'Monster Trucks'

Tonight we all went to the monster truck show. I have a ton of pictures but it is way to late to download them all now. So tomorrow those will come. We got our free gift for being the first 500 in line. They were tattoos - my crew doesn't really like them but Brett is pretty excited as he loves them! He's still a kid inside. :) We went right down to the Pit Party. They had 5 trucks and to our excitement they were some of the same trucks on Monster Jam. And as luck would have it - Predator was there! Dylan just got this truck for Easter. We bought an AMP flag for all the drivers to sign. The driver of Predator even signed the truck. Dylan also got his picture taken with him. They were pretty amazed by it all really. Looking up at those trucks and to somebody who is 3' tall - those are HUGE. All the drivers signed our flag and off to our seats we went. The show was awesome. Loud but awesome! They also had 2 free style motorcycle riders, and 3 guys on quads that performed. They all put on a great show.

After the Pit party and just as the trucks were being introduced we had a minor set back. Cody freaked out. The noise was way to loud for him. He has over sensitive ears and while I thought he would be OK with ear plugs, he was shaking. So thank god for my mother and sister. I try my sister first cause I thought my mom had left to go out of town already. She was in Walmart and said they would check out and come get him. I then tried my Mom and finally got her. They were closer and came and got Cody from us. He was beyond happy to leave. He loved to see it but the noise he could not handle. I felt horrible for him. Guess who is getting a new bakugan tomorrow! :)

As for the other two - they took it all in. Dylan had a smile pasted on his face. And mr. Tyler.............well, he rode in the monster truck! My little 3 year old, I will do it even if my brothers won't.......he L.O.V.E.D it! Brett went with him and I made Brett take pictures. You will see the face is priceless.

Pictures to follow with more stories I am sure. I'm exhausted and feeling a little light headed from sucking in all of those fumes. Check back tomorrow for our awesome pictures and a video!!!!

Taking choices for granted

We finally have some decent weather, cooler morning but the sun comes out and the afternoon is pretty great. The boys have enjoyed the fresh air. I got home a little late from work tonight as I had to run and pick Tyler up some new shoes. Tanya and her 2 were at the house and everybody was riding bikes. As we were chatting, I notice two women walking down the street. Not a big deal, say hi, make the kids "watch out" and they go on. Wrong! The two women stop and ask if it's a "daycare"??? Tanya and I both laugh, look at each other and say "no...they are ours. These 2 are mine, and those 3 boys are hers. The women get the biggest smiles and think that is the neatest thing in the world. We had a great conversation with them. Then they asked to take a picture of the kids - each of them posing - so they can "send back to China". Sure..no harm there. It was very neat to hear about their culture and how they are only "allowed" to have one child. If they have 2 then the women are fired from their jobs. Could you imagine? They shared about their children's school........our USA children have nothing to complain about. Karly told them she wanted to learn how to eat with chopsticks. So they are bringing her back a pair of her own. Of course, my kids had been outside All Day and lets just say the bathtub loved them tonight. So the picture has to be "wonderful" (hence the sarcasim). OH well.....they didn't seem to care.

We are off to see the monster truck show tomorrow night. The boys are beyond excited. I am looking forward to it for sure. Camera is ready!

I picked Tyler up some new shoes tonight. His were so beat and will be fine to play in but he can't wear them in public. Just so happens Payless has the BOGO sale going on. So I got a new purse. As I was switching it over tonight, the boys were admiring it. I casually said "don't tell Daddy I got a new purse". Not that I have to hide it because Brett is pretty good about tuning right into that. So don't you know....Brett came home for dinner tonight and all 3 of them threw me right under the bus! Thanks boys!

Weekend/Easter Update

Happy Easter to all. I hope everyone had a great time with family/friends. We kept busy over the weekend with a visit from Brett's cousins, aunt and uncle who were out for some AAU basketball. While I didn't get to see many of the games, Brett took them all in. We took the boys on Saturday and they enjoyed themselves. However, I think they enjoyed being chased by Uncle Mike after the games were over. Anything to run off energy.

Sunday we woke up to find the bunny had left lots of great treats. He hid plastic eggs around the house. My big burly Dylan was so sweet and gave some of his eggs to Tyler who was still waking up and wasn't into the whole "hunting" mood. I remember as a child that we were supposed to just find our basket and if we found somebody elses then to move on and don't tell. So I am trying to pass that on to the boys but I think they are still a bit young. I told them the color of their basket but they found Tyler's first. And time stood still. They all got so excited to see what Tyler got. Then Cody found Dylan's and finally Cody found his in the kitchen under the table. (silly bunny) They got lots of fun stuff. Cody got more bakugan's and pokemons that he just loves. Dylan screeched at everything like it was Christmas all over. He got an Animal Planet t-shirt and he was amazed that the bunny even knew he wanted that. (This Bunny is smart let me tell you) Plus he got a new monster truck and cool 3D book about the body. Both boys got new sheets for their bunk beds. Tyler got his own monster truck, another firetruck matchbox car and an ice cream truck car. He LOVES his matchboxes!!!

After the baskets....we had a surprise for them. We got them tickets to go see a monster truck show. (we go this Friday night). They were excited and it's all we have talked about since. Dylan is the most excited. He loves them. He will get up every morning before school and turn on the Speed channel and watch Monster Jam. While the trucks we are seeing aren't Monster Jam, we will be seeing the AMP trucks. So I hope he isn't disappointed. Tyler likes them too and Cody, well he could probably really care. But we are all going. They aren't all going to like the same stuff but they have to learn that we have to support each other while some are carrying out their dreams. I have a story to tell about getting our tickets but I'll save it for the Monster truck post.

But....here is the video of Brett telling them where we are going........


To finish out our Easter Sunday, we headed to my sister's for an egg hunt and dinner. The bunny hid lots of eggs around the yard and the kids had a blast. Then we had a yummy dinner - minus the rolls. Oh yes, I have a roll story! :) We got some brown and serve. My sister put them in the over to bake. The bottom got done but not the top. So she moved it to the very top shelf and put it on broil. The broiler lights were probably an inch away. (you probably see where this is going). Well with all good intentions it was going to be there for a second. But the phone rang, the kids broke a glass and Karly was bleeding, the ham needed attention, I went to attend to broken glass, Karly was OK..........but the rolls - were not! She opened the oven and out came the smoke. They were b.u.r.n.t! Tanya whipped them into the garage - the dogs tried to eat them but they were to burnt for them and hot! So dinner with no rolls. I still find it funny!

5 years ago Sunday.....4/12/04

*Cody a couple weeks old* Sunday will mark the 5th anniversary to Cody's first surgery.....the lip surgery. There are days in your life that you will never forget....this is one of them for me. The long ride to Syracuse that early morning. The empty gut feeling of not knowing what was going to happen, what was he going to look like with a lip, one full lip. So many unknown questions/answers. We arrived, checked in, went up to the pediatric surgical floor and got set up. My nerves were a mess. Brett was being strong but so was his. Kissing him goodbye as they took him through the double doors was heart wrenching. Surgery was about 4 hours. We went to the cafeteria to eat because we had to and we waited. Finally, the nurse came and got me and I could hear him crying. You know your babies cry. I rounded the curtain to find a nurse holding him, talking to him and when I saw him....my heart sank. His little face was so bruised and bloody and there was just no way this was MY baby. *Right after surgery*I'll admit it...I had a quick little pity party for myself, the whole "why me, why him, why us" but I had to get it over it quick. He needed me and I need to get him better. We spent the night and he did pretty good. Brett slept in a chair, me in another. Everyday he got better......the bruises faded......the scar faded......his lip mobility increases......he never did need a second repair. *finally home...still some bruising, tape is off, still wearing the no-no's...but life is on the up-swing*

His surgeon thought the first one turned out great. I really can not believe how far he has come. He has excellent speech, a smile that really melts my heart. He will always have a soft spot with me. I can't help it. As his mom, as the person that gave birth to him, I will always wonder if I did something wrong. I know I didn't.....but I will always wonder it. I will never know the answer to WHY...and some days that is hard to live with....not all, just some. I do know that this has changed us, changed our family. We have met some incredible people through this journey. We have found support where we didn't think we would and have been surprised where support hasn't been. I am a firm believer though that you are only given what you can handle....some days I really do question this (especially with 3 boys in my house)...but I do believe it.

Egg Coloring

We had a busy night of coloring eggs and making some yummy rice crispy treats that we put inside of plastic eggs. They turned out so cute! The boys had a blast and I can't wait to eat some devil eggs. Yummy!

Looking forward to the weekend. Brett's aunt/uncle and cousins will be in town for some AAU basketball games. Everyone is coming over for pizza/wings tomorrow and we will go watch some games on Sat. Looking forward to some fun. Then the bunny comes Sat. night. So excited for the boys to get their baskets. A big surprise is waiting inside for them......

SURPRISE....

Her smile says it all. She was totally caught off guard! Note: Pictures aren't in order. Blogger isn't great for uploading pictures!

Tyler has sand on his hands. We had a beach theme as Tanya wanted to go to the beach. So we brought the beach to her instead. Kevin brought us up some sand from the Ocean City beaches we so love in the summer time. Looking forward to warm weather so we can go back. Tanya and Kevin after a few. Not sure who had had more. Little Jack. Ok, not so little. He loves his toes and I love to see a baby discover. He is so good and so happy and has the best little smile. Group shot with Grandpa Dave. Parties like this we really miss Grandma but am very thankful Grandpa is still around and able to come to things like this. Cody happy to show off the beach balls all the kids got as "gifts". I got them with hopes they would leave my balloons alone (which they did) and it gave the kids something to do. Darn NY weather was cold and rainy. Imagine that!Dad, Tanya, Karly and Dylan....it was nice also that my Dad could come out for the party. The super yummy cake. I sent the cake lady our napkin and she copied it and added the old lady in the beach chair. Just above the drink says "Now this is a party".....a saying that when Tanya was about 16/17 said at Shaun's high school graduation party after having to much Slow Gin. Dancing to the YMCA....once we played these type of songs the kids got busy on the dance floor.Uncle Brett and Karly dancing. I just thought this was so sweet. I would love a picture of me dancing with my boys - but they are true boys and keep those chairs nice and warm! I just crack up every time I see this picture of him. It was so nice to have us all together. After our incident in town on Friday - somedays I feel like we take family for granted. Mom and Tanya dancing away! Tanya and Jack...she was so happy to see him. Her face was pure Joy when she saw him. On Saturday we pulled off a great Surprise birthday party for my sister. She turned 40 on 3/26. It was extremely hard not to tell her as I tell her everything. She had no idea. We had it at a Rod and Gun club that Shaun had just become a member of. To get her to the club, I sent her an invitation for an Egg hunt. She bought it and was expecting an egg hunt. We had about 50 people and had so much fun. Kevin, Kristie and Jack come home and when Tanya saw Jack it was priceless. Tanya was also very surprised to see Debbi and Christine (her two old classmates from high school) Duane was our DJ and of course we had a blast and danced away. So fun - so fun to plan - Kristie and I emailed a ton to pull this off. The pictures really do tell it all!

Senseless

A shooting...a random act of violence - something that is supposed to happen in other cities. You always see it on the news and think or wonder if that will ever happen where you live. Today it did! While I don't believe I know anybody personally is still settles funny. It didn't happen that far from our house. We were just in this same area over St. Patties day for the parade. For the first time ever as I left work for lunch when this was all unfolding, I didn't want to go to Wegmans. I wanted to come home and stay put. Now we all wonder if we will ever know that very hard question.....WHY?

As this was unfolding today the online blogs for the paper and a site called the BC Voice were on fire with people sending in information. Of course you are trying to sort out what is true and what is not. Then you get the typical "jerks" that should really just stay off their PC's during such times. One person actually typed that "I am surprised that this happened at the Civil Association when AIG is not that far away". Really? That settles so wrong with me. My husband works for AIG - I know they aren't in the news for great things recently but it's not OK for somebody to think that a shooting like this should happen there. Like at the Civic Association where so many families will never be the same - the same would go for AIG. UGh - that just really bothers me. Doesn't make me want Brett to go to work.

I was also reading an online article on Yahoo tonight and they had quoted a Doctor who's mother taught English there and is believed to be among one of the 14 dead. I believe this doctor to be Tyler's ENT. A great man who if it is I wish his family all the best tonight.

Prayers go out to all.