Bubbles!!

We go through bubble formula by the gallons. The kids love bubbles, and apparently Flash, the dog, does too.

Easter Weekend

It does appear that spring is coming. We're supposed to hit the 80 mark this week. The warmer weather is scattered in between cooler days and lots of rain showers. But it will do...for now.

Chloe, hiding behind her growing-out bangs, dying eggs.

Saturday we went to the P*orsche Swap in Hershey, PA. We gave the new wagon a go and it was a great success. Both kids loved riding in it and pulling each other in it as well.

At the swap.

Easter was nice and warm though clouds threatened. We did get a rain shower around dinner time. Luckily all the egg hunts and festivities were over.

Chloe, at church, with one of her best pals.

Decorating a bag before the church egg hunt.

Oliver found one egg, which he declared was a "ball" and threw on the ground busting it open. He, of course, was rather pleased to find candy inside!

Showing his egg to Daddy.



Attempting to get a Easter photo with the kids. And, just a note: This wasn't supposed to be Oliver's Easter outfit. I purchased him an adorable john-john to wear but it got vetoed when Daddy saw him in it and declared, "It's just not Oliver's style". Unfortunately, he was right.



Happy Easter!

Wagon

It seems that we have been buying giant plastic toys lately. First, we got Oliver the push & pedal truck and now this...






When we were at the zoo last week I became all too aware that we needed something both kids could ride in. Chloe is still not beyond wanting to ride in a stroller. It's not often that we go some place that we need a double stroller so I didn't want to pay several hundred dollars for one and children's resell shops aren't abundant. We do have a double jog stroller but it doesn't travel well. Instead I bought a wagon. We will be testing out it's functionality at a Porsche swap this Sarurday-- just the kind of event where kids don't want to walk and we will need some space for purchases. I hope the kids don't mind riding with brakes for a 944 turbo.

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Ready to Put Away the Coats

The tulips in the front yard are blooming...come on spring.

After Texas, I totally have spring fever. I just want to put away the coats. The weathermen forcasted 72 degrees today. At 1:00 p.m., it's 50 degrees and doesn't appear that it will come anywhere near 70. Its damp, overcast and chilly.

Expecting nice weather today, I made plans to work in the garden preparing it for planting. The weather didn't work out, but I started the garden anyway.

Chloe and I managed to start some seeds earlier in the week and make a run to the garden center to get some supplies. Last year our vegetable garden didn't do too well thanks in part to the record heat and the 105 lb. dog that trampled through it. Chloe and I have big plans for this year's vegetable garden so we are doing what we can to protect it.

The new barrier gate to prevent Flash from trampling the garden. Last year we used garden netting and it did little to deter him.

We have to protect the yellow baby doll watermelon we are growing from seed along with our tomatoes, jalapeno pepper, onions, pole beans and carrots.

I couldn't resist strawberries. I grow these in a pot.

Getting tomato plants this early means we are destined to have a freeze. Ugh!



Don't you wish you had two large dogs so your backyard could look this lovely?

Flash surveying the new fencing.

The swingset has arrived. Guess what we are doing Easter weekend?

The mess maker. It's 10:30 a.m. in this photo and I already have to change his clothes!

Texas Break

Chloe’s Spring Break was last week and the kids and I took the break from school as an opportunity to soak up some sun and it’s heat in Dallas with my parents.

We flew out on Sunday morning and I have to admit that I was a little uneasy and sick to my stomach with worry on how Oliver would act on the flight. After our trip to Hawaii in February, I knew he could be BAD, REAL BAD on a flight. It was just me and the kids, so I didn’t have Matt around to help ward off angry passengers and to help quiet and angry Oliver. As luck would have it, I saw a segment on TV with a family therapist about flying with kids earlier in the week and I took some sage advice— People are quick to judge your parenting skills and “tsk” on flights and rarely offer any useful recommendations or empathize. They only complain. Tantrums are common, don’t worry about the other passengers, take care of your child, you are his parent and you know him best. It is what it is…it’s the means to an end (i.e. getting some place).
Armed with that advice, we set off on our 3+ hour flight. Of course, I armed myself with all the tantum-avoidance materials I could---toy cars, a chew toy that he could “bite” and the portable DVD player and every Baby Ei*nstein video in our collection. We did have a “breakdown” on the plane when Oliver got tired and I refused to let him “play” in the airplane lavatory (i.e. fill the sink with water, pull out every paper towel, flush the toilet 20 times and unroll the toilet paper) but he handled himself about as well as you would expect a 21 month old to handle the situation. In the end, we all survived, had no angry passengers in my face and touched down fairly unfazed. Even Chloe exclaimed when we touched down, “Hey Mom, Oliver was pretty good on the flight!”.

We had an awesome time in Dallas. Oliver really bonded with my Dad, “PaPaw”. We went to my father’s farm in East Texas and Oliver loved chasing the chickens and scaring the cows with his shrieks of joy. We were also able to see my childhood friend, Stacie, and her two daughters. Chloe loved playing with Stacie’s oldest daughter and has since declared that they are going to be best friends just like Stacie and I. We also went to the Lego Discovery Center and the Ft. Worth Zoo. I was born and raised in Dallas and it was my first visit to the Ft. Worth Zoo. We loved it and it left me wondering why I always went to the Dallas Zoo! We ended the week by swimming and having dinner with my nieces and nephew.

Oliver did even better on the return flight home, and we came back to NJ to discover the tulips blooming in the front yard and that spring was finally here! Yippee!

Love This Ad

Matt and I saw this commercial for the first time today and we love it. It's like the ad guys at P*or*sche heard us talking. Now, why didn't we buy a yellow convertible?

The weather is bright and sunny (and kind of warm) so we are loading up the kids in the Turbo convertible to buy dog food!! It's totally a family car!

The Kiddos

As I mentioned, I took the kids to the mall to have some spring photos taken. The real purpose was to have some photos taken of me, Oliver & Chloe for Matt for Father's Day but the photos of the three of us didn't turn out very well due to a lack of cooperation on the part of a 21 month-old. The photographer did manage to get some good photos of the kids individually and together.

And to answer a question that everyone else in the photo studio asked...yes, I did have the kids outfits made to match. That's how I roll. A very nice lady that I found on E*t*sy made the matching outfits for the kids. I also have a top that matches that she made too. She was so reasonable for what she charged for the three pieces and hairbow that I hardly believe that she made a profit.

Chloe--I didn't realize that she was wearing her watch in the photo. She never takes the watch off, except for gymnastics once a week and it's filthy. I love that I captured all her teeth--baby teeth, adult teeth and halfway grown in!!



I seriously don't know how the photographer got a good photo of Oliver--he wouldn't sit still and kept trying to escape the studio.



A cute shot!! The photographer managed to snap this just as Oliver was about to get up. I love it!!

A Visit to the Easter Bunny

We went to the mall to have some spring photos taken and stopped by to see the Easter Bunny. Oliver was too thrilled at first but with a little encouragement he warmed up and took a photo.

After our Easter Bunny photo shoot, we rode the merry-go round. Oliver was mesmerized and was upset when the ride ended.

On the Merry-Go Round.

Kung Fu Chloe

Chloe has been pestering us for about two years to take karate. We have kind of ignored those requests until recently. She has been asking to quit swimming to take karate. We didn't want to have her quit swimming because she's really good at it and has a natural talent and ability. Nonetheless, I did some research and looked around at the different forms of martial arts and we decided that Kung Fu is a better fit for Chloe. Surprisingly enough, even though we live just outside the largest city in the U.S., Kung Fu schools are few and far between. Luckily, one of the best rated martial arts schools in the NYC metroplex is in our county. I called the school, spoke to one of the owners and signed Chloe up for a trial class. She loved it and I thought it was pretty awesome too. The children count and learn Chinese in class, they learn Kung Fu as well as other important life lessons. When Chloe left the trial class she told me that she "loved it!". So we signed her up. Today she got her uniform and sash. She's very proud!

Knock, Knock

This video couldn't sum up our lives better if I had hired a Hollywood director and script writer. It's short but captures so much of our day to day.

Oliver has taken to telling "Knock, Knock" jokes. Well, he's taken to telling one "Knock, Knock" joke and it's always the same:

Oliver: "Knock, Knock"
Me: "Who's There?"
Oliver: "Ball"
Me: "Ball Who?"
Oliver: "Knock, Knock"...and repeat the above all over again and again

This video captures Oliver telling his "Knock, Knock" joke at about the 50th repeat where big sister Chloe decides to hop in once she realized I began recording this joke-telling marathon. How it ends is classic Oliver--a scream (and it's not even a loud one. Yes, he CAN get louder) and then the "shhh" sign. Enjoy a glimpse into our lives!

A Chilly Weekend

The sun was out but the weather was cold. Matt was out of town driving cars with the Po*rsche Club on track. The kids and I had big plans but it didn't seem to work out as the weather didn't want to cooperate. Saturday was bitterly cold and Sunday was better, but it was still chilly.

We had hoped to go for a bike ride and perhaps the Br*onx Zoo on Saturday but with a wind chill in the 20s, it wasn't happening. We were going to go to the Hall of Science in Queens but there was a police shooting that shut down the highway that would take us there. We then thought we would go to the science center in NJ, but I thought it would be really crowded and there is only one section that is approprate for Oliver's age. In the end, I decided that the kids should blow off some steam and I took them to an indoor kid's village of bounce houses, enlcosed climbing gym, arcade games, etc. Chloe had a blast and so did Oliver until it got to be too much and caused a complete and utter meltdown. That was our cue to leave. We grabbed lunch on the way home and both kids napped afterwards---SUCCESS!! On Saturday evening I took the kids out to eat Mexican food. It took our food forever to arrive and by the time it did both Chloe and Oliver had filled up on chips & salsa (yes, Oliver LOVES salsa) and flour tortillas. Oliver declared "Done!" and tried to squeeze himself out of his highchair about 5 minutes before the entrees arrived. I asked the waitress to bring the check when she set the entrees down and then proceeded to shovel my fajitas in my mouth before she arrived back at the table. When Oliver is DONE, he's DONE! I was so proud of my mad super-mom skills that day I went crazy and even stopped off after dinner at that big box toy store and let the kids pick out a toy. Oliver picked out a car (of course) and Chloe picked out the new Le*go Sta*r Wa*rs III game for the Wi*i. I picked up the "cheat book" for the game so I could explain to Chloe how to play it.

Sunday we went to church and Chloe kept asking to go for a bike ride. The child has NO concept of cold or chill and was relentless in her request. The sun was shining and I gave in. We aired up her tires and dusted off the tricycle Chloe had as a child and we went for a bike ride. Chloe has yet to master riding her bicycle on the sidewalks. She was taught to ride her bike on the running track at the high school and so she is accustomed to a smooth surface. The sidewalks in our town are jagged and cracked from tree roots. While Chloe is good on two wheels, she is not so good on two wheels on uneven surfaces. She spent most of the time with her feet off the pedals pushing her bike. Oliver on the other hand loved the tricycle. I walked behind steering the tricycle and he thought he was the coolest thing. I couldn't get him off the thing! Chloe was ready to return home after two blocks, Oliver was not. I had to keep pushing and steering him up and down the street and finally in the backyard. In an attempt to get him off the tricycle, I had to promise to bounce him on the trampoline.

The kids had so much fun playing in the yard the rest of the afternoon. It was chilly but fun. I managed to sneak inside to grab the camera and snap some photos.

Oliver pushing his tricycle around. He kept calling it a "car". He loves the thing.

Chloe on her bicycle on the patio of the house.

Riding in the backyard. We're going to have to work on riding on sidewalks.

Bouncing on the trampoline and getting some energy out.

Oliver loves being bounce on the trampoline.

Spring Has Disappeared

I think my eagerness for the arrival of Spring has caused a retreat. It snowed yesterday (and two days before that) and it's only 41 degrees today and the daily highs for the remainder of the weekend stay around that mark. Matt is in Virginia racing cars and I am scrambling, trying to figure out something to do with the kids this weekend that is relatively warm. I am so sick of being indoors that I may just bundle the kids up and do something outside. The sun is shining and it makes you think it is warmer than it really is.

I do know that I need to go shopping for a crib tent for a certain toddler who I caught attempting to climb out of his crib today at nap time. He had already pulled the blackout curtains off the curtain rods as well as move his crib away from the wall by pushing against the wall with his feet. Mom's going to put a "kabash" on all of that with the crib tent!

In the meantime, here are some photos of the children doing the activities they like best---
 

 Oliver--playing with his cars and pointing his finger telling me "NO".







Chloe, doing cartwheels in the front yard.



Ah, Spring & Playground Dramas Ensue

It's finally here, Spring. And how does it greet us? With rain and snow. It also seems that the temperatures are going to keep dropping during the week and we're in for more snow mid-week. Gee, I'm glad Spring is here!!

We did have lovely weather Thursday and Friday last week and I was pleased to see my tulips started poking through the ground (of course, they're dusted in snow now). It was warm enough to put the top down on the convertible, take a visit to the playground and visit the nursery for spring plantings. I was also planning on putting away my winter clothes and jackets but didn't get around to it as I was enjoying the outdoors. It appears I still need those heavier coats and clothes. Grrrrrr....

Heading to the playground both Thursday and Friday did convince us that a playset for the kids birthdays would be a wise investment.  Not only can prying a certain 21 month-old from the playground can be harrowing it seems that some parent's have lost their minds. It seems lately that I cannot take my kids to the playground without a altercation breaking out between parents. There is one playrground we prefer because it is fully enclosed and it has age-appropriate play equipment for Chloe's age as well as Oliver's age. But, it seems every time we visit this playground a war of words ignites. I wish I was exaggerating, but I am seriously not. EVERYTIME. It is always high drama. The first drama at the playground was when a mother yelled out, "Who is the crappy mother of this child?! Take control of your kid!" and then hurled a string of expletives on the mom when she stepped forward and inquired as to why she was such a crappy mother. It seems the irate mom thought the other mom's son was playing too rough around smaller children. He also climbed on top of the roof of the little kids play area and he should have been told to get down, but wasn't because his mom was too busy talking with some other mom friends. The war of words escalated, lawsuits were threatened and both mother's grabbed their children and left. Needless to say the playground was left silent as we all witnessed two mother's behaving badly.

And the most recent incident occured at our playgroup session. An eight-year old boy kept hanging around Chloe and the other 4 older kids in our playgroup. I would see him say something and see the kids in our group turn and walk away. He would walk up, say something and the kids would move again. I walked over because I didn't want Chloe to exclude this boy or be rude to him. I asked her why they kept walking away and she told me that he was a "bully" and that "he's saying mean things to us." So, I told her that she was doing the right thing to ignore him, not say anything to him and walk away and I went back to chasing Oliver. About 10 minutes later I turn to see a mother with her finger pointed in my friend's face telling her that she needed to bring her son back over to apologize. It seems that the boy who was insulting Chloe and her friends wouldn't stop and pushed his way in to the group to tell one of the little boy's in our group that he "was a wimp" and "played stupid games." Chloe's friend pushed the boy and told him to go away. It was my friend's son who did the pushing and she saw the incident. She called him over, got the story but told him he shouldn't push other kids and made him apologize to the boy. It seems the mother of the boy, the one who had her finger in my friend's face, thought the apology was insincere and he should do it again and mean it this time. She also didn't care if her son insulted our kids, he didn't need to apologize too, he didn't push anyone! She was also telling my friend that she handled the situation wrong and was an unfit mother. She also commented that other mother's at the playground we're unfit, pointing a few out (glad I didn't make it on the list!). Realizing this woman was a little off,  my friend didn't further the argument, called he  son back over and had him apologize again to the boy. To which the boy responded, "I don't believe you!"with a smile on his face. With that, the mother started getting mad again, thinking my friend's son was still insincere. We said nothing and became the mom's who grabbed our kids and made the quickest exit possible.

The playset we chose.

Fast-forward to Saturday...Matt and I loaded up the kids and  headed out to look at the numerous choices of playsets on the market so we can have our own playground fit for both kids in the not so insane privacy of our own yard. I had been looking online for about a week but the playground insanity the week before solidified the decision. There are many "showrooms" around the area as well as the big box stores that carrying playsets so we went to check them out in person.  After we recovered from sticker shock we looked at all the choices out there on the market we made a decision and placed an order. The kids should have their own playset in the backyard well in advance of their birthdays in June.  Lets just hope that it doesn't arrive so early that they forget what Mom & Dad got them for their birthday! In the meantime we will stick to the much smaller, not as much fun but more sane playground.

Here's hoping that Spring will arrive soon and restore sanity to the mom's who have been indoors too long.

Happy St. Patrick's Day...

from our little leprechauns.

It was a lovely 63 degrees here and we went to the park. Keeping an eye on your child at the playground on St. Patrick's Day with every kid wearing green can be tricky!

Birthday Celebration & Date Night

Happy Birthday to Matt. To celebrate we left the kids with the babysitter, went to dinner and to see a Broadway show.

The Dogs

It would be nice to have a place to sit in our house, but I don't want to disturb the dogs.

Crafty

Perhaps it is the lack of sleep or the longer days and sunshine that is driving me to get out the glue gun and fire it up. Its been a while.

Arts & Crafts--not such a big thing in the NYC 'burbs. Antiques, high-end furniture, yes. Craft stalls and cutesy tchotchkes, no. So, when my mom alerted me to the latest craft rage in Dallas, poly mesh, it didn't take long to find inspiration. Finding the material was a different story but with a little time on the Internet I found a distributor. I purchased the poly mesh in several colors and several forms for making the wreath.

My first wreath was a St. Patrick's Day wreath. It is currently on our front door.

Next, I set to work on an Easter wreath. Here's what I used:

poly-mesh

A cheap, straw wreath

different Easter decorations from the craft store

I cut the poly-mesh into strips and tied it to the wreath. I also added some ribbon.

I then hot glued the bunny face on to the wreath. I am sure that I will add and rearrange this wreath before it officially goes on the door, but here's what I have so far.

And then, I kept going...

and going....

I think I need more doors.

In the spirit of craftiness, and to take a break from wreaths, I made Chloe a new "To-Do" dry erase board for her door. I bought a cheap, white picture frame and inserted a dry erase square on top of the glass. I then embellished with vinyl letters and some sticker dots. Lets wait and see if Chloe notices!