Mason's First Pedicure!

So I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...but over Labor Day weekend, Mommy and Aunt Jennie and Grandma took Mason for her first pedicure! We all got one too. She thought it was like the best thing ever. What have I done? She's already asking if she can go back.

Jacob was having a special "Daddy Day". Harvey asked Jacob what he wanted to do? Play cars? Build a robot? Throw a ball? Nah...for Jacob's special day he requested to be taken to "Shoprite" and buy some cheese. And Scooby snacks. So clearly, he had the best time ever too!

On our way to get our toes painted! Woo-hoo. Grandma taking pic.

Mason watches intently...Ahhh...this is the good life.


The finished product.

Getting a pedicure is hard work. Clearly, so is going to ShopRite.


Grandma totally agrees.

And poor little Jacob was exhausted as well.

Labor Day

Labor Day Weekend was a blast. Aunt Jennie and Grandma came to visit. And the kids had a blast, as usual. We went to the park. Played games. Sang songs. Watched Dora and Diego...pretty much all the things we usually do. But with Aunt Jennie and Grandma which made things way more fun. Duuuhh.

Mase & Jake also got a belated birthday gift from Uncle Andy & Aunt Jennie -- piggy banks!! With two rolls of nickels each. They are plastic so they are great cause the kids can play with them. I tried to explain to them the concept of saving all their coins and then when it's full we can take the money out and go buy something. Not really sinking in though. It's funny though, cause since the piggy bank whenever Jacob finds a spare coin somewhere laying around he want to pocket it...to put it in his piggy bank. That's my boy!

Here are some pics from the park last Saturday.

  

C'mon Irene!

So a couple weekends ago, Hoboken was essentially evacuated because of an impending Hurricane -- Irene. Now, Hoboken floods normally just from your average everyday rain so imagine what a storm would do.

They said it was gonna be bad. Real bad. At first I didn't really believe the media or worry much. But the closer it got to the weekend, the more panicked I became. Mainly because everyone around me was so worried. All the flashlights, batteries, candles and water was missing from the stores. It was seriously nuts around here. But we prepared. We got our water. We had a few baby flashlights and I managed to get a few candles from Target. Our new apartment is up on the 3rd floor so we didn't think we really had to worry much. Well, Harvey didn't anyway. At one point I started getting all hormonal and said to Harvey, "I just don't want to be one of those people like during Katrina. I don't want to be standing on my roof pregnant with two kids."  He then reassured me that Hoboken was not New Orleans and that I was being crazy. Which kind of made me even crazier but that's beside the point...

So yeah. We stocked up on food and water...Gillian and Burke and James came over and we all hunkered down and waited. It was kinda nuts because that night at about midnight, these emergency vehicles with loudspeakers were driving around Hoboken saying "This is your last chance to evacuate...come out of your houses with your families and we will take you to the Izod Center. We repeat, this is your last chance to evacuate." It was really eerie since there were no other cars on the streets, it was pouring with rain and these emergency vehicles had spotlights shining. I swear I felt like I was in Nazi Germany.

So the point of this story really is that the kids had their first "sleepover" with Burke and James. The boys brought their sleeping bags and we put them all in Mason & Jacob's room. I thought they would never get to sleep, but they did. And they had so much fun. I think they were exhausted from running around all day inside with their friends...but anyway.

Hurricane came. Hurricane left. Hoboken flooded. But nothing too crazy. Thank goodness.

If anyone needs any water or canned goods please give us a shout.

Cookoo Badookoo

Mason is nuts. But my little Jacob is crazy. And silly. And I think I've said this before, but I can definitely see him being the class clown. He's usually the one that makes up all the insane, nutty games. Then Mason will join in. Or he'll just talk in weird voices (like Oscar the grouch) or make up complete nonsense. Quite creative little chap. Anyway, here are some prime examples.

Jacob dances like an Englishman. Can you blame him?

Jacob entitled this song "I'm a poo-poo head". Reinterpreted from Laurie Burkner's "I'm a google head".

What's a happenin' in the Ho

That's Hoboken.

Lots going on since our last post. We had a hurricane. Mason & Jacob got piggy banks. Tons going on in the bathroom. And my belly continues to grow. As does Aunt Jennie's. Tomorrow the kids have their first day of preschool. And tonight is the start of the NFL 2011/2012 season with the New Orleans Saints taking on the super bowl champ Green Bay Packers. I'm all over the place. As any hormonal, 31 week pregnant mother of 3-year-old twins would be.

So I owe all of our fans a few posts. I'm well aware. Here we go yo.

I'll end this post with a random picture of Mason that I thought was quite cute. She's eating a "special treat" after dinner last week. Jacob picked it out for her. It is a chocolate covered M & M pretzel. Mason loves chocolate. Jacob loves Teddy Grahams. And potato chips.

Multipreg

Aunt Jennie is visiting this weekend.  Like Ann, she's pregnant, in fact 5 weeks more pregnant than Ann.  This morning I saw the two of them standing together and it took me back to the music video by Travis for 'Flowers in the Window'.  Bizarre!  I can't get the images out of my head.  I'm living in Pregnancyville!

What's in a Name? Part 2

Think back to the original "What's in a Name?" entry from a couple of years ago.  When the twins were born we held a naming competition to see who could come up with the best pair of names for our babies.  Now we have number 3 on the way I think it's time to start it up again.  To start you off we're pretty sure we're having a girl so if you can think of a groovy name that goes with Jacob and Mason please email us and we'll consider it along with the others.

It's interesting to note the aesthetic appeal of Jacob and Mason as names.  The two can link together as an alphabetical tesselation shown below:

This wasn't planned (honestly) but leads to a quandary: I've been trying to wrap my brain round how we can fit a third child's name into such a graphical representation.  It will have to be 3-dimensional, maybe a cube, and the only name I can think of that might fit is Jason.  I've had words with Ann about this but she's adamant that we're not naming our daughter 'Jason'.  So please, if you can think of a girl name that will fit with the dual 5-word repeat 2-dimensional tesselation, I'm all ears.

And then there were 3...

Ok. So this is a post that is long, long, LONG overdue. Let's say about 28 1/2 weeks overdue. Let's see...that would be about 7 months overdue. Yup. That's my belly. With baby #3 growing inside. I wanted to post this ages ago, but I was working all summer and crazy busy and just never really had time to blog. So I was always behind on entries and by the time I caught up I was just too tired to give this entry proper billing...ya know what I'm saaaaayin.

Also, Harvey and I were kind of really bad about telling people about this baby. Think we wanted to wait a little while, just to make sure all was well, me being "advanced maternal age" and all. And then we've just been really slow about getting the word out. So I do want to appoligize to anyone reading this who we haven't told personally. No offense. You can blame it on Mason and Jacob. And my freelance job at JWT that took up my summer (but is paying for our new minivan....that's right...more to come below.)

Anyhoo...I've been to alluding to baby #3 in some posts I think. But I never really came out with it. But I thought I should share it with everyone, since I'm due 11.11.11. That's right. Sooner than you think! Meanwhile, besides holding down a full time job this summer, we've also sold our apartment and moved. Just around the corner. But still...I actually can't remember if I posted anything about the move. But, well, we were getting squeezed for space as it was in our little 900 square foot apartment, so with Baby C coming, we needed more space. Moved around the corner to a much more spacious 3 bedroom. (Jacob was baby A, Mason, Baby B in utero...so my friend Gillian named this baby, Baby C...appropriately...and it just stuck.)

We also need to change in our Rav 4 for a minivan. Yes, a minivan. I'll say it again, a minivan. We did all the research about the SUV third rows etc, but with 3 kids in car seats we're gonna have to go minivan. There's just no other practical way.

Backing up...it was right after my birthday, in March, that I found out Harvs and I were having another one!! I want to go on record by saying, we are so happy, a little nervous, but definitely excited, but it was a surprise. For sure. And I think when we found out, we both were in shock for a couple weeks. As I told my friends, "Well I'm being treated for pregnancy...so we'll see." I don't think it was until the first ultrasound that I actually believed it. And it was also confirmed at the ultrasound and a few subsequent ones that it's DEFINITELY only 1 baby this time! So...

And yes, Mason and Jacob know. And they are super excited as well. It took a little while I think for it to sink in, but with my growing belly, they are very much aware of what's coming. Jacob wanted a baby brother. Mason wanted a baby sister. We found out we're having a little girl. When I broke the news to the kids, Jacob was resistant at first, "No brother!!" he would say. But he's come around. And is looking forward to giving the baby bottles and singing to the baby and changing the baby's diapers. (at least someone is) Ha ha. Also, I think most of you know, but my sister Jennie is having a baby too. She is only 5 weeks ahead of me!! She is having a boy. So whenever Jacob would complain about how he wants a brother, Mason would say, "No Jay Jay. We are having a baby sister. Aunt Jennie is having a baby brother for us." So I think that might have made all this change a little more palatable.

But the kids have been great. Harvey has been amazing. And I am large and in charge.

People always say to me that this pregnancy must be so much easier than the last, but to tell you the truth, I don't really remember the last pregnancy all that much. Maybe because I was working and going into the city every day. Maybe because it was over 3 years ago and my brain is starting to go. Dunno. This pregnancy has been pretty good. I definitely feel more tired than I did before. But again, I blame it on my toddlers. But all in all, everything is good.

Just wanted to share. You see people, we really HAVE been busy this summer. No joke.

Here is a pic of Jennie and I from the twins birthday a few weeks ago.

Games, Games and more Games!

So, for the twins birthday they got a lot of games. Which is good and bad. Good, because they absolutely LOVE them. And they are something new, and different, and fun. Bad, because even though the boxes say for ages 3+, let's face it, they just turned 3 and really aren't ready for them. So they need to play them supervised. Like with me. Or Harvey. Or me. The games they've been into lately are Candyland, Cooties, Elefun, and and Lincoln Logs.

Mason keeps demanding I build her these really complicated Lincoln Log houses, only to knock them down a second after they are built. Here is the one I did yesterday.


Not bad for a rookie...

"My sister is nuts!"

This is a phrase I guess I keep repeating to Jacob...except I always say, "Jacob, you're sister is nuts." Well, just yesterday I heard him say it, unprompted. Awesome.

Long Beach Island!!

This weekend, our good friends, Jim and Maria invited us to their beach house on Long Beach Island. We arrived Thursday night and stayed until Saturday afternoon. Had an amazing time and their house was gorgeous. Only 6 houses from the beach...huge house with deck and playroom included. Right around the corner from ice cream. We dined on clams cooked on the grill, mussels, ribs, sausage, burgers and dogs...kebabs. Hospitality was in full effect and they have 3 kids!!!! Go figure. Went to the beach Friday and Saturday as the weather was absolutely gorgeous. The beach was nice and not crowded!!! So we could actually relax and kind of watch the kids from afar. Ahhhh.

I actually forgot my camera...duuuuuh. But took a few pics on my phone.

Saturday my other two best friends, and old Hoboken roomates before twins (and before Harvey for that matter), Jennie and Jean, came with their families as well. We all went to the beach on Saturday. Hard to believe we all have families and between the three of us 10 kids!!!! How nuts is that? I'll tell you this, I would NEVER have imagined this scenario 10 years ago, as we sat on our disgusting couch at 311 Grand street eating omelets for dinner, drinking wine and talked about going out to Duffys, or Black Bear. Oy...how did this happen?

Anyway, thanks everyone for an awesome weekend. Here are some pics of the twins...enjoy.



Yes, they really do love each other.


My little Mowgli. (you Jungle Book fans get it.)


So independent.


Digging for hidden treasures.


"Oh, it's just cute, little old me!"

Let's go Red Sox!!

I completely forgot they had these cute outfits so put them in them last Friday. All the Yankees fans cowered as Mase & Jake strutted their stuff down the street. As they should.

Let's go Sox!!

Dora & Diego Balloons

Just hangin' out at 704 Clinton St.

August 1, 2011

Monday was Mason and Jacob's real birthday. We got back to Hoboken late Sunday night with lots of presents and new toys. Woo-hoo.

I wanted to take the kids out for their birthday though so Sarah and I took them to this place about 20 minutes away in Jersey called Kidz Village. It was essentially a huge playspace. It had different rooms you could go in - like a grocery store, a hair salon, a music room ect. Their was also a massive climbing apparatus that had like 3 slides attached. And an arcade in the back. Kids absolutely loved it. We were there all afternoon.


Jacob playing "the popcorn game". You had to see how much popcorn you could catch in the pan.


Mason "Amadeus" Lieberman.


Wicked fun.

Birthday Pahhhhty!!

So I apologize again for the lapse of time between entries. Especially something as important as Mason and Jacob's birthday party. Jeeesh. But anyway...

The party was a blast. The kids had the times of their lives. Again. As always. It was a small, family party with a few friends but their was nothing really quiet about it.

They loved playing outside in the pools and with "the little guy" sprinkler. They loved playing in the bouncey castle. The loved their Dora and Diego cake -- Thanks Grandma!! And their life sized Dora and Diego balloons were a hit as well. Jacob didn't really have any cake but he liked looking at it. Instead, we made him a "Teddy Graham" buffet with blue, red and yellow Teddy Grahams. He was in heaven. Clearly. Mason on the other hand consumed 3 pieces of cake, 1 popsicle, a bowl of Teddy Grahams and 2 ice cream cones. What a hungry little caterpillar.

A couple notable notes...I completely forgot that Jacob oddly developed a fear of candles on cakes this summer. I believe it started on Harvey's birthday. Don't know why. But completely forgot he doesn't like them. At all! Awesome, mom, right? So when we brought out the cake all lit up, Jacob just screamed at it. At first I thought it was because he got some frosting on his hand and he doesn't like things on his hands. But then I realized it was the damn candles. So his friend Burke stepped in (like any BFF would) and helped Mason blow out the candles on the cake. As soon as they were out, my little Jacob was fine.

Another event of the day that I will NEVER forget occurred after the party had finished. Most of our guests had left. Jake and Mase were still playing, buzzing of their sugar high, when all of a sudden I heard Jacob scream like I had never heard him scream before. (except maybe when he was an infant 0-4) Anyway, my heart instantly sunk. I looked over and he was in the driveway playing on a tricycle. I thought maybe he fell off or got his foot caught in the wheel or something...I run over and he still continues to squeel and cry and carry on. He's jumping up and down and pointing at the sky and I notice the Dora balloon...going up, up, up into the air. I picked him up and he's still crying like I've never heard -- "My Dora balloon. My Dora balloon. Get it mommy. Get it!!!!" Oh my God. Honestly, it was one of the saddest moments of my life. I couldn't get it. She was gone. And my little Jacob's heart was crushed. I think I cried.

But never fear. Grandpa rushed out and got the little guy another one. Because that's what Grandpas do. And all was well.

When I asked the kids what their favorite parts of the party were Mason said, "Eating up all the cake." And Jacob replied, "When Grandpa got me my Dora balloon back." What a day.

Here are some pics that commemorate the event.


BFFS - Burke, James and Jacob play play inside the tent.


My birthday boy snacking on some Checks Mix.


The banner. Pretty, awesome, right?


Mase prances around like a princess.


The Dora balloon that broke Jacob's little heart.


Jacob was not a happy camper when cake came out. But Mason's eyes lit up.


Burke steps in to help blow out the candles.


Lieberman family photo after the candle incident.


The twins fight to get the monkeys out of Rescue Bag.


This about sums it up.