Happy birthday to Me

Started celebrating my birthday early with a trip to the city today. (And dinner with friends last night.)

We went for a horse and carriage ride...

...and had lunch at Jekyll and Hydes!

School Visits

I was at School two days in a row. Got to help with an experiment in
Mackenzies class wednesday. Thursday christina's magnet class had a
robot presentation.

Snow Day!

Finally - a Snow Day! School was cancelled last night, and even my company was closed, so there was major play date planning. Two kid went to friends early, then both came back, with their friends. Plus another kid came over, so I had 7 kids here at once. Another one came later, but two of mine (and friends) left again.
There's a pile of snow pants, gloves, hats and stray wet socks by my front door. I made a couple batches of hot chocolate from scratch (not as difficult as it sounds). Helped Christina with a special project involving recording her singing. And I got to make a big dinner. Overall a very FUN day!

Toby had to go

I'm not sure what happened, but Toby bit Christina, so he had to go. John took him to the animal shelter early Friday morning. I took the kids to breakfast at the diner to try to cheer them up. We're all pretty sad about it.

Trail Ride

After a big breakfast at Willow Valley we drove to Allimax farm and
rode horses! I got Queen, a big white horse. Courtney was on Rosey, a
cute little horse. Mackenzie was on Star, who had her own way of
steering. Christina rode with John on Nellie, a reeeally big horse.

Vaca in PA

Other than the puking we're having a great time. At least I didn't
have to deal with it in the hallways, but I never thought I'd be
cleaning toilets at a hotel!

Science Projects Galore

Three Science Fair projects and a Christopher Columbus Awards entry.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Hope you had a fun and awesome Christmas like we did, with lots of fun toys, cool clothes, great gizmos and goofy gadgets. One of the best was Guitar Hero Rock Band from Aunt Ginny and Uncle George.

We'd like to wish everyone a Happy & Healthy New Year!

Gingerbread Guys

It's that time of year again! Kasey and Brittany helped out a little. Courtney and Matthew worked on a gingerbread house together while Mackenzie and Christina built theirs together. Everyone made a gingerbread guy. I'm not sure if more candy and frosting got consumed or used for construction.

Robs Run

Mackenzie ran another 5k, but this one was cross country in the rain.
We got a little muddy and a lot soaking wet.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We watched the Parade in the city after a really long zig zaggy walk.
Our favorites were Horton, Sesame Street, Sponge Bob and of course,
Santa!

BOO!

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween. If you didn't get enough candy,
come on over. We got enough to feed 5 elephants!

Pumpkins

We go to the same church up the road every year to pick out pumkins, and every year they get bigger and bigger. Good thing we have a rule that they've got to carry thier own pumkin to the car!

Eeeeeek!

Sleepover Party

Christina invited 5 friends for a sleepover birthday party. They were still up at 3 am. The girls painted pillowcases, danced up a storm, dressed up in silly outfits and took a hundred pictures, and played DDR (Dance Dance Revolution).

Christina is Eleven!!

Christina celebrated her birthday with her soccer team this morning. They won their State Cup game in a double over time followed by shootouts.

She got to have whatever she wanted for her birthday breakfast, and she wanted.... butter!

Soccer Tournament in CT

Courtney and I drove Waaaaay up in Connecticut for Christinas soccer
tournament. Her team didn't do that well but we had a blast anyway.
The kids played a dice game called Left-Right-Center for candy. The
adults played for money.

Breakfast of Champions

Johns away so we decided to go out for breakfast at Friendlys. We went
a little crazy and had ice cream sundaes!!!

Don't Get Him Mad...

Matthew was mad at Christina so he hung her underwear on the front porch.

O2S

I ran ocean to sound relay with my gang, the Brady bandits.

Click Your Heels Three Times...

Check out Courtneys new shoes! We decorated them ourselves. (Couldn't
afford Ed Hardy originals!)

I thought they were being too quiet...

I didn't have the heart to tell them to clean up when they were having
so much fun.

First Day of School! Again!

We had the usual morning frenzy on the first day of school, with an added twist - it was also my first day of full-time work! We all made the bus, and even had time to take some photos. Matt's friend Joe joined us, along with our neighbor Johnny who was starting first grade. Christina sat with him on the bus and took him to his classroom.

MoMo MaMa

Like my new ride? Bob let me borrow his bike for a couple of days. Too fun!

Central Park

Took the train in to the city, got on the subway and went to the Childrens Zoo. LOVED the polar bear and the penguins!
After lunch at the cafe the kids humored me and rode the carousel.

Karen
Sent from my iPhone

Change of Plans

We had to leave the Keys early because of tropical storm Fay, so we
dropped in on Gin & George in Lake Worth. They have LOTS of dogs!

Breakfast, Swimming & Snorkelling

After stuffing ourselves at the buffet breakfast at Hawks Cay (except Mackenzie, who doesn't know how to enjoy a feast), we hung out at the resort's pool and lagoon.


Later we walked over to the marina and got right onto a snorkelling boat. We saw the coolest fish! Courtney and I saw a shark! Just as well Mackenzie didn't pig out, she wasn't feeling too well on the boat.

Sent from my iPhone

We're on Vacation!

The kids got to swim with dolphins! Gypsie, Therese and Jax took turns towing them around by letting them hang on to their dorsal fins. Christina says, "It was awesome!"

After dinner we saw some big fish swimming around by the dock behind the house. They were as big as one of the kids legs! We thought about getting the fishing rods, but weren't sure what we'd do if we actually caught one of them!

Outdoor Movie Night

Hanging with the crowd last week at Newsday's Outdoor Movie Night. We
brought a picnic dinner and watched the Spiderwick Chronicles. They
gave out goody bags full of popcorn, glow sticks and fun stuff. We
showed our appreciation for Entemann's sponsorship by eating as many
of their cookies as we could.

Adventureland

Crazy Hat moment at Adventureland with our friends Kristen and Joe.

Nerpie!

What do you call a nerdie hippie? Courtneys earned a new nickname,
Nerpie, cuz she likes to wear bandanas, cutoffs and tie-dye. Plus
she's always reading.

Women's Run

Mackenzie ran her 2nd 5k race and won 5th place in her age group!
Christina won the Fun Run and Courtney came in fourth. I got 3rd in
my age group.

Beach Day

Nuthin on the agenda today but catching waves.

Friday Fun

Fridays adventure was mini golf and the batting cage. I didn't mind
the arguing and sniping until it was MY turn at bat.

Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury Gardens is what you'd expect, but the kids enjoyed
touring the mansion and seeing all the gardens. We are such a bunch of
nerds!

Randy & Fire Island Lighthouse

John's college buddy Randy is visiting from California. We went to see
the Fire Island Lighthouse. Courtney got to the first window and decided she wasn't going to the top. Maybe next year.

Firecracker 5k

Mackenzie ran her first 5k race today with a time of about 36 minutes. Christina finished a minute faster, but really ran the whole way with Mackenzie. I'm so proud of them both for finishing.
They insisted I run my pace, and not with them. I ended up winning 1st in my age group! I also won 3rd in my age group in the Lift-N-Run competition. Before the race I had to bench press a percentage of my weight, which turned out to be 60 lbs. I lifted 13 times. For every lift I got 20 seconds off my time. On top of that, I won a raffle prize. Just my lucky day!

4th of July Parade

After I ran the Bellmore 4 mile race this morning, Mackenzie marched with me and The Massapequa Road Runners in the Massapequa 4th of July Parade. Everyone loved us 'cuz we gave out ice pops!

And Christina marched with her tournament softball team.

Happy 4th of July!

We saw fireworks at Walker Field.

Courtney got her ears pierced!

It took some convincing from her sisters. They kept pinching Courtney
to show her it hurt less than that.

My Little Musicians

The kids all want to play an instrument in 4th grade. Courtney got the
flute. Matthew got clarinet, because he checked off that we have one.
(Its my old cruddy clarinet that probably doesn't even work!)
Mackenzie wasn't listening to me when I said nothing bigger than your
arm, and got the bass. Its bigger than she is!

Matt can blow a bubble!

Getting our toes done...

Mack and I are getting pedicures.

The Triplets Are 9 ! ! !

Check out Mackenzie's idea on how to eat birthday cake!

Trisha

John and I saw Trisha Yearwood at Westbury Music Fair with some friends. She was fun and it was very cool how much she interacted with the audience.

The Pool is Open!

I won!

For a little race, I got a really
Big trophy! I won the CPAs 4 (a)Cause 5k! I met John and the kids at
Friendlys afterward.

Mackenzie Got Her Ears Pierced

And she didn't even say ouch.

Horse Ranch

Christina's magnet class went to Deep Hollow Ranch, the oldest ranch
in America. We learned a little about Captain Kidd, indians, Teddy
Roosevelt, and the early settlers.