Baltimore

We made it to Baltimore in record time without sitting in traffic for more than 5 minutes, really the most pleasant trip north...ever. The girls only really needed to stop once but Emma had some "poopy fear" issues so we stopped two more times than needed. :)

We ended up staying with Mike's sister, Auntie Irene, Uncle Dave and their soon to be 4 month old twin sons, David Matthew and Christian Michael.

The evening we arrived it didn't take long until we were all very smitten with the boys!

It didn't take long to realize that Lily and Emma are two little Mamas. They were gentle, sweet, caring, and concerned about their every move or cry. They fed them, sat with them, just wanted to hold them every second and brought their favorite toys to them a lot. They also didn't get too jealous of Mike and I holding them either.

The boys are just delicious!

And, so different! They are fraternal twins. One looks like Dave and the other looks like Irene. David is quiet, content, and laid back. Christian is talkative, active and sensitive. Both are extremely happy, smiley and such good babies! They are already pretty much sleeping through the night and relatively easy babies. We couldn't have gone during a better stage of babydom.

We loved being with Irene and the boys so much!

The girls got some good Auntie I time in too.

On the Fourth, we spent the day with the entire family at Grammy and Poppy's house.

The cousins had fun in the pool, ate lots of yummy food and watched

the fireworks on tv. We aren't too fond of the loud fireworks just yet.

We had fun with our cousins too!

Aunt Sara got the kids canvases to paint and they loved it!

 

We had such a great visit and the three days flew by too quickly.

We can't wait for our next trip to MD to see everyone.

Last Day

More Pictures from Saturday:

Sunday we were able to play outside and visit the cousins for a bit while Daddy helped some more building their shed with Poppy and Uncle Steve. Do you remember these carriages?? The girls loved it! And, why is Lily showing her nails? Because her very awesome ten year old cousin painted them purple!

Thank you all for such a great visit!

We miss you all tons!!

Until January for a certain Aunt's Baby Shower :)

WOO HOO!!!

Congrats Auntie I and Uncle Dave :) I can't wait to meet those sweet bab(IES)!!!!!

A Day In Pictures

Today we went to Chapel Hill Farms where they have everything fall.

Cousins

The girls were totally attached to Kaylee, who turns 10 in November. Emma wanted Kaylee to carry her while Lily insisted on holding her hand...the entire day.

Fun Stuff

Playing and pretending in a wooden school bus.

Lily knows that when she turns 5 she can ride a real school bus. How do I know this?

Because, pretty much every time a bus passes us, she reminds me.

Not sure how it's going to work since I don't want her to ride one :).

Pumpkin pictures and a train ride. Thank goodness for Kaylee.

Emma was NOT thrilled about riding this but was right at home on Kay's lap, her screaming stopped shortly after the ride began. We are really glad that we didn't have to swipe her off on their way past us. And, the pumpkin pics...so cute :)

Pony Rides! Thanks Aunt Sara for getting the girls pony rides! They both loved, loved, loved it!!

Aunts

Saturday evening, after a nice long Emma nap, everyone in the family came over. We all had a great time playing, catching up and watching the kids play together. Emma loved playing peek-a-boo with her Aunt Kiki and tag with Aunti I!

Love everyone.

On The Road Again

We are on our way to MD.

So serious.

Watching a princess movie with sun in your eyes is no laughing matter.

On our way to Grammy and Poppy's house we stopped to see Uncle Bill. It was so great to see him and had a great time catching up, having lunch and being entertained by two little girls who needed to stretch their legs!

Weekend Trip to MD

Friday: Travel Day. We got an insanely late start for us to get on the road, at noon. We hit tons of weekend traffic and finally got up to Grammy and Poppy's house at around 630. The girls were excited to be there and explore all of the new toys to play with.

Saturday: We rented a moving truck and had grand plans for the day. And, a very frustrating and loooong day they didn't work out. We did get to move Aunt Kiki's stuff to her new house for her and got some things to Auntie I's new house but didn't get much of our stuff accomplished. We also went to Corey's 4th birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese but forgot the camera. Lily had a blast seeing her cousins and experiencing the CEC way...craziness.

Sunday: Travel Day. But it wasn't that easy. We ended up renting a hitch trailor from UHaul and brought back a shed to put up in the backyard. After a long morning and a nice visit we got on the road at 3! Mike drove the entire way in the rain, I sat in between the girls the entire drive and the girls enjoyed movies and naps the whole way home. By the time we got home at 1130 we were exhausted!!

A wonderful, packed weekend!!

Christmas Day

During breakfast, Lily played peek-a-boo with Grammy's tablecloth, she thought it was hysterical!

Lily was able to open gifts from Santa, Grammy and Poppy, us and Auntie I and Aunt Krissy. It was wonderful and they were very generous with Lily's gifts. Lily loved having her Aunts and Grammy to help her open her them. Once she was done with one, she would ooh and ahh but move right on to the next present. Again, very methodical about opening and where she put the paper but had a blast opening her gifts, so much so she wanted to open Kaylee and Corey's too!

The rest of our day was packed full of family, presents, food and good conversation. We had 11 adults(Grammy, Poppy, us, Uncle John, Aunt Sara, Aunt Irene, Dave, Aunt Krissy, Steve and Uncle Bill) and 3 kids (Lily, Kaylee and Corey) that rounded out our huge Christmas group and I didn't get ONE picture!! Too busy talking and eating I suppose!

Lily did take a much needed three hour nap despite the loudness of the group. We were able to Skype with my side of the family, Nana, Grampa, Mimi, Pop and Mark for a bit which was wonderful! Technology is so great that you can see your family, whom you miss so much during the holidays, anytime you want!!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve

This afternoon we went to Christmas Eve mass at 400 with Uncle John, Aunt Sara, Kaylee, Corey, Grammy and Poppy. This church is luckily right up the hill from John and Sara's house so we could walk, although with two pregnant ladies and two toddlers we didn't! Uncle John went an hour early and saved seats for all of us, can you believe that by 330 the church was FULL!

Lily, with NO NAP, did wonderful!!! She and Kaylee were best buds throughout the entire service. Lily bounced around to family members too, to keep her occupied and she didn't make a peep. Well, until a the band would stop singing then she would clap, wave and say bye-bye.

Afterwards, we made our way back to John and Sara's house for dinner, cookies (yum, yum Sara!!) and cousin presents! Lily loved her time with her cousins and chasing their cat around the house.