Down Port

Enjoyed another day with Grandma today - -

Today we started our day by going to the library to Matteo can get a prize for all of the reading we have been doing (can you say shark).

Then we ventured to mommy's job--- augh!

Next we headed to T A R G E T - - - where let's face it, I want to move into. What's not to love, cards, food, clothes, and stuff I really don't need but it's in seasonal so just like to browse.

Moving on we headed to our local port where we took in the ships and the sprinkler park.

and guess who joined us, Daddy!

Even Chloe May stripped down and enjoyed some cooling off.



Sadly Grandma leaves tomorrow :-( ..... I keep trying to talk her into moving in....however she just doesn't want to leave Gramps.... perhaps I can find Gramps a local motel for pretty cheap :-) haha. Speaking of old...I mean Gramps, it's his birthday next week so check back to see how we celebrate same :-)

Sleepy Grandma

Be careful Gramps.....



looks like Grandma is taking over your job of coming to our house and sleeping :-)

Getting ready.......

Coming to a local mailbox near you!!!!!!

Trophy Day

HOORAY (for so many reasons!) - Matteo completed his first season of soccer!!!



What great fun trophy day was.....

however nothing can beat the after party.

Local Library

A trip to GRANDMA'S local library (because it's the weekend and Daddy is continuing to help Gramps fix up the apartment), has Chloe May continuing to stand.....

Matteo enjoyed.... what else....WATER...because no matter where we are, we must always seek out the Water!

And well ... I DO NOT know the lady below!!!! haha. Oh Grandma GET A BED!

Summer fun

Chloe May found herself a new way to enjoy life today (much to Matteo's disapproval!)

Matteo and Daddy found a bird's nest in our backyard tree - - can't wait to see what hatches

And Matteo enjoyed an all afternoon playdate with two great families - filled with great friends, awesome food and what else: WATER!



What's not to love about summer :-)

Beach!

After 4 hours at the beach, I'm tired too Chloe May...



move over :-)

Ten Months

Matteo - 10 months....

Chloe May - 10 months...


Matteo - 3 1/2 years....

Chloe May 3 1/2 .....

[come back in 3 years!]

Sometimes it's just fun to look back and thought I would share a piece of Matteo's past with you. Hope you enjoyed!

MAILMAN

Please add getting the mail to Matteo's list of things he can do (this includes bringing out his foot stool and standing on it) - -



however at present, we have gone a bit backward and ONLY TWO out of four of us prefer to wipe our own bottoms - - not that I am worried. I WILL be worried when that number goes to ONE out of four!!! haha.

Buckets of fun

While the old bucket is always a good "tool" to have around the house,



I'm considering buying a slip and slide or something....stay tuned :-)

S U M M E R

Happy to kick off summer with a picnic today - of which Daddy took time off work -

Chloe May enjoyed some homegrown strawberries from Nannny's house.

and wanting to capture every minute before she turns "1" - - we love playing "this little piggy"

My Darling Chloe is really turning into a little girl.

And in honor of the summer solstice - ICE CREAM.......




no Chloe May usually does not get her own cone..that was actually mine.... however she kept wining and looking at me, so I gave it to her much to her delight..obviously she indulged her a little (i.e. chocolate on her face and rolls on her belly haha), however I think she got more satisfaction on having a cone in her hand like her big brother!

Well whatever your flavor these days, hope it's happy.

Father's Day I

With Father's Day here, what better way to celebrate than with a trip upstate - AGAIN. haha. I feel like the movie Ground Hog Day (though I've never seen it - you get the premise).

So Chloe May got all dolled up in her dress that was a gift from Japan - LOVE IT. So adorable.

We enjoyed a 30 second father's day celebration with Daddy in order to take the picture (thanks for giving up your day Daddy!)

And Mommy enjoyed the Mother's Day I never had by spending the better part of the day with Grandma.

And what an amazing Grandma she is - she got Chloe May to fall asleep for 90 minutes, without nursing, or carrying her - AMAZING.
And then Mommy went in and laid down next to Chloe May (at Grandma's urging) for over 30 minutes.

Father's Day Part II

Not wanting to wear out our welccome at Grandma's - (as if) - I took the kids and went to visit the in-laws for the second half of the day - DAddy came up for 20 minutes - long enough to pose for this picture.

L-R: Daddy, Nanny, Chloe May, Uncle Rocco, Poppi, Cousin Rocco (age 5) and Matteo (adorable).

Matteo got to ride a real quad (though mini version) - - I would say mucch to his delight, but that would be an understatement.

When not riding the quad, he enjoyed the view from Uncle Rocco's shoulders.

And 4 trips to Grandma's house in 8 days - 2 hours each way we ALL had reason to be exhausted.



Did I mention the toll haha.

Another day, another visit

Continuing to help Gramps - because really he has done so much for so many - we packed up early again and headed for our 2 hour journey.......

exhausted from the past few days, everyone slept on the way up... (from left to right): Daddy, Chloe and Matteo (under blanket).



Excuse me, everyone BUT Mommy. But at least I enjoyed a peaceful trip :-)

Chloe May was tickled pink to be back at Grandmas (can you blame her).

As an added bonus, we got to go to Cousin Jesse's hip hop recital.

After the recital we enjoyed some pool time at Jesse's house (hot tub too) and Chloe demonstrated her "peak a boo" game.



Once again, Daddy missed all the fun and stayed helping Gramps. We are so fortunate that Daddy has this opportunity to help Gramps and learn some of his great wisdom.

Visit II

On the way to pick up Daddy, Mommy stopped to see my friend Lauren (pronounced like Sophia "Lauren") - - a friend whom I have known since age 11 - - and sadly have not seen in about 2 years - though we speak often on the phone.



Isn't she a pretty one ? :-)

And always sad to leave our Grandma and Gramps, but alas I knew we would be back.

Yes kiddies, I'm worn out too.

Dump and Diner

Having hauled trash back from Grandma's house.... why--because we can (!) - Mommy, Matteo and Chloe May set off for a morning at the dump unloading same....oh but wait who came too D A D D Y - this poor man simply cannot get enough of us.

And because we rarely spend too much time together anymore (other than car rides), Daddy surprised us with a trip to the local diner for pancakes).

\

And knowing the weekend we have instore for ourselves, we surprised Daddy with an early Father's Day present.....



The jury is still out whether he likes same.

Helping out

Daddy decided to take today off and go and help Grandma and Gramps with their apartment - - so guess who tagged along :-)



When Gramps left for work and Daddy was inside working, Mommy decided to mow the lawn - Chloe slept in the Ergo and Matteo came along for the 1.5 hour ride.

On the way home...... 12 hours later, Chloe decided to demonstrate her flexability by eating her foot - - this was amusing to Matteo on so many levels.

And Matteo received this hat from his Poppi (Jules' dad) - - after we enjoyed a visit with them for a bit.



And yes, it truly is better to give then receive - whether you give your money, time or something else. Helping others not only makes me feel good, but also sets an example by which I hope Matteo and Chloe will one day remember. However the question inevitably comes up...should we move back "home".....to be continued.

Library

Having sent Daddy and Matteo to Matteo's library program today was a smart choice by this Mommy - - as the craft was making a t-shirt for Father's day - and oh what a great artist Daddy is :-)



The above shirt contains blocks, an angry dinosaur (don't know why he has to be angry), a lawn mower, gas can, and so on.

Happy things worked out well for these two !

Much to say about Today :-)

Having some - - okay many rocks left over from installing (?) a dry well, we used the rocks (which cost $25 - and really who pays for rocks...well Daddy does when Mommy is not around!) in our 4 window wells to help with the drainage(?).

Matteo was thrilled to find three balls - what an afternoon treat.



And just to illustrate how simple my Matteo is, I purchased 12 balloons today - the kind you blow up yourself - and gave Matteo 4 and watched him pop them. But watching him actually figure out how to pop them was pretty funny - trying to use his foot, but the balloon would fly away - or lay on it...still didn't work :-) Honestly, I think the grass was his best prop to use.

And Mr. Do It Myself Matteo has taken to combing his own hair...... honestly I LOVE his hair and make it look so neat and pretty.... but alas...

And after putting on his own shirt today he asked ever so polity for some M&M's which of course he received (3 to be exact because Matteo is 3 years old) - at 8:25 AM.

And our new favorite series - Elephant and Piggie - by Mo Willems. If you have never checked out his books - they are such a treat. Simple, innocent, nothing scary or violent, just thoughts that make you go "hu" or even laugh out loud as the case with this book and me, and if you know me, you know I don't laugh out loud very much.



And a very HAPPY GRADUATION to our nephew Andrew - - Way to go Andrew - may your school years be filled with continued happiness and smiles :-) YOU ROCK!

And in my quiet moments today, I have been reflecting on what is important and how short life is............ I hope you have not forgotten.

Lastly, ran into a high school friend on Saturday (with all the excitement of Grandma, I forgot to mention same) - - what a delight it was to see you Debbie - - - I am looking forward to continuing to get to know the mother you have become.

PS - please let me know how you like my new background - I'm not one to change, but thought it was time - - though to be honest, it's making me a bit nervous :-) Daddy's in luck, I'll never change husbands....hahaa