Brian and Cristin Visit!

Brian and Cristin visited from Virginia this week. They got to meet Genevieve and see Sebastien for the first time in a while. It was so great to have them here.

In the picture below, Brian is reading a car book to Sebastien - the same one that Brian had when he was Sebastien's age!

Here is Cristin warming up to Genevieve.
Thursday morning we went apple picking at Mack's Apples in Londonderry, NH. We had great (albeit slightly too warm) weather.

Cristin & Brian with the kiddos.

Below: Brian & Kim with the kiddos

All of us (from a distance) at the orchard:

Below: Brian helps Sebastien find the apple he dropped:

Genevieve liked holding - and licking - the apples. Luckily she seems to have no idea how to use those teeth of hers.

Below: After apple picking, we came home and Brian offered to wash Kim's car. Ah, just like old times!

Genevieve is working on sitting up.

Below: on a walk around the neighborhood

Brian & Crisin: Train Ride

On Saturday, we woke up and had pancakes so Brian and Crisin could try some real maple syrup, which they'd never had before. We then headed a couple hours north to Lake Winnipesaukee to ride the lakeside scenic railroad. Since Sebastien is very obsessed with choo-choos these days, it was a win-win for everyone. The picture below is from a park at Weirs Beach where we hung out before it was time to drive to Meredith to catch the train.

Below: Dan and Sebastien check out the train from the outside Below: a picture snapped from inside the train when it was stopped at Weirs Beach

Brian and Cristin on the train
Masse family on the train

All of us on the train!

Brian held Genevieve for a while until she fell asleep. Then we laid her down on the train seat and she slept for the rest of the ride.

Below: Pictures of us at the docks in Meredith

Checkups

Sebastien and Genevieve had their 2 year old and 6 month checkups, respectively, this week. Sebastien continues to be off the charts (over 97th percentile) in height and is still 90th in weight, despite being slender these days, just because he's so tall. Genevieve is also in the 90th percentile in height and weight, which surprised us because we think of her as our little peanut and she eats half of what Sebastien ate at her age. Here are some cute pictures I took this week:

Sebastien is Two!

I posted some pictures from last week. Sebastien's actual birthday was Thursday the 16th, but we celebrated it after Sunday night dinner in Dracut. It's crazy to think that he's already 2. He's been talking up a storm and it seems like he says something new everyday. This morning, for example, he brought me one of his new bath toys and said "My new boat." He has learned his colors and now we're working on letters. This week will go by quickly as we get ready for Brian and Crisin to come on Wednesday. We're so excited!

Below: Genevieve fell asleep in her high chair 2 days in a row, mid meal. Eating is apparently hard work.

Below: Here is Sebastien on his actual birthday. Since we didn't want to make 2 cakes, we let him have a Little Debbie cake that day instead. He had no complaints.
Below: I literally walked into the room and found them like this, with Sebastien's arm around Genevieve and all. It's actually a pretty common occurance and it melts my heart. Of course, sometimes I walk in the room and he's sitting on her and, despite Genevieve laughing, he goes in Time Out. :)

Below: We went to Luke and Landon's house last week and here's a picture Rick snapped with his phone of Luke and Sebastien playing on their jetskis.

Below: In the buff - Genevieve at 6+ months

Below: Sebastien's new thing

We celebrated Sebastien's birthday at the Masse's in Dracut. Grandma & Grandpa got him an amazing train table with lots of Thomas the Train stuff. Sebastien adores it.

Below: Here's the cake I made him. It's supposed to be Curious George.

Yum, that's good cake!

Below: Genevieve sports one of Sebastien's bows

Below: Uncle Phil had his friend Amy get a "Sebastian the Crab" stuffed animal when she went to Disneyworld a few months ago. So now Sebastien finally has his own "Sebastian" crab. Yeah! He also got some great Thomas stuff from Auntie Becca, as well as presents from Aunt Rita and Uncle Brian and Aunt Jaclyn. He's a lucky boy!

VIDEO: 3 short clips of the kids

In this video Sebastien does a jig of sorts for Genevieve. Then Genevieve does a floor routine for us. Finally we see Genevieve eat some rice cereal. :)

Mt. Hedgehog Hike

On Sunday we went hiking with Rick, Nicki, Luke & Landon O'Donnell. 4 kids and 4 adults made for quite the endurance hike. Dan & I climbed Mount Hedgehog last year with Sebastien and it went really well. I can't say that the kids did extremely well, but we all made it and were glad we did it. Somehow, despite the threat of constant rain, we all stayed dry too.

Below is a picture of the very beginning of the hike. Sebastien and Luke loved running down the path. Unfortunately this only lasted for about 10 minutes until the path got too narrow and steep. They then went up in the backpack carriers. Kim had Sebastien in her carrier and Dan had Genevieve in the Baby Bjorn (front carrier) because that thing is really hard on your neck and shoulders even though there's less weight in it. Nicki and Rick each had a kid too. We only saw one other person on our hike and I think he thought we were crazy.

Below: Time for lunch! Sebastien couldn't resist lounging by Genevieve.
Below: Smile! (Look at her 2 top teeth!)

Group shot at the summit.

The Masse family at the top of Mt. Hedgehog.

It took us about 5 hours I think to hike the mountain. Genevieve cried more than we would have liked on the way down and Sebastien kept asking "Where's Luke?" and "Where's Luke's car?" every 3 minutes, so that was a bit trying. We were certainly tired and sore when we got back to the car, but nothing that a nice group pizza dinner couldn't cure.

Weather turning cooler

We're hoping that we've seen the last of the really hot weather. The pictures below show some of the last hot weather days. Dan bought Sebastien an early birthday present - a big styrofoam airplane. They have been playing with it a lot lately. Here are some pictures.

Genevieve has been eating oatmeal daily now. She usually gets fed when Sebastien is napping, but if not, then Elmo lucks out since Sebastien loves feeding him alongside "Nenna."
Below: Sebastien loves putting his trains in little garages made out of blocks.

girls in pink

Brian & Jaclyn's Wedding

Labor Day weekend was the big day for Dan's brother, Brian and his fiance Jaclyn. There wedding was at a church in Cambridge and the reception at the Boston Public Library. They had great weather. It was a big day for us as well, as Dan was a groomsman, Sebastien was the ringbearer and I had a reading at Mass. I forgot my camera the entire weekend, but was able to get these pictures off of other people's cameras. Below is us rushing to get to the rehearsal dinner. It seemed we were rushing - if not straight out running to get to places on time all weekend. You just can't seem to get anywhere on time with kids - especially when everyone needs to be dressed up!

Below: Jaclyn and Brian at the altar.

Sebastien surprised me by walking down the aisle all by himself holding the ring pillow as if it was no big deal. He got a little confused about halfway because he ran into the couple in front of him going down the aisle, but was on his way again in a few seconds. As soon as he saw his mommy at the front, he ran to the finish. Both kids behaved well throughout the mass, although they both let out a few sounds here or there (loud sighs from Genevieve and "green truck" or something like it from Sebastien).
Below: Daddy & Son in tuxedos. Mommy thinks it doesn't get much cuter than this.

Well, unless you throw Grandpa in there too. :)

Below is Becca with Genevieve.

After the wedding, Grandma and Grandpa took Genevieve back to the hotel until the reception and Dan, Kim and Sebastien got to go on the bus with the wedding party. Here's Sebastien and Becca on the bus.

The Bride on the Bus!

Our first stop for pictures was at the MIT Boathouse along the river. As you can see, it was beautiful scenery with Boston, sailboats, and the river behind them.

Below: Brian showing Sebastien the boats

Below: Dan & Sebastien watching the boats

Sebastien didn't always want to take pictures. Here's a picture of Jaclyn trying to persuade Sebastien to come get in one.

Sebastien was a fan of the deck floor at the boathouse since it was kind of spongy. (Reason #82 that his tux is at the dry cleaners.)

Below: Group shot of wedding party

Next it was on to the Boston Public Gardens for more pictures. Here's a nice one of the wedding party.

Dan & Kim

Below: Dan & Sebastien check out a fountain

And then we went to the reception location, the Boston Public Library, for the reception. There was a beautiful outdoor courtyard where the hors d'oeuvres were served. Below is a picture of the courtyard with Brian and Jaclyn posing at a table for the photographer.

Awhhh - father & sister of the groom

Here's baby Genevieve and Nicole Mayotte at the reception.

Sebastien amused himself well during dinner and toasts by playing with his trains and books.

This picture may be my favorite from the night.

Becca is holding Genevieve (all bundled up in a pink sweater) just before she falls asleep.