Over Night Camp Prep

So, my oldest is going to overnight camp for three weeks this summer.  I never went to overnight camp.  I don't feel like I missed anything; however I know lots of people who LOVED LOVED LOVED their overnight camp experience, and I hope M loves his.

So, now that I am the mom, I am in charge of gathering the items needed.  I just assumed I would throw in some shorts, t-shirts, bathing suits and flip flops in a "bag" and be done.  Needless to say, I was clueless. 

Luckily this camp has a short required list. .  . three camp shirts and two pairs of camp shorts.  Reasonably priced.  Not bad.  Then the list of stuff, and the quantities. . . . . shorts, shirts, flip flops.  And then the flash light (oh - he needs one), and a shower caddy (oh yeah that too).  And shampoo, and toothbrushes, and tooth paste, and PJ's. . . . and a stadium seat without metal arms (huh?).  And three small plastic containers to store "small items." 

And stationary, and pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes.

And some baseball caps

and some swim goggles

and a laundry bag;

and a pillow, sheets and camp comforter.

None of these things are impossible.  But, now I am busy gathering them (and a bag or two), and then I will start labeling, in both sharpie marker and regular label.  With the hope that lost items will find their way back to Mr. M BEFORE we leave camp on pick up day.

Wish me luck folks.

The End is Near!

So for months you have heard about our plans to add onto the house and renovate the kitchen, the first floor bathroom and Naomi's room.  You have read about our plans, and our meals and our adventures.  Well, I am happy to report that we are nearly complete with our project.  I can almost taste it in my mouth.

We now have a working sink in the new kitchen.  The cabinets are up. . . knobs are being placed.  The ovens are in, but not yet functional.  The lights are not in yet.  But they are on site.

So, we went from . . . .

An ugly crowded 1980 kitchen.  That the cabinets no longer closed, and the drawer next to the oven never fully opened, due to the stove's pull bar.  And ugly brown tile as backsplash.  And an ugly blue counter.  (I would say I am sorry to the person who is reading this blog who designed said kitchen, but I am pretty sure they aren't reading this blog.)

To:

I will post other photos when the whole thing is complete.  But this is best view yet.

Help Support Project Manna!!!!!!

The 23^rd Annual Project Manna Concert will be held on May 16,^, 2012 at Temple Emanuel of Newton, Massachusetts.  This concert is a collaborative effort of Temple Emanuel and the Massachusetts Avenue Baptist Church of Cambridge.  All proceeds go to Project Manna, the Church’s hot meals program and food pantry, serving approximately 150 meals a week, providing nutritional assistance to over 200 families.

The concert was founded in 1989 to unite two communities of faith in a celebration of Gospel and Jewish music. This year’s event promises to deliver exciting performances from many local choirs including the Boston Community Choir (a.k.a. the Boston Pops Gospel Choir), led by Brother Dennis Slaughter, the Massachusetts Avenue Baptist Church Choir, the Temple Emanuel Adult Choir, the New England Conservatory Gospel Choir, the ShenaniGanns of Gann Academy, the Nashir Choir of Needham’s Temple Aliyah and the Love Tones, an a cappella Gospel ensemble from the Myrtle Baptist Church.

The concert will be held at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, Massachusetts on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 7:30 PM.  Tickets for the concert will be $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors.  For more information, please visit  http://www.templeemanuel.com/projectmannaconcert. 

This is a wonderful concert, but even more so, Project Manna helps people in need, whether they are single adults or families.  Even if you can't attend the concert, please send a donation.  Every dollar matters, especially when so many people need help.  Providing a warm meal is very important.  If you can give $5, please give $5, and if you can give $100, please give $100.  Every dollar collected is vital to this program.

Email me with any questions.