Summer So Close...

That we can taste it! Just a wonderful morning in Salem. Iced coffee and playground shennigans followed by shopping at the Record Exchange. 

Three more Monday wake ups but who is counting. 

Like a handprint on my heart

Today we had ice cream sundaes for dessert. It is a rare dessert for a school night but tonight I decided I am spoiling L and P. My two loves are healthy and happy. They have boundless enthusiasm for the upcoming holidays. L is overtired and has that cough that has been making the rounds but still has a smile. P's list for Santa is grows by the minute but she is so sweet, polite and hopeful- how can one say "no" to a million Beanie Boos. We piled into our bed (including Otto) and watched Youtube videos of Homer Simpson (our latest obsession). L snuggled in close to twirl my hair (yes he still does that) and P whispered in her little voice "I just love you momma." And we are all happy.

And just for a few moments- my heart aches for those families. Today I will love my children just a little harder. I will relish in their energy. I will soak in all those extra hugs and kisses (even at 9:30 at night). This time of year it is easy for us to get a little short with our children. We rush and dismiss request for an extra story. We owe it to our children, the Sandy Hook victims, and ourselves to take this time and enjoy our children and the small window that they are this young.

Tonight hug your children extra tight.

A Fractured Summer

Most summer- members of Otto's House have been on a trip, visited four beaches, and probably have been to Bradley Palmer a half dozen times. By the 4th- Logan is well tanned, Paige is napping between day trips, and Otto is sick of the heat. Matt and I take advantage of being educators- enjoying our lengthy summer vacation with our active posse. 

Well..... not so much this summer. This winter was brutal- we used five snow days (Peabody used six) so our summer vacation didn't start until last Tuesday. Logan and Paige's dance school's recital was late this year (June 28th). Throw in Logan's birthday and his party- it is a crazy, busy start. Then throw in a boot.

Not cute boots like Hunter wellies or Uggs. No- a Walker boot for a fracture. Saturday, before the recital, I tripped getting the car, twisted my foot and fractured my right foot (yes, the foot I drive with). Yes- I still went to the recital

Yes- it was very painful (not going to lie, more painful then labor)

Yes- the doctor stress to me twice that it's not called a Walker boot because you can walk on it (he also stated I cannot drive about three times). 

It has been a challenge- especially since we are not the type of family to sit tight. The good news is I can walk on the boot. It is not as painful as before, just a dull ache. Driving is a challenge but I can remove the boot (which I have been doing since Matt is working most of the summer and Logan has tennis camp in the morning). So far we manage to squeeze in a playdate with Emma K., PEM Pals, and the zoo (which is not ideally in 90 degree humid weather). I know- slow start. Hopefully we can amp this summer up next week. 

NaWriMo

Welcome to writing month. While many of my writer friends are churning out glorious fiction, I plan to write witty post and scalding lists (although some will not be publish). I am going out on a limb and planning on writing....THREE POSTS a week for the month of November. GASP. And one post will include three paragraphs at least. Say whaaaaaa. I write this but will I do it- only my calendar will tell. And while Logan and Paige cover enough material for a entry a day, for the one reader that does not have children, I'll post something child free every once in a while. Promise, and since all I do is teach, bake, read, watch movies and listen to DMB- it will cover one of those topics. 

And speaking of major commitments- as I type this Matt and I are getting ready to watch the top ten movie on the AFI movie list- The Wizard of Oz. We are coming to the end of our AFI project. I honestly thought we would never finish but we have ten more movies to go. Maybe we'll finish by the end of November. Wink!

The Red Sox are not the only ones that can rock a beard

Two costumes per child: check

Fall clothes out of storage and in rotation: check

Haunted Happenings parade: check

Halloween theme undies: check

Ladies and gentlemen- Halloween season is upon Otto's House. If you do not frequent Facebook often then I strongly urge you to do so. If not for the low brow memes posted by my sister than for my delightful season photos taken by fellow North Shore mom, Nicole Thomas. Our session was loads of fun as made apparent in the pictures. For those who decline to preview because they want to wait for the card- this year we went with a pirate theme- Logan as Jack Sparrow and Paige as Izzy. 

Now is the part of the blog where I apologize profusely for lack of blog upkeep. I am trying to write more- not that I truly believe that my readers are all that interested but more to practice a craft that I want to hone. In my defense- since returning to work- our free time is sparse. Take our weekly schedule (bare bones with no other obligations-

Karate Class- Logan, everyday until 5

Dance Class- Paige, Monday 5-6, Logan, Tuesday 5:30-6:30

Gymboree- Paige, Saturday 9:15-10

Soccer- Logan, Saturday 10:30-12

Throw in one- two meetings at least a week for Matt and me- yeah, we are pretty busy. But- the plot thickens. Who, despite the crazy schedule, volunteers to be Room Parent? Give you a hint- it's not Otto... I don't think Matt was please with this commitment but hey- I am going to be a kick ass Room Parent so suck it Matt. 

My hiatus from writing is not simply work to class to dinner to bed. We said good bye to Dexter- no spoilers to those who are still catching up but I do want to state- the finale is wonderful. We have return to our AFI project- viewing 2001, Sunset Blvd, Psycho, and Star Wars. Our next movie is The Searchers (#12). Some notes- 2001 very overrated, Sunset- fantastic dialog and characters, Psycho-  too campy and cheesie, and Star Wars- wonderful but does it deserve to be in the top 20? I am still working my way through Game of Thrones (I still like it a lot but I have to parcel it out) but I also read Nancy Milford's Zelda (which is delightful), and Sophia Kinsella's The Wedding Night (very bland). I know- my writing is neglected for my one true vice- reading. Oh- and yes- the cleaning schedule is still in tact. We cannot have Sir Otto living in a dirty house...

Glorious Grilled Cheese

There is nothing like a grilled cheese. It is the ultimate comfort food especially the night before the first day of school. Tonight we made this tasty treat discovered thanks to Pinterest. Pineapple Ham Grilled Cheese- DELICIOUS. Perfect on scala bread with McKinnon's Honey Glazed Ham and a juicy Dole pineapple. Try it...whip one up tonight. We tried it with sharp cheddar cheese but next time I think we will gruyere. 

A story without a title

We are running on less than a week of #lopsu13 (for those who do not follow my Instagram account- that is my tag for this year's summer pictures). Summer fly by fast but this summer is no exception. Between our late school year and Matt's summer school #lopsu13 is crazy fast. It is a fun summer- Disney trip, jaunts to Bradley Palmer, swimming at the Y, and trips to museums, so it will definitely be difficult come Monday morning (at exactly 9:00). Matt returns to school tomorrow for New Teacher Day (Math Coach represents) but does not start until Tuesday. Paige also returns to school on Tuesday and lucky Logan- not until September 6th (is it wrong to envy a Kindergarteners). The next two days are dedicated to cramming in more summer fun (and when I mean more summer fun, I mean free cheap summer fun as one of the few great things about returning to work is a regular pay check). Also- editing and uploading my summer pics (since I haven't since Disney) and finishing up Game of Thrones (which I surprisingly like).

Speaking of summer reading, I am so proud of my Logan Bear. This is our first year participating in the state wide summer reading program (www.readsinma.org). He completed the goal of 400 minutes AND is close completing his personal goal- 1200 minutes (an average of 20 minutes each day during the summer). We rediscover some lesser loved Eric Carle books (ha, like any Eric Carle book is lesser love) and have throughly enjoy some newbies: How to Bicycle to the Moon to Plant Sunflowers and Don't Copy Me! Reading with Logan makes me totally appreciate picture books. I forget sometimes how beautiful some books truly are and how pictures can totally help tell a story. I wish I can tell a story like Eric Carle.. um more like Jon Scieszea. Someday...