Cape Ann ~ Gloucester, Massachusetts in Winter

In yesterday's post I promised photos of our afternoon in Cape Ann. We went to Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. It is located along the northern coast of Massachusetts and is one of the earliest settlements (1623) in our fair state.

Our children are standing on the most prominent geological feature, a large rock sixty feet high and two hundred feet wide. It gives us panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding fishing village.

The waves gently break on smooth stones and trees grow out of the larger boulders above. There are winding trails through the rocks and a wonderful playground at the park near the large rock. Our children loved being in the rocks and woods above the sea.  Max found a hollow in an old tree and claimed it as his own. 

It was a quiet time there by the sea in winter. No snow on the ground but, cold enough to wear our winter gear. I found a nice piece of pale blue sea glass. I want to come back to this place again. There is something restorative about the sea for me. I love the smooth stones, the dragon art on a huge rock, the sea glass, the trees growing out of rocks and all the winding trails above the sea. Magical.  Healing really. 

Our children want to return too. I'm hoping the next warm and non-scheduled day to head back. Max can reclaim his tree home. Grant will fight the enemy. Ben and Charlotte will create imaginary scenarios and play them out and I will search for more sea glass and enjoy the solitude together with them. 

The Tooth Fairy Strikes Again

It all began last autumn when Max lost a top front tooth and the Tooth Fairy visited. Max left a note for her with a request for a "cat bobble head". Yes, a cat bobble head.  The Tooth Fairy searched and searched for a cat bobble head. There are none to be easily found ~ plenty of dog bobble heads. So, as any good Tooth Fairy's should do, she left a note apologizing for her inability.

This note greatly pleased Max and the three golden coins helped too.

Fast forward to winter. Now both Benjamin and Charlotte are losing baby teeth. They have begun to write notes to the Tooth Fairy too and being the BEST Tooth Fairy ever, she writes notes back.

It began simple enough. Thank you notes for the money or gift left under the pillow. Love notes really.

Then one night, the Tooth Fairy (ours is named Klepta Dente) forgot to retrieve Charlotte's tooth! Disaster! The tooth fairy, I think, had the flu.

Charlotte cried. Klepta Dente felt terrible. How could the Tooth Fairy forget a tooth?! Charlotte wrote a note. "Dear Tooth Fairy, I was upset because I didn't get a gift. So please, please know where I put...it's going to be under my pillow. XOXO You're the best tooth fairy. From Charlotte."

Klepta Dente had to write a note back apologizing yet once again for being so daft. "Dear Charlotte, I am sorry I missed your tooth last night. It was a very busy night for me. Thank you for your lovely white tooth. I love you. Tooth Fairy ~ Klepta Dente."
Charlotte received a Hello Kitty travel toothbrush and she was happy again.

She even wrote a thank you note for the toothbrush.

"Dear Tooth Fairy, Thank you for the awesome toothbrush. I love it so much. from Charlotte."
Whew! Maybe the Tooth Fairy would get some rest at night. Not so, soon Benjamin lost a baby tooth and Klepta Dente was on duty again.

This time Benjamin left a note and a gift with his tooth. I'll have to translate because he is still learning how to spell (first grade). 
"Dear Tooth Fairy, I would like to see a picture of you. And are you the best tooth fairy? From Ben. P.S. I wish I could see you and where you live. I love you more than Christmas."

Oh boy! Here's Klepta Dente ~ Tooth Fairy extraordinaire's reply.

"Dear Ben, Thank you. I think I am the best Tooth Fairy. I am shy and don't like my picture taken but, I will see what I can do. I love you more than Christmas too! Klepta Dente."
I was praying that this would be the end of the notes. No more baby teeth were lost.  Benjamin with his inquisitive mind couldn't let it go. He continued to write notes. And leave money. I guess he believes the Tooth Fairy needs money to give to other kids or to buy gifts. Right. 
"Dear Tooth Fairy, my tooth is wiggly it bothers me at school. I think it is going to fall out soon like maybe possibly Monday. I love you. Benjamin.  P. S. What's your phone number?"

Oh boy! How could the Tooth Fairy keep from laughing at that one. He wants a phone number!
Then, randomly, our oldest lost a baby tooth. 

The tooth fairy was on duty again. She being "The Best Tooth Fairy Ever", decided to leave gifts for all four precious children.

They loved their flowers.

Then more notes came.

And a picture too. This one had a fortune cookie on it. Klepta Dente ate it with hot tea. Delicious.

Klepta Dente HAD to respond.

Then the questions came.
Ben: "Are fairies real?"
Me:  "I'm not sure but, many people believe they are."
Ben: "I think they are real. Have people seen them?"
Me: "Um, maybe. (Then I remembered a movie I had watched a number of years ago ~ Fairy Tale A True Story). There is a movie about two girl cousins who took pictures of fairies long ago in England." 
Big mistake!
Ben: "Can we see it?"
Me: "Okay, let's see if it's on Netflix."
We tried and it can be rented but, we have the streaming option instead and there it is not offered.
Me: "I bet Auntie Trese knows. She knows about things like this."
So, we called Auntie Trese. Auntie Trese says we need a "seeing stone" like in Spiderwick. 
Benjamin headed right out into the nighttime snow in search of a "seeing stone". I had to tell him to come back in and that the next time we were at the beach or near a lake that we could look for one. 
It's a natural rock with a hole in the middle.
We then watched the most adorable Tooth Fairy sighting on You tube (you can watch it here). 
Ben and Charlotte wrote yet another note last night.

"Dear Tooth Fairy, Charlotte and I was going to see if we could see you some day. We love you 900000000...(you get the idea) so much. Love Charlotte and Ben."
Oh boy! How was Klepta Dente going to slow this pony down?
Light bulb!
Here's the note they received last night.

"Dear Charlotte and Ben, I thank you for your kind words and lovely notes. No human has ever seen me. I don't dare. I may turn into dust and that would be absolutely terrible. I love you both just the same. Klepta Dente."
We'll see how that works.
Klepta Dente is tired! 

Klepta Dente needs sleep!

You Can Take the Moon

                                 (Laurent Laveder ~photographer)
You can take the moon, gather up the stars

And the robins that sing merrily

Put 'em in a box

Tie 'em with a ribbon

Throw 'em in the deep blue sea

Not for me, all that stuff
The dreams that ruin your sleep
Not for me, had enough
Love is one thing you can keep

You can take the plans and the wedding bells
And whoever sings, "oh, promise me"
Put 'em in a box tie 'em with a ribbon
Throw 'em in the deep blue sea
'Cause love and I we don't agree


Hansoms through the park, kisses in the dark
All the promises made faithfully
Put 'em in a box, tie 'em with a ribbon
Throw 'em in the deep blue sea
Not for me, all that stuff
Not for me, had enough


You know what to do with good old tea for two
And the girl for you, the boy for me
Put 'em in a box, tie 'em with a ribbon
Throw 'em in the deep blue sea
'Cause love and I we don't agree


~ music written by Jule Styne ~ lyrics by Sammy Cahn
popularized by the 1948 movie Romance on the High Seas (aka It's Magic) sung by Doris Day


My mother sang to me each bedtime and this is a song she would sing. She sang many others too. I have such fond memories of her singing to me. She had the voice of an angel. I imagined putting love in a box, tying a yellow ribbon around the box and throwing it into the sea. Her singing transported me to dream-land each night and most of my dreams were sweet.

(this is a school photo of my Mother ~ Barbara)




I sing to our children each night. 
They usually have sweet dreams too.
God bless you Mother, you have blessed me all these years.

Autumn Festivities

Due to the freakish storm that hit us last Saturday and the heavy snow that shut down power to over 70% of our town for a week, Trick-or-Treating was wisely postponed until this past Saturday and even then it was only allowed from 4 to 6 PM. 
This was a smart decision because there are still downed wires and tree limbs across many roads. 
Thankfully, we never lost power and had minor tree damage.

Our kids were excited to be able to dress up and knock on doors for candy. Our neighborhood is full of kids and for two hours late Saturday afternoon, there were ninjas, Darth Vaders, pilots, and Cleopatras on the run. 

We walked the mile and a half stopping to chat with neighbors,

let little ones greet our Pup-Pup, take a few photos, and collect more  treats.

They sorted their goodies and were allowed one treat before having a late supper. I made sure they all brushed their teeth really well before bedtime!

Three favorite childhood memories: 
1. dressing up
2. having candy to eat
3. getting to be with friends doing the same thing


I'm glad it's over. Now, what to do with four bags of candy?

Ten Things I Love About My Max

My Maxwell was born 7 weeks early. He is a triplet. He weighed 3 pounds 8 ounces at birth. He is perfect.

1.  He can sleep anywhere and usually with something on his head.

2.  He loves to create.  He is artistic.

3.  He loves books.

4.  He loves to draw and write notes to his friends and family. He's an expert map maker.

5.  His best friend is his cousin Heather. They are 16 years apart.

6.  He wants to be an astronaut when he grows up. He has already designed his "escape pod".

7.  He loves to make his family laugh. His laugh is adorable and contagious.

8.  Need I say more?

9.  He loves his sister. They pretend they are book characters "Sam and Alice" and go on "adventures" most every day.

10.   He narrates movies. We have to tell him, "Shh, Max"! His favorite color is green. He has brown eyes like my husband. He can pull out his own loose tooth by himself!  He is my son. He is easy to love.