Ok, so I've been told that I am seriously neglecting my blogging commitment...blame it on chocolate martinis (any headache today Abby?) and hockey.  I know, I know, its no excuse.  So here's some highlights:  the boys are getting too used to 2 hour school delays (two this week alone), we're in a bit of a slump in hockey for ALL their teams (what's a win?), and John's game today was rather ugly in all respects..they got their butts kicked by Framingham, and not just in score numbers....The scorekeeper most likely ran out of penalty lines on the scoresheet, and John was an avid contributor to that (most decidedly undeserved!)....as a matter of fact, one of his brother's coaches has given him a new name:  Jack in the Box.....hmm, maybe we really need to work on that...this week we leave for Waterville Valley in NH on Friday for a 4 day tournament for Patrick's team...6 Quincy teams alone are taking over the Days Inn....3 nights in a hotel with 90% boys between the ages of 6 and 12....should provide for lots of blogging material with interesting pictures upon our return!

Does the sibling rivalry ever end?????

As we are getting into the car tonite (the VERY cold car I might add) to pick up a teammate of John's and drop them off at hockey practice the war begins:

John:  Move Ryan, you have to sit in the back back (after he's all comfortably settled in)

Ryan: No, I don't want to sit in the way back.

John: Too bad, now move

This goes back and forth for a few rounds before I calmly tell Ryan that we can't really have Justin climbing all over the place when we get him.  Ryan finally concedes and I proceed to tell John that he didn't have to be so bossy and mean.  His response was "well he annoys me"  I proceed further and try to explain to John just because he's the first born does not give him the right to boss the younger (especially the youngest) ones around all the time.  At which point Ryan pipes up with "Yeah John it's not all about you" followed by "how would you like to be the youngest for once and get bossed around all the time?"  His response was some sort of gutteral noise, don't think it qualifies for english.  Of course, this whole time Patrick is just focused on his IPOD and had know idea there was even a battle going on...ah, blissfully unaware....he's really good at that. 

Ry's First Time Playing Goalie...

Our Visit to the Bruins Game..

Between Halloween and Thanksgiving...

Ok, so I admit I have been a tad delinquent in updating my life (after all, they say admitting your problem is the first step) and I could use a million excuses...but what it comes down to is basically there aren't enough hours in the day, enough days in the week, etc., blah, blah, blah.  So here is a summary in as few words as possible.  We survived Halloween after the Lacey tragedy (NOT my favorite holiday to begin with!), after that it was report card time.  Both John and Pat were convinced they were going to bomb at least one subject, they even had me believing it.  But, to my pleasant surprise they all did really well with all A's and B's.  Parent teacher conferences held no big surprises, ie:  all of them are rather chatty at times (wonder where they got that trait???...hmmm), and some ants in the pants at times (now, THAT they did not get from me!), but overall no major behavior issues, and all seemed to be liked by their teachers.  The next big event was Thanksgiving, which was for the most part rather quiet ( a welcome deviation from the norm).  The weather was nice for the holiday weekend and they got to practice their new second favorite activity next to hockey---skateboarding.  Yes, they have discovered the only skate park in Quincy and have managed to sway us to bring them there on numerous occasions--- for HOURS at a time.  Now Patrick has even managed to find an indoor skate park (of course not even remotely close to us) on the web for us to visit over Christmas break...lucky me, which of course will have to be sandwhiched in between tournament games the WHOLE week.  

Our Great Loss..

On Saturday night we experienced a traumatic event that was dealt with differently by each of the boys.  Our much loved and quite spoiled dog Lacey (the smaller, but older of the two dogs) passed away very suddenly and very unexpectedly.  She was only 7 years old, far too early to leave us.  Now that the initial shock is settling down, it is interesting to see how they each deal with the loss, as well as the other dog Timmy.  Timmy is just so lost and sad without his other (aka "better" half).  Not sure what to do for him.... John is for the most part the pragmatic one, repeating over and over that everything will be ok and that even the other dog will eventually adjust.  I think he's trying to convince himself as well.  Patrick, the most sensitive one is still quite sad, and rather quiet.  Ryan, well.....he's 6.  He has two views, one of which is "we can just get another one" and "It must have just been her time to go to heaven.  But I don't remember her getting a letter from God saying that she had to go to heaven this Saturday"......Yeah, pal, I don't remember seeing that letter either.

We love you and miss you Lacey  xoxo

Travel hockey season has officially started...

Today was the official start of John and Pat's travel teams.  We lucked out in that both teams had their games at the Quincy rink, and fairly close times to each other.  We're off to a great start with Pat's team beating Natick 3-0, and Pat even scored the first goal of the game...that was after he spent a minute and a half in the penalty box for tripping in the first two minutes of the game, but of course Pat swears the kid faked the trip.....yeah, okay.   John's team also did well beating Dedham with a score of 5-2.  John didn't score any goals this time, but he did get some good shots on the goalie.  Unfortunately the goalie was in the right place at the right time....John played very well and didn't even end up in the naughty box like his brother...Congrats to both teams!