catching up

I've been really bad about keeping current on posts. This cold, gloomy evening seems like a good time to get a start on catching up.

My niece Mariella was born. Tara and I went for the day to meet her. What a sweet baby. I got to catch up with Sophia too...looks like her dad is teaching her about beer at an early age.

I spent an awesome weekend with my girls! We all went to Carrie's. My first Kentucky Derby party! As always, we picked up right where we left off the last time. We had so much fun. Thanks, Car!

Ava hosted her first sleepover. Kasey and Ava slept in a tent (in Ava's room), played dress up, stayed up late giggling and were total goofballs the entire time. It is really frightening how much these two are like sisters. They are hugging one minute and not speaking the next. Many memories being made here.

Joe and Gabe went to Detroit for the Red Bull Air Races. They had an awesome time! It was a long trip, but Gabe was a trooper. I'm told that the races were fabulous.

Meanwhile, Ava and I headed to my parent's. It's always so relaxing, at least for me, at home. I enjoyed the downtime.

We moved a lot of dirt to plant new grass. Not really that exciting, but Ava's attire is quite hilarious. She has an outfit for all occasions. She's a free spirit, what can I say. Maybe it's good we don't have close neighbors...

happy campers

Carla sent me an email today with the subject line 'happy campers' and included the pictures below. Ava and Kasey are having a fun summer so far, thanks in large part to Carla. Someday we'll be pulling these out for the girl's grad party. Great memories! Thanks for sharing, C!

Pre-school graduation

Girls dressed up for the garage sale...they are fancy!

Post performance, Ava's first play, Abiyoyo

Ava's first day camp experience

postless month

I went an entire month without posting a thing to my blog, and it wasn't even that difficult. I found watching Grey's Anatomy, baking cookies and attempting to get through the backlog of magazines to be more enjoyable ways to spend my evenings. I'm sure it will take me a month to catch up, if not longer. Or maybe I never really will...it is getting nicer outside. Who really has time for blogging??? Here's a brief start to catching up.

The tooth fairy made one visit...


and another



We went on vacation to Orlando. My camera spent more time in the condo than I did this vacation. Being able to actually finish a book in a week was much more satisfying at the time.

Gabe enjoyed kicking back and site seeing with Joe


Ava liked swimming and watching the dolphins


Gabe made his First Communion (doesn't Father Tom kind of remind you of Burl Ives? You should hear him sing!)



Grandma Lillian was extra proud.



A preview to May, I joined my college girls in Southern WI for a fabulous weekend. My newest niece was born on the 2nd. Welcome Mariella Catherine! Happy Birthday to my husband on the 3rd. Hopefully pictures to follow, but right now I need to call it a night.

growing up

Every milestone Gabe hits is something new and exciting, yeah, he's growing up! Second child, not so much. I know I'm not having any more babies, so I seem to be hanging on to every baby thing about her for as long as I can. I know this is probably not a good thing, but I can't help it.

My kids lose their teeth early. Ava lost her two bottom front teeth last year. Not terribly traumatic, you hardly notice and those come back in quickly with two new kind of little teeth. Her top front tooth has been loose for a while. I keep telling her "don't wiggle it" I'm not ready for you to get rid of your baby teeth yet. It finally came out with an apple over the weekend. Now she has the gaping hole soon to be replaced by the big, awkward, too big for her mouth tooth. Uggh! But, she's pretty darn proud of that big hole in the front of her mouth right now. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy she's growing up, but it's kind of bittersweet.

Over the weekend we went to our friend's for dinner. We've known Laura and Kevin since our pre-kid days. We met while running our dogs in hunt tests. Laura was kind enough to snap a picture and send it my way. Looking at how these 4 have grown makes my heart sink a little. What happened to our babies?

Ava, Gabby, Gabe & Bianca

wine country

I just returned from an awesome trip! A true girls weekend. Tara and I met in Sacramento and had the time of our lives. We toured wine country, met some awesome people, drank delicious wine and ate wonderful food. In four days we hit 26 wineries! We did zero shopping, which is unheard of. We ate 5 course meals, sipped champagne, saw the giant redwoods and stayed in a cabin in the mountains overlooking a beautiful valley. We brought two cases of wine home and have one more on the way. We spoiled ourselves silly and loved every minute of it. A HUGE thanks to my hubby. He more than handled the craziness while I was away and had no qualms about all the cash I spent. The pictures I took barley captured the beauty that was every place we turned around, but you get the idea. Cheers T! I had a blast!!!

first stop on Wine Road

So happy to be at her favorite stop...Robert Sinskey

gnarly

our view from the front porch...thanks Doug!

crabby faces

Madeline was over for a play date the other day. Sometimes I think her and Ava could pass for sisters, look at those curls. I hadn't had my camera out for a long time, so this seemed like a good opportunity to pick it up. Gabe and Maddie decided to do crabby faces, easily my favorite!

i am lucky

I just received a call from a good friend who told me he and his wife both lost their jobs a few weeks ago. They are working to figure out what the next steps are, living day to day. He is such a genuinely good person and his attitude is so incredibly positive. I don't wonder for a second why he's my friend.

I am lucky to have a good job in this unstable economy, to have healthy, happy kids, a great family, a supportive husband and to have such great friends like him to remind me to enjoy the little things and take it one day at a time.

Best of luck to my friend...my thoughts are with you during what must be an incredibly difficult time.