Halloween Party over the cousins

Catherine was searching for the bubble gum

Cute arent I ?

AMERICAN GIRL DOLL CAFE NYC

The day finally came for the trip to NYC with Laura. We woke up a little earlier than usual and off we were to South Station. The trip by train wasnt really that bad. The train got to NYC at about 12:30pm. I wanted to walk around a little bit but Laura's mind was made up that she wanted to go to the Doll store. The place was huge. There was at least four floors of stores, hair salon (yes, we gave Nikki a hair cut) and Photo studio (check). We got to see an awesome show at the theatre they had inside. Laura was so excited the whole day. Uncle Eddie had given Laura a digital camera for her birthday so she was going up to strange people and taking their pictures. We dropped Nikki off at the hair salon and they had a 45 minute wait for an appointment. After carefully chosing the hair style I got her to agree with me to go to Rockefeller center for lunch. We were just looking for a hot dog or something quick from a cart vendor. We walked into the area where people were ice skating and saw that there was a pretty good size line to get into the Rockefeller cafe. Somehow we managed to get a table outside rinkside. It was awesome.
Back to the salon Laura got to watch Nikea style Nikki's hair. They do a good job pampering the little girls. After this we went into the theater for a live show with teenage American girls.We had to give a little fib and tell the ladies that Laura was turning 6 instead of 5. Laura was in on the conspiracy with me. For some reason you have to be six to get in and when the lady asked Laura how old she was she said 5 (luckily). She said she cant come in to see the show and thankfully Laura had a birthday sticker on her shirt and I told the lady she turned 6 tomorrow. That, would have been disastrous. tragedy avoided.T
The dinner at the Cafe was great. Laura had spaghetti and meatballs. They have side seats for the doll, not only that they have doll holders next to the toilet (picture taken). I'm sure I looked a little strange going into the bathroom with a camera but how many places have holders that allow you to suspend your doll on the wall.
By far one of the highlights of Laura's day was the taxi cab rides. After we left the cafe we just couldnt find a taxi. There I was in front of the Rockefeller center and Laura starts toodling with her hand yelling at taxi's to stop. They were all full. where do all these people come from? I'm also going to bring some Right Guard next trip to NYC because those cabbies need it.
On the train ride home, the hyper kid just crashed all of a sudden. Doe picked us up a little after midnight to complete a whirlwind day.

Uncle Patricks house

Jackie and Suzie come home for a visit.

Laura had quite a birthday weekend, This cake she shared with Parker.

Pumpkin Pickin

Rolling out to Parlee for the pumpkin picking. The apple trees are all bare so that will be for another day. We took a hayride all arond the farm.

Laura's Birthday Party

THE AMERICAN GIRL DOLL
HAS ARRIVED !!!!!











SMILES ALL AROUND

Happy October

Jack with Grammy Franny on his birthday
Already cursing the Damn Red Sox
h Laura loves school

I forgot I had some photos of Jacks birthday party..of which we had two.

Sunday at the Maze

We spent Sunday at the cornfield maze. Jimmy's Cub scout group had a trip to the corn stock maze. We got lost and then we got lost again. Catherine and Jack stayed home with Nana and Doe. While we were in the large maze, Laura, of course, just had to go to the bathroom. there are portable potties placed in the maze but good luck finding them. Lyn, Jimmy and some other scouts stayed at a play area while Laura and I looked for the potties. Well, we found the potties but lost our way. This was about 2 hours into the maze. What we found was the exit. It was pretty cool for Laura to tell the boys she beat them out. A fun time was had by all.
Speaking of Laura, plans are all set for next sunday's trip to New York City. It will just be the two of us navigating around the streets of Manhattan. She has no idea about it. I told her that we are going somewhere but she thinks we are going to Fenway Park. Nana is going to give her the American girl doll this weekend before we go.
Saturday night we went to the Devils hockey game. It was a school outing so Jimmy was like the mayor of the stadium. He ran off with his bud Zachary to see the players hoping that they would give him a stick. no dice. I wanted the 61 inch TV they gave away but some fruit beat me to it. Again, poor Catherine and Jack were stuck at home. Maybe one of these times they'll leave me at home.
My last semester is halfway over, 3 of the subjects down and 3 to go. I just downloaded the application for the bar exam. Its a scary thought. What will I do with myself after I pass??? Maybe more kids....but that ship has sailed.

Weekend Wedding

Off to a water park hotel for a weekend wedding of.....some of Lyn's cousins. She only has a couple (thousand) of them. The two youngest stayed with Aunt Jo at our house and we took Jimmy and Laura to the hotel with us. Big Meghan babysat them. From the time we got to the hotel to the time Meggie had to leave, Jimmy must have ate so much junk food its no wonder he puked. We brought the blow up mattress and the kids ended up sleeping on Nana's floor in her room. By the time midnight hit we staggered (an exhausted stagger, not drunken) back to the room and passed out. I'm gonna have to get some hair plugs and color so that i at least look younger when i act like an old fart.
One good thing was seeing Strawberry Shortcake. Looking beautiful as ever she is now a college freshman. You better be behaving down there in Florida !!!
Anyway, off to aunt Jo's for a birthday cake for Jack on Sunday. JoJo and Aaron had to leave to catch a flight home to Ohio at 6pm but it was good seeing them too. I missed my little Catherine and Jack and was glad to see them. Jack is looking more and more like Jimmy every day. Especially his smiling and shaking his head saying noooooo....
Reservations are all set for Laura's birthday in New York City. I'm bringing her to the American girl doll restaurant. It is just going to be the two of us and that should be a blast. The things that she says. She told her teacher that I am going to volunteer on her birthday in school and also that I sing and dance and dress like a clown. I'm sure they cant wait. She told the aunts that me and Lyn stand up on the couch and kiss all the time. She is a nut. I am really looking forward to our trip though. I still havent figured out if we are driving, taking the train or flying.
Laura is also signed up to play T-Ball in the Spring. There doesnt appear to be much of an interest there on her part but Big Meghan plays softball so I think this will change. She now does dance, gymnastics and Irish Step dancing, which she loves!! Catherine does gymnastics and Wednesday I get to bring her to the mommy and me class (where I play the role of mommy). I have to add pictures because they grow so fast.

A Red Sox Sunday

Words cannot express how much fun I had with Jimmy on Sunday at the Red Sox game. He was just so damn cute. Although this is the third time we've been to Fenway this year, this was the first time it was just the two of us. We had great seats behind the Twins dugout. All around us were amazed at how much a six year old knew about every single member of the home team, especially about how Manny doesnt hustle (wonder how he heard that one).

We drove to Lechmere and took the green line in, talked to a couple of bums on the train and got crammed on the same trolley on the ride home. I had a death grip on his hand for most of the game when we werent in our seats. The high point of the day was seeing Old Uncle Buck in a yellow Alcohol Compliance Supervisor shirt. I hadnt seen him in about five years and if memory serves me right he was never complying with any alcohol laws at the time. We practiced singing the seventh innings "take me out to the ballgame" song as well as the eighth inning "sweet caroline". He has to be the only six year old who knows every word of a Neil Diamond song. When it comes to 'touching me, TOUCHING YOU', we scream it out at each other.

Two younger chickies sat next to us during the game and were flirting with him. Of course I have to frown upon such actions...but at one point I was holding him and he kept giving me a rasberry on my neck. I finally told him not to do that. He was looking at the gal to my right and said 'I just wanted to kiss you'. I looked at chickie on the right and she said "How do you know I am the kissing bandit?" She thought he was talking to her. Maybe he was.
All I know is that I wish I had a six year old to hang with when I was making my rounds as a single man all those years back.

The red sox didnt win but Varitek hit a home runner and that made Jimmy happy. As the game was ending and we were waiting to leave this lady came up to me and told me that she was watching us the whole game and what a great time she had at the game just watching the two of us. Yeah, that's pretty cool.

Peeing standing up

I asked Laura if she wanted to come to the bus stop with me this morning. she told me that it was such a long way away and besides, Mommy doesnt let her pee behind the tree if she has to go. I dont know where she comes from.

A football Sunday

Well, I hope its worth it. I got a call last night from Eddie, two great seats to the Patriots game. Too much Offer, Acceptance and Consideration to study. I'm on my hardest subject at law school...contracts. I'm having a hard time with my decision and reasoning that if I get one or two questions right by my studies today that will be worth it in the end. Jimmy hasn't gone to the Patriots game yet and I would have loved to bring him today, but February is coming soon. I have to study. Next Sunday we have seventh row from the field at Fenway Park and last night we went to the High school Football game and had fun. Laura came with us and sat with her cousin big Meghan for a lot of the game so she was happy and Jimmy ran into his first grade chum Kyle. Imagine that they are leaving us already. I cannot believe what high school girls are wearing these days, or better yet what they arent wearing. I guess I am getting old.
I get anxious every time I take a bar exam class. I can only imagine what I am going to be like in a couple of months.

First Day of Skool....first grade

He was sooooo nervous. We were worried at first but all was much better when he came home in one piece. The phone rang the next morning and Jimmy was talking to the person on the other end and kept saying...i'm not doing anything, what are you doing....over and over...apparently, he had given his phone number to a kid he met on the bus and the kid called up and now they are phone buddies....Lyn met the kids parents and they are nice, so not a threat. Cant help but not trust anyone......This morning he cried at the bus stop because he didnt want to go to school. He got a new baseball game and he's once again addicted to anything dealing with baseball. I dont mind this game so much because it requires physical activity on his part. Those damn video games which only require kids to sit on their butts really drive me crazy. I'm not a big fan of Xbox 360.
Laura started her pre-K classes on Wednesday. She was thrilled that the teacher knew her name. How couldnt you remember the most beautiful flower in the garden.....oh ok, enough. not too bias.
Catherine hasnt broken anything this week.......yet. She's talking more and more everyday. Every night when i tell her that she has to go to bed she yells "no fair". Hugs and kisses make it alot easier though.
Jack just smiles his way through the day. he blows kisses and waves, laughing when you blow kisses back to him. He reminds me so much of Jimmy, looks and personality are about the same. He even sings and dances with me....just shows he has good taste.

If nautical nonsense be something you wish

Nothing too spectacular; Laura woke up last night at around 1am, came running into the bed in a tizzy, apparently she had a nightmare that SpongBob Squarepants had become angry at her and tried to lock her inside his pineapple under the sea. I've tried that line myself several times to no avail so i cant blame the little sponge.

August

Well another month has gone by and I'm still here. The school thing is on the stretch run with the end in sight. Jimmy is obsessed with baseball. Its his every thought and action. I dont need to check espn for the scores and story, he has got it in his own little way. Laura cant decide what she wants to be for Halloween and this is causing her great distress. Catherine has again gotten into the habit of getting out of bed after being tucked in. Jack is finally sleeping through the night. This is a very recent thing so we are just enjoying sleep for about the first time in six years.
Catherine is also peeing in the potty on a regular basis now.
so instead of using the toilet as a toothbrush cleaner she's understanding the concept.

Last week was New Hampshire week. We went up north and landed in Santa's village and eventually storyland. It was very hot but the kids had a blast. Catherine was surprisingly well behaved and Jack was our star. I took over 400 pictures and will have to upload them as I go.

Hot July

Well, the year has just flown by hasn't it? Jimmy finished his first year of kindergarden and Laura finished up another year of pre-school. He has become addicted to baseball over the summer. Its all he does and thinks about. From the second he wakes up he has to know if the Red Sox won and if they dont he tells me about how much they stink. He's a true fan.
This weekend we got a large water slide for the yard. Catherine loves to put her bathing suit on but she just cant build up the nerve to go down just yet. She's sleeping a little bit better but she still puts on her daddy radar to know just the right time when I am utterly and completely exhausted.
School started up again last week and this is it! got the big push for the bar...stay tuned
Last week all the buggah's were sick except for Jimmy and Mommy. We brought all of them into the doctors office on Friday. They love to see us coming. I'm surprised they havent fired us as their patients. Catherine had the highest temp and Jack was close behind with an ear infection.
I went to the Red Sox game the other night and sat through a 2 hour rain delay. Third row from the field next to the dugout. Pretty good seats. yeah, they lost. I couldnt tell Jimmy that I went because he would have been mad that I didnt bring him. I'm bringing him next month. Just always something about seeing that big green wall in left.

sickly week

Well, this week the sick cycle finally hit me. I lost ten pounds the last four days but am finally feeling much better today. Laura woke me up last night at four in the morning to show me some drawings she had made for me. What do you do at that point though...So with one eye open I loved them dearly. I thought maybe she was sleepwalking but she remembered this morning as soon as she woke up. I'd like one night for them to sleep till about 7am. Might be too much to ask. They are cute though, I cant say that I've ever gotten mad at them for waking me up.

Happy New Year!!!

Well, the new year started out with a bang. Went to Topsfield for a wedding and took all the kiddo's. I had nothing left in me by the time we sent the kids back to the hotel. Little Catherine had been just into every little thing. When we walked into the hotel to check in, the whole place gasped and covered their ears from Catherine's screaming. She didnt stop either for a long time.
The wedding went as planned, all that planning over in 6 hours. The rehearsal dinner was fun. There was some restaurant in the middle of nowhere Massachusetts, I think it was Ipswich. Kara asked me to say a couple of words...well, the aunts were sitting in their own table with the rosary beads nearby no doubt when i went front and center. I told everyone the blah blah's about what a wonderful couple Aaron and Joanne are and how we are grateful that the 2am drunken phone calls will stop....and then I told everyone about the phone call i got from Aaron after he proposed to her.
Aaron asked me about married life, specifically sex after marriage...now he really didnt, but that doesnt matter, it was my story. Anyway, as soon as I got the first line in the counsel of aunts let out a collective 'oh my god'. So I told them that married life brings out a whole sort of new experiences but sex...well sex is almost every night....(There were sighs, they are getting used to me though).......almost on a monday, almost on a Tuesday, almost on a Wednesday...........
New years eve after the kids left the wedding I ended up tying one on. We had an after-party in somebody's room......I really dont know who...I was sitting at a table, drinking $150 a bottle champagne and for no reason i yelled out "jane you ignorant slut" (an old saturday night live skit).
Anyway, later on I was put to bed and the next morning, with little to no sleep, started this whole madhouse all over again.

2006 photos are in.....click on the link

http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=5a01f9acbacd8d2bb10ab5"

Santa Showed up

I was spent by the time the morning rolled around. Normally, I wake up first and run into the kids room waking them up. This morning Jimmy was in the hallway outside of my bedroom as if he didnt know what might be in the back room. As always it was cute as hell to see the little legs scurrying under the Christmas Tree. I had to go to work after all the chaos. lucky me.
Christmas went awesome. Laura and Catherine had been sick most of the week, pathetically sick I must add, but the spring in their legs came back to life when Santa showed up. Jimmy ripped his gifts apart as soon as he greeted them, Laura was a little more methodical and Catherine likes to adore the gifts after I open them for her. There were so many gifts I almost feel bad. Jimmy got his X-Box 360, Laura got her GameGirl, Catherine got anything and everything with Barney and Dora. We didnt forget litte Jack, he just smiled most of the time like he was up to something. Laura had remembered to ask Santa Claus to get me some socks, Isnt she sweet. I got them.

Is anybody out there healthy???

finals time has come and now its gone. Every one of us have been in and out of sickness for the last three weeks. I think I just might home school the little buggahs but I'd hate to see what the curriculum would be, probably recess all day long. Ever wake up in the morning with the little one standing about 5 inches from your face just staring at you?? Happened to me again yesterday. I wonder how long Catherine was standing there. I made the mistake of opening my eyes at 5am and the barrage of a 19 months verbal tirade began. She wasnt mad, just non stop blabber.
Jimmy and I have been going to the Coffee shop the last couple of weeks. We have our coffee parties as opposed to the girls tea parties. Mostly we sit around for a while, him drinking a forbidden Sprite and me with my decaf coffee. We played checkers the last time. He starts yelling when he jumps my man. Little stinker I say.
Christmas is coming and once again we have everyone coming over for Christmas Eve. I am getting ready for my after holiday diet. My new years resolution is to get in shape. Got to have something for the chickies to look at.

Next Edition is in

Okay i've returned to the world of blogging. Anyway, here comes a new baby into the world, Number four in five and a half years. How life changes so quickly. I feel so damn old at times. Yesterday, my Laura went to a Teddy-Bear tea party in Boston. Times like these are happy days, the reason why you have the kids in the first place. She was so happy to be going, and still high as a Kite last night at 10pm when she wouldnt go to sleep. What the hell else is there in life. They are my reasons for living and what a good reason at that. Some little dirt crawlers were trying to tell Jimmy (5yrs old) that there was no Santa Claus. I believed very long into my childhood and hope to keep him in the same way. My Catherine is now 18 months old. I taught her how to do the "old John Broddilin" dance by the wiggles. She's not all there. She slaps her thighs and goes with a rum tum tattlin, old John Braddlin, hey what funny folk we be.....She is an entertainer for sure.
I've included the Halloween Picture. I dont know what the neighbors thought, but then again it really wouldnt matter either way.