Picture of the Week

This is Kayleigh being a Pirate playing hockey. It's always something!

On a funny note, Jim is reading The Wizard of Oz to Kayleigh and she said she couldn't wait to hear more about the Doughnuts, aka The Munchkins. Obviously someone has spent too much time at Dunkin' Donuts.

Time with Jim

For Christmas we got Jim one of those Ice Cream Balls. We thought it would be something fun to do. Kayleigh couldn't wait to roll it with Jim. There was a debate about what flavor to make. Finally it was settled on mint chocolat. We had a nice time rolling the ball around, even with Jack complaining that Kayleigh hurt him by rolling it too hard. Then it was time to eat the ice cream.

Kayleigh gets ready to taste her work.

Kayleigh loved it, Jack not so much. He rather have the real stuff...chocolate fudge. Now we settle in to watch The Wizard of Oz.

Hmmm...I'm not so sure about this.

Kayleigh gets ready to fill her cone.

The Ice Cream Ball!

Warm Winter Break Fun

It was a warm winter day during the break so Jim took the kids out for some hockey in the driveway. Jack got some small sticks, a ball and a puck for Christmas. So when the weather was delightful, they headed out for a game in the driveway!

Jack scores!

This is my stick and no one can use it!

Great form Kayleigh. She could possibly turn out to be an athlete!

Watch out!

Hey!

An Afternoon at Yankee Candle

On Wednesday we took a ride up to Yankee Candle. Kayleigh and Jack just love to smell the candles. The expression on Jack's face every time he smelled a candle was priceless. Kayleigh just fluttered around from one scent to the next. They loved the room with all the trees and Kayleigh stood in the snowfall. However, they couldn't get enough of Santa's Workshop. They even had a chance to talk to Mrs. Claus and to have her thank Santa for all their wonderful gifts.

It's Captain Jack overlooking his ship!

She is just so yummy!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Kayleigh thanks Mrs. Claus for all her wonderful gifts!

Giddy-up!

Merry Christmas~2009

Merry Christmas 2009

Christmas was wonderful. Jesse came home and spent Christmas Day with us. The kids got a chance to play with him and he helped put some toys together. From his pics on Twitter, it looks like he had fun too.

Christmas Eve was spent at Jim's parents and the children had a wonderful time playing with their uncles, Kevin and Ed, and their second cousins. They couldn't wait for Frankie to arrive and got some quality time playing Uncle Ed's Wii. Kayleigh and Jack also enjoyed running around with Alyssa. It's nice that they have second cousins to play with. However, both kids are waiting for the chance to see Jim's cousins Krisa's boys, aka the Hockey Boys.

Kayleigh woke up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning, 5:10 to be exact. She came barreling into our room wanting to go downstairs. Jim told her to go down and look to see if Santa came....she came rushing back in shouting, "Santa came!" Jim tried to convince her to go back to bed until 6:00. After her continuous announcement of the time change, "it's 5:23, 5:30, 5:33" Jim told her they could go downstairs. I could hear all this chitter chatter and knew that Jack was not stirring. We let Kayleigh get out her Polly Pocket Rollercoaster and play with that until Jack woke up. He woke up not so nice but he came around and was excited.

This is a great age. Next year should be a lot of fun too when Jack understands it a bit more and maybe he will wake up a bit earlier (for Kayleigh's sake)

A little game of Hungry Hungry Hippos before Grammy, Papa and Uncle Jesse arrive!

Jesse plays the Dr. Seuss version of Twister...now let's see him get his ear on a letter!

Yay! Kayleigh got the one present she really wanted....the Polly Pocket Rollercoaster. Thankfully Santa put it together!

Uncle Jesse with his favorite niece and nephew...okay his only niece and nephew!

Sisters and Brothers!

Christmas morning in matching pjs! And it's true...the grandmas beat Santa, especially with Jack and got him what he really wanted!

Merry Christmas!

Kayleigh takes on Jesse in a little game of ABC Stretch!

Uncle Jesse puts together Kayleigh's Pink Princess Castle. I think he did it so he could play with Jack's heroes and villians in it.

Jesse and Kayleigh get in some playing time together. Kayleigh wants Jesse to come back and sleep over the next time he is home. How sweet!

Kayleigh loves her Uncle!

So cute! Jack was exhausted. Jim asked him he if wanted to cuddle with him and watch some basketball. Jack quickly climbed up and fell asleep. It was a long day for our Little Man.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

It's the BatCave. Just what I wanted!

Jack is a Star!

Jack had his big performance on Tuesday afternoon and he did well. He is so cute. He actually did better than I expected. I really thought that he would come running out of line. He did his "no picture" thing but he stayed in line and did his best. It was actually very cute and typical Jack. He did enjoy making the Gingerbread House and was very serious. He was so sweet to Miss Becky and Miss Sheila giving them big good-bye and Merry Christmas hugs. He is such a cutie. Very serious...but adorable!

Such a handsome boy!
This is all I am going to do!

Making a Gingerbread House is a serious business!

Boy was he mad when he saw me videotaping him when he entered!

Holiday Fun

This holiday season is proving to be fun already. Every time Jack sees something related to Christmas you hear a "wow" or "come here and look at this". This age for the children really is magical and wonderful. Jim and I have to keep reminding ourselves of that when they are being a bit punky. It's just the season and they are so excited. We had fun getting our Christmas tree. We went to a new place this year and Kayleigh wanted on of the biggest. Kay and Jack definitely know what they want. Enjoy checking out some of our pictures.

Kayleigh is ready for her Christmas performance at Pre-K. She had to have "Jingle Bells" on in the car on the ride over so she could practice.

Jack turned 3 today and he got to listen to Kayleigh sing. His enthusiasm shows. Haha!

After celebrating Jack's birthday at school we headed to Stew Leonard's to see Santa Claus.

This is the tree Kayleigh wanted. I did too. Too bad it won't fit in the house. It was beautiful!

Jack is done looking for a tree. He found a few that he liked and was like, "just get one already. I told you the ones I liked."

Kayleigh's Christmas Performance

Pre-K Christmas Performance

Kayleigh delighted us all with her holiday songs that she sung with her class. She had to be decked out in Christmas clothes right to her earrings. They sang a Christmas version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star so she had to wear her star earrings. A fashion diva!

Such a cutie!
Singing Jingle Bells!
Kayleigh and her buddy Owen!

The am and pm classes!

Jack is 3!

I can't believe that Jack is 3 years old. Where did the time go? It seems just like yesterday that we were waiting for him to arrive and hoping he would be here before Christmas. He is definitely a First Day of Winter kid. Every year since he has been born there has been a snow or icestorm. We had to postpone his party again this year. Luckily, the grandparents were coming up for Kayleigh's performance so we just did cake after that. We'll give him a first day of summer party with a winter theme.

Jack at the moment is big on Superheroes, especially Batman. All he wants for Christmas is the Batcave, the Joker and Mr. Freeze. Kayleigh kindly took care of getting Mr. Freeze and The Joker. Who knows what Santa will find for him. I thought I was going to make a Pirate Cake because for awhile he was liking pirates but then he saw the Batcave. So I have spent the past few weeks learning how to draw the Bat Logo.

The Bat Cake: This is also what he would give Baby Jesus for a present. That was his response to the question at school.

Getting ready to blow out all those candles!

Jack got to bring Kayleigh, me and Jim into school for his birthday cupcakes. This is a great picture. However, shortly after it was taken, he had a meltdown because he realized all the attention was going to be on him.

I love my cake Mommy. Thank you!

He later informed me that he didn't like the frosting. It must have been all the black food dye I had to use.

The Birthday Crown fit for a Superhero!

Family Fun Day

Family Fun Day to the Air Museum

A few weeks ago we took a trip up to the air museum in Windsor Locks, hoping the kids would enjoy it. And they did. They loved looking at all the planes and running to each one. We definitely need to go back when it's Open Cockpit Day to actually get into the planes. Jack was fascinated with the astronaut suit in the lobby.

Jim and Kayleigh check out the planes in the field

Jack enjoys a snack as he looks around

Ready for take off

Here I come!