Just Another Beautiful,Ordinary Day!

There is something a little stange about being a girl from the east coast and painting pumpkins when it is still 85 degrees in October. What is even more bizare to me, is that my children will think that this is just another ordinary day in October. It saddens me a bit that they don't get to experience the fall foilage, or the scent of firewood burning in the air when that crisp cool autumn weather finaly hits. I remember as a kid, going to the pumpkin patch and hurring through to pick out the very best pumpkin I could find, only to scury inside to have some donuts and apple cider. I miss the fall in upstate NY. I want more than anything for my kids to jump in a pile of  raked leaves, and find that to be the most fun that they've ever had! I want my kids to go to a REAL pumpkin patch, and go on real hayrides. Just as I was starting to feel sort of sad about that, I stumbled along this..........

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is  really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.  ~John Ruskin

Sometimes Vegas will throw this girl a bone, and give me a litte bit of what I love most, a thunderstorm! Not just the little rain showers that we get like once every 3 months, I mean it really STORMED!!! It poured down big fat rain drops,  they sky was dark as night at 2 O'clock in the afternoon. There was some crazy thunder and wicked lighting. It was awesome!! My girl woke up early from her nap from the loud booms, and her and I cuddled up on the couch and stared out at the storm that brewed just for us.. Or at least it felt that way anyway! When these little miracles happen, it's like a piece of home has been delivered right in our backyard... Then I'm not so sad anymore :-)

The serious artist

Work of art!

Hanging out!

   

As I mentioned earlier, it rained today. Daddy wore a hat and puffer jacket to work. When he came home, Francesca thought it would be fun to try it on, and this was her gansta' pose she gave us. :-)

Dante's first Birthday Party!

Dante's first birthday was this weekend. Who can believe that it has been a whole year since we brought our little monkey home? Not me!! We had a party at the park, and I must say... we partied hard! Well, maybe not hard, but we celebrated and had a great time! Food was great, cake... heavenly, and lots of fun and laughs were had by all. What more could a little boy ask for? :-)

Our Birthday boy!



Monkey baby!!





This was the most delicious cake I've ever had in my whole entire life! Chocolate cake with banana custard... YUM!







 

Rub a Dub Dub and Some Western Day Fun!

Every day is a busy one these days, especially with my little ones. I always seem to be rushing to get one task to the next done. Needless to say, time management is not one of my strengths. Those of you who have seen Dante in action, particularly in the tub, know that I am not exaggerating when I tell you that I literally have to say my prayers right before plopping him in the tub that he makes it out alive and not injured! Man oh man is this child OUT OF CONTROL in a bathtub! I mean he flip flops, goes face first in the tub, tries to drink the water, tries to stand, tries to climb, I mean the boy is literally crazy in the bath! I had to get him a little blowup bathtub to put inside the tub for fear that he will crack his head open on the side of the porcelain. I typically do not give both the kids a bath at the same time (which would be effective in time management) for this particular reason. However, Francesca begged and begged me to take a bath with her "baby" as she so sweetly calls him, that I just couldn't say no. It actually went well for about two minutes, just long enough to take a few pictures. Then the baby fish returned to his normal water behavior- leaped out of his aquarium and wiggled all over the place. I had high hopes that maybe this would work, but he just has a mind of his own when it comes to gettin' clean!!!

Francesca is really enjoying pre-school! They had their first event today, and it was Western Day. All the kids get to dress up in their favorite western gear as they are learning about the wild wild west! She was so excited to wear her cowgirl boots. We had a cute little denim outfit planned, but this girl of ours loves her some dresses! She just had to wear a dress to school today. So we picked something else out that would match her boots, then off she went!

Roasting marshmallows

Mmmm good!

Making her cowgirl hat.

The finished product!

She was so happy to show her brother off to all her classmates!



Friends, Saiyida and Cesca! (See the little boy in the background checkin' the girls out)



Just a Little About Our Littles....

  We have been busy here trying to get ourselves back into a routine now that summer is officially over. Set bedtimes, early school mornings, and Francesca's dance class is back in full swing.  Now mommy is trying to get our littlest little into a class of his own. Starting this week, Dante will be going to My Gym just like his big sister used too. We also have been having lots of fun playing and exploring around home as well. Here are  just a few of our little gumdrops.....



Sibling love!

She loves to feed her brother!

Open wide!

That smile could light up a room!

DIMPLES, DIMPLES and more DIMPLES!!!!

Checking the laundry situation out.

                                                                            



The First Day of Preschool!

Today was Francesca's first day back to preschool! She was so excited that she could hardly contain herself! For the last few weeks all I heard about was how she was so excited to paint, sing songs, eat a snack (that's the big deal in preschool ya know) and of course, wear her NEW dress and shoes!. I was so proud of her this morning. She marched right into her classroom, put her backpack in her cubby all by herself and met up with her little friend from class last year, with whom she hugged profusely about a million times. :) However, there was another little girl  in her class who was really so upset. Francesca asked me why she was crying, so I explained that it was her first day of school and just really missed her Mommy and Daddy. Francesca went right up to the little girl, in her Mother Hen sort of way and said, "Don't cry sweetie (yes, she said sweetie) Cesca's here, don't be sad." My heart just melted. She never ceases to amaze me with how kind and caring she is........ I love her sweet spirit!

Giving a kiss goodbye to the little bro.

Our Little Prince is 10 months!

I can not believe how quickly time is flying! I still feel like we just brought him home from the hospital, and already he is 10 months old! Dante is the sweetest, happiest most joyful baby I think ever (next to Francesca that is)!  He is ALWAYS, ALWAYS smiling. He is hardly ever cranky, doesn't put up much fuss and is so cuddly and yummy! I could go on for days about how much I love him and how perfect he is... Then again, what parent doesn't feel that way about their children?

The one thing that I do not have enough of with my handsome guy, is alone time. It's such a juggling act sometimes with household chores and spending time with Francesca, that I feel like I don't get enough one on one time with Dante. On this particular afternoon, Francesca was really tired from the busy morning we had,  she wanted to take a nap earlier than usual. So Dante and I had a whole hour together playing on the floor. I love to just sit back and watch him, marvel at the handsome little guy he is becoming. The first year goes by in a blink of an eye, and he will soon be entering his "toddler years" so I try to drink up as much of his babyhood as I can, because soon those chubby little legs and feet will be on the move!

Two teeth!

There's that winning smile!

And we're off!

Standing all by myself!

Love those dimples!