Monday, June 29, 2015

Childless Weekend

For the first time in 13 years we had no children for an entire weekend.

On Friday night we went to a Persian restaurant in Watertown, MA.  We started with the homemade pickles which were fabulous and homemade pita bread, which was average.  The waitress brought butter with the pita, which I thought was unusual.  I had a Persian chicken skewer dish with basmati rice and Adam and an eggplant stew like dish, which he really liked, and that also came with the rice.  I thought that the rice was the best part of the meal.  The restaurant tables and chairs were average, but the other diners ranged from families with young kids, to two to three couples dining together.  I would return here again.

On Saturday, after sleeping late, we did our errands which included buying a new lawn mower.  After 17 years, our Toro electric lawn mower, just didn't start.  It was already missing the grass bag.  Time for a new one.  This time we purchased a battery operated lawn mower.

We also went and saw Jurassic World at the Jordan's Imax Theater.  If you are going to see a movie that requires great sound, the Jordan's Imax Theater is great.  The sound MAKES this movie.  And even though you know when the dinosaur is going to try to get the humans, the sounds make it amazing.  An amazing movie theater.  And the dinosaurs were cool too!

Then off to dinner at Vinebrook Tavern in Lexington, MA.  We started off with homemade cornbread (amazing and dense and buttery) and a tomato salad with burrata cheese (yum).  I then had seared scallops with mushroom risotto and Adam had a tofu taco with a side of amazing corn.  It is a farm to table restaurant that we can bring the kids to when they return.

On Sunday we were going to go to the SOWA market, however the tropical downpours changed our plans.  Instead we went to The Biscuit, which used to be Panini's.  This is where we used to go to eat back when we were dating. . . . and home of the original lemon scone, which I had for breakfast.

Sunday was a great day to watch a movie . . . . . I watched, You're Not You, We Bought a Zoo and A Few Good Men.  Flipping the TV brought me to A Few Good Men, and I just can't flip the movie off until I hear Jack say "You can't handle the truth."

And we are also speeding through season three of House of Cards.


Friday, June 26, 2015

Camp Drop Off

Camp drop off went very well.  Naomi kicked me out of her bunk after she was unpacked and was ready to explore camp.  Mark was ready for Adam to leave, so we left.

First stop - Outlet Mall!  Every year I go to the Merrimack Outlet Mall after CYJ drop off.  I have found the Kasper Outlet to have amazing prices, wonderful staff and the clothes fit me!  This year I was shocked to find out that all the Kasper Outlet stores will be closing.  Kasper will be focusing on department stores.  I managed to find a few dresses and shirts.

After we returned home, we realized that we could go any where for dinner.  We decided to hit OTTO's pizza in Brookline.  We love the unusual pizzas there, but our kids our firm cheese pizza eaters.  On Wednesday night we ordered a white bean, spinach and garlic pizza.  It was delicious.  There were large cloves of roasted garlic all over the pizza and the white beans were wonderful.  And we had enough to take home for lunch for the next day.

Thursday morning was strange.  I woke up and realized that I didn't need to pack four lunches and one snack!  Time saving right there.  There was no need to hurry anyone along!  Adam and I had our cereal, read the paper and listened to NPR, which was a treat.  We usually have music playing, because our son, can get sucked into the news stories, which can cause him to be late every day.

Thursday night was a women's dinner for me at 52 Seasons, and movie night for Adam!  We each had a great time.

Who knows what tonight will bring!

Thursday, June 18, 2015

No Rest for the Weary

Yes, we are still on the high of the Bar Mitzvah.  Yes, I am still waiting for the photographs.  Yes, the thank you notes have been written.  Yes, I am still reliving that great day in my head over and over again, and yes, I love when people ask me to talk about that special day.  So many great things.  However, as much as I could think about this forever. . . . . . life is speeding by and it hasn't stopped.

Both kids are going to sleep away camp on June 24, which means they have to be packed by then.  I have been packing Mark for three summers, so I thought this would be a breeze, until I realized that Naomi has NOTHING for camp.  So, during the last weeks of prep for the Bar Mitzvah, I started ordering things online (huge duffles from LL BEAN, stadium seat from LL Bean, ponchos from Amazon, pajamas from Target, ec).  Shortly after that boxes were arriving, as we our centerpieces, table signs, hospitality bags.  My dining room was a mess!!!!

Fast forward to June 13 . . . . Naomi and I drive to Target for a few last minute items.  I had forgotten I had only purchased two sets of sheets and she needed three sets.  I had forgotten a rug (which boys don't need or want).  I had forgotten to purchase sunscreen (how that happened, I have no idea).  So, we come home with a few massive Target bags.

On June 14, I instruct both kids to get 16 T shirts from their rooms.  Mark is to leave his in the dining room and Naomi is to start a pile in the living room.  Then they had to get 6 pairs of PJs, 12 sets of shorts each, etc.  The piles were growing, until I asked for 16 pairs of socks. . . . . Mark only had 7 pairs of socks.  Added that to the Target list.  The pile was growing, and I started to label each item of clothing with a LABEL DADDY label.  Added that to a new shopping list for Target.

And now this weekends Target list includes:
Mark socks
Flashlight for Mark (purchased one for Naomi, however Mark's turns out to be dead . . . . new batteries are not making it work).
Soap for Mark
Bug spray (how did I forget that one?)
disposable camera

I am sure that the list will be growing.  Each of them is about 80% packed, and things are in the dining room in a HER pile and a HIS pile.  I am sure I will get everything done, including a hair cut for Mark on Saturday and one for Naomi on Tuesday.  I am sure there will be tears from me on June 24, and I am sure that my back will hurt on June25.

I hope the kids love the time at summer camp.  They have earned it from working hard at school, from snow shoveling and from working hard for the Bar Mitzvah day.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

New Side Dish

If you are a frequent reader of my Facebook posts, you will notice that one of my favorite side dishes to make is honey glazed carrots.  Super easy and the kids like them.  I have a few other carrot recipes that I use, but last night I tried a recipe from Boston Organics, and I really liked it as did the kids.

One pound carrots, quartered lengthwise, and then cut into two inch logs
1.5 T olive oil
Salt
Pepper
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with tin foil.  Place the carrots in a bowl and toss with the olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme.

Spread in an even layer onto the baking sheet.  Cover with foil, and place in oven for 25 minutes.  Uncover, and turn down to 375 and cook for ten more minutes.

Serve!

Easy!

Thursday, June 4, 2015

The Bar Mitzvah

So after years of planning our family celebrated my son becoming a Bar Mitzvah.  And it was a marvelous event!  I do have to say.  He did a beautiful job chanting the Torah and the Haftorah.  He delivered his dvar (speech) beautifully.  It was a day that we all smiled and felt good.  Years of hard work paid off for him (and us).  The service was beautiful, and our daughter sang Ashrei like a pro. 

And the party was great also - the details really came through to me.

What were the best parts for me?

1.  One of the rabbi's took the four of us into the study before the service, so have a family moment, which included a prayer from her, and then Adam and I said a prayer over Mark.  We stood as a family unit, and we were all smiles.  It was such a moment, that our synagogue builds into the day.  I had no idea how fast the three hour service would fly by, and having that moment was really special for us.

2.  Watching Mark chant a really long aliyah of the Torah.  Watching Mark chant in front of hundreds of people.  Watching him being confident reading, and chanting, and not losing his place.  And in fact, his whole body was at rest at that very moment.  And of course us watching him with an immense sense of price.

3.  Having friends and family come from near and far to share this special moment with us.  Having my cousins from Oregon fly out for their first Bar Mitzvah, meant so much to me and to Mark.  Having them in the row behind us and hearing them throw the candy at Mark when he was done with his part.  And having my Uncle and Aunt from Florida and my cousins from Ohio all be there with us.  Knowing that they were with me growing up, and now having them with me at my son's Bar Mitzvah.  A feeling of being together.  Having my brother, his wife and two kids participate with us, and having my niece sit with us during the service with Naomi.  Having friends there that were at my Bat Mitzvah and Adam's friends that were at his Bar Mitzvah.  Having friends attend that had never attended a Bar Mitzvah. 

4.  Watching my daughter shine while chanting Ashrei.  Another proud moment.

5.  Standing next to my son with my husband as the rabbi delivered a prayer for him in front of everyone.

6.  Our guests feeling welcome at the temple.  Our guests feeling how included we all feel within the shul.

7.  Watching my niece and my daughter plan a sleepover together during the weekend.

8.  Watching at the party, all the details all come together - the flip book, the t shirts for the kids, the food, the color scheme.

9.  Watching my son shine with his friends.

10.  Hearing from congregants that Mark's dvar made a difference to them.

11.  Watching my friends carry Mark in the chair during the Horah, and knowing that he wanted this moment so much.  (And knowing that when I was in the chair, Mark knew I was doing this for him.  I hate that chair.)

12.  Hearing from people who participated in the Candle Lighting how surprised they were to be invited to light a candle.  Mark took this part very seriously and having his friends and family together were so important.

Mark on the chair during the Horah.  Wearing a huge, natural smile.

Mark with his day camp friends.

More posts to come later and of course more photos to come later.