And the winner for parent of the year is...

We have had a particularly frustrating last week with Christopher. This kid gets into EVERYTHING in a way that our other 3 did not. After catching him smearing a jar of Aquaphor all over the place, Pete had just had it.

Me: "You know Pete, he probably needs more attention. He's only doing this because he is wandering around the house unsupervised."

Pete: "Yeah well, we have 3 other kids that we ignored and they didn't do stuff like this!"

Merry Christmas...

...from our house to yours!




(click on image to enlarge)

Bowling for Presents

Yesterday was our annual Contini Cousins Christmas Party. We get all the kids together and they exchange presents. This year we did something a little different and had it at a bowling alley. The kids had a total blast (although I was a nervous wreck thinking one of them was going to cross the line and slip, resulting in a skull fracture. What? It could happen!)


This was the best picture I could get of Zach.


Christopher looking cute.

Joey and Vinnie. I don't know if it was just a coincidence or not, but all the balls were green and red! Very festive!
This shot came out horrible (are you out there Karly? I need some photography help! I think I need a new camera), but shows all the cousins (except Analisa, she came running out after the photo was taken)
Merry Christmas everyone!!

The best part of receiving packages in the mail...

Popping the packing bubbles by jumping on them!

A decade of Zachary

Zachary, As we celebrate your 10th birthday today, I find myself looking back at all the wonderful gifts you have given us.

You were my first child, the one that taught me what unconditional love truly meant. Also the one I had to learn on, trying out my new parenting skills!

Happy 1st birthday!


Oh the joys of toddlerhood! You were active and passionate, even back then!

Happy 2nd birthday !

You are such a joy to be around. So full of life and energy. You experience the highest of highs and feel things deeply.

Happy 3rd birthday!

Three, the age that you became a big brother. Nothing brought a bigger smile to our face then seeing you love and care for Joey. You continue to care for all your brothers like only you can.


Happy 4th birthday!

Such an empathetic preschooler you were. Your preschool teachers would tell us how concerned you got whenever someone was hurt or crying, always rushing to their side to see if you could help. You continue to show concern for others, always the caretaker.


Happy 5th birthday!

It was so exciting to see you head off to kindergarten. To see the joy of learning in your eyes. I love seeing how big a reader you have turned into. I see glimpses of myself as I catch you staying up past your bedtime, just so you can read a little more.

Happy 6th birthday!

You learned to ride a two wheeler when you were 6. You certainly fought it at first! A perfectionist, you don't like to do something if you can't do it just so. But with a little pushing, you did it. I am so proud of you!

Happy 7th birthday!

You have an awesome sense of humor, always making us laugh. Dad and I sometimes can't figure out where you come up with the things you do. I like to think you got your sense of humor from me!


Happy 8th birthday!

You are so inquistitive, about so many things. It was your questions about God and religion that prompted us to start going to church. It was your desire to learn more and start catechism classes that inspired me to take classes as well and convert to catholicism. You make sure we don't waste water and that we recycle (although you hate being the one to take it out!). You even followed the election this year , asking us many important questions.



Happy 9th birthday!

You are responsible and trustworthy. Always following the rules. You were so excited to be on the school safety patrol this year. A perfect mix for you of helping kids out of the car, while making sure the grown ups follow the rules!



Happy 10th bithday!

I are so proud of the young man you are becoming . I am so torn between excitement at seeing you grow up, and sadness at missing the little boy you no longer are. Thank you for all the wonderful things you do and gifts you bring to our family.

Love, Mom

We are saving up for his bail

The boys and I were talking in the van recently. For some reason, Zachary brought up Jim Morrison and how he died (I have no idea how he even knows of him or how he died). Of course that left me to try and explain to Joey who he was and the circumstances of his death. In his naivete Joey couldn't understand why he was even using drugs.

Joey: "They are bad for you mom!"

Me: " Yes, they are Joey. A lot of time there are people who want to be around a rock star so they give them drugs. I think rock stars have so many people giving them drugs, they just start taking them."

Joey: "Well, if I become a rock star, I will just tell them no!" (Yes! He is listening!)

Zachary : "Oh yeah? If I am a rock star I will take them all and sell them on ebay!"

Cookies!!

I was invited to a cookie exchange last night. Not sure what I was thinking, but I picked a recipe I have never actually tried before, Chocolate Peppermint Pinwheels. They were fairly tedious to make, but also a bit fun. I needed a double recipe, so I started by making 2 batches of sugar cookie dough. The first batch I added chocolate (unsweetened) too. I would have to say this was probably the toughest part. It was a complete mess trying to incorporate six ounces of melted chocolate into the dough. Look at the mess!

I actually got the above disaster to turn into this:
I added peppermint oil and crushed candy cane to the second batch. (And also egg yolk? What the heck is that for?!)

I then rolled out each batch, then laid (or is it layed? Whatever.) the peppermint layer on top of the chocolate layer. This part was fun.
I then rolled the thing up into what looked like an enormous turd. Stuck in the fridge for a couple of hours, then sliced.
This is how they looked after baking. Aren't they cute? Yes, but how do they taste. I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed. They weren't very sweet. They were more like a shortbread. I bet they would be delish with a cup of coffee (hmmm, maybe I will try that for breakfast tomorrow!) I think if I make them again I will try sweetened chocolate instead of the called for unsweetened.
Here is the recipe if you are interested. I used peppermint oil instead of extract since that is what I had. The oil is much stronger than the extract, so I used much less than called for.

I did come home with a nice assortment of cookies. Not that I need 7 different types of cookies in my house. Have I mentioned I have put on weight since I have been unable to run? sigh...

Deck the halls!

The Contini's are definitely getting into the Holiday spirit! This weekend we got the tree put up. The kids all griped about having to go pick out the tree. What is that about?! I remember getting so excited about picking out the tree. Kids today...

The forced picture at the tree lot (ie. Home Depot)
I was thrilled about how into the actual tree decorating they were. Previous years they would hang a couple of ornaments, then drift away into the other room. This year they stuck it out to the end. Christopher only shattered one ornament, but I have a feeling it won't be the last.

What is this picture? The back of my butt during Mass yesterday. Christopher got the camera out of my purse and was photographing my hiney without my knowledge. This is one of a series!

I've got nothing...

...to say. I really don't. Lately I have been so busy and overwhelmed with setting up my office and getting ready for the holidays, that I am just drawing a blank on my blog. I could talk about the great Thanksgiving weekend we had, the progress on my office, or even complain that blogger now posts the pictures in the opposite order that I put them up in (grrr....). But I have too much to do today so I will leave you with some pictures. (please note they are in reverse chronological order because that is how blogger puts them up now and I am too lazy to rearrange them!)


The boys decorated the gingerwood house over Thanksgiving weekend. (Shh... I have a confession. I have been picking candy off it when no one is looking. Unfortunately for my waistline I am a stress eater)
Christopher really got into the decorating this year.
Grandma Liz came for the weekend which was awesome! She will be mad when she sees this picture cuz she has no make up on. I think she looks great anyway.

Zachary on Thanksgiving


Ok, I will attempt to explain this picture. We have so many cousins that every year we rent a big jumpy thing for Thanksgiving. This year we had one of those blow up jumpy obstacle courses. My nephew Peter somehow got himself wedged down in one of the pylons. So wedged we couldn't get him out. We deflated the course, but that didn't work. He was seriously stuck in that thing. In this picture you can see someone handing off some scissors. It took a good half hour, maybe more, before they were able to get him out. They almost had to cut the jumpy, but managed to get him out by cutting his pants. Hilarious.