We like to EAT!

One of our favorite parts of vacation is eating out. We get to try to restaurants and go to places we would not necessarily visit at home. When we are on vacation our children are amazing restaurant kids -- they eat all of their dinner, they behave and they are polite. I am not sure what changes in them we we are on vacation, but Matt and I love it! 

(Charlie finished his first word search at Rainforest Cafe) 

(Eating outside at Aruba) 

(Look at these fish! Rainforest Cafe was very entertaining) 

(Look at this pose! What a ham!) 

(Still smiling outside of Aruba) 

(Waiting for our table at Benihana) 

(Charlie ate 2 pounds of shrimp at Benihana and LOVED it!) 

(Evy loved the flaming onions at Benihana) 

(Family photo at Charlie's favorite restaurant - Benihana) 

(Our last dinner at a new-to-us restaurant, Seawatch) 

Florida 2015 - On our way!

We had a 3:00 am wake-up today and it was not easy! When I woke up Evy she said, "I just want to stay sleeping". It did not take them long to realize that we were leaving for vacation and both kids perked up and made it easy to get out the door. Evy slept most of the flight and Charlie watched a movie. We already knew Charlie was a great traveler and Evy is finally learning! Although we were tired when we arrived, the warm weather and the sun brightened our day. We had a quick lunch and went for a swim before our room was ready and we crashed! 

(Waiting to board) 

(Watching for planes) 

(Here we go...pat, pat, pat) 

(Soaking up some rays poolside) 

(Climbing and burning some energy) 

(Serious climbers) 

(Poolside in the cabana) 

Christmas 2015

Once again, Christmas was a whirlwind of excitement, friends, and family. Evy officially understands the concept of Santa or "ho-ho-ho" as she calls him. She was as excited as Charlie was for Santa's arrival. She even surprised mommy and daddy by asking for a microphone days before Christmas when she met Santa. Charlie did something similar when he was around 2. He asked Santa for a turtle -- Santa had to run to Walgreens on Christmas Eve. Luckily with the power of Amazon everyone had their wishes fulfilled. Santa was tired! 

(Waiting to open presents) 

(Elsa Christmas morning) 

(Kylo Ren invaded our house Christmas morning) 

Christmas Cuties

These two are ready for Christmas! Charlie is counting down the days and Evy keeps reminding him that if he's not good ho-ho-ho won't come. They are a great team!

(Finally, I got them both to sit) 

(Evy would not take a picture, so she hid) 

Evy's First Visit with Santa

Santa stopped by Evy's Christmas party today. She was ready, we had prepared and talked about sitting on Santa's lap and she was excited...until it happened. Luckily it didn't last long and she was thrilled with her special gift. 

(Evy eagerly waiting her turn) 

(Not a fan) 

(I did it and I got a balloon!) 

(Adorable) 

(Just what I always wanted!) 

Grateful

I am grateful for many things in my life, but these two are the highlights! They are the sweetest kids and I am looking forward to the holiday weekend that's ahead. Happy Thanksgiving! 

(Turkey Hat and Hot Chocolate - he's ready for the holidays)

(My big 5 lazy 5 year old) 

(Charlie's carrying Evy's milk for her because her hands were cold)

(Best walk home ever)

The Good Dinosaur

Last night Charlie got a special treat, we went to a movie on a school night and the movie was a preview so he got to see it before all of his friends. (It doesn't hit theaters until Thanksgiving Day.) It was another good Disney movie that brought tears to my eyes and Charlie's eyes! 

(Petting the Dino) 

(He's climbing the mountain) 

He's finally done it!

Look out world - Charlie can tie using the bunny ear method! He's been trying for months and all of his hard work finally paid off. 

Brother-Sister Love

Charlie and Evy have moments when they are mean to each other or one makes the other cry, which I am I am sure is typical sibling behavior. However we are lucky because most of those moments are few and far between. More often than not, they are very sweet to each other. They have an unmistakable bond that I can only hope grows stronger throughout their lives. 

(Driving home from the zoo) 

(Evy rubbing Charlie's head when he did not feel good.)

(Evy did not want to go to bed, so she jumped in Charlie's bed and said, "bra, bra protect me) 

Walking in High Heels

She is all girl! She loves playing with my make-up and trying on my shoes. Today she found a pair of heels that she would not take off. 

Charlie Brown

Today we went to a screening of the new Charlie Brown movie in 3D! Charlie liked the movie and I learned something about watching a 3D movie with him...don't give him the glasses until the movie starts because he puts so many fingerprints on them he will not be able to see the movie! Lesson learned. 

October Festivities

We enjoyed an entire month of festivities in October. It is pretty easy to see why Charlie claims Halloween is his favorite holiday -- that is, until it's over and he decides Christmas is his favorite! 

We started out the month with our annual trip to the pumpkin patch with grandma and grandpa. We had beautiful weather and both kids loved picking out pumpkins, petting and feeding the animals and jumping in the bounce houses. 

(Charlie found his pumpkin)

(Two happy kids!) 

(The pumpkin choices were endless) 

Charlie and I attended the Mother-Son dance which was a week before Halloween. This year we stayed the entire dance! Charlie made a pumpkin, talked to his friends and we danced the night away!

(Charlie decorated another pumpkin when we attended the mother-son dance) 

(Our picture from the mother-son dance) 

On Halloween, our first stop was Charlie's school for his school parade. Skeletor was a hit! After the parade Charlie had a Halloween party in class, but I had to miss it this year because Evy also had a Halloween party. Minnie Mouse and I headed to Adams Playground for her Halloween party after the parade ended. She made a pumpkin craft, danced and had lots of treats. On Halloween, we had friends from school over for dinner and went trick or treating for 3 HOURS! Charlie was determine to get all the candy. Evy loved her first trick or treating experience. At every house she asked for an extra piece for mommy (I did not tell her to say that) and then after she put the candy in her bucket she would turn around and at the top of her lungs say, "I got more candy!". After trick or treating we weighed our candy and we had acquired 11 pounds. Charlie agreed we should donate some to veterans because we had more than we could ever eat. We donated 4 pounds, which was still more than enough for the kids and us. It was a great holiday weekend! 

(Evy/Minnie Mouse dancing at her Halloween party) 

(Scary Skeletor at Charlie's school Halloween parade) 

(Mommy and Evy enjoying Halloween treats) 

(Creating her own pumpkin) 

Actually...

Charlie's vocabulary and the way he processes information continues to amaze me. I am grateful that every now and then, I can catch one of the moments on film!

Professional Nails

Evy had her nails painted for the first time! We went to a salon in our neighborhood and they did a great job with her. She sat very still and was thrilled with her nails. I may have created a monster! 

(Mommy and Evy Nails) 

(Pretty girl!) 

(She was trying so hard not to touch them!)