Big Foot

Aiden's cute, fuzzy doggie slippers are only about 4 sized too big for her.

Southwick Zoo (Mendon, MA)

Sean was off work (before starting a new job) this week, so we decided to do something fun with the kids. Aiden was just a wee one last time we visited the Southwick Zoo, so it was definitely time to make a return trip. Took a "few" more pictures this time around. Hahaha!! As ususal, you can blame Sean for the picture overload. I already halved the number I originally was going to post!!

First stop, Kangaroos!! Not the best picture, but kangaroos remind us of Pop, and we really, really miss Pop.

Probably the only picture of a semi-smile from Aiden in the petting zoo.

Brienne not only wanted to pet the animals, but give them kisses, too. Yuck.

The deer forest was really cool. There were HUNDREDS of deer, and they would come right up to you...if you had food to give them. They pretty much dissed us since we didn't offer them anything to eat. At one point, about 40 or 50 deer came sprinting across the walking trail at full speed. Not sure what they were running from, but it was an amazing sight!

Catching a better view of something....the rhino, maybe?

Don't call DSS, but yes, we let Brienne go on a few of the kiddie rides with her big brother. She was in heaven! Something tells me she's gonna have a really good time when we go to Storyland in a couple of weeks.

One of the rides had a height requirement which Brienne didn't meet, so Sean distracted her with the monkeys. Again....don't call DSS. I swear I only left Aiden on the ride for one quick second to snap these photos.

Aiden wanted to know where the steering wheel was. Is it bad that I totally lied to him and told him the GUN was a steering wheel??? He's too young for us to be explaining guns to him, right???

One more ride on the flying bears before our departure. It was a LONG day!

Breakfast is Served!

Leave it to Daddy to break the "no food in the living room" rule. Oh well....at least he let Mommy sleep in a little bit for a change.

Daddy's Big Helpers

Brienne was the first to come find out what Daddy was up to....

....Big brother soon followed with his own drill (he has 2 toy drills, yet decided to turn this remote control into a pretend drill instead).

Daddy's New Home Gym

13 Months Old

Our little girl is growing up. She's walking (Frankenstein style), climbing and pretty much finding trouble everywhere she goes. Wasn't she just a baby about 5 minutes ago?? Where has the time gone??

As long as Aiden isn't around to distract her, she can actually entertain herself with books for quite a while. This Baby Animal book is one of her favorites. She kisses her most beloved animals (the dog and the duck), and sticks her tongue out at the bear.

She's also become very adept at pulling things off shelves....Now we need to work on putting things back where they belong....

Barriault Family Reunion - At "The Lake"

Brienne & Great-Pepere

Hi Daddy!

Brienne was smelling the flowers on Great-Memere's sweatshirt.

Taking a little stroll with cousin Amy.

Crazy Uncle Barrio enjoying some lobster sushi.

They were slower than snails! Pretty boring race.

Great Auntie Lee got to meet Aiden & Brienne for the first time. She was up from Florida with her husband, Cliff, for her ?? High School Reunion.

Whose the cool kid wearing socks with his sandals?? Ohhh...that would be DADDY!

Enjoying a quiet boat ride while the lil' ones nap back at the house.

Rested and ready for some more action!

Silly boys! xoxo

Hi Baby Joseph!! (Please don't squash the baby, Aiden....)

Hello, handsome!

Balloon Festival - Lewiston, Maine

On our way to the Balloon Festival (in Lewiston's picturesque downtown), we walked past the original Central Distributors building, founded by my great-grandfather many moons ago. Can't tell you how many times I drove past this building growing up, and never knew until now that this is where it all began.

The first balloon launches.

Up, up and away!

The kids thought the balloons were pretty spectacular. And they WERE! I'd never seen a ballon launch before. It actually gave me goosebumps. (Or maybe it was the heeby-geebies from the sketchy crowd the festival attracts!! There were some pretty "interesting" characters in this crowd...)

The night was a little bit overcast -- a few sprinkles, but not enough to keep the balloons from flying.

Aiden's favorite balloon.

So this REMAX advertisement balloon wasn't the coolest design....BUT....we were literally just a few feet away from it as it was getting ready to launch. That was pretty cool to watch.

Balloons dot the sky as we make our way to the carnival rides. Not sure which was scarier, the crowd or the cootie germs on the rides....

Hanging with Grammy & Grampy.

Chomping on her finger. Pretty much the story of her life these days. Not sure if or when those remaining teeth are ever going to appear.

ChooChoo!!

Aiden wasn't too thrilled at sharing his motorcycle with a stranger.