Best Buddies -

This has been an especially good week for the brothers L - they have been very sweet and good to each other this week - which is something Mama loves of course. If you ask ADL who is his "best friend" he will tell you Nino which makes me almost cry every time. This week we just enjoyed Pop Pop, went to the library and continued to get ready for school in three weeks. We got a letter from ADL's teacher and this got him really interested.

This weekend our dear friends Dave and Amy are visiting with their little guy Jacob so we are very excited! Good thing we can entertain ourselves since it is likely to be a total wash out for weather - good excuse for good friends, good food and good times with our favorite little guys.

Pop's Visit -

Pop Pop had a great visit with us this week. The boys (big and small) love having him here so much as does Mama of course. ADL is especially attached to Pop Pop and reminds him to put on his glasses before reading him a story. What fun! Also it is fun to see how much they change between his visits as we do not see it as much since we get to be with them everyday. We are now very jealous that Pop Pop is back in sunny Florida likely sitting in the pool as we speak. Can't wait for his next visit which luckily is not that far away. XOXO

The Boys of Summer -

The boys are well - and enjoying the last bit of summer. Pops is here so we are having a lovely visit with him as well. Right now ADL loves being outside - playing outside, walking outside, eating outside any excuse really. He also is getting really comfortable with his counting (1-12) and his ABC's both I wanted him to have learned before school so Mommy can take credit for teaching him what is important of course. Speaking of we are getting ready for school which starts roughly three weeks from now - we have all our paperwork in and now just need immunizations (should be fun) to be all ready.

AHL is amazing and continues to change dramatically each day. He is picking up his head and shows signs of wanting to sit up by himself soon. He is loving all his fruits (we have introduced peaches this week) and cereal - next week we are going to add oatmeal to the mix which is really exciting. EVERYTHING is going in the mouth so we expect some tooth progress soon - more on this later. Although his napping seems a little in want this week - we are still loving the long stretch at night which is a blessing. Enjoy these photos from this week -

XOXO

Last Art Class -

Yes we made it through our art classes with only getting tossed out once (a victory to be sure). This week we painted and glued so ADL was in heaven. He loves color and red and brown (and of course purple) are his favorites. This week we read about Mineo and straight and curved lines so it was exciting. Thanks for all the interest in these works - most are not displayed in the big guys room for futire showings. XOXOX

Pre-Season Fun -

All - here are the boys last week in full Jets regalia ready to watch the first game with Daddy. Yes I do know that neither of these guys actually play for the Jets anymore which is likely why the outfits were in the $3 bin. Still they look pretty cute huh? Happy Friday! XOXOXO

THE BEACH!

Yes we are back and yes we had the most fantastic time...... SC has the most perfect beaches (yes I am partial) and Wild Dunes is the jewel in the crown as far as we are concerned. The beaches are perfect, the water warm (87 degrees) and we had a fantastic time. We swam in the pool which was right in back of the house, played with the other kids - everyone got along great, and left the sitters (Nonna) at the house when all were asleep for a little girl chat and lots of Cabernet.

The boys were in heaven - ADL loved watching the older boys in the house and also fell in love with little Emma. AHL loved the pool so much he took his naps in the raft just floating along or sitting right by the pool in the shade. There were also activities at the resort - wildlife hands on, a magic show and of course totally yummy ice cream. We ate most meals outside which pleased Alessandro and had a great time. Nonna spoiled the boys with her attention and gave me some breaks to have some one on one time and some minutes with the ladies. It was a full house but excited and happy all the time. Am still going through photos but here are some fun ones to start - for the group photos think you can see who belongs to whom but am not listing the other names. We are ready to go back tomorrow - yippee!

P.S. No one got sunburned (ADL has a little color but nothing strong) - this is the result of about three containers of Aveno sunblock and more hats then I could of counted for all of us. Since this was a worry it had to be mentioned as one of our greatest successes of the excursion. XOXOXO

Boys on Planes -

All - I know many of you shared my apprehension about taking the boys onto the plane ride to and from the beach. When we were at Newark and they called the flight and we walked toward the check in leaving Daddy (who luckily was able to get a gate pass to help) my heart fell and I realized that these two little guys were getting ready to fly with me alone..... We got onto the plane and they were excited - ADL was busy counting planes out the window and AHL was flirting with all the people getting on (including the flight attendants). The flight down was quick which was lucky and they were pretty good. Neither slept which worried me but all was fine sans their ears really hurting when we were coming down. ADL grabbed my own ear very hard to make sure we were communicating and think it is still ringing.

The flight back was a different story - both boys were exhausted from swimming and walking on the beach. We worked hard to not let them nap before the flight figuring they would pass out. Well pass out they did - the only problem we were stuck on the runway for two hours on the plane before we even took off - seriously is it me??? Evidently the VP was there at a Health Care summit and shut down the airport - opening just in time for a storm to pass over and close Newark. URGH! What about the health of mothers traveling with two small children??? The poor pilot had to walk all the way to the back to the facilities and gave me a look of horror when passing both times. Anyhow both woke up after a long restful nap to find us still in SC on the runway and then the real fun started. Both were very good but "busy" for the remainder of the flight. We read books, played games, ate snacks and sang songs (am sure everyone loved that one). All and all they were very good given the circumstances - we were still on the plane at 8:30pm and supposed to land before 6:00pm. All on the plane were kind and commented on how good they had been - and after we waited for everyone to get off (our stuff was everywhere) the pilot came back and held ADL's hand to help get us off which was nice. Perhaps there are still the friendly skies but don't get me started on the baggage.... XOXOXO

Nino at Five Months -

All - it is hard to believe but Nino is five months and getting along really well. He is on a pretty good schedule and seems to be growing like a weed (he is pretty thick especially compared to his brother at this age). Nino loves all the fruits that we are feeding him and is really trying to move around more pushing himself up and over which is exciting. He is also talking up a storm which is funny because we can not understand anything but he seems pleased to have said it. He is scheduled for a six month check in which will have current stats and a re-visit to the cardiologist to make sure everything is fine with his little ticker. Nino is also looking forward to next month and his sprinkling and family party - wahoo. Lastly his favorite song is "Sing a Song" and he smiles every time he hears it which is often of course. Come and visit soon before he gets too big and is no longer my perfect baby Pistachio. XOXO

Art Class - One More Week -

This is our next to last week in art class. At least this week we made it until the
Art Show" which is a better sign. This week we did a study of Klimit and his woodland watercolors. We painted with watercolors which was very fun although ADL did not understand why you have to limit the water when it is so very much fun to play with. We are also working on the ABCs of Art which is actually pretty fun for me as well - think all those art history classes must of paid off because they are all just as clear as when they used to fly by in old timey slides. XOXOXO

This weeks masterpiece -

This week in art class we studied Miro and his "Dancing Lines." We also worked with pastels for the first time which were fun but a little hard to get off of little hands. The work is not totally complete because we were dismissed from Art Class early for reasons way too detailed to discuss here. However if you want to hear or think this makes this piece more valuable please give us a shout. Happy Friday!

XOXO

Ready to Go -

We are getting excited as the boys and Mommy are leaving for the SC Beach on Sunday. The only issue to make us nervous is that we are flying alone, but we are sure we will find lots of sympathetic travelers and employees of Continental to assist us happily (note sarcasm).

The boys were amazing this week - which is strange because they had anything but a normal week. We had visitors all week which was great but sleep and regular schedules are a slightly in flux.

Nino will turn 5 months while we are at the beach - he is moving so much and still loves his cereal and fruit. His latest move is that he will bring anything to his mouth which makes me think he is cutting some teeth.

Alex is really getting smart and amazes us with everything he can now say and understand. He loves being outside in the summer checking the garden with Daddy. We are in a small battle for bedtime and in what we eat but I am told these are both normal with this age (here is hoping it passes quickly). Note in these photos he has two looks with shorts this summer Magnum PI short or KFED (the Brit/Skinny years) hanging off his rear. HA! Lastly Alessandro did have a hair cut this week to prepare for our trip (so grandma would not think him shaggy) and it looks fantastic. XOXOXO

Visit from Baby Kane

Yes Nino had his first true play date with beautiful baby Kane. Of course Mommy was thrilled so we could also have a play date with Auntie Ev. Kane is getting very big and looks a little like Daddy (we know that feeling). We had a lovely day together playing with all "the boys." Kane is sleeping very well and is so happy and alert. At the end of the visit we cooked an Italian feast so Daddy was also thrilled but most of all he was over the moon to meet "Baby Kane" himself. What a great summer for visitors and babies! XOXO

Visit from our DC Friends -

We had a lovely visit from some of our favorite DC friends. They were having a grand time in NYC and stopped by on the way home for brunch. Tad and TJ are the boys and they are so cute, smart and most of all nice and so pleasant to be around. They are what this Mama Duck aspires to with her little guys.

The boys also brought ADL some trains and AHL a fabulous book for his growing collection. Both boys were very patient and good with the little guys and we all had a great time. We hope they will visit often for sure.