Best Farm with Kate and Papa Gallagher

A few weeks ago, Kate and I met my parents at Best Farm in Frederick, Maryland, for an impromptu photo shoot. I love having one kid to my self and being able to do something special with that child.  We had a fun time focusing on Katie Norah, and ended up with some great shots.

Bye-Bye Diaper Party

I just love this picture! The cute chubby legs - the trains by his knee, the firetruck shirt he is wearing (that is unfortunately not seen in this shot).  But most importantly, I love what it is really saying:  NO MORE DIAPERS for Nathan!!!

We've been taking a slow approach with Nathan and potty training - letting him go when he wanted to, but not putting pressure on him.  I was planning on waiting until spring when he turns three to really go full force on potty training, but he announced last week that he "was ready for his diaper party!"  No more diapers and only underwear.  So who am I to argue with a boy who knows what he wants?

So this weekend we hunkered down and stayed home for three days straight. As I did with Kate,  I geared up for the constant  potty reminders, the activities to keep him entertained, and the accidents.  But by Friday afternoon, he had it down pat.  I guess he really was ready.  It was so easy with him!!

As is the Gallagher Potty Training Tradition: the family came over Sunday night to celebrate with him.  We had pizza and chocolate chip cookies per Nathan's request.  There was a lot of praise and encouragement from cousins, aunts and uncles.  Gigi and Papa brought him a new police car.  And he earned a big firetruck at the end of the weekend.

The best part of the weekend was not packing up the diapers.  It was seeing how proud Nathan was of himself. How excited he was to tell the family of his accomplishments.  How genuinely happy he was each time he got to put on his underwear!  

Yes, I too am a very proud mama!  My baby is not so little anymore.  I think I am okay with that-- just don't grow up too fast little buddy!

 

Who needs a Sleigh when you have a choo-choo train?

Another year.  Another Christmas.  Another ride on the Walkersville Santa Train.   The anticipation builds each year as the kids look forward to seeing Santa.  Nathan was so excited - he didn't know which was better - seeing Santa or riding on a train!!!

 

 

The man of the hour has arrived!  He sits down with each of the kids and talks at length with them.  I love how much attention they get from him.  And honestly, he is the real Santa!

 Nathan wants a firetruck- of course.  It is the year of the firetruck after all.   Kate wants an American Girl Doll, or a SnugglePuppet Blanket, or a camera, or a.... you get the idea.

 As we are leaving the train, Santa is waiting at the bottom of the platform waving good-bye to all the good boys and girls.  When Kate gives him a high-five, and yells over her shoulder,
"Bye Santa, I'll see you at the mall!"

Shrek the Halls...

We always joke that Josh can be a bit of an ogre come holiday season.  He even has a Shrek ornament on our Christmas tree!  The holidays: Too many people.  Too much fuss.  Too busy.   (Of course, it's all a bluff.  He's the biggest softy when it comes to the kid's excitement.)   But keeping with his cold facade, we just had to go to see SHREK on ICE.  

The Gaylord at National Harbor hosts an amazing ice sculpture show each year.  Last year it was the Grinch, and Shaun and Debbie said it was incredible.  This year, Shrek and Fiona took center stage - and we were there to see it.

It was 13 degrees inside where the sculptures were, so part of the admittance fee covered the use of thick, warm coats for everybody. Not only was it a chilling 13 degrees, but the pumped the air in so it felt like air conditioning blowing on you at 13 degrees!!   The thermal coats were a great idea, except as Josh pointed out, it was very hard to tell which kids were ours--they all looked the same as they all ran about the place.

 

 

Nathan could barely walk in his big thermal coat.  He stayed pretty warm thanks to Mommy's layering of clothing, hats, mittens, winter coat, and thermal coat.  His cheeks, however, were bright red when we finally left the frigid air!   

 Kate with her boys:  Brenden (left) and Collin (right)

I have to give props to Debbie, who has proudly taken on the role of Gallagher family activity co-coordinator.   Without her, I would never get around to buying tickets to anything.  It was a fun morning.  Thanks, Deb!!

Florida '09 - Day 4

LION COUNTRY SAFARI!!!

A few years ago, I heard about this safari place just outside of West Palm. I couldn't wait until Kate was old enough that we could take her. This day was one Debbie and I were looking forward to all week. Shaun, Deb, the boys, Josh, Kate, myself and Papa all drove down to the safari sight. We borrowed a van and drove through a pretty impressive collection of animals. We did see lions, but here a a few of the favorite animals of the day.

(There was even a baby Rhino that we saw later on...)

After driving through the safari section, there was a zoo that the kids could walk through. Kate loves flamingos in her books, so we were happy to stop here and show her a real flamingo!

The zoo also had opportunities to feed some animals. Kate was able to feed a giraffe. He ate a cracker right out of her hand. Brenden fed some goats while Kate went into the bird house to feed some birdies with dad.

Shaun and I took the kids on a carousel. It was a lot of fun. Josh and Shaun also took Kate and Brenden on a mini Ferris wheel of sorts. Kate has no fear!

The park had a lot of rides and even a water park area. We didn't really come prepared for that, so we quickly passed by. But there were plenty of other things to occupy our time. It was a fabulous day!

Florida '09 - Day 2

Today was another beautiful, sunny day in West Palm Beach. It was a day to relax. Mommy slept in and had an afternoon to herself. Daddy played with Kate in the morning and watched a movie with Papa in the afternoon. Kate and Gigi went for a long walk today too.

For years now, it has been a family tradition to go the Breaker's hotel and have dinner at the Italian restaurant at the hotel. Beside delicious food, the hotel has beautiful grounds, an incredible view of the ocean, and kid friendly game rooms. The game rooms came in handy tonight, as the dinner took 2 hours. The kids were really good all things considered.

Kate: trying to catch the wind

Debbie, Collin (1), Shaun, Brenden (2.5)

Having a little fun with food! Brenden loved his spaghetti and meatballs.

Collin enjoyed part of Auntie Kim's chocolate chip cookie too!

Kate, didn't have much of an appetite tonight. However, she couldn't get enough of the motorcycle in the arcade room. She's even leaning in to turn here --it's like she actually knows how to ride or something. She's got her daddy's gene's in her, that's for sure!