What's That Smell?

Last week, Nanny, the Madore-ables and I got the chance to take a tour of Fantini Bread Bakery in Haverhill, Mass. From the time we parked our car in the parking lot to the time we left the bakery, we smelled nothing but freshly baking bread. Yum!


We learned quite a bit that day. Fantini has been around since 1902 and they operate/bake from 4:00 a.m until 11:00 p.m. That's a whole lot of bread!


We arrived a little bit early so we received quite a show before the actual tour actually began. Both the girls received a fresh piece of baked bread to munch on. Then, two 18-wheeler trucks carrying 50,000 pounds of flour each arrived. Fantini receives 100,000 pounds of flour 2 times a week. Can you imagine?




Here are a few pictures of our amazing tour!

We learned that this is the start of the bread making process.

Then the dough is portioned out. (Here, they were making sub rolls)

This machine can crank out 5,000 rolls in 1 hour!

Then the dough is proofed at 80 degrees for some time so the dough can rise, then it's baked.
(This particular oven below is the oldest oven that Fantini has. I believe our tour guide said it's about 60 years old!)

A peek inside the long oven

(I seriously wish you could smell how good this smelled)

While sub rolls are being made, in another part of the factory, bulkie rolls are being made.

(Blocks of butter and flour are made)

Again, the dough is portioned out and laid out on a conveyor belt. Then the signature "star" shape is pushed inside.

This is the actual machine that makes those "star" shapes on each bulkie roll.

Then they are baked of course just like every other roll and loaf of bread.

Whenever bread is finished baking, it goes on a very long conveyor belt ride allll over the factory. This cools the bread down naturally.

Eventually, the conveyor belt meets here in a circular conveyor belt where there is a cooling unit to speed up the cooling process...

...before the bread is bagged up to go to hundreds of stores in the Merrimack Valley area.

Fantini let us all go home with a bag of those freshly baked bulkie rolls.

It's funny. Sarah HATED wearing the hair net while we were visiting Fantini, but was all smiles to wear it at home!

Thank you to the FCC in Haverhill, Massachusetts for arranging such a fun field trip!

Jail House Rock

This past week, the Madore-ables and I took a little adventure to the local police station for a grand tour. Officer Malone spoke about the dangers of strangers, and bicycle safety. We were able to have a tour of the dispatch room and actually heard a live telephone call of someone reporting a house fire. Thankfully, nobody was hurt and the fire department was able to put the fire out quickly. The girls were fascinated that the two dispatchers had about 5-6 computer moniters in front of them. (In fact, Sarah whispered that one of the screens looked like a "really really big GPS").

The girls were pretty psyched about the tour...well, I guess I should say that Sarah absolutely LOVED it. Samantha was a little intimidated by the fact that the "bad people" have their time outs in a jail cell. She held hands with me the entire time we were there. She was fine by the end of the tour when she saw what was parked outside though...

Serving their 30 second sentence...Sarah loved it.

Interesting graffiti. My question is, what would Dora the Explorer have to say about this?

The Officer showing us the bicycle room and explaining why it's important to wear helmets.

This is the key box that stores all the keys to the Officer's cars. It's tradition that every ten years or so, they have a new box made to hold all the keys.

Sarah was inquiring about public records...

(Secretly, I think she was looking for a lollipop or something.)

Listening to Officer Malone talk about strangers...

Sarah LOVED the blue flashing lights and was poking them.

B - I - N - G - O!

Last week, Sarah and Mommy had a one on one date together. We decided to go play Bingo! Sarah did a fantastic job and won all but 1 game. We did "Shape Bingo" and "Animal Sounds Bingo" and finished up with "Farmyard Bingo".

Sarah's Great-Grandmother's in Florida and in Maine would be very proud to know that she is a champion Bingo player!


(*Please exscuse the quality of the photos...they are taken with my cell phone)

"MOMMY! I GOT BINGO!"

Sarah was SO excited about the prize she received

Ten Pins

Earlier this past week, Samantha and I took a "Mommy and Me" date. We decided to head to a local bowling alley for some candlepin bowling. And what game of bowling isn't complete without bumpers? Samantha had never been bowling, and after her reaction it probably won't be her last either. She was very excited to wear the bowling shoes, and yet was a little put off that it was ok for us to wear shoes "inside the bowling house". (The rule in our house is that we don't allow shoes.)

It was nice to get out with Samantha and just be silly and goofy for a little while. We had a great time and when I asked if Samantha would like to come again, she said "Yeah! But, next time, let's bring Sarah and Daddy with us".

Samantha scored a 65!

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the day.

Open Gym...Closed Eyes

Yesterday the girls and I went somewhere that we've never been before. I took the girls to the local YMCA for what they call "open gym". By far the best decision I could have made.

The girls were moving around quite a bit, so it was a challenge to get photos of them. Seeing their faces, I think you'll get the idea of just how much fun they really had.

The girls litterally ran around. Bounced around. Flipped upside down. Jumped up and down on the trampoline. They were in bed and asleep by 7:30 pm last night. Here's why:

I'm glad I brought two extra sippy cups for the girls. They were so thirsty at the end of the hour.

Five Things Friday

Five Things That Made Me Smile This Past Week:

1. The weather this week has been just awesome. Kid tested and mother approved as my favorite breakfast cereal slogan states. The sun has been out the last 3 days in a row and the Madore-ables and I have frequented many trips to the playground. Last night, Jeremy, the girls and I decided to do a dinner time picnic at the playground. It was nice to enjoy the fresh air while we ate, and see the girls running around. We are just weeks away from Summer time, but this is certainly a welcomed sight!





2. This past week, I had separate dates with both of the Madore-ables. On Monday, Samantha and I took a tour of the local community television studio. The editing room and the sound board room were a little over Samantha's head, but when it came time to look at the television cameras, Samantha pipes up with, "Mommy! These cameras have view finders just like our cameras!" Only Samantha :) Samantha also was able to learn what "Green Screen" was, and boy did she get a big kick out of that. Then we went to visit Daddy at work and snagged a small bag of pretzels. On Tuesday, Sarah and I did a exploration with magnets activity with the FCC. She had a great time "fishing" for magnetic fishies in the big tub. Afterwards, Sarah and I picked up lunch and went to go visit Daddy again at work. It was nice to have a break from the monotony.





3. My fabulous husband was able to fix the brakes on my car. The only benefit to having the car parked for 3 weeks in our driveway was the fact that I didn't have to fill the gas tank. So everything is running well and smoothly. Now to get rid of the pock marks in my windshield so I can get my inspection sticker.





4. Jeremy and I have both found our new obsession: "Words with Friends" which is essentially the game of Scrabble on our iPad. LOVE this game. We've even joined in on some games with friends too.



5. Our photography business is going to be extremely busy this year. Right now, we have 8 weddings lined up for the 2011 season. We're so excited! Feel free to view our website. http://www.capturedinmoments.com/

Tree Huggers!

Last week, the Madore-ables and I celebrated Arbor Day with the Mayor by planting a tree. Before the ceremony, the tree was dedicated, and mostly all of the children were able to get a turn with the Mayor by shoveling dirt around the new tree.

I should also point out that Samantha is already taking after me when it comes to her schmoozing with strangers. Samantha had no problem raising her hand nice and high when she wanted a turn to shovel the dirt, and when the Mayor called her on, she stood up and immediately started to talk about her Easter egg hunt at Nanny's house and how she's going to be a flower girl in her Aunt Jessica's wedding. (I kid you not).

The Mayor dedicating the tree and explaining the importance of why we celebrate Arbor Day

Samantha helping out the Mayor

Sarah had so much fun helping out!

After we planted the tree, we all went inside and created our own "Arboretum".

Sarah loves loves LOVES glue sticks

Happy Arbor Day!!