Oldies from Eva's House

When I dropped Mikey off on Tuesday Eva had given me some pictures that she had taken during the last "school year".  There is one picture from M's second birthday and the others are from last fall.  To me, last fall wasn't that long ago.  Yet when I look at the pictures Mikey looks like such a baby to me!  It is so amazing how fast time flies and how he has changed so much over the past year.  Sigh......

Queensbury Trip

This weekend we traveled to upstate New York to visit with Mimi, Grandpa Fred ("Pa-Pa Fred"), Uncle Mark, Meredith, Uncle Timmy, Emily and Mimi's brother Mark and his girlfriend, Erin.  It was a busy weekend but a lot of fun!  We spent a lot of time outside playing baseball and swimming.  

On Sunday we took a trip to Prospect Mountain to check out the views of Lake George and stopped at Martha's for an ice cream treat!

 Mikey was checking out a toad that Uncle Timmy caught

 HI!

 Emily & Mikey

Mikey had a great time with Uncle Timmy and Emily.  We also think Mikey developed his first "crush" this weekend---for Emily!  He was completely smitten!  On Monday morning before we left Queensbury, Mikey wasn't happy until Emily came downstairs.  When we drove home and pulled in the driveway he whined "No Mikey's house!".  We asked him where he wanted to go and his reply was "Emily's house!".  When we asked him which Emily he wanted to see---"Cousin Emily or Timmy's girlfriend Emily" he quickly responded "Timmy's girlfriend Emily!!" and started grinning from ear to ear!  Uncle Timmy has competition!

 On Sunday night we took a family picture.  Mikey was held for the picture and he was not happy about it.  When we finished, he stood on his own and started posing for the "paparazzi" (with some help from Meredith).  He totally hammed it up and posed for many minutes as people snapped away.  It was hysterical!

Thanks for the great weekend, everyone!

New Jersey cont'd

Grandma Anita had lots of stuff planned for our week home.  And Mikey was more than happy to participate!  Mikey was "Gran-ma's" shadow for the week.

Common phrases that Mikey used this week include:

• "Gran-ma, you play cars (or other activity) with me?"
• "Not working"
• "What doing?", "What making?"
• "Where going?
• "Oh, Bob!"

One day we went peach picking which was quite yummy!

 Another day Mikey took a trip to Gran-ma's school for a meeting and then to see her classroom.  He loved racing his cars on the newly waxed floors and running in the hallway!

Auntie took two days off from work to hang out with us as well.  One day we went to Avon-by-the-Sea for the day (we had two beach days while we were home!).  The weather couldn't have been better.  There was a nice breeze and it wasn't too hot.  Mikey loved digging in the sand and eventually realized that he liked jumping over the waves, too!  We found lots of seashells and two crabs!

Another night we went out for dinner to Klein's in Belmar.  We ate outside watching the sunset, the boats going in and out, the drawbridges and the train go by!  It was all very exciting for Mikey!  Then on the way home we stopped back at the "ice cream store" (AKA: Jersey Freeze) for dessert.  Yum!

Thanks, Mom and Dad for another fun week!  We were ALL spoiled and enjoyed every minute!  xoxo

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

My birthday was the most perfect day.

It started off with stuffing my face with some delicious breakfast items that I only treat myself to once a year (typically on "Tomato Day").  It was the carb breakfast of champions and I enjoyed every morsel of my buttered challah roll, cinnamon krueller and crumb cake.  Mmmmmm....

After breakfast I drove to the airport to pick up my hubby who flew back to NJ for the weekend.

The afternoon was spent relaxing and hanging out with the fam, including Mandy and Scott.

After naptime, Mandy, Scott, Mikey, Michael and I headed to the boardwalk in Point Pleasant for rides, games and more food!  We started with the rides.  Mikey talked about the "boat ride" the entire drive to the boardwalk.  He loved it just as much as last summer---even quoted it as being one of his favorite rides.  He also rode the fire trucks, helicopter, motorcycle and truck rides as well.  He really enjoyed himself.  We headed to dinner when the tickets were used up (he transitioned A LOT better than I would have predicted) and then headed to the games.  Mikey played Skee-Ball for the first time in addition to a basketball game and a fishing game out on the boardwalk.  We scored enough points to claim an amazing prize in Mikey's eyes.....Sarge from the Cars movies.  He was in heaven!  The night ended with ice cream overlooking the ocean and doing some intense people "watching" (more like "commenting")!

Oh!  And the Giants whipped the Jets in preseason football that night as well.  Even though the game doesn't count, it still makes the day perfect!

Thank you to everyone for your phone calls, cards, emails and facebook posts.  I appreciate it all so much!

xoxo

"Cousins"

One of the many reasons I love being home is that I am closer to my BFF's from high school and their children.

Erica just had her son Jacob and Erin and I made the trip to Oakland to visit.  It was so great to see Erica in "Mommy mode".  She looks like a pro and is only 10 days into the job.  And that Jacob sure is a cutie.....

Kevin and Jacob

Another day Erin, Lauren and I got together at Lauren's house for a day-long playdate :)  The kids had a great time with each other-----they practically covered every room in the house (we left quite a mess!) but they had a great time.  We are up to seven kids now (including baby Jacob who couldn't join us just yet) and soon-to-be eight with Baby Scialabba on his way! 

Kaylie is the oldest of the pack and I love her to pieces.  At one point I made a reference to Mikey about "playing with his friends".  Kaylie quickly corrected me and said, "We call you Aunt Alli so technically that means we are cousins!".  Love her.  Mikey is lucky to have such amazing "cousins" to play with!

Kaylie, Kevin, Jimmy, Mady, Emmalynn, and Mikey!

Thanks for the fun day, everyone!  We love you and can't wait to see you soon!  Maybe when Baby Scialabba is born?!?!

Brothers of the Sun Tour

This week marked our second vacation of the summer with Mommy and Mikey visiting New Jersey for the week.  (Thanks for sharing us, Daddy!)

We kicked off the week at the Brothers of the Sun tour with Mandy, Scott, Michelle (my cousin) and her hubby, Kyle.  Mikey stayed home with Grandma Anita and Grandpa Bob while Mommy and Daddy enjoyed the concert (our Christmas gift from Mimi and Grandpa Fred!  Thank you!!).

We were there as the parking lot was opening (at 11:30am!) and set up our tailgate spot.  This year Mandy and Scott went all out----they got us our own personal potty complete with privacy tent!  It was great!  It was quite the conversation starter with our fellow concert-goers!  In addition to the potty and tent, Mandy organized a great tailgate with tons of food and snacks.  Thanks for all of your hard work, Mandy & Scott!  We had a great time!

 Potty and Privacy Tent

 Tailgate spot

Michelle, Mandy, & Allison 

 Alli 22 weeks, Michelle 28 weeks

 

 View from our FLOOR seats!

That same evening, Grandma Anita had a wedding for a colleague of hers.  Grandpa "Bob" stayed home with Mikey.  "Bob" made hot dogs for dinner and then took Mikey to the "ice cream store" for dessert.  Mikey told me the next morning that he had "chocolate ice cream with sprinkles" and made a gesture rubbing his fingers together when he said sprinkles.  So cute.

Beach Day!

Bob and Katie were nice enough to invite us to the beach on Sunday.  They have a beach pass to Duxbury Beach in which you can drive your car directly on the beach and just park there for the day.  It was heaven.

 Mikey and Ellie had a great time digging in the sand and collecting rocks.  The water temp was a little chilly (62 degrees!) but Ellie had no problems going in.  Mikey was a little more cautious and just stayed on the shoreline.

(I love this picture!)

 And then there was Oliver---he just ate and slept like a perfect little baby!

Thanks for the great day, Perniola family!  We had a great time!  Maybe one of these years we will FINALLY get our own beach pass!