The Biter

Yesterday, Mike & Sybyl came over so that we could finally meet their baby son Mason.  He is 3 months old and I got to feed him and hold him all night.  I think Brad was hoping it would pacify my desire for a 3rd child, but no such luck.

Anyway, Kyra & Henry were outside with their older son Ty (he is about 1 month older than Kyra).  So they come inside and Brad is saying, "Tell Mommy what you did... Henry, show Mommy your belly."  My daughter BIT my son in the stomach over a swing (proof of said bite in above pictures - trust me, it looks worse than this)!!!!  Then later in the evening, she threw a toy phone & it hit Henry in the nose!  My poor son took a beating yesterday at the hand's of his "darling" sister!  Is it too early for boarding school I wonder???

Born to Sing?

As I attempt to upload this video, my children are coloring with markers... Kyra is shouting "don't touch it" and every couple of minutes, they come in here for more computer paper.  And now Kyra is screaming... no, make that crying and saying "He's touching my paper.... he just touched me Daddy."  Henry is being quite as a mouse and Brad is attempting to prepare the trout he caught while he was fishing last weekend.  Just another day in paradise...

Best Friend, Flip Flop Family

Yesterday I picked the kids up from school - something I rarely do.  They both were SO excited to see me - it was too cute.  Kyra was still wearing the same clothes we dressed her in that morning, so I was equally as excited.  On the ride home, the kids were extremely chatty - asking me about my day, actually telling me about theirs!  At one point, Kyra mentioned how we all wear flip flops and Henry mentioned that we are all best friends.  So I told them that we were the "Best Friend, Flip Flop Family."  This cracked them right up and I thought it was too cute not too share!!

Trip to NY - Day 8 & 9

On Friday, we met my mom & her family for breakfast.  Henry seemed much better, but after waiting an hour for cold food, he got half way through his pancakes & looked like he might be sick again, so I raced him out of there.  He rested on the couch for a few hours and then my excellent parenting skills kicked in and we took the kids to a 4th of July parade... an hour in the hot sun probably wasn't a great idea, because Henry wanted to leave 20 minutes in to it and then proceeded to fall sleep at 6pm.

But going to the parade gave me a chance to see Melissa again as we went with her, Katelyn & Emma.  And the parade was actually pretty cool - lots of drum & bugle corps and politicians running for re-election, but they all threw out candy to the kids, which was a big hit!

My dad made us goulash for dinner (which is a ritual whether I go there or he comes here, as I LOVE his goulash) and we started to pack up for the ride home.

Around 2am this morning, Henry woke up and was crying, but yet trying very hard NOT to cry.  When I asked him what was wrong, he said, "I don't want to leave New York."  It seems the week of extreme fun coming to an end was breaking his little heart.... I decided then that I probably needed to get back to Rochester more than once a year.  It really is so hard trying to pack so much in to one week; there are just too many people to see & things to do!  Well, actually, it is that blasted Children's Museum!!!

We left Rochester at 6:45 this morning & I'm happy to say, got home at 6:30 this evening!!!  Despite begging me for a new present every hour (the magazine didn't mention what to do when the kids catch on to the fact that you have a stash of toys in the front seat), the kids were actually very good & even managed to take cat naps.  We stopped only for gas and bathroom breaks!  When we got home, Henry said, "Mommy, I had fun in NY, but I'm glad to be back at my house."  Me too!!!

Trip to NY - Day 6 & 7

On Wednesday, we met Jeanine & her boys at the movie theater & saw "Kung Fu Panda."  What I saw of it was good... my darling daughter only lasted about 30 minutes into it and I had to take her to the Dollar Store.  Now that place is a gold mine for travel stuff.  I had read in Parenting Magazine that when going on a long trip, you should go to the Dollar Store & buy cheap gifts to wrap & give them to your kids when they get antsy.  I did this on the drive up and you'd be surprised at the relief a 97 cent match box car can buy you when you are driving through West Virginia.  

I bought some stickers this time around & let me tell you - I will totally stock up on stickers for the next time we travel... I might consider it for the 20 minute ride to my in-laws!!!  Kyra was quiet & entertained for 30 minutes straight!!!!!  Henry also enjoyed it but wanted to talk about each sticker, which is sweet and all, but not what I was going for.  

Anyway, after the movie, we went to my friend Melissa's house.  Her daughter Katelyn is 8, Emma is 3 and son Eric is 2.  We hung out for a while and then headed back to my Dad's... both kids fell asleep on the way back - around 4:30.  Can I just tell you that Kyra did not wake up until 6:30 the next morning???

On Thursday, we decided to go back to the Children's Museum so that Hon could join us.  He wasn't able to go on Monday & I think was a bit sad he missed out on the fun.  We normally hit the museum at least 2-3 times while we are in Roch, so it was no big deal to go back.  This time, Henry dragged Hon around to all the exhibits - the rest of us just sat back & watched!!!  After 3 hours, we had to drag Henry out of there - he did not want to leave!!  We had a late lunch & then headed back to my dad's - around 3:30 at this point.

Now, when we got to my dad's, Henry was still asleep so I put him in bed.  Kyra was wide awake & wanted to go to Target so I took her.  Around 5:00 Brad called me and said, "Where are your dad's cleaning supplies & how do you use his washing machine?"  Henry had gotten sick all over the bed & floor!  The poor guy was sick all night - he couldn't keep anything down & his face was as white as a ghost.  I was supposed to meet my friend Gina & her family for burgers & ice cream, but I felt bad leaving Henry so I had to cancel. 

You think perhaps we are packing too much stuff in to one week for my kids to handle???

Trip to NY - Day 5

On Tuesday, we met the Bush family (Jim, Jeanine, Tyler & Travis) at the Seneca Park Zoo... it is beyond crazy how many cool things there are for kids in Rochester!!    

The zoo in Rochester is not all that big, but it has your basic animals:  tigers, polar bear, sea lions, rhino, monkeys, elephants.  The elephants have a new "swimming pool" this year but they weren't in it while we were there.  There is also a play ground so while the kids walked around & saw animals or climbed on jungle gyms & slides, it gave Jeanine & I a chance to catch up.

When we left the zoo, we forced the kids to take a nap, because that evening, we met Nana, Honey, Mildy, Mema, Uncle Andy & Odette at the Rochester Red Wings game (minor league baseball).  Frontier field is somewhat new & very nice.  My kids love baseball games - but I imagine because whenever we go  they always get a hat & stuffed team mascot!!  The Red Wings stunk to the high heavens, losing something like 12 to 4, but when taking Kyra to the bathroom, who did I see, but Jennie Finch!!!  Jennie Finch is a 2 time Olympic Gold Medalist in women's softball!  Her husband plays for the Red Wings.  I couldn't believe someone that "famous" was in Rochester, but I swear she was!

I should take this time to mention that my beloved daughter had a horrid potty training relapse this past week!!!  When we started our drive north, we put her in a pull up to avoid any accidents along I77!!  We put her in her panties on Saturday, but she had about 5 accidents in a 4 hour span.  So, we put her back in diapers for the rest of the week... I'm hoping this was just a locational issue & now that she is back home to her familiar surroundings, she'll go back to using the potty!

And lastly, Nana & Honey are my grandparents.  My mother chose those names when I was first learning to talk & I've been calling them that ever since, although I normally call my grandfather Hon.  When I was about 12 or so, I told Hon that I was getting too old to call him that & I would have to start calling him grandpa.  He said OK but try as I might, I could never remember to call him that.  I gave up trying after about a week and now, both of my kids call them these names too!!!

Trip to NY - Day 4

On Monday, we met a host of people at the Strong Museum of Play - quite likely the very best children's museum there is.  Nana, Mildy, Mema, Cousins Shauna, Olivia & Ada all met the 4 of us there around 11am.  We took a small break for lunch around 1pm, and then didn't leave until 4:30.  

This museum is awesome & Henry was BEYOND excited to go!  He dragged Mema around all over the place - we checked out the new Bearenstein Bear exhibit & the new Clifford exhibit plus visited Reading Adventureland & of course, Sesame Street and the trains!  I'm telling you - there isn't much that could make me move back to Rochester, NY, but if there were, it would be this Museum.  You should check it out if you are ever that way!!!

Check out Kyra's new sunglasses - they crack me right up!!!  Especially since she almost didn't go - she got a bit of a stomach bug & threw up that morning.  Now, a better parent probably would have stayed home with her, but when she kept down water & a banana & was acting totally fine & never had the slightest fever, I decided to take her with us.  You'd never had known that she wasn't feeling well earlier that day!

Trip to NY - Days 1 - 3

We left for Rochester at 7:10am on Friday, June 27 with both kids & the dog.  We feared what a normally 12 hour trip might be like, but oddly, we made it to my dad's house by 8:30 that evening... not bad at all.  The kids were wound for sound, but eventually got settled in.

On Saturday, we went to Mema's (my mother).  She had squirt guns, bubble toys & a kiddie pool ready for them.  Did she tell me about the kiddie pool?  No - that is why they are in their underwear!  They didn't seem as bothered by it as I was!  HA!  Both Mema & Cousin Dave helped them "jump" in to the pool!  When they weren't outside in the pool, they were playing play doh with Mildy (my aunt, whose real name is Tammy, but whom the kids & I call Mildy - don't ask).  Kyra fell asleep in my arms around 4pm for a 2 hour nap... Henry hung on until almost 8 and then crashed in Mema's arms.  

On Sunday, we spent the afternoon with my Dad's side of the family... Brad took Michael, Steven, Joanne, Henry & Kyra outside for football while the rest of us chatted inside.  Unfortunately, I only have pictures from Saturday.