New houseguests....

I was yawning. And Maira was smiling. Yup. That is usually how it goes.....

Callum is HARRRD into Rock and Roll. He loves it. And he doesnt merely love "music," but, rather, ROCK AND ROLL. Today, at Vacation Bible School, for example, he stood with Amanda and I at the front of the church (Amanda and I are the music directors at VBS) and played "guitar" and tapped his feet to the song we closed with. He is really coming out of his shyness. FOR SURE! I mean, he went up in front of all the kids and adults at church and played guitar for like ten minutes. And his vocabulary is expanding like crazy. He uses modifiers like "actually" (Do you want milk to drink Callum? NO, ACTUALLY, I WANT JUICE), "definitely" (I DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT TO TAKE A BATH), and, most impressive to me, "especially." We love Special K cereal with chocolate bits in it. He says "I love cereal; I especially like the chocolate kind." Our kids continue to impress me each and every day.

Oh yeah...rock and roll....these Koss headphones were my dad's. He gave em to me a long time ago. Now Callum wears them around the house and pretends he is in the studio (Hucklebuck, 1999) mixing it up. And playing keyboard and guitar.
Our new houseguests--you will hear more about this lovely lady. I have been in the process of playing "musical wood" where I take wood from the outside and put it in the lean-to wood shed in the byack of the garage. I had just stacked wood two days before...and when I went out, I noticed a beautiful mommy dove, sitting on the nest she had made, warming a single white egg (I noticed the egg after I inadvertently scared her away)....

Here's the egg. And, when I went out just yesterday, I noticed that there were TWO eggs in there! Two little baby birds. Callum is super duper excited, and he is also very respectful of the whole process: He knows he cannot (and should not) touch neither the eggs nor the nest. We did, however, make a deal that when the baby birds were born and had grown up and left for college that he could keep the nest and put it in his room. This was a consolation offer after he asked the following: "Daddy...maybe when the baby birds are born I can put my arm around them and cuddle with them in my bed?" Sorry little man. But he is wicked excited to watch the whole process, and each day we go out to see the mommy bird and the eggs. And he talks to the mom in a light whisper, as not to scare her.

Thirteen. Point. One.

Almost a year's worth of training culminated today when I completed my first half marathon. It was an indescribable feeling to run over thirteen miles--successfully--and still have the energy to pick up my three year old son afterwards! Last summer, I ran a 5k race and had to stop a bit and walk and catch my breath. Embarrassing. After that race, as we sat in Big G's eating breakfast, I simply decided I wasnt going to be fat anymore. I changed my eating habits. And my exercise routine. Since last July, I have lost roughly 65 pounds. Amen.

Although I did not reach my goal TIME for this race (I wanted to run two hours, and I was about seven minutes over that) I was VERY happy with the MANNER in which I raced. I ran a slower first half and a faster second half. This mean I had some stuff "saved up." My strategy worked flawlessly: Although (obviously) people finished ahead of me, not one person PASSED me that I initially was in front of. Furthermore, I passed many folks--especially after mile 9, when I decided to "go" and really work myself. I was reeling folks in, passing them, and never looking back. Going on the "offensive" was quite the trip--especially for wicked wussy and non confrontational me....

Here is good friend Dave. His first half as well. He beat me by about 3 or 4 minutes. He's a very motivating force to me.

Here I am approaching the finishing gate. The route followed 7 miles from Fort Western in Augusta to the beginning of the Kennebec River Rail Trail (an old railroad bed) and then the route took us along the river, through some pretty woods, and through some towns like Hallowell and Gardiner.
This is a funny picture: I dont know what Dave was doing or thinking (actually, Amanda is sitting here telling me that he is scowling because he said "runners dont smile...they scowl). Either way a good shot.
My running posse people! Colleague Lori Loftus, and student Conner Bourgoine trained with me through one of the coldest and snowiest winters on record....we ran in ice, rain, freezing rain, cows, sub zero temps, did I say cows? Anyway, these are two of the most dedicated people and I am extremely proud of them. I will actually coach Conner (in addition to teaching him Anglish) next year (oh yeah, I am the new WHS co-cross country coach). Conner ran an impressive 1:45 time--which is an 8:03 pace!!
Callum. Loves. To. Run. The "blue thing," as he calls it, was covering some wires that triggered each runner's time as they ran through the chute (each bib number had a chip on it so our times were recorded, even). Callum--with the permission of the race staff--kept running down the chute, in celebration, finishing not two, but three half marathons this morning. He loved it.
And then....ah......relaxation! Thanks to Lori and Trevvie-cakes for hosting a victory BBQ where we drank ice beers, ate good food, and tried to motivate each other to actually get up and move around. My body is very sore and very tired. My feet especially....
Amanda runs her first 5K next Saturday!!!

Catching Up

Amanda here. I just thought I would post some pictures and catch up on some things that have been going on around here.

Here is our little gardener, Callum. He loves working around the yard and especially watering all the plants, trees, grass, house, cars, himself... And he has not taken these boots off for weeks. Well, except to take a bath and go to bed. But he LOVES these boots. Best $7.00 ever spent - thanks Reny's!

Maira has been making some huge progress lately. She loves the jumparoo, which really shows in these next pictures. She is also getting really good at sitting up by herself and she is SO close to crawling. She gets up on all fours and rocks. I've even seen her lift up her knee - she is going to be on the move very soon!

LOVE this smile. What a beautiful little girl!

These next pictures are from Mother's Day at Graziano's Italian Restaurant. The whole family was there and Kelsey's parents and grandmother also joined us this year.

The bald eagle had to make it into this picture, of course.

A couple of pictures of Ba Ba and Maira.

Every year we go to Graziano's for Mother's Day and this year was no exception. However, I think we've all said that we'd like to do something else next year. It's too far away, the service is never that great, and truthfully the food is just OK. It's much better when you go at a less busy time. Like Friday nights when they have a jazz trio playing (and the keyboard player is the organist from our church).

Callum at home, doing his home things. Like playing with his trains...

and painting in his coloring book...

Hi Callum!

Sick at Seawall (poor Callum!)

Oh hi. Amanda here. Wow... there are no underlines on this blog! It's a blogging miracle!

So after Callum's birthday party on Saturday Jared and I decided that part of our 'gift' to him would be taking a family trip up to Acadia National Park (the quiet side) for a relaxing overnight mini-vacation. Sunday morning we packed up and were out the door by 10 am... Maira was wicked excited~

The forecast was not that great - it called for scattered showers for both Sunday and Monday. But we didn't care. Even a bad weather weekend up there is still a good weekend. Right after we checked into the Seawall Motel we walked across the street to check out the seawall and the ocean. Callum wanted me to carry him... That should have been our first sign that things were not quite right...

After we checked out the seawall we decided to drive into Bar Harbor to do a little shopping at Sherman's Bookstore and get some dinner. On our way there, Callum got sick - literally - all over the car. Poor little guy! We turned right around and headed back to the motel to get cleaned up. Luckily Dave and Vicki, the owners of the Seawall Motel, have become friends of ours as the Seawall Motel is often the place that we stay when we head up to Mt. Desert Island (unless we're camping). They were so kind and generous to let us use their washer and dryer, cleaning supplies, towels, etc... So needless to say we spent the rest of Sunday and Monday morning hanging around the motel and once in a while, walking over to look at the ocean.

Look out!

Callum and Daddy checking out the surf out on the big rocks.

Callum brought home about 12 rocks.

There was a HUGE beaver dam. And these beavers used LOTS of different things to make this dam besides sticks and mud. There were bottles, pieces of tarp, rope, etc... You name it, you could probably find it in this dam.


Maira all bundled up. You know, because it's June and all...

As I said, we've become quick friends Dave and Vicki who own the motel. Here is their infamous cat, Speedbump. Callum LOVES this cat.

Callum is feeling much better now, but between him getting sick all night and Maira getting up all night, I think Jared and I averaged about 2 hours of sleep on that Sunday night. Not exactly the relaxing trip we had hoped for, but as we keep saying, there is no such thing as a bad trip up to Mt. Desert Island. Thanks to Dave and Vicki for being so helpful and kind, and Callum - we're glad you're feeling better, buddy!

Fiber Frolic 2011

Hi. Amanda here. A couple of weeks ago Mom and I went to the Fiber Frolic at the Windsor Fairgrounds. (Why does this always happen to me - the underlines!!!) A full day of fiber - animals, yarn, spinning wheels, food - it's always a good time.

We had a great time as always. Here is our traditional picture - the self portrait. I think it came out great this year!

Jared looked at this picture and said, "Were those llamas really just walking around all day?" The answer is yes.

Okay, so Mom wants to make a certain 'shrug' to wear with her dress for Jonathan and Kelsey's wedding but she forgot the pattern on fair day. She needed Dad to look up the information for her (how much yarn, the weight, etc...) So here she is, on the phone with Dad, trying to explain WHERE the pattern was, what it looks like, etc... Meanwhile, Maira and I were checking out the rest of the fairgrounds...
Jared, this one is for you and company.

For lunch we had brick oven pizza... yum! We also had freshly squeezed lemonade. And later we shared fried dough.

And here is the little girl herself. We've got to get her started on her addiction early! As you can see she was loving it!

I think she was looking at the llamas here.

She's so pretty, if I do say so myself. And I do.

Next year it will just be Mom and I, hopefully. I loved bringing Maira, but this is a tradition that Mom and I share (for now. That's okay, right?)

HAPPY 3RD CALLUM!

We love you so much, buddy! As I write this, Callum is upstairs, asleep, trying to get over this awful bug that has plagued him since this past Sunday; we took a ride up to MDI to stay overnight at Seawall, and on Sunday night, en route to Bar Harbor for some dinner, he threw up profusely all. Over. The. Car. He proceeded that evening (and the next morning) to throw up NINE more times. Poor little guy. Not much of a vacation or birthday celebration, huh? Now he is done throwing up, but has severe diarrhea and extreme exhaustion and languidness. Even today, on his real birthday, he refused offers to a) go for ice cream b) go out for supper at Governor's c) go to McDonalds. He just wanted to go to bed. So he did. Get well buddy!

But his part on Saturday was a lot of fun. Nannie, Upbob, Poppy, Grammy Goldsmith, Auntie KK, Uncle Anthony, and Jackson made their way up from Mass and CT. We had a cookout with bbq chicken, hot dogs, Chinese sausages, orzo salad, fruit salad, deviled eggs, and tons more stuff! Here's Amanda helping Callum blow out the candles on his "digger cake." This was a DIGGER PARTY--by the way....

The cake close up--complete with edible chocolate "rocks"
We had Uncle Jon and Aunt Kelsey, Dave and Muriel, the Parks-Stamms, the Fitzpatricks, and all our family. Even though we have a small yard, I think we made the space work well. Kids were playing, running around, and having fun. It was an overcast day and it DID start raining just as Callum started opening gifts....
I love this. Callum, Jackson, and Polly discuss politics and eat hot dogs at the kid's table....
Callum LOVED his gifts. He has been virtually inseparable from his excavator Papa got him. He is in love with his scooter. He wants to constantly play with his bubbles and bubble gun. He got a sleeping bag which he is excited to camp with. And, when it stops raining, he is excited to wear his bike shirt Dave and Muriel got him. It even has pockets on the back "for my diggers" he says. He got some camping gear from the Parks Stamms, a Thomas game from the Fitzies (which he tries to play himself on the floor), roller skates from Auntie and Uncle Favry, and GOLF CLUBS from Ba Ba. A great day!

Commencement 2011

Becca Sirois and I....the second to last Sirois to graduate....a fantastic family....if you are a regular to this blog, you may read that Michelle, Becca's sister, is kind of a 'regular'....haha. Becca is going to St Anselm's--my sister's alma mater--next fall....Johnny McCabe....another student who's sibling I taught. I had Johnny's brother Kevin a few years ago....Kevin just graduated from Maine Maritime, and Johnny was recruited to play Division 1 football for University of Maine next year. Callum and I will go see some of these games for sure...Johnny will be a sick linebacker or end....
Camille, my French exchange student. I will miss her very much, and I got the opportunity to meet her dad and brother, who were here from France. But Camille and I are not done yet....we still have a half marathon to run in a couple of weeks! She is joining the running club that Lori Loftus and I have....
I love this picture: L to R you have Christine Parilli, me, Mike Thurston, and Conner Bourgoin. Christine is one of our regular babysitters, and she--being a junior--was selected by the seniors to be a class marshall. Same with Conner: He was a flag bearer while the seniors marched in. I had to pleasure of sitting on the stage with Mike Thurston, as he delivered the keynote address while I performed an original song I wrote for the class.
Many people--including myself--have said that this was the finest Winslow graduation in YEARS. The whole ceremony was beautiful and classy and dignified and fresh. Both speakers--Mike and Darren (the class president) were spot on. Folks said my song went very well. The class, as a whole, was made up of remarkable kids.
For those interested, here is the story that ran in the Morning Sentinel the day after graduation...
*****

WINSLOW -- You'd be forgiven if you left hungry after Wednesday night's Winslow High School graduation.

click image to enlarge

Winslow High School graduate Jeff Decker, bottom center, is reflected in the mirror as he prepares for commencement ceremony Wednesday at Wadsworth Gymnasium at Colby College in Waterville.

Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

click image to enlarge

Jillian Grant and Sam Lapierre dance in Alfond Arena before Winslow High School's commencement ceremony Wednesday at Wadsorth Gymnasium at Colby College in Waterville.

Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

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During the school's 109th commencement, class president Darren Veilleux encouraged his fellow graduating seniors to "spice up your life." Veilleux, an 18-year-old who will attending culinary school at Johnson and Wales, compared his love of cooking to how students are prepared for life during high school.

"Just as when you marinade chicken in oils and spices, it develops more flavor and is more pleasing to the senses," Veilleux said. "Without time, the flavors and uniqueness of a dish cannot develop."

Veilleux said high school is the recipe that provides them with the steps necessary to "cook" -- which he defined as to "prepare, make, put together, fix or rustle up" -- their way into the future.

Winslow High School graduated 118 students at the Harold Alfond Athletic Center at Colby College in Waterville. Friends and family packed the Wadsworth Gymnasium on a sultry evening.

Inside the gym was a class chock-full of high-achievers, Veilleux said, including students who qualified as National Merit Finalists, a 1,000-point basketball player, winter carnival champions and dance organizers, and more.

These students have all been well prepared through classes and other school experiences, he said.

"Just like a recipe, every step is as important as the next, even if it seems completely unrelated to the final result," Veilleux said. "In this case, graduation -- our finished product, our delicacy."

Eliciting laughs from the audience, Veilleux likened several teachers to various cooking methods in a recipe. For instance, science teacher Joan Pierce -- "now use a large mallet to pound out the chicken breast" -- is like a butcher, carving individuals out to make sure all is done correctly, Veilleux said.

By contrast, English teacher Jared Goldsmith -- "gently fold the flour into wet ingredients" -- has a more relaxed teaching style and classroom, complete with a couch and piano.

Goldsmith put his piano to use during commencement with a solo performance of a senior song he wrote, "Something funny for a change." Peppered with inside jokes and class observations, Goldsmith sang in the chorus, "It's a long, long way we've come ... together," and he concluded: "Remember wherever you go, you'll always be a Black Raider."

That sense of completion was echoed by Veilleux, who said that Principal Doug Carville is like a timer, which is now buzzing, "announcing that the food is ready."

"Like cookies hot from the oven, we have completed our time and are ready to enter the real world," Veilleux said. "Take your time, don't rush. Just like frosting on a cake, patience is key."

He closed with a farewell, as the French would say of a good meal: "Bon Appetite!"

But the feast wasn't done yet.

Social sciences teacher Michael Thurston delivered the faculty speech, saying the key to a worthwhile existence is caring every day what people will say about us, "right after our funerals, while they're eating pasta salad."

And our decisions, he said, will lead us down two roads: happier people on the "A-plus road" who care about discipline, skill, learning, community and helping others, and others on the "F Road" who care only of themselves, are stressed out and unimaginative.

Thurston said he and other teachers would love to say, 30 years from now, that most of the class of 2011 chose the "A-plus Road."

"I will miss this class very, very much," Thurston said, "and it's my wish for all of you that you lead happy, productive, and fulfilling lives; that you stay on the right path and hopefully, that when the time comes, you've given people nothing but positive things to say as they enjoy their pasta salad."