Day 10 - Ballerina Girl...

....you are so, lovely.

Thanks for the new Tutu, Auntie Melissa!

Day 9 - Sunday Seven

Another Meme to fill up my spot in cyberspace....Here are 7 more Random Facts about Yours Truly:


1. Sometimes I end my showers with very cold water. It’s so invigorating and can put just the right hop back in my step!

2. If I ever have M&Ms as a snack, I first separate my M&Ms into groups of like colors first. Then eat the group with the most colors down to match the amount in the least colors. That will give me all equal number of colors, such as 2 red, 2 brown, 2 yellow etc. Then I decide on the pattern of how I would like to finish my treat, which would take too long to type here – but I have several plans of attack. I cannot give you a reason why I would choose one over the other. I know, I’m messed up. Blame my Mother. She does weird things with her M&Ms too.

3. My shoe size went up a half-size after each of my kids were born. I was told by many women that it happened to them, yet I was convinced I would not be the next victim. This bites. But sometimes I still buy an 8.5 and hope they stretch out! Vanity still overules comfort in a lot of cases for women!

4. I think Blue Cheese-anything is disgusting. Blahhhh…

5. In my 35 years, I have never met a newborn child named Andrea. Although one of my best friends shares my name, I can’t even remember meeting a small child with my name – I know there are plenty of adults with it, but did that name stop being used in the 70’s? What gives?

6. I love chocolate covered raisins and dried cherries, but they must be covered in dark chocolate, not milk chocolate. Trader Joe’s has my favorite kind!

7. I’ve seen New Kids On The Block, ‘N Sync, the Backstreet Boys in concert, and I’m well beyond my teenage years. But to balance that all out, I must tell you I have seen AC/DC from the 2nd row - close enough to have Angus sweat on me, Pink Floyd - didn't matter where you sat you were not going to get "fresh air" outdoors in the stadium, and Jimmy Buffet - where "Wasted Away In Margaritaville" was not just a song title for most of those attending!

So there you have it. Now I'm tagging John because he might need content for his participation in NaBloPoMo like me!

Day 8 - Quiet Mornings

Just a little picture post today, showing the kids doing something that makes my heart go pitter-patter with warm fuzzies.

Being quiet.

And sharing.

Day 7 - Rain, Rain Go Away

Autism linked with rainfall in study....

Well, we have another study that once again is pointing to neurotoxins. This time, the pollution in the air being pulled into the ground by rain, perhaps affecting unborn children and newborns' vulnerable systems? When pollution emitted into the air, gets carried into the ground by rain water, it's absorbed by plants and animals, which we then consume.

Sounds sensible to me, enough so that we should keep rattling the proverbial cages about Mercury in ALL it's forms and our exposure to it - vaccinations AND our filthy environment.

This map speaks pretty loudly wouldn't you say? (click it to enlarge) Considering the high autism rates in those dark blue areas that seem to be consistant with these ongoing studies... and this map is almost 8 years old already. Pretty alarming. A more in depth article is here.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Children who live in the U.S. Northwest's wettest counties are more likely to have autism, but it is unclear why, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.

Michael Waldman of Cornell University and colleagues were searching for an environmental link with autism, a condition characterized by learning and social disabilities.

They got autism rates from state and county agencies for children born in California, Oregon and Washington between 1987 and 1999 and plotted them against daily precipitation reports.

"Autism prevalence rates for school-aged children in California, Oregon and Washington in 2005 were positively related to the amount of precipitation these counties received from 1987 through 2001," they wrote in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick, a London physician who wrote "Defeating Autism: A Damaging Delusion", expressed doubt, noting that autism diagnoses are on the rise in all climates.

No one know what causes autism, whose symptoms range from severe social avoidance to repetitive behaviors and sometimes profound mental retardation.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about one in every 150 children has autism or a related disorder such as Asperger's Syndrome. Rates in many countries have been rising, although that may be partly due to increased reporting and diagnosis of the condition.

Doctors agree there is a genetic component to autism. They also theorize that something in the environment and possibly conditions in the womb can trigger the condition.

The researchers said their study supports this idea.

Perhaps infants and toddlers are kept are kept indoors in front of the TV more in rainy climates, and that somehow causes brain changes, they said. Or perhaps they breathe in more harmful chemicals while indoors.

Vitamin D deficiency caused by insufficient time in the sun might also be a trigger, they said. "Finally, there is also the possibility that precipitation itself is more directly involved," they wrote. "Perhaps a chemical or chemicals in the upper atmosphere are transported to the surface through rain or snow. "In recent years autism has been blamed on everything from discarded iPod batteries to mercury from Chinese power stations, from antenatal ultrasound scans to post-natal cord clamping, from diet to vaccines," Fitzpatrick said in a statement.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched a long-term study to find the causes of autism and other childhood conditions.
____________________________________

Keep the studies going - they are making more and more sense with each new one. The layers are slowly being peeled back, and it's frightening to see how much we have dirtied the air we breathe and the land we live on.

Day 6 - Where Did November Come From?

I have not had the time to sit down and thoughtfully write any blog postings for the upcoming days. I try to compose a couple in advance so that I just have to click PUBLISH when the time is right - but I've fallen behind. Shocking, I know.

This comic pretty much sums up my feelings. My month of November seems to be adding up to be a crazy one. I mean, I knew stuff was coming up but suddenly I had to flip the calendar from October to November and it was as if 11 months went by without noticing. I'm sure you have had those kinds of months happen before too.

My To Do list you ask? - Besides all the normal at-home crud that comes along with taking care of the family, I have a few things to keep me busy this month. The smoke coming from my ears is from the brain cells that I'm frying while in deep thought.

* Finish Cub Scout popcorn sales
* Research products for an upcoming business order
* Design layout for current business order
* Gift for friend's baby shower this weekend
* Research info for neighborhood winter newsletter
* Send bday cards out for Nov. bdays
* Dentist appts. for the kids next week
* Put together guest list for my annual ornament exchange party
* Design and mail invitations for the ornament party
* Put some thought into Thanksgiving dinner, which I'm hosting
* Finish organizing info for upcoming neighborhood Luminary Night
* Set up outdoor Christmas lights
* Call 65 residents and try not to sound annoyed when I ask for info for the 4th time
* Hosting 2 meetings Mon/Tues next week - get info ready
* Create flyers for delivery
* Deliver popcorn
* Meetings and projects for the non-profit organization I belong to
* Put the Fall crap (I mean, decorations) away and drag out the holiday stuff (thankfully I have a couple of weeks left to do THIS line item)

This is too much for one Post-It note. I need a white board to draw on like the UPS guy in the commercials..... Can I pretend it's still October, and the only thing I have to worry about is what kind of Halloween candy to buy?

Ok, back to work.

Day 5 - Proud To Be An American

What an exciting evening it was last night. Watching the results of each state come in, determining who will be our country's next leader. I voted with the majority of my state of Indiana this year, to elect Barack Obama - what a victory! It was such an incredibly tight race here for President in our state. Indiana has not voted Democratic in over 40 years. The people spoke, and we're ready for some Hope of a better way of doing things.

I really like John McCain though, and as I said the other day, I have been a fence sitter for most of the campaign. For me, it really was a tough choice, and I knew that I would feel a sense of defeat right along with whatever candidate did not win. But I also knew I would be filled with hope and excitement with whatever candidate DID win. In the end, my personal decision was to cast my vote for Obama.

Sure there are things that worry me about our new leader, but that is true for whoever would have won. No one is perfect, and I certainly don't know why anyone would want the job as President. But I'm happy that Obama and McCain have the courage, the strength and the hope to keep America the greatest country in the world, and fought for each and every one of us during this campaign.

McCain's speech last night was terrific. It was emotional to watch and I felt very proud of him for all of his hard work and service to our great country. I watched his speech again this morning online, and these three statements tugged at my heart as if it was my first time hearing it...

"In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving."

"I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited."

"...I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president."

Thank you John McCain, I do too. You make me very proud to be an American.

Congratulations to the Obama and Biden families. We've all become part of an exciting time in history together (click here for an interesting picture). Good luck in your new jobs.

Day 4 - What I Have My Nose In Right Now

I’m currently half-way through the book, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. It’s listed on the NY Times Best Sellers list at number 5 this week for hardcover fictions. It's been getting glowing reviews (click link above) and is being talked about having the potential to become an American Classic. One reviewer wrote, "...a remarkable story about the language of friendship—a language that transcends words." And that hooked me....




I started this book on Sunday afternoon in between glances up at the football games.

At first look, it’s not usually the kind of book that attracts me, and since this is a first time author, I was not sure what to expect. The cover is really a beautiful piece of art though don't you think? Looks like many of the unassuming farm fields out here in the Midwest. It had a special charm to it for me when I first picked it up.

I’m getting better at becoming the type of reader that will continue with a book even if I don’t enjoy the first 50 pages. My grandmother never pulled a bookmark from a story to give up and try a different one, she would stick with it and then decide in the end if it was enjoyable.

Me, not so much. I like to be grabbed in the first few minutes. I need a story to make me not want to do anything else all day but inhale the words. Once you are familiar with an author though, you can get over some hurdles in a story that might not keep your attention at best, because you know that you enjoy all their work by the time the story has ended. But when I’m reading a new author, I find it hard not to be picky and judgmental up front if it’s not a page-turner, so I had to convince myself not to be annoyed if the book started off this way.

I’m happy to say that I am definitely enjoying this novel, but I did have a hard time getting it started. I love details, but sometimes an author can over compensate and give me too many to digest. I get distracted and they lose me. The Prologue to the story was a bit disassociative to the actual story, so I was a little nervous in the middle of it when I found myself wondering if this story was going to be one I will enjoy. Once the set-up was in place about the Sawtelles, it was much easier for me to slip down into my chair with a blanket on my feet and devour the story.

Around 100 pages in, I found my groove and became engrossed in the storyline, excited to read what was going to happen next and what turns it might surprise me with. I like that it is not very predictable which is keeping my attention. I needed Kleenex already, and that is usually a bonus for me too.

I’m looking forward to finding some more down-time this week so that I can finish the rest of the story… I might have to forgo some domestic duties (bummer!) during Olivia’s naptime, but I think everyone will survive if I let things go a bit in honor of a good book.

I hope I need Kleenex again, too!

Day 3 - One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

You might recognize that title to a Dr. Seuss book from childhood. It seemed appropriate for today’s post about two swimmy creatures that we call our pets.

The fish tank was an earned compromise for our son about a year ago. It was such a big deal to go pick it out, along with all the assorted goodies that make the fish’s house a home.

Then came the fish. I have lost count of the number of fish we had to sacrifice in the tank to get the water ‘ready’ to house the REAL round of pets. I had no clue about this process, until they kept dying and I did some research online to discover it is commonplace. You must first murk up your water with too much food, fish waste, high ammonia and ph levels and other sorts of ‘stuff’ that happens in a tank that needs to be broken in. This happens naturally, thank goodness, but at the expense of the carefully chosen pet fish that kept dying on us.

You might recall this OREO obituary that was written to honor the last of the fish that sacrificed his life for the good of the tank.

We are down to two now. Their colors are red and blue. Neon Tetras they’re called. These suckers won’t die! They must have become one with the once toxic water, and can now live in anything.

Let’s just say, the novelty of fish ownership has worn off, oh, about a year ago, when I stopped allowing my son to feed the fish because his “pinch” of food always ended up clouding the water and making a mess of the rocks and gravel. So now my husband and I feed the fish. We did not want fish. How do we parents inherit these annoying little things to add to our own To Do list?

I’m writing about this today because it’s time to clean the tank again. I feel like a child in the sense that I have put it off for weeks now. I am whining in my mind every time I glance over at it. “I Don’t Wanna Do It…” with a little foot stomp and eye-roll. But no one is listening. Nor would they care even if they were hearing me.

Our son wants a dog. We told him when he turns 11 we would get a family dog. That’s 3 years from now. Why so far off? Because I need that time to become one with the fact that I will probably be the one that takes care of this pet as well. And right now, collecting poop each week, wiping wet paws, vet bills and dog hair totally make the thought of three years away seem like mere days.

I’m reconsidering my love for the fish. No walks. A jar of food lasts 6 months. No vet bills. No pet fur. No puppy training.

I think I’m going to go happily clean the tank now.

I would hate for those two to die, find myself cornered in a weak moment and discover a dog in my house 3 years early...

Day 2 - Thinking Ahead

FINALLY - I actually remembered to plant my SPRING bulbs this fall. I made sure of it this time, because guilt didn't let me forget. This year, the bulbs were not purchased by me, they were a birthday gift from my parents. And so it was much more difficult to let the task go, knowing they were bought for me with love, right?

I made it in the nick of time too. We've already had a freeze since the day I put them in the ground, and the packages said to get them in the ground before frost arrives. I had to act fast because this Indiana weather is like a woman who can't make up her mind! Cold, warm, freezing, warm, coat, shorts, flip-flops, boots... oy! Whatever... it's done.

Anyway, I have a bad habit of buying flower bulbs, then letting the days go by and forgetting to actually become one with the earth and plant them. Then they rot and I have to throw them away, and I wasted that money yet again on good intentions down the drain. Then, the inevitable happens. Spring arrives and I admire all the daffodils and tulips sprouting with glee at everyone else's homes, and I kick myself for not putting in the time in the fall.

But next spring, I will be smiling, because it took me a whopping 20 minutes to get in touch with the soil under my nails, to move the earthworms aside and carefully arrange my bulbs in each hole. When I say carefully, I really mean just make sure the root is facing the right direction.

My strategy? Drop 7 bulbs in each hole and throw the dirt back in. Voila! I'd better have 35 really pretty tulips between March - May or I'm going to be cranky.

I'm sure there'll be another blog post when the time arrives...

Day 1 - Heads or Tails?

Seriously, people - I have to vote on Tuesday, like the rest of the country's Americans, and I'm confused. My head hurts. Why? Because this election has been on my mind for months and months, and I don't know who I'm voting for yet! I need to choose, I know. Like, NOW!

I can't flip a coin and call heads or tails. Let me tell you though, the thought has crossed my mind to either do that, or not cast a vote at all. Which I feel would be very un-American of me. So no, I will not do that - I will wait in line to press my little button like everyone else, with my best possible informed decision. But I've got to tell you, I already am feeling a bit of "Buyer's Remorse" and I haven't even voted yet. You know, that feeling you get when you make an expensive purchase, then go back home to enjoy it and feel sometimes a little bit like you might have made a wrong decision in buying what you did? Yeah... that feeling.

I have been a huge fence sitter this election. There are so many hot topics to think about, and prioritize. And frankly, I like and dislike both candidates for various issues that are important to me. I'm so confused! I know that it is not easy to talk politics and religion with others, so I'll spare you my thoughts on which issues bug me the most and who I agree or disagree with on such topics.

But for the record, I voted for Clinton, then went Republican with the rest of my midwest state in the last two elections. I thought GW was the right person 8 yrs ago, then figured I would give him a chance to fix the mess the next time around too. Let's be honest, it's hard to fix that much crap in only 4 years, so again I threw my vote to The Reds because second chances should be allowed sometimes. You can see, my loyalties don't lie with one party, and I'm not sure they ever will.

However, for me, I'm pretty liberal in some of my views on the world, and that does not make me fit in very good with the Repubs. So I'm stuck this time. My priorities have been scrambled and I am frantically trying to figure out the order of importance on the issues for me in this election.

Let's just say, it will be interesting when our kids want to discuss politics in our household, because one parent bleeds Red and the other bleeds Purple!

Someone sent this to me recently... Titled "Obama's Loss Tied to Andrea D." It's a short video spoof using my name...

I laughed all the way through it. I thought it was appropriate to go along with today's post.

Click HERE to view it!

Happy Halloween 2008

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful night for trick-or-treating! It was 65 degrees out and such a perfect night to be outdoors.

Carter was done in less than one hour, he was home by 7:15! By done, I don't mean he did the entire 'hood, I mean that he had reached his max on how long he wanted to be out in the chaos. So by the time he circled around the block, he had already dumped his pumpkin once into the bag Tom brought, and he was ready to come home, dive into his candy, and call it a night.

Olivia gladly put her costume on, even let me draw some whiskers onto her face, but then wanted nothing to do with the festivities that go along with Halloween. Like, trick-or-treating or even glancing at anyone she wasn't familiar with. We made it to one house with her, and she was not happy. So I came back home and she helped me pass out candy.

She tried her first lollipop ever tonight, and boy did she enjoy it! She kept saying "Mmmmm! Mmmm! Good candy!" It was really cute. But I was paranoid that she would somehow suck it so hard that it might come off the stick, so I watched her intently. Then of course, the inevitable happened. We went outside for a few minutes and she dropped it in the mulch. She wasn't a happy camper when she saw that it was so dirty.

Here's a couple of pictures from the evening!

Her first time with a lollipop!

Kept cool with my beverage - isn't that beer Koozie cute with the rhinestone Colts horseshoe? (thanks, Mom!)



Here's a shot of the neighborhood gang that trick-or-treats together through the 'hood. Notice the wagon - it is not for children, it is a cooler on wheels for the evening. Stocked with cold ones to keep the parents happy. They're all ready to roll!




Here's a shot of some neighbors gathering in front of our house, devising their plan of attack. It was a terrific night!

Next up...National Blog Posting Month

Ok, I'm doing it again this year.

Starting on November 1st.

I've accepted the challenge. It's hailed as NaBloPoMo (read here) which stands for National Blog Posting Month. All I have to do is write 30 posts in 30 days, without missing one. There are hundreds of writers in the world of Blogging that are participating in this personal challenge that happens annually.

I'm not guaranteeing anything too exciting will be written here on my blog, but I will post something every day through the month of November.

Read at your own risk... stay tuned!

Pumpkin Carving 2008

Another annual family pumpkin carving night has come and gone. Mom and I didn't get to our own pumpkins though, because Carter needed help with the sharp objects (yikes), and Olivia wasn't feeling 100% so she was a bit, shall we say, unimpressed by the whole thing. As in, like "Mommy hold me" (every 2 seconds), and "Someone just glanced my way so now I must scream in protest!" She eventually chilled out enough to accept a marker and scribbled on her own pumpkin.

Carter on the other hand, was extremely fascinated with the latest pumpkin carving power tools that we have. They're not quite Craftsman brand, and they are plastic, but add batteries and they become mini-chainsaws! Things like,"Carter, don't cut the table!" and "Carter, yes that will cut your finger off if you touch it while it's turned on!" and "No we will not see if it's sharp enough to cut your clothes" were said over and over.

In the end, we had yet another year of masterpieces - we are getting good at this!

From L to R - Tom, Dad, PJ & Carter's final pumpkins!

Fall Party in The 'Hood

Our annual neighborhood fall party was Friday night, and as usual the kids had a great time. This year, we had a cookie decorating table, pumpkin decorating table, hot dogs, hot chocolate and hayrides! The weather was rainy until mid afternoon - so those of on the planning committee were crossing our fingers tightly for it to stop in time so that we didn't have to postpone until next week. It did, and turned out to be a really nice fall evening in the 'Hood.

Here are a few pictures from the day.... first a taste of the rainy start of the day



The rain stopped, had some time to dry out a little and this is Spidey on his way! (look at the Maple tree turning color - pretty!)



Here's the Superhero and the Kitty



A couple of shots of the neighbors enjoying the hayride etc.

Sometimes You Just Need A Little Chocolate... NOW

We've reached the point in Olivia's life where she now wants to be included in everything. No longer can Carter ask for a treat or even something to drink without hearing squawks from Little O wanting some too.

And along with this new protesting skill she's mastered, she no longer wants any help. With anything. Which makes for some interesting battles here now. Specifically, when it comes to eating. She wants the plate on her tray. She wants no part of anyone scooping the food for her, and even throws a mini-fit if she's in a mood and spots you cutting her food up. Ugg.

So I figured I'd better capture the moment in time when it is still considered a little cute when she's being demanding. Like, when Carter already has his chocolate pudding cup open and we are obviously not being fast enough getting one to her.

I can understand though. Because to us women, sometimes you just need a little chocolate... NOW!

Emergency Chocolate Siren...



Chocolate Bliss...



The Chocolate High...

I Think I Can, I Think I Can...

I swear I can hear the maple tree in the front yard chanting, I Think I Can, I Think I Can while it's working hard to change colors.

I can tell... it really wants to... but there are only about 20 leaves that have succeeded so far. Just like a watched pot never boils... I need to quit being so pushy when I go out and talk to it. It's rebelling like a teen.

Here are two jewels it has displayed for me this week....



Worth the wait, don't you think?

We've Been Booooooo'd

A tradition in our neighborhood every October is called "Getting BOOed". Our doorbell rang this week and there it was... we've been hit.



What happens, is when it gets dark outside, the giver sneaks up to an unsuspecting house in the neighborhood that does not have a BOO sign displayed yet, ring their doorbell, leave a treat on the doorstep, and run into the cover of darkness while they answer the door.

The treat can come in all shapes and sizes. The preferred method around here seems to be these plastic pumpkins with handles, sprinkled inside with items determined by the giver. Candy, pencils, stickers etc. Inside the treat container is the important instructions for the "How To" of the BOOing game.



It's really fun to see these BOO ghosts in so many windows by the time Halloween comes around. It's such a fun and exciting little game for the neighborhood families to do!






Why don't you try it out in your 'hood?

Here's how....

You'll need to make copies of the BOO ghost and instructions that say:

You have been BOOED! Please keep it going by following these directions:

1. Enjoy your treat
2. Place the BOO sign on your front door or visible in a window
3. Within 2 days, make 2 copies of this note, make 2 treats & 2 BOO signs
4. Secretly deliver to 2 neighbors/friends without a BOO.
5. Keep an eye on nearby front doors to see how far and fast it spreads by Halloween.

There are several online websites that you can go to print instructions and a BOO picture. We use this one in our neighborhood. You can download the picture and poem directly from the website.

Have fun!

Is It Fall or Summer?

Is it still summer? My calendar says Fall, but the temperature says Summer - sheesh! It was pretty warm out this weekend - 84 degrees. Ewww...



I am confident by the end of this week we will be out of shorts - FINALLY! Just in time to visit the pumpkin patch with my family, without bees!



This weekend, we visited a local stop in our town to get our carving pumpkins. We have an annual night that my parents and brother come over for a chili supper, and we carve pumpkins for display on Halloween night. It's usually a couple days before the holiday, but we like to get the pumpkins early to decorate the porch etc.

The place that we go to buy them is actually someones home in which they set up a stand in their driveway with veggies and pumpkins that they've grown on their farm. It is by far the most inexpensive place we've been able to find pumpkins each year - it proves how much mark-up these little Country Markets put on theirs. This coming weekend, we will make our annual trip to the very popular Stonycreek Farm with my in laws so that the kids can walk through the pumpkin patch and choose one themselves. We love that day with the grandparents, and have been doing it since Carter was a baby.

Here's some photos from the weekend activities!

This is a shot of the road in town that we take to get our pumpkins. It looked so pretty with the leaves and sunlight that I had to snap one!



Here's a little area where the pumpkins are in the driveway of this home. Pumpkins start at $2.00 for a decent carving sized one! They have some really interesting varieties of pumpkins as well. You can see Olivia in her hot pink shorts at the top. The color hot pink, shorts and short sleeve shirts just don't scream "It's Fall" to me.... The pumpkins sure did though!



This is still not something I'm quite used to, even after all these years of living in the Midwest. Where I grew up on the East Coast, you might not want to leave your bicycle on your front porch if you want it still there when you come back out to play - if you know what I'm saying. But here? The honor system... gotta love the country...



So, my kids don't like caramel apples, but 'tis the season, so I had to make some anyway!

Here's my ingredients (ohhhhh, challenging!)



And the end result....



Can't forget to show The Boy's second year in Scouting. He's a Wolf this year... here he is proudly showing off his new colors. Boy Scout Popcorn sales have begun, so we've been pounding the pavement this weekend filling up his order form. Our community set the bar pretty high - Zionsville was #1 in the nation last year for Popcorn Sales. Our little town!!

Special Delivery...

Someone in my family has a sweet spot for The Boy. I bet not soon after reading last week's post about Carter getting into the memorabilia stash again, did one particular Softy begin to frantically find a solution to The Boy's scrapped football games.

Carter received a special delivery today from the Postman. The sender was incognito, and no note was attached. But we figured we could pinpoint which of the Massachusetts relatives sent the package. How you ask? Because of it's contents. There are no Colts fans in my family that would have paid money for this, even if it was for a sweet 7 year old boy who cannot keep his hands off of his Dad's autographed football. So, it had to be from our Patriots side of the family tree.

Carter was in heaven when he opened his delivery. He immediately ran outside to play with it. Before I could get my camera fired up, he rushed inside, flew upstairs touching maybe 5 steps and fumbled through his closet to find his #4 Adam Vinatieri jersey. He wanted to be a kicker. Because his new gift came with a kicking tee, and one must be in full gear when practicing right?

It was all I could do to contain my giggles, when he finally emerged from his room, wearing the complete ensemble of a Colts player. Helmet, jersey, pants - he was serious about his game. And out he went. I had fun capturing the innocence of his youth, all dressed up and ready to tackle anyone who dared to enter the yard. He spent the next hour being a quarterback, kicker, center and punter. Thankfully, he didn't feel the need to change jersey's each time.

Considering the rivalry between the Colts and Patriots as teams (and my family split down the middle), it's pretty cute to see a kid dressed in one team's gear, playing with the opposing team's ball.






Now if we could just get Peyton Manning to sign his new Patriots ball.... that'd be funny, but then Carter would have to go back to playing with Nerf.



Thanks John & Mary, you made his day!