Oh...just wait for it...

Having fun in the hotel in PGH...

PGH Children's Museum

Pretty Kitty

School Time!

Roo at the Zoo

As most of you know, the summers bring fishing tournaments on the weekends. So on those days, the kids and I pack up with donut holes and water bottles and head to the zoo. This year I was a little nervous about taking Kaitrin without a stroller...either chasing the child would occur or some back breaking carrying. To my wonderful surprise, neither. Most times I would carry her and hear, "walk like big girl momma." And so the first zoo trip of the season went like this... Jacob, who is always thrilled with the zoo, was watching the crocodile at the entrance. He wasn't exactly convinced that it was real because it wasn't moving. He also did not want to jump in the water to see if it was fake.

Last year when we visited to zoo, Kaitrin did not speak nor could she hear very well. I am not sure if this change or just another year of age transformed her experience, but this child LOVES the zoo. Every animal that she saw (thanks mostly to Diego) she would scream the name...even the everyday sparrows that flew everywhere. She wanted to pick up the Conures that we fed (three on my arm and one on my hat).

Kaitrin enjoyed the birds...maybe a trip to an aviary is in her future.

Thanks to Nemo, Kaitrin knew the names of most of the animals in the manatee aquarium. She saw the turtle (dude crush), the sting ray (mr. ray), and the blue fish (dory). She has a stuffed manatee that she sleeps with, so she knew the name of the animal. But because the manatees weren't moving, she wasn't impressed. After ten minutes of running up and down the tanks, one of the large mammals decided to come to the top for air. Kaitrin's voice was the only munchkin tone that anyone could here in the entire aquarium - "LOOK! MAN...A...TEE!"

Roo at Bob Evans

At the "pancake store", with whipped cream on her nose, she smiles and tries to grab the phone with her sticky syrup fingers!

Roo in her Dora glasses....CHEESE!

Jacob's Second Dentist Visit

Jacob Warhol

Happy Roo

Keeping Roo Calm...with new toys

Jacob's Candy Negotiation

~but I'm hungry
~but it says it's low fat
~but it's strawberry flavored and strawberries are healthy
~but I'll die if I don't eat something now

Nice try Jacob...

Snuggle Jacob

More Macaroni Grill

Attempting to Eat Out at Macaroni Grill

What keeps a two year old occupied while the food is being made? Maraschio Cherries...and a lot of them!

Cookies at the Grocery Store

Sleepy Roo at Mimi's Cafe

Little House on the Prairie

My mom made this dress for me when I was 2. It has been passed down (no, I'm not that old) to cousins and then back to Kaitrin. Mom had to hem it so little Roo would fit into it...a good 3 inches!

YUM - Frosting!

Flower Girl Dresses

Kaitrin was pretty happy with the outfit she originally picked out to wear, so she insisted on trying this dress on over it. This is one possibility for a flower girl dress. I am not really worried about what she wears as much as I am about her being agreeable enough to walk down the isle with her brother!

Roo at Christmas

Roo loves her books. This is Christmas in PA.

Roo in her Christmas Dress

Mommy & Roo

Executive Chef Jacob

Among the many presents that Jacob received, he was pretty excited about his chef coat and hat. He picked them out because he wanted to look like Chef Kevin...minus 3 feet...he is pretty close! Jacob really enjoys cooking in the kitchen. Each week, he gets to make one meal for dinner. He believes that he "makes the best pizza ever!"

Pirate Jacob

Jacob had his friends color pirate bandannas and make beaded pendants. And with a treasure chest cake and great presents...it was the "best party ever!"

The Cake Queen

Great Grandpa Max insisted that she needed to learn to swipe some frosting with her finger...so we let her.

OOOH - a first taste!

And back for more! As she continued to get more, she realized that she could use two fingers and grab some cake too. Before she decided to take her whole hand and grab for more cake, we took it away and gave her a plate - portion control!

And here is her damage done...

Jacob's 6th Birthday Cake

Inside the cake...

After three cakes and 6 containers of frosting...Jacob has a treasure chest birthday cake!

Waiting...

Jacob wanted to stay up and wait for the PA crew to come in, but ended up falling asleep with the cat on the floor in the family room.

Dirt Pudding

Kaitrin smashing the oreo cookies to make the "dirt" for the dirt pudding.

Kaitrin showing off her "slippery worm" that she bit the head off of.

Jacob's Dirt Pudding - with much more oreo cookies than Kaitrin!

Kaitrin's Dirt Pudding - hated the worm but ate ALL of her pudding.

Jacob's Airplane

Jacob and his imagination! It figures with all of the toys that we buy him...the empty diaper box occupies the majority of his time!

Pizza Picnic

Jacob made pepperoni pizza for us for dinner. Then, since both kids were so good, they got to have a pizza picnic and watch Bolt.

Snuggle Bunny

Kaitrin in my fleece jacket.

Little Miss Boo-yah!

Kaitrin took Jacob's sparring equipment and had a blast running around...and around and around! "I Booyah, Mommy!"

Ride to the Grocery Store...by Soccer Mom

I wish I could have recorded this. Me and the munchkins were on our way to Whole Foods - a 20 minute drive. Mind you, we have the DVD player in the backseat but it didn't seem to make a difference.

Jacob: Are we there yet?

Mom: No Jacob. We just left the house. It will be about 20 minutes.

Jacob: That's going to take an hour!

Mom: No Jacob, it'll only take 20 minutes.

Jacob: It'll be one hundred minutes.

Mom: No Jacob, just 20 minutes. Why don't you watch the movie?

Kaitrin: A, B, C, D, E....Momma, I a good singer.

Mom: Yes Kaitrin, you are a good singer.

Kaitrin: I sing more, A, B, C, D...

Jacob: Kaitrin! Stop - you are giving me a headache!

Kaitrin: No Jacob! I a good singer! (singing louder) A, B, C, D, E...

Mom: Jacob, let her sing...put your head phones on and watch the movie.

Jacob: Mom, what's that?

Mom: It's the Budwieser Plant

Jacob: Do they make Bud?

Mom: They make beer - not bud.

Kaitrin: Deer!

Mom: No Kaitrin, Beer not Deer.

Jacob: Uncle Michael likes to drink beer.

Kaitrin: Uncle Michael likes deer.

Mom: No Kaitrin, Uncle Michael likes beer.

Kaitrin: White Tailed Deer!

Jacob: She doesn't know anything, Mom

Mom: Jacob, she's learning. Leave her alone.

Kaitrin: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday...

Jacob: Kaitrin! Stop singing!

Kaitrin: Jacob, I smack you butt.

Mom: Kaitrin, hitting isn't nice.

Kaitrin: It funny momma, it funny. Hee hee hee

Jacob: What's that over there?

Kaitrin: What's that?

Jacob: It looks like a tower.

Kaitrin: A tower!

Jacob: Kaitrin! Stop repeating me!

Kaitrin: Repeat me

Jacob: Mommy! Make her stop!

Kaitrin: Make her stop...I smack you butt!

Mom: There is a movie on...someone please watch it....

Jacob: Are we there yet?

Mom: It'll be just a minute Jacob.

Kaitrin: I want a cookie!

Mom: We can buy some at the store Kaitrin.

Jacob: Mommy, I was watching the clock and your minute is up. We aren't at the store. What's up with that?

Mom: We will be there soon. If we go to the right here, it takes us to the zoo.

Kaitrin: The zooooooo! I want go to Zooooo! Zooooo! Zooooo!

Mom: When it gets warmer, Kaitrin.

Kaitrin: Now! Zoo! Please Momma!

Mom: When it gets warmer...it's too cold today.

Jacob: Maybe we can go in May. I don't think I remember any of the zoo animals Mom.

Mom: They are all the same Jacob, you haven't missed anything since the last time we were there.

Kaitrin: Animals! I see animals!

Mom: Maybe tomorrow Kaitrin.

Jacob: But I have school tomorrow!

Mom: I was just saying Jacob. What do you want to buy at the store?

Jacob: Mango

Kaitrin: Gango! Yucky...disgusting!

Jacob: Na-ah Kaitrin - it's good.

Kaitrin: No Jacob! I smack you butt!

Mom: Where did you learn that Kaitrin?

Kaitrin: Jacob say it.

Mom: Thanks Jacob...

Mom: We are here! Everyone out!

Kaitrin: Get out pokey butt...let's go, now!

Mom: Settle down little Miss Bossy...

Kaitrin's Caterpillar

Kaitrin made this caterpillar at school the other day. I asked her what his name was...and she proudly responds, "Metamorphosis."

Happy Birthday Daddy

Chef Jacob made a special dessert for Daddy's birthday - Ice Cream Pie! He used a chocolate cookie crust and filled it with fudge sauce and oreo cookie ice cream. He then topped the pie off with full scoops of ice cream and oreo cookies around the edge. After we finished singing and before plating this scrumptious dessert, Jacob garnished the slices with chocolate sauce and blue sprinkles.

Kaitrin's 'Princess Dress'

Jacob and Baby Kaitrin

Jacob's Baby

Jacob and the picture of his new baby.

Jacob Digging

Another old video of Jacob. This one is in Dayton and he is digging in Mike's beautiful garden. As I was looking at these old videos, I realized just how much I miss that backyard!

Jacob in Daddy's Boat

More vintage video of Jacob...

Vintage Jacob Video - Watering

This is our house in Dayton. Jacob loved to water. It's actually how we got him potty trained...let him water the garden in big boy underwear in the yard. Better than peeing on the tree in the front yard!

Cats in the Dryer

This is a vintage Jacob video from the beach when he was 2. Uncle Michael taught him to say that you put cats in the dryer. Thanks Michael!