Spring is coming!

here's the proof!

mid-february and we're at the playground in short-sleeves!

I love having four seasons...at least three times a year, there is a sense of rebirth, renewal, regeneration. I love the movement into new seasons...it feels fresh and exciting.

Last year, Aaron was too little to be fun at the playground. This year, so far, he's able to run around, climb on the equipment, and come down the slides.

Can't wait for more warm weather!!!!!!!!!!!

Guess who's almost 2?

Karate Kid

Charlie started a mixed martial arts (MMA) program about a month ago. The goal is for him to get involved in something he can do long term(lifelong) if he enjoys it. We also wanted something that would help give him self confidence, discipline, and help him strive for a goal (black belt?). Charlie is a sweet kid, and he is also sensitive. We want him to learn how to stand up for himself and for what he believes in the right way...we don't want him to be bullied or pushed around. Amazingly, the MMA program teaches alot of that and although they are learning physical "fighting" techniques, alot of the discipline and conflict resolution is mental. They are taught not to practice with other kids, only adults who are supposed to practice with them. They are very strict with this as some kids might go to school and start throwing punches!

The class meets three times a week and he is allowed to go all or none of the days. Most weeks, we go all three days with him. Our thought was that he'd go 2 days at least, and the 3rd would be up to him. He is always so excited to go and loves to talk about the new things he learns. They work them hard and it amazes me to see the changes in Charlie every week. He's a little stronger, a littler more coordinated, a little less dependent on us. It's been great for him!

So this week, Charlie got his first stripe in class. They give stripes as they see kids progress and gain skills. Three stripes and the kids can test for their next belt. We were not expecting for him to earn a stripe so soon and we're so proud of him! In the above picture you can see the stripe on his belt. He's so proud!

5 things I am grateful for

1)Having a job that I LOVE to come to, even if it takes me away from my kids...I get to come to it at night while they are asleep and I mis less of their lives...but I seriously love my job and am so lucky that I do!
2)my husband who tries so hard despite being blind...he refuses to give up and his main goal in life right now is to make sure I am happy...how lucky am I?!
3)My parents who are obsessed with my kids and will/have done everything they can for them. 4)The warmer weather that is promising to get here eventually, and all the outside kid time that promises
5)My two boys who are my everything. Even when they are making me crazy, they make my heart swell with pride. I made them, and they are mine, and they are perfect in every way!

This was inspired by a friend from highschool who keeps a blog here

Waterloo 2011

We recently drove to Waterloo NY to visit Alex's mom's side of the family. He has cousins and aunts who live up there so we try to make it up at least once a year, sometimes more. We have our annual "Christmas" at some point when everyone can get together. And that's what we did this time.
Alex holding his cousin's baby Evie. She's the newest addition to the family and is so cute!

Aaron decided it would be fun to climb up on Uncle Peter's lap. It's funny how he picks random people to attach himself to!

Ethan and Charlie playing the piano...

Such handsome boys!

Aunt Louisa and Evie

Aaron in the rocker

Aaron and cousin Edie

The trip up and back was super easy and we did it during the times the kids were sleeping which proved faster and easier. We left to head up there Saturday morning at 3:30am and left to come home at 6:30pm on Sunday. I prefer to drive at night and it really was so much faster that way! No potty stops, no food stops, just straight driving for 300 miles!

We had a great time up there and Alex was able to see an old friend of his who recently lost his father. The kids were mostly behaved and we had lots of family time. I even got to visit the outlets which made me super happy! Charlie got to play in the snow, they got some fun gifts for Christmas, and we only had one night to deal with sleeping in the hotel!

Everytime we are up there we visit Alex's mom's grave side. It is in a cemetery across the street from his Aunt's house. This time, he took Charlie for the first time. We had to first explain what a cemetery is...after which he concluded that there should be picture frames with the people's faced in it so you know who you are visiting. Too funny. Alex explained about his mom (something we've never really talked about with Charlie), what happened to her, and that we come here to visit. We told him that she would have been his Grandma. He was appropriately sad but not overly so. We assured him that nothing would happen to me and that we hoped to live for a long time! He told me vehemently that he was going to take good care of himself and be very healthy so his heart doesn't get sick. I continue to be amazed by his maturity and understanding of things like this! My amazing big boy!

Charlieisms

After watching the first half of the superbowl Charlie said, "mommy I changed my mind from being a mad scientist, I think instead I'll be a football guy"

"mommy, I think God isn't a people like us, I think he's teeny tiny so he can be everywhere...like germs...I think God is like a germ mommy"

"mommy, I used to love it along time ago when Aaron was a Baby baby...he was so cute! He really drives me crazy now that he's just a baby...oh man"

Charlie was particularly frustrated with the rules of the house a few weeks back so he said, "daddy I'm out of here" Alex asked him where he planned to go. Charlie's response, "New England, or actually I'll go to Henry's house instead in case I need something I can just come home" (Henry's house is two blocks away!)

"mommy, if I get the heebeegeebees I have to stay home and wash my hands alot"

after washing his hands one day he said, "I washed my hands good, I think I saw alot of germs that dies and washed down the drain"

"mommy, I think the germs are all mad at me because I wash my hands alot and take really great care of myself. I'm SO healthy!"

Why is Aaron never weraing pants?!

A random splattering of pictures proving the point that Aaron is often pantsless!
I can't tell you why that is, but it's pretty funny!

I think it has to do with the fact that he's a)messy b)difficult to dress c)happier being naked as much as he can be!

he is cute though, and he's got some adorable little legs!

I hope he doesn't hold this against me when he's older!

Fun at Tutu and Gampa's

After we all went to Girl Talk, we spent the weekend in Downingtown at Tutu and Gampa's (getting tattoos and celebrating Alex's birthday)...the kids had fun hanging out and it was good to all be together again since Disney!
Silly face Kailani

Gampa after doing P90X

Da Boyz!

Snuggling with my princess. I love my family!

Tattoos!!!!!!!!!!!

Christy and I went and got tattoos last week! We both had designs we wanted and our husbands both said OK (rather begrudgingly) so we ran and did it!
We went to a place out near my parents' house that has been around for YEARS!

I don't have any during pictures of me because mine (first picture) was much faster than Christy's.

I had mine drawn but a girl who knows Christy and it's a Hibiscus with the boys' names. I LOVE it! It's on my left wrist and I am simply obsessed with it!

This is Christy's. Much more involved and hurt alot more than mine!

Girl Talk

There used to be a game when I was growing up called Girl Talk
This post is not about that game, rather it is about a DJ called Girl Talk

it is really fun music to listen to and it's great for dancing! So we all went to see them at the Electric Factory last week and we had a blast!

This guy with my sister is from the opening band. He was sooo tall! It's funny because Christy is wearing a shirt that says "S is for Shorty"

And this is some random girl who's had alot of plastic surgery done who wanted to ruin our picture!

we had a blast, drank alot, danced alot...

took lots of random pictures...

and went to bed close to 2am

thank goodness the kids were all with my parents'!

Getting up the next day to go get them was brutal! Not so much from the alcohol but from the minimal sleep!

Boy did we have fun though! Thanks mom and dad for taking the kids!

my blanket boys...

both of my boys LOVE their blankets.

It started with Charlie when he was about 8 months old. He had a blanket with one silky side, and one soft side that my sister had gotten him. We somehow figured out that he slept better and traveled in the car better with it. He would rub the silky side on his cheeks and actually chew or suck on the blanket. Sounds gross but it was what he did!

I went out and bought three of four more similar blankets so I could wash them regularly. He didn't have a preference for color or pattern, as long as there was silky on one side and soft (or warm as he calls it now on the other.

Somehow Aaron fell into the same pattern, although he is so much more attached to his blankets than Charlie was. He would carry it around all the time if we let him. Charlie always knew that he only got his blanket for nap and bedtime. Aaron, wants it all the time. And he cries and whines for it, or will go in the drawer where I keep them and pull out 2 or 3 to have. It's kind of a pain, but also cute that they have something to make them feel safe and secure. Charlie's favorite is still the first one he ever got (a white one) and the one in these pictures (the same as the white but a green color that he had second). Aaron has three favorites, the one in the picture, and white version of the same one, and another brown one. Too funny. Now that Aaron carries his around so much more (it helps us keep him from screaming sometimes!), Charlie wants his more. So I have two little Linuses running around my house!

SNOW SNOW SNOW

We have had our fair share of snow this winter...again! A few large snow storms left us with plenty of white stuff to play in.
Charlie loves the snow, but coincidentally hated it his first time out in it (he was 14 months old or so)

This was Aaron's first time out in it with unfettered play access, and he LOVED it! He screamed so loudly when it was time to come in...man can that kid scream!

Charlie did not want to come in either but he also likes the warmth bof the house once he's inside!