Playtime x2

Russ and I were invited to go skiing in the Poconos back in December. T and JoAnn wanted to get a bunch of people together for a weekend (minus kids) and hit the slopes and hang out! Russ and I were really looking forward to getting some skiing in...and spending some time together with his friends! It looked like we weren't going to get to go (the girls had been SUPER congested and running mild temps...and Miss Mojo spiked a wicked fever) but just as it looked as though the stars were not going to align, there was a twist of fate and everyone was better!

Lexie was sooooo excited to spend the weekend at her cousin's house she barely even knew Russ and I weren't around! Becky and Brad were gracious enough to watch the kids for us so we could enjoy the weekend alone!! (SUPER big THANKS!) They planned a fun filled visit for the girls that included a trip to the Crayola crayon factory and visits from Grandma Barb, Great Grandma Jones, and Uncle Walt (I am certain the extra help was needed with 4 kids ranging in age from 2 1/2, 2 and 3 months, 7 months and 2 months)!

Sounds like everyone had a great time and was on their best behavior! Thanks again to Becky, Brad, Molly, Ford and Bailey for graciously opening your home to our little love bugs! Thanks to the Hills for a FANTASTIC weekend! Though Russ and T were the only ones that skied in the brutally cold conditions, I had a wonderful time hanging out with JoAnn!! What a great weekend!

Peek a boo...we see you!


Hiding from Uncle Walt and Olivia...they've been caught!!!!!


Having a great time at the Crayola Factory!


The artist hard at work!



Thick as thieves!




Olivia says "enough of this, I am busting you out of here Ford"...while Molly looks on!



Play play playtime!!!!



Posing for a picture...




Too too cute!!!
So so smiley!

What Brad thought of the whole weekend!


Lexie enjoying our "delay" at the airport...what is in that bottle anyways???

Russ and Olivia passing the time while waiting for our flight back home

Seeing Red

I attempted to get a 'photo shoot' of the girls today so I could send a "e-valentine" card, but it didn't go as I had planned! Don't get me wrong, I got a few really good pictures, just not ones that I would have wanted to use! Oh well...at least I have a few I can blog about and share with all of you!

Lexie and Olivia sporting their red shirts...and waiting for me to make some breakfast...or "foodies" as Russ has taught Lexie to say!
Lexie's new favorite thing is to 'tickle' Olivia...she leans over and says "tickle, tickle...tickle". It really is pretty cute, and Olivia just LOVES it!
Our little "big girl"
Letting her hair down...well, kinda!
Olivia(after a quick wardrobe change--I made a mess at breakfast)...still TRYING to crawl

Getting sOOO Big!

Sometimes, I look at Olivia and can't believe my eyes! It is as though over night she magically grew! She is starting to attempt to crawl more and more, is pulling herself up onto objects, and LOVES to 'walk' between the ottoman and the couch-using our legs as guides. Of course she still loves the jumper too! Just can't get over how big she is getting already!!!

Fireside

We have been spending a great deal of time downstairs these days, partially because Lexie loves to sit at her table and color, or crawl through the tunnel into the tent! With the sub zero temps/wind chills, it has been drown right cold so we fired up the fireplace and stay toasty warm!!!

FUN-raiser

Russ decided to generously donate money during one of the local fire department/EMS fundraisers...and by doing so, we were given "free" tickets to Sesame Street Live: 'Elmo's Green Thumb'! It couldn't have come at a better time--a perfect family date 'night'!!! We were kicking around the idea of buying tickets to the Storytime Live (featuring Dora, Wonder Pets, etc) but didn't know how the girls would do, so this would be the perfect test run!!

Since this was our first big show/production, we weren't real sure what to expect. I figured it would only be about 45 minutes or so...after all, the attention span of a toddler isn't the greatest. Little did I know we were in for 90 minutes Elmo and crew! We were prepared to leave at the intermission, (and if it were up to Russ, I think we would have) but Lexie was SO entertained and SO SO SOOOOO into the show that she didn't sit down the ENTIRE TIME!!! (I can only imagine what she is going to do when it is Dora and the Nickelodeon crew on stage!!!) We had a GREAT TIME and can't wait for Nini to join us in February for our next "LIVE" show!


We found our seats and are ANXIOUSLY awaiting Elmo and crew! Lexie was so excited, she didn't know what to do with herself!!!
Bert and Ernie were the first to appear...
...then there were a few more...
...and when Elmo hit the stage, this little one was so excited she clapped and squealed and boogied like no other!! Even Olivia woke up for the show!!
Russ with the girls at intermission!
Luckily the lady behind us took a picture of all of us...not the best picture ever, but it will do!

SnOw Much Fun!!

Today when Russ got home from work, he wanted to take Lexie out in the snow (I decided to help get her ready so she would at least make it out the door with snow pants on) and she was MORE than willing to go! To their surprise, our neighbors joined them for some fun! Lexie was THRILLED when Cole came out to play in the snow and brought his sled! They had loads of fun slip sliding down the front yard! It was great to watch and hear them from the front window! Luckily Russ was able to get a few good videos! Enjoy!

Lexie making a few "runs" down the front yard

She was SOOOOO excited when Cole showed up...she could hardly contain herself!!


Check out these videos



So much fun...



Can't get enough!!!

Baby, It's Cooooold Outside!

Lexie can't seem to get enough of the snow! It doesn't matter to her if the wind chills are howling, she just loves to play outside!! The last couple of days, Russ races home from work to take her out for a spin on her sled! They are like two peas in a pod (even if it is frozen!). Today's adventure was short lived--(mommy put an end to all the fun because it was waaaay too cold and Lexie didn't have her snow pants on) but that didn't stop her from enjoying her time outside while it lasted!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
More, more, more!!!
Olivia, (inside where it is warm) having her own fun!!!

A Weekend at Nini's House

With Russ working around the clock (drill weekend/ER) I thought I would take the opportunity to load up the kids and head to Nini's. She didn't get much time with the girls over the holidays with all the visitors, so WHY NOT!?!

It was super cold outside, so we had plenty of fun INSIDE with Oscar and Aunt Allie! Thanks for a fun weekend mom...and the homemade wedding soup! YUMMM-O!

Olivia sitting on Nini's lap
Jump-jump-jumping on Aunt Allie's lap. That is Olivia's new past time--she can't jump enough!!!
Poor old Oscar...he doesn't know what to think (or where to hide) when the girls are in town
Lexie having fun ducking in and out of her "house"
Settling down for the night on the rocker

Pajama-jammy Playtime

It is always nice to have a play date...but when our neighbor called to see if we could watch Sadie so they could pick Cole up from school because he was sick, we especially jumped at the opportunity to help! The girls had just finished up breakfast and EVERYONE was still in their pajamas. Lexie was sooooo excited to have a friend over to play with!


Olivia, Sadie and Lexie all in their jammies!!!

Poor Olivia is left out...

Sadie enjoying a spontaneous dance party!

Happy NEW YEAR!!

Another year is in the books and a new fresh start is upon us! 2010--doesn't seem possible, but here it is! After putting the girls down for the night, Russ and I headed over to our neighbors to ring in the new year! (Thanks Granny for staying with the kids!) The night was filled with Wii games, great food, Dick Clark, and good friends!

On New Year's Day, Aunt Allie and Uncle Marcus came back to spend a few more days with us before Granny had to head back to Florida. It was great to have everyone here!

Lexie practicing her flash cards with Aunt Allie!
Granny and Olivia...two peas in a pod!


The first few days of 2010 brought frigid cold temperatures and snow to western PA!!! We got slammed with the white stuff! The temperatures were down right cold and the wind chills were nasty, but that didn't keep Russ from taking Lexie out to play in the snow! She LOVE LOVE LOVES the snow!
I wasn't too thrilled about the idea, but she and her daddy had a great time...and yes her face turned back to a normal shade of pale--after she warmed up a bit! (NEVER ONCE DID SHE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE COLD!)
Granny and Olivia stay busy and WARM inside while Daddy and Lexie play outside!
Just tooooooo cute!

Russ and Lexie in action!