Milestone Monday

The view from the front seat changed considerably this weekend,

when I looked to find 3 big boys, and no babies, smiling back at me.

Time goes by far too fast.

Hotel, Sweet, Hotel

I never thought I would be grateful to be in a small hotel suite with 3 little boys. Never. But, that was prior to our 10 day stint living on the second floor of our water-logged house. After 10 days of trying to keep the kids, fed, happy and safe all while not allowing them to be downstairs, I was ready to get out!

While I was anxious to move out and start construction, our insurance company kept giving me very interesting replies like these:

"Yes, Mrs. Kilcoyne, we understand that inches of water ran through your house for hours,

but that does not mean that there is necessarily water damage."

"We hear your concerns over the hundreds of exposed nails where the baseboards used to be,

but that does not mean it's unsafe for your family.

Hopefully your children will know better than to go near them"

"Just because the demotion team has confirmed the large amount of airborne particles present during construction, it does not mean that it is unsafe for your children to breathe"

Finally after Gill's relentless efforts,

we moved to extended stay on Friday and demolition began.

We settled comfortably into our new surroundings.

Finn and Patrick set up the train tracks and started chugging...

I was greeted with beautiful flowers from Gill,

and Sully was happy to have a high chair and view of all the action.

Tonight was our first playdate in our temporary home.

The Weltz Family joined us for golfing...

swimming...

playing...

and pizza!

We all had a great time and it was nice to feel a bit "normal" again. We will be here for a while (that's contractor talk for "who the heck knows") and will make the best of it. But, I think I speak for all of us - there is no place like home.

The Definition of Friend

Miriam - Webster Dictionary: Friend: (Noun)

1: one attached to another by affection or esteem

2: one that is not hostile

Miriam-Webster and I seem to have differing opinionsas to what defines a friend.

Juliane Kilcoyne Dictionary: Friend: (Noun)

1. A Neighbor who battles your water leak, digs in the dirt and get soaks (head to toe)

while trying to save your home.

2. Someone who knows you need a warm, home-cooked meal without you having to ask.

3. One who understands just how much you and the kids need fresh air - and joins you in the adventure.

4. A family that opens their home for an evening of playtime, delicious food, laughter and manicures!

5. Someone who has known you for your entire life and with whom you share all your milestones.

6. People who reach out, even from far away, to support you and send you their love.

We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends.

Racing Day

Whether you know them personally, or just through the blog, you probably know how much my boys LOVE their Cars. Yes, they love other things: trains, rocketships, dinosaurs, computers, planets, but their one true love has remained: Cars. Everything Cars.

Yesterday, Julie and I finally ventured uptown to the NASCAR hall of fame for the first time. We were waiting for just the right time to visit, mainly when we could purchase discount admission! It was worth every, single penny.

When we first arrived, Patrick and Finn were a bit overwhelmed. This was the real thing.

Real retired race cars. No models, no toys, the REAL THING.

They saw The Fabulous Hudson Hornet, a car that Doc Hudson was based on in CARS.

and a car just like "Mr. The King"

Patrick, Sully and Finn - my racing guys!

The boys learned how to change a tire by a retired NASCAR PitCrew Team Member. We also learned about horsepower and Sully played with a giant foam engine puzzle!

Patrick inside a real race car!

The boys compare cars.

All the boys had such a wonderful adventure. Finn, Jack and Patrick even raced their own cars on the track while Sully and Ryan raced in cars of their own.

It was an adventure to remember. They guys can't wait to take Daddy back. I have a sneaking suspicion that we will be visiting again soon!

As if the day couldn't get any better, we ended the day racing around the park with Isabella and Jenna.

What a great day at the races!

Flashback Friday

On Wednesday, Sara and I took the kids to Chuck E Cheese.

We haven't been in ages. I've been trying to find places where the kids could eat and play,

as I can't cook at home, so it was perfect!

It was Sullivan's first time and he had so much fun playing with the big kids.

After following his big brothers around for a while, it was time for him to explore the little kid area.

Not only did he love riding in the car, but he loved that Patrick and Finnegan came with him!

Here's a look back at Finnegan & Patrick in the Toddler Area

Finn - 2009 and 2011

Patrick - 2009 and 2011

Wordless Wednesday

Oh, what a night

Last night was a night like we've never had before, EVER. It all started when I asked Gill, yet again, to build another project. Another grand idea by Jul to make the most out of every inch of space in our house. As always, Gill agreed, made the plans and got to work with Patrick and Finn to make Mommy's wish a reality. While finishing the project last night, something went terribly wrong. A nail that was supposed to hit wood, decided to hit a water pipe instead. (Yes, I'm blaming the nail).

First there was a drip, then there was some profanity, then the drip became a trickle and it was all down here from there. Before we knew it, I was rushing our children to Johanna and Brian's house, while all our friends in the neighborhood gathered to help Gill try and salvage our first floor. The emergency shut off valve in the house did NOT work. Water flooded our first floor and could not be stopped.

The fire department arrived about 30 minutes into it, not only to help with the flood, but because the water could start an electrical fire. 2 hours, 10 neighbors, 2 firetrucks and countless uses of profanity later, they finally found the emergency shut off, buried under 8 inches of soil and shrubs in our front lawn (yes, they had to dig).

Our boys were such troopers, as we gathered what belongings we could could, accepted a cooler full of food from Johanna and a reservation to the closest hotel made my MJ and Bern and brought Patrick, Finn and Sully on a "hotel adventure".

As we made our way to the hotel Patrick announced,

"this is the best night EVER!! We get to see 2 firetrucks and sleep at a hotel!"

I know there is an expression to the fact that everything will look better in the morning,

but I'll let you decide:

At 5am this morning: Yes, Sully looks adorable, but his mom? Not so much!

7am - Yes, the boys look comfy, but even from here I can see the stress in Gill while he sleeps

The boys look like they are having fun,

but you can't see me cringing for actually letting them play in the Chic-fil-A PlayYard

(lunch and playtime there was much better than the hotel room)

And, finally, I got to take a look inside the house....

Water in the electrical outlets, furniture damaged and moved,

and finally that emergency shut off valve now exposed after we spent hours looking frantically for it.

Definitely not our best day.

However, as I sit on the hotel bathroom floor with Gill right now, laptops in hand,

listening to silence as our 3 boys sleep peacefully, I count my blessings.

Everything I truly need is in this small hotel room.