Go Green!

Happy St. Patty's Day! Erin Go Braugh!

Okay... so I don't know about you but when I was growing up "the Leprachaun" would come and visit and leave me and my sister little trinkets. So if they came for me, of course, they would come to visit my boys right. So the treats and notes were left.

Some Scotch and Irish soda bread... I know all they care about is the booze but hey, it's an excuse for me to take a nibble.

It worked! Not only did the leprachaun leave gifts but Nani's gifts arrived too (Green Baseball hats with Shamrocks). I know what you're thinking... where's their mother's gift?!?! A very good question... hey Ker, did you get yours???

Connor... the Rock and Rollin' Leprechan!

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Thank you smiles from Gavin!

I even put on my "greens"... Shoes of course!!!

Well, When Connor got home from school Gav took a nap (a MUCH needed nap by the way). So I decided to expose Connor to one of the ALL time GREAT St. Patty's Day movies... "Darby O'Gill and the Little People" One of my favorite movies by the way! And what better way to watch a classic St. Patrick's Day movie than with...

Irish Soda Bread!

"There are tall ships

and there are long ships.

There are ships that sail the sea.

But the best ships, are friendships,

and may they always be."

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all and thank you for stopping by!

Ready or Not...

Today was the day!



Yep... today was "Kindergarten Registration" Day! And believe it or not... I handled it like a big girl! And did not cry... much. I did however, give my little "big boy" lots of hugs!

Doesn't he look too little to be going to this school??? The correct answer is Yes... now say it with me... "YES, Connor is much to young to be going to Kindergarten. He will always be Mommy's little boy". See... that wasn't so hard now was it?



So, while Peter and I filled out these registration forms... (the flowers were a nice touch)




Connor got to color...




While Gavin, in the background, went looking for starfish and all kinds of stuff in the sandbox.


Well, with completed paperwork in hand we headed to... "the Principal's Office"! Wow! Even now that phrase still gets me a little scared. Although, I think Peter and I should probably get used to it with our 2 little "Angels". We handed in the paper work... waited about 5 minutes... and the secretary came back and said to Connor "Well Connor, this is now your school too". Connor's reaction... (see below)



He was so excited!

Then it was off to say good bye to the fish




Bye school...see in June!




Yes that is correct... June. I don't get to put this in the back of my mind until Sept. Guess they want to drill this in your head "YOUR BABY IS IN KINDERGARTEN"!!! In June we get go back for a tour of the school. Then, in AUGUST, we get to go for a bus ride and visit the teachers. They are killing me! Bus ride??? Really? seriously? Oh man... get the tissues ready!!!

Lucky day...

We finally made it back to the Newport St. Patricks Day parade... Erin go Braugh! The last one we made it to, Connor was 7mos old... and we weren't even living in Rhody yet. Since moving to RI, we've made it to... zero... zilch... NOT A ONE! It's been either rainy and cold... or someone's been sick... or we've ALL been sick. Take your pick... one way or another the Newport St. Patrick's Day Parade has eluded the Nelson Family for the past 4 yrs! NOT this year! This year was looking like it would elude us once again. I was not feeling well, but in yrs past it was one of the boys. So today with some hope... and a little Irish luck on our side we ventured out. The boys had a blast! They loved the music and all the fire trucks and police cars. We thought we would only last maybe 20 mins with their attention span... and boys wanting to be boys... running all over. But we actually stayed until the end. Lucky us! We even got to see a few friends.

Jersey In the HOUSE...

We've been lucky so far so why not try to push things... off to get the boys' hair cut! They were so needed! The 2 of them were awesome! Never have to worry about Connor as he has always been really good about getting haircuts... dating back to his very first. Mr. Gavin is very much a different story... it's pretty much a coin toss with him. It's either bad... or REALLY bad. He never sits still and he's usually screaming for Peter or I throughout the entire "traumatizing" experience (the last cut Amy couldn't even finish). So, with fingers crossed, and a few promises of a lolipop... he did Great! Wahoo! Connor finishded... we said "Gav... your turn"... he dropped the toys... came running across the shop... plopped right into the chair... and away we went. No one quite knew what was going on... but we didn't want to say anything for fear we may jinx it!

Then we stopped by Grandma and Pop Pop's house for a visit and of course pull out all the cars they have! They decided a parade was in order... as we just came from one. Then it was off to see the Aircraft Carriers! The boys were pretty bummed we were not allowed right up next to them. They didn't quite understand the whole security check point thing.

The boys fell asleep for a little while on the way home which carried over to a brief nap on the couch. But then... outside to play with Iain!!! And no cranckiness!!!

What better way to end the wonderful day then from a visit from our Oil man! Yep... "the luck" ran out. Did I really think I would end the year without a visit from Petro. But then my BRILLIANT husband (yes Peter is writing this part) told me that they ned to come out once / year to service the furnace. Well he did fix it quick, and gave the boys gloves so I guess we still have some luck right... we'll see when it comes to bedtime.

Hope your all having a "lucky" weekend.

Thank you!

Thank you Aunt Carol! This was in my mailbox this morning...






I should have know something special was being delivered when the mailman showed up at 9:30am and not his usual time of 3pm.

Big {{{hugs}} Aunt Carol- can't thank you enough. Love you!

I am so excited...I can't wait to curl up with a cup a tea and read this. Is it bedtime yet?

"I want my Mommy!"

...were words NOT heard by me today! Why you ask? Because a cetain 3 year did not SAY them! You see... we have a routine here on Wednesdays, which by the way is Gavin's "school"day. Part of that routine is not telling him he is going to school today. Why you ask? Well, that would because he would straight out say "I not going to Ms Deweys!"... we then say "yes Gavin, you are. You always have fun there". His response... "are there people there?" and so the conversation goes until he states, again... "No he not going" which is followed up by him being an absolute mess all day (don't all of you out there be jealous).


Next step is dropping him off... where we have another routine. It starts with all of us (Connor, Gavin and, myself) going in... taking off Gavin's coat... trying to get Gavin to "go play"... then pushing Connor out the door as we try to escape! All this as Mrs. Dewey holds him and tries to direct his attention onto something else. While Connor and I are making the mad dash down the driveway I can hear, in the background, Gavin screaming... "I want my mommy". My poor baby!!! The heart strings pull everytime!


So today, I assumed, would be the same. Well, not so much. This time, when I take off his coat, he goes off to the play table... ALL BY HIMSELF! This is great... because I'm usually dragging him over to the table. I then get Connor's attention to get to the door... OH NO... Gavin sees him and he comes running over to me... but no worries... I'm ready to make the dash! But something's different... he has a smile on his face. Hmmm... curious. He then says, and I quote... "ove you ma ma"! So I give him hugs and tell him I love him too! But wait... he runs back to the table... and starts to PLAY?!?! Um... EXCUSE ME?!?! What the heck is this??? No grabbing at me??? No beggin me to take him with me??? No crying... no drama?!?! I was SHOCKED! So shocked I almost froze... not sure of my next move, I simply turned around and left... in a daze. But when I got to the end of the driveway I realize... I left with his jacket. So back in I go, fully excpecting the drama to unfold as it should... but still nothing! What's going on here? As I right this, I'm still not quite sure how I feel about this. Yes I know, this is great... big step... blah blah blah... WHAT-EVER people! I know he is happy to be there... I mean, I know he's alway's happy once he settles in but this time no drama. Jeez... he could have at least preteneded... or maybe weened me off of his complete dependancy on his Mommy to make him feel better about being at school. Needless to say, I was not prepared! LOL. I should have known something was up when I had let it slip this morning that he was going to school and he actually clapped and said "Yea! School!"... and then ran off... hmmm



So Connor and I came back home and did some crafts while I printed pictures



When we picked Gavin up he was wearing this...

Now there's a pot of Gold at the end of that rainbow! He's the cutest Lepraucan I have ever seen!


Happy Wednesday!

What a big tease!

This weekend was so warm and sunny... it made us think that spring was finally here! Then Monday came... and it's not only raining out, but it started to snow and sleet... AGAIN! So it was an indoor day today. Don't worry though boys... the warm, rainy, "puddle jumping" days will be here soon enough....we hope!

So what does an "Indoor Day of Fun" consist of you ask? Well, for starters I set up these buckets with water and soap so they could "wash" their cars and submarine. Something so simple but they just LOVE it... I wish everything were that easy... oh to be 5 and 3 again!

Hope your enjoying your rainy day!

One with Nature...

... or as close as I'd like to be! Today the warm weather arrived! Yippee! We decided to embrace the warm, sunny day (who knows how long it's visit will last) and do something outside the confines of our front yard. To the Audubon Society! How could we pass it up when every 1st Saturday of the month its free admission!

First, the Harbor Seal...

Then, the Whale...

Next, onto the tidal pool...

A little crafts...

Followed up by a scavenger hunt...

And then onto the Boardwalk through the wilderness...

Which leads to...

a beautiful view of the Narragansett Bay!

Unfortunately we did not escape our Outdoor Adventure without injury... poor poor Gavin! Honestly, you would of thought he lost a limb...

How better to follow up being "One with Nature" than....

Ice Cream!!!

All in all... a very successful, fun filled day! Boys just finished dinner... and Mommy's feeling a little beat... too much nature for this Jersey Girl for 1 day!