zone defense: April 2016

april 27th - taco wednesday

The kids have been saying they want tacos for dinner for the past two days, so we went to blue corn for dinner tonight. Celebrated our house being closed up with some margaritas and mexican hospitality. Alex was very excited that soccer was on tv...doesn't realize that is probably the only channel they get.

april 26th - pa presidential primary

The kids went with daddy today to exercise our american right to vote. Alex even got to push the big green button. Gemma is a bit uncertain with the candidate pool, but hopeful that it will remain a world were she can appropriately raise her baby dolls to become big baby dolls.

april 25th - learning through observation

Gemma did a little breastfeeding tonight while texting on her phone, and Alex did some "work" on daddy's computer. He was even teaching Gemma how to type her name.

april 24th - check that kid for PED's

Week two of Alex's baseball season and his team, the glow-worms, is already looking like a force to be reckoned with...an offensive powerhouse. Alex learned to field ground balls today and got in plenty of BP. He is doing a really great job.

Gemma decided she would lounge right in the middle of team drills. Absolutely no consideration for the peons around her...princess gemma will not be inconvenienced.

april 23rd - dirt piles and dance parties

We went back to Newtown today to celebrate Lila Dreby's second birthday. It was a dance party and Lila did. Not. Stop. She was on the dance floor all day long.

In the morning, we stopped by the house to meet with Jon and our kitchen designer. First time mommy saw the house in a while, so the progress was very well appreciated.

april 22nd - monkey see, monkey do

Jackie is off today to close on her new house, so daddy and the kids spent the morning at Seger. They were like two peas in a pod all morning and quite hilarious.

We got some haircuts and lollipop number two for the day at the Chop Shop. Played some street baseball and Alex took a digger into the asphalt while running home from dinner. Nice road rash down the front of his face, but he took it surprisingly well considering.

april 21st - sticks are up

The framing continues and we are getting close to a covered roof. Roofer is estimated to come next week so it is on like donkey kong.

april 20th - field trip

Alex had a field trip today at the National Liberty Museum. He was very excited to learn about the liberty bell and go on a picnic lunch with his class at Washington Square. He even got a "hero" sticker.

april 19th - monkey gemma

april 18th - spring picnic

april 17th - first phillies game

Alex and Gemma went to their first phillies game today and had a blast. The philly phanatic's birthday game was perfect for them...they loved seeing all the mascots and when thousands of people started singing happy birthday, Gemma's mind was blown. Both kids were wondering why they didn't get birthday cake, but they got gigantic ice creams to compensate.

Alex had his first baseball practice this morning. He is officially a taney glow-worm. He picked out #3 and was so excited he got to keep his "jersey shirt." Did really well and he cannot wait for next week.

april 16th - cousin time

april 15th - egg salad...yummy yummy

Mommy, Daddy, and Gemma dropped Alex off at school today for his Passover celebration. We went for a little stroll and then went back to see Alex's class perform three songs that they have been practicing all week. Hilarious.

Afterward, we went down to his class for refreshments and Alex got to show us around. He explained to us that we have to eat matzah. This school experience has been quite the cultural education for Mommy and Daddy. Lots of 'googling' going down at our house. We were assigned to bring some food for the party. Last time we brought a food product we almost killed a kid, so fingers crossed.

april 14th - twinsies

Alex had picture day at school and had to wear a nice button down shirt. He and Daddy were a pretty close match.

april 13th - daddy night

Mommy is in Washington DC today so daddy is the child magnet this evening. We cracked open Alex's new spiderman bluray and the kids were mesmerized.

april 12th - gemma poops

Gemma pooped on the potty today. She was very proud of herself and she got a 'fancy nancy' doll as a reward from daddy for being a big girl.

april 11th - santucci's effect

Mondays are the worst but pizza makes everything better. Gemma insisted she carry it home all by herself. Surprisingly, the pizza survived the trip home.

april 10th - indoor energy burn

Well, it snowed all day yesterday even though we are pushing mid-April. Alex's opening day parade was cancelled and today's first game was also postponed. We went to Cherry Hill to let the kids run around inside the mall and give us our sanity back. Went to Bobby Flay's burger palace and Alex helped daddy get a pair of pants tailored. Fascinated by the mirrors.

april 9th - friends forever...hopefully

Alex and Gemma are playing like best buds now and it is great. Although, when mommy is not home things can get a little out of hand.

april 8th - tgif

Finally Friday after a really long week. Mommy and Daddy had to meet with a kitchen designer today in Princeton, so we brought the kids with us. Meeting was at Beeps and Grandpa's house, who provided the location while they were at work so the kids could play. The kids took some naps, which bled into cocktail hour. Pizza!

april 7th - nomad night with daddy

The kids love going to Nomad Pizza because 1) the pizza is awesome 2) they give chocolates at the end 3) they have a giant movie screen where they play really old black and white silent comedies. Alex actually laughed out loud multiple times watching the movies. Silly faces also come out when the chocolates set in...

april 6th - big day

Mommy heads out of town for a week in NYC, Gemma eats all of her meals +/- the attitude, Gemma wears big girl panties, our second floor gets framed.

april 5th - gemma pops a squat

Gemma is officially in basic training ahead of going cold turkey. Getting used to sitting on the can and it will be no time at all that we can cancel our Amazon diaper subscription for good. Thank ya' jesus.

april 4th - the celebration continues

Alex got to have a special snack at school today...delivered by MOMMY...to celebrate his birthday with a of his classmates. The kids got to eat special cupcakes, free of all nuts, allergens, and lead-based paint. They were also treated to a special reading of Alex's selected book, "happy bithday chase," from the lips of Caroline Elizabeth Burger...a self proclaimed "terrible reader out louder." Alex was SO excited and proud to have mommy visit his class on his big day!!

april 3rd - a paw patrol celebration

Alex got his Paw Patrol birthday, complete with a paw patroller and an air patroller, which he did not stop playing with for 5 days straight. To say he is happy with his birthday presents would be the understatement of the year. Gemma was pretty pleased with the icing selection on the cupcakes!

It was a bit of a smaller crowd than usual, but all of Alex's cousins were here to help us celebrate and he was really excited to see all of them today. Mommy did a great job, as always, getting the theme together....complete with the most chocolatey cake imaginable.

april 2nd - four is pretty cool

Alex is officially four years old today and we cannot believe it. He has grown up so much over the last couple months. For the big day, we went to a "walk among the dinosaurs" at the convention center. Lots of mechanical dino's and a huge play area where Alex had the "best birthday ever!" Gemma got to ride in an uber in a big girl seat. We went to Garces Trading Company for lunch on the way home, where Alex was rebelling against turning another year older ("upside down elephant trunk").

Gramps also turned a whopping 60 years old, so we had some adult fun this evening at our house. Lou and Janet joined us for a surprise gathering and drank all of our booze....and cake.