Around the House

 It always seems the youngest child gets the most pictures taken of them.  I am guilty as charged with Ava.  She is at such a fun age and it seems like she presents us with daily photo ops.

When she turned 3 she asked for white dancing shoes and Aunt Tessa and Uncle Joey looked all over town (it was November - no one was carrying white shoes!).  Well they delivered and these beloved shoes have been worn and worn and danced in and polished and repolished and loved.  Unfortunately they have to be retired. 

I came home to this the other day - my hubby is awesome. So are giveaways from Upward Projects (thanks Aunt Les!). 

Elise and Ava performed a gymnastics routine - very cute.

My Mom made sauerbraten the other day - she follows a recipe from Babci.  It was so delicious and I got to eat it again for lunch!

And lastly, my sign arrived.  I saw these on pinterest and knew I had to get one.  

Christmas Snapshot

Here is a look into our holidays this year.......

 

 

Tamales happened as usual and turned out delicious.  I forget the final count but it was over 70 dozen!



 

 

 

The 8th graders at SSJ have put on a Christmas Pageant for years and I was so excited because not only was it Diego's class (sniffle) but the 1st graders always make an appearance too so both of my boys were in it.  Paolo looked sooo handsome and he practiced Shine Jesus Shine at home and at school for weeks.

 

 

Well, Paolo pulled of a perfect performance and I think I saw Diego walk by as a "Bethlehem traveler" but minutes later I was being waved at by my good friend who told me that Poalo was throwing up.  Needless to say I did not get the adorable photo of the two of them that I had envisioned and I did not see the last third of the play because I was taking Poalo home.  Oh well - at least he made it through his song and did not throw up on stage!

 

We also managed to do our massive cookie decorating night but somehow I did not get any pictures!

 

Elise's 3rd grade class did a very sweet performance of the Nativity.  They practice reading different parts for a week or two before and then Mrs. T just puts everyone in various parts the day of the show.  Elise was an angel (minus the halo because there was a bit of a lice epidemic in her class!). 

 

 

 

This is my third child to do this little play in Mrs. T's class and I always love the simplicity of it and the way it is entirely focused on the true meaning of Christmas.  I feel blessed to have my kids in Catholic School.

 

We made pierogi this year with a small group but Greg was in town and kept us laughing.

 

 

I realized this year that there are just certain traditions that need to be kept alive no matter how many people are around to enjoy them.  Christmas Eve willia was much smaller than usual with Becky and her fam and the Bower's out of town.  Michele did an amazing job hosting as usual.  Even Joe had to go out of town!

 

 

We were so blessed to have Mark home on Christams morning.  He was actually able to spend most of the day with us before returning back to work.

 

 

Santa brought a trampoline!

 

 

Christmas lasted into the next week as we gathered with Tata Joe -

 

 

and at Nana's.

 

 

 

It is always somewhat of a whirlwind but I do love the season and all the time it allows us to spend as a family.  Welcome 2013!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treading Water vs. Floating Along

     Life really is about perspective.  One day I might look at this pile of laundry and think - HELP!  On another day, if I am rested and fed and have taken a moment to be grateful, I can look at this same heaping pile of laundry as a way for me to bring blessings to my family.  Motherhood is full of small moments that, when looked upon it the right way add up to big memories.

 

 

Like my days at home with Ava.  Sometimes she just goes out in the backyard and plays and talks to pretend playmates, and pours rocks all over the cool deck, and stares at the birds and just looks so innocent and sweet and happy.  And I soak it in.

 

 

 

Or Paolo will pull out the domino set and play quietly on the kitchen floor and then come get me from whatever I am doing and tell me I have to come look and see what he has done and I will say I am busy and then remember that I need to stop sometimes just to look and then...........I LOVE MOM!

 

 

I want to remember the way Diego has ALWAYS played while watching any sporting event on TV - and he still does.  Our stuffed football gets thrown around as he makes diving catches onto the couch.  Or during hockey he and Paolo will have knee hockey tournaments while the TV games go on.  I wish I had pictures of this.

 

 

 

Or Jules and Elise - getting so grown up and helpful.  Learning how to cook and bake.  I know I will remember how they fight and irritate each other like true sisters but I will also remember all the little games they play peacefully together - making lockers in the living room furniture or pretending they are on Food Network or Four Weddings. 

 

It is so easy for me to feel like I am just treading water - barely getting done what needs to be done, struggling to find time to spend with the kids, going to bed with my list unchecked.  But treading water is exhausting and it doesn't really get you anywhere.  I want to learn to submerge myself in the water and float along where life sends me.  I want to look at the days blessings and not the inevitable stresses that come along.  I would like to do a little less treading and a little more floating.

 





Birthday Season

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

  I really hate to do this but for the sake of getting caught up with this blog I am going to do one big
birthday post.  Things kick into high gear around here this time of year.  It all begins with our Anniversary on the 18th then we have Diego's birthday, Halloween, Elise's birthday and Ava's birthday - all within the span of about 3 weeks!  Mark and I got to spend a couple days in San Diego for our 15th anniversary.  We had a great time and it was so relaxing.  Then we came home and got busy.....

 

 

Diego turned 14 this year and I just can't believe he will be going on to high school next year.  He had a few friends over - school friends, neighborhood firends, "almost" cousins - and they slept out back in the tent.  They stayed up late playing poker and did not even hear the neighborhood girls that were TPing us that night!  I should have taken some pictures but I know there will be plenty more opportunities.

 

Elise turned 9 this year and she wanted tacos and enchiladas - good taste.  We always gather with family for dinner and then the kids don the birthday hat and open gifts. 

 

 

Elise, you are growing into such a beautiful, confident girl and we love you!

 

 

And then there is miss pink - Ava turned 3......already!  Time goes so fast.  Here is her birthday oufit, complete with pink cowboy boots.  She had a pink cake and goody bags filled with pink candy.

 

 

 

When our birthday season is done I always hope and pray that each child knows how much they are loved, how special they are and how our family would just not be the same without them.  We love you fall babies :)

 

 



Labor Day

 

Some friends of ours invited us to their family cabin over Labor Day weekend.  It was in a part of the state that we do not travel to often and it was BEAUTIFUL!

 

 

The cabin was right next to a creek and the kids had a blast fishing, hiking, playing football, riding on the Rhinos, making s'mores and just enjoying the outdoors.

 

 

I was really taken with how beautiful the whole area was.  It almost felt like we were in another state - and it really helped remind me that I do live in a beautiful place.

 

 

 

Back to School Again

 

Here we go again - back to school.  This is sure to be a memorable year.  Diego is in 8th grade (how did that happen?), Jules is officially a junior high student, Elise will be making her First Communion and Confirmation and Paolo will be navigating through 1st grade.  When summer comes to an end, I definitely long for the structure of the school year.  It is nice to have some moments when the house is quiet and I can feel like I am accomplishing the daily tasks of a household.  I know that every school year has it's challenges, successes and failures and even though I am not working out of a textbook, I am learning right along with them.

 

 

Elise just looks so grown up.

 

 

I would like to think this is Jules' way of saying "7th gade, no problem".  6th grade was a little rough so we are hoping and praying for a better year.

 

 

STRONG.....

 

 

......but SWEET.

 

 

Ava may not be heading off to school yet but she is ready for just about anything.  Here she is showing off her "silverwares".

 

My goal for the school year is to be ready and prepared when the kids come home - ready to help with homework, listen to problems, give them time to play.  I want to let go a little more with my older kids and help them learn accountability.  I want to stop every once in awhile and just enjoy this milestone year.  Before I know it they won't be all at the same place anymore!  The thought makes my heart jump :)