The Beach, Part 1

Mackenzie is two years, one week and six days old. Today was her very first time at the beach.

We woke up in the morning and decided that we should go to the beach. The weather at the house was freezing so we dressed accordingly, thinking the beach would be just as cold. We were wrong. It was very warm and the water wasn't ice cold like we thought.  Mackenzie is already obsessed with being in the water, so seeing the ocean for the first time was mind blowing. She wanted to run in. The waves crashed at her feet and she quickly changed her mind. She changed it back when she saw other people playing in the waves. She went back and forth for a while. She finally decided she wanted to be in the water. We didn't bring suits because we thought it was going to be too cold, but I brought a change of clothes for when she got splashed too much.

We brought cereal to feed the seagulls. She enjoyed chasing them up and down the beach. She cried when we left. We went and got Tripoli Pizza, which was so good and James got fried dough that was the size of a small pizza. Mackenzie chomped down on cotton candy and we got fudge and salt water taffy to go home with.

The Help

I recently read The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It's over 500 pages and I read it in 6 days. I was so addicted and  I could not put it down. I want to see the movie, but I heard it didn't do the book justice.

Set in the early 1960's in Jackson, Mississippi, The Help is the story of an aspiring white writer that is frustrated with the world around her. She teams up with black maids to anonymously tell their stories. The way the characters play off each other and how Stockett portrays the racism of the time is amazing. I don't want to give away too much, but I would definitely recommend this book.


The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Start of Fall

As much as I love the lazy dog days of summer, I cannot wait to get started on breaking out sweatshirts, going on rides to see foliage, and sitting by a bonfire wrapped in a blanket. I took Mackenzie to Parlee Farms, a local orchard. They have blueberries, strawberries, peaches, apples, goats and chickens to feed, and fresh made honey, jams, butter and cream.

I actually got lost going there. It's in Tyngsboro but I somehow ended up in Dunstable. When all I saw was farms and cows, I knew I had made a wrong turn. I finally found it and Mackenzie wanted to nothing besides feed the goats. She was a little scared at first but they were really gentle. Then we went and picked some apples. She had a hard time pulling them off the trees so she picked the out, I pulled them down. About 4 apples became victims to our hunger before we left the orchard. 

We stopped in the farm stand and I bought honey, scones, strawberries, apples, and chocolate milk from Shaw Farm, another local farm in Dracut. Everything was so delicious. The only thing that didn't make it a real fall experience was the af==fact that it was about 80 degrees. But now that it is September, I have plenty of time :)

Happy 2nd Birthday!

On Saturday August 27, 2011 a party was planned for Mackenzie. But Hurricane Irene had another idea. It poured and the party was moved inside. We had pizza and cake. Mackenzie loved blowing her candles out and insisted on having candles in the leftover cake. Her real birthday is August 29.

Birthday Girl

Mackenzie and Daddy

Daddy was taking too long to open Mr. Potato Head

Trying to clean up during the storm

Finger Painting Fun

Fresh Beat Band

The Fresh Beat Bandis one of Mackenzie's favorite shows. She loves to sing and dance along with the Fresh Beats. Until we turned on this season. Our beloved Marina has changed! The new Marina is very obvious. Mackenzie took a second glance at the TV, but then kept on dancing. Pretty observant for a toddler. This isn't the first time they have changed the cast and thought no one would notice. Between Season 1 and 2, Reed was changed, along with the kid background dancers. Does Nick Jr. think we won't notice? I guess so. I personally liked the original cast, so I'll just have to wait and see how this other new addition does.


The old Marina, Shayna Rose:

The new Marina, Tara Perry:

God Wears Lipstick

As any parent knows, not every second can be devoted to their child. Upon becoming a mom, I have given up a lot of my hobbies. But one thing I do for myself is read books without pictures.

Last week I finished a book called God Wears Lipstick by Karen Berg. It's a book about Kabbalah, the mystical side of Judaism. It was a fantastic book and a pretty easy read as well. I am on a sort of spiritual journey and I think I have settled on Kabbalah because of this book. Karen Berg writes about Kabbalah from a woman's point of view, explaining how powerful women are as beings. Karma plays a big role in this book, though it is not referred to as such. Kabbalah is all about letting Light into your life through various actions and thoughts. For example, when you have an epiphany or change your initial reaction from something negative to something positive, you let Light in. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a different viewpoint about religions or any woman in general.

God Wears Lipstick by Karen Berg