Mothers Day and ASF Walk Recap

Before I get to the Mother's Day and Walk photos, I had to share these few of Jack trying out his new birthday gifts.  No surprise that Granddad got Jack his first set of golf clubs and started his lessons immediately. 

The twins also got a picnic table sized to them which has become our coloring zone.  Needless to say, I have had to rush out to get a magic eraser as we are still working on  the "you only color on paper message". 


I've finally given in to the complaints from Kevin and our nanny Danna that Hope's barrettes were not holding her hair and braved ponytails.  She's very squirmy so its not so easy and thus I was dragging my feet.  But I've faced my fears and she looks so darn cute with her 80s side pony.  Danna is better at it then me and Hope usually sports a Pebbles style pig tail and the top of her head when under her watch. 

To start Mother's Day weekend off right, Jack and I had our first mommy/son solo playdate.  We met Dana and Colton at the Please Touch Museum and had a blast.  Here's Jack at the water tables and in the grocery store.  He filled his shopping cart completely with fruit - what a proud mama, I was!

And on the carousel . . . you can see Colton in the back of picture 2.

The Please Touch Museum was so fun and I can't wait to go back with Kevin and Hope.

I took this photo of Jack on Mother's Day morning.  Despite the sour face, I love this photo as it highlights all of his curls. Both twins have had lots of curls come in as their hair has gotten longer.  Looking at them makes me think of my mom, who like me, had poker straight hair and always wanted some curls.   So add their curls to list things I cannot take credit for, along with their blue eyes and blond hair.

I try to take a photo of the kids and me on Mother's Day.  This year it was a lot harder (very reminiscient to our attempts at Christmas Card photos). 

some of the better ones . . .

Jack is seconds from full blown tears if I don't let him go quick. 

Disappointment for mom . . .

After our failed photo shoot, we took the kids to their first Phillies game.  Here's Jack in his seat.

and here's Hope in hers. 

Unfortunately we were right underneath a speaker and poor Hope was startled every time something good happened (cheering) or a new batter came up to the plate (loud music was played).  We only lasted about 1.5 innings in our actual seats before going to find some place quieter with a little less sensory overload for my baby girl.   I found a quieter spot where I could still see with plenty of room for me keep Hope's stroller in motion and watched from there.  Jack and Kevin joined us which introduced a new problem to the afternoon.  Keeping Jack contained when all he wanted to do was run free.  Luckily we had one of his new favorite toys -- a straw to keep him happy. 

Mother's Day photo attempt #25 . . . well, at least I look cute. 

See Mommy this part of the ball park is much better.

At Chickie and Pete's after the game, smiles and kisses for the girls,  and  crab fries and a cup of water w/ straw for Jack. 

Last weekend, Team Hope's 2nd annual walk benefiting the Angelman Syndrome Foundation was a huge success.  I never did figure out how many people made up our team this year, but there were a lot of return walkers from last year and many first time team members.  Thanks to all of you for coming out to support Hope, our family and AS research.  It's a very special day and I hope that we all keep the tradition for years to come.  At last check, Team Hope has raised $3415 and was in third place among the Philadelphia teams in fundraising.  Donations through September count so if you were thinking of donating, there is still plenty of time.  

Team Hope . . . not in its entirety.

Jack found two of his favorite play things early in the day . . . cousin Meghan and a basketball hoop. 

We decided to put Hope in the backpack for the walk this year and she had a blast.  It was pretty sunny, but luckily multiple applications of sunscreen kept her gorgeous white skin white.  The blue balloons were given to any of the "angels."  So Hope bopped us in the head throughout the entire 4+ mile walk. 

I have finally figured out how to add a feedburner email subscription link to my blog.  At the top right of this page, you can enter your email address and then you'll get an automatic email whenever I post a new update.  Please sign up as we all know you don't want to miss any of my "frequent" updates. 

2nd Birthday wrap up

 Here are a few photos from last week's 2nd birthday festivities.  We had a small party at our house on Saturday and celebrated H&J's actual birthday on Sunday just the four of us with a special breakfast out and a very relaxing day at home!

I decided to be slightly Betty Crocker this year and made cupcakes and a cake for the party.  I found this image on pintrest months ago and was inspired.  While mine did not come out as good as my inspiration, I was quite pleased with the results and Jack definitely thought they were Elmo so that's all that matters.                   

 

 

I was even happier with how Hope's cake turned out.  I hope you can tell what I was going for below modeled after one of my baby girl's favorite foods!  I didn't photograph the inside but it was four layers of alternating pink and purple cake which I carved into said shape!  Way too many episodes of Ace of Cakes and Ultimate Cake Off were watched while I was on bed rest.  :-)  The hardest part of all of this was finding the best frosting recipe.  I would like to call myself a connoisseur of butter cream and hold L&M (Delran, NJ) and Dinkles (Chicago, IL) in high esteem.  Why make cakes when you can eat one from one of these establishments?  Sigh . . . if only I lived closer.  Anyway, I made two different frostings as I wasn't happy with my first batch and highly recommend frosting #2. Note, if you don't plan to make frosting ever and want to enjoy any future cake I make, it is probably in your best interest to not inspect the butter content of said recipe.  :-)

Hope was pretty excited her Grandmom came to her party!  But she holds a special place in her heart for Daddy.

I think Jake was having a good time and just didn't want a picture taken.  A boy wants to ride a dinosaur in peace.

Jack and all his cousin playmates retrieving the wiffle ball from over the fence for the 100th time.  Since the party, ALL he wants to do is go play outside. 

Here I am helping Jack blow out his candles.  At the end of the song, he pointed to the cupcake and said Elmo.  He then looked at me and asked for an Ernie cupcake next.  Seriously?

Hopie was more excited for the all the singing and to get her picture taken than she was for the arriving piece of cake.  But then she had a bite . . .  she definitely got my sweet tooth!

 

Nate = Marshmallow /Icing coma . . .

Jack inspecting one of his new Elmo story books . . . Thanks Cousin Kate!

 

Birthday Breakfast!  Jack was entertained the entire breakfast by two straws and one cup of ice water.  It's the simple things in life like a peaceful breakfast out that I am so thankful!  :-)

April already?

As is my style, I will start this update with my usual paragraph listing all my excuses for why I've been lax with putting up my new post.  Perhaps its laziness or exhaustion --- Perhaps it's because my little babies are growing up so fast and I don't want to believe they will be TWO in less than two weeks  -- Perhaps its because after Kevin's long and intense basketball season, I was just happy to have a little bit more time to stay later at work and run a few more errands.  Who knows!  But I have plenty of new photos and lots of stories, so here goes!

First off, a shout out to Kevin and the LM 2012 Aces who made it all the way to the state championship game.  Kevin predicted in mid January that this team had a chance and at that point, I couldn't imagine a basketball season that would go all the way to March 24.  But he was right and it did . . . and being a superfan wife, I was there complete with the 4 hour bus ride each way on the "adult" fan bus.  A big thanks to Kevin's parents, Aunt Mary and Cousin Kate for watching the twins so I could catch a few of the playoff games and to my dad for coming along to a few of the game and helping to entertain the kids at them.  In the end, his team lost a tough game to Chester High School who is currently ranked as one of the top 5 basketball teams in the county.  Here are a couple photos of Kevin from the season:

celebrating a big win . . .

Drawing up a winning play . . .

Now back to H&J:

 I love this photo of Hope.  She looks like the sweetie she is . . . usually!

 As if anyone is surprised that Jack has a basketball hoop as a tub toy!  He is really into balls of all types right now and likes to tell you what they all are -- football, soccer ball, baseball, basketball, orange ball, blue ball, etc.

 Before taking this picture, Jack handed me my cell phone and said "cheese."  He looks so grown up!

 So happy we can get outside . . .

 Lovin' her new wheels!

 You caught me Mommy!

 Jack and his buddy Declan at the Philly Zoo

 Trying out the rocking horse at Granddad's (made by my Uncle Lew for Ben when we were kids)

 Peek a boo, Mommy!  I see you!

 Kevin captured this hair pulling moment.  Hope has quite the grip when she wants to and Jack got caught in the shuffle!  Hope thinks this is so much fun . . . Jack and I, not so much!

We finally turned around the car seats and both kids are loving their new view and extended leg room.  Jack loves the proximity to mom and dad and the opportunities for non-stop conversation.  Hopie is a big fan of the new kicking possibilities.

 Here's Jack finishing my pizza the other night.  He doesn't like cut up pieces of pizza but if he's given the option of eating my piece, he's all set.  I think Kevin and Jack will soon be competing for my crusts.

 Silly with sunglasses

This weekend I am off to a girls weekend in NYC with my Colby friends to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of Hillary.  I couldn't be more excited.  In honor of the festivities, here's a photo from one of our most memorable get-togethers (2005?) complete with a "group hug" and the best mini van driver ever (Kevin)!  Hill and Erin arrived early last night to get in a little bonding time with the twins and I cannot wait for all of us to be together in the Big Apple!

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I will be posting again soon after next weekend's big birthday and with more information on the upcoming ASF walk (May 19th).  If you want to join our team as a walker or virtual team member, you can at http://secure.angelman.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&eventID=527&teamID=5099  We are raising money to donate to ASF's support of research and appreciate any donations!  Every little bits helps!  Thanks!!!!