Oh my aching ear!

So after a week of an earache I finally make it to the dr. My ears are all clear which is good, but I have TMJ syndrome. Basically, I'm clenching my jaw or grinding my teeth at night and this causing all my pain. It explains why I have been waking up with terrible headaches and why the ear pain subsides during the day. Now I have to figure out what is causing the tension to make me grind my teeth so fiercly at night that it is making the muscles in my jaw hurt. Any ideas??

School has returned

It's hard to believe that September is almost over! Emma and I are both back to school. She loves her teacher in 3rd grade and is doing really well. I'm enjoying graduate school as well, although I could do without the course that meets once a month on Friday from 6-10 and Saturday from 8-6. Its fun, but tiring!
Scott is keeping busy with his tractor restoration projects. These cub cadet tractors are taking over! So I'm going to work diligently to get our credit card debt down so maybe the bank will consider a refinance with cash out so we can add a garage. The plan is to add a garage with a small mud room and half bath. The single bathroom lifestyle gets on my ever last nerve and I desperately want another one!
As the temperatures get lower, we will be busy getting our debt lower!

New York City!

Oh what a great time! I don't know why I waited so long to visit this awesome city. I really really really enjoyed it and am already trying to figure out a way to go back. We drove to Katonah, NY and had dinner with some family I had not seen in YEARS. We picked up the train and took it into Grand Central Station and then made our way to our hotel. Emma and I were so excited that we were in the hotel all of 10 minutes before we headed out to see the city.

We got up early Saturday morning and hopped on our bus tour which was the best money we spent. We saw all of lower Manhattan. We got off at Ground Zero and went to the chapel where the rescue workers came. Inside the chapel was so quiet even though there were fair amounts of people. I was overcome with emotion. Afterward we got back on the bus all through Chinatown and the East Village. Next stop....American Girl Store. Emma was in heaven and Scott was in hell. I was just happy to see how happy Emma was. We went to Central Park and FAO Schwartz where I got to dance on the giant piano from one of my favorite movies: Big.

We spent Saturday night on Broadway. Emma and I previewed all the shows and she decided before our trip that she wanted to see Mary Poppins (she really wanted to see Mamma Mia, but I had seen it last fall when it came to Elmira). What a great show, even Scott enjoyed it. I loved the ending! I'd tell you about it but you should check it out if you have a chance. I fell in love with Broadway theater last fall and became even more of fan after this weekend.

I seriously cannot wait to go back, I LOVE NY!!!

Saturday we left at 8:30 am and came back to the hotel at 4. We rested for an hour or so and then headed out to dinner and Mary Poppins

Niagara Falls and the Buffalo Zoo

Emma and I spent the weekend with our great friends in Buffalo. We went to the zoo for a little while and then trekked over to the falls. Wow was it busy there! We waited close to an hour in a LONG line to tour Cave of the Winds. Emma was a little disappointed that there was not an actual cave, but quickly got over that as we walked up to the falls. I have an insane fear of heights and normally walking up those stairs for this tour would have ended with a serious panic attack but for some reason I was not bothered in the least bit by the climb. Odd, very odd.

It was a long day but so very enjoyable for everyone! Next stop..... NEW YORK CITY!!!

Summer Adventures so far...

I spent the last 12 months writing a blog for Rotary. My year as President ended and so did the blog. I realized though that the blog was a nice way to keep distant family and friends up to date on what is going in our life. So I am at it again.

It's hard to believe that it's August and I am planning the back to school shopping. We've had a few adventures so far and more to come before the leaves begin to fall. We kicked off our summer with a visit with my brother and his family. Emma had such a great time with her cousins. We spent a day at the lake, where she caught many fish and even ate them. Thanks to Jay and Skip for helping the kids and cooking up the catch of the day. I don't care for fish but I tried a bite and it was pretty good.

We spent a great day at Darien Lake with old friends that was a total blast. The only downside for the day was I lost one of my brand new earrings :(

Emma has spent most days at the YMCA summer day camp. She has made lots of new friends and built many forts on the grounds of Watson Homestead. She will tell you that the worst part of camp is the bathrooms at Watson. I checked with the staff and there are quite a few bugs and cobwebs, I told Emma "it's rustic and outdoorsy" just enjoy it.
I've been busy with my first two graduate classes at Elmira College. I finished up this week and WOW that was fun but stressful. I don't have the official grades but I think I got an A in both classes. I started these just as I finished my Rotary term so this is the first weekend in a LONG time I have been able to just enjoy myself.

It is almost time for vacation. Emma has been dying to go to New York City, so I booked the hotel today. We are staying at the Hotel Roosevelt, smack dab in the middle of everything. I got a rate of less than $200 a night so I figured I'd splurge a bit and we'd stay right in the city. We NEVER go on vacation. It's just for a weekend but I am hoping that by staying in the city we can do a lot more than if we stayed somewhere outside the city. This way we can see some sights Friday night and Sunday morning. Saturday we'll go to the American Girl Doll Store and see Mary Poppins on Broadway for sure. I am also thinking about the double decker bus tour of the city. What else should we do? I'm promising myself to not eat out for lunch at work and no more iced lattes so I have some spending money in the big apple. I wish we could stay for a week so I could check out all the restaurants I've seen on Food Network. I'd love to hear suggestions from seasoned NYC travellers about where to go and what's just a tourist trap!

I also got my passport this summer so I can travel to Canada.Emma and I are hoping to go to Niagara Falls next weekend. I hope to make a quick trip to Toronto and so does Emma before we return to our regular scheduled program.

Scott has been busy restoring his Cub Cadet tractors, playing a few shows with his band, and replacing the tub surround in our shower and installing a new washing machine. Yes, two unexpected house projects. The washing machine was the last of the old appliances and it finally kicked the bucket. The tub surround cracked and was leaking water to the studs and wall behind it so that had to go. What a giant pain! These two unexpected expenses means that the landscaping in the front of the house didn't happen. I have a lovely patch of 3 leaf clovers, still looking for my luck and 4 leaf one, instead of the mulch and flowers that was intended when the bushes were pulled out.

School supplies and school clothes are up next!