Serving Size

I remember in high school, when I first discovered Ben and Jerry's ice cream, I was horrified to find that the serving size on that itsy bitsy container was 4! We ALL know that little container is obviously meant to be consumed by one person. Otherwise it wouldn't easily fit into my hungry little mitt. I consumed many a container solo until Pops and I got married and I resigned myself to half a pint. 

I knew Superkid would be a huge fan of Ben and Jerry's Double fudge brownie in utero. In fact, I am sure it was after polishing off a pint that Superkid tied his umbilical cord into a knot. That kid was doing some major acrobatics. I am pretty sure B and J's was technically his "first food", slipped to him by his father. It wasn't long before he was a major consumer of my pint.

At some point after Abz came along and there were 4 spoons diving into that bitsy container, I sat back (undoubtedly sucking back a huge chunk of brownie) and marveled that those two chubby guys on the label REALLY would share a pint of ice cream with 3 other people.

Guess what folks, with Tadpole on the scene we are going to have to upgrade to a 2nd pint. This kid comes by his love for fine ice cream honestly!

Super Messy Girl

One thing about our Abizella is that she LOVES a good mess. Always has. Little did we know until recently that a good mess wasn't just her passion in life, but also her secret identity. She revealed herself to the world last month as (in her own words) "Super Messy Girl!". Besides her incomprehensible ability to make a good mess, she also has super-human tolerance to the cold. Trust me, this pic was taken in MARCH in Massachusetts. You know what I mean if you've been to these parts. 

Looking back, being the crack reporter I am, I should have been able to put the pieces together. Here she is in February playing barefoot in the barely thawed out mud in the garden box.

The Big Boy Bed Chapter 2

Don't let that satisfied grin fool you...

The truth of the matter is now that Tadpole can freely remove himself from his mini bed and relocate to our deluxe, stretch-himself-out-and-kick-kick-kick-his-way-to-comfort bed... 

...he has clearly staked his claim.

Trouble is, neither of us knows when or how he gets there. We just consider the last one to realize (and thus spend the rest of the night with his feet in your ribs) the big looser. Here's me happily slumbering ALONE on the couch.
Okay, so maybe we never had control of the situation in the first place. I'm sure you noticed that Tadpole wasn't the only bed hog in the picture. Clearly the kids feel very comfortable here.

Back In Our Element

With the arrival of 80° weather this weekend, we couldn't be held back any longer. Abizella ran straight to the mini tide pools to jump and stomp and roll around...

Superkid, the billy goat, picked up right where he left off last year on his rocks...

And Tadpole stood back and surveyed the scene... pondering whose footsteps he should follow, or if he should break out on his own. He tried a little of the rocks and a little of the puddles. 

Be warned, all future beach companions, the all time favorite activity for all Toads was sand flinging.

I can't imagine why the kids thought that a face full of sand was so funny. 

We can't start the year off with this kind of precedence. Going forward, the standard punishment for all offenders is a swift spanking!

Look Who's Upgraded...

...to a big boy bed!

Tadpole looked a little concerned while Pops was dismantling the crib, but he was pleasantly surprised to find the little Tadpole sized bed that took its place.

Patriot's Day 2009

Feed the Need Sum-up

***For some reason I cannot add text to the last entry... and I cannot shrink the pics that I stole from our official photographer so you will have to click on them twice***

Wonder where we have been lately? Saturday was our 7th annual Feed the Need race at Wompatuck State Park, which pretty much consumes my life every Spring. We really pounded the pavement getting the word out this year, and it paid off. We had 297 runners cross the finish line, 4,800 canned goods collected and enough money to buy almost as many more + 2,000 more cans collected through the local elementary school. This was a prime year for a smashing success with food pantries being patronized more and more by families trying to make ends meet.

This year's activities also included Kid's races (there is a pic of Abz running the "Toddler Trot" and Tadpole running the "Diaper Dash"), an Easter Egg hunt, Bounce House, Clown, and amazing door prizes! The best part of the day was the miracle that the rain stopped around dawn and didn't start again until we pulled out of the parking lot of the State Park.

The last two pics are of Jenn Ashley (a dangerous woman to know), President of Feed the Need, Inc. Because of her inspiration 7 years ago and her amazing ability to rally people into action (myself included), Feed the Need has now donated over 101,000 canned goods to people in need. There are now races in 2 communities in Massachusetts, and 1 in Connecticut with 3 more races in Massachusetts, 2 in New York, 1 in North Carolina and 1 in Texas (unless Sandy is good about screening her calls) in the planning phase.

Go FTN!

Feed the Need

Hoppy Easter!

Let's just say the day didn't disappoint...

When I invited Abz to the table for a pancake breakfast, she said, "No thanks, I'm having a twacolate breakfast (as the chocolate ooozed down her chin)."

Tadpole was super excited about his "Choo Choo" and snuggly bunny (which had to come home with us after he snagged it off of a shelf and used it as a pillow in the shopping cart, which all of the little old ladies found super adorable)...

And I had a hard time picking my favorite Easter outfit pic...

After church we were off to our favorite NE cousin's house for a Easter dinner that couldn't be beat and a fabulous Easter egg hunt. Superkid had a hard time hiding his enthusiasm for the prospect of the hunt, where little Tiney would trade it all for an undisturbed nap.

Thank-you to all of our family who made this an extra fun Easter week with your packages and phone calls. We love you and miss you!