What he didn't see...

The time has come.... Nicholas started Kindergarten Monday morning. (sniff) He has been looking forward to this momentous day for a long time now. He knew that as soon as we got back from Grandma Cheyann's house, the big day was right around the corner. I have been telling him that he can't talk about it and that I didn't want him to say the "bad word that starts with a K." Of course he thinks I'm funny!!!! He says it and runs as I chase him pretending to be mad...ending with a tackle, tickles, and lots of laughs.

Anyway, Sunday night I had a talk with Jeffrey. There was NO WAY ON THIS EARTH that I could take him to his class without making a complete fool of myself. I cried at orientation!!! This would not be good!!! Jeff calls me a sissy-la-la but he is probably right.

Monday morning...I only have to hold my emotions for 30 minutes while he gets ready and out the door. PRESSURE!!! First, Nicholas informs me that he thinks that he has grown overnight. His head is on the pillow and his feet are on the blanket at the bottom of the bed. NOT COOL!!! He's up, dressed (he picked his outfit), ate breakfast, brushed his teeth, and got matching shoes on his feet. "READY" he yells. He straps his backpack on his back (I retreat to the kitchen because I can feel it coming), comes to give me kisses (I wipe my face ASAP), and I wish him luck on his first day.

A preschool parent walks in just as he is walking out and she gets to witness this whole thing with me. Nicholas turns, waves, and literally runs out the door!!!! OMG!! I made it 30 minutes but lost it on the 31st. I'm crying because my baby boy is heading off to his first day of kindergarten, Julie is teared up because she sees this scenerio in her near future (I'll be there for you Julie!), and Nicholas is as happy as can be.

He ended up having a fabulous day. His teacher said he did great, a friend called while watching his daughter and Nicholas have lunch together and reported that he was happy and behaving. Thank goodness!!!

Later that evening after coming home from Grandma and Papa's, Nicholas tells me a story about how when his friend Anthony (a year older) went to Kindergarten, his Mom was sad and cried so hard. I said, "Did your Mom cry?" He said, "No Mom. You did pretty good!" Thank you son!!!

Our Big Boy!!!!

Walking to class

Signing in

We're back

Well, after my trip to the east coast with the children, (lots of stories and pictures to share), my computer decided to go on a little trip of it's own. Where it went and what it did, I'm not sure of but now we are all back from our summer vacations.
It is now night - night time in our house and I have to wake up at 4:00am to work out and get ready for tomorrow. Just wanted to let everyone know that we are all back....safe and sound.
I'll update every chance I get!!!!

Down to the hours

Here is the latest attempt at a picture with all three. Not too bad!!!

I am down to two days until I go HOME!!! I have already packed and shipped all of our luggage to Mom's so now the only thing left to do is arrive. The kids and I leave Tuesday night for the airport hotel and then it's off to Ohio Wednesday morning. Robin is brave enough to log in a full 24 hours of flying just to make sure I get there in one piece. She'll leave Baltimore Tuesday night, arrive in San Jose at midnight, meet us in the hotel just to board again in 6 hours, and fly back to Baltimore an hour after we land in Pittsburgh. She is certainly going to log in the miles. I'm very lucky and extremely grateful to have her help.

At home it will be 2 1/2 glorious weeks of family, reunions, baby shower for 2, JAMBOREE, visiting Grandma, East Coast weather, food I grew up on, and hanging with Mom and Tom. It doesn't get any better than that!!! Maybe the babies will be born while I'm there. As of right now, I come back to CA on the 28th and the doctors are planning on taking the babies the 30th. BUMMER!!!!

Well, I'm off to pack the last minute deals for the hotel...food, easy slip on shoes, etc. I have to keep myself busy because I have a tendency to want to jump out of my skin from excitement. These last couple days are going to be tough!!!

I probably won't post until I get back to CA. Until then, have a great couple weeks and East Coast family, HERE WE COME!!!!!!!

Little Firecracker

Happy July 5th!!! Our 4th was spent with friends, swimming, B-B-Q's, and late night fireworks. Nicholas and Isabella were busy running and swimming but our Little Firecracker posed for a few pictures.

Swimming with Daddy

LOVES for Daddy

Happy Girl!!!

Little Ballerina

Isabella had her ballet recital last Saturday night and all of the girls were just as cute as they could be. Some really weren't interested in performing when they saw all of the parents in the crowd, but Isabella did a great job. She loves to dance for anyone who will watch.

She loves this costume so much that she slept in it the night of the recital and she has worn it to the grocery store to "show all of her friends." It just may be her Halloween costume!!!

Here is the Little Ballerina the night of the show!!!




CHEESE!!


Loves to shake her bottom. Something about this costume makes her want to SHAKE IT!!!

All-Star

Nicholas was fortunate enough to make the Tee-ball All-Star team for the second year. Three children from each team were selected and he made it!! He hit a single and crossed home plate for his first at bat and he grounded to first and was out before he reached the bag during his second at bat. He played first base and pitcher during his turn in the outfield, made some great catches and outs, and made all of us very proud!!

Mom, Dad, Isabella, Gabby, Grandma, and Papa were there to watch him end his season. Another successful year!!! Here are some highlights....

Going for a ground ball...
Catching a fly ball...(got the kid out at first!!!)

His first at bat.... Rounding second...

Nicholas and his friend Carter...our two all-stars!!!

Family party for Isabella

We had a little family party for Isabella's birthday and by the looks of it, she LOVED her cake. She got new lipgloss, a shoe covered designed beach towel, new jammies, and a new bike (among other little things). The one thing that seemed to really catch her attention was the lipgloss. A girl should never be without the essentials...her lipgloss!!!

A preschool parent of mine made the cake for Isabella. He baked it and HE decorated it...that is not a misprint. He is a very talented Daddy (with only one child...a boy)!!!



Take a DEEP breath.....

AND BLOW!!!

Happy Girl!!!

Another outfit from Grandma Cheyann and Grandpa Tom. She thought it was a sundress for Gabby until we put it on and showed her it was a shirt. CUTE!!!

Birthday Princess

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ISABELLA!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

Today is the BIG 4 for Isabella. She woke up this morning, put on her crown and sash, and waved her magic wand. She really is Princess Isabella and we are all in for a Princess kind of week. :-)

The Birthday Girl

Smile BIG!!!
Her new bag with shoes all over it and everything that Grandma Cheyann and Grandpa Tom sent for her birthday stuffed inside.
New outfit from Grandma Cheyann and Grandpa Tom.
I'll update with pictures from the family party tonight!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL!!!!

Nicholas graduates preschool

Well, it has happened. As much as I tell Nicholas that I don't want him to grow up and that I'm not going to give him food or milk anymore, it hasn't helped. I sat in the front row and watched...OK, cried mostly....as my baby boy received his diploma from preschool. Now it is off to kindergarten and turning 6!!! It PAINS me to think about it!!!!

Well, he had the honor of holding the flag for flag salute at the beginning of the ceremony and just as I expect something crazy to come from him, he turns into the perfect child. He held the flag with no problems and performed every song like he was supposed to. Very proud of you, Nicholas!!!

Here are some pictures of his day!!!

Holding the flag...

Getting his diploma from Grandma. She held up wonderfully through the ceremony until she had to call out his name. Proud Grandma!!!

Nicholas with Grandma Rose.

Nicholas and his Daddy!!

Nicholas with Grandma and Papa!!

We are all so proud of you Nicholas!!! Keep up the good work...but could you please stop growing??? Love you!!!!

Remember

This amazing link was viewable on a friend's blog. I lifted it to share with all of you!!!

Enjoy.http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1

Memorial Day

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY EVERYONE!!!
Here are some pictures of our family BBQ yesterday.

Gabriella and Grandma Rose hanging out and sharing iced tea.

My little swimmers!!!
Gabby wanting to be on the pool side :-(

Daddy and Gabby!!

Fathers Day on Mothers Day

I know Fathers Day is a month away but a true Fathers Day moment happened on Mothers Day.
Nicholas woke up that Sunday morning and wanted gummy worms for breakfast. I told him that he could have them "later, after lunch." He was satisfied with this answer until 2 hours later (10:00) when he asked, "Is it later yet?" Yes, technically it was later but he still had to wait until "after lunch." Satisfied again! One hour later while I was letting Isabella and Gabby play in the bath, he asked if he could go in the kitchen and make sandwiches for lunch. (Apparently he wanted the gummy bears badly!!!) GREAT!!! One less thing I had to do. WELL...
Jeffrey came in the house while the girls were getting dried and dressed and said...
"Did you put Nicholas up to this?"
"Up to what?"
"He made me a sandwich for lunch."
"He said he was making lunch for everyone. (Proud Mom on Mothers Day) I'm glad he did it!!!"
"Well, did you LOOK at it?"
"No."
THEN CAME THE BURST OF LAUGHTER!!!!

He had made pecan and mustard sandwiches for him and his Dad. Nicholas was very proud of himself and ate his. Daddy (who, by the way, HATES mustard)?? He took two bites and said he was full. What a good Dad!!!
Yes, Nicholas, now you can have your gummy worms!! :-)

Water Baby

The little girl playing in the bath. Instead of filling the tub, she likes to just let the water run. Drink up!!!

Are you looking at me???

( I couldn't resist!!!) :-)

Nicholas Ali???

Nicholas has been watching boxing with daddy lately and loves it. Jeff bought Nicholas his very own boxing gloves for Christmas and they spend a great deal of time boxing each other. Well, Jeff just started graveyard shift and Nicholas loves the little bit of time he gets with Dad at night. He desperately wanted to box the other night but dinner and other things had to be done first. Before we knew it, Nicholas "The Great" Butticci was out for the count and not a single punch was thrown. That's my kind of boxing!!!!

CANNONBALL!!!!

Saturday Afternoon was our first day in the pool and Nicholas and Isabella loved it. They even set up their own "diving board." WAY FUN!!!!

90 minute pet

Jeffrey calls as I am picking up the children. "Hurry home. I have something to show you!!!" I arrive five minutes later to find our new "pet" in a garbage can. After I scream, regain my composure, (I am dreadfully afraid of snakes), I call animal control and they come and save me from a mess of bad dreams. Our pet was here for 90 minutes, not even long enough to be given a name.
BYE BYE !!! ADIOS!!! SEE YOU LATER!!!! PEACE OUT!!!!

Gabby

The weather was beautiful and Gabby spent a lot of time in the sand. Getting to really enjoy herself. GOT SAND????

Isabella

Two of her favorite things are...
Being naked (or close to it), and
having her picture taken.
See where this is going?? Someone call Hef!!!

Nicholas

We took the kids to Pismo Beach this weekend where they love to ride their quads. Nicholas tried to help his buddy Carter get his quad unstuck. They tried and tried but needed a little adult intervention. CLASSIC!!!!!!!!

Updates..

Jeff has already headed to the beach with the children for the weekend and before I left, I wanted to update a couple questions that have been asked.

1. Jeffrey's sister Jennifer found out that she was pregnant but the number was up in the air as far as how many. Well, she has been blessed with one embryo that is growing and I'll keep you posted on the sex.

2. My brother Jeff found out that he and his girlfriend are having twins but the sexes were yet to be determined. Their appointment revealed that they are lucky enough to have one of each. Logan Marie will be the girl and Andrew (hopefully Thomas) will be the boy.

3. As most of you know, I started my exercise program in Jan and as of last week, I am down 19 and 1/4 inches and almost 14 lbs. As long as the inches and weight go down, I'm going in the right direction. :-) Sure makes those 5 am gym mornings worth it!!!!

Well, I'm heading to get packed for the beach. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!!