The Best Wife In The World

Many men may claim to have the best wife in the World but only it can only be true of one and that one is Ann.  Why, I hear you ask?  Well, apart from the obvious, there's this...

Tomorrow I'm off to Montreal with the boys for a guys trip.  A MANcation if you like.  Ann will be with three kids for four days whilst I'm away having fun.  That alone gets her into the top 100 greatest wives in the World but it's what happens next that gets her to number one.  When we booked the trip I didn't realize that it would fall over Father's Day weekend.  Should I cancel?  The kids will be so disappointed.  "That's Okay," Ann says, "we can celebrate Father's Day next weekend."
Wow!  So, either I have the greatest wife in the World or that was a test and I failed miserably.

Skye's new game

Skye's got a new game that she loves to play.  I come home from work and ask her "who am I?"  She says "mama", ask again she says "maymay", ask a third time she says "jayjay".  She calls me everything other than "dada" and laughs each time.  What a little stinker!

btw - "maymay" is what Skye calls Mason and "jayjay" is what she calls Jacob.  But you already worked that out, didn't you?

Kindergarten Orientation / Screening

Jacob and Mason are growing up. And unfortunately I have to deal with it. Ugh! They are going to be 5 in August and that means they are going to kindergarten. What!?! When did this happen? I keep telling them to stay little. Or I ask, "Where did my baby Mason and my baby Jacob go?" And they always reply with, "We're here. We've just grown up a bit." Which I always reply, "NO!!!!!".

They had their kindergarten orientation a little over a month ago. Harvey and I took the kids up to the new school and they got to meet some of the kindergarten teachers while Harvey and I went into the gym for a meeting with the principal and school nurse and various other school people.

Mason and Jacob were totally fine. They left us without a problem. Once again, the only one crying in this situation was me. I sat in the gym, watching the presentation sniffling. Pretty pathetic actually. I think I was more sad at the idea that Mason and Jacob are going to be split up next year. They don't know it yet. But Harv and I think it's time. I know it's time. It just makes me sad. But anyway...here are pics of my big almost 5-year-old twins.

This is what they wore to orientation. They were SO excited. I was SO not.

Mason at the YMCA playground. She is still crazy. Crazy strong!!

Just a little lunch. I thought Mr. Jake looked like a real big boy in this pic. Sniff sniff.

Sleepover at Aunt Jennie & Uncle Andy's!

A month or so ago, Aunt Jennie, Uncle Andy and Hunter took Jacob and Mason overnight for a sleepover!! This was actually their 2nd official sleepover at Aunt Jennie's house. And all I have to say is that they had the best time EVER! They played outside. Rode their scooters. They had pizza for dinner. And then they got to go out for frozen yogurt. But the best part was they got to sleep together in Aunt Jennie's "big bed". Awwww. 

Harvey and I had Skye and took her out to look for bedroom furniture. She was less than thrilled.

Scooter time! Hunter makes sure nothing gets out of control.

Aunt Jennie said that Mason and Jacob are the best dandelion pickers ever!

FroYo run. This pic cracks me up.

Bed time. Is it possible to sleep when you're having this much fun?

After we went bedroom furniture shopping we came home
and gave Skye a nice dinner of refried beans. What a treat.

Fork Fork Fork Fork

Skye totally knows how to use a fork. She's, like, wicked smaht.

We got a bed

I had to blog this simply because we've totally upgraded and I feel it needs to be documented. We've officially gone from basically an old gazillion old full bed to a king sized luxurious hotel bed. Now we can fit the whole family in the bed. Before we could only fit 3 of us. And the odd man out would always get shunned with the "there's no room for you. there's no room for you." song. Sometimes we sing it for old times sake. The kids love it because it's so big. Skye loves it because she can get on and off with no injuries.

Drop off Play Date

A few weeks ago the twins had their first drop off play date. Where another mom just drops off their kid and goes. They are fun because because if you don't really know the other mom you don't have to hang out and make small talk.

It was also a special play date because it was with Jacob's girlfriend, Simone!! Oh Simone. She's super cute. We went all out for our guest and blew up the twin's Bouncey Castle...like we do it ever day.

Her mom dropped her off, gave me an EpiPen, and went out for a few hours. I didn't have to use the EpiPen and the twins had an absolute blast. As did Simone.

We've been invited for a drop-off play date over at Simone's but Jakey and Mase aren't so sure. I have confidence they'll warm to the idea soon.

Shabbat Helpers 2

A few weeks ago Jacob and Mason were Shabbat helpers for the last and final time this year. They were cute at always. This time they also got to take part in "Torah Time" where they are in a play that they put on for the class with their teachers. I wasn't privy to the play. But their teachers sent me some pics.

A big thanks to Aunt Jennie and Hunter for attending BOTH Jacob and Mason's Shabbat helper day and being their special guests. It really means a lot. As a side note, we actually weren't sure if Aunt Jennie and Hunter would be able to make Mason's Shabbat helper day so she wanted to bring "Baby Molly" as her special guest instead. (Clearly Skye and I were not enough.) But Aunt Jennie pulled through. And baby Molly got to come as well. Woo-hoo.

Jakey and his friend Hava in their Torah Time play.

Is he not the cutest little Jew you know?

Skye kept on insisting in crawling off and sitting on another mom's lap who she'd never met before.

But I have to say, as far as mom's go, this mom is super pretty. AND a pilates instructor. Go Skye.

Mason in her "Torah Time" play.

My little Jewish daughter. She loves her Torah.

Special guests, Aunt Jennie, Hunter and Skye.

Grandpa Ira Time

Skye loves Grandpa Ira. Duuuuhhh. Who doesn't love a man who still wears Bell Bottomed, Bambi Jeans from the 1970s.

It's Been A While

Once again, it's been a while. I just can't keep up. But you already knew that. So let's not dwell. And enjoy the time we have together. I had a sitter this morning so I could do some errands. And Jakey and Mason have their kindergarten screening this afternoon so I thought I'd take them out to lunch before hand. Point is...I really wanted to write on the blog this morning, but I find myself with only like, 10 minutes before I need to go and pick the twins up at school. Grrrr. If I get motivated I will try and write more tonight. As I've filled up my blog folder with tons of stuff and pics to report on.

Since I last wrote lots has been going on...Mason and Jacob were both Shabbat helpers again at school. Skye is walking. Running. Climbing. Spinning. And loving "Dora Dora!". She is also 18 months old. Mason and Jacob had kindergarten orientation. Sniff sniff. (Only 4 more weeks left of preschool.) The twins also are having their tonsils and adenoids out at the end of the month. But they don't know it yet. And much more...so stay tuned peeps. These kids are getting big!!

This is the brand new water table we got for Skye!
But clearly, Mase and Jakey need to show her how to use it.

This was a walk/scoot we took around the neighborhood.
We stop to take a pic in front of a spring time bush. Ha. I said bush.

Our first picnic of 2013. This was a couple of weeks ago. We're at Ginn Park in Winchester. 

Pay no attention to the rind Skye is munching on.

Pretty as Possible

The other morning Mason was brushing her hair as well as any 4 1/2 year old girl could...when she was done brushing her luscious locks she turned to me and said,
"Mommy...does my hair look as pretty as possible?"
Now what do you say to that? Except to smile. I love my Mason.

Lights, Camera, Action

Here are the videos I had stashed in my blog folder. You're in a for a treat people.

Jacob and Mason love air hockey. This video was taken in January at a birthday party at Fun and Games. More than playing air hockey, Mason clearly LOVEs winning.

Old Sue Mason don't you cry for me...
I give you the incredible, dancing Mason.

"Boogsaroonie Boog Boogsaroonie...Boogsaroonie my little Boogsieboo."

Those are the lyrics that go to the song that we sing when Skye gets shoulder rides from Mason around the house. It's quite entertaining for all involved. Make sure you pay close attention to the emphatic "Yaaaaaaah" Skye let out when asked if she wants to go on Mason's shoulders.

Pics that I think are cute

So again, here are pics I had in my "blog folder". They are from Jan, Feb and March I believe.

One of the many awesome times Mase and Jake had sledding in our backyard this winter.

Butt! And a beautiful one, at that.

The biggest fort ever. Mase and Jake wanted to make sure I documented it.

This was the AFC Championship game. The Pats lost to the Ravens. Yuck.

This was the first time Skye rode in her "big girl car seat".
As you can see, it didn't phase her at all.

Just having the best time ever. We won this bat at Fun and Games (Braeden's birthday).

A "sunflower" that Mason and Jacob drew by themselves in the driveway. I was totally impressed.

My hard drive

So...here's my latest excuse for not writing on the blog...

My computer died a couple of weeks ago. Like a failed hard drive. And I haven't backed anything up since December. And I can't even get to the back-up from December. And data recovery is like $600 and we still need to get a lot of furniture. And a new kitchen and blah blah blah. Plus I have everything on my phone. My computer is slowly getting healthy though. But every day that I don't write on the blog is another day you're missing my crazy kids getting bigger.

Off the top of my head--

Skye - the girl has started full-on walking. It's about time...seeing as she's like almost 18 months. She's turned her little scoot into steps. And it's so cute. And she's so proud of herself. She even claps sometimes. She's also talking up a storm. Trying to say anything and everything. She repeats what she hears. Or tries to. She's such a smartie pants. Favorite words are: Up (aka Uppa), No, Yeah! , MaeMae, JjjayJjjay, Mama, Dada, Mommy, Nana, Papa, Baw (bottle - but by bottle she means "sippy cup"), Daw (dog), Huggie, Buh-bye. She knows all of her body parts including her eyes and ears and tongue. We're working on our animal sounds but she's great at a sheep, kitty cat, dog, and cow (although sometimes she says "booo"). She's a terror at the park. Trying to go on all of the "big kid" stuff including big slides and big kid swings. She faceplanted right into the mulch the other day off a 10 foot slide. I couldn't keep up with the maniac and she flew right off. She cried a little. But then seemed to be fine. And I thought Mason was crazy. Skye is crazier.
Skye also continues to be my best eater. She eats almost anything but at the moment her favorite dish is pasta and sauce.

Jacob - He's really turned into a little boy. It's kinda weird. I don't know if it's because his hair is generally shorter and less curly than when he was a baby. Or maybe it's because he's obsessed with playing Angry Birds on my iPhone. Or because he has a little girlfriend, named Simone is his class. He's getting taller. But still has the smallest butt and waist in the world. He's also still peeing in his bed at night which is annoying. But he can't really help it I guess. He's a heavy sleeper. And snores like a grown man. My little Jacob is the cutest. Every once in the while he comes up to me and says, "Hugs forever" and hugs me. What a lover. Simone clearly doesn't know how lucky she is. Jacob's favorite movie as of today is "Tangled". He's also into Lego Star Wars and Lalaloopsy. He loves jigsaw puzzles and can do up to 100 pieces. He can write his name. Draw people. And is just the cutest little boy known to man. He's my second best eater. Today he tried celery at school. And he liked it! His favorite food in broccoli and red pepper stir fry with Teriyaki sauce.

Mason - She continues to be wild. She loves loves LOVES gymnastics. And is awesome. I think we might have a Mary Lou Retton on our hands people. She is working really hard on her cartwheel. She is great at writing her name and has shown and interest in reading. Like herself. And spelling. And she's good at it. Just tonight she spelled bed. She's super creative as she's always making up songs and rhymes. And she brings home at least one painting every day from preschool. I can never argue with her because she always wins and it's SO annoying. She's gotten progressively worse at eating and she'll tell you, "I'm the worst eater in the family." But it's the pride she says it with that's really annoying. Thank god for chicken fingers. She's curious about anything and everything and she still has half and english accent which is super cute. She is still a daredevil, climbing and jumping off things constantly. She loves getting manis and pedis and getting dirty and messy. She also loves her brother. No surprise there. She started eating her hair probably 6 months ago and that's still going strong. She thinks there is a "hair tree" growing in her belly (because that's what I've told her is going to happen if she eats her hair) and that doesn't seem to bother her. In fact, sometimes if her stomach is hurting she'll say, "I think it's my hair tree." Awww...Mason, Mason, Mason.

So that's what's been happening in our world.

I'm going to post some old pics and videos that I had in my "blog folder". And if my tired, cloudy, brain can think of any important events that I've missed the first quarter of this year, I'll post. Otherwise, I might just start a new. Like from May. It's just so hard to catch up. Especially when your computer dies. But that's just a good excuse.

OK - kids, if you are reading this...especially Skye, I apologize for the lapse in entries. It's not that I love you any less. I'm just busy with you 3. And tired. And getting old. And blah blah blah. But I love you tons. Always. And forever.

Here are my most recent pics.
(Following this entry will be a couple entries of some old pics and videos that were stashed in my "blog" folder on my desktop.)

Jake and his magical "fairy" glasses.

Bathtime! Woo-hoo. Ellie in the backgroud.

Just a typical morning, jumping on Mommy and Daddy's bed.

At Ginn park in Winchester. Of course they are in the sandbox.

Spring dresses for my girls.

Harold and Uncle Mat

Best time ever!