"Unless." Dr. Seuss

Happy Earth Day!

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

Nothing is going to get better. It's not.”

Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

There are so many simple ways to celebrate Earth Day for both adults and children.  While its symbolic to do something specifically for Earth Day, small efforts and changes any day of the year can make a big difference.

Just a few ideas:

Organize/Volunteer to be part of a neighborhood clean up

Plant a tree

Go vegetarian one day per week

Buy local

Purchase a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles

Compost your garbage and utilize in your gardens

Stop littering

Recycle

Plant a garden

Educate your children about the environment

Walk or ride a bike if possible

Skip the lawn chemicals this year

Use natural household cleaners (e.g. vinegar) instead of harsh chemicals

Bring reusable bags to the store

When it comes to small children there are many fun spring time books that you can use as tools.  Two of my personal favorites are Dr. Seuss's The Lorax and Margret & H. A. Rey's Curious George Plants a Tree.  My son is just shy of 3 years old and we spend time talking about gardening, flowers, trees, pollution, recycling, etc.  We use simple terms and apply the concepts to daily life.  Children are like sponges - starting early discussions about how we can help the environment and how nature helps us can have a huge impact on their lives.  

Signs of Spring in the garden

Early Spring this year has been, well not so Spring - like.   I live in Northern Rhode Island, on the southeastern border of Massachusetts.  It's been fairly brisk and we have seen snow more than once since Spring's official start.  It's time to keep your eyes open for more welcome signs of Spring.  I even decided to create a sign or two for myself.  For example, I purchased some beautiful orange tulips and imaged how lovely they would look in my front garden with the yellow daffodils and red tulips that are beginning to pop out of the ground.  Every time I walked through the room, this simple sign of Spring made me smile.

We are finally starting to see a warm afternoon here and there.  It's a perfect time of year to start thinking about clean up from Winter and mapping out what you might want to see in your yard/garden this year.  My husband simply spent a couple hours on a couple occasions, clearing out old leaves that may have blown into the yard over the winter, as well as any trash/debris from the street, assessing our compost situation, etc.  A little love can go a long way.  

In addition, it's a great time of year to begin mapping out your herb/vegetable garden. Start thinking about some of these questions:  Do you plan to start your garden from seeds or small plants? Do you need to rotate your crops to maximize your yields? Will you be using conventional or organic gardening practices?  How many types of plants are appropriate for the space you have available? How can you cohabitate your herbs/vegetables to ensure they are working together to ward off pests or enhance flavor?  Gardening can be as simple or complex as you would like.  On Friday afternoon, my son, Rhys and I went outside to play and ended up weeding our herb/vegetable garden in preparation for planting.  It amazes me how many weeds make there way into the garden throughout the winter.  We do practice organic gardening and as a result face some additional challenges throughout the season/year.  One of the biggest problems we have faced over the last two years - squash bugs and vine borers (SVB).  Stubborn beasts!  We literally had to go out to the garden on a daily basis to inspect and protect our squash, zucchini, pumpkins, watermelons and cucumber plants and remove these nasty pests by hand.  Not all battles have been won.  It truly gave us a new respect for farmers.  More on squash bugs and vine borers another time.  

This year we do intend to try planting squash varietals that are more resistant to SVB, such as moschata varietals, Long Island cheese, trombochino, seminole, etc.  Other vegetables we will be planting are green beans (Rhys' personal favorite), tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers and maybe one or two others.  Our herb garden consists of rosemary, lavender, mint, cilantro and basil.  Gardening has been both fun and educational for my whole family. 

2D vs 3D/4D

Hello world!

On February 28, 2012, Jim, Rhys and I had our first 3D/4D ultrasound experience.  It was really amazing!  We had a few sneak peaks at baby Gibson #2 using 2D ultrasound through our OB GYN's office, which provides you with black and white profile images.  Don't get me wrong - also very cool and very much helps you to connect with your baby.  You (hopefully) get to hear the heart beat, see movement and watch the ultrasound technician look for and measure the appropriate body parts to ensure your baby is intact.  During the 3D ultrasound, baby #2 slept through the majority of the experience. He did; however, wake up to give us a yawn.  I wanted to attach the video clip here; however, the Google link to attach a video does not appear to be working.

Playing with umbilical cord

The experience allowed us to feel closer to baby #2, especially because he looked more like a real baby in 3D and you got a sense for what some of his features were starting to look like.  I do have to warn you that at times while the technician is trying to bring the images into focus, the baby can look a bit like an alien.  :)  But no worries, there shouldn't be any aliens growing in your belly. The company we used shares office space in the evenings right in our OB GYN's office.  The women who worked with us made every attempt to provide us with images and the experience we were hoping for and by no means rushed us out of the office.  This is not something covered by your insurance so do plan to pay out of pocket.  We were able to take advantage of a February special we saw advertised in the office and added on a couple extras to create a package we could really enjoy at home.  One addition was a stuffed animal with a recorded heartbeat inside.  What a great idea for a special keepsake!  Rhys loves it and got to select the animal.  Hopefully someday baby #2 will love it too!  I wish we had done this with Rhys.

Rubbing his eyes

"We live in a beautiful world." (Coldplay)

Be thankful for what we have, not what we don't.

February 26 is just one of many times of year that trigger the memory of my late brother, Kevin Vilnit (10.8.1978 - 2.26.2002).  My brother died of Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the ripe young age of 23.  I was a senior in college at the time and to be honest - it was devastating.  His death has impacted my life significantly and for the long term.  Eleven years have gone by this year and I still miss him like it was yesterday.      

Childhood photo (me, left and Kevin, right)

College photo, Kevin

Time does help heal and it reminds us to appreciate what he have, not dwell on what we don't.  I don't mean this in an insensitive way at all.  And its what Kevin would want.  Of course I wish he was here living and enjoying each holiday, party, birth....each life moment with us.  If you dwell on what you don't have, you will be miserable.  We chose to remember Kevin as a family (we do every year in fact).  We had a gathering at my parent's house with my grandmother, my sister and her family.  We enjoyed pictures, memories and good food.  I went home thankful for that time together and especially thankful for the life I have with my husband and my son Rhys.  Life isn't always fair and it isn't always easy, but there is so much beauty in the world to explore and enjoy.  Go out and find it!  

Happy Valentine's Day from my little beast!

I found a really fun Valentine craft idea on Pinterest to do with Rhys and thought this was one way to really make the most of your groceries!  We started out by cutting off the bottom of the celery stalk, used some red finger paint and stamped the stalk onto cards for our family.  The stamps made pretty roses for our loved ones on Valentine's Day!

Rhys tested out the stamp on scrap paper before we started in on the card stock.

Then we started in on the craft.

After Rhys helped me to add roses to all the cards, I drew stems and leaves for flowers and let him play in the paint.  It got a little messy!

We broke the project into two steps in order to let the paint dry before Rhys added some additional art work to the cards.  So we washed up, had lunch and Rhys went down for his nap.  While he was sleeping I added the writing to the cards.

Once he woke up, Rhys broke out the (washable) markers and added his own personal touch.  Each card came out quite unique, just like my little guy!

This craft was easy, fun and great for winter when we are often stuck indoors.  All done!

Beasts that go bump in the night

I truly never know what a given night will hold.  Last Friday I was hoping for a solid night sleep after a hectic and tiring week.  I was practically falling (well, let's be real - actually falling) asleep on the couch around Rhys' bedtime, which is between 7:30 and 8:00 pm.  My husband was kind enough to recognize how exhausted I was and he helped Rhys get ready for bed.  On an almost nightly basis, Rhys convinces Jim to lay down with him.  Nearly an hour later, I peep my head in the bedroom.  Just as I expected - Rhys is still awake, eyes staring at the door and my husband is snoring away.  I (attempt to) wake him up and get ready for bed. I check on the guys one last time.  This time Jim gets up and comes to our room. We try to watch "Seven Psychopaths," but quickly fall asleep.  Throughout the night, Pugsley, our wonderfully athletic black puggle jumps up into our bed hoping he will go unnoticed and be allowed to snuggle alongside us.  This happens, hmmm, at least a dozen times.  At about 1:30 am, I hear the quiet pitter patter of footsteps and a knock on our door.  For about an hour, we go back and forth with Rhys about where he is goes to sleep - his room (the preferred option) or our room.  Eventually, he passes out in our bed.  As the clock ticks on, I faintly hear the sound of what sounds like someone about to vomit - Brody, our fawn puggle.  Jim leaps out of bed and barely gets him into the kitchen when the first round makes its appearance and then again farther into the kitchen he vomits a second time.  At this stage its around 4:30am and now I really can't sleep.  Jim and I have Rhys laying horizontally between us and I am basically being pushed off the side of the bed.  I head out to the couch, curl up under a blanket and watch a movie.

But you know what - it ended up being a great and relaxing morning.

Review of "The Complete Pregnancy Exercise Program"

Review of "The Complete Pregnancy Exercise Program"

Hosted by Michelle Collie, PT, DPT, MS, OCS

I picked up a copy of this DVD in my Providence, Rhode Island based OB-GYN's office.  The program states that it is "designed to prevent pregnancy related problems and assist you in feeling and looking the best that you can" during pregnancy.

According to the website provided on the DVD packaging (www.performanceptri.com), Collie is the owner and director of Performance Physical Therapy based throughout Rhode Island.  The program is 45-minutes in length provides a great full body workout.  The program combines strength, stretching and some yoga. I actually find it to be quite relaxing.  It's a feel good workout for the entire pregnancy.  I didn't utilize it as frequently during the first trimester, as I preferred a more rigorous workout.  Your personal preference would of course be driven by prior fitness level and intensity of workouts. 

Throughout the program, Collie provides varying levels at which you can complete each exercise (e.g. easy, medium, more challenging). Explanations are clear and concise.  She personally demonstrates each level.  I enjoy the commentary throughout the program, as Collie provides good tips and tidbits of information for a varying audience to consider.  My favorite comment from the program is when Collie mentions that your caloric requirements increase when working out and that you might need a snack both before and after completing the program.  I love this!  It made me laugh.  Finally, I enjoy the New Zealand accent.

I would definitely recommend checking out this affordable pregnancy exercise program.

We are who we are

We are who we are...

I spent a lot of time around the new year reflecting.  Reflecting on 2012 - the good, the bad and the ugly.  And believe me there has been ugly!  As I reflected further on the year, I couldn't help but think about all the day to day moments that I was overlooking.  The parts of life that you can miss if you don't stop to savor the moment.  Last year Rhys was saying single words.  This year he is having conversations, using his imagination, enjoying the art of creating. He counts to 20 and now we are working on Spanish.  He sings the alphabet, he sings everything.  This is just one example.

I decided that I personally wanted to be a more loving, understanding & supportive wife and a more patient mother in 2013.  Since quitting my job and leaving my so-called career in the health insurance industry, I've struggled with what being a stay at home mom (SAHM) meant.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Rhys.  It was a drastic change and challenge that while I have struggled with at times, I have appreciated more than anything.

My husband and I made the decision to become a single income household for 2 main reasons.  1) I wasn't getting the type of experience I wanted at work and as a result, after 10 years, I was no longer happy.  And my former employer wasn't listening.  Well, employment is a two-way street and you do have a choice.  So I quit.  2) We wanted to raise our child the way we wanted to raise our child and without added stress.  We wanted it to be easier at home - a clean house, home cooked meals, shirts ironed and more importantly - time together on the weekends.  The point was to focus more on developing Jim's business as a means to move us on the path to achieving our dreams.  Our dreams are more entrepreneurial nature.  While we have faced significant challenges over the last year and a half,  I feel we are stronger as a result.

In 2013, I need to remember who I am - my interests, likes and dislikes.  I was a person before I become a wife and a mother.  I have become a better person because of my family and my experiences.  I have a long way to go.

To a happy and healthy 2013!!

OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY

There are many ways to say it, but the fact of the matter is my husband and I are expecting baby #2 and he is a boy.  We were quite surprised!  This pregnancy has been extremely different from my first.  While pregnant with Rhys, I had a smooth and easy pregnancy.  This pregnancy has been quite the opposite - keeping me from many things including my blog for my first trimester.


On January 4, 2013, we had our most recent ultrasound that revealed the gender.  Based on how I have been feeling, the high heart rate, carrying high and Rhys' interest in my belly (informing us regularly that the baby was a girl) - we thought it was a girl.  The good news is we were interested in having a healthy baby and are just as happy with another boy.  Almost immediately we saw the following, which had us laughing:

The pregnancy is going as well as it can be (health-wise) according to our doctor.  So we are happy to hear all of this news.  I am finally starting to feel more like myself again and truly hope the feeling lasts. :)

.

First Fingerpainting Fun

Yesterday, Rhys and I tagged along on a trip out towards Cape Cod, Massachusetts where my husband had a business meeting.  We browsed around in some stores at Wareham Crossing while we waited for him and were excited about picking up Crayola finger paints.  The plan was to use the finger paints on Rhys' pumpkin for Halloween, as he is a bit too young to carve his own pumpkin at age 2.  Of course, this morning the finger paint was the first thing on Rhys' mind.  As a relatively inexperienced mom, I began to wonder what I had been thinking.  Rhys is my first child and I don't belong to a mother's group where I could pick up tips from seasoned moms.  Prior to Rhys' birth, we did lots of reading about the baby's development, as well as what life would be like once he arrived.  Once he arrived, there seemed to be little time for the same level of research - especially for activities like finger painting.  I didn't have plastic trays for the paint or even newspaper lying around the house so we improvised.  I used tissue paper on the dining room table and tore the tops off paper dixie cups to use as dipping containers for the paints.  I grabbed some blank sheets of paper, paper plates, napkins and a play smock Rhys already happened to own.  In the back of my mind, I couldn't help but wonder how "washable" these washable finger paints would be.  Here goes nothing! 

Our first experience with the finger paints was very positive.  Rhys was pretty mild mannered throughout the experience.  He carefully dipped his fingers in the different colors and began his works of art.  He told me, "this is fun!" I demonstrated how to make hand prints and it was when I decided to show him how to mix the colors to make new colors that his alter ego - Rhys the Beast - shined through.  With only a minor melt down, I explained that we were sharing in the fun and that there was plenty of paint to go around.  He quickly calmed down and we continued to play.

After a while, Rhys told me he wanted to clean up.  And so he followed me to the bathroom sink without touching anything and with soap, warm water and some gentle scrubbing - our hands were clean.  Success!  Rhys and Mommy give both the experience and Crayola finger paints two thumbs up!

A day in the life of a puggle...

Jim and I own 2 puggles, Pugsley and Brody.  Puggles are a wonderful breed.  They are medium sized (ours both weigh around 20 pounds) dogs.  They are very active and if you like to exercise - they are thrilled to join you.  They love to cuddle and sleep.  Our two dogs are males and have interesting personalities.  Pugsley has more pug traits and Brody more beagle.  Pugsley is loyal and loving, but boy is he trouble.  Since we have owned Pugsley (he's five)- he has had 2 multiple day emergency room visits for blockages (one requiring surgery).  He has had surgery on his eye (no fault of his own).  He has had unexpected trips to the vet where we have been able to induce vomitting to get whatever he ate (typically a sock) out of his system before he starts digesting it.  I have gotten better at doing this myself - but it is no small feat.  We have caught both Brody and Pugsley playing with dead animals they have caught from squirrels, to birds to mice.  Yuck! 

Who me?!?

Pugsley pulling

Pugsley is an escape artist.  Our back yard is fenced, but that doesn't stop him.  In the winter, if we get a lot of snow, he will climb snow piles and go over the fence.  Once the snow starts to melt and the ground is soft and wet or if it rains - he takes the opportunity to dig holes and go under the fence.  Brody takes no part in the behavior.  As a matter of fact, he will run over to the door and lead us to the scene of the crime to let us know what has happened.  When Pugsley gets out he bolts.  My husband chases him all over the neighborhood.  He darts in front of cars and deep into the woods across the street.  We try to bribe him with treats; however, he truly seems to have a death wish at times.  Last night, we were just about to put my son Rhys to sleep when I went out back to check on the dogs.  Brody came in and Pugsley was no where to be found.  I told my husband who immediately went out back to double check and then jumped in the car to start our search.  I assumed our chances of finding him at night were slim.  He backed up slowly (just in case) when he saw something a couple of houses down the street moving in the front lawn.  It was Pugsley.  He is very hard to see at night since he has black fur.  Jim put on his hazard lights in the car and blocked the road hoping this would signal to any approaching cars that something was going on.  I went to the front door when I heard Jim yelling and start calling for Pugsley and asking if he wanted peanut butter.  He came sprinting from the neighbors lawn directly towards the door.  Rhys was excited as he was approaching. Pugsley ran in, grabbed the bread from Rhys' hand as he zoomed by and headed towards the kitchen.  Breadless, the excitement for Rhys wore off.  We were happy and shocked as the chases have often lasted 30 - 60 minutes in the past.  Perhaps he sensed he would be a goner out there over night.  What a beast!

Prince Brody

Brody hiking

Acadia

Feast with the Beasts

Today my family and I went to enjoy the day with my in-laws (Nana & Papa).  When we left Rhode Island and headed north of Boston the skies were gray and the air was brisk.  We decided to check out the Food Truck Festival of New England being held for the 2nd year at Suffolk Downs in East Boston, Massachusetts (my personal first).  The place is a horse track so it was slightly dirty and smelly (of smoke, luckily no horse poop), but actually fairly well maintained for the occasion.  The set up inside was a bit lacking.  There were no more than a half dozen companies selling their products or distributing free samples piled close together.  We sampled some juices from Nantucket Nectar & Snapple and Jim managed to score a sample of black lava salt and we moved on.  As we walked outside, the day began to clear - big puffy white clouds in a blue sky and the weather warmed up.  The vendors were lined up around the park and the majority of them were from Massachusetts although we did see Del's representing Rhode Island and maybe a couple of places from New Hampshire.  Food  trucks in Rhode Island have grown in popularity, but on this occasion they were scare - not surprising, as I have met Rhode Islanders who have never left the state, let alone go to Boston. The event sold tickets that you used to purchase food ($13 for 10 tickets or $25 for 20 tickets).  The event website recommended walking around to view all the trucks before making a selection, which we did.  After we walked across the park we decided to indulge in dessert first to avoid the appearance of my son's alter ego, Rhys the Beast.  Dessert was red velvet with white chocolate chunk cookies (3 tickets for 2 big cookies-fairly priced) from The Cookie Monstah (Boston, Mass.).  In one word - yum!  The cookie was soft, moist and almost cake-like.  The flavor combination was a delicate balance of sweet perfection.  They left Rhys the Beast satisfied and asking for more. 

Next we walked back across the park to Captain Marden's Mobile Cuisine (Westwood, Mass.).  My husband and I split the the New Enlgand style clam chowder and the seafood stuffed potato and enjoyed both.  The chowder was the perfect thickness and had a good amount of clams & accompaniments.  The flavor was creamy and oceany and the clams were tender with no grit.  The Beast ate some oyster crackers.  The seafood stuffed potato was served hot, plentifully stuffed and topped with cheese. 

After taking a breather, we tried to purchase some mac n cheese for our son Rhys (Big Moe's M&M Ribs; 3 tickets for small container - overpriced).  The dish came in a styrofoam container with a plastic lid.  I was hoping for something a little more homemade or innovative tasting and I definitely have a preference for healthier, more eco-friendly packaging.  Some of the other plates that came out looked okay.  The truck was meat dominant and I do not eat land meat.  I think this one is a pass for me next time.

We still had a few tickets remaining so our quest for food continued.  We hit up our next spot, Boston Super Dog (Roxbury, Mass.), specifically for the pickles.  Grillo's Pickles was founded when Travis Grillo began selling his family's homemade pickles to the public.  The pickles grew in popularity after opening a pickle cart in Boston Common.  Grillo nows partners with Whole Foods as a primary means of distribution.  My first experience with Grillo's Pickles was at a Whole Foods in Bellingham, MA when they were beginning to expand.  We sampled and were hooked.  My husband, Jim, enjoys anything fried -so this was perfect.  When we first walked by the pickles were 2 pickles for 3 tickets...then they were bumped to 2 pickles for 4 tickets.  Should've stayed with 3! They were good (and so was the mustard on the side).  If you ever spot the truck and you do eat meat, my husband mentioned the pastrami sandwich looked great and in his words "was the size of a football."   

We used my in-laws remaining tickets and each household took home a whoopie pie from The Whoo(pie) Wagon.  Ours was pumpkin and frosting - brought me back to childhood immediately with a more modern twist.  The appearance, taste and texture to a T.

To all my Foodie friends - Keep your eyes peeled for next year's event! And yes this event is child friendly.  There is plenty of food they would enjoy, green space to run around and airplanes & horses as other points of interest for any little boy or girl. 

Quenching my thirst for fall

September and the beginning of Autumn are one of my favorite times of year in New England.  This week in particular was filled with lots of local excitement for the Gibson Family.  First we visited a local farm called Phantom Farms in Cumberland, RI.  Phantom Farms is a great stopping place no matter the time of year, but autumn is amongst the best.  They are known for apple picking, delicious baked goods & treats (like muffins, pastries, cider & candy apples), local vegetables and even a pumpkin playground of sorts for small children with a potato sack maze...oh the excitement in the air.  We visited during the week to avoid the crowds which was very pleasant.  We felt we had the orchard to ourselves - picking apples, climbing trees, laughing and playing.  There are always people at the farm whether it be for a quick purchase or a relaxing visit rocking on the front porch. 

Our next stop was next door at Diamond Hill Vineyard where they offer complimentary tastings.  The former proprietor, Claire, was very helpful.  Diamond Hill is a small family owned vineyard and they could not be more proud of their establishment.  The customer service is unbeatable - and always a family member so you are sure to see a familiar face. They produce an estate grown Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir Rose, as well as a variety of fruit wines.   For the fruit wines they now partner with other local farms for their produce and go organic when possible.  The store offers a number of other wine themed goodies - from cheese & crackers, salsas & dressings, and a variety of gift items.  On this particular occasion we enjoyed the peach wine that had a great sangria recipe printed on the back label as well as the Pinot Noir Rose.  We purchased the Pinot Noir Rose which we paired with an apple smoked cheddar cheese and a sliced apple we had just picked next door.  The property is beautiful and the family invites you to stay and enjoy the beautiful gardens while you are visiting.  There are several tables set up on the patio as well as picnic tables in the lawn.  It was the perfect casual atmosphere to visit with a 2 year old. They even had a kids table with crayons and a few books.  Our son Rhys was able to run about and enjoy his muffin and cider, while my husband Jim and I enjoyed our adult selections.

It is so important that we support local businesses in our communities.  The people who run these establishments are our neighbors, friends, and even family.  By supporting local you are not only purchasing high quality and affordable goods, but you are also reducing dependency on foreign oil required to get not-so-local products to the stores near you, driving up costs, polluting the environment and increasing the useage of a finite resource.  Small decisions can make a big impact on quality of life - for your family and for the earth!

Beasting in Boston - The Boston Children's Museum

The Boston Children's Museum (BCM) is located on Congress Street next to the Financial District and right on the waterfront - quite beautiful. Boston has made countless improvements over the last ten years or so.  There were a number of parking garages nearby offering rates between $12-$15 (not too bad, although the Providence Children's Museum offers limited free parking).  Admission is $14 per person ages 1+.  Our family has a membership to the Providence Children's Museum that allows us to visit other museums for free (sadly this type of pass is going away in 2013). 

September was a great time to visit the area.  We arrived around noon and met my in-laws who took a ferry from Revere into Boston.  The weather had warmed and the sun was shining brightly.  The boardwalk area was bustling with local workers out and about during their lunchbreaks.  We decided to grab lunch at The Barking Crab, also on the waterfront, before entering the museum.  The location was probably the best thing going for the place.  It was casual, which worked for us with a restless 2-year old in tow after sitting in traffic.  The seafood was fresh, the service was sub-par and the prices were moderately high for lunch.  It looked like a nice location for an after work beverage for locals.

TThe BCM is a LEED certified facility (Leader in Energy and Environmental Design), boasting their green roofs, storm water reclaimation and recycled, local or low-emitting building materials.  The multi-level museum is very large, which is why I recommend the afforable children's museum memberships.  You can always come back!  There were many fun, educational and physical activities throughout the museum - something for everyone.  Our son, Rhys, loves to climb so it was no surprise that he could not pass by the first exhibit.  However, once he climbed up, he could not figure out how to climb back out.  Note to parents:  This cool climbing feature is not built for larger adults.  Naturally, I sent my 6' 3'' husband in after him.  :)

After playing with balls, water and bubbles, we found another more physical area of the museum.  We peddled on bikes, shot some basketballs and of course hit the climbing wall.

The museum features some well known PBS attractions, including Arthur and Peep.  Our little guy gave these sections two thumbs up.  He excitedly ran around exploring each room.  Overall, we had a wonderful experience.  Everyone went home tired and happy. 

   

Creative little beast

Today was a day spent at home, catching up around the house.  I happened to notice that Rhys had gotten a hold of the camera.  He was laughing hysterically and snapping photos of himself.  Check out the results from this budding photographer:

Toes



Love the mischievous look in his eyes even though he had his finger over the lens.



Read my lips

Oh boy-this is fun!

There I am!