Wiley Turns Six!

Wiley's 6th birthday was yesterday. He selected the menu which consisted of ham, mashed potatoes and gravy and macaroni and cheese. Can you believe he didn't pick any vegetables??

He really got a big breath ready to blow out all those candles!



Ryan gave him an I SPY computer game.



Finally... the Playmobil Airplane - he's only been asking for it for 3 (THREE!) years.




Lots of books from Kellen.



Operation from Robbie.



Playing Operation - Braeden thinks the objective is to make the sound - - not to try and avoid it. (That's not good news for me...)

Ryan's New Home

My 2nd son is officially a ski bum now.

Wiley's Tooth...

We knew this day would have to come - but I have to admit, we're all a little sad to see Wiley turn this page in his life.

He was quite a trooper and let me reach in his mouth and give a little yank. His eyes got big and he thought about crying for a second until he realized it was already out and it really didn't hurt. Then all he could do was smile and look at himself in the mirror.

Cutting down the Christmas Tree

On Saturday, we went to Hill Street to cut down our Christmas tree. I really appreciated being able to go this year. Last year - as all of you know, I was on my "death-bed" and couldn't enjoy the adventure.


Bekah, holding Wiley and Braeden's hands.



We found our tree!



"Tim---ber---"

Thanksgiving - Kindergarten Style

Wiley celebrated Thanksgiving at school today and I was a "mother-helper." Each time I visit the classroom, I am reminded that teachers earn every penny they make!

They started with a "feast" in the hallway. Some were "Native Americans" and some were pilgrims. Then it was on to the "Turkey Parade." They marched through the hallways, office (where Mrs. Moriarty quickly snatched Wiley out of line for a photo op), 2nd grade lunchrooms and then finally through the teacher's lounge.

Picture Shortage...

so.. I haven't taken very many pictures lately - I guess it's been a little boring around here. I decided to post Braeden's art work since I couldn't think of anything else and I was getting tired of looking at the last post.

An interpretation of the picture... That's mom and dad in a car - driving to get Braeden some presents.

Election Day Picnic

The boys (3 out of 4) and I enjoyed a November picnic on Tuesday. We've had unseasonably warm weather so far this month and we wanted to take advantage of it.


Wiley, before flinging the stick into the lake.



Proof that Braeden was with us - he wouldn't stand still for any pictures! He was interested in watching the fisherman put his boat in the water.



Rob explaining to Wiley what would happen if he fell into the water. Rob asked me which one of us would have to go in to save him? DUH...



Rob and Wiley - with Rob trying HARD not to squint!

Trick or Treat

This year, my arm twisting tactics failed and I was unable to convince the boys to be what I wanted them to be... so Kellen was recruited to make the costumes. Since I can only copy things I see, I needed Kellen's ability to create a couple of common costumes... Batman and a Ninja. (It didn't help that Braeden refused to try on the hood for fittings! - Thankfully, Luke didn't mind standing in his place and even went so far as to let Kellen SEW with the hood on!! THANKS, LUKE!!)



Here they are at Joanne and Charlie's house (our neighbors across the street.)



Poor Braeden - 2 days of fun with cousins caught up to him and he crashed in the car between stops. We managed to wake him to go to Ute's house in Windsor Locks, but then he fell asleep again before we arrived at the Moriarty's. He was a tuckered out little Ninja!

Carving the Pumpkin...

It's been a tradition in our family that Robb carves a pumpkin the night before Halloween. As you can imagine, with the age span of our kids, he's been doing this for a very long time.

I love the look on Wiley's face - he's feeling the pumpkin's pain.



Braeden enthusiastically helped clean it out.



Checking out the inside...



The finished product

He Hardly Ever Slows Down...

Although Braeden doesn't "officially" take naps anymore, every now and then he collapses. This was one of those rare moments when he actually sat down long enough to fall asleep.

Leaf Peeping

Granny, Lee and I set out Wednesday morning for a drive and lunch at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, MA.

Our first stop, Barkhamsted Reservoir


This is outside the Inn - after lunch. There was quite an array of gourds and pumpkins throughout the town.


We gathered for supper Wed. evening. We were missing Robb (in NJ) and Kellen (working at Barnes and Noble.)



We were going to go for a hike in the woods until we were attacked by mosquitoes. So, we paused for a picture at the barn, then came back to the house and watched the boys play.


Granny played a game with Braeden while Wiley was at school.

When there's a fire, they come out of their rooms...

Just thought this was a funny scene - when we built a fire in the fireplace, everyone came to the living room. Of course, they arrived with their computers and other gadgets. Between 3 TVs, 5 computers, 2 refrigerators, 2 washers and dryers, 5 cell phone chargers and IPODS... Is it any wonder my electric bill hovers around $400 a month?

The Birthday Boy...

Robbie celebrated his 25th birthday on Saturday. It started with a random call to Aaron (his phone dialed Aaron's # inadvertently) while he was in the middle of singing some song (quite loudly, I might add.)

He requested french toast and bacon (cooked the "right" way) for breakfast. Of course, he asked for his typical chocolate cake with double the frosting.

We told him we were going to camp out for his birthday. Here he is... waiting for the party to get started! I think he's wondering if anyone's going to show up.



I cheated and only put 1 box of candles on the cake.



This was during Sunday afternoon football!

Wiley, the Destroyer...

Robbie has been working with Wiley on his soccer skills. Now... the only problem with this is that Robbie forgets what "kindergarten" soccer is supposed to be like and only remembers the collegiate level. Wiley obviously listened to Robbie when he said "be aggressive and move the other kid off the ball." Unfortunately, this is only 1 of many "checks" that Wiley administered yesterday morning.

Yes... we have talked to Wiley and have corrected Robbie's instruction.

Wiley's cousin Aaron was at the game and loved Wiley's style of playing. (No surprise, there? Right??)

Kindergarten Get-Together

The PTO sponsored a "Kindergarten Get-Together" yesterday afternoon and basically, that meant free play on the playscape with some fruit snacks and granola (or as Wiley calls them, "granilla") bars.

Here they are getting the instructions for "Red Rover." All I can say is that it didn't resemble the game that I played on West Hudson at all! This was definitely the kinder-gentler version.



The little girl that Wiley is pushing is Haley - his friend from down the street. They've even had a couple of play-dates.



The boys spent most of their time following Haley around the park.



A little game of "Duck, Duck, Goose." Naturally, Haley picked Wiley and then he picked Braeden!

Inaugural Campout

After talking about camping for a very long time, we finally took the plunge. We decided to take "baby steps" in our new adventure and set up camp in our backyard... Ok... you can stop chuckling now. You need to remember all the "wildlife" posts I've put up the past several months. Our backyard could be adventurous.

Ryan (the experienced camper) and Robbie set up our newly purchased tent. Then I proceeded to gather all the things I thought we would need and loaded the truck, drove to the campsite and "set up camp."

Only Robb, the little guys and I sat around the fire, roasting hotdogs and making S'mores. We realized that our backyard was perfect for camping. It was a little cold overnight -in the upper 30's - but we were prepared with LLBean sleeping bags rated for 20 degrees and a down blanket as insurance.

Our night was perfect and on Saturday morning - we persuaded Bryan and Kate to join us on Saturday night. Robbie, Ryan and Kellen also made it down the hill and we all enjoyed our fun. The little boys loved running around the woods by themselves and then playing in the yard with flashlights.

Needless to say, we are now wondering why it took us so long to become campers. I didn't take too many pictures - I was busy constructing S'mores, but here are a few.







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Braeden's 4th Birthday!

Because Ryan and Kellen get home so late on Tuesday evenings, we decided to have Braeden's birthday dinner on Monday night. Of course, he was thrilled to open his presents. He kept asking me if he was "really 4 yet?"

Nothin's better than a pile of presents...



A Playmobile shipwreck...



Opening Aunt Lee's card...



Time for a sword fight... (Robb's instructions were for them to fight the "bad guys" not each other! - yeah, right!!)



What a great "wish."