Birthday Celebration - Take #2....

It's In the Can Party...featuring none other than....

OSCAR THE GROUCH

Squeeze cheese art. Whoever makes the best, gets a prize!!

Daddy takes Aramis down one of the super slides!

Alec and his loving Godmother, Laurie

The kick-butt bouncehouse/slide combo. Everyone's favorite!

Oscar's favorite song, "I love trash" (compliments of King Tony)
Handmade decorations/party favors out of recycled bottles and newspaper! Go green!
The infamous 'Kitty Litter Cake' makes an appearance.... It was gone in 5 minutes!


So, we did it...we planned a party and threw it with vigor! The twins' "It's in the Can" celebration introduced several families to squeeze cheese art, fingerpainting with pudding, poopie diaper throw and a party-ending food fight! We hope all our invited guests had fun and weren't too thrown by our crazy antics as we absolutely loved seeing the smiles on all the kids faces and had fun getting really messy. The twin princes slept until 9:30 a.m. the next day, which told us that we must have done something right. A good night sleep--oh my gosh--it's amazing!!

Birthday Celebration - Take #1...

The twins have turned 1 year old! In celebration of this momentus occasion, we planned an "It's in the Can" party which incorporated a focus on recycling and trash alongside Sesame Street pal, Oscar the Grouch. While the party took place the day after the boys official birthday, below are photos of the twins and their big sister getting their first taste of real sugar and mommy's favorite food--birthday cake! Happy Birthday to Princes Alec and Aramis!

Aramis goes in for the grab....
Alec steals his Oscar from daddy.....
oh my goodness, where did it go?? He's too fast!
Ugh! What happened here? Was it a slime explosion?
And of course, Princess Abigail shows off how much of a lady she has become--using her fork instead of her fingers and keeping her face and hands nice and neat. :)

Fingerpainting .....

While Mom was sequestered in a jury room all day (well, the basement of a church across the street from Salem Superior Court, actually), our au pair decided to have some sweet and messy fun with our little ones. Just in time for their big bash this weekend (It's in the Can Party) celebrating their first birthday, Princes Alec and Aramis enjoyed some much deserved 'get messy' time while fingerpainting with pudding, marshmallows and M&Ms. What better way to spend the day when mom and dad are gone for a few hours?

And, the final results of their efforts are below....Ta Da!!

They are practically Picasso understudies.

First steps, and a show of musical talent!

This past weekend included another milestone for one of our little cherubs. The twin princes, who have been cruising for several weeks now, are starting to take independent steps. Prince Aramis, with his daredevil antics, took his first steps on Saturday. Below is a video of him walking to our au pair.

And, during playtime on Saturday, mommy couldn't help but toy with her kids a little bit. All of them love this musical maraca (which also provides colors and numbers in both English and Spanish)--no surprise given that their father is Colombian. Anyway, into Aramis' shorts went the maraca...and the rest...well, you'll see from the video. He's hilarious....! :)

Abby's First Day at Pre-K...

Many parents, I'm sure, are thrilled when their child begins their school career. I, however, am not one of those parents. Well, let me rephrase. I'm a parent with very mixed emotions. On one hand, I'm excited about my eldest child starting school as neither her father or I imagined a day like today would come--on schedule, no less. At the same time, I miss my daughter--terribly. For three years, I've nurtured, cared for, played with, disciplined (when warranted) and enjoyed Princess Abigail. Today, she starts pre-K--and not only for a few hours, but for six straight hours. During those hours, I will not hear her laughter or singing. I will not see her engage the twin princes in play, nor will we be able to experience a battle of wills at lunchtime. No, three other ladies named Lauren, Ginny and Carolyn get all that enjoyment...until 2:30 p.m. M-F. It's a new era for us as a family. The boys already miss her --and I'm sure she misses them. They look around pieces of furniture to see if she is there. They crawl from one room to another seeking out their big sister. Alas, she's no where to be found. :( Incredibly, Abby went off to school with her teacher, Miss Lauren, with no tantrums, tears or issue. In fact, she left my side quickly and with ease. This bummed me out as I would have hoped for a little separation anxiety--if nothing more than to prove that I mean something in the life of my daughter. Alas, she loves her teacher (who happens to be an incredibly woman, by the way) and already has procured several friends--her favorite of which is Colleen! So, I'm waiting by the phone--expecting Miss Lauren to call and say that Abby needs to be picked up, but if I know my daughter as well as I think I do, she won't want to come home to the chaos of her brothers. She'd rather be with new friends, in a new place, with new adults--and far away from the kingdom. Now, if I could just figure out how to concentrate on work, rather than mommyhood.....

Abby enters her new classroom. Welcome to Mrs. Jurta's Pre-K!
Abby grins from ear to ear with Para-professional Ginny
Abby considers making a run for it.

I've got Mommy's keys...and I can drive a car, so..should I or shouldn't I..?

Mrs. Jurta (M) prepares to take the entire class to the playground. Abby's friend Colleen (L) is going to hold her hand. :) So sweet.

What a way to start your first day of school--with the hand of a good friend and your teacher. :)

Last days of Summer....

With greater than normal rainfall this summer, it barely felt like summer here in New England. Alas, Princes Aramis and Alec and Princess Abigail have found many ways to keep busy both inside and outside the kingdom. Much sadness has befallen the kingdom as of late, yet as a family, we depend on each other to get us through the tough times.

Our little munchkins have been absolutely integral in this effort as each smile or laugh that they give, or word they utter, melts hearts--even those other than Daddy and Mommy!

Alec and Aramis take out the A3 car for a spin...
Coincidence? Alec is wearing a basketball jersey...AND searches the house every day for his basketball..... Hmmmmm.....
Not a coincidence. Our son WILL play basketball. Mark our words!!
When Daddy is away, the kiddies will play.

Scenes from Movie Night I...blankets, snacks and Mom!

A scary point in the movie Happy Feet,

or a physical depiction of just how similiar siblings can be???? You decide.

Eating and sleeping..or is it sleeping and eating?

After looking at these videos, you let us know which one comes first...since we can't seem to figure it out.

Twins taking another nap during dinnertime....

Abby showcasing her self-feeding skills. She's a master and is now teaching her brothers how to self-feed!

Our crazy kingdom...

Now that all the little ones are mobile, we must find things to do to keep them occupied while they are in motion. Some ideas, of course, work out better than others. This past week, we started building forts and obstacle courses, since the twins enjoy going under things and pulling up on anything that will hold their weight, while Abby is more like her mom--a steamroller. Here are some videos of what we do to keep busy when it rains in New England....

Introduction of 'Forts and Obstacle Courses'...

Whammo!!

Look who's hiding now!!

Tubby Time (and I don't mean, Teletubbies!)

Believe it or not, we regularly bathe our children, although we attempt to make it more of a fun activity rather than something we have to do... We think they get the idea and thankfully, all the kiddies enjoy their bath time...with and without their siblings. :)

Abby and Alec
Prince Aramis loves to splash!

'Hey bro...whatcha doing? Oh, water splashing...ooooohhhh!'
Abby signs the alphabet and encourages her brothers to learn sign language quickly so they can keep up with her!

Snips and snails and puppy dogs tails.....

Peek-a-boo! Where is Aramis??? Hmmm...carpet picnic maybe?
This is what happens when little boys become interested in where the food is stored....
...and they call in reinforcements.....
Don't mind us, we're just ripping all the cupboards apart--well, at least those that don't have super-steel locks on them!

What else is there to say...we have boys...TWO of them! They are cruising and into everything. Opening every drawer and cabinet they can. Ripping apart books, chewing on anything they get their hands on, and are always on 'the hunt' for something new to devour. We were warned by friends that Abigail was a dream child and that boys would be new territory...and so they were right...and we're loving every minute of it!

The Throwdown Challenge...

The competitive spirit that flows within the walls of the castle make for a very exciting and spicy relationship between King Tony and Queen Wendy. This morning, Tony decided he wanted an egg sandwich for breakfast. Typically, Wendy does all the cooking (and baking), yet today marked an important shift as Tony indicated that not only would he cook his own sandwich, he would challenge Wendy to an 'egg sandwich throwdown.' For those that do not watch the Food Network, grill-and-iron-chef-extraordinaire Bobby Flay hosts a weekly show called 'Throwdown' in which Flay challenges individuals from across the country that are considered 'the best' at making a particular dish or dessert. So, today, Tony challenged Wendy and the results were as expected....Wendy WON! Score results from the judges are below. It was actually pretty close though, so to find out if practice makes perfect, Wendy will select the next challenge--and we welcome ideas/suggestions! :)

Left side: Wendy's score (29/30)

Right side: Tony's score (26.7/30)

Caddyshack...revisited

Prince Aramis, sleeping again...Mommy tired him out!
Alec (as usual) is all smiles...

while Abby (see below) had an interesting adventure with a mini Three Musketeer. Highly reminicent of Caddyshack, when greenskeeper's assistant Carl has to drain the pool and sanitize it only to discover that a brown piece of 'something' wasn't poop afterall, but instead, a Baby Ruth bar, Abby today executed a similar scene of her own. After her dessert (one mini Three Musketeer bar) was placed in her hand, it somehow ended up on the rug/floor with Abby doing a nice 'scoot and smoosh' over it. We don't know the reason why...but suffice to say...it was hilarious to watch.
A closer look of the remains of her dessert....
And, there it is. Not a piece of dirt, or an old, stale, something-or-other. Rather, a smooshed mini Three Musketeer.

Once Abby realized what she'd done, she grabbed the chocolate, inserted it into her mouth, chewed, swallowed, smiled and went on with her evening. I guess the lesson learned is that chocolate is just as yummy in a solid bar, in liquid form, after floating in a pool, or smooshed under one's butt! Thanks Carl (and Abby) for the valuable tidbit! :)

"Food Play!"

"Stop playing with your food!"

Everyone remembers hearing this sentence expressed loudly from the mouth of one or both parents in their lives, but in the Kingdom, we handle things a bit differently. Instead of suggesting our children not play with food, we encourage food play as often and wantonly as possible. Case in point, this afternoon's snack adventure with a sugar-free pudding and marshmallows. :)

YUMMY!!!!

Trip to Portsmouth...

Since the weather here in New England has been great, we're spending as much time as possible day-tripping with our kids to see the premier sites North of Boston. We live within miles of the NH and ME borders, and can often be found in those states rather than our own. Recently, we headed to the seaside town of Portsmouth. After a snack on the waterfront and walk through beautifully-maintained gardens, we headed to York, Maine. Pie in the Sky on the way home and the day was complete. :) The twins and Abby enjoy being outside, so we've turned our family car into the Griswold Family Roadster so we're ready for travel at a moments notice. :)
Abby's looking for an escape route. "How do I get away from all these flowers?" :)Proud Papa Tony tries to get Alec to climb a tree...Wendy said NO WAY!

As the Summer heat wave in New England continues, Wendy and Tony have been more aggressive at seeking out venues where the family can 'chill out' and cool off. Recently, a trip to Boston was in order for the annual Life is Good festival. The company (http://www.lifeisgood.com/), operated by brothers John and Bert Jacobs, has become a sign of New England culture. Shirts, caps, and tire covers touting the smiling face of Jake can be found across the six-state region. And, we admit it, we're fans. Abby enjoyed face (well, arm anyway) painting and the day was capped off with ice cream, a few runs through the fire hydrant, and a mongolian BBQ experience. Yum! It's what you do in New England...

Abby shows off her 'ice cream cone' art...

Conference notes.....

While attending the National Down Syndrome Congress Conference in Boston today, Princess Abigail was able to again reach out an touch Hollywood when meeting 80's TV icon Chris Burke and also Jeff Kerr, writer of The Child King. Jeff was kind enough to autograph a copy of his movie for Abigail, and Chris signed our copies of Life Goes On, the show he starred in, as well as a copy of one of The Chris Burke Band's latest CDs! We were thrilled that everyone was so sweet to her/us and willing to provide us with items for Abby's Special Treasures chest which her parents are cumulating items for each and every day. The conference seems to be a major success and we're hoping for some media hits too!

Abby with Jeff Kerr, ATF agent and writer of The Child King. Everyone should run out and purchase a copy--a GREAT holiday film! (http://www.thechildking.com/)

http://www.chrisburke.org/

And here they are--Abby and Chris, the man who paved the way for so many people with Down syndrome. His acting career helped shift public mindset from negative scrutiny about people with disabilities to one of acceptance and admiration. He's a very impressive man.

Aramis asleep at the wheel....

It makes us wonder what we're doing to our children when we realize that they are sleepy so much of the day. We've found our children asleep on the floor, inside toy baskets and in their swings at all hours of the day. Today contained one more of those precious moments as Aramis fell asleep while having his lunch. It didn't take us long to figure out why the little lad was so exhausted.......

Alec (R) is bright eyed and bushy tailed, but Aramis, fast asleep....
And below is the reason why! Our youngest munchkin is now on the move--crawling around at top speed and exhausting himself. Can you say, BABYPROOFING continues!!??@@

Happy 6th Anniversary Tony and Wendy!

Today marks the 6th wedding anniversary of King Tony and Queen Wendy. In that short time, the couple purchased a home, welcomed three babies, became partner of a law firm, founded a new business, completed a variety of philanthropic and volunteer works, traveled around the US and Europe together, and actually still love each other! The couple wed at a lovely castle in Windham, New Hampshire and have built a kingdom of their own together. :) Mazeltov!

Oooh, kissy, kissy!
Don't they look great in black and white?

Wendy's inspirational mini coconut castle anniversary cake made especially for King Tony.

Party Theme Contest....

The twin prince's 1st birthday is rapidly approaching. It's very hard to believe they are almost one given that we just started to sleep through the night a few weeks ago. It's been a challenging journey, but both boys are absolute perfection--with their emerging teeth, infectious smiles and laughter, and oh so cute butts! September is closing in and in grand Agudelo tradition, we are beginning to plan a huge engagement to celebrate the boys' 1 year. While we've toyed with a number of ideas, we haven't really closed in on one. So, to those that follow this blog, we'd love to hear some ideas! To provide inspiration, we've placed photos below of the cakes Wendy made to coincide with party themes from the past. :) Submit your ideas now!!

Abby's 1st Birthday - "Baby Blocks" (family party)

Abby's 1st Birthday - NACHO AVERAGE FIESTA (friend party)

Sombrero Cake

Abby's 2nd Birthday - All about the OREO

Tony's "All about Chocolate Balls" 38th!

It's SIPPY Time...!

Each day as we awake, we know that one, if not all of our children, will find a way to give us something to beam with pride about--be it a new word, crawling, or simply smiling more than usual. This morning, the twin princes decided to master the sippy cup experience. We've introduced one to each of them for about 6 weeks, but neither took to them until we brought home a NUBY! As of this morning, these bulbous nipple cups have become a favorite of our princes, as noted below. As parents living in a household soon to be free of bottles, nipples and daily washing/sterilizing of them, we're THRILLED! Need I say more? :)

Aramis shows off his 'one-hand-cup' maneuver....

Alec tackles his sippy cup...