Thank You!

Well no pictures today just an update of these last few days seeing as I haven't found time to get on lately. Jenna has finally learned to ride her bike! This is a monumental event for us because we have been trying to teach her for 4 years! After a few spills she gave up and swore never to ride a bike again.
A big thank you to Papa Jim and Grandma Elaine for the beautiful new Treck (bike) that they bought her the other day! I will post pics another time.
Today Jenna was lucky enough to be invited to her friend Breanna's house. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get any pictures because I had to pick Kane up from grandma's house but when I got back, she was having a blast! A big thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Sikora for having Jenna over for a cool-down pool party today in this sweltering heat! Hopefully she will sleep soundly tonight!
Kane is just Kane..nothing real new with him. He is still on the same sleeping schedule and taking a bottle around 4 am. His neck/back are getting stronger and if he had a choice he would be walking around like a little man! He wants to do so many things but his brain just won't let him yet!
Well, that's about all...again a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone for being so kind to Jenna as she really appreciates it!

Pics of the Derby

I had a heck of a time uplaoding these for some reason- guess it doesn't surprise me with the day I have been having..here are a few anyway..he is #59

Crash-Crash, Bang-Bang

That describes the last outing we were at- The World's Largest Demolition Derby! My brother has done this for the last two years and seems to really look forward to it, as do we! My sister in law paints the demo car and has the pleasure of free handing whatever her husband decides for the theme. This year: Spider Man.

Our family really enjoys going to this and routing for him. Although I must admit watching the first round makes me so nervous that someone is bound to get hurt.

He was in the second heat because he was considered an "experienced driver"..go figure. I really didn't know that their was experience behind smashing your vehicle into another vehicle? Anyway, my brother started off great and ended up going to the second round. After a long time in the ring, his poor car just couldn't take any more! He ended up winning a large trophy and some cash, not bad for a day at the fair.

He took one crazy hit that put him in the backseat and today he is nursing some whiplash and a few aches but he will forget all about these pains come next year for the derby once again!

Here are some pics of him when he first lined up, during the smashing, and after.. Ok it's not letting me add the pics..look to next post for pics!

Nice Job David!

What'd you say?

Yep, it's official, I'm deaf! Despite the ringing in my ears today, I have suffered minor ill affects from the Jonas Brothers concert last night. I was pleasantly surprised to have honestly enjoyed myself at a concert filled with 10,000 screaming girls who thought that if they only yelled loud enough maybe, just maybe, Joe, Kevin, or Nick Jonas would jump off stage and sweep them off there feet.

Overall, the concert was nice. Despite the girls having to stand on their seats blocking the view for our little ones, we had great seats. I managed to carry the weight of my 7 year old for quite some time on my shoulders which allowed her to have an amazing view and me to have a pair of hands covering my face and pushing my hair in my eyes. Hey, what are moms for..gotta make some sacrifices in life. Thank god for chiropractors though!

I also must say I was blessed to be seated next to a woman who thought it was ok to bring her 11 year old to the concert and chug down a few Labatts in the process. Boy was she entertaining. I had the honor of carrying on a conversation with her during the concert and despite a few stumbles into me, she was pretty funny!

After leaving a few minutes early to make the dreaded walk to the car, we managed to sneak out before most of the traffic and get home by 11:30, even after stopping at Mickey D's for a late night snack. Then off to bed we went only to dream about one day being Mrs. Jonas- well, not me, I am too old, . I had the pleasure of dreaming about what bills to pay tomorrow and how I am going to manage my time wisely!

Just have to say in conclusion- way to go Jonas Brothers, you have forever embedded the life of a concert go-er in my daughters tender little heart! She is already planning another concert in the near future..daddy will be so proud!

Is their anybody out there?

Sometimes I wonder just maybe if their is someone or something watching me, maybe it's a fly or a dirt speck, maybe it's my dog or cat, or even the 4 foot tall doll that is standing right beside of me? I wonder this for many reasons but the sole reason today is Jenna. I do believe I owe a lot of my edgy-ness to one in particular little boy who prefers to talk rather than sleep at night but my other person of interest is my 7 year old daughter!
Now I was trying to recall ever doing things to my mother when I was little and I do think that children just don't know when to stop pushing buttons. So far Jenna has managed to strike every nerve inside of me and make me want to scream. I tell her to eat her cereal in the kitchen, she brings it in the living room and spills it. I tell her to stay out of her room because her daddy is sleeping there (after a long nights work), she goes in 10 times only to wake him up. I tell her to be quieter because Kane is sleeping, she gets louder...so that brings me back to the age old question- Is someone watching me and laughing? Is this supposed to be a silly joke played on me and I won't know it until my kids are grown? Please tell me that sanity will be knocking on my door in the near future..is that a knock I hear?
Nope just my darling daughter banging on the shower wall telling me she is ready for me to wash her hair.
Oh and I forgot to mention one detail as well..we have to go to the Jonas Brothers concert tonight-that's all I have to say!

Rollercoasters..NO MORE!

We had a nice time yesterday as we went to Martin's Fantasy Island despite the rainy forecast. Being that it rains almost every day here in Buffalo, we figured to suck it up and go anyway. It turned out to only rain for maybe 30 minutes but we shopped in the stores and had some ice cream while we waited for the clouds to move on out.

The kids had a blast and I even managed to get my big butt on a few coasters and rides as well. I am curious though as to why as I get older my ability to handle motion is limited?@! I was a huge fan of any type of roller coaster when I was younger and loved to push the limits. Ask me now and my stomach answers for you. I just don't understand what happened?

Anyway, Jenna loved the up and down one-Forgive me as I can't think of the name. I just remember it because I decided to go on it and must admit that I too had a ball on that! (Psst..It was a kiddie ride, shh!) It brings you up and then drops you a little bit at a time. Her next favorite was the Mousetrap, that was a roller coaster and she was too small last year to ride so that was a proud moment for her when they brought that pole to her head and said she was tall enough! Although I still think those sticks that they use to measure are way off. It was supposed to measure a 48" height and she barely made it. Now she just had her physical 3 months ago and measured 50", I made sure to tell the ride attendant that!

The Antique cars were always one of my favorites! I begged Jenna to drive it but she insisted on me driving. She couldn't understand that they were on a track and nothing would happen if she drove! Typical, paranoid Jenna! Even my 3 year old nephew, Dylan drove it! Although my mom said his 5 year old brother was covering his eyes because he didn't want Dylan to crash!

So overall it was a nice time and everyone was pooped when we finally got home. On top of being tired I had to go pick up Kane from Grandma Elaine's house-Luckily he went to sleep by 9:30.

Just want to share!

Daddy, Jenna, and Kane at the Waterfront today!

Me, Jenna, and Kane at the Waterfront today!

Jenna took this picture last night when we were at my mom's house-

Kane is in the saucer, Little David (my nephew), then Grandma "Puppy"

Yes we actually call her grandma Puppy! I will fill you all in at a later date on that!

Uncle Paul came to visit yesterday so Kane got to see him for the 2nd time in his little life-

Thanks Uncle Paul for coming to visit!

What A Big Boy

Last night at dinner I decided to try Kane in his highchair and low and behold...he liked it! Woohoo! He was a bit unsure of it at first so I put a little pile of mashed potatoes on the tray and he went to town.It's amazing how those little things in life can melt your heart.

Here are some pictures of Kane for the first time in his highchair at dinner and also this morning!

"FOUR"

It is "four" right? At least in golf that is..? Anyway, I hope I am right with titling my blog that! Today was the first day that Marc (dh) had off in quite sometime. So- since he had off we decided to go miniature golfing. Have you ever tried that with a 5 month old and a stroller..HA..DON'T! Let me paint the picture for you avid readers: We pull in to this place over on Broadway which has a golfing place, ice cream shop, and horses-well since we had never been there Marc thinks we should park near the ice cream place to get our putters etc. Just out of curiosity (since he never reads this) why would you think you are supposed to pay for miniature golf at the ice cream stand?#@! So after arguing about the parking he finally gives in and low and behold we find the shack for the golf. He proceeds to squeeze into a spot big enough for a motorcycle and turns the car off. Normally that would be ok but hello.."Baby on Board"-so I told him he can try and get the carseat out of the backseat without hitting the car next to him. He huffs and starts the car back up only to move it closer to this rusted van on his side...((laughing)) so then Jenna says "daddy you can open the door for me because I can't get out now!"
Ok enough of picking on Marc, so the sun is shining, we are all sweating and we haven't even stepped onto hole 1 yet..did I mention their are 18 holes! Jenna goes first..sets down her ball only to proceed to hit it like a hockey puck. I also realized after a few holes that she doesn't like to golf and would rather play in the water surrounding the greens. So here I am pushing the stroller, holding Kane because he didn't want to be in the sweaty carseat, in the process trying to keep track of Jenna's ball. Ugh, eventually we reached the 18th hole and hallelujah we were done. So off to Friendly's for dinner! Didn't Marc get spit up on by Kane..all over his pants! Between you and I, it looked like Marc didn't make it to the bathroom. SHH! So that was the warp up of our day and I have decided from now on to stay home until Kane is 3! Speaking of Kane I am being called "crying style" by my lovely, no napping infant..gotta go! (oh and i brought my camera but sorry folks no pictures..my stress level was too high to remember to tale pics of Jenna's ball flying through mid-air!

Groundhog's Day!

Ok sometimes I think I am in that movie, Groundhogs Day. If you have never watched it, to sum it up it's about a guy who wakes up and realizes that he is doing the same thing over and over again. Every morning I wake up only to greet Kane, feed him, take a shower, put him down for a nap, clean up, greet Jenna, make her breakfast..etc etc. Each day I wish for some change, any change, just an itsy-bitsy, teeny-tiny, change. I know the littlest change will put Kane's normal routine in an uproar but I know he gets sick of it too! We are all sick of looking at the insides of this house-but to go anywhere costs a fortune now a days. (on top of that, I have lost the bravery of going out in public with a crying infant and a spoiled 7 year old who thinks she should have everything that is on the shelves in the toy isle.)

So here are some pics of what our day consists of...(shortly after the picture of Jenna and Bella (our dog) was taken, Jenna got nipped by Bella for getting too rough with her. I told you my darling Jenna that one day she would bite you!

The other picture, well is what we do on lazy days, cuddle!

Oh and a quick update on the baddest mommy of the year award- It's proudly sitting on shelf in plain view so I remember never to do such a dumb thing again! And his hand is healing quite well..I think his saliva has secret miraculous healing powers!

Drum Roll Please...

AND THE AWARD FOR "DUMBEST MOMMY OF THE WEEK" GOES TO: ME!

Yep that's right..I am officially awarded the biggest trophy that a mother could get. On Tuesday afternoon I decided to pull out my iron and iron my pants. After ironing, I set the iron on the counter to let it cool. Well as I was getting ready to leave, I had to transfer some stuff to another purse so I set him down on the counter while holding him. Of course not realizing just how close the iron was, he leaned over and swiped his arm on. I gasped after realizing what had just happened and he cried for a split second. I started to think that maybe he didn't touch it and that it was a close call. A few hours later I noticed a red mark on his arm, then a huge blister on his thumb. Yes indeed, he did touch it.

After a few calls to the doctors office and a trip over to see them, I got the ok that he would be fine and to keep a sock on it! I swear, I feel like such an idiot for setting him even near a hot iron. So needless to say this is his first accident that hopefully will not leave any scars. (thanks to mommy!)

Rollin, Rollin, Rollin

Well now that Kane rolls front to back we have ran into some sleeping issues. Just as he started sleeping through most of the night, his brain decides to keep developing allowing him to start to roll. I was so excited that he started rolling I almost forgot what lied ahead. This is the kind of thing we call "selective memory". Us humans have this uncanny ability of forgetting the rough moments in life, causing for mass hysteria and confusion when something happens (even though we have been through it before)! This describes me at this present moment in time because every night I sit on the couch and bite my nails, hoping he doesn't roll and awake from a sound sleep!
Sure enough I find that my hardcore prayers are not answered yet again and their I go, feeling for the walls while my one eye barely open, creeping through the dark house into Kanes bedroom, all the while tripping over one of the animals, only to greet a happy, wide eyed, smiling, 5 month old! Well you can ask anyone who knows me well and that is don't mess with me when I am sleeping! I am probably the grouchiest grouch you will ever meet in the middle of the night! SO anyway, I flip him back over and peek into his crib just in time for him to roll over again. I swear this kid plays these games with me..and I am starting to realize that we as people do not give our children enough credit for their ability to mess with us parents!
SO that is how my nights have been going which I would like to warn many caffeine drinkers that their is about to be a "drought". I am a walking zombie most of the day but manage to keep a big smile on my face after getting my daily dose of "medicine." So for those of you who depend on caffeine to stay awake..forget it- It's ALL GONE! My name is Julie and I am an addict! Their I said it!
So onto a another sleepless night and caffeine driven day..Thanks baby boy for ROLLIN' like a big boy! I'm a proud, tired, happy, mama!

"Life is something that everyone should at least try once"

I was trying to think of a title for my blog today and came up with this famous quote from Henry J. Tillman- "Life is something that everyone should at least try once". This weekend was a busy but fun weekend. It started off with Fridays play date for Jenna in my last entry and as time ticked on so did we!

Saturday we did some errands and went to our favorite place- Toys R' Us. I tell you, that is a place I have loved since I was little and will probably love when I am old and gray! We spent quite some time looking for presents for my nephew and really got some neat toys.

On Sunday we went to the Bisons game for my nephews birthday. My brother got a Suite for us which he does a few times in the summer. The Suite is filled with tons of food and tons of drinks! The kids had a ball playing and us adults had a ball eating! Which brings me back to my quote..it may have been a busy weekend and we had some ups and downs but overall life is worth trying!! (here are a few pics of the game)

Left to right- David (nephew), Emmy (niece), Jenna, Buster Bison, Marc (daddy drinking his beer with Buster), Lauren (step niece) and she is holding Dylan (nephew).

Here is Kane eating a piece of celery or should I say sucking a piece of celery at the game!

Just some more pics of today!

T.G.I.F..I guess!

Well I haven't posted in a few days because it's been mighty busy around here. I guess since the rain has stopped, we are now able to enjoy the last few weeks of summer. Jenna got invited to her friend Nick's house for a pool party so we went there this afternoon. It was so nice to sit out in the warm weather, on the deck, swatting the bees, and yelling at kids! Why in the world did I think it was going to be enjoyable with (5) seven year olds and an infant?! Jenna showed me a side of her I never new existed. I guess I was that gullible parent who had blinders on, thinking her kid was perfect..that dream was immensely shattered today! I guess she was very excited but boy her shyness must have stayed in the car because the minute we got there she ran into the house, leaving me and her "shyness" in the dust!

I shouldn't complain though because she really had a nice time. A few of her friends came and they hadn't seen each other since school so they were excited.

Around 4 o'clock we left and now we are waiting to go to cheer leading practice. Right now she is watching t.v., on the couch, in her pajamas! Call me psychic but I foresee a battle soon ahead! I know she doesn't want to go to practice but I am the mean mom who makes her go!

After practice we are supposed to go to "Community Days" over in the shopping plaza. This is a place that puts on a little concert and has games and fireworks. Normally it would be fun but I am afraid that Jenna is going to be so exhausted that once again it will be more work than fun! Does the time ever come when the kids get old enough that we as parents can enjoy ourselves?

Here are some pics of them in the pool today enjoy!