We're big kids now!

Mom officially packed up the bottle cabinet - there are no more bottles in the Manzello household! YIPPEE! The kids are only using sippy cups!

Our trip to the zoo

Yesterday we took the kids to Southwick's Zoo in Mendon, MA. We arrived around 11 - and left at 5:30! The kids had a blast. We met up with Lisa, Matt, Kiera and Tim. The weather was perfect and everyone had a great time! The zoo has a petting zoo where we actually saw baby goats who were only 30 minutes old. Many of the animals had new babies - so the kids loved seeing that as well. There is also a "Deer forest" so you walk through and get to feed the deer in their natural habitat. Overall we had a great time and the kids fell asleep 2 miles down the road!

flower child...

Ari loves to pick flowers...well the other day she decided to pick a flower from our garden and bring it in to mommy...

Mom had a blast...Dad survived!

This weekend was my first weekend away from the kids since they were born. They've done a night here, and a night there but never 3 full days. According to David I called too much, but I missed them! Marci, Shanni, Erin and I stayed at The Cove in West Yarmouth. We got down there on Friday afternoon, did some grocery shopping, checked into our town house and then went to the beach. The beach was so cold and windy that we only lasted about 30 minutes. From there we went back to our hotel and went swimming in the pool.



On Saturday we got up, went to breakfast and did some shopping. We hit the Christmas Tree Shop and Cuffy's (two MUSTS when on the Cape) - then went back to the hotel to hang. It was so beautiful out and we were hoping to lay by the pool (outside) but it didn't open until Memorial Day weekend! We sat outside for a bit - and Shanni and Erin said they were tired...WHAT??? So Marci and I didn't go away to take a nap - so we left the two of them to sleep and we went to play mini golf at Pirates Cove and then we went to a psychic! We had fun! We then got dressed and went to dinner at a Brazillian BBQ place - OMG so good!

On Sunday we checked out and drove home! The kids were so happy to see me!! David and I packed them in the car and took them to Coggshall Park in Fitchburg where they fed the geese and played on the swings. Overall it was a GREAT weekend!!

Dad survived with the kids too - but I think he's glad to finally have me home!

new words...new teeth...new mischief!

The kids have now turned into sponges! You ask them to repeat a word and they do their best to repeat it! We now have to watch what we say! Ari and Matthew can now say Grammie...Ari says it so cute too...We say: Ari can you say Grammie? She then says: Mamie!

Ari hasn't poked out her molars yet - but Matthew is ahead of the game! He has both of his top 2 molars and now his bottom right molar is poking through. They've both had bad bellies for the past few days and I'm not sure if it is associated with their teething or if they have a little virus. They are still very happy (minus Ari's 102 temp on Friday)!

As for mischief...OMG! I feel like they are in the terrible 2 stage already! They are into EVERYTHING! We've tried our best to child proof the condo - but they don't listen to the word NO! We've given them spankins on the bottom, we've tapped their hand, we've yelled - so far nothing works! On Saturday - Matthew opened our corner cabinet that is by the front door - and the 1 thing we forgot to child proof. Next thing you know I hear SMASH! Our German Crystal Cross smashed into a million pieces. The priest who married us gave that to us as a wedding present! Needless to say...mommy wasn't very happy! Their new adventure is climbing on the couch and running from one end to the other! One of these days they are going to fall off and break a bone! On Saturday (as well) Matthew tried climbing from the arm of the couch onto the end table, which was pushed agains the wall and not very close to the couch. I walked into the room and saw it and yelled "Get Down!" Well...that he did! he fell on the floor between the couch and the table - bumped his head and proceeded to scream for 10 minutes! When are they going to learn? We've been trying to teach them ouch and boo boo - but until they get hurt they don't realize it...but then again - 10 minutes later he was back on the couch! They are sure giving us a run for our money!

This weekend will be the first time I'm away from the kids and daddy has them all weekend! I'm going to the cape Friday - Sunday with 3 of my girlfriends for a much needed relaxing time away - no husband - no kids - no worries (well maybe a few worries...dad + 2 kids = mommy very nervous!)

Matthew...a superstar??

Matthew's photo has been selected for a Parents Magazine Cover Contest:

Thank you for entering the Parents Magazine Cover Contest! Your photo is currently in the running to become one of our weekly Reader’s Choice finalists! The photo with the most votes this week will go into our semi-final Reader’s Choice round for a chance to travel to New York City for the Parents Cover Contest Photo Shoot.

http://photos.parents.com/category/vote/photo/284443

Happy Mother's Day!

We had a great Mother's Day weekend! On Saturday we spent the day with David's family in Templeton. Lots of great food (always way to much) and the kids had fun getting into lots of mischief!

On Sunday - Matthew slept in until 8am!!! What a mother's day gift to me! He's usually up at 6! Ari woke up at 7:15 but David got up and played with her while I slept in for a bit. We then went to breakfast at Friendly's! The kids were great - and they ate French Toast Sticks.

We then spent the day in Norton. It was a little too cold and windy (about 40 mph winds) so we stayed inside for most of the day. Food was great, kids played and napped and mom got to relax! Here are a few cute pictures from the day:

Summer...already??

This weekend was May 1st & 2nd - but felt like August 1st & 2nd! Yesterday we had record highs in the 90's! I loved every minute of it! We went out for a bit yesterday morning, but then in the afternoon I set up the kids pool while they were napping - when they woke up, they spend 2.5 hours splashing around! We had to put up their gate becuase they thought it would be funny to run out of the pool - into the street and then back into the pool. The front yard is all sun in the afternoon - so until Daddy cuts down trees, that's where the kids pool is! Looks pretty funny - but the neighbors were all hanging around - and even Jacoby (the neighborhood golden) took a quick dip in their pool! It's supposed to be in the 80's all week! YIPPEE Kaeli, Connor and Auntie Marci came over too for a swim - so the kids had a great time!

Here are a few other pictures taken last week. The kids love having the picnic table in the kitchen - and they like sitting at it to eat. They don't always stay there though!