Moving Ahead

Ah, so clever with the title...Yes, it seems that it's been quite some time since I have updated the ol' blog. And well, it's because there's been a bit of "craziness" going on around here. End result: We're moving to Syracuse in July. It's been a whirlwind and it's sure to be an adventure once we get there. I'm moving to a house sight unseen! Spike and several other people have gone through it, but I just haven't made it there and won't get a chance to until the closing! The boys are excited about having a new room and a playroom and being by their cousins. I don't think they totally get what's involved in the move. They'll do great, I know it.

Aidan finished up preschool with a really sweet graduation ceremony this week and he's more than ready for kindergarten in the fall. We of course followed up with a much deserved trip to Chuck E. Cheese.

Earlier this month he danced in his first recital and he did GREAT!

Last weekend we FINALLY visited Brooklyn to visit Aunt Tara. The kids had a great time. Though, they were most excited about seeing Taxi Cabs. Every single one they saw, they yelled "TAAAAAXXXXXIIII".

The Gartner Girls

Jake is turning 7 next week and I brought in cupcakes to school to help celebrate. Cupcakes with fondant Cobras and Coral Snakes! EW. But he loved them. Here his class is singing happy birthday to him while his teacher makes him dance marionette style.

Jake is finishing his last day at Minisink Elementary and last day of first grade as I type. It's a bittersweet day all around. The menacing clouds overhead don't do too much to help things, either!

Hoppy Easter

It was a hippity hop good Easter here at the house! The Easter Bunny brought a bunch of cute little things for the kids and hid a few eggs around. Mostly it was great because family was around. Aunt Tara, Aunt Lainie and Uncle Bavan came to spend the day. It was gorgeous out and we spent most of the day outside. We even ate under the gazebo, which Spike had just put the cover on that morning! Here's hoping it doesn't blow down!!

Spike really outdid himself cooking this year. He prepared BBQ chicken and amazing turkey burgers. He also whipped together this fruit salad that was delish! Lainie worked on feeding the fish-eaters...she created a glazed salmon that was a hit. Lainie and Bavan brought an enormous apple pie with them and we all over-indulged. I didn't fare so well in the baking department. I attempted to make my mother's famous easter braided raisin bread for the very first time. Bread yeast and I do not get along. After two sad attempts, I had a half-raised loaf in the garbage. I will not give up though--I will try again!!

The Easter Bunny also learned a lesson yesterday. He is NOT allowed to bring kites for the kids anymore. They seem like such a good idea at the time and it was a nice breezy day, but oh the tangles, and oohh the fighting of the boys with the kites....and the no-fly frustrations...did I mention the fighting??? So kite-free spring from now on!!

Memories of My Mom and Minisink

There are days when I think of my mom more than others. Today is definitely one of those days.

The Minisink high school students (and some middle school) have staged a walk-out (how gutsy!) to protest a large series of budget cuts to teachers and aides throughout the district. While nothing will probably come of this walk-out,  it certainly makes a statement. AND wow, I am just flooded with images of my mom, in her Minisink sweatshirt and jeans, talking to her students. She loved to get involved in issues like this, sort of 'underdog' issues. Fight for the everyman! As the budget meetings progressed and teacher cuts have happened, I find myself longing to get my mom's opinion on the events. She's have so much to say! And while I'd like to think I'd have found the 16-year-old Nori circling the track back in the day, I sort of imagine, I'd have been too nervous about getting into trouble and the whole mom's-in-the-same-school-as-you would have an impact. But bravo to the 2010 Minisinkers out there walking the track in protest. Let's hope some of them know why they are walking around and not just trying to skip class and feel cool!

Spike and Nori's Egg-Cellent Adventure

The second annual Gartner-Baca Egg Hunt was held yesterday on the most beautiful day of the season so far! Kids were in shorts and flip flops!! How egg-citing (prepare for superflous puns to follow). We invited some pretty egg-stra talented egg hunters. They scoured our lower field for tons of plastic eggs filled with candy (which sadly melted in the hot march sun, who-da thunk?) and toys and stickers.

Awww, the babies....Maddy's first egg hunt. Corinna's got one up on her!

After the hunt, our little bunnies bounced themselves silly in the bouncy house and climbing on the rope swings and swing set. Then we headed inside for some sweet temptations. The junior chefs artfully decorated some sugar cookies and indulged in some peep topped cupcakes.

Everybunny went home with a bunny lollipop cookie. Best news of the day: the children passed out at bed time! So much egg-venture for the bunch!

Happy 100th Post!

Well, when I set out to start a blog, I just thought it would be a neat way for loved ones across the country to watch the kids grow without sending mass emails and uploading a lot of pictures and taxing inboxes. And now 100 posts later, it's become a lot more. Friends and family do check the blog from time to time but it's a way to look back on our family in a kind of different way than a traditional scrapbook or facebook album. I don't know, it's different and I'm glad to do it.

Snowicane? Are you Serious?

Well, last week a "snowicane" was predicted. And I laughed. And that got the Gods of Snow pretty angry.

Serious branches smacking the house in the middle of the night because the winds were so strong. Serious can't open the doors out because the snow drifts were so high. Serious 3 days off from school snowicane!And of course all this while Spike was on a business trip in Fort Meyers, FL. Lucky dog.

And now that it's done there have been some amazing sledding runs, incredible forts built, snowballs thrown, etc. All the fun of a super snowy time. The during--not so much fun--the after--much better.

But we fared much, much better than many of our neighbors. They lost power for days! Cars were stuck on a closed-down I-84 for hours and hours. ((See the Record Article Here)

And I am SO SICK OF SNOW.

I need spring. It's a refrain that many of us are singing now, but it's soo true. I want a good spring cleaning of the house (shocking!) I want windows open and clothes drying on  the clothesline. I want to go for a walk after dinner because it's still light out. So that's why I had to pick a springy background for the blog. I HAD to. I can't hold onto winter whiteness anymore. And mr. snowicane. Mr. Rainapalooza, Mr. wind-a-rama- I will no longer scoff at your suggestion.

Snowin', Skiin', Fallin'

3 Little Snow People

It was a balmy 40 degrees outside so we bundled up and ushered our little cabin fever victims out the door. Jake was trying out some skis for the first time. Aidan wanted to go sledding down the 'big hill', and Corinna just wanted to be with her boys. I was ace photographer on the scene.

Jakey on skiis going....

.....going....

........gone!!

Aidan pulling Corinna going....

....going....

....and down!

Jakey splitting.....

...splitting...

...and split

Aidan snow angeling

Three's no crowd on a toboggan!

I heart You daddy!