A Day In My Life

Take My Quick Survey!

Ok, so the World Series did not end the other night the way that we thought it would by playing all 9 innings because Mother Nature just did not want to cooperate.  So, tonight they will be finishing up the remainder of the game which was stop at the bottom of the 6th inning.  They will pick up the game at the bottom of the 6th with the score tied at 2-2.  Now, here is the survey for you.

Question 1

Being that normally they would stop selling beer during the 7th inning, will they do that tonight and stand by their policy of no beer sales after the 7th inning??  Might make alot of people mad :( being as though they will only be there for 3 1/2 innings.

Question 2

They always sing the National Anthem at the beginning of a game, will they sing it tonight even though it is a continuation of a game but a brand new day.  And if so, who will sing it? Bud Selig??

Question 3

Part of the tradition of going to a major league baseball game is participating in the 7th inning stretch.  As we know this is always done between the top and bottom of the 7th inning with someone guiding the crowd with the words and allowing the fans to stop and take a break and stretch. Tonight will they do this being as though they will have only watched one inning of play??  What possibly could they need to stand up and stretch about?

Just some interesting questions I thought about today. 

Also, on sorta a funny note.  The Tampa Bay Rays returned to their hotel downtown the other night after the game was suspended only to find out that the hotel had given ALL of their hotel rooms away!  This was because they had checked out assuming they would be heading home after the game back to Tampa.  This left them scrambling to find enough hotel rooms for the entire team and their families.  They ended up in Wilmington, DE (20 minutes away) in the Hotel DuPont-a VERY PLUSH hotel in downtown Wilmington where according to the news were welcomed with open arms being as though the other hotel did nothing to help find them accomodations.  Wonder if this has anything to do with the $500 a night room rate for a standard room times all the players and familes.  Makes you wonder.

So on that note, the game starts at 8:37 p.m. tonight and Phillie is expecting to celebrate.  This we will have to wait and see just as I will have to wait and see what my answers are to my lingering questions.  By the way, ticket stubs (which you need from the other nights game to get in) are going for $1000 each for 3 1/2 innings of ball time! 

GO PHILLIES!!!

 

Soccer Anyone?

Soccer anyone?  This is Tanners favorite ball to play with.  At any given time you can see him carrying it around in his mouth just waiting for someone to play with him.  He often lays in the front yard with it just waiting for one of the neighborhood kids to come up and play with him which they often do. 

 

Not sure how he gets a grip on it because it still has air in it, but somehow he manages.

 

Took my bi-weekly ride to Lancaster on Friday to get my mums (yes I know it is a little late) and decided I would take my camera.  It is such a pretty drive and I always think why didn't I bring my camera, so this time I did.  The only problem is that the scenery is beautiful but there is little if no where to ever pull over to take pictures.  It is all 2 lane highway up there and of course where you would want to pull over for a shot you can't because there are no shoulders on the road.  I did manage to get one shot of this one farm that is real close to my house.  I actually pulled on their dirt road to take it.  I have always thought their crops were so pretty.  Maybe not so much now but in the summer they are so cool.  The amish plant not in straight rows but in curves and it makes for some really cool crops.  I am not quite sure on why this is.  Traci thought it might be because horses don't necessarily go in straight lines?? 

 

Here are some more shots taken up in Strasburg which is about 20 minutes from my house.  In the background you can see the start of the Pocono Mountains.  If you look closely in the front you can see some Amish farming.

 

 

 

 

So after finding my mums, I came across some pumpkins for sale.  I had seen the pumpkins here before on this trailer the last time I was up here but no one was there so I did not stop.  But this time, there were quite a few people there so I decided to stop and check it out.  This is what I found.

 

Yes, 75 cents each!!  Any size pumpkin.  I couldn't believe it.  All you had to do was dig for the one(s) you wanted and leave you money in the little red box.  Yes, it is on the honor system.  That is the way the Amish do things.  They do not even man their stands, they just leave little boxes and trust that you will put your money in them.  This blows my mind in this day and age but I am glad to see that there is still trust in the world.  And if you are wondering, yes, I did leave money with a little bit of a tip since no change was given-hehe. 

 

And no, I do not know who this girl is.  She was just lucky enough to be climbing through the pumpkins at the time.

 

My lucky finds.  The one in the back left corner is the coolest.  Wish I would have gotten a shot of it.  It is like an hourglass-pretty unique.  When I got home the kids were a little upset that I got pumpkins without them because we always go as a family and make a day of it.  Get pumpkins, lunch etc. but I tried to explain to them that I paid less for all six of them than I would for just one pumpkin at a farm.  They could care less, they weren't real happy with me :(

 

So just one last thing.  I took a picture of this covered bridge in Lancaster because about 14 years ago Tim, myself, Alex, my mom and Ed all stood at this exact bridge and had our picture taken.  What is sorta funny about it is that it is an original bridge that you can walk across and water runs under it still, cattle can roam up to it but aproximately 1000 feet from there is a Panera Bread!  And across the street there is Cracker Barrel and all of the outlet stores.  I just find this to be so odd.  Glad that they kept a piece of history where it has always been but odd to build all around it.

 

Gotta love retail though!  It makes me happy :)

Have a great week.

I Thought This Day Would Never Come

Finally, he did it.  I thought this day would never come.  He wanted his training wheels off and wanted to ride his bike.  I thought this is a bad idea because he is not really a risk taker when it comes to things like this and besides we have tried before with no luck.  But yesterday his friend Sophia who lives next door took her training wheels off and she was off in less than 15 minutes.  So what Sophia does, he has to do.  They are pretty much inseparable and what one does the other does.  She was so cute telling him he could do it-this being right after she took off herself!  However, we were unable to do it yesterday because we had somewhere we had to be and did not get home until after dark so it was today after school he wanted to do it.  So I took them off and we set out into the cul-de-sac and I was prepared for crying, screaming, pouting and whatever else he wanted to throw my way.  But no, it was the opposite.  I held on maybe once or twice and he was off.  I don't know who was more excited him or me.  He kept yelling for the girls to come out and watch and once they did I went and got my camera, besides he didn't need me anymore.

 

 

Alex trying out Carter's new scooter

 

Taylor wanting to play a little b-ball with Alex

 

Carter and his friend Spencer

 

So now it is almost 7:00 and Carter is still outside riding his bike.  I told him his legs are going to be tired but he didn't care.  He hasn't stopped since he got home from school.  But I must go get him, it is getting dark and it is time to watch the Phillies.  GO PHILLIES!!

Finally,She is 16!!

I thought this day would never come.  I've only heard about it for the last year-only 263 days til my birthday, only 98 days til my birthday and so on.  But finally, it is here no more listening to her say "only so many days til I turn 16"!!  What this means to her is now she is able to go and get her permit.  Yes, it is different here in PA.  You can not get it until you turn 16 then you must have it for 6 months before you are allowed to take your driving test.  I myself think this is great.  However, she does not.  She wanted to go and take her permit test tomorrow morning but we have a little problem with that.  She is required to have a physical before she goes to take it and the doctor has to fill out a form.  No problem except for that the earliest appointment I could get was not until the 21st of October and this appointment I made almost 2 months ago!  So she must wait.  But in the meantime we have been letting her drive for the last few months.  We have determined she is better at driving Tim's car than mine.  Something about a minivan and a 16 year old just don't mix!

       

 

Yesterday was colorwars at school.  This all in celebration of Homecoming week.  Today is their last day of school for the week and then the football game on Saturday and the dance later that night.  Both Alex and I have to work all day Saturday at booths at the game.  She is working two different booths for some clubs she is in and I am working the Softball booth all day.  It should be fun but super busy.  I am in charge of making the signs for our booth so later today I will need to get out my cricket machine and get busy! 

 

Just a few pics of the kids this morning.  I made cinnamon rolls for them and Carter's reaction was 'are we celebrating Alex's birthday already?'  I thought that was cute.  He was excited, usually he just gets toast, pop tarts or cereal for breakfast on school days. 

 

Now off to go and get a few presents for Alex then a birthday dinner at Don Pablos this evening.  Looking forward to that.  We haven't eaten there since we lived in New York.  My tummy is already growling just thinking about it! 

Hope everyone has a great day :)

Yeah, Fall Ball is Here!

So excited that the fall ball season has started out here in PA!  After many weeks of practice and last weekend of round robin play, we finally had our first fall tournament down in Baltimore, MD this weekend and the girls did really well.  All the teams we played were 18u -A teams from around the area but also from as far away as Virginia which was kinda cool. 

 

Alex talking to the umpire after sliding into 2nd base.

 

Now paying attention waiting to take off from 2nd base.

 

On her way to 3rd, but needing to go back.

 

Warming up on Sunday for the playoffs.

 

Up to bat in the first game of the playoffs. 

They ordered their new uniforms so they will be in for the spring so for now they are just wearing their Orange Crush t-shirts.  Works for me, less to wash!

Glad to be back at the park.  It was a beautiful weekend.  Got totally burnt-yuck!  but enjoyed the warmth knowing it won't last much longer.  Tim, Carter and Taylor stayed home so it was just Alex and me going back and forth.  Maybe I can talk them into going the next time.  What do you say Taylor, want to go?? 

I think I'm Channeling Jane

So today I bought this new magazine from Pillsbury on an impulse while I was at the grocery store.  I had just gone to get a few things but after I picked up this magazine and started flipping through it, I ended up filling my cart up more than half full.  You know the feeling, when you're at the store just to run in and get a few things but at the same time you are starving so you start picking up things and throwing them in your cart.  Well that was me today but on top of that, I found quite a few recipes in this magazine that looked yummy so I started buying the ingredients for some of them right then and there.  I thought this is great, new recipes, they seem easy and quick, few ingredients and I can mix it up a bit with the menu during the week.  SOLD!  I bought it and when I came home I put evrything away and proceeded to the couch to look through it at a much slower pace.  And when I was done this is what I had:

 

Now after marking all the recipes I want to try, I took a look at it and immediatelyt thought of Jane!  I must be channeling her or something because I am not a page marker with post-its.  Usually I will just flip the corner down but after seeing how many recipes I want to try or look good, I thought I better get the post-its out.  I wanted to use the colored ones to categorize them but I was just too lazy to go downstores and get the colored post-its.  Jane, I hope I did ok??

   

So if you happen to see this magazine in the grocery store while standing in line, you might want to take a look at it.  I thought there were plenty of easy, quick recipes in there plus there is a section just for slow cooker recipes-LOVE THAT!  Who doesn't need quick and easy dinners plus the ones that you throw in in the morning and have ready to eat when everyone is flying out the door to go here and there after school or getting home late.

In fact, I decided that I am going to try and new recipe each night this week.  With Alex's practices, Taylor's clubs and Carter just being exhausted, I decided I will take the easy way out this week and do a couple of slow cooker dinners and a few of the easy ones.  I'm all about the easy part especially this time of the year.  Hopefully they will be keepers in the Liebig house.

 

6 Years Old and Yet Another Carterfest!

This past weekend we held the 6th annual Carterfest for Carter's birthday and not without a few obstacles in the way.  First off we postponed it until the weekend after his birthday because it always falls around Labor Day and we figured most people would be out of town.  Wrong, we could have had it because not one person went out of town and on top of that it was beautiful weather.  So come Monday I was kicking myself for making it for the next weekend because instead of having all of this food, plates, napkins, cups, goodie bags and such sitting on my dining room table yet for another week, it could have been gone!

So since we made it for the following weekend I had plenty of time to make sure everything was ready, check all of my list twice if not three times, order food, clean house and prepare for a house full of people on Saturday.  But wait, a little thing called Hurricane Hannah decided to make a b-line up the east coast and rain (literally) on our party.  So come Friday, I made over 30 phone calls, sent out emails and double checked to make sure everyone knew we were changing the party until Sunday.  The reason for this was EVERY single weather person swore up and down it would come in and out on Saturday leaving the weather to be beautiful and pleasant on Sunday.  So with my trust in the weathermen, we changed the party and boy were we glad we did.  We had the most beautiful day.  You would have never known that a major storm came in and out only 24 hours earlier.  We held the party outside like planned, put up the huge tent, blew up the moonbounce, set up all the decorations and we were good to go.  I don't think I have ever been more thankful to the weathermen for being correct in their forcast.  

So here are a few pictures from the day.  We had our first party for the kids (twenty of them) from 1-3 p.m. then the adult and kid party following that.  Had a great time, just exhausted from all of the fun.

   

We had this moonbounce for 5 days and I sorta got use to it being a fixture in my yard.  The kids had a blast jumping in it everyday.  I even got in the morning of the party to jump with Carter.  Let's just say that when I got out, I wasn't feeling like I was standing on the earth!

 

Carter opening presents.

 

Anna and Gina our old neighbors from Oswego.  We live 15 minutes from each other now which I think is pretty cool that both Joe and Heather and Tim and I were transferred to the same area. 

 

Happy Birthday Pretzels for the party.

 

We ordered a skateboarder cake from Costco.  Yellow cake, cheesecake filling with buttercream frosting.  Can you say yummy!

 

My mom and my neighbor Jim sharing a few laughs.

 

The pretzel table after I told everyone they could eat the pretzels.  Everyone thought they were off limits.  At the end there were only 3 letters left!

So after a long day everyone headed home by 8:30 or so with it being a school night.  This was a blessing to us because I still made it to bed by 10:00!  So until next year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARTER!

Today my little guy turns 6 years old!  Boy how time flies.  It seems just like yesterday I was standing in my new house in Oswego when Ellen, Jeff  and the girls showed up to meet us and I was a few months pregnant then.  Guess I didn't scare you too bad Ellen with being pregnant-haha!

So here is to a Happy 6th Birthday to Carter!

   

Love you around the world and back big guy!

YEAH!!  School has started and I could not be more happy!  Never really realized how quiet my house really is until everyone is gone and it is just Tanner and I.  Yesterday was the kids first day back and it went pretty well.  The girls did fine with their classes, lockers and such and of course came home with a little bit of homework nothing too serious though.  Tonight is Alex's back to school night and tomorrow is Taylor's.  Sorta wish they would wait until next week to do them so we can sorta get in the rountine of things first but I guess they didn't call and ask my opinion on that subject! 

Yesterday was also Carter's first day of kindergarten and let me tell you I don't know if there was another kid so excited as he was!  He could not wait to get to the bus stop and see everyone and then when the bus came he gave me a quick kiss and he was off to get on that bus!  He sat in the middle of the bus with some of his buddies and looked as happy as he could be.

Our poor bus driver; we have 20 kids at our bus stop and I am sure when he pulled up his thoughts were 'I should just keep on driving!' but luckily he stopped and picked them all up and delivered them home in the afternoon and even returned today to do the same so I guess the kids behaved pretty well on the bus.  I know I could never do that job, I do not have the patience.  I would constantly be pulling the bus over!!

So they went back today and everything was good.  Carter did tell me last night he wanted to "skip school" today but I chalked that one up to being very tired after a very long first day of excitement.  He had so many first experiences; riding the bus for the first time, recess twice in one day, eating lunch at school, going to a totally new school, having a dress code (getting use to that) and being away from mom for the whole day, he did well, I was a little beside myself, a little sad at the beginning, but then started to enjoy my time alone.  Then came 3:00 and the girls arrived home.  Well at least I have peace for most of the day and for that I am thankful :)

7 Days to go!

Today is Tuesday and I am starting to cross off days on the calender each knowing I am getting closer and closer to school starting- YEAH!  The kids go back to school on Tuesday, September 2nd and I don't think it can come any sooner.  They are so bored and ready to go back.  I think summer begins all fun and new but then as we get into July they start to get bored and are ready to go back.  Maybe it is the set schedule they miss, the homework (yeah right), the socialization setting, or just plain miss being around all of their friends constantly.  I don't blame them, I need a set schedule too, need the socialization setting and of course want to be around friends, otherwise I don't function quite right.  So one week from now it will begin; the agony of waking them up, yelling at them a hundred times to hurry up, making sure they have everything for the day but yet knowing them will walk out the door with smiles on their faces because they are going back to school- and did I mention I will have a smile on my face too but maybe with a tear or two! 

Carter starts kindergarten this year and I am so excited for him but at the same time I am a little sad, my last one going off to school.  He is more than excited to go so seeing that makes me feel better although that morning may be a little rough for me.  He will be going to kindergarten all day which means he will leave after his sisters do then get home after them.  This leaves me with 7 hours to myself each day-have know idea what I am going to do!  He will be going to the Charter School which fortunately is an all day kindergarten program which he so needs.  And yes Ellen, this means my fashion conscience son will no longer be able to wear his GAP shirts, Tommy shirts and so forth to school!  Only polos or shirts with the writing less than 2 inches on it!  And NO jeans-ouch and did I mention he can't wear his flip flops either-the poor boy won't know what to do.  He can however wear track pants come fall and winter which will make him very happy-me too-much easier to dress come winter time!  So wish me luck as I send my last one off-just think only 13 more years and he will be off to college.

Along with the getting use to the soon to be busy schedule of school starting we are also getting back into the softball practice schedule which for me is great, I don't mind it, actually missed it, but not sure how it will work once school starts.  Alex went to tryouts for a travel softball team out of Deleware and after a few hard tryout sessions we found out she made the team.  Was not sure how it would go being as though there were only a few spots open on the team and there were quite a few girls there trying out.  We did not go into this with our hopes too high especially after seeing all the girls there and how good they were and fortunately, Alex was ok if she did not make the team, but I have to say I was very excited when we found out and I think she was too.  So right away the practices began, 3 hours this past Sunday and another practice tomorrow night then repeat, repeat, repeat!  They are going to a tournament in Baltimore the weekend of the 20th and getting ready for that.  Can I tell you how much I have missed this!  One summer off and it seems like forever!

Tim's sister Lisa is flying in this Thursday for a 5 day last minute visit which the kids are really looking forward to.  Not sure what all we are going to do yet, may just sit around and relax, go to the beach one last time before school starts, do some shopping.  Who knows, maybe I won't plan anything and we will just play by ear-yeah right-me who plans out everything?!  So with her coming I have been working extra hard to get the house in shape, cleaning, do some little things that needed to be fixed, painted the family room-taupe- I call it Swiss Miss Chocolate Pudding because that is what the paint reminded me of when I was painting.  Almost looked like you could eat it!  It turned out great.  At first I thought it was a little dark, but then once all of it was done and the room was put back together I loved it, especially against the white trim. 

A few weeks ago Alex's friend Kelsey flew back out for another visit and we spent a couple of days at the beach.  Had such a good time relaxing, catching up on my reading and just listening to my ipod.  The girls had a good time too. 

 

Taylor also returned from her 8 day stay at the outer banks of North Carolina with her friend Megan and her family.  She had a great time but was truly exhausted when she got back.

As for us as a family, we went to Hershey Park last week then on to Baltimore for the day.  Not a whole lot of traveling going on with us this summer, mostly stayed close by-thank the economy for that one!  But have to say, it was just as much fun. 

  

Here is to the last few days of summer-to Lisa coming to visit-to school beginning-to me spending time catching up on all the things which need to be done.  Hope all of you who's kids are off to school today are having a great day-Ellen are you dancing yet? 

 Did I mention only 7 days to go!