'smores

For a family night last week we made 'smores.  It was a first for the kids, and they loved eating the chocolate.  They especially liked it when the marshmallows caught on fire.

a family wii time

after dinner walks

We've been trying to take more after-dinner walks as a family. It helps Callan to get some energy out before bed and the cool evening weather has been really refreshing lately.

The best part of our walks is when we go to this underground walkway by the park. Like Gene said, to Callan this is a "time tunnel" (just like on the Dinosaur Train). Our routine is for Gene to pull Callan and Kinsley up to the entrance of the tunnel in their little red wagon. Callan puts his hand up and slaps my hand (he's pretending to give me his ticket for his "train ride"). I pretend to be the conductor from the Dinosaur Train and "stamp" his ticket with my "claw foot."

Then all four of us line up at the entrance and say, "Ready, set, go!" We take off running through the tunnel yelling at the top of our lungs, "TIME TUNNEL...WAHOOOOOOO!" Of course, Callan yells, and giggles, louder than any of us.

Tonight after we finished running through I said to Callan, "Tell Daddy thank you for the ride!" He turned to Gene and myself and said in a most sincere voice, "Thank you, Daddy and Mommy." So cute.

Also, tonight when we came out the other side of the tunnel (which faces tennis courts) there was a guy standing there looking at us through the fence holding his tennis racket just laughing at us. Are we a crazy family? Yes! Do we have fun, though? Yes!

a park and a picnic

Several weeks ago we took advantage of the nice weather and grabbed dinner at Subway (thanks to a gift card we had received) and went to a local park to have a picnic and take a walk.

all packed and ready

camera's ready

dinner

someone snuck a sip of Daddy's beloved Caramel Frap

Miss Cuteness just chillin' in her new outfit

nothing like ending the evening with a walk into the sunset in your very favorite little red wagon

Trout Run introductions

This past weekend was Kinsley's first trip up to the mountains of PA! Everyone gathered at Gene's mom's house in Trout Run to meet our little girl for the first time...

Uncle Bryan

cousin Katelyn

Gram

Aunt Tonya

Gene's cousin, Katie

Gene's Aunt Mary Lou

Mommy of 2

I realized this week that I don't think you are a real mom until you are a mom of at least 2. haha I mean, I became a "real mom" on April 1, 2008 when Callan was born...but it's very different when you have 2 to care for.

It's just a whole different experience when Kinsley's crying because she needs a diaper change, her current breast-feeding session is only half over, Mommy has to go to the bathroom, it's 2:00pm and Mommy's tummy is still growling for lunch, Callan is whining because he wants Mommy to pick him up but can't because she's not supposed to lift him, Callan's diaper smells like rotten blueberries from his massive blueberry intake earlier, and Daddy's "quick 5 minute run to the store" has turned into 30 minutes.

Needless to say, I love this new season of caring for our family of four!

a day in dc

Saturday was the perfect blend of warm sunshine and a cool breeze. Our calendar was totally free that day so we took the opportunity to drive down and go museum hopping in DC. The whole day was perfect....from easily finding a free parking spot close to the museums to walking along various streets that I haven't ventured down before while the sun hit our faces and the breeze blew the heat away. We even found this little park along the way with cool fountains.

Callan really enjoyed the day, too, and even took an hour nap in his stroller while we viewed the Native American museum, a less than exciting museum for a 15 month old.

We knew that the Natural History museum might excite Callan, but we weren't prepared for how intrigued he would be with a certain exhibit. Can you guess what exhibit that was??

We walked into the "Ice Age" exhibit, not thinking that he'd pay much attention to the giant mammoth that was on display because it was just bones, not a big furry mammoth like he was used to staring at on the Ice Age movie. Well, we were wrong. He kept wanting to go back to the fence that was in front of the giant creature and just stare. It was hilarious. Maybe it was the giant tusks that intrigued him.

He also loved the giant elephant in the museum's entrance and dragged Gene from exhibit to exhibit...pointing his little finger as he went.
We ended our day lounging on the front lawn of the Capitol building while Callan ran around before our journey back home in the car. The front of the Capitol is beautiful! What great photo opportunities...

Holiday Weekend: July 4

...after the wedding, Gene and I drove north again to my parent's house for a July 4th picnic with our good family friends. The kids sat so still for us as we all snapped 100 pictures of them on the bench.

L-R: Callan (15 months), Avery (20 months),
Addison (25 months), Makenzie (9 months), Caitlin (5 weeks)

Fruit Fanatic

I found out recently that there is another fruit fanatic in the family besides me. With lots of great summer fruits available these days, Callan has learned to love Mommy's favorites, too. He tried strawberries a few weeks ago and didn't really make any fuss over them. But the other day we went as a family, along with the Techts, to pick strawberries, and all he did was sit in the field and eat/squish one strawberry after another! He'd eat them all day if we'd let him (I guess he's learning some things from his cousin).

The other day while in the grocery store, I thought he was going to have a hernia when I pushed the cart right by the fruit section. Hundreds of strawberries, apples, peaches, and blueberries right at his fingertips! I thought he'd never stop crying when I passed the bananas without stopping to get some.

Hopefully I'll get to post some pictures of when we picked strawberries. Of course I forgot my camera after looking forward to being outside and getting an opportunity to take some outdoor photos, but luckily my camera-ready friend, Beth, remembered to bring hers along. No doubt hers turned out better than mine would have anyway. So, Beth, no pressure. :) I'm only dying to see how yours turned out!

Another James Cronin has entered this world!

Welcome to the world, Baby Jay!

James Alexius Cronin V
December 4, 2008 at 4:30pm
Weight = 7lbs, 14oz
Length = 21"

Congratulations, Shamus and Karen! We can't wait to meet him!
(Shamus is Gene's cousin.)

Time with Poppop

"I love sitting here all cuddly in your arms, Poppop!"

"Look, Poppop! We're both wearing sweater vests!"

Funny Outtakes

HERE are some funny outtakes from our family photo shoot. Thanks again, Beth!

Tonya's Baby Shower

My sister-in-law, Bea, and I threw a baby shower for my other sister-in-law, Tonya. Tonya is due a few days before Christmas with a baby boy! Here are some pictures of her shower.