Happy Birthday Papa!!!

(photos from flickr)

For your Birthday we found you a picture of pradise (St. John) and a slice of key lime pie to remind you of The Lime Inn. If we could send you there right now we would, and you and BP could really see the lizards around the pool instead of just talk about them!! Happy Birthday to a wonderful grandfather, father, and father-in-law. Happy Brithday to a man with an amazing work ethic, wicked sense of humor, and a truely good, kind-hearted person. Have a wonderful day!!!

Super Tuesday...

(photo from flickr)

Thank you to our friends Jenny and Tom for a 'lishous' dinner last night (as BP would say). We had a wonderful time chatting and eating as the polls rolled in for Super Tuesday. The Barefoot Princess and her twin Buby (we think they not only look alike, but even sound alike) had a great time eating and playing too. The adults enjoyed pork sandwhiches, broccoli rabe, wild mushroom rissotto, sweet potato fries and applesauce. The kiddies had lots of appetizers and then elephant grilled cheese sandwhcihes. We all finished the meal up with elephant sugar cookies. It was a wonderful evening of food, friends and fun!!!!

Bonding with Uncle T

Playing with Uncle T in the hotel lobby. (BP was in awe of the floor)

At brunch on Sunday morning.

Thank you Uncle T for a great weekend! Thank you for playing with me and sitting next to me at brunch, even though all of your friends were there. I really appreciated it!! I cannot wait to see you again.

Love,

The Barefoot Princess

Pool Time...

Getting ready to go swimming in the pool. Check out the little sandals the hotel gave BP!

We tried swimmies for the first time and BP really did well with them.

A view of Boston from the pool.

After swimming BP snuggled into the fluffy robe the hotel staff brought for her and enjoyed her apple.

The Ducks...

Here is The Barefoot Princess enjoying the ducks from the story 'Make Way for Ducklings'. She saw them once on Saturday and went back to say good-bye on Sunday morning. It was so cool as a parent to see the story come to life right in front of BP's eyes! Another cool thing about Boston... down the street a little by Copley Square, I think it was, there were also statues of The Tortoise and The Hare. BP also like the statue of Paul Revere riding his horse, but was very concerned that the horse was pooping because its tail was raised!!!

Highly Recommended...

The Barefoot Princess loves this video and it is very educational too!! We found it for only $10 on Amazon.com. It teaches letters and their sounds in a fun way. She picks a couple up each time she watches it. A great little learning video!!!

First Hotel Stays...

The Barefoot Princess and The Barefoot Baby both stayed in a hotel for the first time when they were three months old. The Barefoot Princess' first hotel expereince was in NYC and it was for New Year's. The Barefoot Baby's first hotel stay was this past weekend in Boston. I think it is pretty easy to tell who is who in these two pictures, but give it a try...

BP's New Friends...

While in Boston this weekend, The Barefoot Princesss made a bunch of new friends. Actually they are her Uncle T's friends, but she had so much fun with all the girls and she is still talking about them. We only wish they lived closer because they would all make great babysitters!!!

Here they are posing at Top of the Hub during brunch on Sunday morning.

Celebrity Sighting!!!

While strolling down Newbury Street in Boston this past weekend we spotted this babyface former American Idol contestant walking in front of us. We debated whether it was really him for a couple of blocks before my very outgoing husband simply asked him to confirm for us. John Stevens said yes, shook his hand and we continued on our way. He was one of my favorites from all of the American Idol shows and I remember him being the youngest contestant to make it to the final round at age 16. It is always fun to spot a famous face... I will have to do a post about the time we spotted Paris Hilton in NYC and wound up in the same restaurant having lunch with her that day!!!

Off to Boston...

(image from flickr)

We are off to Boston for a weekend of fun and to visit Uncle T. So this morning I read 'Make Way For Ducklings' to The Barefoot Princess and The Barefoot Baby. BB fell asleep during the story, but the BP is very excited to see the ducklings and their mommy in the commons. She is also looking forward to swimming in the hotel's pool. I will take as many pictures as possible and post next week. Happy weekend to all!!!

(book available at Amazon.com)

Random Acts of Kindness

(image from flickr)

Our theme for the month of February is going to be Random Acts of Kindness. We (The Barefoot Princess, The Barefoot Baby, and I) are going to try to do one Random Act of Kindness each day for the entire month of February. I figure this will be a nice lesson in kindness, giving and sharing for BP. I want her to learn how it feels to give and not always receive (especially after the holidays). So we will do things like make a card for someone special, visit the nursing home, bring paper towels and doggie treats to the local dog sheltar, bake for a neighbor and things like this. I decided to not post individuallly about each act and to only mention this once because I think it is also important for BP to learn how to be an 'unsung hero.' So we are going to try to do all these acts very quietly and enjoy the gift of giving!!!!

Our Little BB

Everday The Barefoot Baby looks different to me. Everyday her looks change. I guess it is becasue she is growing so... fast! She used to look like her big sister, but I do not see it anymore. I will not say whose side of the family the double or maybe it is a triple chin comes from... He he!!!

In the end she looks like herself, our little BB!!

Playdate with Munchkinetta

Munchkinetta is our neighbor (she lives a couple miles away) and The Barefoot Princess' good friend. They have known each other since they were infants in swimming class and then walkers at the gym, and dancers at Musical Munchkins. They bring out the best in one another and have fun playing and eating!! Today they played dress-up, babies, and Tommies (as BP says). Oh and they ate alot... They had graham crackers, apples, cream cheese and jelly sandwhiches, goldfish, Fruitabus, and some of my pasta. These are two growing girls!!! They are too cute together and I love to listen to them chatter to each other. At lunch I heard them telling each other the real names of their mommies and daddies. It was hysterical!!!

Fly Lady

My friend Judy just told me about flylady.net and I checked it out today. It is all about organization, time management, uncluttering your life and just getting things accomplished. With a two year old and a two month old I can definitely use help with all of the above so I found Flylady very interesting, informative and helpful!!! My favorite rule of hers so far is 'Getting Dressed to the Shoes.' She says that if you wake up in the morning and shower, get dressed and put on your shoes you will accomplish more than if you lounge around in your jammies or sweats all day. I so agree with this!!! The Flylady has many other interesting ideas so check out her website and maybe you can become more fly too???

ABC Cookies

Some cookies we made today...BP suddenly likes letters so we made letter cookies and heart cookies. She had fun decorating them and even more fun licking the icing off of them when it was time to indulge!!! Personally, I think a sugar cookie makes a good day great!!!

For Bebe...

While perusing Better Homes and Gardens for decorating ideas, I found this pink and green nursery and thought of a friend who is working on a
nursery whith the same color scheme. I am sure this friend has Bebe's nursery already planned down to the last detail for awhile now, because she is very organized. Just in case... here is a little more inspiration for you!!!

In the Back of My Mind

In the back of my mind I keep thinking about a quote I learned in my very first education class in college... (The class that helped me decide I wanted a future in education)

"Children do not care what you know, until they know that you care."

This is what keeps running through my mind as we visit preschools and talk about The Barefoot Princess going to school next year. I ultimtely want a place where they, the teachers care, and love what they do so that BP knows it and will care what they know!!! A little deep, but I cannot get that quote out of my mind. I guess that is how I woke up and appraoched my students each morning for five years.

Daddy Double Date

The Barefoot Princess and her Daddy joined her good friend Marissa and her father, Bob, for a "Double Daddy Date." The foursome went to see Disney on Ice a couple of weeks ago. BP talked a lot about the show and was very excited to spend time with her good friend. We have to say a very special Thank You to Marissa's brother Sam, who won the tickets in a coloring contest and also to the entire family for thinking of BP and her Daddy and inviting them along!!! So Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!

Funny Words and Phrases...

Since the birth of The Barefoot Baby, The Barefoot Princess has become quite a talker. She went from a few words to full sentences and sometimes more in about two months. Yesterday in the car BP's Daddy and I looked at each other after about 45 minutes of non-stop chatter and said, "We wanted her to talk?" Then we laughed because her constant chitter -chatter is adorable and like I said CONSTANT. She is very good company and can carry on a great conversation and I would not change it for the world!!! Here are a couple of her funnier words and phrases that I have to post and print because I never want to forget these...

"Time Up" = Time Out

"Hop Ups" = Hiccups

"Snuggly Warm" = Extra Warm

"My Boops" = My Boots

"Wrap Her Over" = Wrap up my baby

"Huggies and Tisses" = BIG Hugs and Kisses

"Nallie Race" = The Barefoot Baby's Name

"Tommie" = Thomas The Tank Engine

"Tommies" = All the Other Engines (She does know their individual names, but uses this to refer to them collectively)

"Slaps" = Our Dog Flaps

"lishous" = Delicious



Phrases of the week...



"I would like..." (She uses this when she wants someting, like... "I would like a tractor or I would like a cow or I would like a baby cow")



"Nice to Meet You"



"Oh My Goodness"

The Homestead School

Another school tour today...and it was amazing!!! That is all I am going to say because we still have a couple more and I am trying to keep an open mind. The Barefoot Princess wanted to stay at this particualar Montessori school with two little friends that latched right onto her during our tour. Always a good sign that BP is comfortable when she unbuttons her coat and tries to join in the fun! Decision 2008 continues... and Mommy and Daddy continue to lose oodles of sleep over this one, but it will al be worth it in the end.

"Wishes"...

Also from Chasing Fireflies... I could not resist the fish dress and matching purse. The Barefoot Princess has a hard time saying the 'f' in fish so she calls them "wishes." She pretends to fish with her little pole Papa gave her for Christmas and watches fishing with her Daddy on Sunday mornings. They are big fans of the 'Spanish Fly'. She stands with her little Barbie pole while the fishing shows are on and pretends to catch "wishes, big wishes"!!! I know that BP has a little friend and neighbor, Munchkinetta, whose Daddy is also REALLY into fishing and might like this ensemble for his little girl too!!

Farm Chic...

I am loving all of this adorable farm stuff from one of my favorite places... chasing-fireflies.com
I was just telling a friend at our playdate today that I would love to find a wooden barn for BP and BB. This one from Chasing Fireflies is so cute and they also have wooden animals to go with it. A little pricey, but well worth it for the wood and timeless look of the toy. I also love all these farm tees, particularly the farm animal numbers tees. And the very first picture of the little white sundress with the chicks is so cute I would order it in two sizes, one for The Barefoot Princess and one for The Barefoot Baby.

For Uncle David...

When I saw my Aunt Rose today she said, "You have to send Uncle David (her husband) a picture of those cheeks." She was referring to The Barefoot Babies soft chubby cheeks that seem to grow each day. My Uncle David is a big, huge fan of baby cheeks. I remember he used to sit and hold his three children when they were babies and just rub their cheeks. So this picture and post are for you Uncle David!!! Enjoy!!!

Cousins...

We took another road trip today to see our new cousin Xavier. He is my first cousin and BP and BB's second cousin. I just realized I do not have any pictures of him becaue he was eating when I had my camera out. Here are some of The Barefoot Baby and Uncle Mark, The Barefoot Princess and Jack ,who are almost a year apart and played so nicely together. I am so happy my girls have cousins their age to grow up with. Xavier and BB are a little over two months apart. And there are lots more cousins. I think 24 granchildren and 4 great grandchildren on my side of the family!!! My grandparents had ten children who all had children, hence the huge Irish Catholic family!!! It is sometimes a bit chaotic, but always lots of laughs!!!

Road Trip

Last Friday The Barefoot Princess, The Barefoot Baby and I had a road trip penciled in on our calendar. I told BP we were off for an adventure and two minutes later when I glanced back at her she was sound asleep. I realized I had about two hours to go anywhere and enjoy the beautiful sunshine and fresh fallen snow and think. I soon found myself driving to the area where my favorite farmhouses are built about 45 minutes from our house. (I posted about them once before) We dream of someday building one these new - old farmhouses. They are the essence of The Barefoot Family and on this particular day they were breathtaking!!! As I drove around exploring new territory I was able to do a lot of thinking.

I thought about my two Princesses sound asleep in the backseat and how blessed I am to be their mommy.

I thought a lot about the preschool decision we are facing right now.

I thought about homeschooling...just kidding

I thought about how quickly time passes and enjoying EVERY moment is crucial

I thought about how lucky I am to be able to take a road trip on a sunny Friday afternoon with my two sleepyheads

I thought about our next step and the decisions and changes we (The Barefoot Family) must make in 2008

I thought about who we are and how we want to raise our little girls

I thought about how I would love some hot chocolate, but did not want to disturb the sleeping princesses

Just as I turned around to go home, The Barefoot Princess woke up and in the sweetest little voice asked, "Mommy, my city?"
I told her, "No sweetie, Today's road trip brought us to the country where the air is fresh, the views breathtaking, and life seems so simple, but the cool thing is your city is less than two hours away." My last deep thought for the day was life is definitely about the best of both worlds!