Movie night

A few months ago we started "movie night" with Emma.  It was our way to allow her a special time with just Mommy and Daddy.  It has been going so well.  Last night in particular it made me get teary because as Rob was putting Julia to bed, Emma said "Ok, Mommy let's get our popcorn started and find our spots on the couch".  I sat back and watched my little girl fluff the pillows, fold out blankies then go to the cabinet and pick out our popcorn bowls (Pink for Emma, Blue for Daddy, and Green for Mommy) and then she lined them up and started telling me step by step what we needed to do next.  Now, it was not in a bossy tone (which we so often hear these days) it was in a "I know what to do next so I am going to show you how big and independent I can be tone".  Ah, she really is getting quite big.  But not too big because she still likes to snuggle up on the couch with us and will still share her popcorn when I ask :)  Oh, and yes for those wondering ... Emma is a BIG fan of popcorn and M&M's (we actually were all out of the M&M's last night so she didn't get them) but for those of you who have never tried it pour some M&M's in your bowl of popcorn, the warm popcorn gets the chocolate all melty but it's inside the candy shell so NO MESS :)  Sorry, D ... I know how much you despise this treat but for us it's just the best!

Today we had swim class and Jules is proving to fit her Zodiac sign to a T -- Pisces -- a water sign.  She absolutely loves the water, loves dipping her face in, loves tilting her head in, and wants to be able to jump into the water by herself.  She gives me a dirty look when I make her hold my hands -- hhmmmm, where does she get this from???  Emma on the other hand, not so much.  She clings onto Rob and would much rather float and blow bubbles then try to swim at all.  Today, Gracie who is usually just as timid as Emma, jumped in and went under water!!!!  It was great.  Although the classes are early on Saturdays, it's one thing we are doing with all four of us and it slows down our Saturday pace and an added bonus, Sara, Gracie and Maddie are at class too so we get to socialize afterwards! 

Later today we plan to take the girls for a much needed 'Snip-its haircut.  Emma's hair is growing like weeds and is a bit unruly with all of her waves and the bangs are just not working at all so we are going to try and let those grow out.  Julia's hair seems to grow lopsided (long on the right and short on the left!!) so hopefully we will get that evened out and they will be all prettied up for Quinn's first birthday party tomorrow.  

Just wanted to update the countdown too:  17 days of school left!!!!!!  

So beach weather here we come.  We plan to have lots of outings with the Sumners, up to Marblehead and Lowell, to RaRa's and PopPop's and Boogiedown with the Popottes, and with Michelle and Ethan at the beach!  Summer is great!

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAYS ...

Wishing a HAPPY HAPPY 1st Birthday to Quinn and Samuel.  Enjoy every second of this special day.  And to your Mommy's, you girls are amazing and my go-to ladies for everything baby and more!  Thinking of you.

Gracie and Quinn

Samuel

Weekend of fun!

Long weekends bring such ease and fun. We had a great weekend together as a family.  Bike rides, BBQ's, Bubbles, Painting, Popsicles and Hillbilly Horseshoes!  We really got to unwind and enjoy the nice weather, all while catching up with family and friends.  That's what it's all about!  

Strawberry popsicles, YUM!

Julia's 1st creative act, my Mom pointed out that she was sitting in the chair using her pointer finger for a reason ... so get out the paint!  And this is what she created!!!  Maybe the next Monet?

Emma created her own hopscotch with our plastic bowls during a rainy afternoon

Rob with Emma on the bikepath near our house

Rob and Emma getting ready for a day out, Mommy got a day out too!

My new flower project, each year I TRY to grow flowers, we'll see how this year goes

Michelle and Luigi got Emma new fairy wings, which she has worn everyday since ... even when  "finger" painting (her works of art are actually pretty good)

Julia, still chooses to crawl outside, but took tons of solo walking trips on her own over the weekend

Emma on her princess bike

A thought I pondered over this long weekend ... how do you keep your bedroom CLEAN?  I spent the better part of 2 mornings sorting the girls clothes, reorganizing their closet and then putting all of their "outgrown clothes" in piles in our room, which I feel like I can no longer label "our room" or maybe "our" room is right?  If Our equals the entire family's clothing storage room?  UGH, any one else feel like their bedroom is the last place we keep organized and peaceful?  Well, my new goal is to make our bedroom a bedroom again, with out piles of kids clothes and winter coats cluttering it up! 

The countdown begins

THERE ARE 21 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER VACATION! Believe me ... I am screaming that while I type it!  I can not wait to be home with the girls this summer.  Now that we have the swingset built and the warm nights are here, I have been getting glimpses of simpler nights ahead.  Tonight we just played outside, ate a quick light dinner and had popsicles.  It was perfect.  Some little snip-its from the girls I thought you would all like:

Julia has a new trick that she and Daddy have been working on ... Daddy says "tongue" and she sticks out her tongue, Daddy says "eyes" and she closes/squints her eyes, and Daddy says point to your nose and she takes a big grand arm shake and one finger point to her nose. It's so adorable.

She's also very chatty these days.  Talking in full jibber jabber sentences with quite the assertive tone --- AAAHHHHGAAA TA TA TAH! And a forceful "MINE" when ever she sees something that she wants.  Especially when she wants Emma's favorite blankie!  Julia will settle for her own Mrs. Pink blankie if there is no sight of Emma's Mr. Green blankie but if that dirty ratty Mr. Green is near she just about knocks down anything in her way to get to it.  It's so funny.

And the sweetest thing tonight: Emma says in a sassy voice to her popsicle "My Mommy is so cool".  WHAT???? How old is she????  Nevertheless, I will take the compliment.

Also, we've decided to start Emma in pre-school in the Fall.  After a tossing the idea around over the past month (first based on Emma fighting us some days to go to daycare, then on her telling us she wants to go to school -- guess you have to follow your kids lead sometimes huh?!), we decided to try 2 mornings per week.  I think that will be a good introduction and then if she seems to need more we can increase it in the winter.

Fun fun fun ...

Saturday night we had the luxury of having a fun night out with our NU crew.  It was Chris and Amanda's Jack and Jill party.  I am still new to attending these since we did not have them in my hometown. But it's actually a low key way to celebrate (OK let's be realistic -- PARTY) with the bride and groom to be.  And the couple gets lots of cash towards their upcoming wedding.  Now, it still makes me pause about the whole concept but then again it's also a clever concept too!  Either way, we had the best time.  My mom and Michael were awesome and took the girls for an entire day and a half so we could go and sleep out at April and Timmy's.  Which by the way, my "most likely" future brother in law has NEVER seen me drink more than a beer so he was quite floored when "Mary" showed up dancing and drinking Pearl Harbors.  It was so much fun.  Rob joined us on the dance floor for about 0.2 seconds but he wasn't far away watching at the bar and reminiscing with his college buddies.  By we all danced and/or drank a bit too much for 30 somethings but it was great to be able to catch up and I had my first Root Beer Barrel at a town bar in Ayer with April and Timmy!  I think that is what put me over the edge for the "sluggish" feeling I had on Sunday :)  Wishing the best to Chris and Amanda!!

The NU Crew

(April, Timmy, Adrian, Kim, Jim, Mary, Rob, Sherri, Neil, Tim, Amanda and Chris)

The bride and groom to be 

Proof of the rootbeer barrel in Ayer

Chris and I showing off our moves!

REAL big steps!

Here it is ... the first "caught on video" moment of Miss Jules walking solo!  She still is as stubborn as ever and prefers her knee walking act but we wanted to share that she can in fact walk by herself when she feels like it.

Enjoy!!!

And, on Sunday we spent the best day in Providence with Mom (RaRa), Michael (PopPop) and Auntie April. We went to the Children's Museum and then to a fantastic lunch at Venda Ravioli, YUMMMMMM!  Here are some cute pics from our special Mother's Day.  

PopPop and Julia in the big chair

The gang (minus Daddy and Emma - who refused to sit!)

Auntie testing out the suspension bridge

Mommy and the girls, it's not easy getting them to look at the camera!

Emma driving the boat

General Hospital - Home - ABC.com

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Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and all of you.

Wishing all of you a wonderful day, all of you have helped me be a better Mom and I couldn't do it with out you.  Thinking of you on this special day.

Before I was a  Mom, 
I  never tripped over toys 
or  forgot words to a lullaby. 
I  didn't worry whether or not 
my  plants were poisonous. 
I  never thought about  immunizations. 
  
Before I was a  Mom, 
I  had never been puked on. 
Pooped  on. 
Chewed  on.. 
Peed  on. 
I  had complete control of my mind 
and  my thoughts. 
I  slept all night. 

Before I was a  Mom, 
I  never held down a screaming child 
so  doctors could do tests. 
Or  give shots. 
I  never looked into teary eyes and cried. 
I  never got gloriously happy over a simple  grin. 
I  never sat up late hours at night 
watching  a baby sleep. 

Before I was a  Mom, 
I never  held a sleeping baby just because 
I  didn't want to put her down. 
I  never felt my heart break into a million  pieces 
when  I couldn't stop the hurt.! 
I  never knew that something so small 
could  affect my life so much. 
I  never knew that I could love someone so  much. 
I  never knew I would love being a Mom. 

Before I was a  Mom, 
I  didn't know the feeling of 
having  my heart outside my body.. 
I  didn't know how special it could feel 
to  feed a hungry baby. 
I  didn't know that bond 
between  a mother and her child. 
I  didn't know that something so small 
could  make me feel so important and happy. 

Before I was a  Mom, 
I  had never gotten up in the middle of the  night 
every  10 minutes to make sure all was okay. 
I  had never known the warmth, 
the  joy, 
the  love, 
the  heartache, 
the  wonderment 
or  the satisfaction of being a Mom. 
I  didn't know I was capable of feeling so  much, 
before  I was a Mom . 

Big steps

So it is official, Julia CAN walk but it's absolutely dependent on when she "feels like it".  She stood in the middle of Emma's room tonight, sat down then stood back up all by herself and then walked across the room.  As soon as she realized Rob and I were watching she sat down, gave us a mischievous grin and began the knee walk!  She's too much.  

We have been told that some of you haven't witnessed this hysterical knee walking so ... here is a glimpse in a video from today.  How embarassing ... there were lots of little babies walking steady, most of them younger than Julia, but not Jules she's definitely marching to the beat of her own drum on this one!  Hopefully in the upcoming days we'll get a video glimpse of her walking to share.  But for now enjoy this:

 

In love ...

With our new iMac computer!!!

Most of you know that our laptop was ancient and had been causing quite some frustration and rejected our internet service on a daily basis. So we bit the bullet and joined apple and I have to tell you ... I love it.  It is easy (set up the iMac in 25 minutes and connected to the internet instantaneously!).  The monitor is gorgeous and I am very much looking forward to the new iChat component. So, with my new technology I am hoping that I get to get on here and post all of the time!!!!!