These past few weeks we've been able to celebrate birthdays with some great friends! Alexa always has such a great time at parties. We saw some old friends and enjoyed a great afternoon in, of all places, Hopatcong, where we celebrated Gia's 1st birthday! We got to celebrate with Brodie as he turned 12! Hard to believe he'll be a teenager next year! Ty turned 8 at the beginning of June! We even traveled to Vermont to celebrate Jailee's 4th birthday with our favorite friends! It's always fun to see our friends and to watch such amazing kids grow up! And we couldn't possibly forget our little "Tootsie Baby" (as Alexa like to call her). Tootsie turned one on July 13th.
It’s been another busy summer for us! Alexa has continued to explore and engage in the world around her! We spent lots of time at the beach. We celebrated birthdays with friends and family. We went on vacations. We discovered new places to learn and play. It’s kept us so busy, I haven’t been able to update this site in weeks!
Way back in June, we hit the road for a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC. It was a long drive, but proved to be well worth it. We stayed in a beachfront resort that offered a small waterpark. We ate really good food, including a buffet with fresh crab legs (YUM!), frog legs and crawfish (YUCKY!) which I teased Alexa with!! We spent most of the time at the beach. Alexa learned how to ride the waves and we collected dozens of seashells. We visited the aquarium and took a special day trip to Charleston where it was hot, hot, HOT!!! We saw the city by horse and carriage and eventually the heat took its toll on Alexa. She fell asleep mid-ride and didn’t wake up until we were making our way back to the car. Mike and I had a chance to taste some local wine and we checked out some outdoor shopping. It was a great day, although our next visit will have to take place during the winter months!!
 In early July, Minna, Ptah, Alexa and I went to Six Flags Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom in Lake George, NY. We got an excellent deal, pay for one day and visit the park 6 times until the end of the season! It was a beautiful day and we spent most of it in the water! Toward the end of the day, Alexa rode some rides in the children's area. Minna accompanied Alexa on a roller coaster and learned quickly that she (Minna) DOES NOT like roller coasters!
Minna, Alexa and I made our second trip to the park on the 28th of July. It was another hot summer day and we spent most of the afternoon in the waterpark. Alexa had lots of fun on the lazy river. She especially liked it when I was sprayed unexpectedly by water spouts on either side of the river!
 Ptah!  Me!  Minna, Alexa and I joined some of our favorite friends for a very special event at the Fairfax library in early August. Max, star of one of Alexa’s favorite cartoons, “Max and Ruby” visited the library and the kids sang songs, played “Simon Says,” and listened to some “Max and Ruby” stories before doing some painting and having photos taken with Max.
 We helped celebrate Ashleigh’s 3rd birthday on August 7th. Despite some challenges during previous play dates, the kids seemed to enjoy themselves that day and took advantage of the sunshine that allowed them to bounce around in the bounce house! The goody bags were a very welcome surprise at the end of the party and Alexa was beat by the time we got in the car to go home!
 The garden that Minna and Alexa started even as there was still snow on the ground has produced an enormous amount of veggies this summer. Not only have we enjoyed eating such fresh food, Alexa has been happy to tend the garden and has discovered weeding to be quite a stress reliever!! Oh wait, I find it to be a stress reliever, she just mimics everything I do these days!!! I even found her weeding during one of our trips to the Great Escape!
We recently returned from a week away from home in Southern Rhode Island. We rented a small home nestled in the woods near horse farms and a wildlife management area. The house was a short drive to the beach and close to Mystic, CT. The week was full of excitement, especially the arrival of Uncle Brian! Alexa enjoyed Uncle Brian's guitar playing and she even learned a new song...it goes something like this..."Shake your booty!" It's become an instant hit!
We spent time in the historic seaside town of Watch Hill, home to one of the oldest flying horses carousels in the country. Alexa was reluctant to ride at first, but she eventually took a ride and seemed to really enjoy it.
On a very hot, very humid Tuesday afternoon, we drove to the Mystic Seaport museum where we met up with the Mahoney Family, Adam, Connie, Sofia and Joseph. Adam’s brother and his family were also there, on vacation from England. We spent the day exploring the historical village and despite the grueling heat, we enjoyed each other’s company and took some great photos. Afterwards, we sought out a place for dinner and Alexa ate a piece of Mystic Pizza! The rest of us suffered through poor service and mediocre food while catching up and watching the children play!  On Wednesday, we celebrated Minna’s birthday on Block Island. We took a ferry to the island and relaxed on a beach until the clouds rolled in and the rain came down. Alexa enjoyed the company of two girls who were visiting the island with their family. The three made “birthday cake” with the sand and even created a “bakery” where the served tea and cake to their patrons! We enjoyed a fancy dinner and yummy wine and, of course, sang “Happy Birthday” to Minna before heading back on the ferry.
Mother Nature made sure to end the night on this special note… Thursday was a perfect day for the beach. We spent the afternoon at the local, Misquamicut Beach. Uncle Brian surfed some waves on the raft. We enjoyed a Rhode Island favorite, Del’s Frozen Lemonade. We built some sand castles and did (just a little) swimming. The jellyfish kept me from getting in the water, but the others didn’t seem to be bothered. Later in the afternoon, our friends Kathy, Lil and Brady-Lyn joined us and stayed for the remainder of our trip. That evening, unfortunately, Alexa became feverish and this persisted for the next 24 hours! I guess the week was finally catching up with her!
 Although Alexa was feverish all night, it appeared that she was feeling better on Friday morning and we had made the decision to go to the Mystic Aquarium. Ptah drove Uncle Brian to Boston to catch a plane back to CA. We said good-bye to him and then headed to the aquarium. To my surprise, several of the attractions were outdoors…it was HOT outdoors. Alexa fed the stingrays and saw the beluga whales before heading inside to see the jellyfish, sea horses and other sea life. We caught a show in the auditorium about sea lions and then walked around the remaining outdoor attractions. Unfortunately, by midday, Alexa’s fever was returning and so we headed home early while the other’s had dinner in Watch Hill.
 Brady-Lyn & Alexa  I had found out about the NJ Children’s Museum while looking for venues for Alexa’s 2nd birthday party. A year and a half later, on Aug. 28th, Alexa and I finally went to check it out. Located in Paramus, NJ the museum consists of many rooms with themed activities. Everything from a Medieval Castle to a doctor’s office. There is a fire truck and an ambulance, a news room, the Wild West and a Construction room. Alexa was in Heaven! It was hard for her to spend more than a few minutes in one place! Along with Gramma and Aunt Eileen, we spent several hours in the museum and we can’t wait to go back again!
 With summer coming to a close, Alexa, Daddy and I decided to embrace to brutally hot, NJ weather and take a ride to Keansburg for a day of rides and water park fun. The Keansburg amusement park is the oldest in NJ. Over 100 years ago it opened and today it has an old-fashioned feel that is unlike any other “boardwalk” in Jersey. We started the afternoon on some of the park’s older rides and before long it was too hot to handle! We walked across the street to the Runaway Rapids water park and Alexa and Daddy hit the waterslides before I could even get my suit on! For the next two hours we kept cool and after some lunch and a quick stop by the local beach (where we viewed Staten Island and Brooklyn), we drove back home.
 Alexa shares a joy of city planning along with her Dad. A recent visit to Horseshoe Lake in Roxbury allowed for the creation of a seaside resort (of sorts!). Like father,like daughter!
Labor Day weekend, we took a (windy) ferry ride on Lake Champlain and then went to NJ, where Alexa spent an entire day with Minna playing at Brady-Lyn’s house in Fair Lawn. On Labor Day, Alexa, Minna, Mike and I drove to Stirling Forest to attend the NY State Renaissance Faire! It was a great day to eat good food Steak on a Stake and Turkey legs!), watch a jousting competition and simply people watch!
Alexa has been so proud of her growing independence, which now includes brushing her teeth and getting dressed all by herself! These days, Alexa insists on doing most things by herself!
 Showing off her pearly whites! Alexa’s writing skills have been growing as well. She can write her entire name, Mom, Dad, Chip and Minna. She recognizes most letters in the alphabet and she runs her finger along words when we read together. She continues to enjoy coloring and painting. Spirit is still her favorite movie. We even have the soundtrack for the car now. Alexa sings every song, she knows most of the lyrics and she sings confidently and beautifully! Max and Ruby is the current favorite television show. Alexa loves to mimic Max, using single words to get her point across. For example, she might say “hungry!” rather than using a full sentence or suggesting what she might want to eat!  With her buddy, Ri! Another busy summer full of fun brings us to another Fall. We are looking forward to some big changes this Fall! Hopefully, they will bring with them fun and wonderful memories!
As the Summer weather makes its way to Vermont, we have made every effort to spend our time outdoors. Over the past few weekends, Alexa, Minna, Ptah and I worked hard in the yard, planting and watering in the garden, already enjoying the fruits (or vegetables!) of our labor! A few weekends back, we found two plant sales and both were supporting local charities so we purchased some unique additions for Minna's flower gardens. It was for a good cause after all! With all of the sunshine and warm weather, Minna's flowers are blooming beautifully!  Poppies We paid a visit to Eva, well all the Colquhons, upon our retrn home from Florida. Although it was difficult to see or old home for the first time since moving, it was wonderful to see great friends and catch up. Alexa and Eva played in this giant hole that Eva had dug! I especially love to see how these girls bring out one another's silliest sides!  Eva & Alexa in the hole!  Silliest Faces Ever! In recent weeks, we practiced our baseball skills and Minna even filled the pool for the first time this season! Daddy treated Alexa to her very own Bounce House too! On Saturday afternoon (May 22nd), Alexa and I went to Eva's house to share in her 7th birthday celebration. Alexa seemed to really enjoy the opportunity to play with the older girls. They played in the backyard, built a lean-to, ate pizza and watched "The Princess and the Frog! Alexa had a great time!  Eva & Alexa psuedo-twins!  Later that weekend, Alexa picked out her first tent while we were shopping. She has been eagerly awaiting her frist night "camping" in the yard! She and Minna promptly set it up and Alexa collected all of the camping essentials, two sleeping bags, pillows, a flashlight, and a bug net. She must have been excited because she didn't even give me a hard time when it came to tooth brushing! Upon my first "check-in," I found lots of giggling, but as much fun as she was having, Alexa wasn't fully ready to spend the entire night otside just yet! I carried her back inside and before I knew it, she was fast asleep in my bed!
 Alexa finished the music class she's been attending with Minna on Monday, the 24th. She participated in dancing and playing some of the instruments. She now has some new favorite songs to sing! She enjoyed dancing with some of the other children and she
Alexa continues to spend two mornings a week at her daycare, or school as we call it. She has made some wonderful friends there and often comes home with a special piece of artwork for me to display!
She also continues to love all things horse! She has made the Meadowsong Barn (Minna's neighbors) a home away from home, galloping around and feeding the horses their special treats! It is not uncommon to catch Alexa in her own horse play...She's Black Beauty and her sidekick, Penny, usually played by Minna, is always getting into trouble for something! "Penny, you go in your stall, Penny!" "Penny, quiet! I'm trying to sleep, Penny!" It's all in the expressions though...she keeps us laughing!
Alexa discovered a new favorite movie...about a horse, of course! Disney's "Spirit" has been all the rage here recently.
March was a busy month for us...lots of birthdays to celebrate! Not only did we enjoy a wonderful party for Alexa (March 24) and Anna (March 6), but we celebrated Bridget's first birthday on the 27th (where we also had a chance to sing to Lisa whose birthday was the 28th and Rachel, whose birthday was the 25th!) and met baby Zoe only days after she arrived on the 14th! Ptah had a birthday this month too (9th)!  Celebrating Anna and Alexa's 3rd Birthday on 3/20/10  3/24/10 Alexa's Birthday!  Baby Zoe arrived on 3/14/10  Bridget turned 1 on 3/27/10  Alexa, Jailee, Charlotte, Bridget and Anna The girls had a great time at Bridget's party. Alexa not only stayed dry eyed during the "Birthday Song," she actually proudly joins in now that she knows the words!
Now we await the arrival of Baby Villeneuve and Jailee's 3rd birthday in June!
 Three years ago today, we welcomed you into the world! Three weeks early, you weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz. You were beautiful! I remember that I never thought you could be so beautiful and you were! I remember being in awe of your perfection! What a wonderful day it was. Three years have passed and you have grown in so many ways. From crawling to walking (at only ten months!), "goo goo's" and "gaa gaa's" to "you know what I mean, jellybean?" (something you said to me just the other morning!). From ride on toys to "Rocket Babe" on your tricycle, to riding the big girl bike with training wheels that we put together yesterday! From diapers to Easy Ups to potty trained! From "Twinkle, Twinlkle Little Star," to "Five Little Monkeys," to your current fave, "Row, Row, Row your Boat." Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Dora, Diego, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo and Horseland! You have many likes and dislikes ( and I still seem to understand your words best! You are really your own person...curious, creative, stubborn, silly, smart, sassy, inquisitive and brave. You have seen difficult times that many little girls haven't and shouldn't and you have such resiliency and courage! I am proud of you each and every day.
 5 days old  Happy 1st Birthday!  First birthday party at ECHO  Happy 2nd Birthday!  Second birthday party at Giggles Playstation  Waiting to blow out candles! This year we celebrated your third birthday with friends and family at Lee Zachary's Pizzeria on Saturday, March 20th. We shared the special day with our friend Anna who turned three earlier this month. The carousel theme was adorable and I worked really hard on making a delicious cake for the two of you! It wasn't easy, but it was enjoyed by everyone. You didn't seem to stop the entire afternoon, running around and thoroughly enjoying the ball pit and slide! You ended the day with rosy cheeks, a good sign that you played hard!
 Third birthday party at Lee Zachary's Pizzeria I have enourmous dreams and hopes for you. I can't wait to continue sharing them with you, and even more so, seeing them through with you! I knew I would love you immensely, but even I am sometimes surprised by the weight of that love. I have been blessed to have you in my life and to watch you grow. Happy Birthday, Baby! I love you always and forever! ~Mommy
 This past Sunday, I turned 33! Hard to believe another year has come and gone! Alexa and I enjoyed dinner at Sarducci's in Montpelier on Saturday evening in the company of Minna and Ptah, as well as some new friends (well, an old friend for Minna!), Sandy and her husband. Sandy and my mom went to high school together in Fair Lawn, NJ and Sandy's family have made their home in Plainfield, VT for nearly 40 years!
Following dinner, the staff brought out cake and sang "Happy Birthday" to me. Alexa began to cry and held tight to Minna until the singing came to an end. Fortunately, the cake made everything better!
Before we left for dinner, Alexa made sure to grab the candles for Mommy's cake...  Anna, Alexa, Charlotte Sara and Rachel treated Alexa and I to lunch on Sunday. The girls, Anna, Alexa and Charlotte played with Silly Putty and Alexa taught the others about her favorite restaurant activity...shaking the salt and pepper into a napkin/plate to make "pizza." I don't recall exactly when this began, but Alexa seeks out the salt and pepper shakers almost immediately after we are seated and inevitably she sneezes about 3 minutes into her creation!
 I just think this is such a cute shot!  On Wednesday, Mother Nature decided to remind us it actually is still Winter in Vermont! She did so with upwards of a foot of very wet snow! Alexa, along with her pony, ventured outdoors with me to shovel, eat snow (A LOT of it), and make a snow angel or two with the kids next door.
Take note of the fists full of snow. Alexa seems to enjoy eating lots of it. Too bad there is no nutritional value in it...I'd feed her snow morning, noon and night!  Eva & Alexa  'Cheese!'  my snow angel! I managed to keep a smile on my face, despite shoveling several inches of heavy, wet snow. Snow that actually had a hint of blue to it because of the water content in it. I really should have taken a minute to put a hat on....  After a long day, sometimes I want to do this too!!
No day would be complete without a bit of silliness...  The things I let her do!
 Alexa and the birthday boy, Wyeth We drove into Brooklyn on Saturday, October 24th to celebrate Wyeth's 2nd birthday with Jamie, Kate and friends. Despite the (very) long drive, Alexa had no trouble diving right into the fun of decorating pumpkins with the kids. It was great to see everyone and especially fun to watch Wyeth and Alexa interact once again.
 Decorating a pumpkin at Wyeth's party Now that we are back at home, Alexa is slowly getting back into her routine. We were happy to get back to gymnastics class Monday morning and play in the leaves afterwards. Tammy (our favorite neighbor), uncovered these mushrooms with her leaf blower! Alexa thought they were pretty neat! The leaves are a beautiful, bright yellow, but falling quickly. Alexa seems to like them better on the ground!  Some things never change! Alexa has spent so much time inside this little cabinet. For as long as I can remember she has squeezed her little body into this small space, closing the door behind her! Whether she is playing with one of her many figurines or enjoying a snack, Alexa has always found comfort in this cabinet. Believe it or not, there was a wooden bottom (see photo below) when I first purchased it. If I recall correctly, Eva managed to fit into the cabinet sometime last year and the bottom gave out. Lucky for Alexa because now she can continue to sneak into her favorite space without the inconvenience of the bottom!
 March 4, 2009  Today, Alexa began daycare...again! Feeling guilty that I couldn't possibly provide her with as much fun as others her own age, I enrolled Alexa in a small, home daycare where she can spend two mornings with some other toddlers. She never noticed me sneak out after kissing her goodbye this morning and when I returned to pick her up, she was all smiles. Her new provider is another Tammy and there is even a little girl there named, of all things, Mina!
 Eva Just like last year, the kids are enjoying jumping in the leaf piles. Today, we covered the kids up and watched as they popped out of the pile. Will, Eva and Isabel entertained Alexa by running and leaping into the pile. It's crazy how quickly a year passes! I remember last year watching the kids run across the yard and into the leaves while Alexa laughed a great big belly laugh as she gleefully watched!
 Alexa  Oct. 10, 2008  After a long trip, Alexa's toys always end up in disarray. She chooses several toys to bring along with us, all of which wind up all over the car and once they are back in the house I begin the task of organizing! Blocks back with other blocks, Chloe reunited with her horse buddies, Thomas train back on the train table, etc., etc. Tonight while I was straightening up, Alexa did a little organizing of her own, lining up all her farm animals in a row. When I asked what they were in line for, she replied, "to take a picture." I got my camera and Alexa posed for me with her farm animals! She was so pleased with the arrangement, she even added Daddy and sister (see below).
P.S. I posted some old video clips on the Videos page. Wow...I can't believe how many memories flood back when I watch even the smallest clip of Alexa's early months!
 Gramma Carole turned 60 years old on Friday, October 9th! On Saturday, we arranged for a party to celebrate this milestone. We invited friends and family to the Mountainside Inn for dinner and dancing. It was a surprise for Gramma and she was so pleased to see everyone as she entered the room…Alexa on the other hand, must have found it overwhelming as she began to cry as soon as she was greeted with a loud, “SURPRISE!” It was a matter of seconds before she discovered the great big dance floor and caught a glimpse of her “cousins”, Brian Anthony, Gianna, Alexa Rose and Mya. Now the party had begun for Alexa!
 Alexa, Tim & Aunt Chrissy  Carole, 'Queen of the 60 Year Olds' We danced and ate and danced some more. Alexa seemed like she would never quit. It was really fun to see all the kids play and really get to spend some time together.  Alexa & Mya (8 mos.)  Alexa and Alexa (front) Gina, Brian and Gianna We added some special touches to the party including photographs of Carole when she was a child. And thanks to Luanne, Jeremy and Mya, Carole got many products that a 60 year old should never be without!  Eventually sleep caught up with her and Alexa was out cold! We were all tired by the end of the evening and left with many memories of a special celebration!
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