Visit with Gigi and Aunt Linda

We had a really nice visit with Gigi and Aunt Linda over Christmas. They, along with the other residents, enjoyed seeing Josh and Katelyn. Katelyn charmed everyone by smiling and waving. Josh, on the other hand, slept most of the time in the stroller and was a bit grumpy when he woke up. But all in all, we had a nice time.

Josh opening a special gift from Gigi with Daddy

(see the last photo)

Aunt Linda acting silly with Katelyn

Gigi playing with Katelyn

Gigi made this quilt for Josh. It is amazing and beautiful! Gigi crafts quilts for each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It was such a privilege to receive one!

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Sorry for the lack of blogs over the holidays - between traveling and issues with Blogger, it has been a very slow process. Hopefully you'll start seeing more of us!

Happy New Year!

Orlando and Chef Mickey's

We arrived in Orlando on Sunday night and had brunch at Chef Mickey's on Monday. We were really excited that we made it down to Florida from the North and our vacation had begun! We were not surprised that Josh was spooked by the characters, but Katelyn took us by surprise. She usually likes mascots and animals of any kind, but not here! It was a pretty entertaining meal!

This is how Donald Duck was greeted :)

Katelyn, Mommy and Minnie Mouse
(I tried to convince Katelyn she was amongst friends, but she didn't buy it!)

At least there were a few people to greet the characters properly!
Grace, Goofy and Grant

Our family poses with Mickey Mouse

This was the closest Josh got to any character. Pluto was great and minded his distance and played peek-a-boo with his ears. I think Katelyn even smiled too!

Blizzard of 2009

When we went to bed late on Friday night, it was just starting to snow. I had a dream that it only rained and the storm fizzled out. Boy was I wrong! We woke up to almost 6 inches of snow and it snowed continuously all day long. We ended up with about 23 inches!

We started the day with pancakes while we watched the snow fall

After lunch, we ventured out in the snow. I think we last about 15 minutes. It was so deep and still snowing hard enough that it just wasn't too much fun being out in the storm. Jeff took Katelyn to the top of the "hill" to slide down, but...

... as you can see, it was too deep!

Katelyn got stuck!

Josh took a turn trying to pull the sled

But Katelyn was interested enough to try taste the snow

We went to bed on Saturday night with 23 inches!

Our friends, Melanie and Chris, and their family were snowed in too!

Katelyn can't believe it!

Miracle on 34th Street

We went to 34th Street in the Hamden neighborhood of Baltimore. They are famous around here for their light displays - a whole block of lights! We went with Grandma and Pop-Pop and the Erdmans. It was a fun night for everyone!

Josh and Parker liked walking in people's yards

Pop-Pop, Grandma and Katelyn all bundled up!

One of my favorite houses - these snowmen were really cool!

Josh and Parker looking at the camera at the same time!

(This may be the miracle on 34th street!)

Daddy, Josh, Pop-Pop, Grandma, Mommy and Katelyn

Santa was on a motorcycle - I didn't realize at the time that this would be the only Santa Josh would see for Christmas - oh well...maybe next year!

Katelyn and Macy - our snow bunnies

New Hair and New Game

My friend Stacey and I were just talking about how it is so hard to do anything with Katelyn's hair. It is getting long and shaggy now, but too short to pull back. Jeff found a new style that works for her, but she's not so sure!

Katelyn just discovered the cutout in the maze and likes to push puzzle pieces through the small holes. Josh sits on the inside and throws them back out.

Peek-a-boo!

All you need is a little bit of Italian blood...

...that's what Betsy's grandpa used to say. Basically, you have the ability to do anything if you have even a drop of Italian blood in you. He would be happy to see that Josh and Katelyn both LOVE any kind of pasta...they love it!

We're interrupting Katelyn's eating...she's getting angry!

What a mess!

Leftovers! :)

Josh's shirt was a mess...and it wasn't all his fault!

Preschool Christmas "Program"

We had the first school music program of many to come as parents. Josh and Parker's 2 year old preschool classes had a joint "Music Together Experience." It was pretty crazy with about 25 2-year-olds and lots of parents, grandparents and little siblings, but entertaining to watch! Seeing other kids totally ignore the teacher and run around made me feel ok that one of "those" kids was mine...and it was perfectly fine!

As you can see, Parker is very excited! They tap the sticks together during music class at school. Apparently, Josh now takes the candlesticks at Grandma and Pop-Pop's house and hits them together...and the tall, wooden Santa figures there also.

Sam swears that Parker wanted him to march, but I don't see Parker. I just see Sam marching around the kids...hmmm...

Josh is very serious about the tambourine

Mrs. DeSmit helping out Josh and Elizabeth...they are buddies

Totally inappropriate

(We may need to find a chaperone for high school assemblies)

"See the snowflakes falling.

See the candles glow.

See the wreathes upon the door.

It's Christmas time I know!"

One of the children set out all of the plates, so the kids lined up and just stood there for their snacks. It was pretty cute!

Josh is now at the age...

...where he says really cute things. I asked Josh if he wanted to put socks on and he replied, "No, I want to wear my feet. Look, Katelyn wearing her feet!"

And this is just a cute picture...

Not exactly a warm day...

But warm enough to get some fresh air!

The Candyman Can...

We spent the day at the Castellucci's for Jed's Annual Candy Making Weekend. Josh got to help this year and is already asking if he can do it again. This is the story of Josh making candy with Uncle Jed...

Even though we washed his hands, Josh got his own supply of peanut butter cream. That was smart since it was "finger-licking good!"

Josh wasn't too excited about how the cream stuck to his fingers, but he looks pretty amused here!

First Jed helps Josh line the molds with chocolate

Shaking the tray to get the bubbles out

Josh started out filling the molds fairly evenly, but obviously developed a favorite spot to fill!

Next Jed helps Josh cover the peanut butter cream with chocolate

Jed had to get out a soup spoon to cover Josh's overflowing mold!

But they did it! Jed was so great and didn't try to "fix" anything Josh did. It was Josh's chocolate candy. Wait until you see how it turned out...

Now that is what I call a chocolate candy! Can you see the peanut butter cream that is outlining the present mold?

Josh proudly holding the chocolate he made!

(We haven't let him eat it yet...that will be another post!)

Meanwhile, Katelyn had fun playing with Aunt Kate, her glasses, and...

MATCHES! We need to find a new sitter! :)

Katelyn enjoyed sampling the chocolate covered pretzels!