Visiting the Baby REDBirds!

After the fabulous day at the zoo, we headed back to our hotel, donned all the RED we could and headed to the Memphis Redbird game! The boys were SO excited! This has been the first summer that all 3 of my boys are loving baseball - good thing too, because we planned some new stadium visits for the summer! :) Here is Nana, Papa, Uncle Bryan, the boys and Alyssa - check out where our seats were - fantastic!!!
We got there early so we could walk around and see everything - good thing too, because the kids definitely kept us busy!!! They got tattoos...as they are modeling on their arm!
And some amazing face - and arm paintings!!! Check out Alyssa!!!
Nick opted to get this NY Yankee "thing" on his arm!!!
Luke's fireball turned out HOT too!!!Jack, of course, had a YANKEE ball done too!!! There were also plenty of games for the boys to play!And snacks to eat, as Luke is enjoying his cotton candy!And then it was time for the game to begin! Here is Fredbird's cousin Redbird, starting the game!The game was great - the Redbirds won!!! To top of a most perfect day, there were FIREWORKS - and honestly they were amazing. Perhaps because we were sitting so close to the field where they were shooting them off! But, we were all trying to get pics!!! Here is Nana taking a stab at capturing the moment!Here is Alyssa and Uncle Bryan enjoying the show!And here is my shot - sad to say, but I have NEVER been able to snap any good pics of fireworks - even with my AWESOME camera!!!

A New Zoo!

Over Memorial Day, the boys and I traveled with Nana and Papa south to visit Uncle Bryan and Alyssa. (Dan had to stay back and work!) Of course we spent a lot of time swimming, but also headed to the Memphis zoo - our first time there, actually seeing the animals as we have gone to see the Christmas lights there, but never have been there during warm weather!

The camera got LOTS of work with these 4 smiling faces!!! We hadn't even made it IN to the zoo when this pic was snapped! :)
Nana and Papa with 4 of their 5 - almost 6 grandchildren as Henry was in IL and Aunt Jackie is expecting Baby Ben or Baby Emma next month!
The panda was my FAVE animal of the day!
While Buka liked Buddha!

While the day wasn't TOO terribly warm, I knew we were in trouble when I saw the sign for icees!!! All four cousins LOVED theirs and were happy to smile for this pic!There were LOTS of bears at the zoo - here Alyssa gets up close and personal with one!
Talk about "walking in Memphis!"
The boys (and Papa!) are looking at something...not exactly sure WHAT though!Wait for it...the kids actually ASKED to have their pic taken by the "waterfall!" Check out Alyssa - a little model in the making with that pose!
After a fun filled day we had just one more pic to take - Luke holding up the elephant - on our way out!
What an amazing zoo and another great day spent in Memphis!

Sister Cindy Says "Sianora!"

My dad's cousin, Cindy, got a new job in Missouri - near Jefferson City - serving as a nun in two (I think) Catholic churches. We wanted to send her off in true fashion - so we opted to go to the Greekfest for some ouzo! :)

Before...(Cindy, Dan and my dad's other cousin, Sandy)
...During...
...After!!!
Looks like Dan and Sandy enjoyed it - Sister Cindy??? :)

Here is the rest of our crew!
Minus the boys (Uncle Steve, Henry, Luke, Nick and Jack!) who were having a blast playing in the grass!
Or drinking their own fave beverage. Nick's choice was rootbeer!Another great GREEKFEST in the books!!!

School's Out for Summer!!!

At the end of May, the boys had their very last day of school! I took a half day off from work to be along for the ride of this very momentous day!!! Here are the three boys before we head to school!Nick's first grade teacher, Mrs. Evans, set up a special "viewing party" of the dvd she had made of all the pictures taken throughout the long year! Then we headed back to the classroom for a quick hug goodbye. Nick, Mrs. Evans and even I was crying - no joke!!! Here they are before the flood gates opened!!!
Jack LOVED his teacher - Mrs. Mondy too, although he has become way too cool to have his picture taken with his beloved teacher - at least in front of all of his classmates. Thankfully, he agreed to snap this quick pic on the wait out of school!
***I was SO looking forward to an amazing summer - and that is just what we had - unfortunately, as I write this, I am gearing up to start seeing students in just one short week!!! Where oh where does the time go???

A Night Out With Jon!

Dan and I - and 3 of my closest high school gals spent a night with Jon Bon Jovi! It was the last stop in his tour!
Here we are before the concert began! Even though Jon kept us waiting...I was still all smiles!
And how could I not be - he is such a cutie - and a great singer!!!
Dan ain't too shabby either! Check him out singing like a rockstar!!!
A late, but SUPER night!!! Until next time, Jon!!!

A Bouncing Birthday!

One week after we celebrated Jack's 9th birthday, it was time for more celebrating - this time for Nick's 7th birthday! For his birthday dinner, Nick chose Red Robin! Here he is - all smiles while the staff sing a fun rendition of Happy Birthday!
Just a few days later, he was able to run wild at his soccer/bouncer party at Vetta! The birthday boy was ALL soccer - I don't think he ever set foot on any of the bouncers!!! But boy, oh boy, did he enjoy playing soccer!
Even though Nick didn't try out any of the bouncers, Luke sure did enjoy them...(pardon the sock- not sure who that is...)
...so did I...(as I'm preparing to climb through one of the large inflatables there - with Aunt Jackie, Uncle Steve and Henry looking on - complete with camera!)
...and even after the slip n slide "incident" of last summer - so did Nana!
I do have to admit though, that the bouncers were SO much fun!!! Here are Luke and I enjoying the big bouncer!
Good thing Dan and Papa were there to keep an eye on us!!!
Before we knew it though, it was time for cake! Of course - SOCCER themed!!!
The smiling birthday boy strikes again!
After presents it was time for a picture of the crazy crew!!!
Happy birthday, to my snuggler, Nicky D!!!! We love you!!!

Just Another Birthday Dinner!

Jack had his 9th birthday party at The Edge and enjoyed Lazer Rock with about 10 of his close friends - unfortunately those pictures were lost in our computer crash! :( BUT, I did find these pics of Jack's actual 9th birthday - May 6, 2011 - as we watched yet another Cards game! He got smart on us - as we always let the boys choose where they want to eat for their birthday - Jack chose Busch Stadium!!! But first, we went to Cold Stone for some delish cake batter ice cream - instead of a birthday cake!
Then it was off to the stadium. We signed the boys up for the Cardinals Kids Crew - gotta love their Cards duffel bags...
...and Cardinals silly bands!
Since we already had our dessert, it was obviously time for dinner - hotdogs!!!
All in all, yet another awesome game at Busch - AND another win!
But the best part of the night was celebrating the birth of our oldest son, John Daniel Morra! We love you, Jack!!!