Alden Update

Alden is a busy, busy boy these day, giving his Mom heart-attacks and gray hair. He LOVES to climb, eat, build train tracks, play with Addie & Grayson, flirt with old ladies, and play with sidewalk chalk.

His vocabulary is really starting to grow, too. He now can say many words- here are a few: more, please, thank you, all done, Sissy, Mommy, Daddy, Kierke, Baby (which means Avery, Hannah, or Madelyn), Anna, Bye-Bye, phone, cup, drink, milk, food, up, down, night-night, car, truck, MarMar, PopPop, lettuce and tomato (the last 2 my friend Allison swears he says, but I think she's just giving him more credit then he actually deserves....).

Eating is still his favorite pass time and he continues to out-eat all of us at every meal. He loves going to nursery and having a chance to play with new kids. When we go to a playground, he still shows NO fear and thinks he can do everything the big kids do (thus the gray hair). He is such a neat and different change from Addie. I'm glad that I can learn new things through and with him. He certainly is an amazing gift from God!

Getting a Popsicle after his first busted lip- he "fell" off his firetruck, a grand total 6"- took a chunk out of his lip. This was the only way I could get the blood flow to stop gushing. Side note: The popsicles from Giant, STAIN! He walked around with all the orange you see here all day! Thank goodness I could cover up his belly- he just looked like he had an orange gote....


Modeling his dinosaur hat MarMar and PopPop brought back from Disney. He LOVES baseball hats and actually wears them! I think he looks adorable and like he's 5!

Addie-isms

Addie has a few funny phrases these days....

Crocogators- a witty combo of the 2 animals I have difficulty distinguishing but with this title, you are always right!

She loves to have "good naters" (aka, manners). You can often hear her so sweetly tell Alden that he isn't having good naters! This desire to have good "naters" was nice until she pointed out to some company that talking with food in their mouth was bad naters....

It's been raining a LOT here- and she observes that the sky is crying. She even sings "It's crying, it's pouring, the old man is snoring...." So sweet!

When she tries to be bossy, I gently remind her that her job is to be the big sister. MY job is to be the Mommy. Recently I over heard her telling Alden this:
Addie: Alden, I'm the Mommy, your job is to be the little brother.
Alden: Uh?
Addie: Mommy isn't here right now, so that's why I get to be the Mommy AND the big sister.
At least she has good logic, right?

I was worried that the novelty of wearing glasses was going to wear off and I was going to have to battle her. Nope. Here is proof that she loves them!
Addie: Mommy, I need my gasses (glasses). I can't see wif out 'dem.
Me: That's great! Where did you put them?
Addie: I fink dey are on the dresser, I don't know since I can't see wif out dem.
(Glasses are found and donned)
Addie: Oh Dank You Mommy! Now I can see and my head won't hurt!
So sweet!

Pubbles- Puzzles are Addie's latest obession. She loves to do them all by herself! Here she is with her sidekick, Grayson, with the biggest puzzle that she did all by herself- what a big girl!!

She's becoming such a sweet girl and I love her kind albeit slightly bossy personality (wonder where she gets THAT from?). Each day with her is a treasure and I thank the Lord for her!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

PLUS +

EQUALS =

End result- Priceless!

Strawberry Picking

On the way to Addie's preschool, I pass produce stand that has been closed all winter. On Tues, they put out a sign that the U-Pick Strawberry patch would open today, from 8-5. Some of our friends joined us in picking (and eating a lot) of berries! It was SSSOOOOO much fun this time since Alden could walk, we were with friends, and the weather was perfect!

All the big kids ready to go! Aren't they the cutest bunch?

A group shot with the Mommies and Madelyn! Can you tell it was windy?

Addie reaching for just the right berry- you can see Alden doing the same thing! The major difference- Addie's ended up in her bucket, Alden's, in his mouth.

Quality control!

Attempting to keep some berries in his bucket- it didn't last long....

Yes, he's eating it stem, leaves and all!

Addie was super proud of her bucket- that she filled herself. She carried it all the way to the check-out!

Not so sure he wants to leave the strawberry field... Notice the empty bucket....

Modeling

Here are some pics of the girls modeling the shirts Karen and I made them!

Richmond Fun

Over the weekend, Al and his long-time college friend, Mike, went dirt-biking in West Virginia. Thankfully, Mike's wife, Karen, is a good friend of mine, and her daughter, Hannah, is Addie's latest obsession! While the guys were dirt-biking all over the hills of WV, Karen, the kids and I, were having fun in Richmond. We visited Short Pump Shopping Center and rode the train there, we played at Huguenot Park with old friends, went to our old-wonderful church- Spring Run Pres, got pictures taken of the girls together, and of course, spent lots of time playing with Baby Hannah's toys (Thanks, Hannah for sharing so sweetly!). While the kids slept, Karen and I whipped out several cute dresses/shirts for the girls. Lots of fun was had by all as you can see in the pictures.

Our trip was actually extended as Al's truck broke it's serpentine belt, and then his dirt bike broke as well. But that is a totally riveting story that will have it's own post- once Al makes his way back to Richmond to retrieve his family.... Stay tuned for that!

Alden loved Hannah's car

Working together

Riding the train together- Why is it that the youngest is the only one looking at the camera?

Karen sewing up a storm! She learned in no time and took to it like duck to water!

Our masterpieces! Hannah's are on the left- a pheasant top, pillowcase dress, dress; Addie's pile is on the right- pillowcase dress and pheasant top.

Colin and Addie try to keep hydrated at the park. I'm not sure they remembered each other but they did enjoy playing together!

Amy giving Daniel and Addie pushes on the swings- wheeeeeee!

The Jack-In-Box was a favorite!

Alden's new laugh- covering his mouth- so cute!

Bathing beauties!

Climbing on the inside playground at Short Pump

Yes, Hannah is giving Alden a ride! While I taught this morning, Karen and Hannah played with my kids.

Who needs a playground when you have carseats to play in?

A taste of Al's future post....

Addie's Special Time with MarMar & PopPop

On Sunday, Alden, Al and I left NY, leaving Addie with her MarMar and PopPop. We had talked about this for weeks and she was PUMPED about it! She didn't even give us a backwards glance as we left. She's no dummy- she knows how much fun MarMar and PopPop are!

She had a very busy 3 days with her MarMar and PopPop. The visited the Natural History Museum in Manhattan as well as a special burger joint. Tuesday was filled with a trip to the Bronx Zoo where she was enamored with all the animals. Wednesday was laid back with pancakes in the morning and then the trip home.

Alden didn't act like he missed her, but when she walked in the door, he squealed her name, ran to her and hugged her- so sweet!

Here are some pictures from her special trip.

Enjoying a chocolate milkshake- yummmm!

Checking out the dinosaur bones- she even called me to tell me about what she was seeing!

Posing next to the animals

Who's having more fun here? She loved the Bug Carousel so much she rode it 3 times!

Cutest butterfly!!

Checking each other out!

Wiped out