The land of the dollar bill

  This years baseball trip has finally arrived.  It was a no-braiuner as to where we were going as soon as we heard the Sox were going to play at Wrigley.  Off we went on Thursday night and it was pretty painless to get there.  After a short cab ride we went across the street to Lake Michigan and did some walking and hanging out at the water fountain.  We were so exccited to head over to the game.....once there we met aunt jo and her friends feeney and marsha at the cubby bear, which a restaurant directly across the street from the park.  It was a nice, old ballpark and it was so fun to see that old red sign outside.
    Once inside the park it seemed alot more modern than Fenway Park.  It was interesting to see bleacher type seats on the roof of houses across the street.  The people here were generally nice to Sox fans.  We both had waited so long for a championship, they still wait of course. 
    Sixth inning was of course still ice cream time and off Jim and I went into the bowels of the park to find a helmet full of ice cream.  Thats always our tradition.  When we get the ice cream that means we usually go searching for better seats, usually around home plate.  In Cleveland a couple of years ago we ended up in the front row behind home plate on television.  No different this time, we went and found seats about ten rows from the field.  We went up and got umple Eddie and he joined us for the rest of the game.  The sox won the first game and we hung around just long enough for the crowds to thin so the trolley's werent nuts, they were busy enough just not outrageous.

    On Friday night we needed something to fill up our time after the early day baseball game so we decided to take a jaunt out the back door to the old Sears Tower, now known as the Willis Tower.  Not a big fan of heights, I was with two people who could care less about the 103 stories below them.  My heart was racing as I looked under my feet and through the glass bottom floors

     On Saturday morning we got up and out after breakfast and went looking for some bike rentals.  It was darn hot there but we were on the water.  We did find some bike rentals and off we went for about two hours on Lake Michigan.  At one point the ump and JImmy found a beach and dove right in to cool off.  I stayed with the bikes...We were in a city after all. 

Jackie connects

Its so funny to hang around the boys as they play baseball.  Jimmy has done so much work with Jackie getting him ready to play baseball and teaching him how to hit.  You can tell he does this alot by the way he hits the heck out of the ball.  This years T-ball teams switched to coach pitch half way through.  After alot of the kids went from T to regular pitch they usually dribble the ball a few feet.  Not Jackie....He gets in the batters box and just digs in...its fun to watch.

The HIdden Harbor

     My little hippie had another school project where she had to learn about mysteries, specifically in books.  So off she went to the library in the mystery section and came back with a Hardy Boys book, 20 chapters worth.  It took us about two weeks but every night we read a little bit and eventually finished it together.  She would sit next to me and read along with me as I read it to her.  There were times while I was reading the book where I would ad lib the sentence and every single time she corrected me.  Can you imagine that!!  If it were me I'd have my eyes closed or only pretend to be reading along but Laura was actually reading along.  It was a very good book by the Hardy Boys.  She was fascinated that the book was written in 1935 and ALSO she asked me many times why there were NO women characters in the book.  My little hippie Laura is also a woman's rights gal.  She would stop me while I was reading and start asking me about why there isnt a woman as President yet.  She catches right onto the inequalities right away.  We have had to google alot of things such as when women were allowed to vote and how many have run for president.  She tells me she's going to run for president.  I say go for it hippie!! 

  Back to the book, we finally did finish the book after all those chapters and had a fabulous time doing it.  As in any mystery, we would leave the book for a day and then hate doing that but the bed would be calling.  I think the last day we ended up with four chapters in a row in a spectacular ending.  The final part of the project was to do a shoe box relica of the major characters and scenes from the book.  It was a fun book and Laura made it even more fun by laughing about the different characters and settings....She's very smart that Laura.

Jim Baseball tourney in CT

Off we went to the first of many away baseball tournaments for the oldest boy James.  He had a great time playing with all his baseball buds.  The first day we ended up going at around rush hour through Connecticut on Memorial day weekend and the baseball gods must have been looking out for us because we did okay going through the cities.  Just saw one lovely accident but we werent held up otherwise.  The great weather is all beginning as we used both the indoor and outdoor pool at the hotel. 

The first game was on Saturday morning at noon and then another one at four p.m.  His team won both games that day so they made it to the next round.  On Sunday the tourney turned into a single elimination where you had to leave after the first loss.  Our first game on Sunday we ended up losing in extra innings.  I hate to say this but it was kind of a blessing because we got to leave and head home to relieve Aunt Jo who was watching the other monsters.  The kids on his baseball team are very nice and they all get along fabulously. 

We had missed them too.

The food of the weekend was pizza.  I think if I look at one more pizza i'm going to turn into one.  My goodness, I can't imagine how the belt is going to fit around my waist anymore.  Of course it doesnt effect Jimmy one bit but we ate like crap.    A good time was had by all though.  

I love to see him smile while he's playing

celebrating a key late run

The inadvertant vacation...and yes, we have no bananas today

  The ump grooving one into Jack.  On this night Jack played a t-ball game and actually hit the ball over the infielders heads and into the outfield.  He's something i'll tell ya.

  So again the vacation continues.  I realize how much i'm going to miss my partner in crime once he goes into school full time.  Imagine the boredom if I had to get stuck at home with no kids and/or nothing to do.  Maybe i'd find something to do but i'm sure it wouldnt be as much fun.  Today, Jackie had to go to preschool until around noon but again I grabbed him and out to the the river we went for a picnic.  Of course we brought some bats and balls, soccer balls and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The ump called about the time we got started with the picnic and joined in on the fun and festivities.
  This morning while Catherine was getting her stuff ready for school, she was looking for something to make for lunch including fruit or snacks.  Well...she made one heck of a mistake.  There i sat, around 7a.m. at the kitchen table reading the news on the computer and drinking my coffee.  Catherine, all sweetness about her, asked me the question i've been waiting to be asked my whole life.....she's lingering around, just going through the cabinets, looking for things.  I'm watching her and she says...."hey daddy, do we have any bananas?".    Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.....can you imagine my luck!!!  Catherine, yes, we have no bananas today......
We have a muttons, and buttons,
And kippers with zippers,
And pounds of devaluated pounds
Banana: S T I N K !
They aint no stinkin bananas!We got pickles and crocks;
We got bagels and locks;
A bagel that's-a done-a dipped in cement.
We got delicious knishes and kosher champagne
but yes Catherine, we have no bananas today !!!!!!!!!!!!!.
....imagine all those years of useless information finally coming to use.

kids at the coffee shop

Its been quite a long time since all of us went to the coffee shop together.  We had to go to the bank and they asked if we could all go.  Amazingly, nothing was broken and the complaints were few....welllllllll

Random thoughts on a Day out with Jack

     In February I was presented with a sheet in which to pick my vacation weeks.  This seniority thing is great because I can throw a week or two out there just for the hell of it.  This week is one of those weeks.  So I sit here on some idle Monday at 10:20am and after I've put all the kids on the bus, drove Jack to school and taken a shower, I realize that I am home alone for the first time in about six months.  wow what a lovely white birch we have in the front yard.........its the view with my butt on the couch.
     I was driving Jack to school this morning and he asked me if Umple Eddie was coming over today.  He told me that he wanted to go get some hoP dogs with the ump today.  I told him that I shouldn't be eating any more hop dogs because i'll get fat.  He told me not to worry because i'm already fat.  Lovely child!!  He is loving his T-Ball team.  Yesterday he crushed a ball out to the outfield.  He winds up so far back and just slams the sucker.  He has a very impressive swing but i'm not biased at all.
     This morning I had a visit from all four of them in my bed at varying times....it started with a number 6 on the alarm clock.....James informed me that he needed a dollar for lunch as usual.   Laura, hearing this, comes into the room and tells him that he should pack a snack and save me some money.  so cute.  Catherine follows in and tells me she needs money for lunch too....FIVE DOLLARS.  I made the mistake of being too generous last week and its going to cost me. 
     After they all had left, Laura came back in and plopped her pillow down right next to me.  She told me that she couldn't believe that she had woken up early and went in the back yard room couch with the dogs.  She had put a blanket on her and the dogs lay on her feet.  She was so surprised that she fell asleep that way.  Now she is thinking thats the magical way for her to fall asleep.  I walked them all down to the bus stop before riding Jack to school.
      When Jack got out of school today we ended up going to our old friend Black Gordon. Of course we made a couple of pit stops along the way too. 

  Our friend Bridey took this picture for us.  Jack is kind of shy towards her so i'm thinking she's another girlfriend of his.

  At some point in our lives we learn that french fries dont go with pancakes.  Dont you hate the people that ultimately tell you that. 

  Jackie Loves this guy Eddie.  Eddie rides around in his skateboard and is just so very fun.  Best of all he digs Jack.  Jack dont care who he is talking to when we come in, he just runs right up to him.

  I"m going to have to turn him in on this one.  He wanted to go up higher on the train today but we kept him at this level.  He's very comfortable around this train because we've been going to it for so long.  There is just something about this train that warms the heart.  I am absolutely enjoying enjoying every second we get to spend on it.  I absolutely know that one day they wont want to come and see some dumb old train that just sits there.  It has done us well for about 8, 9 years now.  Many times we just sit and look at it.  Other times the kids just climb up all around it.  Jimmy isnt interested at all unfortunately but the others still like coming here and climbing on. 

 
  Another day of fun !!

Catherine's Opening day

      After some rain postponements, Catherine's softball season was a go today.  They switched alot this year so the first year girls have t-ball softball at age 7 even though she had coach pitch last year.  She has a very good swing already.  During her second at bat she knocked it to the outfield.  It was quite a blast.  Nana showed up after going to an Apple Blossom parade with the cousins.  Jack got to see his other cousins here and they could be heard a couple of counties away.  The field is right on the merrimack river so jack had to be restrained.  He was pointing to something here but i'm not quite sure.

      She is so sweet out there in the field. 

 Some of my favorite girls showed up to cheer on their other cousin Katie. 

Jack starts T-ball

Jack tells us his career started today in T-Ball.  Completely excited and ready to go, he looked forward to this oh so much.  Yesterday, he broke his leg.....well, in his world he broke his leg.  He was on the ground in the living room telling me that i should know that you cannot move anyone with a broken leg.  I told him I'll call his coach and tell him he cant make it to the game.  It was like a trip to Lourdes all over again and he was healed.

The video above was his first ever at bat as a 'pro'.  He did really well and handled two hits to him like an accomplished pro.  I was actually quite impressed with the second one.  He took a grounder, fielded it cleanly and turned and threw it to first.  He also got to play catcher.  This was serious business.

Revolutionary Trip for Laura

  Laura wanted to climb up the statue but there were too many around.

  Very exciting to see the spot where the Boston Massacre occurred. 

  It was national cannabis day and the hippies held a rally in the common.  Laura was right at home with her fellow hippies.  We were treated to lots of lovely second hand marijuana smoke and plenty of passed out bums nearby while we samples goodies such as fried dough.

Of course we were in the North End so we had to stop for some pizza.  She finished it all up no problem.

  We were accosted by a random man walking by Mike's Pastry.  He is actually a coworker who just happened by and got in the shot.

 Laura chose a pizza and ate most of it and then a cupcake for dessert at Mike's. 

Laura has been studying about the American Revolution in school and has been asking me to bring her to places with history from that time.  We had originally planned on going to Lexington and Concord today but when the car hit the highway, I thought it would so much more fun to head to Boston.

Fenway trip with Jimmy

I got to celebrate an early Red Sox game with Jimmy because he got tickets for Easter from Aunt Jo.  I was the lucky recipient.  Another great time and of course, they won!!

Easter weekend.....

i'm hoping to recover some photos because my hard drive crashed.  As is always the case, the kids went to an egg hunt over aunt janies house and had an egg coloring day over aunt kara's house.  Easter morning they had hundreds of eggs left for them outside.  This year they werent so cold as has been the case in some recent years.  Its great to look around the yard and see all those eggs all around the grounds.  Jimmy even joined in and made it fun for the littler ones.  We once again made the trek over to uncle timmy's house and had another easter egg hunt with my side of the family, then followed by a trip to aunt jo's where I stuffed my face....love those rice croquettes.  I'm thinking we should have them more often then once a year.  It was a great Easter and things didnt appear too rushed at all this year.  I didnt have to work thank goodness....for once.

Catherine's birthday celebration

It would have been impossible to top her last years birthday of a trip to New York City, but this year, she did quite alright.  We went to her favorite restaurant, Fire and Ice, this time in Cambridge, with her siblings and her cousins.  They really are interchangable kids and they all get along so awesome.  All had a great time.