Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Growing Up!

Where have my babies gone!?! The kids are growing up right before my very eyes...

Doesn't Chris look soooo big in this picture. He wore a new sweatshirt and he loved it because he said he looks like Averey- his idol. His new teacher also told him she liked it and now he wants to wear it again tomorrow... I sensed a little crush! I think it will be only a week or so before he loses his big front tooth! It's soooo loose... I'm going to cry. This week, he actually went to the end of the street and played tackle football with the boys- some of which are middle schoolers. He loved it- and now wants to do it every day. Why do I sense a broken arm some time soon? Chris is so grown up, but he still is a six year old. He wanted to watch Barney in the car today, and he was belting out "Old McDonald"... I busted out laughing seeing this huge boy signing to Barney, and he looked at me and say, "What? Old McDonald is a good song." Ha!

Addie is just as sweet as ever... We felt awful because she woke up and asked if she had swimming and we had to say no- We didn't sign her up for this session of swim lessons. That day, Brendan got her ready and took her to the pool at our gym and had a Daddy/daughter lesson- she was so excited... I find it kind of funny that Brendan called today and signed her up for the next session! Ha! We got Addie's "report card" and had to laugh... Our sweet Addison "has to be encouraged to clean up, sometimes moves ahead of the class on projects, and is sometimes fidgety in circle time and yells out answers." She is such an angel... that I feel like an awful mom when I get a kick out of seeing that she can be like that. I'm so used to dealing with Chris! Addie is very excited that her hair touches her shoulders and will not let us get it cut. She still is a baby though- She will NOT walk- She likes to be on my hip and carried everywhere... but I'll take it- they won't be like this for long.:)





Just when...


Just when Chris is on my last nerve and such a handful, something like this always happens. He really does have the sweetest heart and most caring spirit. He brought home this school paper- He had to fill in what he "loves more than anything"... and he wrote: Mom Dad Addie. Awwwwwwwww.:)

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Happy Valentine's Day... Love, Our Sweethearts:)

The kids loved Valentine's Day... Chris remembered that last year Daddy got them presents. Oops, we forgot. Luckily, Daddy had gotten them each a box of chocolate, so we had that at their breakfast spot and said they could have junk for breakfast and that actually worked and made up for the lack of Wii Game and Barbie.... Addie was so happy- She picked out Buzz and Woody Valentine's... and Chris was super cooperative this year and wrote his name on every Valentine without any hassle. Major progress.:)







The Pickrals!!!

Brendan and I have stayed really close with his college roommmate and his family and we try to get together a couple weekends a year. This weekend, we enjoyed hanging out with Jon, Stacie, and Baby Jonathon... and were sad to see the weekend come to an end. The kids played together GREAT- no fighting at all. We enjoyed a date night to Sweetwater when Baby Caitie babysat the kiddos and Stacie and I enjoyed winning in spades- as usual. This kids loved having a little one around and were so cute playing with Jonathon- but he is growing up soooo fast! Aunt Stacie was so sweet- she brought supplies and made homemade suckers for Chris's class... I made a Valentine (of course with a Star Wars sticker per Chris) and we tied it to the suckers... and I looked like mom of the year with my homemade artsy fartsy creation. Shhhhhh... don't tell anyone it wasn't my doing- it's my secret.:) We're looking forward to visiting them soon... and can't wait to meet Baby Pickral. Stacie found out what she was having on Friday, but won't let anyone know... For the record, my prediction is a girl.:)






Night and Day

This is sooooo thier personalities... We met up with a friend of mine and her kids for dinner last week at the Steakhouse, and they had facepainting...

My sweet Addie Tay Tay wanted sparkles, glitter, and a pretty rainbow...

and then her older brother wanted blood and to be run over by a truck. Lovely.:)

I guess girls will be girls and boys will be boys!

Snow...



Snow Swimmer of the Month... AGAIN!!! We're so proud of you Topher... and yes, I'll brag... He's getting moved up to Olympic Way Silver, so it might be a long time before he gets this award again.:)

Monday, February 7, 2011

My Topher

Let's just say that Chris has been giving us a run for our money the past few weeks... Addie had a few rough weeks over Christmas but then turned back into her sweet self, so we're hoping that this too is just a phase...

After hearing a whiney, fussy, crying little boy all morning, I had a bad parenting moment- "Chris the crying is getting stupid." Brendan (trying to make things better)- " Chris, Ya know what Forrest Gump says, "Stupid is, what stupid does." Chris, "Oh yeah, Well, I don't even know that guy!" LOL

Udvar-Hazey Center

My parents had Mage and Jack spend the night with them while Todd and Sarah celebrated their anniversary... and my parents suddenly wanted to spend the day with us! I think they now understand why I stay so busy- so the kids fall asleep fast and early... J/K! Last weekend we took the kids to the Udvar-Hazey Center at Dulles Airport and the kids had a blast! Mage amazed us all and literally read all the plaques and signs without any problem. He'd say things like, "That's a Boeing." When he got to an acrobatic plane, he said, "That's a Bud Light." Chris said, a "Bud light? A beer?"... and Mage said, "Yes, I know my words." He is such a smart little boy! We rode a simulator and even went up in the tower. We were so excited because there's a picture of Gil (Grandma Kathy's hubby) in the museum- so we felt like we had celebrity status.:) After the museum, we capped the night off with a trip to the mall play area and then the food court... A good time was had by all!






This weekend, my parents had Chris and Addie spend the night with them so that Brendan and I could have an adult night... We did... and a fun time was had by all. Maybe a little too much fun. We had a great weekend and even had a special Super Bowl party at Chuck and Jackie's... but Mommy was too hungover to take pictures. Jackie is in full Grandma mode and even had a Valentine craft for the kids to do!

Addie and Daddy Time

Addie is typically a Mama's girl- She always wants Mommy/Daughter time... and we usually look at the boys and say, "Girls Rule, Boys Drool." But lately, she has been into her Daddy. I'm so thankful that Brendan has been home this past week- He was home during the snow and played with the kids outside, and he's been playing his heart out with the kids inside. I'm good at scheduling things for the kids and being on the go, but he is the best at just good old fashioned playing. Addie LOVES games and Brendan has taught her how to play Uno, Connect 4, Memory, and Guess Who! She can play all four games unassisted- When she asks who you are on Guess Who, she's learned to spell out the name! These two could spend hours playing together!