End of School

Wrapped up the year with an award ceremony... also had field day which was canceled 3 weeks in a row because of the lovely rain...

Happy 4th

An early Happy 4th of July! Can't believe my boys are going into 3rd grade... utterly amazing! School ended on a good note although the weather has been terrible. Its been raining almost daily and its really wearing on us all. We're trapped inside bored and all we wanna do is eat and bicker...

Work has me traveling a little bit lately. Was in DFW a few weeks ago and was caught in a tornado northwest of Dallas. That was a moment of terror... the worst part was when the lights went out... Next I'm going to California outside San Jose. Hopefully there will be no wild fires or mudslides.

Counting down the days till vacation... Looking forward to the Jersey Shore BABY!!!

Sesame Place 2009

Had a long day at Sesame Place. It was fun, there was a new attraction called water city where a HUGE bucket of water would dump on everyone below.... It really was a cool attraction. We road on rides, hit the water slides and floated in a lazy river. It was fun.

Now time for bed for EVERYONE. I'm exhausted.

Just came home from a birthday party. There was a slip'n slide.

Memorial Day

We had a really good weekend, but Holiday weekends seem to go by so fast. The boys and I marched in the Memorial Day parade.

Here's my boys ready to go....

the Boys and their den marched in the parade... here we are assembling before the parade started.... here is Pack 104...

Passing some time, still waiting for the parade to start....

OK, the parade started, now just need to wait for our slot in the line up....Finally marching...

Ryan and Sean got to hold the Den flag with all the scout's signatures....Mommy and Gabby met us toward the end of the parade... One of the best memories is my nephew Jack trying to say Chocolate Truck...

Happy Memorial Day.

First Sleep Over and Boardwalk

We had our annual trip to the beach today. It was a little chilly, but we had plenty of fun on the rides in Point Plesant, NJ.

The day started when we picked the boys up from their first sleep-over ever... Niecie was very nervous but survived. From what we heard, Ryan was the first to fall asleep around 10:40 but was up at 2 AM sleep walking (trying to find the bathroom--he has no recollection of the event). Sean was up till 11:30ish, and all the kiddos were awake by 5:30 AM.

When we first got to the boardwalk the boys were really excited. Ryan jumped up on the hood and laid out... I had to get a picture.

Then Sean followed suit...
We went on the roller coaster first...
Then the swings...

There were a bunch of other rides, especially the Starship (its a spinning disk that all the kids go inside and stick to the walls) which the boys road on at least 3 times. It was a really good day seems like everyone had fun. Now its an EARLY bedtime.

Wolf Scout Graduation!!!!

My boys are now Bear Scouts! Finished up the Wolf Scout season with a few more achievements to complete... time to start Bear. SIGN'S UP BOYS!!!!

Bronx Zoo

Just got back from a field trip to the Bronx Zoo. It was really busy and trying to follow two buses around NYC highways was crazy. Ends up the kids go dropped off at the gate and we had to go all the way around to park. We had to weave our way across the whole zoo to meet up! It was fun, the kids were well behaved, the animals were cool but many exhibits were closed.
The front gate...

Fountain just inside the main gate...Sean's Class 2M ...Taking a break to check our maps....A break for lunch....
Off we were to see Camels (cousin's of the LLAMA!!!)

Tropical Birds...
Dances With Wolves....(can you hear the theme song???)
Mr. Peacock...who was free to roam on the grassy lawn between buildings. He was attracted to a glass mirrored ball in the center, he kept walking around a pecking at it...(this Photo Taken By Sean)More Map checking... Penguins...

More wanderings...

Ryan's Class 2K ....(Most photos taken by Ryan himself)
Love the shades Ry!!!!
African Shara
Lemurs of Madagascar...Mr. Mountain goat...
Chips and Chimps...
Bird...
Mr. Seal....

Mr. Ryan....

Holy Communion

Unfortunately I don't seem to have the time that I used to have to blog... Sean and Ryan had their First Communion this weekend! It was really great, they're getting so big so fast. We had the Holy Communion on Saturday evening (my Protestant Mom was beside herself :-D). The party was on Sunday. Seems though (hindsight being 20/20) we would have done it all on the same day if we could do it over. There were many guests that wanted to see the Communion but because of the trip did not come and just came to the party the next day. We started with some nice pictures of my boys in the backyard.

We weren't allowed pictures or video during the Mass. But afterwards we got some great pictures... First with Mimi.Then with Fr. Dan.Then my Handsome boys.... They were very photogenic this evening... Then a family picture (Gabby always seems to have a itch at the wrong time and doesn't have the social grace to scratch in private... we're still working on that). After a family dinner out at the Macaroni Grill we got one final picture of Mommy and her boys... Ryan And Sean... When Sunday rolled around it was time to celebrate.... Starting with family pictures.... Here are some candid shots from the party. We won a bouncy rental at a tricky tray and put it to good use.

Then it was time for cake...

Well my boys have taken their love of Llama's to another level. Sean came home with a llama license showing him as llama lord Jr. Sean then helped Ryan create his own license.

I asked Ryan what he played at recess and it was llama. Evidently this game is more involved than you would expect a 2nd grader to come up with. Their are different levels that they can achieve starting with spy and then you can work their way up to llama lord gold level... very interesting.

I recommended the boys create llama trading cards. I'm interested in seeing what they come up with.

Love the LLAMAS

Sean and Ryan have a love affair with llamas, inherited from a best friend at school. I was out with a buddy going to do some 'service work' and drove past a farm with llamas. I made a field trip out of it during spring break. The boys absolutely loved it... Check out the 'angel' face on that little girl...

Two happy little llama-lovers...

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Had an Easter egg hunt... ate some candy... went to Church...

Went to Aunt Ki-Ki's...

Dynamic Demo Duo...

Well as luck would have it, the bathroom had a mishap. well it was Niecie trying to stand up after a bath (strenuous exercising left her legs inoperable). Using the soap dish for help, she ripped the soap dish, tiles and wall board right off the studs...we looked in and saw mold. Out comes the tile, all of it, and since we're in the neighborhood out comes the tub and shower fixture...Sean and Ryan jumped at the opportunity to take a hammer to the walls....Gabby wanted to do some 'demo' too :-D

OUT with the mauve!!!!

Ryan working the grout knife...

Daddy completing the demo...

Congratulatons!!! Green Belts!!!

Sean receiving accolades from his teacher. He and his brother are said to have a good mind for the Hapkido principles. Ryan too, enjoyed the compliments.

Easter Egg Hunt

Mad dash for Easter Eggs! Had the annual town Easter egg hunt... well it wasn't much of a hunt more like a mad dash for eggs on the football field.Gabby was the lucky winner of a chocolate bunny that she gladly shared with you boys...

Dance Fever!

Caught Sean doing a silly dance, he didn't notice untill it was to late.

Epigastric Hernia. Always something new... these types of issues seem to come as a full frontal assault rather than a couple of spies in the dark...Its been multiple bouts of strep and antibiotic. Really severe colds, now hernias. Sean's is the size of a Pea but nevertheless will result in a quick 10 min operation under general anesthesia. UGH...

Soccer

My boys have been doing very well at soccer. Ryan has been scoring goals! Sean has been running the field like a crazy person... I'm quite impressed. I'll try to get some action shots and update this post through out the season.

I'm Just Sensitive

Boys have had repeated bouts with Strep. Ryan hates the strep tests, the swap hurts the back of his throat and makes him cry.

This last time I took Gabby along because she complained of a sore throat. She did the strep test like a champ. Didn't cry or whince at all. She was giddy about getting the lolly pop. She even was saying "I love the doctor!"

When Ryan got his it hurt and he cried.

After getting home Gabby said "I was a very good girl for the doctor. I didn't cry, but Ryan cried."

Ryan said; "Mommy said I'm sensitive. I just have a sensitive throat."

It was funny because the next several days Gabby went on and on about how she got 2 lolly pops, loves the doctor and she didn't cry but Ryan did... Ryan emphatically defended his sensitive throat.

Guilty Dad

I've been trying to do a better job as a Dad and as a person. I've been aware of something for some time... by the time bed rolls around I'm very irritable. Typically what happens is during tooth brushing I loose it and snap at the boys, then end up crying and I feel guilty. Well this one night I realized I was getting upset and was extremely sarcastic with Ryan. I asked him to put the head on the toothbrush... his reply 'I don't know how.'

I take the toothbrush head and screw it on saying 'See Ry! like this! Same as every other time you put it on yourself. Now put some toothpaste on this while I go put this away...'

any guess what he said...

'I don't know how.'

That was it... 'You know! Here! Is it so hard to put a little bit of toothpaste on your toothbrush?!' I put the toothpaste on and walk out... by the time I get back I realize something....Do I really need to get so upset over toothpaste? (No.) I know he's being a smart ass, but hey he's my kid... what should i expect?

So I'm sitting down in the bathroom getting ready to brush his teeth and I say 'Ry, I'm sorry for getting so upset over toothpaste.'

He rests his hand against his cheek, leaning on the bathroom counter and says...

"That's OK dad. I really enjoy watching you feel guilt about yourself."

Good Grief, I've just been played by a 7 year-old.