Easter Sunday

Happy Easter!
We had a wonderful day celebrating Jesus and enjoying time with family!
It's been a four day celebration really.
We started Thursday night at the Conroy's house to celebrate Liam making his First Communioun. We spent Friday with them and had a fun day at the Bronx Zoo. Amy and her kids and Jason and I and our kids all went. Uncle Mike had to work but we got to see him Friday night.







Saturday we stayed home. It was raining all day! Blah.....

Today we went to early service at church. It was a great message.
Then we saw our friends for a little bit before heading home.

Jason's family came over for dinner. It was a beautiful, sunny but chilly day. Everyone enjoyed themselves and we had a lot of yummy food. Ryan and Amy brought a black bean dip to start us off. Then we had a fantastic meal that everyone contributed ...
Lamb with Indian seasonings, Ham, bacon turnips, aspargus, mali kofta (some Indian dish) strawberry salad and a potato/zuchinni/squash dish. It was all so good.
Then we enjoyed dessert brought by Amy's parents who also joined us today. She brought a bunch of delicious pies and cookies. We also enjoyed the Rice Krispie Treat Eggs that the kids and I made. So yummy!

Our kids were the only kids but they had fun goofing around with Aunt Marcella and Uncle Ryan. Aunt Marcella helped me get the egg hunt ready for them and they had fun and ACTUALLY got along!!!! WoW!

So that was our day. Enjoy the pictures!

I Just Love My Kids

Just wanted to let you all know that Katie and I have had a much better week!!
WooHoo! Thanks for the comments, emails and phone calls showing your support!

I am so thankful for all my family and friends support in all areas of our lives!
Thank you too for the all my Birthday Wishes. I had a lovely day starting off with lots of hugs and kisses sending me off to work. Laura, my partner in crime, (I mean education) brought me flowers and a balloon! Then, Jason made me a delicious dinner of talapia, shrimp and scallops with mixed vegetables and melon. Katie picked out a Friendly's Jubilee Roll for dessert. YumYum! Her card was great, it read "from the one you love most". Oh that girl!!! Ben showered me with gifts from his room that he wrapped up in hand towels. I felt very privileged to have his snugly puppy for the night! They also got me the new Kelly Clarkson CD. WOOHOO!

Tonight they had some funny things to say...

At dinner Katie was very silly. I was joking about what an angel I was growing up. She said laughing..."oh no you were no angel. I remember how you told me when Nana got so mad at you because you didn't read a book you said you did. I have it locked right up here!" As she points to her head/brain!

Ben was getting ready to have a bopper match with Daddy. He was sneaking around getting ready and came up to me and asked, "Mom, can you blow these up? Do you have enough air?"

I just love my kids!

The 8th Year May be it!

Katie has just turned 8. I think this might be a tough year in our house.
Year 3 and year 4 were tough, but mostly because we were all adjusting to having Ben. She was an only child for 3 whole years and loved every second of it. We were use to having a very easy and independent little girl who was happy with her life.

Years 5, 6 and 7 were no big deal. She listened, understood right and wrong and I could still count and by the time 1 left my lips she was changing her behavior. I could give her the "Mom Look" from across the room. I could hold up 1 finger from across the room and she knew I was watching and starting to count. I wasn't a drill Sargent. I wasn't mean. I was very consistent in my discipline and she was well, really easy.

Now she is 8. I know, we saw it coming. Let's be honest, I had my moments when she was 7 that I was exasperated. Felt like a failure. BUT I would always say, Oh it's just a phase...
I'd talk with my girl friends who had daughters her age and we'd all share our stories and we'd all end with "It's just a phase. It will pass." And we made each other feel better knowing that we weren't the only one with a daughter who was starting to have an attitude.

Well, she's 8. She's been 8 for two whole months tomorrow. I have to say, these were two of the longest months of my parenting life. Really. Breastfeeding. No problem. Toilet training, a breeze. Teaching Ben he couldn't jump off of all things, ha a cake walk.

Her attitude is not adjusting. I can't tell you how many times I've told her she needs to adjust it!!! I've sent her to her room more in the last two months than in her entire life! I've taken away t.v. and dessert more in the last two months than...
Are you getting what I'm saying.
Don't get me wrong, she is still my little Peanut. But come on!!
The drama is at an all time high. The eye rolling has started. The "UGH" and whining something as she leaves the room is driving me and Jason batty! And all she does is tell on her brother. According to her all he does is ruin her life and get her in trouble!
Now, sit down for this, MY MOTHER has even said she's seen a change in her. She reported last week that Katie attempted to roll her eyes at her!!!!

I know I'm going to make it. I know this too will pass. I know that Jason and I have done a really great job with our parenting.
I really just needed to vent!

Helmets

I bought helmets for the kids tonight!

I admit that was very stupid and irresponsible on my part. I'll be honest I thought, oh we're in our driveway and Jason is right next to her, I'll get a helmet once she learns how to ride and goes on her own. Well that was dumb. Thanks Dad for pushing me to get helmets now!
By the way, you'll be installing a bell on Ben's bike on Thursday!

Ok

Okay, I know the lighting is bad. This is my first attempt.
I will try during daylight next time.

Another One

Video of Ben