Welcome 2013--Can I Get a Couple of Starter Weeks?!

Well, here we are two weeks into the New Year, and I'm just now starting to feel resolved!  For some reason this year, I just wasn't really ready for the transition.  It's been a good two weeks, but it took me a while to start feeling like myself and garner some motivation for a few things!  I expect 2013 to be a big year for us!

• For one, we are hoping to send at least Tommy to preschool part time in the fall to ease him into the Kindergarten transition in the fall of 2014.  
• Until then though, I have put together a little "preschool" curriculum that we are implementing at home (so far so good!).  
• We are still waffling on whether to stay in our house or try to sell.  
• And, although this is a bit personal I suppose, we will decide definitively on whether to try to extend our family this year. 
•  The answer to that will affect other goals as well, namely continuing my weight loss journey!  If I end up not getting pregnant, I am hoping to reach my goal weight (which is the weight I played my collegiate softball at) by the end of the year.  
• I am also hoping to read more this year.  My goal is to read 20 new books in 2013, and Dr. Seuss and the like don't count!
• Finally, as ever, I hope to grow in my relationship with Jesus, and to give Him quality time on a daily basis.

So, even though I've gotten off to a bit of a slow start on some of these (ehem, weight loss!), I finally feel like I've gotten into a really great groove with the boys!  One of the things I'm most excited about for this year is that I've decided to really extend the boys' library.  I basically came up with a "seasonal" type of theme for every week, and then one moral theme for the month.  So, every week, we start the week with the boys unwrapping three new books, which they have loved thus far!!  Two of the books are based on the weekly theme, and the third book highlights the character lesson of the month.

The first 3 books!

Ethan tentatively opening up his new book

Tommy is now an old pro at unwrapping presents!

Chicka Chicka 123 for Ethy

And, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom for Tommy!

Week 1's theme is just a review of letters and numbers to get us started, so these books were perfect!

The boys loved having some new books to read--I need to get Tommy on video reading his rendition of Chicka Chicka 123--it's pretty hilarious :)

Daddy reading the first "moral" book--"Cookies--Bite Sized Lessons for Life!"

Here are some of the "worksheeps" Tommy does to earn his iPad time!  After months of trying to get his grip right on a marker/crayon, he finally did it all by himself on our first day--go Tommy!

He traces the letters himself, but I had to help him with his name :)

Coloring is not a favorite activity of his!

We're working on smallest to largest and numbers here...

and, some pre-writing skills here...

I was so proud of Tommy--he did all of these all by himself with no hand support or anything!

We're making some good progress on those fine motor skills!

Tommy and Ethan had fun making their Chicka Chicka Boom Boom  trees...

and, their Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 trees!!

A little patterning to end the week--Tommy was so proud to show his notebook to Mrs. Emily!

Week 2's theme--"routines", monthly moral is still "manners"...I will spare you  having to look at every single worksheet and activity that they do, but I'll keep you posted!

 Another fun but educational item that has been HUGE for us so far this year has been the iPad!  First of all, I totally underestimated the educational value of the kid apps--they are awesome!  There are a couple of speech apps in particular that have been incredible in helping Tommy grasp a few concepts he's been struggling with.  As if the fact that they're really helpful wasn't enough, the boys LOVE playing on them--they will do ANYTHING for 10 minutes of iPad time!!  So, we've gotten ourselves into quite a nice schedule in the mornings, culminating with 10-20 minutes of iPad as I prepare their lunches if they've completed their morning tasks!  As of right now, they've earned their iPad time every single day!

The boys have had a lot of fun doing their indoor activities, but don't worry, we've gotten out of the house for some good fun too!  

• Davey and I had a great time celebrating Bill's birthday on the 4th, although, sadly, I still didn't have it together enough to remember my camera :(  (Thanks for watching the boys Grandma!) 
• On the 8th, our good friends Cameron and Eleanor found out that they are going to be having a baby girl in late May or early June!

Yay for Baby Girl Moccari--let the baby naming begin!!

• On the 9th, we were fortunate to be able to visit a beautiful new addition to the world, Riley Grace Danaher <3  (Thanks for the double-dip Grandparents!!)

Mike and Megan with their precious little girl, Riley Grace, who was born on January 8th <3

• Then, on the 10th, we had a big "first" for the boys.  We went to Hit & Run to play a little baseball, and Tommy insisted on doing it "all by myself"--he did GREAT!!  My Dad couldn't believe that he was swinging the bat and hitting it off the tee all by himself already--he had some power behind it too!  Of course, as soon as Tommy wanted to do it by himself, Ethan just had to do it by himself too.  Ethan had the right idea, but the execution was a little hard for him--not quite big enough to actually swing a metal bat by himself!  He did, however, stand in the appropriate place and tap the ball off each time :)

Ethan was so eager he didn't even wait for Granddaddy to lower the tee!

I love the HUGE smiles on their faces when they hit the ball!

A sweet look from Granddaddy <3

Watch the ball, E!

Nice swing!

RUNNNNNNNN!!!!

Okay, I LOVE Ethan in this Nike jumpsuit--he looks like a mini college athlete on a travel day--so cute!!

Tommy's first hit all by himself--way to go buddy!!

Of course, Ethan had to do it "ALL BY SELF!!" too <3

Can you see the ball right at the edge of the picture  blending in with the white line--good hit Tommy!

That's pretty good form for a 2 year old!

My precious little boy--sniff, he's getting too big!

Another big hit from Tommy!

• The next day, we headed over to Grandma and Granddaddy's house for Granddaddy's birthday!  Again, I have to say, Tommy kind of surprised us with his athletic ability.  He played cornhole for the first time and did a pretty good job at it, but the real surprise was how well he was playing soccer!  He was dribbling (soccer style, not basketball!) all over the yard before kicking into the mini goal and screaming, "I WIN!!!".  Also, GO WOLFPACK!!

I'm having a Mom moment here--flashing forward about 16 years and seeing  him in college tailgating before some football game <3

My right-handed throwing lefty! 

Go State--way to beat Dook!!

Go Tommy go!!!

He's going in for the score!

Ethan wasn't too interested in soccer yet, but he got some exercise in anyway :)

It was hard to snap a clear picture--he was really dribbling fast!

We were all pretty impressed with the big guy :)

Happy Birthday Dad!!!  Love you!!

My boys <3

Silly little E and his love for all animals--sitting on top of his turtle sandbox!

That's one tired little boy--he played his little heart out!!

Ethan had plenty of energy leftover though :)

Welllll, maybe not :)

Time to snuggle-buggle with NoNo.....

or is it?!?!  "GET HIM!!"

By request from the birthday boy, my homemade apple pie was the "cake" of choice!

Ethan finally gets his shot at blowing out the candle, while big brother sings to Granddaddy!

• While we were celebrating Granddaddy's birthday, another beautiful baby girl made her entrance into this world--welcome Aileen Rose Cunningham!

Congratulations Jenny!!  Your daughter is absolutely adorable <3

•  Then, on Sunday, big props to Goggi and Papa Bill for taking the boys off our hands so we could clean out our garage a bit!  We didn't totally finish, but everything at least is in a recognizable order now!

So, there you have it--the beginning of our 2013--here's to more fun and decision making over the next 50 weeks (baby girls seem to be all the rage right now!)!  Cheers to you all, and I hope you all have a fantastic year!