A Star is Born

We have been keeping busy in the Poretsky house this summer. That's why I decided with vacations and day trip activities planned I wouldn't do any camps. When I saw the opportunity for a singing camp I couldn't resist. It really wasn't a camp. It was like a piano lesson everyday. Those were not found memories from my youth. I know now what my Mother went through.

E loved it. C and I who patiently waited outside, not so much. The session ran Monday-Friday. The last day concluded with a concert that made all the waiting worth while. C and I were excited to see E perform her first of I'm sure many solos.

Dream Vacation

Our family just got back from their 2nd annual vacation to Maine. A week on the beach, amusement park, arcade, fried food and ice cream. What more could you ask for?



The weather was great. Some days were a little overcast, but no rain days! The latest addition to our family joined us this year (Boo). The beach town we vacation at is dog friendly so it was nice to take her to the beach.



Now reality sets in as I'm doing another load of laundry, and sorting through all this mail. I just want to go back to the beach.

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My Little Farmers

Our family joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) this summer. We are splitting a share with a neighbor. It's week 4 and our family is loving it!

We pick up the share every other week. This was the first week I brought the girls. They were so excited to go to the farm. There are certain veggies that are PYO, because of the labor involved. If the share holders pick, the Farm can concentrate on other things.

The girls and I really enjoyed walking into the fields to pick our share of green beans. I was surprised on how well they did. At one point I looked over at E and saw she was a dirty mess. She quickly told me "Farmers are supposed to get dirty Mommy." C was too busy watching all the chickens to worry about getting too dirty:) They were both so proud to pick food for our family.

We headed back to the barn to pick up the rest of our share. This week was lettuce, greens (Kale), scallions, turnips, carrots, and something I've never heard of Kohlrabi??

Both of the girls are pretty good eating their veggies, but there is something about knowing where it's coming from. They have been MORE willing to try something new.

I'm a Midwest girl, and growing up we always had a garden. This was something our family did every year. I guess you could call it a tradition, but I just saw it as the way our family worked. My sister and I planted, watered, weeded, and harvested. I remember how hot our kitchen was in late August as my Mother, and Grandmothers canned leftover tomatoes, beans, peaches, etc.

I call the East Coast my home now. It's very different from the small town simplicity of my youth. I'm happy with my fast paced life, but it's hard to be so far away from my family at times.

The CSA and our family garden are nourishing our family. It's also nourishing a little bit of MY family history. My girls will have a little piece of me, and the family that lives so far away.

DH can't relate because he is too much of a city boy:) He is however, benefiting from the fruits of OUR Labor:)

Mommy INC.

I've been a SAHM for 4 years now. I came from the corporate world where meetings, structure, and plans were key. I'm actually one of those people that love to plan, and schedule. Obviously with two small girls and a puppy I have to be a little more laid back. It's easy to be more structured during the school year. The summer is not so easy.



DH has been traveling more than he ever has this year. I was starting to feel overwhelmed with all of the demands at the end of the school year. I knew I needed to do something to keep us sane this summer. E is very used to being busy. If I didn't have a plan it would be a long summer:) She is also off to Kindergarten in the fall. A little bittersweet for me. I wanted her to have a great summer she will remember (I know she is 5 so this is unlikely).



Without sounding too Type A I know summer is supposed to be spontaneous and carefree. Have you ever tried to plan a spontaneous beach trip with a 5 and 2 year old? I think not! I had to come up with something that would add a little order to the household.



I started something called the Morning Meeting. It's really not as formal as it sounds. The meeting is at breakfast and, consists of an itinerary for the day, some education (We do the letter of the day), and a little democracy so the girls can make some choices. I also threw in some family announcements and sneak in a couple of rules:( The result of the morning meeting... the girls LOVE it! E has requested we have a lunch and dinner meeting. When C is saying goodnight she will say "Night, night Mommy, I see you at morning meeting." Aahh future Corporate America:)



This seems simple, but it's a lot of work! Now that the girls are used to this I have to be on top of my game. I have found though even the mundane tasks of grocery shopping sound so much better at the morning meeting. It's not all fun and games at the Poretsky house, but it's only July and we have already done some amazing things.

My Independence Day!

We attended the fireworks on July 2nd friends. It was a beautiful night!



What more could you ask for, the Symphony Orchestra as our soundtrack, snow cones, ice cream, cotton candy, fried dough as the entree, and fireworks as the entertainment.

I tried to explain to the girls why the Fourth of July is a holiday. I told them it was America's Birthday. Throughout the festivities C asked me "Mommy when is America coming? "It's his Birthday." I think she was expecting a Birthday Cake:)

E had been before, but this was C's first time. She loved it!

It was a late night, and I told DH it may be brutal the next day. C slept until 8:30, but E must be on Mommy's internal clock was up at her usual time 6am.

I nudged DH and told him take one for the team. I explained it was his duty as the Chief Officer of this Family.



Happy Birthday America!

Newburyport

My life before coffee...

N and I used to live in a beautiful coastal community. We had the best of both worlds. Wonderful shops, restaurants. The most important part is we lived right on the water.

This past weekend I went back for the the day with a bunch of my friends. Even though the weather wasn't wonderful we managed to have a wonderful day.

I really don't know how you couldn't fall in love with Newburyport. The city is the poster child of New England. I'm a little biased though.

I fell in love in Newburyport, and have a lot of wonderful memories. Every time I go back it just makes me happy.

There must be something in the water:)

Tea Time with the Aunties'

My(Great) Auntie's came for a short visit today on their way back home. My Auntie Mariah, and Auntie Ruth were at a retreat in Gloucester and drove to Massachusetts. I was so excited to see them even if it was only for afternoon tea.

Auntie Ruth or Sister Ruth as we call her is a retired missionary Nun of the Franciscan Sisters. She is a wonderful women full of life. Even at 76 she was singing songs and engaging with my girls the same way she did with my sister and I. Growing up she spent her time in Peru helping people. She is fluent in Spanish with a Doctrine in Chemistry. Sister Ruth is retired but spends her time volunteering and interpreting always willing to help others.

Auntie Mariah is one of the best women I know, and one of my mentors. She introduced me to things I would have never seen in small town/Midwest. I would visit her in the big city see the theatre, culture, and shopping.

I lived with her for a summer while doing an internship in college. We had such a wonderful time. When you are young college student drinking Boone Farms(Yes that was me) she polished me to the something called Chardonnay:) I learned so much about life from her that summer, and it's something I will never forget. Auntie Mariah is a retired professor from the University of Minnesota. At 72 she volunteers her time to the church, and to everyone else. She also has a pretty good golf game:)

Neither one of my Aunties' have a traditional family. They never married or had kids, but their lives are full even in their 70's.

My memories of them as a little girl is their zest for life. They played with me, told me stories, put my Christmas toys together:) My life wouldn't be the same without these amazing women.

I have many memories of both of them and it makes me sad that my girls will not get the chance to know them as well as I do.