Vacation Highlights

We are back from our wonderful trip to Orlando, Florida where we enjoyed time with family, the sunshine and Disney World!

Thursday: Arrived in Florida and settled into condo at the Sheraton Vistana Resort

Friday: Day playing at Disney's Magic Kingdom

Saturday: Animal Kingdom

Sunday: pool day and surprise 60th Birthday Party for Mom...she was surprised by Aunt Squeak, Mark, and the Mr. and Mrs. Tomczak (my parents long time neighbors from Sandy Lane)

Monday: Day at Magic Kingdom and Epcot...surprise arrival of Todd and Jenny to join us for a day at Disney...Mom had no idea they were coming to celebrate with us!

Tuesday: Day at Downtown Disney

Wednesday: pool day and evening at Disney Quest

Thursday: travel back to Vermont

It was a great week and the weather was perfect for having fun at Disney. We were so happy to celebrate Mom's birthday in such a memorable way.

Off to Florida We Go!

We had a busy day that started at 6:00 a.m. Off we went to leave Bailey at Nana and Nono's house where she will stay with her buddy, Bria, and Aunt PJ while we are away. Then we headed to the Automaster to pick up our new...preowned... Honda Odyssey. After months of debating if we should take the plunge to the mini van and looking at the options available we opted for a 2007 Odyssey in gently used condition. In the few hours I used it today with the kiddos in tow I quickly became a fan of the van. The kids had a playdate with friends Acadia and Clay while the mommies enjoyed a yummy lunch of caeser salad, homemade mac and cheese, chocolate chip cookies...and fun conversation! Cole and Sawyer were both so exhausted from the day they were tucked into bed and sleeping before 6 p.m.

Although we love the snow (picture of Ken and Cole snowshoeing from December) we are happy to see the Florida sunshine!

Sawyer Turns 8 months today!

It's hard to believe our sweet little baby boy is 8 months old and believe it or not, it has been one year today that we moved to our new home! We have enjoyed a quiet weekend and were glad to have the temperatures warm enough to enjoy the outdoors...25 degrees, without wind...to us that felt great!

Play Date with Kate!

I am fortunate enough to have one of the best friends in the WHOLE ENTIRE world...Natalie. We have known each other our WHOLE ENTIRE lives! We grew up as next door neighbors on Sandy Lane and the rest is history. That is why we were both thrilled to be expecting babies in 2008 and as luck or fate would have it they were born only ten days apart. It has been awesome to share in watching our babies grow together as we did over thirty years ago! These pictures are from our play date on February 7th...Kate and Sawyer are 7 1/2 months old!

Happy Valentine's Day!

It has been a fun Valentine's Week for us! Cole has enjoyed receiving Valentine's mail from our extended family. One of his favorite surprises in the mailbox was gift certificates to "Old McDonald's" tucked in his Valentine from Uncle Todd and Aunt Jenny! We are grateful to have such a loving family surrounding our boys as they grow. We spent the week reading children's literature relating to the subject of love including: Guess How Much I Love You, I Love My Mommy Because..., I Love My Daddy Because..., Mama, Do You Love Me?, Papa, Do You Love Me?, All the Ways I Love You, I Love You as Much, The Very Special Valentine...just to name a few of our books from the week celebrating LOVE! We made Valentine's cards at Tadpole Arts at BCA (BurlingtonCityArts) during our visit to the art study on Friday. BCA has become one of our favorite Friday activities as it gives Cole a chance to explore using glue, glitter, scissors, paint, stamps, and clay in a community art study...and the best part is there is no mess for mommy to pick up.

Friday Art at BurlingtonCityArts

Now...2009...Then 2004

Valentine's Day Came Early at our house

Today was a great day. I worked while Ken stayed at home with our boys. I love days when Ken is at home with the boys. There is nothing like coming home to see you children snuggling on your husband's lap. There is nothing like your child running across the room to give you a big hug and kiss after a day of work. I can't wait to hear about the adventures they have had together. A stop for donuts, Music with Peter, lunch with Mommy at work, a load of laundry, and outside to play. A busy day for Daddy and his boys. That's why I was so surprised at dinner (prepared by a busy Daddy) when Cole said, "Daddy, where is the heart I made for Mommy." Daddy relied, "It is to give to Mommy on Valentine's Day." Cole says, "I want to give it to her now." Off they went and came to give me the most adorable handcrafted Valentine and more hugs and kisses. I am one lucky Mommy and Wife.

I. Love. My. Boys. Ken. Cole. Sawyer.

Later Skater

Ken and Cole (2 1/2 years...from September 2008)

It was about five o'clock tonight when the door bell rang at our house. It was a neighborhood boy named Jack, 10 years old, who sometimes stops by to skateboard with Ken. Yes, the kids come over to see if Ken (all 32 years of him) wants to go out and play. Today, Ken was at work. Jack was disappointed Ken wasn't around to skate. After Jack left, Cole went into the livingroom.

Mommy: Cole, what are you looking for?
Cole: My new shoes.
Mommy: They are right there in that bag.
Cole: O.K. (grabs his shoes and sits on the couch)
Mommy: What are you doing?
Cole: Putting on my skateboard shoes. I'm going skateboarding with Jack.
Mommy: You are? We can't go out right now...it's getting dark and Daddy will be home from work soon.
Cole: (In his "cool" voice) I'm just going to Jack's house. Don't worry Mom. I will be brave.

I swear...he would have just put on his shoes and left the house if I wasn't watching...all 2 years and 10 months of him!

Making Valentine's Day Cards

Kisses from Cole to Sweet Baby Sawyer! I would love to say this is how things always are at our home...but they are not. Today a perfect example of that! While Ken was at work today, I thought it would be a perfect day to make some Valentine's Day cards for friends and family...well it turned out to be the not so perfect day. Cole was in a horrible mood because we skipped nap time for a visit with Nana and Nono. We know the cards will be cherished by all who will receive them despite the attitude I experienced from my loving son during the activity.