Lazy Day

Yesterday, Mommy had a lazy day by the pool while Daddy was in meetings.  First, I went to the gym, then to the pool with some friends that I have met here.   We sat by the ocean, swam in the pool and had lunch sitting outside.   When Daddy was finished at his meeting he went parasailing...I took a picture, but it won't post so Nana and Papa will have to explain to you what that is.   This morning I am heading back down to the pool to enjoy our last beautiful day here.  When Daddy is finished with his meeting we are going on a Jungle Cruise with a few couples from the group.  I think we will be seeing the area in small boats, then stopping to snorkel before coming back.   I hope we don't see any crocodiles, like the huge one we saw at dinner the other night!!  Have a great day and we will see you tomorrow!!  Love, Mommy and Daddy xoxoxo  I'll try to add the other pictures again later.

Poolside Day

Yesterday was so beautiful, we decided to hangout by the pool and enjoy the fresh air and warm weather.   We did some swimming before deciding to go into the hotel to have a massage.  It was wonderful!   Last night they were setting up for a wedding reception by the ocean, it looked great, but we didn't get to see it since we went out for dinner.   The picture of the  pool shows how it looks like it goes out into the ocean...really neat....it is called an infinity pool.  Daddy's 20 Group friends started to arrive yesterday.  We had dinner with some of them last night.  

N

Shopping Day!

Hi Sean and Ryan.  It is another beautiful day here in Cancun.  Much warmer than it has been too.  Last night we went to a restaurant called Captain's Cove for dinner with some of Daddy's friends.  Daddy had steak and lobster and I had Alaskan king crab.  It was delicious.  This morning we slept in until 10:00...yeah!  Since it was almost lunch time, we decided to wait to eat.  I wanted to go shopping and exercise, so I talked daddy into walking to the mall with me.  An hour later, we were almost there!   We stopped at the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch on the patio.  That is where we were in the pictures below.   After lunch we went to a mall and found some new sunglasses for Mommy.  Daddy didn't see why they were so great...until he tried them on...now he has a pair too!!   Outside one of the stores we found Cookie Monster...I included a picture of him too!  We love you and miss you.  

Love, Mommy and Daddy

Finally...the Sun!!

The sun has finally started to shine and the winds have calmed down.   We slept in  a little this morning and had a late breakfast.  After a quick trip to the gym...yes Mommy went to do her exercises...yesterday too...we're off to spend some time by the pool.   Here is a picture of the view from our balcony.  I've also included a picture from our rainy day yesterday.  Hope you are having a great afternoon with Nana and Papa.  Tell Nana to check Mommy's email account... I've sent a couple of messages that  I don't think she has opened.  Love you.  Mommy and Daddy

Hola, Sean and Ryan!!!

We're here!  Mommy, Daddy, Nick and Jeannette arrived in Cancun, Mexico early this afternoon.  Our flights went well...no long delays like we had on the way to Nana and Papa Joe's at Christmas.  It was raining when we got here, but still much warmer than it is for you guys! They promise us sun and warm weather tomorrow so we can relax by the pool.  We have some more pictures of the hotel, but they aren't uploading right now, I'll try again later.   We got to our hotel and have settled in, unpacking our clothes and have started to look around a little.  We have access to the internet all week, so we will plan on adding pictures to the blog each day, so you can see where we are and what we are doing.  

We hope you are being good boys for Nana and Papa.  Sean, we hope you are feeling better now, so you will be ready to be Noah's helper at school tomorrow.  Ryan, sleep well tonight, we hope your teeth have stopped bothering you. Say hi to Kiki for us tomorrow.  We love you and miss you.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Christmas Ski Trip

A couple of days after Christmas, we went skiing for the day. We joined the Aspden's, not in Aspen... but at Snow Valley...just as good...right? Neither Tony nor I had been on ski's in years, but we really enjoyed it. My knee was a little nervous at first, but quickly got over it. I made my peace with the racing hill as I cursed it on my way up the chairlift. I also got over looking like one of the "mental rentals" that Michelle and I used to giggle at as we rode the chairlift. I was far too busy being the proud mom. Sean did a fabulous job on just his second time out...the last being in March of '07. I might be biased, but I believe (and Tony & Dad will agree) he has some natural ability.

Waiting for his buddies.
Are these the "Crazy Canucks"?

Sean was all smiles, despite wishing he had "gobbles" like Ben and Sarah.

He spent the first couple of hours riding the rope tow and making his way around Diego and his buddies. After lunch, he desperately wanted to ride the chairlift and go down the big hill. Tony and I nervously took him up. Okay I was nervous...repeating the words I had heard so many times as a child from dad...."don't move, don't look back, sit still...don't breath!!" Sooo afraid of him falling off, but he did great. He loaded and unloaded like a pro.

Such form!!

Nearing the bottom. He loved this part because we didn't make him turn as much.

Great job Sean! We'll definitely do this again next year. I'm sure our other daredevil will join us then too!

Sean is Turning into a Paparazzo!

After a long couple of days travelling, we made it home and immediately headed for the doctor's office. To pass the time, and try to keep overtired children who were also tired of being cooped up, happy... I emptied my purse. Ryan chose my wallet, Sean my camera.

Thanks Sean, for the wonderful picture of me wearing the same clothes I was wearing on New Year's Eve...note the date on the picture.
Not bad for a self portrait.

Ryan showing off his gymnastic abilities...wait no that's a tantrum.

Dr. Boon doing his work.

Christmas and Nana and Papa's

After a looooong and sometimes painful trip through airports, we made our way to Nana and Papa Joe's for Christmas.  The week was, as always, too short (seemed that way anyway) and filled with fun...and illness (of course).   Poor little Ry guy had been off antibiotics for a whopping 10 days before he got sick again.  Unfortunately, the doctor we saw felt that it was allergies and offered no antibiotics for relief.  We did manage to get through and he is now on meds and feeling much better...for now.  Sean also started to feel under the weather after Christmas.  He ended up with a fever and later diagnosed with tonsillitis.  He too is doing better.

Christmas Eve, we had our traditional evening.  We went to mass (thank you Uncle Pete for watching Ryan so we could have a peaceful experience) and Chinese food when we got home.   The food was good, despite the service.   Christmas day, we opened presents, ate breakfast and were joined by my aunt Rosemary, her family and my uncle Ken and his family. It was a wonderful day.  Sean and Ryan loved the attention of the "big kids".  

After Christmas, Tony, Sean and I went skiing with my friend Michelle and her family.  He took to it like a duck to water.  Unbelievable riding the chairlift and everything.  Those pics are on my other camera...keep watching for them.

The boys enjoyed trips to city hall to skate and playing outside, building forts and tobogganing in the backyard with Papa.

Tony and I managed to get out for a grownup night with friends and for New Year's Eve.  It was great to be able to catch up in person.  

Unfortunately the trip home was as much of a disaster as the one there.  We got stuck in Detroit and got home a day late.  

Things here are starting to settle down. Toys have found places to "live", Christmas decorations are down ... inside anyway.  Tony is preparing for the RV and Sport Show this weekend and I am prepping for our trip to Cancun in 2 weeks!  Ya, I need a break already!

Sprinkling "Christmas dust" (from preschool to help Santa find his way) and leaving carrots for the reindeer.

Milk and cookies are by the tree...we're ready.

Ryan surveying what Santa and Nana and Papa have left under the tree.

Wow, a real  big boy hockey bag!!  On wheels even...now Mr. Independent can carry his own equipment.

Helping Papa put Baby Jesus in the Nativity scene.

Daddy setting up some toys.  

Sean and his goofy glasses.  Ryan loves these too.

Building with magnets.

Christmas at Nana and Papa's

Either Blogger has slowed down or I have reached the maximum number of pictures for one post.  So here is the second half of our visit at Nana and Papa Joe's.  As always we had a wonderful time.  Enjoy the pictures and captions.  I'll give more info in the first half...coming soon!

I...want...up...I...can...

...do...it...see...told ya

The look of victory!

Sean testing out his new camera on his cousins.

You're never too old to enjoy a good Curious George in the Box!

Sharing tapioca with Papa Joe

Enjoying good food and conversation with the ones we love.

Uncle Pete helping to clean up

After dinner, I heard my cousins talking about Sean "buckling him in".  I wasn't sure what they were talking about at first.  Upon investigation I found that he had strapped Ryan into the doll stroller and was taking him for a ride.

Sean following Papa outside.  In the foreground you can see the fort they were working on/

Playing trains.

Uh-oh...derailment!

On this day, skating at City Hall, we ran into one of mom's former coworkers (and friend) with her little guy.  Sean and Carson buddied up nicely.  Carson was even kind enough to loan his bobskates for Ryan to try on another day.

The boys fell in love with the story "Nickolai's Trains".  Nana let them play around on her old computer.

We also borrowed a helmet for Ryan, but it didn't have a face mask.  Since Ryan's head seems to love to bang things we thought he should use Sean's helmet and Sean could use the one without the mask.  I wish I had a picture of the ear to ear smile on his face as we put the helmet on.  The boys were both sick this day, but they still managed to have fun!

Sean sporting the maskless helmet.

Surprise, surprise, Ryan didn't want anyone to help him!  No fear!

Next year...one blade!

This was a lesson for Sean...sometimes, if you throw a big enough fit...you WILL get your way. (Mommy not thrilled by this lesson).  Sean was burning up about 102 at this point...he was being bossy and not at all the boy I know and love.  As we were about to leave, he threw a fit that he wanted to see the Zamboni first.  After knocking on the door of the garage, the guy working said he'd be doing it "soon".  Whenever that would be.  We told him we were going.  He screamed and yelled and carried on.  Next thing you know the garage door opens and out comes the Zamboni!  We stayed until he was done and Sean thanked him nicely.  Ryan seemed to enjoy watching too.  

Sean and Papa started a routine of playing cards before bed.  He was doing a great job of identifying who had the bigger number.  Daddy plays with him now...such fun!