only 4 days

until we get our snuggle on with this beautiful baby!!!!!!

time to go

a couple of weeks ago the playgrounds started to look like this...

 and the kiddies like this...

 ..so we decided it was time for vacation. and off to new hampshire we went. a couple of days at storyland made for a rested, happy family.

 oddly we landed here for quite a bit.

on both days.

matt had a cranky start, crying that he just wanted to go home and "never go to storyland" (not sure where he gets this from) but after the first ride he was certain he wanted to stay. i made him beg a little.

 jack thought everything was a roller coaster. even the lame balloon ferris wheel

ben took it easy.

as good as it gets

PS - how do you make sure kids don't crash at 4pm?

solid milk chocolate moose pops of course.

an added bonus for dad: rescuing jack from mcdonald's playland. ha ha ha ha. why are they so sticky inside?

can not believe summer is winding down.

wow

i forgot how cool sparklers are. especially watching your awestruck son wave them around on a cool summer night.

ahhhh

3 guys are nestled in their beds (well one is asleep and snuggling his dog, one is crying because he threw his bottle out of crib, and one is banging against the wall hoping i come investigate....) and i am deciding: pick up toys and go for jog when vincent walks in? or rest my dogs at computer and pour a wine? if only i didn't have to go all the way downstairs for a wine...

kids were showered with toys in new york this weekend even though it was cheeta's birthday...just a reminder albany: matty's birthday is in october and the other two in march.

 seriously, they love their new toys. thank you.

matt talked about his phone time with his handsome cousins for an hour today. he loved it.

some of us were winning piles in saratoga...

 (ok, maybe smiles not piles, but they are better, right?)

 ..while others were having a blast at the playground. seriously, jack did not crack a smile the whole time. 

 and ben just rolled his eyes at everything aunt maria said...

..until we saw the collie parade. i'm in trouble, these three love love love dogs. side note to any collie owners who may be reading: they look way better shorn.

note to cheeta: matt's secret pizza recipe includes 47 pieces of pepperoni and 24 black olives. no basil.

 ahhhh, decision made. leave half of toys for vincent to pick up while i am out for a run. heaven. will be the wine i have upon my return.

to counter...

 i have been blaming my new addiction on the kids. matty plays along just fine. 

 seriously. this is no TCBY. it is the best!

 especially after pushing my 85-pound stroller in the blaring 85-degree breezeless suburban sun. while half carrying a very tired boy and his pulling newly two-wheeled bike a mile to the shop.

someone went to bed very shortly after constructing this. and after screaming that his leg muscles hurt from the biking. seriously?? where do they learn this stuff??

 and my little jekyl and hydes....when did this super sweet face become the easy twin...

 ..this this one turn into "killer?"

 hard to remember who is killing me when they are doubly cute.

 the rooster and the owl :)

supermom

if you are still reading the blog you must know i don't like being called supermom. there are loads of mamas out there with real problems. i am just lazy and complain a lot.

but then, this happened. and i thought it was pretty super. and i had a lot to do with it, so am feeling pretty supermom-ish today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM21RG_I8mM

not so supermom is feeding the littler ones straight up peanut butter and fluff. spoonfuls. just to get dinner started.

oh well, can't win them all

benjamin buttons

i may add a wall of buttons to his room.

 they did nothing but light up.

 and he loved it. and i loved it because i was in charge of him at the children's museum while vincent had "runaway jack."

 our little dorothy took toto for a wild ride.

 ..whatever big brother does, so must this one

 especially if mud pies are involved.
tastes like immunity, right?

 is this just how boys are??

one wednesday

we went to the stoneham zoo. these guys loved the playful bear.

 or hungry bear...whatever.

 took jack a while to get out of the stroller. then he remained skeptical.

 he liked this animal though.

ben and matt walked everywhere. matty is terrified i am going to lose a twin so he follows them closely when they wander. may be direct result of him getting lost at toys r us a few weeks ago.

 major highlight: misting cool-down station

 then washed up, jammied and went to patriots practice. sometimes they all want to be held by daddy. no complaints from mom.

 40 minute car ride = "i'm so excited. i love the patriots. they are my favorite team. i love football. i love football games. i am so excited." and so we settled in our seats. with cheesy nachos, giant pretzels, steaming chicken nuggets and a couple of $8 beers. yeah!

go pats!

 5 minutes later = "this is boring. where's the football? who's brady? i'm bored. it's hot. i'm still hungry."

and so we found some turf...

 ..and an old cup

 (just kidding. it was our cup.)

then they all went right to bed and slept until 8. the end.

(this last part is fiction.)