Good-bye Summer, Hello Autumn 2014

We had such a wonderful summer, I am sorry to see it go!

Auntie Beth came to visit, Brian and Alicia got married, Sita came to visit from Florida and we celebrated her 60th birthday, Tia Maylo came, we traveled to San Francisco, Palm Springs, and San Diego.  

Lots of soccer, swimming and movie nights at the YMCA, lots of family sleep-overs, hiking, bike riding, and time with friends.

And now we have even more to look forward to this fall, Salvatore enjoying his 1st grade school year, I am loving teaching 2nd grade, Valentina starting pre-school tomorrow and Saturday soccer games for both kids starting this weekend!  Kids are planning Halloween costumes and my mom and Daddy Bill will be here for a week at Thanksgiving!  

My father turned 73 this summer and David and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary!

Hope that your summer was wonderful and that autumn brings you good health and more!

Valentina=4

Valentina turned 4 today and we had a full weekend of celebration!

Paige got the 3 of us into Disneyland and we had so much fun!

 We rode on the Merry-Go-Round, all the rides in Fantasy Land, Big Thunder Mountain (kids favorite), Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear, Autopia (Valentina slept through that line and ride), the Monorail, the Jungle Cruise, and enjoyed a two-hour wait for the Cars ride in Radiator Springs. 

 Woody!!!

                                      

 Teacups!

 After changing our clothes around 7:00, we headed to California Adventure for Radiator Springs.

 Toon Town!

The kids were troopers!  We spent 12 ½ hours there and we walked the whole time.  It was too hot and too crowded, but we really had a wonderful time together!  Valentina gets excited about EVERYTHING and she is so animated and funny.  

 Sunday was spent at Chuck E. Cheese with our family and dear friends.

 Sarah and Valentina

 Aunt Lisa and Uncle Jim were in town, so we were very happy to be able to see them on this special day!

 Cutie and Chuck E.

 Thank you to Lolo, Sita, Fred, Lisa, Jim, Mary, Tiffany, Sarah, Suzanne, Paul, Sara, Brian and Alicia for joining us in celebrating her wonderful day.

Valentina, we love you and wish you a blessed 4th year of life!  

Valentina, the little gymnast

My sweetheart, in her element...

 her happy, healthy place...

 where she is loved and can practice in a safe place...

 surrounded by great coaches and lots of little friends...

 where she is learning how to move her body...

 and try new things...

 succeeding, failing, then trying again...

to be the best that she can be. This is only one class, one little moment of her life, but it is monumental to me.  It is to her also, to some extent, though she doesn't realize it in the same way yet.  But I am a happy momma, watching her each week, no phone in my hand, tons of random thoughts entering and exiting my brain, lots to reflect upon from her, the other kiddos, the other parents, and the coaches.  I just sit there and take it all in, reminding myself to remember these moments, to cherish them, these times when my sweet girl looks for my face each and every time she does something, giving me her little thumbs- up, and her wanting to see mine in return.  

So beautiful.

New and Exciting

 We celebrated David's 34th birthday!  Lots of love and best wishes for my smart, talented, and devoted husband. 

Went to the dentist for regular check-up. While Valentina was in the chair first, Salvatore asked me to check for any wiggly teeth again. As I peered into his mouth, I saw this!!  (This was on a Thursday, and just the last Sunday I also checked and nothing was there). His two baby teeth were still not even wiggly, but the big ones had a different agenda. Once the dentist saw the X-rays, he said he needed to remove them-pronto!  Salvatore was such a brave one, taking 4 shots of anesthesia and didn't cry at all. Dentist pulled them out with his fingers.  

                                     

Amazing how much older he looked IMMEDIATELY!  Tooth fairy was very generous also.  Rewarded not only for two stubborn teeth, but for bravery, which David so beautifully described to Salvatore as "not being unafraid, but being very afraid-and still doing what needs to be done anyways."

 We hosted a lovely beach themed shower for Alicia and it was a perfect day filled with lots of love, excitement, and chocolate!

 Valentina was the only little one in attendance and was so so sweet all day long. She was showered with love and attention from everybody, and especially bonded with Alicia's lovely mother.  She got to drink her ice water from a champagne flute, complete with fresh floating fruit.

 The beautiful and amazing bride to be. I got all choked up when she kept opening sweet gifts with their initial on it...K!  She will be a Keysor in less than two months!  

Our backyard is our haven, our special place to host and eat and celebrate anything and everything.  

What is new and exciting for you and your loved ones?

Winter 2014

 Lolo bought the kids this little Spiderman table and two chairs for their bedroom. We decided to take it with us in the van while we ate dinner at Sonic Burger and the kids dined inside the van in style, complete with a movie from the dashboard.  

 Our family activity level has been good, and we have added hikes and nature walks to our routines.  It is so fun to watch the kids explore.  

 We collect sticks, rocks, feathers, pinecones, and such, while we hike on the Fullerton trails.  Valentina makes friends with all of the horses, rabbits, squirrels, and geckos that she spots.

 Valentina wearing her new favorite jacket from abuelo, abuela y sus tias in Mexico.  She is taking gymnastics at the YMCA and she is so talented and happy to be active and limber.  We love to watch her shine.  Daddy and Lolo take her to some learning classes at the library and she always comes home with something beautiful and creative.  

Salvatore learned to tie his shoes and ride a bike (without training wheels) in one day.  He now pedals and speeds around with ease and loves to go fast. Valentina loves to keep up with him on her trike or scooter and we have lots of fun making up games on our rides.  We all took a long bike ride through Clark Park the other day and we look forward to many more.  

Soccer starts again next week and we are looking forward to another fun season.  School is going well for Salvatore, I'm barely keeping my head above water, and life just keeps throwing us one big curveball after another, but we work to work it out.  

Brian and Alicia are making wedding plans and we are planning our trip to Mexico to celebrate!

I am looking forward to Ash Wednesday, as I have much to work on this Lenten season, and I am reminded each day that while I am not always adjusting well to change or aging, I am extremely fortunate TO BE changing and aging.  

What have YOU done this winter and what are YOU looking forward to next?

Happy New Year 2014

Welcome, 2014, I am happy to see you...

while 2013 had some shining moments, it was overall not my favorite year, so good riddance.

I am hoping that 2014 brings some much needed love, peace and patience within me that I can extend to my family and friends.

Happy New Year!