Merry Christmas 2

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Merry Christmas!

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Cousins

Cousins are the best.

The Cohen household is currently on cousin-withdrawl. It started on the way home from the cousins after Thanksgiving. Since then, Elle and Bryn have had a constant cousin-craving. It's nice to live close enough to satisfy that craving often. Christmas will be fun!

Cuts of Hair

This past Thanksgiving week, we have been at my sister's house. Luckily for us, Rob's sister also came to visit. She is a stellar hair cutting person and we all got to have a chance in the hot seat.

Bryn and Elle have the amazing capacity to sit completely still during hair cuts. They both got much needed trims.

It is obvious from this picture that I was in dire need of a new hair cut. This is the perfect before picture. I'm still in pjs and just took my hair out of the perma-bun that seemed to always make its way on my head.

I'm not sure when I last had my hair this short...maybe at age 12? But, I think I like it. It was a lot easier to clean. That's a plus!

Peep and the Big Wide World Birthday Party

About a week before Elle's 4th birthday, she decided on a Peep and the Big Wide World party. The characters are easy shapes and the show is quite fun, so I was game. Making the pinata was our first task. I used 4 elastic headbands on the balloon to help make it more spherical. After about 3 days of waiting, Peep was ready to be painted.

We did 2 or 3 coats. I think this was the girls favorite part. Elle painted Peep's red top also. Bryn kept wanting to paint Peep blue.

The day before the party, we set out to tackle the cake. It was supposed to be Chirp, Peep's friend. But, right before we were to ice the cake, I realized we didn't have red food coloring. Yikes! Elle's solution: put blue, green and yellow together. Ok...

Scared Peep!

Finally!

Chirp, Elle style. Just pretend the green is really red and the yellow is really orange. Then you'll have a perfect Chirp.
Happy 4th birthday Elle!

Look-a-likes

These are two different children.

I didn't realize how closely they resemble each other.

Good thing Wade has darker hair.

Tired

Something about a lovely fall day can make you fall right to sleep.


Yes...he is completely zonked.

Mary

We met a new Mary yesterday. Dr. Mary. If you're looking for a fantastic pediatrician in North Pittsburgh, find Dr. Mary Pagnotto. She was excellent! She was personable, kind and respectful of my wishes. The nurse and staff was also fabulous. Going to the doctor will be fun!

It seems every Mary we meet is exceptional. First, there was Miss Mary from the Seneca Falls Library. Elle was transfixed by her story times. Imagine my delight when we found a new Miss Mary at the Woods Run Library. Wow. Her story times took Elle and Bryn from clinging to my legs to independently finding a carpet square and actively participating with the other children. When searching for a pediatrician, I didn't intentionally search out another 'Mary'. But I did look for a young mother that looked friendly. Conveniently, she is a 'Mary' as well.

So far, I have been impressed with every Mary I have met. There must be some correlation with the name 'Mary' and awesomeness.

Anyway, the results:

Wade: 21.2 lbs 89 percentile. 29 inches 91 percentile.
Bryn: 29.5 lbs 66 percentile. 35 3/4 inches 63 percentile.

I was amazed at Bryn. She didn't flinch when she got her shots. Not a sound. She just watched the lady stick her, twice. Wade cried, but calmed when I picked him up. Bryn must have a high tolerance for pain.

Elle is beyond excited for her turn in 2 weeks, after she is officially 4.

Vote Day

We are on our way to vote. We were lucky enough to be able to walk to our polling location. This was my first general election since becoming a US Citizen. Pretty exciting!

We went on a great hike with a group from our ward. It was the Braille Trail in North Park. I didn't have my camera out, so no pictures.

It was just too beautiful outside to go back home, so we stopped in a playground in North Park. I've never seen a playground covered in leaves before, so this was cool. While sitting on the bench, the wind would blow and it would be raining leaves. What a great feeling!

Wade, trying to get me.

Of course, we had to cover each other in leaves. Elle was the first victim.

Bryn was next. She did very well at holding still, even when a leaf covered her mouth.

2 Ballerinas and a Dino

This year, we had 2 ballerinas (thank you Brianne) and a dino (thank you Laura). I feel like Halloween was over a week long. That is probably because we've been doing 'Halloween things' for about that long. I'll post on that later. This post is dedicated to just Halloween Day. We started the day early and got ready to go to the Children's Museum.
Happy and clean.

Still clean!

The Children's Museum had all sorts of great things to do for Halloween. A Cartoonist was there and did a show of drawing pictures while telling a story. Elle and Bryn each got to take home one of his drawings. The theater provided free popcorn for the screening of the Charlie Brown Pumpkin movie. The girls painted pumpkins, bowled ghost pins, created crowns, and....put on some face makeup (or paints). I obviously do not wear makeup right. Why didn't anyone tell me that I have red blotches all along my chin line???

Elle was looking fabulous. The glitter was so....shiny. She couldn't resist. I ended up rubbing the glitter all over their bodies and into their hair. It's so fun to be sparkly.

I got the troops home and the girls napped for about an hour. Then it was time for dinner and trick or treating. Somehow Brandon and I ended up holding the pumpkins. They were 'too heavy'.

Finally the girls got to go see one of their favorite friends....

The A-team's party was a hit, complete with homemade root beer and 'duck duck witch'.

The loot. Bryn has blue ring pop face and looks...crazy. She and Elle ate(not sucked) a ring pop on our way to the party. Until next year Halloween!

Exploring Pittsburgh

Before the weather turned not so nice, the girls, Wade and I set out on a nature hike. We walked along the Riverfront trail and made it to the cascading fountain between PNC Park and Heinz Field. I didn't see any signs prohibiting playing in the falls, so I let the girls put their feet in. Brandon claims there are signs at the top prohibiting water play, but he always sees kids playing in it.

Will I do this again? Without a question...YES!

Before. The girls are too interested looking at the river in front of them. There were probably boats going by or something. Maybe they are checking out the fountain at Point State Park.

During. I love that you can see some of the bridges of Pittsburgh in the background. This is really a beautiful spot.

After. It's hard to see how totally soaked the girls are. Wade somehow slept through the whole event while I basked in the sun.

I don't think I can effectively describe how great it is to live in Pittsburgh. There are so many great things to do. Never a dull moment. I have piles of pictures of things we've been doing and will post some of the great finds of Pittsburgh. There is also a great website that got me thinking about donating a gingerbread house made during Elle's birthday party. I'm not sure if anyone would buy it though :). It also got me excited to go ice skating downtown. Bring on the snow, baby!

28 Years Ago.

Brandon was born in his living room. I wish I had a picture of him when he was 14. Happy Birthday Briz.

Last of the Twenties

I remember when I started my twenties. I decided to say, "In my twenties" to the question of age. I don't think I ever really did that. It was just a joke to handle losing teenager status. I loved being a teenager. I was dumb, selfish, foolish, irresponsible, giddy and lame. But, I was just a teenager, so it was ok. Twenty meant responsibility.

Today is my last day of twenties and I'm going to miss it. The twenties have been good to me. I've loved being in my twenties.
Quick recap of my twenties:
21-22: Mission to Guatemala
24: Married, Graduated from BYU
24-26: Worked at L3 Communications
26: Had Elle, Moved to NY, Ran a Marathon
27: Had Bryn
29: Had Wade, Moved to PA, Ran a 1/2 Marathon

Ok, this list is very lame. It's hard to think of what to include in a recap list spanning a decade. And since it is late, this is what you get :). I only have a couple hours of the twenties left!

I realized last week that it is time for me to move into the thirties. At playgroup, one of my friends saw my socks and said, "Where did you get those socks? Can I buy them from you? My daughter would love them!" Her daughter is in Primary. Yikes! These were my lucky frog socks I would wear on test days in college. Really, no one (including me) should be wearing them. Both soles have holes. But for some reason, those were the socks I grabbed in the morning. I understand that turning thirty does not mean you have to throw out all your cool socks. But, I should be able to put to rest socks that have been dead for many years. Give up the frogs Jodie. Welcome to 30.

Bonus points for those who can identify what year the pictures is from.

I just want to write my name

elle

brandon

bryn
wade
jodie

Silly Morning

Bryn has an evil laugh. I love it and have no idea how she does it. If I remember right, Megan had a similar laugh when she was young. Megan, can you still do your evil laugh?

It's good to have reminders to laugh, all day long.

Akron Marathon Success

Brandon completed his 2nd Akron Marathon on Saturday. He did a fantastic job and somehow managed to be smiling at mile 10.








I mentioned this picture earlier on this blog. If you look at it quickly, you think it's Elle, but really it's Bryn.








The cousins (minus Brianne) waiting on the bench for Brandon to finish. He crossed the line with a time around 3:45. Way to go Brandon!

Roll

I found a whole roll of toilet paper in our toilet today. Brandon has GOT to stop doing that!

Today is Random

The troops and I went on a trek while the car was getting the last things needed for its' safety inspection. Here are some highlights.

1. On our way into Target, we spotted a man sitting by the trash can. We had some trash that needed to be deposited in said can. As we walked up, the man covered his cigarette from the girls with his hand. After we left, he moved his hand and took a puff. Interesting.
2. Apparently shopping with 3 children warrants the comment, "You've got your hands full". I can't remember a time out with the troops when I have not heard this comment. It doesn't bother me. They're right, my hands are full. I have no spare hands. What could have been said to my Mom, with 6 children age 10 and younger? You've got all available limbs full?
3. Kohl's has excellent deals. I got shoes for the girls and 3 Wade outfits all for next summer for just over $9. Finding a suitable Brandon birthday present proved more difficult.
4. According to Braxton, Dora is not cool. Her head looks like a watermelon.

Run Pittsburgh

I decided to start my own running website. It is a major work in progress. I hope to have it all up and running within the week. Feel free to check it out. Any suggestions are welcome. Enjoy Run Pittsburgh.

Smile!

Wade has had a rough couple of nights. With the 4 top front teeth coming in simultaneously, he has been less than his usual cheery self. I take comfort in the fact that 3 of the 4 have broken through. Soon my 6 month old with have 6 teeth. How'd that happen? It seems too early for teeth. Brandon reminded me that Bryn was the same way. Time goes by so quickly. I feel like I just had Wade. Then I think about everything that has happened since Wade was born. Brandon graduated. We moved. Started a business. Visited Ottawa. Bought a new(to us) car. Had a family reunion. Visited Ohio (twice). And now, he has 6 teeth. Smile Wade!

Terrific Tuesday

Tuesday was terrific. A good friend ventured out to pick us all up to go to lunch (car not fixed yet). We met other friends at lunch. The 4 of us plan on running a half marathon on Oct 4th (my 30th birthday present to myself). As we discussed running strategies, the kids played and .... made a huge mess.
It was so great to get out of the house. Many many thanks go to my friend who braved the 28 to make it out to our house. For some reason, the GPS sends people to the 28 and up Rialto on an illegal left turn. Somehow, she still managed to make it.
Around 5:15, we caught the 6A bus to the North Shore. The girls were clearly excited. By 5:35, we were at PNC park for our first MLB game (Thank you Kluebers!).

It was T-shirt Tuesday.
The first batter broke his bat. We tried to explain the game of baseball to the girls, but they were more interested in the people walking around.

The bus was a little late, but it showed. We had 2 choices, 7:48 or 9:20. The girls chose 7:48. We almost saw 2 innings. But it was enough time for Wade to hold hands with a stranger, Elle to beg for a hotdog, and Bryn to pop her sword balloon.

Thank you Kluebers for the tickets!