Lots of Memorial Day Fun!

We had a blast at a cookout at Brian and Vanessa's. Julia got to float around the pool which Chris and I were quite proud of. She was not scared (until she got near the filter monster!), and she had a great time. She played very well with her cousins Jeff and Pete who respectively just turned 8 and 5. THAT is so hard to believe!

A funny story....
Last week Chris took Julia before school to Dunkin Donuts to get a couple munchkins. Chris got a bagel, and apparently they did not give him a knife for the cream cheese. So Chris joked to Julia and said that when he picked her up from school they were going to go back to Dunkin Donuts and beat the workers up for not giving them a knife. So Julia told him that HE could do that, and that she was scared to (awwwwwwwww). Of course, he was just joking.

So I knew none of this when I went to pick her up that afternoon. One of the teachers pulls me aside and said, "Julia just told me that after school she is going to Dunkin Donuts to beat up the workers because they gave her the wrong bagel." So the teacher was horrified, and I realized that as I smiled and said, "oh, that's my lovely husband." So the teacher says that she explained to her that we do not hit and that was not nice...blah blah blah. Of course, Julia is never a violent child so you would think this teacher would have realized the source, but it does prove that we have to be very careful what we say around the kids! So that night Chris told her he was just joking and that he should not have said that!

Also, last week Chris took her to King Kone, and got in the back of the car to share an ice cream with her. When they were done he went to get out, and he realized the child safety locks were on! He could not get out of the car, and it was the Subaru so there was no way he could climb over the seats. He had to knock on the window and get the attention of a woman walking by to let him out. LOL!

Julia's imagination is incredible. She will look at a cloud and in a second tell us what she sees. She saw an alligator and a horse yesterday, and when you look at the clouds you can absolutely see the abstract depiction of the animal. She amazes us repeatedly!

The look of an almost 4 year old...

being told she cannot have a cookie because we are having dinner soon!(Is she her mother's daughter, or what?!?!)

Charlotte (Char-Char)

It is truly hard to believe that in less than a month my baby will be 2. How does it go by so fast? Char-Char is such a joy to have, and despite her tantrums (mostly minor, an oh so fun to photograph!), she is an extremely lovable, smart, and adorable child. Last night at 11:30 while she as up watching tv with Chris and I (someone did not feel like sleeping when we put her to bed earlier!), she was telling us everything she saw while watching the television. She saw an "airplane" and "car", and she would laugh at appropriate times when the commericals were funny. Raising Charlotte has definitely been different than raising Julia in that Julia got all one on one time until she was 22 months old. Charlotte has had to share her life, so to speak, so all the little things we noticed with Julia we don't get to stop and enjoy with Charlotte. But, last night we got some time-just the three of us-and she is just an amazing, loveable child. She knows what she wants and does not want, and she is not afraid to tell you, lol. This post is dedicated to my baby, and may she always know how loved she is and how much joy she brings to Daddy, Mommy, and Julia's lives. Pics are from yesterday at Auntie Nessa and Uncle Brian's. Check out the her delicious thighs!

$100 if you can guess what she's doing!

;-)

Shocking, huh?

In other news, Charlotte is counting to ten on her own, talking up a storm, and feisty as ever. Last night she enjoyed some rice with lentils. She loves beans! One of her first foods was refried beans. Chris was giving it to her as a joke, but she love it! And, talk about different-she will not touch pickles or olives. Those are Julia's favorites! I've said it before and I will say it again-it is AMAZING how different they are!

We had a little scare with her when I found a massive bump on her head from an unknown cause, but the pediatrician thinks it is ok, and we just have to watch it. Talk about your life flashing before you eyes! I don't know what I would ever do if anything happened to my kids!

Yesterday I took Charlotte with me on a bunch of different errands. I foolishly made the mistake of not taking the stroller in at the last store. I did not want the hassle of taking the stroller out, but it would have been easier than compared to dealing with Charlotte in the store. She thought it would be hysterical to drop to the ground because she did not want to hold my hand, run away and behind racks (laughing like a maniac) and she pulled shoe boxes off the shelves. She breifly stopped her crusade when she discovered a mirror meant to check out the shoes you are trying on. She enjoyed gazing at herself for a bit (just like her sister does!), and then she spotted a large green purse (bigger than her) that she slung on her elbow and declared "BYE!" to me. LOL.

While in the waiting room at the doc's office she went and sat at a little table they have for the kids. She told me the colors of the chairs, and then asked me for a book. When I handed it to her she said "thank you". An innocent observer (lol) commented on how polite and smart she is. I just laughed and thanked him. I will give her smart. We're working on polite, lol. Actually, I am kidding. She loves saying than you and your welcome to everything. It is very cute. She makes me very proud!

So much fun!

Julia and I drove down to visit Auntie Jen and baby Addy on Wednesday. She is the sweetest little thing-always happy and easy to please. We were out for many hours, and she was an angel. We walked the Jamaica Pond, saw geese with their babies, and then headed to Cheesecake Factory for lunch. Addy is proof that manipulation starts VERY early! She is always all smiles until the camera comes out! It's comical! We had a great day!

A Favorite Pastime.......

When I was little I LOVED playing in the Tupperware cabinet. My girls have followed in my footsteps, and putting back every single piece of plastic is a nightly occurence. They doctor, tea time, and anything you can think of with the containers. It is very cute to watch.

This bear....

Has lived a very busy life! Auntie Lulu bought it for Julia when she was a baby. When you push the hand it sings a song and moves its mouth. When Julia was Charlotte's age she was terrified of it, but they both love it now. This bear has given us a lot of laughs and good times!

When you gotta go.......

You gotta go!

A VERY Proud day for all of us!!!

Chris graduated from BC with his MBA yesterday. We could not be prouder of him and his accomplishments! He is truly an amazing husband and Father.

And, we are so blessed to have such incredible friends. Uncle Wei called us Sunday to tell Chris he was driving from Stamford to Boston Monday morning to watch Chris graduate. It is a 3.5 hour drive, and he did it round trip in one day just to see his friend walk across the stage. He is an AMAZING friend, and we are so grateful to be the recipients of such enormous love and friendship.

Julia attened the ceremony. I was so worried she was going to be cranky and cold. We had to sit in the tent for 2 hours before the ceremony started, and then the ceremony was another couple hours. She did not complain once, and she just had to go to the potty with me once. The reason why I am mentioning that is because SHE had to show me how to get to the potty. Chris had taken her earlier, and then during the ceremony when she had to go I did not know where it was. She walked us out of the tent to a building and knew which door to go in, what stairs to climb, and what door to open. She amazes me!

Julia spent a large part of the ceremony on Uncle Wei's shoulders and in his lap. She spotted Chris when he came into the tent and waved like a maniac. It was beyond adorable, and I am so happy she will have these memories. Maybe one day she, too, will walk across that stage.

And, the last picture is of lovely Char-Char. She did NOT attend the festivities as she would most certainly NOT be as well behaved as her sister, lol. But, this is another pic of her being upset about something. Quite possibly it was because the sky was blue! lol