Gabe's Big Boy Bed

Now that he's four years old, Gabe's been asking for a big boy bed.  We'll convert his crib into a full bed soon, but for now we took off his bed rail.  Last night Gabe slept in his big boy bed for the first time.  Exciting times!

Here's my new big boy bed!

no more rail!

reading my story with Dad before I climb into my new big boy bed

see my new bed?

Here I am "sleeping" in my new bed!

A Birthday Party For Our Friend, Jack

On Saturday morning, Zach and I went to a birthday party for our friend, Jack, who turned 2.  While we were at the party, Jason and Gabe had some good bonding time together.  They got haircuts, ran some errands, and then went out to lunch.  Gabe loved his time with Daddy.

Zach did great at the party.  He's such an easy guy around a crowd (and around sweets).  At one point, he started to cry when Jack's grandmother started playing her guitar, but when I sat with him in my lap, he calmed down.  Later, he ran to the door and asked for Gabe - I think he really missed having his brother with him.  So sweet!

straight to the food table when we arrived

eating my "nana" (donut) right away

playing at the train table with Jack and his grandpa

making a pumpkin craft with Jack's grandma

Jack's big brother, Will, making his craft

sing-along with Jack's Grammy

this is when I started to cry at the sing-along

birthday boy singing, "the babies on the bus go shh, shh, shh"

pizza time!

Zach and Jack were poking their fingers into the cake icing

birthday boy eating cake

Zach and his train having some cake

another sing-along with Grammy

the birthday boy

Charlotte & Zach

Some Quick One-Liners From Today (Before I Forget)

Of course, we have candy corn and candy pumpkins in the house.  Hello, fall candy!  As it turns out, my two boys love them as much as I do.  I've been doling them out for dessert every now and then.  One pumpkin and two candy corn each (meanwhile, they have no idea how many Mommy eats when they're not looking!).  Zach's in love with the candy pumpkins because they're a huge punch of sugar.  Anyway, we were in the car today and all of a sudden Gabe says:

"Mom, we shouldn't eat all of the candy corn and pumpkins.  We should save some for the trick or treat."

What???  Save candy for other kids?  Oh, Gabe.  You are so sweet and innocent.  I told him that Mommy will buy other candy for the trick or treaters.  Rest assured, my boy, we are NOT saving the candy corn.

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We went to the Melrose Family Room this afternoon.  They have a dress-up area.  Gabe found a Darth Vader mask and is pretty enamored with it.  As he's wearing his mask, he comes over to me with a Fireman's hat and says:

"I present you with this mask.  Put it on."

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After dinner tonight, the boys put their homemade crowns back on.  Gabe says:

"Here yee, here yee." 

Zach says in reply:

"Hah yeeee, hah yeeeee"

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It's official:  I have the cutest boys in town.

A Rainy Day Project

Gabe came home from school yesterday saying that someone in his class had a crown and that he wanted one, too.  When I reminded him about his bejeweled birthday crown, he said that he didn't want to wear that one.  So on a rainy Thursday morning, I decided to pull out my crafty side (which is pretty non-existent---sorry, boys) and make some crowns.

Gabe LOVED the idea, and Zach loved using the stickers.  Win, win.  And, they looked super cute in them.

look at the crown that I made!

I made one, too!

cheese!

what???

wearing our crowns all morning....

Should Have Blogged About This Yesterday....

because now my memory fails me as to what Gabe and I were talking about.  Nevertheless, Gabe said something pretty astute; and when I asked him why he's so smart, he said:

"Because of my super brain."

Super cute, I'd say. 

Zachie

He's too cute for words, truly.  Now that he's talking a blue streak and totally communicating with us, he seems to enjoy telling me how he feels.  How wonderful is that?

Examples:

-We left the Melrose Family Room the other day and he said, "Mom, fun at play place."

-Auntie Teetee came over the other day and after she left he said, "Mom, fun with Teetee."

-We were driving home from the Melrose Family Room this morning and he said, "Mom, sad." 

With that last one, I asked him why he was sad and he said, "sad."  Argh!!!  I asked him several different questions to try to find out why he was sad, but none of them got a yes response.  Maybe he was just trying out sad. 

I love how all of his feelings conversations start out with, "Mom...."  (Not Mama, not Mommy....just Mom).  Reaaaaaaaaaaaarrr!

Jay's Birthday Bowling Party!

Gabe's best friend from preschool last year, Jay, turned 5 recently.  Jay no longer attends the Lynnfield preschool, but his mom drove Gabe's invitation over to the school and asked his teacher to put it in Gabe's take-home folder.  I was so touched that Jay and his mom thought to include Gabe.  Gabe still talks about Jay, and I know that he really misses not having his best bud in class anymore. 

The party was held at the Wakefield Bowlerdrome, which is a very classic, old-school bowling alley.  It was a GREAT party!  This was Gabe's first time bowling, but he did a really good job.  He got a lot of gutter balls (to be expected), but he also knocked a lot of pins down, too.  The little girls at the party were too funny - they just threw the balls (lobbing them high in the air) and then just turned around, not even bothering to watch their ball.  They really could have cared less.  Gabe, on the other hand, stayed in a crouched position until he saw where his ball landed.  Both Gabe and Jay were very into the bowling activity.  At one point, Gabe came over to me and said, "Mom, bowling is great exercise, and exercise is good for your body."

I've made a connection with Jay's mom now, so I hope to invite Jay over for a playdate soon.  Those two boys really enjoy each other!

getting ready!

there he goes!

Gabe & Jay

staying crouched while his ball goes down the lane

 

there's Jay

that's Gabe's ball!

and another good ball!

ooops!

two little boys, watching their bowling balls

Jay was super hot from all of the running around

bowling ball cake!

"Happy Birthday to you"

the kids at the party

Gabe's in the background, being silly with Jay

so cute!!