Ugh!

It has been a very long week. I have worked every day, and every day has been somewhat of a challenge. I try to remember that everyone I meet is put in my path for a reason......

I don't "GET IT"!!!!!!!!

I just know that in my heart I am supposed to be HERE, doing THIS.

I still don't "GET IT"!!!!!!!!

But that's faith, eh?

Anyways.....:
First quarter grades are out for the high school, and it looks like Alannah is making a good start. It is good to be working in such close proximity to her teachers and friends. She doesn't seem to notice or mind my presence. I would never want to go back and do high school over. ACK. Aidan is doing well as far as I know. Her grades don't come out for a few more weeks. From what I can tell from her homework and the school newsletter her teachers are fun and attentive. I am grateful that neither girl gets too caught up in too much of the drama, but we certainly get our share!

The school district is still reeling from the flu. So far we haven't had to close like so many other Ct. schools. I think it was worse a few weeks ago--less students appear to be out than before. I am still very busy covering for sick teachers, and probably will stay busy since many departments are entering conference season. That's fine.... more $$ for Christmas! But I get REALLY tired!!!! :(

The dog seems to be a little less crazy as long as we are diligent keeping things picked up and all the doors closed during the day. He just has sooo much energy. Hopefully with the kids all home this weekend he will get it all out of his system.

I haven't seen the new baby yet, but it sounds like she is settling in with everyone at home just fine. Stephanie seemed to really be ok with the new baby. She told me all about her on the phone--as much as a two year old can! It was so cute. Hopefully Sunday we can stop and see her on our way back to Owego. I remember those early days when weeks could go by and then you'd realize you are still in the same sweatpants......

Well, I am off to put the meatloaf in the oven, clean out my car and charge the ipod for the big trip tomorrow! :)

Long over due pics!

Here are pic links for Alannah's Homecoming Dance, Coal's birthday and our Pittsburgh trip:

Lana and Coal:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=383341069406%3A1967599450

Trip:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=683341069406%3A992274267

Tomorrow I am travelling to NY to attend Susie and Dan's Halloween parties and parade. Hopefully I will remember the camera and all of the costume pieces, and hopefully it will not be past Christmas when I get the pics on here!

Welcome, baby Erica!

Baby Erica Celleste Piccolo was born this morning at 5:30am! She is 10 pounds, 22 inches long, with lots of dark hair. She is beautiful! Mom and baby (and daddy and sister) are doing great, and as long as things are going well they should be home Tuesday.

Yay! :)

A little Flu, a little Sunshine and a Niece on the way!

Hello! Our trip to Pittsburgh was fantastic. We just sorted through all the pictures last night (finally!). I will try and get them up here today. It was great to get to spend time with Scott's family, and so much fun to meet new/old friends at his reunion. The game was awesome--there is just nothing in the world like watching pro-sports live. All the kids had fun with my family while we were away--even Susie and Dan got to come up and spend a day with Alannah and Aidan while they were in Owego with my parents.

Now that we are all back home again, we are back to work and battling the flu. Alannah and my high school got hit pretty bad--over 25% of the staff and students have been out for the past week or so. I don't usually get sick with the flu, so I have been busy working, covering for all the sick teachers! Every day I come home and sleep and WASH--I can just feel the germs lurking. So far I've managed to dodge it, except for a persistent ear infection. (yuck!) Unfortunately, the flu has been making its' rounds on the kids--Aidan, Susie and Dan both spent time home from school with fevers. Alannah got it the worst--she was home from school for 4 days, and was pretty sick. She is still coughing a bit, but is definitely on the mend.

After some weird weather--rain, rain, rain, ICE and SNOW--it is back to a few days of warm sunshine. The Fall colors were pretty disappointing this year, but we have a yard full of acorns. It is the weirdest thing! The garden is all done now. All that is left are brussel sprouts. (Why does everyone say yuck?) They should be ready to harvest this weekend. After we are done with them, we are all ready to get next year's garden ready. Of course it will be bigger and better!


In spite of all the working and keeping people well, Halloween costumes are coming along slowly but surely. We now have Dan's Thomas the Train costume borrowed from friends. It is so cute, it just didn't make sense to make a new one! He is very excited! Scott is coaching Aidan's dancing as the Six Flag's guy. (ha ha...that's a joke!) Since I know a lot of you don't live near a Six Flags Park, here is a link to the Utube video of the commercial.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=six+flags+guy+video&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLL_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=N_HdSufdC8rDlAf32uSnAw&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQqwQwAA#

Alannah is in charge of her own costume--I think she is going to be a bag of jelly beans. Susie's costume is under construction. It turned out that the two second hand patterns I have for poodle skirts were both missing critical pattern pieces, so I had to go back and get a new pattern. Otherwise, as soon as I get a free day that costume should come right together. She asks about it every day, so I better get going on it.

Andrea is due to have her baby any day now. It is so exciting! Everything looks great, and she is feeling well and she and Christian are working at staying rested. Stephanie seems ready (as much as a two year old can be!). Every time the phone rings we all jump!

We've been having a little trouble keeping our doggie Coal out of trouble. I think with everyone being back at work and school makes him a little bored, so then he gets into stuff. He has eaten some pretty bizarre things, but mostly Alannah's shoes. We have all regrouped as a family to try and get him some more attention, as well as keep things picked up. We found out that the little grocery store downtown sells doggie bones, so that seems to keep him really busy.

Oh yeah: Alannah had a great time at the Homecoming Dance. She looked soooo pretty! There will be pics on here soon of her too. It was fun to sub the week after the dance and hear everyone talking about it. The football team won their game too, so that made it all the better.

This weekend Alannah and I have our first little concert for our singing group. http://www.firstchurchofwinsted.org/LCS.html
Our official concert isn't until November 7th, and will be like A Prairie Home Companion.

Aidan is going to a Halloween Party with the youth group at Lake Compounce.
http://www.hauntedgraveyard.com/

And between football and hockey, I hope to be giving my new niece a big squeeze!

:)

things

well i know this guy and he is my best friend