Fantasy Football

Having kids is great.  Having kids is amazing.  Clearly having kids has a major effect on your life and nowhere is this more evident than in fantasy football.  Ann's been playing in the same Yahoo league for the last 10 years.  Fortunately Yahoo keeps a record of where you finished from year to year.  See if you can see a trend in the data below...

year - 2003, position = 4

year - 2004, position = 1

year - 2005, position = 1

year - 2006, position = 2

year - 2007, position = 2

year - 2008, position = 1

year - 2009, position = 6

year - 2010, position = 8

year - 2011, position = 7

year - 2012, position = ???

Amazing.  As soon as the kids came along in 2008 Ann was unable to play Fantasy Football with the same gusto, even missing out on the play-offs the past two years.  Some would say that it's because the kids have our attention and that we can't spend as much time researching players but I think it's a little more sinister than that and there's a conspiracy somewhere in the league.

Breakfast

The twins are starting to become independent.  Pretty soon they'll be leaving the coop and setting out into the big wide World on their own.  We wish!  But not really.
Here are a few things that they can do themselves...

Mason gets dressed in the morning for school.  Jacob sometimes tries but he's a bit lazy and tends to wait for Ann to help.

Both kids go to the bathroom by themselves (no. 1 and no.2) and both still like to announce that they're going to do it.  We often hear a scream of "I"m going to go poops!"

They brush their teeth by themselves.

Now that they're at preschool and have to get out early in the morning all these things help Ann in getting them ready in time.  One thing that really helps is that they go downstairs to the kitchen and have breakfast by themselves.  We leave out cereal on the table and milk in their cups in the fridge and they take care of the rest.  It helped by getting some cereal containers that they can pour themselves.  Here's a pic of what I mean - a nutritious breakfast of cheerios, trix, kix cocoa puffs.  Yum!!!

Mason's Blues

This morning Mason sang the blues:

Me: "Mason, why don't you play a song for Skye on your harmonica?"
Mason: "Okay.  This song is called 'Pretty Pretty's so sad because Mirror Mirror doesn't love her'.  It's about Pretty Pretty wanting to play basketball but no one will play with her so she's sad."

Last night Mason spoke about the blues:

Mason: "I'm not sad.  This straw is sad."
Ann: "Why is he sad?"
Mason: "Because he has no friends."
Ann: "Why does he have no friends?"
Mason: "Because he's allergic to everyone except the rabbi."

I think we have a budding creative on our hands - I blame her mother.

Storyland!!

                                      

So in case you were on the edge of your seat wondering where the big trip we took the twins was that I hinted at a few days ago...it was STORYLAND in Glen, NH. Was a total blast. For all parties involved. I'll get into more details later, and write about our trip more in depth, but here are few quick pics.

We drove up the night before and stayed in a hotel...which the kids LOVED. Of course. They've never been to one. And the next morning we had breakfast and then headed to the park where we spent the whole day.

Mason's favorite part of the day was meeting Cinderella. Jacob's favorite was going on the spinny turtles. Harvey's favorite was getting Mason wet and watching her cry :)  My favorite was eating Mason's chocolate ice cream. Another honorable mention was eating popcorn and cotton candy for pre-lunch.

Anyway, here are a few of my fave pics. More pics and stories to follow... stay tuned.

Jake and Mase snuggling in their big bed.

They were tall enough to go on ALL the rides.

My little white rabbit.

Mason meets Cinderella.

Jacob's favorite ride!

L'shana Tova!

Last week was Rosh Hashana. Today was Yom Kippur. We spent both holidays at the synagogue where the kids are going to preschool. They have a family service for kids aged 0-5. So that was really nice. It's short and sweet. Interactive and fun. And the kids saw a few friends from class so that was exciting. And they got a snack after (even today on Yom Kippur!) which was even more exciting.

Two funny things that happened today - 

First, Jacob was acting all crazy in services. So much so that Harvey had to take him outside because he was having a little bit of a fit. When Harv finally calmed him down and asked him what his fit was all about, he said, "I just wanted to say hi to Abigail...but I want you to come with me Daddy." Aww...little guy is already in love. Between Rose, Abigail and Mason his curly little head must be spinning.

Secondly was a conversation I had with Mason this morning. Last night Harvey went to Kol Nidre services. Mason and I had the following conversation:

Mason:  Where's Daddy?

Me:  At synagogue.

Mason:  Why?

Me:  Because it's Yom Kippur.

Mason: But why?

Me: Because he's praying for us.

Mason: What's praying?

Me: (long pause) It's when you talk to God.

Mason: Oh.

This morning we got up and Mason and I walked downstairs.

Mason: So did Daddy talk to God last night? What did God say to Daddy?

Me: Oy. It's too early Mase. Ask Daddy when he gets up.

That girl has a crazy good memory. And I just think it's funny that she was obviously thinking about it all last night. Anyway-

Here are some pics from Rosh Hashanah. 

Happy New Year everyone!

Poop Back Mountain

Does this look like the face of a girl who would poop up her back twice in one day? 

Well, she did it on Monday. Skye Maxine!! 

Sisters

What's wrong with this picture? Sorry Jacob. This one we're showing at your wedding.

Mommy and Daddy

Who knew that Jacob was a budding artist?
Here is a portrait he drew of Harvey and I. Enjoy.

First Day of School

Jacob and Mason started their new preschool the week after labor day...so they've been going a good two weeks now. So far so good. They are in the Pilonim Levanim class, which I think means "White Elephants". I can't believe this is their last year of preschool...thus I digress. 

They go every day from 9-12. But somehow it doesn't seem very long. I started dropping them off giving them a kiss in their kissing hands and a big hug. But now they just run in. Sometimes they barely say bye. And then when I got to pick them up, they don't want to leave. I have to bribe them with promises of stopping at Dunkin Donuts on the way home. Not a bad thing I guess. They love their teachers, Lori and Rose. But I think Jacob actually might have a crush on Rose. (even though if you ask him he still says he wants to marry Mason). Rose is young and pretty, and Jacob says, "I like Rose the best." 

The twins are also meeting a lot of new friends, which is kind of exciting. I'm the "Room Parent" for their class. I'll tell you more about it later for those of you who are on the edge of your seats. But for now, just check out the pics of my kids on their first day of school. You can't get much cuter than this.

Laundry Room

Another exciting thing happened this summer. We got a laundry room. It was one of the projects we had talked about when we moved into the house, and something we've actually completed! I can't believe we went without laundry for almost 3 months. It's kind of my favorite room in the house so far. No joke. How sad am I?

Skye totally loves hanging out in the laundry room too!

Go Pats!

This pic was taken on the first day of the season when the Pats beat Tennessee 34-13. It's been all down hill since then with losses to Arizona at home and Baltimore last Sunday night (with replacement referees). Anyway, Jacob, Mason and Skye don't care. As long as Tom Brady is playing and they can cheer for him, that's all that matters. Go Tom Brady!

10 Months Old!

Skye Maxine turned 10 months old, about 3 1/2 weeks ago. So I'm sorry this entry, is, well, once again late. But here are the pictures from the day -- taken at The Children's Museum outside the arts and crafts room.

Skye is just a really good baby. She's continues to be a champion sleeper and is eating up a storm. She pretty much eats everything you give her. She's started to go off the purees - prefers things she can feed herself - grilled cheese, pasta, chicken, rice and all sorts of veggies. She's a way better eater than Jacob and Mason ever were. And honestly, some nights, I think the little thing eats more than they do.

She's moving all over the place. But not crawling. Boot scootin. Or butt scootin. Check our her moves below.

Here's to Skye birdie boo boo! We love you honey.

The Children's Museum

At the end of the summer we took the kids to "The Children's Museum" in Boston. Hands down it was one of the best things we did all summer. The kids absolutely LOVED it. It was super interactive and there was lots of stuff for them to do (as opposed to just look at). Highlights of the museum were "the ball room" - where there were tons of golf balls you could throw down holes and through loops and onto rolly tracks. They LOVED it. There was the "bubble room" which was full of bubbles you could blow, get inside and look at. We had a few wipe outs because the floor was slick. And Jacob managed to pop bubbles in his eyes twice which burned a little but he was OK. There was also this enormous climbing structure that they went up to the top in. The whole trip was awesome. Skye had fun too. I took her to a baby part where she got to hang out on a water bed type surface which she seemed to like. We'll definitely be back. No doubt.

 The enormous climbing structure. Fun for hours. HA.

This rope was attached to a big weight that when you pulled it up to the top it would drop and send something flying in the air. The harder you pulled the higher the something would fly. 

I know, I've done a great job at illustrating this, so I'll just stop here.

 Jacob, hoisting himself up...way up.

My climbers.

Stone Zoo

Harv and I took the kids to Stone Zoo in Stoneham a few weeks ago. We also went with Aunt Jennie and cousin Hunter. It was a small zoo...kind of perfect for all the kiddos. But there was a serious bee problem there. They were swarming. The kids didn't care. But I did. But I had to be brave. And show no fear. They kind of had a good time. Although, they weren't really impressed with most of the animals. In their defense, a lot of the animals were sleeping. And how exciting can a sleeping Zebu be? 

They were impressed with the flamingos - because of their bright pink color. And the gibbons. But who doesn't like monkeys? Oh yeah, Mason. Because apparently, all the animals smell.

Happy as a clam.

 Jake and Daddy in front of the flamingos.

 Hey ladies...my name is Hunter...and I'm TOTALLY available.

 Just playing in one of the park areas. I know, they ARE cute. So cute!

I have to admit, that I was a tad scared that Jaguar was going to bust through the glass. But my kids who are scared of the hand dryers in public bathrooms weren't afraid in the least.

One of Mason's new tricks. She's a daredevil. I swear.

Isn't She Lovely?

My girls are the bestest. One day, Aunt Lena and Harold were over and Mason came downstairs in this fabulous outfit she fashioned herself. She's totally into picking out her own clothes these days
and getting herself dressed. Pretty good, don't ya think?

Skye can't pick out her own clothes yet. But she's still lovely.

Girls club! Girls club!