St. Patrick, Finn and Sully Day

We hope that The Luck of the Irish was with you today!

We were lucky enough to have a great day.

Patrick and Finnegan brought Irish Treats to all their friends at school...

and Mommy got to spend time with her Little Leprechaun.

After school, we went for a "Hunt for Green" on the Greenway.

The boys found lots of green items on our walk: Grass, Trees and Runners in green spandex!

We stopped for a picnic snack including the shamrock cookies we made yesterday.

In the late afternoon, we went outside and planted shamrocks!

Let's hope the Shamrocks keep the Luck of the Irish going all year long.

Happy St. Patrick, Finnegan and Sullivan's Day!

Art Appreciation

Recently, we visited the new Mint Museum in Uptown Charlotte.

It was the first time I have taken the kids to a gallery and was so impressed

at how well they absorbed it all.

We did a scavenger hunt, looking for different items within the photos and the boys loved it!

and, while on their own hunt, Patrick and Finn found....

a train!!

After we visited the galleries, we went to the family room,

and the boys created art of their own...

and made their own masterpieces!

We will definitely be back for more Art Adventures!

The Disintegration of Cool

I will admit, I have probably never been considered cool.

I really doubt anyone has ever looked at Jul and thought, "that's a cool chic."

Whatever coolness I had in me has been lost today.

Let me show you how this loss came to be:

2001/2002:

Newlyweds Jul and Gill purchase 2 trendy, compact, urban cars -

a mini cooper and a vw bug.

2007: The beetle gets replaced with a CrV to make room for the 2 carseats!

Present Day:

The CRV has been officially replaced with the Odyssey. That's right, the girl who vowed she would never drive a minivan is now rockin one. The boys are thrilled to have "moving doors" and room for friends to drive with us.

I'm just wondering how I'll ever get my cool back.

Spring is here!

Yesterday, during Sullivan's nap time, the big boys and I planted flowers in the front yard.

Patrick and Finn each got their own rake, trowel, and watering can.

They did great! They helped me till the soil and they dug lots and lots of holes!

We worked really hard, and are so proud of the results.

Great Job, Boys! Mommy is so proud of you!

Sully's First Year Checkup

Today, we took Sullivan to have his one year checkup.

He waited patiently for his name to be called

and played with Patrick and Finnegan in the waiting room.

He had an excellent visit with the doctor, I am so proud of him.

Sullivan's growth is right on track, he's ready to run any day now, and he's a chatterbox!

Weight: 22lbs 2oz (50%)

Height: 31 inches (75%)

Head Circ.: 18 3/4 inches (75%)

Outdoor Pals

A great advantage to having a pal right down the street is that we can always get together, rain or shine. But, when we have gorgeous days like lately - that's when the Poole Girls and the Kilcoyne Boys have great outdoor adventures!

Masterpiece Monday

Last week Patrick and Finnegan made special wedding gifts for Suzy and Paolo.

They each depicted the happy couple getting married.

Patrick and Finn used scissors, crayons, glitter glue, silk flowers and glue sticks.

and then they used 2 rolls of tapes to wrap them!

We hope Suzy and Paolo enjoy their wedding masterpieces!

Short-order cooks

As most mom's can testify to, there are days in the kitchen when we feel like short order cooks.

This week I decided to turn the tables and let Patrick and Finnegan make their own lunches!

I have never seen peanut butter sandwiches made more meticulously or with such enthusiasm.

Maybe next time I'll have them make lasagna!

Flasback Friday

When Finnegan and Patrick were 19 months old, I took them to Monkey Joe's for the first time. They loved the 2 toddler inflatables and went continuously up and down the slide.

At just 12 months old, Sully explored Monkey Joe's for the first time.

He's watched his big brothers several times, but this was the first time I let him play.

I wish I had been able to capture Sullivan at the top of the slide, but he was too FAST!

He climbed to the top and went, belly first, right down the slide.

He may have no fear, but I am SCARED!!

Our Third has Major Firsts

Today our little baby boy took his first steps.

He took 3 steps from the chair to the ottoman, fell down and said "uh oh". Such a cutie!

I don't think this means he'll be on the run soon, but it sure was a big "step" in that direction.

It also seems like Sully is adding a new word to his vocabulary every day - he is a chatterbox!

Here is our Sullivan Dictionary:

Dada

Mama

Hi - he says it all day long and to EVERYONE!

Bye bye - this coincides with his adorable wave

Maggie - his favorite "Doggy" (also a word in his vocab)

Ball - he usually announced "ball" right as he's throwing one at you

Cookie - anything his big brothers are eating

Go Go Go! - he cheers himself while cruising around

Car - he loves cars, especially Lightning McQueen (shocking, I know)

Choo Choo - Sully spends hours each day at the train table with P&F

Hat - he announces "hat" every time he takes on off and throws it!

Cow - any farm animal in the little people barn

Hi Dad - word for phone (just like P&F used to say)

No - obvious

LaLa - his lifetime friend, Liliana

I know it's just the beginning of so many firsts!

Big Brothers

One of the perks of having 2 wonderful big brothers....

there are big kids willing to push you and your friend on the swings!

Masterpiece Monday

Lion Masks

Finnegan (left) and Patrick (right)

Redemption

Yes, I will admit, after the flood, we have all been a bit hesitant to do any "projects"

But, this past week, Gill, Patrick and Finnegan got back to it - building a new sandbox.

The saws were out, the eyes protected, the water pipes far away...

and our backyard now has a fabulous new sandbox!

Great Job Guys!

Wordless Wednesday

President's Day at the Park

Yesterday, was the most gorgeous day.

The boys and I took advantage of the weather and spent the morning at Freedom Park -

soaking in the sunshine.

We had a picnic...

played on the playground...

and fed the ducks. mulch.

We fed the ducks mulch, 'cause we ate all the crackers!

It was a sweet, sun-filled day with my sweet sons.

Masterpiece Monday