The Price You Pay.........

.........if you don't play by Landon's rules.........

Sneak Peek!

Happy Holidays, friends!!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones.  Ours was a "merry" one.  I am very short on time this evening as I am tending to my sick little love (yes, Landon's nasty fever is back).  I thought I might leave you with a sneak peek of one of the many highlights of our "holiday" week.  I promise to be back tomorrow to share some pics with all of you!

OK, confession, I have to post this video, quickly, before it mysteriously disappears........lol

Santa was very good to the boys...........can you guess which one was SERIOUSLY having the most fun??!!

(You may, must, want to pause the music @ the bottom of the page, you don't want to miss this:)

(The Michael Jackson Experience, for the Wii)

Some may say, "Awww, what a sweet father & son moment/memory".........and some may be thinking (along with me), "Can someone please remind Scott that activities like this (at age 40 and over) are cause for SERIOUS back pain, the day after"!!  lol  

I guess you could say, both the young & young at heart, had an equally FUN time!!  

"8"

.......I still can't believe it!!  Mason (my oldest) turned 8 today.  Where is the time going?  Someone, please stop that clock.  I can't seem to keep up!!

*sigh*  Where do I begin?!  After all, Mason, you are mommy & daddy's beginning!!  September 24, 2002 @ 2:12pm weighing 7lbs. 6 oz and 20" long, you entered this world (our world).  Our journey into parenthood had officially begun!  Love, hope, dreams (and fears too), the three of us were in this thing together!!  Every "first" we would share, together too.

CHANGE.  The past few weeks  I've been noticing changes.......BIG changes.......YOU are growing so fast.

You are now in the 3rd grade!  And so far, you are off to a very good start.  Every year your growth shows.  You tackle each project with such will and determination.  Frustration, on occasion, accompanies that will & determination but you work through it well.  And you are a great problem solver. You have a love for crossword puzzles, word searches and brain teasers. The tougher the problem, the more determined you are to solve it.   Hang on to these tools tight, they will get you far in life.

You LOVE to read!!  Not surprising from a boy who was reading fluently at age 4.  It must have been all the reading mommy & daddy did to you while you were in my belly.  As a toddler, you loved books.  Flipping through the pages, pointing to pictures and mostly being read to.  That love for reading continues to this day.  At any given time you can be found lying down on your bed with a good book.  Chapter books........already..........you finished the whole Diary of a Wimpy Kid collection last year in the second grade.  Now that's a lot of reading!!

You are quiet & shy.  You like to warm up to things and people before you jump in.  That's OK.  It's good to be cautious.  Sometimes you struggle with your confidence.  You are capable of so many wonderful things!  Believe in yourself.  You do not have to be the best (at everything), just give your best, to all that you do!

You are very compassionate and sensitive.  Two things that are so important in life.  As you are getting older, you are starting to realize how fortunate you are.  (a truly important life lesson)  You are becoming more aware of the world around you.  "Giving" is becoming a big part of who you are.  At 8 years old, you are realizing how important it is for us to give back to our community and to those who are less fortunate.  You have a desire to help those in need.  For example, you no longer find it necessary to hang on to all your toys (including the ones you haven't played with for some time).  Instead, you rather pack a bag and donate it to children who have never had toys.  You now see the greater good!!  It fills my heart with so much joy to see the young "boy" you are becoming!!  And such great qualities needed to be a true friend.  You clearly have no problems there.........you have friends in abundance!!  Some that you have had since preschool.  Finding your way and place in this world will not always be easy.  Surround yourself with family & good friends.  And always stay true to YOU!!

You are an AMAZING big brother.  Don't get me wrong, you & Elijah definitely have your moments.  But hey, that's life.  You also share some common grounds.  Like wrestling, sports, music and video games.  You are a great protector.  Always watching out for your little brothers.  A job you take seriously now that Elijah goes to the same school as you.   And especially with Landon.  I pity the fool who even dares to step near that fine line.  You are so attentive.  It doesn't matter what you are doing, you always have time for your bothers (well, maybe not immediately, but at least within a few seconds. lol).  Whether helping Elijah with his homework or playing catch with Landon. You always make it a point to include Landon in everything.  Even if it's telling him about something you & Elijah did.  It's always followed by, "and some day when you are older, WE are going to......"!!  Yes, some day you 3 boys.......*sigh*!!  Just makes my heart smile=)

You are such a CLOWN!!  You love to make people laugh!!  Whether it be magic tricks, jokes or imitation (Urkel, one of your favorites)........you definitely have a sense of humor!

You love sports!  Right now you play baseball, soccer & flag football.  You have shown such growth in all 3!!  I loved watching you play  between 4-6 years old, making friends and having so much fun.  But I love watching you play even more, now, and how you have learned to become a team player while continuing to have so much fun!!   You take constructive criticism well, and put it to good use!  This is the key to great success!!  A big part of LEARNING!!

Basketball is next on your list!!  I guess mommy & daddy shouldn't plan on having a "free" weekend any time soon, huh??!!  lol


You love to play video games!  Wrestling and basketball are 2 of your favorites right now!  At times they seem to abduct you from your family.  But we are learning how to fit  them in to your busy schedule!  Too much of anything is never a "good" thing!  Other things you like to do are: baking (but there is far more joy in eating what you bake), playing basketball and riding your bike.  You just learned how to "officially" ride your bike (and stop without falling) this past summer.  (we will blame that on modern technology and motorized quads).  There's no stopping you now=)

lol  And, you love to dance!!  Maybe some hip hop classes will be added to that list soon!!  (FYI:  girls love a guy who can dance)!!

Oh Mason, my heart is filled with so much love for you!  You see, my journey into parenthood began with you.  We share a bond that is indescribable.  It's a feeling.  Through you, I have experienced many firsts.  My first pregnancy.  The overwhelming emotions I felt the first time I was called, mama.  The pure joy of seeing you take your first steps. And how proud I was of you when you started kindergarten.

For 3 years we enjoyed uninterrupted cuddle time.  Countless hugs & kisses.  And many "date nights".  The list goes on.  As our family has grown, our one on one time may not be as often as we would like.  But we always manage to share a quiet conversation any "free" chance we get.  Those moments may be few but they sure are priceless.  Moments when we share our thoughts and our concerns on anything & everything.  I just LOVE how free & comfortable our conversations are.  May our line of communication always be open.  I cherish the bond you & I share.  It is my hope, that we always find time to talk and to squeeze a "date night" in to our busy schedules.  No matter how old we get.

Happy 8th Birthday my sweet, sweet Mason!!  Today is your day.  Today we celebrate you and all the joy you bring to our lives.  We love you to the moon & back!!

First Day of Kindergarten

Yay!  It's official, the school year has truly begun, all 3 boys are back in school.  Today was Elijah's 1st day of Kindergarten, and boy was he SUPER excited!  Last night before he went to bed, we read 3 books about Kindergarten, and Mason & I answered lots of questions.  We went over all the ways that kindergarten and preschool are the same and all the ways that they are different.  I actually had butterflies in  my stomach.  Not the "I'm so nervous, I think I'm gonna cry" kind, but the "OMG, watch out Mrs. Sylvia, you're in for one heck of a ride" kind!!!  lol

So, we woke up this morning to our good 'ole "SCHEDULE" (I really LOVE that thing)!!!  And finally, out the door we went, right around the corner & up the street from our house (a whole minute & a half), to the place that gives me peace of mind while I'm at work all day.........SCHOOL=)  Elijah couldn't get out of his car seat fast enough.  I of course had to take a few pictures of this BIG DAY!!  We then proceeded to the side entrance (where the NEW BIG BOYS & GIRLS will enter their new classroom).  We were greeted by lots of excited children and some very sad faces.....parents of course!!  Not this mommy, I was just as excited for Elijah as he was for himself!  We waited for his teacher to give him his name tag, had a kiss goodbye, and in nothing other than Elijah style, "I" got a hi-five!!  Short & sweet, and off my little  BIG boy went, through the doors of KNOWLEDGE!!  *SIGH*

Looking back I can remember all the anxiety I felt having to go back to work after each of my 3 pregnancies.  I always yearned to be a "stay-at-home-mom", unfortunately, that was never in the cards for me.  I was however very blessed to have such a GREAT support system and parents/grandparents who were available to babysit.  With the exception of Mason, my 1st born (who didn't go to daycare/preschool until he was 3 years old), both Elijah & Landon shared their time (from 3 months of age) between the two.  Elijah went 2 days/wk and increased to 4 days/wk (8am - 4pm) when he turned 3.  Landon went 2 days/wk and has increased to 4 days/wk (8am - 4pm) this past Tuesday.  His therapists now see him @ school.  It seems my boys have ALWAYS been in school.  At some point the school may change, (some)friends may change and teachers will change.  It's exciting for them.......just like replacing an old toy with a new one!  Lucky for me, TEARS & SEPARATION, have never been an issue (the boys have always known school to be part of their life).  Well, I did cry all the way to work the day Mason started preschool, I was so upset that he waved goodbye to me from across the room as he began playing blocks with a fellow classmate.  How DARE he not cry and tell me how much he would miss me!!  lol  SO, I guess the trade off worked for "me".  Well, I can say that now=)

Have a wonderful school year boys!!  LIVE! LEARN! LOVE!

(and have lots of FUN too=)

(Elijah's 1st day of Kindergarten)

(2 boys, same school, one stop for mommy=)

(My BOYS!!!)

1st Day of School

HOORAY!  HOORAY!!  THE KIDS WENT BACK TO SCHOOL TODAY!! 

(Oops, sorry, please excuse me while I try to contain my excitement! Yay!   NOPE.  It didn't work!!)

Although there is close to 2 weeks left of the summer season, TODAY, my yearning for the fall season assured me that it is right around the corner.  Yes, the day the kids go back to school.  Summer has never really been, well summer, since 1997 when I started my full time "DAY" job that requires me to work 52 weeks a year.  UGH!!  It never really bothered me as I was not much of a "beach" kinda gal.  But I must confess that it bothers me more now that I am a "MOM", and my kids are in school.  You see, during the school year we have a very hectic schedule, but it works for us.  There is consistency & predictability!!  Then the summer rolls around, and we find ourselves looking into all kinds of activities (which require money), to keep the kids....BUSY!!  Let's face it, there is no adult (in their right mind) that actually has the energy to keep up with these kids.....all.day.long.  Kids need kids!!  It's complete chaos juggling 3 different schedules & shuffling babysitters around so that all the grandparents have the opportunity to spend some time with the kids.  For the record, we are very blessed that there is very rarely a time when "a" grandparent is unavailable to babysit and even more blessed that those grandparents are still around to make everlasting memories for us & the boys.  That which includes my 92 year old grandmother (who to this day vacations once a year, sometimes twice....... Vegas & Disney, 2 of her favorites and who actually still drives).  BLESSED!!!

But today, the day I like to think was dedicated to giving me my sanity back, is here in full force.  Hail the SCHEDULE=)  We woke up this morning and started this day, which will be referred to as groundhog day, starting tomorrow.  It went something like this:

- wake up
- eat breakfast
- get #1 washed while #2 gets dressed
- get #2 washed while #1 gets dressed
- make lunches
- get #3 washed & dressed up
- double check backpacks & lunch boxes
- pack up the car (including 3 kids who are all in car seats.......oldest is in booster, does not meet age, weight or height requirement)

**I'm starting to think we have an "underweight" issue in this house.  Clearly not my issue!!**

- drop off #2 & #3 at school first
- drop off #1 at school
- drive myself to work.......definitely, NOT.ON.TIME=/
- work, work, work, work, work
- pick up #1 from school (meet mother-in-law for drop off of #1)
- work, work, work, work, work
- pick up #2 & #3 from school
- homework for #1 (yes, on the first day of school)
- prepare & eat dinner
- bathe #3
- assist in bathing #2
- time #1 in the shower (way too long)
- bedtime #3
- ice cream snack (husband's idea)
- bedtime #1 & #2
- clean up dinner mess
- get backpacks & clothes ready for tomorrow
- BLOG about my day=)

In case you were wondering who was assigned which number:

#1 = Mason (3rd grade) - 1st day of school

#2 Elijah - (kindergarten) 

(Elijah has 3 more days at his preschool, and he will start his 1st day of kindergarten, Monday the 13th)

#3 Landon - 1st day of school (Full time in the toddler room)

(this little man will be going to school 4 days/week from 8am-4pm)

The boys all had a wonderful day.  Mason was excited to see who was in his class this year (and he was very happy).  Elijah is happy that he gets to spend a few more days with his preschool friends (but this boy is bursting at the seams with excitement to start "Big Boy School").  And Landon had a GREAT day.  He fully participated in all the toddler activities today.  He played with his friends, he ate snack & lunch with his friends, he napped on his big boy mat, like his friends AND he made artwork with his friends.  Be still my heart!  My little peanut IS growing up!!  

All in all it was a HAPPY day!  The kids were happy and so was this mama,  HAPPY to have her schedule back=)

  

A Great Way to End the Summer

**WARNING: picture overload per Mason & Elijah**

Hey there!  Sorry I haven't been around lately.  No excuses!  Just simply doing summer things with the boys.......and trying to enjoy as much as possible, considering I work full time.....ALL.YEAR.LONG=(  I've been peeking at your blogs, occasionally commenting (when time permits), and it's nice to see that everyone has been enjoying the summer.  I know there have been things that have not been enjoyable as well, and believe me, I have had those days too.  I have lots to talk about, and I have some drafts that I am currently working on, but I wanted to share our last "hurrah" of the summer.

(I promise that I will be back with an update on Landon and other stuff too=)

Last night, Scott & I, gave Mason & Elijah their joint birthday gift.  It was very fitting seeing this event fell smack dab in the middle of BOTH their birthdays.  Elijah turned 5 on August 5th and Mason will be turning 8 on September 24th.  Our evening began around 5ish last night.  Scott & I, and Mason & Elijah took a drive out to Hyannis (which is about 45 minutes away from where we live) to enjoy a nice outdoor dinner, "pier" side @ Spanky's Clam Shack!  Dinner was delicious and time with our 2 older boys was once again....way overdue.  Last time we had a night out just the "4" of us was back in June (when Mason got out of school), we went to see Walking with Dinosaurs!!!  Very fitting that we end the summer off with another "date night"!!

OK, back to our evening!!  After dinner, we drove about 4 minutes away to the Cape Cod Melody Tent.  At this point we managed to distract the boys from the sign in front that said this:

 and told them that we were going to the circus!!  I know, how clever of us...........well the tent helped.....geesh!!!  When we parked the car, we gave both boys an envelope with their ticket in it!  I think these expressions say it all!!

Yes, those expressions were worth it......Mommy took one for the team!!!  Confession, I cannot stand wrestling.  (Not that I don't have a GREAT appreciation for those who take care of their bodies, lol).  BUT, I just can't seem to get past the SWEATINESS!!!  Completely grosses me out.  Especially when you are sitting close enough to see it land on those a few rows in front of you......NASTY!!  Any who, the boys are HUGE fans.  I can't tell you how many times I am forced to watch entrances of all their favorite  wrestlers.  I guess I have to do this repeatedly because I never seem to remember what song goes to what wrestler.  NOTE to self, get a notebook and right it down.  They enjoy it so much, that they practice their own entrances and come up with very UNIQUE names for themselves.  HA!!

Match after match, about 16 professional wrestlers from the WWE had managed to bring such pure joy out of my boys, which in turn, brought pure joy out of this mom & dad!!  Mason filled us in on who was who and when we should cheer vs. when we should BOO!!  And Elijah was more than happy that Scott & I paid lots of money for him to be able to say the BAD "S" WORD.  I guess we should have done our research because we had no idea that the big chant during a wrestling match is "YOU SUCK"!!  Yikes!!!

(Goldust & Luke Gallows)

(Hornswoggle)

(Kaval & ??)

(JTG)

(JTG vs. Primo)

(Jack Swagger)

(Jack Swagger vs. Chris Masters)

(Intermission)

(Cody Rhodes)

(R-Truth)

(Dolph Ziggler)

(Drew McIntyre)

(Matt Hardy)

(Kofi Kingston)

(Fatal 4 way match)

Whew!!  Sorry for the picture overload, but the boys insisted that I let you all know, who they got to see.    You see, Mason has  been bugging us to have a wrestling birthday party.....with an actual wrestler there for entertainment.  He really does think BIG!!  I guess he will have to settle for seeing a bunch of professional wrestlers at a WWE event sitting 13 rows away!  I think he was OK with that.  There were 4 more, uh, wrestlers (if that's what you call them), that DID NOT make this post.  Mommy just couldn't get the camera to work when the "Ladies" came out.  LOL  Sorry Daddy, just like we tell the boys, "at least you got to see them in person"!! 

It was a wonderful & very late evening for Mason & Elijah.  The show didn't end until 10:30pm and we still had to drive 45 minutes home!  

Yes friends, we splurged & let the "boys be boys"!!  An outrageous amount of money later, the boys were representing their favorite wrestler, John Cena, who just happened to NOT be there!!  Oops, him and a bunch of other BIG name wrestlers will be in Boston tonight!!  Another 45 minute drive in the other direction.  Maybe next year!!!

Side note:  While at the event, my very observant (almost 8 year old) had his Down syndrome radar on.  He was sure to point out at least 2 of the 5 young adults that were there enjoying the event too.  Just another thing to add to the list of "fun & normal" things that these 3 brothers will enjoy doing together.  Mason & Elijah are very excited for Landon to accompany us when he is older.   Landon may not have attended this event with us, but the boys could not wait until this morning to tell Landon all about it.  Looks like Landon jumped on the John Cena band wagon too!!  Silly boys......gotta LOVE them=)

Last Day of School & Dinosaurs????

Yesterday, found me another memory to add to my "memory box".  I am officially the mom of a 3rd grader!!  Wow, another bittersweet moment, involving my first born, you know, the one that you will experience MOST firsts with.  I worked 1/2 a day so that I could pick him up from school and spend some time, with JUST him!!  That does not happen quite as often as it probably should.

Pulling in to his schools parking lot, walking towards me from the building, he was waving his report card with the biggest smile on his face saying that he was officially a 3rd grader......and that meant that "I" am officially old!  Ha!.....gotta love that sense of humor.  I of course had to go back a chapter in the book of "How to Raise Boys", to remind him of the lesson that you never say the word old when having a conversation with a woman.......especially, your mother!  After all, she will be one of the "first" women to tell his future girlfriend/wife all the silly and embarrassing things about his childhood.

I'll add that point to my scoreboard...thank.you.very.much!!!

So our day went something like this............

This boy......

is officially a 3rd grader.........

So we celebrated with lunch, outside, at a local restaurant......

To celebrate the end of another school year, and the fact that our children find us to be sooooo old, we thought we would teach them one more lesson regarding the definition of old and extinct.  So we went....."Walking With Dinosaurs"!!!!

If you are not familiar with this show, click the link above and take a peek, AMAZING!  You can always check, Ticketmaster.com, to see if and when they will be in your area.  A must see for those of you with young children.  Here's just a small peek at what we saw!!

The boys (as well as parents) enjoyed this SPECTACULAR show!!

BTW, today, is Scott's 40th Birthday!  I am taking Scott to Foxwoods Casino for dinner, a show and some gambling.  AND, we will be staying overnight!!  Yikes!  This will be our first night away from the 3 boys since Landon was born.  I must confess, I.AM.A.WRECK.!!  But, I know that this is good for both Scott and I and the kids!!  Hmmm, the fact that a surprise "couples massage" is what we have in store for us tomorrow morning, isn't such a bad thing either!  We will return home tomorrow afternoon to celebrate with a small family cookout (along with some Poker)!!  Ya think there's a theme here or what??!!

I will post some pictures within the next couple of days regarding Scott's Birthday, to see if "MY WISH" has come true!!  As of this morning, THEY were still here!!

Keep your fingers crossed!!!  Until then...............I will leave you with a cute picture of Landon and a "NEW" favorite thing he likes to do!!