Saturday, October 30, 2010

Friday, Ocotber 29, 2010 Rue Franklin

Rue Franklin
HIGH: A lazy cozy day at home :) AND A wonderful birthday dinner with my sisters at Rue Franklin :)
LOW: Kate wasn't home to join us :(


This morning was spent doing nothing.  We wore our jammies all day and played with toys and watched TV.  It was wonderful.  These are the kind of days that I am sure when my kids are old and grown I will miss the most.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Thursday, October 28, 2010 School Party

School Party
HIGH: Claire had her Halloween Party at school :)
LOW: I missed Claire today :(


Today was Claire's Halloween party at school.  She was really excited about it!  We made treat bags for her friends (even though  her best friends had to get extra stuff because "they are the bestest" as Claire put it) and got her costume all ready!  Mark's practice even got moved so he was able to go with me to the party!  
Claire was so excited when Mark and I (and Oliver too) got to her party.  She jumped out her chair and yelled "WE ARE HAVING A PARTY!!!".  And of course she was sitting next to Kazu, her BFF.  Her and Kazu have been buddies since they were in the infant room together and they stick together.  Wherever one of them is the other is always close by, it is really sweet.  I didn't feel comfortable posting his picture without his mother's consent so I have him a spooky vampire mask, but he is really a handsome little guy!!
Claire loved showing all of  her friends her baby brother (even though they see him every Tuesday and Thursday when we pick her up).
Then we all got a turn (even the parents) to whack the pumpkin pinata!
Finally, after several tries (and a few Daddies really hitting it) we got it open and the kids all dashed to get their treats!!


It was a great party and I am so glad that Mark and I were able make it!  
Also, we snuck Oliver over to visit his classroom (as of February).  It is going to be great because he is going to have Claire's old teacher (and we love her!) so that will  make things a lot easier when I have to go back to work (but let's not think about that now :)

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 Trip To The Zoo And Lunch With A Peacock

Trip To The Zoo And Lunch With A Peacock
HIGH: A GORGEOUS fall day at the zoo :)
LOW: We had to go to a wake for a close friend who lost a very special family member :(


The weather was gorgeous today so my zoo buddies (Jessica and Giada) joined us and we headed to the zoo.  
It was pretty cool because the whole zoo was decorated for Halloween.
We had a blast not only looking at all the animals but checking out all the Halloween stuff too.
We had a great picnic lunch in the sun and a friend joined us. Mr. Peacock.
This peacock would not leave us alone, he was hilarious.
Claire thought he was the greatest thing going.  She was like the Peacock whisperer.  While we were all trying to get rid of the Peacock so that we could finish our lunch, Claire was chatting with her new friend.
Oliver had a blast being strapped to my chest.  I couldn't get too many pictures of him because of his position but here is the best that I could do.  How awesome is his hat?
My little thug.
Claire's favorite thing today was the Giraffes.  Which is new, but she was super into them.  This guy kept licking the wall and the girls thought that was just amazing!

Also, we got to see the new baby gorilla that was born at the zoo!  It was born on October 8th and is super cute!  They do not know the sex of the baby because the mother will not let anyone else get close to the baby. The way the mother gorilla held her baby was so human like, it was super sweet.

 So, overall it was another great trip to the zoo.  Maybe we can squeeze in ONE more trip before the snow falls???

Mark and I had to go to a wake today.  A very good friend of ours lost a special family member.  The Wood family we are very sorry for your loss.
Skip you will missed by many! 


Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 New Fridge

New Fridge
HIGH: The new fridge came today :)
LOW: They delivery guys were late so we had to wait around for them :(


We got the new fridge today!  And I don't hate it! YAY!!!  It is so nice to have a working fridge again!!!


Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Monday, October 25, 2010 Crafts and Costumes

Crafts and Costumes
HIGH: Today Claire and I made some great crafts :) AND It was Claire's Halloween party at dancing :)
LOW: Still waiting on a new fridge :(


Today Claire and I stayed in our jammies all day and made some Halloween crafts.  We made an adorable Halloween gingerbread house.  Which turned out to be waaayyyy more work that I thought it was going to be, but Claire loved it so it was worth it. 


Usually when we do a project like this I am very bossy and I want Claire to do exactly what I would do.  But, today I let her do whatever she wanted and the house came out adorable!
Claire took the whole thing VERY seriously.
This whole thing came in a box and I thought it would be sooo easy.  Yeah, it was a lot more work than I thought it would be, and a lot messier!
Claire asked me to put a letter O on the roof for Oliver and a C for Claire.
Then she wanted an M for Mommy and a D for Daddy.
 

The final product, front and back.
Then, of course, she ate half of the frosting.
Then we relaxed and watched a little Baby Einstein before Claire's nap (well I cleaned up the disaster while they relaxed).
After Claire's nap we got all dressed up in her costume and headed to her dancing Halloween party.  This is her "Bunny Face".
Claire and her friend Ava.  Claire was thrilled that Ava was Princess Belle.
Bella, Claire, and Ava stick together at dance class.  Claire even had to make special treat bags for her best friends :)

The girls had a blast doing their special Halloween dance.
Gee...do you think someone was kissin' on her brother??




Monday, October 25, 2010

Sunday, October 24, 2010 Exhausted

Exhausted
HIGH:  We got a ton of errands done :) AND We got a new fridge :)
LOW:  Too much to do and no nap for Claire :(


Since Saturday was spent cleaning the inside and outside of our house we moved our usual Errand Day to Sunday.  Well, we got off to a late start so we decided to skip Claire's nap, yeah....not our best idea.  We went to eat, took back library books, got the final touches for Claire's Halloween costume, got the treats to make treat bags for Claire's Halloween parties, bought a new fridge, and bought some groceries.  That is a lot in one day with a nap deprived 3 year old.  She really did great until we were buying the fridge (which really can you blame her, how boring).  Poor Mark, while I was feeding Oliver in the car he braved it alone with Claire.  When I returned to the store with a happy Oliver, Mark gave me the "please take her before someone calls CPS on us" look (that was joke by the way).  So, I quickly traded Oliver for Claire, picked a fridge, and took Claire to look at the televisions and Christmas trees (now I am little worried that I will not like my new fridge because I picked it so quick but hey....we were in a pinch).  So needless to say when bedtime came everyone was exhausted!!


Claire usually reads books for a while in her bed before falling asleep but not today.  She passed right out.
Oliver passed out well before his usual bedtime and he didn't even stay on his side like he normally does!
Mark didn't last very long either.
And Pete, well Pete is always tired :)

Now, hopefully the kids will sleep in!!!!!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Saturday, October 23, 2010 Happy Birthday Nina!

Happy Birthday Nina!
HIGH: A great family birthday party :)
LOW: Mark took down the awning and all the patio furniture, summer is officially over :(


Today we were all very busy.  Claire and I spent the morning cleaning the house, Oliver napped, and Mark took down the awning and all of the summer patio furniture.  This always makes me sad, I already miss sitting outside.  After Claire's nap we headed to Jim and Debbie's to celebrate Nina's birthday.  Well, Claire had a blast!!  The girls had a special Halloween treat planned for her. 

 














 The girls gave Claire a mini-costume and a special treat bag.  

 Then the girls hid and Claire had to go from room to room and find them.  Once she found someone she would have to say "TRICK OR TREAT" and then they would give her a piece of candy.  It was perfect for Claire!  It combined all of her favorite things in one game!  She loves dressing up, playing hide and seek, and getting candy!!

They hid in all different places!  It was a great game and Claire had a blast!

Claire couldn't wait to show Daddy all of her candy!
 Oliver hung out with Aunt Di and watched the Sabres game for a while.
Then he was beat and took his usual nap on Grandma.
Then of course, Claire wormed her way onto the birthday girl's lap to help blow out the candles.

Then Claire played the Wii for a while. 
Then Claire discovered the piano.
And Daddy discovered the trumpet.
Which Claire was not a fan of Daddy's trumpet playing.
Then they had a jam session.



Here is a small preview of the beautiful music they made together.

And of course, a little brother sister time once Oliver woke up!  I swear Oliver thinks that Claire is the most amazing person in the world and Claire just adores him!  I hope it stays that way!!!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Friday, October 22, 2010 Where The Wild Things Are

Where The Wild Things Are
HIGH:  Fun story time for Claire AND Me and Jacqie's birthday dinner with my friends from work :)
LOW:  I didn't see Mark at all today :(




Today I took Claire to our local park for story time.  It was really cute.  The story today was Where The Wild Things Are (one of Claire's favorites).  Claire loved it.  She was very excited to bring her own book to share.


Claire loved listening to the story.
After the story it was time for a craft.
Claire was all over it and ready to go.
Claire and Giada were so sweet making their bats.
Then one of the Wild Things showed up!!  Claire was a little standoffish, which is not like her at all.
I had to get Oliver in there too (no the Wild Thing is not eating him).
I think the Wild Thing's paws were just a little too big, so I stepped in to help him.

The story time was super cute and we are totally going to go again.

Later this evening I went to dinner with my girlfriends from work to celebrate mine and Jacqie's 30th birthdays.  We had a blast!!  Thanks for some good times ladies.