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

5 on Friday

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

5. When Marino was getting dressed the other day, he sighed and said "If I wear green, everyone will say I'm so handsome."  Tough life!

4. At storytime on Saturday, Marino busted out with this joke, "Why do chickens sit on their eggs? Because they don't have chairs!"

3. When I was putting him to bed the other night, Marino said "Mommy, I'm growing up so fast!" So true. I wish he would slow down!

2.  The other evening, Marino fell asleep in the car on the way home. He woke up singing "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys (which he heard for the first time that morning). It was adorable.

1.  The other day Marino told me about his friend Lorenzo, "he's my best friend forever." 

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!

Good times...

This is a hodge podge of recent fun times, sorry for the cell phone pictures...

Last weekend, Marino asked my dad "Pap Pap, can you come snuggle and watch a kid show with me?" Who can refuse that request?!

Super fun playdate with my friend Erin and her boys Grayson and Chase. Grayson and Marino became besties in no time...Marino cried when it was time to leave!

Fun storytime and day with Alex and family...

Storytime theme this week was owls. 

After storytime and a lunch date, we went to see Hotel Transylvania. What a great movie - we all loved it (kids and adults) and thought it was hysterical.

Fall Festival at Butler's Orchard

Last week I was able to visit Butler's Orchard with Marino and his school on their annual field trip to the Harvest Festival there. It was a beautiful day and, as always, we had a great time there.

Looking for the perfect pumpkin.

Being silly with his buddy, Rebecca.

Hay fight!

Showing off pumpkins with Carter.

Hayride with my favorite boy

My little monster

Where's Marino?

Wonderful day!