Back to Reality...

Our plane touched down in Rochester at 8 p.m. on Tuesday night...after a couple hour delay in Newark, NJ airport--and reality set in--we were no longer in Puerto Rico's balmy and beautiful climate. Luckily the weather was warm on Tuesday and we got in fine, despite the turbulent flight on a little Continental Express Jet for the last 45 minute flight from Newark to Rochester (Rob's hand got the death grip from me!) The weather was NOT fine Wednesday however--with winds up to 50 mph and the NYS Thruway closed in the section I drive home every day. I was glad we flew in on Tuesday.

The best part about getting home...seeing our two little girls--who got to stay up late to see us...and when they both came running around the corner into the kitchen to see us--their faces said it all: they missed us as much as we missed them. They also loved the "coqui" stuffed frogs that sing, and the other trinkets from our trip.

Thanks so much to my mom, and Matt and Stacey for taking such good care of them! I know it was tiring...but fun! :)

Our stay was amazing...here is a picture of us that we both love when we visited El Morro in San Juan (an amazing fortress where Spain guarded the port of San Juan since the 1500s)



And--poolside...right by the ocean at the Caribe Hilton! The weather was sunny and 80s--perfect!


I'll post more photos tonight in a slide show..but, not until I'm done watching...


It's taking my beloved "Grey's" timeslot--but LOST is my other FAV show...and my hubby's, too! So, it is worthy of the Thursday at 9 p.m. spot on ABC.

Can't wait!

Puerto Rico...Paradise!

just an update...we are here in San Juan, Puerto Rico--with our hotel room looking out on the ocean--Rob and I just came in from lounging on a hammock under the palm tree fronds and an amazing golden moon sailing over the water....don't wake me up! This is a great dream! Grandma reports the girls are doing great....which makes me feel good.

We had an amazing dinner with our friends Alicia and Kris and Rachel and Jim. Lots of fun.
Rob and I are happy to be in paradise for a few days!

January Jet-setters!

I really need to be packing and not blogging..but I really wanted to get the tribute to my grandpa finished before I leave tomorrow...FOR PUERTO RICO!

Rob and I get up at 4 a.m. to get to the airport by 6 a.m.--and we'll be in San Juan by 2:30 p.m.!

Sun and sand in January! (never mind that I actually have to attend a work conference, too! ) We're going with my friend and co-worker Alicia and her hubby Kris, and another co-worker and her husband. It will be fabulous!!

My little sweethearts are all tucked in bed...grandma will be here when they wake...*sigh* how we'll miss them...

But Rob and I haven't taken a vacation alone since our honeymoon 7 years ago--it will be a much needed respite and a chance to just enjoy each other.

Adios!

Remembering "Red"

Elwood C. "Red" Norris

December 21, 1917-January 16, 2008

It has been more than a week now since I last wrote...and a lot has changed. My grandpa--Red Norris--passed away last Wednesday night, after making it through his surgery just fine. His body just never got back up to speed...it's been a whirlwind of a week. He was 90 and he lived and amazing life. I'm glad he was in my life for so long, and that my little girls knew their great-grandpa--Catie for 5 years and Anna for at least a year & a half. Grandpa has his 3rd great-grandchild coming into the world in about a month--and I know he'll be smiling down on Erin and Joe.

I was up 'til the wee hours on the nights after his death--sorting through the amazing photos of his life...there were so many old ones...the glory days--it really helped me through. Just putting myself into his life: when he was young; in love; in the Army and Battle of the Bulge (he earned a purple heart and other medals); when he became a dad; then a grand-dad; his love of music (a great piano player) and his many sports...what a man he was...

I love you Grandpa--you'll always live on in my heart.

Prayers for Grandpa

My Grandpa Norris is in ICU right now and going into surgery tomorrow morning...our family is sending out many prayers--and anyone who reads this, if you could say a quiet prayer for my gramp--it would be so appreciated. He is the one who just turned 90 the weekend before Christmas. He has a growth on his neck and it doubled in size overnight..and it is now affecting his eating and chewing--so the doctors really think surgery is necessary. It is a risk at his age--but we want him to be able to eat and breathe without that bothering him. I'm so concerned and worried--and I know my grandma and my family is too...We all need the strength to be strong for Grandpa. Thanks for your thoughts.



Hi-5 Craze!

It's a new nightly tradition in our house...or you could call it the latest craze! Hi-5! OMG..Anna especially is obsessed with the group of 5 "20-somethings" who dance and sing--and I admit--it even gets mommy up and dancing throughout the TV room! They have a song of the week, and last week's "Some Kind of Wonderful" was a house favorite! Mommy and the girls now know all the dance moves that go with the words!

A few pictures of the girls enjoying their "hi-5 time!"

Trying to upload photos!?

Well--it is past midnight on Saturday Night...and I thought I was clicking the enter key to reveal my new found masterpiece--uploading my photos on my blog with ACDSee Send Pix! I used it to send my Christmas photos to my family--and it says I can copy the code for a photo widget on my blog...but--nada. I'm sure I did something wrong....I'll investigate tomorrow!

I was enjoying a little of the chick flick "My Best Friend's Wedding" --I recorded it on my DVR and it is always a fun little romantic comedy-especially while I was finally removing the Dept. 56 Dicken's Village from the top of the Entertainment Armoire. Mid January-it is about time, huh? Now to take everything else down tomorow! Rob was sick all last weekend--and we just never got the boxes out of storage to put everything away!

Long Day for my baby

Poor little Anna..my normally happy-go-lucky baby is not feeling well...she woke up all out of sorts--and when she didn't eat--I thought "maybe an ear infection?" I asked her and she said "yes" it hurt and always pointed to the same ear. So off to the doctor, 35 minutes away.

Nope--perfect ears...checked her mouth..took a strep culture...No fever, either.

She fell asleep on the way home and then seemed ok...ate lunch...then lost lunch.

I nursed her all afternoon with popsicles and then finally some applesauce at dinner.

She is warm...but of course, won't take the baby tylenol...

All she wanted was milk for bedtime...she has kept everything down since noon...so I tried it..So far so good--she is sleeping...

Prayers that my little one feels better tomorrow.....

Enchanted Afternoon

After two months of trying to see this movie...Catie and I had a mommy-daughter date to see "Enchanted" this afternoon...it was very fun and the movie was just adorable. The perfect way to spend time with her. We both giggled and had such a good time...she leaned over at one point and said "he's the McDreamiest!" Can you tell that Mommy has told her about Dr. McDreamy starring in this film!?

Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey at Enchanted premiere

We stayed until the last credit rolled and then she wanted to walk to the very top of the stadium theater to see the view. When we went to the bottom--no one was left in the theatre and we danced to the finale music...so sweet. A nice day...then home to pick up Anna at Kathy's house...and she was so excited to be back there after the holidays!

Welcome 2008!!

Wow--I can't believe it...2008 is officially here! Where did 2007 go? Happy New Year!

We got home from a fabulous and fun-packed Long Family Christmas (pictures coming soon) on New Year's Eve Day--and then we invited Matt, Stacey and Mom over for pizza and wings on New Year's Eve.

It is nice that Rob had the whole day off this year. Anna fell asleep with her bottle at 7:30 p.m.--a rarity--but she didn't take naps all weekend with so many cousins to play with. (I took pictures of her with Mom's new Christmas camera--so I don't have them to post!)

After Catie went to bed--Matt, Stacey, Rob and I had some munchies and drinks and watched "Bourne Ultimatum"--very cool flick. I loved the first two-and this one was great (and left an opening for a fourth movie)! We managed to make it to midnight...kinda' disappointed in Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve this year--there wasn't much entertainment to it...but glad to see Dick Clark back doing his thing...

Today--we are all just puttering around the house...still haven't taken down Christmas decorations...I'm off the rest of the week, so maybe I'll get to it. The historic outdoor NHL game is taking place between the Sabres and Penguins at Ralph Wilson stadium in Buffalo right now, and we've been watching that! It is cold and snowy and we are supposed to get hit with more snow tonight. Blackhawk helicopters flew over the stadium right before the game, and Rob and I said "hey, they are the same ones that buzzed over our house about 45 minutes earlier!" (they were flying really low and it was VERY loud) That was awesome...Ronan Tynan, an Irish tenor, sang "God Bless America" and made me tear up...it was dedicated to our U.S. troops.

My only resolutions right now for 2008....stop eating all the dessert treats I've been indulging in...and get more exercise. Plus--spending as much time as I can with my family.