One of those nice weekends

This weekend was one of those nice weekends, where fun happens, nice weather appears and good good is eaten! Come to think of it, I've had two really nice weekends in a row! Last weekend was my birthday weekend and I was properly celebrated two nights in a row with friends, laughter and cake! This weekend was cake-less, but still really nice. Mostly because I got to spend it with my boys!

Saturday, hubs had work to do so I took the boys to the KOP mall. I haven't been there for a while, maybe two years? Yikes. And there were a lot of new stores, however, I had forgotten how fabulously entertaining and interesting it was for small children.  Both big guy and little man were wide eyed. We has to go to the stride rite to get big guy new sneakers. I had gotten him a new pair last fall with laces from the dsw, completely overwhelmed with the fact that dsw has kids shoes! Only to get home and realize I would be lacing those shoes up! So, I was aiming for Velcro! The joy stride rite was just the ticket. Big guy did an excellent job trying on two pair and then choosing the ones he liked. They are orange and blue or as hubs told me, the colors of the New York Knicks!

Following shoe purchase, we went to the Lego store where big guy was allowed to spend $40 on a new Lego box. He of course got a box for $39.99! But it has a helicopter (which hubs built today, it's very cool), a boat, and most importantky, an alligator. After Lego store we did a few laps before heading home for lunch and naptime. Then hubs came home and we went go rubys diner for dinner. Mmm, where I ironically ordered a peanut butter milkshake and a salad.

Today was even more fun. We were thinking of things to do this morning but couldn't decide on anything good. So, we all went down to our basement and explored. Spiders, dehumidifier, laundry and talked about miscellaneous items we found. It really is a treasure trove. Then we let big guy open up a box for little man, early bday present from gmom J. It was a huge box and he ripped open the outer amazon box as well as the inner little tikes box. The activity garden within in was patiently built before and after lunch. We had a nice naptime before coming downstairs and deciding to enjoy some fresh air! It was chilly but the sun was strong. We brought out big guys bike and took it up the street to a parking lot. Little man was in the stroller while big guy biked happily for a half hour. Then we rode home and played outside for another half hour. Hubs and big guy cleaned out flower beds while little man and I explored the yard, pulling up grass and finding sticks.

We went inside and hubs went out to get sons yummy dinner. Following dinner we played with the activity garden and then it was time for bath and bed. Such a great weekend. And nice weather is coming this week which means more fresh air and more outside fun. Finally!

so big

Last night I was washing my hands, big guy was on the potty prior to taking a bath, and hub and little man were sitting on the edge of the tub relaxing.  I looked at little man who was thrilled to be sitting with hubs and watching all the action.  And in a skill that big guy never figured out as a baby (probably because we didn't practice it!), I showed hubs what we've been working on, usually at dinner.  I said, "how big is little man?" And then little man throws his hands above his head and big guy and I yell, "Soooo big!!!"  It's absolutely adorable.  We did this little schtick a more times and then I said, "yay!" which is code for clap your hands.  And little man promptly complied and started clapping.  Hubs was very impressed.  And it dawned on me that I got to teach little man those skills and they are really quite cute.  Maybe not earth shattering, but certainly worthy skills.

Longwood gardens

Really overdue, but had to share these adorable pics! He last weekend in January, hubs went to a conference for a few days. Two days were school days, so we were fine. But we did have a gaping Saturday to ourselves. I enlisted the help of my dear friend R to come to longwood gardens with us. Since it was going to be freezing, the conservatory was the perfect place!

We got there around when it opened and spent the next three hours enjoying the warm climate, beautiful flowers and feeling some good exercise, as we got to do the whole place! Which I hadn't done since a few xmas's ago with just big guy. We had a really nice lunch supplemented with some sundry food products from the cafe. And then we hit up the children's garden, where both the boys got soaked. Like completely drenched. At one point big guy stuck his head into a fountain, like taking a shower! And little man was wearing fleece, which is surprisingly very absorbent! But they had an absolute blast and it was really cool to see them both enjoying the flowers and atmosphere! See below for some pics!

Aquarium

On the second Friday of gmom Dino's visit, we decided to go to the aquarium! Since we are members, it's just so easy to go! It was really cold and windy that day, so an indoor activity was just the solution. Also, who doesn't love fish and sea creatures? Since it was so unpleasant out, we actually were able to go in a side entrance and them skipped the lame-o non-members in line and make it into the warmth! We had a really great time! We did the hippos and sharks first. Though I will say that the jellyfish were a definite hit for everyone. Following that exhibit, we did the kids area, which is super cool as we hadn't done that the last time. Lots of fun interactive stuff for big guy to run around and touch. And little man was able to slap the walls of the tanks and that was really cool! Following a delicious lunch of yogurt, apples and of course a giant soft pretzel, I fed little man in the nursing room and big guy and Dino went to touch sting rays and sharks. It was only as I was sitting nursing little man that I though of how wet he was going to get! And he really was soaked. Short, pants, even his socks! But he was having such a great time with Dino, so how could I complain?!?!

Anywho, we did the cool alligator and fish from around the world type exhibit before calling it a day. And of course hit up the gift ship, which was entirely too long and big guy was really indecisive! But he eventually got a really big blue stuffed animal snake. And then everyone fell asleep on the way home. Just what I always hope for :)

well check- 5 year and 9 month!

A bit overdue but we had the boys at their well checks with our favorite- dr W and they did a great job. I had hubs take the day so he could come with me, as I recall being really overwhelmed and not able to remember everything that happened the last time I had them both with me.

Big guy did a great job getting height, weight, blood pressure and vision done. All fabulous. He's still really tall, on the higher end for weight, fabulously low blood pressure (thanks gmom Dino!) and his vision was 20-25. Which I assume is perfectly fine. Mostly bc I think he misspoke the shape instead of actually not being able to see it. Oh well. We talked with dr w about getting an inhaler instead of using his nebuliZer and so we picked up those already at quite a hefty price. Of course I forgot to ask for a letter for school use, but I think when he starts at the new school, I'll just have a new letter written for neb, inhaler and hydrocortisone for dry skin.

Onto little man who equally did a great job, even if he was required to actually do nothing besides be cute and not make a fuss at being handled! He is still tall, skinny and developing nicely and doing all the things he's supposed to be doing.

Funnily enough, he and big guy are on the complete extremes of the bmi, which now everytime you go they give to you. Really, the bmi of a baby!? Anywho, big guy is up at 85 and little man is at 15. So dr W asks if big guy is going to public school next year for K, which he isn't but she said if by the time he's in 1st grade and is still up at 85, you'll get a letter! Mostly because it is a high bmi, but anyone who looked at him, dr W included, would know that he's really tall and solid. 50 pounds is quite a lot but he's sturdy, dense and very healthy. So she obviously wasn't worried. And then she looked at little man who is in the 20th percentile for weight and said, since he has a completely different body type, you don't have to worry about getting a letter! Ha!

the mouth of babes

Ok, just one babe really.  But he's been awfully busy!  Included are: tongue clicking, lip smacking, babbling, blueberries (he wasn't impressed), cheese doodles (gerber brand), and of course any other random item found on the floor even with a vacuum obsessed mother like me! And finally, another tooth! This being a canine. Hello, there is supposed to be a pattern to these teeth that everyone follows. Except my two children. Who both have gotten two bottom and then a canine!!

marie claire

I don't know about other people, but I spend a lot of time and money at the rite aid! In fact, it's one of my favorite places. You could live there! Anywho, for being the amazing customer that I am, I not only get 20% off everything I buy, I also earned enough points to get a free magazine subscription. So, among my choices were Redbook or Marie Claire. Not that I had read either of these two before but had a vague sense they were the women's magazines. I chose Marie Claire because I though Redbook was for Thierry something married women with kids. Marie Claire was more hip...

Cue the first two issues showing up and it dawned on me that I wasn't the right demographic for Marie Claire, which is high fashion. And that I am the thirty something woman who is married with children. When did that happen?!?! The only good thing is that it is free :)

Class party!!

The third weekend in February brought about big guy's party for his friends at school. We had it at the academy of natural sciences and it was awesome. I could not have asked for a better party, I could have asked for better weather! Turns out the second biggest snowfall of the winter started about an hour before his party got under way, which made me sad and anxious. We hadn't gotten too many RSVP's to begin with so I was epically sad on big guys behalf that no one would show up. I had a talk with him before we left about how the weather was bad and that even if it was just daddy, mommy, little man and Dino we would all still have fun. But I really wanted to cry but didn't! I kept repeating that prayer about being able to know the difference between what you can control or not!

After a quick call to the museum to ensure we were still a go, I sent an email to everyone saying we were still having the party and hoped to see people there. Only 1 person didn't come because of weather. However, we lost another 4 due to illness. February is a tough month! Anywho, we made it to the museum with a few minutes to spare. The roads were already pretty treacherous! We were greeted by A, our host who stayed with us the whole time and she was awesome!!!

We were in the Serengeti room with the zebra and other herbivores of Africa. It was really cool! We put out some extra cash to have them provide the cake (which was delicious and from a bakery in south Philly), plates, cups, plasticware, favors for all the kids (cool reusable cup, creepy bug toy, bug tattoo, and coupon for free adult admission!). And then Dino's gift was to pay for the bug encounter!

So, though people were late, we had a really great tour of the museum and the kids had so much fun and were really well behaved! We started with outside in- where the kids got to pet a bunny and a turtle. Then went to dig for dinosaurs! Next to the Titanoboa exhibit, all about snakes. And then ended up at butterflies, which funnily enough the adults liked the best while the kids ran through! We then went back to our room for the hissing cockroach visit. I think this is what the kids liked the most, they got to see it up close, learn about it and then touch them. For like 20 minutes! We ended with soft pretzels and cake! It was really great. I would recommend this party to anyone. And our host was amazing. Obviously liked kids and knew how to keep it moving and interesting!

Then we left and it took us an hour and a half where it normally is a 20 minute drive! It was definitely scary and long and neither of the boys slept but we made it home safely! And big guy had a wonderful time and that is all I could ask for!!

corn and apple wheels

Now that we are back to normal, relatively speaking, we have started up going through our new foods again. We have conquered corn (niblets popped out of their skins and pureed with sweet potatoes). And from gerber, the apple wheel puff, which  is teaching us to take bites with those new chompers, but still I'm finger sweeping when the whole wheel goes in!  I think next will be beans!!!

second tooth

Last week the second bottom tooth came in! Thank goodness because little man was awfully grumpy!  But they are slowly making their way up through the gums and it has changed his smile so much.  And now little man just rubs his tongue over them all the time.  It's rather cute and drooly!

santa fe style

Yesterday we went to see an open house. It was a totally fabulous house, really big and spacious.  The master suite was bigger than our downstairs! And it had awesome wall-to-wall carpeting, two sets of stairs, one that little man climbed all by himself! One odd thing about the house was the horrific decor. It was native american, meets southwest.  Just awful.  Anyway, below is what big guy and hubs discussed:

Big guy- Wow! That's a big picture! (looking at a native american 6 foot painting)
Hubs- Yeah, this is decorated in a santa fe style.
Big guy- SANTA decorated it????
Hubs- Not santa! (laughing and exasperated at same time)