Blizz of 2010

Hey, haven't been feeling to great lately and actually coming out of my fog (been sick).

We have been hit with the Blizzard of 2010!

Quite crazy actually.

Snowed all day and night.

Looks like a winter wonderland now.

Took the kids sledding today.  They lasted quite a lot longer than I expected.  Now we are inside, nice and warm.

 Get them kids to do a little work

 Then some snow angel from the original angel

 Ready, set, go!

Momma it's cold out there

Now I am off get warm in front of the fireplace.

Zizette

Old Fashioned Fun

Before the New Year celebration was the Labor Day Weekend at the lake.

As always we went to the Goshen Fair.

We love it so much and have gone I would say, for the past 8 years.

It is so cool to see the tractor pulls (I don't get it but we watch it), the sheep, the goats, all the livestock, the rides, the food and oh so much more.

My sisters in laws (is that right?) took the kiddies, sans men, to the fair. The kids ranged from 3 1/2 to 14. LOTS 'O FUN!

My youngest nephew with my niece vs the two boys

Check it out.

What's a fair without a snow cone and cotton candy?

Never too old for the carousel

Ahh, the 3 amigos

They couldn't get over the pigs fighting to eat and the momma not moving.

It was a great time by all and we can't wait for next year to continue our tradition!

Last Days of Summer

Wow, has this summer flown by?

It was a great summer filled with camp, friends, family and fun times.

The kids had a a great time at camp.

We all had great times at the lake, swimming at Papi's and going to the beach.

There were some birthdays, visiting grandparents and even a fair or two.

I love the beach and next year have to go much more.

BUT

I love fall.

I love the leaves changing, the food cooking in my home, the apple and pumpkin picking. I love how the weather gets to be just right - warm during the day but a little cool at night.

So even though I love the summer, I look forward to the fall.

Zizette

Blast at the Beach

We had such a great time at the beach.

It made me remember how much I love the beach and I want to go some more.

The kids had a great time and I was allowed to not be in the water with them so much as they are better swimmers now (since our last time there).

I love the smell of the beach, the looking for shells, the crashing of the waves and the all day excitement from the kids as they splash in the ocean.

We truly had an awesome time.

Very odd that I love the beach but love living in NY rather than San Diego where I grew up.

I want to pull more beach elements into our home now that I have been there and felt so relaxed and at home.

I took over 200 pictures in just two days!

Have a peak

Have a lovely weekend!

Week 8, Day 5 Even

Balloon release

I worked at camp this summer.

I love camp.

I was a camper for 4 years and I have worked there for 5 ( take note people who count, as it may be 3 consecutive but it is still 5 years - 2 as a teenager and 3 now).

Anyway.

Camp ended today.

Burning the year

There were tears, there were hugs and there were memories.

My daughter, little Miss, was a mess.

Boo, hooing all the way with all her little friends. It made me tear up. I am a sap like that.

Little Miss and her ladies

You see, I went to that camp as a camper. LOVED IT! that is why when the option for camp came up in young Sam's life I thought of no place other than Ramaquois. I made my BESTEST FRIEND there. She is the greatest friend anyone could have, I love her more than anything. We had our first babies at the same time (4 days apart). She is the best.

Anyway, not all people get to experience the wonderful word of Day Camp (some experience Sleep Away Camp but I have never been so I don't know that), but it truly is wonderful - at least for me it was.

Back to my story, when I decided it was time for Sam to enter camp I thought Ramaquois. I enter the "visiting" day to show young Sam and run into a wonderful woman who I knew from "back in the day" Joan. Now I went to camp with her son and daughter. She remembered me, she asked as I walked in. "are you Z...?" I said yes. Now she did not even finish her sentence as there is NO ONE with my name in my county, State or even country. She said she thought so and we worked on getting little Sam into camp.

Sam @ closing ceremonies (notice he is not in uniform - felt the last day he would go "regular")

A few years later I did not have to work summers so I was able to work at camp. Woo Hoo (BTW Camp is VERY expensive). Here I would get some kind of discount AND be able to be around my kids in a place I LOVED!

So three years later I am working at camp and today we ended the season - Week 8, Day 5 Even - yes we have one of those weird Odd/ Even - 6 Day schedules to get everyone to every awesome activity we have available.

It was a great year and I look forward to the next. We work hard at the camp and enjoy it. I do a craft I love and I enjoy making the kids happy. Here's to 2010.

Me and one of my camp besties

** As part of camp there is color war and you can read about it here but last year they implemented a 5th team on our roster and it included the Specialists (all the people who run the activities). We had to make up a song and plaque. I helped make the plaque with my bestie (Miss Artist) you can find her here. You can guess the theme this year was Disney and our team was Toon Town.

New Beverage

Over the past weekend my sister in law and were experimenting with drinks since we did not plan ahead and ran out of the the rum for our much anticipated Mojitos and our local (i.e. small) market not having White Cranberry juice for our White Cosmos. So we had to improvise with our liquor cabinet and we came up with something that is Delish and might possibly be our new Fave.

I don't even know what to call it but here is how it goes. We had some Hangar One Mandarin Blossom Vodka at home so that was our base.

We picked up some Lorina Blood Orange Sparkling Soda at the store. The Blood Orange was very sweet so we cut it with Mandarin Seltzer.

I think we basically worked in thirds, a third of each liquid with ice. So very nice and refreshing.

The kids were drinking virgins - they had the nerve to drink up all of my soda!

In any case I love it and now have to go out and get me a little of both.

Enjoy!

Zizette

Family Lake Time

Look at those dads enjoying themselves

Okay, I know I am a week late but now I will post about Father's Day.

We had a lovely time up at the Lake, where my in-laws have a beautiful home.

Even though someone who shall remain nameless did some damage to the new boat and there was no waterskiing to be had, there was a great time had by all.

Everyone got in on the action.

Grandpa getting in on the action with the kiddies

Look at the talent of my niece

There he goes, right in!

So funny, I decided to relax myself on the new tube, raft, water trampoline (see we can all improvise when needed). I knew that at some point I too would end up in the lake.

I removed my sunglasses, flip flops and watch - sure enough my darling husband decided to FLIP the raft over with me and whoever else was on there with me at the time. And you know what? My boy was in on it! He threw his momma in the LAKE! I will get him!

In any case, we had an amazing day and lots of fun!