september 27th - alex's church

Daddy went to the Eagles game in New York today so mommy and the kids went on some philly-based pope adventures.  Alex was so excited..."there is a tv in the middle of the street."  He also was a bit interested in the pope's outfit..."mommy, the pope is wearing a green dress."

Very cool experience watching the papal mass on broad street with everyone in the city participating in the service simultaneously...powerful. 

september 26th - he's here

The Pope is on US soil and the madness is officially kicked off...alex was trying to catch the motorcade coming sown 676. Gemma just played with her dolls and got all dressed up in the event of a papal siting. 

september 25th - pope eve

We went for a walk around town this morning to see how close we could get to the pope perimeter before being taken down by sniper fire.  It is absolutely insane the amount of police presence, preparation, and barricading that is happening. Even south street is roped off and has national guard on every corner...creepy. 

Alex rode his bike for miles and was so excited to be able to use the street. Gemma pointed out every port-a-potty...and there are thousands. It will be interesting to see how the city is when this damn pope is actually in town. 

september 24th - final day before pope mania

The city has begun shutting down so daddy was home from work hanging with the kids.  We spent the morning at the park and then went to see all the activity in the afternoon. Went to a new tavern near our house for dinner. Mommy and daddy had a couple bottles of wine and didnt make it past the cheese plate. Alex carb'ed up with some cheesy pasta, chips, and bread...extra energy to have a foot race with daddy on the way home. 

september 23rd - picnics in the park

Not sure if Gemma loves going to the park to play or because when we get there she gets to break out her snacks. As soon as we get there she finds the closest bench and requests her "nack."

september 22nd - sweetie pie

september 21st - a bit of history to start the week

Alex and Gemma went to the wells fargo museum on broad street with jackie today. Very excited to get their pictures on money and to ride in a carriage. Apparently, jackie drove the carriage..."giddy'up means go and whoooaaa means stop," according to Alex. 

This morning when daddy left the house, it looked like we had been victimized.  But, it seems Gemma was the perpetrator shoving baby wipes through the mail slot. 

september 20th - all i know is...i got a lot of bowls

Spent the evening last night at Beeps and Grandpa's having dinner and playing in the backyard. Spent this morning trashing their house before we went back to Philly. Alex got to make homemade pizzas tonight with Mommy while daddy met up with a friend in town from california. 

september 19th - i can drive all these?

We went to "touch-a-truck" today in Trenton...Alex's favorite thing EVER. He got to climb inside of every vehicle and drive...he climbed up the side of all the construction vehicles all by himself. So proud. Gemma is just content riding shotgun. Just like Mommy, she could care less about driving. Just get me to where I am going and let me sleep. Kyle and Lila came along for the adventure. 

september 18th - sparkles

Gemma stole mommy's diamond ring today and refused to give it back. We know she is smart because she went for the big one. 

september 17th - like peas and carrots

Two buddies starting to do everything together. Doesn't get any better...

september 16th - old friends

Grandpa Alex and Grandma Gemma...like two old people watching the tube under their blankies. 

september 15th - eight years and counting

Alex spent the day with daddy doing man stuff back at our house in Princeton. On our way back into Philly we had a great time at lunch and getting ice cream at franklin fountain. 

Mommy and daddy celebrated their 8th anniversary today. Alex asked daddy "is today your birthday??? No...then why did you get a present?"

september 14th - those lips

september 13th - football is back

Lazy Sunday of watching football and making a pot of sauce. Alex and gemma helped shop for all the ingredients at the italian market...Alex helped daddy prep everything...very proud of himself. 

september 12th - a day (and night) at the park

Mommy had a baby shower today so it was the three amigos for a morning around the neighborhood.  We went to Star Garden, at Alex's request, and had some coffee and homemade biscotti.  Headed over "the big bridge" to go to a Camden Riversharks game this evening with Alex's buddy Drew. They ran around like maniacs and had a great time. Gemma just wanted to ride the carousel. 

september 11th - recognizing good fortune

Daddy went to help Uncle Gary move today and the kids went to playgroup. We made it out to dinner at Stella where the kids were little angels. May have been because Alex was borderline unconscious...he faceplanted into the sidewalk and has a huge egg on his forehead. Did not stop him from shoving a gelato in his face...he even used a straw to suck up "the soup," as he calls it...GemGem refused to eat plain pizza and had Mommy's prosciutto and arugula instead. 

september 10th - rain or shine

Alex's second day of school and there is no such thing as a rain delay. He strapped on his boots and said, "let's jump in some puddles on the way."

september 9th - alex's big day

Alex had his first day at Schwartz Pre-school today. He was a little upset that the school bus wasn't coming to pick him but he quickly understood that it was only seven blocks. "Oh, we can walk there"...city kid. GemGem thought she was going too and ran to get her backpack. 

Mommy and Daddy walked Alex with all of his supplies and did not really know what to expect. His friend Sydney was there when we got to school so they ran off and started playing. Alex barely noticed we were leaving.  We knew he would be fine but were a little concerned that he would be too shy to tell the teacher, Miss Tabitha, when he had to pee. 

Mommy went to pick him up and he had such a grin on his face. First thing he said was "I really like my school mommy!"  When they got outside they facetime'd daddy. Alex said, " I had so much fun at school daddy...I ran around, I painted, and I took a dump!!"  So much for being shy about the potty. 

september 8th - daddy's helper

september 7th - memory lane

Labor day in the city is always quiet enough to hear a pin drop. We took the kids out for an adventure around town...starting with a subway ride that made Alex's week. We walked through Drexel's campus, showed the kids the old stomping ground, and hung out at the art museum.  We randomly ran into the Dreby's so the kids got some impromptu playtime with Kyle and Lila. Put in about 6 miles...poorly planned.  

september 6th - bottom toucher

Another great pool day for the kids...and a little practice on their short game. Alex realized today that he can touch the bottom in the shallow end and he was the proudest three year old in the land of the amish. 

september 5th - pool time

Jump started our day with some sugar intake at federal donuts this morning in the city. Daddy took Alex and Gemma and they picked out their own...had to eat one there before coming home. 

We went to Millersville to visit Gramps and Grandmum...and a little pool time. The kids had fun swimming and got a night with their grandparents while mommy and daddy had a night out in the booming metropolis of downtown lancaster. 

september 4th - closing out summer

Nothing better than fridays before a long weekend.  We had some quality time at breakfast and went to dinner at Vietnam Restaurant.  Gemma's attitude problem and general misbehvior made dinner worse than the fall of saigon. After dinner Alex even told Gemma she "didn't deserve ice cream."

september 3rd - full contact strolling

september 2nd - the little things

Not sure which kid gets more excited about throwing out the garbage.  Gemma LOVES throwing out her poop. Although, Jackie did get an unexpected response today from Alex when she asked if he knew that it was Wednesday...

Jackie: "do you know what Wednesday day means (as in story time)?"

Alex: "yes, today is trash day"

september 1st - it's gemma's world...

...we are all just living in it.