Laura Swimming and warming the butter sticks

      Laura had regionals today and last night...she's a beast.

     Here, Laura is competing in the relay and getting ready to jump in.  Unfortunately, she lost her goggles once she got in the water so it slowed her down a little bit, but she recovered, just didn't finish in first. 

 

And of course, after the swim meet we went for a celebratory meal at the lovely restaurant nearby.  Laura and Emily ate their weight, we actually shared a lot of appetizers and pizza.  But the bread was fantastic.  The only problem, the butter cubes were very cold and frozen.  So, like a teaching parent that I am, I showed the girls how to warm the butter....under your armpit of course.  Everything went well, until we got home and Fenway kept jumping up on them trying to sniff their armpits.   It was a very nice time and I had a lot of laughs with the swimming gals. 



Jim's Basketball

     Jimmy had a basketball tourney this weekend.  His team did pretty good with Jimmy scoring 10 points and getting fouled in the eye pretty hard.  So hard he went into his bag and texted me during the game about it.....I was across the court !!

Heritage night at school

Jackie and Catherine had Heritage night at school the other night.  Jack did Ireland and Catherine did a four cheese lasgna for her Italian heritage.  They both stood beside Catherine Q's Irish cake picture.

And it snowed and snowed, then snowed some more...Blizzard of 2015

     Okay, I'll say it straight out....I am not the greatest fan of the cold and the white stuff....BUT, these guys make it soooo fun it leaves you with no choice.  They absolutely love the snow and prancing around , throwing it in the air, climbing around in it, making forts and of course, sledding. 

                           Baby Erin came over for a little bit of snow fun.  I knew she would.  Oh and by the way, I can only call her Baby Erin in front of select people so its a habit I have to break....rrr

Snuggle time

       Remember those days before you had children and used to think that once you had kids they would quietly sit still on your lap and you would get to enjoy time with them while they adoringly,  leaned on you???  Yeah,well guess what,  it don't happen often after they start to walk....but when it does, its pretty cool.  This little guy sat next to me on the couch and read two chapters from his book out loud.  Then he snuggled up and put his arm around me and quietly just laid there.......He didn't really fall asleep and neither did I but it was a cool moment

Winter Kids

     I love that these kids love the snowy weather.  We have snow and you can be sure they'll be outside jumping around in it.....Sunday we went up North for the day and Jackie wanted to go out onto the ice and see what was up with the Ice Fishing houses.....He couldnt wait to get out there...I actually wanted to see it too...Theres something scary about walking on ice though

School Bus

     There are certain memories that I file away from these tender years that I know will stay with me for as long as I live.  I remember leaving for work with Jimmy being in the window and waving to me goodbye, Laura coming out to get a quarter from me while I'm in my car leaving in the morning, Catherine running from around the living room table into the living room to jump up on me for our good morning launch with Jack doing the same.  The one constant thing for all of them has been our time spent at the bus stop in the morning.  After leaving the house, we spend the time at the bus stop playing 'tennis ball'.  which includes a mixture of ground balls, pop-ups and throwing accuracy games.  Those accuracy games are important for Daddy because otherwise they make me run all over for errant throws.....but when the bus comes I get my hugs and kisses before they go to school.....and Jackie tilts his head so I can kiss his forehead.  My little Catherine gets on the bus, hurries to her seat and gives me a smile, waves to me and returns the blown kisses.  Its such a simple thing but it makes me start my day off right.  Jackie is in the second grade and has two and a half years left before he walks to school.  I'll have to find something else to do in the morning then.

Christmas

yes folks, its the clapper.  I cant quite imagine what Santa Claus must have been thinking when he saw the clapper on their list.  Jack has wanted it ever since he saw it for the first time on TV.  The top picture is the weird folks from WWE, the Wyatt's are a group that i believe is from deliverance.  Real freaky.  The kids go nuts every monday and Friday and they are glued to the TV.  Its never quiet around here, especially during wrestling.

     Cat got her gymnastics bars from Santa....there goes Daddy's room that we just did over.  Jimmy got all his crazy Xbox games from Santa

  Laura enjoying all her weird gifts including a bacon bread bowl gift.....as seen on TV of course.

Christmas Eve

Poor Santa

     Poor Santa Claus....what he has to endure through the holiday season.....

We never posted for thanksgiving......2014

Oh yes, we did have a thanksgiving dinner...and what a dinner it was.  Aunt Jo had us all over her new place and there was only limited damage.  The food was spectacular..not that it isn't always, but for some reason, this years grub seemed that much better.

 

                      Just remember, its all about the cranberry sauce,...but only the real kind, with ridges in it

Cutting down our tree

     Its a wonderful new holiday tradition that we join the cousins cutting down our Christmas Tree.  This years tree was collectively picked out by the younger ones.  Its not the most beautiful tree by looks but because of its history its awesome.  We all parked near the entrance shack and loaded up in the rear of Jamie's pickup truck.  What memories riding around in the back of the pickup.  Imagine riding to and from the beach...or anywhere for that matter in the back of a pickup, sometimes standing.  One quick stop and we could have flown for a while.  ahhhhh, the memories.

     Each kid had the chance to get into the snow and take a turn at the saw.  Down it came.....such fun...though its scary to have Jackie handling anything that sharp isn't it.