Teamwork

About a week ago, Matt was outside playing basketball with the kids while I got some things done around the house. Drew and Abby kept running inside every few minutes for a "huddle." After eavesdropping on them a few times, I decided to pull out the camera and take video. Here's a little peek into what was going on...



Just to clarify, we ARE Magic fans in this house. However, the Lakers are currently the champions. So, every time Matt and Drew play basketball, Drew insists on being the Lakers while Matt is the Magic.



There are so many things I love about this.

I love that they run into the house to keep their plans a "secret" from Matt because he pretends to listen to their huddle. And that while they are inside, Abby still hushes Drew so that Matt can't hear them.

I love that this captures their personalities - Abby is the chatter box and the one in charge and Drew just goes along with the plan. I love that Drew is being so sweet with Abby - passing the ball to her and letting her shoot the baskets instead of doing it all by himself.

I love that the plan is for Abby to pretend she is sleeping, yet as soon as they get out there they make Matt pretend to sleep so they can score a basket on him.

I love that Matt has two hoops set up - a little one for Abby and the tall one for Drew.

Mostly, I'm happy that I caught these moments on video. It wasn't anyone's birthday or a holiday or a special occasion. It was a normal Saturday afternoon of kids playing with their Daddy. It is these moments that I'm conscious to commit to memory or to photograph/videotape. It is these moments of getting along with each other and using their imaginations and having fun that I want to remember. Not just the special occasions, but the everyday things that make these children such a joy to be around. To remember their sweet voices and little bodies - just as they are.

I LOVE this age for both of them. We really couldn't be having any more fun...

How My People Watch TV

Egg Hunt!

We headed over to my friend Danielle's house on the Saturday before Easter. Danielle and I have been friends since we were 5 years old. We have shared many happy memories and seen each other through many trying circumstances. We have 5 children between us and they all love each other - everyone especially loves new baby Graham!

However, let's be real.

I'm really only friends with her anymore because her backyard is so rockin' cool. Seriously, it's like an amusement park without the cost of admission.

They host an annual Easter party with an egg hunt that has become a huge hit with the kids. When I told Drew and Abby where we were going they knew just what to expect. Lots of eggs, lots of prizes, lots of kids, and lots of fun!!


And, they're off!


Look at this! They are finding eggs while climbing on a tree fort - so much fun!






Our pretty girls!


Checking out the loot in the Easter eggs!


Trampoline time!




This is a regular swing that hangs from a tree. It can go amazingly high!


Dewane recently added this tire swing - Abby loved it!




Giggles on the seesaw!


We had such a fun morning!


Thanks Snyder Family!

And, I was just kidding before.

We don't just love you for your awesome backyard.

That would be shallow.

We'll always be best of friends, no matter what kind of backyard you have.

But we are going to have to ask that you don't let baby Graham get any bigger...cause we sure do love playing with that sweet baby boy!

Happy Easter!

We just got home from a very fun weekend with our family! The kids had a fantastic time with their cousins - sleepovers with Ryan and Tyler are always a treat!

I'll post pictures of our Easter weekend soon, however, I'll first need to get the pictures loaded onto my computer from the camera!

In the meantime, here are some of the photos taken of the kids when we visited the Easter Bunny on Friday...






My Drew cracks me up! His personality is the greatest and the next three pictures just make me laugh!






Such a handsome guy -




Pretty Abby Grace loved the bunnies and butterflies!












Happy Easter!!

Guess Who?

The new "game of choice" around here is Guess Who.

Star Wars Edition.

It must be pretty clear by now that almost everything we do around here seems to somehow involve Star Wars. In fact, Abby and I spent the day together Saturday while Matt and Drew went to Tampa to watch the Yankees play the Braves. Late in the afternoon, after playing with her baby dolls, I asked her if she wanted to watch a movie. Since her brother wasn't around, I began suggesting princess movies: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, etc. She shook her head, adjusted the pink fluffy blanket on her favorite baby doll, frowned, and replied, "Ummm...how about something from the Star Wars Trilogy?"

Oh my word. That child is just too much.

I made the executive decision to redirect our attention to the playroom and we began a rousing tournament of Candy Land.

Because "Gumdrop Pass" and "Rainbow Trail" just felt more appropriate than unending lightsaber duels for my 3 year old daughter.

This parenting gig. It requires much wisdom and sound practical judgement.

Or not.

Anyway, I realize that I've completely digressed from the original intent of this post. Well, not completely, I guess, since I'll still be discussing Star Wars. So, here it goes...


This is my kids playing Guess Who. You played this when you were a kid, but it was a little different. You asked things like "Do you have brown hair?" or "Are you wearing glasses?"

I have to ask things like, "Do you have a green face?" and "Are you a droid?"


They LOVE this game. It's the new favorite and we play it every day. This honor was formally held by the game "Pretty, Pretty Princess." We played that game every day too.

Matt is, in a word, relieved.

He just didn't look right wearing those dangly earrings.


Drew and Abby often like to play as a team against me. They whisper possible questions into each other's ears to get approval and then take turns asking me those questions.

Which, by the way, are never a surprise to me since their idea of a whisper could easily be heard by someone in another room.

I love it though. I think it's so cute that they work together.


On this particular day, Abby whispered to Drew, "Let's ask if her person has a yellow light saber."

Drew replied, "But NONE of them have yellow lightsabers!"


She looked him straight in the eyes, raised her eyebrows, and with a determined look on her face said, "Yeah, well we'll just see about that."

And, let me tell you, that little girl looked shocked when I told her that I didn't have a yellow lightsaber.

Totally shocked.

In hindsight, I suppose I should have let her watch something from the Star Wars saga. Apparently, we need to brush up on her Star Wars trivia.

Because Nothing Says Love Quite Like A Giant Hershey's Kiss

We had a great Valentine's Day! The kids were so excited for their school parties this year, and we had lots of fun making Valentines for our friends and family.


This is such a great holiday for my super-affectionate babies!


I was able to help at Abby's preschool party and there is really nothing better than a 3 year old party. What a fun age! They all decorated these cute boxes (that I covered with white paper the week before) and they had so much fun handing out their valentine cards and candy!


Drew's class decorated these bags and they were filled to the top with lots of goodies. Drew opened all of his cards and immediately gave Abby all of his candy. He kept handing it to her and saying, "Here, Abby, I got this for you!"


These are the heart bowls we filled with goodies for them. Abby loves candy, so it's easy to make her happy.

Drew does not like candy. Even more, he's quite offended that anyone would want to eat junk food that "is not healthy for your body." So, with holidays that focus on candy I have to improvise and get him other fun things.


After I put together their gifts, I realized it seemed a little over the top for Valentine's Day. I mean, really, shouldn't they just be getting a card and some candy?

Then I thought about what my mom used to do for Valentine's Day when we were kids. All of sudden I remembered the year she gave me Dance Reeboks along with my little heart box of chocolates. I still vividly remember how ecstatic I was and how I just knew those Dance Reeboks were going to change my life.

Just like they changed Paula Abdul's.

Anyway, I guess I can blame my mom for setting the gift-giving bar so high.

Moving on...

It won't quite make him an 80's dance star, but Drew loved his Buzz Lightyear pajamas. And, yes, Abby is hugging her giant Hershey's kiss. I told you, the girl likes her chocolate.


Next, she started hugging her fancy dress. She knew about the dress because she had already tried it on. However, what she didn't know was where she was going to be wearing that dress. As part of the gift, Matt told her that he will be taking her to the daddy/daughter dance at church next month so they can get all dressed up and have a special night together. She is beyond excited!


They both got several books. Abby got the newest Fancy Nancy books, and Drew is holding a Clone Wars sticker book. He has barely put it down since that morning. He says that the "Dark Forces" page is his favorite because General Grievous has four lightsabers. And, today in the car, I had to pick my jaw up off the floor when Abby was looking at the book and began telling me about Mace Windu and Emperor Palpatine and their battle. It was too funny to hear all the Star Wars nonsense coming out of her sweet, three year old mouth.

I guess I should have known I had a problem on my hands when she stopped asking to watch Cinderella and started asking to watch "Episode 6."


Both of them also got a motion picture book (it's called scanimation). These books are SO cool and their reactions definitely did not disappoint. They've practically got them memorized by now!


I love Drew's face in this picture. I'm so glad he was pleased with all of his gifts.


Abby was just as pleased with all of her stuff. She was especially delighted with this lollipop that is approximately the size of her head!


Daddy loved his handmade valentines from the kids.


They worked really hard on these and made them all by themselves. I asked Drew what he wanted to write on his card so I could help him spell it out. He replied, "You are my best grown up."

My feelings were a little hurt and I couldn't help but ask, "Really, Daddy is your best grown up? What about Mommy?"

No kidding, that kid patted me on the hand and said, "Well Mama, yes. Yes, he's really my best grown up." And, the little dude even emphasized the word really to make sure to get his message across.

Then, as if he could read my heart, he said, "But, don't worry, Mama. I still love you the most."

And then I made him and his little sister promise that they would always be my Valentines.

Thankfully, they readily agreed.

Better Late Than Never...

I kind of dropped the ball here with the blog last month. My sister, Anna, will be more than happy to complain to you about it if you would care to listen. Seems that law school is fairly mind-numbing with it's stress and all, and she was going through some serious withdrawals of seeing her "babies."

We, on the other hand, have been 14 kinds of busy and it seems I crash into bed at night with nary a thought of updating the blog. But, we have been up to some fun stuff around here!

So, let's catch up!

New Year's Day was so much fun! We took the kids to the Lil' 500 to ride the Go Karts. They were so excited - we haven't been there in a long time!


Look who is old enough to ride in his own Go Kart!


But, Abby didn't mind having her daddy ride shotgun!


It wasn't crowded at all, so we basically had the whole track to ourselves.


Even mommy got a turn to ride with Abby - we had fun racing with Drew!


It was so cute to watch Abby try to drive the Go Kart. She kept wanting to go faster and faster!


They both loved it and we loved watching them have so much fun -


Next, we headed to a park for some playground time. Drew really likes this triple slide!


They even have a little rock wall that the kids like to climb.


Abby is super fast when she climbs this thing. It kind of takes my breath away because I'm so worried she's going to fall! But, of course, she never does.


Drew's favorite thing lately is tag. Freeze tag, regular tag, whatever kind of tag you will play with him - he is constantly teasing us, "You can't catch me..."


Daddy gets pretty close!


The big brother took a time out to help push his sister on the swing.


These two are best buddies - they are at such a great age for playing together.


I sure do love these two little people!




What a great way to start the new year together - quality family time!