Wise words

Happy birthday Gabi!!

Happpppppy Birthday to my darling 8 year old, Gabi!
Eight is GREAT!!

Eight reasons we love and adore you so.....

1. You have a soft, sensitive heart. Your kindness could fill a room.
2. You are the spice in our lives. You love loud, talk loud, laugh loud, sleep loud and live life to the fullest.
3. You are so creative and detail oriented. It will be fun to see where you go with your artist talents.
4. You love to cuddle, rub backs and play with our hair. I like that. A lot!!
5. You are a loyal friend.
6. You have a great sense of humor. You make us laugh. I love your laugh!! It is real.
7. You have great style. I like that you care about your hair, clothes, sun glasses etc. I like that you like cool.... (and good music too)!!
   
8. You are a good brother. I know things can seem crazy with your brothers' at times, but I know that you are always there to protect and play with them. This also makes you a very good son.
   

We love you sooo much! Can't wait until your baptism in a couple of weeks. Whew. Busy month!!

Happy birthday Gabe!!

P.S. Picture is with McKenna, a friend of the family. She is darling. She did Gabe's hair. Too cute!!

First day of school 2011

Coleman Paul, 12 years (almost 13...) @ Lakelands Park Middle School, 7th grade

Tate Alexander, 10 years (almost 11...) @ Darnestown Elementary School, 5th stinking grade

Gabriel Asay, 7 Years (8 TOMORROW!!) @ Darnestown Elementary School, 2nd grade (best ever yet!!)

So cute I could eat them!! The start of school is so bittersweet....

When it comes down to it, they really do love and enjoy each other!!

Last minute hugs... so sweet!

This is why I blog. A very tender (and rare!!) moment

Finn (Mr. Sassy Pants) starts in a couple of weeks... stay tuned!! He is NOT happy to be home with his pretty mother.... I can't imagine why not!!

Away they go.... I really will miss them (for at least 15 minutes!!) JK! Summer is too short..... Really.

Life is good.

Birthday in the Big Apple by Coleman

A quick disclaimer by Mom..... Originally, I had wanted Eric to blog about his weekend with Coleman in NYC for his 12th birthday, but as a year to the date approaches..... I don't think it is going to happen. Life is just too busy sometimes. For one of Coleman's merit badges, he has to complete several blog posts. Hence, this fun and now Martinis 12 year birthday tradition trip will be down in the record books. (Thanks to my scout Coleman!!)

I went on a trip to New York City for about three days which was real fun. We got to go to some of the best restaurants, sights and Museums. The food was awesome. There was huge candy stores and lots of people. The toy stores were the biggest. I went on a tour through most of New York and saw famous places like the Iron Arm Building and the Empire State Building. My favorite part was being able to experience a very big city and what it is like there. Thank You Dad so much for the awesome trip.

Riding on the tour bus and learning about the city

Me on top of the Empire State Building

Great View

Looking Up

Iron Arm Building

At the Twin Towers Memorial site.

Sculptures everywhere

Times Square

Can you find us?
This was on one of the main screens in Times Square!!

President Obama made of Gumballs

Ripleys Believe it or not Museum (ugliest woman ever)

Laser Room

My Legs???!!!

Super Sandwich

The Candy Barn

El Foot-long hotdog from Serendipity 3

Taxi!!!!

At the Infamous Statue of Liberty

Jekyll and Hydes

Went to Wicked!!!

At Central Park with Dads Friend, Will Egan!!

If you or your family plan a trip to NYC, here is a good site on family fun in the Big Apple.

Thanks again Dad. I love you!!

Opportunity Clucks by Coleman

Most people say opportunity knocks. I say opportunity clucks. How so you ask? Well, most recently I have started an egg business. It may not be the best job having to gather and wash the eggs, changing the water, cleaning the water bin, or putting food in the feed pail, but I get 16 dollars a week which is pretty nice. Hopefully, I will make a decent amount of money. I have three customers right now, but I think I will have four all together. My mom doesn't want to give up all the eggs!

I don't have any plans for my money yet. I just want to save it. I am sure some of it will go towards a mission and maybe college. I guess it all depends on the chickens and if they keep laying eggs.

Here is a good recipe for if you want to use a lot of eggs. We double the recipe. Hope you like it!!

50/50 part 2(ish)

While Eric and the younger darlings were in Oregon, Coleman, Tate and I were hitting the big city. We had a fun day in Baltimore at the Maryland Science. Great museum for the older kids, doesn't appear easy with younger darlings so... perfect for us! We went to a rock and roll lazer show. I would like to say it was amazing, but I fell asleep for the whole thing. It's not that I am getting old.... the chairs were just tilted and way too comfortable. Ha ha!!

The next day we went to the Spy Museum in DC. Another VERY fun place for older kids mainly. I have ZERO pics of that adventure as you are not allowed to take pics anywhere in or by the museum. We participated in a special program and made us official spies for about an hour. It was super fun and exciting. They have a lot of excellent programs there and we will definitely go back for a day or even an evening of fun. We then went to a yummy pizza place close to the museum. Yum!! So fun to be with my older boys and have the opportunity to talk, read exhibits, not eat lunch because we are in a hurry, ride the Metro and bus with no worry etc etc etc. It was very fun for me and I hope we can do this again. I have sweet, smart, amazing boys and I love when I get to spend quality time with any of them.

Life is good!!

Wise words

Speaking of Calleva (or Owlettes..or maybe a combo of BOTH)!!

Tate went to Cub Scouts camp in June. I was able to go with him for a day as a den walker. It is a fun camp, very well organized and he is given the opportunity to show his "skills". Tate was the archer extraordinaire of the camp as well as a mighty fisherman. He got the most bulls eyes and caught the most fish day after day. I would like to think that all those years and hours spent at Calleva Explorers and Owlettes has finally paid off. He knows how to shoot, fish and survive happily in the outdoor even when it is hot, humid and buggy.

I am proud of my Tate. I love him to bits!!