Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

On Saturday, we began our trip to the Midwest.... In theory, flying into Indianapolis, driving to Chicago, staying the night, and then continuing the trip to Wisconsin Sunday morning sounded like a good idea. Needless to say, it went okay, but it was not a short trip.

We had a 2 hour layover on Saturday in Detroit. Knowing that the Detroit Red Wings were the Stanley Cup Champions from the previous season, we just knew there had to be something hockey related at the airport. Within 10 minutes of leaving the airplane we found a restaurant, Slapshotz, and outside there was a huge stick and puck sculpture. Thanks to the fine people of Detroit for knowing just what it takes to entertain our 3 year old!

After lunch, we were able to catch the train inside the airport for a quick ride between gates. Judging by the number of kids on the train, we were not the only parents with the same idea! We eventually made it to Indianapolis and with a quick load up there, we were in Chicago by dinner time!

Fins to the left, fins to the right!

Tonight was the Jimmy Buffett cover band, Changes in Lattitude at Fountain Park in Wilbraham. We stopped at the local deli/country store, ordered sandwiches, bought some chips, and headed over to the park. We got there early enough to enjoy the scenerey and the park and realize how warm it was outside still! Once the band started, it was all over with! We all had a great time singing along, relaxing, and enjoying the outdoors. Tyler enjoyed his free lollipop and new soccer ball and anxoiusly awaited his favorite Buffett tune! Can you guess what it is?

Shhhhhh, Do you hear that?

It's silence.

This past weekend we were in New York again and on Sunday night, we left Tyler there with Aunt Laurette and Uncle Jim, and OF COURSE, Conor and Skylar. Frank was already planning to return to Long Island this week to watch the Islanders Training Camp for a few days. So on Sunday, we pulled away from 374 Holmes Street with no one in the back seat.

Strange.

When we got home, we unpacked, changed our clothes and planned on hanging out for the night. Then we thought, "what are we doing!" We got dressed again and headed down the road to Sophia's, a bar/restaurant that we frequented a lot, pre-marriage, pre-Ty, pre-Master's degrees! We played games, had a drink, and hung out together. We were a bit relieved that our time out did not include the usual $10 an hour babysitter fee we usually pay! As tired as we were, there was no way that we could have stayed inside for the night knowing that we could do whatever we wanted (within reason!).

On Monday, Frank made the trek back to Long Island. All I have to say it that I am VERY jealous! Not only is Frank off for the next few weeks, but he is with my Little Man! I miss them both very much and I am not sure what to do with myself in the evenings now! They will both be back tomorrow night. Hopefully I will find something to do with myself for the next 24 hours so I don't regret wasting this time!

To Aunt Laurette and Uncle Jim-- THANKS!

A day with the Isles!

This past weekend, we were in New York again. While Laurette and I attended a bridal shower, Frank took Tyler to the Islanders Fan Day at the Nassau Coliseum. At first, we were not sure that Tyler would want to leave his cousins. but when Frank told him he would be able to go into the Islanders locker room, his cousins were left in the dust! Both Frank and Tyler had a blast with all the activities-- Tyler visited the locker room numerous times, shot pucks, jumped in the bounce house, and even got autographs from some of the players. My only regret is that I was not able to be there!









Here is Tyler sitting in the Islanders locker room in one of the dressing stalls. When they walked into the rink, everyone was given a free stick. Tyler, of course, made sure it never left his side. When it was given to him, he reminded Frank that he "will have to cut it down, it's a little big".
Pumping iron in the weight room. He is one determined little guy. I guess you have to be in order to make it to the NHL like...
Kyle Okposo and...
Blake Comeau! Blake asked him "What position do you play?" and Tyler told him "Player." (The puck that Tyler is holding in the previous picture came directly from the freezer and an equipment manager! He was so excited to have his own puck-- as if we don't have ANY at home!)
Here are my two favorite hockey players posing on the Islanders bench. Maybe someday, Ty!


Frank took a lot of video, but none of them would post. I will keep trying! The good news is that Tyler even made it back in time to Conor and Skylar's to swim, play, and pass out in pure exhaustion!

Party at the park!

Every Thursday during the summer at Fountain Park in Wilbraham there is a free outdoor concert. Last summer we tried a few of them out and I was so excited to get this years schedule. Tonight was our first show, "The Musical Mystery Tour," a.k.a. the Beatles tribute band. The weather was absolutely beautiful, so we picked up some dinner at Applebees, packed our chairs, and headed on over. We all had a great time. Tyler can run around and be as loud as he wants, we can sit and relax, and we can all be together. I can't wait for next week when "Changes in Latitudes" is the featured band! Tyler has been practicing his "fins" and I am dreaming about a Cheeseburger in Paradise!


Just chillin', listening to some tunes!
My rock star wanna-be! Just call him John Lennon!
"I want to be just like daddy when I grow up. Can I wear my sunglasses like that, too?"

A great holiday weekend!

Years ago (yes, really!), Jim and Laurette used to have a huge 4th of July party. It would start in the afternoon and go on until the wee hours of the night. Frank and I would look forward to it every summer. We knew we would have a lot of fun, eat good food, and spend time with old friends. As many things do, the Annual Fagan Fourth Party disappeared. Why you ask? One very good reason-- kids! A few months ago, we all talked about them hosting a party this past weekend and barring any difficulties (such as un-foreseen trips to the E.R.!) it would be a go! The only difference in the party this year were all the kids running around!

They went swimming....
Played hockey (with really cute girls! Go get 'em, Ty!)...
Threw water balloons (I am not sure that Tyler realized you CAN throw them at people-- maybe he just didn't want to upset his girlfriends!)...
And blew really big bubbles!
We all had a great time. Frank's friends, Frank and Mike, stopped by with their wives and 3 kids (apiece! How do they do it?). The last time we all were together was for Tyler's 2nd birthday. It was really fun to catch up with them and see the kids play together.

We thank Uncle Jim and Aunt Laurette for a great 4th of July party!

Did I hear that right?

When we got off the train on Long Island on Friday night, we were pleased that it was still early- we were looking forward to hanging out for a bit, watching fireworks, and then putting the kids to bed. But the one thing I have learned since becoming a mother is don't plan on anything, it will never turn out like you envision it! Frank's dad picked us up from the station and here is the conversation I remember on Friday night during our drive back home:

Frank: How was Tyler today?
Papa: He did great. The kids had a lot of fun playing all day. He did have a little accident, though.
Frank: Huh?
Papa: He is OK now, I went out earlier and got some butterflies to put on his chin.
Frank: Huh?
Papa: You can take a look at it when you get home.
Frank: Huh?

I think you get the drift. Now mind you, I am in the backseat and I am so bewildered that I can't really think. All I can think of is April, when he hit his chin and got 5 stitches! We eventually arrived to find my son, sitting on the porch, eating his dinner and having a blast! We asked him (and everyone else) what happened and all he would tell us was that he was skateboarding into the pool (huh?) and he hit the ladder on his way in. Boys will definitely be boys! Thank goodness my brother-in-law is also trained in first aid, he did a great job applying the sutures! And thanks to all of them for not telling us until we were home, otherwise we would have worried all the way home and missed the game!

After dinner, we took a look at the cut on his chin, called our pediatrician, and got the answer I DIDN'T want to hear "take him in." Yuck.

So we all finished dinner,
the kids ate their Popsicles,
(you think the blue drips will speed the healing process?)
And headed to the nearest E.R.. We asked to be "fast-tracked". After all, Ty is 3 years old, it's the 4th of July, and now it's dark! It's fireworks time! The hospital took us in fairly quickly, and the doctor looked at him and gave us the choice of stitches or glue. I am proud to say my son's chin is now glued together! Apparently, the glue is water proofed and knowing he would want to go swimming on Saturday, this was the way to go. The triage nurse gave Tyler a teddy bear and he named him Teddy Chins (I thought this was quite humorous, I am married to an Italian!). Luckily, we made it home just in time to see a few fireworks (granted most of them were from the car window on the way home!) and........ for the kids to get a good night sleep! (They all insisted on sleeping on the air mattress together! It was really very cute to see!)

Take me out to the ballgame....

Out with the old.....
And in with the new....
What a spoiled bunch of parents we were this weekend! We spent our 4th attending the most American sport-- baseball! It will probably be our last game at the old Yankee Stadium (the House that Ruth built) and our next game will be in the new stadium, pictured above (unless the Yanks pick up the pace and the Cubs hold onto theirs-- I will be first in line for a ticket to THAT game!) . For years now, Frank's dad and all of his uncles have had a Yankee ticket package that has allowed us to see some really great games and we will always remember each one that we were at!

Frank and I and our friends, Elaine and Glen, made the trek into the Bronx last Friday to see the Bronx Bombers take on the Bean town Red Sox. We had a blast! First of all, there were no kids, second of all, there is nothing better than walking up and down River Ave and taking in all the sights! We had no children for the better part of the afternoon and we able to relax for awhile and hang out together!
Frank's Uncle Gene was working the camera at the game and we were able to sneak down and say hello. We caught a glimpse of a few players while we were at the field level and took the chance to appreciate of all the history that lines the field and the stadium. However.....
Mother Nature took over in the 8th inning and this was our sight as we walked out the door. In true Yankee fashion, we had already sat through 3 hours of baseball and were anxious to get back to Long Island to be with family and check on Tyler. By the time we made it off the subway and back into Penn Station (almost an hour) they were removing the tarp. The game ended shortly after, with the Sox on top (booooooo!).

Tag, I'm it!

Thanks to all my great friends out there who tagged me to do a Meme. It has taken me awhile to do it but part of the time I was trying to just figure out what it was! So here goes!

Three Things.....

THAT SCARE ME: death, heights, big spiders
I LOVE: my family, the beach, sports (Green Bay and IU)
I HATE: people who are above the law/rules, paying bills, work (all these are kind of related, hmmmmmmmm)
I'M DOING RIGHT NOW: working(!), watching the clock, and eavesdropping on my staff
I CAN DO: be creative, cook, bargain shop
I CAN'T DO: relax, balance the checkbook (sorry dad!), try on only 1 outfit in the morning
THAT ARE MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE FOODS: anything Chinese, ice cream, veggies
SHOWS I WATCHED WHEN I WAS A KID: Facts of Life, Eight is Enough, Diff'ent Strokes

I am tagging my only 2 blogger buds left who haven't done it..... Lisa and Amee!

Happy 4th of July!

HAPPY 4TH of JULY!

The Carnival is in town!

One of the great things about summer and the 4th of July is the Jaycees Carnival in East Longmeadow! It started on Tuesday and runs through the weekend. We met up with Elaine, Glen, Olivia, and Derek last night and had a blast! The weather was beautiful, the rides were a lot of fun, and the ice cream was cold! Frank and I even got a chance to enjoy some music and relax while the band played.

Tyler and Olivia waiting to get on the Bounce Slide. This thing was great! I almost wished they had a mommy and daddy hour-- ride all you want for $20!
Daddy and Ty zipping down the slide! the went so fast that they caught some air on the last bump!
The obligatory Bounce House. Both Ty and Olivia didn't stop jumping and were sweating by the time it was over.
We couldn't leave without another stop by the Bounce Slide. Tyler loved this thing! On the turn before, he bounced and flipped on his way down. I freaked! All the other parents were impressed by his gymnast skills! Ty wasn't phased by it and couldn't wait to go again!

Playin' Hooky!

Today Frank kept Tyler home from school so they could have a "Boys Day". They had a blast! They set up the rink in the basement and played a great game of hockey together and then headed over to Smead Arena for the public skate. Frank said that Tyler did awesome and skated a lot on his own and literally skated circles around everyone else:


Here is Tyler posing in the penalty box, a.k.a. the "time-out" box. I wonder how much it would be to install one at home?

After working up a huge appetite, they headed for the nearest McDonalds and filled their bellies. Then it was quiet time and Tyler slept for 2 1/2 hours-- who knew that skating could be so tiring?