Monday, February 21, 2011

The "Christmas Gardens"

This year's trip to Longwood Gardens was magical... extremely cold... but magical nonetheless.

We decided to make it an every-other-year tradition when we took Aidan the year he was born. At that time, it was the Truitts and Calveys, with a 9 month old Aidan and a pregnant Nicole. This year, Josie. 18 months, joined us for the fun... And Gavin, 4.5 months, was Daddy's little koala bear along for the evening.. Sarah also brought her Billy, 32.5 years old, and he may have had the best time of them all. :)

Make a wish in the fountain, Jos!
Special Daddy time
The Brazills are great stand-in parents!
Aidan loves his Donald Duck. :)

I love this.
Is that a Lily, or a Truitt?
Beautiful flowers, beautiful family.
Oh Christmas Tree!
Look what I found in the woods
Such a gentleman... Aidan insisted on holding the door open for the long line of people behind us!
Could have taken thousands of pictures of the beauty that is Longwood, but this one will have to suffice!
Aidan loves his Aunt Sarah, too. :)
Papa Bear and our Koala Bear
Daddy did shave off his bear beard a few weeks after this photo..
The big kids.
See? Best stand-ins, ever!
Smitten. On both accounts.
What better representation of joy is there than "throw-your-head-back laughter"??

I wonder what new baby will be joining us for Longwood Gardens, 2012?? ;-) Stay tuned, and stay classy!

Frosty the Snowman!

Anyone who has been around Aidan at all this winter season knows that he has a bit of an obsession with Frosty. Every snowman is Frosty and we sing the song on at least a weekly basis. Here are some pictures of some fun in the snow and the various Frosties he has helped to build with Mommy and Daddy!



The finishing touch- a branch from our Christmas tree...

Admiring his handiwork. :)

The big one is for Aidan and the small one is for Gavin





Frosty the Snowman a happy, jolly soul...

Soup for you!

By popular demand, I am posting the recipe for the soup I served as one of the dishes at Gavin's Baptism reception. The time preparing this dish is well worth the tastiness that follows. And it is VERY easy, you just need to be in the mood to slice and chop lots of ingredients. :) Think of us when you enjoy it!
NOTE: I use chicken broth, and add in a bit more tortellini as that is our favorite part. I also usually don't have the fresh parsley and no one seems to notice!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

4 months!

Yes- he is getting so big so fast!
Time flies...



Merry Christmas!

"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day."

Merry Christmas!!!


Kevin earned this kiss- it's not exactly like the long johns were his idea. ;-)

"Mommy, this bike good balance me!"

Christmas morning was tons of fun. When the boys were ready for naptime, we got in the car and drove up to Bethlehem to surprise everyone. This year our Christmas was truly complete, and we couldn't have asked for more fun family times on this special day.

Gaga with her great grandson...So grateful to have her for another Christmas.

Aidan can never get enough of his Erin!

Pappy singing Rockabye Baby to Gavin... followed by this comment "Look what a few glasses of chardonnay will do to you!"

Gavin meets his first cousin/once removed for the first time! Otherwise known simply as "Aunt Emily" :O)

The in-laws pic. Oh wait, Evan is a blood relative, I forgot!

Dancing fools

Best Wii game ever!

Aidan checks out his new Ford F150

Needless to say, he would have rather gotten frostbite before leaving his new present.

He even stopped mid-drive to tune the radio! Is he almost 3 going on 13 or what?

He put his new UPS truck in the back. :)

So glad we got to spend the day after Christmas with some of our Lucey relatives.

Always popular amongst the women. =o)

Playing with a new toy from Santa

  









...And I'm spent.



Twas the night before Christmas...


...and all through the house, 2 little creatures were stirring... bringing us so much joy.

Here are some highlights from Christmas Eve at the Calveys!










Enjoy some short video clips of the evening, below.

Boys will be boys...

...Or is it just, "Aidan will be Aidan?"

In any case,  the below 2 pics were taken the first day we purchased the toy box. I entered the play room a few minutes later to find him making himself at home in it.

When I walked a little closer, the smell I uncovered showed that Aidan did a little more than just make himself at home! He christened it? A month later I printed out this picture and Aidan saw it and said, "That's a picture of me poopin!" No joke. I guess it was a memorable experience!

The below is a shot of him being too cool while brunching at the Bolands'. He literally kept his aviators on for the first 2 hours of our visit!


This picture is the result of our second ER experience with the big guy. Another case of just plain boy bad luck! We were playing "helicopter" where Aidan was running in circles and "landing" on me... Mid-circle he tripped and fell face first into the ledge of his toy cabinet- split right under his lip wide open. He was such a trooper though- he did great the entire time at the ER and didn't get hysterical until they IVed him- I think he felt betrayed at that moment. :( Thankfully, by midnight the sedation wore off, we were released (we arrived at 6pm) and he was back to his normal self, evidenced by the entire order of Five Guys french fries he scarfed down on the drive home!


Here is the next night's yogurt experience. :)