The family that plays together stays together

We Plaxicos know how to party — I’m talking kids’ music blarin’, apple juice drinkin’, cookies devourin’, games playin’ PARTY.

…Usually with someone melting down at the end.

Cause you know it ain’t a good party unless someone leaves crying.

We demonstrated our talents in creating kid-centric hoopla this fall, when our family gathered in the mountains of Virgina for a fun weekend retreat. Nena and Pops masterminded the weekend, and hosted our family, the Garecht clan (Ashely, Joe, Haley, Emily, Caleb, and Liam), and the McManuels duo (my cousin, Ellie, and her son, Alex) at a big cabin in the Massanutten resort.

It was a rowdy, raucous, activity- and sugar-filled few days that left us all full of joy.
…And ready for naps.

The Plaxico Cousins!

Ellie and Alex!

And finally, the WHOLE wild and crazy bunch!

OOPS! Though Nena is one of the smartest, most capable women I know,
she has this special and inexplicable knack for losing cameras…
like LOTS of cameras…
particularly when they are filled with family memories.
Poor, forgetful Nena.

So, I tried to” fill in the blank” as best I could (with a little flourish of color from my Little Miss).
Art scholarship, here I come!

There was never a dull moment over the weekend. We spent a bunch of time outdoors taking walks, going to the playground, and checking out (“fishing at”) the lake.

When we weren’t outside, we were splashing and sliding at the water park or playing all sorts of fun games in the cabin.

And lemme tell you, regardless of the size of your accommodations (and this cabin was big!), 7 kids have no problem making a whole lotta noise and a whole lotta mess!

It was enough to make anyone tired, and in need of a drink…

They were good times, good times.

We love our wild and crazy family!

The Little Mister’s First Hair-Cut (Sob!)

I’ve been dreading writing this post. DREADING.

Why?

Well, because it means that I’ve caved in to external pressure and cut my Little Boy’s hair. And can you blame me? Look at these adorable, sweet, wild, and wonderful curls!

(Bear with me here. Foreseeing this unfortunate event I’ve been taking photos of his hair like a woman obsessed.)

Oh how I love my Little Mister Curls! Sure, his hair had gotten so long that he often looked more like a Little Crazy Professor, but it just added to his charm!

But I caved. Due to the fact that I seem to make babies who are especially talented at embodying everyone’s favorite “business in the front, party in the back!” hair-do, I finally gave in and decided it was time for a cut. Sob!

So the Little Mister and I had a special date with destiny, and with the help of the fabulous Gina The Hairstylist, transformed him into my Little Mister Man.

(He wasn’t a big fan of the whole strange-lady-I-don’t-know-is-coming-at-me-with-sharp-scissors scenario. But with an “assist” from Mommy and the distraction of a good book, we overcame.)

My Little Mister Darling is a Little Mister HANDSOME! I can’t even stand how grown-up he looks with his snazzy new “do.”

But for all those of you who weep with me at the loss of the Little Mister’s adorable curls, never you worry.

I’ve already decided I’m going to let him grow them back. Ha ha!

Hope you had a Happy Halloween!

Halloween was a big deal at our house this year. I am sure you can guess why…

Costumes + Candy + Freedom to Run Like Mad Around the Neighborhood = 2 Happy Toddlers

Or more like…

= 1 Ecstatic Fairy Ballerina and 1 Excited (Albeit Somewhat Confused) Bumblebee

We ate a few bites of dinner (emphasis on few in the 3-year-old department), made the kids take a bunch of photos (all with the tantalizing promise of candy at the end),

and then waited for our pals the Mugfords to arrive so we could TAKE OVER the neighborhood.

Waiting is so hard. Especially when candy is at stake.

But arrive they did. And when the kids were released it was a moment of PURE JOY.

See what I mean?

The Little Miss and Cohen ran the entire route! She even amassed so much candy that she had to dump it into the stroller periodically. The Little Mister traveled through most of the neighborhood on his handy-dandy bike, and enjoyed waving and saying “Hi!” and “Happy!” to all those we passed by.

All the while his candy may have been eaten by a couple of adults (when he wasn’t looking). But I ain’t naming names.

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Determined to stuff even more sugary treats into our bellies, we also enjoyed some Halloween festivities the weekend before with the Wright cousins.