New Shoes

When we got home from school today, Joey had a package waiting for him. He couldn't wait to open it. He dove in and grabbed the green bag. Out popped Joey's new shoes!

There were actually two pair, but I only got pictures of one. Now I would probably have never bought Joey a pair of Crocs, but these are actually quite cute. Maybe even stylish. Needless to say, he was very upset when I wouldn't let him put them on over his footie pajamas. There's always tomorrow.

Happy Birthday to Daddy!

From yesterday's festivities, as promised!

(Click here to go to the vimeo site and view the full image. I don't know how to use all the fancy formatting tools, and the wide screen HD format doesn't show up well on this post.)


UPDATE 1/31/11: I figured it out. Simple editing in vimeo so that when I embed, it's a smaller size. Hopefully I'll remember for the next time.

More Cupcakes

We had so much fun eating cupcakes this past weekend, we decided we were going to make some of our own! Since Daddy's birthday is coming up, he got to pick the flavor. Believe it or not, there is actually red cake batter in those bowls. (The Duncan Hines Red Velvet cake is so red, it's the exact same color as our mixing bowls.)

Our ever diligent helper was at it again. He always wants to do everything all by himself. It's been a struggle to explain that sometimes only grown-ups can do things, but with something as simple as the mixing cake batter, I figured I'd let him at it.

Needless to say, he was constantly in motion. No really good pictures, but you get the idea. He loves to pour in the mix, the oil and the water. (No eggs for him - too many issues with salmonella lately, so I do those all my own.) I did fill the cupcakes myself this time. Usually I'll let him help, but with the red cake batter, I just imagined the stains all over the kitchen, and told him he could help frost them instead. That'll be tomorrow's adventure ... right before the candles!

(Keep your fingers crossed. If you're lucky, you might get a video of him singing to Daddy!)

Early Celebration

We took a trip downtown to visit the other Burgers, and have a pre-birthday celebration for Daddy. Let me just tell you, the cupcakes were the highlight of Joey's day! Aunt Danielle let him help frost them, and then of course eat them!

The icing (and the cake) got everywhere. But they sure were yummy!

Pajama Party!

That didn't take long. Already found more pictures from our adventures in Easton that haven't been posted yet. Score!

Joey loves doing whatever the grown-ups are doing, so you know he had to have some shaving cream when Pop-pop was shaving. He was so proud of himself!

Gratuitous cute shot of my favorite niece named Shae.

Shenanigans are a-foot, I tell you!

Nana and Pop-pop with their grandkids. Once again, two cameras going, tons of photos, not a single one where everyone is looking at the camera and smiling and the color balance is right and we can fix the red eyes. But I believe she doth protest too much.

Tractor! (Or The Christmas Pictures that Never Got Posted)

I think I promised about a week ago to catch up on the blog. Then I couldn't get to it. I mean, no matter what I did, the page would take well over two minutes to open. Way too long to try to post something. Then life just got in the way. So now, almost a month later, I give you ... Christmas morning!

Here's Joey with his presents Christmas morning. It was actually an interesting morning. He opened a couple while Skyping with Aunt Rachel and Shae, and a couple more while Skyping with Nana and Pop-pop (and Aunt Shelley and Makayla). Then he had to WAIT until Buszi and Grandpa got to the house. And he did!

He was so excited to get his mp3 player!

But once he got the tractor, there was no getting off it. He opened the rest of his presents while riding it.

He did eventually get sick of Mommy taking pictures of him on the tractor. And I'm sure you'll have no problem believing this is the best one I have.

So there, I'm finally done with Christmas posts. Except I think I might have a couple more from Easton that I might want to post. I don't remember. Guess you'll just have to stay tuned.

Catching Up

So when I downloaded the pictures from the museum last night, I realized I had pictures from Christmas still on my camera that I hadn't blogged about. I'll get back to Christmas morning later, but I thought I'd share a few precious ones of my new niece (who is one month old today!).
Catching her mid-yawn as she's waking up from her nap. (There's lots of natural light in the guest room, so no need to use the flash.)
Playing on her Aunt Kimmy blanket in the living room. (Again, lots of natural light, so no startling flash. And conveniently, no red eye to clean up.)
Getting lots of love from her big cousin. Joey absolutely loved holding Makayla, and actually was holding her hand completely unprompted. It was adorable.

Museum of Science and Industry

This past weekend, we headed to the Museum of Science and Industry. I got a family membership last September through Groupon, and since we hadn't used it yet, and the Muppets exhibit was only there for a few more weeks, we figured it was time to go. I think Joey had a good time.
He definitely loved hanging off the barrier around the Muppet/Sesame gingerbread house.
He had a lot of funny looking at the model trains. (So did Daddy.)
He even gave the cow a kiss!
And of course he loved the giant tractor.
We stood in line at least three times so he could go up and drive. I think I'm just going to spend the weekends this summer at the Lincoln Park Zoo in the Farm-in-the-Zoo so he can ride the tractor all day.

Daddy's Hat

Joey couldn't wait to go outside for a walk this weekend. He just loves being outside. So Saturday, we went out with our hat and coat and gloves on. But not just any hat - that's Daddy's hat. He gets to pick which one he wears, and he almost always chooses Daddy's, which, coincidentally, matches his coat the best. That was completely unplanned, but does please the Garanimal gods.

PS - People need to start emptying the ashtray when they come to visit.

Oxtail Stew

My mother-in-law made oxtails for New Years. So when Joey and I got home, I had to see if he'd like them. (I love them, for the record. Need to make sure I get the recipe so I can start practicing!)
I slipped a few small pieces into his bowl, and he actually ate it. And asked for more!
I also left a bone on his plate. He picked it up, but didn't really know what to do with it, so mostly it sat there. He ate all the noodles, too.
Yummy!!

Big Ol' Jet Airliner

I remember an ad campaign that said "it's all happening at the zoo." I don't remember which zoo, or what it was, but they were wrong. It's all happening at the PHL airport. You may have read about our awesome trip to the Please Touch Museum on my sister's blog. Well, they have an "exhibit" at the Philadelphia airport, which was a great way to kill a little extra time before we boarded.
Joey got to pilot the big old jet airliner ...

and a little prop job, too.

I think the most fun he had, though, was pumping the gas.

In the end, the mission was accomplished, and he was completely tuckered out on the flight home. He snuggled with his blankets and his monkey, and slept the whole flight.

Hi-Ho the Derry-O

... we're going for a walk. Joey had lots of fun going for walks with his Nana and Pop-Pop. We miss you already! (Although he was very happy to get on his tractor this morning.)