The Sisters!

My best girls came for a visit in October! We celebrated Chelle's birthday and just being together. Meggin sent me a list of the top ten "Wicked Weekend Highlights" and I agree!

10 Laura and Meggin's sprint to catch the flight in Denver (yeah baby, we still got some speed!) And our airplane conversations from our "high")
9 Laura's reaction to the taxi driver's B.O.
8 Our "Premium" carriage ride in Central Park $$$$
7 Bag and Scarf shopping (yes, I could have purchased several more scarves)
6 Teasing Chelle about her "futzing"
5 Salsa and cream cheese (memories)
4 Mamma Mia Movie Night
3 Wicked
2 NY Cheesecake
1 Happy Birthday song at Carnegie Deli (hilarious)

Thanks ladies, we had the best time and I'm so glad I could host such an event!

Halloween...catching up!

Here's the kiddos picking the pumpkins...so cute. They had a great time.The annual carving session. Daddy is in charge! Finished products on display.The Costumes. Alex was Jengo Fett and then Commander something (Rex I think)

Nik decided to be Batman again...he loves Batman! Here's our baby Raggedy Ann! Meggin was the hit of all the events we attended, everyone wanted to take her picture. She loved it all.The Trick-or-Treating group.First Trick-or-Treat for Meggin, she went for it!

Nik's fieldtrip to the farm

Dogwood preschool takes the kids on a fieldtrip every year to Alstede Farms. Alex has been twice and now it was Nik's turn. Here is his class for a class picture. Nik has a few friends he plays with every day. This is Dylon and Jonathan.Picking apples! Meggin picking apples!

The animals, so fun.

Dressing up!

It's so fun to be a kid and dress up in something new everyday. You can even wear it to the store and people think it's cute and not disturbing. Here are the babies and the latest dress-ups. Meggin is our princess for sure! She also likes to be Batman with Nik...so cute and funny! Grandpa Dennis sent some "Popeye" hats and Alex has it down! Nik, on the other hand, just wanted to be silly and pull his pants as high as they would go...I was rolling on the floor laughing. What a fun kid!

First Snow of 2009

October 15, 2009: It decided to snow. So Nik put on his goggles, rain boots, bat gloves we got for Halloween, the jacket he could find and headed out. In the mean time, mommy searched for the winter coats. You're not suppose to have them out in October, right?

My "dining room" project!

We have a room that is suppose to be the dining room. I decided to turn it into a piano/sitting room. It took a while!
First, the primer and painting as it was painted a very dark brown. This took several days, maybe even weeks. The boys helped me do some of the primer, which Dave said was crazy, but we all had a great time. I have to admit, there are a few sections of that wall where you can tell there was some heavy primer and paint brush marks. Luckily, that's behind the sofa. Then, there was the taping and the painting and the taping and theh painting and then all the touch-ups. It was exhausting. Then the piano purchase, which was a project in and of itself. Then I was ready for the furniture!!! I needed help to pick it out and luckily my parents came to visit. My dad is amazing! He helped me pick some pieces and we put it all together. Thanks Dad! Next came the walls. We have a military theme and I was able to mix some Revolutionary War prints with shadow boxes from Dave's military decorations and his Great Grandfather's. I was also able to add the citation and flag we received from our adopted Navy SEAL, Batman, who was serving in Iraq. All in all, I think it turned out well and thought I would share.

It was a fun project and I'm happy with the results!

Nik's first day of Preschool

Wow, Nik is such a big boy! He gets to go to The Dogwood School now! He did great his first day. He was very excited to be going to school.

The school names the classes as birds. Alex was first a Robin, then a Cardinal, then an Eagle. Nik is a Chickadee this year!

Nik did great this day and then the second day had some trauma. They were dismissing the students from the gate as their parents arrived. He thought he could go and an ran out of the gate. Unfortunately, his mommy had not arrived and the school director had to chase him down to keep him safe. He was upset and crying, but at least he was safe! He has since learned the rules about dismissal and does not run out of the gate anymore.

Love this kid!

Hiking with the kids

One of our favorite things to do together as a family is go hiking. Dave bought this great book about hikes in New Jersey and we've been trying to go as much as possible.
This is a hike and place called "Buttermilk Falls". We had to climb on the rocks to avoid some "icky, sticky mud". It was a fun day!

These were hiking in Hacklebarney State Park not far from our house.

It's always fun to walk through the river. Thank you Keen water shoes!

Dave took the boys to Smartswood park one Saturday. It was an exciting day, they went out in a canoe and saw a bear. They thought both things were great. Dave thought the bear sighting was a bit scarey.

First Days of Kindergarten

Alex starts Kindergarten this year! He's so grown-up. The school does a welcome back night and it was a family event.

The morning of the first day of school! Nik thought he got to go too...he was disappointed. Our Kindergartener on the first day of school

Here are the bus stop kids, ready to go. Don't they look great?! Alex had the just get on the bus, what a big boy. I was dealing with a screaming Nik who wouldn't get in the stroller to cross the street and was very upset...so I snapped a picture and Alex waved! What a trooper. This is the second day getting off the school bus. I missed the picture on the first day because I was walking down the street as the bus pulled up...it was early to drop him off. What a crazy first day for mommy. Alex definitely did better than I. Meggin wants to be just like the boys! The backpack is just about as big as she is.