Getting to know you II...

Welcome to the 2nd Edition of Getting To Know Your Family and Friends, Christmas Style. You know the drill.
Get crack-a-lackin'!

1. Do you put up outdoor Christmas decorations? YES! That's the best part of any holiday. I wish I could put lights up, but Jay is severely afraid of heights and isn't willing to hold the ladder while I try it out either.

2. Do you have a favorite Christmas cookie? I love sugar cookies but I think I'll say my mother's Greek or Italian cookies, made for every holiday.

3. What is the best gift you ever gave someone? I can't think of any best gift. I get excited about any gift b/c I put a lot of thought into gift-giving, so I always know the recipient will be happy.

4. Do you like fruitcake? never really had it

5. What is your least favorite Christmas song? I HATE Feliz Navidad, it's just soooo annoying!

6. Do you go to church on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day? a guilty no...I'm still waiting for that calling, but nothing yet. Someday I hope.

7. Do you hang Christmas stockings? Where? Santa usually puts them under the tree for xmas morning

8. Do you truly believe "it's the most wonderful time of the year"? yes, even though I do hate the crowds and I am not a shopper...I hate shopping! Once I get started though, I get very excited. Aside from the shopping thing, yes, I do enjoy seeing everyone in the spirit. It makes you appreciate your family and friends, heck even strangers!

9. Have you ever worn a Santa hat? no, I'm not opposed to it though. Aren't I cute??? splllrt.

10. Are you more like Scrooge or Father Christmas? ummm, in between?

11. Do you hang mistletoe? no I should get some

12. Does Santa wrap presents or just place them under your tree? some wrapped, some displayed w/ no wrap. There was nothing better as a kid than running down on xmas morning and seeing a new doll in her carriage...I wouldn't wrap that. Those are the memories, baby!

13. Can you ice skate? no and I have made quite a fool out of myself trying!

14. Do you love snow? I LOVE snow but it does get dirty looking come March

15. Which do you prefer--giving or receiving? giving

16. Candy Canes--yuck or yum? maybe one

17. The 3 best things about Christmas? the smell of Christmas (if anyone knows what I mean), family & friends getting together surrounded by xmas decor, xmas spirit~everyone is just happier

18. What type of decoration should stop being made? christmas balls...

19. Do you listen to 24/7 holiday radio? I listen to my CD's all day long, while burning my bayberry candle...ahhhhh the smell of Christmas!

20. Rudolph or Frosty? Frosty was always so cute and so nice, I love his voice.

First snow!!!

Catching up...

Bad blogger...spank, spank, spank! ;)

Some pics of my beauties~

Cass, having her first driving lesson w/ me~

Cassidy's cheering banquet~

The Coach's Award goes to.......Cassidy Rich! Yay Cass! WooHoo!!!!!

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They take 3rd!!!

Great job girls~another trophy! They've received one from each competition this season. This is a great feat for the Ipswich Cheerleaders! Way to go Tigers!

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GO IPSWICH!

Competition tonight in Danvers~wish us luck!

This pic was taken at their Halloween game, they were beauty pageant contestants. Cass was Miss Vermont~IDK? I always tell her that she should think of going to college up in VT or ME but she's talking about NY city lately for film and music editing (I think). I can't wait to look at schools, I will soooo be living vicariously through her!!! My smartie pants got all A's and one B this quarter in all honors classes. This is extra great b/c cheering has taken up so much of her time and she also has her tougher classes this semester. She works so hard and sets such high standards and goals for herself. We are so proud of her!

Lorraine's Survey

Survey Time

10 YEARS AGO I . . .
1.) was 24 years old
2.) had a 5 yr old daughter
3.) got engaged
4.) bought my first home
5.) battling my weight, same as now!!!!!!!!! Good grief!

5 THINGS ON TODAY'S TO-DO LIST
1.) prepare lunch for kids
2.) pick Caragh up from preschool
3.) think about what's for dinner
4.) laundry
5.) trip to grocery store

5 THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A MILLIONAIRE
1.) buy a vacation home somewhere up north
2.) hire a work out team/nutritionist to whip me into shape
3.) buy a new wardrobe
4.) take my whole extended family on a trip
5.) help my extended family out a bit (just a million bucks, right?)

5 PLACES I HAVE LIVED
1.) East Boston, MA
2.) Revere, MA
3.) Topsfield, MA
4.) Salem, MA
5.) Ipswich, MA

5 JOBS I'VE HAD
1.) Pasticceria Italiana bakery all through high school
2.) nanny
3.) McDonald's for 1 day...WOW, I know!
4.) TJ Maxx for @ 1 week...hated it!
5.) Horsley Eye Clinic-enabled me to get my eyes done for NADA!!! 20/20 now!

Fun, thanks Lorraine! It's always good to reflect on what you've done and what you would do if...

Getting to know you...

Welcome to the Christmas Edition of Getting To Know Your Family and Friends...you know the drill. Get to bloggin'.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? both

2. Real tree or Artificial? the real deal!!!

3. When do you put up the tree? @ 3 wks before xmas

4. When do you take the tree down? @ a week after

5. Do you like eggnog? somewhat, w/ a lil something in it ;)

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Cabbage Patch Kid FOR SURE!

7. Hardest person to buy for? Jay, needs nothing-lives very simple

8. Easiest person to buy for? my kids

9. Do you have a nativity scene? no

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail, love giving and receiving them

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? one admittedly purchased at a yard sale, but "looked good as new!" (sorry if you know who you are!)

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? mid December

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? NEVER!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? my mother's Greek & Italian cookies (she's neither~haha)

16. Lights on the tree? I prefer white but Jay & kids like colored, so colored it is

17. Favorite Christmas song? Where are you Christmas

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? different every year

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? of course

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I have a ragdoll angel that's been on my tree ever since I moved out of my parent's house, it always will be

21. Presents on Christmas Eve or morning? one gift (pj's) for the kids on Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? shopping, I hate it!

23. Favorite Ornament theme or color? I love ones that you know who gave you them and why, ones w/ meaning behind them

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? prime rib cooked by Jay's mom! The best!!!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? $$$$$ haha

Merry Christmas friends! xoxo

It's FRIDAY!

Why not stand on your head!!! ;)

Remember these days Mary & Erin? Well, I've still got it!
However, those pics will be emailed!

RUN!!!

Wild Turkeys!!! We usually see two or four, but seeing 24 of these creatures was quite a sight!


at the neighbors...


through our backyard...

and back to where they came from.

Cheer Competition, Medford

Cass w/ her 2 biggest fans! ♥♥♥



Ipswich Cheerleaders placed 2nd in their division! Great job GALS! YAY!!!



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Papa Gino's w/ all the kiddies~FUN time, thanks for coming Auntie Jeannie & Auntie Erin! xoxo

♥

Toothfairy & New Shoes

1 down, twenty-something to go!

She sleeps w/ them EVERY time!

Halloween '08

Here are some pics from Reilly's school parade~

Reilly & Dagan...she thinks he is sooooo adorable! (I have to agree.)

Rowan & Reilly

Class of 2021...how crazy is that?!?!?

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Trick or Treating w/ the Maxwells~
We had sooooo much fun! I still laugh thinking of all these girls flipping their little bodies out of the wagons at every house and bolting across lawns and up walkways, screaming at the tops of their lungs the whole way! It was a sight!





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Happy Halloween Y'all

Sorry I won't be there...Tony, Daisy and I are headed to LAX and we're off to Hawaii! See y'all when I get back!

xoxo Jessica

Erin's Tag

Open your photo program and choose the 6th file and then the 6th picture and see what you get.

This is what I got:

It's Natalie (I'm pretty sure anyway). This pic was taken at the Maxwell House (haha, lol every time I say that!) while we were there to beat the heat, soaking up their AC. We were in the middle of moving and as my luck would have it, our AC crapped the bed during a major heat wave. I was losing it, stressed out to the max and Jeannie was gracious enough to let us hang out for the evening and cool off. It was that night that I was introduced to chocolate almond frozen yogurt, which doesn't sound too harmful but I've been an addict ever since. Too much of a good thing is never a good thing...@ 10lbs later! Yeah, thanks Jeannie! ;)

We ♥ you Papa Jack!

We don't get a chance to see Papa as much as we'd like but when we do, he makes sure to spend quality time w/ the kids. You're a great Papa and we love you!

Ipswich, Massa2shits

This one's for you Twila! ;)

Smile, it's Friday!

Auntie Katie's brownies~YUM!

Just kidding, it's a donut...but I thought it was funny.

Stampede!

My little Kindergartener was trampled on her way out to recess...

Reilly was very brave and got fixed up at the nurse's office and went right back out to recess.

It broke my heart getting the phone call from the nurse, but she assured me that Reilly was okay. I say these things happen, unfortunately.

Daddy is NOT too happy though! (he wants to find out who the little boy's dad is!) ?!?!?! ;(

My poor baby, so pitiful! :(

Farm Fun

We stopped by Marini Farm yesterday w/ my sister Katie and her rugrats. My kids look forward to this place all year. We made our way through the corn maze and got some great fall pics...it's always a great time.


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We paid a visit to friends of ours on Friday afternoon who now live on a farm. This is the real deal kind of farm, no bells & whistles, no hired help. They're just normal working people who happen to love animals. They've become sort of an animal sancuary, they have a hard time saying no to any new addition. The most interesting part is that they're learning as they go along. This is all new to them. It looked like tough work alright, but it must be amazing to live alongside all of these animals. We had so much fun! Thanks Bob, Dianne, Dana & Dom. xoxo

This pic is for my sister Mary..."aren't I cute, splurrrrrt!".