Boston Cole

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!  I love you little man, but you have been a pain in the boo-tay ever since the beginning!   

We took a trip to Boston, knowing all the while that two MAJOR events were in the works - #1 Baldo was going to propose to Amy and #2 we were hoping for a baby (boy).  That was May, nine months later, there you were.  I will never forget the day we went in for the sonogram, the tech said, "see that?  It's a boy" and your dad shouted he was SO happy ~that didn't happen when the tech told us "it's a girl" with your sister - so you can always hold that over her head ;)

Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself... After we got back from Boston I took two pregnancy tests - both said negative.  I was disappointed, but waited another week and took another one - it was positive!  It just so happened that we were having a bbq that night, Daddy, Tony Uncle Ricco, Ryan, Gina, Amy & Josh were all there, so Madi took the test in to show them, I really was pregnant all along!  (pain #1)  2 days before we were supposed to find out if you were a boy or a girl I started having problems, (pain #2) I went to the doctor and they did a sonogram, the tech asked me if I wanted to know if you were a boy or a girl - I told her no - your dad would have FLIPPED if I found out you were a boy before him!!  After that, pregnancy was a breeeeeeeeeeeze, delivery couldn't have been easier!  I thought for sure we were going to get another laid back, easy going kid, I couldn't have been more WRONG!  You were great for the first six weeks and then you flipped the switch!  You couldn't be consoled!  We didn't know, couldn't figure out what you didn't like.  From then on you have been a major pain in you know what!

The thing you seemed to hate the most was riding in a car - YOU.HATED IT.  When most babies would fall asleep after being in the car, you SCREAMED and screamed even more.  There were times I would have to pull over to the side of the road to console you, get back to driving only to have you do it again...ugh!  I pray your child doesn't pay you back for this!! 

Anyway, enough with how much of a pain you were & let's get on with what a JOY you are now.  OMG, you are the funniest little shit I know!  (and I know saying "shit" will make you laugh hysterically!)  I don't know WHERE you come up with half the things you say!  I would like to take credit, since I am rather witty (ha), but you my friend are an original!  You are gonna make some girl pee her pants some day - now THAT'S something to look forward to ;)

I love you little buddy, you're my space invader that I wish I could get rid of one minute and take back the next.  I love you more than you could ever imagine.  You are one of the most caring people I know (even though you have that Bruce temper) and you make me laugh the way only a few people can.  I'm so glad that God blessed me with you!  Thank you for still calling me MOMMY and being my BABY!  I love you Boston Cole!

**as with everything else that involves Boston - I had SO many more pictures, but when I went to make the collage, they disappeared, making the second time lucky it happend!!

Balentime's Day

or should I say week?!  Our Valentine's festivities started on the 10th because that is when the school parties were.  Madi & Boston made BEAUTIFUL cards for everyone in their classes (with a lot of help from our friend Becky).  Everyone in Boston's class thought his Valentine's were "dino"mite!  Madi's class on the other hand probably wasn't too impressed with her STORE BOUGHT cards because she lost all of the cards she made.  No idea where they are, I'm sure we'll find them in a couple weeks!  Go figure.

My little Prince Charming

Rockin' it on Valentine's Day

Tuesday came and the kids woke up to donuts and a few Valentine surprises.  They both got a chocolate basketball heart and a paddle ball game.  Boston got some new baseball cards (no Red Sox players - waaah) and Madi got some mint chocolate chip gum (she LOVES mint chocolate chip ice cream!!).  Nothing crazy, just a couple small items to say HAPPY HEART DAY!

DJ surprised me with a dozen chocolate covered strawberries from Snowball {YUM!!} and this ring:

It is something I've wanted for a while, but just told him about around Christmas - Madi's birthstone is the sapphire.  There is another ring on it's way with amethyst stones, which is DJ & Boston's birthstone.  I was really surprised & can't wait to get the other ring so I can wear them together!

Because the way to a man's heart is through his stomach I brought DJ a burrito for breakfast from Sonic.  Don't be jealous of my thoughtfulness ;)  DJ had to work Valentine's day so I made plans to take him for sushi on Thursday night.  We went to Kato in North Kansas City and tried quite a few different things.  I'm not a huge fish fan so this was all about him, he picked and everything we got was good!  We came back to town, met some friends at Rosie's and had a great time laughing it up while DJ reminisced with an old "friend".

Boston gets PISSED!!

Boston woke up with a stomach ache this morning. He's not much of a morning person, so I was a little leery about this stomach issue... off to the shower for him. After the shower he still insisted about his stomach, even after I told him he would miss his soccer game he said he was SICK! After Madi & DJ left he threw up in my bed. Sheets are stripped & washed, we watch a movie in his room then take a nap. After we wake up, he's hungry and feeling SO much better. We call DJ to see if he wants to go to "shubway" with us. At lunch he informs us that he is sure he is well enough to play in his soccer game tonight. Just by looking at him you can tell him he is not well but game time was still hours away so nothing to get all worked up about. By the end of lunch DJ & I agreed that he shouldn't play

As we were getting ready to leave the house to take Madi to dance a major meltdown occurred! Whoa, I did not see that coming. Serious meltdown, couldn't, wouldn't get shoes on "until you tell me I can go to my game". Excuse me?! Some threats of no basketball on Saturday were made and shoes were put on. The whole way to dance (all of 2 minutes, but trust me it seemed like longer) he continued to ask about going to his game, FINALLY, brilliant me quit arguing with him...Why did it take me this long to say "listen, there's nothing to discuss, your dad & I already talked about it & you're not playing tonight, this is not a punishment, but a way to help you get healthy so you can play in your basketball game on Saturday & in your soccer game next week."

On the way home from dropping Madi off we see Rick & Sheila at O'Reilly's, so I pulled in so Boston could say hi, he wouldn't speak except to say "I feel fine & I want to play in my game" Sheila told him he didn't look like he felt good, but he just wasn't hearing it. He wouldn't tell them goodbye or anything. We left & came home, walked in the door & the pleading began again, this time with some serious looks on his part.  I think he was trying to kill me with his eyes ;)  I had to walk behind him so he couldn't see me almost burst out in laughter at the looks on his face.  I pointed him to the stairs and told him he was to go to time-out until he could pull himself together.  He came out of his room telling me he really thought he could have played his game and I told him we were not going to discuss it anymore tonight, he finally dropped it.  After we picked Madi up from dance we came home and were hanging out while she did her homework and I looked at him and said, "buddy how are you feeling?", he said "OK".  I asked him "now that your game is over & there is no chance we can make it, do you think you should have played or do you think it was better that you stayed home to get a chance to feel better?" his answer "I don't know" he said it all soft like he knew the answer but didn't want to talk about it.  He was over being pissed and loved mommy again.  All was right in his world again apparently.

So glad that's over!  Now let's hope he doesn't get sick next week & have to miss another game, I'm not sure I could go through this again - or maybe I should just let him play and get sick all over the court?!  OK, maybe not.

Best Call EVER!

So Monday I had to go to Manhattan to teach Linda how to do our payroll, it's not exactly the reason I want to go to Manhattan, but hey, I get to be in the land of purple AND see one of my BF's, I'm not gonna turn it down.  Well, everything went well while I was there and on the way home I got a phone call from someone in Atchison.  I usually don't answer numbers that I don't know, but I was driving and bored, so I figured, why not. 

It was Boston's teacher.  All of a sudden I wished I hadn't answered!  Low and behold she wasn't calling because he had done anything wrong - just the opposite!!  WHA?!  She told me that she was just calling to tell me how much she enjoyed having Boston in class and that he was doing well academically AND socially.  THANK YOU was all I could say.  I was still wondering what was coming next, BUT.... but there was no but.  She said, that's all, I just wanted to let you know how well he's doing.  THANK YOU again was all that I could get out.  I was in shock.  1. because he is not the best child at home and 2. I've never had this happen before!

I don't care if she called every other parent in her class and said the exact same thing - IT.MADE.MY.DAY.  I couldn't wait to get home to give my little guy a big hug!

When I got home I looked at Boston &

Me:  Boston, Mrs. Regan called me today on my way home.
BB:  She did?
Me:  Yes, do you know why she would be calling me?
BB:   No.
Me:  Are you always good at school?
BB:   Yes.
Me:  Are you sure you're never bad?
BB:  Yes.
Me:  Well, that's pretty much what she told me, she said you're good & that she enjoys having you in her class.

He was all smiles, I gave him a hug & told him to keep up the good work!

January...

Since I'm a little behind, an update will have to do....

Madi & Boston both started basketball, they have practice once a week & games on Saturdays - they both love it!  Madi is the only girl on her team & one probably 3-4 girls in the league, doesn't seem to bother her!  Boston doesn't like that you can't steal the ball, rebound or take another shot at the basket, but next year he'll be able to move up, so for now, he's "dealing" with it ;)

2 kids, 2 games, 1 gym, same time!

Madi also started Jazz & Ballet classes two times a week.  She is THRILLED to be back in dance and she seems to like this studio more than the last!  Boston will start indoor soccer next week!

KState didn't win the Cotton Bowl, but that didn't stop us from getting all geared up in our purple & cheering them on!!

paws up!

I went to Kansas City last weekend to celebrate Cortney & Amber's birthdays and to see Randy Rogers Band in concert... it was a GREAT reunion!  11 girls and not one single incident within our group!!  Unfortunately {possibly a blessing in disguise} I didn't take my phone with me so I have no pics from that night :(

Adios 2011

Holy shnizballs!! Has another year gone by us?!  {BTW, I started this blog .... 15+ days ago, oops} {more like 30+ days ago now}

Actually, this is the first year in a long time that it does seem appropriate to say "WHERE HAS THE YEAR GONE?!"  At this time last year I had done so much the last week of the year that this year's Holiday festivities seemed incredibly laid back in comparison.  Last year we had McD's for Christmas Eve dinner while we worked on things at Willie's & Casey's General Store (gas station) pizza for Christmas dinner while we stuffed menu's & hung more Christmas decorations to help hide the fact that all of our woodwork wasn't finished.  Matt, Robbie & I prepped in the kitchen until the wee hours to make sure things were ready for the opening the following day.  I think I left around 1:30 and the boys stayed for QUITE a while after that, then we all showed up by 8am the next day. . . . boy am I glad that's over!!  The next few days just ran together until it was a full week, I don't think any of us even knew one day from the other.  The day before NYE I was driving to Kansas City to pick up my Casey Lee so that she could help work NYE only to find out I was driving too fast to get back & got a ticket!!! I was so exhausted that I didn't even care, it was all about getting back home!

The year has come & gone, and we all survived!!!  Here are some of the Bruce Fam Highlights from 2011, because I know everyone can't live without them!

~january

Little Miss got her adenoids removed!  She was the worst kind of sleeper possible & couldn't eat with her mouth closed.  She always had a hard time breathing while playing sports, but after her surgery, she is a GREAT sleeper and has no problem eating!  Woo Hoo!!

Not a lot else to report - there was a LOT of workin' goin on!

~february

Madi played indoor soccer & for the first time in her soccer career DIDN'T place first! {gasp!}

Boston played bitty basketball at the YMCA in St. Joe with Carter - he absolutely LOVED it!!

Boston turned F.I.V.E. years old!  FIVE!  On his birthday we surprised him with a four-wheeler...

~march

biggest event of the year  . . . . we SOLD our house in Manhattan & moved into our house in Atchison, "Oh, What A Feelin'"

We Finally celebrated Boston's birthday!

Madi & Boston played outdoor soccer and of course Madi's team won 1st - AGAIN ;)  Boston's team, not so much.

~april

Sarah's bachelorette party in Manhattan!

Who wants a mostly all expenses paid vacay to VEGAS with the Hall's?!  This couple does!  Thanks Sysco!

could you ask for a better view??

Sarah & Derek tie the knot

Our Willie's Family!

~may

Brad & Abby tie the knot

one of the funnest nights I've had in Atchison . . . still! 

We're working on a sequel (anniversary party), right Abby?!

Gina visits!!
unfortunately I didn't get any pictures with mama to be!  She was so adorably cute 8 months pregnant & I'm so glad her & Shane came to visit!!  Now.... we just need to make a plan to visit them!


T-ball & Softball start

1st place {again} :)

~june

First trip to Hanover, days of '49.  Let's just say, Hanover didn't disappoint!

This is the Czech band that Sara could NOT stop talking about - they were pretty cool!

Float trip
Annual girls only  float trip in Noel, MO.

"Some of your WORST influences turn out to be your BEST friends!"

WOF
Who doesn't love a trip to Worlds of Fun?  The kids are not scared of ANYTHING!  And while I'm not scared of EVERYTHING, my stomach is.  I didn't used to mind riding all these rides, but now, eh, I'm scared of throwing up afterwards!  Thankfully, they had plenty of people with NO PROBLEMS riding the rides... Cody, Jenn, DJ, Mike, Brandon, JoJo.

this was after their first roller coaster - Spinning Dragons

the Detonator with Uncle Mike

Carter HATED this ride, I had to ask them to stop it!  Madi finished it off by herself.

Fury of the Nile with JoJo

Madi & Boston climbing!!

We had a bit of flooding this summer.  After us living in Rushville with Mammo & Papa it was our turn to return the favor.  Sheila moved in with us during the week & went home on the weekends.  The normal 10-15 minute drive now took an hour since the highway was flooded over.  We took a picture in front of the same tree over the course of June, we could have gotten a few more pictures except there was no room to take them.

06.09.11

06.14.11

06.21.11

06.22.11

06.23.11

06.28.11

I started blogging in July, and since this is the beginning of February already, I've decided NOT to finish the rest of my 2011 update.  Maybe next year I'll get a jump on this whole thing {knowing me, probably not}