Fun With Friends

This past weekend, we hung out with Keith, Jessica, and Lilly at their house. The kids ran around crazy, played on Lilly's new swing set, and colored. The adults ate some yummy Chinese food and had some cocktails (don't worry, the kids ate dinner too).

Sean and I used to do all sorts of things with Keith and Jessica before kids. It's sometimes funny to catch yourself in a conversation about what size diaper our kids are wearing and stop to think, "When did this happen?" and reminisce about the different things you used to talk about!

It is so funny to watch Ava with Keith - she is such a flirt! She cocks her head and sways back and forth when she looks at him. And Aidan absolutely LOVES him some Keith. Aidan can sometimes be a bit skittish with people, but never with Keith. They are like an extra Aunt and Uncle!

Aidan and Lilly:

Aidan and his godmother:

Miss Ava - curly bows and curly hair:

Ava having some fun with Keith:

Easter, Part 2

On Easter Sunday, we got the kids up bright and early for 7:30 a.m. mass. They were such troopers! They got up really well, ate a quick cinnamon roll morning-snack, and got dressed with little issue. We even had time to snap some pics in their Easter Sunday best while they were still in a good mood and looking super-cute.

When we got back from mass, we discovered the Easter Bunny had paid us a visit. The kids got another Easter egg hunt and got even more baskets. They ate a little candy, played with a few toys, then Aidan took a quick catnap before it was time to meet Gram and Dzia for Easter brunch at a local restaurant.

Brunch was AWESOME - so, so good. And the kids were great too! We ate so much, we couldn't bear the thought of trying to eat the big Easter dinner I planned to prepare. Instead, we opted for leftovers and ate the meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and rolls the next day.

Here are the kids in their adorable outfits:
I might be a little partial, but can you deny the cuteness?
Or the studliness of it all?

Checking out the spoils:

Huntin' for eggs:

Aidan, I think you are supposed to run toward the egg, not away from it:

Easter, Part 1

We originally had plans to go to Ohio for Easter. Since we were there the week before, we ended up staying close to home. We had LOTS of fun and a ton of yummy food at Memaw and Pepaw's house on Saturday.

After breakfast, we packed the kids and dog into the car and ventured north to spend the day with Memaw, Pepaw, Uncle Drew, Great Grandma, Ross, Ashley, and ALL the dogs. Anytime we have meals with Sean's family they are huge and very well thought out. Lunch consisted of pizza paninis while for dinner we had homemade chicken fettuccine. To top that all off, Memaw and Pepaw served homemade ice-cream they made in their Kitchen-Aid mixer - and it ROCKED!

The Easter Bunny made a stop by Memaw and Pepaw's house and even left some eggs for the kids to find. Ava was all about it, and Aidan could have cared less - although he did dig the "WonderPets" book the Easter Bunny brought him.

I always wondered what the Easter Bunny looked like (just kidding - this is Uncle Ross' dog, Mable dressed for the occasion):

Aidan and his book (notice he is concentrating so hard, the tongue is sticking out - he gets that from Daddy):

Ava found an egg!

Daddy showing Aidan a few things on the piano:

Mommy and the kiddos:

Hair Fashions, By Ava

One Sunday afternoon, Ava thought it would be fun to "cut Daddy's hair". She got out the tongs from the utensil drawer, and draped her baby-doll blanket over the front of Daddy and "cut" his hair.

This was inspired by the "Looney Toons" episode when Bugs Bunny played "The Barber of Seville" with Elmer Fudd (some of you may remember that classic episode).
Sean is such a good sport!

"Shortie"

My dad's name is Steve, and my brother's name was Steve - to tell the difference in who we were talking to or talking about, my dad started calling my brother Shortie.

Since my brother's passing, I noticed that my mom and dad have started calling Aidan "Shortie". I don't mind it a bit, and I think it helps us to remember him.

If Aidan still has this nickname in 5 or so years, we will be sure to tell him all about how he got it.

Here is our Shortie building (knocking over, is more like it) block towers with Dzia:

And reading a book with Grandma:

Nebulizin'

So, the week of March 31st was the week from hell. It all started with a trip to the doctor's office with Aidan, where we discovered he had a terrible chest cold and ear infection.

Up to this point, we make it no mystery that we are truly blessed that neither Ava nor Aidan has been really that ill. So, when we found out Aidan's treatment consisted of breathing treatments 3-4 times a day, we were caught off guard.

Let's just say, I was on the verge of tears as I was pinning my very large, very strong 18-month down to try to give him his first treatment right there in the doctor's office. If it's one thing Aidan will always protest, it's being held against his will. Almost every treatment was a battle.

The good news is, after just a week's worth of treatments, he was cleared from the doctor and back to his old self! Thank you God for blessing Aidan with such a speedy recovery!

The one bright spot? A pimped-out dinosaur mask:

Game On!

Lately, Ava has really taken a liking to playing games. Previously, she would just play with the game pieces and do her own thing. Now she likes to play for real.

I spotted Daddy and Ava playing Chutes and Ladders - Sesame Street Edition a few weeks ago. Sean let her spin for him, and she helped him count as he moved the pieces.

It was a well-fought battle, but in the end, Ava prevailed and beat Daddy.

Blogging Hiatus

Sorry for the lack of posts the past couple of weeks. We had some sad family news this past week - my brother passed away unexpectedly. Needless to say, there have been a lot more pressing things to deal with.

I do have several things to post, so I plan to get back into the swing soon. Stay tuned...