Easter 2013

Our Easter started on Saturday this year. I did a Springtime Storytime at the bookstore and we did an egg hunt after stories. Egg hunt + bookstore = fun!

After storytime, we headed to Gramma Debbie's house. Aunt RiRi was home from school and Aunt Chelle put together a fun egg hunt for Marino. An hour later he asked if we could do it again! We were fortunate to have a beautiful day. 

Krissy, Aunt Rianne, Sammy, Marino, Aunt Richelle and Gisele, post-egg hunt. 

We finished the day with a great meal. 

Easter morning, Marino woke up to this:

He was super excited to see the Easter bunny came! Favorites from his Easter basket:  Melissa & Doug Firefly Flashlight, the book Creepy Carrots, and Lindt Chocolate Carrots. 

Later that morning, Aunt Chelle and Aunt RiRi took Marino to see The Croods, which he loved!

That evening, my friend Chandra came for dinner with her daughter, Hannah. They live in Atlanta and I haven't seen them in a couple years. Marino generally needs a while to warm up to people, but not Chandra and Hannah! He immediately showed them all his toys, was jumping on them, hugging them, sitting on them, etc. It was nice to see him so open! He and Hannah had a great time - she even played cars, Transformers and super heroes with him. 

This morning he said "I wish them could visit again every day." 

Great weekend, great friends, great family! 

Lunch Date

After storytime a couple weeks ago, we headed to the new Benningan's in Clarksburg for lunch with our buddies Jace and Alex and Ryan. It took forever to get lunch, but the boys were well behaved and posed for some cute photos. 

Jace, Alex & Marino - 3 amigos

First Sleepover

This Saturday, Marino had his first real sleepover! My friend Jen's kids Sydney and Noah slept over. I was a little unsure if the kids would actually sleep, but Sydney and Marino shared the pullout couch (Noah slepy in Marino's bed/room) and after I laid down with them to get them to quiet down, they actually went to sleep and slept all night. These two getting ready to go to bed together was pretty adorable.

I just love them! 

We got lucky and Sunday morning we woke up to a beautiful warm day. We headed over to the lake and the playground to burn some energy.

We had so much fun! Marino told my friend Lauren "I had a playdate/watch tv/playdoh sleepover with Sydney!"

Fenton Street Market

(skipping around a bit in terms of chronology)

 On Saturday we headed over to Fenton Street Market for storytime and trick or treating. 

I love doing story time, and this one was especially fun, because I love Halloween and the kids were very enthusiastic about the stories. 

Our buddies Uli and Aaron, ready for storytime

Telling spooky tales

Sharing is caring

 

My friend Erin and her youngest, Chase. 

All the vendors had candy for the kids - most seemed to get a kick out of seeing the kids in their costumes

Emilia, Marino and Grayson

Emilia and her sweet mom, Yvette, crafting. I had reflective Halloween necklaces for the kids to make.

We got very lucky - it was a beautiful day (high 60s, sunny). Literally, the calm before the storm...we may not have Halloween here in Maryland, depending on how hard Hurricane Sandy hits us (its not looking good). So at least we got a chance to use Marino's costume and go trick or treating.

Breakfast and Big

A couple weeks ago, Jen and I took the kids to see Big the Musical at Adventure Theatre. The show was an abbreviated version of the movie Big with Tom Hanks (which I've seen about a zillion times). The show was a bit over Marino's head, I thought, but a couple days after he started saying things like "Mommy, I'm growing up so fast. You don't like that." I think once he had time to process it, he understood the big picture of the show.

Before the show, we met for breakfast at the Original Pancake House.

 I love their chocolate chip gluten-free pancakes!!

Here I am reading a Spiderman book to the boys. They both LOVE superheroes!

Marino ALWAYS looks away from the camera when I ask him to smile. Drives me nuts!!

After breakfast we had a little time to play at the Glen Echo playground before the show.

How adorable is this? These two becoming so big...and adorable. Can't you just see them taking this same picture at 16?

Sydney found the biggest leaf ever!

Noah and Marino share a love of superheroes.

...and climbing...

We always have a great time with our buddies!

Hanging with the Girls...

Saturday afternoon, we headed to New Jersey to visit our besties and celebrate Siena's 3rd birthday.  As usual, Marino and the girls got along wonderfully and before long he had them performing tandem "spatter kicks" (I have no idea what that is, but it involves jumping off furniture and attempting to scissor kick your legs in mid-air). The pictures of the three of them holding hands melts my heart. 

I love them all! 

Alana, Catalina, Marino and Siena

Adams Harvest Festival

Last weekend, we went to New York for my brother's memorial (post coming). The next day, my mom and I took Marino to the Harvest Festival at Adams Fairacre Farms (local independent grocer in my hometown).  Marino had a great time - there were animals, a magician, bounce houses, games and delicious food.

Here's Marino and Gramma - his favorite person

Petting a goat...he fell in love with this goat and introduced me to him, saying, "This is my buddy, Goat."

My friend Anne was there with her gorgeous kids. Anne's stepfather was the magician at the event!

My friend Tracey, who was my next door neighbor for 20 years, came, too. 

Here we are with her new baby, Sara (born just a few days before my birthday).

Marino got to ride a pony named Jaxon. He was very sweet with the pony.

He really loved this goat.

He also loved this giant bunny.

Tracey's other kids - Emma and Alex. Emma is a spitting image of Tracey at her age!

My friend Jill was there with her boys, too. 

Fun day with lots of special people!