it's finally happening

my kids are playing together. it's not so much every time, but it happens. and it makes me giddy inside!
it takes me back to jumping from couch to chair with my sister, running down the hallway in our socks after
our mom shampooed the carpets. there are still times when they can't manage to simply sit next to each
other in the car, but i see the spark of happy times, wonderful memories and i couldn't be happier!

we are serious

toothbrushers! i think this is the kids favorite time of the day! all i have to do is mention
time to brush and they flock to the bathroom! here they are, prior to bedtime,
working on some clean teeth! Lucas picked this up very quick - i think after i brushed his
teeth once or twice, he was able to do it himself!

indian summer

I love, love indian summer. A week or two of cold weather and then a few warm days to remind you what you are going to miss. we took advantage of the warm weather and headed to a local park with Tia and Bella. before we left we had a little fun in Tia's front yard! I love this pic, Mia throwing the leaves, Bella kicking them and Lucas picking them up. They are so care-free!

chatter-box

Miss Amelia loves to talk on the phone - here she is chatting with her Tia about a
surprise that is coming in the mail for her!

lunchdate

Mia arranged a little luncheon for her and the babies! On the menu: mac n cheese,
waffles, chicken legs and a pretzel! Yum!

strollin

all boy

and all mine! just check out his shirt!! He is so full of fun and noise, love and laughter!
i love how he can serious and silly within seconds of each other. What a wonderful gift he is.

sleepyhead

fussy - check
lovey - check
backup fussy - check

now can someone please put me in my bed? please?

just thinking...

caught miss amelia deep in thought, about what i have no idea!

love!

a calm moment between the kiddos! right after this i think he head butted her.

2009 at a glance

Here are some fun pics of the kids throughout 2009!
Happy New Year everyone!!

bound and re-bound

here is an adorable short from pixar that is currently mia's favorite. it is cute, rhymes and is narrated by burt reynolds. she watches it daily, or more if we let her. and here are the words because you will want to sing along! you may find yourself breaking out in high stepp'n dance!!

Here’s a story on how strange is life with its changesAnd it happened not long ago.On a high mountain plain, where the sagebrush arrangesA playground south of the snowLived a lamb with a coat of remarkable sheen,It would glint in the sunlight all sparkly and clean,Such a source of great pridethat it caused him to preen. And he’d break out in high stepp’n dance.He would dance for his neighbors across the way.I must say that they found his dancin’ enhancin’,For they’d also join in the play.
Then one day…
Then a-boundin up the slopeCame a great American jackalope.This sage of the sage, this rare hare of hope,Caused to pause and check out the lamb.“Hey kid, why the mope?”
“I used to be something all covered with fluff,And I’d dance in the sunlight and show off my stuff,Then they hauled me away in a manner quite roughAnd sheared me and dropped me back here in the buff.And if that’s not enoughNow my friends all laugh at meCause they think I look ridiculous, funny, and pink.”
“Pink? Pink? Well, what’s wrong with pink?Seems you’ve got a pink kink in your think.Does it matter what color? Well, that gets nope.Be it pink purple or heliotrope.Now sometimes you’re up and sometimes you’re down,When you find that you’re down well just look around:You still got a body, good legs and fine feet,Get your head in the right place and hey, you’re complete!
“Now as for the dancin’, you can do more,You can reach great heights, in fact you can soar.You just get a leg up and ya slap it on down,And you’ll find you’re up in what’s called a bound.Bound, bound, bound and rebound.Bound and you’re up right next to the sky,And I think you can do it if you give it a try,First get a leg up, slap it on down…”
So every year, along about May,They’d load him up and they’d haul him away,And they’d shave him and dump him all naked and bare.He learned to live with it, he didn’t care,He’d just bound, bound, bound, and rebound.
Now in this world of ups and downs…So nice to know there are jackalopes around.

Merry Christmas everyone!

I didn't have time to make a Christmas card this year so
this will have to do! Merry Christmas everyone!

then and now, a look back

2007

2008

2009

Anyone still check this blog??

I sure hope so! we are still here, just super busy! I have tons of updates and pictures to share with you all. I need to get you all caught up so I can blog about christmas, which should be so fun with a one and three year old this year!!

thanksgiving

christmas play

christmas pics,

Mia and her new imagination

Luca and his newest word

Dancing with the N's

Flight time

and tons more i'm sure!! here are some pics to get us going! This is a pic of their christmas outfits. i think they look adorable!!

and remember, i blog in order so you'll have to scroll back!

Mia's christmas party

Mia's pre-school hosted a winter party before everyone went on christmas break. Since I was off work I was able to volunteer to help in her room. They made an ornament ball with their handprint on it, a manger scene with stickers, decorated cookies and listened to some stories about christmas. Mia was super excited that i was there and only wanted me helping her. I thought that was awefully cute! after all that, we went and ran around the track. the kids loved that!

before we left

at school

done with her manger scene
storytime

me and my girl mia, pre-run!

ado(red)

there are very few things that Mia wore that Luca can now wear. the random holiday t-shirt
that is gender neutral, some crocs and this onsie. i bought it at baby gap
in Chicago for Mia when I went with my friend Lori. We went to the
american girl store. It was freezing and Mia was orginally in
tights and a dress. ver fitting since we adore them both!!!

Macy's Santa trip 2009

In 2007, when Mia was still Rosie, Macy's brought back Santa. They decorated their store fronts and wanted to bring people back to St. Louis and remember the good ole days. I was too excited! I loved the idea! So Bia and I loaded Mia up and we were off. I had no idea i could bring my own camera, so my cell phone had to do. and we got a poloroid. and it was FUN! the windows were great. We went last year as well, loading up Mia and Luca and off we went.

I was too excited this year. Mia was really into talking to Santa and Macy's has the best santa. He talks to the kids, you can take your time and really enjoy the Santa experience. oh, and the short lines help as well :) So we get the kids dressed and head down. When we arrive, the place looks empty. really empty. we ask the sales lady where Santa is. "oh, he was here earlier for breakfast, he'll be back next saturday" she says very nonchalantly. what!?!?!? i was livid to say the least. I was sad for Mia who wanted to tell Santa she wanted a hula hoop, sleeping beauty dress and house for her princess dolls. It was too late to go to plaza frontanec because i had to work. So we looked around for awhile and found that Santa had left his sleigh. So, for 2009, we have sleigh pics at macy's minus one santa. We will not have a repeat for 2010, this i know!

Mia's christmas program

Here is mia at her big stage debut. She is right in the center, looking so cute and sdorable. I was so proud of her! She knew all her lines and when to say them! However, she was clearly in love with herself on the jumbo-tron! she was looking at it the entire time! LOL! what a character! Maybe next year they shold practice with the jumbo-tron on before opening night! My favorite picture is the one with her dancing to the christmas music!

St Nick comes to visit

Last night, st. nick came to see the kids and drop off a few treats. He left Mia a pony color book, a necklace, some mini m&m's, and a pony story book.

Luca received a mouse and cheese pull toy, some puffs, a farm book and a travel see and say. He loved the mouse toy the best!

They were both so excited about their gifts, it makes me excited to see how this Christmas will be!

the candy cane hunt

This year I took Mia to the Faust annual candy cane hunt. it really wasn't much of a hunt, more of scramble. they cany cane's were everywhere. i don't recall how many their were, but it was a lot! Mia had a blast, running all over to pic them up, trying not to miss any! i can't wait to take her again next year. I hope it is slightly warmer next year though. i was COLD!! altogether she found 36 candy canes and 4 prizes. go mia!