{l'shana tova!}

Happy New Year to all my Jewish friends and family. May you be inscribed in the book of life!

{second child syndrome}

No, Debbie, I am NOT neglecting Morgan! ;)

We've just been busy (imagine that!) and I haven't had my camera out much. We played outside today so I thought I'd try to get some pictures. The weather has been beautiful -- about 10 degrees warmer than normal -- and we've been taking full advantage of the sun! Morgan even wore a sundress and white sandals (yes, Ma, even after Labor Day!)


This is the box that Gerard's 4-wheeler came in. I'm embarrassed to admit that they've gotten more use out of the BOX than the actual vehicle. I wanted to throw the box away quite a while ago but Gerard just wouldn't let me. It's their fort! (And by their I mean Gerard's, Morgan's, Maddie's and Abby's.) They've spent countless afternoons just coloring it. Hey, whatever keeps them happy!





Oh, I just have to share another funny "Gerardism".... Both Gerards were watching their beloved Steelers on Sunday when big Gerard said (or should I say yelled at the TV) "C'mon Roethlisberger! Stop dancing around in the pocket and get outta there!" To which little Gerard responded, wholeheartedly, "Maybe he just has to pee."

{random things}

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Thanks for all the compliments on Gerard's party stuff. I had fun making everything and Gerard really seemed to like it all. However, next year I'm hoping for a more mainstream party idea. Those party stores are around for a reason!

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He's loving all his gifts. He got Monopoly Jr, Batman Legos, Spiderman Yahtzee Jr, and Army patrol boat, a Hotwheels race track, Connect 4 and Nerf dart guns. I couldn't have thought of better gifts myself. Here he is yesterday morning playing with the Nerf guns, still in his boxers:

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Gerard is loving Kindergarten. They're working on patterns (piece of cake) and opposites (easy peasy) and punctuation (something new!) Other than that he remembers nothing about what they do all day. :)

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Morgan is very resourceful. If she can't get something she wants, she figures out a way to get it. Yesterday she wanted something on the counter in the kitchen but she couldn't reach it. She took the step stool from the bathroom, carried it over to the counter, stood on it and got what she wanted. Oh, and aren't her pj's cute?!h

{book club}

A few friends and I have started a book club! I'm excited to be reading something other than Sonic comic books, Goodnight Moon and Dr. Seuss books. Our first book was Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs and now we're reading Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson. I'm going to try to keep an updated list (with links) on the sidebar to the right. If you have any good suggestions for future books, please let me know! We'd like to pick books that come recommended by someone other than Oprah.

{party!}

Gerard's Sonic birthday party was a success. The kids all had fun as did the adults (as evidenced by the 5:00 departure of most guests from the party that ended at 2:30!)

Morgan is napping and Gerard is playing with his new toys, which he LOVES, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to post a few pictures...

Pin the spine on Sonic


The pinata


The cake

{picture day}

Just a quick post before bed to show you how Gerard looked on picture day. Hopefully we'll like the school pictures we ordered!

{sneak peak}

I've been working hard getting ready for Gerard's SONIC birthday party so I thought I'd share what I've done so far....

I'm almost done with Pin the Spine on Sonic and there are a few prizes for the games that I didn't take pictures of. Oh, and then there's the Sonic cake. PLEASE keep your fingers crossed that it looks even remotely like Sonic when I'm done with it!!!!!

EDITED TO ADD: I really like the cups, and I didn't think you could really see them in the pictures, so here are the close-ups of the comics I made using a photo of each guest:








Isn't Photoshop amazing?!?!?

{ask her about dinosaurs}

I haven't thought Saturday Night Live was funny since the early 90's, so when I saw this skit and actually laughed out loud I just had to share it with anyone who missed it:

{if you give a mouse a cookie}

In honor of Read-a-Thon week, the kids at Gerard's school were supposed to dress up as a character from a book today. He decided to be the boy from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, by Laura Joffe Numeroff.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this book (are you living under a rock?) the boy looks like this:

Here's Gerard. I think it's a pretty good likeness, if I do say so myself!

{another shameless request}

OK, Gerard's school also collects Box Tops for Education. If you happen to have any box tops around, we'd love for you to mail them to us instead of just throwing them out! For a complete list of products that participate, click HERE.

Thanks!

{read-a-thon}

This year, Gerard's elementary school is doing only ONE fundraising event. They have moved away from catalog fundraisers (thank g-d... do we really need any more expensive gift wrap and candy?!?!?) and have started doing a pledge based Read-a-Thon. Here's how it works:

• Students obtain pledges for reading based on per-page or a flat donation. Kindergarteners can have parents read to them.
  
  
• Students read and record pages read from September 13 - September 21. Money must be turned in by Monday, September 22. (Make checks payable to [*our town name*] Elementary PTO.)
  
  
• Students will receive a bookmark just for participating and one "Book Buck" for every $15 raised. The "Book Bucks" can be used like cash to purchase books during their Winter Book Fair.
  
  
• Students can earn prizes based on how much money they raise.
  
  

If you'd like to make a pledge, please let me know. Gerard will really appreciate it! Oh, and Big Gerard says that if you pledge a large amount you become part of Gerard's Platinum Club and you will receive one autographed picture of (little) Gerard.

{gerard's birthday week}

We celebrated Gerard's birthday -- again -- on his actual birthday, which was the 10th. I went in to school for his little celebration with his class and then we had cupcakes at home. Here are just a couple pictures:

You'll be happy to know that his week-long celebration is really a month-long celebration (hey, you only turn 5 once, right?).... We're having his "friends" party next Saturday. He really wanted a Sonic the Hedgehog theme this year, which has made things pretty difficult for me since they haven't made Sonic the Hedgehog birthday party stuff for about 15 years. I've had to get creative. Be on the lookout the week after next to see what I was able to come up with!

{happy birthday!}

Happy Birthday, Granpa G! We hope you have a great day!!

{happy birthday, grandma andrea!}

Happy Birthday, Ma! We all hope you had a nice day, even though you spent most of it flying home from sunny Arizona....

Here are some pictures from my parents' and Debbie's visit....

Grandpa is such a good sport. He just so happened to have packed his bathing suit just in case Gerard wanted to play in the sprinkler or with squirt guns. What a good sport!

Grandma bought Morgan her first bracelet from Fortunoff's. It's never too young to start enjoying jewelry!

We went to a local baseball game. Here's Gerard with one of the mascots:

We celebrated Gerard's 5th birthday and Grandma's 60th. He got a 4-wheeler and couldn't be happier:

finger-licking good!

And both Gerards got haircuts this weekend. Doesn't he look cute?!