Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Book Number #14

I just finished my 14th book on my Reading Challenge List

This time I read:  Skinny Dip.
Category was: A Funny Book


This book was funny.  It was light and an easy read.  Believe it or not - it was recommended by my husband (whose other books he recommended to me I did not like).  I am going to have to read more of Carl Hiaasen's books.  

The story is about a man who pushes his wife overboard on their anniversary cruise.  She survives because she is a strong swimmer, and spends two weeks on an island with a man who helps her drive her husband crazy.  Her husband thinks she is dead, but they play mind tricks on him and soon his whole scene unravels.

The book takes place in swampy Florida near the Everglades.  After living in Florida for a few years, I knew right where they were.  Mat tells me most of his books take place in South Florida.  No wonder the books are funny - South Florida is a funny place.

I highly recommend it.  There are a lot of interesting characters, and it moves along nicely.  

Rating 4 1/2 stars.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

3rd Finley's Fighters Race for Sight in Massachusetts

We are getting ready for our next event here in Massachusetts.  June 7th, 2015 - we will have our 3rd annual Race for Sight for Finley and our foundation.

I am excited that this year the event will be in our home town.  Lots of friends and supporters to surround us right here at home.

The race will start at 1pm.  We are going to have a 5K run/walk and 1 mile fun run.  We are also offering a virtual race portion for those who can't join us.  You can own a finisher's medal and t-shirt whether you race with us or you walk/run on your own.  It is a win/win!

We will also be having our picnic after - food, music, bounce house, photo booth, face painting, hair feathers, and of course a HUGE basket raffle.  You don't want to miss it.

All money raised goes to our RDH12 Fund For Sight.

So come and join us.

visit our webiste and learn more

Friday, March 27, 2015

This year's Dinner Dance

Again this year, we attended the Dinner Dance that the Fiore family hosted for our RDH12 Fund for Sight.  Their daughter, Bella, has the same disease as Finley and we are so grateful that the Fiore's are a part of our group.  They are amazing people.  They have become family.  The get what we are going through.  Bella and Finley crave each other's company on a different level than the rest of their friends.  We have both heard them say "she get's what I am going through".  It is true.  Even as their parents, we won't get what they are going through.  And they have each other to deal with this together.

The Fiore's are the family that lives the closest to us, so we have tried to get together several times a year, attend each other's fundraisers, and gotten to know each other's families.  We are thankful for them every day of the year.

We had so much fun at the Dinner Dance.  Finley didn't want to leave.

Enjoy the pictures

 Finley and Bella

 My girls and I
 The venue.  Absolutely gorgeous
 Cainan not wanting to give me a smiley face:
 They had a photo booth and the kids loved it:
 Bella's sister, Ava:

 Bella's mom, Maria, and Bella making some announcements:

 Bella's grandma and Ava having a dance:
 Finley talking to Bella's Braille teacher

 Bella and her dad on the dance floor:

 Mat and Finley on the dance floor:


 Bella's dad, Mike, and her sister Ava:
 The raffle table.  They had some really great raffles.  We even won one!
 Getting down:

 Finley and Bella dancing:


 The event went until midnight, so the kids were a little punchy:

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Book #13

Moving right along - I have read book #13 for my "50 Book over a Year Challenge"

The book I read this time was "The Night Circus"


This book was in the category: "A  Book With Magic"

This was a great book.  Different - don't get me wrong - but great.  It was set in the late 1800's early 1900s.  It is about two young people - a man and a woman - who have magic abilities.  The girl's father and "The man in the gray suit" enter these two into a challenge.  These are bound to the challenge as children and never told about the other person.  The winner gets to live.

What they develop is the Night Circus.  Each piece of the circus, and all the people that are a part of it are a part of the challenge.  And eventually, they figure out who their challenger is, meet, fall in love......

The story is lovely.  It bounces all over the place over the course of 30 years so you have to be paying attention.  The other characters are developed almost as much as the two challengers, which I really liked.

I recommend it.  And I give it 4 1/2 stars.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Arlington's first Middle School Musical

Arlington was in the musical at her middle school this past weekend.  She was a "child" in the show "The Pied Piper".  The show was written by her musical director (which was extremely impressive) and the kids did a great job.  The show was really cute and Arlington had a great time.

Here are some pictures:











Tuesday, March 24, 2015

First Ski Lesson

I am a bit out of order - I am trying to figure out what I have not posted since February vacation.

Arlington wanted to try skiing, so we got her an all day lesson at the beginning of March.  She had a great time.  I think it was harder than she expected, but she is hoping to try it again next season and get a little better.

Mat went with her for the day, so he was able to take just a few pictures with his phone.




Monday, March 23, 2015

Pinewood Derby

Cainan's pinewood derby was last weekend.  He came in 3rd place with his car and got a trophy.  He was pretty excited!  He and Mat made the little car and worked on it together.




Sunday, March 22, 2015

Catch Up

Wow - it has been too long since I blogged!  I have a few pictures from our winter break back in February.  Mat accidentally left our camera in PA, so we just got it back this weekend when family came to visit.

So here are a few pictures from the end of that trip.  I had posted the ones I took earlier that week, but we went to Mat's mom's house.  We had a great time catching up with Mat's sister, Teen and her family (who just moved to PA).

Enjoy the photos.

We took the kids to my late Gram's house to pick up the final things I inherited.  It was snowing so hard that day.
 A picture of my Gram's house.  This is the last time I will ever visit.  Very sad day.
 Finley, and my niece and nephew playing at my Mother in law's house
 Arlington was a good babysitter.  

 Teen and Reese doing some baking:
 My in-law's house.  They are getting ready to move so I wanted a photo of the house.  This is the only house I have ever known them in for the last 25 years.  Another bitter sweet moment