The sweetest gal i know

     Go right ahead and say hello to the first place finisher in the Floor competition.  I tell her I always think that she should get a 10 in the floor exercise because I think it is just that good.  Of course all i know about the rules of gymnastics could fit inside a McDonalds bag, but that doesn't matter.  I've seen all of her meets for the last three years and this one by far was her best floor routine.  I just knew it would be spectacular and sure enough, it was a 9.35.  She was so excited.  To get the highest score is quite the feat and she celebrated with a double dose of McDonalds cheeseburgers on the ride home from Springfield.

                                        this upside down flip is her favorite picture she tells me

They call me Daddy

     Of course this is not earth shattering here.  I really enjoy that they still call me Daddy.  I know, but I love it.  Lyn gets called Mommy.  Why does that matter...maybe to the rest of the world it doesnt...but its still good to hear.  maybe they know that and that's how they wrap their little fingers around me and own me.....Laura called me Daddy this morning about something and I took notice and it struck me....god, i dont know why but i'm a daddy i guess.

Laking it in the cold

     Spending the weekend up north again.  The kids were out on the lake walking around.  Of course, it scares the hell out of me to see them walking around out there.  I'd be the first one out there when i was younger but for the kids not so much freedom.......

Here is Jackie walking around the beach that in a couple of months we'll be frolicking around on.

     There is the cool man and his entrourage...

Jackie got a bag of Jenga for Christmas and he builds all these different forms of buildings.  This is the tallest one he built.  I helped him with this one.  The best part is tearing it down.

Here is my television screen.....Couldnt you just sit and stare at it all day long, listening to the crackling of the wood....yeah, i think i'm obsessed!!!

My little Catherine stayed behind because she had gymnastics.  She is always missed but she got to stay with Ant Jo.....A little jealousy from Jackie i think.

First place

Catherine and her team came in first place in the Boston Classic Gymnastic meet over the weekend.  She was so excited this week and told me each day what good practices that she had.  She was on the podium during each event and had an overall excellent meet.  Her friend Gracie came in first in one of the events and they gave her a snow globe because of it....Poor Gracie dropped it and it smashed to pieces and she was a wreck.  This led to probably the cutest thing i've ever seen.  Catherine got her a gymnastic bracelet from the sales table to make her feel better.  Gracie gave her the biggest hug and smile and appreciative groan that would make even the most hardened trucker tear up.  It was sweet.

Teaching me new dance moves

The kids are watching all the Fuller House shows on netflix and Jack was teaching me the Gibbler Gallup dance

More Jackson

Another Weekend in New England taking us away......

A complete New England experience was what we were looking for.  Here we are on a sleigh ride through the woods...The weather wasnt that bad and besides, we had hot chocolate and smores to keep us company.  It was a really fun time for all of them.

The kids all make fun of me because I could sit in front of the fire for hours at a time.  I clean the glass and say that i'm cleaning the TV screen.  Its so peaceful...quite possibly i'm getting at that age.

Even Fenway seems to love it up here....he just cant get enough ot all the snow...He wants to dive into it all the time.  Catherine likes to go up on the top of the man made mountains and create a slide.  But most of all her and Jack like to have snowball fights and use their daddy as the practice target.  Oh yeas, we've had more than one fight when the aim has been a little bit too good.

Christmas 2016

Jackie starring at the State House

Jackie had been practicing his lines all week in the living room and when the time came to announce them to the throngs of people, the microphone malfunctioned.....no need to fear!! After the singing we headed to Quncy Market to get something to eat.  He was great to hang out with.

Jack posing on the steps of the State House with Nana....such a fun day today

Yeah, I only watched this video a couple of thousand times....He does so good.  He's a very sweet kid at times.....oooooo my Jackie!!

Weekend in New England

Laura and I went up to the lake over this weekend.  We got alot more snow up north then the more southern folk.  We did our best at making this little fellah without carrots and buttons.  We used a couple of quarters for the eyes and an icicle for his fodora.  We got a tradition of bad snowmen to keep up with!!

When I close my eyes. they pop right open daddy.

There I sit on the recliner after I get all the kids to bed.  You just know that its not an easy task to do.  Just munching on the snacks that the kids didn't eat and Jack has to come out every couple of minutes with very important information to share with me.  He saddles up on the arm of the chair then after about ten minutes or so tell him to go brush and go to bed.  Not a problem as long as I tell him i'll be in soon to tuck him in.  Then poor Catherine comes out to see me tells me that no matter how hard she tries she cant fall asleep.  She comes out twice and the second time I told her there is no rush but to just close her eyes and she'll fall asleep.  Well, she tells me she's been doing that but as soon as she closes her eyes they pop right open on their own.  She's been adjusting to her new contraptions in her mouth and i dont think she's having an easy time of it with them.  So, I ask her if she thinks it will help if I go lay down with her.  Being the old bastard that I am, you know as soon as I day down I went out till the next morning.  Come to think of it, her bed is much more comfy than mine.....She is so cute though

Providence

Oh my little Catherine did so good in her gymnstics meet in Providence RI on Sunday.  We brought her friend Gracie with us and those girls just had one hell of a time.  I picked her up around 530am and the two of them just laughed the whole way in.  They played the music and games that only they wnderstand but it was accompanied by ten year old girl laughter.  so great to listen to....They both  did awesome in their competitive gymnastics routines too.  Its the smiles though...so great