Back to School

So Eric and Ellie are in preschool. Ellie goes Tue/Thu and Eric Mon/Wed/Fri. It is so nice for them to have time alone with me in the mornings and they both adore school.
Last night Ellie made us sit down and she read us an entire book that they have at school. Only 2 days and she is already playing the teacher.
Eric told me "you know school is a little bit more fun than home, there are more people and more things to do." I had better make things a little more exciting around here :)

Bad Pitch!

So due to peer pressure from her brother, Ellie decided to take up baseball. After she missed the first ball she said "bad pitch" and then continued to say that each time she missed!

Just Around the Corner

Andrew ran into Olympia Sports to get some soccer shin pads for Eric. While Andrew was in there Eric said "You know, there's always an Olympia Sports just arpund the corner."

Our Trip to Asheville

We came back on Saturday from our long road trip to Asheville. We had such a great time, things couldn't have been better... well maybe a little more sleep for the kids :)

We started off on a Thursday Morning (8:30am) and got to Philadelphia around 3. We stayed overnight and the next day until about 4. The kids slept in the car for about 3 hours then we stopped for dinner and finished the drive to Roanoke Va. (arrived 11pm) The next morning we woke up early (8am) and drove straight to Asheville and got there around 2 after stopping for lunch.

The kids had so much fun playing with Marley, Ally, and Ayden. They keep talking about Grandmom and Pop Pop and Auntie Tina and Uncle Mike and Grandpop and Ros and Grandpop and Aunt Barbara and Uncle Ted. I wrote like they speak.. listing EVERY person. Too cute.

We went to the Nature Center and Arboretum. The big hit for the kids was the Farmer's Market because Grandmom bought them ice cream. One night Grandmom and Pop Pop babysat so we could go out and when we walked in the door the kids were screaming "No.. go back out."

Ellie is in love with Tina and Mike's house. She said that she wants to "live on a hill like Auntie Tina with 3 dogs and 1 cat."

The kids got a kick out of sleeping in sleeping bags. They did miss out on naps though, it was too hard to calm them down in the middle of the day.

Can't wait until our next trip!!! Although, this went a little too well, next time, who knows! Pics as always, coming soon :)

Off Limits

Or in Ellie's words "Eric, Mommy said that toy is off lemons."

1st Dentist Visit/Spring Onions

Today was Ellie's first dentist appointment and Eric's 3rd (yes he's counting) Ellie was all excited and insisted on going first, then when the hygienist was about to start Ellie jumped off the chair so we let Eric go first. Eric loved every minute of it, especially wearing sunglasses so the light didn't get into his eyes. After watching him Ellie went next and did great. It cracks me up how they call flouride "special watermelon jelly" and toothpaste "princess paste."

And the Bad Mother of the Year Award goes to... ME! Well it wasn't exactly my fault, but I am supposed to have eyes in the back of my head. We were outside playing and went in to make dinner. I put James in the exersaucer and put some veggies from the garden on the sink to wash for dinner. I went into the red room to put on the TV so the kids could watch Curious George while I made dinner and the next thing I know I hear Ellie laughing and James making funny sucking noises. So I go in to find her trying to feed him spring onions...OMG!!!!!!! He actually liked it and was laughing. I picked him up right away and there was nothing in his mouth, thank god, but he reeked of onions! I think she has been paying attention when I have said "we're going to try rice cereal, bananas, carrots..etc." So she was just trying something new. Ugh... can't leave her alone for a second!

Mentioning food, at the pediatrician's advice we started James on rice at 4 months. He has no problems eating it and practically jumps out of the highchair when he sees it coming. So I started with bananas for a couple days, then apple, and now carrots. I can't believe how much he is eating but the other kids were early too.

Rain..Rain..Rain

August has been the rainiest month. Eric said the other day "I don't like August, it just rains too much." We try to run outside in between storms and play a little baseball or ride the trikes around the block.

Today my darling 4 year old told me (in the pouring rain as I was strapping him into his car seat) that I looked like a "wet dog."
Thanks a lot, Eric!

Three Musketeers

Can't get much cuter than that!

One of Our Favorite Things

The kids and I LOVE going for walks right after it rains. Today I let them jump in all the puddles, even the muddy ones, and put them in the bath afterwards.

Mini-Fan

We usually have the AC on so the kids have never really used fans too often. Ellie walked in our room last night and saw a fan I just plugged in and said "I like your new mini van mom." I had no idea what she meant until I saw her looking at the fan. I corrected her and then she said "I like your mini fan."

More Bad Parenting!

So Eric watches the Red Sox a lot on NESN and one of their commercials is for a super absorbent cloth. He saw Andrew's car washing cloth in the car and Eric said "hey look, we have a Sham-wow."

Accident Free

Ellie's 1st Day with NO ACCIDENTS and me not having to ask her to go to the potty. yay!!!

"Bug Light"

Today at lunch the kids were doing "cheers" with their milk cups when Eric said "Ellie, let's pretend our milk is bug light." Are we bad parents!!!!

Watermelon/Sleep...maybe

Tonight Eric told me "Mom, this is the best watermelon I've had in years."

I just put James down in the pack and play alone for the night with just a musical fish soother and HE FELL ASLEEP. I realize this should have been accomplished way before 4 months but he always falls asleep in the swing, bouncy swing, our lap.. so this is a big step!

Loooong Day

James' has the cutest smile ever! I think this is so he can cry every time we put him down and get away with it. I just can't let him cry it out, I hate hearing him so sad.

Eric's new Pastime

Much to my dismay I found the bathroom trash can full of pee today. He finally admitted it... YUCK!

Potty Training Day 4/James' Cast

Still in underwear... still having accidents but no backtracking!

james got his cast off! His foot has a few blisters on it but he is doing great. His phys therapy is now once per week too.

No Apologies

Eric was playing and ended up hitting Tia (Uncle Jon's mom Patty's dog) yesterday. We said it was ok but he had to say he was sorry and he pointed out "why would I apologize to a dog."

Potty Day 2

Ellie potty training! Hooray... finally!!! Yesterday was "U Day" (underwear day) I've had the day on the calendar for a couple weeks so she knew it was coming. I put underwear on her yesterday but she wouldn't pee all day until Eric, not me, went into the bathroom with her. She had a couple accidents but I stuck to my guns.. no more diapers! Today we did the same thing and she peed and pooped on the toilet, even peed at the Chateau and Nanny's house. 2 accidents today but she isreally starting to announce when she has to go.
Not to be outdone, Eric just got out of bed to tell me he went to the bathroom at night.. usually he does this without an announcement.
They are getting so big. I am so proud of Ellie and relieved too!

Ellie is 3 Now

Ellie turned 3 today. She had a huge party with lots of friends and family. She got a dollhouse and a bunch of girl toys. The best thing was making the cake with her, she loves baking. Daddy refilled her sandbox with new sand, she would spend forever in there playing. One of my favorite things about Ellie is that she can sit in the sand in a gorgeous dress without a care in the world.
We also got to show everyone our new kitchen today! It was a big hit. It is amazing with all the space and places to put things. It really has made a big difference.