I've been busy....This full time life is kicking my butt (to be blunt!)....

I love my life, but can't wait for my mini-vacation at the end of April......I need Naples, Florida. 

The top of the chimney is cracked and water has been leaking down the walls of the fireplace into the fireplace and down into the basement...It is crazy, but the mason is coming today.  I hope he can fix it.  We have been inserting cardboard and towels into the fireplace to stop the flow and it is working.  However, I think some damage has already been done.  My husband wrapped a tarp around the top of the chimney yesterday.  We have been inundated with rain for days (weeks???). 

We had the electrician install a new light in the kitchen!  My kitchen is long and one side had no light near the stove.....What a difference!  It's like a brand new kitchen.  I'm very happy (little things make me happy)!

The baby chicks came in last Thursday - six black sex-linked hens.  They are so adorable and they are all doing wonderful, under my dad's watchful eye.  He will get three and I will get three. 

I signed up for my CSA for the summer.  I'm going with a different farm this year and am looking forward to the weekly adventure of planning my meals around my box!!!!! 

Only one more CCD Class (none in April......very strange) but the last one is in May. 

I am writing up the invitations for my son's college graduation party this week.  We are having it a a Beach Pavilion (where we had my other son's high school graduation).  It worked out great, so here's hoping for the same result!!! 

Lots of church this week.  I'm taking Nonni to Holy Thursday mass, Good Friday service at 3:00 and then Easter Morning, we will put on our bonnets and head to a beautiful mass.  I'm also checking with my sister to see if she is attending sunrise services this year....She has gone for the past two years and it has been awe-inspiring and I really want to go.  I don't care if I have to wake up at 4:30 in the morning!(??)

The hens are laying beautifully - I get three eggs a day.  This weekend, I will turn over the garden and plant the peas, that should have been planted already.  I just haven't had time. 

My middle son got a job for the summer - Praise the Lord!  So he will be working part time and has his internship at Quinnipiac University part time to make a full time summer........

PS - can't wait for chocolate on Easter morning.........................

Miscellaneous Stuff

So, a lot happens every day and I just don't have time to post.....This week, in brief:

• Chickens are laying every day - three chickens, three eggs.  Next week, I get my babies.....I will be raising my own chickens in an incubator with my dad.  I can only handle six at a time, so he will take the rest.  Can't wait to see them...Black Sex-linked is the breed?
• Took Nonni to Stations of the Cross on Friday....she is just too cute.  She did fabulous and will be with us again tomorrow.  
• Taught three classes of Zumba Fitness this week.  Two were by myself and one with Lauren.  It was an awesome week and I hope everyone enjoys the new sessions.  I only went to one of Sue's classes this week.  I just didn't have the time.
• I raked and cleaned the yard and am waiting patiently for spring to come tomorrow.  I love this time of year.  I cleaned the house today too, but mostly, I was outside.
• Getting the area ready for the new shed.  We went and looked at them today.  Found a mini-barn...so cute.  10 x 14 with plenty of room for everything.  We will order it this week and it will be here by the end of April.....perfect timing!
• God was good as he always is and answered some prayers of mine.  Praise the Lord. 
• Hanging the laundry outside is just good for the soul!  Three days now!!
• Hubby got a gift certificate for his birthday, so he took me and Elizabeth out for dinner tonight and I didn't have to cook and it was wonderful.
• Teaching CCD tomorrow.  I think a post will be forthcoming on this subject.  I hope it goes well tomorrow. 
• My son is re-taking the test for the police dept, so he was up at the crack of dawn this morning.  Hubby made him breakfast and off he went at 6:30 am.  He passed the first part today, and goes for the second part on Monday.  He did not get the last position that he was up for, so he has to re-start the whole process.  He is hopeful that this will be his year.
• Looking forward to our summer vacation trip to Florida in June.  I keep looking at the Universal Studios site on the web and getting info on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at IOA.  I can't wait!!!! 

That has been the week so far.  I'm tired and will go to bed early after I prepare my CCD lesson for tomorrow.  Buona notte!!!!

First Class

I taught my first Zumba Class tonight by myself.  It went great (2 tiny mistakes...) but, I am really proud of myself.  I had 17 people come to the class.  My daughter was a God-send helping me out and so was Lisa....thank you both!  Lauren is on vacation this week, so I was solo and it was so much fun......

Thank you to my students who came!  Can't wait for the Wednesday night class!

Rain (and water) go away.....

It's raining here in southern CT.  A lot of rain.  We are supposed to get 2-4 inches of rain (in snow, that would be about 2-3 feet).....I'm now thankful for the rain!!

Last night we had the plumber over.  We had a little problem!

A clog that wouldn't go away with Drano.  We couldn't use the dishwasher, the washing machine, the utility sink or the boys' sink in their bathroom for a couple of days....they kept backing up and then we had to bale out the sinks.  It was not fun.  We had to call my friend Eva, the owner before us.  Her hubby told us where to find the correct pipe behind the wall in the boys bathroom.  The plumber found the pipe and the clog behind the wall.  The clog was all my son's hair (that he cuts himself in his bathroom and lets go down the sink drain).  It was pretty gross.  So 3 hours, a whole bottle of Drano, a hole in the bathroom wall and $250.00 later, the plumber fixed the problem and we can use the sinks and washers.

It's always something............

Free Zumba

We had our Free Zumba Fitness Class last night.  I can say without reservation that it was a success.  78 people came.  I thought MAYBE 60 people would come.  I was a little off!!!

It was a great night.  I believe we got a lot of positive feed back.  The youngest person there was 14 and the oldest was probably in her 70's.  So we had the gamut of ages and they all participated and sweated and enjoyed. 

Next week we start regular classes.  It looks as if Wednesday is going to be very busy.  We will see how the other days of the week make out. 

If anyone is interested in Zumba, you can go to http://www.zumba.com/ to find a class close to where you live.  Bring sneakers, a large water bottle and a towel for the sweat....and prepare to have fun!!!!!

The weekend

What a great weekend....Started Saturday morning off bringing my daughter to SHA to catch the bus for her cheerleading competition.  Lauren and I did a practice Zumba session, came home, cleaned up the house a little bit, took my shower, got picked up for the competition.  My daughters squad did very well...they ended up placing 6th out of 11.  That is wonderful for them.  Our two other local squads both came in first in their respective divisions.  We left the competition and headed for our pickup for the casino.  We went to the Mohegan Sun for a fundraiser and we had a great time.  I won a few dollars, and hubby lost a few dollars, but we had a lot of fun.  My two sisters also went and his two sisters went, and we knew a ton of people on the bus trip.

Sunday morning, I had my CCD class and that went well.  It is sad though as so few children actually attend church (a blog for another day).  After class, I picked up Nonni for church and then to the cemetary and then back to our house.  My oldest son was cooking dinner today - Barbeque spare ribs.  I also made some pasta for me and a large salad.  We had a nice meal, cleaned up and hubby's sister came to pick up Nonni to bring her grocery shopping.  My daughter and I went to do a little shopping as this week is spirit week at her school. (more on that tomorrow).

Sitting here, sipping a glass of wine, blogging and watching a little Discover Channel.  What a great weekend.

Joyful Friday

Where I find joy:

• In my job
• With my husband
• Knowing my boys are coming home tonight from school
• Getting my CCD class organized
• Writing my blog
• Reading other blogs
• Making bread

Spring is in the air...

and in my little garden!  I came home this morning from walking my daughter to the bus stop and looked at a little plot where I have perennials and there are the buds of my daffodils and my tulips......It is a little early, but so good for the soul!!!!

I'm tired.

Let's see what happened this past weekend.  Saturday was cleaning the house, and making deoderant, attending a cheerleading competition, and my brother's birthday party (my brother-in-law's birthday, too)  Happy Birthday to Chris and Danny!!!!  Church on Sunday with Nonni, then a 90th birthday party for an aunt.  I got to see my other two aunts and my first cousin who I don't see very often, so it was a very enjoyable afternoon.  Rushed home, got changed and did a Zumba session with Lauren, came home showered and watched the rest of the Olympics AND Amazing Race.  Monday...worked all day 8-5, ran home ate, went to the Derby Public Library and did a free workshop for Zumba from 6;30 to 7:30, drove to Seymour and went to work at the church until 9:30.  Just got home took a shower and while my hubby is watching his show, I'm posting.  I just haven't had much time.  My niece Mary lost her basketball game tonight.  By two points......  She is all done now, but what a high school senior year she has had....And she just got the call that she made all state cheerleading too.  One very talented, very beautiful girl.....Congrats Mary!!!!