I knew there was a reason I was avoiding to see how long it had been since I wrote, and now Shark is really not going to be a fan of my oversharing, but here goes...So when I wrote we were heading out to Memorial Day activities...and during the week that followed, I had a miscarriage. Yep, it stunk. Such a strange, strange scenario. And now I am going to write a blog about what not to say when someone has a miscarriage. Just kidding. Well kinda. We are all good now...big hugs to any other families who have been through the same.
Now on for some more fun summer info!!! Three words Great.Wolf. Lodge. Go online, find one near you and book a trip. The creatures and I are totally obsessed. It was seriously Disneyesque but no crowds, and so much fun. Water park, bunk beds, storytime, candy store-all in one! Whats not to love?
I will do a separate post about Fishers...cant say enough about how truly blessed I am to be able to have the creatures share our family tradition. If I just close my eyes and take a deep breath of the sweet salty air, I really don't know which year it is...the more things change the more they stay the same.
One last awesome adventure, Mansion on Forsyth in Savannah. An inexpensive, romantic, interesting hotel AND a FAB! restaurant (fried green tomatoes). And its owned by Marriott which means you can use/earn Marriott rewards-because that is how we roll.
Catching up,
The Zookeeper
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Memorial Day Zoo
Going Old School. Have read "House Beautiful"for the first time in many years, wow! So many good ideas...cinnamon roast peaches, gorgeous tabletop www.laterrinedirect.com, great framing idea which I desperately needed for some photos of the creatures, Juliska's new line of gift (perfect for some Nantucket brides and grooms), and a very interesting article on the color yellow...I think I may get a subscription. Also just finished making an icebox cake on my mother's "almost" hexagon platter, just like she always did (til I took the plate)! Recipe to follow.
Now get the boys rallied, head to some poolside activities, and come home to nap. I will then go shop the memorial day sales (enter a cringe from my mother, who was probably smiling about the icebox cake) and come home to fire up some burgers.
My thoughts and prayers are with those who are missing loved ones both on earth and in heaven, who are fighting and have fought for our country. Special thanks to all my grandfathers and Shark's grandfathers for their service. They set the bar high, many many years ago. And to my favorite Marine, hope you have a happy day Grandpa Sam!
Icebox Cake
whip 1 carton of heavy whipping cream -I add a dash of sugar and a squirt of vanilla
use 2 boxes of Nabisco Famous Chocolate wafers-sometimes they are in the bread aisle or near ice cream topping
Build a tower by alternating wafers and whipped cream-like a continuous oreo tower
Make two of these and lay them side by side on the platter.
Use remaining whipped cream to "frost" the rest of the cake.
Place in the refrigerator, preferably overnight.
Do not cheat and use cool whip, it wont work!
Now get the boys rallied, head to some poolside activities, and come home to nap. I will then go shop the memorial day sales (enter a cringe from my mother, who was probably smiling about the icebox cake) and come home to fire up some burgers.
My thoughts and prayers are with those who are missing loved ones both on earth and in heaven, who are fighting and have fought for our country. Special thanks to all my grandfathers and Shark's grandfathers for their service. They set the bar high, many many years ago. And to my favorite Marine, hope you have a happy day Grandpa Sam!
Icebox Cake
whip 1 carton of heavy whipping cream -I add a dash of sugar and a squirt of vanilla
use 2 boxes of Nabisco Famous Chocolate wafers-sometimes they are in the bread aisle or near ice cream topping
Build a tower by alternating wafers and whipped cream-like a continuous oreo tower
Make two of these and lay them side by side on the platter.
Use remaining whipped cream to "frost" the rest of the cake.
Place in the refrigerator, preferably overnight.
Do not cheat and use cool whip, it wont work!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Good Times at the Zoo
March 19th, really? Perfect, I'm only 56 days behind. All good things though, all good things. We survived Spring Break-Mommy style. That means we took the Owl with us and stayed in some very nice hotels, ordered room service, and swam until we collapsed on poolside couches.
We visited with the DC Zoo-in Boca Grande, and admired how Sweet T has already become a big boy with awesome HAIR!! Made it through Easter with some A-mazing cupcakes, I may even post a photo, seriously..they looked just like easter baskets. Check out http://www.coton-colorsblog.com/ great ideas!
On to the Omlette party to benefit UPARC, simply gorgeous...the zookeeper knows how to break open peonies now , so feel free to call on me for help!
Witnessed Bear's Art Show at school which nearly did Fluffy Bunny and I in, so impressive, we were walking around stunned! And the Monkey actually danced the May Day Dance, he was PRECIOUS! Had a great shopping day in Tampa with my little blue heron, fell deeply in love with MarketPlace Interiors, oh my gosh, every design theme you could want in your home and cool, cool, cool accessories. They are on facebook...and worth the drive to Tampa.
Ummmm, what else....Full Swing for Saint Paul's School Founders's Day and taking the Society of the Alumni to new levels, to my fellow Knights out there, contact me to come back to campus, you will never EVER want to leave!
I'm going to wrap up this run on deal, knowing the grammar may be KILLING my mother in law and auntie...once again Kelly Corrigan, kicked ASS. (sooooo ladylike, but no other word will do). If you have not read "Lift" grab it, download it, do whatever you do to read a little slice of heaven. We had an amazing turnout to support the Lois Odence (miss you Grandma) Nursing Scholarship, and to continue to provide mammography vouchers through the Morton Plant Mease Health system.
Oh, one more thing, threw in a little bit of a fishing tournament this weekend...Bear caught two, tiny little AWESOME fish!
See you again, right here in less then 56 hours...maybe.
We visited with the DC Zoo-in Boca Grande, and admired how Sweet T has already become a big boy with awesome HAIR!! Made it through Easter with some A-mazing cupcakes, I may even post a photo, seriously..they looked just like easter baskets. Check out http://www.coton-colorsblog.com/ great ideas!
On to the Omlette party to benefit UPARC, simply gorgeous...the zookeeper knows how to break open peonies now , so feel free to call on me for help!
Witnessed Bear's Art Show at school which nearly did Fluffy Bunny and I in, so impressive, we were walking around stunned! And the Monkey actually danced the May Day Dance, he was PRECIOUS! Had a great shopping day in Tampa with my little blue heron, fell deeply in love with MarketPlace Interiors, oh my gosh, every design theme you could want in your home and cool, cool, cool accessories. They are on facebook...and worth the drive to Tampa.
Ummmm, what else....Full Swing for Saint Paul's School Founders's Day and taking the Society of the Alumni to new levels, to my fellow Knights out there, contact me to come back to campus, you will never EVER want to leave!
I'm going to wrap up this run on deal, knowing the grammar may be KILLING my mother in law and auntie...once again Kelly Corrigan, kicked ASS. (sooooo ladylike, but no other word will do). If you have not read "Lift" grab it, download it, do whatever you do to read a little slice of heaven. We had an amazing turnout to support the Lois Odence (miss you Grandma) Nursing Scholarship, and to continue to provide mammography vouchers through the Morton Plant Mease Health system.
Oh, one more thing, threw in a little bit of a fishing tournament this weekend...Bear caught two, tiny little AWESOME fish!
See you again, right here in less then 56 hours...maybe.
Friday, March 19, 2010
365 days...
A year ago, Mama Plover had her "very simple" neck surgery...easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Got that tumor out, put some steel contraption in her neck and just don't lift the baby...easier said then done. A couple of weeks later the call I have tried hardest to forget came, "Momo, I have cancer." I think I perhaps hit the biggest shock and denial of my life so far. I remember walking out to the kitchen and feeling like I couldn't hear.
Fast forward, three surgeries, radiation, some "bone glue" infusions, super healthy soy-free organic diet, and Mama Plover is flying along just fine. We have talked, texted and visited more this year then probably the last five combined. We have laughed so hard that we cried and definitely cried so hard we have laughed. At times we have had some deep and scary thoughts but mostly Mama Plover just makes me feel better. Its the darndest thing.
I have learned weird stuff about cancer, cool stuff about neck braces, watched Daddy Plover puff his chest and protect his nest, and the baby Plovers look knowingly at us and then go back to playing. We have covered bakugan, legos, pajama pants, diamonds, bracelets, charms, mastectomy, lumpectomy, oophorectomy. I have realized that my Northern friends tend to say "white light, positive thoughts" (HIPPIES!) and my Southern friends say "prayer lists, lift up, vigil" (BIBLE BELT!). I say, no matter what, it's working.
I secretly hate "lemonade out of lemons" (as if a young mother has a choice but to make the best of it), but I thank you dear sweet Hillary for this most important lesson. Thank you, and God, for the lessons of the last 365 days...and here's to the next 18,250...(that's 50 years in case you are trying to figure it out) !
Kisses from the zoo!
Here is the bear signing Aunt Hillary's letter that Mommy had to finish before she would make him hot chocolate- teddy
see its the simple things....
Fast forward, three surgeries, radiation, some "bone glue" infusions, super healthy soy-free organic diet, and Mama Plover is flying along just fine. We have talked, texted and visited more this year then probably the last five combined. We have laughed so hard that we cried and definitely cried so hard we have laughed. At times we have had some deep and scary thoughts but mostly Mama Plover just makes me feel better. Its the darndest thing.
I have learned weird stuff about cancer, cool stuff about neck braces, watched Daddy Plover puff his chest and protect his nest, and the baby Plovers look knowingly at us and then go back to playing. We have covered bakugan, legos, pajama pants, diamonds, bracelets, charms, mastectomy, lumpectomy, oophorectomy. I have realized that my Northern friends tend to say "white light, positive thoughts" (HIPPIES!) and my Southern friends say "prayer lists, lift up, vigil" (BIBLE BELT!). I say, no matter what, it's working.
I secretly hate "lemonade out of lemons" (as if a young mother has a choice but to make the best of it), but I thank you dear sweet Hillary for this most important lesson. Thank you, and God, for the lessons of the last 365 days...and here's to the next 18,250...(that's 50 years in case you are trying to figure it out) !
Kisses from the zoo!
Here is the bear signing Aunt Hillary's letter that Mommy had to finish before she would make him hot chocolate- teddy
see its the simple things....
Sunday, February 21, 2010
(Thirty) FIVE ALIVE
As I type this, I am 35 years and 24 hours. And makin nachos! Yup, thought I'd round out my birthday weekend with one more super healthy meal! Ha! No danger of me running a 5k now! However, I had an amazing birthday thanks to soooo many-see my facebook page-Holy Birthday Wishes, Batman! Currently I am sunburned...I had to head south to get that....and HAPPY! Had an amazing visit with Mama Plover and so many others for whom I give thanks. Lotsa cool presents, yummy meals, and great memories! Thanks to all! PS. I have read a book, and may finish another by end of Feb!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Too Scared
to even look at last time I posted. Trust me when I say all is well. Read my other blog...oh Lord, my poor readers, know I have two blogs....way to spread out the ADHD, right? read it anyway and then check back here for details on birthday week...the zookeeper is about to turn 35! Again refer to title "Too Scared".
www.mrsschafferandsons.blogspot.com
kisses from the Zoo
www.mrsschafferandsons.blogspot.com
kisses from the Zoo
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