What We've Been Up To

We were very busy these last few days, so here are some photos that help to tell the story of what we've been doing!

James in line for Kettle Corn

Saturday we went to the 19th Annual Hebron Maple Festival. It is the largest Maple Syrup Festival in CT. The local papers had been talking it up for weeks. Considering that I am an avid lover of REAL maple syrup, I have been anticipating this event for weeks. (Click here to learn about how my affection for maple syrup began).

We began the day at 8am at a local pancake breakfast sponsored by the Hebron Lion's Club and held at Our Holy Family Catholic Church. Chris and I are both Catholic, but we haven't gone to church in eons. It was a great morning, and I always feel so welcomed in a church congregation. We actually sat with a couple that were married at St. Phillips, in Ashford, when Chris was an altar boy, and by Father West, his family's priest. Another reason why I love samll town life.

At the festival itself, there would be lots of maple syrup products on hand, tree-tapping demonstrations, maple kettle corn, fair food, historical society exhibits, etc., etc. We asked Kimmy and Matthew and Uncle Chris and Jenna to come down to share in the fun.

James and Chris STILL in line for Kettle corn

My overall impression? Well, the weather was great, it was good to get some fresh air, but I wasn't exactly impressed. Too many people, not a garbage can in sight, unsafe road side walking for strollers, and a FREAKISHLY LONG and SLOW MOVING line for Kettle Corn.

Here is James 40 minutes into the wait when I finally pulled the plug and we bailed.


Anyhoo, we also visited the fire station, which James LOVED,


and went to a local sugar shack, which was definitely the highlight of the day. Oh, and can I add here, that as much as I love real maple syrup (and especially the fact that I now have at least a 6 month supply of local syrup), I haven't opened any yet because it is 200 calories per TWO TABLESPOONS. Oh my.


Back at the ranch we relaxed and visited for a few hours. Here is Matthew and Ella. He was wearing a shirt that made his eyes a brilliant blue.


I love seeing how the gap in age between James and Matthew seems to be diminishing. James is all about hugging right now.


Awwwwwwwww!!!!


After everyone left, James got to play with a great little gift he got from my bloggy friend Stephanie over at Built to Last. She sent us a sweet little care package, with some items that I have been covetting from afar. Included was this great homemade crayon roll for James. Now how did she know he was a Cars fanatic? LOL!



Also included were these two great potholders. I was a little choked up when I saw them, because my Mom would have adored the red fabric with the vintage children print. I just have to say that the kindness of far away friends is very special.

(And that is my Chicken Pot Pie that I made after watching Throwdown with Bobby Flay. You can get the recipe here, courtesy of the Casserole Queens.)


And here is a super-sweet pic of my girl. She is totally up on her hands now, and almost crawling. This is the new cute thing she does with her mouth, sucking on her lower lip.


Oh, and have you seen all of the news relating to how products are being down-sized? Well, looky here. A box of Pampers from 2008 and a box from 2009. 80 in the 2008 box and 76 in the 2009 box. EXCUSE ME????


And finally, (if you have made it this far) we celebrated St. Paddy's yesterday, as Chris was home. Can you say mmm, mmm, good?


Happy St. Patrick's Day, my friends!