Sunday, September 30, 2007

A Busy, Busy, Fun, Fun Day

Liam's Itinerary:

6:30 a.m. Wake-up call
8:15 a.m. Hockey Practice
10:30 a.m. Mass
11:20 ish Irish Breakfast at Launi Lou's
1:00 p.m. Two times around Rockland Lake on a two-wheeler for a total of six miles
3:00 p.m. Into the pool for swimming and scuba
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:15 p.m. Kid (and parents) on verge of passing-out
Swimming was the icing on the cake after a fun-filled day. Although most people have closed their pools, Liam, Nicky, Tonia and Bobby thought it was an awesome afternoon to take a dip.

Tonia and Bobby practiced some scuba skills. At one point Bobby held onto Liam, gave him a regulator, and the two of them swam along the bottom. Liam was so happy to scuba dive for the first time.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

In His Father's Shoes

Add another occupation to Liam's long list of "what I want to be when I grow up." At dinner this evening he announced that he wants to be a "worker man." That's what he calls his Daddy.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Adios Training Wheels

It's official, the training wheels have been put away. One big-boy-five-year-old is riding a two-wheeler.



Saturday, September 22, 2007

High and Tight

Who would have thought that it would always be the child asking for a haircut. Mommy loves Liam's curls and thinks that he looks adorable with the longer hair. Hence, she never pushes for haircuts. Liam, however, has other ideas. He loves to have his hair cut more like he is getting ready to enter West Point (which, by the way, is all the rage in these parts.)

We were in Pearl River this afternoon on the way to the Irish Butcher, when Liam announced that he needed to stop by the Barber Shop. He wanted the sides tight with a little "Mohawk" at the front. (Yes, he still is obsessed with the Mohawk.) It is very cute to see him sit in the chair instructing the barber as to what he wants. The short little hair sticking up at the front is his "Mohawk" -- he is happy as all get-out.

Well, we don't need to worry about combing the hair anytime soon.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Kerry Man Off to School

Bathed so fast this morning so that he could put on his new Kerry outfit. Think a new record was set for washing the hair and face.

We are off to the bus stop...

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Up the Kingdom!

We picked Bobby up from the airport this evening. He returned from a long weekend in Ireland watching the All Ireland. Kerry won, of course, hence "Up the Kingdom."

Grandma Chris sent back all this cool stuff for Liam. Immediately after hockey practice Liam put on his new Kerry digs. He was so excited strutting around the locker room decked out for Kerry.


In Hockey News...
Exciting stuff...Liam is now on the Mite House Team for Pearl River. He practiced with the team this evening and had a ball, you should have seen the smile on his face. He was tired, but very, very happy. These kids do some serious skating. Bob and I got tired just watching them. After practice the coach told us that he thought Liam was ready to play for the Mite House instead of the LTP.

On the way home we asked Liam what he wanted to do. He didn't hesitate for a second -- he wants to be on the team, and go to practices like the one he went to this evening. Of course he is also looking forward to playing games.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

He's in Hockey Heaven

Liam absolutely loves Hockey!! He wants to skate every day. This morning at practice he was so anxious to get onto the rink. When they opened the gates he was the first kid to rush onto the ice.

Liam is the one in the white socks with the white stick.


The kids hold onto each other's sticks and pull each other around. Liam is pulling Luke.


Yesterday while practicing at another rink, Tonia was approached by the coach of their hockey team. He asked if Liam would join his Mighty Mite (the 5-8 year-olds) team. Mommy told him that Liam was already on the Learn to Play Team for Pearl River. The coach told her that he could play on both teams. Tonia, who is so new to all of this, was very confused.

Turns out that the LTP team is basically 30 weeks of lessons that go the length of the hockey season. Those taking the lessons make up a team. The "team" learns and practices together for the season preparing them to then join Mite teams. Some kids play on a Mighty Mite or Mite House team as well as the LTP. As one mom said today, "it's extra ice-time and practice. The children should take lessons even when on a team." So much to learn...

This morning during LTP, Tonia was approached again and was told that Liam is skating and handling his stick and the puck well enough to play on a Mite House team this year instead of waiting until next. Guess I don't have to tell you Liam's reaction when Mommy asked him if he wanted to join a Mite House team. You may have heard his scream of joy.

Friday, September 14, 2007

No School...What to do...What to do...

School was out yesterday and today for Rosh Hashanah. Yesterday we packed Daddy's bag, went ice skating, and then drove Bobby to the airport (he went home to watch Kerry play in the All Ireland.)

Liam cried and cried as Bobby went through security. He continued to cry for the next hour, and talked about all the reasons why he loves his Daddy, and why he will miss him. At one point, Liam told me that he needed to go to the bathroom "really, really bad" and that he thought the best option would be to go back to the airport. When I said that we couldn't go back to the airport, but could stop someplace else, he was miraculously pee-free.

Today we decided that it would be fun to go apple picking in the Catskills. Liam's favorite food is the apple -- he is partial to Macintosh and Gala (and what ever Grandpa Tony's private stash is.) So he was one happy fella to learn that Macs are ripe and ready for picking. It looks like there aren't many people around because there weren't. We arrived at 9 a.m. when they opened, and practically had the place to ourselves for the next two hours. Liam and Mommy decided that it doesn't get any better than that.


After apple picking, Spiderman turned up for lunch and an afternoon of errands.
Wrecked after a long day.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

First Day with the Pirates

Liam started hockey practice this morning. He is on the Learn to Play team for the Pearl River Pirates. So cute to see a bunch of kindergartners skating around in full gear. They practice skating, and learn stick-handling and shooting. Liam did well this morning. We were surprised how comfortable he was with his stick. He skated right onto the ice with it like he had done it before.

We went to the rink a couple times last week so that he could get used to his gear (it's heavy and hot). They aren't allowed to have sticks on the ice unless it is "stick time" so he wasn't able to use it until this morning. He was so happy to have a stick and to be able to hit the puck. For two years he has been asking when he will be able to have a stick and puck. The day finally arrived!

Gearing-up. In an effort to save time we put on half his gear at home. You wouldn't believe all the stuff they wear -- everything is padded and protected.
Liam before practice. At first Mommy was a little nervous to go into the locker room, then she was told that it is a "mommy-friendly" locker room. These little guys can't get their gear on by themselves.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

1st Day of School

Yippee!!!! It's finally here. Liam's first day of Kindergarten. A certain 5-year-old had trouble getting to sleep last night because he was so excited.

Liam got ready this morning in half the time that it normally takes. We had a little issue getting him out of the bath and dressed, but after that he made up for lost time. He ate breakfast faster than we have ever seen, and then we were absolutely shocked when he got up and brushed his teeth without having to be asked. Brushing the teeth without a struggle is huge -- it is such a rare, rare occurrence.

He had his backpack on and was standing at the front door 40 minutes before the bus was to arrive. After 10 minutes of waiting inside he decided he needed to be at the bus stop -- "just in case the bus is early."

So proud of his new backpack. He wanted me to post more pictures of it at different angles, but figured I spare everyone.
Liam with his best friend, Nicky. Liam has the same teacher that Nicky had last year. It's all so exciting.
The bus!
Getting on the bus. Mommy cried of course.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Work, Work, Work

Liam doesn't start Kindergarten until Thursday, so he went to work with both Mommy and Daddy today.

He started off the day at work "teaching yoga" with Mommy (he demonstrated full cobra and handstand.) Then he was off to ice skate, home for a short swim, then back "working" with Daddy. His work with Mommy entailed doing a little yoga, and then hanging in the office and coloring. His work with Daddy (which he is dressed for in above photo) consisted of eating cookies, and playing tennis with the client's son.

This evening, just about bedtime, he tried to tell us that he needed to watch a movie so that he could rest after his hard day.

Sunday, September 2, 2007

"It was a great day, but...

"It was a great day, but I didn't get to skateboard." Or so Liam says.

Only a five-year-old could think that breakfast in bed, dancing with mommy to the "Hairspray" soundtrack, hitting balls at the driving range, miniature golf, swimming, shopping at Lowes (the clothes dryer died), dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant, shooting giant Nerf guns, chopping wood, enjoying a fire, playing a little baseball, and now watching a movie, isn't an outstanding day. I guess if you really want to skateboard, doing everything but is okay, but not the best.

The boys were treated to breakfast in bed. It wasn't planned that way, but two silly fellas kept yelling that they wouldn't come down stairs to eat -- they wanted "breaky" in bed. Weren't they surprised when they actually got it. Tonia drew the line when they asked for a bell in case they needed anything.

Liam and Bobby on the way to the driving range.

We heard a lot of "did you see that one?" And that wasn't only coming from Liam.

Daddy coaching Liam. (Absolutely love this shot.)


Although far from a golfer, Tonia hit a few as well. Early on she kept saying what a stupid game golf is. As she got better, and drove a few fairly far, she was heard to say how fun golf can be.

Once we finished at the driving range, we played miniature golf. What FUN!! We had a great time. Bobby won, but Tonia's score was very close. Bobby wants a re-match tomorrow. We had so much fun, we may very well play again Monday. Liam thought that the more strokes you got the better you did -- he eventually listened to Mommy and Daddy and figured out the objective (but not soon enough to be a contender.)
Liam took the photo of Tonia and Bobby.

Daddy and Liam after a yummy dinner at out fav Mexican restaurant.

Liam trying to shot the Nerf over the play structure. He thought that standing on the bench would improve his shot.

Liam posing with some wood he chopped. He chopped and chopped and chopped wood for 40 minutes. We made an awesome fire out of all that wood.

Finishing up outdoor time with baseball. One hit got the poor pitcher, Daddy, in the hand. All Bob could do was laugh, because he couldn't believe that the ball came back to him via the bat.

Liam does, however, need to work a on his pitching. Poor Daddy got it again in the hand. Oh well, what can you expect from a kindergarten pitcher.