If you haven’t been to Assembly Row in Somerville, you might want to consider it.

For the kiddos, there is the LegoLand Discovery Center and the AMC Assembly Row 12.

For the grown-ups, there is some great outlet shopping and there are some great restaurants and  bars. With more than 30 stores and almost 15 places to grab a quick bite to eat or a fantastic meal, Assembly Row is a destination not unlike MarketStreet in Lynnfield…only with outlets rather than full-price stores.

On Sunday my fantastic brother offered to take my boys and my nephew to see the Peanuts movie.  While they hunkered down in the theater with tubs of popcorn, my mother, sister, and I did a bit of shopping and had a great lunch at the River Bar.

Learn all about Assembly Row HERE!

Reflecting on the day soon to be behind us….and thinking about what tomorrow will bring.

Thanks to the large number of fans who made a point to stop by and watch some fantastic hockey get played over the course of the weekend.  I even spotted the Mayor in the crowd at one point!

The Sal Grasso Memorial Westmount Friendship Tournament was a huge success…and not just because Cape Ann won.  Although I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that fact helps. If that sounds mean, check out the photo below that clearly shows that Westmount has been victorious a painful 18 out of 22 years…with Cape Ann only keeping the trophy safe for four.  But, not this year!  Because it is a friendship tournament and we have nothing but respect for Westmount and our long-standing friendship with them, I will simply state the facts.  At the end of the 24 games of play this weekend, Cape Ann hung up their skates with 16 wins, 4 losses, and 4 ties.

MUCH more important than the final tally is the fact that some friendly and topnotch hockey was played.  Cape Ann teams clocked serious hours at the rink to support other teams (as did their Canadian counterparts for sure), players shook hands, hugged, cheered, and stood quiet and still while each other’s National Anthems were played at the beginning of each and every game.

And, while the children were blissfully unaware, it was impossible to keep Paris, France out of one’s thoughts as our anthems played on…while chaos was simultaneously unfolding across the Atlantic.  Likewise, with hands on hearts every 60 minutes or so all day long on Saturday, it was hard not to think of the hearts that were breaking across the way.

This tournament is about friendship…about camaraderie…about respect…and some healthy competition.  Shared between two communities far, far away from each other, who share a passion for a sport.

While I have hundreds of action shots from the weekend… it is shots like these that summarize what the weekend was all about.

Congratulations to ALL of the players!  While you thought you were just playing hockey this weekend…you showed us much, much more.

It occurred to me yesterday that some of you may not know about this.

4th graders all over the country can get free admission to National Parks for the duration of the school year thanks to the White House Administration launching the “Every Kid in a Park Pass.”

Fourth graders nationwide can visit the new Every Kid in a Park website to obtain a pass that provides free access to students and their families to all federally managed lands and waters – including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and marine sanctuaries. The pass is valid for the 2015-2016 school year and grants free entry for fourth graders and three accompanying adults (or an entire car for drive-in parks) at more than 2,000 federally-managed sites.

Check out the White House link introducing the program HERE

FIND OUT ALL ABOUT THE WHERES AND THE HOWS HERE!

everykidinapark.gov

There are so many great places in Massachusetts and certainly New England!

“Because no matter who you are, no matter where you live, our parks, our monuments, our lands, our waters — these places are your birthright as Americans”

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Spring 2016 AAU Try-outs: MCW Starz

Anyone who knows basketball, knows Michael Carter-Williams.  If you have somehow missed the ride….allow me to catch you up….  Home grown local basketball icon, turned Syracuse Orange star, drafted 11th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, 2014 NBA Rookie of the Year, and now Milwaukee Bucks Point Guard.  What is cooler than even all of that, is that he grew up attending and then coaching a basketball camp started by his own amazingly talented mother and step-father.  Now, your daughter can have the opportunity to play for the MCW Starz Team. Talk about a not-to-miss experience.

Check out this great video where Michael Carter-Williams, the Milwaukee Bucks Point Guard, talks about his family-run MCW Starz Basketball Camp

ATTENTION ALL GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYERS 4TH-11TH GRADE.

This past spring was the first MCW STARZ AAU Season. They had 11 players on the 11th grade elite team and all 8 juniors (3 were 10th graders) are going on to play basketball in college 5 scholarships, 1 Ivy league and 2 will play at D3 great academic schools!

They attended exposure events that showcased their players at the right level!

This fall they added two teams and this spring they would like 1 team for every grade, 4th-11th.

Tryouts this SUNDAY!  A Fantastic Opportunity for players!  

Disclaimer…..  my 1st pick is totally selfish…which I rarely (if ever) do in my “Pick’s Posts”.   So, come watch my son and many, many fantastic members of the absolutely fabulous Cape Ann Youth Hockey Program play hockey.

Pick #1:  The Sal Grasso Memorial Tournament

Cape Ann Youth Hockey will proudly welcome teams from Westmount, Quebec, Canada to play a weekend long tournament at the Dorothy Talbot Memorial Rink at O’Malley.

Come show some Cape Ann Pride and support these boys and girls!  It would be so great to see the stands full.  Shameless plug… Thatcher’s team, Mite 1 (last year’s Valley League Champions) kicks off the tournament at 4:50 on Friday.

Pick #2:  Neverland Theatre’s Production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella

The Neverland Theatre Company always does a fantastic job!

Click HERE for more information!

Pick #3:  Wee Secret Home Making at Ravenswood

Using only all natural materials found on the forest floor, create your own secret home. Elves, gnomes or fairies will love them! Even our littlest wildlife friends will enjoy checking out your wee secret home. Wear your faery frock and dance along the children’s trail with wee secret homes!

Head to the Trustees Website HERE to read more!

Please see our friends at North Shore Kid for a more comprehensive list of activities

Just left the pool at Cape Ann’s Marina Resort and discovered this sight.  Wow.  Christmas is really coming.

While I’m not often a fan of the movie version of some of my favorite books, this is one that I can’t wait to see.

If it is good enough for Nathaniel Philbrick, it is certainly good enough for me!  And, with Ron Howard at the wheel, it really can’t go wrong.

Release Date scheduled for December 11th.

In the Heart of the Sea Movie Click HERE

Read More about the book HERE

I spent a minute poking around a couple of weeks ago thinking that maybe, once soccer ended and we were down to one afternoon/weekend sport for each child, I’d look into getting a second job a few evenings a week.  It seemed incredibly daunting to think of actually working MORE and being home LESS, but I thought maybe something perfect is out there and there was no harm in looking.

After just a couple of minutes, I found this.

HOUSEHOLD ASSISTANT

Private Family – ___________MA
$25 an hour

(Hmmm….sounds, interesting, right?)

I have to admit, while totally overwhelmed by the job description, I was also a bit sad.  I thought, What a phenomenal job opportunity for some spunky 25 year-old go getter!

But then I thought… Is that really a job for ONE person?  I mean really.  Who can actually do all of that?

And then, forgive me please, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that my next thought was… And what’s left for the parents to do?  

And then I felt bad because I thought…Well, maybe there’s only one parent and they are extremely busy working to provide (the main estate and 3 vacation homes) for the children.  Or maybe they are volunteering like crazy for a multitude of charitable organizations!

And then, one of my last thoughts was….If I was ever sooo wealthy that I could afford four homes, an estate manager, to throw (seemingly) lavish and catered events, (seemingly) significant holiday decorating, enough travel to require assistance in packing, vendors (?) that need to be met with, a chef, a nanny, and more…..  Couldn’t I also simply afford to work less so that I wouldn’t have to post such a GIANT job description for someone else to do in my home?  

And, then I caught sight of all the dust bunnies taunting me from all corners of the living room, knowing they are safe and sound for at least 5 more days until I might have time to grab the vacuum, and I thought….sigh…maybe I would. 

I’m honestly not judging…just wondering.

I came home from work the other day at 4:30, changed my clothes, unpacked lunch box containers, put them in the sink to rinse, and then went to hop back into my Jeep to head back to Beverly for a guest lecturer at school.

I spied the mail truck a few houses away so I decided to wait for it…as this is the season that packages begin to arrive that are not meant for the boys’ eyes.  And, by that, I mean Christmas presents, nothing shady.

Thatch and Finn began to play street hockey while they waited to see me off.  It took about 5 seconds for Finn to get mad because “he had the puck first” and to mock (maybe) charge at Thatcher.  After a quick lecture about “chilling out” they went back to firing on goal. As I uttered the words, “a few shots each and then you’re back inside to shower” Finn took a shot…and in doing so hit Thatcher right in the forehead with his stick.  Totally an accident, but still.

Thatch did some frantic hopping around in pain and ran to me.  Without looking much I immediately pushed my hands over the spot where he had been holding his.  I guess, in hindsight, I was expecting a giant egg…but, I was wrong.  At the same moment, the mail truck pulled up.  It was when I looked over my shoulder and waved “hello” in the midst of the drama, that I noticed all the blood on my hands…and running over Thatcher’s eye and along the bridge of his nose in a nice little river.  I laugh now as I think of the mail woman saying, “Have a nice night” as if we were a perfectly normal sight.

In addition to the blood and Thatcher’s moans, Finn had immediately burst into tears and started his declarations of, “I SWEAR it was an accident.”  As it was soon determined that we’d be heading to the hospital, Finn got more hysterical, and Thatch told him, “It’s ok, it was an accident.  I love you.”  The best.

Time hop to a trip to the ER and a mere 4 stitches later.  We were home before 8:00…I obviously skipped the lecture.  As we walked in the door, Finn gave Thatcher the ice cream sundae that he had made for him.  The best.

I sent them off to bed, but Thatcher was worried about his stitches opening in bed, so he had trouble going to sleep.  Finn, well..being Finn, who knows.  Finn had trouble staying in bed and got up no fewer than 7 times for a variety of unimportant reasons. While the grown-up in me knew he was obviously scared about Thatcher’s injury and by the role he played in it….I still found myself frustrated the last time he got up.  I was exhausted too….and still had LOTS to do before my head would hit the pillow.

At my whit’s end I resorted to a guilt trip.  And, no, I’m not proud of it.  While the hit to the head was indeed an accident.  JUST prior to the whack, Finn was actually charging with the intention of giving Thatcher a smack.  Luckily we had intervened.  But…there was still a lesson to be learned by the whole event.

I announced, “Enough already.  We’ve had quite a night and you are already walking on thin water.  If you know what I mean.”

Of course, the little bugger retorted,  “No. No I don’t.  Maybe if you had said walking on thin ice, I’d get it.”

And THAT is what I’m up against, my friends.

Who stepped up to feed 20 kids for free on Wednesday night?  Rockport House of Pizza, that’s who.

Thatcher’s soccer team was sponsored by Rockport H.O.P this year and they were kind enough to invite that team, along with the opposing team from their end-of-season game, down for dinner.  Way to make a difference and provide these kids with some great time to bond, celebrate, and create memories.

Photo Credit: Craig Kimberly!

Pick #1:  Apple and Wine Festival: Russell Orchards

Apples and Wine Festival November 7th & 8th!

Featuring: Wine tasting*, Live music, Hands-on cider-pressing demonstrations, Make-Your-Own Apple Pie, Apple samples, Hayrides, as well as loads of apple goodies made fresh in our bakery including hot apple crisp and cider donut caramel sundaes.
*Wine Tasting consists of several offerings of our award winning fruit wines & hard ciders, complemented by special gourmet food pairings, along with our souvenir glass and thank you gift. Reservations strongly recommended for Wine Tastings. Please call the store to reserve a time slot for your group.

HEAD HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT RUSSELL ORCHARDS!

http://www.russellorchards.com/

Pick #2: 29th Annual Boston Christmas Festival at the Seaport World Trade Center 

With something for everyone this event is not-to-be-missed if you are ready to get your Christmas on.  Yikes.

Offering everything a holiday shopper could desire under one magnificent roof. The annual Christmas Festival, features the distinctive work of over 300 master American craftsmen.  Bargain hunters, as well as those with extravagant tastes, will find an endless array of gorgeous home accessories, designer fashions, artisan jewelry, handcrafted holiday décor, tempting gourmet speciality foods and one-of-a-kind handcrafted gifts unavailable elsewhere.

READ ALL ABOUT THE EVENT HERE!  http://www.bostonchristmasfestival.com/

Pick #3:  From the Forest: Wreath Making for Kids

Appleton Farms, Ipswich

Get into the holiday season by creating your own evergreen wreath! Kids will craft their 16″ wreaths by hand using local greenery, winter berries, fallen cones, holly leaves, ribbon, and more! Materials and instruction included. Parents are encouraged to attend but wreath making is for kids only please. (Checkout our adult workshop as well!) Ages 8 and up.

Saturday, November 7  from 10:00 am – 12 noon
Member Child: $15,   Nonmember Child: $25

Please go HERE to learn more and for contact info to register

http://www.thetrustees.org/things-to-do/north-shore/event-3943.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

For a comprehensive list of family activities, please visit our friends at North Shore Kid

It has been a couple of years….close to 3 actually, I think…and we have grown accustomed to how those wind turbines look from different angles all around town.  I’d say that we almost don’t even notice them anymore, but that’d be a lie.  We do.  We still notice them.  Actually, my boys notice them enough to pay attention each weekday morning at about 7:25 and most afternoons around 4:45 to see how many (if any) are “spinning”.

They’ve been asking me off and on, for a long time, to explain why sometimes none are moving, sometimes just one, and sometimes 2 or even all 3 are in operation.

I’ve guessed that they operate as needed.  But I haven’t been able to satisfy their curiosity completely.  Does a person actually turn them on as necessary?  Do they turn themselves on?  Is there a schedule we have not yet noticed?  How much does weather actually play a role?  What’s the deal?

I’d love some help from our highly knowledgable FOBs!

Help a kid (or two) out if you’re in the know and have a second.

Thanks in advance!

Do you know what day of my boys’ childhoods I dislike the most?  Pumpkin Carving Day.

Sure, I have disliked the days when the boys cried during doctor visit shots, I have disliked the days that they have come home with hurt feelings over a temporarily struggling friendship, I’d even go so far as to say that I hated the day that Finn had to be taken to the ER for stitches after a bad gash in head.  Seeing the boys sad or hurt…or disappointed or frustrated…is hard.  It breaks my heart a little every time.  My dislike for those moments in their childhood is based on my feeling so bad for them.

My crazy dislike for pumpkin carving day.  Well, that’s a whole other beast.  My dislike for pumpkin carving day is purely based on me feeling so bad for, well, me.

I am ALL for forced family fun.  If you read any of my posts, you surely already know that.  I am all about quality time and making the most of vacations, weekends, holidays, warm sunny days, and what have you.  4th of July traditions…fantastic!  Christmas traditions…Absolutely…favorite days of the year.  Boys’ birthdays….Pinterest hear me roar.  All things pumpkin….sigh.  NOT my thing.

That’s not completely true, actually.  I love the day that involves picking out the pumpkins.  I like arranging the pumpkins on the front porch.  I like the way the pumpkins look.  And, I love pumpkin seeds.  I just hate carving the freakin’ pumpkins.

Without fail, it starts as a 4-person gig.  Without fail, it ends up as a solo show.  The boys go off to play and check in occasionally to offer advice, support, or constructive criticism.  When they’re happy with the job I’m doing it almost makes up for the slimy, pulpy mess that I’ve become.  Almost.  But, not really.

This year, it wasn’t going to happen again.  So last night, I made a deal.  Sure…I’ll carve the pumpkins…but, you guys are separating the seeds from the pulp.  Well, that lasted about a minute.  During that minute our neighbor came home and told us, “You all look like a scene straight from a Norman Rockwell painting while carving pumpkins together on the front porch.”   Right.  A mere 30 seconds later the boys were grossed out…and off playing street hockey.  My husband disappeared to see if the rabbit would eat a chunk of pumpkin.  And, I was alone again, naturally.

That’s it. Sharp knives be damned….next year, I’m drinking a pumpkin beer while the boys carve their own jack-o-lanters.  Doubtful.

Last year, in preparation for pumpkin carving day, I got my revenge ahead of time. Does that even make any sense?  Knowing full-well that I’d be carving the pumpkins solo, I made the boys lug the pumpkins they wanted all the way home from downtown Rockport.  I’m still laughing.  If that mean parenting moment interests you, you can read it here.

https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2014/10/22/the-not-so-great-pumpkin-caper/

I attended this free event last year and was so glad that I did.  I’ll most likely make certain to go this year too.  Anthony Amore was totally engaging as he gave “the who, what, where, why – and perhaps most importantly – the how, behind some of the most incredible tales of fakes, forgeries, thefts, and art-related ponzi schemes ever committed.”  His inside view as Director of Security at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum gives him an insight like non other.

Simply RSVP to the email below to attend this free and open to the public event.

I don’t know about you, but for YEARS I have been driving to Tendercrop Farm in Newbury for a variety of things.  A long time ago it was for dried flower and the perfect basket.  Later it would be for fruits and veggies….maybe some great bread and some soup.  Once the boys came along, it’d be to see the animals, pick out pumpkins, and even, a couple of times, pick out our Christmas Tree.

While the drive is gorgeous, it is a bit of a hike.  So, imagine my thrill (exciting life I realize) when I heard that they were opening a second location in Wenham.  Just minutes from my work!

We had the opportunity to stop there on Saturday…after hockey of course.  In addition to some massive pumpkins and a couple of smaller ones, we got some swiss chard for the rabbit, some berries for the boys, and some crackers and horseradish cheddar dip for the Patriots game.  I practiced some serious restraint because I wanted about 50 more things.

Tendercrop Farm at Canaan can be found right on Route 1A in Wenham…just past Wenham Lake and the Beverly line.

Here is the link to their Newbury location   http://www.tendercropfarm.com/

Cape Ann Youth Hockey’s Mite 1 team (and my boys), had the awesome opportunity to skate during an intermission at last Wednesday’s Bruins game.  While they were only on the ice for 3 short minutes, the whole experience (from check in, to jumbo-tron, to private elevator, to locker room, to some VIP treatment from Bruins employees) created memories to last a lifetime.

I threw together this completely amateur video for them the next day.  I’m guessing this will be one of those days that they look back on pretty fondly years from now and I’m so glad this great group of kids had the chance to experience this together.