Toy Land

I'm dreaming of a finished basement with a playroom ....

Pop Corn Park Zoo

IMG_7169, originally uploaded by patteykoch.

We pick up my nephew Nando and took him to the zoo on Friday. The kids enjoyed it. I got lost on the way there it took us an extra 45 minutes. Which was fine because the little ones got to nap on the way there.

Moe held a conversation with this wise old looking goat. It was really cute. His kept on telling him he was sorry??

Silly Silly Boy

IMG_7114, originally uploaded by patteykoch.

I just wanted to share this picture of Moe eating.

Rest in Peace -Harley Quinn

Even though you know it's coming, you know time is running out, it's still unexpected. We lost Harley this evening at 7:30.

Harley was like our child, back when we thought we wouldn't be able to have kids.

She may have driven us insane at times, but we will always love her!

JD & Jamies Wedding Pictures

IMG_6668, originally uploaded by patteykoch.

I finally upgraded to the pro flickr account and uploaded the images from JD and Jamies wedding. I wanted to correct the images first. Like lighten the darker ones and do some cropping, but since I've yet to do Lou and Bev's (from April) it might never get done.

I promise you Lou - I will get to yours soon. They are just way to dark to upload without corrections.
Oh, I almost forgot. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mike and Lou !!

What we are working on now

We have been working on fine motor skills. The kids just love picking thing up with the tongs. They seem to be a little large for them at times. Cole grabs the tongs when its clean up time and she picks up the toys on the floor with them. Is this learning or a delay tactic??

We have also been learning to use scissors. We started using the scissors to cut play-doh and moved onto paper. They just love to be destructive. Moe gets a little impatient at times and just goes right to ripping the paper.

I have also been trying to get them to sort different objects. I started with the counting animals. I was trying to get them to separate the animals into cups. Not interested! Cole only wants to play with the horses and Moe is still into the dumping stage. I moved onto the letters trying to get them to sort them into colors. Still not interested!

They are getting better at recognizing letters now. I love it when we are at the store and they shout out the letters. S -S- Sssssss- Snake. Makes me so proud.

I have to get back to reading more to them. Since we have been out and about and having some wonderful summer fun, I've been a little lax on the reading. In fact I don't think I've read to them in a couple of weeks. Bad Mommy!

BTW: Don't you just love when you put something away so

1) you won't loose it.

2) the kids don't get to it

and by the time you finally found it, it's to late?

I put the information that I need for the fair's photos contest up. I searched all morning and finally found it around three and photos had to be in by noon today. Oh, well there is always next year right! -- I think I've been saying that for the last four years.

Rainy Day -Wednesday

All our family that came in for the wedding have gone. :(

We miss you guys already!

Yesterday we spent the day swimming at Ocean County Park. They have a lake surrounded by cedar trees. When you get out you are covered by that brown slime. Yuck- never bothered me when I was little. The kids had a ball jumping in the water. Cole went under a few times, but it didn't stop her from trying to swim. It was nice that there wasn't many people there. It made it easier to watch the twins by myself.

Cole was in a crafty mood today. Well, she really wanted to go out and play in the rain. Since that was out she settled for crafts.

Here they are painting bird houses that we got at the dollar store yesterday.

Since painting didn't last that long. I pulled out the tissue paper and glue. I have been saving tissue paper for a while to use for crafts. I was planning to use it for a craft for Eric Carle's birthday to go with his books. It's taken us this long just to get the paper ripped. This craft lasted less than the painting. They have now moved onto playdoh and wrecking the living room once again.

Congratulations JD & Jamie

John Viggiano & Jamie Stevens

July 14, 2007

My nephew JD was married yesterday. Beautiful, Beautiful wedding at Seven Presidents Park in Long Branch. Of course my sand loving children had so much fun.

Isn't she such a little lady?

Amazing pictures stun experts - Incredible Bob Photos!

It has taken us two years to get Uncle Bob to hold one of the babies. With a little underhandedness and trickery Ed got Uncle Bob to hold Michael. Something he said he never would. Ed quickly ran inside grabbed the camera and shot from the hip before Bob realized what he was doing.

Oh, No he see the camera!

He's making a run for it.

He has resigned himself to the fact HE HAS BEEN CAUGHT !!!

Turns out he's not that heartless bastard he pretends to be.

Bob- Even though that last photo is grainy, I think it would make a great poster for the office wall. --- Don't think I won't!

I have gas

Oops - excuse me!
Yeah, after six days, we finally have gas back in the house. You can't see it but I'm doing a little dance right now. No more heating bowls of water in the microwave for a bath. I used to enjoy baths. That was when I didn't have to fill the tub one bowl at a time.
Now I wait patiently for the dryer to be hooked up so I can do laundry. Since we now have hot water to take a shower, we don't have a single clean towel. lol
Wait I do have a bath mat left. Am I that desperate? Yes, I do believe I am....

Secret Garden

This is from our neighbors yard - (NY Frank)

I just want to curl up on this bench with a big book.

Fun Filled Day

We started the morning today by making brownies for daddy. Cole was too into her 101 Dalmatians video to help us out. Moe did a really great job. Yum Yum!

We then headed to Turkey Swamp Park again. It was so much fun this time. They actually walked. No crying to be carried. I just loved it. I took the little red wagon with us thinking someone would get tired. Cole pulled it halfway around the lake herself. She kept trying to get Moe to sit in it so she could pull him around. Aren't they cute.

Then we met up with Uncle Ray, Aunt Nancy, Matthew and the Dreamy Ben for the Kaboom fireworks on the Navesink River. (My kids adored their cousin Ben) The fireworks Rocked!

We got home close to midnight last night and found the gas company out in front of our house. Then more and more trucks started pulling up. They found a gas leak right out front. The jackhammering started shortly after 1, and after eight hours they are only about five houses down the street. Still going strong. We woke up to no gas today. They have to replace the line to our house and a few houses down the street. So much for a Fourth a July BBQ. LOL From what I understand we should get our gas back on sometime by Saturday. OK- Whose going to volunteer to let us use their shower???