The Family Band

Years ago, we received "The Family Band" from John and Maria for Christmas. It is a big red box full of lots of fun instruments. Before we had kids, we spent many a night imbibing with friends, a couple guitars, and "The Family Band." Now the kids are making good use of it.

Pennsylvania 2009

As Ian lays upstairs in bed repeating "Click Clack Moo," I am sitting here trying to remember all of the fabulous experiences the kids have had since I last posted.

First and foremost would be our trip to Pennsylvania. It was our first week-long vacation since before the kids were born and it was a raging success. We rented a cabin in the Poconos with the Gallagher clan and visited with the Pereses on the way there and back.

Even though we left DC at bedtime, the kids still talked most of the way to Nannie's house. As Eleanor started to nod off, Ian kept on going! Kevin and I made a pact to be quiet, to reinforce the sense of quiet time in the car. After a few minutes of Ian talking alone, with no response from us, he said "I'm sorry, Mama. I'm sorry, Dada." Priceless.

Napping in the car with passy and duckie

Likewise, with passy and blankie

When we got to Nannies house, she had a vast assortment of toddler toys for the kids to play with. She'd gotten a Dora play kitchen, a lawnmower, a rake, and some nylon tunnels to climb through. Plus, she's got a great back yard. Even though Nannie's mobility was still a little limited by her recent knee replacement surgery, cousin Shane was playing vigorously with the Ian and Eleanor. They were in heaven for the two days that we were there and felt crushed when we had to leave. Little did they know what they had in store...

Playing on Nannie's deck

Eleanor and Kevin in the tunnel

Fairview Lake was where we stayed. There were 17 of us spread across two houses. Both houses were mere yards from the lake, complete with Adirondack chairs, docks, boats, and ducks. The large lawn and the water were a big, natural playground for the kids - and a constant source of fear that they would fall in the water or find the busy country road on the other side of the lawn. Their 2.5 year-old cousin Gabriel and their 2 year-old cousin Maeva were exciting, but their older cousins Owen, Hugh and Finn really captured their attention. They were see-sawing, using big-kid swings, and dangling from monkey bars (with help) by the end of the vacation. And they even performed in the impromtu talent show - Ring Around the Rosey is a real croud pleaser if you don't pay attention to the lyrics!

The house

Hanging out lakeside

GiGi and PopPop and almost all of their beautiful grandchildren (see Owen's foot??)

Finding and throwing rocks


Surfer girl at the lake


Digging in the sand


Hiking with Maeva

On the way home, we stayed with PopPop and MomMom Perese. They prepared for Ian and Eleanor by inflating and filling their massive baby pool. And when the sun came out, we were all in that pool! As soon as the Pitners made an appearance, the babies were again absorbed by their big cousins. Ashley and Shane played with them in yard and colored with them on the back porch (where the kids did a number on the knick-knacks - so many fascinating little things that they couldn't keep their hands off of). We had a fabulous time but were ready to be back home.

Trying on PopPop's glasses

Eating yogurt with MomMom

Shane!

Hi!

Sometimes when Eleanor and Ian are playing together, one of them will look at the other and say "Hi!" And then the other one will say "Hi!" in response. And then they'll just continue playing.

Laughing in the back yard (21 months old)

Drinking from real cups - a rare occurrence

Eleanor, Ian, and Jorge's shadows

Last week was the first time that Eleanor looked at one of her older baby pictures and pointed out herself and Ian. It happened to be a picture of GiGi and PopPop Gallagher holding her and Ian on Christmas 2007. I don't think that she got the concept that she used to be a little baby until now. Both of them can say the work "Ian" clearly but neither of them can say "Eleanor" well. It sounds like "Eh-Nah."

Dipping bacon in yogurt - yum!

Crazy face (must be the bacon and yogurt)

Ian is passionate about stacking right now. He stacks big and little legos. He stacks (empty) boxes of diapers and wipes. He stacks yogurt containers. He even takes the pieces out of the shape-sorting toys and stacks them! It's been a full year since he put this much time and energy toward stacking. I remember him stacking wooden blocks in earnest on the back porch last summer.

Ian and Megan, post-ambulation

Eleanor and Kevin, post-ambulation

Both babies love the pool (they pronounce it "poo-wa"). That goes for the baby pool in our back yard as well as the baby pool at the pool we joined for the summer. Our baby pool is never more than four or five inches high, so when they went into a real baby pool, they weren't used to the deep water. And as their lifeguard, I wasn't either. They were timid at first, holding my hand or staying close to the side (even climbing out frequently). After a couple of visits, they are now wanting to walk along, with their legs and torsos bent enough so that their chests and shoulders are in the water. Ian shouts "I'm mimmin'!"

Serious boy

Serious girl

Not-so-serious splashing in the pool

It's no surprise that Kevin is a great dad. For Father's Day, Kevin had a ride in the morning followed by a nap. In the late afternoon, we hit Wheaton Regional Park for a train and carousel ride. The babies have been talking about it ever since.

Dirty Daddy

Now this is "jumpin'"

Kevin and the babies

Back in May, we had a great trip to Pittsburgh. Almost everyone was there (we missed the Brooklyn contingent) and it was so touching to see the cousins play together. Hugh and Finn were awesome with Maeva, Ian, and Eleanor. Plus, we had a picnic in North Park. PopPop was feeling tired but good enough to hang out and play. We'll get a little more family (the Brooklyners) and time (a full week) in July in the Poconos. I would like to know who's going to ruin it!@#

Ian laughing with PopPop

Ian swinging in the hammock with Finn

Maeva, Ian, and Eleanor (all born within 2 weeks of eachother!)

Aunt MG and the girls

Picnic Pose

Spring Things

Since I can't seem to make time to write about the kids, I thought I would just post some recent images of them.

Our little monkeys...

Hanging out on the front steps

Friday night happy hour with I.Z.

Collecting and dumping stones in the back yard

Nannie's little elves

Cruising at the park with I.Z. and Ian

Now for some Eleanor...

More water, please (Mah, peez)

The most beautiful girl we know

Glamour shot

Fake smile

And finally some Ian...

Es verdad - el es nuestra numero uno

Such a big boy!

He's got some elfin tendencies, too

An elfin bad-ass!

Playing without Mommy

This video was taken about a month ago, but it captures a new dynamic in the household - the kids' ability to entertain themselves without Kevin or me. It's often short-lived, and only really works when they are out in the back yard, but I really enjoy being able to watch them play while I throw together their meal, check my email, or wash dishes.

Playing alone

Sharing

Eleanor shares her meal with Ian. Ian can't get enough.




Or maybe he can...




(So many of our images and videos take place at the kitchen table. I MUST start mixing it up a little!)

Pigtails!

The little lady's hair is long enough to do pigtails! If only she'd leave the barrettes alone...

Eleanor with pigtails, 16 months old