12M ~ April 2020

Day 13: A song you'd love to be played at your wedding!

The Doc: I Will Not Take These Things For Granted - Toad the Wet Sprocket (He said we already had our wedding so...he chose our actual wedding song 🙄)

Me: Brighter than Sunshine - Aqualung
David: Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Shaun: Celebration  - Kool & The Gang
Evan: Your Song - Elton John

Don't get me wrong, I love our wedding song, it has very special meaning to us, but this song came out after we got married and I would have seriously campaigned for this to be our song choice!  I love, love, love this song.  I first heard it when I watched what has become one of my favorite guilty pleasure movies - A Lot Like Love, and I have been obsessed ever since.

April Homecation: 

30 squats a day for 30 days! We did it! 💪🏻🥊

Outsourced dinner duty to the 13 year old!

Homemade meatballs

I ordered myself a new bread baker (Happy early Mother's Day to me!) and made some homemade French bread!

12M ~ April 2020

Day 12: A song from from the 70's!

The Doc: Surrender - Cheap Trick
Me: Imagine - John Lennon
David: September - Earth, Wind & Fire 
Shaun: Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
Evan: Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John ft. Kiki Dee

This was probably the easiest choice for me yet. Song writing today isn't what it used to be.

April Homecation:

Now that is more like it! 🌞 Too bad it doesn't last. Rain again tomorrow and Friday. ☔😒

Remy loving the porch life!

12M ~ April 2020

Day 12: A song from your preteen years!

The Doc: Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Me: Vogue - Madonna
David: Pop Out - Polo G Feat. Lil Tjay
Shaun: Old Town Road - Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus
Evan: Bad Guy - Billie Eilish

Greta Garbo and Monroe; Bette Davis we love you!  When I think of "preteen years", I think of being 11 and 12 years old and so for us, that means songs from 1990 and 1991, for the older two boys I told them to search for songs when they were that age and for Evan (who isn't even 10 yet - he turns 10 on Friday!), I told him to choose a song that came in the last year. As I thought about songs from those years, I had to choose Vogue by Madonna.  I was obsessed.  Like A Prayer is still one of my all time favorite albums (start to finish), but that album was released in 1989 and did not fit the criteria I set.  Vogue is still classic though, I mean who doesn't like to strike a pose?

April Homecation:

Cruising down the main drag getting a treat from Dunkin Donuts!

Still cloudy and cool, but no rain means momma got some alone time with her favorite podcast guys (Jon, Jon, Tommy and Dan @crookedmedia @podsaveamerica).

Had some fun with my sourdough starter and made some sourdough bagels (started the process the night before) and some homemade sourdough tortillas.

Sourdough bagels!

Sourdough tortillas

12M ~ April 2020

Day 11: A song you never get tired of!

The Doc: He said that he could not do this theme because there isn't any song that he doesn't eventually get tired of....🤦‍♀️😂
Me: I'll be there for you - The Rembrandts
David: Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
Shaun: Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
Evan: Into the Unknown - Panic! At The Disco

Yes the theme song to Friends! Could there be a better song? This has to be one of my all time favorite shows ever. Between TBS during the day and Nick at Nite in the evening I have re-watched every season numerous times over. And so I am choosing this song, because hearing this song, means there is an episode to watch and I will never get tired of that!

April Homecation: It  was cold (averaged 38 degrees), raining and we couldn't go anywhere so we had a lots of screen time today, but we did manage to get in some reading too.

April Homecation - No where to go and 38 degrees and raining is some next level bullshit. Guess I will snuggle on the couch with the cat and read a book. Haven't been doing that for a minute. 🙀📖🙄

12M ~ April 2020

Day 10: A song that makes you sad!

The Doc: Black - Pearl Jam
Me: I Think it's Going to Rain Today - Bette Midler
David: All Girls Are The Same - Juice WRLD
Shaun: Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
Evan: Happier - Marshmello ft. Bastille

I went way back for this one and it wasn't a cut and dry choice, I went back and forth on this one.  I ended up choosing this song because Beaches was the first movie I remember ugly crying to and then playing the movie soundtrack on repeat singing all the songs.  And I realize that Wing Beneath My Wings, would have been the more obvious choice, but I don't love that song as much as I love this one and it's the only song I from this soundtrack that I still have on replay today because I love singing it so much.  My other song was Words Fail from Dear Evan Hansen, that song is a gut punch especially if you have been able to see that show live.  I also considered How to Save a Life by The Fray and Winter by Joshua Radin because those were some rare sad moments on Scrubs (and yes I bawled my eyes out!).


Having lots of fun with A Starter Has No Name and tried out another waffle recipe for breakfast and made sourdough pretzels!

Finished Product

12M ~ April 2020

Day 9: A song that makes you happy!

The Doc: Where The Streets Have No Name - U2
Me: Shiny Happy People - R.E.M.
David: Come On Get Happy - The Partridge Family Theme Song
Shaun: Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!
Evan: I Want You Back - Jackson 5

This is impossible!  So many songs make me happy!  I even have a whole playlist dedicated to songs that make me "feel good".  I had Star Mile by Joshua Radin, This is the New Year by A Great Big World, Stand by R.E.M, and Light and Day by The Polyphonic Spree on my short list but Shiny Happy People is the epitome of what I think of in a song to make people happy and I always loved Kate Pierson from The B-52's sang vocal harmony on this track!

via GIPHY

Mum. I haz dunka doz?

Sun's out, guns out!

The Doc took the kids on a hike while I stayed back to do some work on the pool.  He never thinks to take pictures so imagine my surprise when he text me this! 🥰

12M ~ April 2020

Day 8: A song about drugs or alcohol!

The Doc: Sober by Tool
Me: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by The Beatles
David: Molly by Iann Dior ft. Bernard Jabs
Shaun: Tequila by The Champs
Evan: Escape (The Piña Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes

There are lots of great songs about drugs and alcohol.  I was going through some lists and even found ones I wouldn't have even considered like Cough Syrup by Young the Giant and The A Team by Ed Sheeran. Other songs worth mentioning are Semi Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind, Rehab by Amy Winehouse or Gin & Juice by Snoop Dogg.  But I had to go with Lucy, I love all things Beatles and they were heavy in my play list rotation back when I was in high school.  I used to borrow my Dad's albums and play them on my record player, while hitting record on my tape deck so I could have my very own Greatest Hits.

Homeschooling Day 25: It's Friday. Another week is in the books. 🍻 We continue to mix things up over here using all available spaces as the mood strikes. Evan had fun doing a virtual scavenger hunt with his class.

It's Whiskey Friday y'all! Manhattans tonight! 🥃 Cheers!

12M ~ April 2020

Day 7: A song to drive to! 

The Doc: Interstate Love Song by Stone Temple Pilots
Me: Runnin' Down A Dream by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
David: Robbery by Juice WRLD
Shaun: Don't Stop Believin' by Journey
Evan: Life is Highway covered by Rascal Flats from Cars

These days, when I drive I tend to listen to podcasts or we do Carpool Karaoke Showtunes edition so I had to think about drives from yesteryear. Songs like Rearview Mirror by Pearl Jam, Black Horse and the Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall or Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day come to mind. In fact I remember when we lived in PA listening to the entire American Idiot album on long drives back to NH. Garden State Soundtrack was another one I was obsessed with listening to on long drives. But I had to go with Tom Petty, he immediately comes to mind when I think of driving in fact any of his songs would work for this theme!


In remote learning news:
Homeschooling Day 24: I thought they were goofing off when I came upstairs from my workout...turns out it was just Shaun getting some feedback on his writing assignment from his brothers.

Warning shameless bragging post...proceed with caution... 😉 Today my gym had a push up challenge and so at every active break in between each round we had to do push ups with a goal of at least 100 by the end of the workout. I finished with 105 and 40 were up on my toes. It's a big deal because a year ago I would not have even been able to do 40 push ups on my knees and so I am feeling pretty proud tonight! And for the record, my arms are now dead. 😂💪🏻🥊

12M ~ April 2020

Day 6: A song that makes you want to dance! 

The Doc: Canned Heat by Jamiroquai - this was hard for Charlie. He doesn't actually dance or feel compelled to get on the dance floor. He chose this solely because of the Napoleon Dynamite dance. 😂
Me: Cotton Eye Joe by Rednex
David: Safety Dance by Men Without Hats
Shaun: I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston - I have literally no words. 😂🤣😂
Evan: I'm A Believer covered by Smash Mouth from Shrek

This was another hard one for me to choose just one.  There are so many songs that will get me grooving like HandClap, Danza Kuduro, Can't Stop the Feeling.  I could have gone with some old school classics like, Groove is in the Heart, Love Shack, Pump Up the Jam or Footloose - or even really old school with some Bee Gees (who doesn't love a good disco!).  But anyone who knows me, knows that I'm a sucker for a good line dance and so I am choosing Cotton Eye Joe.  I could be anywhere but if I hear that song, you better believe I'll be in the front row of the dance floor getting my dance on!

40 degrees with 18mp wind, gusting higher than that!🥶 

Water temp is 46

1, 2, 3, JUMP!

Warming up in the hot tub!

Auggie wanted to watch Parks and Rec with us!

12M ~ April 2020

Day 5: A song that needs to be played loud! 

The Doc: Last by Nine Inch Nails
Me: Du Hast by Rammstein
David: We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel
Shaun: So What by P!nk
Evan: Believer by Imagine Dragons

This was an easy one.  This song immediately came to mind when I saw the theme.  It was a song we blasted full volume back in college for fun.

In remote learning news:
Homeschooling Day 22: David's homeschooling fashion is on point! 👈😂

Homeschooling Day 22: Extra curricular time. 🎨🖍️ Evan was thrilled to spend some time "after school" doing an art project with his art teacher today!

12M ~ April 2020

Day 4: A song that reminds you of someone!  

The Doc: Ice, Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice
Me: Fireflies by Owl City
David: Happy Together by The Turtles
Shaun: Break My Stride by Mathew Wilder
Evan: Waving Through a Window from Dear Evan Hansen

I took creative liberty on the list.  It's my list, I can do what I want!  I crossed off the "you'd rather forget" part.  What has made this fun for me so far is going through music that I love and thinking about the different themes.  Why would I want to think about music that brings up some bad vibes.  So that brings me to my choice for my new theme; Fireflies by Owl City.  There are lots of songs that remind me of people (the most obvious choice being my wedding song reminding me of the Doc and Bubbly by Colbie Caillat reminds me of my sister because for years it was her cellphone ringtone), but I chose this song because this song has such a strong memory for me of my dear friend and I cannot hear this song without thinking of her and all our weird (and sometimes morbid) conversations we have had over the years.  Susan hates this song with every fiber of her being (I apologize in advance for putting it in her head) and I will never forget the day she told me just how much she hated this song.  It's one of my favorite stories and so now every time I hear this song I can't help but smile and have a good laugh to myself.

Homeschooling Day 21: Homeschooling Day 21: Evan sharing his new ukulele skills with his class on Google Meet. He has been fiddling with it for about a week now. He's got notes down, next he wants to learn to strum. 🎶🎵🎶

12M ~ April 2020

Day 3: A song that reminds you of summertime! 

The Doc: Today by Smashing Pumpkins
Me: Tonight, Tonight by Smashing Pumpkins
David: Fun, Fun, Fun by the Beach Boys 
Shaun: Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper (when I asked him what made him think of this song he said - "when I think of the song I usually picture the beach in the summertime" 😂).
Evan: In Summer from Frozen

I had a lot of fun thinking about classic summer anthems, (like David's Beach Boys choice 😆) but ultimately I'm choosing Tonight, Tonight by the Smashing Pumpkins.  That song always makes me think of the summer when Charlie and I really started to hang out.  It was before our junior year of high school and he would often pick me up from work and I would have a mint patty milk shake for him and we would drive around aimlessly and just talk.  Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was on constant replay on the car CD player.  Tonight, Tonight was one of the few songs I really liked on that album and has a special place in my heart, so much that it was used on our wedding day when the DJ introduced us at the reception! 

12M ~ April 2020

Day 2: A song you like with a number in the title! 

The Doc: Forty Six and 2 by Tool
Me: One Thing by Finger Eleven
David: 22 by Taylor Swift (He was very amused with himself for this pick 😂)
Shaun: I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers
Evan: 21 Guns by Green Day

I had a hard time choosing just one for this.  I had about 4 different songs I was going back and forth but kept coming back to One Thing.  I first heard this song while watching Scrubs.  That show influenced a lot of music I still enjoy listening to today so I chose that one.  My "honorable mentions" would be Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks and Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes.


In other quarantine news...I am having a love hate relationship with A Starter Has No Name. Sourdough pancakes are brewing for breakfast in the morning. 🥞 😋

12M ~ April 2020

A friend posted this 30 song challenge and I decided that it would be fun to play along and get the whole family involved.  Music definitely helps me keep calm and less stressed so it will be fun to think about songs based on the theme of the day.

Day 1: A song you like with a color in the title!

The Doc: Black Star by Radiohead
Me: The Song of Purple Summer from Spring Awakening
David: Back in Black by AC/DC
Shaun: Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra
Evan: Blue (Da Ba Dee) by Eiffel 65

Homeschooling Day 20: Evan and Momma ~ Google meet selfie! It was special guest day for Evan's class meet and Evan invited me to join him! So fun!!

Homeschooling Day 20: Remy making sure David's Tech Ed assignment is quality. 😹

12M ~ April 2020

Homeschooling Day 19: Shaun wasn't exactly thrilled to learn that he would be "stuck" with another quarter of Art (he was supposed to have Health but the school opted not to change schedules while at home). I was just happy that he managed to get his assignment done without too much of a fight. I think it helped that he was able to do the assignment digitally and he didn't have to draw or use clay. 😂😂😂

Homemade garlic knots!  SO GOOD!

Thirsty Thursday!

12M ~ April 2020

Mum. I haz tubby time? 🛀😹

Remy enjoying Season 2 of Heroes with Evan!

12M ~ April 2020

Homeschooling Day 17: Big Brother for the win! Checking on little brother to make sure he was on the right track with his math assignment! 👍🏻

12M ~ April 2020

Homeschooling Day 16: School in a bathrobe??? This seems to be a step too far, right?!? 🤦‍♀️😂🤪

Evan's art teacher posted an art challenge that included creating a "laundry landscape".  It was good timing because Evan just finished his load of laundry and was able to create this before putting it all away!

Evan's laundry house, blue sky and rose garden!

Quarantine carb loading...bagels and biscuits. 🥯 

Homemade biscuits

Homemade bagels

12M ~ April 2020

Happy Easter! 🐰🐣

He was so excited about getting this book dug right into the Dog Man book!

David and Evan helped make some Easter desserts!

David made a Cadbury Egg Triffle!

Evan made candied popcorn!

We are missing all of our family today, but we still had to get dressed up for the traditional holiday picture.

And we still made ham, although it was definitely scaled back a bit since it was just the 5 of us.