Last Weekend First

I meant to get these pics up last weekend, but life happened.  And we had such a wonderful weekend this weekend, but I don't want to write about it until I catch up on LAST weekend!  So here it is in a nutshell:

We went to Neltner's Farm on Saturday morning.  To be perfectly honest, the whole Fasciotto family was in a bit of an "off" mood.  I felt like we rushed to get there, The Girls were cranky, The Parents were tired, and my mom kept hassling all of us to stand still so she could get a good picture.  I just wanted to buy a pumpkin and leave - check it off the list and move on!  But then I got home and saw our pictures!  It LOOKS like we had a really good time!  I guess it's true what they say - you can't take a bad picture on such a beautiful day.

Sylvia climbed up behind the drivers seat long before they started the wagon rides.  Finally, one of the guys saw her standing there and said, "Are you ready to go get your pumpkin?"  We were the first, and only, people out there.

Even though Margot napped in the moby the whole time, she still looked pretty darn cute!

Before we left, I told Sylvia to "find a warm hat."  She grabbed her princess baseball hat.  I wasn't about to fight that battle.

Mom's pretty proud of this picture!

Staring at the creek.

Feeding the goats.

Playing in the haunted house

 

 

On Sunday morning, Margot and I met Laura, Pete, Ellie, Audrey and Andrew at the Books by the Banks Festival to see our favorite DIY bloggers: The Petersiks, from Young House Love!!!  I wasn't sure what to expect, but the event was more than exciting!  We waited in line for about 45 minutes until we got to the table, and everyone in line was pleasant and happy and abuzz with YHL fever.  When we finally got there, Laura and I did our best NOT to look like or sound like a bunch of weirdos.  I think they liked us!

 



Sherry discusses the wonders of Greater's chocolate chunks.

This one is priceless.  Sherry is making such a fuss over MY BABY!  Can you blame her?

OMG, we look like best friends, don't we?  Like, "These are our friends, The Petersiks, in from out of town for the holidays.  Won't you join us for tea and party games?"  Not to mention - Margot wants to yank those big ol' blue earrings right out of Sherry's ear!

As if meeting them in person wasn't enough of a thrill, John and Sherry (our new BFF's) put pictures of us on the YHL BLOG this week!  They get like, 5 jillion page views a month, so there's a lot of people I don't know looking at my picture right now.  Eeek!  So fun.  They even linked to Laura's blog, which had 29 page views the day before, and OVER SIX HUNDRED page views on the day they posted!  Is that crazy or what??!  We're totally famous.  Somebody find Margot an agent.  OH!  Aaaand if you troll their comments pages, I believe you'll find a comment from Joyce on page six, to which Sherry responded.  Because she's my best friend, so naturally, she'd love my mom, right?

Maybe tomorrow night I'll get up the nerve to post about the amazing weekend we just finished.  Preview: Girls Only, Pumpkins, Princesses.  And a crocodile.

A New Favorite!

You guys know I'm all about the blogs.  I love following friends and family to peek in on everyone's lives.  I love sharing the "tedious" details of my own journey through the world.  And even though there are a thousand other things I should be doing tonight, I've enjoyed catching up on my blogs.  There are many types of blogs out there, but I boil all of them down to three categories:
1.  People I Know
2.  People Who Know People I Know (I check in on Laura's family every once in a while and I found some great mommy blogs from ladies who are friends-of-friends)
3.  People I Don't Know But Wish I Did

Until tonight, category number 3 included nothing but a bunch of designer mommies who I like to check in on every now and then.  Heather Armstrong has been my hands-down favorite, but ever since she got all famous with HGTV I've been a little bored with her.  So, I was delighted when I checked Erin's blog and found a link to this guy:

Single Dad Laughing

First, I read his post on Perfection, which I have to admit, was really quite powerful.  But then, I wandered around his blog and found the post I just linked called, "Noah: An Adoption Tale."  You know I'm a sucker for birth stories, but the story of his son's birth is by far, hands down, no contest, the BEST birth story I've ever read.  And I've read a lot of them.  Maybe I love it because we don't usually see the perspective of an adoptive father.  At any rate, it's remarkable and I suggest you read it, then browse through his blog like I did, and I bet you'll have a wonderful time.

The Woes of a Blogger

Thanks to everyone who put in their two cents about my blog change dilemmas.  However, none of you bothered to even MENTION a potential new name, except for Krissy, who suggested I use Nugget somewhere in the title.  Very cute idea and duly noted, but I've come to some conclusions.  First of all, since changing the URL to anything cute would be potentially hazardous (since most cutesy names are taken); and secondly, since this is a family blog and our family is constantly changing, I've decided to keep the new URL address simple and easy to remember, so I'm going to try something like fasciottofamily dot blogspot dot com.  That way, no matter how many kids we end up with or what their nicknames are, that web address will always work, and I'll be surprised if someone else is already using it.  If they are, I'd like to meet them.  Also, this will let me change the title to whatever cutesy name I want, but for now, it'll just have to stay put with "Living The Dream."  I think it's a funny title anyway, even if I did steal it from an ex-boyfriend who answered every "How ya doin?" with a "Just living the dream, man!"  He meant it to be a joke, of course, because we were all broke and in college at the time, but now I think it's a pretty apt title for my little family updates!  So be on the lookout for a new URL address in the next week or so.  I'll post it on Facebook once I actually do it, but here's a good head's up.

Also, I was going to wait to change my background (which is long overdue) until I had my new header picture, but that STUPID "cutest blog on the block" site has decided to discontinue my previous background as of tomorrow!  Who does that?!  That's never happened to me before and I think it stinks.  I love setting aside a good chunk (2 hours?) of time to peruse lots of sites for the perfect background, but tonight I feel so rushed!  I just chose one of the first ones I found and, although I don't hate it, I would probably have picked a different one, especially once I have my picture.  Grr!!  So frustrating.

Anyway, this is turning out to be a really boring post that has nothing significant to say except "whine, whine, whine...poor me and my blog," and I'm not into that.  So...goodnight!

Reader's Survey

Okay, so I'm playing around with the design of my blog and readers, we must talk.  So far I've been more than happy sifting through other sites that provide oodles of cute backgrounds so I can change mine up every month or two or ten.  However, I want to start designing my own headers.  Lately I've just been using my own pictures behind the header/title and it's been fine, but I want to start using better pictures and fonts, just because I think it would be fun.  I sort of played around with that idea when I changed my current picture, and in a few weeks I'll have a new picture to put up there that I've been dying to show you.  So, here's what I need to know:

Question #1: Does it bother you that the pictures in my header are just a little bit too big for the stupid blue line that outlines them?  Because it drives me crazy but I have no idea how to fix it.  So if it does bother you, you better be able to tell me how to fix it.  HOW DO I FIX IT???

Question #2: I've been playing around with new titles for my blog, but don't like any of them, so if you have a cute title to suggest, I'm all ears.  Which leads me to...

Question #3:  I hate my url address.  I picked it based on my email address which is based on my old high school nickname which no one uses anymore (except for three people, two of whom haven't called me Pocket since I announced I was pregnant...weird.)  Anyway, if I change it to something else, will that screw everyone up?  I'm thinking about changing it and posting a message on facebook with the new url and that should cover everyone who follows this, right?  I mean, there are only five followers so I'm not too worried.  What I AM worried about is...what do I change it to??  This may be easy depending on what I decide to do with the title.  Should the title and url address be the same?  I think so.  It would make things much easier, right?

I don't know why I care so much.  This is just a silly family blog, but lately it's been my only creative outlet!  Once school starts and I can organize and design my classroom, my blog will not seem nearly as important, so if I'm going to make these changes, it's best to do it now.  I can't wait to hear your input, dear reader!  (Especially on question #2 - I'm really stumped and need lots of ideas, so let 'em flow, folks!  Mom, I expect you to step up on this.  Come on!)

Photo Fun!

I recently read on Madonna's website a "photo challenge," if you will.  Here's how it works: you go to your photo files, pick the 8th folder and the 8th picture.  Post it on your blog and tell the story behind it.  How fun is that??  Here it goes...

Oh, hooray!  Derby Party, 2009. 

I  usually glance over this photo when I'm rifling through my derby party pics.  There are so many others that display the fun times had by all at that party.  We ran many races through the back yard including this hula hoop race, the crab walk and our favorite, the dizzy bat race!  Most memorable moment from that party?  When Kent almost died as he fell into the bushes after the dizzy bat race!  I can't remember who won the backyard races or the derby pool, but I do know there were bacon-wrapped hot dogs, mint julep cupcakes, and plenty of bourbon!

However, now that I look at this picture more closely I can tell you - that's my husband rocking the hula hoop race!  I guess it really captures his fun-loving spirit and go-getter attitude!  This picture shows us just one of the many reasons I think he's the greatest person on the planet.  Love you, honey!!

Now, to all of my blogging friends - I dare you to do it, too!  It's super fun, and has the potential to make for a very deep (or silly, or embarrassing, or emotional) blog post if your stuck for material.  Have fun!

Momversation

I've been following Heather Armstrong's story over at dooce.com for over a year now. She is kind of my hero of the internet world. Not only is her blog wonderful and her writing hilarious, she participates in the greatest invention of the digital age: Momversation! Each week or so, I get a new "episode" of Momversation from her website, but you can go to momversation.com to get them all. It's just a bunch of internet moms sharing ideas and philosophies and questions and stories about their lives. They talk about It All, including all the raunchy things you'd never talk to your own Mom about, so it's nice to know there are people who will go there. Heather, you're my favorite and I'm thankful for you, your website, and Momversation!

Reader's Poll...

Okay, all four readers out there, I have a question. I've been wanting to find some sort of baby countdown device to put on my blog, so I found the one above on baby-gaga.com. Do you like it, or does it creep you out? Is it neat, or is it too much information? Be honest! If no one's interested, I can put it down below where it will be less noticable, but if people want to see it, I'll leave it up top. Let me know! I'm here to make your blogging experience a good one!

Back to the Blog!

Phew! I'm glad that's over. Six weeks without my blog was no big deal, but six weeks without other people's blogs was tough! I wish I could say I called more long-lost friends and reconnected with folks I haven't talked to in years, but who am I kidding? I am grateful to Laura for keeping me in the loop during her house hunting and selling ordeal, and thanks to Meredith for posting a welcome back video from your sweet little girl. I guess I didn't miss that much after all, but it does feel good to be back.

What have you been doing for fourty days, you ask? Well, here's my list:
1. I found out I get to teach fourth grade next year and I've decided that's exactly where I want to be anyway, so it all worked out in the end. (Sigh of relief)
2. We remodelled the bathroom over spring break and learned how to hang a light fixture.
3. I've been trying to go to the gym or work out at least 3 times a week, sometimes four. Chud has lost all kinds of weight and looks quite buff and toned...I have pimples from sweating too much and still look lumpy and gross - but I feel good and that's what matters right? (Right.)
4. We went to Keeneland and spent a lot of money while not winning any of it back.
5. We planted a tomato garden and an herb garden in the back yard.
6. I read "The Kite Runner" and LOVED it.
7. I read some other books not worth mentioning.
8. I made some super cute Easter cupcakes.
9. I watched the Biggest Loser and Dancing with the Stars while folding laundry instead of sitting under my laptop.
10. I watched the evening news and paid attention! (How about those pirates, people?)
11. I bought two plane tickets to France (June 11 - July 2: Three weeks of bliss!)
11. I spent time with my hubby or just with myself when he was busy. And it was wonderful.


That's about all I can remember, but I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Yesterday's Easter festivities were lengthy and far away, so all I did last night was log on to Facebook. I'm not so sure I like that place anymore. The only thing it's good for is sending a message to lots of people at once. Other than that, I've decided it's a pretty useless time-waster. As much as I love looking at other people's pictures of their cute kids, is it really worth the oodles of pictures of me in my eighth grade cheerleading outfit? The answer is an emphatic NO! Don't worry, I won't get rid of my account yet, but I won't be spending two hours a night there either. I guess in the end I can say that it my Lenten Promise had the desired effect. I have weened myself from the 2-3 hours a night staring at a computer screen and will be perfectly happy with checking blogs and writing posts 2-3 nights a week instead.

I hope everyone had a Happy Easter!

Cutting Back

Ever since Sunday, I've been trying to think of something meaningful to "give up" or do for Lent. Every year I try it and every year I fail, but this year I thought of something pretty good. Brace yourselves...I'm giving up Blogging!

On my way home from work I was going over my mental "to do" list of things around the house. Dinner, dishes, laundry, grading...Then I decided nah, I'll just check my blogs and play on Facebook. That's when it hit me like a ton of bricks - I've been spending at least an hour on-line every night! Sometimes I multi-task and grade papers or watch TV while blogging, but my computer is always on and always near my lap. It's time to stop.

The more I thought about it, the more excited I got. Now Chud and I may actually talk to each other at night. Now I may actually pick up the phone and call my friends instead of stalking their Facebook pages and blogs. Now I might get to do some of the things that have been waiting to get done forever - organizing the basement, painting the toe strip, etc. The possibilities are endless!

Yes, it will be hard. In fact, I predict that by Thursday evening I might be rocking back and forth while I crouch in a corner. But that's the biggest reason why I need to do this. I'm pretty addicted to the internet, so I need to learn to live without it. Therefore, after April 12th, I'll (hopefully) be able to use it in moderation. Just like everything else in life, right?

So, to the two or three people that follow my blog, I'll check my comments for the last time tomorrow night. As of Wednesday, you'll have to call me or email me if you want to know what's going on in my life. And if anything extraordinary happens to us, I'm going to dust off the old journal and write it with pencil and paper. Remarkable, I know. I also know that friendship is a two-way street, so expect some evening phone calls from yours truly!

Have a Happy Easter, everyone! See you on April 12th!