Once Upon A Dream

Sometimes you just have to let them wear whatever they want....
At least the temp was pushing 70 today, and Gillian didn't freeze.
She kept taking her pants and shirt off today, but she had to keep the snowsuit hat on her head. Gab had a great drum lesson. She went fully clothed.

We took in a show this afternoon! The girls loved it, and it was very interactive!

We had to drag Meme and Aunt Becky with us to Dance class and Gymnastics this weekend. The loved every minute of it. Especially when we kept getting action shots of Meme doing the dances....

We went to a Chocolate Festival at the Armory in Albany. It was delicious. The girls liked the giant chocolate fountains the best. We also met a woman who raises, shears, spins, and knits her own products from llama hair...I have included a picture of Gabby holding the llama hair as the woman spins it on her spinning wheel! It was soooo interesting!

My cousin, Pam, is getting married at the end of the month. We were in the Boston area this weekend for a bridal shower. It was good to see her mom, Janet, too. It has been too long! The shower was held at Becca's parent's house. Becca is in the wedding party. The house was right on the water! Here are some shots of the bride to be!!!!!

Meme brought some new sidewalk chalk paint and tools. The driveway is now very colorful!

Gabby had her first bus ride today to get ready for Kindergarten next year. Gillian got to go along, too. She went to school and saw a short video and demonstration on bus safety. Then the children got to go outside with a transportation rep to practice a few drills. The representative did a great job teaching the kids about the bus, crossing the street....etc. He had a special hat (his fishing hat) that he wore during the demo. While the students were crossing in front of the bus, he threw his hat under the bus. They didn't see it, but when they got to the other side of the street...He yelled, "oh no, where's my hat?!" He was trying to trick them, but they remained very calm. He asked them what they should do in a situation like this. One little boy was completely flabergasted... and yelled, "I don't know!" In the end, the hat was saved by the bus driver, the students got their first bus rides to their front doors, and all was right in pre-school world!

Can you see it now?

So....this morning started off normal. We were outside playing, and the girls decided to blow bubbles from some wands that they got at Easter. It was really a beautiful bubble blowing day!

Then they moved on to bikes.

After their little legs couldn't pedal around the driveway anymore...we started to play a new game that Gabby made up last weekend...It is called "Rock, Rock, on the Ground"...It lasted for a very short time ( our attention span was short this morning) because they decided to play Hide and Go Seek. Gabby wanted to count over by the pine tree in the front yard. All was going well until she made a discovery about pine trees. SAP! She got a big sticky mess of it on her hand. I thought she had dipped her hand in battery acid...from the sounds she was making. So....we learned something new today.

We spent the weekend in Staten Island, and we stayed at Lena, Tony, and Bella's house. There were too many fun things to list here, but here are the major highlights. The girls had so much fun and were so exhausted! Many of these pictures are Milena's! Thanks!

The girls played with playdough while we started the next project, but notice- who likes to play with sharp objects. She is one to keep an eye on!

Milena had gotten an Auntie Anne's pretzle making kit from a fundraiser, and those pretzles were delicious! They tasted exactly like the ones at the mall. They were also fun to make!

It was so beautiful on Staten Island this weekend. The girls took advantage of the gorgeous weather and spent a lot of time outside. The trees were in full bloom, and everyone was thirsty from being outside. (No- we don't usually put our children in the refrigerator)

We did get to spend a little time with Aunt Mandy and Grammy...but not enough! We also got to visit our old church - Calvary, and Gabby got to pray with the pastor during the children's blessing.

Aunt Lena read bed time stories and did prayers with the girls before bed.

Gillian decided not to take a nap on Sunday, so the girls made cookies with Aunt Lena instead!

The last major project of the weekend...was painting. The girls decorated their own personal piggy bank, and they turned out very colorful (the children and the pigs)!

We left Staten Island around bedtime on Sunday night. You would think that our two girls would be tired after that busy trip, but they didn't sleep a wink in the car...Until next time!!!!!

We visited a new park in the area that some new friends from church told us about. It was really fun and reminded us of all the great playgrounds that we left behind in Staten Island. It was fun to see how well Gillian navigated the playground. She manages pretty well on her own now.

Gabby recieved her first issue of National Geographic for Kids with a blow up globe. It is really cool. She was given this subscription for her birthday from Grandpa Mike and Grandma Cathy out in Ohio! It was the perfect gift! Thanks we are really enjoying it!

We are officially 23 months old...as of Monday, and Gillian has her first set of actual...whole head pigtails, today! This is amazing to me! I was used to Gabby's hair at this age. I thought Gillian's pigtails would never come! Here are pictures of Gillian's first real pigtails, and Gabby at 23 months!

Here are a couple pictures of the girls opening letters yesterday that they got in the mail from Grammy. They love getting the letters...and yesterday...there were stickers! Thanks so much. We regularly get mail from Grammy and....Isabella (Aunt Lena)! They really look forward to it and get very excited.

I had to also include this very cute picture of Gillian....taken by Dave. We were outside all day yesterday, and had to take bathroom breaks. Many of you know that Gillian decided to potty train....I was going to wait until after her birthday (no rush). She just wanted to do it. She has been wearing her underwear for almost a month now. She has been doing great! Yes- there are the occasional accidents...but for the most part...it is "dundies" all the way (Gillian's pronunciation of undies). She is sitting on her potty -clutching her stickers that she wouldn't let go until dinner.

We finally decided upon and purchased our first swing set. It took us awhile to decide, but we think that this one will be perfect for us. There are also monkey bars, a picnic bench, and a rock wall on the other side of the structure. The girls are very excited. It is an Advenure Playset. I now know why it is called "Adventure"...because that is what it is for the mom's and dad's to put together. However, we are swing set amatuers. Reviews on line claimed that it took anywhere from 8 to 30 hours to put together. We may have to call a handy man....if things get too crazy. Let's hope for the best...and we will be posting pictures!

I remember learning in fifth grade that a weed is any plant or flower that is growing in an undesirable location. I looked this up recently...and it is true. I wonder when dandelions got such a bad rap. We have plenty of them in our yard...and we are going to enjoy them. Dave is getting the parts of the swing set organized...and the girls are patiently waiting and doing their best to help in their own little ways....(unorganizing the labeled parts). On a lighter note....the magnolia tree bloomed today, and the tulips along the side of the house are about to pop. It is interesting to see what actually grows in this yard. If we decide that we don't like the tulips...they suddenly become the weeds. Don't worry...we all love the tulips.

The circus is in town, but we didn't go. We did see clowns in the mall that gave us funny noses and told us to come to the circus! We all tried the noses. Amanda and Steve were here visiting during the week. We also discovered an incredible park not too far from our house. Amanda took a lot of beautiful shots of the girls, however...I will post them....maybe tomorrow.

It will happen....
Eventually!

Pam and Andy got married this weekend. It was a beautiful wedding. Meme, Aunt Becky, and Uncle Louie came up, and we all went together. The girls were so excited to be invited to the wedding. Gillian had her first Shirley Temple, and Pam and Andy left gift bags at the table for both of the girls. The magna doodles in the gift bags came in handy for the picture below..."Just" and "Married". Congratulations and lots of love!