Spring Break

I'm trying to get caught up on things that have been going on.  I love looking back through this to see what we did at different times throughout the year.  And I'm going to be disappointed to see big gaps in the blog.  I'm really trying to be better, but haven't been all that successful. 

For Jim's spring break we made our way up to NY!  And were able to meet Avalon!  The timing all worked out pretty much perfectly.  Since she was breach, they scheduled for a C-section on Friday the 18th, and we were planning to head up on Monday!  That gave them their time in the hospital, and we got to meet Avalon when they were home!  And got to spend the week with her! 

Pretty much my whole goal of that week was to spend as much time with her as possible - and my parents were great that week, watching the boys. 

Allison came down on Saturday (she couldn't leave Friday after work because she wanted to meet Avalon before she drove down!)  And spent Saturday & Sunday with Chris.  And then Monday morning we got up bright and early and drove to Buffalo - driving straight to Ashley's!

Both boys held her for a couple of minutes, I was very surprised that Ben wanted to!  But they both did great!

Jim and Ben got to spend a lot of time with Grandma & Papa, and we were all very thankful for that!  They took them to Paula's donuts, to the park, and to Chuck E Cheese one day!  I think everyone had a lot of fun together!  Can't forget how awesome Aunt Ali was, staying at home at times to entertain the boys and then coming to Ashley's later on.  It really was an awesome week, and it made me realize how thankful and how awesome our family is!

 

The boys got to spend time with Blake & Brody too! As they came up to Buffalo during that week.  We had a little Easter Egg hunt at Ashley's, which they all seemed to have fun with!

 A picture of the happy grandparents with all their grandkids!

 Trying to get all 5 kids to smile and look at the same time is a challenge!

Mark drove up on Wednesday night, and came to Buffalo on Thursday spending the day with us.  Then he took the boys up to Castile on Friday to build the retaining wall.  I made my way up to Castile Saturday afternoon, and it was back to VA on Sunday! 

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!!

Our Thanksgiving in Pictures...

I think I've been saying this for quite some time - but I've been a slacker here!  Just thought I'd update everyone, through my usual pictures!!

Ben loves to climb up at the table and read or play trucks!!!

Went up to NY for Thanksgiving, and the boys got to play in the snow!!!  Ben loved throwing snowballs at people...

Here's Jim throwing a snowball at me!

More snowball throwing!!!

Mark took Jim for a sled ride!

Brotherly love!!!

Going for another sleigh ride!

Ben loving it the first time he went down the hill!

All smiles as Jim went down...

Jim petting Bob.

Friday we made our way up to Buffalo.  Got to see Santa on Saturday!  Went to The Anchor Bar for some yummy wings that evening!

Ben hard at work painting a train for his aunts.

Jim is hard at work too!

Earlier in the day we went to Home Depot to the kids workshop they had there - and Jim insisted on wearing his apron again!  Both boys had a good time there! 

Just a couple of pictures...

Just a little update of what's been going on - via pictures...

 

Another fun use for our train table - great spot to make puzzles!!!  Love Jim's chair - it's his ride-on firetruck!!!

 The boys enjoy watching each other play their computer!

 Mark made a fort for the boys one night (Syracuse was playing basketball, so we hoped it would keep them busy during the week while the game was on!)

 Ben having fun on his side of the fort!

 Making some Indian Corn!

 Hard at work!!!

 My two little pilgrims!!

 We put up our tree this weekend.  I know it was a little early, we usually wait until after Thanksgiving...but we only have 2 weekends at home between our trips - so we figured we'd put it up so we could enjoy it that much longer!

 Both boys helping!

 Getting out the Christmas decorations means getting out their train!  They were having fun being 'tunnels'!

 Jim was hard at work!