Wednesday Oui?

I am beyond exhausted and I can't wait for my upcoming vacation. Scratch that, I NEED my upcoming time off. I have a ton to post and update on this blog but, in all honesty, I don't have the energy.

So much to tell but, that's all in due time. One thing I will share-- pictures of our first dinner on our new patio. We (Aaron) worked on it for weeks and Monday night (date night) we had our first meal on our new patio and the boys sat at the table with us.

Bing looks depressed in this picture but he was actually begging for food.

I'll update more when I have some time. Oui are looking forward to some time off!

Fun Fact Thursday

Been arrested? --- no
Kissed someone you didn't like? --- yes
Slept in until 5 PM? --- no
Fallen asleep at work/school? --- yes
Held a snake? --- yes
Ran a red light? --- yes (by accident)
Been suspended from school? --- no
Experienced love at first sight? --- no, I don't believe in it.
Totaled your car in an accident? --- no
Been fired from a job? --- no
Fired somebody? --- yes
Sang karaoke? --- no
Pointed a gun at someone? --- yes, a water gun, or a "I'm pretending my finger is a gun" gun.
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? --- yes
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? --- yes
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? --- yes
Kissed in the rain? --- yes
Had a close brush with death (your own)? --- no
Seen someone die? --- no
Played spin-the-bottle? --- yes
Sang in the shower? --- yes
Smoked a cigar? --- yes
Sat on a rooftop? --- yes
Smuggled something into another country? --- no!
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes? --- yes
Broken a bone? --- yes
Skipped school? --- yes
Lied to avoid a ticket? --- no
Ridden in a helicopter? --- no
Shaved your head? --- no
Blacked out from drinking? --- yes, once and only once... never again.
Played a prank on someone? --- yes
Hit a home run? --- no
Felt like killing someone? --- yes
Cross-dressed? --- no
Made your girlfriend/boyfriend cry? --- yes
Eaten snake? --- no
Marched/Protested? --- No but I'd like to someday.
Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? --- no
Puked on amusement ride? --- no
Seriously & intentionally boycotted something? --- yes
Been in a band? --- yes
Knitted? --- no
Been on TV? --- yes
Shot a gun? --- yes
Gave someone stitches? --- No, almost. Sorry Nicki :)
Eaten a whole habanero pepper? --- no
Ridden a surfboard? --- no
Had surgery? --- yes
Streaked? --- yes
Taken by ambulance to hospital? --- no
Tripped on mushrooms? --- no
Passed out when not drinking? --- no
Donated Blood? --- yes, every 56 days!!
Grabbed electric fence? --- yes
Eaten alligator meat? --- no
Eaten cheesecake? --- yes
Eaten your kids' Halloween candy? --- no
Killed an animal when not hunting? --- I ran over a mouse once. I pulled over and cried. I am also an accident risk when it's frog season. I am all over the road.
Peed your pants in public? --- no
Snuck into a movie without paying? --- no
Written graffiti? --- NO
Still love someone you shouldn't? --- Nope
Think about the future? --- yes
Been in handcuffs? --- I've never had police contact.
Believe in love? --- YES
Sleep on a certain side of the bed? --- yes

Wednesday Oui? From the archives

My first birthday- probably the last time I was so dirty.

I must admit, I'm not one to make a huge deal out of my own birthday. I get embarrassed when people acknowledge it or when there is a party for me. I don't know why. But, this year... this year is my last birthday in my 20's. That's a little scary. Thirty doesn't seem old but, when I was younger, 30 always felt so.... adult. Sometimes I still feel like a kid. I don't know if that makes sense but, I still wonder when I'm going to feel like an adult. Don't get me wrong, I'm responsible (always have been) I have a house, a spouse and a career. Hell, I even have a picket fence, a checkbook and a station wagon. But when am I going to feel old? I guess it's a good thing, but I'm a little freaked out. Saying I'm twenty____ still feels young. When I hop the fence to thirty_____  I'm in a whole different category.

I've decided, after today, I'm not going to tell my age in years. I'm going to do it in months. What? Why is that a bad idea? People do it with their children, "Oh, she's 16 months..." or "He'll be 22 months on Friday..." so after today, my 29th birthday, when people ask how old I am I'm going to do it in months. "Me, oh I'm 348 months." Sounds good to me ;)

Oui are getting old.

The day I came home from the hospital. A day my sister refers to as one of the best days of her life :)

Yeah, we had a lobster trap for a coffee table. Jealous?

Top Ten Tuesday: Do you hear that Ticking?

Oh, never mind. It's just my biological clock, don't call in the bomb squad.

As of late, many people (well, more like 3 people) have asked me if I'm having a baby. Then there's Aaron, who asks me almost daily to have a baby (which I love). Alas, my on-again-off-again relationship with Planet Fitness is on the downward spiral and while my stomach is expanding it's not due to a fetus, it's my newly discovered palate for brucehetta and mozzarella (how, in 28/29 years, have I never had bruschetta?) So, the "bump" is actually a food baby.

There are some baby related things that are expanding, however:

Many of my friends, along with my sister, are either planning, pregnant, or parenting. As for us, Aaron and I are still in the practicing stage ;) But our circle is expanding to include lots of delicious babies joining already existing delicious babies.

My book collection for my future spawn is growing rather quickly. While in the midst of planning a baby shower for my sister I have started hoarding collecting books (you can't possibly expect me to buy a book for another baby and not stockpile one for my own child, can you?)

1/30/2010

6/14/2010

You know it's bad when you upgrade from a milk crate to a Tupperware... Oops ;)

Much to Aaron's dismay I'm a control freak there are things I want to accomplish before we welcome the pitter-patter of little feet. And yes, I have a list of those things; what do you take me for, a normal person?

So here is my honey-do-list of pre-baby must haves/must do's. (Please, don't judge. This is something more personal than I would normally put up on this blog.)  So, while you're reading through it, laughing hysterically at my neurosis, please keep in mind this list is coming from a girl who likes control so much that I refuse to even drive an automatic transmission. Do you honestly think I would let my car decide when to shift? No, no, NO!

Disclaimer: Many people have told me "once you have a baby, everything changes and there is so very little you can control." Okay, good, so I'll get it when I can, and that happens to be before baby. You dig?

10. We must go on our Alaska cruise/land tour (I refuse to be pregnant or parenting while exploring the remote wilderness of our 49th State. [or have morning sickness on top of seasickness on the cruise portion of my dream vacation slated for summer 2011].) Not to mention, we're going for 14 days! I don't even want to leave my dogs for that long. You think I would leave my baby? 

9. We have to have the addition built on our house otherwise, the baby will get its very own closet for a room.

8. Aaron and I sat down and discussed a number which we want to see in our savings account before we open the flood gates, er, so to speak.

7. We also decided on a number that we want expendable to us in our month to month finances so we can continue to live in the lap of luxury manner we're accustomed to before baby sucks us dry ;)

6. When I can get myself out of the house in the morning with more than 10 minutes to spare (as I well know, adding a baby and all its paraphernalia to the mix totally messes with punctuality.)

5. I must be dually licensed (LCMHC and MLADC) I already have my LCMHC and I'm waiting on board approval for the other, so that won't be long. ** Update** when I originally wrote this blog, I was not yet dually licensed. Drum roll: I am NOW DUALLY LICENSED... yeah, I'm a pretty big deal. Not to mention in the grand scheme of this baby-to-do list, we're 1 down 9 to go ;)

4. When I stop getting annoyed when Aaron asks me to get him a glass of water in the middle of the night. (What's that small helpless baby? You're hungry? Well, I'm tired. Tired beats hungry- fend for yourself.) Just kidding...

3. When living vicariously through all my friends who have children no longer cuts it.

2. When I enjoy being married without children for a little while longer.

1. When I can no longer look at Aaron without thinking... "I want him to be my baby-daddy" which I currently think about 80% of the time. My guess is 100% would be a better choice. Thus, my clock is ticking but it's not very loud just yet.

So, in all honesty, I know a lot of these things may never happen (ie: getting out of the house on time- have you met Aaron?) but some are really important to me ($$- maybe being able to work only part-time [what did I just say?!? Where is my work-a-holic spirit- Geez- this is your brain on baby.]) 

You hear that ticking? It's pretty distracting ;)

Photographic Friday

I just realized I hadn't posted about my Pepe's 88th Birthday.

On April 30th our whole family met at DiMillo's Floating Boat Restaurant in Portland, Maine to celebrate the patriarch of our family turning 88. I did something really special for his birthday this year. In thinking about a gift that would last forever, I set up a scholarship fund in his name. The Herbert W. Peace Sr. Scholarship Fund was established and everyone contributed to the fund instead of buying a gift; something we will do yearly from now on.

My Grandfather spent a good part of his childhood at an orphanage (which we now call a "children's home".) This children's home still exists in Maine; the very place he lived and graduated from. So, each year, a student graduating from Good Will-Hinckley will get a check from our family to help them pursue a secondary education. It won't be a ton of money but, maybe enough for books and to provide our family a way to carry on the legacy of a man who truly made a difference in this world.

Pepe's reaction to his gift?

"I never expected life to be so good to me."

He had a very happy birthday.

A sad goodbye. We'll Miss you Hersh...

On Friday May 21st, with assistance from the vet, my in-law's dog, Hershey, passed away from lymphoma. This news came shortly after Ashley's passing. Animals leave pawprints on your heart and a hole when they are gone. My heart breaks for Jim and Linda.

 

Tribute to a Best Friend

Sunlight streams through a window pane unto a spot on the floor

Then I remember, It's where you used to lie, but now you're there no more.

Our feet walk down a hall of carpet, and muted echoes sound

Then I remember, it's where your paws would trot joyously abound.

A voice is heard along the road, and up beyond the hill,

Then I remember it can't be yours, your golden voice is still.

But I'll take that vacant spot of floor and empty muted hall

And lay them with the absent voice and unused dish along the wall.

I'll wrap these treasured memorials in a blanket of my love

And keep them for my best friend until we meet above.

In Loving Memory of Hersey Bo-Bo Molloy

You were an amazing dog and you are missed- everyday.

Enjoy your popsicles in Heaven.

Wednesday Oui: Date Night for Free!

I have spoken of date night many times on this blog and, I suppose, in "real life" too because everyone tends to acknowledge Monday night as "date night" for us. For example, if Nickie, Nicki (that's not a typo, I have two) or Hilary calls me on date night they will usually begin the conversation with, "Hey, I know it's date night, but I just had to tell you this really quick..." Or my in-laws will tease me and say something like "Oh, never mind, Monday is date night," (with a gooey emphasis on "date.") We love it. We love our date night and we have stuck to it, religiously. It's nice to look forward to a day that isn't on a weekend.

We have done some pretty amazing things for date night. We've been to expensive restaurants (ones we wouldn't normally go to) we've driven to a big mall or made a date night hike to Trader Joe's, we've seen a lot of movies on date night (Alice in Wonderland- 3D, The Lovely Bones, Valentine's Day and a few others) we've had game night and craft night at home, or spent time cooking together in our kitchen; we've been to the library for hours, or thrown the kayaks into the back of the truck and taken off for the afternoon; we've even just spent the night weeding our garden and talking.

 We elected Monday as our date night for many reasons: 1.) I can get out as early as I want on Mondays. 2.) Everyone hates Mondays. Many people view Monday as the beginning of the dreaded work week and therefore, live for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I think that's sad. 3.) Because Monday is the day most people are "getting into the swing of the week" people don't tend to go out and about so we have many opportunities to go out to eat or to a movie and it feels like it's just the two of us in the world. I love that. 4.) For me, it's a great start to the week.

Last Monday was probably one of my favorite date nights-- ever. We packed up the boys, our camera (which I contemplated throwing off the ledge and into the lake so I could rationalize buying my Canon Rebel) and laced up our hiking shoes. It was a gorgeous night; not too hot, not too cold and we hiked around the lake that we normally kayak in or, in the winter, snow-shoe. At the top we stopped, relaxed, talked and snuggled our boys. Free, beautiful, exercise, puppies, nature, quality time... oui...

I need to buy sunglasses for the pups. I've seen them online. 

Can you see camo-Bing? I spy...

At the end of the night, we dropped the pups off so they could nap and we ventured to a garden center to buy more landscaping "stuff" (my latest project/obsession.) Yay for plants!

 Okay, so the last part of the evening wasn't free but, I needed this stuff!

Top Ten Tuesday: Getting Hitched

I had another post originally planned for today but, it JUST occurred to me that Aaron and I have been married for almost 8 months (eight on Thursday as a matter of fact!) Where did the time go? So, last minute, I decided to change my post to ten reasons (there are about one million) I love being married to Aaron.

1. There is no longer "my" money and "his" money. Now, it's all mine.
2. I am now, officially, a M-O-L-L-O-Y. Did I mention I changed my name? Woohoo!
3. We got some pretty kick-ass gifts.

4. I loved planning the day. I love details and I LOVED making every detail exactly what I've always imagined! Now, the planning is done and I don't know what to do with myself. I guess there is always remodeling...
5. Um, let me be completely shallow... have you seen my ring(s)?
6. We no longer have to use the horrible "F" word (as in Fiancee/Fiance- get your mind out of the gutter.)
7. Aaron calls me "wife." It's nice to hear it coming from his mouth.
8. I am now, officially, a member of the dream team. Okay, so, I'm a dork. I just LOVE the Molloy's.
9. It makes me feel legit (I can't explain that. It's just something I feel.) Did I mention I changed my name?
10. Nothing has really changed and our life is exactly the same as it has always been; amazing.

Menu Monday: Cookbooks and a tip

Instead of posting a recipe today I'm going to post about my collection of cookbooks. While I do love to cook, I'll be the first to admit that at times I need a little, ahem, help. Aside from loving books (and having them at my fingertips) I also get a lot of satisfaction from browsing through cookbooks on a rainy day.

Below are a few of my favorites:

Nigella Lawson's How to Be a Domestic Goddess: This is one of my splurge books. When I want to make a dish with expensive or elaborate ingredients, or something that takes a long time to prepare, I always go to this book.

Betty Crocker- it's a classic, I don't think I need to tell you why- you can find EVERYTHING in this cookbook and it's Aaron's favorite.

Rachael Ray's Big Orange Cookbook: Now, I'm not one to watch cooking shows on television (unless it's Man vs. Food which is one of my favorite shows [new season debuts on my birthday, Happy Birthday to me!]) but I do like Rachael Ray's style. She believes in simplicity and that works for me.

And for my all time favorite cookbook, my faithful readers, you know what it is:           

The Amish Cook at Home: I haven't loved a cookbook as much as I love this one. Not only does it have hearty recipes but, it also has amazing stories about the Amish culture.

Tip: Often times I'll try a delicious recipe at a party and I'll ask the host(ess) to email it to me. Or I'll thumb through a magazine while waiting at the doctor/dentist office and I'll come across a recipe I must have (so I'll rip it out- shhhh!) In the end, I put the recipe or email in a plastic page protector and into a binder I have organized by appetizers, main dishes, sides and desserts. This way I have all my miscellaneous recipes organized neatly in one place.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Today is my only nephew's 7th birthday. This is a BIG -- HUGE birthday because it's his last birthday as an only child; a circumstance which makes me both happy and sad.

Since Xander was born I've always referred to him as "the baby" when speaking of him. Recently it occurred to me that, after August, when I say "the baby" I will be referring to my sweet little niece ready for a world that is so ready for her. I am excited for her arrival but sad in a very small way (very small) because I know that I will now have to divide my attention between her and Xander.

So for today and the next couple of months, before I am an "I-ya" for the second time, I'm screaming a GIGANTIC shout out to the baby, wishing our big boy a very happy 7th birthday. We love you. Everyone does. I can't wait to see what an amazing big brother you're going to be to your precious little sister. Now, please don't get any older or any bigger.

On the Mend, Oui?

I can say I'm on the mend-- thanks in part to a lot of time spent with my family.

Here are some pictures taken this weekend at camp, the only place in this world where I truly find an enormous measure of comfort.

Aaron is the best Uncle. Ever.

Two of my favorite men putting out the dock for the season.

An evening paddle with my mother.

Over the river and through the woods to my mother's house we go...

Hot dogs on a camp fire.

Xander cut branches with Uncle Aaron so we could roast hot dogs and marshmallows.

Many nights of a Parker Brother's classic. Good times. Exactly what I needed. Oui?