Our January so far - In pictures...

Just some highlights so far from the start of 2014 - which we rang in with our neighbors.  Started with dinner at Southside, and then over to their house for the evening.  I wasn't sure what was going to happen that night - whether the boys would fall asleep there, or if we'd be leaving by 10:00 to head home.  But to our surprise, the kids stayed up until midnight to ring in the New Year!!!  (They crashed the second their heads hit their pillows!)  We had a great evening, and a great way to start off the New Year!  (Here's a picture from right after midnight - at which point they crashed and were ready for bed!)

Here are my crazy boys all ready for a Syracuse game - with socks on their hands!!!

 Jim was telling Ben about these pictures - and how they were pictures from when they were little babies...

Happy boys in their new Syracuse hats!!!  Does that mean we have to part with Jim's red, er pink Nationals hat?!

This is what happens when I turn by back on Ben for 2 seconds to help Jim with some letters - he decides to draw on his face!

I was in the kitchen one afternoon getting dinner ready, and it's all quiet in the other room and I thought for sure the boys were up to no good.  Jim even calls me, and goes "mommy come look and see what we did" - I thought trouble for sure.  But nope, it was just the 2 of them sitting together reading!

Ben my little burrito after a hair cut!

Jim making silly faces at the camera!!!

We've also enjoyed 2 trips into D.C.  Both boys have a great time, they love riding the train, and then checking out a new museum.  The weekend after New Year's we went to the Botanic Gardens to see their Holiday Train Display as well as the Air & Space Museum.  And then on MLK Day, since Mark was off, we went back into the city to the Natural History Museum.  They both had a great time, Jim really loved looking at all the dinosaurs!

A look back on our Christmas...

We all had a wonderful Christmas - spent it up in NY - we started off our trip on Saturday the 21st, driving up to Castile.  No problem with the drive, Jim & Ben did very well!  The boys were very excited about opening up presents!  And had lots of fun playing with their toys!

We then made our way to Buffalo on Monday - everyone was in town this year, so it was great getting to see everyone!  Again, the boys were very excited about opening their presents, playing with all their wonderful toys, and hanging out with everyone!!!

Christmas Eve was our usual, going to Church at 4:00 (Jim was very confused, he asked Grandma why he didn't get to go to Church in a Limo!) then came home for a delicious dinner.  We had to go outside to sprinkle our reindeer food so they knew to stop at Grandma's house.



Jim had just picked out the cookies for Santa, and was very carefully carrying them back to the table. He was very excited Christmas morning to see that Santa ate his cookies, drank his hot chocolate milk, and the reindeers ate his carrots! 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas:

Having fun together Christmas morning -

This year was one of the 1st years we did not travel on Christmas Day - we got up Christmas morning, opened our presents, enjoyed a wonderful breakfast, and then got to spend all day playing with their new toys! 

 Thursday morning we got up, had breakfast, and made our way up to Albany for the day.  It was great spending the day up there and visiting with everyone!  The boys had fun, and got to spend the night in a hotel, which was pretty cool according to Jim!  Friday we made our way back to VA, with no troubles.

 

All in all, it was a great Christmas!!!  So lucky to be able to spend it with everyone!

2013 - A year in Review

Happy 2-0-1-4!!!!

I did this last year, 2012 - A Year in Review, and thought it'd be fun to do one for this past year.  Just a couple of highlights from the year!!

We started to potty train Jim in January (can't believe that was just a year ago!)...made a trip to Pittsburgh for Blake's Baptism...and just enjoyed our time together!

Jim is officially diaper free in February!!! (Started off just during the day, then nap time, and cut off diapers at bedtime!)...Ben starts walking all over the place!  Jim is such a great big brother, helping him with the walking.

March was a busy month --  Ben turned ONE!!!  Grandma & Papa came down to celebrate his first birthday with us!  Nanny & Papa came down to visit...and then we had everyone hear at the end of the month for Easter and to celebrate Ben's 1st Birthday, and Jim's 3rd birthday!  We had lots of fun with all our visitors!!!

Jim turned 3 in April!!!  Went down into D.C. to see the Cherry Blossoms w/ Grandma & Papa, but we were a little too early for that!  Enjoyed the fact that the weather is starting to get warmer, lots of time outside and doing jobs with daddy!

Nothing too exciting during the month of May - just lots of playdates, lots of fun outside, and lots of fun just hanging out, and the boys being their crazy selves!

June was a busy month - mom flew down for a couple days, and then she drove up to Buffalo with me and the boys.  We had Allison's wedding shower in Erie, her Bachelorette Party, and lots of fun just hanging out in Buffalo for the week!  After our week in Buffalo, mom drove back down to VA with us (and Allison squeezed in the middle between the 2 car seats for an interview) - and the rest of the family came into town that weekend for the boys Baptism!  We enjoyed lots of time at the pool, and lots of time outside!  A very busy and fun month!

July we spent more time at the pool!  More time outside!  More time on various play dates!  Just enjoying life together!  We enjoyed a visit from Uncle Robbie, Aunt Jenna, and Blake!  And had fun hanging out and playing together!

 August was a great month - getting back up to Buffalo for Allison & Chris's wedding!!!  (Which I can't believe I didn't even write about!!  Shows how much of a slacker I've been the last couple of months - hoping to change that around a bit this year!)  We were busy getting ready for that, and another month of lots of pool time, play dates, and outdoor fun!!!

We made another trip up to NY in September - Mark & I went to a 'Cuse football game!  And we spent a couple of days up in Castile.  We ended September with a visit from Grandma & Papa!  We got to celebrate Grandma's birthday with her!  Lots of silliness and fun together!

And another trip up to NY in October.  Mark & I had a wedding to go to, so we went up to Mark's for a couple of days.  Lots of Halloween fun & play dates.  The boys had a great time Trick or Treating!  We went with our neighbors down our street, and both boys were into it this year! 

November was a fun month!  We made our way to Pittsburgh to celebrate Blake's 1st birthday!  Great spending time with everyone there.  And then end of the month we made our way back up to NY for Thanksgiving.  The boys got to play in the snow!!  We decorated our house for Christmas - lots of fun!

December we were busy getting ready for Christmas!  Lots of fun this year - Jim was really into it more, so that made it even more fun!  Lots of fun holiday themed playdates, picking out presents for everyone, wrapping, baking cookies!  We were up in NY Saturday - Friday, visiting Castile, Buffalo, and Albany!  Lots of fun!  (Hopefully a Christmas re-cap will be next!!)

I can say that 2013 was a great year!  I am excited to see what 2014 has in store for us!  The boys will keep me busy, that's for sure!!