He wanted a Hamster too!!!

Easter 2013

Catherine is 9 years old

    Well, the day that we have been waiting for all year has finally come.  Catherine talks about her birthday all year long and anytime someone mentions the month of April or the number 13 she associates it with her birthday.  She tells us her birthday is a weeklong celebration and that its also a national holiday.  She is a very sweet gal and she deserves having a holiday named after her just for that reason.  Every year since pre school i've been able to go into her school and read some books to the class for her birthday week.  She absolutely loves it and is so cute making it a blast for me to do.

      Laura has taken much pride in making the birthday cakes now for everyone.  This one is a strawberry cake and i must say, was very moist and delicious.

      Umple Eddie, Aunt Joe and Doe came over and joined us for the partry.  We were able to sing with Nana and Lilly on the video phone from Ohio.

      James loves his vanilla ice cream....unreal how much he can put down.

Beach Party Gymnastics for Catherine....first place

Catherine's team took first place in the beach party gymnastics meet last week.  I wish I could upload the video of her doing her first back hand spring during the match.  That move has caused us more heartache than you could imagine.  She has only started in this competition business since October and she has tried so hard to master this move but has come up short so many times.  I think at one point she hurt her wrist so she has stayed away from it....until now.  She's our most sensitive one and doesnt really like doing the things that scare her the most and this has certainly got into her head.  She did so good during this meet though.  I was very proud watching her at least try it and sure enough she pulled it off like a champion. Of course i'm bias towards her.  She really loves doing it and just to see the smile on her face makes it all worth it.

      and here they all are up on the first place podium....its their olympics and they competed like champions!

Catching up....Jimmy playing winter baseball..in the snow

     Jimmy plays AAU baseball that starts in November...no, usually they start practicing indoors all winter but as soon as they get their chance to get outside they do....which is fun.  They had their first practice game when the Red Sox were in Florida just starting their spring training...but they had 80 degrees and sun.  Jimmy's team had 28 degrees and snowbanks on the sidelines......oooooo it was cold.  He's the catcher.  Yes, he's getting so tall.  At 5'8 he's grown quite a bit this year.

Wizards basketball

The Harlem wizards were in town and the kids wanted to go see them. 

    laura really didn't want to go until she saw her friend Emma there

          Jackie getting tomahawks autograph on his basketball shirt