Bugs Palace!

Well, been a ridiculous 2 months since I posted. So much happening I’ve simply not had time to post. I’ve been keeping a rough timeline as a draft so I could hopefully remember everything.. Lets see how much I miss ….. In roughly chronological order .. :

Firstly a couple Abigail updates. Abby has finished her first season? of gymnastics. She went once a week all winter and it came to conclusion in Cayuga at a demonstration night. For a girl who started the training without being able to do a cartwheel she has come so far. She practiced virtually non-stop doing the moves she had problems with and got so she’s a pro at them. And the strength this little girl has is unreal. Good job Abs!

While I’m on Abby, she also had her first communion at St. Mary’s church. Once again my angel made her Mommy and I very proud. All prettied up in her white dress, she did her reading and other obligations perfectly. Congratulations on the communion!

Speaking of Church …. (cheesy segue but I’m sticking with it)… Shannon and I took the kids down to Buffalo for their first concert!  Once again, Eric Church did NOT disappoint. The man puts on a phenomenal show. The kids loved it. Sadly it started pretty late on a Friday so they were pretty tired by time he got on stage and we only seen the first 3/4 of the show but watching both kids up on their feet singing and dancing and loving the music was great to see.

What else? Oh ya, a small thing called FLORIDA! Our long awaited trip finally came! May 15th Shannon and I packed the kids/dogs up in the Jeep and headed south towards Mickey Mouses house where we met up with Mom and Dad. We had two wonderful – and hot weeks in the sunshine state. While we were down there we made 5 trips to the Disney Theme Parks. Everyone had an awesome time. We even got Mom on Splash Mountain and a couple other rides! The kids went on pretty much every ride in each park. Only complaints were Joey did NOT like Tower of Terror, and I got sick as hell on Space Mountain. So bad, I had to leave the park for a couple hours. Funny thing was my Chive shirt got Mom/Dad and I a private boat ride back to the park instead of having to wait for a ferry for Mono-rail.

While in Florida Shannon and I made two day trips while Mom and Dad had the kids. First was over to Miami to see the Marlins play. Followed by a trip over to St. Petersburg the next day to see the Tamp Bay Rays play. Beautiful ballparks. Two more knocked off the list 😉

Annnd speaking of baseball (two segues in one blog?!)… Joey and Reese started their first (of hopefully many) season of baseball. T-Ball to be exact. Few things in life are cuter then watching 4-5 year old kids trying to figure out the game. They seem to be picking it up and enjoying it.  He says he likes being the pitcher and first base as they have get the most action. Keep up the good job buddy boy!

Also since we got home from Florida my parents celebrated their 40th anniversary.  Congratulations to the best parent’s anyone could ask for! I hope we be half as good to our kids as you guys have always been to Donna/Katie and I. Love you guys!

I know I missed a bunch of other stuff but I can only remember so much 🙂

Been a busy month, and looks like things aren’t gonna be letting up. Not complaining though. Spring has officially sprung! Warmer temps, sunshine and THE TRIUMPH is back on the road!!! So nice to get out, crack the throttle and have the warm air all around you and nothing but the sounds of the twin burbling and growling as I twist the throttle further! Hopefully this season will be LONG and full of lots of rides.  Gonna have to look into getting my full M this summer as well. Don’t want to wait till the very end (spring 2016).

Warmer weather also means goodbye winter tires, hello big summers! Truck washed up this week and it looks fantastic if I do say so myself. Very Darth Vadar-ish. LOVE IT.  Once we’re done our holidays, the truck is going DOWN! 4/6 like the previous one. Just need to pick the parts up on the trip and bring them home. Add a new windshield and she’s gonna look perfect.  In the mean time, I’ve been busy working with my mechanic to figure out a couple engine lights. Nothing major, just want to clean up the problems before modding anything else.

Last month Shannon and I celebrated our 37th birthdays. That number just doesn’t seem right for some reason. No matter how many times I do the math, I just can’t believe we’re that old. I will say it looks much better on my beautiful wife then it does me. Happy birthday baby, LOVE YA!

Also last month, we took Mom and Dad down to Niagara Falls to see Garth Brooks in concert. The man sure knows how to put on a show! Song, after song.. Hit after hit. You forget just how many awesome songs the man has put out in the passed 30 years. Hopefully Mom and Dad enjoyed it as much as we did. On a related note: the Easter Bunny brought Joey and Abby tickets to THEIR first concert. May 1st we head back to the Falls (NY) to see Eric Church. If it’s anything like the last show we went to of his, the kids will be in for a treat!

One month from today (May 15th) we’re heading back to Orlando to see Mickey, Minnie and all their friends. Just shy of two weeks of fun in the sun. While we are there we’re going to hit the 4 main Disney parks (including the time during Star Wars Weekends!). Kids are excited. Almost as much as the adults.. Almost.

Last weekend was my cousin Shea and his newlywed wife Erins’ wedding day. It was a beautiful service and a great reception. Congratulations guys! We wish you all the best and a lifetime of love.

Kid news: Abby is just finishing up her gymnastics for the season. She has done an amazing job this year. For a little girl who couldn’t do a cart wheel –> to the girl who now won’t stop doing them. She has come so far. Very proud of the hard work she has put into it. Coming very soon, Joey will be starting his first season of baseball (T-Ball) in Hagersville.  Hopefully he finds it as fun and rewarding as I always have. Good luck buddy! You’re gonna do great!

Speaking of Joe. Had one hell of a scare with him on Easter Sunday. He woke up in excruciating pain and couldn’t stand, straighten or move with out agony. I took him to Hagersville Hospital where they sent us on to Macmaster. Lots of blood work, lots of probing/pushing/touching/ultra sounds and xrays over a 13 hour period. After the scary – no one knows what’s wrong – period, they finally decided on an viral infection that settled into his hip joint. Got some meds into him and he started to move within the hour. 24 hours later and you’d never know he was the same kid. This is not an Easter that I would like to repeat.

I think that’s the bulk of it. I know I’ve missed some items like Mom and Dad getting a new car! CONGRATS! and likely many other things but my brain is numb and I’m out of words.

Until next time …..

Well it’s officially March. Couple more weeks till Winter is technically over and Spring truly begins. With any luck the weather will soon start to resemble that. Really hasn’t been too bad of a winter if I’m honest. Just seems worse due to the fact that it snowed pretty early in the season and never once fully melted so we’ve been covered in a blanket of white for nearly 5 full months.

With Donna/Grant and the kids leaving today for Florida  however, my patience for the winter is quickly starting to wear thin. The downside of being a car guy and owning a classic car, a motorcycle and a daily driven project truck is that 2 of my toys hibernate until the weather really improves and the 3rd vehicle is pretty much abused in the snow/salt and looks filthy while rolling on winter wheels till spring comes around. Pretty sure Shannon is sick of the soft top laying in the storage shed out back. They say good things come to those who wait : I say we’re due for some pretty awesome weather this summer. At least with her shiny new clutch she is able to get around once again.

Not much else to say today. Been beaten up all weekend with some pretty mind blowing migraines. On the upside : 6 days till Garth Brooks with Mom/Dad and the wifey.