Merry Christmas Everyone...

and happy birthday to JC!

Perspectives on Matt

Jane and Hank, independent of one another, have both been curious about Matt's role. Tonight, Hank kept pointing to a row of construction workers in a pop-up book saying "woof-woof." While it is his favorite phrase, I also realized that he thinks that men with beards are dogs. It made me wonder what he thought Matt was during the month of November. Thankfully he doesn't have to guess anymore.

And Jane, well somehow we were talking about nipples yesterday. I used the Selzer family tactic to talk about everything with its intended purpose, keeping it G rated of course, nipples bringing the milk to the baby. Jane thought for a minute and then wondered why Daddy had nipples. Then, the gem: "Maybe Daddy was a Mommy."

lol

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Janey Bea

We celebrated Jane's 3rd Birthday a few weeks ago with Frog & Toad and house full of fun. Here are some of our favorite shots of the day.







Jane wearing a very special coat that Grandma made her! It's the start of her boutique line.


and here she is opening her Fancy Nancy doll from Nanny and Papa with her own tiara (that's a fancy word for crown.)



As for Jane in 2010, she is our little sunshine, our laugh box, our organizer, our ballerina, our librarian and our care taker. She sings Annie songs most of the day and now she and Turner do a great duet for the song "Tomorrow." She also refers to yesterday as "westerday" - a concept I love - the day gone by as in moving somewhere to the west. She's is as adamant about things as she is particular about her collections; at any moment, Jane has 3 or 4 bags packed with random things from all over our house.

At the nutcracker this weekend- she got a smile from those around her as she said "good-bye fairies" a few times when the dancers left the stage, she referred to the 2ND half of the show as the "new Nutcracker," and continues to call Herr Drosselmeirer "the pirate."

For christmas she asked for a stroller and a white doggie (the two toys she has to share the most with Hank) - She's smart this little one of ours. She loves her friends at play group - "I have an Emma," referring to a playgroup friend if we meet another Emma. She will not have Turner get on the bus without a kiss for her first and she is such a sweetheart to Hank (as long as she has had a snack and is well rested. ;)

Jane at three is a precious gift! Happy Birthday Baby Girl

NYC Marathon 2010

Matt completed his 6th marathon this weekend. As if not a feat itself - his feet did the work; he ran this one barefoot. Katie and Jim cared for Hank so Jane & Turner and I could go for the big day. With Veprek's plan and Colleen's "nanny for the day" service, we navigated the subway system from Manhattan to Brooklyn and back again. The kids had a great day watching the race and being in the city. We didn't find Matt until 26.2 (maybe he didn't run it) but the kids were thrilled. Turner told anyone on we saw, stood or sat with, "My dad's running the marathon today." Jane added "Elmo's daddy is running too."



Matt celebrating with his sisters Catherine & Mary Kate


Thank you Colleen!!!

The Marathon from Turner's perspective.




Other highlights from the day:
Jane getting the attention of almost the entire as she sang a rousing version of "happy and you know bounce on the bus."
Turner singing "we're looking for our daddy, have you seen him?"
Texting with Aunt Frannie - it was her first NYC marathon too - she was cheering Matt one along the way.
Receiving updates on my phone about Al Roker (he finished in a little more than 7 hours)
Finding a playground in central park after walking across the park to get to the west side! loved that.
Chirpin Chicken for dinner on 77th and Broadway - best chicken fingers we've ever had.
A quiet ride home ;)

a last minute change

we really took advantage of halloween this year. Turner was a ghost, yoda and a power ranger. Jane was both Amelia Bedelia and elmo (no picture, sorry). Hank was a dragon, a dinosaur and a pirate dressed as a dinosaur. Turner's ghost idea was inspired by his dad dressing up as on at Nativity and scaring the boys. On halloween it proved to be a bit of an obstacle to seeing and Turner spent most of the night costumeless but still getting his fair share. Hank loved it - squealing from the ergo most of the night. Jane lost her shoe and hat several times and managed to eat more candy than she collected. M&M's are her new favorite food group. Enjoy!







Also, the night before, my roommate, Maryanne & Craig celebrated their wedding and they looked stunning in their costumes.

Apples and Halloween

Pictures from our recent weekend adventures of Apple Picking with the Dullea's, the Cecils and Tammy & Martha.











The Dullea's Halloween Bash. Jane is Amelia Bedelia (thank you Grandma!) Turner is Yoda and Hank is a dragon.








And a word about Jane. Yesterday, God was her imaginary friend all day. She made a room for God. Made God soup. Put God to bed. Called God on the phone. And, here are a few shots she took when it was her turn with the camera: