Monkey time!

Here is Katie swinging like a little monkey at the end of gymnastics class.

Gymnastics!

Granny and Far got the kids gymnastics classes for Christmas this year and it has been really fun (thank you again Granny and Far!).   The classes are at the 92nd Street Y and have worked out well because Katie's class (18 month to 24 months) meets at the same time as Drew's class (3.5-4 year olds) on Sunday morning.  Drew's class is VERY intense and parents are not allowed in to watch.  His instructor is this older Russian woman who yells and is very strict.   Katie's class requires parental participation and has singing and dancing and is silly and fun. There are two gymnastics rooms next to each other and the two classes rotate from one room to the next.  At the end of the class, each group is allowed in this huge jungle gym structure with ball pits, swinging ropes, huge slides and other fun climbing equipment. The kids love it! Drew's class is 15 minutes longer than Katie's class, but the instructor lets Katie go back in with the big kids and play with Drew.  Drew and Katie are so excited when they find each other in the ball pit- it is like they haven't seen one another for weeks instead of minutes!  (Notice in the pictures that Katie is wearing her princess belt bag purse with baby dinosaurs in it.  For some unknown reason, she really wanted to wear it today during class. Also, note the adorable pigtails!)

Katie's class was only 8 sessions long (the last one was this morning), while Drew's class is 16 sessions. I think we might have to sign up Katie for the next 8 session class that starts next week, because I can't imagine telling her that just Drew gets to go back next week!

A day at the beach and the aquarium

Our zoo pass includes The New York Aquarium so I loaded up the kids in the car and we took a drive out to Brooklyn.  It was the nicest day of the week and a perfect day to be outside!

We arrived a little early to Coney Island where the aquarium is located so we headed over to the boardwalk to explore. Drew couldn't believe that we were at the beach and Katie loved playing with the sand.  They were so excited!

Perfect sunny day for the boardwalk.

They collected seashells for Daddy. 

After convincing them that we would come back to the beach another day, we finally went into the aquarium.   Drew and Katie have a big bucket of ocean animals that they play with all the time at home, so I knew that they would love it in the aquarium. Half of the aquarium is outside and the other half is inside and they had a great time running all over the place.

SHARK!

Playing on a giant plastic walrus.

Drew asked if we could get a bigger fish tank at home.

We also went to a 4D movie that was showing at the aquarium.  It is a 19 minute version of the movie, "Happy Feet".    Our seats moved whenever the penguins were dancing, we had wind and rain blown in our faces, and bubbles filled the theatre during key parts of the show.  They loved it!

So cute!

Mom's Birthday Party

We had a party for Mom's 60th birthday this past Saturday at Mike and Kelly's house.  It was really fun and I know that Mom had a great time.  Happy Birthday Mom!

Emma, Drew and Poppy playing outside.

The kids playing a dance game on the Wii.

Mom and some of her guests enjoying the party.

Katie and Uncle Chris playing with the cash register.

Grandmom and her grandchildren!

Ice cream and slurpees. Yum!

My dad takes the kids for slurpees or ice cream at least once a day while they are visiting.   I now have proof that he did it two times in one day. Please note the kids outfits in the first two pictures!

Ice cream at the mall during the day.

Ice cream from the stand in town after dinner on the same day!

Slurpees on the way to the playground.

My little explorers

While in Collingswood, the kids found an island and they had so much fun exploring.  They both wore their exploring vests (Poppy and Grandmom got Katie one too) and had lots of fun on this beautiful day.

Katie and Poppy throwing rocks off the bridge.

I see you!

Drew looking for boats.

Katie is so funny!

Drew helping Katie attach her tools to her vest.  

What a great day!

Collingswood IS the place to be.

The kids love going to visit Poppy and Grandmom in Collingswood.  We were having a big celebration for Mom's birthday on Saturday, so the kids and I decided to go a few days earlier since Andy has been working crazy hours lately.

Of course, we had to visit our favorite children's museum, The Please Touch Museum.  They have a new exhibit room where the kids can be astronauts, put together rockets, and then shoot them into the air.  It is really cool!

Astronaut Katie!

Astronaut Drew!

Whenever we go to Collingswood, we always get to spend lots of time with Gram and PopPop.  PopPop even gave Drew a VERY old laptop (about the thickness of one of Andy's medical textbooks).  Drew loved typing on it and even told us he fixed it all by himself!  

Katie and Gram playing after a yummy breakfast made by PopPop!

We also visited my favorite playground in Collingswood.  This playground is huge and has tons of really cool stuff to do.  I remember taking Drew there when he was learning how to walk!  Now, he and his baby sister are running around all over the place.  Time flies!

Cool slide!

They love to race to the top!

Katie learned this in gymnastics!

Central Park Zoo and ANOTHER collection

Since we moved, the kids and I haven't been to the Central Park Zoo as much as we used to go (we used to go about once a week since it was really close to our old apartment).  The kids love the zoo so we decided to take Grandmom while she was visiting.  We took the bus right along 5th Avenue and the kids loved it. They are now really into taking the bus places and it has opened up a whole new mode of transportation that of course means more adventures!

Katie and Grandmom checking out the penguins. 

Drew saying hello to a friendly penguin. 

Katie staring at the clock at the zoo entrance.  She loved listening to the music and watching the animals go round and round.  Her face here is so funny!

The famous Central Park Zoo clock.

My little spider!

Drew and Katie love the penny smasher machines at different places we visit and it is an easy and inexpensive (two quarters and a penny) way to keep a nice memory of our adventures. Here is the Penny Collector website that shows the penny smasher machines and the handy book that I bought the kids to keep their collection in.  They love it!  Almost every kid friendly location we have been to has a machine, so it has been fun for the kids while we are out and about exploring.  

Drew showing off his new collection!

Sony Wonder Technology Lab

Mom and I decided to take the kids to the Sony Wonder Technology Lab for the day on Saturday.  We loved it!  It is completely free and we were lucky enough to only have about 20 other visitors in the entire lab with us during our visit.  The kids were able to explore, run around and learn!

Entrance to the lab.

At check-in, each person makes their own personalized access card.

Katie's picture ID was broadcast on the television.

Drew loved controlling the robots.

They both received certificates that listed all of their lab experiences. 

Their favorite part of the day was dancing to the music in the animation lab.  The dance motion camera in the lab captured their movements and then put them on the screen in their chosen characters body.  They loved dancing and giggling together in the lab.

Dance, dance, dance!

After visiting all of the the technology lab exhibits, we had reserved tickets to the Dora and Diego double feature that was showing (again for free) at the HD movie theatre in the lab. We loved this as well! The kids were encouraged to run around, shout at the screen, and dance during the movie while the adults sat and relaxed. Perfect end to our day before heading home.

They really liked the show.

Katie loved dancing around with all of the other kids!

Mom turned 60!

Mom turned 60 on March 10th!  60...can you believe it?

My mom has taught me how to be a great mom and a great wife--- two of the most important roles in my life.  She takes such good care of my dad and I hope that I can do the same for Andy.  As a stay at home mom with a husband who works very long hours all the time, I think it is easy for me to just focus on the kids. However, I often think of my mom and how she always thinks about my dad and takes such good care of him.

Mom and Dad on their wedding day in  December 1972!

She is exactly what you think of when you think of a mom. She is the best cook (my kids like her cooking way more than they like mine).  She is the most genuine and caring person I have ever met.  She is funny and silly and crazy and makes everything that she does a fun experience.   She would do anything for her children and her grandchildren and the rest of her family.   She always puts other people before herself and is completely selfless.

Mom, Chris, me and Mike on a fun family vacation.

For her birthday, I invited her to NYC to spend a few days with us.  Dad came the first day so we could have a fun girls day while he watched the kids.  Our day started by walking to the hospital to meet Andy for my 20 week anatomy scan.  I have been really anxious about this appointment because I wanted to make sure everything was okay with the baby so it was nice to have my husband and my Mom with me.  Thankfully, the baby is perfect!  We decided not to find out if the baby is a boy or girl, but we did found out that the baby is measuring large - in the 90%!  Mom loved seeing the baby and was so excited guessing if it is a girl or boy (she thinks girl) and talking about what he/she is going to look like.  She loved the little feet and fingers and adorable nose.

Is it a boy or girl foot?

So cute!

After the ultrasound, Mom and I took a cab to the West Village and we had lunch at Del Posto.  YUM!  We went to this restaurant because it is owned by two of Mom's favorite chefs- Lydia Bastianich and Mario Batali.  We had so much fun at our very fancy lunch!  We giggled when they brought over a stool for our purses (we thought they wanted us to put our feet up) and we ate every last crumb of our very delicious meal.

Delicious! 

After lunch, we headed to Chelsea Market to explore the shops and walk around.  I had never been there before, so it was a new experience for me too.  Mom loved all of the specialty food shops- especially this one shop that had lots of interesting Italian pastas.  She also loved being in the same space as where her beloved Food Network is taped.

I had to drag Mom our of the pasta aisle.  

Mom loves the Food Network and I wish we could have seen some of her favorite celebrity chefs.  

After Chelsea Market we headed to the The High Line, which is an elevated park that I have been wanting to visit.  We had a nice time enjoying the view, admiring the design of the park, and talking about how beautiful it is going to be in the spring when all the flowers are in bloom.

It turned into a beautiful day.

A nice oasis in the busy city!

I talk to my Mom on the phone at least twice a day, even if it is just for a minute.  When I go to Collingswood to visit she tucks me in bed at night even though I am 33.  Mom, I love you. You are the best mom and my best friend.  Happy Birthday!

My wedding day in December 2002.