december 22nd - so close you can smell it

Christmas is near and Alex is so excited he is going to pee his pants.  Actually Mommy is the one peeing her pants these days...literally.  Pancakes with sprinkles, holiday crafts, gingerbread houses....Alex could be an elf with all of the holiday cheer his is generating.

december 21st - escape to princeton

Since Daddy is working around the clock on the bathroom, Mommy took the kids to Beeps and Grandpa's house for an adventure....and fresh air.  They made cookies, ate cookies, and took naps.  Tough day....while Daddy was home breaking his back.  Mommy spent the evening in her workshop putting all of the finishing touches on Christmas.

december 20th - breakfast with santa

We had breakfast with Santa today at the coffee shop in Sister Cities park.  Mommy was on top of making reservations really early and there were only 8 or so other families there....so all the kids got some quality time with the big guy and his bowl full of jelly.  Alex has been so excited all week, had to wear his santa hat to breakfast, and his ear to ear grin was amazing.  He told Santa he "was going to leave him cookies and beer" on Christmas Eve...and carrots for Rudolph...and he wants Thomas the choo choo train.  Gemma was mesmerized and was so cute pulling on his beard.  Lucy and Remy also came, so all the kids had fun playing out in the park afterward.

december 19th - restful friday

Daddy worked on the bathroom most of the day today while the kids hung out with Jackie.  Alex and Mommy had a very restful evening of cuddling and watching some tv to close out a long week of work.  Next week is Christmas!

december 18th - safety first

Daddy began the demolition of our master bathroom this week....another one of Mommy's hair brain ideas.  Uncle Gary came down to help remove all of the scraps.  We went to the dump in South Philly and it was an eye opening experience.  We had to wear vests and hard hats while out of the vehicle...so hilarious that we had to take some photos.  Definitely a place you go to dump a body.  Gemma got in on the action to help run some PVC.

december 17th - let's play a diddy

Alex and Gemma are now a two-man (or person) rock band.  Gemma plays a shaker like a parkinson's patient on speed, and Alex is finger picking his heart out.  He also sings Twinkle, Twinkle while he plays regardless of chord progression...impactful lyrics.

Mommy and Daddy had a date night at the Four Seasons for dinner.  The Fountain restaurant is closing its doors at the end of the month (going out on top) and we still have never been after almost 15 years in Philly.  Amazing dinner.  Reason to put on a suit and drink some bubbly to celebrate our good fortune.

december 16th - burger, inc corporate holiday mixer

Tonight was the annual Burger, Inc. holiday mixer.  Mommy never has a holiday party because she works from home, so we make fun of her and Jackie once a year with a small party that we call their corporate holiday party.  Jackie and Fred got Gemma books and Alex his very own guitar for Christmas.  Alex is very proud.  We went to La Peg for a great dinner.....and DESSERT for Alex.

december 15th - can't we all just get along

Gemma is thinking about joining the protestors from Ferguson.  Hands up, don't shoot.  She is very politically motivated and is constantly staying on top of current events.

december 14th - cousin time

We had breakfast and Uncle Ryan and Aunt Erin's house today and the kids had an opportunity to hang out with all of the cousins.  Alex had a blast playing with all of the kids and wrestling with all of the boys....including the middle aged boys.  Gemma was all over the place following the kids around. They all built gingerbread houses...Alex's second one this week, so he was an expert.

december 13th - finding the christmas spirit

Today was a day packed full of holiday cheer.  We went for a walk into the city and visited the Christmas village set up in Love Park.  Alex had to have a pretzel bigger than his face and loved every minute of it.  He and Mommy posed for pictures while Gemma took a nap.  We had lunch at a tavern that was playing the Arsenal v. New Castle match.  We were a table of four sat right in the middle of a sea of red jerseys in the bar.  Every time something would happen the bar would erupt and the kids faces were priceless.  Gemma - sheer concern...Alex - pure fear.

After lunch, we stopped by the Christmas market set up in the Kimmel Center.  Alex had a 5 minute stare down with a life sized nutcracker.  It took a bit of coaxing to get him to pose for a picture.  Once he did, he HAD to go and pick out a "purple" nutcracker ornament for our tree.  He insisted on carrying the bag all the way home.

december 12th - collingswood christmas parade

We went to Collingswood tonight to hang out with Alex's buddy Drew.  The boys ate pizza in the play room together and got in some toy time before we walked out for the parade.  A fleet of firetrucks decorated with Christmas lights went past the end of Drew's street.  Alex was in his glory watching all of the trucks.  "ooooo look at this one"....for every one that went past.  Mickey Mouse was on one of them.  Mind.  Blown.  The last truck had santa and Alex was so excited.  He waved to every truck, but he doesn't really move his hand....looks more like a Nazi salute.

december 11th - aquawoman

Gemma LOVES bathtime.  After dinner these days, she will sit down in the living room and start trying to take her clothes off because she is ready for bath time.  She gets really angry when she can't get her socks off and throws herself on the floor.  Comical.  Once she is in the tub, she grins the entire time.

december 10th - little ham

After almost three years o earth Alex is really starting to get the hang of sitting for a photo.  It still takes a bit of bribery, but he actually sits still and puts on a happy face.

december 9th - let me show you what you're doing wrong

Gemma and Alex performed a collaboration on the djembe this evening in the basement.  Alex was playing for a bit and Gemma decided she needed to show him how it was done.  Apparently she was not fully digging the vibe he was putting down.

december 8th - improvising

We had established a chair road block to keep Gemma from attacking the Christmas tree, but she has now evolved and climbs up it to reach the ornaments.  A completely new skill acquired to reach a goal.  Resiliency.  Can do attitude.  No retreat, No surrender.

december 7th - reading terminal market

Mommy had tons of errands to run this morning, so Daddy took Alex and Gemma to Reading Terminal Market to see the model train sets on display for the holiday season.  Alex was really excited to go...but almost got detoured at the ice cream shop.  Once we found the trains, he was in his glory.  There were buttons on the outside of the display that allowed the kids to power the trains, which blew his mind.  Alex found one train that was THOMAS!!!!  We did not leave that position for 35 minutes.  Every time he would pass..."here comes thomas the choo-choo TRAAAAAAIIIN!!!!"

Gemma...less enthused.

december 6th - "i want thomas"

We saw the jolly old fat man this morning in Princeton, while we were back doing a little shopping.  Alex was very excited to see him because he wanted to tell him that he "wants thomas" for Christmas.  He was also excited because he has been telling GemGem that he is not going to cry this year.  The excitement was almost all for not, since the damn elves could not get the camera system to work.  We waited 35 minutes until Tech Support arrived from the North Pole, not bad time considering.

Had lunch with Beeps and Grandpa at Alchemist & Barrister in Princeton before getting rained on really badly.  Although, we had a little boost of energy to run to the garage because Alex picked out a six pack of cupcakes from the place next door to the restaurant.  He, Gemma, and Mommy were all asleep within minutes of getting into the car...but woke up ready to decorate the tree.

december 5th - the tree is up...and a little wet

We went to get our Christmas tree today.  Grueling experience of hiking deep into the woods, cutting it down with a hand saw, and dragging it.......

...Actually, we just went to Whole Foods on 10th and South, took an elevator up to Parking Deck 2, picked out a winner, and Daddy carried it home 3 blocks.  City Life.  Damn tree stand had a slow leak in it, so we have been wearing our hip waders.

december 4th - cross dressing

Gemma is closer to walking every day.  She is now standing in place without holding on to anything...and without really realizing she is doing it!  She is so close to letting go...Alex, on the other hand, is very close to changing his name to Alexis.

december 3rd - mommy travels...alex sings

Mommy had to go to NYC tonight, so daddy bonding time ensued.  The kids seem to be much better behaved when Mommy is not around.  After Gemma went to sleep, Daddy and Alex watched the lighting of the tree in Rockefeller Center.  He really liked the music and one song, in particular.

december 2nd - gemma discovers cookie monster

Gemma has officially become interested in the cookie monster app on our iPhones.  Alex always loved the Elmo app but Gemma seems to favor cookie.  She is still a bit grabby and not fully understanding that she can't keep touching it.

december 1st - holy crap it's december

Monday is here and so is the first official day of December.  It's crazy that this year is almost over and the holidays are almost here.  The anxiety must be making everyone nuts because Alex was a terror today.  This picture about sums it up.

november 30th - sunday supper

Took the kids out for dinner tonight and a much needed sabbatical from our living room.  Eating leftover thanksgiving has officially run its course, so we had to stretch our legs and get some Italian.  It was a great meal and the kids were so awesome.  Gemma had a lady crush on our waitress and was playing peek-a-boo with her over the counter all night....she was in rare form.  All giggles.

november 29th - good things to those who wait

Alex demonstrated great self restraint today at Charlotte Procaccino's 1st birthday party.  He woke up this morning talking about birthday cake and had his eye on a chocolate one all afternoon.  The house was overrun with little ones and all of the kids' friends were there.  Gemma had such a great time wandering around the house playing with girls.  Alex had all his buddies....in his glory.

november 28th - black friday shenanigans

We went to Princeton for the day to visit with Uncle Mike, Aunt Amy and cousin Ben at Beeps and Grandpa's house.  Aunt Vicky, cousin Denice and cousin Santi were also in town, so it was a fun day of kids playing and adults consuming alcohol.  Ben slept, Gemma ate, Santi tore the house down, and Alex peed on Grandpa.  He was apparently screaming for us that he had to go pee when he woke up fro his nap.  He said "I told you on the monitor"....we did not have the monitor.  Grandpa took one for the team.

november 27th - bring on the carbs

Baby Gemma's first thanksgiving and she put down a good amount of food.  She could not get enough of the stuffing and turkey.  It was a very quiet day, watching the parade on TV.  Alex was very excited to see the Thomas balloon and made sure we all saw it...every time it was on the screen.  Mommy did a great job on dinner and Gramps and Grandmum joined us.

november 26th - turkey is near

Getting prepped for Thanksgiving included some Mommy-Alex pie baking and Alex get his ears lowered at the barber shop.  He built a tower that he was very proud of and decided he needed a picture of himself standing next to it...smile included.

november 25th - medical records make sense

We took the kids for their flu shots this morning.  Apparently, Alex already had his....parents of the year.  Gemma did get hers and was not very happy about it.  Alex dodged a bullet....he was VERY happy about it.