I wish

I could update this more often. I like the idea of adding little blurbs everyday or so, but not very realistic with my schedule. So here is what we have been up to and little updates about the kids.

We went to church on Easter with Mom and Dad and then went to the Hynes for a big easter egg hunt and pot-luck Brunch. The sun even came out for us.

Memorial Day.
Ken and I were part of a relay team in the Vermont City Marathon on Sunday over Memorial Day Weekend in Burlington. Ken had a 5.8 mile leg and did great. I had the short leg, 3.1 miles. I was so nervous, first time running in an official race. I had a ton of fun, did well and felt strong. I ran the whole way without taking a walk break. I have gone running with the girls Saturday mornings for a few weeks. We generally do 3 miles but usually stop for a walk somewhere along the way. A couple weeks beforet the VCM was the 3rd annual Wild Woman Run in Waterbury, that was a lot of fun as always. Ken was in Polaski, NY fishing. Jake was nice enough to bring Lauren out in her stroller with the other little girls so she and I could finish together. Also last weekend the whole family plus Pop-pop hiked the Pinnacle on Monday. It was a quick little hike, the kids did great. We just stopped once for a little water on the way up. We followed the hike with lunch at the Green Goddess. I had my first swim in the pond.

I am trying to remember what else we did for Memorial Day Weekend. Mom went in to the hospital on Thursday to have a Stent put in her neck. The procedure was to happen on Thursday and was attempted, but the blockage was to great to get the stent in. Lauren and I went in to visit her on Thursday. The desicion was made to operate and remove the plaque in the artery in her neck. This is what they wanted to do originally but there was concern in regards to her ability to heal with all the radiation she has had in the past. Anyway they did the procedure on Friday and everything went well. She was discharged Saturday at 6:00. I went and picked her up and due to some medicine issues I didn't get back home till almost 11:00. Sunday night at 9:45 mom had an Afib and called 911. I was with her at Copley till 2:00am then she was moved to FAHC and she stayed there till Tuesday. She needed some blood and fluids. She is doing very well now is home and seems great. Not a fun weekend, very nerve racking. Not a lot of fun as your parents get older.


Wednesday was the first game of the Stanley Cup Finals and Ken had the boys over to watch the Bruins, I hung out at Melissa's after dinner with the kids at Gwynne's. Friday night Melissa and I snuck up to the Mountain for Friday Afternoon Club and apps at the Cactus. Ken had the boys over for Poker. Gwynne and I hiked the Pinnacle this past Saturday. Fun to hike with a girlfriend and with nothing on my back, we were up and down in 1 1/2 great little hike. Had a nice Prime Rib dinner at the Trout Club with friends Saturday night. Sunday I ran 6.6 miles! I am very proud of myself, we (Melissa and I) walked twice up two little hills, very little walking almost short enough not to count it. We ended the walk right before a big hill on the way home. After the run we walked an addt'l .7 miles uphill to home. Last night we finished the weekend with great friends at a friends house for dinner. It was a great weekend with lots of exercise.

I don't know the rest of our past weekends have been this exciting. Ken had been travelling a lot in the end of April and early May, for both business and pleasure. The Trout Club opened and Ken was able to go for several days of fishing. We went to Mass for Jay and Meghan Rooney's wedding on the 14th. Ken and I both had a lot of fun, the DJ was great, congrats to them both!

Our vegetable garden is in and is looking good. I am having a lot of fun tending to the garden and flower beds this year. The past few years have been filled with babies and pregnancies. This feels like the first year since we moved in that I have had the time and stamina to keep up with everything. I have beans, lettuce, carrots, peas, tomatoes, peppers, squash, pumpkins, basil, cilantro, dill, cukes and potatoes in the garden. And more herbs in the herb garden. Ken and I have also been working on the flower beds. There are quite a few of them, lots of raking, digging up hostas, putting down paper and mulch.

We have had a lot of birds this year and are enjoying our feeders and watching the activity. The Hummingbird Feeder is in front of the kitchen window this year and lots of fun to watch.

This week we are having granite countertops installed. Looking forward to the new countertops and sink, but not being without countertops and a sink for a couple of days.

We have a lot of fun things coming in the newxt couple of months. Lots of Saturday parties, a concert and house guests, followed by the Island in the beginning of August.

Lauren will be in 2 on Thursday! She is starting to assert herself more. Please is a funny one for her. She says please now and again and uses it the right way. But if she asks for something without saying it and we ask her to say please 80% of the time she won't do it, she says NO and gets sad. Its pretty funny becasue she is usually so sweet and polite, says thank you and is generally kind and considerate. But she doesn't like to be asked to say please. She knows a lot of our friends names now. Jake was her first and she has had that down for a few weeks, then Aunt Nise (Denise), Melissa, she can say Maya perfectly, John. She also says Cierra and Jillian but not as clearly. Yesterday she climbed in the bath tub to pee! Not the potty but I think it is a good sign and time to put a little effort into potty training. I accidently bought her squeaky shoes. I had tried them on her, paid for them and then put her down to discover that they squeak with every step. It sounds like a dog toy. Oh well she loves them and they are her current size so shouldn't fit for very long. Her hair is still curly, the curls are turning into ringlets with the humidity. She is still sleeping well but has been getting up earlier, around 6:30. She got a swing from Grandma Mary and Grandpa Joe for Christmas which we have put up and she loves! She loves being outside with her brothers.

Drew graduated from HMCC on the 2nd! This was also his last day. He is very happy to be done with pre-school and is home with me till camp starts. He can't wait till Kindergarten starts in the fall. Drew has been getting chewed up by the bugs, I think it is the olive skin. Both Drew and I seem to be a favorite with the bugs. Drew has made some positive food changes lately. He is eating what he is served much quicker and without as many complaints. He also choose Pasta over Pizza for his graduation dinner. Drew has taken an interest in fishing this year and he Calvin spend a lot of time at the pond with their fishing poles. They both also love to hang out in the boat. Its not Ken's favorite place for them to be but it is very nice that they can spend so much time out there playing pirates.

Calvin is a whiz on his bike now and loves to bike all over and visit the nieghbors. Calvin has two more weeks of school and then will be on the same camp schedule as Drew. They have one week of full camp and then three days a week of full day camp.