MIKEY'S FISH

Here is one of Mikey's 4 fish that he caught in Allegany!

VALIUM, PLEASE!

As you are probably already aware, we (extended family included) are going away for 2 weeks in approximately 27 hours. Right now , the computer clock says it's 1:13 a.m. Why in the world would I be sitting at the computer at this ridiculous hour? Because I have a million and one things going on in my head....AND I'M HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING! I had to start a list, and I must admit, I'm further ahead this year than I was last year. I already have the boys packed and all of the laundry done. DONE. ALL OF IT. I know, it's hard to believe - I can hardly believe it myself. But I feel like I'm just running in place and getting nowhere fast. I laid down in bed and within 5 minutes I was back up again...I am literally WIDE AWAKE. Each time I finish something on the TO DO list, I cross it off and add one (or 2) more things. They may never get done. That's okay. I am looking forward to just getting in the car and going. Actually, I'm looking more forward to getting where we're going safely. I think I worry too much...about everything. In just a few short days, I'll be lounging (yeah right) on the beach watching the kids have fun:

I know these picture are from 2 summers ago...but aren't they cute? matt hasn't changed much but Mikey sure has. Matt can't wait to get buried in the sand again and Mikey says he's not afraid of the big waves anymore. Last year he got knocked on his butt quite a few times, but says he's not scared now. Imagine that. Fearless. Great. Just one more thing to worry about.

Honestly, I am so looking forward to spending time with my family. We are always in such a rush to get here and there all time. Even my cousins are coming from North Carolina. I get to see "little Eric" who is not so little anymore, but is a big boy now. He is getting married in May. UGH...I am getting old. I used to change that boy's diapers, but he's 25, and all grown up now. We haven't had a vacation like this since we went to Florida 16 years ago when Megan stunk us out of the van (Sorry, Meg) and then off to Cape Cod, where we will be spending a week with Gramma Kissy,Papu, aunts, uncles and cousins. Hopefully, we will not see any raccoons on this trip. We are so lucky to be loved!!! maybe I don't need that valium after all!

I'm sure I'll have lots of pics to post and stories to tell when we return. Stay tuned!

SUPERNANNY

As most of you know, Mikey certainly does give me a run for my money. Last week I was watching Supernanny and Matt had walked into the room right about the time the little girl on TV was....flipping out. Yes, kicking, punching, hitting and screaming at her mother. So sweet. Matt's eyes went from the TV to me and back to the TV again. He asked what I was watching. I told him it was Supernanny..and we could use a visit from her over this way. He laughed and so did I. Mikey also saw what was on TV and I told him that lady comes to little childrens houses when they don't behave He just looked at me with those big brown eyes as if to say, "yeah right." But I have been threatening him with a visit from her and he must be a little nervous because he keeps telling me, "don't let Supernanny at our house cause she will wreck my toys." Oh the joy I get in thinking that he might actually be scared of someone!!

HAPPY CAMPERS

Day one: unloading all the wood for the many campfires. My poor kids are always working hard!

I must admit....I was not looking forward to our yearly camping trip. It is so stressful trying to get ready and packing up just about everything that isn't nailed down! But, it was so worth it...everyone had so much fun ( the boys especially!). It was great once we were there because there was no cooking or cleaning up for me...I pretended I didn't know how to use the new grill. That was ok anyways because Brandon is in love with his new grill, so he didn't mind!!!

My biggest fear about going were all the creepy animals. I'm not what you might call an outdoorswoman. I wasn't looking forward to a friendly bear knocking at my door looking for food (or children). Thankfully, I, didn't see a bear (but the boys did...and I thought they were just yankin' my chain...but it was the first animal they saw in the park...they weren't kidding with me!). They all thought it was very cool, but me, I was on the verge of an anxiety attack. I took a couple of deep breaths and told myself everything would be fine (and it was!).

But speaking of creepy animals...the moths were terrifying. Big, small, fast, slow, ugly, ugly...you name it, they were here, there, and everywhere. Even in my pants one night. IN. MY. PANTS. Talk about the heebie-jeebies...I invented a new dance that would have won me a spot on Dancing With The Stars! That was one of the last times I used the lovely smelling outhouse. I actually had the dry heaves walking out of there one day.

Here are some pictures from the trip...

Never fear..."Superman" would save us from anything (especially with that special headlamp and those boots)

I kept the boys busy one morning...they made their own t-shirts:

And look what Michael* wrote on the back of his: (* = Brandon)

We hiked up the BEAR CAVES and the boys were brave enough to go inside:

Here is the family (almost) at the top of the BEAR CAVES:

And the boys with their most favorite cousin Kyleigh:
Notice that Mikey isn't too close to her!

We spent most of our days at the beach (hangin'out and eating snacks!)

And sometimes the boys acted just plain silly...with the help of others (we won't mention any names!) - they thought this was hilarious:

Fishing Day: Mikey = 4, Matt = 1. We have a video of Mikey catching the fish...it is so funny. If I can ever figure out how to get it on to here, I will. But until then...

Yes, this is really what Matt's feet looked like everyday....and yes, I did keep cleaning them. It was pretty useless...GROSS!!!! Mikey decided that he "hated" the mud...had to keep cleaning him each time he got a little dirt on him.

And here...is our good friend Ricky...he visited us a couple of times during our stay...almost leading me (and Rachel and Aunt Dianne into a near heart attack. He even scared a FART right out of Aunt Dianne. I'm serious.) Aunt Dianne, if your reading this, I hope I didn't embarrass you!It was just too funny.

we really had a good time despite...animals, dirty feet, dirty cabins, uncomfortable beds, dead mouse under my fridge, etc. It was definitely worth all the memories made!!!

"I Hate That Stupid Bike"

Since you all know what a green thumb I (don't) have, the hubby thought some mulch in the front would spruce things up (and it did). So off he goes to the nursery and comes back with a load of mulch for the yard. Matt was more than willing to help...Mikey was busy learning to ride his bike (thank god for helmets!!). The first thing he did was get on and glide down the driveway...right into the side of my car. All I could think was, "oh no, I'm afraid to look at the size of the dent." Surprisingly, no dent. Now Mikey is starting to get the hang of this pedaling thing...and pedals right into the side of Brandon's truck (each time, Mikey announces, "I am ok"). The last straw was when the little darling totally wipes out on the sidewalk (thank god for helmets!), gets up, throws his hands in the air and shouts, "I hate that stupid bike." I must admit that it was rather comical...and yes, I did laugh when he fell (even when he hit the cars), but so did his father! He is persistant though... five minutes later he was ready to ride again. And this time, it was rather boring...not even a tumble to grin at!!! (Go ahead...tell me how terrible I am....)

BOYS, BOYS, BOYS, and MORE BOYS (and 2 girls)...

Now that school is out and I am off for the summer, we had a play date at our house yesterday. There were 12 (13 if you count baby Mary) little rugrats running wild in our backyard! Their was lots of boy talk (because they were all, what else...BOYS!! - except Maddie and Mary) about farts, peeing, pooping, gas, hysterical laughter...you get the idea. Getting a picture of them all together was...impossible, so, I did the best with what I had. If you can believe it, not a tear was shed (except from Mikey because I threw away his hot dog and he wanted to take a shower because he had some dirt on his feet - weird, I know) and nobody got hurt. It was amazing! check out all these handsome (and beautiful) little cherubs:

Yes, we had to drain the pool only once...(it was really pretty disgusting)...and then we refilled it. This created a GINORMOUS mud puddle! I didn't know that boys could get so excited over mud puddles...simple, I guess! Only today did I get the dirt out of my childrens toenails...a scrub brush hardly did the trick. I actually had to cut their nails...very gross! Catie and I were laughing because the boys (maddie was so sweet and quiet in comparison!) sound just like their mothers...very loud and plenty of conversation to go around! It looked like the play date was a huge success, but I'm sure all of us mothers would agree that a happy hour or two would be well deserved!