Jack gets a hair cut and knock knock

Ahhhh, Jacks first haircut. We had put it off as long as possible. Darrel had been after us for some time to bring him in to chop those locks but we decided that the long curly hair was kind of cute and looked good on him, because it did. Plus, Jack being Jack, who knows what torture Darrel or Jeannette would have to endure. It wasnt as painful as I had anticipated. He squirmed a little bit and let out some miniature cries .but all in all, it wasnt that bad. His hair was so curly it made it hard for Jeannette to cut but there was no blood so life was good.
He looks so handsome with his new hairdo.
The video is of Jack doing his knock knock on arch-oo. He's so cute...he even told me so today. He said "Jack so cute". Cant argue with that one.


















CLICK PLAY FOR A KNOCK KNOCK JOKE

Bolton Valley ski weekend

Up, up and away we went to the lovely Vermont mountains at Bolton Valley. These kids are turning into crazed ski bums as they whip up and down the mountains with relative ease. You want cold, come to Vermont. It was hovering near zero the first day. It was colder a couple of years ago when we came, but still frigid like crazy. The kids took ski lessons every day and spent alot of time on the mountain with the ski instructors. Catherine didnt quite make it that long, but we expected that. She didnt like falling down so much so she ended up doing a whole lot more sledding than skiing. Jimmy, Laura, Jacob and Emily were impressive with the way they were flying around. For the first time, Laura went on the chair lift and was showing off by the end of the day.
Two years ago I bought this ridiculous yellow hat and it has been a staple in the winter wardrobe ever since. I'm a trend setter.
After having multiple needles stuck in my back on Thursday I ended up going on the mountain on Saturday, like the dope that I am. Every run I took a legendary spill. I went up with Jamie, Jimmy and Jacob. At some point, after being violated by the mountains, the kids wanted to go into the hotel rooms. Thankfully, Jamie understood when I told him that I cant leave until I make ONE run without falling. So off to the top and I had my one run without incident.
My body is absofreakinglutely killing me. Wonder what the doctor will say about this set of circumstances....
At night the kids went over to the hall where the gym and the pool is located. Friday we all went swimming. Catherine hung to the edge until I carried her and Erin around while the other buggahs went from the deep end all around the pool.
Saturday night was more of the same thing except that Jimmy didnt go swimming, he ended up playing basketball for hours with some of the cousing and others who were there in another group. His style is more of tackle basketball. Now that he is in a league he's starting to really get into hoops. This is one sport where he'll have to look elsewhere for guidance. It doesnt really matter though just so long as he keeps the smile on his face....thats the plan and up until now we havent had to bring him to one game or practice kicking or screaming.
The nightlife was another story. Friday night I ended up going out for a couple of drinks with Lyn. We ran into a bunch of family members and the local lager was really, really good. Umple Eddie was coming up at around midnight so after Lyn went back to the hotel room I stayed and hung out with the young cousins and thier twenty something year old gal pals. The party spilled off into one of their hotel rooms, lots of laughs later umple eddie phoned and was at the hotel so that was it for me. I have to be reminded some times that I'm not twenty anymore. Needless to say we had some fun though.
The next night, Eddie, Lyn and I ended up back at the bar for a night of singing and entertaining. Apparently, the night before was quite a hit with the younger crowd as I recieved a thunderious round of applause upon my entry. I'm still trying to remember what happened. Cousin Jimmy Pie filled Lyn in with the background of what did happen and I guess it was a pretty fun time, maybe he'll fill me in too.
The kids really had a great time. One thing is certain is if there is a sport, Jimmy will be all over it. Laura was quite a surprise as she improved so much in two short days. She was so smiley and cute telling us all about her whole day. Catherine was Catherine, which means that she loved every moment of the time she spent there. Even though she couldnt really keep up on ski's, she loved going sledding and she and Erin were even making me snow cakes. She is so happy all the time, its still so fun just to watch her.
Last but not least my little buggah Jack stayed with aunt Jo while we were gone. I missed the little buggah. Tonight before he went to bed, he and I sat on his Red Sox directors chair and watched the Fire Truck show and Blue's clues for some time. He seemed to have quite the time with Auntie Jo. Auntie was surprised I didnt call her every five minutes, I am too, but I did call and Lyn did call but it was amazing how quickly everythign went up there. There wasnt much sitting around and waiting.

And then there was basketball

James started his Christian basketball league this week. The first practice was cancelled last week so they went into game action with only one practice under their belt. They needed the prayers. They had a special entrance for all the kids to be announced and then the kids came into the gymnasium one at a time, sort of like the pro teams do it, only I like these players much better. Jacob goes to the same place, only he is only one level up from Jimmy so he played earlier in the day. After the game James received the Offensive player award. They have prizes for best offensive, best defensive and most Christlike. He scored two points during the game but was in control of the ball most of the time. I'm gonna have him work on that Christlike thing too. Now that is something he could use practice on....couldnt we all. During the game James also took quite a few shots, one even hit Tyler's gramdmother who was sitting unfortunately close to the basket. I tried to get an action photo of the impact but I dont know her so I snuck a photo after impact.

Snow pictures

The kids and i were on the front lawn throwing snow on each other and making snow angels. Jack was just kind of hanging out. Catherine creamed Jack with a snowball. Poor little Jacko. He wasnt too happy.

Celebrating laryngitis

So I cant yell to the kids for anything or at the kids for anything. I think Lyn is trying to kill me with this whole nursing thing(a quick proof read shows that this dont sound quite right, but what the hell) and Jack is feeding anything edible to Frankie.
Catherine this week had a little cold so I just kind of ignore it because I know I wont catch anything from them will I....of course not. But last night I just finally lost my voice. Its actually funny when I answer the phone and the other people cant hear me and I just look at the phone. Today, it was Patrick calling.
Lyn wants to give me her special medicine to make the voice better. It started with spraying lysol all over the house, including on my toast. Okay, that was probably an accident but yuck....and about the toast...garlic and butter...oo boy. Then to top it off there was a hot glass of milk. This goes back to my childhood where I remember throwing up from some hot milk. So thats not going to happen.
This afternoon, James has a hockey game. His first penance is coming up as well as the first communion in April. Both he and Laura had the first skiing lessons of the season on Friday. Jimmy was WHIPPING all over the place. Absolutely flying down the hills. Laura really hasnt skied (is that a word?) before so this was her first lesson...she was awesome about it. She ended up on the ground most of the lesson so I thought that would discourage her but it didnt at all. After the lesson she still wanted to go back on the bunny hill so we let her...Kara and Lyn stuck around after the lessons later to let Jimmy and Emily fly down the big hill for a while while me and Laura went home to greet the Pizza eaters. Aunt's Estelle, Janie,Margie and my aunt Chrissy were over as well as Jackie and her two little angels. Umple also came over. Speaking of umple, on Friday when Lyn and I were on our way to Boston we saw the ump on the other side of the highway flying home...I'm' thinking he was supposed to be at work...but I digress.
On Saturday, Aunti Jo came over and our beautiful little girls went to the hair salon to get their locks chopped. This was Catherine's first trip there. Lyn told me that Laura was nonstop chatter talking about anything and everything. Catherine was so cute. Its so fun just to watch her doing things like this that she enjoys. The smile and overall look on her face is priceless.
We are going to have to start a daily blog on the Jack broken article of the day website. He's a tv sitcom all to himself
Back to Lyn trying to kill me. She swears that garlic toast and butter is good for you and wont take no for answer so we all know who is going to win that one. The hot milk is bad enough. She's a hoot thats what she is.
I love aunt Jo's new camera. That stitching option is awesome.

Ten years passes quickly

Its amazing how quickly a decade slips through our fingers. There was some silly commencement speech put to music on the radio in 1999. One of the lines tells you not to worry, well worry, but know that the real worries in your life are things that never cross your troubled mind...things that are bound to blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday. 4pm on Tuesday January 5th, 1999 to be precise. Its been a great decade just the same as this blog shows.
First of all, shortly after that day there was list made with 101 things to do. Now ten years later its amazing how many of those things that I havent done, but the most important ones, I have done. I wanted to have a family and that is the one that I was really unsure about. Fathers Day always bummed me out before Jimmy, now it just tires me out...in a good way. So now is a good as time as any for an update on the little ones.....
James is now 7 years old and in the second grade. He loves (emphasis) loves playing hockey. One confession is that I've watched the hockey videos of Jimmy's game as goalie about fifty times. I'm biased but he was awesome!!!! I think it made it so much better because of how happy he was doing it. The kid never loses his smile.This time of the year is Bruins time. We are going to the Bruins game in two weeks. He's doing very well in school and loves to play his wii, x-box and computer games. He is also involved in wrestling and starts basketball this week. There hasnt really been any basketball genes on our side of the family, most of us were nicknamed "heads". This was because everytime one of us would shoot the ball everyone would yell out "heads".
Laura is six. She loves kindergarten and I just spoke to her teacher today. The teacher informs me that she is extremely bright and goes above and beyond what is asked of her. She is one who tells more than she should.....There are no secrets around here. She really is a perfect little girl. She loves her American Girl Dolls and is very good to her little sister. Amazingly, she and Jimmy have been getting along fabulously lately. They have been playing together and even joking around. Boy, I hope that lasts.
And speaking of perfect little girls, Catherine is now three years old and is my other little angel. I love it at night when I go in to move them around and check on them before I go to bed. Whenever I cover her up and put her on her pillow she is out cold with a smile on her face. She's so cute and cuddly. She asked me tonight if I'd bring her on a train soon. I think I'll try soon. I immediately think to how will we do that with the train bathrooms. I know we'd be in it a couple of times during the ride. Never fails!
My little Jack...oooo my little Jack. At two years old he loves his trains, Elmo and Blues Clues. He's a mommies boy but tonight he sat in his red sox seat and fell asleep on my chest. He gets these screams in the morning and I cant seem to get him to lower the decibel level. Nacks!!!!! Milkie!!!! is what we hear at about five a.m. every morning. Loud enough for Midge next door to hear. He's a cutie though, I love the words that come out of his mouth. He gets so excited when he sees all his friends like Nana,Doe, aunt jo, eddie and umple david, especially david and we cant forget dominick. Many mornings I hear Lyn yelling out "jack stop". He's beautiful though. When we were watching tv tonight he started dancing when the people on tv were doing the same. He gets down and shakes his booty. He's a hoot thats what he is.

My Little goalie and wrestler

What a great little goalie!!! James won his first game of the year in goal. 7-2.

Many breakaways like this one were turned back. All week long he was sooo excited about being the goalie including the night before when he woke up three times through the night to make sure he didnt oversleep.

HIT PLAY ON THE VIDEO TO SEE A GREAT SAVE

Then there was tonight when Lyn and I went to see Jim in his first ever wrestling tourney. There were a bunch of wrestlers in front of him to go and he waited patiently. when it was his time to go he went right at it. He was very agressive, maybe too agressive as he slammed his head into his opponents elbow. It hurt and the poor little buggah was embarassed and started welling up a bit with tears. They called off the match. Up until that point he had done pretty well. He states he wants to go at it again so we'll see.

I'm watching a show on childbirth, kids etc....hmmmmm. Its cute but all they speak to is the earthy crunchy people....