Shane 34 months- Augutst 2011

Dear Shane-

Three years old is coming up fast and you have had a great month. Not too much has been less than 100%, you continue to be a smiley little guy.

We are up in NH on vacation and today you played at the beach all day with your borther, me and Nana. You were playing "duck" in the water and while you were quaking you yelled - I see a bunny rabbit! and Nana taught you how to wink and wiggle your nose- you were so cute- you love to play bunny rabbit and now you can wiggle your nose!

One day when nana was watching you she told you a story without a book and you clapped and yelled yeah and said "and No book, Nana". You are a cuddly little guy and like to be snuggled and chased- today you said to Daddy in a quite little voice- "get me Daddy".
While we were at Clarke's you were attached to Daddy like there was no tomorrow and you had a great time on the water boat ride with him.

Shane buddy, I know this is a short letter but I love you withe all of my heart, you are mommy's sun, moon and stars.
I love you Shane Kilday.
Love- Mommy

Jackson 34 months August 2011

Dear Jackson-

My little guy you are almost three years old and you are getting bigger and smarter every day. You have had a great month (less sleeping challenges) you are happy little guy.

We've had a rough few nights sleeping this week but that is O.K. we have had a lot of fun this month. We said good bye to Auntie Ru and when we look at photos you still want to go visit her. Your smile Jackson could light up the room and sometimes you use that to your advantage, you smile and you make my heart melt.

While we have been up in NH you had lots of fun. While at Clarke's Trading Post you had a great time on the water boats- you laughed hysterically the entire time we were on there. You also liked the bear show. Today at the beach you swam in the water up to your neck with no reservations, and you enjoyed floating on your back as well- maybe those swimming lessons have paid off? You like to play imaginary things- today you played Mr. Duck and Mr. Goose. Today you also expemlified some great listening skills when we were leaving the park, you listened to mommy and came when I asked you to. You and I made a dragon puppet last night and today we played rocket ship in the water. You seem to love the water and the beach and it is great to see you so happy.

All my love Jackson Reid, You are mommy's sun, moon and stars.

love- Mommy

Vacation- NH 2011

We finally made it up to NH this year for vacation. We battled out Hurricane Irene up here at Lake Winnipesaukee, bad rain and a few trees down but we went out to the Meridith Children's Museum- they had a great bubble room, a store and a rice table which Jackson loved. We had our first trip to McDonalds on this stormy day, we were the only people in there! You can't beat Chicken nuggets and apples and milk. No formal nap, but Nana and I took the boys for a ride and they fell right to sleep so we drove around NH in the rain for 2 hours so that they could sleep.

Yesterday we ventured to Clarke's Trading Post. Route 3 was flooded so we had to turn around and find our way to 93 to Clarke's. The first thing we did when we got to Clarke's was an old fashioned train ride- Jackson LOVED the train! In fact he asked to go on the train again, we saw the old wolfman who lives out in the woods and yelled to him throughout the old fashioned train ride. I think the big hit of the day was the water bumper boats- Shane road with Daddy and Jackson with mommy and they loved it! Jackson had a blast firing the water at everyone and Daddy and Shane had a great time as well- we all got very very wet! We had our lunch and then we saw the bear show which was lots of fun- one of the bears climbed up his pole and sat in his chair way up high and we saw a baby bear as well. We closed the park down and headed home but Shane and Jackson were not sleepy- they yelled Ding Dong the whole way home for almost the entire hour! Going to bed was not so much fun as the boys screamed for about 35 minutes to an hour straight! eventually they went to sleep. Sleep has not been the best here in NH but as long as they have fun during the day it is all we can ask for.

Today was breakfast at Ames Farm and then we played at the beach all day. We stopped off at the playground for a bit and then it was off to the water. Shane and Jackson did a great job in the water and went in up to their necks! They played and made sand castles, made soup and played Hi Duck and Hi Geese while making Duck and Geese sounds in the water- highlight of the water was definitely playing Rocketship with mommy. Fun part about the beach is that the train rides straight through South Down Shores so we could see the train many many times during the day.

Tomorrow- StoryLand.

is it monday yet?

We had a LONG weekend this week. No, it was not any longer in the number of days or hours it just seemed to last a LONG time. Shane and Jackson did not nap all weekend and hardly naped on Friday. On Friday during their "nap" the boys broke their bureau by pulling out a drawer and all of its hinges- we can't get it back in and they also removed ALL of thier clothing from both burueas and threw the clothes all over the floor- oh did I mention that they removed all of thier bed sheets as well? That day they fell asleep in front of the door.

Saturday- no nap- we tried but you boys were very quite in there while you were making tunnels out of your beds.

Sunday- Mommy and Daddy said that we would give you 30 minutes to an hour to fall asleep then we would get you out of there. I went in at 30 minutes- neither of you were sleeping- you were making tunnels with your beds- a.k.a. tipping the mattresses out of the bed so that they fell into the center to make a little tepe. Then i thought you were asleep, nope wrong again mom- this time you took apart the air conditioner and used the exterior to play the drums!

Oh, yes, we are still potty training, or trying to.

Pisa Pizza

Some photos from a Sunday afternoon with Grandma and Grandpa Bill at Pissa Pizza. Shane is in the yellow shirt and Jackson is in the white T-shirt.

Misc. Photos

Baby Jackson - Bryant B
Baby Shane- Bryant A

Playing at the museum of science in the boat.

Going through mommy's stuff after a trip looking for money.

Salem Willows and other fun stuff

Last weekend was a blast from the past for both mommy and Nana- we went to Salem Willows- the place hasn't changed in what I thought was thirty years but Nana said it hasn't changed in 50 years! None the less we had fun. We went to kiddiland and rode the 4 or 5 rides there- Shane, you cried on the cars but in your defense they went very very fast! The big hit were the little boats that went round and round the circles in the water and the rocket ship that went up and down! We played on the beach and collected rocks and sand (all over us) and had a picnic lunch. All in all I'd say it was a success! Shane in the Harvard shirt and Jackson is in the light blue.

On Sunday it was a Daddy day- all day. Daddy took you to D&D then to play space, Friendly's and even grocery shopping!

Early Intervention

It is with mixed emotions that we say goodbye to Miss. Anita and Miss. Jen this week. Both are from Early Intervention and have helped Shane and Jackson with physical therapy for torticollis when they were babies to speech most recently. Shane (light blue shirt) and Jackson (dark blue shirt) have seen Miss. Anita since they were 3 months old, she has seen my children more than almost anyone else besides the immediate family! But this week it all ends: they boys have graduated from Early Intervention. This is a good thing, it means that they are no longer developmentally behind in all of "the rating scales". Yeah for that. Monday will be our last day with Anita and Jenn and Tuesday will be their last day in group. Thank you Early Intervention for all of the wonderful services you have provided to our family!

yah, yah yah song

Last night Katie helped me put the boys to bed and we were provided a great deal of entertainment. We were sung to- the Yah, Yah , Yah fall down song (complete with air guitar), served pizza and ice cream, Had our hair washed and were given lots of kisses.

Tonight, it was the same, less Katie. I took Katie to the airport today and thus ended our adventures with Katie (for now). The boys had a fabulous time with Katie and I will post some photos later. The circus was a BLAST complete with lollipops, the Museum of Science- well, I think the boys are too little for that- some exhibits were too dark and too big but the discovery section had a water table in it so they were in heaven. And money- today Grandma and Grandpa came over while I was at the airport with Katie and they must have given the boys some change because all night they have been inf actuated with the change- more than Shane's usual 2 dollars- in his world everything is 2 dollars. But they played with the change all night and screamed when I took it away from them to go to sleep. Sweet dreams little guys.

Circus & Katie

Our cousin Katie has been in Boston for 2 weeks and we LOVE having her stay with us! Jackson's favorite saying is "where is Katie? " even at 5am- where's Katie? Katie get up and read with me? No, Jackson, Katie is sleeping- Jackson: No, Katie get up! Everything is Katie, Katie , Katie!!!!

Katie and Grandma are taking Shane and Jackson to the circus today! It is the Circus Smirkus- hopefully they have fun. Personally, Mommy thinks that we might be a little too young for this adventure but we will see. A few weeks back we went to see the Whinnie the Pooh movie- it was really cute, we brought snacks and of course our Pooh stuffed animals. Shane was enamored with the film but Jackson just wanted to stand by the door and follow daddy out to get snacks etc. The boys did a great job and lasted about an hour through the movie and then it was definitely time to go home.

One of mommy's favorite Pooh quotes that reminds me of Shane and Jackson:
Pilglet slided up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh" , he wispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing" Said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw, "I just wanted to be sure of you."


Words continue to develop and thoughts do as well! All morning the boys have been saying we go to the circus! we go to the circus! During breakfast Jackson and Shane realized that the bananas were bad so they came to find me and tell me that the bananas or nanas as Jackson calls them are bad and I go to store to buy more. Mommy will stop by the store to pick up some fruit on the way home today. They still love playing in cardboard boxes! hiding and yelling in them, is a great past time!