Alex and Gemma got to host all of their cousins tonight to celebrate Savannah's birthday. At her request, we held her party at our house. Daddy made her favorite meal and Mommy baked a monster cake. Lots of fun. Uncle Frank ate first.
april 27th - kindergarten screening
Alex had to go to Community Park school today to meet some teachers and be interrogated. Daddy took him and got to sit making small talk with a few other parents for 90 minutes. He did great and he was very excited to see his new school. Pizza night at pizzeria procaccini to celebrate making it through his first standardized oral examination.
april 26th - movie night
Mommy had to work all night so Daddy took Alex and Gemma to the movies to see Smurfs. It was very much a girl power movie so Gemma was in to it big time. Not sure how she even saw it since she was "Ash" tonight and wore her sunglasses the whole time. Daddy had to pee so we had a "stand right there and do not move or touch ANYTHING" moment. Potty was more fun on the way out.
Stopped for ice cream at Thomas Sweets on the way home, but two vans filled with teenagers jumped out ahead of us right as we were walking in...Halo Pub it is!! Ended up being a BMW car show in the square and Alex loved it. "Grandpa has that kind of car!!!"
april 25th - clean bill of health
Alex had his 5-year-old checkup this morning and it was an amazing experience. It was as if he drove hinself there. He was answering all the doctors questions...his address, vegetables he likes to eat (broccoli, tomatoes, spinach), fruits he likes (apples, strawberries, pears), what kinds of meat he likes (sausage, meatballs, chicken), he wrote his name, he drew shapes, he counted, hearing is good, eyes are working. The best part was Gemma answering all the questions for herself. Daddy said, "Gemma this is Alex's appointment." Gemma said, "oh sorry. I will just sit in the waiting chair."
The worst part is that Alex needed his final two pediatric vaccines...even though Gemma promised him he wouldn't get any shots on the way there. He was so betrayed. We went to Lilipies after we left to let him get any treats he wanted.
38 lbs
42.5" tall
april 24th - progress
Continuing to get things done around the house is feeling good. Accumulating more stuff but all things that are helping to make it feel like home. Alex is loving the new chairs on the front porch to sit and watch the day go by. Gemma gave birth to the latest addition to our family...her baby doll.
april 23rd - birthdays everywhere
Alex had another birthday party for his buddy Tyler Neely today. Daddy had the honor of attending another scream fest at Little Sport in south jersey. Gemma stayed home with Mommy and did some planting in the yard.
april 22nd - opening day...kinda sort of
Our little buddy finally got to start T-ball today. It has been getting rained out for the last 4 weeks. Opening day ceremony was finally just cancelled altogether, and today was the day...even though it was cold AND raining...they were doing it!!! Alex went representing South Philly in his Taney baseball hat. He was super pumped to get a new Princeton baseball hat and jersey. He got a legit jersey...the kind Daddy didn't get until he was like 16 years old. He did great and was like a professional at the tee. GemGem came out to watch in her Saturday's finest...complete with princess "barella" (umbrella).
We had to jump right in the car to head down to South Jersey for Lori Castañeda's birthday party. Kids had a great time playing...especially Alex. He even got to help blow out Lori's candles because she wanted absolutely no part of it...pretty hilarious.
april 21st - how have we not ordered this yet?
Nomad night at the request of our two little pizza monsters. They ate their entire pizza as an incentive to qualify for dessert. We ordered this dessert that was basically cinnamon pizza bread sticks that you dip in nutella and whipped cream....now we understand crack addiction.
april 20th - spring love
Gemma spent 4/20 outside getting in touch with nature and her inner artist. She even found a new favorite hiding place for her to get some privacy.
Alex and Daddy did an after dinner bike ride into town. He is doing a great job riding his big boy bike around town. We made a pit stop at Thomas Sweets for some ice cream, which he thought was awesome. We discussed his new obsession with Ella. He says he is going to ask her to marry him and he will buy her rainbow flowers every day.
april 17th - soak it up
William goes home today so everyone was trying to get a piece. Gemma was very excited to hold a "real baby."
april 16th - christmas in spring
The Easter Bunny went all out this year and the kids bunny trails were exploding with cool stuff. Uncle Joel hot an early request for Mickey Mouse clubhouse which was just the ticket for a hangover. We spent the morning recuperating, drinking coffee, and watching the kids play outside...pretty good Easter.
We hosted brunch at our house and Mommy knocked it out of the park. Beautiful table, great centerpieces and bunny decorations. Alex and Gemma loved showing Benjamin and William around their rooms and playroom.
The Rhode Island crew spent the day at our house continuing the party from the day before. Kids played, napped, adults drank, we got a walk in, cousin movie time, nerf gun war, and an adult dinner which consisted mostly of wine.
april 15th - the bunny's coming to town...and he forgot the banana cream pie
Gemma woke up this morning to her very own dress up armoire fully stocked with clothing for her and her baby doll. She was so excited that it is finally done that she thanked Daddy and gave him a big hug. It only took a few months and 37 man hours to strip, sand, renew, stain, paint, and polyurethane. Quite a project and likely the reason daddy was sick all winter...but worth the smile on her face.
We took some Easter pictures at our house and then headed over to Beeps and Grandpa's house since that is where the Easter Bunny knows where to find Alex and Gemma. Uncle Mike, Aunt Amy, Benjamin, and William were in town so it was an espcially fun easter egg hunt for the kids and a marathon day drinking bonanza for the adults.
Had some great lamb for dinner which few remember and no damn banana cream pie. On top of that, daddy had to sleep with Alex and Ben....5:30 wake up call...shafted.
april 13th - reminded of history
We have Nonna's daffodils randomly coming up in the middle of the backyard. Apparently the garden that was pulled out did not quite remove the bulbs she planted back in the day. The kids are loving guessing where they will sprout up next.
april 11th - easter is approaching
A pre-Easter visit from Grandmom Burger for dinner at Main Street, some cookie baking, and springtime pajamas. Alex's lego batman pj's glow in the dark!!! Gemma now has a Minnie nightgown. Magical.
april 10th - order
The sun is shining and the outdoor projects in the yard and garage are in full swing. Now that the interior of the house is relatively complete, it is time to get 'er done outside. Mommy is loving getting organized and giving orders:). GemGem bumped her little leg and came up with an innovative icing system...wine bottle pack. Always Amazing Alex continues to impress.
april 9th - upgraded
Gramps and Grandmum came back to our house for breakfast and some playtime this morning. We went to Lilipies for some recorvery food and took a little walk around the shopping center. Listened to a band not play music.
GemGem got a new bike that daddy put together for her...she was really excited. She loves that her baby, Bailey, has her own seat and helmet.
april 8th - party time
Mommy knocked it out of the park again with Alex's lego-themed birthday party. We had 25+ kids at our house to celebrate...running, screaming, building legos, and consuming sugar. Alex was so excited for everyone to come over and even more excited for all the lego gifts. We had a really great day and Alex and Gemma even stayed up until midnight playing with some friends and cousins.
Before and after....
april 7th - childless
Today was "parent's night out" day at the kids school. Basically meant we could drop the kids off and be back by 9:30pm. They got to hang with their friends all day, eat pizza, and bring their sleeping bags to watch a movie.
Mommy and Daddy got to prep all day for a party. Mommy shopped and cleaned and baked and decorated. Daddy built lego stuff all afternoon. Both of us have sore backs. We did manage to make our dinner reservation at a great restaurant find nearby. Awesome meal and back in time to get the kids. Actually early. Time seems to stand still in the burbs. Even once we found out that baseball was cancelled tomorrow and we decided on more wine at another place. Still early.
april 6th - daddy night
Mommy is at wine night in Newtown with the girls gossiping. Pasta night for the kids (at Alex's request) followed by popcorn and a movie. Even though Gemma didn't agree to watching 'Angry Birds' she very much enjoyed.
april 4th - engagement
Mommy picked up a copy of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' to start reading chapter books to the kids each night. They are really into it so far...perhaps given the subject matter. We will see how the next book goes that lacks continuous references to chocolate and candy.
april 3rd - bugs
It is bug week at school and we are picking up some interesting facts. Apparently, Alex is enjoying it.
april 2nd - a whole hand 🖐🏻
Gemma woke up this morning and said "happy birthday Aliss...I love you"...followed by a big hug. Amazing! Mommy went all out on the decorations, which put a huge smile on the birthday boy's face. At Alex's request, the birthday breakfast was rainbow pancakes with candles. Gemma sang him happy birthday and gave Alex his birthday present...a lego pizza truck. Alex also got to open MORE presents from Mommy and Daddy. He got a lego wallet, a huge lego fighter jet, and some new super hero undies.
Alex and Daddy went to his buddy, Gustavo's, birthday party in Newtown this afternoon. His whole class was there and they got to run around in bouncy houses. Lots of fun for him on HIS birthday and we didn't even have to pay for it.
Alex's choice was burgers and milkshakes for dinner, followed by ice cream cake. Daddy's lactose intolerance was taken to the limit.
april 1st - bigger
Alex got a surprise visit to the bike shop today to pick out a birthday present...his very own big boy bike. He actually grew quite a bit this year when we measured him on our pantry door. He is proud of his growth spurt.
Since baseball was cancelled today, we went to see a movie (boss baby) at our new favorite theater...the one with "gi-normous" recliners. Mommy and Gemma did a little shopping, and we went out for Italian after the movie...Gemma saved room for the garlice knots.
march 31st - the birthday begins
We still cannot believe Alex is turning 5 this weekend. Today, he was super excited that Mommy and Daddy were bringing afternoon snack for all of his friends at school to kickoff his birthday celebration. Miss Helen said he was tossing and turning during nap time and he said, "I am so excited for my birthday I can't sleep."
We brought in cupcakes, ice cream, and a cool craft for all of his friends to color. Alex passed out Batman lego napkins to each friend. It is very evident that he and his buddy Caleb are besties. They were inseparable and finishing each other's sentences. We even had GemGem join us from her classroom....although hers is next door and she probably would have smelled the chocolate through the walls and come running anyway.
It was so awesome watching all the kids. Just about all of them were barely sitting still and coloring at random. Alex was so precise and strategic about his marker selection. Definitely a different kind of child. Can't wait for the celebration to continue!!
march 30th - hot brekky
Mommy is up and out early to NYC so breakfast at PJ's on the way to school was the kids vote this morning. Giving them chocolate chip pancakes at 8am isn't bad when you can drop them at school without personally dealing with the repercussions of sugar overload. Gemma used an entire bottle of syrup. It was even in her hair.
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