Picnic at (on) Black Gordon

Getting back from a really great bike ride, the three of us headed out for a picnic right on Black Gordon. Of all the times we've come to see the big black train, we've never used it with a tablecloth, until today. Jack had a great time as he ate two hot dogs and a full peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Catherine grabbed a hot dog too. They both dipped the hot dogs in the ketchup that they made me bring. I think this is going to be a new thing to do.
After Jack ate half my peanut butter and jelly sandwich, we all headed over to the train that doesnt move. Gotta love that train.

Someone must have been spraying graffiti...Keep Off...Is that some new gang?

St Paddys week

My poor camera has been left in the closet for almost a month now. The poor thing came out in a flurry of photos for St. Paddy's celebrations. This week we were in the annual St. Patricks parade to city hall which was preceded by a mass at St. Patricks. The kids all week were making St Patrick items in school, such as Catherines leprechaun that adorns the front window. We then had a Saturday mass in church with the Irish flag. Sunday was the Ceili were all the kids (except Jimmy who is way too cool for that) were dancing around. Jack joined in the festivities with all the kids, gotta love the hairdo's. They had face painting for ...the kids...when they put the table out I was the first one to jump in a seat. Those kids had no chance.
After we left we headed to Kara's house for the annual corned beef and cabbage. Umple Eddie, Nana, Doe, Marion and Ken,Aunts Estelle, Chrissy, Janie, Jackie, Steve and Margo, chip and kim and all the kids and cousins were singing up a storm.

Where a kid can be a kid

Catherine was showing Chucky how to do "step, step, back two three"

Saturday was the day Catherine has been looking forward to for quite some time. It was time for the birthday party at Chuckee Cheese for Andrew B. Its funny about their names because if there are two kids with the same first name they become Andrew A. or Andrew B. Andrew B is one of Catherine's good friends in pre school. She always talks about something crazy that Andrew B has done. Its cute. They had chose Saturday morning which I thought was a good idea because the crowds hadnt crashed the gate yet. She got a cup full of coins and headed off to play games. It really is a pretty neat place to just play games and not get gouged too too bad. My friend Tracy was also there with Frank, Frankie and little Jimmy.

There are tubes above your head where the kids travel through to ultimately end up through a slide. The tubes have a small window so parents can keep track of where the little ones are. At one point I was tracking her through the windows not sensing any sort of problem. Catherine eventually came down the tube slide and she was a bit upset. Apparently, she wasnt sure where she was up there and didnt see me to guide her out. She went right back at it only this time we made a game of it where she would look out the windows and i would guide her with a point of the finger and a thumbs up. so darn cute.

We ended up having us some pizza and meeting Chucky himself. Catherine went up and gave him a couple of hugs and also showed him her irish step moves and asked him to join in. Overall, she had a great time.

After the party we went to Target and got some gifts. I had promised Jim an Xbox game, Laura got a lucky 8 ball, jack another Thomas train and Catherine got another Hannah Montana trollup doll. All because i wanted to go and pick up a flashlight.

The very next day Momma was out and we were at the house and the walls were closing in on the buggahs so we decided that it was time for all of us to once again head out to go see chucky. It was a little tougher with all four of them. Thankfully, they were very well behaved and Jimmy would hold onto Jack's hand and the two girls stuck together. I didnt lose them once. The place was packed so I told them only for a half hour, we ended up there about two hours. Jack loved going through the tubes and thankfully Jimmy was right behind him most of the time. This was a long time coming because they have been asking me since last year to go to Chuckee cheese. Jack really enjoyed himself. At one point Jimmy was playing the basketball game and Jack was helping him. There was a big queen to the left of the game just leaning. Of course she wasnt going to be doing too much moving. Jack ended up throwing up a ball that came dangerously close to her. She was put out, the ball almost knocked her wig off. Only Jack.

Umple Ed's birthday and Snow Angels...finally

If you look closely you can see her hat on her back.



He has no fear at all



On Saturday our kids and the cousins went to the tubing hill to celebrate Ump's birthday. After the tubing park we all went over to kara's house for some good ole eating.
We have to accept the fact that if we are going to live in the Northeast section of the country, we have to embrace the snow and cold weather. Especially when there are kids involved. This week we have gone tubing, skiing(I watched) and today with a storm we made some snow angels and an ugly snowman.
It was Catherine's year to name the snowman and this year's snowman is officially named "Umple Eddie the snowman". When we started making the snowman the snow was really nice, a really good packing. We got called in to have some chicken pie and by the time we came back it seemed like the white stuff had dried out leaving it so much tougher to stick. We survived anyway by taking the snow off of our cars that had been running earlier. The snowman still ended up looking like a descendant of past snowmen. That is certainly no compliment.
After the snowman all five of us ended up having a snowball fight. Jack was so cute running around hitting the others with snowballs. He kept on flipping out when his nose was running but he got right back into it when we had some tissue intervention.
As we were getting ready to go back inside after over 2 1/2 hours outside, Catherine was very upset because she couldnt find her hat anywhere. I helped her look too, she got very upset. The two of us together must have looked quite foolish when Laura pointed out that her hat was on her head. Catherine was a little embarassed...what is my excuse. I started calling her Franny...

Movie Tuesday

It was Laura's turn to do a one on one with Daddy. The kids had a half day at school. As so often happens, the one on one turns into all of them, or at least most of them. Laura had wanted to go to the movies but couldnt decide which movie to go to....that is until she saw the ad for the Tooth Fairy. Well, Catherine wanted to go too and she was so cute about it we just couldnt leave her home and then Jack didnt want us to leave him at home either. Jimmy was supposed to come but he ended up over Charlies and backed out at the last minute.

We had a quick stop at Walgreen's for some chocolate bags to sneak in to go with the movie theatre popcorn and sprite. there were other stops along the way, City Hall, Zamish's convenience store, driving by Black Gordon and the coffee shop and finally, the post office...I'm surprised we made it to the cinema.
Once inside the theater it was a good time and a good movie, we only had one mass exodus to the bathroom. We HAVE to go to the bathroom everywhere we go. Jack got a little bored after about an hour but I found some more M&M's in my jacket and that worked temporarily.

Keys to the car and basketball Jones

Jack wanted to go see mommy today so he asked me for the keys to the car. I would have given them to him just for kicks if I didnt think he would drive off in it. He's been walking around the house today with a dollar bill and telling me something about him being a policeman when he grows up. Not Catherine, just him. Somehow the dollar bill is associated with being a policeman. Maybe he's corrupt.
Some random shots too here of Jimmy's basketball last week. Unfortunately, the batteries to the camera died while they were practicing.

Jimmy with his buddy Shea.

100th class and 100 year old daughter

Laura dressed up today as a 100 year old lady for the 100th day of class. She is such a fun girl and loves to do these things. Last St. Patricks day her class had a prize for the student who wore the most green. She, of coure, won. William thought for sure that he had the prize won until he saw Laura walk out of our car.

A Super Sunday

Finally, we once again had somewhat of a Family Sunday. It started with waking up kind of early and Jack charging into the room really, really early. This being about 6am to 6:30. He was nonstop linebacker charging and yelling as Jack does when he wants to get your attention. Ahhh, we had a good laugh with him even though it was so early.
At one point, we went out with no direction in mind. We ended up at the dollar store and then at CVS doing some crazy shopping. Tomorrow it is the 100th day of school so Laura's class has to dress up as a 100 year old woman. At the dollar store we got her some yucky jewelry and then Laura and I went into Kmart to get her a house coat with matching slippers. Its going to look great with the gawdy jewelry, hair net and curlers.
After Kmart and some driving around we even got a chance to go over and make a quick trip to see Black Gordon, just to say hello. Jimmy agreed to come out of the car, just to say hello he said. They all played around the walkway area with most of us playing 'chooooo choooo' on the back of Claribel. It was very cold but we still got about ten to fifteen minutes out of it
After we got home I just couldnt get out of the hillbilly minivan. I told everyone to meet me inside in a bit and I just put the seat back and took about an hour and a half nap on the passengers seat. I heard at one point Jimmy yelling to me that Charlie was there. I guess Charlie came inside and told Lyn that I was in the car sleeping. Boy, did it feel good.
When I finally woke up Jimmy, Charlie, Steven and Laura were playing basketball and then went sledding on the back yard hill.
Then came time for the Super Bowl over Umple Eddie's house. It was supposed to be Jimmy and I going over there alone. Laura took it okay but we could tell that she wanted to come with us really bad. Jimmy allowed her to come with us which was nice of him even though we had to bribe him $5.50. Jimmy brought his Old Maid cards and asked if Auntie Paula would play Old Maid with them. The kids love Aunt Paula and loved hanging out with her over Umple's house. They ended up playing some cards with her, probably cheating, and then they went with her into their family room and watching Nick Jr. for a large part of the game. I think they just liked hanging out with her.
At one point Lyn came over with Catherine and Jack, with all the kids walking around the place like they own it. It was late when they left and I think the kids were a little tired. Good day!!

Ski weekend and new, green walls

Up to the freezing cold slopes in Vermont we all go. On Friday Ump's car was set with boxes and bags and little tiny feet. Nana took Jimmy and Jake and Ump took the rest. After a quick stop at the coffee shop (which kills the ump) we all headed out. Almost three hours later we ended up in the coldest spot south of Canada. Jimmy, Laura and Catherine all took lessons with the cousins and the two oldest are skiing like pros. On the first day after his lessons James and I went on a couple of runs and I was very impressed with how he got around. Of course when he came into an area where he was in over his head he would flail his arms over his head and just fly on by. In Contrast, I would just smash, bang and boom myself onto the ground and fly into snowbanks becoming one with them.
For the second year in a row I mistook the quad lift for the smaller hill chair lift and for the second year in a row I ended up going to the top of the mountain all alone for my first run. I realized this, of course, when i was about halfway up. Projecting myself with way too much confidence, I dusted myself up and pronouced myself ready to ski. Well, as mentioned above I took off for the slopes once more with my James. About a quarter of the way down all confidence I had gained were shashed as fast as you can fall face first into a snow pile. This one hurt, I mean really really hurt. After grunting and groaning I picked myself to the side and felt this liquid coming down my face. In the meantime I am hearing what I think is the sound of an eight year old laughing hysterically. Well, even though I was tasting blood, the liquid was just melting snow ( to my astonishment) and the eight year old was exactly who you would think it was. I went up a couple of more times but I had to shut it down. Someone always feels like he has something to prove.
For Catherine, this was her first time up on ski's. She was adorable with her miniature skisJack was just content being in the sled being pushed down the small hills. He was quite the character all weekend. We were all so very impressed with the impressed with the improvements that Laura and Jimmy have made on the ski trail over the last year. I remember not so long ago carrying Jimmy down the bunny hill when he just wouldnt go on his ski's. Laura, as always, was a quick study and did whatever she set her mind to.
Another thing, I did homework with Jim Jim tonight and shocked is the word about how well he does with division and multiplication. He picked that up in no time at all. It really only seems like a couple of weeks ago he just couldnt understand the concept of what division is...it really was a couple of weeks ago and now he is blasting through it. I did Laura's spelling words with her too tonight and she seems to be doing okay too. The both of them seem to get distracted easily but I can relate to that.
When we returned home after the long weekend the girls bedroom was sparkly new with green paint. Laura had picked out the color and the paint fairy (Aunt Jo) had once again returned to her painting habits and brushed out the worn out color on the walls. Well, the colors werent exactly worn out, they were just the victim of a graffiti artist named Jack. I was worried about how the color would look but is was all for naught as it looked great.
When it was time for the kids to go to sleep we had quite a fight on our hands as they all have napped at one time or another today. They are up talking....but its not bad because they are talking and not yelling at each other...........yet.

Catherine taking over

I was in the living room when I heard this crazed scream from Catherine at the kitchen table. Apparently, she had been trying to staple two pieces of paper together and her thumb got in the way. The staple remained lodged in her skin deeeep and she was bleeding. I had to yank the sucker out of there and there was blood involved. The poor little buggah milked it for a day or two but I imagine it did hurt. As I was tending to her needs Jack was standing on top of a kitchen chair facing the back. Down the chair went with him on it, standing and face first. Luckily, my reaction time was good as I caught him before he did a face plant on the ground.

Bruins Saturday with Jim

Off we went to the Gahden for Jimmy's Christmas gift from Ump. As we often do, James and I jumped onto the train and found our way to the North Station. Once we get there we slip through the lines for entrance and grab some MacDonalds food. This time was a little different because we split 10 chicken nuggets instead of separate meals. Jim Jim seemed to like that idea and he tells me that will now be our North Station tradition. We take the food and find ourselves a seat in the busy area. He, of course, wanted to mow down as many fries as he could get inside his mouth before the threat of losing them to me.
The game itself turned out to be a loss but there were still some good moments with great saves and hard hits. Thankfully, we made the train on time so Jimmy could be on time for his basketball game. He made four baskets.

Two Broads