Happy "early" birthday PaPa Ed

PaPa Ed is turning 60 next week but since we won't be here that long we decided to throw an impromptu birthday surprise party today! It was so funny because for days Callie has been saying the funniest things to him.

"We JUST went shopping, that's what GiJu told me to say"

"Don't come in here; I'm hiding your things under my bed, don't look under the bed"

"PaPa I'm supposed to keep you busy so you don't see we are baking you a cake"

So on and so forth, she just kept the running comments. Luckily PaPa played along didn't ask any questions and just thought we were eating cake for dinner. My aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents all came to celebrate and was a great way for them to get to see the kids as well. It sure was fun. The kids got to stay up late as they took very late naps after an adventure out with Gabriella to an indoor play place. We will all sleep well tonight.

Play time at McDonalds

We don't have many play places at McDonalds in Ca. This one by my parents house in CT is one that I even played at as a kid. It's indoors so you can play in all weather. The kids just love this thing. It's a good way to burn energy when it's only 20 degrees outside! Yes that's Callie Diego and GiJu all in the tunnel slide at once. And just as fun is walking on top of the tractor carrier. Anything that's different than our regular daily life is quite exciting.

Catching snowflakes

Randomly today it flurried without being in the weather forecast. I took the kids out to try to catch snowflakes in their mouths in the morning and we went to the barn at Barbara's house to visit the horses. It was too cold to truly ride but Callie got a quick walk around in the driveway on Buddy and we fed carrots and hay. Diego wasn't too fond of the horses, so we didn't put him on Buddy. He was more afraid of them then intrigued but he liked the tractors just fine.

And Roo is finally starting to get used to Callie. He even let her pet him today.

Spa Day!

Today was such a fun and relaxing day at the spa. My mom, me and a bunch of her friends met up at Norwich Inn and Spa to celebrate 5 years cancer free! We stayed all day but the time went by so fast. I could have stayed for a week! What a great group of girls and a great reason to celebrate.

For 5 years in been giving my mom clay flowers in the number of years since her surgery. At first they were created solely by the magic of Diane at Dk designs, who made my wedding flowers, but the last two years I've been working with Diane and she has taught me to make them each year alongside her. It's sure been fun making them and watching the bouquet grow. Of course the most important part is having a healthy mom and GiJu around to share our lives with and that's something to be truly thankful for. Love you mom!

CT Christmas photo extras

Here are a bunch of photos from our CT Christmas.

Tractor riding day

We spent quite a bit of time outside today. It was cold but sunny and the last day before a real cold front comes in and we can't go outside. We visited Pa and Kay and rode on Pa's lawn mower that he hooked up with a little cart for the kids to ride in complete with blankets and a carpet. Quite a plush little caboose he worked out for them. We made loops all around the yard, down by the pond, around the house and through the log piles. Diego jumped from log to log and collected acorns from the ground. We tried to feed the fish but none were out since it's cold. In the afternoon we planted the Christmas tree. My parents have been buying a live tree in a pot and then after Christmas planting it in the yard. There should be 3 trees now but one died so this is tree 2. The kids rode PaPa big tractor (both kids, me and PaPa all fit at once), dig a hole and put the tree in. What an event. The kids are just amazed by riding around on the tractor or even the lawn mower. It's the little things in life that make you smile :)

Callie asked to have smores and so the only feasible way without freezing was in the garage over the wood stove fire that heats the garage. That was pretty good as it's warm and indoors but you still get to make real smores! After all the fresh air I hope we get a full nights sleep in. Diego is finally all back to normal but he is still quite off on his regular routine and sleep.

Bye Goober

Today we had to say bye to Uncle Chuck lovingly known as Goober since I was a little girl. Both kids love playing with him and call him Goober unprompted. We wish we got to spend more time with him before he had to leave but with the crazy sickness we were stuck home waiting to not spread it around. Even though we live in the same state it's a 8 hour drive so we don't ever see Goober except on FaceTime. Here's some crazy antics with Goober this morning.