Trick or Treat 2009

The boys went out trick or treating last night. They had so much fun. We had a Star Wars theme this year (yes, again). Ethan picked out Jango Fett at the store and Ryan decided he wanted to be Star Wars too so he got the hand me down Darth Vader costume. Ryan was totally into it this year, said Trick or Treat at every house and even remembered to say thank you too. And a big thanks to Uncle Justin for coming over and handing out candy so that we could all go out together.

Here are some pics:







Tonight is a big night as well. Greg and Ethan get to go to their second BlueJackets game this week. Another friend has free tickets and asked them to go so I decided to do something fun as well. I am taking Ryan to see the Disney Mickey Mouse show.

I hope he loves it and I can't wait to see his face light up.
Here are a couple of pics from Ethan & Greg's trip to the BlueJackets game. They had a suite! Talk about spoiled!

Run for Row 2009

Most of you that I met some of my best friends on a mommy message board. We all met while planning on our weddings on theknot.com and made our own little board later. Last November I made this post about my dear friend Andrea. She lost her husband, Matt, in a horrible accident at work and we all rallied around her in support. A couple of weeks ago the company that Matt worked for held a memorial 5k to raise money for trust funds for the kids. I was so glad I was able to go. There were about 20 of us that were able to make the trip and we had the best time, all while holding Matt, Andrea and their children, Jacob & Sydney, very close to our hearts.

We made a pit stop first, to pick up our friend, Wendi, and party with Hair Razor. We had a few shots and partied like rock stars.



Saturday morning we made the trek to Buffalo where we met up with the rest of our group. It was so great to see everyone again and to give Andrea a great big hug. Saturday night Andrea threw a party for us, complete with awesome food and an open bar. I still don't know what she was thinking, giving us an open bar, the night before the race.






Sunday, was the race & walk. I was able to do some of it but had to call it a day because of my back/leg issues but waited at the finish line to cheer everyone on.



Monday we made our trek back to the Buckeye state but not before some tearful goodbyes.



Andrea is doing wonderfully though. She has to be one of the strongest, thoughtful and inspirational women I have ever met. Her strength is admirable.

I promise to put a real blog up soon.....

but if you could help us out for a minute, that would be great!
I never enter in photo contests but Ethan's pic was chosen as a finalist to win a birthday party at Coco Key Water park.
Here is the link: Photo Contest

At the bottom, click where it says vote. Ethan's is the top picture. Click on the little dot on the left side to check mark it and then cast your ballot at the bottom of that page. His really is the best picture.

Back to school blog coming soon!

"Kelly" Camping 2009

We had our annual Syferd camping trip last weekend. Because of Ryan's graduation, Ethan and Greg headed up Thursday and Ryan and I drove out Friday morning. The boys loved the beach and the little wading pool. Ethan loved cooking with daddy and looking for firewood. Ryan wasn't as excited about that but he did love to walk up and down the steps to our cabin and look for rocks.

And you might be asking why it's called "Kelly" camping. Well, I am not a big fan of nature or sleeping on the ground. I am also not a fan of critters in the middle of the night coming up and stealing all of our food. So we compromise. We get a cabin where I can have a bed and running water (ie. shower & FLUSH toilet) and Greg gets the big fire pit where he can cook all of our meals. See, it's a win win for me! Greg is so awesome camping too. He does everything, including the dishes! It's a little vacation for me.

Here are some pics:

Ryan in the wading pool:


Ethan driving the boat.


Taking aim. Greg took him the naturalist center for an archery class. He loved it and was really good at it!


Ethan driving the boat and my new favorite picture of him.


Ryan having his turn driving.


And one of the many, yummy things Greg made in his dutch oven.
Caramel Apple Crisp

Our Graduates

The last week has been very busy. We feel incredibly blessed that both of their teachers were fabulous. First, Ethan graduated from Kindergarten. He is so excited to go to first grade and get to play on the big playground AND eat lunch at school. I don't think he realizes just how long the actual school day is but hopefully he will adjust. Here are some pics from Ethan's graduation:

Getting his diploma from his teacher. She was so wonderful for Ethan. So sweet & calm. I was always amazed at how well all of the kids listened to her.


High five from his teacher






Ethan and I (and some tears)


Tonight was Ryan's graduation from early intervention. He was pretty overwhelmed by all of the people invading his playground but he was very happy to receive his present from his teacher.

Ryan, with his teacher, Miss Lisa. We are so sad that Ryan won't have her a teacher anymore but he will have her for summer camp. I know I will be a crying mess on Ryan's last day of camp. She has been such a blessing to us.


Our graduate


Reading his music card from Grandma (with the kitty cats)




It is so bittersweet. I want my babies to be babies forever but I can't wait to see the wonderful, young men they will become.

Better watch out for mama bear.

I have a new pet peeve. People that are impatient towards buses.

First, some background. Both of the boys started riding the school bus this year. Ethan gets on at the stop at the corner and then is dropped off at home. Ryan is picked up and dropped off at home. I walk him out, the bus driver walks him to his seat and gets him buckled. Same with drop off, the driver unbuckles him and I wait at the bottom of the bus for him. Ethan gets on and off by himself since there are no buckles (and why is it that there are no seatbelts on a bus?).

Since Ryan is buckled into a car seat, it takes about 1-2 minutes to get him adjusted and for the bus driver to walk back to her seat, buckles herself, shut the door and turn off the lights. I can't tell you how many times people wait at the bus, honking their horns because taking 2 minutes to make sure children are safe & secure is too much to ask. There have been 4-5 times where his bus driver has taken down license plate numbers because they have ignored the red lights & stop sign, paused and then just kept on going. I hope they got a big fat ticket.

So today, I am outside waiting for Ryan to get home. I hear his bus coming and walk down towards the street. I see the bus coming, slowing down, yellow lights on. She comes to a stop in front of our driveway, red lights & stop sign on and then I see a old, beat up, black full size van (if I had the license plate I would post it) coming from the opposite direction, completely oblivious to the bus that is stopped. The bus driver is totally on top of it though and doesn't open the door. I then walk in front of the bus and start yelling at the driver. Hello!! Do you not see the big, bright red lights flashing? He said they were yellow when he passed and that he didn't have to stop. Yellow or not, ever hear of slowing down and yielding to protect our children? Are you in that big of a hurry that you can't slow down and yield to the bus? The lights were on so slow your ass down.
So about 10 minutes later, I see a lady walk up to the door and ring the doorbell. I get up to answer and she says she was in the passenger side of the van that I yelled at.
Uh huh. Your point?
Well, you really scared us when you screamed at us.
You were supposed to stop, dumbass. (Ok, I didn't really call her a dumbass to her face but well...)And I didn't scream, I yelled. I am trying to protect my child and get him on and off the bus safely. I don't care if I scared you, at least then you stopped.
Well, the lights were yellow. And we were distracted looking for a house number. (She then tried to apologize but really, there is no excuse.)
No they weren't and I hope the bus driver got your license plate number and called it in. And if you are distracted enough and don't see or acknowledge a huge bus with bright red lights, then you shouldn't be driving.

I then shut my door.

And I just love it how the man who was driving didn't have the guts to come up and confront me himself or even try to redeem himself to apologize.

Now, I really try to be a nice person and generally, I can be a nice person even if I don't like you (don't tell anyone my secret). I can put up a good front. But, when you mess with my kids or their safety, you better believe that mama bear is gonna come out with claws on.

Now, I am just hoping we don't wake up with our house tp'd or egged.

New habits

Last night, I did something that I haven't done in a very long time. I am finally taking matters into my own hands and doing something to make myself feel good. (Ok, get your mind out of the gutter.)

For only the second time since we got it at Christmas, I got on the Wii Fit.


I did a little aerobics


and a little hula hoop (and now my hips are sore)


And a whole lot of running


I know I need to get healthy but there is a little motivation as well. A very good friend of mine lost her husband last November and the company that he worked for is holding a 5k run in August. All of the proceeds will go towards a trust fund for her kids. I have never, ever been a runner, in fact, I would say I hate running but even if I walk, I will be crossing that finish line in memory of Matt, all while holding Andrea, Jacob & Sydney very close to my heart.

Happy birthday to my big boy!

It is so hard to believe that six years have come and gone. He is such a good boy and I can't wait to see what the next year brings.
Happy birthday, Ethan!! We love you very much!