New-ish friends....

I felt I had to post a follow up to my "old friends" entry. Man do I love my new friends. A little over a year ago we moved from our townhouse in Centreville to a beautiful single family home in Ashburn (aka "Cashburn" - even tho I did not know then) ~ and I cannot believe how many amazing new and wonderful friends I've made here in such a short time!

The funny thing is I truly had no idea what a bad rap Ashburn gets - until I moved here. I feel so fortunate to have met so many down to earth, caring, considerate, warm and fun friends in such a short time. Justin has so many new friends - all GREAT kids and I am really loving being in my new element.

It's funny because I only learned about the "Ca$hburn" stereotype from my new "non-Ca$hburn" friends... :)

Life is too short to not be real - I am very fortunate - thank you so much to my new friends for letting us into your lives and for being so wonderful. I am truly blessed!

My little buddy....

So my little buddy turned six today....

WOW!

I cannot believe it's been six years. I remember so vividly going to the hospital the night before he was born so I could be induced the next day (I believe five days past my due date) - and having him whisked off right after he was born, to the NICU.

Justin - you are becoming a little man :( while I am sad to see you get so old I am happy to see what a great kid you have blossomed into - of course we have our moments but you are a GREAT kid and I am so thankful everyday that you are healthy and happy.

Thank you for bringing so much joy to our lives. You're a wonderful big brother and son - and mommy loves you more than you will ever know....

The only thing I wish I could go back and change is the fact that I did not "go digital" until after your first birthday so I don't have tons of great snapshots of you as an infant - you were so stinkin cute! LOVE YOU ~ mommy

Papa's coming to visit!

The kids are so excited - Papa (Grandpa) arrives today from Minnesota! We have not seen him since Christmas. Jessica woke up this morning and asked for him - Justin can't wait to play checkers with him. He even says he'll "let" Papa win... LOL. Uncle Dan is coming as well - we're all looking forward to catching up. They won't believe how big the kids have gotten. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous - Saturday will be perfect for the late afternoon cookout we have planned. Dad and I are also hopping over to the Mullees for a little shindig they put together for Jack's graduation this week from UMBC. Cheers!

They ACTUALLY think they are smarter than me!

So I've had a couple of noteworthy scams pulled on me in the past day by Justin and Sarah.

Last night the girls were clamoring for fruit snacks so I gave Jess a pack and she decided to share with her "baby" and placed a handful in her baby highchair tray. She forgot about them - later after Sarah inhaled hers and came begging for more - I told her to go eat Jess's baby's fruit snacks. So she proceeded to do just that - then came up to me and said "baby more fruit snacks" - um, Sarah I'm sorry but I was not born yesterday. They are really for you right? I think this might be her very first scam.

Tonight I was wrestling around and tickling the kids on the couch after work and Justin decides he wants to bring a small cup of water over to the couch. So he asks me to hold it and I of course tell him no I will not hold it - you need to go set it on the table or counter so it doesn't get spilled. "But mom i got that water for you" um, yeah right. Justin has quite a few scams under his belt but this was a new one on me.

Newsflash to kids: Momma was not born yesterday. I was the master of scams and you will find it VERY difficult to out-scam me. Have fun trying tho... LOL

The girls Kinderdance presentation!

Words cannot describe how proud I was of my girlies yesterday. Barbara Jean wanted to enroll them in Kinderdance/Kindertots - they teach it right here at the Sports Pavilion and she takes them once a week to class with Miss Nichole. The teacher and I e-mail from time to time and Barbara Jean keeps me in the loop but I had no idea how much progress they had made! I am soooooooooooooooooooooooo proud of them.

These are girls who don't get out much... LOL. They are not in daycare like their brother was and they spend a lot of time at home. I wish they had more opportunities for socialization but at the end of the day - there is only one other toddler on our cul de sac (thank God for Keelyn...). And with Justin being in school just a half day Barbara Jean hasn't had much chance to even take them to any of the free activities at the library.

So the presentation was very "official" - the kids wore cute little t-shirts and matching shorts. She combined the 2 and 3 year olds into one show for the parents. It was just too cute for words - they did little routines/activities to a couple songs (itsby bitsy spider, etc.) then they all got to do "the magic mat" - where they got to show off their skills in areas such as doing a somersault, walking like a crab and the bear walk :) They also got to walk on the "balance beam" which is only slightly raised off the floor. Jess is actually pretty good at it!

I cannot believe how differently my girls behaved in a structured setting. Jess is more like Justin - good listener, watches what everyone else does and then proceeds. Not my Bear-bear - girlfriend was ALL OVER the place! I am still amazed at how well they did and how much progress they made this Spring in their class. We will definitely send them back next year - Miss Nichole is holding a spot for them in the Fall. Thanks Miss Nichole.

They get it!

I was wondering when the day would come that I would see, er, hear the twins use the word - twins. It was today.... Jessica ran into the toy room and got both "Starbucks" Teddy bears that I bought them last summer and came in toting both of them and announced that she had "twins"~ wow. I about fell over.

I try not to refer to them as "the twins" - but find myself doing it more frequently for some reason. I told Justin having two babies with the same birthday makes them "just a little more special" than having one baby - but we honestly rarely ever discuss it.

They are getting so big, and grown up and chatty.... I love love love them so much. Thank you God for giving me three gorgeous and healthy little people to call my own. I am very blessed.

Baby Mama - two thumbs up!

OMG drop what you are doing and run ( don't walk ) and see Baby Mama! What a cute flick... I simply loved it. Nicole and I saw it this week and we LOVED it! It has just enough goofy humor coupled with a "feel good" ending to be a great film. Steve Martin and Greg Kinnear play great roles - I love seeing all the SNL people assembled in another movie (some old, some new). Amy Poehler is hysterical - Tina Fey plays a tad more serious role and their chemistry onscreen is awesome. Definitely go see it!

I never thought I'd meet someone who puts as much salt on their popcorn as I do... lol. I told Nicole we had to get separate popcorns cuz I drown mine in salt and butter and as it turns out - she also pours extra salt into a napkin and takes it into the flick and pours more over her popcorn after she eats off the top layer too. Who'd of thunk.

The first time Pete took me to a movie (Titanic) ~ well let's just say I am shocked he ever asked me out again after that. I actually took the popcorn shaker from the snack area and brought it into the theater so I could re-salt as I ate the popcorn. I think he was a little horrified. He says I am singlehandedly the reason that they now have the salt shaker on a string when you go to the movie theater. He may be right.

I can't believe I've met my salty popcorn match....