Thanksgiving - upstate NY style November 2011

The last few years we've hosted Thanksgiving at our humble abode but this year we decided to head North and spend it with my brother, sister in law and kiddies! Cupcake was so excited to know that she would be spending several days with Tink again. We loaded ourselves into our car and hit the open road to only sit in traffic for several LONG hours. We almost debated turning around and starting all over again in the am but that only made me angrier.

Regardless, we finally arrived late at night (again, I am sure my brother hates me for showing up on his door step in the middle of the night) and were so happy to spend 3 nights with my entire family. My parents arrived earlier in the week and my sister was coming in right behind us but staying at a hotel. Hubby and I are a tad too cheap to spend money on a hotel when we know someone has a floor/bed/room to spare. It was good to finally be out of the car and with family! Can't wait for Turkey Day to start!

Morning! Someone woke up very really today (shocking) and wanted to watch TV at 4am. I wanted to cry especially since I didn't know how to operate my nephew's TV. Besides the point, Happy Thanksgiving! It was a fabulous Thanksgiving! My brother and Wahlberg are fabulous cooks and went all out creating a perfect Thanksgiving. The kids played outside for hours, Cupcake and Tink switched on and off being nice to each other and kicking/screaming. I'm about 30 weeks pregnant and really starting to feel it! We played games the rest of the night, the girls made some arts and crafts and my brother entertained us with his outrageous sense of humor and jokes. Hubs even sat back and enjoyed himself. He didn't have work to do or calls to take, he just sat and played video games all.night.long!

The next day the kids went to the movies, Nanny and Grandpa chilled while Wahlberg and I took Tink and Cupcake to see Santa! Cupcake was a little nervous however Tink walked up to him as if they were best friends. She is such a confident little girl, so sweet and full of love! Tink cut the line, got on his lap and didn't stop delivering her wish list. After witnessing this for 5 minutes Cupcake realized that Santa isn't a bad man after all and slowly sat on his lap. She wouldn't speak to him or even crack a smile, she just gave that "give me a candy cane and no one gets hurt chubby" look. Ahhh, to be young again. After Santa we even managed to get a few Christmas gifts. I am so excited for Christmas!

Overall, the holiday weekend was great, very relaxing! Big thanks to my brother and his family for opening their home and hearts!!! It doesn't matter what we do, as long as we are all together! Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!

It's potty time! November 2011

I forgot to mention that Cupcake is potty training! We tried over the summer however it only lasted a few days when we decided she just wasn't ready. So, the other night Cupcake was moving her step stool/potty out of the bathroom and quickly stopped what she was doing, pulled her pants down and said "oh, I have to go potty". Hubby and I thought she joking so we didn't make a big deal but all of a sudden "her royal highness" potty music played and we both ran into the bathroom shocked. We weren't sure if our pup used the potty or if another human being snuck into our bathroom, did their business and quickly left. After a few minutes and a huge smile on Cupcake's face we realized that she indeed went pee pee on the potty! On one hand we were so happy that she did this on her own but on the other hand we were getting ready for a very long road trip and was hoping we could rely on diapers. Well, like most things when dealing with kids it's on their terms, not ours.

We are happy to report that Cupcake quickly made the transition from diapers to undies, wakes up in the middle of the night to potty and rarely wakes up wet. I guess she was ready, who are we to argue.

No pictures please, potty time is private time!

Side note, she is still not sleeping in her big girl bed.

Happy 5th Birthday J! November 2011

My nephew (and godson) J celebrated his 5th birthday this past November. We gathered together and made our very own pancakes and aprons. Cupcake had a great time playing with her boy cousins; LoLo, Ca, Co and J but also hung with the big girls A&A. Cupcake loves being part of the gang and had no problem mixing in with the others when they moved to a play room for some dancing. I don't think she misses a beat or even shows the slightest sign of slowing down when older kids are involved. She had so much fun and as soon as she left quickly asked when we will play again!

Happy Birthday J, hope it was a fantastic birthday!

Let's get cookin'

Cupcake is my shadow, she may look like her daddy but she is a little mini me. She can never let anyone do anything without her. It is so funny because whenever I am about to do anything she will say "oh, I help you". I try to involve her in everything I do, rarely do I say no because I don't want to discourage her. So, you can imagine that when I cook any meal I hear a chair sliding across the kitchen floor and her favorite question, "oh, I help you". She is quick with her chair and before I can say anything her sleeves are rolled up and her hands are washed. We have experimented with pancakes, cupcakes, brownies, even chicken cutlets. On the rare days that hubby will cook something and may not want Cupcake to help, she will grab her own appliances and cook herself! I love her, she is so much fun!

Happy Birthday Nanny!

Happy Birthday Nanny! Nanny and Grandpa invited us over for dinner to celebrate another year of Nanny. My sister, Cha-Cha and my nephews also joined us for the festivities. My brother wasn't able to join us because he lives in central NY, not around the corner. We hope Nanny had a great birthday. Thank you for everything Nanny!!! We love you!

Have you noticed that Cupcake has yet to take her eyes off the cake?

HALLOWEEN IS HERE!

Finally! Halloween is here and we can hit the neighborhood in search of some candy! I love my neighborhood. There are so many kids and it's always fun when a holiday or event arrives. It's really cute, all the kids gather together for a group picture before they hit the streets. The circle keeps growing with new additions and the kids get bigger and bigger each year. Cupcake is new to the circle since this is her first year trick or treating. She was a tad shy but stood with the group for the picture then when all was ready she hit the first house and said "trick my treats". She is so cute and had a great time but only made it to a few houses. Once she saw Daddy handing out candy she decided that would be more fun! Don't blame her, at this point I'm about 25 weeks pregnant and walking for long periods of time (especially at night) is exhausting.

Happy Halloween to all!

Oh and side note the Abby Dabby costume is almost torn to pieces, another day and she would have been a naked 2 year old for Halloween.

Preschool Parade

Do you have the feeling that this blog is like the movie "Groundhogs Day". Every entry is about Halloween, I bet you can't wait for Christmas, lol! Today is the Preschool Halloween Parade, bring it on! I explained to Cupcake that she will get changed into her Abby Dabby costume at school and she will get in line with her friends for a parade. I also informed her that Daddy, Nonna, Pop and I will be there to see her and celebrate with some cupcakes. I arrived a few minutes early to help her change into her costume and WTF, her classroom was a crying war zone. All the kids were crying and disoriented, I felt horrible for them. I can't necessarily blame them, too many people were around, I can't wait for the actual parade to start. Cupcake was ready, in line and headed outside. I was so nervous that she wouldn't walk in line but once she rounded the corner her little face lit up and she was so proud to march in line! I am so proud of her, when she's good she's golden!! After the parade there was a little party and some nap time. We have lots of houses to hit tonight!

Cupcake hosts a Halloween party

Cupcake invited some MOMS club friends over for some tricks and treats. We had a good time pinning a nose on the pumpkin, eating witches hats, decorating cupcakes and seeing everyone all dressed up. It was fun and we really are meeting so many terrific kids and fun moms. Halloween is 4 days away and I'm almost Halloween-ed out. I know, I know, I sound mean but I think I jammed too much Halloween fun into our schedule. Regardless, Halloween is almost here and we are almost ready for the Great Pumpkin. Did we miss any activities????

Pumpkin Picking with MOMS and School

It's that time of the year again......pumpkin picking! We are so excited that we have 2 pumpkin picking events however they are both at the same farm, same week. This should be an adventure!

Our first pumpkin picking event was with the MOMS Club to one of many local pumpkin farms. We went on a hayride to see the Christmas trees (this is there marketing tool to ensure we come back in December to pick our tree), learned how to make that bird feeder pine cone craft thing. Cute but seriously, this is a sure way to get a bunch of squirrels on your property and steal all your crap. They are relentless and once they think you have food of any kind they stalk you from the bushes. We made the cone but left it there, the last thing I need is a crazy squirrel in my life. (For those not in the know, when I lived with my parents we had a crazy squirrel who would hang from the porch light and dive bomb us when we came out of the house. That SOB was probably looking for meatballs not a pine cone, my mom is a great cook). Back to the trip. We also had some fresh popcorn and hot chocolate (knocked it over and it went every where - shocking isn't it) and even met some reindeers. Again with the Christmas marketing ploy. Since the weather has been unseasonably warm the farm ran out of pumpkins so Cupcake would be leaving pumpkin-less. WTF? Are you kidding? You couldn't spare a mini pumpkin anywhere? You couldn't get on your reindeer and head to the grocery store and buy some pumpkins for all the kids in the MOMS club? What the hell were we going to do. At this point it is the week of Halloween, I have no pumpkins because we were told we can get pumpkins here. Not to mention I have to return tomorrow with Cupcakes preschool for more Christmas marketing info, effing pine cones for bat shit crazy squirrels and again hear that we won't leave with pumpkins??? Okay, I know, I could have purchased my own pumpkins but Cupcake kept looking at me and asking "where is them pumpkins". Oh sorry sweetheart, I didn't mean we are going pumpkin picking, we are going to the Tree Farm Pre-Sale, kind of like Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale (my favorite store and despite what everyone thinks it really isn't that expensive) where we can select our tree and come at a later date to pick it up. Well, we have a fake tree so I don't need your stinkin' sales pitch about the trees, I came for a pumpkin. Again, take your reindeer to the store and buy some mini pumpkins, at this point they are 5 for $1.00. Well, with all my smack talk the Christmas, I mean pumpkin lady quickly produced some coloring books for all the kids. It was a fun day. In fact it was so much fun that we are doing it again tomorrow!

Morning! Back again at the farm for some coloring books and pine cone making. We pulled up to the farm and Cupcake said "again"? I know, I feel the same way however we do get a hayride out of the deal. Cupcake remembered the deal so she was first in line for hot chocolate and popcorn (knocked it over again). It was another fun day, new faces, more coloring books and an even harder push on the Christmas trees since dads were on this trip too.

Lesson learned, get your own pumpkins early because the pumpkin farm may sell out or crap out early. We did have fun though!