friday: the kids went to school while i cleaned and packed for our trip to visit the grandparents. when i dropped the kids off this morning, rex told me that he just wanted to go to his classroom by himself instead of waiting with me while we said goodbye to malloy in her class. so he took off down the hall. he went right into the playroom (where they start their day). when i went in to say goodbye, he said "i came in the class all by myself!!" he was so proud of himself!!! he's growing up and getting used to the school routine. when i picked him up he said "i have fun in my class!" malloy was sad that she couldn't go to the stretch and grow program at her school. some of her classmates go. she pouts and cries because she doesn't go. today, she asked "did you bring any money so you could pay for stretch and grow?"  after school, it was lunch, nap, and  then time to go to grandma and grandpa's house! rex didn't nap - i didn't have time to lay with him so he played in his room while i packed up the rest of our stuff! the kids were great on the ride - they're getting used to riding in the car and their imaginations keep them occupied for longer periods of time!!! it's so nice! the kids were excited to be at grandma tappy and grandpa gary's. rex even ran up and gave grandma a hug immediately!!! (he usually takes a while to warm up to the grandmas!!) malloy got there and wanted to eat - she didn't eat much on the way down. rex was very tired and went right to sleep - he didn't sleep at all on the ride down!! malloy took a bit, but didn't give any trouble about going to sleep.

turkey's for roro! 

malloy requested a grilled cheese sandwich with broccoli and little pepperonis  shaped like a diamond

saturday: the kids played all morning at grandma tappy and grandpa gary's with neal while i made a cake for the party at roro's. after nap, we went to the party!!! we had pizza and celebrated birthdays - dan's, roro's, daddy's, and mine! the kids weren't sure what to do when the entire family started signing loudly and off key. they were looking around and watching at first, but then they joined right in! malloy and rex had so much fun playing with (or even just staring at) the older kids. when we left, malloy told me her favorite person was sam. rex chimed right in, "and my favorite is max! i played football with him!"

being good kids

carrot cake! 

rex LOVES his new robe that grandma val made him! 

they even wore their robes to the party!

big hugs for grandpa don

today - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!  we had breakfast at grandma tappy and grandpa gary's and then packed up our stuff. then we had breakfast over at grandma val and grandpa don's! the kids played for a bit and then we headed back to buffalo. rex did not sleep, malloy did but only for about a half hour. we stopped for a potty break at a rest stop - there were boy scouts there with lots and lots of treats. malloy was super excited to pick a treat!! we ran around for a bit and then made the rest of the trip! the kids were great again!!! when we got home, neal played outside with the kids (it was near 70 degrees out!) while i went to wegmans and then came back and made a lemon meringue pie for his birthday!  both kids we happy to be in their own beds and went right to sleep!!

giving daddy 33 kisses! 

rex thought it'd be more fun to decorate himself than do his mosaic

playing in the leaves

he was so sleepy and was cuddling his best friend deedoh