Everyone Loves the Stroller

Day 133 (5.13.10) - Ruby and Joey have been fighting over this stroller the last couple days. Yeah, Joey loves it too. Hope he doesn't get mad when he gets older that I've posted a picture of him pushing a stoller with no pants on and his fake smile!

First Sleepover

Day 130 (5.10.10) - We "attempted" to let Joey and Jacob have their first sleepover. Both Nick and Alex were coincidentally out of town for work for a few days so I spent the night with Kelly to keep each other company. We had a great evening until we got to the sleeping part and Jacob wanted Joey out of his bed! Oh well, we had a great time anyway. Here are the boys watching a movie and eating popcorn.

Future Firefighter

Day 128 (5.8.10) - Joey had a rough day today. After a couple doctors visits, then a trip to the ER earlier this week he had to go to a podiatrist and have the toenail removed that he hurt last week. Thankfully Nick took him because I am so squeamish with this stuff I probably would have passed out. Poor Joey was so excited to go to the doctor because he thought the doctor was going to fix his booboo. Little did he know that the doctor was just going to remove his toenail withough even giving him anything for pain. Afterwards we went to celebrate his friend Mady's birthday at the New Jersey Childrens Museum and it was just what he needed to forget about the pain of his toe. The museum is perfect for kids who love imaginary play which is Joey. Here he is dressed as a firefighter.

Trouble x2

Day 124 (5. 4.10) - One of the things that I've been working on since we moved is child-proofing this house. There are so many knick-knacks and breakable things here that the kids keep touching. So, I'm in the process of packing up everything on these book cases in our living room because the kids are driving me crazy touching everything. So far I cleared off the first two shelves and this is what happened....

Off to the Doctor

Day 121 (5.1.10) - A couple days ago Joey got a boo boo. A big one. He got his toe caught in the heavy metal door leading to my parents garage. The small black and blue on his toenail has grown and grown and started to look not so good. So, thankfully, we have a pediatrician in the family. This has got to be one of our BIGGEST perks since moving back here. (This was actually my second visit here - last week Ruby needed a breathing treatment and her nebulizer in a box somewhere in the middle of the country so they gave me another one with meds.) So, on Saturday afternoon, my uncle (Lolo Ronnie as Joey calls him) met us at his office, took a look at his toe, gave us antibiotics (since we don't have our new insurance cards yet to fill a prescription) and a cooler with ice to put the antibiotics in and keep it cold since we weren't going straight home. All without showing an insurance card or paying a co-pay! I love my family!

Happy Anniversary

Day 120 (4.30.10) - Today Nick and I celebrated our five year wedding anniversary. Well, we didn't exactly celebrate, it was actually just a typical day in our crazy lives. One day (hopefully in the near future) we'll have to truly celebrate ALONE. Crazy to think about how our lives have morphed in the last five years. We've gone from a young couple dating (we've been together for 11 years now), to a married couple and now parents. Truth be told, we hardly spend any time alone these days which is something we definitely need to work on but with 2 young kids, we're just trying to enjoy the chaos. Not only do I love him more every day but the kids absoloutely adore him. They really love their dad and apparently he is really funny - you can tell by the look on Joey's face.

New Park with Dad

Day 114 (4.24.10) - The kids could not be more thrilled that Nick is here. Joey follows Nick around everywhere -he's super excited to have his dad back. We had a fun morning at the park before we spent the rest of the day moving furniture around trying to make room for our stuff. Here is Joey and Nick on the "big slide" (as Joey calls it) at our new park in Montville. It is a really great park. I'm not sure who is having more fun here.

My Budding Artist

Day 109 (4.19.10) - As I mentioned yesterday, Joey is obsessed with cars these days (to say the least). Sometimes he asks me to draw a car which I did for him earlier today. Well, this evening, I was watching tv and Joey was drawing when he ran over to me really excited and said "mama, look, Jojo draw racecar" (yes, he still refers to himself in the third person). I was REALLY surprised when I saw his drawing because I could totally see the car! I mean, he has never even drawn anything close to this so I was one super proud mama. I told him not to erase it while I ran to get my camera. Can you see it?

Playing Racecars

Day 108 (4.18.10) - As you probably already know from my pictures, Joey's favorite thing to do these days is to "play racecars!" Today we went to visit Nick's mom and step-dad (Oma and Opa) and his Aunt Amanda was there too. Joey brought all his racecars and was super excited that Aunt Amanda was more than willing to play racecars with him. The funniest moment was when Amanda was playing with the combos car she gave him (the one that's in her hand in the picture) and Joey told her that was Kyle Busch. I knew he knew all the names of the cars from the movie Cars but I was totally surprised he knew Kyle Busch too. Nick told him that was his name once and apparently Joey has a great memory when it comes to racecars!

Pals Forever

Day 106 (4.16.10) - Joey and his cousin Jacob had the sweeeetest reunion today. They really just love each other. As we arrived at their house Jakie was looking out the window waiting for us, just so excited. When I took Joey out of the car Jacob ran outside and Joey and Jacob just ran full speed at each other and gave each other the biggest hug. They played, they fought over toys, they cracked jokes that only each other could understand, took a bath, got their jammies on and layed in bed reading books before bed time. Joey was pretty comfy laying in Jacob's bed I joked that I would pick him up tomorrow. Here they are having fun in the bath.

Ice Cream with Lola

Day 105 (4.15.10) - We made it to NJ really late last night. We had a lazy day, just hanging at Lola's house, trying to get adjusted to east coast time. Joey was so excited to see my parents, Ruby is a little more skeptial. As if he doesn't love my mom enough, she took us out for ice cream this evening. It was a beautiful warm night. Joey never really got his own ice cream cone until today and he was really excited about it. He ate the whole thing and has been asking my mom to take him out for ice cream for every meal since. Look how happy they both are. It's good to be home.

Bye Bye California

Day 104 (4.14.10) - After 7.5 years, I'm leaving California and another chapter of my life is closing. I am excited to go back home but also really sad to leave all the wonderful friends we have made. When I first came out here Nick and I drove my Honda Civic and all I brought was whatever we could fit in the back of the car. Now, not only are we married and bringing back an entire house full of stuff but we are also bringing back 2 extra people! It was a LONG day of traveling. The kids were ok considering the long day they had but it was a LOT of work for me. Good thing we don't have to go back. The movers come tomorrow and Nick will be leaving this weekend for one more drive across the country. Here is Joey at the airport waiting to board the plane. He looks concerned to say the least. He has no idea of all the changes that are in store.

Goodbye Again

Day 101 (4.11.10) - Nothing says goodbye to a 2 year old like cupcakes. We had another going away party today - this time a kid friendly one at the park. Nick and I were moving a bit slow from our good time last night but the kids had fun. More tears were shed as we said good bye to more friends. In the last 7 years I've been here Nick and I have really made some wonderful friends....and seeing Joey at the park today with his friends- so has he.

Joey and mom

Day 97 (4.7.10) - Just a quick self portrait/snapshot of Joey and I for today.

Who Needs Toys...

Day 95 (4.5.10) - ...when you can just play in a laundry basket?

Under Water

Day 93 (4.3.10) - We took one last trip to the Sea Life Aquarium with the kids and Nick today. I've been trying to get a picture of Joey in this dome for months but could never get him to look. Finally got an ok one!

Still Sleepy

Day 92 (4.2.10) - For the last 2 years and 10 months Joey has woken me up pretty much every single day (unless his sister beats me to it). I never have to set an alarm because the kids are like clockwork..they wake up bring and EARLY even when I want to sleep in on the weekend. Well, this year between the time change and Joey wanting to stay up later and later each night, ever since we changed the clocks he has not wanted to get up in the mornings. It's actually quite funny waking him up in the morning to get him to daycare. I imagine this is what the teenage years are going to be like - him pushing me away, pulling the covers over his head and telling me to "go away." Hmm, it's not so fun being woken up before you are ready, huh buddy.

Getting Ready for the Easter Bunny

Day 91 (4.1.10) - I picked up Joey from daycare today and he was wearing these bunny ears. He was proud to tell me that he made them himself. I was surprised to hear that he wore them all afternoon because he usually hates hates and such. I had to bribe him to take a picture with his St. Patty's Day hat but today he was proud to pose with his bunny ears.

Fort

Day 89 (3.30.10) - One of Joey's favorite things to do with his dad is build forts. Sometimes their forts can be elaborate but sometimes it's just a blanket stacked up on a couple of pillows on the couch like this. Either way Joey loves it. He has a great imagination .... sometimes he brings cars in there for races, sometimes he makes me come in there (you can only imagine me trying to squeeze in there) and other times he his hiding from bears.

Ruby's Pants

Day 88 (3.29.10) - Totally a random picture but I had to post it because it makes me laugh. I picked the kids up from daycare today and Joey was wearing Ruby's pants (as shorts)! We bring the kids to daycare in their jammies and pack their clothes to get dressed there. Well, it wasn't till much later after we got home that I realized they were her pants. Granted, they are boys pants (since they were Joey's when he was her age) but he is so skinny he has the waist of a 6-12 month old! I kept telling him that they were her pants and he kept getting mad at me saying they were his and refusing to take them off.