The Alumni Game

Last night I played in my high school's alumni basketball game. I was shocked to find out I was the oldest alumni participating at the ripe age of 34. I had a great time and am feeling pretty good - not too much soreness in my body. So I guess my youth is still on my side. Matt and his brother Drew came along with John and James. Once I found out it was an 8pm game I didn't feel I could have Patrick and Tommy attend. They would be miserable once bedtime came around. Luckily Kathy called me to thank me for the wonderful chocolates I sent her home with on Sunday so I could ask her to watch the boys. I got two t-shirts for participating. It was fun going back in the old locker room. I remember when I was playing how it felt like I lived there. I don't know why but I didn't think to bring the camera. I was very nervous about embarrassing myself. I don't think I did but I had an opportunity to make a basket and missed.

Tommy is still doing well. I just found another tooth on the bottom just breaking through. I was brave enough to stick my finger in his mouth this morning when I made the discovery. His top teeth aren't all the way through so it wasn't to dangerous. His hands are looking better to me although they are still sensitive. Last night I let him just "play" in some water to get his hands clean and he did not like it - the water was more cold than hot. He definitely knows what we are up to when we lay him down on his changing table. As I was getting everything ready Matt had him in his room where he was crying then he took him out in the hallway near the boys and he stopped crying.

We had a nice visit with my cousin Ashley and her son Matthew yesterday. Matthew is about 1 month and a half younger then Tommy but he is one active little boy. He is already walking. Tommy seemed to enjoy him and Matthew definitely enjoyed all the boys.

Tomorrow I go back to the Spa in the morning to finish up the Spa Package I purchased last week. I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully my hands will be super moisturized. They seemed to be doing better since I had my facial. I didn't realize that when you get a facial your arms, hands and shoulders also get moisturized with lotion. I'm also wearing rubber gloves when I do the dishes so I think that is helping too.

My mom called me from work today just to chat. Apparently the church has unlimited long distance so she took the liberty to call. I think that is hilarious that she did it. I think she was folding bulletins at the time so it wasn't like she was not working - she was just multi-tasking!

Christmas Morning

Here is how it all went down on Christmas morning.

We had a wonderful visit with my parents. It feels like it went to fast. James is busy playing with everyone's toys. John is playing Wii. Patrick finds trouble from time to time and Tommy is trying to cope with getting teeth and his hands healing.

Tommy's hands are looking better. Some of the dead skin on his palm came off last night. I think he is getting used to the gauze on his hands. He hasn't pulled them off too much in the past two days. I think his pain now is from his teeth breaking through and he now has a runny nose. Sometimes he doesn't mind playing on the ground or moving around but other times he just doesn't know what he wants so I let him cry on the ground where he rolls around. You would think he would be happy as nobody is trying to restrain him. He has a bad habit where he likes to rock and hit his head. Now when he throughs these tantrums he goes from the sitting position to throwing himself on to his back.

James had a perfect day yesterday! This is his second one. He is proud of himself plus he got his reward car back.

I think we are all set for New Year's Eve. I have ginger ale and chips for the kids. It will be interesting to see how late John and James stay up.

What a day!

Tuesday was full of promise - I was scheduled for a Spa treatment and we were to get ATT Uverse installed. Well I made it through my facial when my cell phone began ringing. It was Matt telling me that Tommy burnt his hands on our fireplace in the basement and they were on the way to the hospital and Lori had the kids. Tommy has second degree burns on both hands. I had to take him to the burn unit at Metro Health Medical Center to have it dressed properly and learn how to dress it myself. We will go back next Friday for a follow-up. The good news even though his thumb had a blister on it they said he didn't need it wrapped so he could still suck it. He was miserable when he couldn't have his thumb. The good news is I'm going back next Wednesday to finish my morning at the Spa.

ATT was to show up at our house what I thought was noon. Apparently it was a window of 12-2. Right before 2 they called and said it would probably wouldn't be until around 4pm they would show up. The guy finally arrived and went to work. After an hour of work he told us the sad news we were about 2000 feet too far from the box to have the proper signal for the service. I am so bummed out. I think I feel really bad because I had cancelled our service with cable because the new billing cycle started on Tuesday and why pay for another month when you just were going to cancel. So now I have to call them back to get a us reactivated. Hopefully they can send a truck out this morning. I don't think Patrick will understand when he wakes up why we can't watch the Wiggles. He is starting to wake now - so wish me luck!

Twas the week before Christmas

And now its time to put planning into execution. Sunday I made cut out gingerbread cookies. I even decorated them with frosting. They turned out really good so I think I will continue that tradition next year. Yesterday I made peanut butter cookies with the Hershey Kiss. But as I discovered last year, a mint Hershey Kiss is much better than the regular chocolate ones. I decided it is the Hershey Kiss cookies that Matt should enter into his cookie contest at work.

My Aunt Judie passed away last Saturday so that added a little more craziness to the week as my parents came in for the funeral on Tuesday. I took the boys to the funeral mass and they were very well behaved. I had my parents there in case someone other than Tommy needed to be held. The boys knew that Wendy's for lunch was the reward for good behavior so I think that helped.

Last night I ran an "errand" to my storage unit and got some things wrapped. That takes some more pressure off of me for next week. Now this weekend I need to make the sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles and chocolate chip cookies. I'm debating on making the chocolate chip cheesecake squares - but they are yummy and easy to make.

Yesterday John almost got hit by an impatient driver as he crossed the street after school. The lady in the car made me uneasy before he was even off the bus as she was at the apron of the driveway where I would pull out the van. John's bus was not too far away from that on the other side of the street. Then for some reason John wasn't one of the first kids off the bus like normal which got my mind racing as to where he was at. Then as John was crossing the street the lady inched up and that is when I began to yell at her - her windows were up so I don't think she realized how furious or scared I was. I think my yelling scared John as he began to cry once he got into the driveway. Today and from now on if there are cars I am going to walk out in the middle of the street so they realize someone from the bus is crossing the street. The person in the car wasn't a teenager - it was someone who should know better.

Today I took the boys to get their haircut. They all look handsome. Tommy was included in this haircutting session as his hair was growing over his ears again and I would rather have a professional try and cut it rather than me. He looks cute. Once he turns one I will have more of his hair cut but for now he will just have to be trimmed. The guys who cut the boys hair are always super nice. They only charged me for 3 haircuts and wouldn't take a tip (maybe it was good I brought a dozen cookies from them ;-)

I'm looking forward to tomorrow. John has his holiday party which I will be attending. Next week will be fun and busy too.

On Monday I'm meeting with my "virtual" boss to go over some new things he would like me to work on. Then in the evening we are going to the Farmpark to build a toy and hopefully have an enjoyable evening. The boys have been a bit scared of the animals but James has been asking to go so hopefully not too many tears will be shed.

Then on Tuesday I am using a gift certificate I got from my Pfizer team when Tommy was born. I'm going to get a facial, manicure and pedicure. I'm excited for the "me" time. I think being inside so much is getting to me as I'm yelling at the boys a lot. I hope I can start taking a deep breath and finding some patience. Then that afternoon AT&T is coming to install U-verse for our TV, phone and internet. Hopefully that won't be too difficult. We'll have to move the kids toys and clean up the computer area in the basement before they come.

My parents are coming back into town for Christmas next Tuesday and they will be staying until Friday possibly Saturday morning - it all depends on the weather where they live. When they returned home from the funeral they were about 35 minutes away from their house when they hit snow and it took them about 70 minutes. My mother does not travel well in inclement weather. She is not fun. I remember when I was pregnant with John - Matt and I traveled to Girard, PA the day after Thanksgiving just to buy Yuengling as gifts. Some of those roads off the lake were a little hairy! To this day Matt and I talk about how fun and crazy that was!

Could it be the light at the end of the tunnel?

I'm talking about James and potty training. John was invited to his first birthday party tomorrow. The kid who has his brother bring him over to play considers John to be his best friend. After I discussed with Matt via email whether or not we should let John attend, I then asked John if he would like to go. James said "No! Who is going to watch us?" I said John will be at the party and you will be with Daddy and your brothers. Well that just started a tantrum that went up the stairs and woke Tommy. He was lucky nap time was almost over. He insisted that he had to use the restroom. We shall see how he is tomorrow or when Matt comes home from work.

I'm a bit annoyed with John's teacher. Last week according to the school newsletter interim reports were to go home. His teacher has missed some time because apparently she moved into a new home - I only know this because her sister cuts my hair. I sent a note and an email asking if John was to have brought one home - to which I have had no reply. If the answer is no just tell me there isn't a report this quarter - but to leave me hanging is really getting under my skin.

Tommy is really moving and grooving up the stairs. He had a bit of a rough night last night that I think is all due to his first tooth. He was up a few times - luckily before I was in bed before the night. The tylenol seemed to be the trick to get him through the night.

St. Nick and Birthdays!

This was a crazy weekend as it was St. Nick's Day and Patrick's birthday. I guess this will always be crazy because both dates will never change! The boys enjoyed their presents from St. Nick - Cars for John James and Patrick and a baby flashlight for Tommy. St. Nick should have given Tommy a Cars car but he wouldn't get the full benefit out of it or his brothers would always play with it (that is exactly what is happening with Patrick's). They also got Shrek the Halls. That was more for me than them.

Patrick had a wonderful birthday - I suppose. He found himself in trouble a lot by doing typical 2 year old things. I think he really enjoyed all his presents he received. The fact that he is talking a lot earlier that James or John did it makes me think he is a lot older than 2. The cake I made was very tasty. I saw a recipe in the Krafts Food Magazine that was for cupcakes but I just made it into a cake. I made the cake part on Thursday. Instead of frosting I used Cool Whip to frost the cake. Then on top it was to have crushed candy canes on top - which I did. However, when I stored it in my Tupperware cake thingy the candy canes melted. It still tasted good - but I was bummed out that the candy canes melted.

I think the kids need a day outside and tomorrow might be the day. They are super whiny and not listening. Tomorrow the weather is to be a lot warmer and rain. I don't think I will care if they go out in the rain. I will just have to watch to make sure John doesn't get too muddy. I wish Tommy could enjoy the outside too - maybe I'll let him crawl everywhere and change him when he gets inside.

We had our pictures taken for the church directory. In January they will be celebrating their 60th Anniversary. The picture turned out pretty good. Tommy wasn't smiling - but he didn't smile in any of them. The other boys looked nice. We actually had a few pictures that Tommy was sucking his thumb because the photographer was more concerned about the other boys that he didn't notice to tell me to get his thumb out!