The Zimmer Zoo

Awesome Visit

Posted on October 8, 2008 by Nancy

My mom flew up from Florida and hung out with us for the entire weekend. As most Grannies do, she came bearing gifts…that have been played and played and played with. I think Burke’s new book has already been read about 20 times…probably more!

Granny Frani showed up at our doorstep Friday afternoon and played with the kids all evening. Aunt Cathy came over too, as Granny Frani was actually staying with her. They both left after a chicken and broccoli braid meal (Love Pampered Chef!), but came back on Saturday with a yummy lunch! We spent much of Saturday afternoon in the back yard at the swing set. Did I get any pictures? nope.

Ordered dinner from one of our favorite pizza joints and then said goodnight to Aunt Cathy and Granny Frani again.

On Sunday, Granny Franni came back to go to church with us. We’ve been attending this church since January and *love* the people there. Jury’s still out on the minister, but he’s slowly growing on us. SLOWLY. Anyway – more people nodded in recognition to my mom saying “I’m Maggie’s Grandma” than to “I’m Nancy’s Mom.” Go figure 😉 I guess that’s to be expected after getting a hand-written note from one of the elders letting us know that they missed us and our red-heads. LOL (We missed two weeks in a row due to our anniversary and then the entire family being ill.)

I FINALLY remembered to take some pictures on Sunday.

Logan and Granny Frani

The twins loved playing with Granny Frani and had an absolute blast with the stickers.

Look at All Those Stickers!

Logan…not so much.

Mo-om! Granny Frani Put Stickers on Me!

A crock pot meal, and Granny was off to Aunt Cathy’s house and had to leave early Monday morning.

Burke’s first words when he woke up on Monday? “It’s morning time. Where’s Granny Frani??”

…apparently he had a good time 🙂

Filed under: fam, kids | Tagged: visiting granny | 2 Comments »

Way Back When-esday

Posted on October 8, 2008 by Nancy

Cheryl over at Twinfatuation hosts this one. Go on over to see who else is playing – and join in too!

This one is from when Maggie was not quite 2, and not quite talking. All the way back to 2006 😉

Maggie on the Phone

And to match it, the video:

(13 seconds)

Filed under: Maggie, WBW | Tagged: pretend phone | 5 Comments »

Shamelessly Stolen Meme

Posted on October 7, 2008 by Nancy

Laura over at Catholic Teacher Musings posted this on her blog and happened to mention that she was passing it to everyone on her bloglist…since I love memes (you know. all about ME!!!!), and I don’t have a lot to write about today (I need to download some pictures before writing about my mom’s visit), I snagged it…shamelessly… along with the cute little button.

The rules – even though Laura broke them ( 😉 ) – are these: answer the following questions with one word answers, then pass the award on to seven others.

1. Where is your cell phone? Beside
2. Where is your significant other? work
3. Your hair color? Auburn-ish
4. Your mother? Florida
5. Your father? Vermont
6. Your favorite thing? Reading
7. Your dream last night? Disturbing
8. Your dream/goal? Debt-less
9. The room your in? Bedroom
10. Your hobby? Blogging
11. Your fear? Loneliness
12. Where do you want to be in six years? Wealthy 😉
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. What you’re not? Skinny
15. One of your wish list items? Deck
16. Where you grew up? Vermont
17. The last thing you did? Breakfast
18. What are you wearing? PJ’s
19. Your TV? Off
20. Your pet? Cats
21. Your computer? Laptop
22. Your mood? Sleepy
23. Missing someone? Grandma
24. Your car? Orange
25. Something you’re not wearing? Bra
26. Favorite store? Costco
27. Your summer? Over
28. Love someone? Bat-shit-crazy-in-love
29. Your favorite color? Purple (Green? BOTH!)
30. When is the last time you laughed? Earlier
31. Last time you cried? Dunno

I pass this along to:

It’s been around for a while, so I’m sure some of you have gotten it before…it’s all good. 🙂

Filed under: blog comments, me | Tagged: meme | 7 Comments »

Feeding Himself

Posted on October 6, 2008 by Nancy

Logan had a good time trying to use the spoon and fork for the first time yesterday.

Logan Feeding Himself

What’s that in his bowl, You ask?

Yogurt!

Yogurt with a fork!? …simply something to try to keep the second hand OUT of the yogurt…

...Which Didn't Work According to Plan

But he got the hang of it, and even wanted to feed Mommy.

Want Some, Mommy?

Filed under: Logan, pictures | Tagged: feeding myself, yogurt | 3 Comments »

Warm Fuzzies

Posted on October 5, 2008 by Nancy

Yesterday’s post reminded me of a great children’s book called A Warm Fuzzy Tale. You can actually read the story in its entirety here. The basic premise is that the people of the land gave away warm fuzzies freely until an evil witch makes them think that they’ll run out. (The warm fuzzies are actual things they carry around in a bag with them.) So they start giving away cold pricklies disguised as warm fuzzies. . . and well, just read the story 🙂

When I was a Girl Scout leader, we read this to our Brownies and talked about giving out warm fuzzies versus cold pricklies and which they’d rather get and all that. We even made warm fuzzies (just yarn pompoms) to share. When my Stitch & B*tch met last month, I even found some of these warm fuzzies in my yarn bag – and let me tell you…they work! LOL

There have been some criticisms that this isn’t for children because they talk about people dying from lack of warm fuzzies…let me just say “oy.” I understand protecting your kids from bad things, but seriously … have you ever heard of overprotecting your kids? This is a *STORY* and like most fairy tales has some dark in it (see my Scary Disney Movie post if you’re not already convinced). But also like most fairy tales has a great message.

Do you spread warm fuzzies or cold pricklies?

Filed under: deep thoughts | Tagged: cold pricklies, warm fuzzies | 2 Comments »

“Oh, I Like Her!”

Posted on October 4, 2008 by Nancy

When I first moved to the Boston area about 8 or 9 years ago, I didn’t know anyone except my two sisters who were already here. I took a job – sight unseen – just to get me out of New Jersey and the messy breakup I’d gone through.

Before the aforementioned breakup, I made friends fairly easily, was considered a social butterfly, and was even called a “cruise ship director” by my family because I was the one to get everyone together. I was not this person any more; my self-confidence had pretty much been shattered.

When I started meeting new people, I was convinced that the one “bringing me along” just felt sorry for me, and that all the others were just being nice because their friend had brought me. Ya. It was that bad. There are times when I slip back into that person, but I’m much better than I was.

What turned it around, you ask? One moment that I will never forget – even though I’m ashamed to admit that I cannot remember who was involved, or if I’m even friendly with them any more. I was my usual tag-along with someone who ‘felt sorry for me’ and was chatting with this person and one of their friends. At one point in the conversation, the woman turned to her friend (my tagee) and said, so I could hear, “Oh, I like her!” I have no idea what we were talking about, what prompted the statement, or anything like that…but I will never forget those words or how they made me feel.

It also made me realize how few people use those words. Oh sure, you hear from your family that they love you – and that’s awesome – but it’s just not the same as someone liking you. Why is it so tough for us to let someone else know this? When’s the last time you heard it?

My challenge to you is this: the next time you meet someone new, and you actually find yourself liking them, TELL them. Heck, when’s the last time you told your best friends you liked them?

Filed under: me | Tagged: I like you | 2 Comments »

Is It Just My House?

Posted on October 3, 2008 by Nancy

I finally drifted off last night around midnight. Not great when I had struggled with a migraine all day, but at least I was sleeping!

And then, I was abruptly woken by a very high-pitched “BEEP!”

Quick check of the clock (1am), it’s not beeping. Quick check of my phone, it’s not beeping. Quick check of Mike’s phone, computer, anything on his dresser. Nope. Nope. Nope.

Okay – I hear it again – it’s out in the hall! Oh, there’s a smoke detector out there on the bookshelf, it must be running out of batteries. DAMN I hope this doesn’t wake the kids up!! (Side note: Mike’s still snoring…so he’s all good.)

I stand at the smoke detector waiting for the beep. “BEEP!” – not this one. It’s coming from downstairs.

Keep in mind that it’s *1 AM* here…I have major migraine meds in my system…and there’s a very high-pitched beep coming every 20 seconds or so that I cannot locate. What is it about that pitch??

I go grab that special battery smoke detectors (and nothing else) seem to need and the step ladder, and hunt for the damn beep. I stand under the one down in the hall. “BEEP!” Nope. Not this one. *sigh* But I’m closer!

Oh…there’s a carbon monoxide detector on the wall in the living room. I’ll stand there. “BEEP!” THAT’S IT!!! I open the battery compartment…CRAP! It takes AA batteries, not this stupid square one. Go rummage for those…please oh please oh please…woo hoo! There they are. Now where the heck did I put the cover? Okay, there it is…almost under the couch. How did THAT happen? All set.

As I’m walking up the stairs, it occurs to me that these things *never* run out of batteries during the day. Or when your head isn’t already splitting. Why is that??

I finally get my head down on the pillow for some much needed sleep (1:26am). …is that Burke I hear? *sigh*

Filed under: deep thoughts, iijm, me, venting | Tagged: stupid beep | 6 Comments »

Friday’s Foto Finish Fiesta

Posted on October 3, 2008 by Nancy

Candid Carrie sponsors this one – head over to her blog and find LOTS of links for bloggers who’ve joined in! (You can join in too!)

Every time I take Burke to his speech class at a local elementary school, he is fascinated by this huge red crayon out front. (It’s so big that I couldn’t get the top of it in the picture!)

Burke's Red Crayon

Filed under: Burke, FFFF, school | Tagged: big red crayon | 8 Comments »

Apparently I’m a Rebel

Posted on October 2, 2008 by Nancy

Three Under Two and What a Card have both talked about the Top 100 most challenged books from 1990 to 2000. And I had to take a look for myself. Apparently, I’m a rebel, as I’ve read a few…

Here’s what I’ve read (my numbering system doesn’t match theirs…sorry!):

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
(for school)
Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
Forever by Judy Blume
(for real?? LOVED this – and all – Judy Blume books!)
My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
(for school. Liked it so much it prompted me to read their other one on the list.)
Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
(conveniently located around my favorites, Christopher Pike and William Sleator…this guy actually sucks.)
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
(for school. Loved this one too – read more RNP books)
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
(Are you kidding me?? Both Mike and I agree this book blew our minds – and opened them – when we were young.)
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
(I remember being so moved by this one.)
The Witches by Roald Dahl
Blubber by Judy Blume
Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
(I’ve read all of her books. Are they upset because this one “offs” a teacher?? geez.)
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
(for school)
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
(remember liking this one…)
What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
(I’ve read all of his books too)
Deenie by Judy Blume
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
(What?? Love, Love, Love Shel Silverstein)
Cujo by Stephen King
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
(I just can’t get over how many Judy Blume books are on this list. And this one ROCKED.)
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
Carrie by Stephen King
Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
Family Secrets by Norma Klein
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
(I seriously had to laugh at this one)
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

I was SUPPOSED to read these (shh…don’t tell my teachers):

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Filed under: me | Tagged: challenged books, rebel reader | 3 Comments »

It’s a Slippery Slope

Posted on October 1, 2008 by Nancy

Yup. I’m one step away from that whole soccer mom thing. *sigh*

I went to my first PTO meeting last night. (Why is it PTO in one town and PTA in another??) Anyway, it ranged from very organized to seemingly fairly disorganized. The women who run it have obviously been doing it for quite some time (they must have had older kids to go through the preschool as well). And one of the co-chairs (there are 4 or 5) was very good about recognizing that there were about 1/2 of us there who hadn’t been there before and had no idea what they were talking about for some things. Like…what a “calendar raffle” is. (And no, they aren’t raffling off calendars. Strange, huh?)

At one point they were chatting about whether we’d need another meeting or not, and how to communicate that so and so was calling this place to figure out that and no one else would need to, etc….so I asked if they thought a Yahoo Group might work well. Holy technology terror crossing some faces. But the nice mommy got pretty excited, and thought it was a great idea and is going to get my help to put it together. It’s funny because I was pretty sure I recognized her name, so when she said she belonged to another Yahoo Group, I said “Uhm, do you have twins..? Are you on the mom’s of twins yahoo group?” Her eyes got a little wide and she said, “Yes! I am!” So, I introduced myself and she recognized my name (I tend to, ah, post *a lot* over there…so my name is all over that group).

At this point, one of the OTHER co-chairs asked “Are you Burke and Maggie’s mom?” uhm…ut oh. “Yup! That’s me!” Apparently her son is in their class and talks about them all the time. (She was still smiling, so it must not have been too bad 😉 ) I guess the whole twin thing tickles him 🙂

So now I’m thinking…Why don’t my kids ever really talk about their friends? I mean, they talk about “friends” and playing with “friends” and seeing “friends” at school – but there aren’t a lot of names thrown around. Sure, they know names if I ask “Did you play with so-and-so today?” …but I don’t know the names of all the kids in their class. And when we were leaving one afternoon, they saw a playmate in his car and said “Say bye bye to Stanly*!”

Perhaps it’s just that they’re just as bad as I am about remembering names. Poor kids.

* Name changed

Filed under: me, twins | Tagged: PTO, who are you? | 6 Comments »

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The Zimmer Zoo

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You are visitor number

Awesome Visit

Way Back When-esday

Shamelessly Stolen Meme

Feeding Himself

Warm Fuzzies

“Oh, I Like Her!”

Is It Just My House?

Friday’s Foto Finish Fiesta

Apparently I’m a Rebel

It’s a Slippery Slope

* Name changed

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