update!
friday: gym, target, naps, got packed and ready to head back to newark valley! the kids were super excited to get chicken, french fries, and chocolate milk at wendy's to eat on the way! neither one of the kids ate their french fries and the toys are too old for them - next time i think we'll just get chicken nuggets! we had a good ride home - rex didn't nap at all but he made it until we were 10 minutes away from grandma and grandpa's and fell asleep! he was out cold - i changed him and put him to bed and he didn't move a muscle! malloy was happy to be at grandma and grandpa's. we tried very hard to keep her quiet so rex would stay asleep. he stayed asleep, but she was not very quiet!

rainbow on the way home

relaxing and being good while i pack!

rex LOVES this barbie fashion toy

saturday: we went to great-grandpa don's funeral mass this morning. it was the kids' first time in church. they did amazing! i brought some snacks and small activities and that kept them quiet the entire time. we got several compliments from family, friends, and strangers about how impressed they were with the kids' behavior in church! it was nice to hear that. makes me a proud mama! after mass, we went to a party to celebrate great-grandpa don's life. during the party, a drum and pipe band came in and played several songs. both kids really enjoyed it! rex was on neal's shoulders just bouncing away to the beat of the drums. malloy was clapping and waving like it was a parade - i love her and all of her enthusiasm! after nap (which malloy did not take) we went over to grandma val and grandpa don's house for pizza. they had just gotten back from vacation and had some presents for the kids. they got a stuffed pig and stuffed cow that their cousin sam had won and sent back with grandma and grandpa. they LOVED them! they also got a stuffed octopus, a stuffed crab, and some t-shirts. 

picking veggies in grandma's garden

sunday: after breakfast at grandma tappy and grandpa gary's, we went over for lunch at grandma val and grandpa don's. after lunch, they ran around outside and got some swinging in before it was time to drive back to buffalo! both kids took a nice long nap and only had an hour left to keep themselves occupied in the car. it was a nice quick trip. that night, malloy wanted to watch a show in bed instead of reading or playing a game. malloy watched bo on the go and rex played his lightning mcqueen memory game on the tablet. 

monday: we went to a playdate at a friend's house. they had an inground pool to swim in. the kids were very excited to go swimming! rex was having more fun than malloy. malloy was very skittish and didn't want to swim on her own. i think part of it was that the water was so cold - she was shaking like a leaf!  their were older kids at the playdate - malloy and rex were both loving them! they were trying to hard to be included in what they were doing. they were following them around but not talking to them. eventually they got to play a game with them and play in the box fort with them. they were so happy! 

tuesday: on our way home from the gym, i asked the kids what we should do for the day. malloy requested to go to the science museum. so that's what we did! i really love going there with them - they have such a great time!! this time, we got to shoot boogers in the giant nose and make the guy burp! very exciting! 

making shadows

putting together the skeleton puzzle

they were riding this dog around the house together. it was so funny! 

today we went to the gym and then were off to the zoo with our friends, gianna,kenadee, brooke, and ben! brooke and malloy were holding hands a lot. at one point, brooke said "this is fun holding your hand, malloy". they were being so cute! 

while i was getting dinner ready, malloy came out and asked what i was making. i showed her the sweet potatoes i was making and the broccoli. we had a very yummy dinner!! tilapia, sweet and spicy sweet potatoes (dipped in honey) and roasted broccoli. both kids ate everything on their plates! i was so impressed and proud of them for eating. it's been a long time since they've eaten without a lot of reminders to take another bite! 

after dinner, we played outside for a bit. we ended up in the front yard and the kids helped weed the front flowerbeds. they loved pulling things out of the garden and throwing it in the bins. apparently it tired them right out because they went to bed without a peep!