Toy Box Forts

While I was out to lunch with a friend, Chris was watching the kids. I found these images on Facebook when I returned. The toy boxes are a nice little place to hide out and snuggle in with our favorite blankets and pillows.

Daddy's Shoes

11 PM Play Time

The kids are not yet potty trained -- much to my chagrin - and I am using the new beds as an incentive. Well one night after Daddy went to work, they refused to go to sleep and were raising quite a ruckus in their cribs. When I went upstairs, Ben asked to sleep in his bed. As it was late, and I was tired, I put him in his bed, and then Maddie in hers. Not five minutes later this is what I found. They loved it and were playing for about 20 minutes before deciding to join me downstairs. It all ended with them back in their cribs for the night and the beds have not yet been put into use as we are not yet using the potty... the prerequisite for the beds...or rather incentive??

Clifford Watching Clifford

I bought a Clifford costume at the MOM sale this year. I was trying it on Ben as he is the biggest and he just loved it. Then...Clifford came on the TV and he had to sit and watch it while wearing his costume.

Doll Strollers

Christmas of 2009 Aunt Bridget and Uncle Chris gave Maddie a doll set including the stroller. While the doll and the other accessories are in her room, the strollers never cease to be a source of constant amusement. I need to mend them regularly as the kids are too big for them -- and always were, but they insist on strolling around the house one pushing the other, or just use it as a nice snug seat.

New Rooms!

For their third birthday, the kids got their own room. Maddie's is painted Pepto Bismal pink with butterfly stickers, and Ben's is painted light yellow with two sailboats on the wall. We were about to move a bed into Maddie's room, but are waiting for Ben's bed to be available before we start anything. I was hoping the beds would be the incentive to get OUT of diapers, but they absolutely refuse to use the potty, potty chair -- or anything to do with no diapers. Soon we are going to have to go hardcore to get this done, but I was to get Ben's bed in place first. Here are the pics of the rooms.... (additonal pics of Maddie's room can be found on the link to the right)

Avalon, NJ

The kids have not been to the beach since they went with Aunt Michele when they were about 6 months old, so Chris and I decided to try if for a day. We were not sure if Ben would like it since he always asks to have his hands cleaned when playing with sand. (not one of his favorites!) So we took them to Avalon for the day to try it out. Maddie kept asking for a surf board and running across the sand for more sand to throw into the ocean and running away from the waves as they come to shore. Ben ont he otherhand was so funny! He could not get enough of the surf! He was all but diving through the waves. He wanted to go deeper and deeper in. Unfortunately, the lifeguards were calling people back due to a strong undertow so we kept him close to shore. They had a blast and were asleep within 5 minutes of getting back into the car. We can not wait to take them again.