What a CIRCUS!

I gave Brian tickets to the circus for our anniversary. How romantic, I know. Anyway, I was sort of excited to take the kids and to see the circus myself. I mean really, when is the last time you went to the circus? Anyway, I had gotten good seats and planned well with a booster for Jacob, snacks, juice, portable potty seat, camera-my bag weighed more than both children combined. We got there nice and early so we could settle in...ok, we got there a little too early but it was all good. The clowns came out and soon the show began......Jacob went from gripping me and crying out Momma, to giggling, squealing, crying, clapping, and back to gripping. I was trying to take pictures with this chaos....hence they aren't very good. Stella pretty much held onto daddy for dear life and though she seemed to enjoy it we couldn't quite be sure.

I think Brian and I were most impressed with the 7 motorcycles that were in this ball.

Jacob actually took this shot during one of his mommy gripping moments.

During intermission Brian took Stella out to buy some cotton candy. YUMMY!

After a healthy serving or 2 I told her to hold off a little bit on the rest to prevent a tummy ache and the show was about to restart. Within a minute Brian and I knew we had a full fit on our hands. Sure enough Brian had to carry our screaming flailing darling out of the circus.

Jacob and I sat watching the elephant for a few minutes when I had to decide that Brian and Stella weren't coming back anytime soon. Not quite knowing what to do..I picked up my 400lb bag and Jacob and made my way out. When I got to the landing a woman from the consession stand asked if she could help me......all I said was-tall man screaming child? She replied-OH! they left. By now I had Jacob in a football hold and had left the booster that I couldn't carry in the seat. I called Brian and I could hear Stella screaming and all he said was...we gotta go. So I left my bag with the consession girl and hoisted Jacob back into the circus for the booster and back out we went.....I think I hit about 10 people with the booster along the way. Sorry!

So, our first trip tot he circus wasn't quite what I had in mind but rather appropriate in some ways. We did enjoy what we saw and hopefully someday we will get to see the whole thing.

All that over cotton candy.....hmmmm...that reminds me....I think that might still be in the back of the car. ewww.

Gerber Babies!

My friend and fellow Queens transplant, Patti Gerber from playgroup was such a Godsend to me when I had Jacob.....showing up with a huge box of everything from food to napkins, paper plates and all sorts of helpful things that I had never thought of....she would take Stella to play and once even took both kids and gave me a couple hours all to myself. The least I could do in return was take some pics of her brand new beautiful TWINS! After trying for 2 years she and her husband Steve were double blessed and here are a few pics of Harrison (Harry) and Mackenzie (Kenzie) Gerber. Congrats to them and big brother Stevie!

Stella's Preschool Pictures

Stella's very first school pictures! So cute!

This is her little class. Click on the pick so you can really see the stinking adorable face she is making!

Mother's Days

I really never thought I would be a mother. I'm so glad I was wrong on that but really I should try to remember that more on the days that are well....challenging! This is a good spot to thank Brian for his love and support, I wouldn't last a day without it. Having kids is such an amazing experience that really can't accurately described. The highs are sooooo high and the lows can be so low. Each day usually has a couple of both. At the end of the day I can't help but smile at how Stella now tells me that if I need her I should call for her and she will come and help me.....or how Jacob crawled up onto the dining room table to get a book last week as Brian and I watched totally stunned. It is so wonderful and so hard all at once and you wouldn't trade a second.....ok, that isn't true. I would trade the entire 40 minutes Stella threw a fit at Wegmans last Monday but you know what I mean. My children are so different....Jacob loves to draw, Stella loves to read, they both love to run and they both have the best laughs. I hope one day they will be as good of friends as they are enemies today and I pray each day that they will be happy and know they are loved beyond measure. They are my sunshine and I am so blessed to call them mine. Today was my 4th mother's day and I thought I would take a look back at the years past and the days that made me a mommy. I love how similar the shots of me giving them their first kisses are.

Stella's first kiss 12/28/06

Jacob's first Kiss 11/6/08

My First Mothers day

Second Mothers Day

Third Mothers Day

Fourth Mothers Day. I love the way Jacob is looking at me in this shot

My beautiful babies. My hands and heart are full.

I Love Preschool!

I just adore Stella's preschool. This past week I attended a Mother's Day Tea Party. How stinking sweet is that!!!! I got all teary just reading the little invite. They really do so many cute things with the kids and this was a simple cake and lemonade...ummmm, no tea.....but still just the best. Only a 1/2 hour long but it let me take a minute to really appreciate the privilege being a mommy is. I was fortunate to be able to drop Jacob off at playgroup which meant some bonus mommy and Stella time. Something we both enjoy. When I arrived she ran out of her classroom saying Happy Mother's Day and wrapped her little arms around me and then handed me a wrapped gift-pictured at the bottom....what a wonderful feeling that was. As I see Stella move from being my baby to being my little girl I know how important each of these little special moments are and this was one I will really cherish. I love you Stella and I love preschool!

When can I eat my cake mommy?????

Stella's classmate and friend Riley with her mom Jennifer

Stella and mommy!

She loved the card she made me it was adorable!

Our playgroup friend Jack also attends little tree and here he is with his mommy Joy.

The little frame Stella made me with a picture from our pumpkin picking in the fall.

Extraordinary

For our 5th Anniversary Brian shocked me by getting tickets to Peter Gabriel's latest show. Backed by only an orchestra and being held at Radio City I knew this would be extraordinary and it really was. The best part was Brian's willingness to come with me even though he isn't a Peter Gabriel fan. The show was sold out but he got us amazing tickets in the orchestra and it was just fantastic. Totally different than any of the other Peter shows I have seen and I almost think Brian might have become a fan of a couple songs. The only bummer is....I didn't bring my real camera, afraid security would be an issue. But I did snap a few pics with the cell that don't do it justice. You just forget how magnificent Radio city is and how beautiful an orchestra can sound. Thank you so much Brian for sharing such an extraordinary experience with me. I'm sure the gift I got you will also be extraordinary but in a very different way. Teehee. The circus!