I'm taking on the Project 365 challenge! - Care to join me??

OK.,. so we are a week into 2010 already- but today is the day I read about doing this project on my friend HoneyB's Blog ( link to the right of this post) - so I'll be a few photos short since today is the 8th- but I do have a few photos of this past week- so it won't be a complete week without photos!

The Project 365 is basically a photo a day for the year to capture your life - you can read more about it here -- http://photojojo.com/content/tutorials/project-365-take-a-photo-a-day/ - although I'm sure this isn't the first person to come up with the idea- people have been doing this for years- it just seems like something fun to do!

To recap the beginning of my year and to get the project started on my end- here are the photos I have managed to take this year so far --

This photo was taken January 3rd - my brother plowing us out.

This one was taken January 4th- my dad plowing us out - notice it's still snowing!

Hmmmm-- that's all the photos I have so far for different days this year! LOL - I am off to take a photo of  'something'- got to figure out what- then I'll be back to post it for today's photo!

Are you ready for the challenge? I'd love to see your world in 365 (more or less) photos!

What is it worth?

If you look below at the Christmas photos- you will notice my daughter is wearing a simple necklace that is made with a stone that really has no monetary value- but that might as well be gold to her.

A few years ago, the necklace was given to her by my father - one day she saw it in his desk drawer I believe and asked him about it and he gave it to her. My daughter and my father have always had a very special bond since she was born- they are as close as two people could possibly be I think. Megan loves him so much, and the feeling is very mutual- it's a very unconditional love as love should be - but I'm afraid today Meg's not feeling that and my heart is breaking for her.

See-- she wears this necklace all the time- day in-- day out- she has  this necklace on- it's a necklace that my uncle (my father's brother Ron) had made for my grandmother a very long time ago. Both my uncle and grandmother have passed away now- but my uncle used to tinker about making this and that for my grandmother and others.

Well  this morning not more than an hour after she left for school she called just sobbing on the phone that the stone to the necklace had fallen out and she couldn't find it- she'd only been to one class- so her steps at school for the day were limited- but still - she even went to where the car was parked at school looking for it and looking inside the car- her dad looked for it outside here and we looked inside the house-- still-- the stone is not to be found- she's heartbroken - sobbing- because of the sentimental value of this necklace - not only because it was made by her great uncle for her great-grandmother- but because it was something her "baldy" (pet nickname for her grandfather) had given to her and trusted her with. I think as much as she is upset over the stone being gone, she is as much worried her grandfather is going to be upset with her for losing it- which I know couldn't be further from the truth - and even though I just told  her that when she called again- I don't think at this point it's sunk in.

So what is it worth? Money wise- nothing really- it's was just a stone on a piece of cheap metal shaped to mount and hold the stone- but sentimentally- it was/is worth everything to Meg. I truly hope by some miracle it's found at school today and returned to her.

UPDATE: Megan just called again from school and she FOUND the stone-- I'm SO SO SOooooo thrilled for her - miracles do happen :o)

Christmas Vacation Comes to an End

Well, the kids are back to school today after 12 days off-- this vacation seemed to go by really fast- and neither are really ready to go back lol!

I wasn't going to let Meg drive to school today- but there were no delays anywhere and the road seemed to be fairly cleaned off-- so hopefully she makes it ok- it's only 5 miles away and she only needs to take one other road besides ours to get there - so not to big of a deal.

Christmas was good-- kids both got a lot of iems they wanted- but it's just not 'fun' anymore- not like it was when they were little anyways- it was always so much fun to have the anticipation of Santa- the baking of cookies- stringing popcorn for the tree-- yes-- we used to do all these things- but now with two teens in the house- they could care less if we even put up decorations!

I wasn't feeling well on Christmas day- and it's the first Christmas I have not had dinner with my parents in all of my 38 years- even though I live just across  the driveway from them- I didn't go over this year and it's sorta bumming me out looking back on it- but at the time- I just didn't feel like moving or smelling food. The kids did go over though of course and had a terrific time as always - it's a tradition to always open presents here at home- then go to my parents and then their for Christmas dinner. Christmas dinner at my parents is the one tradition the kids look most forward to even though they could eat there everyday if they like lol.

Here are a few photos to share- hopefully I'll be updating the blog more often - although I'm starting back to college later this month and I have no idea how that's going to go- I haven't been in school in 20 years!

Notice how much shorter Megan is than Alex - and she's 2 1/2 years older- I hate to tell her, but I don't think she's going to get much taller-- and yet, Alex keeps growing!

January's Snow

They were calling for up to 14 inches by tonight- if it keeps going- we might make it-- we've gotten several inches so far since Friday afternoon- here is what it looks outside my house right now-- these photos were taken this morning-

This is my brother plowing out my driveway and my parents as well- with his "bumble bee"

View From My deck towards the neighbors across the street

Looking towards my parents- my mother's car

My car next to my deck - had already been cleaned off of several inches of snow and is getting covered again!

My father's Truck

Anyways-- this is our current world in NNY!

Stay warm!!

Just A Short Note--

WOW-- I just realized that it's been over a month since I've posted anything here- so thought I'd check in!

I have been busy helping my daughter with the high school yearbook ( a long story there) but the senior section is almost completed- so that will be a big relief!

The kids are doing well in school- 2nd terms report cards just came in and both did terrific- Alex could bring a couple of his grades up some- but he's passing and certainly doing a lot better than last year-- so can't complain to much! Vacation starts the 23rd for them- they can't wait!

The house is completely decorated for Christmas- I've had everything up since about a week before Thanksgiving- a little early- but it takes a few days to get everything up and I like to be able to enjoy it all.

I've also been listening to holiday music on XM 801 on Direct TV all day long-- nothing like a little holiday cheer! :O)

All of the kids presents are wrapped and under the tree except for a few last minute things- as they get older their wants become more expensive so there is less presents- yet, still things they want.

Oh well-- I've got to finish dishes and change the laundry around so I better get going for now-- hopefully I'll be posting again sooner than later!

Happy Birthday To My Son

It's so hard to believe that my 'baby' Alex is 15 today- where has the time gone - it's racing by- sometimes I wish I could catch it and hold onto it a little bit longer - before I know it, he's going to be a senior in high school like his sister is this year and then off on his own in the big world.


Like most parents and teens- we have our ups and downs- but the good far out ways the bad- I'm fortunate enough to have two terrific kids!

When Alex was born, he had trouble swallowing and eating and we didn't really know why until he got dehydrated and ended up in the hospital - it was then determined that he had large tonsils and adenoids- we were sent to see a doctor in Watertown who said he didn't think they needed to come out, but would take them out if we wanted him to- and I insisted he do it- it wasn't for the fact it was going to be fun for my son to have an operation at 18 months old of course- but it was because he had numerous ear infections, couldn't lay down flat very well, couldn't eat well, etc.- once removed, the doctor came out and told us that he had never seen such large tonsils and adenoids in a child before- they were larger than most adults and we had for sure made the correct choice in having them removed.

After all of this - Alex has a slow start in learning to talk- he was very very smart, he just wasn't getting his words out like he should - so at 3, we started him with speech therapy several times a week and it's one of the best things I could ever have done for him. They thought he might possibly have a stutter his entire life and once he started talking, he talked so fast you could hardly understand him- but after several years of speech therapy all was/is well and you would never know he had any of these problems as a young child. He does not have a stutter and his speech slowed down to a 'normal' rate. I can remember telling him when he was younger - Alex slow down, I can't understand you- and they warned me not to do that for it could make him talk slow-- as a mother sometimes you just know that that's not going to be the case- I kept telling him to slow down when he'd talk fast and he would stop, think and restart and talk perfect - he's come such a long way and I am so thankful he had no lasting problems with his speech.

Alex doesn't care much for school- and it's frustrating- because on state tests he will ace them and be one of the top two or three in his class on every single one of them- yet, he will barely be passing the classes- and this is simply because he is to lazy to do the school work and doesn't want to do the school work- this year that has changed some though- he's in 9th grade now and this year is going well- he has had one report card home and got really good grades- 85's and 90's even- I was very proud of him for this and I hope it continues for the rest of the year - although I'm not sure how he does it, because he doesn't ever do home work at home - thank goodness for study halls I guess!

Alex is very independent and outgoing unlike Megan. Megan is shy and reserved around people- where as Alex will walk up - shake hands and introduce himself to anyone- he will make the best of most situations and by the end of the day, have several new friends because of this.

I am thankful that Alex isn't into smoking, drinking or anything like that- the most I ever get upset with him about is not bringing dirty clothes out of his room or soda cans, or the occasional fight about not wanting to go to school- I would gladly take these types of arguments any day over what they could be about.

Alex does enjoy going camping and hunting with his grandfather- I'm so thankful my kids have grown up right next door to my parents- both of them have loving, caring, wonderful relationships with both their grandmother and grandfather - they have been such a part of the kids lives that they will never forget and I am sure will look back on one day with very many fond memories.

Anyways- I'm grateful to be here to celebrate my sons birthday with him- I'm grateful to be watching him grown into a fine young man- I'm grateful he is my son- I love him so much.

Happy Birthday Alex- you mean the world to me- I would be lost without you- your smile is infectious- your giggly laugh has always brightened the darkest of days- and although I might not always show it- I cherish each and everyday I have with you.

I love you so much-- here's to many many more birthdays!!

Meg's Senior Pics

These are 'raw' pics- we did have some enhancements added to some of them- the black is not an actual black in the photos we are getting-- more of a soft black with some grey mixed in- her name/year of graduation is on some, and I got a sepia pic as well-- these are just the basic pics before anything was done to them.