Welcome!

We're just a family, living in Buffalo, NY trying to raise some kids, and have some fun while doing it. He's a computer guy and she works in a hospital. Two little boys (ages 3 and 2) who have everyone they know wrapped around their tiny, little fingers.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Eat, Drink and Be Married


On Saturday, August 22, 2011, two friends of mine joined hands and became one, and they were kind enough to not only invite me and my family, but include my oldest son in their wedding party, as the very punk-rock ring bearer!

Last year, the bride asked me for permission to use Danny as her ring bearer. Knowing my son, I hesitated, and was going to say no, but after I made her promise she was not going to be upset if he didn't do what she wanted him to do on that day. (Anyone with a 3 year old knows that they can turn on you at anytime, good parenting or bad, especially with lack of naps on busy days like that!) She smiled, said 'no of course not' and the rest is history!

The Wedding Weekend started off with me and the boys helping out one of the bridesmaids (and sister of the groom) with set-up for the rehearsal dinner. We set tables and rearranged and decorated. Then after no naps (great start to a busy weekend) we showered and dressed and we were off to the Church for rehearsal. Thankfully, it was at our home parish (Holy Angels) so Danny knew the church well (and we practiced walking up the aisle after mass one Sunday) so everything seemed to go well. (Plus, he and the flower girl) were being escorted by the very lovely Maid of Honor. Then it was off to party! Good food, some drinks, great friends. And the priest said something that I liked. He said a good marriage consists of 3 bones. 1. A backbone. 2. A wishbone 3. A Funny bone. And he added my favorite, "Bon Apetit." And after some alcoholic consumption and lots of chatting, it was time to go home to get some sleep for the big day.

We woke up, I made some waffles for breakfast, and it was time to get dressed. And, the ring bearer was already being difficult. He didn't want to take a shower and we had to do his hair, get him dressed, plus get ourselves dressed drop Liam off with my parents (thank God for them so we could focus on keeping Danny happy), and get to the groom's house by noon.

Danny walked down the aisle nicely, and I'm convinced it was because Meghan held his hand the entire way. After a few minutes of arguing with him that he couldn't see Daddy, he decided to take a nap during the ceremony. Sleeping on the kneeler, the pew and using the ring pillow as a pilllow for his head all happened. But, when it was time for walking back down the aisle with me and the flower girl and her mother, he walked very nicely.

After lots of pictures, it was time to get Liam back from my parents (they and he were at the wedding but left so that he could possibly take a nap) and pick up our babysitter for Liam for the evening, and off to party at Pearl Street Bar and Grill.

Danny was very excited to do some dancing with me, which we did, but first he had to dance with the flower girl. I hate to admit it, but people were more interested in Danny and the flower girl dancing then the bride and groom and their wedding party. But at least the bride and groom were pleased to see them together, and we all have dreams in our eyes of my son marrying the flower girl in 25 or 30 years, and using the photos from this wedding in their wedding video. And of course incorporating the bride and groom in the future wedding, since they are the reason Danny and his future bride met. After much partying, it was time to go home and get some sleep.

And to top the weekend off, the bride and groom hosted a picnic for the wedding party and out of town relatives. My heart broke a little bit when Danny ignored the flower girl the entire picnic, except the end when they hugged and kissed again. But she will learn soon enough that boys love to play hockey, soccer, baseball and frisbee and that a lot of the times, that will come first. (But as long as the girls stick together and the boys are happy, everyone is happy!)

I am so glad for the bride and groom, it was a long time coming, and I'm so glad that they can join the "Happily Married" club. We're always accepting new members!

Who's next??? :)

Also, I lost my camera so I didn't get many pictures myself. But I think that was God's way of telling me it's time for a new camera (since it's on it's way to being broken) and my birthday is coming up soon! :) (I just hope it gets found soon since I have some pictures on there that I would like. It's somewhere between my house and car...)

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Back to School To Prove To Daddy I'm Not a Fool


The Erie County Fair in Buffalo means that it's the end of summer, shortly.

We have a busy weekend coming up. Our friends, Steve and Amanda, are finally tieing the knot after 11 years of being together. And they had graciously asked if Danny would be their ring bearer for the ceremony. We have his tuxedo, his purple tie and his purple chucks. His mohawk has been trimmed and ready to be stood up, and sprayed purple. We have the rehearsal and dinner on Friday, the big day on Saturday and the picnic hosted by the bride and groom on Sunday. Pictures to follow, of course.

The main reason for this blog post, as indicated by the title, is Danny is going to school. We have settled on the Pre-K 3 program at Catholic Academy of West Buffalo. He will be going on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8am to 11am.

It was an easy decison, but bittersweet of course. Danny is starting a new chapter in his life, and of course I'm emotional about it. He is not excited, but I think it's because he doesn't know what to be excited about. I'm definitely excited for him. And I'm excited that Liam will be getting some one on one time.

It's going to be tough, for me, getting up and out of the house by 7:30am to get him to school on time, but at least it's only 2 days a week. It'll be tougher, next year, when he'll be going 5 days a week.

The other thing that will be tough is I'm not so sure how Danny is going to manage going to school. I have a feeling I will be staying, at least the first day, or he's going to have a fit. He needs this because his socialization with adults other than family, and children other than Liam, is supremely limited. (One reason I chose Pre-K 3 over regular Pre-K.)

Which brings me to my 3rd worry. Danny is so suprememly socially underdeveloped. I am seriously hoping this will change, especially since he won't have someone to hide behind. We recently went to a family party, and there were lots of little children, all around. I found Danny, playing in the corner, by himself. I had to encourage him to play with the other children. Thankfully there was a little girl, who also struck me as very shy, and took Danny under her wing and tried to play with him, even though he was oblivious to her.

When I enrolled him in Pre-K 3, I was told I had the option of skipping Pre-K 3 and just going right to regular Pre-K. He is super smart. Knows all his colors and the alphabet and on a good day will count to forty for you. But the lack of socialization and the fact that his birthday is so late in the year (December), I decided to keep him back. So he will be the oldest (or one of the oldest) children in his class.

We only have a few more weeks to enjoy his freedom, but enjoy them, we will.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

As the weeks get closer to August 20th, my friends wedding is quickly approaching.

Danny is her ring bearer and his toddler tuxedo is in. (If anyone needs a 3t toddler tux after August 20th, you can definitely borrow it!) His purple chucks were ordered and will soon be in our position. Danny still needs a haircut, but his mohawk is coming in nicely and we have purple hairspray that will hopefully work.

Last night, was the Bachelor/Bachlorette Party so Dan and I went our separate ways to party with the Bride and Groom. (And the children spent that night at their grandparents house.)

The ladies had a very tame evening, and that's ok with me; I had a great time. Dinner at Kyoto and dessert at Melting Pot. Some drinks, some food and some great company. And maybe some dirty remarks to our very cute, very young (and possibly gay) waiter at Melting Pot. :)

I am very excited for the upcoming festivites with those ladies (and to see my very cute toddler as the ring bearer.) Rehearsal dinner, Wedding and after-Wedding picnic.

Pictures of the very cute ring bearer all dressed up to come later.