Addie and Grayson Together Moments

Since my friend April had to go back to work, her 2 kiddos, Grayson and Avery have been spending lots of time at our house. It works out really well- Grayson is 3 this week, and he and Addie are the best of friends. Avery is turning 1 this week, and Alden, who refers to her as "My Baby," hugs her all the time. Life with 4 kids is hectic- and my hats off to those of you who do this full-time! Still we manage to have some good fun. Here are some pics of what we did this week!


Addie and Grayson doing "school"- aka a preschool workbook that I found at Sam's!



Avery pushing the stroller around while the big kids nap



The Big Kids all bundled up for a walk around the neighborhood while the little kids nap (and yes, Al was home with the little kids, I wouldn't just leave them with Kierke on guard!)

Fun in the Park

With Al's new schedule, we have been able to enjoy some fun during the week. Since it was almost 60 on Friday, we headed to the park with the kids. First, we stopped at Dairy Queen and got the kids' free ice cream cones from the Summer Reading Program (I had filed them away for safe keeping and just found them!). Strange to think that we were wearing flip-flops and crocs on Fri and they are calling for over 6" of snow on Monday....
Finishing up the cones- they loved the actual cone part this time!

Alden was all smiles while Addie wasn't into having her picture taken...

Daddy on Push Patrol

Alden was done swinging but Addie wanted more! Yes, Al is wearing flip-flops, so was I- it was that warm!

Going down together! Alden inspiring Addie...

Again!!

Alden getting Addie to go on the REALLY big slide

Ok, ready to go!

Down she goes!

Here comes Alden, all by himself!

Big Shoes to Fill

Alden and I have been having some special one-on-one time with Addie being in preschool. Some days he falls asleep when we get in the car, sleeps all the way there and back, so when we get home, he's not going back to bed.... On those days, I enjoy playing with him and getting that special one-on-one time!

Here is all that he wanted to do last week- So cute! He kept saying "Dada's! BIG! Dada's! BIG!" I think he was trying to tell me he was Daddy because he was so big. Adorable!

Climber Extraordinaire

Many of my friends have shared stories with me about the woes of having a "climber." I always felt sorry for them, and was secretly VERY thankful for my unadventurous kids. That all changed this week.... Addie was napping and Alden and I were making dinner. I turned to grab something out of the 'fridge, and the little boy who had been standing next to me, was ON THE TABLE! He had an impish look in his eye and when he made eye contact with me, he burst out laughing that super contagious belly laugh of his.... And my first gray hair sprouted- I just know it did...

Alden has always been more active then Addie, and I just chalked that up to him being a boy. I can handle the extra movement on 2 feet. Now that he has discovered the Power of The Chair, I know the days are numbered before I will be taking him to the ER for some injury.

The boy has NO fear. He climbs and "rides" Kierke. He scales the playground and slides down the biggest slide, all by himself (Addie won't even do that!). Stairs are lots of fun to shoot up or down when given the chance. Coffee table and speakers make great places to dance. Thankfully he hasn't tried to climb out of his crib- yet....

Here are a few pics I have managed to snap of him in action.... This was the second time he had done this-so I left the room to grab my camera and was able to capture his climbing step by step. And yes, after this, he was given a stern lecture on how we do NOT climb on tables....

Alden vs. Addie

Today, I took the kids in for their Well Baby Check-Ups. I know, Addie is a tad late- I had waited for our Lowes health insurance to kick in!!

Here are the kids' stats:
Addie- 3 yrs 2mo-
27.5lbs- 10-15th% (this is HUGE for her! she hasn't been this "high" on the charts since she was 3mo old!!)
35" tall- 5th%
I guess this means we can start cutting back on her caloric intake!!

Alden- 18mo
24.5lbs- 50-75th%- It's why we call him "Bubba"
33" tall- 50-75th%- Don't know WHERE this came from!! No wonder he needs 18-24mo pants!

Alden hasn't overtaken Addie yet- but the margin is getting smaller with each passing day...

I had Alden's picture taken last night- to commemorate him turning 18 mo. I just need to have a friend scan them for me- they all turned out super cute!!

A NY Valentine

This Valentine's the kids and I headed to NY to spend time with MarMar, PopPop, Nonny, and Poppy. Aunty Jen and Cousin Nate even came down on Saturday to play. The kids all had a great time and in true Italian fashion, we did a lot of talking and eating- thus why we seem to always be eating in the pictures.... We are so blessed to have such a great family nearby (we have a fantastic family far away, too!). Here are some pics from our weekend.

Alden didn't want any of his Valentine's cake to go to waste (it's the other 1/2 of the cake from the Home Valentine's post- he actually shared his 1/2 with Nate)

Nate enjoyed his cake- such a neat eater!!

Addie did such a nice job with her cake, too!

Addie sharing her heart pops from her class party, with Nate

Addie helping MarMar make brownies

The boys getting bored watching MarMar and PopPop's Disney pictures- climbing on the couch and looking out the window was FAR more interesting!

Cousins playing together

Alden eating with Poppy- he rotated adult to adult- whomever had what he wanted to eat....

PopPop scraping off Addie's Cool Whip- she wanted it on her brownie, then changed her mind....

The cousins playing with their Valentine Gifts

Addie devised a game and got the boys to play along- they chased each other- taking turns being "it"- dragging their gift bags behind them. Really cute!

Alden coloring and listening to the song dog MarMar gave him and Addie.

Trying to sing along with the dog....

Sharing his chocolate sucker with Nonny

Home Valentines

This Valentines was really special and nice for several reasons.
1. We would not be together. I know that sound crazy- but because of this, we did special things all week long! Al would be going to upstate NY to snowmobile with Frank, the kiddos and I would head to Long Island to be with the Grandparents and Great Grandparents.
2. Addie is old enough that she "got it" and enjoyed making special Valentines for all the people she loves.
3. It was the weekend and the following week I had "off" from teaching!!
4. We've been reading Adeline- a sweet book some good friends gave us- and it's all about how every day is Valentines Day since we are loved by God.

Beautiful roses and card that the kids and Al gave me.


Cheesy cake I made for us. Yes, the bottom portion is missing- Al couldn't wait for me to frost it before he had some....

Special little cakes I made for the kiddos

Alden opening REALLLLLY wide to cram in as much cake as possible


Addie wanted a fork-- so she could have good manners- and this is how she used it. I think we need to revisit the term "good manners."

All gone!

Fun Around the House

Here are a few pics from just our day-to-day living....

Addie and her 2 beloved Dotties- the one of the left she got her 2nd Christmas- the one on the right she earned recently

Such a proud mommy!


Bob the Builder can't hold a candle to Alden the Architect!

Fish Picnics!!


Talking to the boy in the door- he was offering to share the blue phone that is in his hands with his reflection- SO sweet!

Such a big boy!

He LOVES wearing baseball hats!

Is Addie turning Type A? She did this all by herself!!