Happy Birthday, Poppy

Andy's dad's birthday was the day before Thanksgiving - and since they didn't come for Thanksgiving, they visited us the Saturday after. They usually arrive just when the girls are about to wake up from their nap - so they like to go upstairs to get them and surprise them. The girls love it - "Grammy ... Poppy ..." they say in tired little voices.

When they get to the playroom they instantly perk up and playtime commences. After I take some pictures I usually scoot away to get some things done. (hehe)

Maddie was up before Katie so she got some one-on-one time, which was nice.

We always go out to dinner when they come over - and the girls behave really well. When it came time for ice cream for the girls (a MUST on a dinner outing) - I told them that it would be better if we did it at home. I don't know who was more upset - the girls or the grandparents!

BUT - I made a cake for Poppy's birthday and I wanted the girls to be awake long enough so that we could sit and have a nice dessert. When we got home I sat them all in the dining room with ice cream and I got the candles on the cake without anyone seeing. I had Andy turn off the lights - and we walked in with the cake. Poppy was really surprised - and tried to get the girls to help him blow out the candles.

After some cake, which with the ice cream is way more sugar than any two crazy little girls can handle, we sent them off to bed!

It was a nice afternoon and evening - although Andy's parents sat for 45 minutes on the George Washington Bridge trying to get back home. Ugh.

Happy Birthday Poppy!

The Grand Poobah

Andy's parents gave the girls these adorable Elmo trick-or-treat baskets. Katie has turned hers into a hat - a la Howard Cunningham on "Happy Days" ...

... or like the guards outside Buckingham Palace ...

Katie walks around like this pretty much every night in the time between dinner ending and bedtime routine starting.


Maddie got in on the act, too. She only kept hers on a matter of minutes - "no things on my head!"

See you all at the next meeting.

Labor Day Weekend

For Labor Day weekend we went to visit Andy's parents in Long Island. Grammy puts EVERYTHING away and the girls pretty much have the run of the house, which they love. Their main source of fun are these plastic wine glasses with a bright fruit print all over them, that you would use with sangria and the like. The cups are pretty big and they have a big wide base, and each base is a different color. (I wish I had a picture of them, but I didn't think.) They look for them each trip - and they fight over them OF COURSE! The funny part is the cup and the base come apart all the time! Within the first day of our visit, the bottoms are strewn all over the floor and the girls just run around with the cup part, and wood spoons, and tupperware, and just pretend to stir. Then, when we leave - Lorraine and Ed gather the remains of the cups, crazy glue them back together, and get them ready for our next visit!

We had a great weekend - we went to a neighbor's BBQ, the girls went for a walk with Grammy & Poppy, we went to visit the girls' great-grandmother, Nana, - and of course they ran all around the backyard and played with Kasey the husky. Andy and I usually get to sneak out for a date-night - which we are so appreciative of! (Thank you, Mom & Dad!)

Below is a slideshow of our Long Island Adventures - my camera died so these pics are from Andy's dad. Enjoy!

Thank you Grandma, Grammy & Poppy!

I know I said this in my last post, but Andy and I could not do half the things we do if it weren't for our parents. They are ALWAYS willing and wanting to be with the girls - and often shoo us out of the house just to be with them alone (and feed them ice cream). From day one they have helped us with feeding, holding, playing, and everything in between with the girls.

Below is a slideshow of the pictures they took while Andy and I were in Connecticut. After seeing these I will never feel bad again about leaving them for a few days - they had a blast.

The Week Things Happened

Andy and I had a wonderful time in Connecticut. The traffic was "on the other side" both ways and we listened to the radio instead of "The Big Comfy Couch" CD over and over and over and over ....

I don't have any pictures yet because we used a disposable camera so we could leave the digital one with the grandparents, but as soon as I get them on a CD I will post them. The aquarium was so much fun - Andy was like a little kid in the touch tank! We kept saying how much the Maddie and Katie would have loved it, but at the same time we could see them splashing water everywhere! I think in a few years we will go back up just the four of us for a family vacation.

Of course we had a great time at the casinos, too! I won $80 playing craps (I learned to play years ago on a cruise) and we met a lot of nice people who just wanted to keep the game going and have fun. We ate at fabulous (albeit casual) restaurants and wait until you see the huge plate of raw oysters and clams that Andy chowed down.

While we were exploring downtown Mystic we stopped at a local pub for a pint and talked to some of the locals who were so nice to us and we learned all about how much they love where they live. It was a great experience we wouldn't get any other way. Andy loves trying new beer and even though I really don't drink, I sampled a chardonney (I don't even know if I am spelling that right!).

Of course the trip would not have been complete without a back injury for Rose! Yep - I fell in the shower on Tuesday morning, right before we were going to Mystic Seaport. It shook me up a bit and I have a black-and-blue nail (and bum) to show for it, but thankfully it wasn't too bad. Although when I went to my chiropracter when I got home it sounded like firecrackers going off in my back.

We missed the girls so much and we were so happy to see them when we got home! My mom and Andy's parents ran the place like clockwork (even with all those empty ice cream cups in the garbage can) and the girls hardly even knew we were gone. They absolutely love being with their grandparents and it makes us feel so good knowing that they probably have more fun with the three of them than with us! Thank you Grandma, Grammy & Poppy!!! If it weren't for you guys we would never be able to do half the things we do!!!

One more happening this week - on Thursday morning our main line from the house to the sewer backed up - but thankfully Andy's dad saw it before any real damage was done. The slop sink in the basement was filled to the brim and then the toliet on the first level overflowed. We had the plumber over and $300 later I was able to use my water again! It's always something.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad

Today is Andy's parents' 40th wedding anniversary! Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad! We went to Long Island this weekend to celebrate with them. The girls had a great time running around the backyard and climbing in and out of all the trees.

We went to dinner on Saturday night with their friends, Dave and Roseann, and Roseann's mother Madalena. The girls were very well behaved for a 2-hour dinner, the food was yummy, and we finished it off with ice cream and cake.

Congratulations to Lorraine and Ed! Here's to another 40!

Hershey Park with Grammy & Poppy

Andy's parents, better known as Grammy and Poppy to our girls, took us to Hershey Park for 4 days at the end of May and we had a great time. I was a little nervous about putting them on the rides, but after Andy & I squished into the few we were allowed to, we let them at it by themselves as long as I thought the strap was good. (Katie's favorite word: "Tight!")

The only ride Katie wouldn't go on was the carousel - you can see Maddie & Grammy & Poppy in the background on the horse. We had wonderful breezy weather - and we were all fast asleep by 9:30pm.