Max Macks

freewriting at 2am

2010-02-20T01:41:00.004-05:00

It's a rare thing to have unallocated time. Having just found some right now, I feel that I have to do something with it and so here I am, writing in my blog. Tending to something that I have largely ignored for the past few months.
I am smack in the middle of working on the Olympics. It's 1:45am and I have been told by NBC's car service company that there are no cars available to take me home until 2:15am.
What to do... what to do...
I think back to the moment when I got the job in the Olympic archives for CBS. I had been in Network Sales for a year and a half and had just had a conversation with my boss in that department that went like this:
Me: "So, is this IT?"
Her: "What do you mean? Of course this is it. This is GREAT!"
Me: "Just checking."
I began to pummel the Olympic unit with my resume, using internal office envelopes. Even the woman in HR disuaded me, reminding me that I had no experience. I thought to myself, 'how much experience does one need to be an assistant in a videotape library? And doesn't EVERYONE at this stage in their brief career have little or no experience? With that thought in mind I built up my confidence. And got the job.
I still remember what I was wearing when I got the call. Almost as a direct statement of "you'll never keep me" to the sales department I was wearing my most hippiest of dresses to work that day. I got the call asking me to come down to the Olympic unit and received the offer: lower pay, no health insurance and an end date to a contract. I had never been happier with a job offer in all my life. I still remember getting back into the elevator and jumping up and down so hard that the chamber shook. You're always told to follow your heart and there had been times that I wasn't sure I always heard it, but this time it was clear as a bell. I was following my path. I had never been surer of anything.

40?? 40??

2009-10-03T22:37:00.010-04:00

I don't know HOW the hell this happened, but I am forty years old. FORTY. It's so cliche to complain about it, but that's why things become cliche, because we're all running on this hamster wheel experiencing close to the same things as everyone else, right? But this one was a toughie. I have never had a problem with a birthday. On the contrary, I LOVE my birthday! There was little to love about this one. As a matter of fact, I was a downright p-i-t-a about it.
To Ken: "I think I want a party." Next day: "Forget it. No party. Nothing." Three days later: "You know, I think I'd be upset if I didn't have a party." The next week: I don't want anything. No celebration. Nothing." The day itself was lovely. Ken and the kids had many surprises for me and I loved them all.

(I started this entry when I turned 40. I am now a little older than that.)

Since I wrote this, much has happened. First and foremost, Ken threw me a surprise party. It was perfect. Exactly what I wanted. Not too crowded... just local friends. Even though I was hopeful that I would have one and was fairly certain of when it was going to be, as I walked up the stairs I was stunned when everyone yelled "SURPRISE"! There's that gullible side of me. I'll upload some pictures when I get them sent to me (since I didn't have my camera, which was VERY difficult for me)!

With the passage of time the sting of forty has worn off, thankfully, as I knew it would. Fortunately, the sting has subsided regarding many things. For that, I am eternally grateful. Perhaps I sound a bit dramatic about joining this new demographic, but I am not the same person I was a year ago. Time heals. I'm feeling the subtle click of the puzzle pieces again and it feels good. They're not the final pieces, they never will be, but the acceptance of knowing that the puzzle is never complete, is in it's own way, another reassuring click.

Happy Thanksgiving.

2009-06-12T00:43:00.004-04:00

They just love each other!

Such chubby cheeks, he's smiling as big as he can!

Mama's Day and our six-year anniversary

2009-05-11T00:35:00.013-04:00

It was a gorgeous day here in NY. We spent Mother's Day at Bourbon St. Cafe with Mom, Ashleigh et al. Had a bit of a frustrating time leaving the house because no matter how hard I try I STILL cannot leave early enough to get to places on time. I try. I really do. I got angry with myself and didn't do a good job of managing my frustration and raised my voice and so of course, my four-year-old all-knowing sage tells me (and Ken) that I need to "sit and think about my tone of voice". G-d, this parenting business ain't easy.

Then onto the NYBG to celebrate our six year anniversary, a tradition we have shared every year since we were married there. I just love love love going back there. It reminds me that our wedding day was the best day of my life. I actually felt a little guilty telling Ava that today... thinking that even at age four she might think to say, "What do you mean your WEDDING day was the best day of your life? What about the day I was born?!" Fortunately, she didn't. But even down the road I don't think I'll be able to lie to her about that one. I feel like that author Ayelet something-or-other that everyone took a wild hate to when she said something about loving her husband more than her kids (I'm totally paraphrasing... but it was something along those lines), and that is NOT what I'm saying here, but to be clear... when else but your wedding day (or any other massive celebration for oneself) do you get to dress up in a beautiful gown, be surrounded by everyone on the planet that you love and make such a declaration? Suffice it to say, I wasn't at my best in the hospital during my deliveries. With Ava they practically had to handcuff me to the bed since I was so ill-prepared to have a baby (one month early) and with Ryan I was so sick I barely remember it! (I'm admittedly going into detail here so that when they both read this in 15 years they won't be angry with me for saying that their actual birthdays weren't the best of my life).

Highlight (and subsequent low-light) of the day: laying in the tall grass at the gardens raising both kids high up into the air and hearing their giggles. (Low-light part was when I laid down in a pile of animal poop. No, seriously. Right in the middle of my back.) And while it was a fabulous bicep workout mostly it was a moment in time I hope to always have at the forefront of my mind. Pure bliss.

Inauguration Day

2009-01-22T23:29:00.004-05:00

I haven't been a diligent blogger as of late. While I have much to say about many things, I don't have much to say that I have felt like sharing lately.

Until today.

And so even though I am really not in the mood to post tonight, I am compelled to write this for moments like this are truly once in a lifetime. On Tuesday, January 22, 2009, Barack Obama took over the reins of the leader of the free world and not a moment too soon. The litany of troubles that our nation faces today is monstrous. We have a leader in office who will not (I pray) shy away from the difficulties that await his acumen.

I felt just as I had on Election Night only with more certainty and more assuredness. Jubilant. We all did. May it be just as we hope it will be. May we all be inspired by this great man and may he make sound decisions based on rational judgment. As citizens of the world, may we all be recognized and respected as such again.

I am proud to work for the organization I work for and I feel lucky as hell to feel that way. Being involved in this moment in history in even the small way I was is an honor that I will always be grateful for.

We won.

2008-11-12T22:10:00.002-05:00

I had the pleasure of covering the elections for NBC News. I was in the DPS area as we were on the air from 7pm until 3am for our lengthy coverage of the most important historical moments I have ever witnessed. To many viewers I'm aware that it was a landslide victory from early on, but since I was there to do a job, I didn't notice what everyone else probably did much earlier than I.
That we won.
I mostly work in sports, where you are not allowed to cheer for your team (not that I really have one, so this isn't really a problem for me... plus my husband's team doesn't win often enough for me to cheer loudly). But that night, in that tiny little playback area that I was assigned to, we cheered. Because this was so much bigger than sport.
We cheered because a brilliant man, a thoughtful unifier of people, a black American became the 44th President of the United States of America. I don't care that his middle name is Hussein. I cheer because the majority of Americans could see beyond such a thing and STILL elect the best man for this job.

"She's invited..."

2008-09-20T00:40:00.004-04:00

Let me start by saying that I will never, ever judge anyone who has help and doesn't work. Let me clarify: when I say 'doesn't work' I simply mean 'doesn't get PAID for their work', as is the situation of all stay-at-home-moms. Not that I judged before... but having the experience of caring for two now gives me true insight into the plight.

It's wonderful. Don't get me wrong. We're blessed. I'm thrilled. But I'm also just plain exhausted.

I've been talking to Ava about G-d. Trying to explain the intangible essence. I explain that G-d isn't a person, but rather a spirit. Then I start using pronouns and say 'he/she'. This confuses things, of course.
Me: "G-d is everywhere, honey. He or she is always with us.
Ava: "G-d's a she, even though I know she's a spirit and is neither a boy or a girl" (she really said this -- after several conversations with me about G-d)
Me: "Really? OK. I'm glad that you know that."
Ava: "I love G-d. G-d's invited to my birthday party."

How do I address the invitation?

Groundhog Day

2008-08-14T17:50:00.004-04:00

That's what my life is at the moment.

Ryan, Joan and I have moved into the city for the duration of the Olympics and we've gotten into a nice little routine. I get home from work anywhere between 2 and 3am, I feed the baby, we go to sleep, wake up again around 7, feed him again, and then eventually they go out for a walk and I inevitably think, "Oh it would be so nice to join them in Central Park, but I'm just going to rest my head for a few minutes..." and before I know it, it's 3:15pm and it's time for me to wake up and go back to work. So while there's not necessarily time for much fun, we're in a good rhythm. Joan has been really wonderful with him and I am so relieved. Ava, Ken and Cate are back at home and enjoying the remainder of the summer.

I'm rolling both the Primetime and Late Night shows to air and I've got a great AD on the other end of the world which makes the work side of things fantastic. But these are some really long days, for instance, tonight we're on the air from 8pm until 1 am, then have a half-hour break before coming back on the air with Late Night for an hour. So while it's not brain surgery the hours are grueling. It is really nice to be back in the city, though.

If you're watching, hope you're enjoying the Games!

Here's what I know:

2008-07-31T01:08:00.005-04:00

The boundaries you think you have for loving a finite number of people can be expanded to fit many, many people... especially when one of those people is a little baby who looks at you as if to say you are his everything.

I remember the moment three and a half years ago when I fell in love with Ava. We were in my hospital room and it was the first time that Ava and I were alone after a day surrounded by family and friends who had come to visit. I wasn't expecting the moment, I wasn't waiting for bells to chime or anything, but in that quiet moment as I sat in my hospital bed, I held her and looked at her I was hit with it. Complete and pure love. They say your heart now lives outside of your body and it's true.

So now I had expectations for this moment with bebe deux. But sure enough, and I suppose not so miraculously, kind of like the way you can still be hungry for dessert after being completely full from your wonderful dinner, I have fallen in complete and total love with my son, Ryan. And the joy in knowing how happy he makes Ken, makes me feel beyond blessed. It's everything I've ever wanted.

Excitement with a dash of wistfulness

2008-06-28T21:26:00.006-04:00

While I am thrilled to add to our family, I am also mourning the disruption of the rhythm of having just one child. It's a combination of 'we have finally found a routine that works' coupled with, 'she's such a great little girl - what the heck are we doing shaking this up?' Since our due date for bebe deux is actually tomorrow, I now fall asleep each night thinking, 'this could be the last night of the family as we know it'. I'm not complaining, just taking note of the dramatic changes about to ensue.

I think Ava is going to be an amazing big sister. Ever since I gave the baby a voice (yes, much like a ventriloquist's dummy... go ahead, make fun...) she's been responding to it positively. Now when she realizes that this baby will not actually speak for a long time, she might be upset with me, but that's a bridge we'll cross when the time comes.

laps on the lake

2008-06-27T01:13:00.003-04:00

Our friend Kristen lives on Lake Truesdale in South Salem which is quite a special place to live. Her backyard slopes down to a gorgeous dock where they have the sweetest setup for lake-lovers! Ava was lucky enough to go kayaking last week with Kristen, who, in Ava's words, is "...my friend AND my babysitter."

2008-06-27T01:01:00.002-04:00

It's been a great start to the summer for us. From small-town carnivals to pool-time (I must admit that I have a small problem with the town pool... I don't like to share my pool) it's been fantastic so far. Ava is such a happy little girl.

laying it on

2008-06-04T23:23:00.003-04:00

I called Ava from work last night to say a quick goodnight, not anticipating what I was in for. The biggest guilt trip she's laid on me to date. I first talked to Joan who told me about the great day they had together and how they had just gotten in from outside so she was having a late dinner. They played all day long. She passed the phone to drama queen.
Me: "Hi Babe!! How are you?"
Ava: (in very sad voice) "I miss you SO much, Mama!"
Me: "I miss you, too, honey."
Ava: (in pitifully sad voice) "I will dream about you tonight, Mama!"
Me: "Aw, honey... I love you so much!"
Ava: (in mournfully sad voice) "I will hug you in my dreams, Mama!"
Me: "When I come home, I'll give you so many kisses and hugs."
Ava: "But you're not home now. I'm so sad." (She passes phone back to Joan)

Skip, (my technical director): "How old is she now?"
Me: "Three and a half."
Skip: "You're in for trouble ahead."

I sure am.

pictures from Spain

2008-05-29T01:17:00.010-04:00

Moorish tiles at the Alcazar in Seville

more from the Alcazar

"How close can I get without getting soaked?" at the Plaza de Espana

Ava hard at work at her desk in Madrid

teaching the finer points of juggling: "Up, up... catch, catch!" (only had two balls to juggle with)

our final night's sunset at the Hacienda

taking Cinderella to the ball

loving her flamenco dress

Aunt Amy & Uncle Andy leaving the fair in Jerez-de-la-Frontera

the Macks at dinner

Aunt Amy and Ava (perfecting the art of the half-smile)

the whole kit and caboodle

matador numero uno

Ava playing with the filthy water in the public fountain, and her mama doing nothing about it except capturing the moment

grumpy faced family (it was the only way we could subsequently get Ava to smile)

Ava undoubtedly singing something to her fans in Ronda

walking the edge of our pool at the Hacienda

Ava, Eli and Bruno

more from the fair in Jerez

Mimi, Ava and me

GranTed reading "Why Mommy Is A Democrat" to Ava and Eli

Aunt Jen, Eli and Ken lambin' it up (inside joke for those there)

Viva Espana

2008-05-29T00:27:00.012-04:00

Awesome, awesome trip. It only could have been more awesome if I didn't have to cradle my burgeoning belly while climbing uphill in Ronda. I think I did a good job of handling all of the activity that everyone else was enjoying, but I was exhausted!
We came to Spain to celebrate my mother-in-law's 70th birthday and it was spectacular. We spent the first seven days at Hacienda de San Rafael about 40 minutes south of Seville (www.haciendadesanrafael.com). We had our own private pool and dining area and ate most of our meals under the cover of blooming purple wisteria. Ava and Eli fell asleep on the two daybeds that were adjacent to the table and we would carry them to our rooms each night. They barely had to adjust when we came home because we often didn't eat before 10:30. From our hacienda we would do day trips to places like Ronda, Cadiz, Jerez-de-la-Frontera and Seville.
We went to a fair in Jerez that was amazing! Beautiful horses, lights, flamenco dresses... truly special. Happens only once a year.
I saw my first (and last) bullfight and chalked up the roaring crowd to just simply a major cultural difference. There was beauty in it on the one hand in the sense that the matadors moved like dancers, yes, but mostly it was cruel and barbaric because the bull never had a chance. I left and wandered around the outskirts of Seville with Amy after the first kill.
Moved up to Seville for a night so that we could experience that city before taking the train up to Madrid, which I adored. Spent a rainy day in a museum and when the sun came out we bus toured all over the city. Each neighborhood more beautiful than the next. I loved Madrid. Then again, I loved Milan. And I love New York. There is a lot of similarity between the three cities in terms of their crowded nature, and I felt very much at home there. I loved their parks and playgrounds and loved watching Ava have so much fun.
It's so easy to just stay at home and let life move at it's pace, but for me, it is so very important to change your scenery every now and then. I am so appreciative.

completely surprised!

2008-05-22T00:30:00.004-04:00

Totally shocked! Utterly stunned!
I thought I was having dinner with Alicia and Annette tonight at Bacio and walked in to a SURPRISE!! I had absolutely NO idea. Never even crossed my mind. Never expected it for a second. It was such a great time!!! Pictures to follow. Also have to write about Spain, which was fantastic!
I was also totally shocked and utterly stunned when the sonogram technician surprised us with a 4D sonogram, showing us the picture of our baby before we actually meet it. Still don't know if it's a boy or a girl, but we know what it looks like! A little strange, if you ask me.

little married couple

2008-04-30T01:10:00.003-04:00

They're like a little married couple... today they were playing and bickering and through tears after a particularly frustrating exchange, Michael said, "I love you, Ava." Ava replied, "I love you too, Michael."

Ken's 40th Birthday

2008-04-28T22:10:00.008-04:00

It's jarring when your husband turns the age that you can remember your parents turning and thinking this was ANCIENT when you were a kid. Ken turned 40 this past weekend which was the culmination of a month-long "Celebration of Ken". As his mother said, "his wings are clipped". Exactly. We had a houseful of guests, which makes me so, so happy. Ava loves that, too, especially when it involves her cousin Eli.

We had a great weekend, celebrating with a party on Saturday night that was fantastic. It's amazing to think that we have such good friends in a community that we only moved to three and a half years ago. We feel so blessed to have ended up here.

I am completely exhausted, wondering how the heck I'm going to prepare for a two-week vacation that we are leaving for on Thursday, when I barely have the energy to get out of bed in the morning. I am really looking forward to going to Spain, it's just the getting ready to do so that I'm not looking forward to. We'll be staying about 45 minutes outside of Seville at Hacienda de San Rafael, which thankfully looks like a lovely place to lounge poolside, which is probably about all that I can handle being that I'm nearly eight months pregnant. I'm heading to the doctor on Wednesday just to make sure I can still travel.

I'm sure there will be much to add at the end of our trip!

"YOU'RE unacceptable!"

2008-04-05T00:51:00.002-04:00

We're driving into the city. I'm driving, Judy's in the passenger seat (so I have a witness) and Ava's in her car seat in the back. She says something that is just plain wrong for a three year old to be saying.
Me: "Ava! That is UNACCEPTABLE!!"
Ava: "YOU'RE unacceptable!!" (said in perfect adult tone intended to drive the point home).

Ava and her very first friend, Gemma

2008-03-30T23:39:00.000-04:00

our aspiring Rockette

2008-03-30T23:20:00.002-04:00

Nesting?! I wish I could nest!!

2008-03-30T22:57:00.004-04:00

So I think I had about one bout of nesting during this, my second pregnancy. It lasted all of about four hours, just about enough time to reorganize our coat closet. I could really use another wave of nesting motivation... we have so much work to do!
Lots of big changes with Ava over the last few months and weeks. No more paci's!! That was huge for her. We took Ivy's lead and talked about the "Bobo Fairy" (even though Ava never called her paci a bobo). We shopped for a special box and then painted it and finally wrapped all of her pacis in pink tissue paper and gave it to the bobo fairy. All she wanted in return was a Belle dress-up gown, so the next morning she came out of her room and found one hanging on the mantel. The look on her face was absolutely priceless. I will never forget it.

She's also in a big-girl bed... back in her room. She's actually been sleeping in a bed in the guest room since the end of last summer, but we finally have put her back in her room in her own bed.
I cannot believe how quickly these last three years seem to have gone.

what color are your eyes?

2008-03-21T23:44:00.002-04:00

They're RED.
I'm so exhausted that RED is the appropriate answer and the one I chose to give when asked that question tonight. I'm working the NCAA Tournament for CBS Sports as a relief AD. I spend a lot of time sitting around waiting for people to take breaks, which is exhausting. I so prefer being busy. This sitting around gives me time to focus on my new psycho-somatic condition "restless legs syndrome". I wonder if I would still think I have this condition if I didn't roll the commercial for its remedy over and over.
But I digress.
From what exactly, I don't know.
I've had great chats with Ava since I've been away. She told me that she, Joan and Belle exercised this morning. When she feels like getting off the phone she says, "Bye, Mommy. You can talk to my sister Joannie now." It cracks me up. Every time. I love that kid.

Screaming for joy (?)

2008-02-19T00:18:00.001-05:00

Poor Tyler.

Karie's last supper

2008-02-19T00:08:00.002-05:00

So I go weeks without posting and now I'm posting several entries within one night. Go figure.
Here's a picture from dinner out with Karie (bottom row, second from right), who's expecting TWINS (and already has two toddlers at home). If there's anyone who can handle this situation with calm and grace, it's Karie. She amazes and inspires us with her relaxed demeanor. I have definitely learned from her.

Firewater

2008-02-18T23:58:00.003-05:00

We are so fortunate to have found such a great group of people within our own neighborhood here in Bedford Hills and Katonah. These are some pictures from Steve Barbera's surprise 40th (HOW on earth are we all nearing 40??). The guys all started getting together almost a year ago on Thursday nights and have dubbed their gang "Firewater", for the large amounts of "water" they consume and the fact that they do it near a fire pit at Steve's house, usually (hence the votives in many of our hands in the picture). It's a group that couldn't have been handpicked any better, and we all live in the same neighborhood. Pretty amazing to have found them at a stage in life when you don't expect to meet good new friends.

Where do people find the time...

2008-01-06T23:42:00.000-05:00

to update these things?
Anyway, it's been a wonderful New Year so far. New Year's Eve was spent with our friends Annette and Gary and then we joined Rachel and Brian at a really fun party in Ridgefield. I can't remember the last New Year's Eve we've been able to have fun... I'm usually working. It was GREAT. We are so blessed to have found good people up here.
Did I mention in this blog that I'm pregnant? There you have it. We're doing this again! Ava has told us that she will only accept a sister, and there's only so much explaining that I can do for a three-year old. That's not true... I can explain until I'm blue in the face, but there's only so much understanding she can have. We think she gets it. She told me that she had a baby in her belly too, and out fell her Snow White doll from underneath her shirt. Is this normal?
I worked on a very cool skating show (yes, I said cool) with my friend Jennie, which starred Seal! None of that Squirrel Nut Zippers crap for us... this is the real deal. He was fantastic. I'll upload some pictures I took at some point. Too bad the show had to be collapsed due to long-running hockey game, but I believe it's re-airing as a cut-down show this coming weekend for all those figure skating/Seal junkies out there.
Dad and Roz came up today and we had a great time together. I got to nap while they watched Ava, which always makes for a better day for all involved.
Wishing you all a blissful New Year.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T22:29:00.000-05:00

May 2008 bring you all that you hope for!

Mack and cheese

2007-12-18T14:49:00.000-05:00

Ken and Ava were at the airport traveling home from Cincinnati after Thanksgiving. They sat down to eat with Mimi and GranTed. There was nothing Ava wanted on the menu. Ken, good dad that he is, took Ava to three restaurants before finding one that she was happy with. All she wanted was mac & cheese.
They sat down to dinner at Max and Erma's and Ava ordered her mac & cheese. Dinner arrives, along with a side of fruit. She devours the fruit. The mac & cheese is getting cold.
Ken: "Ava, please eat your mac & cheese."
Ava (dramatically, in tears): "I don't like mac & cheese!!"
Ken: "You made me go to three different restaurants to find mac & cheese! You LOVE mac & cheese!"
Ava: "I DON'T like mac & cheese! I don't like to eat mac & cheese!
Ken: "But it's your favorite!"
Ava: "Daddy, I don't like to EAT mac & cheese. (devilish grin appears)...I like to ORDER mac & cheese..."

"Just the cookie, nice man."

2007-12-06T10:41:00.001-05:00

I have been looking for pictures for our holiday cards and came across the 'cookie series' which reminds me of this funny story.
Ava and I drove out to Long Island to have dinner at the Gold Coast Diner with Gommy and Ava started to chat up our waiter, Leo. We order, we eat, Leo comes to tell Ava about her dessert options.
Leo: "You can have jello..."
Ava: (interrupting) "Ew..."
Leo: "a cookie..."
Ava: Ooh!!
Leo: "or ice cream..."
Ava (interrupting, while waving him off, not even giving him eye contact): "Just the cookie, nice man."
In an instant, he is nameless. Just a man with access to a cookie.

Beauty and the Beast

2007-11-30T00:15:00.000-05:00

Ava: The Beast scares me!
Mom: He is scary, but he has a really good heart.
Ava: Yeah, but he doesn't have a really good face.

Thanksgiving was wonderful... spent in Cincinnati with the Macks and Silbersteins. Ava had a lot of quality time with Cousin Eli and everyone else. It really is such a wonderful holiday. No religious undertones (or overtones) to cloud the message of just being grateful for all of the abundance we have. A little touch of that gratitude daily could do wonders.

2007-11-19T22:37:00.000-05:00

I had to add these pictures of Ava & Tyler from her birthday party!

Ava's 3rd Birthday Party

2007-11-19T00:11:00.000-05:00

We had Ava's 3rd birthday party on Saturday at Stew Leonard's. Wow the Cow was a big hit and I was especially fond since I'm a sucker for any kind of puppet. Ava had a fantastic time seeing all of her friends in one place, which we rarely get to do anymore. People traveled from far and wide to have fun with all of us and we were extremely grateful.

We came back to the house with Gommy & Jerry for a relaxing afternoon. We're sitting upstairs and I'm trying to convince Ava of the benefits of eating peas.
"Ava, eat your peas. You'll become big and strong."
"Why do I have to be big and strong?"
"Because (pause, pause... time to think...) otherwise the world will stomp on you."
"Let the world stomp on me."
I kid you not.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween

2007-11-14T15:21:00.001-05:00

Wow... blogging is tough to keep up with! Isn't it enough that I upload my pictures to kodakgallery.com super-fast? Now I have also burdened myself with the task of uploading them here? We'll see how long I can keep up with both. For now, it's still fun for me, so I'll continue. We've had a good few weeks since Halloween, when Ava dressed up as her favorite princess, Cinderella. She continues to make us laugh when we least expect it.

One of her latest:
"Mommy, I'm feewing (pronouncing "L" is not her favorite thing) nervous."
"Why, honey?"
"My stepsisters make me nervous."
"Oh baby, you're in character. Don't let them make you nervous, Cinderella. Good always prevails."
"They tore my dress." (I look closely and notice her arm is not in the correct armhole).
"Sweetie, good always wins."
Ends with a hug.

Today is the first day...

2007-10-30T23:48:00.000-04:00

...of the rest of our blog.

We have started this blog to help me (Laura) with my ongoing loss of short-term memory, by writing down stories as they happen so that we can continue to laugh about them for many years to come.

A little background... our family of three lives in Bedford Hills in Northern Westchester county, NY. It's been a dramatically different experience than the one we shared for the 13 years prior, having moved up from the city, where we both lived separately and subsequently together since the early 90's. It's really lovely up here in Canada... and we are so happy to have landed in a place that we would have chosen had we known more about it when we were looking to move. (Big whew).

Ava turns three in early December and it's been a whirlwind three years. Maybe at some point I'll have the extra time to publish old photos to this but for now, it's purely a future-forward blog.

The picture attached to this posting is from the Sheep and Wool Festival that Gommy, Ava and I went to last weekend. It was a wonderful day. The drive up was spectacular... the Taconic is one of the prettiest roads I've ever been on and this time of year it is just spectacular. We went on almost all of the rides with Ava. Such a memorable day.