Natalie-ism!

Natalie: That person looked like a hippie.

Todd: Do you know what a hippie is?

Natalie: Yeah, it's a girl that acts cool. And she sometimes wears a short skirt. And they hula dance. Or sometimes just hula hoop.

Todd: Are you sure about that?

Natalie: Yes!

Official 2013 Santa Photo

Presenting the 2013 Official Santa Photo.  And when I say this was the best photo of the bunch, I really mean it.

Because this was one of the other ones we took today.

Come on, this is HILARIOUS!!!!  This is what Christmas is all about!  I kind of want to buy another funny one that they took, but I had a $5 credit which made this second download only cost $4.99.  The head down is classic.  Merry Christmas from Natalie and the Grinch!

Plymouth Thanksgiving Parade

We decided not to go to Florida for Thanksgiving this year.  With Natalie in first grade, we didn't want her to miss a bunch of school.  And since Todd got furloughed earlier this year, it just didn't make a lot of financial sense to spend a ton of money to get down to Florida for what basically amounts to a long weekend.  We're hoping to go in the spring or summer of 2014. 

Instead, we stuck close to home and were able to go to the Plymouth "America's Hometown" Thanksgiving parade.  It's billed as the nations "second best parade."  I don't know why, but that makes me laugh!

Here's Natalie and Grant waiting with Bean for the parade to start. It was a really cold day but the rain held off!  Later, KK and Seth joined us too.

The very start of the parade.  The Pilgrim's return to their hometown.

There were some really neat floats like this one above of the Mayflower.  It actually rocked back and forth which was pretty cool.

 Grant really thought all of the cars were super cool, but really?  Whoopi Goldberg? I don't get it!

 I think Natalie must have taken this picture.  Where is she???  Grant, Mommy and Daddy enjoying the parade.

Oh wait, there she is.  Natalie looking cute as one of the floats goes by.  This float was a "before and after" showing what a classroom looked like during days past, and what a classroom looks like in the present.

They have this massive turkey float that goes by, but they have to stop and pull it's head down to make sure it can get under all of the power lines!

The Budweiser Clydesdales are always a big hit.  It always surprises me how big they are!  I love the little Dalmatian too.  He's so cute in all of their commercials.

There was a nice tribute to the victims of the Marathon bombing too.  It was a huge float with the Boston skyline and this was on the back of it.

Steve Horgan, the bullpen cop from the World Series was a part of the parade too!  Here is his with his hands in the air, just like he did after David Ortiz hit a grand slam in Game 1 of the ALCS vs. Detroit. 

This was the actual picture from the game. 

And of course, last but certainly not least was the Big Man himself.  Santa Claus.  Natalie and Grant were jumping with excitement.  It was another successful parade - and I think the kids enjoyed it much more than they did in 2009 (when Grant was only about 4 weeks old!) 

Natalie-ism

Me: Do you know who this is on my hat? (Showing Natalie my new Pat Patriot winter hat.)

Natalie: Oh! It's a pirate bending over to pick up a coconut.

Nailed it.

Grant's Birthday Party with his Friends

Grant had his first ever "friend" birthday party this year.  We had it at Playtown Express in Southborough.  We booked 2 months in advance and STILL only got a Sunday evening party.  But that was about all there was if you wanted a private party. 

We had this entire place to ourselves!  We only had about 10 kids there (total including mine).  Since he's only 4, I didn't invite a ton.  Maybe next year!  When I first walked in, I thought, "Why did we book this place?" because we own a bouncy castle and Grant won't come near it.  He's afraid of the noise that the motor makes to keep in inflated.  This place is pretty much all made up of motorized bouncy castles!

But, he loved it!  Here are Grant and his buddies playing in one of the jumpy houses.  

 The boys were running back and forth on this thing (we have one of these at gymnastics) and crashing into each other.  It was hilarious.  They're such boys!  Natalie tried to get in and play with them but even though she's a lot bigger than all of them, she told us these boys were too rough!

Listen... Mommies can have fun too!

Grant gives this party two thumbs up!

Natalie had fun for a while, but got bored pretty quickly.  I probably should have invited a friend for her to play with rather than a bunch of 4-year-olds.

After about an hour and 15 minutes of play time, we had pizza, Hoodsie cups and cake from the Bistro in Westborough (formerly Bagel Bistro).  Grant got to sit in the big birthday chair and all of the kids crowded around him.  As you can see, he's not quite sure what to make of this. 

This was his cake- pretty much the same cake we got him last year, but he loves it!  I love the Bistro's cakes.  They're always yummy!

Happy birthday little buddy!

Grant's 4 Year Stats

Big boy isn't a ridiculously big boy, but he's definitely a big boy!

Today he measured 41" (up 3" in the past year) which is 3 feet, 5 inches tall.  That's 67th percentile - so, tall but not crazy tall.  He weighed 39 pounds, which was up 4 pounds from last year.  That's 76th percentile. 

2013 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox Parade

The unexpected happened this year.  The Red Sox, who had a terrible, no good, awful year in 2012 with a record of 69-93, losing 12 out of their last 13 and firing their manager, won the 2013 World Series, beating the St. Louis Cardinals in 6 games.  Given that they went 86 years without a World Series win from 1918 to 2004, we thought it would be fun (read: a chance we may never get again) to take the kids into Boston to see the parade.  It was a beautiful fall day- in fact, it was actually warm!

Here are the kids in front of the infamous Citgo sign.

Some guy saw us taking pictures of the kids and offered to take our family picture, which became our Christmas card!

We went over to the corner of Ipswich and Boylston near Fenway for the parade.  This is pretty much the same spot Todd and I were at during the 2007 parade, but this time we were across Boylston Street.  There were tons of people down there, but it wasn't a madhouse or anything.

The first duck boat always has the World Series trophy in it!  

 

Awww, Pedey!  One of the "themes" this year was "Fear the Beard" so most of the players still had their beards. I was actually going to write "playoff beards" but between Gomes, David Ross and some others, they had pretty much been growing them since spring training.  Anytime someone hit a homerun, other players would tug on their beard when they got back to the dugout.  Ouch.

Former Auburn baseball catcher David Ross - aka: The Wolf (for his streaked beard) and Will Middlebrooks behind him.  He was at Auburn when I was there (even though he left to be a Gator).  We still love him anyway, and if someone says, "War Eagle" to him- he always responds the proper way!

Natalie was so excited to see Big Papi.  All of the boys in her school have been talking about him.  Here he is with his World Series MVP trophy, holding out 3 fingers for the three World Series' he's won with the Red Sox.  Simply awesome.

One of the last floats was Koji and Junichi and their translator.  Koji was the ALCS MVP (he's the Sox closer after Andrew Bailey got hurt.  As you can see Andrew Bailey is on this float, although he's facing the other side!)

If you've ever been to a World Series parade, they're pretty short (maybe 20 minutes for the parade itself).  So it was over pretty quick and before you knew it, we were heading back to the green line.  I like this picture that Todd snapped of Grant and I walking down Yawkey Way.  Long shadows in November, but a warm day since I have my sleeves rolled up!

After we took the Green Line back to Woodland (in Newton), we drove to Wellesley to get lunch (or breakfast, as the kids and Todd had) at Maugus.  On our way home at one point, the kids were strangely quiet.  I turned around to find this!

Halloween 2013

Happy Halloween!

The best part of this year was the weather.  It was supposed to rain, but the rain held off.  And it was actually quite mild, so the kids didn't even wear jackets this year.  Plus we went north on Speen Street to a little neighborhood right on Lake Cochituate, and had a blast there.  The neighborhood is full of little kids- it's totally idyllic.  

Look!  It's a beautiful ballerina and a scary alien!

See?  Proof that we didn't even need coats outside!  Hanging with some pumpkins...

Three things about this photo.  Natalie insisted that I had to wear butterfly wings.  The things we do for our kids!  Second, after about the third home, Grant took his alien mask on and walked around like this (which was super confusing to the people who were giving out candy - uh, what is he?) and third, please note the red solo cup.  We hit up this one house that had candy for the kids, and beer or wine for the adults.  Sweet!  Now that's my idea of trick or treating!

And of course, here's a picture with Daddy.  Overall, a very successful evening!  We'll definitely be going back to this neighborhood!

Happy 4th Birthday Grant!

Happy 4th birthday little buddy! You got to wear the birthday crown today!

 

I can't believe you're 4 already.  Where has the time gone?  If there ever was a spawn of the little cupcake baked by the devil, it's definitely you. Mostly sweet, sometimes crazy.  Getting into trouble and then putting on your sweetest face so we don't yell at you.  You're cranky when we have to wake you up from your nap though.  And you're cranky if you're hungry, much like your mama!  You're a boy through and through, always talking about things like, "Dump trucks crushing cars" and "Cranes smashing 18 wheelers."  Crash!  Smash!  Raaah!

You are still a lover of trucks.  As you can see from the picture above.  And the picture below.

This crane you got from Nana and Pop Pop is pretty cool.  You're moving the Mystery Machine all around the living room!

 Lately, you've been very into Scooby Doo.  Here you're sporting your new Scooby Doo backpack from Grammi and Bean. You still love the Cars movies, and anything to do with the Might Machines TV show.  You're a good eater and a good sleeper too! 

Loves the icing on cupcakes and chocolate ice cream too.  Hope you had a great birthday little buddy!  We love you SO much!

Fall 2013

 

I just thought the big oak tree in our backyard looked really pretty this season.

Natalie's 6 Year Stats & Height Predictor

Natalie had her 6-year appointment today (ok, we're about 3 months late, but you know how it is getting in to see a doctor for a yearly checkup!)  She is 46.5" tall (3'10 and 1/2") which is in the 58th percentile, and weighs 52#, which is in the 76th percentile.  She's up 3" from last year, and gained 10#!  She had a bit of trouble with the vision in her left eye, but passed her eye test anyway. 

This all got me thinking about how tall she might be as an adult.  I saw online several ways of "predicting" adult height.  Now before you get all crazy saying, "There's no possible way to predict adult height!" - I already know that!  But this is all in good fun.  Hopefully we can come back here in another 20 years and see if it was true!

Some places (ie: Mayo Clinic) say that doubling their height at age 2 is a good indicator.  Grant was 34.75" at 2 years which = about 5'9 and a half! HA!  Natalie was 34" at 2 years which = about 5'8!  So apparently Natalie got Todd's height and Grant got mine?!?!  They also said you could try this: 

- Add the mother's height and the father's height in either inches or centimeters.

- Add 5 inches (13 centimeters) for boys or subtract 5 inches (13 centimeters) for girls.

- Divide by two.

Me = 63" and Todd = 76".  63+76 = 139.  For Grant, +5 = 144/2 = 72" or 6' even.  For Natalie, 139-5"= 134/2 = 67" which is 5'7! 

It says most children will reach their adult height within 4" of this estimation (um... 4" either way is a pretty big differential!) When I was a kid, doctors told my parents I would be 5'6".  I'm actually about 5'3" - and although that falls within their threshold... there's a big difference between 5'6" and 5'3"!

Another "calculator" I played around with said Natalie would be 5'5" and Grant would be a little over 5'10 based on their current height (or Natalie's current height, I used Grant's 3 year statistics and said he was only 3 years old).  My short genes are strong!

So, will Natalie be 5'5", 5'7", or 5'8"?  And will Grant be 5'9 and a half, 5'10" or 6' tall?  Stay tuned!

An Oldie But Goodie

Grant gave me this for Mother's Day.  I haven't laughed this hard in a LONG time!

If you can't read it... it says:

"What is your Mommy's Name?  Momm."

"How old is she?  3."

"What does she do for a job?  Actually, she goes to CrossFit."

"When does your Mommy make you laugh?  She makes roast beef, chicken nuggets and banana."

"What do you like to play with your Mommy?  Trucks."

I seriously was in tears laughing so hard.  Momm.  Extra M for magnificent???  And I'm 3... plus another large number.  I don't really work for a living... I just go to CrossFit.  (He was going through an "actually" phase earlier this year!).  Apparently my cooking is just really, really funny- but I think we all knew that!

Funny Things Kids Say...

The kids say THE funniest things on a daily basis.  I really want to start trying to write them all down. I usually do, in the form of a Facebook post, but let me try to recapture some of them from the past year or so...

10/13/2013:  Going down a bouncy house slide with Grant at the Seaside Festival in Yarmouth today, and I look down to find Grant's underwear on the floor! I check, and sure enough, they're his! Then he laughs and says, "Why does this keep happening???"  (This had happened the night before at Aunt Betty's house- someone has decided he is a "big boy" and should go to the bathroom all by himself!  Which is great, but apparently he needs a lesson in how to re-dress himself!)

9/29/2013:   Moral for today: Even if you have a huge fenced yard, you always need to keep an eye on 3-year-old little boys! Just found Grant outside with our neighbors trash bin emptied out, sitting in the middle of the pile of trash playing with his front loader.

7/20/2013:  This is a Natalie-ism:   Came into the house super frustrated that my watch stopped two times during my two minute double under drill and Natalie goes, "Quick! To calm you down, we need a banana and some almond butter!" Does she know me, or what!?!?

We also went through this phase in the spring and summer titled, "Questions From the Backseat."  We would get in the car, and the kids would start randomly asking the most absurd questions!

This one was from July 4, 2013:  Questions from the back seat (or... Questions from the Philadelphia airport): "What happens when you eat peanut butter crackers?" (From the allergic kid); "Why is Jabba the Hut so fat?" And "Is this a window?"

6/28/2013:   More questions from the backseat: "Is 5 really a number?" And "Are we there yet?" We are still in Natick, on the way to Wellfleet. It's gonna be a long trip.

6/22/2013:   Incessant questions from the backseat include, "What color is next to green?" "Mommy, do you have short sleeves?" and "Is that a loud noise?"

One more from Natalie - and remember:  When you least expect them to be listening to the radio, they are...  May 18: Natalie from the back seat: "I grabbed two girlies and a beer that's cold."  Oh boy!!!!

And last but not least, one from my husband, who is the ultimate funny guy (from May):

Me: Oh hey, Ray Manzarek died.
Todd: Who?
Me: You know, from The Doors!
Todd: Oh! I guess he broke on through to the other side!

Funny Things Kids Say...

The kids say THE funniest things on a daily basis.  I really want to start trying to write them all down. I usually do, in the form of a Facebook post, but let me try to recapture some of them from the past year or so...

10/13/2013:  Going down a bouncy house slide with Grant at the Seaside Festival in Yarmouth today, and I look down to find Grant's underwear on the floor! I check, and sure enough, they're his! Then he laughs and says, "Why does this keep happening???"  (This had happened the night before at Aunt Betty's house- someone has decided he is a "big boy" and should go to the bathroom all by himself!  Which is great, but apparently he needs a lesson in how to re-dress himself!)

9/29/2013:   Moral for today: Even if you have a huge fenced yard, you always need to keep an eye on 3-year-old little boys! Just found Grant outside with our neighbors trash bin emptied out, sitting in the middle of the pile of trash playing with his front loader.

7/20/2013:  This is a Natalie-ism:   Came into the house super frustrated that my watch stopped two times during my two minute double under drill and Natalie goes, "Quick! To calm you down, we need a banana and some almond butter!" Does she know me, or what!?!?

We also went through this phase in the spring and summer titled, "Questions From the Backseat."  We would get in the car, and the kids would start randomly asking the most absurd questions!

This one was from July 4, 2013:  Questions from the back seat (or... Questions from the Philadelphia airport): "What happens when you eat peanut butter crackers?" (From the allergic kid); "Why is Jabba the Hut so fat?" And "Is this a window?"

6/28/2013:   More questions from the backseat: "Is 5 really a number?" And "Are we there yet?" We are still in Natick, on the way to Wellfleet. It's gonna be a long trip.

6/22/2013:   Incessant questions from the backseat include, "What color is next to green?" "Mommy, do you have short sleeves?" and "Is that a loud noise?"

One more from Natalie - and remember:  When you least expect them to be listening to the radio, they are...  May 18: Natalie from the back seat: "I grabbed two girlies and a beer that's cold."  Oh boy!!!!

And last but not least, one from my husband, who is the ultimate funny guy (from May):

Me: Oh hey, Ray Manzarek died.
Todd: Who?
Me: You know, from The Doors!
Todd: Oh! I guess he broke on through to the other side!

Princess Party

We went to the Princess Party in Wellesley again this year with Heather and her girls.  This year though, it had rained... a lot... in the morning hours of the day of the party.  So they moved it indoors, but by the time the party started, the weather was absolutely beautiful!

Here are Ava and Natalie waiting to get sparkly tattoos.   I think they are discussing strategy here.

Afterward, Natalie and the girls (here with Lili) had some face painting done.  Looking good ladies!  Natalie is showing us her sparkly tattoo on her hand.

And of course, you can't be a true princess without a manicure!

Next up, Natalie wanted to color a picture.  I think we had some snacks somewhere in between here too (juice box, cookies and cupcakes!)

Once she was done with the picture, she took it over to the princesses, Ariel and Cinderella and they both "autographed" the picture.  Then she got her own picture with the pretty princesses!

Next up was the limbo!  Nothing says "graceful princess" like doing the limbo!  Here, Natalie is using the skills that she learned in Maine this summer to show everyone how to do the limbo!

There was also a lot of group dancing going on!  I had to miss the Bucs-Pats game (what Colleen???) but it was worth it to see the happiness on that little girl's face!