Our Family Blog

CrabAppleLane Ants - January 4, 2009
My neighbor, Timmy, and I were wrestling one day when I was a kid. He got the advantage and held me down in a red ant pile. It wasn't as big as this one and he didn't do that on purpose. I couldn't get up and they were biting me pretty good. It wasn't until he got bit that he let me up. I did a dance because there were ants in my pants. Red ant piles don't get this big in the city usually because people do something about them. Out here at CrabAppleLane, where parts of the yard can go untended for a few weeks, they are more like castles than piles.

Happy New Year

Did you do anything special? We spent a quiet evening at home but we did stay up past midnight just like the grownups. Yes, we have no life. :)

We had a good Christmas and it's not over yet. We'll celebrate with Phil's family tonight, it's his mom's 81st birthday today and we've always celebrated Christmas and her birthday today with his family. The boys love it because it prolongs their Christmas season. We went to The Melting Pot on Christmas Eve and the baby was the best baby ever. It's a 2 hour meal and he didn't fuss once, just sat in his car seat and looked at all of us. He is such a good baby.

The boys are busy playing their new Wii games as I write. Jackson got Guitar Hero World Tour and Jacob got My Sims Kingdom. Jackson also got a RipStick for Christmas ( a fancy skateboard) and he's already hurt himself on it. We have only one return to make. I bought the boys Disney Channel Scene It and they informed me they don't actually watch Disney Channel that much and would rather have Harry Potter Scene It. It came from Wal-Mart and I won't be going anywhere near that store for at least 2 weeks so I told them not to hold their breath!

Here are the pictures!

Jacob, Christina, Jude, Jackson, Phil

Some memories, as I sit here thinking about Christmas in the long ago . . .

When I was 7, WWII was raging and most things were in short supply, including rubber items. This was being used in what was called "the war effort." My mother told me later that she had walked and walked through every store in town to find a doll for me. She finally found a Betsy Wetsy which came with bottle, diaper, and Q-tips! She had little rubber ears inserted into her hard skull and they could be cleaned nicely with the little Q-tips. I named this doll Elizabeth Ann and loved her and cared for her and played with her till it was time. In those days, one doll sufficed. My sister had a fancier doll named Mary Ann. One year, my mother made these two dolls winter coats and hats. Mary Ann's was bright royal blue and was trimmed with something that looked like ermine fur, including a matching hat. Elizabeth Ann's coat was a serviceable maroon corduroy with no matching hat. (Many years later, I received another doll - this time a live one - named Elizabeth Ann.)

This might have been the year that brothers Mark and Pat received new bikes, but I'm not sure. It could have been the year before. I know they were still pretty young to be riding bikes to Midnight Mass in deep snow. My dad laughed when they talked about trying to keep the bikes in tire tracks and sliding and slipping and falling down, but he didn't offer to drive them back home.

One other thing I remember about those wonderful Christmas dinners was that I was served Mogen David wine along with everyone else. From an early age. And one time, my mother was scrubbing the vestibule floor after Christmas and noticed an almost-empty Mogen David wine jug in the closet. She saw that it was just a swallow and decided to drink it and get rid of the jug. Simple as that. My brother Pat came upon her as she knelt there, jug to her lips, and shouted Mom, what's going on?

I hope all of you can remember really great things about your past Christmases.

Merry Christmas

Last night, the home that Mom lives in had their annual holiday party for the families of the residence. A nice singer, hot and cold appetizers and plenty of sugary treats. Mom has forgotten many things in the past few years but she does remember every last word to all of the holiday songs being sung!

A couple pictures for you also.

Marthalene and Mom

Jerome and Mom

Laura, Pat and Joan

CFFL Super Bowl XI

1) Rough Diamonds (Dave Ferrara) (10-4)

versus

2) Spawn (Rob Ferrara) (9-5)

Joey's younger brother called us at 7:50 this morning to tell us to take the kids outside because it was snowing. I had just awakened Samuel for school so we rushed out to see. He was so excited! I don't know how he knows about snow, but he kept saying we needed to make snowballs and throw it at each other and then make a snowman. You can see our attempt at a snowman here. Samuel's hands got so cold that he ran inside and refused to go back out to take a picture. Brooke was busy eating the snow.

I took Samuel to school because the news said that all schools were open. When I got there, there was only one other child in his class. I tried to take him back with me but his teacher insisted he stay- I think she wanted a friend for the other child. As I was driving home I was checking out the roads and thought things might get worst in three hours so I turned around and went back to pick him up. Then I had a good laugh at myself for being so anxious to get him to school. I turned into one of the parents we teachers used to snicker about, "Why didn't these parents just keep their kids home!" The snow has stopped and the rain has started. There's enough snow to cover the ground, cars, and rooftops, but it won't last too long. It's certainly a beautiful sight for us novices!

Snow in Metairie, LA - December 11, 2008

Snow in Metairie, LA - December 11, 2008

Snow in Metairie, LA - December 11, 2008

CrabAppleLane - December 11, 2008

CrabAppleLane Bradford Pear Tree - December 11, 2008

Pitiful CrabAppleLane snowman - December 11, 2008 - At 51 years, 10 months ... My first, last, and only solo snowman -- Should I call Guiness? Though I placed it less than a foot from the stepping stone path, Patsy walked right past it without noticing it. Woe is me.

Barrett took his first steps on November 24, just a day before he turned 10 months. Unfortunately, Stephen and I missed him taking his first actual steps! We were visiting a friend in the hospital that had just had a baby and Barrett was with his Nanan (Brianne). When I called to let her know we were on our way to pick him up she exclamed, "Your boy is walking!" I couldn't believe we missed it! When we got over to Stephen's parents, we encouraged Barrett to do his new trick again and he obliged us. We caught a few on video and thought we would share it with you all.

Now that Barrett is 10 months he can do several new things. He will raise his arms to "sooo big" when you ask him, "How big is Barrett?" He is clapping his hands, saying ball, pointing at objects that catch his attention, and practicing his walk whenever he gets his balance. He has also figured out how to unroll the toilet paper, open cabinets and drawers, and how to open and close doors. Needless to say, we are busy... but quite entertained.

Samuel came home from school last week saying this poem and I was so impressed with him! We're headed to Janine's tomorrow for lunch and then on to Joey's mom and dad's for dinner. Right now I eat every couple of hours so having two feasts in the same day is right up my alley! I also haven't been cooking for the last 7 weeks so I can't wait for those home cooked meals. I hope everyone enjoys a delicious meal tomorrow!