First Aunt Chrissy BBQ of the season

Saturday we went over Aunt Chrissy's house for the first time this year. I'm sure we'll be there many more times over the course of the summer. Laura spent lots of time cooking s'mores for everyone. The water was freezing but that didnt stop the little fishes from going in .

Baseball game with the three youngest and the UMP

James and mommy stayed home together tonight and bonded while the ump and I brought the other three to see the spins play. We didnt tell them about it until a couple of minutes before gametime. i told Laura first so it accidentally slipped where we were going but it was late enough to still make it real fun. We had great seats. By the third inning they had already sucked down some hot dogs and french fries, drinks before we went to the swamp area where the kids can play games and do the jumpy jumpy and ride down the slide too. Ice Cream followed with cotton candy as well as popcorn to round out the treats. After the game they got to run the bases....Laura is turning into Jimmy because she loves to get on the basepaths and pass people...competitive she is. they were all really cute all night and deserved everything they got because they were really, really good.

Catherine lost her first tooth today...and update

What a wonderully, exciting day for catherine today. She has been complainging for about a week about her front lower tooth and how its loose and is going to fall out. Well, today it finally became very very loose where it way lying flat down facing the front. Never one to be dramatic...uh huh...Cat wouldnt let me touch it or even come close enought to it to get a great look at it. she would freak out when someone would come near her. she finally did let me touch her jaw and all I could do was hope it would come out soon and also that she wouldnt swallow it. Right after leaving CVS with all four of them I hear this blood curdling scream coming from the back seat....AHHHHHHHHHHHH Daddy, it fell out and I"m bleedinmg. she had traces of blood coming from the new opening.....ooooo, it was disastrous. Until Jimmy told her that the tooth fairy will leave her some money to spend. It got a little better with every phone call she made.

UPDATE***Before she went to bed my little angel was scared to death of that tooth fairy coming in her room while she sleeps. All the kids agreed to sleep on the floor in front of her bed to keep her safe. I'm sure it made it tough for the toothfairy to get in, but she flies through the air anyway. In the morning i was in bed tossing and turning when i heard Catherine yell out...THANK YOU TOOTH FAIRY!!!!

Jimmy's last day before middle school and silly hawaiin dress day

Laura is never one to turn down a chance to dress silly...she's so fun!!

Today was Jimmy's last day in this school. How fast these school years have come and gone. It just seems like yesterday that we went to his orientation for kindergarten. I remember sitting in the back row with a cafeteria full of people and one lady talking over and over asking nonsensical questions about checking the bathrooms before the kids use them....and now here we are almost five years later and fifth grade is right around the summer corner. Believe it or not we took some pictures of his last day in this school.

Bruins parade....well, not the official one

We were going to go to Boston for the parade...but as is often the case, there was so much to do with Jimmy's baseball, Catherine's gymnastics and birthday party for Sophia....that we had to do some quick thinking. With Jack's red wagon and a base of plywood, we put Laura's drum on top, got some guitars and made our own Stanley cup with popcorn cups and bowls bought at Target. We marched around the neighborhood, and beyond, with Laura contantly on the drums, Jack leading by yelling out the march and Catherine dancing. Jimmy started out with us playing his recorder. It got very hot during the parade, but much fun was had by all. At one point some lady stopped her car and took our picture. she told us it will be in the newspaper...we'll have to see about that.

Fathers Day at the Beach

We love to make it to the beach on Fathers Day. Some years we have hit it in the cold, some rain but today, it was beautiful weather for the creatures. No matter what the weather, you can always count on Jimmy going into the water. This year, they all joined him. I stepped in with them and thought someone had cut my leg off....Freeeeezing!!

We did the right thing by going so early too. We got there around 9am or so. The place was packed by 10:30am. The kids were very well bahaved. They love the sand. Even the ten year old (jimmy) spent alot of time digging and making sand castles. We have become pro's at this whole kid at the beach thing so we know what kind of toys to bring. When I would sit down to relax though, they wouldnt have any of it so off we went to play catch with the football and tennis ball. We played pickle and some modified beach four square thing where i always end up losing. It is absolutely amazing how well each one of them can throw a ball...and how fast they can. Some good years to look forward to.

Jim has started his summer baseball league and his opening night was on Fathers day....imagine. anyway, they lost the first game of the tourney so we are in the losers bracket. Its four or rive nights a week till august..stay tuned

Mud Soup..and then

We all went to meggies softball game today....in the 98 degree heat. Jimmy brought Charlie along and nana, doe were there with us to watch the run to the State championship. The girls watched patiently as there hero Meghan pitched her way through another victory. We had sprite, water, popsicles and snacks to keep everyone amused. After the game we met up with mommy and eventually we all settled into the swagger wagon to get some errands run. We ended up at Lowe's to get some sand for the sandbox and some big water jugs for the water cooler. As we are walking along the aisle Jack was being Jack....DADDY, WHEN ARE WE GOING HOME, WHEN ARE WE GOING HOME. Then he went to DADDY WHAT ARE WE GONNA EAT, DADDAYYY WHAT ARE WE GOING TO EAT....Finally, I told him WE ARE HAVING GRASS SANDWICHES AND MUD SOUP.....without skipping a beat he comes back with NOT AGAIN, WE HAD THAT FOR LUNCH!!! Lyn and I just looked at each other and laughed....the little shit!!!

AND THEN.....we did make a take out call to georges for some grub. We just wanted to take the stuff home. So off we went and into our favorite pizza house to wait for it. Outside the store I see Jack admiring this perfect Harley Davidson bike. Once we go inside he is treated like the celebrity he is. However, I see him over at Harley Dude and his date. I go over to make sure everything is okay. Harley dude tells me that Jack told him the he was in his seat. He pointed to our family picture on the napkin holder at the end of the table.......

Jimmy's Concert

Jimmy was ever so excited about singing in his class concert. He even had a solo bit in it. He was great with such a ummmm talented voice. Again, must be the mothers side for that one. All of the kids joined us and they werent that bad either. Afterwards, the kids got to play in the playground. Before the concert we got to see Jimmy's portfolio for the year. We laughed at some of the things he wrote throughout the year. He's really a thoughful person.

Jack's field day, and then.....Guess where we went today

Jack and his girlfriend Addison hiding underneath the "tent".

Well, he's finally gone for someone his own age. You just gotta love this little girl. One Jack's first day of preschool she was the one that set him straight and told him to stop crying. She wont take much from him, he's got to watch out. She's so cute and photogenic....not that we take alot of pictures.

Here is the famous "Benson"...really Vincent. He's about one hundred miles an hour at all times. Really a cute kid. His mother is named Mary, his father Joseph which leads to the obvious question...was he born in a manger????

Cat came and enjoyed the festivities. She was torn between thinking she might be too old for the festivities and the thought that she really wanted to get out there with the kids and play. When she finally did go running out she told me she just wanted to go and say hello to Jack and keep an eye on him. I've said it before....she's so damn cute.

That train!!!

Today was Jack's field day at his preschool. Catherine, who is recovering from Strep, joined us and seems to be recovering nicely. Once at the field Jack just ran from activity to activity having a blast for the whole two hours..and more. Mommy was able to come too because she got to go into work a little late today.

After the field day Jack and I dropped Catherine off for her bus and did the unthinkable....Back to Black Gordon, the train that doesnt move and off to the coffee shop too!!!

Annual Away game....New York City

Here comes our third annual away game trip. This year was at Yankee Stadium in New York City. We went there Friday morning...early in the morning. We drove over to the umps house and Uncle Bobby drove us into South Station for the train ride. Four hours later we pulled into Penn Station and off we were. The train ride was very smooth again. It goes by so fast. The ump and Jimmy took a break into the dining car to get some pizza and junkfood to kill some of the time. Of course Jimmy kept asking me what time it was and how much time we had left. He was impatient to get there. Who could blame him. Once we got there we found a great place to eat some New York style pizza. Nicks is the place to go. Two large pies....Jimmy ate most of them. I dont know where he puts it.
Once at the game, the ump had some chicks come sit next to him. I tried to get better pictures of them with him but it was kind of obvious.

Yankee Stadium was a magnificent place. We took a train over from the hotel and it let us off right across the street from the park. I suppose we should expect that but we dont after being so used to Fenway park and the nightmare it is to get in and out of there. The old Yankee stadium has been transformed into a sports complex and it looks great. I didnt get any pictures of it unfortunately...you would think i would.

We sat in the balcony area with a view of the Bronx zoo. Such a tired looking area it is with all those old, big buildings. I half expected to see J.J. and Thelma hanging out on the balcony.

Gonzalez right before his home run.

Nothing compares to Camden Yards but this place was very nice.

James and I enjoying the game. We had a great time the whole weekend.

We took in Ground Zero. This is the beginning one of the buildings of the Freedom tower complex. I could still feel a presence in the area. It was eery.

I dont know what the significance of this building is, it looks over the site where the Twin Towers had stood and I liked its look

We HAD intended to take the Ferry to the Statue of Liberty. The line was outrageous and Jimmy didnt want to wait. We could see the Statue from where we were at Battery Park. We had a great idea to rent some bikes for an hour or so. This turned into riding the bikes around the city for four hours. What a great time we had first riding along the Hudson River. At around West 78th street we turned into the bike lanes on the street (Eeeee gawd) and took a ride through Central Park. It was the way to go though. Very scary though riding along with some of the taxicabs. The only one that fell was me...and I did it twice.

Statue of Liberty from Battery Park

I believe this was E. 94th street on the upper East Side

I absolutely love New York City. The bike trail was so long. They have spent tons of money on having the bike routes around the city and it shows. The lanes were packed. I spent most of the time riding behind Jimmy giving him instructions on when to stop and what to look out for. He doesnt really have the luxury (or not) of growing up on a busy street so he lacks that type of street sense. He had to learn it in a hurry around this area. He did very very good at it though and kept his complaints to himself, if he had any.

I don't know the significance of this old Pier. It just looks kind of cool against the backdrop of the sky scrapers.

John Lennons old home.....The Dakota....this was where he got shot all those years ago...on December 8, 1980....as Eddie tells me.....a Monday Night Football game against Miami so he would know.

The tribute to Lennon in Central park...Apple records (again according to the ump)

Night two at Yankee Stadium..

Ump with the chicks...if you look to the bottom right we see some of the Yankee fans making faces....i didnt notice until now.

Jimmy took my camera for a bit and this was one of his better pictures. I kinda like it

In the ninth I went up to some cop behind the entrance to the good seats. The first one said he couldnt get my down in the front. The second one was the charm, He let us down for the last half inning to see the final outs.

After the game was complete Jimmy wanted to sit and just look around.....we did too.
By the way, we are 6-0 on away games!!!