Neighbors are nice

I like going to the playground with our friends in the neighborhood.  Lucy and Grace are so sweet and Andrew just loves to play with them.  Not to mention it's a nice chance for us moms to catch up and provide support for each other (and talk about a recent deal or shopping spree!).

Lucy, Andrew and Grace

Puffs

Amber does not eat all of the puffs you give her, despite their disappearance...  here's where the vast majority wind up:

Random Happy Thoughts

Spending the day being productive (especially when Mom & Dad have the kids).
Sharing chocolate chips and pecans.
Smelling like your friend's perfume for hours after she hugs you.
Thinking of your friend because your daughter reminds you of her daughter.
Borrowing your friend's deodorant because you forgot to put yours on (and so does she on occassion, hence her having it in her locker).
Babies, babies and more babies!
An old poem someone wrote for you.
Dancing, in any way, shape or form!
College.
Crafting.
Girls night out!
Being on the same wave length.
Baking.
My kids' smiles.

And so begins the matching outfits!

Rosie and I decided that Claire and Amber will occassionally wear the same outfits and be photographed in said outfits.  Tonight was just the beginning!

This one makes me think of The Parent Trap except of course they're really saying 'you're not my twin' and it's true (or something like that).  Or maybe it's just... Claire: "i make this outfit look gooood"  Amber: "what's on your head?"

Browns are unique

The Browns are a wonderful family!  Even as the matriarch of the family passed last week, they managed to share old stories, smile and eat good food.  You will be missed Grandmom Brown.

A wonderful part of such an event was getting to see all of the new babies in the family in one place!  Uncooperative as babies are for groups shots, we were unable to get them all together, but here are each of the newest munchkins!

Brady, cousin Jason and Megan's son

Logan, cousin Steve and Nicole's son

Owen, cousin Mike and Jodi's son

Owen and Logan could be twins! 
And of course Jackson and Amber

A short but wonderful visit

I got to see my dear friend, Foluso, at her brother's wedding reception.  Always a fun time when her family gets together to party!  We got some cute pictures of the kids together (her first son is 6 months younger than Andrew and her second son is a month older than Amber).  Congratulations to the happy couple, too :)

Little boy in the pool

Got Ken in the pool with Andrew for swim class today :-)  Seemed like Andrew had fun again and did some swimming by himself.  Our current challenge is getting him to keep his mouth closed so he doesn't swallow water and to put his legs up behind him to swim forward.  The latter stems from him grasping the treading water-concept like pedaling, but he looks like he's riding a uni-cycle in the pool.  haha

The trip that never was

Ken's cousin invited us for a family picnic at her home in Delaware this weekend.  Friday night I made a yummy dessert to bring along.  Saturday we got stuff packed up so we could leisurly get out the door this morning.  All seemed right on target until we got to Chester.  The car made a loud beep and very large red letters appeared on the dash  S T O P , and then oil pressure- see manual.
So we got to a Pep Boys in Brookhaven, PA ('round Chester/Widener University).  They said they couldn't help us because the oil pump etc in a VW is complicated and has to be handled at a dealership... not open on Sundays.  So Chase is at the VW dealership in Newtown Square tonight.  Our brother-in-law, Chris, made the trip from Trevose to rescue us and bring us home.
We're very bummed that we missed the picnic and seeing all the little ones and families together.  Hopefully we'll get to try again soon.

The Art of Bubble Mowing

It is a very precise art, bubble mowing.  Please note the care taken to get under the tree (and keep up with Dad)!  I love watching the boys cut the lawn!  Andrew listens very well to Ken about where to stand when weed whacking and follows at his heels while mowing.  Ken even gives him a turn with the leaf blower!

Amber is crawling!

We saw Amber take a couple little "knee steps" this morning so I grabbed my fancy new camera with HD video and got her doing it!  She wanted to keep practicing, but it was nap time.  I'm sure we'll have some more footage of her tearing up the place!  Sorry for all of the oohing from me- I was pretty excited!