Simple Pleasures

Happy moments are falling asleep while eating ice cream. :-)

We have 4 wonderful boys that have been added to our family for 10 days. Today being really the first day. I'm going to try to post some funny pictures that capture humorus moments with them apart of our family.

What brings a smile to your face during the hustle and bustle of a normal day?

Connecting One Generation to Another

Recently, for kicks, my lovely aunt typed in my grandfather's name into Google. Actually she typed every single one of our names, but this one amazed me. I mean I was simply struck.

She typed in his name intending to find my brother somewhere but because my brother shares the exact name with my grandfather, my great-grandfather and my great-great-grandfather this came up: She clicked on one of Google's links and then realized it was a digitized article from the 'Pomeroy Tribune'. She looked at the date and realized it contained simple information about my great great grandfather in 1891. I was staring at the computer screen seeing a couple sentences about my great grandfather and a baseball game he pitched in as an adult.

The fact that someone digitized that telegraph from so long ago amazed me. Having something that linked me to my grandfather whom I never knew, and will never know, stunned me. I had an overwhelming feeling---- the kind that comes when cross paths with a certain person who suddenly makes the world feel small. The kind that comes and makes you just stand there and stare in unbelief.

I cant believe there is something actually out there that connects me to my great-great-grandfather over 118 years ago. It connects the 19th century to the 21st.

Johnny's Birthday Painted Blue

We saw The Blue Man Group for Johnny's birthday. It was, I can honestly say, one of the coolest, craziest and most fun performances I've EVER seen.

Thinking outside of the box could be the biggest understatement of all time. They think of things I never would. Their specialty is music and loud, loud, loud percussion. They wind so much humor in it (thankfully very clean) that it makes for an amazing time. You are either laughing hysterically, screaming (when told to), clapping, jumping, waving hands--- it was just a BLAST. I guess their shows have different "names" around the country and world because this one was titled "Tubes". A lot of their props were tubes and it was fascinating! And what's the coolest thing, I think, is that they are completely expressionless during the show. They show no emotion and dont talk nor smile nor laugh. They just look at each other and make motions and are able to communicate with each other perfectly. I was surprised at how much the audience knew exactly what they were "saying" with their motions.

Moral of the story: See a Blue Man Group if you have a chance--

You certainly wont regret it!!

Because they prohibit photos during the show, here are some pictures I stole from Google of last night's performance:

And here are photos we took after the show:

Us and two of the Blue Men!

Ten Saint Patty's Ago

If you were at Logan Airport 10 years ago tonight, you'd see an energetic grandmother holding a four-year-old boy's hand trailing luggage behind her. You'd see a mother walking with an eight year-old girl and a six-year-old boy, all carrying travel bags filled with summer clothes.

We, my brothers, grandmother and mom, were boarding a plane bound for the tropical island of Puerto Rico. The first time we'd been out of the 48 consecutive states. We traded the bitter cold of New England for palm trees and an 85-degree breeze!

I always approach Saint Patrick's day with somewhat of a solemn feeling. A good feeling really because I'm flooded with memories of that trip, but it's just a yearly reminder that time is not passing, but flying by. I remember that trip in such detail. I could almost account for every minute-- every adventure, every fresh coconut we ate, all the hot bread in the morning, the fresh mangoes we picked from the patio of my Great-Great Aunt, the crazy car rides on congested roads, the mountains, the magnificent sound of the Coqui in the evenings, the endless family we met, the houses. It was an incredible trip. I dont think there has been one that matches it.

Minutes turn into hours, hours turn into days and days into years. Embrace today! :)

Grandma Maria, Me (8), Johnny (6)

Johnny watching a coconut being cleaned!

Stevie (4 yrs) holding a chick!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

I like this picture.

The amazing thing with dad is that he stays the same age as each birthday rolls around! Man, I hope that happens to me when I want it to. :-P

He's celebrating his 29th birthday for his 23rd time. :)

I love ya dad!