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Thursday, January 2, 2014

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!!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

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! 

Monday, November 25, 2013

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!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

October in review

I guess I didn't do a single post in October.  I have no excuse, just busy living and enjoying life!!!  Looking back on the last post (Ben's 18 month update) I never did do a 3.5 year post for Jim...and it's also hard to believe Ben was in shorts & a tank top - now we're all bundled up.  It's definitely starting to feel more and more like fall here! 

Since I didn't post at all in October, how about a little month in review through pictures -

We enjoyed a great visit with Grandma & Papa!!!  Jim had lots of fun decorating Grandma's Happy Birthday cake, and celebrating her special day with her!!!
A picture of me & my 2 boys -
Jim showing off his magic skills, magic cape & all!
Like how both boys are doing the same thing; blowing on their waffles -
We had fun at a pumpkin patch with our friends!!!
We shared stories together -
We carved pumpkins (Ben lost interest and played trucks) -
We were construction workers during the day for Halloween - having friends over for a Halloween party!
And then we went Trick or Treating with our neighbors!!!  Ben started off as a monkey, but he wasn't much of a fan, so I took that off.  Both boys had lots of fun!!!
I like Jim's tools in his pocket -
As you can tell we had a great month of October!!!!  Hopefully I'll be better updating in November - no promises though.