Thursday, December 29, 2016
Christmas Day, 2016!!
It's Christmas!! This is Matty! Everyone had a great Christmas, and we all got the gifts we wanted, Kerri, My Mom, got a Plate with our Papa's face on it, and a book full of pictures of our cats. My Dad Jim, got an ornament with our Mimi's picture on it. Sophie got an American Girl Doll, and she got some barbies, and I got a Play Station 4, and I got NBA 2K17, Madden '17, etc. for it. I woke up at around 6:00, and waited until around 6:45 to wake everyone up to open presents (My Mom set her alarm for 7:00.). We had told our Elf On The Shelves, Bob and Zoey, to stay until we leave for our Grammy's house in the morning, and they did. They watched us open every present that we got from our Parents, and Santa. As for Charlie, she got some Chicken Flavored Treats from Santa, and some Toys that she chewed up in 5 minutes, from us. When we headed to Grammy's House, We got Gift Cards, Toys, and For me, I got a Tyrod Taylor Jersey, for the Buffalo Bills. Let's hope he doesn't get traded!! Also, a few days before Christmas, we had a party for our Aunt Barb's birthday. There, I got a $25 Amazon Gift Card, and the gift that I wanted the most the entire year (Behind My Play Station 4), A Russell Westbrook Jersey, The All-Star Point Guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He wears #0 because he says "When you've been through things, #0 is like a new beginning number.". We played Headbands, which was super fun because Grammy was asking things like "Am I an animal?" And we would say yes. But then the next question she would ask would be "Am I an apple?". We had a fun day all around, and I might call it the Best Christmas Ever!!!!!
Monday, December 19, 2016
Christmas time, 2016
Greetings, all. It's Monday, December 19....just six days from the big day.
It has been a tough couple of months for us. On October 6, we lost our 17-year-old cat Cosette, whom we called "Coco." She lived a long life, and I think she loved her house on Lost Feather. And then last week, December 15, we lost 16-year-old Marius. Mar Mar had such a great personality. I truly believe he thought he was a dog.
I'll never forget Mar's comeback. She was attacked in the woods behind our house on October 3, 2013....she limped to the front of the house looking for us, bloodied and cut. It took $1,700 worth of stitches and medical care....two weeks where he was confined to the office upstairs....wearing a cone over her head...but he made it all the way back. So proud of that cat. As Matty reminded me this week, I said then, "Any other cat would've gone into the woods to die. But not Mar. He loved life too much."
God bless our kittens.
As for Christmas, it's our first without Mimi, but we are trying to enjoy it. Last year's Christmas season was so stressful. Mimi was in rapidly failing health. Mom and I have done our best to make the house warm and full of lights and color. And we have our two elves, Bob and Zoey, who move around every night after they return from the North Pole!!! It's so much fun having them around. We went to see Santa at Eastview Mall last week, and it was the REAL Santa! He said hi to both of you by name. So cool. Sophie told Santa she wants an American Girl doll, and Matty said he wants a Playstation 4. We'll see what the big guy thinks!!!
We will go to Uncle Doug's and Aunt Terry's on Christmas Eve, and then Grammy's on Christmas Day. I hope everyone gets what they asked for!
Matty was sidelined from CYO basketball with a sore right arm for a few weeks before and after Thanksgiving. He even had an MRI and x-rays. But he's back playing now, and it's so much fun.
It has been a tough couple of months for us. On October 6, we lost our 17-year-old cat Cosette, whom we called "Coco." She lived a long life, and I think she loved her house on Lost Feather. And then last week, December 15, we lost 16-year-old Marius. Mar Mar had such a great personality. I truly believe he thought he was a dog.
I'll never forget Mar's comeback. She was attacked in the woods behind our house on October 3, 2013....she limped to the front of the house looking for us, bloodied and cut. It took $1,700 worth of stitches and medical care....two weeks where he was confined to the office upstairs....wearing a cone over her head...but he made it all the way back. So proud of that cat. As Matty reminded me this week, I said then, "Any other cat would've gone into the woods to die. But not Mar. He loved life too much."
God bless our kittens.
As for Christmas, it's our first without Mimi, but we are trying to enjoy it. Last year's Christmas season was so stressful. Mimi was in rapidly failing health. Mom and I have done our best to make the house warm and full of lights and color. And we have our two elves, Bob and Zoey, who move around every night after they return from the North Pole!!! It's so much fun having them around. We went to see Santa at Eastview Mall last week, and it was the REAL Santa! He said hi to both of you by name. So cool. Sophie told Santa she wants an American Girl doll, and Matty said he wants a Playstation 4. We'll see what the big guy thinks!!!
Matty was sidelined from CYO basketball with a sore right arm for a few weeks before and after Thanksgiving. He even had an MRI and x-rays. But he's back playing now, and it's so much fun.
Monday, September 5, 2016
The Summer of '16: Hot, dry, and full of fun
Hi all,
It's Labor Day: Sept. 5, 2016. School starts in two days - fifth grade for Matty and first grade for Sophie. I feel so blessed and lucky to have such beautiful, smart children.
As I write this, your Grammy is here. She has been staying with us since Saturday. We really enjoy having her. She stayed for quite a spell in July - nearly two weeks with a couple of days break in the middle - while Aunt Julie and Val were on vacation in Europe.
So, as summer (sigh) draws to a (sigh) close, here are the highlights:
- We went to Seabreeze - twice! The first one didn't turn out great. Matty had a ball on the BearTrax ride (junior rollercoaster), but then he and I made the ill-fated decision to ride the Tilt with Sophie. It basically goes left and right, left and right, and churns your stomach for several minutes. Sophie
loved it and said she wanted to "thank whoever invented this!" Matty and I hated it, but I brushed it off. Matty, however, felt sick to his stomach and soon was resting at Grammy's, just down the road. So he didn't get to enjoy the Water Park. He wanted to go back, however, and this past Saturday we did just that. And while Sophie enjoyed her first times on the tube slide during our first visit, this time it was Matty's turn! He really enjoyed it as well. We just love Seabreeze. It's so summery...
- Sophie went to see her first pop idol: Sabrina Carpenter of the Disney TV show Girl Meets World. Mom and Auntie E took her to Darien Lake in June, and they stayed the night. She had a blast!
- Matty and I went to Fenway Park with Uncle Doug and Cousin Mark on Saturday, July 23. The Sox lost to the Twins, but we had a great time! The Twins third base coach, Gene Glynn, was the Red Wings manager and got us tickets. He also gave Matty an MLB baseball. And we stayed at my favorite Boston hotel, The Midtown. Good times! (We even talked to and from the hotel to the ballpark on a very warm evening).
- Baseball was a big part of our lives this spring/summer. Sophie played softball (along with soccer) and often had two games on the same Saturday. Matty played Little League baseball for TK's Pizzeria and made the All-Star 10-Under B team. He got to compete with a great bunch of kids with the tournament mostly in Greece. They made it to the semifinals before losing to eventual champion Gates.
- Matty and I went to a Red Wings game with his buddy Jake and Jake's dad, Jeff. Matty also went to a game with his cousin Colby and Colby's friend, Max. And then the four of us - Mom, Dad, Matty, Sophie - went to a game last Thursday. The Wings won 1-0, and we sat right behind home plate! Sophie got over her fear of Spikes and Mittsy by hugging both of them. A great night.
- Ice cream was a big part of our lives, too! We went to the Pittsford Dairy, the Chill and Grill in Palmyra, Tom Wahl's, and Papa Jack's in Victor. We went yesterday to a place called Seneca Farms (with Grammy) in Penn Yan. We loved the fried chicken there but didn't get the ice cream because we were so full. I really wanted a banana milkshake! We are going tonight to the Chill and Grill!
- We swam A LOT in our pool. I mean, a lot. This was one of the greatest summers in our lives. Very warm, very little rain, just a great old-fashioned summer! We love our pool. Matty got inspired by the swimmers at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and has been practicing the backstroke, breaststroke and other moves. He looks like a natural! Sophie must have jumped into the pool 1,000 times this summer.
- We took our annual week-long summer vacation to Fair Haven in early August. It was so much fun. Matty learned how to kayak by himself! We will be back next year, too.
- Matty and I watched a lot of Red Sox games on our MLB app. The Sox are actually good this year, so it made for some fun (and occasionally frustrating) viewing.
- We hosted our annual Memorial Day picnic for both families, and we went to the Fourth of July parade and then Uncle Doug and Aunt Terry's for a picnic. We took Grammy to that one. We sure did miss Missy, though. We also took Grammy to the Penfield fireworks the Saturday before the Fourth. We sat in the van at the Target parking lot. It was a great show!
- We went to Julie Stuart's annual "school is over" party in late June, and we hosted a "Neighborhood Hooky Day' for the neighbors the following week. Lots of swimming, food, and laughs.
- We went to a drive-in movie! We drove to Avon to see Pete's Dragon, a Disney film, along with Aunt Julie, Val, Sara and her kids Colby, Jackson and Maddox. I liked the atmosphere of the drive-in, but not so much the movie.
- Matty had sleepovers at Jake and Caden's house, and he had Brady sleep over here. And Sophie had a kindergarten reunion with her buddies Natalie, Lily, Maddie, Ally, Cassidy and Madeline.
- Aunt Bars retired from ThermoFisher after 43 years! This happened last week. What will she do with her time? Also, Matty got glasses and Sophie lost her two front teeth!
It was a fun summer but a different one. This was the first summer Mom and Dad weren't here at home for most of it. In the past, I always have the Red Wings games at night. Last summer, I started working at the University of Rochester but Mom lost her job at the dentist office. She is now working for a dermatologist right down the road. Haley Indorato and (sometimes) Erin Lally were your sitters. It had its moments, but we got through it OK.
- Tuesdays were fun for you guys, too, because Grammy and Aunt Lisa came over to spend the day with you and Mom.
I hate when summer ends, but I know fall will be fun, too. And before we know it, we will be planning our "bucket list" for another fun summer!
Love you so much,
Dad
It's Labor Day: Sept. 5, 2016. School starts in two days - fifth grade for Matty and first grade for Sophie. I feel so blessed and lucky to have such beautiful, smart children.
As I write this, your Grammy is here. She has been staying with us since Saturday. We really enjoy having her. She stayed for quite a spell in July - nearly two weeks with a couple of days break in the middle - while Aunt Julie and Val were on vacation in Europe.
So, as summer (sigh) draws to a (sigh) close, here are the highlights:
- We went to Seabreeze - twice! The first one didn't turn out great. Matty had a ball on the BearTrax ride (junior rollercoaster), but then he and I made the ill-fated decision to ride the Tilt with Sophie. It basically goes left and right, left and right, and churns your stomach for several minutes. Sophie
- Sophie went to see her first pop idol: Sabrina Carpenter of the Disney TV show Girl Meets World. Mom and Auntie E took her to Darien Lake in June, and they stayed the night. She had a blast!
- Matty and I went to Fenway Park with Uncle Doug and Cousin Mark on Saturday, July 23. The Sox lost to the Twins, but we had a great time! The Twins third base coach, Gene Glynn, was the Red Wings manager and got us tickets. He also gave Matty an MLB baseball. And we stayed at my favorite Boston hotel, The Midtown. Good times! (We even talked to and from the hotel to the ballpark on a very warm evening).
- Baseball was a big part of our lives this spring/summer. Sophie played softball (along with soccer) and often had two games on the same Saturday. Matty played Little League baseball for TK's Pizzeria and made the All-Star 10-Under B team. He got to compete with a great bunch of kids with the tournament mostly in Greece. They made it to the semifinals before losing to eventual champion Gates.
- Matty and I went to a Red Wings game with his buddy Jake and Jake's dad, Jeff. Matty also went to a game with his cousin Colby and Colby's friend, Max. And then the four of us - Mom, Dad, Matty, Sophie - went to a game last Thursday. The Wings won 1-0, and we sat right behind home plate! Sophie got over her fear of Spikes and Mittsy by hugging both of them. A great night.
- Ice cream was a big part of our lives, too! We went to the Pittsford Dairy, the Chill and Grill in Palmyra, Tom Wahl's, and Papa Jack's in Victor. We went yesterday to a place called Seneca Farms (with Grammy) in Penn Yan. We loved the fried chicken there but didn't get the ice cream because we were so full. I really wanted a banana milkshake! We are going tonight to the Chill and Grill!
- We swam A LOT in our pool. I mean, a lot. This was one of the greatest summers in our lives. Very warm, very little rain, just a great old-fashioned summer! We love our pool. Matty got inspired by the swimmers at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and has been practicing the backstroke, breaststroke and other moves. He looks like a natural! Sophie must have jumped into the pool 1,000 times this summer.
- We took our annual week-long summer vacation to Fair Haven in early August. It was so much fun. Matty learned how to kayak by himself! We will be back next year, too.
- Matty and I watched a lot of Red Sox games on our MLB app. The Sox are actually good this year, so it made for some fun (and occasionally frustrating) viewing.
- We hosted our annual Memorial Day picnic for both families, and we went to the Fourth of July parade and then Uncle Doug and Aunt Terry's for a picnic. We took Grammy to that one. We sure did miss Missy, though. We also took Grammy to the Penfield fireworks the Saturday before the Fourth. We sat in the van at the Target parking lot. It was a great show!
- We went to Julie Stuart's annual "school is over" party in late June, and we hosted a "Neighborhood Hooky Day' for the neighbors the following week. Lots of swimming, food, and laughs.
- We went to a drive-in movie! We drove to Avon to see Pete's Dragon, a Disney film, along with Aunt Julie, Val, Sara and her kids Colby, Jackson and Maddox. I liked the atmosphere of the drive-in, but not so much the movie.
- Matty had sleepovers at Jake and Caden's house, and he had Brady sleep over here. And Sophie had a kindergarten reunion with her buddies Natalie, Lily, Maddie, Ally, Cassidy and Madeline.
- Aunt Bars retired from ThermoFisher after 43 years! This happened last week. What will she do with her time? Also, Matty got glasses and Sophie lost her two front teeth!
It was a fun summer but a different one. This was the first summer Mom and Dad weren't here at home for most of it. In the past, I always have the Red Wings games at night. Last summer, I started working at the University of Rochester but Mom lost her job at the dentist office. She is now working for a dermatologist right down the road. Haley Indorato and (sometimes) Erin Lally were your sitters. It had its moments, but we got through it OK.
- Tuesdays were fun for you guys, too, because Grammy and Aunt Lisa came over to spend the day with you and Mom.
I hate when summer ends, but I know fall will be fun, too. And before we know it, we will be planning our "bucket list" for another fun summer!
Love you so much,
Dad
Friday, June 17, 2016
Feeling melancholy - but so grateful
The title says it all. I'm in a melancholy mood. The weekend is here, we have a neighborhood party tonight, and Father's Day is Sunday. But I'm a little blue. Matty only has two days left in fourth grade, and Sophie has two days left in kindergarten. It is all happening too fast.
I wish time could stand still. I wish summer could last for 15 (20?) weeks instead of 10. I wish we could hit the pause button and enjoy what we have.
Sometimes, I will be sitting in the living room watching TV. Mom and Sophie are sharing the recliner (LOL). Matty is on the couch, headphones on, watching YouTube videos or the Red Sox on the MLB app. Charlie is next to me, licking my face. And I try to freeze time, and take it all in. To treasure it.
But it doesn't work like that. Time keeps ticking. 5 p.m .becomes 6 p.m. Friday becomes Saturday.
We can't stop time, guys. All we can do is treasure our time.
I love you all - Kerri, Matty and Sophie - more than I can ever describe. When I think of all those years I wondered if I would ever find the right person to share my life with and have kids with. And the thought of kids was so exhilarating (and scary) but also far away. Like another planet.
I would say that you are my dream children, but I never dreamed of children as beautiful as you. Yes, you fight with each other and you talk back to Mom and Dad, but I melt when I see you. Matty, you are so smart and inquisitive, and you have gone from a shy boy to an outgoing person who always tell us, or Grammy, "I love you."
Sophie, you are the sweetest 6-year-old I've ever met. I love your sensitivity, the love you have in your heart, how you never, ever want to hurt anyone's feelings. I feel your pain as you are sad about the end of kindergarten. I know how that feels. I am experiencing it myself.
Kerri, we are living the dream. I get sad when we waste a day with a stupid quarrel. I want that day back. I am so lucky to have met you. But more lucky that you were willing to spend your life with me and raise a family with me. We have a beautiful famly.
I'm sure I will get some nice Father's Day presents on Sunday. And I know it's a cliche to say. But the presents I'll treasure most are the three people I wake up with that day.
I love you all. Now, let's have the best summer ever :-)
Love,
Dad/Jimmy
I wish time could stand still. I wish summer could last for 15 (20?) weeks instead of 10. I wish we could hit the pause button and enjoy what we have.
Sometimes, I will be sitting in the living room watching TV. Mom and Sophie are sharing the recliner (LOL). Matty is on the couch, headphones on, watching YouTube videos or the Red Sox on the MLB app. Charlie is next to me, licking my face. And I try to freeze time, and take it all in. To treasure it.
But it doesn't work like that. Time keeps ticking. 5 p.m .becomes 6 p.m. Friday becomes Saturday.
We can't stop time, guys. All we can do is treasure our time.
I love you all - Kerri, Matty and Sophie - more than I can ever describe. When I think of all those years I wondered if I would ever find the right person to share my life with and have kids with. And the thought of kids was so exhilarating (and scary) but also far away. Like another planet.
I would say that you are my dream children, but I never dreamed of children as beautiful as you. Yes, you fight with each other and you talk back to Mom and Dad, but I melt when I see you. Matty, you are so smart and inquisitive, and you have gone from a shy boy to an outgoing person who always tell us, or Grammy, "I love you."
Sophie, you are the sweetest 6-year-old I've ever met. I love your sensitivity, the love you have in your heart, how you never, ever want to hurt anyone's feelings. I feel your pain as you are sad about the end of kindergarten. I know how that feels. I am experiencing it myself.
Kerri, we are living the dream. I get sad when we waste a day with a stupid quarrel. I want that day back. I am so lucky to have met you. But more lucky that you were willing to spend your life with me and raise a family with me. We have a beautiful famly.
I'm sure I will get some nice Father's Day presents on Sunday. And I know it's a cliche to say. But the presents I'll treasure most are the three people I wake up with that day.
I love you all. Now, let's have the best summer ever :-)
Love,
Dad/Jimmy
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Where does the time go?
It's June 14, 2016. Flag Day. Matty and Sophie each wore red, white and blue clothes to school today.
School is in its final week. Matty is nearing the end of fourth grade, while Sophie is completing kindergarten.
Where on earth did the time go? Wasn't it yesterday that Matty was heading to kindergarten? I still remember that September morning when he got on the bus. Kerri and I were crying so hard when the bus pulled away. Then, she said she wanted to follow it to school. So we hopped in our gray Santa Fe and drove to Dudley school. And we caught a glimpse of him! We missed him so much those first few days.
Last fall, it was Sophie's turn. We felt sad again, but comforted that Matty was on the bus with her.
It's all going too fast.
Matty is playing Little League baseball for the third year in a row, and Sophie just got gone playing soccer and softball. What stars we have!
Sophie is so sweet and full of love. She just loves to cuddle with mom on the recliner and watch reruns of The Middle. Matty is most happy when he has his iPad in his hand. Lately, I've been taking them on bike rides through the neighborhood and along the trolley path. Matty and I also like to shoot baskets.
I love our children soooo much!
School is in its final week. Matty is nearing the end of fourth grade, while Sophie is completing kindergarten.
Where on earth did the time go? Wasn't it yesterday that Matty was heading to kindergarten? I still remember that September morning when he got on the bus. Kerri and I were crying so hard when the bus pulled away. Then, she said she wanted to follow it to school. So we hopped in our gray Santa Fe and drove to Dudley school. And we caught a glimpse of him! We missed him so much those first few days.
Last fall, it was Sophie's turn. We felt sad again, but comforted that Matty was on the bus with her.
It's all going too fast.
Matty is playing Little League baseball for the third year in a row, and Sophie just got gone playing soccer and softball. What stars we have!
Sophie is so sweet and full of love. She just loves to cuddle with mom on the recliner and watch reruns of The Middle. Matty is most happy when he has his iPad in his hand. Lately, I've been taking them on bike rides through the neighborhood and along the trolley path. Matty and I also like to shoot baskets.
I love our children soooo much!
Friday, January 8, 2016
A very sad holiday season
I hate to be a downer, but we just got through the saddest holiday season of my life. My dear mom, and the kids' "Mimi," passed away on Dec. 27. She was 91. She died on my birthday. I can't even believe it.
Mom had a stroke in June 2013, when she was 88. She made a fantastic recovery and lived alone in her condo for close to two years. We think she had a series of mini strokes in mid-November and beyond, and it was all downhill after that. She passed away at Aaron Manor, a nursing home about two-tenths of a mile from her condo in Penfield.
Matty was a pall bearer at her funeral, along with my cousins Brian DiRienzo, Michael DiRiezo and Tom Dennis, plus Doug's son (my nephew) Mark and Butch's grandson Johnathan.
I can't put into words how much we will miss my beautiful mom. I think about her every hour of every day.
The week after her death, we received what we believe were a series of signs from heaven. Lights going on and off. Knocking noises. Kerri smelling Mom's scent in our bedroom.
We love you, Mimi.
Christmas was hard. Mom declined significantly on Christmas Eve, and most of us were just going through the motions. Matty's top gift was a Go Pro Camera, which will allow him to actually take photos and video under water or basically in any kind of weather. Sophie got her Barbie Dream House, and she (and Matty) love to play with it.
We had an addition to the house! Bob our Elf was joined in mid-December by his sister, Zoey. Zoey's real name is Snowflake, according to Santa Claus. But she wanted a "human" name and Sophie named her "Zoey." Matty is the one who named Bob four years ago :-)
Just an update on a very tough holiday season. Thank God we have each other.
I found this pic of my mom and dad from the 1940s. They look so wonderful.
Here's to you, Mimi. We love you!
Mom had a stroke in June 2013, when she was 88. She made a fantastic recovery and lived alone in her condo for close to two years. We think she had a series of mini strokes in mid-November and beyond, and it was all downhill after that. She passed away at Aaron Manor, a nursing home about two-tenths of a mile from her condo in Penfield.
Matty was a pall bearer at her funeral, along with my cousins Brian DiRienzo, Michael DiRiezo and Tom Dennis, plus Doug's son (my nephew) Mark and Butch's grandson Johnathan.
I can't put into words how much we will miss my beautiful mom. I think about her every hour of every day.
The week after her death, we received what we believe were a series of signs from heaven. Lights going on and off. Knocking noises. Kerri smelling Mom's scent in our bedroom.
We love you, Mimi.
Christmas was hard. Mom declined significantly on Christmas Eve, and most of us were just going through the motions. Matty's top gift was a Go Pro Camera, which will allow him to actually take photos and video under water or basically in any kind of weather. Sophie got her Barbie Dream House, and she (and Matty) love to play with it.
We had an addition to the house! Bob our Elf was joined in mid-December by his sister, Zoey. Zoey's real name is Snowflake, according to Santa Claus. But she wanted a "human" name and Sophie named her "Zoey." Matty is the one who named Bob four years ago :-)
Just an update on a very tough holiday season. Thank God we have each other.
I found this pic of my mom and dad from the 1940s. They look so wonderful.
Here's to you, Mimi. We love you!
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