Uh Oh

That baby tooth in front has ben wiggly for a while.  Looks like he needs to lose more than one to make room!

Freddie's Annual Birthday Interview

We forget to get my boy on film in February but here's his annual interview. It's lengthy, but I think one day I'll be thankful to be able to see him when he was 6, to hear that voice.  

Lovin'

• The start of soccer, in shorts no less!
• Gatorade mustaches
• Little cleats and knee pads (Thanks, Aunt Liz!)
• Slow mornings courtesy of spring break
• Sunshine late into the evening
• Budding trees
• Disney planning
• Wiggly teeth

Great Wolf Lodge Winter Escape

We made our annual winter trip to the Poconos in March this year.  A little later than usual, and although the weather was warming were still very much in the winter doldrums and in need of a change of scenery and warmth.

Although being inside the Great Wolf Lodge isn't exactly a warm weather getaway, there is still something very soothing about breathing in the chlorine smell and walking around in your swimsuit with snow flurries right outside the window.

This year was our best trip yet, and our lack of photos is evidence of that.  We were all in the water nonstop, and not just wading, but getting knocked down in the wave pool and riding the mega slides.  Sadly, no waterproof case on the phone so the sad waterproof camera had to do.

And lots more pictures of Hansie than Freddie because he seemed to stick closer.  Freddie was off and going, all the time.

We checked the boys out of school right after lunch on Thursday.  We didn't tell them we'd be picking them up to avoid announcements that they were ditching school to head to the Great Wolf Lodge, so when they got in the car we had a moment of crazy excitement when we broke the news.

The midweek rate is considerably cheaper (more than half off of the weekend rate) , so it is totally worth it to ditch school.

Totally worth it!!

photo by Freddie

Just like last time, we packed lots of snacks and went ahead and had snacker fare for dinner as well as lunch the next day.  It didn't make sense to leave to hunt for something else for meals since our time there was pretty short.  

Charlie and I didn't mind.  Everything is better with a cold beer.

Nothing scared the boys this time, with the exception of the really high lights of stairs to the waterslides.  They did want to hold hands on the way up, but going down the slides was not a problem.  I found a few of them to be pretty scary, but they just giggled and creamed the entire way down.

A great little getaway for our family.

So long winter!

2nd trimester report card and conference

Freddie and his class at the Central Park Zoo

Freddie got his report card, and he was so excited to go over it.  He laid in bed with Charlie and me so we could go over each subject and read the teacher's comments.  He had all "3"s and "4s" and many makes increased from "3s" last grading period to to "4s" which represent "exceeding standards."  He was quite proud and took it very seriously, listening to what his teachers had written.

His teacher, Ms. S, said he is doing very well in class, both socially and academically.  She doesn't have any concerns and loves having him in class.  He participates in all activities and discussions, and works well both independently and with groups.  He's a team player and is well liked by his peers.

Charlie and I had a conversation the other night about how thankful we are for Freddie's easy transition into school.  We are so thankful he loves school and is doing well.  There are certainly some kids we know who are struggling and while I am sure many of these kids will work through it I know their parents are filled with worry.  I cannot imagine watching him struggle, although I am sure one day he'll have his challenge.

May you always love school, Freddie.  I hope your enthusiasm for school and learning stays strong and you continue to be a confident, eager student.  Dada and I are so very proud of you, of who you are and your hard work.  Love, love, love you.

Overheard

Wile playing with their party favors...

Hans:  Freddie you are the brother that I want.

Freddie:  Hansie your the brother I always wanted too.

Somehow that little exchange makes up for the hours and hours and hours of fighting this week.

NOLA Visit

• 2 St. Patrick's Day parades
• 3 cabbages
• 20 pounds of throws stuffed in our suitcase, they couldn't part with anything!
• 1 drive thru daiquiri, ah no place like home for sure

• One extrovert working the crowd, insisting I smooch drunk men for flowers
• One introvert waiting to be noticed, he did get better

Not sure why he wanted his shirt on backwards!

• 3 warm afternoons spent with friends

For their college application?

• 1 zoo trip
• 5 cousins
• 1 tired Papi

• 0 photos with everyone looking at the camera

• 6 beignets
• 2 loaves of Bunny bread, one for us and one for the ducks..Freddie loves Bunny bread!
• 2 sweaty, dirty, happy boys

• Hardly any photos
• Not enough time
• Another trip in the works