New Year's Diving

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Several groups are planning to dive in the new year. For all of them, you must contact them to RSVP beforehand.

Aqua Center is planning to be underwater at the stroke of Midnight. They are meeting at the shop at 10:30pm and will feature champagne underwater at midnight, and a Post Dive at Aqua Center with hot food and refreshments. Hot showers will also be available after the dive.

Burlington Scuba is planning a dive January 1, meeting at Burger King at 9am. Dive is at White Beach Manchester by the Sea, MA. Contact the shop if you're interested.

Mass Diving is diving at Back Beach, on January 1, and are meeting at the Burger King at 9:30am. Must RSVP to mark@massdiving.com.
North Shore Frogmen , Finatics Dive club, and East Coast Divers have teamed up for a dive at White's Beach, and are looking for volunteers to dive and to help out. They are planning a hot chocolate on site, and post-dive party. Last year the Frogmen had 32 divers in the water! Visit their facebook page for the full details

If anyone knows of more people diving, send me an email and I'll post it to twitter and the website

Boston: Museum of Science: Isaac's First Visit!

To contact us Click HERE
This past week, our little family took a much needed trip to Boston. "Much needed" in the sense that we needed to get away for a while, just us three, to take a break from the chaos of our lives and simply enjoy one another. But also "much needed" in the sense that Mama needed to revisit the city of her childhood ... the city that my Dad took us to whenever we needed a bit of culture, some interesting foods, music, museums, and whenever we just needed to be surrounded by people of all kinds. My Dad and I are kindred spirits ... and Boston feels good to us.

I took Meaghan to Boston when she was 6 (still searching for the pics of that trip) ... taking the train in from Lowell ... for a visit to the New England Aquarium. It was a wonderful day for us ... and I figured it was time to do the same for Isaac.

But instead of one day ... we took a vacation of three days. One day for each place that I wanted to share with my boy. Day one? The Museum of Science.

As a child, I loved the Museum. As a young adult, I found it boring. As a Mama, I fell in love all over again. Such a huge place full of rich history and exciting innovations.

Here is a bit of what we saw/did:

First stop ... Theatre of Lightning ... one of my favorite exhibits from childhood ... and as relevant today as it was 30 years ago. But not one of Isaac's favorites. Very loud and a bit over his head. But interesting (again) for both Daddy and me.

Then, a bit of the old space exhibits that we parents also remembered from our childhood ...

R2-D2 and Luke Skywalker never get old. And since Isaac is a recent convert to the whole Star Wars trilogy ... this was a super cool find for him.

Sometime after space ... we went over to the Evolution, Human Birth and Anatomy sections. These were my favorite! Skeletons that showed the evolution of the human species ... various animal brains in jars (beluga whale brains are awesome!) ... a whole exhibit on reproduction that was so well done ... baby chicks hatching in a hatchery for all to see ... WAY COOL.

And as part of the whole Human Evolution exhibit ... there were Tamarin monkeys ... live ones. So adorable and fun to watch. And I swear to you ... on pain of death by flying monkeys ... that we (all three of us) witnessed two Tamarins totally making out. Like for real making out. Lips to lips ... smooching. Then they would preen each other ... then cuddle ... then smooch ... and repeat. It was awesome.

Why Tamarin monkeys? Well, I don't think we got that far, but the website reads: "Ancient stone tools, poisonous plants, DNA, fossil skulls, and tamarin monkeys all have something in common: they are all clues that help explain why all life on Earth, including humans, evolves over generations." So if you are interested, check out their site and search for the connection.

Later ... after skipping around to various exhibits (we had only a few hours so did much skipping about to the exhibits we knew were a must see) ... we found ourselves among dinosaurs!





The above dino is Cliff, who is apparently a big deal. He is one of only 4 nearly intact Triceratops skeletons in the world.(I am loving the picture I took of him!) As I looked over his bones, while Halis and Isaac were goofing about somewhere else, I found myself wondering how some people, in order to keep to their religion, have decided that all the skeletons/fossils of dinosaurs are a hoax. Apparently they need to believe this in order for the Christian bible timeline to make sense. I wondered how on earth anyone could pull off such a global hoax ... and how people could believe that these bones were planted all over the world for archaeologists to feign the discovery of them. I wondered this in part because I once had a friend who truly believes that dinosaurs were created as a global hoax to usurp Christianity. ANYWAY ... while I was wondering all that ...


Isaac was simply enjoying them. :)

There was so much to see all around us ... and so little time (we will definitely go back!). There were so many exhibits that we enjoyed but did not get any pictures of. A fave that comes to mind is the new X-Ray exhibit ... where Daddy showed Isaac the x-rays of various animals with various ailments.

I found this amazing rock ...

Anyone know what is called? It is gorgeous. I want to wear it all over me!

I also found this enormous piece of artwork that called to me ...





I think I may try to recreate this in some way ... on a much smaller scale ... and with paper :)


Here - for whatever reason - was one of my favorite interactive sections of the museum ...




I think I would also like to recreate this in our home too! What a simple, yet brilliant way to learn about birds! Oh, and I just have a thing for silhouettes :)

This was Isaac's favorite ... and I really think he could have spent hours at it ... watching the mechanics at work ...


At one point, there were at least a dozen kids watching this piece ... and I think Isaac loved it as much for the social interaction as he did for the mechanics of it. That's my boy.

And at the very end of our visit, I remembered the bees! The bees that I was mesmerized by as a child ... so Halis and I made sure to run Isaac up to the top floor to catch a glimpse. And it was worth it ... once again ...




So, there ya have it ... a glimpse of what we enjoyed during our first Boston day. We missed quite a bit at the museum ... so now have an excuse to return ... that and we want to do an overnight in the museum! I want to live out the adventures of Claudia and Jamie ... just as I heard them when I was in 3rd grade :) Have you ever done such a thing?


Although we weren't able to explore any one exhibit in the depth that it deserved, we now have some starting points for homeschool discussion and exploration.
Day Two? The Aquarium! And it was AWESOME! Will post more asap. Thank you for reading & sharing with us.


Love,

Jodi & Family

It's New Years Eve!

To contact us Click HERE

What's your resolution? Do you make them? Do you keep them?

I don't know if I have ever really made any ... and I am sure I simply can't THINK of any because I never really actually KEPT any. But I have a few "thoughts" for the upcoming year ;) And they go something like this:

* Like nearly every other American, I would like to make a commitment to weight loss and healthier living in the new year ... especially since the Mayans believed that this will be the last year for humans on earth. Or maybe because it could be my last year ... I should just eat tons of chocolate and worry not about my heart or health? Hmmmm ... I signed Isaac and I up for karate anyway. At least if the Zombie Apocalypse occurs, (as also popularly believed), I will be prepared for executing awesome karate chops to brainless heads. And I will be healthier ... just in case we all make it to 2013.

* I would like to make a commitment to play more. Yes, PLAY. I want to play board games, team sports, practical jokes (only the nice, really fun kind), play with Isaac and Halis more ... creating epic star wars battles on the living room floor ... etc. PLAY, PLAY, PLAY. One of my favorite Calvin and Hobbes quotes comes to mind: "There is never enough time to do all the nothing you want." I wish to MAKE that time ... to do the silly things that society tends to tell us do not matter ... like chasing each other around with squirt guns, playing endless games of Monopoly, faux tag team wrestling on the bed, searching for worms in the spring mud, etc. etc. etc. Are you feeling me?

* I also wish to make a commitment to create fun play dates with my friends. And if they want, we can run around and chase each other with squirt guns (as stated above) OR we can go out for martinis ... whichever is preferred at the moment. I have amazing friends, and I think 2012 will rock if I make the commitment to spend more time with them.

* But perhaps most important, my sweet little family of 3 has made the commitment to add another child to our family in 2012! Not a resolution really ... but we have announced to friends and family that we have begun the process to domestically adopt a newborn into our family. We are all very excited about this. Isaac is certainly the MOST excited :) Details will follow ...

2012 will undoubtedly be awesome. Many changes have taken place in our lives over 2011 ... and though some were difficult to be sure ... they have led us to this new place of hope, renewed faith & love, and a commitment to cherish and grow our family and our circle of friends.

At this time of reflection on the past and hope for the future ... I wonder what you are all thinking about committing to for the new year ... for your life ... for your family ... for you. Please share.

And thank you all for reading and sharing with me over the past year. Love to you and yours. Happy New Year.

Love,
Jodi

Children's Museum of Bangor.

To contact us Click HERE
It was a snowy day earlier this week ... so Isaac and I decided to spend some time at the local Maine Discovery Museum. I now know that poor Isaac was coming down with something ... so he didn't expend too much energy ... but we did enjoy the following ...

This place is such a treasure in our community ... and my photographs only give the smallest glimpse of how awesome it is. Since we were both feeling a bit "under the weather" ... we didnt spend as much quality time as we have in the past and will in the future :)

Just thought I'd show a glimpse of one our recent outings. What are you all up to???

Love,Jodi

Isaac's Drawing.

To contact us Click HERE
Isaac asked me yesterday what I did for work before he was born. My response was that I had several jobs during my young adult life ... so did he want to know them all? He told me to pick the one I had when Daddy and I first starting dating...

Well, the truth is that when Halis and I first started dating ... at the age of 15 ... I worked this crappy, crappy job at a stateline liquor store (which apparently is now a smoke shop). Working there under the age of 18 would be totally illegal now. Maybe even under 21, I don't know. And maybe it was even illegal then, but the guy who managed the place was my Dad's friend and that is how I got the job. Basically, I sold lots and lots of beer. And though I have no problem with beer, I felt a little weird telling my 6-year old that when I was still a kid, I was selling liquor. (Not to mention that I walked to and from the store ... a couple miles each way ... in the dark ... alone ... through a sketchy part of town). But anyway ... I saw that Isaac had a pen in hand as he was asking me this question, so assuming my answer might turn into some artwork ... I lied.

I told Isaac about one of the next jobs I had ... one that I am very proud of ... I worked as a Nanny for the Trippier family from the time I was 18 to about 21 (when I left to get married and move to Maine). He liked that answer. He smiled. And then he went to ask Daddy the same question.

About 20 minutes later, my boy comes to me with this drawing:
I thought I knew what was going on in this drawing, but never wanting to assume ... I asked him to explain. He told me that Daddy used to work at a sub shop when he started dating me (totally true) and that on the upper left hand corner is a picture of Daddy serving a sandwhich to a customer. He then explained that I am on the left of the drawing, serving green soda to one of the kids that I took care of. I smiled ... (glad that he didn't show a picture of me serving beer ... but humored by the thought that the picture would probably look exactly the same either way).

I then looked at the baby-in-the-belly picture, and asked if this was a picture of him. He said yes ... that the entire picture was showing what everyone was doing while he (Isaac) was waiting to be born inside of his birthmom, Marjorie. I then noticed that Marjorie was smiling in the picture, but that Daddy and I were frowning. When I asked him about this, he explained that we were unhappy because our baby wasn't born yet ... and that we were waiting for him ... but that Marjorie was smiling because she knew he was going to be born soon.

Awesome. Truly awesome.

And it is in these sorts of random drawings that I learn more and more about what my boy is thinking ... and how he views the world.

Enjoy your world today ... especially your kiddos.

Love,
Jodi

Raul's OTHER New Wheels

To contact us Click HERE
Through the help of some wonderful friends, and Raul's PT, Raul has been given a loaner power chair by Permobil. Permobil, along with the vendor, are working on getting him a more permanent chair (either new, or a donated demo chair), but for now, this is working great! Raul loves his chair! He is able to move it himself now, but has not mastered steering yet! Today he drove it over to the other building in our compound to pick up a package, and he actually did the straightaway by himself with me just walking next to him! I think it will take him a while to figure out steering, as we can't just explain it to him as you might with some kids, but he will get it! He cries every time he has to get out of his chair; he LOVES his new wheels!

Boston: Museum of Science: Isaac's First Visit!

To contact us Click HERE
This past week, our little family took a much needed trip to Boston. "Much needed" in the sense that we needed to get away for a while, just us three, to take a break from the chaos of our lives and simply enjoy one another. But also "much needed" in the sense that Mama needed to revisit the city of her childhood ... the city that my Dad took us to whenever we needed a bit of culture, some interesting foods, music, museums, and whenever we just needed to be surrounded by people of all kinds. My Dad and I are kindred spirits ... and Boston feels good to us.

I took Meaghan to Boston when she was 6 (still searching for the pics of that trip) ... taking the train in from Lowell ... for a visit to the New England Aquarium. It was a wonderful day for us ... and I figured it was time to do the same for Isaac.

But instead of one day ... we took a vacation of three days. One day for each place that I wanted to share with my boy. Day one? The Museum of Science.

As a child, I loved the Museum. As a young adult, I found it boring. As a Mama, I fell in love all over again. Such a huge place full of rich history and exciting innovations.

Here is a bit of what we saw/did:

First stop ... Theatre of Lightning ... one of my favorite exhibits from childhood ... and as relevant today as it was 30 years ago. But not one of Isaac's favorites. Very loud and a bit over his head. But interesting (again) for both Daddy and me.

Then, a bit of the old space exhibits that we parents also remembered from our childhood ...

R2-D2 and Luke Skywalker never get old. And since Isaac is a recent convert to the whole Star Wars trilogy ... this was a super cool find for him.

Sometime after space ... we went over to the Evolution, Human Birth and Anatomy sections. These were my favorite! Skeletons that showed the evolution of the human species ... various animal brains in jars (beluga whale brains are awesome!) ... a whole exhibit on reproduction that was so well done ... baby chicks hatching in a hatchery for all to see ... WAY COOL.

And as part of the whole Human Evolution exhibit ... there were Tamarin monkeys ... live ones. So adorable and fun to watch. And I swear to you ... on pain of death by flying monkeys ... that we (all three of us) witnessed two Tamarins totally making out. Like for real making out. Lips to lips ... smooching. Then they would preen each other ... then cuddle ... then smooch ... and repeat. It was awesome.

Why Tamarin monkeys? Well, I don't think we got that far, but the website reads: "Ancient stone tools, poisonous plants, DNA, fossil skulls, and tamarin monkeys all have something in common: they are all clues that help explain why all life on Earth, including humans, evolves over generations." So if you are interested, check out their site and search for the connection.

Later ... after skipping around to various exhibits (we had only a few hours so did much skipping about to the exhibits we knew were a must see) ... we found ourselves among dinosaurs!





The above dino is Cliff, who is apparently a big deal. He is one of only 4 nearly intact Triceratops skeletons in the world.(I am loving the picture I took of him!) As I looked over his bones, while Halis and Isaac were goofing about somewhere else, I found myself wondering how some people, in order to keep to their religion, have decided that all the skeletons/fossils of dinosaurs are a hoax. Apparently they need to believe this in order for the Christian bible timeline to make sense. I wondered how on earth anyone could pull off such a global hoax ... and how people could believe that these bones were planted all over the world for archaeologists to feign the discovery of them. I wondered this in part because I once had a friend who truly believes that dinosaurs were created as a global hoax to usurp Christianity. ANYWAY ... while I was wondering all that ...


Isaac was simply enjoying them. :)

There was so much to see all around us ... and so little time (we will definitely go back!). There were so many exhibits that we enjoyed but did not get any pictures of. A fave that comes to mind is the new X-Ray exhibit ... where Daddy showed Isaac the x-rays of various animals with various ailments.

I found this amazing rock ...

Anyone know what is called? It is gorgeous. I want to wear it all over me!

I also found this enormous piece of artwork that called to me ...





I think I may try to recreate this in some way ... on a much smaller scale ... and with paper :)


Here - for whatever reason - was one of my favorite interactive sections of the museum ...




I think I would also like to recreate this in our home too! What a simple, yet brilliant way to learn about birds! Oh, and I just have a thing for silhouettes :)

This was Isaac's favorite ... and I really think he could have spent hours at it ... watching the mechanics at work ...


At one point, there were at least a dozen kids watching this piece ... and I think Isaac loved it as much for the social interaction as he did for the mechanics of it. That's my boy.

And at the very end of our visit, I remembered the bees! The bees that I was mesmerized by as a child ... so Halis and I made sure to run Isaac up to the top floor to catch a glimpse. And it was worth it ... once again ...




So, there ya have it ... a glimpse of what we enjoyed during our first Boston day. We missed quite a bit at the museum ... so now have an excuse to return ... that and we want to do an overnight in the museum! I want to live out the adventures of Claudia and Jamie ... just as I heard them when I was in 3rd grade :) Have you ever done such a thing?


Although we weren't able to explore any one exhibit in the depth that it deserved, we now have some starting points for homeschool discussion and exploration.
Day Two? The Aquarium! And it was AWESOME! Will post more asap. Thank you for reading & sharing with us.


Love,

Jodi & Family

Children's Museum of Bangor.

To contact us Click HERE
It was a snowy day earlier this week ... so Isaac and I decided to spend some time at the local Maine Discovery Museum. I now know that poor Isaac was coming down with something ... so he didn't expend too much energy ... but we did enjoy the following ...

This place is such a treasure in our community ... and my photographs only give the smallest glimpse of how awesome it is. Since we were both feeling a bit "under the weather" ... we didnt spend as much quality time as we have in the past and will in the future :)

Just thought I'd show a glimpse of one our recent outings. What are you all up to???

Love,Jodi