2009 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION...

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Out with old and in with the new. Now that the oh, so crazy year of 2008 is over, I was hoping to take a more relaxed approach to the upcoming year. So far, not looking so good. My resolution is to get back on track with this website and my family website. I am trying to get back in touch with the life I once used to know-it just seems to get crazier instead of slower!

I will start with the most recent news...Alayna tried out for the Girls' Basketball team and she made it! She's very excited and we're very proud of her. Her BFF, Mackenzie made the team too so hopefully they can make each other look good. She has never played before (other than in gym class) but she is like her dad and picks up things quite easily, especially when it has to do with sports. Her schedule will definitely keep all of us running. Practice and games will take up 4 nights a week. She also was on the cross-country team this year and really liked it. Again, something she'd never done before, but tried it anyway. Below is her picture from cross country. That's all I can give to you now because she still hasn't received her school photos yet. There was a big screw-up--long story. She also got her own digital camera for Christmas (nicer than mine) and takes MANY pictures of herself, her friends, and anything else that moves. I've included a picture of her & her Uncle Artie at Christmas. I guess she's not so little anymore.

Devyn doesn't have much going on with her. She is up to her usual story writing and her numerous craft projects. Santa brought her a student desk and is hoping that will give her the opportunity to create some amazing stuff. She is doing fantastic in school as expected. One of her classmates said to me that he thinks she's the smartest in the class. That was quite a compliment to her. She has a new BFF that is in her class so it makes it easy for her to hang out with her. Her name is Emerson and they are two peas in a pod. They have the same sense of humor and have the same temperment. They are both the youngest sister and they are good for each other. Devyn helps me a lot with the boys. When someone needs to snuggle, she is there. She is anxious for spring because she loves to be outside and needs to get some "winter" energy out instead of running all over the house. She's such an acrobat! Here is her 3rd grade school picture from the fall.

In no particular order, here's the update on Molly. She lays low during the winter, but seems to keep her social calendar full. Her friend Sarah lives close and they hang out or talk on the phone quite a bit. She happens to live across the street from Alayna's friend Mackenzie. Santa was "creative" with his presents for her too. Molly said that Santa would know what she wanted. Ugh! You ask and so you shall receive...she got a boatload of "school stuff". The basement is set up like a little classroom and she got more stuff for an actual classroom. She even got a teacher's planner book, hall passes, notes from the principal, etc. Seemed to be a real hit. Her other favorite gifts were her soft robe/slippers and an electric blanket. The kid is ALWAYS cold. I think that she'd take her blanket to school if she could. Molly is always a help too. She is growing up and I feel like I'm missing it due to the busy schedule around here. Time to change it. I know Molly expressed interest in running for class President next year and has informed us that she would like to go to Harvard for college. I guess between her love for teaching, history of Presidents, and her craving for knowledge will get her into teaching or something along those lines. Here is her 4th grade picture.

We spent our Thanksgiving at Jon's sister's house. Christmas was very eventful and had the chance to spend Christmas Eve at my Grandma's, Christmas Day with my Aunt, Uncle, cousin, brother, my mom and her friend. I worked New Year's Eve at the restaurant and then we had Jon's parents & his sister's family for a very nice dinner. We even used our china and crystal wine glasses. That was the 2nd time we've used them since we got them as a wedding gift! Ha! It's definitely a far cry from paper plates and plasticware!

Jon & I are doing well. Busy as usual. He is working and playing Mr. Mom when I go to work. He's the best! The kids and I are lucky to have him. I am still wotking at the restaurant 4 nights a week and work out 2 of the other nights. My resolutions this year are to get back on my weight loss regimen and to get some "projects" done that have been set aside for awhile. I'd also like to spend a little more "quality" time with everyone as a family.

Here's just some random (fairly recent photos) of the kids. There's no way to catch up for the last 3 months, but here's a shot.

Molly, Devyn, & Alayna on their way to dinner & to see the Nutcracker.

Dominick taking all of the credit for the gingerbread house. The only thing he did was help to eat it!

<> Anthony playing peek-a-boo.

Anthony & Devyn at a birthday party. It was the boys' first friend party.

Christmas Day: Molly, Mom, Alayna, Arthur, & Devyn

A self portrait of Alayna wearing the "benefits" of cousin Wendy working at Victoria Secret.

Alayna & Dominick hanging out.

That's all for now...hope everyone had a great holiday. Love to all and please remember to keep in touch. s.bilich@comcast.net or you can catch me on http://www.facebook.com/. I also post pictures on there too.

FIELD TRIP: MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY

Alayna...our future astronaut!

Inside the "heart": Alayna (R) & her friend Mackenzie (L) give me a quick smile.

This was really cool. Alayna got a chance to experience what a submarine training experience was like. She & her friend had to try to keep the submarine level so they didn't nosedive to the bottom. They failed a few missions, but came back determined to pass...and they did!

This is one of the pictures Alayna didn't want to take, you know, the one with her MOM! Funny thing is that I am not really sure what we're standing in front of because Alayna gave me the OK that we could take a picture, but we had to take it right there because she didn't have time to pose in front of everything! Her infinite patience was in rare form that day.

There you have it! A small glimpse into our exciting day. Our day started with a bus trip beginning at 7:15 am. We arrived at the museum at 9:30am and departed about 2:30. Lucky us, we hit Chicago traffic and didn't get back to the school until about 5:00 pm. It made for a long day, but we had a great time.

Everyone was broken into groups, so it was just Alayna, Mackenzie, & I. Mackenzie is one of her really good friends and lives near us. So, we all knew each other well and goofed off. We saw all exhibits except for the coalmine & the Zephyr train. Maybe next time. The girls made sure that I got my exercise that day. They were in charge of the map and they didn't want to go one floor at a time, just whatever part looked the next coolest thing to do or where they saw some of their friends.

We took a tour of a U-505 German submarine that was captured. I remember seeing it from when I was a kid, but it was even more interesting as an adult. The girls were flabbergasted and just ooooh'd and aaaah'd for awhile after we were finished.

All in all, it was a fun and educational day. It was nice to have a little one on one time with Alayna. She gets mixed up in the shuffle at times and is growing up faster that I can keep up with her. I'm sure that she enjoyed doing some "big kid" stuff. If it were up to her, she & her friend would've liked that I stayed about 20 feet behind them, but I kept bugging them for pictures and assisted in a game plan so we could see a lot of the museum's 3 floors!

That's all for now. Weather's been kind to us lately, so that means many more photo opportunities to come. My quiet time is up, Dominick is banging on the wall. That's how he lets me know that he's awake! Anthony just sits there & smiles until I pick him up.

Happy Mother's Day to all who it may apply...until next time.

HOLD ON TIGHT, HERE WE GO...

This is how the kids enjoyed one of our 1st nice days of the season. The girls set the playset up as a little waterslide. The boys discovered the hose, with their clothes on, of course! Their diapers weighed more than they did when they were finished.

This was taken on the same day as the water pictures. The boys (L:Dominick & R:Anthony) have been interacting a lot more with each other now. They were sharing drinks and a pacifier. I love this picture!

This is Molly & her Box-a-saurus named Ptara (pronounced Tara) the pterodactyl. She made this mostly out of cardboard and a few accessories. What flying princess wouldn't have zebra sunglasses, a leopard bikini with a sarong, and pink toenails? We went to see the 2nd grade boxasaurus exhibit last weekend that was displayed out at the Rockford Airport. Some even went on a few of the flights. We're hoping that Ptara went to Vegas and will share her winnings! Molly also had to write a story about the flying reptile and if you couldn't guess...she got an A.

Moving on...our next big event was Molly's 1st Communion on April 28th. She looked beautiful! We had a small get together afterwards with family and it was definitely a fun-filled day.

I will also mention that Molly had a life changing event the day before her Communion. She was attempting to grow her hair to donate to Locks of Love, which requires 10 inches in order to donate, but she couldn't stand the really long hair anymore. So, as you'll see in this photo, her hair is 7 inches shorter! No complaints from me because I had to brush and dry her hair.

We're almost done! The day after the Communion was a big day for Devyn. The whole family went to the Rockford Art Museum to see Devyn's artwork that was on display for the 66th Annual Young Artist Show. She was among 4 kids from her school to be chosen. Her best friend was one of the others. Because we were at the musuem, we also looked at the other exhibits. Yeah, not such a great idea. The giggling among the 3 girls echoed through the entire museum. What where they laughing at, you ask? Well, all museums have nude statues and my girls found them. Naked butts and all.

After that, we spent a little time in the Discovery Center which is a children's science museum. Lots of really cool stuff there. The best part about it was the fact that there weren't many other people there.

Last, but certainly not least is Alayna's big day. Alayna & I are going on a field trip tomorrow (May 2nd) to Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry. The entire 4th grade is going and some have never been there before. That includes Alayna. I have not been there in 10+ years. I will download pictures in a few days after I recuperate. We are leaving school at 7:15 am and returning about 4:45 pm. I am grateful that we are taking a charter bus and not a school bus. I think I would've died! After we get back, Alayna will have her 1st softball practice at 6:00pm. I'm guessing that we will be ready to go to bed soon after we get home.

We are definitely keeping busy around here, so feel privileged that you were able to view all of these pictures in one fell swoop. Hope you've enjoyed them! Love to all!

THE END