January 20

Ever wonder what happens when a 7 year old decides to shave his face?  He denied it at first, but as the blood soaked through the band aid he slapped on his chin he gradually changed his story...

January 19

Aidan and I had "mommy/son" date night.  Our original plan was Japanese hibachi, but then I reminded him the long-awaited Bruins season opener was not likely to be shown there...so we ended up at the 99.

January 18

Patriots spirit day at school today!  Here's hoping they win on Sunday and we have another spirit day in a few weeks, on the eve of the Superbowl!

January 17

Colin has always walked a bit on his toes.  We asked and asked, and they kept pushing us off saying give it another year, he'll outgrow it.  While it got better, he still would revert to walking on his toes.  So when he was 7 we got him braces.  We are so good about having him wear them.  For about 6 months.  We noticed he is still running/skating funny so we wanted to get him back into the braces.  But...he's grown a bit since then.  We finally got him fitted for new ones.  He hates wearing them so we have to get better about making sure they're strapped on before bed.

January 16

I set a fun goal for me and the boys this summer - go get ice cream in every New England state.  We failed!  We got NH, MA, ME and VT...but opted to go to Canada for vacation late summer instead of a southern swing to cover RI and CT.  But we plan to set a similar goal this summer!  Colin ALWAYS got chocolate chip cookie dough.  Seamus leaned towards anything with peanut butter and chocolate.  Aidan generally ended up with something coffee or chocolate.  It was a very fun mission!  This was in Woodstock, VT.

January 15

We have the bestest neighborhood.  We were so lucky to move here 5 1/2 years ago.  Everyone got here at the same time which is a major factor in our closeness.  And it surely helps that we are all about the same age with kids that are the same age!  We had a rocking party over the summer to celebrate us and my talented neighbor Brenda immortalized us in sugar and flour!  How cute are we all?!

January 14

It's really nice when we can watch Joe reffing without leaving the house...

January 13

Aidan had 2 games in Maine - a lovely way to spend a Sunday, especially after Seamus having a 6:30am game.  YAWN.  We went up right after Seamus' game, because if I went home, I might have gone back to sleep!  I figured we'd make a bit of a day of it, so we found a little spit of beach to hang out at for a while  The boys had a great time skipping rocks - Aidan got 10 skips for his best, and Seamus 4.  (I got 1.)  Aidan braved the water for 10 seconds.  Brrr!  It was 38F out and we were out without jackets.  Clearly, we are native New Englanders!!  (Note: Colin was with my parents, since he had his own game before we were able to get back.  He had a great time, bowling with Nolan!)

January 12

Seamus is the definition of a rink rat.  Yes, he plays hockey so he's also at rinks for his own purposes.  But he also spends lots and lots of times in various rinks hanging around and causing trouble with fellow siblings.  On this day, I caught him leaving Aidan's team's locker room, wearing his team 'mascot' shirt and donning roller blades.  Oh, with black paint under the eyes.  He feels the need to wait at the door when the boys go in and out to slap hands and wish them luck/say good game.  I *think* the other kids like it....but it's getting hard to tell where the line is between cute and annoying!

January 11

International fame!!  Except for me?  I swear I was there.  It was even my birthday!!!  We went to Ottawa for summer vacation, and on August 23rd we stumbled upon a noontime dance party designed to get office workers out for a little fun during lunch.  We had a blast!  How could we not we free popcicles, fun music and a drag queen leading the entire craziness?  The boys were in the Ottawa Sun (online at least) and got interview for the radio, but we never learned if that aired.

January 10

Since I wasn't posting for, oh, 2012....I am going to use some posts to catch up on a few big things.  Like Joe and the boys being in the paper for voting during the General Election in November!  AidAn was not pleased about his name being spelled wrong, but was pretty pleased regardless to have been online on several sites and on the front page of the actual paper from the next town over.

January 9

The boys have a small obsession with body spray.  Aidan got Polo for Christmas too, but they all still like Axe.  Unfortunately they don't embrace the concept that "a little goes a long way"...

January 8

The optimist in me likes silver linings.  The big one for my commute is books on CD.  It really makes my upwards of 2 hour drive bearable.  Yes, I do listen to Sirius as well...I gotta have my Howard Stern too.  But I love getting lost in a good story while driving.  I also read a lot and nearly always have a 'real' book going at the same time I am listening to one.

I try to keep track of what I read, but I do forget to write some down.  Here is what I tracked reading/listening to in 2012.  My favorites are starred.

Faith by Jennifer Haigh

Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh
Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh

*Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg.
Boom! Talking about the Sixties by Tom Brokaw
Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose

*Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake  by Anna Quindlen
Summer People by Elin Hillenbrand

Home Front by Kristin Hannah

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard
If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster
Heaven Is For Real by Todd Bumpo
Coming Up for Air by Patty Callahan Henry
No Time to Wave Goodbye by Jacquelyn Mitchard
The Island by Elin Hillenbrand

The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner
Skinnydipping by Bethenney Frankel
The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Penelope by Rebecca Harrington
*The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

Where We Belong by Emily Giffin

Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog by Lisa Scottoline

Summerland by Elin Hillenbrand

The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty

*Bossypants by Tina Fey

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Love Anthony by Lisa Genova

Last Night by Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger

January 7

Back in July, we finally caved and bought the boys a pet. Annie the hamster came home with us, and we fell in love with that little nocturnal rodent.  Seamus was sooo good to her - always making sure she had food, water and a clean cage. A very clean cage.  One Saturday, he was so concerned he was cleaning her cage and the table she lived on for a good stretch of time.  We woke up Sunday to go to Santa's Village, and he screamed "Annie is dead!" We ascertained that no, Annie was alive...but maybe not for long.  (And in retrospect, we think that the excess use of cleaning products may have caused her her demise.)  We were gone for the day and had a lovely time, despite the worry...and then...indeed...we came home to find Annie was no longer with us.  There were many tears.  But we rebounded the next day a trip by taking to Petsmart and bringing home Gracie.  We were equally enamored.  Much as we loved Annie, Gracie has a little more personality.  And yes - I can't believe I am saying these words about a hamster.  I can't believe it myself.  I do love hearing Gracie spinning on her wheel at 3am!

January 6

This is what our car looks like on a 3 hockey game Sunday.  Sleepy boys and and Costco-sized box of snacks!  And always Colin in the middle to minimize the fighting between his brothers...