Easter in Maryland

No matter where we go, the Easter Bunny manages to leave lots and lots of goodies. This year we spent it with Peter, Laura, Maxx and Kyle in Maryland. Allen and Donna were there, too!

On Saturday we all took a trip into Washington, DC to see the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Viet Nam War Memorial, WWII Memorial, and the Hope Diamond at the Museum of Natural History.

The Whole Gang
Ice Cream for Dessert, Kyle-style:

Mom Rips It!

I borrowed Matthew's friend's ripstick, and with just a little skinned knee started riding it.


Christina got it after awhile, too, but it's not as easy as it looks...

Toby Ate It

Just when we thought he'd consumed the weirdest thing so far, our dog Toby continues to amaze us with his appetite. Today we came home to find him in his cage, and he'd chewed up and eaten his own collar! To see more bizarre comestibles, check out the list at Toby8it.blogspot.com, or use the link at the right.

Sledding at Cedar Creek Park

Christina's Wipeout

Snow Day!

Finally! A Snow Day! Unfortunately the kids were already home from school all week. They suited up and were outside after breakfast. They came in for some hot chocolate, and were back out after lunch, doing all the required snow day activities: building snow forts, snowball fight, making a snowman (cowboy theme this time), and shoveling the driveway. They even shoveled for the old lady down the street, who gave them a bag of Ghiradelli chocolates for their efforts.

Science Fair

Only two entrants this year. (Go figure - last year all four participated, despite everything we were dealing with!)

Mackenzie tested her theory that chocolate tastes good, no matter what brand or what price.
Christina compared which made better pets, dogs from shelters or breeders.

Happy New Year!

It can only get better...

Merry Christmas!

Gifts that got the biggest screams... ipod, fuzion scooter, fly pen, nintendo ds, diamond bracelet (me). Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas!

He doesn't like penguins

What do bad dogs get in their stocking?

Runner Of The Year!

As if my running club didn't do enough for my family this year, they went and awarded me the "Runner of the Year."

Making Gingerbread People

Okay, we cheated and used store-bought, pre-baked gingerbread men. We ate lots and lots of icing and candy while decorating the cookies. Then we ate them, too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Joining us for our feast are John's parents, and Allen and Donna from Virginia! Looking forward to some good turkey, but can't wait for all the yummy desserts!

Sunday

It was the usual run around, except John's away. Poppy helped out and came over at 8 this morning, with donuts! He took Matthew to his last football game, so I had time to get the girls to Sunday School, because they'd rather do that than watch his game.
We all wound up at home around 11:00, had an early lunch and went back out to get Matthew to his last deck hockey game. I had a stupid attack and drove the wrong way to Marjorie Post Park. As usual, I didn't get to see all of Matt's hockey game, because I had to leave to get Mackenzie to her soccer game. I came back to pick up Matthew who ended up going home with his friend Joseph anyway, and returned to watch Mackenzie's game while Christina whined about having to watch her sister's game. (She did NOT get the irony.)
Left the game, picked up Matthew, had a snack, left again for Christina's soccer practice. The triplets and I managed to get some groceries and get back to pick up Christina in an hour. Back home so I could make dinner, and have a glass of wine.
Somehow all four of them managed to get a shower or bath today.

Christina is 10!

Christina turns TEN today!
Double digits, and double the attitude!

An Apple A Day...

Even though it took longer to drive out to Lewin Farms in Wading River than it did to pick the apples, we had fun anyway.
Got any good apple recipes? I already made applesauce.

Forgot One

There I was, watching Mackenzie's soccer game, when John showed up with Christiana after her soccer game and asked me "Where's Courtney?"
I forgot to pick her up at gymnastics! She didn't panic that I was late, and we got back in time to see the second half of Mackenzie's game, which oddly enough was being played right next to Matthew's football game. John and I looked a little strange with our chairs positioned sideways so we could turn and cheer for both of them.

First Day of School! (yay!)

The kids were all ready to go half an hour before we needed to get to school. So we goofed around and took some pictures, and still had 20 minutes to wait!
We celebrated with chocolate chip cookies Mackenzie baked, decorated with frosting, sprinkles and whipped cream. We also celebrated John and my 15th anniversary! We got a giant heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie!

Sands Point Preserve

We visited the Exotic Animals exhibit at Sands Point Preserve with our friends Mary Jo and her sons Matthew and John. The three boys made more noise than the animals, while the girls read every piece of information.

Last Camping Trip of the Summer

We packed up all our gear and the dog and drove out to the far end of the north fork of long island to the 'Eastern Long Island Kampgrounds.' What it didn't offer in wilderness it made up for in kid's activities. Plus there was a pool. (They act like we don't have one in our backyard.)
There were firetruck rides, a bubblegum blowing contest that we didn't enter cuz we can't blow bubbles, a balloon toss Mackenzie couldn't miss but was first one out, a bouncy house, a DJ on Saturday night, and a pancake breakfast Sunday morning.
Camping is a friendly pastime. Matthew ran wild and befriended every boy in the camp, and Toby barked hello to every passing dog. Courtney's friend Delaney and her family came camping, too, and we made s'mores and jiffy pop popcorn after dancing Saturday night. Christina met a friend from her Magnet class. We always find someone from Massapequa when we're camping.

Old Bethpage Village Restoration

The first day all summer that we didn't have any other plans, so we decided to go to Old Bethpage. We saw the Conklin house, the schoolhouse, the blacksmith, the general store, and a few other old houses, all relocated from different places on long island.

Rock Climbing

It was a rainy day with nothing to do, when Christina suggested rock climbing. Matthew had a playdate with a friend, so he missed out on the fun.

Massapequa Merchant Mile

I ran the mile race Saturday, joined by Christina, Mackenzie, and Matthew. Courtney didn't run, so John stayed with her and cheered us on.
I finished in a time of 6:19, which is pretty darn good considering the year I've had. That got me 3rd place in my age group. Christina also won 3rd in her age group! Mackenzie is in the same age group, and didn't win an award, but I was very proud of her just the same. The men ran after the women, so I went back to the start to run with Matthew. He did great, and was happy that he finished. (He didn't care that he was last, he got his own police escort!) Also, the men's masters (over 40) ran before the women, so Matt was in a pretty competitive group, even if there were other kids.

Fire Island Light House

After the big Talent Show at Summer Rec this morning we headed out to the Fire Island Lighthouse. We got three quarters of the way up when Courtney freaked out. She got scared, and we all walked back down. Christina agreed to stay with her while Matthew and Mackenzie and I climbed back up. Then Christina and I went up. It was clear and beautiful and a great view from the top.
Afterwards we swam in the waves and had some snacks and hung out on the beach awhile. (Courtney is making a face because I wouldn't buy her a book at the gift shop. We have a gazillion books! Who else yells at their kids to stop reading and quit buying books?)

Newspaper

Yesterday's paper had a lot of blank pages, so the kids filled it with their own news. There were comics, updates on toys, Barbie news and a Mommy head fuzz check. (3% more fuzz than the day before!) Cracked me up. It was worth having to wait to read my paper.

Fire Island

We took the ferry over to Fire Island to visit friends who are renting a house right on the beach. Christina swam in the waves like a fish, and we all hung out on the beach most of the day. The kids enjoyed the hot tub until we kicked 'em out so the grownups could use it.
It's the kind of place where the kids can walk down to the market and get ice cream, and go to the ball field and play by themselves. And deer would walk right by.

Poppy's 80th Birthday Bash

George is 80!

We had a luau party in our backyard for John's Dad. All of Poppy's children and grandchildren were here to celebrate.

Brookhaven National Lab

BNL offers Summer Sunday tours for families. Today's theme was about their National Synchrotron Light Source and invisible light, but we loved the Whiz Bang Science Show. Two scientists blew up hydrogen balloons (Matt and my favorite!), froze stuff in dry ice, and lots of other cool experiments.
Christina got to go up on stage to get splashed by water from a pole that was vibrating and made cool sounds. Matt raised his hand and jumped up and down (despite a warning that this might hurt) to get picked for an experiment about static electricity. It was pretty funny to see a group of kids holding hands, all cringing and shrieking at the same time.

Sagamore Hill

Pop Quiz: what is Sagamore Hill?

Teddy Roosevelt's house in Oyster Bay! Poppy joined us for the tour, and bought the kids souvenirs. We also checked out the Theodore Roosevelt Museum. Matt liked Teddy's sons, Quentin and Archie, who did pranks like putting bullfrogs in a visiting senators bath.

Camping

We camped out at Cedar Point County Park, waaaay out in East Hampton. It took us 2 hours to get there, but we got a great spot and John and I managed to get the tent up before lunch without any major arguing. (We figured out the next morning what those leftover pieces were for.)
The beach was rocky, the bugs had a feast, our air mattresses deflated by morning, dirt and sand got into everything and we had a great time!

Randy Schader Fan Club

Our pal Randy came to visit all the way from California. He just hung out and experienced a regular day with us. Christina and Mackenzie made brownies for dessert, and we sat around the fire out back awhile after dinner.

In the morning we dropped Randy at the train station, took Christina and her cello to Summer Music camp (that I almost forgot about, but her friends mom called me), and left the rest of the kids at school for Summer Rec while I went to my regular appointment at 1o am.
Picked up Christina from Music and went to the dentist because her palate exander came out. We shopped for some camping equipment before getting the other kids. That darn palate expander came out again, just when I had three of their friends swimming in the pool with us. Convinced John to come home early rather than get all these kids picked up, and went to the dentist again. Spent the rest of the evening packing for a one night camping trip. Yippee!

Happy Birthday Mackenzie, Courtney & Matthew!

Mackenzie, Courtney and Matthew turned 8 on Monday!

They had a party with their friends at Prime Time Sports on Friday. I made 72 cupcakes in all for three class parties. Mackenzie wanted green aliens, Courtney got monkeys, and Matthew had baseball cupcakes.

Happy Fathers Day, John!

Dad's day started with breakfast in bed (with chocolate frosted donuts, of course), some fun gifts (crocs, a hawiian shirt, a yankees shirt), and a family barbecue in the afternoon, and catching some of the US Open on TV. What more could a Dad want?

Lunch

Mackenzie was nice enough to make me lunch today. Tuna on rye, with raisins and green pepper slices on the side, plus a little box of nerds. There was a nice little flower in a pot, too, and I even got a little show to go with my meal. The best part was my drink. Looked like ginger ale, but I know we didn't have any. When Mackenzie showed me the soda can she found in the fridge, it was a Coors Light. I passed on the 'soda,' but loved the rest of my lunch.

Disney!

After Jamie & Shawn's fabulous wedding Betty and Carol joined us at our favorite place... Disney!

We ALL rode space mountain, drove cars at the Indy Speedway, had to go on Small World (which was way too cute for Matt), and loved the Hall of Presidents (where the kids think some of them were robots and some were real (not)). In a lapse of parental judgement I made Courtney go on Splash Mountain. She complained the entire wait about parents forcing children to go on scary rides, screamed bloody murder the entire time, and then said she'd go on again. She went on Space Mountain, for heavens sake!
We did Spaceship Earth, Mission Space, and Test Track at Epcot before walking around the countries. Ate schnitzel, sausages, and potato salad in Germany, and danced to the oompah music. Matthew got picked to lead the band!

Before heading home on Wednesday we ate breakfast at Chef Mickey's. All the characters signed Mackenzie's Pluto baseball shirt and she showed it off at school the next day.

Here comes the bride...

Jamie and Shawn were married on Saturday, May 19th. They looked stunning together. Christina was a jr. bridesmaid, Courtney and Mackenzie were flower girls with Lindsey, and Matthew was a hit as the ringbearer with Frank. Frank is a pug.

Mothers Day

My day started with our tradition of breakfast in bed. (Chocolate donut, blueberry pancakes, bananas and coffee!) I ran a 5k race in the mornings, and went to the beach in the afternoon. Overall a great day!

Matthew's Famous

Matthew's class is featured in the 1-800-Flowers Mothers Day catalog, and they're on the website, too!

There's a really cute video you should see at:
http://ww11.1800flowers.com/template.do?id=template8&page=4052

Earth Day

Saturday was Earth Day. The girls and I picked up trash around the preserve by Brady Park. Later Christina had a soccer game, followed by a softball game. (She had to change in the car!) Mackenzie had a soccer game, and then she and Courtney had a softball game that Daddy coached.

The weather was so warm and beautiful this weekend, that we had our first backyard fire this year on Sunday night and roasted marshmellows!

Hot Dates

Tonight is the Little Ladies Dance. The girls got all dolled up, and went out to dinner and then to the dance with the cutest guy in Massapequa.
Meanwhile, Matthew and Mommy had a date, too. We went to dinner, bought baseball cards, and played games at Dave & Busters.

Reflections Winners!

Christina won 1st place for literature, Matthew won 1st place for choreography, Mackenzie won twice, 2nd place for literature and 1st place for music. Courtney, despite writing an awesome story, didn't win a trophy, but got a medal for participating. (Click this link to read Courtney's story, and decide for yourself if she should've won.)

Easter Fun

Aunt Betty came for a week and took the kids to Vanderbilt Planetarium, The Cradle of Aviation, and The Firefighters Museum. Then their cousins from Maryland came for Easter. We enjoyed seeing Uncle Peter and Aunt Laura, but Matthew was in heaven with two more boys to hang out with.
Kyle, Matthew and Maxx digging in to dessert. (The best way to have it is everything in one bowl, topped with whipped cream!)

The Mattejat side of the family group photo: Mackenzie, Maxx, Courtney, Matthew, Christina and a reluctant Kyle. (What is it with parents and taking pictures all the time?)

Lunar Eclipse

Did anyone else see the lunar eclipse on March 3rd? Aunt Donna and Uncle Allen joined the kids outside to watch, and they brought light sticks, too!

Who Needs a Babysitter?

Can I get one for each of the kids?
(the crate, not the dog!)

Locks of Love

Courtney and Mackenzie donated their hair to Locks-0f-Love, where they make wigs for kids who have lost thier hair. Here they are, before and after....