My beautiful Catherine

      I was asked today if she was as sweet as she looks.....yes, she is

     I love her forever, like her for always.  As long as i'm living, my baby she'll be......

Umple Eddies Birthday

      Laura was so excited all week to make Umple Eddies food for the birthday party.  We had the cake mix and rice crispy treat mix as well as muffin mix on Monday and Tuesday.  The cake was really good and moist too.  She made most of it herself as well as the other goodies.  She's such a good little kiddie and Cat and Jack even helped her with the food too.  Umple, Aunt Paula and Bobby, Nana and Doe and all the Blatt's all came over Saturday night for the birthday party.  The cake looks pretty good doesnt it??

      They decorated the house with flyers, pictures of the ump and balloons.  That spoiled buggah.

      This kids love their Umple very much and he loves them too.

snow angels

     I know there are multiples in here somehow but I dont have the heart to delete any of them so i will look at them twice....just so tired too :)

All that was missing was the blood today

      By far one of the most physical basketball games (for 7 year olds) that i've seen in a very long time.  Jackie spent most of the game on the floor but he went from one of the court to the other constantly.  Diving, tackling, they all had a blast.  He's got bruises all over him but there was only one kids who had hurt feelings so then they toned it down.

      He runs from one end of the court to the other just to get some position.  Here, this kid wasnt going to give him an inch.

Finally...a snowman for 2014

     I was kind of worried that we hadnt had our annual horrible snow..ummm...thing yet.  The snow has been somewhat plentiful but its always like dust in our hands.  Thankfully, this snow had a top layer of wet snow that made some sticking snow....These three hippies couldnt wait to get out and make our oddly shaped being......they are fun.

Concert in Laura's room

     Laura wanted to play us a certain song from her trombone and the audience loved her.  The kids got to stay up a little later on this school night so the fans were receptive.  She is getting pretty good at it too.  

      yes, the hippie wanted a Mr. T poster from Santa Claus..

Guess where we went today!!!

     I woke up this Sunday morning and went into the living room with the kiddies.  Sweet old Laura told me that she wanted to make the pancakes today and I was happy to oblige.  There was only minimal help from me and Catherine and Jack wanted to help, of course.  After devouring the wonderful Mickey Mouse pancakes the kids must have wanted to melt my heart because Laura asked what we were doing today.  With Mommy at work Catherine and Jack both said they wanted to go to Black Gordon.....oh well, I love that old, black train.  We went to good old Black Gordon and the train that doesnt move....we were there for a good long time too.  After that we headed out to Georges for lunch and then to Uncle Patricks.  Tomorrow is his birthday so we brought him over his favorite Georges pizza and the kids got to sing Happy Birthday to him....Alas, another successful Sunday....Jimmy slept over Charlies house Saturday night after a night of skiing.  He tells me that he slept until noontime.  Blames his lack of sleep on Jack....he might not be too far off on that.  Jack looks up to him so much.

     These crazy kids will usually take a very nice picture for me (smiling i mean) if I tell them that we can take a train crashing picture.  Laura yells to look out, the train is going off the tracks!!!  yeah, strange kids

     Laura also gets a kick of climbing on the train where the sign says Keep Off....