Winter Party

Eva (Mikey's daycare provider) had a winter party at her home from 5-7. All of Mikey's friends and their Mommies and Daddies attended.






Eva started off with feeding the children dinner. Then one of the moms organized a gingerbread decorating activity. Mikey had more fun eating the "decorations" than actually decorating!




Next was time for a craft. Mikey painted a ceramic cat in a variety of colors. It was more fun to use the paint that was on his friends tray instead of his own. I must admit I was very impressed with his painting---as he has only painted one other time with me. He did get a little confused and took a couple tastes of the paint. Mmmmm!

After we cleaned up the craft, Mikey played with his friends on the slide and lego table. We finished up by singing some songs with Eva and the other children before we left.

What a fun night!

Christmas with the Boston Pops

On Saturday, December 11, we went to a very special concert at the Symphony Hall in Boston. Mimi and Grandpa treated us to the Boston Pops Christmas show---complete with a sing-a-long at the end!


We sat RIGHT in front of the stage. Mikey was in awe and sat on Mommy's lap taking it all in. By the end he was clapping and smiling! We even got a surprise visit from Santa! Highlights of the show (in my opinion) were the reading of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Twas the Night Before Christmas" with music.


Thank you Mimi & Grandpa for coming to visit and celebrating Christmas with us early! We'll see you for New Years!

xo

(View from our seats!)

(Mimi, Mikey & Mommy)

(1, 2, 3.....weeeee!)

Acton Children's Museum

On Friday, Mikey and I spent the day with Ruby, Kieran and Leah at the Acton Children's Museum. It is an old house that is transformed into different rooms of fun! The first room we walked into was the TRAIN room! I didn't think Mikey was going to leave! He just hoisted himself up into the BIG train and sat there. Didn't touch the bells or other fun knobs....just sat and took it all in!

Eventually he migrated to the train table....another hit!

Following the "ball room", the kids then transitioned into the water play area. It didn't phase the kids that the water was probably the same temperature as it was outside (in the teens!! brrr!). They had a great time scooping and splashing!

We also happened to be at the museum when there was a holiday music sing-a-long. The kids danced and played instruments. Overall it was a successful day!

And who can resist hugs from this pretty girl?!?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

Mikey's first haircut

I finally broke down. The hair in the back of Mikey's head was getting so long that I could literally make a ponytail out of it. Not very attractive in my opinion.

On Thursday, December 9, we ventured out to Snip Its in Chestnut Hill---a childrens hair "salon". For the low price of $18.99 (!), your child's hair can be cut by a professional in a very overstimulating (aka: "kid friendly") environment. With the help of bubbles, animal crackers and his lovey, Mikey was a superstar.

Here are some before shots:






And this is the handsome (and very cooperative) boy afterwards:

Video to soon follow......

Mikey and AJ

Mikey and AJ shared a special bond together when in Florida. When AJ was around I no longer had my "shadow" at my feet. AJ gave Mikey fun rides in the stroller, pushed him on the swing and even acted as a pillow when Mikey fell asleep on him!

AJ: You are the BEST and we wish you lived closer to us! Miss you already!

Thanksgiving and Florida trip

Thanksgiving morning, on our 4th anniversary, we flew to Fort Myers, Florida to spend Thanksgiving with the Scialabba and Felice family.

Mikey was fabulous on the flight---he kicked back making himself comfortable....

slept for most of the trip and then watched the Thanksgiving Day parade on TV (thank you, Jet Blue).

That afternoon, Aunt Marianna made a wonderful turkey dinner that we literally inhaled. We were so hungry we forgot to take pictures of the table or the food!

Mikey loved spending time with his grandparents and cousins, playing with his new toys, and swimming in the pool.

On Saturday night we went to dinner to celebrate Grandma Sarah's 80th birthday.





Mikey also got to spend two mornings on the beach. The first time we went with Mimi and Grandpa and it took him some time to adjust. The next time we went back with Uncle Timmy and there was no adjustment period. Mikey settled right in--playing in the sand and splashing in the water. And while leaving, he had to flirt with the three ladies in bikinis that were next to us.......












And when Mikey was just in the mood to relax, he could be found here watching Sesame Street in Grandma's recliner:

Thanks for a great visit, everyone! We'll be back soon!

xoxoxo

We are currently working very hard in the "Scialabba Workshop" to make the house look festive and Christmas-y. When the decorating concludes (which should be some time tonight), the blog will be updated accordingly. How is it December 8th already???

4 years ago today I married my best friend.....

This Thanksgiving Mikey is most thankful for....

Most Thankful

It goes without saying that I am thankful EVERYDAY for Michael and Mikey and the life that we have together. This year, I want to reflect on another thing I am most thankful for......

The McDonagh Family.

This fabulous family took me in when my life was a little crazy and let me move into their Florida home to complete an internship at a nearby hospital. THEN they allowed me to crash even longer once I made the decision to re-locate and become a Florida resident!

The McDonaghs were always re-locating around the country---from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri, and finally to Florida. Growing up, we spent quality time around the holidays with together but I never got to spend the amount of time that I did during the three years we lived together in West Palm.

Here are some of my favorite memories with the McDonaghs:

-Bonding over countless card games at the kitchen table: Phase 10 & Oh Hell were our favorites;

-Doing girly things with Aunt Diane that she never got to do with a "daughter"--manis and pedis, clothing and furniture shopping, going to the movies to watch "chick flicks" (or renting them and watching at home), sitting around and talking for hours;

-Uncle Tom converting me to a Red Sox fan & watching him check the paper each morning to see how many games ahead the Sox were of the Yankees;

-Fighting over the leftover chicken cutlets for lunch with Ryan (and the washing machine and the TV);

-Surviving 2 out of 3 hurricanes together (the third I spent working in the hospital)---sleeping in the laundry room with Ryan, sitting in the downstairs shower with Aunt Diane as we yelled at the boys for opening the window and watching the hurricane from upstairs;

-My weekly cup of ice cream from Baskin Robbins courtesy of Uncle Tom;

-Watching the Giants game at the bar with my uncle and "brothers";

-Our "family" vacation to Universal in Orlando;

-Bar hopping with my cousin...NOT my boyfriend!

-Watching "our" favorite TV shows--Friends and Sex and the City (even Uncle Tom!);

-All of our cocktails and family dinners together.

These memories and a million more will stick out in my head and I'm so grateful for the times we shared together. I love you all!

Happy 30th Birthday, Uncle Mark!

Happy Birthday to you! We hope you have a great day! We're looking forward to seeing you next week!

Love Michael, Allison and Mikey

Just another day at the farm.....

Sunday morning Mikey and I headed over to the farm to spend some time with Chloe and her awesome Mom, Lexie. Since Chloe had never been to Drumlin Farm before we had quite a lot to show her!

It was a gorgeous cool and sunny morning. First we checked out the sheep and the goats, caught a glimpse of a pony in the field and then Mikey spotted the hayride! That is BY FAR the biggest obsession these days----trucks, cars, trains, tractors, etc.

Here are some fun shots from our day:

The Big Red Barn and tractor

Chloe and Mikey saying "cheese" for the camera

Hugs on the Hayride

Mikey and Mommy playing on the old tractor we found