First Fall Festival

After keeping Marino home since Tuesday evening when he started getting sick, we were ready to get out of the house by Saturday. We determined he had Roseola and by Saturday the rash was on its second day and he was fever-less for 24 hours. So we met up with Jen and her family at Cox Farms in Virginia. We went last year on opening weekend and had a great time. This year we had great weather but, unfortunately, a very cranky boy. Luckily, there are many more fall festivals to attend - I love them all!

We did have some fun, in spite of the crankiness. We went down slides, pet some goats, walked through the corn maze and got to visit with our friends in the sunshine.

Marino wore his new Halloween initial shirt, made by my buddy Jill.

Sydney was dressed festive as well.

Sydney and her Daddy going down the tunnel slide
Evan channeling his Iowa days...
Marino and Daddy in the corn maze (can you tell the boy is cranky?)
He really liked this ant (I think it reminded him of his current favorite movie "A Bug's Life")
Sliding down a frog tongue
Sydney and her big brother, Justin, following the yellow brick road

Skipping down the yellow brick road with Daddy

Noah, checking out the scene

Sydney and Jen taking a break

Sliding with Daddy

And sliding on his own (he looked terrified but wanted to go again)

Group shot - Jen and I with the kids...I love how Syd is eating her apple here!

Close up - Marino was super cranky (he passed out 3 minutes later)

Checking out the view from the goat's house

Petting a very pregnant goat. Marino was being very gentle.

Feeding a goat with Daddy.

Matt with Noah and Sydney

"Daddy, feeding a goat is so cool!"

Sliding with Mommy

5 on Friday

As always, here are 5 special reasons I am loving my boy this week:

5. The boy has a new favorite food - Rice Krispies. He calls them "creepies" which I find adorable!

4. As he was eating dinner the other night, Evan picked up some food from his plate. He said "You want to give me that in my mouth?" and opened his mouth for Evan to put it in.

3. After a bath on Tuesday, he wanted to sit on the potty and read books. One of the books had photos of lollipops, which he was very excited about. He was trying to pick them up off the page and said "Wanna give me a pop?" I told him if he used the potty he could have one and he said "Aw, man!"

2. Marino calls "Lightning McQueen" from the movie Cars "Like a the Queen".

1. This week Marino started singing the Barney song ("I love you, you love me...") and when he sings it, he adds in a big hug and a kiss. Very adorable!

My poor boy had a rough time this week with a virus that gave him a high temperature, but he was still a sweetie. He was pretty delirious but still made us a laugh a lot!

Aviation Museum Visit with Daddy

On Thursday, Evan and Marino went to the College Park Aviation Museum. They have a "Peter Pan Club" the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, where the staff does a "flying" related story and craft with the kids. This week the story and craft were about flying fish. Both Daddy and Marino seemed to have a great time. They also brought home a really cool flying fish that Marino and Evan made together (and some airplane toys, of course).

5 on Friday

As always, here are 5 special reasons I am loving my boy this week:

5. Marino loves bouncy houses. Over the weekend we were at the lake when Marino pointed across the lake and said "I want to go there, to Bumpy's House." All the way across the lake, 3/4 of the way hidden by trees, was a bouncy house. At least we can be assured his eye sight is good!

4. Evan, Marino and I were in a store this week and Evan nudged me forward to the checkout line. Marino started telling Evan off for pushing me! He said "Daddy, don't push Mommy! Not safe! Not good!"

3. Now that Marino is sleeping in a toddler bed, he comes to wake up Evan and I if he wakes before us. This morning he came in the room to get me while I was getting dressed. He asked me to go downstairs. I told him I needed to get dressed first and he went into the bathroom, picked up my pajamas, handed them to me and said "OK, Mommy. Come on!"

2. Whenever we give Marino a kiss these days, he says "Thank you, Mommy" or "Thank you, Daddy." When I was putting him to bed the other night, he asked me if I wanted him to rub my back:)

1. Marino told Evan he had to use the potty and successfully went #1 and #2 this week!!

Labor Day Weekend 2010

We had a fun and low key long weekend. I can't believe summer is over...this summer went by way too fast. I am excited for fall this year - I love fall festivals, apples, cool weather and especially Halloween candy:)

Sunday morning, Kristal and I brought Marino and Gabby to the awesome playground nearby. It was a gorgeous day so there were a million kids there but they had a great time.

Gabby checking out the sea monster

Checking for teeth
Sunday we got a chance to visit with my grandfather and his wife who are visiting from Florida. My cousins Miranda and Blair came with their children, including the newest member of the family, Darian.

Here's Pap with all the great grandkids.
Pap and Darian - finally another boy!!

We found a painting that looks just like our dog, Max!
Marino ate 2 whole slices of pizza, but he eats them crust first and upside down!


Serious chat with his Great GrandPap
Pacey loves babies (which is good news, since she has a baby sister coming in January)

Snuggles with Pap

Monday, we met up with Jen, Matt, Sydney and Noah and Kristal, Kris and Gabrielle at the splash playground. The water was super cold (having only been in the 70s the rest of the weekend) but the kids had a great time.

Jen and Noah (happiest baby in the world)
Sydney checking out a turtle

The Dynamic Duo back together

Lots of splashing!

Short video of Marino having fun in the fountains

Bye bye, summer! See you next year!

5 on Friday

As always, here are 5 special reasons I am loving my boy this week:

5. Marino's speech evolves so much from week to week. Lately, he has been saying "my back"- asking me to pat his back at bed time. This week he busted out with "Mommy, want to give me your hand on my back?"

4. For the past couple weeks, Marino had been complaining about "my bugs in my ears", which we interpreted as an extended swimmer's ear infection. Evan took him back to the pediatrician to check and it turns out "the bugs" are actually his two year molars. She said they can cause pain in the ear (as well as to the external jaw). This means the boy will FINALLY be done cutting teeth (and hopefully drooling!!)

3. Wednesday night Marino started to say his prayers without me. He said, "Now I lay me..." and when I didn't chime in, he looked at me and said "DO IT, BABE! DO IT!" (as in "say it with me"). Evan calls me "babe" 90% of the time, but it was hysterical to hear Marino say it.

2. Evan converted Marino's crib to a toddler bed this week. We showed it to him and asked him what he thought in the afternoon and his only thoughts were "I don't want to go sleep!" :) It hasn't seemed to effect his sleep at all. Such a big boy now!

1. Last weekend, out of no where, Marino gave me a "big hug" (and announced it as such) and said "Mommy, I love a you".