Welcome to our blog

We wanted to start this blog as a way to keep track of all the new things going on in our family...read along for fun tales, lots of pictures and just try and keep up with the chaos!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Our Family Vacation

In late February, our family took a big vacation to Mexico.  Although I was skeptical it would go off without a hitch (I mean, this is intensive travel with a 3 year old and a 1 year old I am talking about - meltdowns on planes, missing naps, strange food, sunburns, strange places to sleep, crazy schedules), it actually did.  We had a wonderful, incredible vacation.  In fact today, Ellie and I were reading a book about going places, and it ended with the question of "Where do you want to go?"  Ellie replied - "Back to vacation".  I agree!  Here are (a ton of) pictures!

Arriving in Mexico - don't look so bad for being up since 3:30 am

Changed quickly and hit the pool.  This was Ellie's first two piece.  In the bathroom she said to me "Mom, I can see my belly button?"

Waving hi to Dad - this was the Kids Aqua Park - water slides everywhere

Ellie after her first trip down the slide.

Going up the stairs to the water slides

They even had little ones for Tommy
Next stop on Day 1 - the beach

Lots of digging

Tom and Dad in the water

Our beach comber

Doesn't quite know what to think of the water coming in on him

So he threw sand instead
Our resort had a "Snack Bar' with food and drinks available at all times, and swings to sit on.

Day two - back at the Aqua Park

The water was about a foot and a half deep, so even Tommy could wade around.

Hitting the slides

Having a ton of fun!

Happiest guy around

From the top of the slide

Hi-Fiving Dad and Tom on the way down.
Our favorite activity - every night they had a Family Movie shown outside on a huge screen, complete with popcorn.

Without toys, we had to get creative.  My makeup bag held all sorts of wonders for them.

Kid size chess

They loved this!

The "big kid" pool.

My favorite pic of the trip.  Two buddies.

"Dad, let me get your sunglasses for you"

"Here, maybe I should just wear them"
My and my pool buddies.

Dad and his girl on the swings.

Love a guy in argyle.

Getting after it in the ball pit at the kids club

Huge amenity for us?  Jacuzzi outside on our balcony.  Kids loved getting clean at night.

Another family movie - Tom dominating the bag of popcorn.
This was the only time that pale tummy saw sun, but I needed at least one belly pic

Ellie and Dad went on a kayak, she was pumped!

Heading out to sea

A man, his pail and his shovel - that's all he needs.  Actually he didn't really like the sand, but I snapped some pics anyway.

Love these two, got a good pic before we headed out to dinner

Mikey magically rigged a family pic by putting the camera on another beach chair.

What more does a girl need at dinner besides an iPad and a shirley temple in a champagne glass.
Dad and Tom at the water slides

And on top of the rocks

She loved the aqua park

She was being a sweet girl this day, so I need this pic to remember it.

This was Ellie's favorite part of the trip, waiting in line to get her face painted.  Can't tell she is excited can you?

Holding still

So proud.
While we waited for her, Tom and I took a pic by ourselves.  Love him.

Tom and Dad at our last dinner.

Again, Ellie won't pose with me.

Family picture - Ellie looks thrilled (and kind of scary).

That night they had a pinata party for all the kids - here is Ellie stepping up to swing.

She got in some good licks.

This was at 8 pm - probably can't tell that Tommy is tired while waiting for Ellie to get done.

It broke - the race is on to find candy. 

Mikey helped Ellie get candy and not get trampled.


All in all, we had an amazing family trip and will remember it forever.

Valentines Day

We had a great Valentines Day this year.  It started off with some presents at home and ended with a Valentines Party in Ellie's class.  There was lots of love all around!
Opening up her Valentine from us at home

Plus some gifts..Toy Story 3!

Tommy - a little less enthused, but following along anyway

Happy about the candy and new pjs.
Here we are at Ellie's class party, complete with fun activities.  Here she is at the bean bag toss.

Coloring paper hearts

Trying to build a heart bracelet with her brother getting in her way.

Once her brother got out of her way, she was in business.

Putting Valentine's in her friends mailboxes.  I was happy to see that old shoeboxes are still the Valentine's Day mailboxes of choice.

Again with her friend Tom trying to help her out.

Lots of Updates

Its been a month without any updates to the blog, but that certainly doesn't mean our family didn't stay incredibly busy!

First off, in late January, we took Ellie to see Sesame Street Live.  This was our first show of this type, and she was totally enamored with it.  We had a blast, she loved the show, and the folks from Sesame Street still provide some great entertainment.

Hi Five for Dad

Won't pose with Mom, I guess I better get used to that.

Our friends from Sesame Street.
 We also got Ellie into swimming lessons at our local YMCA to get prepped for our upcoming trip to Mexico.  The Y really puts out excellent lessons, which Ellie really enjoys.  They gear the kids up with some floats tied to their back and some noodles to help them out in the front.  As she gets better, she will use less noodles and back floats.  She enjoys these (most of the time) and we will keep them going this spring.


While this winter has been the warmed in my memory, we did finally get some snow in February.  We took advantage of this inch and a half of powder and got out there to make the most of it.

Expert snow angel making

Sledding down our front hill

Teaching Tom her snow angel knowledge

He thought it was "sort of" fun

Building a snowman.

Even Tommy pitched in