Play time

While the boys are away, this Momma will play!  This weekend we all had a treat!  Jake and I had the pleasure of spending some one on one time while Aiden and Chris had a mini vacation at Grammie and Dziadzu’s and Mike headed to Boston to celebrate his sister Stephanie’s 30th Birthday with a delicious dinner out on the town!  It was a win, win for all of us.  Here is what our special time looked like.

Jake and I played and played and played.  He slept great, giggled a lot and we stayed cozy!  I took advantage of nap times and bedtime to refinish my dresser.  This turned into quite the project let me tell you.  I quickly rediscovered the five layers of paint that I have blessed this lovely piece with over the years.  I also quick rediscovered how much of a brut it is to remove this may layers… especially indoors with dusty everywhere!!!!! I unfortunately did not take before pictures, shame on me… And the dresser is still without knobs {I know what I want to buy but have to keep my eyes open..}

I did take after shots of a few other projects I worked on.

I wanted to create a toy bin that would fit under my hutch in the living room and be sturdy enough for my lil man to pull up on as he does all day long…. So, thanks to my handy husband, some materials on hand and some fun painting, here is the final result. 

 

Jake loves it and so do I.  I decided on a painted chalk board label so I can change it up for fun!

 

A few years ago, my parents gifted us with a little table, just the right size for Aiden and Chris.  It was a table I had growing up and my Dad gave it a new coat of paint and it has been loved.  Very well loved.  So well loved and used that it has been in dyer need of a major cleaning.  So, I gave that little white table and chairs a face lift and here’s what we’re left with.  The boys just love it and I think it’s kind of fun!

PS - Could my date be any cuter?

Aiden and Chris loved their sleep over!  They played hard, ate well and enjoyed every minute of their visit.  Of note, they went to church with Grammie and Dziadzu and did great {They aren’t used to sitting through Mass as our church has Sunday School for the kiddos while the parents go to service.}  They were then treated to Dunkin Donuts and an afternoon at the Holyoke Carousel.  Church was such a hit that Christopher asked if I thought the Pope would let Fr. Vern {my parents priest} come to his birthday party.  Now there’s a unique idea!

And Mike…. While I debated going and bringing Jake and wanted to join the celebration in Boston, the car ride and dinner timing was going to be tough.  I knew Jacob wouldn’t do well at the restaurant and wouldn’t do well with a new sitter so in trying to be fair to Jake and everyone else, we opted out. But as proof that Mike had a blast, I received this photo as a text message saying “jealous?”  He clearly knows my weaknesses!

Monday morning we were delighted to meet a group of my friends from high school at Big Adventures in Westfield.  It was an adventure with 5 ladies and 9 kiddos on the loose but we all had a blast and loved seeing the kids go whizzing past, giggling and burning off some steam! {As my hands were occupied with the little guy, I have no pictures, sorry, but trust me… they had a ball {Or 40,000 of them!}}

We enrolled Aiden and Chris in their second session of swim lessons a few weeks back.  They are just loving the experience and Mike and I are thrilled to see them building such confidence.  Monday night Mike stayed home with Jake and I took the big boys to swim.  It’s amazing how far they’ve come in a few short weeks….

 

And today, we are home.  Stuck inside as it is below zero and freezing… even inside!  School was cancelled because of the snow… of lack there of!  An inch and school’s called off.  Oh well, here’s to a day of warm tea, crafts, TV time and sweatpants without guilty.