First Day of School

Wow this summer went by fast!!! So much happened and it's so hard to believe it's over. School started early again this year....before Labor Day!
It definatly snuck up on us and we were still running around trying to get all of our supplies right up till Wednesday (the day before school started)
The day started with the usual argument from Zack & Hayley about why I have to take their pictures. After I took their photo I pretended to walk to the bus stop with them which did not make them very happy.

Zack started 10th Grade & Hayley started 7th....hard to believe...where did the time go?!?

Connor & Riley were fine with me taking photos however they thought it would be more fun if they made faces...it took me 10 tries to finally get a half way decent pic!...UGH boys!!

The first day of school was so much easier for me than last year. It's so much harder on milestone years (beginning a new school).

 

The best part every year is when the kids get off the bus with their eyes sparkling all full of excitement of their 1st day. Talking about the friends in their class from last year and their teachers and the new friends they made. Riley only knows girls in his class which he said he doesn't like but his big dimply smile tells a different story. Connor was excited because there is a new boy in his class who's dad plays for the Buffalo Bills. Hayley was excited about all her friends eating lunch at the same time as her...so many that she can't sit with them all. Zack was just glad to be in a position where he knew where he was going and wasn't a Freshman anymore.

I just love listening to their stories...it takes me back to when I was their ages.

the 1st football game of 2010

Well we had our 1st football game of 2010! It's earlier than usual...this was actually a pre season game.

Riley was so excited for days about the "big game". His game was 1st and he played a few different positions, but the best was when they had him be a running back.

Keep in mind these are 6-8 year old boys (many of which have never played football) so it takes a few minutes to get them set up for the play. But not Riley...he was so in tune with what he was supposed to do he stood there the whole time waiting with his hands ready to receive the hand off. One arm was across his chest, the other was parallel under his chest, with just enough room for the ball to fit.

He waited like this for what seemed like 2 minutes then the ball was snapped and Riley was tackled; not by just one boy but two of them!! The ball wasn't barely to the quarterback when Riley was hit...he didn't have a chance to even get his hands on the ball.

He lay there on the ground...they say the first hit of the season is always the hardest and he was hit by two players!! The coaches called out the EMT and wouldn't let him move because his mouth was all red and they had thought he bit his tongue.

The EMT walked him off the field and I went over. He asked Riley to open his mouth and if he had his mouth guard in. Riley said yes and opened then the EMT said "what did you have that was red today" Riley simply replied "my Gatorade"!!!

I couldn't stop laughing!!! He was fine the coaches just panicked!!!

Back to the daily grind

Well our summer as most people know summer is over!
Little Loop Football & Cheerleading is back in full swing and consuming our summer nights!
This year Riley started playing. He loves it!! He just seems too little for football, but he is defiantly holding his own on the field.
Hayley is super excited because she has a great new coach. They call her coach "Barbie" and they are all having so much fun.
Connor is still at it but always on the fence as to whether he wants to play football or not play. I think the hot summer nights are what keeps him teetering.
It's hard to believe we are on our 8th year of this. It's funny how you plan your whole summer around one activity. The nice thing about football/cheerleading is it is one of the only things we all do as a family! We are all involved. I am still the President, Zack still works in the kitchen and the other kids all play.
As much as I hate my summer ending sooner than everyone else's I know one day I will miss this time with my kids so I am going to savor every minute of it!!

My BoBo is growing up overnight!!!

For most things Riley has been advanced; you know doing things earlier than the other kids did. It seems the more children you have the faster they grow up, I guess it's because they are trying to keep up with their older siblings and with the 4 year gap between Connor & Riley he has to work harder to keep up than the other kids did with only a 2 year difference.

This has not been the case for a few things ~
Since our pool has been open we have been trying every possible trick to get Riley to get out of his tube. He swims with a swimming ring around his waist and just refuses to go in with arm floaties or a life jacket or anything but the ring. This was the case still on July 2nd. Then on July 3rd I asked him if he would try floaties just one time and if he hated them he could go back to the ring. You can imagine my surprise when he said "YES"!

He put on his floaties and a daredevil was born. He wore the floaties for about a day and then ditched them too and was just swimming around the pool with NOTHING!!!

This was the same situation with his bike. Riley has been learning how to ride a 2-wheeler since last fall, but every time he tries he gets clearly upset & frustrated.

All summer Riley has been running or riding his scooter trying hard to keep up with the boys in the neighborhood not complaining and not willing to try riding his bike. Yesterday, Connor & Riley went to their friend's house for the afternoon. When we arrived the kids were riding what they call the "midget bike" because it is so small. It's a beginner bike that they took the training wheels. It's funny to watch the kids ride it; especially the bigger kids as they look like the clowns at the circus ;) I mentioned to the mother that Riley could not ride his bike and our thinking was maybe just maybe with this bike he could learn. It's short enough that he can reach the ground comfortably so maybe if we left them all alone he may just do it.

I came back a few hours later and the mom was waiting outside for me and started waving and pointing...I saw a child on a bike in the road (they live on a cul de sac). At first I thought she just wanted to be sure I saw the child so I would not hit him. Imagine my surprise when I realize that kid was RILEY!!! He was so excited and didn't want to leave. They let us borrow the bike for the weekend thinking maybe he would try his bike if he had this one there to go back to if it didn't work out. But it did....now we can't keep him off his bike.
It's amazing how quickly things can change literally overnight!! It's sure is true when people say just wait when it's time it will just happen!

Goodbye Puff

Today we had to say goodbye to our good friend & puppy Puff.
She was hit by a car late Wednesday evening. While outside to go potty all the dogs ran across the street unfortunately Puff was not as fast as the other dogs and was struck.

We ran to her but she was injured so badly that she lay in the road motionless and crying as Kirk stroked her and told her it was ok. He continued to comfort her well after she passed. After the daunting task of cleaning up the road so the kids would not wake up to the sight we sat and held our lifeless puppy and cried.

Yesterday we went to the craft store and purchased a stepping stone kit shaped like a flower with 6 petals. Each of the kids decorated a petal including Sammie and on the sixth petal we put Coco's paw print. We spend hours making a coffin for Puff. We then each decorated one side.

Today we had a puppy funeral including a viewing, lowering her coffin into her grave and tossing roses in on top of her coffin while telling Puff all we would miss about her.

Everyone has taken this so hard including Coco who has done nothing but lay around looking sad. We have started letting Coco sleep with us as we don't want her to be left alone in her cage which she used to share with her sister Puff. Puff was only 3 years old and she & Coco have never been separated since birth. They have always done everything together. I really hope Coco can heal and get back to her old self.

Zack is 15

My first born turns 15 today!!
It's so hard to believe ... where has the time gone?
I remember it like it was just last week.

It was 2am on Father's Day morning...I got up to use the bathroom and my water broke. It wasn't anything like all the videos they show you in Lamaze class. There was no huge explosion like gush. It was more like I just didn't make it to the bathroom in time.

I called my mom because I wasn't sure. She asked me a few questions and then said "your water broke". I was like "what!!" I was 2 weeks overdue (and going to be induced on Monday) but I still wasn't ready for this!!!

I went to wake Kirk who would not get up. I was starting to panic. Then when he did wake up he decided he needed a shower before we could go!! Yes seriously he took a show while I was sitting there with my bag ready to go to the hospital which was almost an hour away. My mom was sitting on the side of the road waiting to follow us to the hospital; he only request when she found out I was pregnant (at 20 & unmarried) was that she be allowed in the room for the delivery. Of course, I had no problem with that...I figured I could use all the help I could get!!!

We finally arrived at the hospital. Where they checked me out and said "yes your water broke & you're going to be having this baby today" I was excited that it was Father's Day and that Kirk would become a Father on Father's Day!

However, I didn't know it at that time but it was just not going to be that simple. This little (actually huge) boy was not going to exit smoothly or quickly. My contractions stayed 10 minutes apart for hours. I walked around, we played cards, I walked some more, I did everything they told me that could move things along. But the hours dragged on for what seemed like forever.

Around noon I realized Kirk was gone and had been for quite awhile. My mom went to look for him & found him napping on the couch in the family room of the hospital. She dragged him back to my room.

I was getting so impatient and wanted this to happen but Zack had other plans. So we kept walking and walking and nothing more was happening.

Around 5pm since it looked like I wasn't going to be having this baby anytime soon & my contractions were still 10 minutes apart the doctor decided I could have dinner...I hadn't eaten since the night before.

Again Kirk was gone & my mom went to have a cigarette outside. Suddenly as I was eating dinner at 5:10pm I had a contraction (just like all day) and put a fork full of food in my mouth then I got a huge contraction. My mouth was full & I was gagging and no one was around. I pushed the nurse button. She checked the monitor as I had another huge contraction...just like that they were only 3 minutes apart!!!

My mom came back & I was freaking out cuz no one was there & off she went to find Kirk again. This time napping in the room that was assigned to me to go to after I had the baby. I was seriously annoyed with all the naps especially since I didn't have the luxury of sleep while having HIS baby!!!

So back to the contractions...the doctor was excited and said now things getting going are moving along. They were 3 minutes apart for a long time. Around 8pm the doctor did an exam and realized I had another water sack which needed to be broken. Possibly the hold up to all of this. They broke the water sack and my contractions got even harder, but it was still not time to push.

Somewhere around 9:30ish it was time for me to push. Oh I pushed & pushed and this baby did not move. I remember Krystin (Kirk's sister) calling and him telling her I was pushing. She wanted to come to the hospital and Kirk said we didn't know how long it would be. The doctor said "oh this baby will be here in no time now". Well good thing Krystin didn't come to the hospital cuz this baby was NOT here in no time!!!

At some point (I lost all track of time) after pushing for what seemed like forever they realized the baby was upside down (I can never remember should they be face up or face down..well whatever my baby's face was the wrong way). Well he was on his way out when they realized and the doctor literally pushed him back up and made us start all over again, but not until they got him to flip over.

Finally, it was time again and he was on his way out, but one thing I would quickly figure out with this boy of mine...nothing is ever easy. I had a wonderful surprise...he flipped back the wrong way again!!! Yes they pushed him back up and one more time.

This time we were successful in staying the "right" way and Zack was born finally at 4:35am Monday morning. Well he wasn't born on Father's Day but he was a wonderful gift anyway.

Welcome to the world Zachary Patrick ~ 10 lbs 5 oz ~ 22 1/2" long and with the biggest, weirdest shaped head from all the being pushed back up and down again.

Mother's Day 2010

It is tradition at our Elementary School for the Kindergarten Class to have Mother's Day Tea.

This year we went to our children's classes where they sang to us and serves us iced tea, lemonade, cookies & cake.

It was wonderful to watch them be so "grown up" and serve us.

They also made us gifts & gave us these plastic flower rings. A few days before the tea Riley asked me my favorite color and when I said pink he said "oh tartar sauce I picked you purple" I was very confused until he gave me my purple flower ring. That's OK I love purple too!

Zack's Broken Arm

The first day of beautiful warm weather this year was Good Friday (4/2/10)

The kids were off from school and so excited.

Zack & Hayley were quick to go off riding around town with their friends.

Of course, it all couldn't just be that simple :)

While at Zack's friend's house the boys were goofing around and Zack fell backwards over his bike. He fell on his arm and said it hurt but that didn't keep him from still riding around on his bike. If fact I saw him while on my way home from the grocery store and stopped to talk to him...he said he fell and his wrist kind of hurt but he still didn't see the need to come home... I was thinking...how bad could it be then.
He finally came home around 1pm and said "I think I broke my wrist". I said "Oh I'm sure you didn't" I know I must sound like the most horrible mother but it seemed to me if it was broke he would have been in more pain and wouldn't have kept ram rodding around town.
After much mental debating I thought it's probably sprained & maybe we'll call the Doctor since it's the holiday weekend and I didn't want to make him wait till Monday if the pain didn't subside.
The doctor was set to leave early but said they would wait for us. We arrived and after an exam the Doctor said "obviously he needs X-rays but I'd be shocked if it's not broken!" I was shocked and thought OMG I am a horrible mother!!!
Zack had X-rays & sure enough his arm was broken!!! Since it was a holiday weekend no Orthopedic could see him so off the Children's Hospital we went where they set it in the splint below with the plan to come back in a week when the swelling was down for his real cast.

Zack was so excited...he kept saying he always wanted a cast. Sadly he thought having a cast would get him out of things. It did get him out of writing since he is left handed but that's all he got a free pass on! He still had to do his fair share of chores.

Hayley did advise him to break his leg next time cuz when she broke hers she didn't have to do any chores!!!

The Monster Shelf

So our boy's room is in the peak of the house and has slanted walls on each side. The one side is tall enough for us to walk in and use for storage but the other side is much shorter & there is so much wasted space behind the wall. I love watching home improvement shows & saw this episode a few years ago where they built a storage shelf into the slanted wall. For 3 years I've wanted one of these shelves.

Since my brother Jeff is a contractor I thought I would enlist his help. As we talked it out it seemed like a pretty simple project, but once we got going it turned out much bigger & better than I had ever imagined....

Jeff making the 1st cut in the wall

Here is the opening...doesn't look so big in this photo but it's actually 7 feet wide!!

Connor got home from school just in time to help us lift and install the bottom section....this was so heavy & definitely a 3 "man" job

the bottom pieces has 4 sections...each section will house an under the bed storage bin

2/3rds done

the second from the bottom row will be 4 sections...each section will hold a iris drawer and is 20x24x21"

The top shelf is custom made to hold DS game cases, CD's, etc

the 2nd shelf is for decorative items and the big open shelf is deep & for storage in the back & a play table intended for building with legos, but we'll see what it ends up being used for :o)

There we go...now just to paint it yellow (since we have a Buffalo Sabres theme) and get all the stuff off the wire shelves below loaded in....

Splash Lagoon

This winter we thought it would be nice to go on a "mini tropical vacation"

In Erie, PA there is an indoor water park called Splash Lagoon.

We got a great deal and stay 3 nights in the attached hotel. We just had to walk down the hall & right into the water park. We didn't have to face the cold for anything except to grab some dinner.

It was great...they had several water slides, a basketball court pool, kiddie pools, lazy river, adult only hot tub, as well as kids hot tub.

Zack, Hayley & Connor LOVED the water slides, Riley stuck to the kiddie pools.

There was even an Arcade...the best part was the kids could turn in their tickets for snack coupons (like ice cream) instead of leaving with a bunch of little trinkets.

Connor Maxx is 10

Connor Maximillion is 10 today!

The idea of that is just crazy; where did the time go?

We celebrated with his friends yesterday with a bowling party. It was a blast & sad at the same time to watch the boys at an age when they can all bowl without our help.

Connor is an absolute riot! He is so funny and fun loving. He makes a joke out of everything and rarely cries even when he gets hurt. He still enjoys football but is taking a break from baseball to try a different sport.

For his birthday we got him a fly box (2 ramps with a connecting deck) for his bike and skateboard.

I remember this day 10 years ago so vividly. It started with me already in the hospital; I had been in the hospital for 2 days because I was having kidney failure. The doctor came in and said "we need to induce you today because you baby is at risk" That was so scary he wasn't due for 7 more weeks. It was better to have him early and deal with whatever what thrown at us than to carry him any longer and risk his life.

Luckily he was born healthy; just a little small (well compared to our other babies). He remains smaller than most kids his age but that doesn't hold him back one bit.

Happy Birthday Kee Kee!!!

USA USA USA!!!

After dinner tonight Connor tells us Riley got the whole bus in trouble today! Of course I was instantly upset about this and wanted Connor to explain....

Apparently, Riley's excitement of USA Hockey is consuming him and it's all he can talk about. So on the bus he started changing "USA USA USA" and got everyone chanting too. Well except Connor who admitted he just kept saying "shut up Riley"

The bus driver got upset and pulled over and yelled at everyone.

When Connor told us we couldn't stop laughing!!!

Guess the bus driver is Canadian ;o)

The Olympics

Right now we are all loving the Olympics. I have never seen anything bring our whole family together like this. Each day we all sit together and are glued to the TV switching from one event from the next; well except Zack who we sometimes have to "make" hang out with us.

It is just amazing to watch the kids learn about something. Connor & Riley are so full of questions and once they understand the sport they are so excited when it's the USA's turn.

Riley has grabbed onto absolutely every event & understands how each is played including Curling. Yes I said Curling! When the USA knocks the other team's stone out or when they get into the circle Riley is pumping his arm & yelling!
We couldn't believe it and quizzed Riley hoping to catch him not knowing something, but he didn't and Riley kept answering us while shaking his head in disbelief that we didn't know the answers.  So really maybe he doesn't know them either but sounded so convincing we had to believe he knew everything about the sports.

Our favorite this year has been Shaun White in Snowboarding & Apolo Anton Ohno and speed skating...while watching a recording of last night's race Riley was just screaming at the TV "come on, come on!" Apolo is pictured on the label of Powerade and Riley says "it's his favorite drink because it's Apolo's favorite, why else would his picture be on the bottle?"

Too funny!

I am dreading then end of the Olympic Games as these have been the most enjoyable 10 days spent bonding with my boys.

Riley loses his 1st tooth

Riley lost his 1st tooth today!

It had been loose for almost 2 weeks and the anticipation had been growing especially since the older kids had told him all about the tooth fairy and how exciting it is to lose teeth.

Everyone was full of advice...Hayley told Riley just to keep wiggling his tooth and the boys said the best way was just to pull it out and both Connor and Zack offered on several occasions to do the honor or "yanking it out" for Riley.

This morning he was eating a bagel and came running over saying "my tooth is gone" I looked and it was sideways but still hanging on my a little piece. His mouth all full of bagel still I told him to be careful he didn't want to swallow it.

He finished his piece of bagel and played with the tooth with his napkin. Then it happened! He shouted "my tooth came out" Holding it out in his napkin to show me. Suddenly it hit him ~~ his tooth fell out!!! His face filled with shock. In a panic stricken voice he asked "do I have to go to the doctor?" I said no and he was a little relieved, but still a bit shocked by the whole experience.

We put it in a baggie to show daddy....

After dinner I asked where Riley's tooth was; it was on the table before dinner, then Zack cleared the table for dinner. Zack argued it was not on the table and the only thing on the table was an empty baggie. I became worried as we looked everywhere and I was pretty certain Zack threw it out. Riley would not take this well.

I made Zack put on rubber gloves and pick through the garbage to find the tooth. All the while Zack insisted the tooth was not in the garbage and said "what's the big deal it's only a tooth" Only a tooth?!?! Seriously, you tell the 6 year old he won't get a visit from the tooth fairy but that's ok it's no big deal!

Needless the say we found the tooth in the garbage...put it in a new baggie and off Riley went to bed with his first lost tooth tucked safely under his pillow!

Bo Bo is 6

I just cannot believe my baby boy is 6 today!

Riley was our "oops we thought we were done but happy we're pregnant" baby; we could not imagine our lives with out him. He brings so much joy to everyday.

Like Connor; Riley is fun loving and so very happy! They are the best of friends and do everything together.

He loves to play ice hockey and baseball but can't wait to be old enough to try every sport.

His favorite color is still green. Riley started Kindergarten this year and absolutely loves it! We call him Bo Bo because he used to love watching Diego & the Bo Bo brothers..one day he was watching and we just started calling him Bo Bo; he didn't mind so it kind of stuck

We went to Chuck E Cheese again for Riley's birthday and gave him a matchbox car garage.

WOW it's been 3 years

WOW I can't believe it's been 3 years since I had my kidney removed. I remember it so vividly...the fear was so consuming. I remember arriving at the hospital at 6 am and waiting for surgery at 9. I had already been crying for weeks leading up to this day, but I still had more tears.

When they told me I had Cancer I never imagined I would still be here today. I know we have come a very long way with treatments, but hearing those words forces all rational right out the window. It feels like an instant death sentence.

Today I took the time to reflect and remember the last 3 years. This has been a very difficult road to travel; especially in recent months since my third surgery, but I know how fortunate I am. I have taken time today to count my blessings and pray for a little less difficult road.

Tonight we celebrated what we call my "re-birthday" by having pizza "my" way (double cheese and pepperoni), playing games, ending with a cake. A NO fighting rule was in effect for the day which made it relaxing & amazing.

Sammie gave me a gift certificate making me realize yet again how much she means to me and this family. We would have never made it through without her jumping into the "mom role" to help care for the kids when I could not.

I am so grateful for so many things yet wishful for so many more.

Putting up the Tree

Yes we are one of those families who puts their Christmas tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving. The Christmas season is so short and the decorations are so beautiful that I have to get them up and keep them up as long as possible.

Decorating the tree is something I enjoy each year. It's fun to go through all the ornaments and remember who received which ones when. My most favorite part is the handmade ornaments the kids have given us as gifts over the years. I amazing how they change from year to year as they get older and more creative.

Each year I take the kids shopping for their own personal ornament so they will have the beginning of a collection when they move out on their own. I love watching them go through the ornaments thinking hard about which one they must have this year. The way their tastes change from year to year showing off their own personality and as they mature their so do their choices....

This year Hayley picked an Elvis ornament with blue shoes~ in memory of Grandma Ellen who love Elvis just about more than anything!

Happy Thanksgiving

I love that the school has kept with the kids having the day before Thanksgiving off. Until last year they would have a 1/2 day but now it's all day off. I love that the kids can help with the dessert baking for Thanksgiving dinner but the 1/2 day made it difficult to get everything done by a reasonable time.

What's even better is that the kids are getting old enough to work on certain tasks without me hovering every second; the finished product isn't always the most beautiful, but as long as it tastes good that's all that matters.

We got started nice an early...while I made stuffing and other side dishes the kids were all anxious to get started on the chocolate pie....

Connor started mixing the chocolate.... (Zack is in the background making cookies)

Of course if Connor is doing it then Riley needs a turn too....

Hayley was in charge of filling the pie crust....

Connor & Riley couldn't wait to get started licking the pudding bowl....not sure when or why they took off their shirts...when it comes to these 2 I have completly given up trying to figure this stuff out!

Thanksgiving Day.....

One of our favortie things everytime Uncle Norb comes over is to watch him with our crazy dogs. They LOVE him and do not leave his side all day. Norb spoils them with attention all day.

This year's Thanksgiving was a little light on the guests. We never really know from year to year who will be joining us; this year it was us and Gram Z, Uncle Ray & Uncle Norb

After dinner we played our annual dice game that Gram Z loves.

Family and Food; what more could you ask for? What a great day!