Thanksgiving Weekend

This last weekend we were lucky enough to have AJ home for the holiday and so we took a bunch of pictures with the anticipation of sharing them all with you.  First day was Thanksgiving and we started it off with breakfast and right into cooking in our pajamas to get ready for the big meal.  We of course watched the Macy’s parade, a family tradition, while cooking and playing that day.  We had our friends over for dinner that night.  Brooke has taken to the habit of crying uncontrollably and inconsolably at least 3-4 + times a day and usually for the most ridiculous reasons (for example: because AJ gave her a cup of milk (this crying session lasted 45 minutes) in this case it was because AJ gave her a plate of food on thanksgiving.  So to keep us from going insane we decided to start taking pictures of the outbreaks (when we can) to put a little humor in it after we saw other parents doing the same thing when their kids cried for similar reasons like it was their birthday and people sang to them or because they got taken to Disney World.  Two year olds are tough and everyone tells us that three is harder so we are holding on to our seats….but back to the weekend.  Friday is DECORATING DAY!  So we worked on decorating the house by putting up our Christmas tree and indoor decorations and AJ did a wonderful job putting the lights up outside including a candy cane inspired wrapped crepe myrtle.  Friday night Brooke’s favorite sitter came and we got to go out to dinner and see Wicked for the first time – it was a great show.  Saturday we walked through our neighborhood to the new Einsteins to have lunch and on our way back we found a unique garbage truck cleaning up bagged leaves.  Sunday was warm enough for AJ to take Brooke on a short bike ride and all of us to take a hike through the Chesapeake Arboretum.

I added a couple extra pictures in the gallery from this week to make my life easier from not having to do an extra post but Monday while AJ was at work I souped up Brooke’s car.  She had been using an old diaper box as a car for weeks.  So I decided I could improve it by adding a turning wheel on nut/bolt/screw and increasing and reinforcing the sides.  Also put some drive ignitions in it for her keys.  Brooke has had a lot of fun in it so far.  Tuesday night I was giving Alex and bath and talked Brooke into getting in too when he was almost done (she’s been fighting us on getting into the bath and saying ‘no Brooke stay dry!’ and on Tuesday she’d gone two days without and NEEDED one).  AJ grabbed some pictures of them both in the tub.  Then he got Alex dry and I got Brooke dry and while I cleaned up the tub I came back to AJ doing double airplane duty!

http://youtu.be/xtkxEo5tlG8

http://youtu.be/qBjLewZ15ZY

http://youtu.be/Aiwt01OPXE0

Halloween 2014

For Halloween this year we dressed up as Brooke’s favorite character – Curious George.  I was the Man in the Yellow Hat with my lovely wife Mrs. Yellow Hat and our baby banana. Thursday evening we went to library Halloween party and trick or treating inside the library.  Friday morning Laura took the kids to Stroller Strides for stroller trick or treating after class.  Then we had a great time officially trick or treating in the neighborhood that night.  This is the best street we’ve ever lived on and every neighbor was sitting in their driveway (even the ones without children) on lawn chairs with bowls of candy to give the kids.  Two houses were decorated as haunted houses with sounds effects, and many more were decorated in a family friendly fall scarecrow fashion.  It was a great time to socialize with our neighbors. Brooke enjoyed the spoils of her night as the cutest monkey on the block.

http://youtu.be/NQre11yk9DE

Father’s Day 2014

Because AJ worked during the week and the weekend, I planned a surprise for him to extend the Father’s Day into a weekend of fun and relaxation.  It started early Thursday morning before AJ went to work with a surprise scavenger hunt to find F-A-T-H-E-R clues that were hidden all around Chesapeake City Park ending in meeting Brooke and I with the gifts that correlated with each clue.  Friday AJ slept in and we spent time as a family at the pool and then AJ got treated to a well deserved steak dinner date night.  Saturday morning we spent relaxing and doing whatever AJ wanted to do which was car shopping.  Sunday morning AJ got to sleep in again and had a delicious pancake breakfast made by myself and Brooke.  We hope he got to enjoy his time with us!

Happy Memorial Day

We spent Memorial Day morning at the park having a blast running around, then went out to a nice lunch.  When we got home Brooke wanted to ride the skateboard, so we had some fun coasting up and down the street.  Thanks to all those who have served that make this possible.

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Mother’s Day 2014

For Mother’s Day last week, Brooke and I made pancakes for breakfast, then we were off to the beach to enjoy the beautiful weather that we were having.  Laura got to lay on her belly in her “belly hole” that she dug, and Brooke had an amazing time playing in the sand and waves.  Following an afternoon nap we finished off the day with a nice family bike ride.