A Logical Choice

We like to celebrate birthdays by going out to dinner on that person's birthday as a family. So Drew was given the choice - Red Robin with an ice cream sundae and being sung to OR Rock Creek Tavern with open bluegrass night. (RCT has open bluegrass night every Tuesday at 7 and we LOVE going for that to eat and listen to really great music. Drew has greatly enjoyed this since he was 2 and especially loves the string bass! His birthday this year happened to fall on a Tuesday.) Anyway, I am sure by now you can guess what he picked. Yup! Rock Creek Tavern it was!

We asked David and Marie to come along and had a blast! The food was great and oh boy, Drew was sure excited as the musicians started arriving!

Drew and Grandma. (Sorry David, I somehow didn't get any pics of you with the birthday boy!)

Me and my Sweetie

Mmmm, this is a delicious birthday burger!

Sadie doing some "clogging"

This is a post-dessert face :)

Yummy ice cream

Then a little dancing. It felt good to smile and be carefree after such a difficult week.

We weren't sure if the musicians ever sang Happy Birthday to people during open bluegrass night. Marie asked and of course, they were delighted to oblige! Some of them recognized us from the times we have been there in the past. Who wouldn't remember a 3 year old who loves a string bass? Drew acted all shy and silly while they sang, but I know he loved every second of it! We had a little mishap with the camera, but I did capture the very first part of the song. It is also dark, but you get the idea...

Drew's Birthday

Okay, I think that I feel ready to move along with some blogging again. Let's start with Drew's birthday. It was a very busy day for the newly turned 4 year old! It fell on a Tuesday when he had school, so that was super fun. At Drew's request, we went and got Krispy Kremes for his special snack for his class. Yum!

After school and a little rest time, it was time for Drew's birthday party! We had invited just a few of his little friends and despite the circumstances the week before, we wanted to go ahead with the party. It was a dress-up themed party and each friend was asked to come in a dress-up outfit. They obliged quite nicely. :)

Police Officer/Pilot Drew answering the door

Fireman Cohen

A slightly shy Princess Ally

Dinosaur Maddie

We had a fun treasure hunt, with the treasure being dress-up hats for all. And then it was time to decorate really cool car-shaped cakes.

There's no such thing as too much sugar on your birthday, right?

Then it was time for presents and playing.

Golf!

Drew loved his new chainsaw

This kid cracks me up!!

Cohen was very nice to share his firefighter outfit with Drew.

Happy 4th Birthday to my Baby Boy

4 years ago today, Drew Anthony Bastinelli came into the world, all 6 lbs. 1 oz. of him. He was the most tiny, beautiful thing ever, with dark black hair and dark eyes just like his dad and brother. Drew was a good little baby, he ate well and was pretty mellow for the most part. His big sister Sadie LOVED him right away, too much, in fact, at times. I had to have many a "Mommy needs her space" talks while breastfeeding. ;) Zack loved his new little brother, but didn't really show whether he cared one way or another. Well, that is, until Drew began to crawl and then walk and became an actual threat to Zack's toys!

Happy Birthday, Little Man!

Drew showed us very quickly that he was going to be VERY different than his mellow, sweet, easily entertained big brother! Drew was a mover and a shaker and did NOT want to sit calmly and play! He got into everything and spent all of his time checking things out around the house. He really didn't even enjoy playing with toys until he was close to age 3! He talked early like his siblings and had very few problems with communicating his needs. He was a wonderful sleeper and slept 15+ hours every single day! I say that was God giving me time to calm myself and become a patient Mommy once again. ;)

Our sweet boy at 6 months

One Year

2 Years Old!

He's 3!

Today, Drew is the light of our lives. He is funny, goofy, silly, sometimes a tad bit moody, and just a joy. He has seemed to have mostly outgrown his 3 year old attitude and meanness (thank goodness!) and is really just a sweet boy. Drew loves people, all of his family members, and even random people he meets at the store. He loves to play dress-up and make believe, he loves his preschool and beloved teacher, Mrs. Kimball. Drew loves music and instruments and tools of all kinds. He is very coordinated and already has begun to teach himself to "ollie" on his skateboard. While watching the Olympics the other day, he told me that I should sign him up for ski jumping classes! We are so thankful to our loving God that He has given us Sweet Drewby and we look forward to watching this little boy grow up!

Goodbye, Dad

Last Wednesday, February 10, 2010, my dad passed away very suddenly with no warning. I am not at a point where I am ready to write out all the details or start with the memories, it is too soon. His memorial service is this Saturday, I have to get through that first. I will share, I will post pictures and talk about my dad, but not now. I know everyone who reads this knows, I just had to "go there" for me, taking one step forward. Drew's birthday is tomorrow and I would like to do a little post for his special day, but I couldn't just jump right in without acknowledging the events that have transpired over the last week in our family first. So for now, I say goodbye to my Daddy. :(

Another One Bites the Dust!!

Zack has lost tooth #2! This time, it was with the assistance from the dentist, though. This was the tooth where the adult tooth had come in behind the baby one. We were giving it lots of time in hopes that it would come out on its own. But it didn't. So today we headed off to the dentist, with a very nervous boy! He got some watermelon-scented nitrous, which helped a ton, Tony said. (Tony went back with him.) He didn't even know he got a numbing shot! All went well and he is just super happy to have it all done. Well, getting treasures, the pending Tooth Fairy visit and a Redbox movie rental help a little. :)

BEFORE:

AFTER: