This week went by super fast. Basically we spent the week packing, cleaning and getting ready to go back to the states for Christmas. We dropped off cookies at the friends houses & my neighbor and Mike took the rest to work...they were gobbled in no time! My neighbor stopped by on Tue afternoon and I had the kitchen turned inside out with cooking and craft stuff...I was only a little embarrassed. She is so nice she didn't even make a face at my mess which was nice. So since my neighbors visit was so hectic I made plans to go over to her house on Wed to have a proper coffee and scone visit. So that was nice to have a chat with her & her husband on Wed and she even volunteered to take us to the airport which was nice. She also volunteered to water the plants for me and check on the house while we were gone so that was very sweet of them. Then I made things even more complicated by volunteering at the last minute to host a coffee morning on Thursday morning knowing that we would be leaving that afternoon. It really wasn't as bad as it sounds...it was actually a nice break before we left. So coffee at the house, raced to get Lino, raced to finish cleaning up and packing before I had to get Mike and got a nice surprise that he was going to be dropped off at the house by his plant manager. We had negotiated with our neighbor across the street to take us to the airport which was super handy. They just drove our car since we had all the seats in it already...plus we had a ton of stuff so our car fit all of it better. Anyway Mike got home we loaded the car and collected our neighbor and headed to the airport. Mike & I had planned to do a few things before we left like pick up the swing set but that didn't happen. We figured it might be safer for it to stay on the ground while we were gone anyway because you never know when an Irish wind is going to come thru and blow it down again. And I told Mike to take the canopy off because I thought that is what was catching the wind but we didn't do that either. We will see what happens to it while we are gone. So we got to the airport in plenty if time and ended up having a decent 2 flights. Although the flight from London to NY was brutally long, 9hrs for some reason...must have had a strong head wind. I couldn't believe it took that long and nobody really slept much which was ok because we needed to sleep once we got to NY.
Lino's version of trying to sleep on the plane.
Got to NY and the plan was to stay there for Christmas then head to KC on the 26th to spend a week with my family and bring in the New Years there. But Mikes gma has been battling pancreatic cancer for the past 4 mo and we knew she didn't have much time left. We knew she was just waiting to see Mike & the boys and hopefully have one last Christmas with the family but sadly she ended her battle on Christmas Eve. It was very sad but also a relief because she didn't want to be around like that. I'm glad we all got to see her and spend time together before she went. She is definitely more happy and healthier so we can't be too sad. It was kind of crazy because it hit me at the wake that she was gone...it's crazy how that happens. The other crazy thing is that for Chtiatmas Eve we usually go to the city for dinner then to see the tree. We weren't going to go because of Nan but I think she wanted us to go so we decided to go anyway. I think the way Mikes family deals with death is actually a good way. You could tell everyone was sad but we knew it was coming and we wanted her to be at peace so there was no reason to be an emotional ball for the holiday season so we celebrated instead of sulking. Anyway we were able to keep our tradition which was nice and Shaun enjoyed his dinner at Carmine's. We didn't make it to the tree because we took the train down to the city and it was going to be a bit ofa treck to walk there plus the boys were getting tired so it was time to head back home.
Lino & the Grandparents...so cute!
Shaun's first Christmas!!!
The boys had a great Christmas of course...Nini & PopPop spoiled them rotten as always. Lino got a cool train set that he was dying to open & set up. It was cool to watch them put it together. Mike and PopPop use to put the trains together for Christmas when Mike was smaller so now it will be Lino & Mike...I love the family tradition.
A little Christmas celebration!
We had a quiet Christmas dinner but it was like a party at dessert time. It was nice...I actually really love spending Christmas with this crazy family...my family!!!!
So we ended up staying until Sunday so that we could attend the funeral. Nan was buried with her husband which was nice and Mikes parents have a spot right underneath them...it's actually a good idea to have that kind of stuff already taken care of so that the kids don't have to try and decide what their parents wanted. Anyway we had to change flights so that we could stay for the funeral and Mike was able to get our flights changed for only £50 each ticket which is about $300 which is actually not bad at all...a blessing actually because when we called the airline they were going to charge us $800 each ticket which is crazy. Mike had used this travel site to book the tickets and it actually worked out for us...God always has a plan. So we got to KC on Sunday and basically relaxed. Monday Lino had his first dentist appt. Mike thought it was a little ridiculous to send him to the dentist already but he has what looks like a cavity and it's been there for a while so I thought it was time to see the dentist. Lino was kind of excited because he saw Morgan go to the dentist when we were here in Oct so that helped a lot. The dentist office was pretty cool, had a play area in the waiting room, 2 Wii sets, and a TV. Then inside the room there was a TV on the ceiling so that the kids have something to keep them distracted while they do the cleaning...very creative...I don't think they had places like this when I was a kid.
This is the hygienist explaining all the tools...Lino wasn't really interested he just wanted to watch the movie.
He got bubble gum flavored tooth paste and cool shades to wear while he watched his movie...oh and got his teeth cleaned.
So the dentist said he had an enamel defect which probably was there almost as long as that tooth. She said it was normal and nothing to do with his teeth hygiene, his teeth were in good shape but it looked like the defect may be starting to get a cavity so she wanted to fill it. We were able to make an appt for later in the day so that was nice. So I went to get my hair done while TT took Lino back to the house.
Mike decided to come back with us for the filling...he was to tired in the morning to come for the regular visit. He was excited about the video games...as you can see. I think this is what Mikes been looking forward to every since we had Lino...a video game buddy! One day daddy...one day soon!
They actually gave Lino a little laughing gas for the procedure but he is more worried about the TV.
Very cool!
So Lino is all set now and he didn't even complain about any of it which was nice.
New Year's Eve has become my family's Christmas. Everyone is at TT's house and we open all the gifts the hang out for the New Year. This year Miss J wasn't there so that was the only person missing, it was kind of sad because she's usually around...she will be here tomorrow so I guess I can't complain. There were about a million presents this year as always and all the grand kids had a good time. I thought Lino would be able to stay up for the new year but he was so cranky that I put him to bed. Then Shaun got super fussy so I ended up putting him down and basically missed the New Years kisses because I was fighting him. Oh the joys of motherhood. The good thing is that I didn't have anyone to deal with for a while so I was able to hang out and enjoy the family. As always there was a little singing & dancing on the PS2 which was fun. Mike was completely wasted but still didn't do too bad. He loves to dance :-)
We actually got up and went to have brunch at the casino for New Year's Day which was very nice. There are so many of us that we had to take 4 cars to fit everyone in. We had a good brunch and I was enjoying myself...so much so that I went back to get more food and everyone had packed up to leave. I felt bad but I wanted my chicken & waffle so I ate quickly so that we could Go. I was the joke of the day after that...but I was ok with that. The rest of the day we just relaxed at the house...and recovered from the parting last night. It actually snowed a bunch on New Year's Day so when I had to get out to take Shaun to the dr office on Thursday it was a big pain in my butt. Pierre had shoveled the driveway and TT got the car all warmed up so that was helpful. Mike even came with me so that was nice. Shaun got his 9mo check up and one shot. He actually didn't cry for the shot either, just a little whimper but that was it. Very impressive. Later that day Mike and I had a dentist appt too. We went to the same place TT & Morgan go but we didn't have the best experience. First our appt time was the same but the took us back one at a time. So Mile went first and I ended up stirring in the waiting room for about an hr. I was in there sleeping because I didn't have anything to do and I didn't know I was going to have to wait. TT & Morgan came in a hour after we got there and they went right back...I was pissed. Finally Mike was done then it was my turn. They did a good job and the people were really nice but when we left we were talking about all the stuff they wanted to do to our teeth. They have this fancy equipment that like looks for microscopic pores in your teeth and they fill them so that you don't get a cavity. Apparently I need a few "explored" because my readings were high. But the dentist was like, "I can't say I see a cavity but if your reading is above 30 I believe there is something forming". What the fuck kind of crazy shit is that!!!!! I was so not going to get fillings because something might become a cavity in 5yrs. In 5yrs when you can finally see that it's a cavity then you can fill it. At my dentist in TX, that I went to regularly for the last 7yrs, he gave me one pre-filling because I had some hole in my tooth that he could see. He could see it, it was small and he told me it wasn't a cavity but since he could see it he knew that food would get into it and sooner than later it would be a cavity. That I can buy, microscopic holes I can't buy. Then Mike was telling me that he wanted to replace one of his fillings too. He's had these fillings for over 15yrs I guess but apparently one of them looks like "spotty workmanship" so it needs to be fixed. Now Mike has also been going to the dentist in TX with me and he has never said anything to him about his filling. So I just can't believe that all of the sudden we have all these issues. I guess some of it could be that this new guy is a cosmetic dentist but to me it sounds like a lot of unnecessary procedures. So we will be back but we won't be gettig these recommended procedures done. Sometimes I really dot like change, but I have to get use to it. So after dentist we were going to go exchange the boots Mike got me for Christmas but decided to save that for Friday so instead Mike took me to a sushi restaurant and we had a nice little happy our break...just the two of us!!! It was a really cool place and the sushi was amazing, and a little pricy but totally worth it. We had a few drinks, a lot of laughs & kisses and just enjoyed the small break from our normal reality. We would have stayed longer but the bill was racking up quickly so we had to get out of there before we did too much damage. It was great to spend that time with the hubby...I love him so much. Friday we raced around trying to pack, exchange shoes, get Chipotle and get to the airport on time. We made it and we thought our flight might be canceled because NY got a bunch of snow on Thu night but it wasn't...NY here we come.
It was a quick trip to KC now back to NY for a few days before heading back to Ireland. We ended up going to a bday party for one of Mikes cousins kids....it was kind of a long drive but not too bad but since we had just got in that night Lino was super pooped so he took a nice nap In the car. And that jacket...well Mike had to run out to get it because I was super smart and forgot to get his jacket out of TTs closet when we left. I got all the other coats but somehow forogot his. So now we are stuck with this bright orange loud batman jacket. Now I do love the color but I'm not sure it's exactly what I would want if I were Lino. Oh well it makes for a good pick and a good story.
It was a nice party and it was good to see the cousins, we don't get to see them very often. After that we went to see my good friend from work then we had dinner with another one of my old work buddies. We ended up spending the whole day out which wasn't the plan but it ended up being nice anyway. There was a lot of snow out there because it had snowed quite a bit when we got to town but it wasn't too bad thankfully. The last day in NY we spent with the family and Nini made lasagna which was amazing...so good!!!!! The boys also got some last minute Nini game time in before we left...she loves her boys and they love her too. So cute.
It was a bitter sweet holiday for us but all in all it was a good one.
The flights back home were brutal. Lino didn't sleep more than 3hrs which isn't good and he was cranky when we got to Ireland. We knew he would fall asleep in the car so we just planned to let him sleep in the car for a while. Our neighbor was waiting on us at the airport, so nice. So we got to catch up with Him on the drive back home. As expected, Lino passed out in the car after about 30sec of us driving so he slept for about 3.5hrs and I finally decided to wake him up. If he would have slept any longer he wouldn't sleep at night. So I knew it was going to be a battle and it was...talk about fussy...whooooo that kid was fussy. And Shaun didn't sleep much so that means I didn't sleep much either. Oh well, it's all part of the traveling experience right? Our landlord had actually picked up our swing set which was really nice and took the canopy off but the damage was already done. The poor canopy is all ripped and I don't think we will be able to fix it, it's going to have to be replaced but with the winds here I'm not sure if we really want to replace it. Well we we save that debate for another time and we will have to check out the stability of the swing set later too...I'm not sure about it but we will see.
Here's to a Happy New Year for the Cutaia family and everyone else of course too :-)
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