Embarassing picture of Zach!

I was just looking through my old pictures and I didn't blog when I first had Zach, I just uploaded my photos to Kodak Gallery and my friends/family went through my albums there. I just came across this one of Zach and cracked up. I just posted a blackmail shot of Addie....and well ...sorry buddy, but you've been kind of .....naughty lately (he picked the new kitty up yesterday and THREW her across the room. Apparently cats have wings?)

This is total blackmail. Anyway, I laughed out loud when I saw this. Thought you all might too. Of course, I know you're laughing at my son's expense, but hey - what are kids --- and moms ---- for. :) (Smile!)

Fun at the park ...

We took the kids to the park the other day - the one that is located at the soccer fields where Zach plays (this is their favorite). The funny thing is - get this - Zach loves the area that is for the toddlers. Addie and Avery love the area that is for the bigger kids. Funny, huh?

It was amazing to see how big they're truly getting. I remember taking Zach (I know, it always comes back to Zach) to the park for the first time in Maryland. I was a nervous WRECK as he was making his way up the steps to get to the little slide - he was a climber even then - but now ... he jumps (literally) from the open area ONTO the fire engine pole thing. I mean that thing is way up there, right? Check this out!

Zach's very first ever trip to the park ... (he was such a chunk!)
And now he's a little dare devil! Giving his Momma gray hair! That just won't do!

Here's some other really great pictures! Going down the slide together
Avery you're such a Monkey!
This hair after they went down the slide CRACKED me up! It stood straight up! I couldn't catch it fast enough on the camera, but it literally stood completely on end from the static electricity!
Why didn't they make these cool things when we were kids?
Stick your finger in an electrical socket?
Hair standing up ...heehee
OMG, one of Mommy!
Addie?
This is Addie

Addie
Addie
Addie
This is Zach - just FYI.
Addie

Addie and Avery (Avery looking at the camera)

(We're still big-time CUBS fans around here!!!!)

It seems that we get more or less pictures of one kid during any event. I noticed we got more of Avery at the pool and more of Addie at the park. Hard to keep track, but Lord knows I can't ever get one of the three of them together!

Have a great night everyone! Pray for us to have a safe drive up to NJ tomorrow. I'll post pictures of Sam's birthday party next week!! I'm sure he'll have a great time seeing his friends, I'm glad we were able to arrange that for him! :)

xoxoxoxoxox......

Rachel

Just a reminder....

To all of our friends and family, you are all welcome to join me in celebrating Sam's (early) FORTY FIFTH birthday (how big of a cake do you think I'm going to need to get to put 45 candles on it??) at:

Fadó Philadelphia
1500 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102-4329

Saturday 5/31 @ 6:30 PM

Sam's looking forward to seeing some of his high school and college friends that he has not seen in so many years ... so if you plan on making it please let me know!

Thanks and I hope you can make it!! It should be a great time.....45 spankings from 20 or so different people has GOT to be an interesting sight at least! ;)

La breithe mhaith agat, Sam .... Ta gra agam ort!

It's fun to play at the Y-M-C-A (update)

Well our Chesapeake YMCA just opened an outdoor pool and splash park for the kids!

Not much to post other than the kids had a WONDERFUL time and some great pictures! I ran into one of the moms from my Bunco group and her twins and it seemed like they were enjoying it as well! I presume we'll see lots of moms and dads that we know there over the coming months, though I have to say it was QUITE chaotic, sometimes it stinks being outnumbered....if Sam and I are both helping one, before we know it we look up and one is about to dive straight into the ADULT pool! (ARRGH!) <---- I DO NOT LIKE THE SET UP AT THIS YMCA ...The other YMCA in Suffolk has the Adult pool gated off!!! DUH, why would they NOT do that ???

Update: I wrote to the YMCA and they said they are trying to create a "resort" style pool which has gone over very well at other YMCA locations. This was the response I got when I left my comments about the lack of barrier between the kids pool areas and the adult pool. First they said they didn't want to have "one" pool in case a child had an accident they didn't have to close off the whole area while the pool was being cleaned, which makes perfect sense - though that wasn't my complaint, nor my experience with the other YMCA. They then went on to comment: Also the Aquatic staff at Taylor Bend have purposely set up our lounge chairs to provide a barrier between the pools just in case a parent has to turn their head for a second or two. I don't know if this should have been the response someone from the YMCA should have posted in an Email...can you imagine if someones child drowns ... and the parent just looked away for a "second or two" and was relying on the "lounge chair barrier?" Now, don't get me wrong ... I'm NOT saying the YMCA is at fault here, I'm only comparing it to the Suffolk YMCA which really had a great set up as far as we were concerned - they had it blocked off quite nicely - the kids area in one section, the adult area in another. We just "presumed" that it would be that way here because it makes sense to have an added layer of security keeping an area designed specifically for toddlers blocked from an area where they can reach the swimming pool. Parents, guardians, nannies, etc. should ALWAYS have their eye on their kids. But accidents happen. And if you're like us, we're totally outnumbered. Seriously, Sam was helping Zach, I was helping Avery and I looked up and Addison was at the edge of the adult pool, and not one single lifeguard noticed (again, not their fault to notice every single kid in the place). I'm sure they would have if she'd have fallen in and there were plenty of adults, but literally in the two (OK probably twenty) seconds I bent down to help Avery - Addie being curious - not naughty - walked over to the adult section. The unfortunate (and probably selfish) part - is that unless we are together we can't take the kids to the pool - which also means that our Nanny can't take them in the summer either which is a MAJOR bummer for the kids because they love the water so much. There is just NO WAY one person can keep their eye on three kids when there is nothing to keep them from slipping into the adult section of the pool area. We were so looking forward to the new pool opening up, but now, not as thrilled. ( boohoo! )

Addison

Avery
Avery

More Avery Avery is the only photogenic one today, apparently!

Ooops Zach just got water in his face (heeehee !!!) <-Mom's not laughing, really!

Ooops, Ave too!
Is that Daddy laughing too!?? (He looks sexy in that CUBS hat!)
Who is this? I can't tell!!
Daddy and Addie!

We're going to the beach tomorrow so hopefully I'll get some cute shots of the three of them ! I LOVE beach shots! xoxoxo

Have a great night, I'm all cried out, blogged out and just plain tired out now!! (Smile!)

Ciao! Or Au Revior, I should say, since our first three days in Europe will be in Paris! <-- Does anyone have Rosetta Stone French they want to borrow me? I want to learn French BEFORE July. Because we're going to Paris, and I heard they are crappy to Americans if you don't speak any French. Well I want my ONE trip to the city of Love to be romantic and loving and not frustrating. You all know how I get, and how my blood pressure boils over. Can you imagine me with a Parisian who pisses me off? Sheesh! I just want to have a wonderful time, and not complain about anything, least of all the people or service. So I want to know the basics. Like how to order food, or wine or go PEE! ;) Let me know before I buy it!

See you all tomorrow! Sweet dreams! xoxox

Love,

Rachel (or imagine in French .....Rachelle --- draw out the chellllllllle) <---- Smile!

Can we rock out, Dad?

Ok, so despite all the orthopedic problems it's caused ... we still love to play Rock Band! And Zach loves to "play" too!

So when Sam plays Rock Band guitar, he gives Zach one of the Guitar Hero guitars and let's him "rock out" (as Zach says!!) and let's him "THINK" he's playing with Dad. (Though he's catching on that he's not really playing, which is disturbing that he's actually THAT smart at 3 years old!!! LOL)

Here's a couple of cute photos! Rock on Zach....Maybe you'll be the next American Idol....yeah! More like I'm going to have to take my four year old to my orthopedic and ask for a shot in HIS elbow for GUITAR HERO tendinitis! LOLLLLL!!!

This is Zach "Rocking Out" to "Flirting with Disaster"!

Hope you all have a great night...I'm off to bed. We went to the YMCA today to play in their new SPLASH Zone! The kids LOVED it!!! I'll post some pictures tomorrow when I'm not COMPLETELY worn out! We're going to head to the beach first thing in the morning to let them play in the sand so I'll do the entire "weekend events" in one shot. Plus, I just watched P.S. I Love You - and Okay ladies, if you haven't seen this movie.............Can I just say, get a bottle of wine, get the Kleenex, 'cause you're gonna have a GOOD old fashioned cry. I think I cried .....oh just about *most* of the movie. (I bet if Sam commented here he might interject it was the entire movie.) I love movies that just let you get your cry out once in awhile!!!!!!

Enjoy your day off tomorrow and most of all remember why you HAVE the day off! It's not for the great sales, the b-b-q's and the beer! It's a day to remember all the fallen members of our military who have defended our country for us.

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored and neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.
There are a few notable exceptions. Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence.

Tomorrow, at 3:00, if you can, please observe a moment of silence to remember our fallen soldiers. Remember, these ladies and gentleman have given their lives in exchange for yours.

xoxoxoxoxoxo..............

Rachel

The Burn - It's a Wrap!

Zach completed his first season of soccer two weeks ago. Can you believe it? It went by so fast! It was so cute to see how much the kids changed since the beginning of the season to the end of the season. They have more confidence, they go after the ball more and they are a LITTLE less interested in the butterflies. :) Smile!)

Sam was the Coach and he did an awesome job wrangling the kids in and keeping them in place. He had the patience of a Saint - I got tired just watching him most of the time. (Important note: Most of the time consists of 3, maybe 4 of the games - they played every Saturday from March something until May 17!) Unfortunately, our team did NOT have a great season (luckily they don't keep track of wins/losses at this age) but we had all first year players who where between 3-4 years old, except one little boy - a cutie name Chase - he played in the fall and he was really good. They played against teams that had mostly players with a lot more experience and more 4 year olds - which really makes a difference when you're talking whether a child is mentally ready to play in an organized sport. 3 year olds just don't take direction very well, and they are really more interested in snack time, LOL. But - they got so much better towards the end and the last game was the best because they actually played a team where the kids were all their size for the first time, so they actually had a chance and I think it was fun for them.

We had a party at our house after the last game for the team where Sam handed out trophies and the team gave a gift to the coach (an iTunes gift card, hmm, think the Team Mom hooked him up??) The kids all had a great time playing on the play set and the sandbox and kicking the soccer ball around in the yard. The parents on the team were all great support and we enjoyed having the chance to spend some time getting to know them rather than the hour spent on the field. I have to give a special thanks to Johnathan's Mom Katie for all the help she gave me with the twins during the games I was there - usually she'd help me locate them after I lost them - and YES, I seriously DID lose them at the fields a couple times - only to find them holding the hand of another mom looking for who ever they belonged too, lol. One time Katie actually caught them about to escape through a hole in fence at the park that leads into this forest. Seriously I see Katie running through this grassy area where the kids practice, I look up and my girls are about to go into the woods. By themselves. Unreal!!! They're sneaky buggers, I stop for one second to tie Zach's shoe or help him get on the field and one of the twins is either three soccer fields away or they're trying to escape to the spooky forest. Is it only my kids? LOL! I will tell you that the one day that we had to chase after the like three or four times (that is how many times they sneaked away) I got home that afternoon, and I made a cocktail (at like noon), put the kids down for their naps and laid down on the couch and passed out from sheer exhaustion from being stressed about losing them three times. This last game, I sat them on a blanket, and told them they WOULD NOT go to the park after Zach game if they did not SIT on the blanket the WHOLE time and they WOULD NOT get McDonald's for lunch and they WOULD NOT get a lollipop when we got home if they wandered off anywhere beyond these orange cones we had set up. For whatever reason, I don't know if it was the threat of the park, the lollipop, or the McDonald's ... they did NOT wander off at all, which made the game MUCH more enjoyable.

Anyway, here's some pictures of the kids at the soccer game prior to this last one (of course I FORGOT my camera at the last one!!) and then party at our house after their last game where they got their "trophy" from Coach! They're all a bunch of adorable kids and I hope Sam gets to coach some of them next season.

Some pictures from a previous game

Zach coming off the field

Picking up acorns is the "thing to do" before and after the games (it's Avery)

Addie's ticked because she has to SIT now and watch for awhile.

Chase getting all warmed up for the game ... nice kick buddy!

Woohoo Shelby! Awesome!
At our house after the last game....Coach giving them their last Pep talk...
One more team Cheer "gooooooo Burn!"
Coach with Sydney ... all year she wouldn't give him five.... on the last game she gave him high five without him having to ask .... he was so excited. She's a bit shy ...but ADORABLE. This is who gave us Trixi!

Coach with Jonathan .... he is a little sweetheart who played like a champ this year...and scored a goal in the last game! Way to go Johnathan! (Can you tell he's excited to get his trophy?)

Coach with Alyssa - she was a last minute aaddition to our team but she had such a sweet personality she was very shy on the field, but she would come up to Sam and tell him things like "I got new nailpolish" or "I went to see the Doodlebops this weekend." She always made him smile!

Coach with Shelby - Zach and Shelby got along so well during the season - Shelby loved to run after the ball and she really blossomed by the end of the season! And by the way, this girl is only FOUR! She is going to be one TALL girl, look at those legs!!

And last but not least, Coach Dad with his scurvy pirate - or Popeye. We weren't quite sure of the face Zach was trying to make. He's always such a ham. Zach's been very proud of his trophy and hopefully by the fall he'll be more "mentally" ready to play. He's very physically ready - fast, able to block, kick - but just does NOT take direction very well and we can all FORGET it if I'm there....lol. Too bad he looks so darn cute in his uniform. :) Heheee!

Addie - or Avery (can't tell) with Anna - Jonathan's sister on the BIG girl swings. Anna is only 18 months.
Sydney on the slide.
Johnathan ...did you just eat something blue you silly boy?
Avery?

Sydney pondering the monkey bars....

All in all we had a great season and I'm sure Sam's already looking forward to fall coaching. (Smile honey!)

Have a great night!

Love,

Rachel xoxoxox