The Big 3-0!

Well, yesterday I turned the big 3-0! I finally caught up to Tom :) Obviously Jessica also had a birthday yesterday, but a fun fact you might not have know our aunt Amy and uncle Ross, also twins, and were also born on July 29th, but a few years earlier than us. How funny that the only 2 sets of twins in our family also have the same birthday.

We started the morning at a play date at our friend Suzanne's house. We had a great group of kids and everyone loved all of Jake's new toys.

Mine are very into art so they loved having the easel to play with.
We then met our parents for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. (E just got told to stop putting her hand in Ben's face so she looks a little crabby here). It was a great lunch and a fun surprise to have my dad show up.

It's a miracle! The kids are all looking at the same time!

For dinner that night Tom had made manicotti (my favorite!) and got a cake with our family picture on it. I was very surprised!

He and the kids also decorated and got me flowers.

It was a beautiful, fun, busy day!

Elliott's Birthday

Elizabeth's friend, Elliott, had her birthday Saturday at a fun gymnastics center. It's a great place for kids because there are all these in ground trampolines (great for my accident prone Ben) and each of the kids got their own.

Ben trying his out,

and Elizabeth. (whoops - we forgot to take off the glasses)So now - do you see anyone missing?

Why are these 2 kiddos sitting by themselves away from all the fun you ask? Well, Josh was a little nervous the whole time of the new situation so he hung out with his mom, and a few minutes after the party started E turned around and just started bawling. When I finally got it out of her what was wrong she said "I didn't know those men!" There were 2 male teachers and E does get more nervous when there are men instead of women (like at Sunday school or something). So, I was trying very hard not to get mad because I was thinking it was a little ridiculous that a 4 year old would be scared at a birthday party when I was sitting right there!


Finally, after the activity wasn't teacher directed, Elizabeth was willing to get up and play. This is the giant foam pit the kids can leap in to.

There's cousin Drew jumping off the long trampoline into the pit.

We all ended the party with cupcakes and ice cream. Happy Birthday Elliott!

We have had a fun beginning of the week with absolutely no pictures! Monday we went to a jump house place for a few hours. Tuesday we went to a free kids movie at the movie theatre and then I was lucky enough to go to a movie with friends in the evening. Today we have more plans so I hope to get my camera out!!

Friends to Play

My friend, Joanne, and her 2 girls came to play on Friday and I think everyone had a lot of fun! Here is Joanne and her adorable baby, Jill. It was nice because Joanne and I were able to chat and play with Jill while the "big" kids played in the kid's rooms.

I peeked my head in to find Ben playing music,
Cooper being the doctor, and Elizabeth and Jane being patients. (Elizabeth was kind enough to finally share the doctor stuff with Cooper - she loves to play doctor!)

(I was also babysitting Cooper on Friday so Jessica could get some things done.) Cooper came out of Elizabeth's room dressed in full fireman's gear. So the kids were very busy dressing up and I was busy talking - sounds like a great play date to me!

Bitty Baby Day

Elizabeth's friend, Elliott, is turning 4 this week and her mom invited us to go with them to a Bitty Baby tea party at the American Girl store. We went last year with Elizabeth and had a good time, so we were excited to go again this year. My mom came with us and did a little shopping :)
During the tea party the girls sat on the floor and listened to a story.

Here E is, waiting for the story to begin.

Doing a fingerplay during the story. Elizabeth helped read the story - I think she's ready for school!

Our cute girls with their babies.

Ben also turned 2 and a half! I stole a few ideas from my friend, Chrissy. We wrapped half of a present for Ben and made half of a cake. I don't think he really understands what 2 1/2 is...but he loves any excuse to get a present and cake!

Train Ride by the Zoo

The kids and I went on the train by the zoo with Tom's family. It was the perfect day - about 80 degrees and sunny - unheard of for this summer!!
We had a big group with us and we all enjoyed popcorn at the halfway point.

Ben scarfed his down in about 2 minutes!

Not loving the sunglasses...I don't like not seeing her eyes!

It was a fun morning!

Dinner at Our House

Dinner was at our house tonight for Tom's family. We made dinner and afterwards when it wasn't quite so hot we played in the backyard on the bounce house and just watched the kids play. I think Ben enjoyed the bounce house as much down as he did when it was up!
After we played for a while (notice the red, sweaty kids) we had dessert. My mom got me a really fun cupcake pan that makes the cupcakes into cones. Then you add a scoop of ice cream on top to make a cone!

Isn't Zach so cute?! You can't tell so well in the picture but he is covered in water droplets. I got a water bottle to spray the kids because they were so red and Zach kept wanting me to spray him until he was soaked. It was very funny.

Victoria, Amelia, and Janet

Ben and Elizabeth - nice and hot!

What a funny face!

John (Tom's dad), Nick (cousin), Nancy ( Tom's sister), and Carole (Tom's mom)

Both my kids are loving baby Amelia. Ben kept wanting to hold her.

Taking turns with the baby.

We had a great time with everyone and we had some really easy and yummy sandwiches that you should try! All you do is get some really good bread - we tried 4 cheese foccacia bread and ciabatta bread - both from Sprouts. They also have it at Target and I'm sure tons of other places. You cut the loaf in half and layer pesto (that's the best part in my opinion), ham, turkey, swiss cheese, and whatever else you want. Put the top back on and bake it in the oven until the cheese melts. That's it! It was really good though, you need to try it!

It's Been a Long Time

We had a very long week last week. Elizabeth got sick with a virus and had a very high fever for 6 days straight. Monday was the first day we were able to get out of the house. Tom's sister, Linda, and her son, Nick, were in town visiting, so we went to Tom's parents house to swim and see everyone. Elizabeth is becoming quite a fish, she can swim the whole length of the pool now!
Here's Ben with cousin Nick. Ben had a great time swimming with his big cousin.

Big brother, Zach, was having a good time at the pool, too.

We also had to visit this sweet baby. It was great being able to get out of the house again after being stuck inside for so long. Tonight we are having the whole family over for dinner so I'm off to cut some fruit!

Amelia Lauren

We have great news in our family! Victoria, Tom's sister, had her baby girl last Monday. She named her Amelia Lauren.
Zachary is a proud big brother.

She's just beautiful!

Congratulations, Victoria!