Days with the Dorans

Sean's soccer season didn't start off on the best foot. His first game he was so excited. Got up at 8 and put his uniform on for his 1pm game. We made the mistake of not checking to see that he had both jerseys for the game and guess what happened... Yup. He brought the wrong one! Since we drove separately, I turned around and Z raced up to get it and we got it to Seany well before halftime. Still his coach kept him out all of the first half which we understood since he hadn't had the right jersey. But... I could feel the anger boiling inside me when he didn't start the second half and when the boys on the bench raised their hands to go in (my boy's being the most eager), the coach called the other boys to line up to sub in while Sean remained on the bench. With less than 4 minutes left in the game, Sean was finally put in. He hustled, went after the ball but after the game when I told him he did well (even though I wanted to strangle his coach) he lo...

 I love the In10sity Dance Competition. It's not a far drive for us but mostly I love it because we get pictures and videos from the dances. Last time I posted the video I got in trouble because apparently people steal choreography- so I can't share until after the competition season is over. That being said, if you want to see the dances- let me know and I'll send you the video. They did great. All 5 of Al's dances got Platinum awards. Matter of Luck got a costume award and we got some overall awards. I have lots of pictures but chose two from each dance for my blog book! The Climb- Tap She's on top of the box- center Jet Set- Tap Just right of center Matter of Luck (kicking center) Queen of Swords- Lyrical Right Kicker (she doesn't like this one but oh well...) Bugle Boy- Open Center sitting

I can't believe that I'll be running a half marathon NEXT MONTH!! Last weekend, I went to a nearby park with Jeff (he went disc golfing) so I could get a long run in. I was thinking I'd do 10 but then I thought, nope! I'm going to go for a half and do the 13.1 to KNOW I could do it. Well... I failed! Big time!!! It was like I was Forest Gump- when he is running forever and then all of a sudden he just stops... THAT WAS ME!!! I was at 9.18 miles and I just stopped and said, I can't do this anymore.  I wasn't breathing heavy- didn't have a cramp- I just couldn't do it.  I stopped and walked back and got some water. I was super thirsty. I don't eat or drink before I run (I SHOULD probably drink a little before I run). I had a bit of a panic that this would happen again so I decided I NEEDED to get in a ten mile run the next weekend and read somewhere that these chews they make help you if you don't want to eat before a run. ...

 Hard to believe it's Joe's LAST Jazz Band Concert in 8th grade! My~ time has gone by fast.!! Joe wanted to play piano in the band but his teacher wanted him on trumpet so that's what he did. They did a great job and you can see/ hear the concert HERE . It was fun seeing Joe with some friends and he was very happy that we didn't make him (or the others) do our regular family picture. Your welcome, kiddo! Don't say I never did anything for you! Al was even able to make it after dance and she ran into her twin so of course we had to snap some pictures of them together too! Growing up fast, Joey! Next time... HIGH SCHOOL! Gulp!!!

It's official! The birds have now moved into Blue's cage and I'm so happy! I got them a new little feeder which is AMAZING because it feeds them and the empty shells are collected so it's a huge saver (time and money)! The only step now is to get them more comfortable with me. I still stick my hand in with them and talk to them each night but so far they aren't trusting me. We'll get there though- if there's one person who has patience, it's this girl!!

I still can't believe that my Goose is ELEVEN!! Although we celebrated his birthday over the weekend, I still had to do something for his actual "day." It landed on a Monday so I wrapped up a golden snitch (since he's a huge Harry Potter fan) and also a box of sour skittles (since he's a huge fan of those too). Sean ended up getting sick so Jeff stayed home with him. That allowed him to make donuts for Z so that was cool (but poor Seany). Sean was miserable and wanted mom so I left as soon as I could after work to be with him. Practice was cancelled because of weather which worked out for us. Jeff was able to pick up a cake on his way back from dropping Ali off and Nana came to stay with the sicky until I could get home. Sean couldn't eat the cake but he could celebrate with us by singing. We only had a "7" candle but that was appropriate because that is how old Z will tell you he is because he and Papa have decided he is "forever...

I've been working hard on talking with the birds each day in hopes they'll get on my finger or at least get to Blue's old cage. Well, I don't know how it happened but while I had the door open, Mimic flew right out and into the kitchen door-wall. It was so scary and he seemed so afraid. He flew into our front living room and Marty found him. He was sitting there and Marty was so good letting me know he was there but not getting too close to scare him. I went to get him to "step up" (dumb Laura~ he doesn't even know that term yet) and he flew off to the dining room. I realized the only way I was going to get him back to his cage safely was to hold him, which I did. His poor little heart was beating like mad but I got him back to his cage. I've been working with them still every day but I realized the only way to get them into Blue's cage (or the way I thought was best) was to have them discover it on their own so I opened the door to both c...

 Wouldn't ya know it... At almost midnight I hear this, "Auntie Laura??" It was TZ and that first wiggly tooth of his came out!!! I couldn't believe he lost his FIRST tooth at a sleepover. I wasn't sure we would make it in time for the Tooth Fairy's nightly journey. We put it in the Doran boys' tooth pillow and crossed our fingers she'd come and.... SHE DID!!! He had two dollars the next morning! It was so exciting we face-timed everyone so they could see his new smile! Love you, TZ!!

 April is a crazy busy month, so we got together to celebrate these great guys! Maddy's birthday is also in April but not until later in the month so we had a mini party just for the boys. Zach didn't mind opening some of his presents a wee bit early. Grandma wasn't able to make it because she wasn't feeling well and there was also a nasty ice storm that kept Auntie Jodi at home with the boys. The Drapals were able to make it though and we got Papa John's pizza and Leo's Coney Island salad (a favorite). Jeff also got 3 mini cakes so each of the guys could have their own candles to blow out.  It's kind of strange that we haven't thought to celebrate all 3 of them together before. The cousins had fun together. Z got a 2DS (which is the same thing that TZ got). They were all able to play together which was fun. TZ asked to spend the night which of course was cool with us because the girl cousins were heading to sleepovers themselves (differen...

Well, I am a bit shocked to be writing this post as I wasn't sure it would happen. I hadn't put away Blue's cage and was thinking about perhaps getting some birds (not parrots) again.. maybe in the summer... Then a friend texted me a while ago that a friend of a friend needed to get rid of her parakeets and would I be interested. I talked to Jeff who was actually a bit excited about it and said sure. I didn't hear back from the bird owner so wasn't sure if she still wanted to get rid or them. We went on spring break and I kind of forgot about it a bit. So on Sunday when I got off the treadmill (ugh- running on the beach was soooo much nicer), I had a text from the owner of the birds. Long story short~ Ali Jane, Z and I got in the car and headed to their house to meet the birds that afternoon and take them home. MEET MIMIC AND FREDO I learned that they are one year old and the main reason they were getting rid of them was that their cats didn't like th...