Jacob's Day at the Beach

This week is Catholic School's Week and leave it to Jacob's awesome teachers to celebrate to the fullest! Today the kids had a beach party! They had a special room that was decorated like the beach just for them with water balloons, sand tables, beach balls, hotdogs and chips, and stories about fish! They kids all dressed in their beach attire (minus the bathing suits since it was below 0 today) and had an absolute blast!

Freaky Fridays

Friday nights have definitely been a night for just the kids and I. We break out the chicken nuggets or fish sticks, french fries and ice cream cones. It has almost been a weekly tradition. We crank up the IPod and just have a night of fun. It is almost a celebration of another week gone by and a kick off to the weekend! This past Friday was no different--5 WEEKS AND COUNTING!!

Chillin'

We had some bitter cold weather this week! We made the most of our days inside but now the weather is now back in the 20s/30s and it almost seems "warm" !! I can't wait for Spring!!

Grab your hockey stick!

Jake is back on the ice for another learn to skate session. He absolutely loves it and I love watching him! He is learning to skate backwards and faster and practice his stick skills. I just hope Lee makes it home in time to see his last few practices! Keeping our fingers crossed!

Celebrate

This past Sunday we celebrated Seth's 5th birthday! The kids had an absolute blast! So much that it convinced Jake to have his party at the YMCA too!

Definitely Shorter!

Can you see a difference? We sure can and we are super excited about it! Look at all the links we had at the end of last March, now we are down to 6 links left, 5 after tomorrow! Very exciting!

Happy Birthday Seth!

Jake's best buddy is turning 5 this Sunday! We had Seth over today for a playdate after school and the boys had a great day together! I can't believe he is turning 5! The first time we met Seth he was only 10 months old! It has been awesome to watch him grow and become such a great friend to Jake! We love you Seth! I guess this means one thing..Jake will be turning 5 soon too! Wow--so scary!

15 months and Rockin' On

Lindsey went to the doctor for her 15 month well-baby check-up today! She got 3 shots, she is in the 95% for height and weight (at least she spreads it around), and the doctor said she is very "bright" for her age! I was super proud to hear that! She is also funny, sneaky, rotten at times, lovable, cuddly, silly, talkative, spunky, and squeezable! She is all ours and I love her to pieces!

One more package with love..

We sent out our last package to Lee this past week! It was very exciting! We hope you love our Valentine's box! We love the fact that the last package means the end is near! Whoopppeee!!

Crack me Up!!

Our kids crack me up! I snapped this shot before heading out to play in the snow this past week. Lindsey really likes to be outside, really, she just wants to walk around. However, she still hates touching the snow with her hand! Jake loves sledding in our driveway and playing in his fort! We will take advantage of the days we can go out, unlike this weekend when the bitter cold weather comes! burrrrrr

6 and counting!

It is offical, I am in countdown mode and soooooo excited! 6 weeks and counting---I am definitely not counting March because I don't know when in March he is coming but it will just be a blurrrr! So, I am just counting till the end of February! I am sooo ready for our family to be back together and I get butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it! Reuniting is on my mind and I am completely focused on that now, my wheels are in overdrive! Whooohoo!

Girls Weekend

With respect to one of my dearest friends, I promised her I would not take a picture of us. She has been through one of the roughest years of her life and is not proud of how she looks (although she is a beautiful person) so I told her that she has till the summer, and then I will be taking a picture of us!
Katy and I have known each other, well, since I think utero! When her family moved an hour away from my family I was devastated. However, our moms made it a point to get us together every summer at least twice. Since the 4th grade we have been apart, but never ever apart in our hearts. She is just one of those friends, no matter how many miles we are apart or how long we go without chatting, we can pick up right where we left off. This was a perfect weekend for her to visit. Jake spent the weekend in PA with my family and had a blast! She spent the weekend with me and Lindsey and we had a blast too! We drank wine, chatted, shopped and ate, what more could a girl want.

Take a Moment

In the hustle and bustle of our lives today, take a moment and send your prayers to the families who lost loved ones in Arizona. I watched a proud and loving father this morning talk of his beloved 9 year old daughter that he lost. What amazing strength he had to do an interview and talk about how precious she was. We never ever know what our lives hold for us or what can be taken away in an instant. Take a moment, kiss your family, tell them you love them, and remember those who are no longer with us!

Looking On

I need to look forward, beyond January and germs, as to what this year has in store for us! I am soo stinkin' excited for so many things to come! Obviously the BEST thing will be in March--Lee coming home! I am counting the weeks! And all the wonderful memories we will make and share when he is here! Plus....
Jacob's 5th Birthday
Easter, visiting family
NYC trip
Fort Drum Girls Weekend
Camping with Friends
The Beach
Daytrips
1st Day of Kindgergarten
Our 10th Anniversary! (yes, I said 10)
Lindsey's 2nd Birthday
etc etc etc etc
Time with friends and family is what we are looking forward to the most!

Hibernation

I am really considering hibernating next year. I mean, we could eat tons of food during the fall and then just sleep from Jan-March. I would like to avoid the month of January at all costs next year! It is the month of germs! Last year I had a very sick baby, this month I have a sick baby who gave her germs to Jake! I think Jake would have been OK if it wasn't for Lindsey's germs! He has been pretty healthy this whole fall/winter season, but he definitely got a touch of her cold!
So maybe next year we will all just hunker down and sleep through January! Wake up when it is warm and spring!

Just Like Jake

Lindsey wants to do just about everything Jake does. She watches him all the time! She really loves trying to feed herself. This morning I gave her a bowl of Rice Krispies and she went to town and ate the whole bowl by herself! My gosh..where did the year go?

Ice Cream Cones in Winter, why not?

Do you know what makes 2 kids feel better? Ice cream! You can see that Lindsey is thoroughly enjoying it until...she realizes it is gone! She is such a foodie!

Feeling Better

I think it is safe to say that Lindsey is feeling better. Now, off to a better New Year!

Starting off with the Sickies

I feel like I am having a flashback to last January. We are starting off the year with the sickies. Lindsey came down with a cold last week but does she ever just get a cold? Nope...it goes right in to her lungs and becomes pneumonia! Thank you germ bugs! And does it ever fail that when one child gets sick that no one else gets it? Jake spent the day out of the house yesterday to avoid getting sick but this morning woke up and was sneezing! He has a cold...ahhh! So my plan..get all the sickies out this weekend and be done with them! We will sequester ourselves, conquer the germs and send them packing!

What were you doing New Year's Eve?

There are so many ways to ring in the New Year such as spending it in NYC, staying at home with some peace and quiet, having a romantic night with your love, or ROCKIN out to the 1980s with your closest friends and sister! I did just that! Our friends, the Charltons, threw an amazing 1980s blast! We all dressed up and had a great time. We ate, drank, danced to the Wii and played Rock Band. As you can see, (please don't have me Laurie), but my sister even got in on the action. Rock Band is soo much fun, it could be our next Wii purchase! Thanks to the Charltons for a great night! Now on to a New Year and making more memories!

More flashback photos to the 80s

Family Picture Anyone?

We try every holiday to get some family pictures. Sometimes it happens and sometimes you just take whatever you can get. Linds was done (as you can see) when it came for some cousin pictures. So, in 20 years she can look back and laugh at it!

Seeing Red

I absolutely LOVE Lindsey's dress and coat (thanks Aunt Laurie)! She looked so cute and I try to put the coat on her as much as I can still.

Xmas at the Smiths

It was a crazy Xmas morning but I wouldn't have it any other way. Linds and I slept in a little late, she had a really bad night, she cut a tooth on Xmas Eve night! Thanks Santa! So the fun downstairs had already begun before we arrived! Here are a few pictures from that morning!