If you're going to read this entire post. There's no excuse for the lack of updating that's been not going on here. Or whatever. I can only promise (again) that I'll try to be better. Since my last post, we obviously have quite a bit to report. No offense to anything skipped over, I'll try and recap on all events, but my memory is crappy.... please forgive me.
We went to the zoo with Dama on her birthday. We met Aunt Janice and Aurelia (Mia's second cousin, I think is how that works out?) there, and it was a blast. The girls had so much fun together, and it was so sweet how quickly they got in their groove, considering they don't see each other very often. Fast friends. Hope we get to hang out with them more!! Anyways, so couple cute pics of that. We didn't get to see the farm babies because it was a little too cold to make the long walk outside... silly thing is, we've been to the zoo twice since then, and still haven't seen them. :( We haven't given up hope though-one of these days (before it's over) we'll get to the zoo, the weather will be agreeable, the girls cooperative, and basically all things right with the universe, and we'll get to see those baby farm animals.
So anyway, that same day (Grandma's birthday - her 60th birthday, btw) we had family bday dinner party at our house. Everyone was able to make it - (very exciting) TWO BDamas (if you don't know what I'm talking about here, don't feel blue. Just pay more attention to my previous posting ;), Poppa, Dama (of course, the guest of honor), Gorgeous, Uncle Bri, Uncle Dave, Fatima, Benny, and the four of us. Too bad we didn't get another group picture. I wish we would have. It was fun, and the food turned out pretty good, I think. The snacks were a hit; I made an olive dip, and a warm artichoke dip, and we had chips and stuff. For dinner I made my usual spinach lasagna, and tried a new recipe for butternut squash lasagna from another blog I really like (http://www.bakingandbooks.com/). I'd make the recipe again definitely-but it is one rich dish, a very small piece will do ya. We warmed up a meat lasagna from Stouffer's and had salad and garlic bread, and pineapple upside-down cake for dessert.
The very next day we went back to the zoo with Matt, Trace & Madison. It was a blast, again, and as always. :)
At nap time, I went to visit Miss Natalie. I got my shoes for the wedding-they're AWESOME. Adorable and comfy. And I got to chitchat with Nat for a little while, so that was very fun.
That evening we had Dewey's 84th birthday party (it was his actual bday, too!) at the other Poppa/Dama's house. Again everyone was there. It was very fun. And delicious.
Sunday we lazed about until Matt, Trace & Madison came over for dinner. They helped us eat up all the leftover lasagnas :) Mia took the most incredibly long nap that day, and she was still sleeping when they got here, and everyday since she has woken up from her nap wondering why Madison isn't here, and where she is, and when she's coming over. :) Too cute.
Matt always flings the girls around, and chases them, and plays hide 'n seek - he's so much fun. I think Mia starts with the "Matt, come get me" before he even gets in the door.We've been seeing Uncle Bri for lunch quite a bit, so that's been fun. Mia is always disappointed if he's not there while we're there.
On Tuesday, we went to the MOA for "Toddler Tuesday," where Curious George made an appearance. We met my good friend Katie and her two boys, Ben and Joey. It was so much fun. Kate and I see each other at GS dinners, but we haven't hung out much with the kiddos. I hope we do much more often, because all of us (but, especially Mia) had the grandest time. It was pretty cute-Ben was a little shy at first and Mia basically chased him around because she wanted to walk by him and he wanted nothing to do with it. Once he warmed up though, they were good buddies. Mia keeps asking me, "where are my friends? Ben, Joey? At the mall, Mom?" She's so smart. (And I'm not biased at all ;)
Wednesday night, Matt & Madison came over for dinner (Tracy was in NY for work...) and the girls had fun with stickers!
The weather has been teasing us for weeks now. I know it's technically Spring, but really-snow the first day of April. C'mon. Today is sunny, tomorrow is supposed to be, and I really, really hope warm weather and lots of sunshine are the norm from here on out.
Ali's growing up so fast. She's shunning all things baby food-she wants only things she can pick up and feed herself, like bread, or noodles, or small pieces of cooked veggies. She's refused any pureed food for a week now. She had her first Girl Scout cookie, today. OK, to be honest she had three! I'm not that horrible, they were Trefoils, the old fashioned shortbread variety... don't judge. She LOVED 'em (obviously!). She's crawling and cruising, and pulling herself up on everything.
Mia, too, such a big girl...her big news is that she has discovered scissors, and she's into cutting. ONLY paper, which she seems to really understand. I've stressed this with the utmost seriousness, and she does seem to 'get it.' Which is cool. And, I'm all about letting her express herself creatively, so she cuts and draws and colors and uses stickers to make some pretty awesome pictures. Something I think is really awesome: her favorite things to draw are her family. She draws all of us, herself, Mom, Dad, baby Ali (sometimes Aunnie, or Poppa & Dama, or BDama) and baby Ali's circle head with two dots for eyes is even made a little smaller than the others. Some have hair, some don't (sorry, Dad ;) On this picture, she started a rainbow, too.
Here's a few random shots of Ali and Mia, and you can see how big both are...
