An afternoon with the Falcons!

We spent the afternoon at the Springfield Falcon's game today. The parents of one of Tyler's friend's from school were very generous and provided us with tickets to a few games this season and this was the last set we were able to all use together. We had a great time (as usual). Tyler loves attending the games, but we spend the entire ride assuring him that Screech, the Falcon's mascot, knows not to come and bother him!
Taking in warm-ups, nose against the glass. Tyler watches every move, every stretch, and every drill the teams do!

Before the game we walked around the arena. Due to the really yucky weather outside, there were not many people there. We came upon a children's area that was set up with coloring pictures (Tyler chose a goalie), nets, and other equipment. Tyler took the time and modeled hiss best goalie stance.

However, I told him that playing goal was going to be very expensive, so he better practice his shot. The older kids who were playing a game gave him a stick, fed him the puck, and Tyler found heaven! I wanted to warn the boy standing in goal, but he was a quick learner after Ty's first shot!

My favorite hockey boys!

My baby (no matter how big!).

He's Crafty!

After all the fun I had making our Christmas cards this year, I figured that I could come up with a way for Tyler to make his Valentine's for school this year. After all, it won't be much longer until he wants the store bought ones! So after scouting out the craft stores last weekend, I ended up with two things: paint and card stock. After that, I had to figure out what we were going to decorate them. That was when I remembered potato stamping, something I used to do all the time when I worked with the kids in college. After I ran the idea by Tyler, we went to town!
I cut the potatoes into heart stamps,

and let Ty go to town!

He really did an awesome job!

And like always, did it with a smile!

After he finished with enough for school, I told him to "go ahead and get messy". My poor guy said to me "what if I get it on my clothes?"....

That was quickly forgotten when he dipped his fingers into the paint!

After they all dried, I cut them into heart shapes and had Tyler sign each one. He did an great job signing his name over and over again!

And thanks to my fellow blogger for introducing me to a new website, The Crafty Crow, I found a way to make them more festive!

The proud artist with a finished creation!

I Love Hockey!

Last summer, Grandma Genovese bought Tyler a “rod hockey” tabletop game. When it was brought home, Tyler went to town. Being a bit young, he did not quite understand that the player moved in coordination to the rod they were attached to. Well, after just a few hours of play time, all the players and both the nets were stripped from the game in order to satisfy Tyler’s urge to play “real” hockey with the game.

Fast forward a few months to the fall. Frank brought home his old dry erase board that he had been using during the games. Instead of letting it go to waste, he gave it to Tyler. After all, it has all the essential markings for playing a pretend real hockey game—the red and blue lines, the face-off circles, and the crease! Now there was an even better excuse for those rod hockey players to be moved! Tyler quickly went to town and set up his own teams and reenacted some of the best games he has seen in his short 4 years.

Often times, he will play while we are relaxing at night. I have watched him set up all the players and at times I have asked him what they are doing. He always has these 12 men in various game mode—whether it be warming up before the game, listening to the National Anthem, or celebrating after a goal, they do it all! He also makes sure that his teams are aptly named—usually the “Fermi’s” are playing another team in their league. For those of you who need a refresher, Frank coaches the Fermi Falcons high school team.

I had to share these shots with you! I watched him for quite awhile and then when I went to upload the photos, I found a lot more shots I had taken of Tyler that I never posted of him setting up his guys in preparation for the “big game”!

The Zamboni cleaning the ice before the game. Tyler has a few little "Boni's" and is more than happy to explain to anyone how it cleans the ice!

Staging a fight-- an essential part of any great game!

Celebrating after a great goal (you can faintly see the black puck in the net)!

A closer shot of all the guys celebrating on the ice after their score!

And of course, shaking hands after the game! You can see that the goals have been moved from the crease and the 'Boni is getting ready to come on the ice and do a fresh sheet for next time!

As I was sitting there watching him put all this together, it is amazing how methodical he is-- he knows exactly what should happen when, who should be where, and he is very precise in it all! In the morning, he makes sure that all the guys are set up off the ice, standing, in perfect order. After all, you can't play a game with no one around to watch!

Pond Skating

Last week, Frank took Tyler to a local pond to see how he would do and if he would be able to skate. After two hours, Frank had his answer. Tyler loved it! I, of course, was disappointed that I missed the whole night and that the camera didn't have any batteries! But the weather was still very cold this week, and they decided to go again tonight! The pond they skate at is in East Longmeadow, and in the summertime, people go to the park to feed the ducks and swans. In the winter they do a great job of testing the ice our and cleaning the snow off the pond.
As soon as Tyler got on the ice, he took off! He simply loves to skate!

An essential part of a good skate is remembering the stick! Here's Tyler working on his face-off technique!

All smiles despite the cold!

Are you ready for some football?

Last night was Super Bowl Sunday! We had big plans at our house-- friends, football, and fun! The week had been rocky at our house due to our winter colds, but we figured by Sunday everyone would be just fine. After all, our friends kids had been sick, too! However, things continued to change right until that morning! At 9AM on Sunday the phone rang, and other kids were sick and sick+sick=no party!

Tyler was very excited about the big game! We tried to explain the funny commercials and all the hoopla surrounding the Super Bowl, but he just wanted to see the game (that's our son!). So after we figured out what our scaled down plans for the evening would look like, we all got into our comfy clothes, grabbed drink, food, and Kleenex, and gathered as a family!
Tyler opted for a special meal of nuggets and fries, and of course, ketchup! You can see his 3-D glasses sitting there. He really was not sure what they were for!

Tyler made sure he got a shot of me. Despite a mediocre season, I am still sitting with my Green Bay blanket!

Tyler and Frank hung out with their matching hats on! Like father, like son!

Preparing to watch the 3-D Disney commercial! Tyler loved it! At first he was not so sure about wearing the glasses and watching, but then he got a small taste of what it is like and was hooked!

The piece de resistance! Springsteen at halftime! Frank really would not have minded this year of the game was cancelled and he was the only feature of the night!

Well wishes and another crazy weekend!

Last week Grandma Genovese had knee replacement surgery. Little does Tyler know, but between both of his grandma's there are only 2 "real" knees. We decided that we would take a quick trip to New York on Saturday to surprise her and wish her well in person. On Saturday morning, Tyler made Grandma a really big picture to help her feel better soon. He was hard at work and kept his pens close at hand:

While Tyler was decorating his picture, Grandma Genovese called and asked me what we had planned for the weekend. I told her (sorry for the lie, Grandma!) that we didn't have much planned, that we were just going to hang out at home for the weekend and get caught up on things. Little did she know, but I was running around the house trying to pack and clean, and plan for our quick trip to New York. Less than five hours later, we walked into her room at the rehabilitation hospital and said "surprise". She was so happy to see us and even modeled her battle scars! Tyler spent the entire time using her walker to get around!

After we spent some time with her, we made our way to Long Island to stay with cousins Conor and Skylar for the night. As soon as we walked in, the kids ran off to play. At one point they went upstairs. Soon after, they all came down and this is what we were greeted with:

What a bunch of hams!

On Sunday, we had lunch with Grandma. She requested pizza and Tyler wanted to use walker again. Thankfully, that walker tired him right out and he slept the entire ride home! Feel better soon, Grandma!

History

Dear Tyler,

History was made today. The US inaugurated it’s first African American president and you were able to witness it. Even though you may not understand the enormity of what this means, I know that this is something that you will remember years from now as a “I remember where I was when…” moment. Some day in history class at school you will learn a lot about an era that led up to this point.

Although you are only 4 years wise, you were as excited as we were. When I saw you tonight, you proudly announced that “Barack Obama was on PBS kids today!” I am so proud that you were able to share in the excitement that was felt everywhere today—no matter what beliefs people may have. At one point tonight you even went over and hugged the television when Obama came on.

As your parents, we hope that not only Obama, but the other presidents who will succeed him, will continue to provide a country that is strong for you and for your children to come. There are opportunities out there, so please take advantage of all that you can.

I want to share with you our moments of “I remember where I was when…”
*September 11, 2001
*The space shuttle Challenger exploded
*New York Islanders won the Stanley Cup 1980

*Operation Iraqi Freedom began

*Green Bay won the Super Bowl

*United States beat Russia in the Olympics to win gold in hockey

*Dessert Storm began

*Pope John Paul II died

May all of your dreams come true with lots of hard work and dedication. Always know that your mom and dad are right behind you to support you and make all your dreams come true.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

P.S. Thanks to Kristy for the great idea of the picture!

Burning Down the House

Tonight Frank dropped Tyler off at my work so we could go out on a mommy and Ty-ty date. I work in a very "open" office environment and very few people have their own office. This is the conversation as Frank dropped Tyler off:

Frank: "Tell mommy what happened at school today."
Tyler: "There was a fire!"
(At this point I thought to myself, "Self, there is no fireplace at school...." and "He is standing here with a smile, so I know he is safe!")
Me: "Please explain!"
Tyler: "We made cookies and there was plastic in the oven and then there was stinky smoke all over the house and baby Jakey cried."
Me: "What happened?" (At this point other people had joined in the conversation a) out of sheer terror for me, and b) to meet Frank and Tyler. Sometimes you never get a second chance to make a first impression!)
Tyler: "We went into the living room and watched Elmo and Katie put powder on the fire!"

To make a long story short, there was a lot of smoke, no flames, and a bunch of cookies that were still eaten by everyone despite the burnt plastic in the oven!

Needless to say, we spent a lot of our mommy and Ty-ty date night talking about fires at home and how to stay safe and what to do. For a four-year-old Tyler is very versed in what to do in case of an emergency. I can only hope that other kids out there are as smart as he is!

There has been a lot of talk about the pilot from the USAirways flight in New York. I have to think Tyler's teachers, Katie and Ellie, had some of the same teachers that guy did. They did an excellent job with the kids and I now know (not that there was ever a thought in my mind!) that Tyler is super-safe with them during the day! Thanks, Katie and Ellie!

Update!

Needless to say, things in the Genovese house have been very busy over the past few months. I know that a lot of our friends and family have been inquiring about my change in jobs and now that the holidays are finally over, I will give you my best update!

I started with my new company, Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP) at the end of September. For the last 3 years my New Years resolution has been to find a new job. I am sorry to say that this year I have not come up with any resolutions so far! It is a lot different being on the “Dark Side” as many people refer to this position. I jumped not only from non-profit to profit, but also from direct care to managed care! It is something that I quickly adjusted to. After all, I don’t remember the last time I was able to order supplies when I actually needed them!

Many people know why I left my old job and not a day goes by that I don’t think of my staff and all the people I worked with. I have been able to stay on at MSPCC as a “consultant” and continue with a Parenting Education Class that I started as an intern there. I also have the opportunity to speak with the staff throughout the day—they now have to call me for service authorization!

I can not lie when I say that this HUGE change will take some getting used to. I used to work in an office with people coming in and out, the phone constantly ringing, things always going on. Now, at most, there are 11 people in the office at any given time! I used to supervise more than that! I also don’t have an office any more. I have a cubicle! The atmosphere is relaxed, autonomous, and mature!

The change has not only been good for me, but also for Frank and Tyler. I am more relaxed, less stressed, and settling into the new routine. We are all up early in the morning, so we get to spend time with each other (and Tyler gets to see daddy!). I adjust to the earlier time by making sure I have my new best friend with me every morning, caffeine! I no longer work in the evenings, I no longer get emergency phone calls on the weekend, and I only have 1 cell phone in my purse. MINE!

I hope that this brings everyone up to speed! Thanks for asking how things are going; I knew I would eventually get around to a reply! Now maybe I can spend some of my new found free time thinking of some new New Year’s resolutions!

Beyond 100

A few off the beaten path hockey stats and facts:

~Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins was the first player to record 100 points in the NHL - March 2, 1969.

~The Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 marked a major milestone for hockey. It was exactly 100 years ago that hockey was introduced at the London, 1908 Olympic Games.

~The speed of a puck hit by most players is about 100 MPH.

~The Canadiens were founded by J. Ambrose O'Brien on December 4, 1909 as a charter member of the National Hockey Association, 100 years ago.

~Wayne Gretzky scored 100 goals in the 1983-84 season. That is the most goals scored in one season, including playoffs.

~Frank Genovese recorded his 100th victory on January 15, 2009 as head coach of the Fermi Falcons against Avon High School. The final score was 5-3.

At the beginning of this season Frank explained to me that with a little luck and some excellent playing and coaching, he would be earning his 100th victory as head coach this year! I am not sure that he expected to do after so few games into the season, but he did!

Frank is an excellent coach. The parents, players, and fellow coaches all respect his style and how he treats the game in general. That not only includes his players and their families, but other teams, rinks, and styles. I can not think that there is another coach out there who puts as much effort into coaching a high school hockey team as he does. During the off season, he attends their league games in order to support their growth and development. During the season, he always has an open door, listed phone number policy for whomever wants to take him up on a talk.

At last weekends game, a parent of a graduated player was there. He was speaking with Frank's dad and what I heard made me proud. This father told Frank's dad that "Frank is fair, educated, and respectful. He has high expectations of everyone, including himself. He treats every player, no matter what skill level, like they are his favorite." That comes from years of hard work and lots of dedication.

Tyler and I are proud of you, Frank! We know that you work hard and we all make sacrifices during the season, but we know your love of the game and are willing to do it! We can't wait to see what the next 100 victories bring!

What a weekend!

This weekend we had the pleasure of spending tine with Grandma, Papa, Aunt Laurette, Uncle Jim, Conor, and Skylar. Tyler's favorite cousins came on Friday night and we all headed out to Friendly's for dinner. The kids all sat at their own table, across the isle from the moms and dads! The moms and dads were all able to enjoy some "adult" conversation while the kids entertained themselves and were very well behaved!

On Saturday morning, Grandma and Papa came. As soon as they arrived, the kids all wanted to open their Christmas gifts. After that we had to get ready to go to Frank's hockey game! Papa, Conor, Tyler, and I were all going to go root for the Fermi Falcon's while everyone else stayed home to rest. I guess we took a bit long to get ready because this is what I found when I came back downstairs:

Tyler had strapped himself into his spare car seat and was watching "The Empire Strikes Back" in the family room! Grandma and Papa told Santa that Tyler really wanted the Star Wars box set and Santa delivered! Soon we were off to the game, though!

The boys (young and older!) had a wonderful time at the game! The Falcons were playing Wethersfield High School and won, 11-0!

Staying warm in the rink!

For dinner, we ordered food from one of our favorite restaurants, Cafe Leone's. We were able to celebrate Grandma and Papa's anniversary which was in December. After dinner we celebrated Frank's birthday with the "Best Chocolate Sheet Cake, Ever" cake. Despite having such a yummy dinner everyone was waiting to dig in!

After so much excitement for the day, the kids quickly settled into bed. All the adults stayed up and played Texas Hold 'Em. While our basement was nice and warm and cozy, it seems that outside was getting colder, and snowier, and more white!

When we woke in the morning, there was more snow on the ground! The kids all wanted to go outside and sled down Mt. Geno, so after lunch they all bundled up once more and out we headed!

The great thing about sledding? It is really tiring!

All three kids preparing to go down the hill together. You think Tyler is trying to tell me something? Like perhaps he can't see? Sorry, bud!

Christmas in January!

It seems like some things around here never end lately. The cold, the snow, and Christmas! Today we celebrated Christmas with Frank's family. After a quick breakfast, it was just like Christmas morning. The kids were so excited to have more gifts to open up that they demanded we do it right away! (You know how those kids are!) When they saw what Santa dropped at our house for them, they were all very forgiving of him for making such a mistake!

Tyler had to survey his most recent "loot" pile. He had no problem digging right into the gifts that Grandma and Papa Genovese, Aunt Laurette and Uncle Jim, Conor, and Skylar, and some of Frank's aunts and uncles had sent from New York! It seems that Santa made quite a few mistakes Christmas night ;-) !

Sklyar waiting so patiently to get green light to rip right in! Santa dropped off Hannah Montana cards, a swimming puppy, and a personalized duffel bag all for her at our house!

Conor was super excited to open up his gifts as well, Santa left him a duffel bag, Star Wars Legos, and a Power Ranger (green, just like on his list!)!

Grandma and Papa got Tyler a new scooter for Christmas. Now we just have to wait for the ice and snow to melt. I wonder when that will be?

Tyler opening up his Hess truck from Poppy Fagan. He was so excited to get this! As soon as he opened it he said "Just what I always wanted!" Who knew that the best gift of the year would be purchased at a gas station?

Another top notch gift-- an Islanders backpack for school!

After the kids were done opening their gifts, it was time for Grandma and Papa to open theirs. Lucky for them, Tyler and Skylar were not too tired to lend them a hand as well! At Thanksgiving, we took a secret picture of the 7 of us. Lucky for us, not one child said anything! They managed to keep the secret for almost 2 months! Good job, guys!

Tyler and Conor managed to find a little bit of space to play with Tyler's new dragon play set! Thanks everyone for the thoughtful, wonderful gifts!