Frampton Comes Alive...again

Last year Mom bought me tickets to see Peter Frampton in concert at Billy Bob's. Scott and I had a great time and I think I might have even blogged about it. This year Justin took me to House of Blues and we saw Frampton again. Justin surprised me with an early birthday present and the two of us went last night. We had a great time and enjoyed the food, drinks, company of each other and the music. The concert was similar to last year's, but still very enjoyable. It was also fun to see Justin enjoying music that I listened to when I was young. Being a musician, he enjoys all kinds of music and was impressed by Frampton's guitar skills. Most of the crowd was my age and older, but there were a few young ones along with Justin. That doesn't seem to bother him at all. He went to a Kris Kristopherson concert with Mom a couple of months ago. Seems that hanging with the older crowd is ok with him. I'm sure in small doses, anyway!




I had a great time with my son last night and love seeing how much he is coming into his own, growing up and becoming a great young man. I'm very proud of you Justin and love hanging out with you. When is the next concert???

Changes going on...

Well, I think we all survived the first week of school. Everyone in our family is now attending school. The kids of course, Scott still working on his degree and I decided to go back to school as well. I started attending community college this week and it's been fun! I think I will get much more out of school than I did in the first half of my life. I hated school and never really put a lot of effort into it. I really regret that, too. But someone told me it's never too late to go back. In fact several people told me that when I started contemplating this.

The kids are back in the swing of things and are as busy as ever. Along with school starting for all of them, so has sports and other things. Dylan is back in baseball through Little League, but is going to try out for the high school team this Saturday and also playing drums for the youth church band. Marissa made the volleyball team for her school (which is really competitive) and she is very excited about that. She is also in Accapella Choir, so we'll be attending concerts through out the year as well. Cassie is having her first football game next Saturday that she will be cheering at. I don't think we are going to have to worry about cheerleading anymore after this year. Cassie is not as enthralled with it as Marissa was. She is already saying that she will not do this again. Which is fine by me and Scott. She is still in Scouts and we'll find something different for her to do, maybe drama or dance. She loves doing both. Justin is also signed up for school again and is now a sophomore after 3 years of college. WHOO HOO!! At least we're finally getting somewhere. Scott and I are really proud of him. He is becoming quite the young man with his own apartment and working all the time. He also called me a couple of days ago and told me not to make any plans for next Wednesday. He wanted to take me out for my birthday. Wow, my son is going to take me out...this will be a first and I'm really looking forward to it.

We're off to camp a little this weekend so Scott and Dylan can go dove hunting. It should be fun. We didn't camp all summer and we always have a good time when we do. Hope the weather holds up. Hope the boys aren't disappointed this year. Our freezer has only halibut, we could use something different.

Until next time...

In Bed Doing Something I've Never Done Before!

Ok, now...get your mind out of the gutter! I'm sitting in bed typing this blog right now. My wonderful and loving husband thought since I've become a college student, that I needed my own laptop. So today we pulled into Best Buy and I had no clue what we were doing and he was being very vague. I actually started giving him a hard time about not telling me what we were doing. Then Cassie started to give it away and said "Mom, we're getting you something very cool!" She was so excited. Then I knew to keep my pie hole shut and just follow him in the store.

So I'm now the owner of a brand new laptop that is all mine and I don't have to share with anyone! What a sweetie I married! Thanks Scott - you're awesome!

Until next time...

What Do Pink Toilet Paper, Sapphires, a Wallet & Bubblemint Gum Have in Common?

Trying to figure that one out, are you? It happens to be some memorable gifts that each of the kids have given me.

The pink toilet paper was from Justin when he was very young. My mom took him Christmas shopping to let him pick out some gifts for me and all he wanted to get me was pink toilet paper. He remembered some weeks before that him and I had been shopping together and the store was out of this particular color of toilet paper, which is what I bought for my pink and black bathroom. I've never forgotten that gift! Unfortunately, we used the paper but I have memories of my little man being extremely thoughtful.

The sapphires were a pair of earrings that Dylan picked out when he was little as well. He knew my birthstone and that his mom liked jewelry. I believe my mom was with him on this shopping trip and it was for my birthday. I'll never forget how proud he was when I opened up the box and saw the beautiful gold and sapphire earrings. I still have them...haven't worn them lately. Maybe I should do that and see if he remembers them.

The wallet is something that Marissa got me for Mother's Day. It was actually a week or so before. My mom and her had gone shopping and she told my mom that I really needed a new wallet, that I had mine for so long because it was the only one she could remember me having in my purse. So my mom let her get it and she gave it to me that afternoon. It was very thoughtful of her and she just couldn't wait until Mother's Day. I still use that one and probably will until she gets me another one.

And last but not least is the bubblemint gum and what sparked this whole blog. Cassie and Scott have been in NY for the last 6 days and she is getting a little homesick and ready to see me. So we have been talking on the phone quite a bit and a few hours ago she told me she bought me a gift. Her and her AMA (Scott's aunt) were out shopping and she spotted my favorite gum, you guessed it...Orbit bubblemint and asked if she could get it for me. So I have a present coming from NY tomorrow...my husband and my Cas-a-fras. Oh yeah, the gum too!

More Fun Pictures...

The Mets Disappoint, But the Beach Does Not

We had our 2nd annual trip to Houston to see the Mets play the Astros and unfortunately the Mets lost not only the game we attended Friday night, but Saturday and Sunday as well. Scott and Marissa were very disappointed. But we still had lots of fun. They did a fireworks show at the end of the game that was fablous!


I made most of us t-shirts before we left...Marissa had one with pictures of David Wright on the front and on the back it said "I already found my Mr. Wright". Cassie had one with the Mets logo and "David Wright's future sister-in-law" and mine said "David Wright's future mother-in-law". Dylan and mom decided to stick with the Texas team and we made them Astros shirts. Scott made them run beside the van every where we went! I did something on this trip that I've never done before in my life...I forgot my luggage. We got about half way to Houston and I asked if anyone got my bag from the bedroom and of course no one did. So we had to make a stop in Conroe at the ever handy Wal-Mart to pick up some necessities for me! I found everything but the bathing suit. They had plenty of bathing suits left, but only if you were a size 4 or a 3x, which I am neither! There's bound to be a good joke there, but I'll be darned if I can think of one.



After the staying in a very nice hotel in downtown Houston and attending the Mets game, we took Scott to the airport for his much awaited trip to Alaska. After dropping him off, we were on our way to Galveston. I managed to find a bathing suit and we hit the beach for the day. Dylan and Marissa surfed the waves either by body or boogie board just about the entire time we were there. The waves were huge on Saturday! Cassie made several friends, buried her legs in the sand and buried mine as well. Mom sat under the umbrella and read her book for most of the time. It was an extremely pleasant day in the sun and believe it or not, no one was sunburned. Made it back to our hotel for some fun in the pool and then out for a late dinner (after trying several restaurants and being told it would be a 2 hour wait).







The next day we got up early and headed to Moody Gardens for the entire day. We were there from 9:45 am until 8:30 pm. We did almost everything there was which included an aquarium, a rain forest, imax 3-d movie about sharks (awesome), ridefilm theatre (not so awesome), 4-d movie (short and fun), nice lunch, waterpark, funny clown show (Aga Boom)...I think the only thing we didn't do is the steam boat ride and golf! It was a fun day. Dylan and Marissa got a little bored here and there, but Cassie loved every minute of it. They definately gear it towards smaller kids, but still fun. The kids swam in the hotel pool again that night, we ordered pizza then all passed out from complete exhaustion. Home the next day to see our beloved and very missed pooches! Mr. Higgins and Tipsy were very happy to see us when we got home. They attacked us upon entering the door and Cassie and I can't wait to do the same to Scott when he comes home this Saturday!

Until next time...

Please, Don't Judge...

Well, here are some updates:

Dylan got that earring...his dad took him and he loves it. It is so tiny, you barely even notice it. Earrings on guys are really not a big deal these days, right?!?!

I got my nose pierced...but if you read this blog, I'm sure you read Scott's and you already nose this, I mean know. I really like it, especially since I've changed to a smaller stud. But I still feel like some people are staring wondering "what is this middle-aged women doing with her nose pierced?" Maybe, maybe not! Scott says all we need to do now is let Cassie get a tear drop tattoo and Marissa get implants and we'll be good to go.





Scott and I had a blast in New Orleans. It was really nice to get away together for a few days. Something all couples should do at LEAST once a year! Once again, if you read his blog, we sound like a couple of alcoholics...with all the hurricanes. But if you know Scott, you know he is full of exaggeration. Or did I forget how much we actually drank due to the tropical cyclones??

Justin and I took Dylan to his first concert last night and it was awesome!!! I'm currently still holding up the official "rock" hand signal.
We saw 3 bands, Cheap Trick, Heart and Journey! They were great. All except for the Trick...I think their sound person must have been playing some kind of cheap trick on them because they sounded really, really bad. But at least they didn't play too long. And it was so worth it once Heart came on. They were mine and Justin's favorite! The Wilson sisters did not disappoint at all. Ann can still rock the house with her amazing voice and they did a song by The Who and Zeppelin...rock on dude!!! Uh, I mean they sounded great and I could have listened to them all night. At one point, Justin got goosebumps listening to Ann's voice. But the headliner was Journey and they put on a heck of a show! Even without Steve Perry. Their new singer was almost as good and completely full of energy. Just wondering if the almost 60 year old Perry (who had to have hip relacement surgery) would have been able to jump around quite a much as their new "Perry". It was a very fun night and it was a nice bonding experience with both of my boys. Dylan loved the concert and was having a great time with some friends (we found some fellow Springcreek friends at the show and shared our blanket with them). For a first concert, I think this was perfect, he loved the show, it was completely family friendly (except for the occasional smell of some skunkage) and I knew more of the songs than he did!



We are off this weekend for our 2nd annual trip to Houston to see the Mets in action!! Marissa and Scott are extremely excited about that. It should be lots of fun. Dylan is wanting to wear his Astros t-shirt from last year (he is NOT a Mets fan) and paint his face the colors of the Astros. We'll see what happens...Scott said if he did, he had to find another way to the game. After the game, Scott is leaving for Alaska via Houston airport and then me and the rest of the gang, including my mom, are off to Galveston for some beach time and a day at Moody Gardens. Should be fun!!

Well, that's it for now. Until next time...

Hair today, gone tomorrow

I never thought I would have lived to see the day that Dylan got his hair cut off! No, really, I thought the long hair was here to stay for a while. But he proved me wrong last week. Several of his friends got a mohawk and this is a hairdo that has fascinated Dylan since he first saw Paul's (Scott's nephew in NY). But I don't think he had the courage to do something so drastic until he started seeing some others do it around him. Then he went even a little more extreme and had me dye it red. It actually looks a little more on the maroon side. I like it much more than I thought I would and he absolutely loves it! Hey, it's summer, it's cooler, you can see his face and it will be gone by August when he has to start school. But what about that earring he wants?? We'll see...

Until next time...

It's officially summer...

Two days out of school and I've already heard the following:

~I'm bored~
*I miss my friends*
~When will school start again~
*What are you making for lunch* (at 9:00 in the morning)
~There's nothing to do~
*Can we go shopping* (and we did yesterday - lots of fun with just the girls!)
~If you want a body like that then you have to work out every single day, Mom~ (from my lovely Marissa who was trying to help encourage me when we were looking at bathing suits for me!)
*It's summer, I'm not supposed to read*
~I should be able to sleep till I wake up~



Let the summer fun begin!!!

Until next time...

Mexico Trip

Here are some pictures of Mexico. We had such a good time. I'm looking forward to going back in the spring with Scott.




Carey and Stacey standing in front of Gwen's bedroom door. Their house is incredibly amazing, all 6000 sq. ft. of it!




That's me and Stacey in front of one of the arts buildings where they have exhibits and also a theatre for live shows. It was very interesting seeing all the artwork and trying to figure out what the artist was trying to convey. Probably never even came close to what any of them were thinking when they did their art, but it was fun and very interesting.





This is one of the oldest catholic churches in the city. It was absolutely beautiful. They were actually having mass when we walked in, but it is such a touristy area, there was people walking around the inside of the church while the priest was talking. There was even a couple of people sitting on the pews dozing off during the service. Some things just don't change!




Stacey and Carey drinking one of the biggest margaritas I have ever seen! Seriously, El Chico's has nothing on these bad boys!!! They were not your typical tasting margarita either. Not sure what they were made with, but it was very sweet and very yummy. And yes, it was all gone before we left. This was the first restaurant that we went to (thanks Stacey!) and it was really good. It was fun watching Stacey communicate with everyone, she has learned Spanish so well. And Carey did great too! Apparently she has not forgotten all the Spanish she learned from college and she was having fun trying to figure out what all the signs in Mexico said. I was very impressed.




The three of us after lunch at the restaurant. Yes, we 3 blonds stuck out a bit!




This was at one of the outdoor markets we went to. This little boy and his father were singing and playing the guitar for pesos. They were so much fun to listen to, especially when the little boy would sing. He was adorable!




This was the other restaurant/inn that we ate at. It was the most beautiful restaurant I think I've ever seen. It had a garden area in the back and was perfect for weddings. The pictures I have do not do it justice at all, but it was just breath taking. Because of Mexico's climate, everything grows there and that's what made this place so nice.




Same restaurant.













Hope you enjoyed some of my pictures from Mexico. After seeing the architecture, I cannot wait to go to Europe...I think that is probably my favorite thing. Especially the churches.

Until next time...

Much too long since my last post...

But it seems that the Lessard family is getting into the "blogging" thing very much, so I will have to start updating mine if I want to join in all of the fun!

What has happened since January??? What hasn't happened??? Life has been good and the kids are doing great. Justin recently moved out into his own apartment by himself and he loves it, is doing well at work (Pizza Hut) and is doing well in community college. Dylan has hit teenage years with a bang!!! He is doing all the lovely things that teenagers do so well...get lazy, don't listen to parents, slack off in school (HE'S MAKING A 74 IN P.E.!!), beating on his drums as much as possible and listening to all the old 70's and 80's music that I listened too when I was a young punk (thanks to guitar hero). Marissa is changing a lot herself. Becoming so grown-up, but yet still so into herself at the same time. She is really developing such a sense of humor and is doing amazing in school. She's getting more into sports and boys these days...let's just hope we can keep her more focused on one of those and not the other. Cassie is growing up right before our very eyes. She loves school, her teacher and is quite the social butterfly of Kindergarten (her teachers words, not ours). She is very smart is is reading like you wouldn't believe. But we do have an issue with the fact that she likes to talk in school. Her teacher says that she is even sucked into having conversations with her and that she is like talking to a little adult sometimes.

We have lots of travels going on in our household and if you read Scott's blog, you already know about them all. I just returned back from Mexico with a friend to visit another friend who's husband was transferred there for 2 years. The trip was wonderful and we had so much fun. My throat was actually soar from all the talking that we did. Even my friend that flew down with me said Stacey and I talked a lot. We shopped all three days that we were there!! It was a blast and I look forward to doing it again next year with Scott, when we will actually do some real sightseeing and not just shop! I'll post some pictures once I get them downloaded onto the computer.

Well, I guess that will do for now. I updated for now and hopefully it won't be another 4 months before I post again...but if it is, just go to Scott's blog and he'll fill you in on EVERYTHING!!!

Until next time...

Parenting is Hard Sometimes

I got a call from my ex-husband today. I knew it wasn't good when he asked if I had a minute to talk, because he doesn't like to talk. It could have been worse, but it was about grades and getting something from the school counselor and teacher. We had a pretty long discussion about what is going on with one of the kids because we don't see eye to eye on this situation. We were both very respectful and nothing ever got out of hand in any way. So I'm very thankful for that, it is usually a fear of mine when situations arise with "the other side". I don't do well with confrontations at all and don't like them in the least. If you ask Scott, he would tell you different, though.

Anyway, I'm very torn now in what needs to be done in this circumstance. I would very much appreciate prayers for clarity. It could be one of those instances that either way we go, it's going to be a hard lesson learned and that either decision is not a bad one. But maybe not. I'm really struggling with taking my child out of an honors class that they are not passing. Actually it's 2 honors classes. Here's my dilemma...if they are taken out of the class when they aren't putting 100% of their efforts into it, what are we teaching them? If we leave them in the classes and try to force them to put 100% effort into it, what are we gaining? Are they going to pass if this effort is put into it? I feel like pulling them out of the class is just putting a band-aid on the issue and we are just going to be facing the same thing again in another "hard" class, or even just another hard situation. Are we teaching them to bail when it gets tough. About 90% of me says yes to that last question. So if that's the answer, how do I change what I'm doing as a parent to teach them this value and to help the situation? I told my ex-husband that I don't believe that we are doing everything would could be doing as parents to help in this. That this situation needs consistency and efforts on our part. He believes that if we continue with "forcing" the situation that we are just going to cause our child to be frustrated and resentful towards school and that outcome would be worse.

I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm grateful that my ex didn't just sign on the dotted line and make a big decision for the both of us. I guess my next step is to call the school counselor tomorrow and make an appointment to discuss it with her. Keep it in your prayers and I'll keep you posted on what decision we make.

Until next time...

THIS IS FOR ALL YOU CHEFS OUT THERE

My grandmother was a wonderful cook and I can remember eating all the time when I went to her house. She loved to cook and those are some of my greatest memories of her...in the kitchen. My grandfather loved to cook and eat as well, so when I think of them, my thoughts turn to all the wonderful things I ate in the little white house with a porch swing in a little town in North Texas. We have tried to duplicate many of her recipes but they just don't taste the same. One in particular is her Red Velvet Cake. It was delicious and I haven't tasted one like hers since the last one she made. Another one that many people loved of hers was an apple cake that she got the recipe from her mother-in-law (no written recipe was ever found). My uncle really loved it. So I went searching the web this year before Christmas in hopes of finding a recipe that sounded like this layered apple cake that she made. I've searched in the past, but never found one. But this search was successful and they had a recipe for Apple Stack Cake on allrecipes.com. So I proceeded to make one for my uncle for Christmas. I knew almost immediately that it wasn't going to turn out just like hers. But I think the recipe is probably very close. Basically you have 6 layers of cake that are more like giant thin cookies. Then you have your apple mix that you put in between each layer and on top. My first problem was that there was not enough apple mix to cover the entire cake and make it moist like it should be. The other thing I didn't do is put it in the fridge for days like she apparently did. My aunt and uncle also said they thought she used some kind of liquor on hers as well to make it more moist, rum or wine. Well, I'm not sure exactly how to make this more like my grandmothers so I thought I would ask for suggestions from those of you who love to cook and are better at it than me (hint, hint Chef Michele). Another thing I did to the recipe was use fresh apples instead of dried and I don't think I used enough, only 3. But dried fruit is SO expensive and I tried to be more frugal. Anyway, see what you think and if you have any ideas I would love to hear them so I can make this cake again for my uncle and hopefully it will taste more like Grandma's and less like Angie's.


APPLE STACK CAKE
2 cups white sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons baking powder
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 pounds dried apples, cooked and mashed
1 3/4 cups packed brown sugar
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground allspice

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease and flour six 8-inch pans. In a large bowl mix together white sugar, shortening, eggs, soda, baking powder, flour, salt, buttermilk, and vanilla. Divide batter into 6 equal parts. Press into prepared pans.
Bake at 425 degrees F for ten minutes.

To Make Filling: To the cooked and mashed apples, add the brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice, and mix. Layer 1 cake, spread filling between layer on top and sides. Do this with each of the 6 layers. Let stand at least 12 hours before cutting.

2008 IS OFF TO A GREAT START

Wow, how time flies when you're having fun!! Or is it just because I'm old and have 4 kids? Either way, it's flying by...I can remember the first New Years Eve that Scott and I spent together in 1999. I was sick with the flu and we watched the ball drop in NY on T.V. while dozing on my couch. That certainly doesn't seem like 8 years ago. Usually we don't do much for New Years Eve, but this year we had some friends over.

The kids played and we talked and ate and watched some guy jump a football field on a motorcycle. Then at 12:00 we went out in the front yard and let the kids set off a bunch of noise makers/poppers. I'm sure my neighbors were loving us at that point. Usually we hear guns going off, but didn't hear any this year over our noise. Anyway, it was fun. The kids all think we should do it every year and make it a tradition to just have a open door on NYE and have whoever wants to come on over! I think I like that idea...my aunt and uncle have gone to the same house for NYE for over 40 years. They started it years ago when their children were small and it has continued on. That sounds really nice to me.

Other notes...Scott is doing fabulous on
his diet competition with his brother and sister. I have worked out with him a couple of times and it felt really good. We have been getting along wonderfully and we haven't killed the kids over the Christmas holiday. They've been great. I am ready for our routine to come back, though and have my computer back and my quite time. But it really has been nice sleeping in and being lazy and all that fun stuff that comes with the holidays!

Higgins is working out really well. The kids love him and he is growing on Scott. He really does have an adorable personality. We had some issues with house training when he first got here, but he seems to have adjusted well. He is dying to play with Tipsy, but she wants nothing to do with him. But she does tolerate him and if she gets tired of his playfulness, she goes and lies in her kennel.

I see lots of positive things happening in 2008, I just feel it in my heart! But like every other year, it will be gone before we know what happened. So go ahead and mark your calendar, the Lessards are having a party on December 31, 2008. And bring a dish to share or game to play!

Happy New Year to you all!