Boys & Girls

A couple of Sunday's ago, Tom and Tommy met up with Brownie (a longtime friend of Tom's) and his son for a Pirates game.

Tom said the kids had a blast - between partaking in kids' day, getting souvenirs and running the bases.

Making Smiley cookies

A little batting practice

Grace and I also enjoyed a boy free day. We did a little shopping at Target, walked around the mall and had lunch at Panera Bread.

Grace loves taking random pictures with my phone

Lunch with my little cutie pie

Church Festival

A couple weeks ago, we headed to our local Catholic Church for an outdoor mass (fun and the weather was so nice) and the games/food.

Grace was content walking around looking at everything and helping me pick the baskets to bid on for the Silent Auction.

She did win a purple bracelet on a duck game.

Tommy wanted to do everything. He bounced in the bounce house, played games and even helped me with a round of Bingo. He loved putting the corn on the numbers. One game was all he could stand though. He wanted to go walk around and asked me "Mommy will you be sad if I go?" He is such a sweetheart.

Tommy won a sword getting all 3 balls into the toilet (haha) - it was VERY impressive. We could possibly have a future pitcher on our hands.

Tom's Birthday Celebration

Since we were going to be at the Pirates game on Tom's actual birthday - I let him have a 2 day celebration.

The day before his birthday, he came home to balloons, presents and a log cake from DQ.

Goof ball

I think someone likes his new golf shoes.

On his actual birthday, we headed down to Pittsburgh for the Pirates game. Well, we thought we were going to watch the game, but it rained from 6:00 until we left the stadium at 9:00. Tom didn't get to watch 1 pitch at the stadium. Poor guy!

We did eat at Rivertowne Brewery in the stadium and had an excellent view of the field though.

At least he had beer, right?

Love you Tom!

Idlewild

I wanted to be more active with the kids this year, so Tom and I decided to buy season passes to Idlewild (an amusement park about 10 to 15 minutes from the house).

So far, we've been 4 times and Tommy absolutely loves it. He will ride all the kids rides and he even went with Tom on the Rollo Coaster. After he got off that, he came up to me and talked about how much he liked it - but then went on to say that he didn't want to ride it again. Haha! I did talk him into going on the Spider with me and lets just say that neither of us will be going on that again.

Grace is a different story. She loves to go to the park - but she won't ride anything. We thought maybe if we took her on one of the rides that adults can go on she would like it. I took her on the Tea Cups with Tommy and she cried the first part of the ride and then decided she loves it. That is the ride she requests every time we go and Tom and I are getting a little dizzy riding it so much with her. After making her go on this other ride with Tom (the turtle ride), she likes that one too. Thank goodness! It's going to take a little more to get her on anything else, but at least she will ride 2 of the rides.

He drives like a pro.

The Tea cups with Grace and Tommy

Rollo Coaster Time

Thanks for messing up my picture Tom! (the girl didn't even say anything)

Grace hanging out with Mommy while the guys ride something.

Ready for some rides.

Storybook Forest

I love how Grace holds on to Tom - check out his glasses.

Turtle Ride with Tom

Tommy riding with one of his friends.

Tommy's Superhero Birthday Party

On June 22nd, we had Tommy's 4th (wow - already) birthday party.

We let Tommy pick the theme - and he chose Superheros. I had fun looking online for ideas (thank you Pinterest). We made capes with each kids initial, I ordered masks from Etsy and we even rented a Superhero bounce house.

Power Nuggets and Power Puffs

Jello Jabs, Wonder Dogs and Watermelon water

Capes!

 Bounce House

Tommy and Grace had a lot of fun at the party. Tommy pretty much ran around, jumped in the bounce house, grazed on the Chick-Fil-A nuggets and "Superman Jello" and ran around some more. Grace was a little more low key. She enjoyed playing on the sand and water table with Evelyn and playing with toys in the house.

Ready to blow out the candle

Grace hanging with Aunt Christine

Tommy with Little Anthony

We had 12 kids total for the party - and I think that was the perfect number.

After all the kids left, we gave Tommy his present from us - a big boy bike with training wheels and he opened all his presents from family and friends. He got superhero toys, skates (from Grammy and Pap-Pap), baseball bases (Aunt Christine & Uncle Eddie), pads (knee, wrist, elbow), water ball and a few other things.

Excited about the bike

Tom was supervising

Tommy took a small break to take a picture with me

Evelyn likes Uncle Tom

Oh - and we did get a nice swing set for both kids a week before.

Happy Birthday Little Man.

P.S. I just wanted to mention a few of the cute things Tommy is doing right now...

• He uses the word "actually" all the time. "I did Amazing Athletes with Grace, actually."
• He loves to give Grace kisses and hugs at school (and she loves doing the same to him).
• He is BIG into sports - he LOVES playing baseball and he just started bouncing balls.
• He likes to drag his chair over to the kitchen anytime I cook so he can help me (so does Grace)
• He wants to take his shower in our bathroom.
• He still loves to dress like a cowboy - and always wants to wear his belt with the cowboy buckle from Gramma and Grampa.