What NBA strike?

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A pony please

I completely get the sad "my baby's growing up" thing that most mom's talk about as their kids get older.  That said, I also love watching them grow and learn and that I get to experience life all over again.  Having kids is sort of like a rebirth!  The little things, the simple things in life that we rarely even give two thoughts on suddenly become half-hour interesting conversations.  Anytime I hear "so mom, I was thinking..." I know it's going to be something good.  Of course right now I can't recall the details of so many of these recent conversations, but I assure you there are some good ones.  I started (finally) writing them down so don't worry, there will be future posts.
Along with life's little things and interesting conversations come new experiences.  Enter preschool.  More specifically, school field trips.  The first was to the pumpkin patch in October and the second, last week, was to a local horse stable.  Cold, smelly and full of "land mines" you can imagine how much I was into it.  That is, until I saw how cute and excited all the kids were at getting to meet the horses.  Too cute.  They got to groom, feed and of course ride a few of them and were beyond thrilled.  The conversation on the ride home went something like this...
"mom, you're the best.  I liked you being at the stable with me today"
"I loved being here today.  Did you have a good time?"
"Yes. And mom?"
"Yes Vanessa?"
"Can I have a horse?  A real horse like the one I rode on today?  Can I have one please?"
"Ask Daddy."

;-)

Feeding "Jack"
(Vanessa is in the pink)

Grooming "Percy"

"Daddy, can I have a horse?"

Tough guy

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Vanessa's pilgrimage

A funny thing happened on the way home from preschool today...
Well, a funny conversation that is.  While talking about what stories were read, what art projects were done, what was had for snack, etc. Vanessa asked me what a Pilgrim is/was.  Hmm.  Ok, realizing I'm a little rusty at history I did my best to explain that they were people who were looking for a new place to live and settled here in America to start a new life.  Then came the follow-up question, "but mom, why did they have to come to America and find a new place to live?".  This one I'm certain I fumbled a little as I tried to think of the right way to explain religious persecution and the right to worship to a three year old.  It came out something to the effect that they were people who were not allowed to pray and believe how they wanted to believe so they left.  However my explanation went, she pondered it for awhile and then said..."so wait.  Mom, do you mean that if I can't do what I believe then I can go to a new state?!?!?".  My response..."when your a grown-up, yes".  So now I wait.  I wait for the moments to come when I tell her no, she cannot wear her Cinderella costume to the grocery store and she replies....but mom, I BELIEVE that I should be able to! 

October fun

Yes...this is a post all about October. Yes...I've been lacking in blog posts. Yes...I've been called out on my slacking. Things have been great and we were able to get some super fun weekends out of October that I managed to capture with some great pictures. The first weekend was a benefit golf tournament that all us Blanco's headed to Boston for and all the "of age" Blanco's actually golfed in (not surprising that any of the other Blanco's golfed, but a bit surprising that I am joining the ranks!). Yup. Me, Juan, his dad and Suzy. I'm pretty sure the best part of the tournament was the amazing drive I shot. It may have been the only real shot I had the entire 18, but you can be sure I'll be talking about for at least the next year. It was 198yds, I mean seriously...I'm allowed to brag right?! I didn't get it on video and I didn't get a photo, but I do have a few witnesses to prove it. The weather that weekend was unbelievable and allowed us to spend the rest of the time outdoors in downtown Boston. Bliss.

We also got to have a visit to our house from Grandpa and Uncle Ryan.  I'm pretty sure Vanessa made certain that neither of them had a boring (or quiet) moment to themselves.  Uncle Ryan got to golf with Daddy while Vanessa took the rest of us to the Children's Museum.  The rest of the photos are from Halloween weekend. Vanessa and I got to have some girl time and headed into town for a costume party. I'm not sure if the best part for Vanessa was seeing another girl dressed as Cinderella or the fact that there were no free tables at Panera when we stopped for lunch so we ate in our car. Yes, we had ourselves a ladies picnic in the front seat. I couldn't stop smiling because Vanessa thought it was the funniest thing. She's still talking about it weeks later. Note to moms...apparently it's the silly, breaking-the-rules sort of things that can make your kids day ;-)

walking around Boston Gardens with Abuelo

perfect day for a family photo

of course we got pictures on the ducks

loving Tia Suzy

exploring with Grandpa
(yes she's wearing pajamas with a Snow White skirt, don't all 3 year olds?)

a little q.t. with Grandpa

sizing up the other Cinderella

lunch in the car   ;-)

Happy Halloween!
(could not get them to stand next to each other, so gave up trying)



Little man

My little man had his 18mos check-up today and weighed in at 24.3lbs and 32 inches tall.  He's just shy of Vanessa's height at the same age (she was 32 1/2 inches) but the boy's got the pounds on her, she was just barely 21lbs.  My little brute.  He's growing up so fast and doing new things everyday we just love it.  The second time around and we still get just as excited over the smallest things that demonstrate his growing independence.  The few things that we don't get so excited over...the way he seems to already know how to irk his big sister and purposely "pick a fight".  Just today for example I watched as Vanessa was quietly doing a puzzle by herself on the floor when Roman decided to walk over, look at her and slowly step down on a piece she was about to reach for.  When Vanessa said "no, no Roman.  Move please, I'm using that" he proceeded to then sit his bottom on the entire area of puzzle pieces and laugh.  Boys.  Seriously, are they born knowing how to get a rise out women??

Hold me closer tiny dancer

At the end of August I gave Vanessa a few choices for what she could do for a kids program: gymnastics, music or ballet.  Since she loved gymnastics and music last year I sort of thought they would be front runners, but nope.  Ballet. Ballet. Ballet.  For weeks I was asked if it was time for ballet class.  Finally...on Monday the big day came.  First thing in the morning I was asked "is it Ballet day today?".  Why yes Vanessa, it is!  So we put on the required leotard, tights and slippers and pranced off to class.  Armed with my camera I was a bit surprised to be shut-out of class!  No mom's allowed.  The nerve!  Apparently they have better success with the little 3 year olds paying attention when mom's are not in the room.  Blah.  They were nice enough to leave the door cracked just a tad so that me and the other 7 moms could take turns trying to squeeze a peek.  Below is all I managed to get.  Don't worry....I'll find my way in there.
In the poor excuse for a video look for Vanessa to come running from the left side.

Winding down the summer

And just like that...it's September.  As our summer comes to an end we were able to check off a couple more items on our "list".  For a few months now Vanessa has been saying she wants to go on a bus, a train and a boat this summer (once again, thank you Curious George).  When we visited NYC we knocked off the bus and the train (subway's count right?).  Last weekend we took the kids to Lake George on a perfect day and rode the steamboat around the lake.  I think mommy and daddy were enjoying it a bit more than the kids -- what's not to like about sitting back enjoying a lake cruise with a Corona in your hand? 

Also on the list was to hit an amusement park, so we loaded up and headed to where else...Sesame Place.  Vanessa was more than thrilled that she got to meet each and every character friend, especially Abby Cadabby.  It was definately fun and age appropriate.  Even Roman was able to enjoy a few rides, that is when we could get him out of the wadding pools.  We'll be back next year!  Probably at the same hotel, but not the same room (...perhaps a story for another time)

chillin, relaxin, waiting to get my boat on

our Steamboat

Sesame Place
Cookie's Tower 

meeting our first friend

Roman getting some luvin



the best for last



Running with giggles

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Summer pics

almost 17 months old

a regular expert on the Carousel

Pinkalicious and NYC

Last weekend we packed the kids and headed down to NYC to spend time with Susy!  Since we were going to be in the city we also decided to take Vanessa to see Pinkalicious...the Musical.  LOL!  Yup.  Her favorite book come to life.  We made it a girls day and yes...we all (even Tia Susy) wore PINK.  The show was pretty darn cute and Vanessa was most excited about being able to meet Pinkalicious after the show.  So very cute!  It was great to see Susy and both kids were very much into their Tia.  Roman thought she was hysterical (little does he know just how funny she can be).  We explored the city, hit the sprinkler park and of course had dinner at Caracas Arepa Bar....yummmmm.  (I should have brought home seconds)  Pretty sure Tia Susy was sad to see us leave.  We're hoping for a return trip soon!!

LOVING getting wet!

yum...fresh squeezed Apple juice

Daddy's girl

one of the biggest french toast plates I've ever seen a 3 yr old attack



Vanessa's first subway ride
(the highlight of her trip according to her)



ta da!

meeting Pinkalicious

Lincoln Center fountain



silly girls



NYC Ballet

One of the very cool things about living where we live is the State Park, especially in the summer.  It's a great place to hang out, picnic, run, golf, swim and of course see some good concerts.  The other very cool thing is that for two weeks in July the NYC Ballet comes, this year we took the kids to the opening which was "Family Night" and went.  It was a nice night and although we didn't stay for the entire show (who starts a "Family Night" at 8pm????) we had fun and Vanessa got to see some ballerina's.  Prior to the show there were two dancers who came out and taught the kids a few steps.  Pretty comical to watch!  Of course Vanessa wanted to be right there.  Maybe someday I'll be buying point shoes? 

Free ice cream!

dance lesson



standing with one of the principal dancers



Lock down the house, we're mobile

this morning Roman took four steps...by the afternoon he was going room to room!

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Swinging is the best

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Preschool graduation

On Monday Vanessa had a little "Moving Up" ceremony at preschool.  Our girl has graduated from the 2-year old program and is on to bigger and better things.  In other words...big-girl three year old class as she puts it.  It's funny because I think before I was a parent I might have rolled my eyes and said 'ohhh graduation, huh' not fully understanding the big-to-do.  I got that it was pretty cool and pretty special to be getting "bigger" and moving past things, but I think until it's your own little baby you don't really see the big picture.  We saw it on Monday.  It was pretty funny still.  Rather than moving up anywhere real, the kids slid down a slide in a sort of ceremonial way.  Notice Daddy's special tie in our little family pic (Roman was in the playroom).  It's a Vanessa original, made in preschool just for Father's Day.  He wears it proud  ;-)

A very pink Three

A little behind on some posts  :-/

June 6th came and went nearly as fast as the last three years seemed to have!  We celebrated Vanessa's birthday with none other than a Pinkalicious party.  Her request.  To anyone who doesn't have a little lady in the house, Pinkalicious is a series of books about a little girl who loves...yup you guessed it...PINK.  The original story is about her eating too many pink cupcakes and turning pink.  I have read that book so many times I am certain I could recite it in my sleep.  For four weeks all I heard about was how Vanessa wanted a Pinkalicious party, so of course that's what my girl got.  The only "too bad" was that all the little girls we know who could have joined in the fun live so far away (boo).  Happy Birthday Vanessa!!