Doctors R Us...The kids and I spent the afternoon shuttling around doctor's offices. We went to their regular pediatrician for a follow-up on Julia's cold. She has an ear infection in one ear. Yea! The doctor had me take Jacob straight to the orthopedist office for x-rays. After 3 x-rays, we now know it is just a really bad bruise and the swelling should resolve itself (he fell in the living room last week on the hardwood floors). We go back in 3 weeks for a follow-up. By the time it was all said and done, mom was fried and the kids were starved so we stopped by Wendy's for dinner. Once bath time and homework is done, we are all bound for bed!

Our Big Girl...Our BIG girl, Julia, had her 3 yr (yes, 5 months late...) check up today at the doctor's office. She is 41 3/4 in tall (95%) and 37.3 lbs (75%). We grow 'em BIG in our house...ha! Can't believe it!

Reading with Katie



Kids having fun with Katie... Royalty and Ballerina Girl

Great Friends, Great Weekend...Our friends from Marietta, Chris and Kathy, were able to come this weekend. They came Friday night and week spent 2 whole days in Manhattan and part of Monday showing them Long Beach before they headed out on Monday night. We had such a GREAT time! They are so much fun and and so easy to be around. We took them to Chinatown, Little Italy, Greenwich Village, Wall Street, the Financial District, Ground Zero, the Statue of Liberty, and lots of pubs and restaurants along the way. It was so much fun but VERY cold! We ran out of time and never made it up past Time Square. So, next time we'll hit Central Park and and Upper West and East Sides. We're hoping they can come back when it is beach season. The kids were so happy to see them but also enjoyed time with our neighbor, Brona, on Saturday and their favorite babysitter, Katie, on Sunday. It was way too cold to have the kids running all over Manhattan. We can't wait for Chris and Kathy to come back!!!

Community Day...Jacob had Community Day at school on Friday. All of the kindergarten and surrounding classes were transformed into a pizzeria, post office, bank, lemonade stand, card store, nail salon, grocery store and movie theater. The kids had to pay play money for each service. Jacob's class had to work in the pizzeria half the time at either the cash register or as a service. Needless to say it was the most popular store since it served REAL pizza. I got to be there all day watching the kids and helping. In the afternoon I led a group of 4 little boys (including Jacob) around to the other businesses. It is really hard to keep track of 4 boys all wanting to go in opposite directions. I don't know how the teachers do it every day. But the kids had a ball and the classroom was decorated so cute!

Proud Mama...We got a bunch of icy weather yesterday and John spent a large portion of the afternoon chipping ice off our porch and stairs. After he picked Jacob up from school, they headed down to our neighbor, Mr. Greenberger's house to help shovel his stairs, etc. He is 75 yrs old but very active. He just can't handle the shoveling anymore. Well, when they got back John said Jacob worked the whole time and when they were done he asked his Dad who else they could go help. I love that! It made me so proud of him that that is his true nature without being told to do it. I love that little man and that he has a dad with such a giving nature, too. I'm a lucky to have them both.

John really spoiled me for Valentine's Day...besides sweet, thoughtful presents, he brought me flowers, ordered us extra special takeout italian food, and even went and did the grocery shopping for me. That is the biggest treat since I don't like to grocery shop, especially if I have the kids in tow. Yea!

Snow Day...Jacob woke up very excited this morning since school is closed today due to ice. The PTA president called at 6:15am to let me know so I could call the parents in Jacob's class on my half of the phone list. It didn't take long but my brain turned on and I never got back to sleep. Bummer, man! But I did get a little quiet time to myself before the household woke up...nice. We aren't expecting any more snow today. It is sunny but very windy and cold...20 degrees...yikes!