Our "Bay Cation" to Kings Island

Some friends of ours from church thought it would be fun to take the kids down to King's Island for opening day. After blocking out all the terrible memories of riding in the van for more than 10 minutes with our children, we happily said yes. So on Friday afternoon, we hopped in the car and after what seemed like an eternity (about 4 hours in real people time), we arrived.

The ride down was full of it's own adventures. Not leaving until almost 2 p.m. left me dreaming that my children would blissfully nod off and sleep most of the way down, but that wasn't the case. Dominic has been battling a cold/cough for a while and he tends to get a little phlemy (if that's a word). Needless to say, he coughed most of the way, and at one point I was holding a Rubbermaid bowl to him so he could toss his cookies & phlem (really french fries, mandarin oranges and chicken nuggets - WENDY'S), but we continued on.

After a rough night in a hotel room with 3 children three and under, we got up this morning wondering if today could get any worse. Luck was on our side and today was WONDERFUL! (Besides the tired kid meltdowns in the car on the way home!)

Christina rode her first roller coaster. It's called Little Bill's Giggle Coaster, and it's all she wanted to do when we first got there. I rode with her and the giggles really do come pouring out with every "hill"! She had a blast. I think Daddy was a little bummed her first coaster wasn't at CP, but once he saw how much she enjoyed it, he was thrilled. We were suckers and bought the pictures, I'll have to see what I can do to get them on here.

KI put in a new coaster this year. While we didn't ride, it was well worth standing and watching it run. We stood on a bridge and watched it come over head and down into some water. Dominic was so excited and would literally shake with "wow's" every time that we could have stood there all day. It was definitely a highlight (not the ride, Dominic's excitement any day!)

Ethan was a real trooper. He spent a majority of the day in the stroller. He did get to ride the train in the "boys" seat with Daddy and Bubba. Mommy and Sissy sat in our seat and "checked out our boys" so we had fun. Ethan did actually fall asleep and took a nice little nap in the stroller which was really cute (Christina and Dominic NEVER did this so it was a special treat for me). Other than his blow out poopy diaper that left him without any shorts on, I'd say he had a great day.

I did say shorts in that last sentence. It was absolutely beautiful today. It had to be in the high 70's and plenty of breezy sunshine. The kids wore their sun screen, and Dad and I are both wishing we would have put it on ourselves as well.

Anyway, here are some highlight pictures:

Dominic & Christina driving their car on the bridge. They thought this was the coolest!

Again, in the "carnival" (that's what it sounds like when Dominic says convertible).

Ethan asleep in the stroller. He missed out on the Lazy Town helicopter ride with his big sister and brother, but I'm sure he enjoyed his zzz's.

Christina saw Dora from up on the helicopters and told Bryan (after they had waited a half an hour) that she no longer wanted to ride, she wanted to go down now and meet Dora. Being the good dad that he is, he said no way in heck after he'd waited with them, but he made sure when they got off, they got to go meet her. Christina let Dora know she was coming by yelling to her from the helicopters the whole ride. This picture has Dominic, Christina, Daddy, Dora and Hunter.

You can't see it too well in this picture, but Dominic had a cheese & ketchup mustache from his chicken bites and french fries he was dipping in his sauces. Christina was just being her cutie patutie self.

Anyway, we're home after a long exhausting day. So I think it's time to hit the sack, the kids are zonked, and I think I'll be asleep before I make it upstairs!

I Love This Weather!!!

I love this weather! It couldn't have turned out to be a nicer day!

Tuesday's tend to be my day of chaos. Christina has to be at preschool by 8:45 a.m. (which means everyone has to be ready by 8:30 and I'm not a morning person), Dominic and Ethan and I then come home for all of an hour before we head to Lap Sit at the library, we then hang out there for about 15 minutes before heading to pick Christina up at school, and from there it's over to pick Daddy up and take him out for lunch - by the time we actually make it back home to do anything it's about 1:30 - and that usually means trying to get Ethan down for a nap, so it's 2 before I can start my normal morning routine!

But today was wonderful! We opened the doors and windows and let the fresh air in while I got some things done around the house, but when dad got home from work is when the real fun began. I think Bryan had his dress shirt and tie off before he was even in the door. He then ran around for about 15 minutes to get the swing set ready, and the kids spent a good hour outside before dinner. After we ate, I got Ethan down for bed and when I came back downstairs it was spooky quiet (not normal at this house!), but Daddy had taken the kids back outside, and we were finally able to get them in for the night around 8, which is past bedtime!

Christina did so well pumping on the big swing. She didn't quite get it last year, but she just took off with it! Dominic was his normal giggly happy self. A little aprehensive about the slide at first but I'm sure he'll be the monkey he was last fall again really soon! Ethan loved the swing, he was too little for it last year, but it's perfect now!

Anyway, wanted to post some new pictures, and let everyone know we are doing well. Life is crazy as always, but we're enjoying every minute of it and not looking back!

Let's pray for the beautiful weather to stay!

Dominic on the glider, Ethan in the baby swing and Christina on the "nana" swing.

You can actually see Ethan smiling better in this one, and I'm so proud of Christina "pumping!" Check her out!

Dominic the dare devil making his first of the new year trip to the slide!

Ethan's first ever swing ride! He loved it!

Yes, I know, it's been a while...

How cute are we?

You don't have to remind me, which Bryan is doing on a regular basis, that it's been a while since I last posted a blog. I've been telling myself for the past month I want to get on here and do it, I just haven't. Yes, we've been busy, but ultimately, I've been um, LAZY! There, I said it, now I'm going to "get over it" and "move on."

You'll notice those last two comments were placed in quotes. Those were exact words I was told yesterday by Christina, who is three I will remind you, when I continued to push her for more than "nothing" as her response to what she did at school. But this blog isn't about the fact that my daughter has my husband's attitude, because we all already know she does!

Not much exciting going on with us! I've been selling junk I've been finding around the house on Ebay. I'm actually not doing to bad and it's kind of fun to see what we can get for stuff. Some things have been a total flop and either sold really low, or not at all, but I've had my share of triumphs too (my Rachael Ray cook book sold for $50!!!!).

Bryan and I both recently joined Facebook. We're having fun catching up with old friends (who if you are one of them reading this, yes, I will soon get pictures on there too - the blog was calling for an update long before I joined Facebook). So if you're on there, search for us, and add us to your friends list.

The kids are growing like weeds. Christina is loving preschool. I think if she could she would go everyday. And the things she comes home knowing, just blows me away. Her teachers are amazing! Dominic, our little comedian, makes me laugh all the time. He copies everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, his big sister says. Ethan is just getting huge. He's easily at 6 months what Christina was at 1 year. When you stand him up, he comes up past Dominic's shoulders.

Here are some highlight pictures of what we've been up to:

Christina & Dominic enjoying popular presents from Christmas

Christina making snow angels, it was Dominic's idea, but he chickened out!

Ethan (not quite sitting on his own) looking handsome and drooly!

Dominic and Christina making their first snowman!
Ethan just looks so big to me in this picture, I had to post it! Is it possible he's not just 6 mos. old?


So for today, that's going to be it. But I do promise to start posting on here again really soon. I hope everyone is well and healthy!

All our love from the Alphabet Family

Lunch with Santa!

I know, I know, it's been a while since I've posted a new blog. We've had one sick kid after another, and I think the colds are now making another round! So unless Spring comes tomorrow, it might be a while before I have three healthy children all at the same time!

Gamma & Papa came up for the weekend for Dominic's birthday. We had such a good time, despite the snow and Sprout card fiasco. I'll get in to that on my next blog.

Saturday we had such a fun lunch. A local resort here has a lunch with Santa. For $12.95 for adults (the kids are young enough they ate free), we got to have lunch with the big man himself. While the food is average, however very kid friendly (chicken fingers, hot dogs, mac'n cheese) it really is a fun event. They have a characture artist and a guy there doing balloon animals. We had the cutest little characture done of the three kids. When Santa actually "arrives" you hear what sounds like his sleigh and reindeer landing on the roof. I was a little freaked at first, until I realized what it was. It was sooooo cool to see the kids excitment when they realized what was happening.

We attended last year, and this year we didn't make the same rookie mistakes we did last year. Lines got a little long early on last year, so this year, before Bryan even had our table, I took Christina & Dominic and we went and got in line to get our characture. I think he did a really good job, but by the time he finished ours, the line was huge! We did the same thing for lunch too. Everyone was in line for pictures and balloons, so we actually made our way right up with no waiting. Santa is what we need to work on for next year. Once that sleigh lands, I'm going to go up and wait at his chair because by the time he made his entrance, kids were EVERYWHERE waiting! All and all though, it was well worth it. Dominic went up and sat on Santa's lap. Ethan joined him and my big girl Christina stood with her brothers and told Santa what she wanted! No tears from anyone! It truly was a Christmas miracle!

Ok, this is it for tonight. I'm going to do a blog tomorrow about Dominic's big day. I won't leave you waiting though. The card DID NOT make the show. Needless to say, I'm not happy! Fill you in on the rest tomorrow!

Here's some of our favorite pictures from Saturday:

Dominic, Christina & Ethan's characture! Isn't this the cutest!?!

Christina & Gamma drinking their lemonade at lunch.

Christina & Dominic waiting in line to see Santa.

And I saved the best for last (drum roll please):

Dominic, Ethan, Christina & SANTA!!!!!

Our trip to the Fire Station

Dominic loves fire trucks. I would even go so far as to call him a fire truck fanatic. Well he just happens to be lucky enough to have a grandfather who is a volunteer fireman in the area here. So we called Papa Phil last week to see if we could come over and show Dominic the fire trucks. Papa said he'd be more than happy to show us around. So on Saturday we made our way over to the fire station and had a wonderful time! Even Christina was getting in to it.

Here are some of my favorite pictures.

Christina wearing Papa's fire hat.

Dominic "driving" the fire truck.

Dominic, Ethan & Christina sitting on the truck.

Dominic playing with the big tire (you can see his reflection in the center).

All and all we had a great time. Can't wait to do it again when Ethan is a bit bigger and he gets into it! Thanks Papa!

Dominic James

Ok, so my last post was a little long winded on Dominic's card. My husband was the only person to post a comment. And his comment was filled with sarcasm. However, in his defense, he has had to hear (and see) me check my blog and complain that no one is commenting. So thank you, I think, dear for posting.

I just want to let everyone know, I have finished my work on Dominic's card. After this, you will no longer have to hear about it until I start work on Christina's card for her 4th birthday. I take that back, you may actually hear about it again on December 7th (Dominic's birthday), when we find out if his card made the show or not. I really hope it does. Let me know what you think. I personally think it turned out pretty cute!

Anyway, here's the card:

On another Dominic issue, he truly is the funniest little guy. For the most part, he's so easy going about anything. It's always, "Ok, mama" which is nice. At some point I'm sure he's going to get tired of all the things I do to him, but I had to do this one and he happily took part.

Bryan brought home a box the other night. When we asked what was in it, he said Lee at work gave him an old Halloween costume that both of her kids wore. I was a little skeptical, but thought we'd check it out.

So this is Dominic as Humpty Dumpty.

Now I had previously wanted the kids to be the Wizard of Oz next year (Christina as Dorothy, Dominic the Tin Man and Ethan as the Cowardly Lion), but I've changed my mind. Someone WILL wear this costume! It is tooooo cute! I think I can even put white tights under the pants to make them more like knickers (I think that's the word). So if anyone has any good other nursery rhyme characters for me for Christina & Ethan I'd love to hear them!

I'm done for the night. Let me know your thoughts!

Planning Dominic's Birthday Card

I'm a little behind in my planning of Dominic's birthday card for this year. While I have about a month until his actual birthday, I need to get the card done so that I can get it sent in for the birthday segments on Sprout Network.

This year it WILL happen. Dominic's card HAS to make the show. I'm obsessed. I should back up and tell you what this is all about.

Sprout network used to have a show called "The Birthday Show" that was all of 10 minutes long, and they showcased like 6 or 8 home made birthday cards that were mailed in. Christina watched this everynight before going to bed. So for her 2nd birthday I used construction paper and made a really hokey Elmo card and mailed it in. As luck (or as I like to say, my artist skills) would have it, my card made the show. It was by far the coolest thing on TV that day! We TIVO'd it and have since put it on DVD so we'll have it forever!

The outside of Christina's Elmo card.

The inside.

So needless to say, I was cocky, if I got Christina's card on TV, I could do a better card for Dominic's first birthday, mail it in, and it would for sure make the show. Since he really wasn't in to anything Sprout character wise, I decided to do Bob the Builder. I spent weeks cutting out orange and yellow squares to make Bob's shirt. And gluing them down was even more of a pain. But I was certain this card was going to make the show.

Outside of Dominic's card.

Inside of Dominic's card.

I'm sure by now you've figured out Dominic's card didn't make the show. I was so bummed. (Now that I look back, the card was kinda dorky.)

So anyway, I again decided to make Christina a card for her 3rd birthday. Afterall, she made the show last year. Well, Sprout has changed the format now, and it's a part of a 3 hour long program and they do birthday's throughout it. So now we were going to have to sit through a super long show just to see if my card made it. I'll save you the suspense - IT DID!!!! She even had some cute little comments on the pictures from the girl that hosts the show!

Here's the card:

So now if you're keeping score (which I am) it's Christina 2, Dominic 0. Dominic's card is going to be the COOLEST card this year. We went to two different stores to find paper, and I'm in the process of finding the best picture of Thomas I can copy to make the ultimate birthday card.

Ok, yes, I'm a little obsessed. But I will get Dominic's card on TV this year. With that being said, I'm going to go start looking for my Thomas picture and I'll keep you all posted on my progress. Say a prayer for me and my card!