Summer's Here!!

Strawberry Picking at Tougas with Ev's friend Drew

Sophia climbing at Tougas playground

Fun times at Auntie Elaine's Summer Bash!

Jeff and Ev hiking Mount Monadnock

June Happenings & Proud Moments!

I have been walking around the house smiling about Evan for the past few weeks now. I didn't think I could love him or be more proud of him than I already was, but he has just amazed us this past year - especially these last couple of weeks with some of his accomplishments. This spring has been a turning point for Evan. He has a new sense of self-confidence and has done things that in the past he wouldn't even try. Here are a few pictures and videos from recent events in June. Boating/tubing at the Camp (Evan and Sophia's first tubing ride!); Last baseball game of the season; Kindergarten Author's Tea; and Children's Sunday at church. I will throw in a couple of Sophia too so she doesn't feel left out. She's quite the little lady these days, having tea parties with her dollies!

Happy Mother's Day!!

To our friends and family who are moms - hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day! Here are a couple of pictures of the kids today in Boston and at the aquarium. They were extremely sweet and made my day very special.

Sophia was clapping at the harbor seals as they swam by!

Ev actually got to touch a stingray (I did too - very slimy!!)

Baseball Opening Weekend!

Here are few pictures from Holden Baseball Opening Weekend...including the big parade and opening ceremony and Ev's first game and first "at bat" of the season!

April Vacation

Visiting Auntie Kelsey at Quinnipiac

Playing at Elm Park

Ev and Rileigh on the rock wall at the Ecotarium

Sophia and her BFF Kaelyn at the Ecotarium

Ev and Rileigh being silly at the Ecotarium

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to our friends and family! The kids had a great day today - it started rather early though...Ev was up at 5:30am - he was definitely the most excited we have ever seen him for the Easter Bunny's arrival this year - prime age I guess! He was good though - he waited in his room, and was so cute singing to himself, trying to keep busy...Sophia awoke around 6:15 and we all went downstairs to find that the Easter Bunny had, in fact, visited our house, left some treats, and hid lots of eggs! Sophia was most excited about her chocolate bunny in her basket and her little Ariel princess doll. Evan was more excited to find eggs. The kids got all fancied up for church and actually did quite well sitting in church with us this year. We then headed to Nana's house for a lovely brunch and another Easter egg hunt. That Easter Bunny was quite clever and crafty this year with his hiding places. He also took on a healthier approach which surprisingly got rave reviews from the kids - lots of goldfish, raisins, bunny grahams in the eggs as opposed to all candy. (wasn't sure how that was going to go over but they liked that stuff more than the chocolate and jelly beans!!!) We got lots of pictures and actually managed to get a couple where both kids were looking at the camera and smiling! I realized this weekend how important this blog is to me. I went looking for last year's Easter pictures to show the kids how much they had changed and realized that I didn't put any pictures or video on the blog last year at Easter :( We did find lots of other blog posts, pictures and videos from this time last year and had a lot of fun looking back and seeing how much everyone had changed...so my new resolution is to get back into blogging! We hope our family across the miles had a Happy and Blessed Easter!

Sophia had her last dance class this morning although we will be signing up for the next session which starts up again in 2 weeks. It is a little "Mommy and Me" class with lots of music, intro to ballet and tap steps, parachutes, bean bags and stretching exercises. She loves it! I think she likes dressing up in the dance attire and tap shoes the most! And she has met two little girls that will be in her pre-school class in the fall. She was so excited to get a ribbon and a ballerina stamp today. I brought my camera this morning and was able to get a little video - which made Evan SO happy because he has been upset that he always has to go to school on the mornings that Sophia has dance class!

Sophia's First Day of School!

Sophia started "school" this morning! I am going to be working in the office starting next week, covering for a maternity leave for 3 months. Sophia will be going to Wonder Years Learning Center 3 mornings a week while I am working - this is the same place Evan started at when he was 2.9 while I was working. I started her two mornings this week so that she can get used to it. And I had a whopping 2.5 hours in the house to myself this morning - it was heavenly! It went by way too fast though...just enough time to get in an hour's work out, start a load of laundry and tidy up a bit. Sophia didn't cry at all, although she clung to me and resisted me leaving. The teacher held her while she waved at me out the window. They said she was very quiet and didn't speak at all...wouldn't join circle time...stood off to the side (gee, does this sound familiar??? Evan all over again!) She played nicely by herself, played outside and when I went in for pick-up she was having a little snack with another little girl. She seemed content enough and was thrilled when I told her she'd be going back again Wednesday! She told me all about circle time this afternoon and the songs they sang (as if she had participated!!) She is just like Ev - needs time to warm up and very shy around strangers. She will come around though, and probably quicker than her brother did. Yay Sophia! Here are a few pictures of the kids going off this morning.