Top Three Thursday - Birthdays!

This blog carnival is truly as easy as it sounds...

Each week, The (Un)Experienced Mom (who is on vacation, and not posting today!) and "Confessions from a Working Mom" will pick a category, then ask you to share your Top 3 thoughts on it. We hope you'll play along with us!

This week, in honor of "Confessions from a Working Mom's" Blog Birthday Bash asks
What are your Top 3 favorite ages?
(Or, your Top 3 favorite ages for your kids?)


1. Third grade - Age 9 - I remember times with family, with church, Rock Point, Jericho, Vermont, adventures on the river at The Old Red Mill.  I remember our happy family unit when Dad worked at IBM and Mom started her hobby farm with goats, maple syrup & even took a shot at grapes and making Cold Duck (yuck).  :)  She made wheat bread, whole wheat chocolate chip cookies and taking time fighting over what show to watch on our tiny TV set.  Riding bikes on Mill Street, rolling down into a pile of leaves at the bottom of the hill and sledding in all different areas of town.  This will be a time in my memory forever.  It has been interesting on facebook reconnecting with friends from back in these days.... spurring on these memories.  I am thankful.  I miss my dad when I remember these times even more than ever.


2. Junior Year in High School (BFA Fairfax) - Age 17.  I remember the State Class M Championships playing ball with the girls - Laurie Jucket (point guard) - Diana Gates (power forward) and Carolyn Stewart.  It was a time of teamwork, realizing your strengths, your weaknesses.  I was so active in everything, student council, honor society, band, and all the sports.  I still have my letter jacket!  I loved my friends and all the great times.  Suzy, Amy & Cindy are three friends I have reconnected with on facebook, and it is amazing after so many years, how we have picked up our friendships once again.


3. Now!  45?  :)  OK yes, I am 45 and this birthday and the ones I have had recently have to be the BEST.  Just because I appreciate life so much more now than ever.  I love my family, my friends, my husband (the most amazing man EVER).  This is it.  I will celebrate these birthdays more and more each year, because I cherish each moment with the ones that I love so much.  Celebrate life.  Celebrate your birthday.  It is YOU they celebrate and YOU deserve the best.  I love birthdays, mine and everyone elses that I care about - and plan on celebrating them all as much as possible.  We have ice cream cake for every birthday, even Stephen who hates cake.... Schuyler's party is the big event each year, with tons of kids, lots of photos, costume party & just the most fun ever!  Samantha's birthday is a family treat with her friends and margaritas, Stephen's is just something small but special & Steve's is an intimate affair (with me!).     I love birthdays!!

Top Three Thursday - What's behind your name?

The Blog Carnival continues.....   You should try it:)  Just link above or at http://www.confessionsfromaworkingmom.com/  add yourself to Mr. Linky and blog hop around and meet some new bloggers in this virtual world!

This week's rendition of T3T is the question:   
"What are your top 3 favorite names?" 

Schuyler - I have to say there is a reason why I named my son --- after my grandfather on my dad's side.  Schuyler Shepard Peck was his name and my due date was 100 years to the date when Grampa Schuyler was born in Saratoga, NY.  Then of course I was 5 days late...... none the less 100 years and 5 days later, the next Schuyler was born.  I didn't know that fact until the end of my pregnancy, and it makes a great story.  Schuyler is a very strong, tall, young boy now and following in my dad's footsteps, so I am very proud that I named him Schuyler.  What an amazing child.

Nancy - I actually love my name.  My mom's story is that she named her dolls Nancy Ann and was going to name me that (also after my Grama Anne who turns 90 this year!)....  but the neighbor up the street named her little girl that name and I was left with Nancy Elizabeth.... which I think is very regal / royal / fancy and no crazy nick names..... just a "Nance" or Fancy Nance ----- :)  I think it a very pretty name too --- :)

Stephen -- yes, my husband's name -- and not JUST because I am so madly in love with him.....  But the "phen" is the best on this name...  and after you hear the Taylor Swift song "Hey Stephen" you love it even more.



Until next time!  :)
Leave a note if you stop by!
N

Photo booth fun!
This first one is about 2 1/2 years ago ---
The bottom one is from today!

Top Three Thursday: We are all Hoarders...

Today is Top Three Thursday ---- Link to the Unexperienced Mom site where others have linked up to share their tops for the day! 

Todays Top Three Thursday....

What are the Top 3 things you should have thrown away…       like, yesterday?

3.  Hot tub bikini that I honestly will never wear in public, nor do we own or plan on owning a hot tub in the near future....  and when we get one, I think I will deserve a new bikini!  :)

2.  Jewerly -- I collect wooden jewerly boxes and have filled them up with jewerly I honestly don't know if I will ever wear again.  But where should it go?  That garage sale that we have been planning for the past 3 years has not happened, and do people really buy old jewerly from strangers anymore?  I was thinking my neices.... I have 4 of them and they may just appreciate it.....  any other ideas? 

1.  This old LL Bean suitcase I have owned since 1999.  I am looking at it right now, so it is definitely still usable, but it has been flying more than 200,000 miles!  Back in the days I used to travel a lot this was the case that got me there with a carry on...  I can fit EVERYTHING in it --- love it!  They don't sell them anymore or I would buy a replacement as I have been shopping for something similar.  Although I will not get a suitcase with my name on it again --- the bag check guys and security folks think it is funny to say hi (as I have never met them) because they know my name from my bag.  There are coffee stains galore on it and at least 2 of the side zippers are now broke....   I need a NEW suitcase!  :)

I have a pile in the basement --- crazy when I moved here 3 years ago there are still things in the basement I have not gone through to decide whether to keep or sell and there is a BIG pile in the corner for that elusive garage sale!

Top Three Thursday: Yes - I am Quirky!

Each week, The (Un)Experienced Mom will pick a category, then ask you to share your Top 3 thoughts on it. We hope you'll play along with us!

This week, we want to know...

What are your Top 3 quirks?

First of all - - I am with this one person that had to really get down to the definition of quirk....

According to dictionary.com, this is what they list as the meaning of “Quirk” :  

noun 1. a peculiarity of action, behavior, or personality; mannerism: He is full of strange quirks.  

2. a shift, subterfuge, or evasion; quibble.  

3. a sudden twist or turn: He lost his money by a quirk of fate.  

4. a flourish or showy stroke, as in writing.  

5. Architecture. a. an acute angle or channel, as one dividing two parts of a molding or one dividing a flush bead from the adjoining surfaces.  

b. an area taken from a larger area, as a room or a plot of ground.  

c. an enclosure for this area.  

6. Obsolete. a clever or witty remark; quip.  

–adjective 7. formed with a quirk or channel, as a molding.

Now with that in mind, just like in an interview we may want to make the quirk an actual "good thing" that makes US sale-able....  but I prefer to be honest....

My top quirks: 

1. I fall asleep to the TV --- sitting on the couch, watching a good movie or a show that we are following (our latest is LOST - but we watch them all from the start - season 1 and it is AWESOME!).  My head bobs, and then I am OUT like a light.  Then the denial comes in --- "no honey - I am awake, please can we keep watching it" -- and out again.  I fall asleep and I hate to admit it, like it is some form of defeat or something.  I end up watching the end of the episode alone or worse yet - Steve has to watch it all over and we have to figure out where I can't remember anything to get where I fell asleep - which is usually much earlier than when I nod off.  :(

2. Jackets - I love jackets.  Not sure if this is a quirk or an obsession.  Some people love shoes, hand bags....  I have a jacket for almost every latest marathon (since I had enough money and can afford to buy them) "expensive" once of a lifetime marathon jacket.  Yet we all know it won't be my last marathon since I have run 23 of them and plan on running more.  The flashier the better, as it is a way of "bragging" that I DID IT without having to say a word.  My fave jackets are the Boston marathon since not many people have them and it is the Grandy Daddy Olympics of marathons!  I have 4 Boston Marathon jackets (actually bought this year's early so I could be assured my size!) and approximately 4 others along with the plain running jackets in the closet.  My biggest brag jacket is the 2002 Boston marathon jacket because I ran it 6 months post partum and well -- that says it all.  :)

3. I can't sit still.  I have to keep moving....  I need to run / exercise / get outside every day.  Running is an obsession, but the fact that I can't get through the day without some type of activity may be a quirk in my mind.  Relaxation is tough for me.  Sitting still, not blogging, taking time for the massage chair, etc.....  My mind races thinking of all the things I need to get done each morning. I am a morning person (obviously if I am out like a light at night!)  Laundry, housework, cleaning the car, the yard, putting things away.... my family calls me the "mover".  Hopefully everyone can figure out where I have put everything.  In the meantime....  let's go!  :)

Make sure to check out what everyone else has quirks about at the above link (Top 3) and leave a comment if you've stopped by. I love getting them and I'll come return the favor!  Thanks for dropping in!