is black and b) she likes her big booty.


I am taking this as a compliment :)

Fall in New York

means picking apples.

(Excuse my closed eyes but it is the only picture of the 4 of us in front of the trees)


This is one of my favorite Rochester traditions and as this may be our last fall in Rochester, I wanted to really savor the experience. There is nothing quite like picking apples in NY.

I am pretty sure that Addy and Jack each ate 4 apples.
They loved picking them and choosing which one to eat.

This was supposed to be a picture of Addy picking her first apple but Jack was so excited to show his own apple that it kept showing up in the pictures. We have some enthusiastic apple pickers at our house.

I love these pictures of Addy in the pumpkin patch.
In the first picture she is striking the pose she makes when she is checking something out. Once she decided it was okay, she reached down to touch the pumpkin with one finger. She then proceeded to walk around the patch and pet the pumpkins. So adorable.

For a special treat, Jack got to ride a pony.

Trip To NYC

I spent a short weekend in NYC with my sister, Ann, and some friends running in this.

See pictures here and here and on Facebook.

Highlights were good conversation, fabulous food, getting some new purses
and my new favorite shoes.

Here's Addy modeling my new shoes and one of my new grown up purses.
(My shoe is the Tarin but I will soon also own the Daisy too)

She is lover of all things girly.

And for fun, here is a picture of her post sleep and pigtails with the volumizing product of strawberry yogurt. Nothing to do with NYC but I swear if I could find a peach 80's prom dress in her size she could be in the Footloose video that we watch daily to fulfill Jack's need to dance.

Where did they go?

To Maine to eat lots of lobster. Even lobster cookies.
Seriously, we (Ryan) ate lobster every day we were in Maine.

This was the view from the front window of our cabin. We were right on Atkins Bay near Popham Beach and watched the tides go in and out. Never did figure out the tide schedule but it was beautiful.

I want a screened in porch with a hammock.

Jack loved this plastic lobster that was on the porch. He slept with it and even showered with it. He spent 30 minutes in a shower by himself singing and soaping up this lobster.

One morning as he was waking up, I over heard this conversation that he had with the lobster.
Lobster: "I'm a spider."
Jack: "You're not a spider you're a lobster."
Lobster: "I am a lobster."

Jack did two different voices for this conversation and it still cracks me up.
Stairs down to the water from our cabin on the hill. Lots of rocks to climb on and sticks to throw. Plus lots of pine cones to pick up and put in our treasure bags. Jack spent Sunday morning walking up and down the hill to "check on the water."

Popham Beach at low tide. You can walk on the sand bar to the rocky island for a climb. The kids loved the beach even if they had to wear jackets and the water was freezing.

Addy was shivering before we had to pull her screaming from the surf. She loved letting the waves flow over her feet.

We stopped at the Ocenarium Lobster Hatchery before heading to Acadia National Park. Jack got to hold a sea star and
touch a lobster.
The highlight of Acadia National Park for Jack was this view of a cruise ship. He wanted to ride on it so badly. When we got close to it in Bar Harbor after dinner he asked to touch it. Acadia is gorgeous and we had a great sunny day to enjoy it.

Making Sand castles at Reid State Park. Addy is wearing the trademark 5 piece swimsuit which includes a swimsuit, pants, t-shirt, sweatshirt, and fleece jacket. Still a great day even though it was breezy and cold.
Addy was not afraid to get a little dirty.

York Beach on a beautiful sunny day. On our way home, we stopped in York to enjoy the sand on a warm day and to see this
This lighthouse is great and we spent our lunch hour viewing it. As my mom said, "That is what they call picturesque."


I spent most of the trip trying to convince Ryan to move to Portland, ME but he says I wouldn't like it as much in February. Maybe he is right, but I certainly love to visit in September.

Teeth Counting

I asked him, "Which was more fun, going to the dentist or going to school today?"

He responded, "The Dentist!"



Jack loved his first trip to the dentist. He got to move the chair up and down, play with a drinking fountain and they gave him a new toy school bus when he was all done. I can see why he loved his time at the dentist.

Preschool Day 1

Jack started Preschool today.

Jack loves his back pack. It is HUGE. He picked it out himself.

Getting ready to go.

All of his favorites are on the step with him. (excavator, backhoe and Barney)

This is Jack with his teacher, Lisa. She is explaining the choice board to him. He is trying to decide between playdough and house keeping. (Housekeeping is basically playing house)

He chose playdough and was thrilled to roll it out and play. He could not be bothered to say good bye because he was having so much fun so we waved and said we would be back and left him to the good care of his teachers.

Addy and I both cried for different reasons when we left. Addy was sad that she did not get to stay and play. I was a bit emotional over the idea of leaving Jack with virtual strangers and hoping that they love the boy I love too. He is such a joy to watch as he curiously and enthusiastically embraces life and I wish I could be a fly on the wall as he enjoys his first day of school and I can't wait to hear his report of the day.

* Jack is now home having some quiet time. He is worn out but had a great day. When I asked him what his favorite part of the day was, he responded, "I played." Sounds like a successful day at preschool.

"Did you ever think we would have this much fun?"

That was the question that Ryan asked as we enjoyed a family dinner with our children.



He was referring of course to the adventure we started 7 years ago this week.

To document the fun we are having, we did this.