WALK THE WALK

Its Monday again tomorrow. The weekend is over. At least we got a visit from Ralph's brother Angelo. My girls were so excited to see their Aunt Debbie . She loves and dotes on the kids, spoils them rotten too. The kids and I also had a little adventure where we walked to the nearest Walmart in our area. It was about a 5-10 minute walk from our house. We had a great time talking and laughing. They didn't not mind the walk and surprisingly neither did my lover extremities. Walking and I have not been great friends for a few years. Just as of late I have been walking more and more going to another store which is about 5 minute walk from our house. I am going to keep walking to those stores until it gets to cold. Let me tell you this, walking did really good for my bum, just ask my grinning husband,lol

MOVIE, POPCORN, SODA AND SLEEPOVER

The much awaited sleepover in our room with the kids was a success! For almost 2 weeks now my girls have been sleeping on their own. Yes, my girls used to sleep with either my husband or me but, its mostly me with my husband working all the time. My goal was to help my girls transition to sleeping by themselves in their own room without me or husband laying down with them. I am so proud to say that my girls did it! It's not going to be easy but if we keep up with it, they will eventually get used to it.

As a way or rewarding them for being such big girls, I promised them a sleepover in our room with movie, popcorn and soda. They worked hard to it and tonight was a big success! We watched Rio and just had a great time together. You got to love and cherish this moment. Soon my girls won't even want to hang out with us, lol. Here is a quick shot of us before we started the movie. When is your family night?

DOUBLE A'S

That is Andrew and his son Andrew Jr., its the little guys first time to be in the pool. The water is only 72 degrees but with the weather at around 87 it was perfect to be in the pool. He loved the pool but did not like the little float I got for him. He cried out so much so we decided to put him in the other baby floater that is made out of mesh. I forgot to take pictures of him in it, I was in the pool already. Water was so refreshing, if you get cold all you have to do is stay under the sun and the chill will be gone in a flash. He had so much fun kicking his leg under the water and just kept on smiling. Hopefully next year when they come down for the Summer he will be able to wear Kaitlyn's old life vest so he can just swim around to his hearts content without anybody holding on to him.

RIDE BEHIND THE LEADER

Anyone want to go on a hay ride? It's not really a hay ride but more of a lawn mower ride, lol. That was taken last week when Ralph was getting the yard ready to be cut the next day. He had to pick up the little twigs and branches that fell of the tree. He hooked up the trailer behind the lawnmower so he could put the little twigs and branches in it. The kids looked like they were getting bored so he told the kids to climb aboard for a lawnmower ride. Let me tell you the kids were all excited and just laughed and giggled. From L-R are Joey, Kelly, Kaitlyn and Kayla. Ralph drove around the backyard entertaining the kids. My husband is such a great dad and would go to any lengths to make anything fun for his kids.

TIGER GIRL IN THE MAKING

Among the highlights of our trip to Sesame Place was getting Kayla's face painted. We had to finish off with the water attractions before we get this done for her. There was a lot to choose from but of course being Kayla and her love for animals she chose to be the Tiger Girl. I tried convincing her to get the fairy and flower face painting with little glitters but she refused. I just wanted her to pick something really girlie this time, lol. Once she saw the Tiger design she could not be swayed no matter what we said. She looks pretty cute after after it was done, she even made the a tiger pose but I didn't get a picture of it. If Kaitlyn would have sit still in that chair she would have had the fairy and flower design,lol...

THE GRANDKIDS

Picture was taken last July 18, 2009 on my 31st birthday party. From (l-R) Kristen, Andrew, Lauren, AJ, Kayla Nicholas and of course the youngest Kaitlyn on her Mima's lap. This was such an impromptu picture taking for the whole family since we just realized that we were all there. The kids wearing black shirts are Angelo's kids and Kristen and Nicholas are Larry's kids and the two youngest are my kids. Looking at this photo just make me miss my maternal grandparents even more. How I wish a time would come that we would be gather all together for a family picture as well. I still have more pictures and stories to come from my birthday.

MY 31 st

This has been long overdue, the picture from my 31 st birthday celebration last July 18, 2009. My actual birthday was July 15 but we decided to have a family party on a Saturday so that the Schifano family could come. Two of my Filipina friends could not come but I was not disappointed at all since the Schifano clan came in full force. It turned out to be like a family reunion and it made my MIL so happy. I was grateful for my kids, husband and my new family here.

IMPROMPTU LUNCH DATE

I has been a long time since Ralph and I have went out to eat, let alone on a date. With two kids and two new puppies we certainly have our hands full. Ralph and I would rather stay home with the kids and have fun in our own backyard. But sometimes its also good to have a special date out with our spouses. After we took the puppies to the vet, Ralph just surprised me for an impromptu lunch date. He asked his mom to watch the kids for a couple of houra so he could take me out to eat. It was so sweet of my husband to do that. I know we are tight on our budget but he insisted on taking me out. Off we went to our favorite Chinese buffet restaurant. We ate and talked, for once we were not in a hurry to leave.

ICE CREAM RUN

Sunday on the way back from picking Kayla from her mommy's, daddy called me to say that he will be picking us up for an Ice Cream run. Of course having a sweet tooth I said yes. I hurriedly dressed the princess bruiser in a white shirt and pink shorts. It was a total mistake that I let her wear a white shirt knowing very well that she will be covered in ice cream. We just went to SCOOPS for our quick fix of ice cream. We were actually closer to Rita's but Ralph wanted to try this one out. He later said that Rita's was better.

hhhmmm..What should I get? so many choices so little time!

love at first bite

keep on licking and dripping

a big smile from big sister

POST MEMORIAL DAY BBQ

Kaitlyn finally got over her fever on Friday morning. Still I was worried that I may come back again so I was thinking of not going with MIL to Angelo's Post Memorial Barbecue. Thank God her fever didn't come back and she was slowly getting back to her old rambunctious self. It was just family and we had so much fun. I didn't get in the pool though since it was windy and cold. Kaitlyn dipped her feet in with her cousin Lauren holding on to her. The second photo was of Kaitlyn trying to pull out Lauren's eyebrow ring piercing,lol. Even though Ralph was not able to come with us due to work we still had fun and the food was just superb!!

Saturday Ride

Today we are here at my BIL house Angelo. Were in his pool and were just having hot dogs, hamburgers, corn, macaroni and pie. The two Princesses were in the pool as soon as we got here. It was a little cold but you know how kids are they don't mind. I can't go in the pool since its that time of the month so I'm kind of glad that nobody is bugging me to get in the cold pool, lol. I'm doing my post since the princess bruiser is upstairs taking her nap. I forgot to bring her swimmers diaper so she just had on her regular diaper when she got into the pool. It was hilarious when she got out since it blew up so much and it was so heavy she looked like a little bumble bee with her diaper butt sticking out. Time for me to go for now, were eating..

Wii ARE RACING

My girls playing a game of Nintendo Wii cart. Kayla the big sister is very competitive and loves this game a whole lot. Kaitlyn the lil bruiser loves to do whatever big sis is doing. They were giggling so much when I took pictures of them playing. Kayla just finds it so funny that her baby sister wants to play Mario cart with her. And as for Kaitlyn she holds the steering wheel like she actually know how to play the game. My MIL can't believe that Kaitlyn is only 18 months since she acts like she is older. Playing the Wii is one of our favorite family activity.

TREAT FOR THE KIDDOS

Good Friday we took the kids and one of Kayla's friend Kelly with us to chuckee cheeses. This was Ralph way of thanking Kelly for giving Kayla the price that she won at Girl Scout. I know Good Friday is a time to pray and reflect on our mistakes, I have done that and every single day I thank God for saving us from our sin. Kids have no idea what's going on, Kayla knows that happens on Good Friday but she still doesn't understand everything. Anyhow, the kids had fun and they were very well behaved and no meltdowns. It was a different story though on our way home, they had gooey and melty ice cream all over there mouth,lol...

BUNNY LEFT BASKETS OF GOODIES

And then there was the Easter Bunny who hopped and hopped around the house. Dropping all those Easter Basket filled with toys and goodies. Well that's what we told Kayla how we got the Easter basket of goodies for her and her sister. Easter Day we had to drop her off at her mommy's since it was her year to have Kayla. We dropped her off at 9 am and Ralph picked her up at 6 p.m., we had a late dinner so we could eat as a whole family on Easter. We just had Ham, corn, mashed potatoes, spinach, and of course 3 kinds of dessert. They loved the Easter Basket that the Easter Bunny left them.

EGG HUNT AFTERMATH

After our successful egg hunt the fun did not end there. The kids did not want to go home yet so they decided to have a banging good time in our backyard. They spent more time in the sandbox than anywhere else. Ralph did good when he built that sandbox for the girls. Even the little ones stayed in the sandbox most of the time and only got out to get on the tire swing. They also loved playing catch and just running around. Kids have so much energy while we the adults were tired just looking at them. Our house is the place to be, the place where every body like to hang out. That is actually fine with me so I can keep a close eye on my girls.

LET THE HUNT BEGIN

April 9, 2009 was a nice cool day. We decided to do the Easter Egg Hunt for our girls and there friends that day. As soon as Kayla got off the bus she was so excited and asked her friends to hurry to her house to do the egg hunt. We started the hunt shortly after 4 p.m and the girls had a blast. Even Kaitlyn the little one didn't get left behind. She got some eggs as well. Its a good thing we have such a big yard. It wasn't important who got the most eggs, they were sharing. All in all it was a perfect day with no melt downs from any of the kids.

L-R = Kelly, Tamara and Kayla

Before the start of the egg hunt

Kaitlyn getting some eggs herself

She just could not wait any longer to have a choco

Opening up all the eggs to check the goodies

MY GIRLS

My little munchkins, taken last week when the weather was nice albeit a little bit chilly. Since spring came along I have been bugging Ralph to take out Kayla's barbie jeep so she and baby sister could cruise around our area and just have fun. It was so cute to see both girls in the jeep with big sister driving and Kaitlyn the baby in the passenger seat. Kayla loves her sister so much and Kaitlyn adores her big sister and follows her around. My girls are growing up and it breaks my heart. Time flies so fast. One minute they were so young and so dependent on you the next they are doing things on there own. One day my girls will stop wanting me but I know they will never stop needing me.

PUMP IT UP PARTY

We went to a party yesterday. Aiden is the son of Ralph friend Jeff and Krista, they are very nice loving couple. The party was being held at this place called Pump It Up, where they have this big inflatable slides, bouncy and obstacle course. Kayla was so excited to be there. We went into this big room with 3 huge inflatable things. One was a slide, the bouncy room and the obstacle course. Kayla immediately went to the slide and of course Kaitlyn wanted to go as well. I had to do it, and off we went climbing up those inflatable things. It was hard mind you, specially bending over and carrying a wriggling 16 month old. I was so scared the first time Kaitlyn and I both went down the slide. Boy oh boy! The baby was not scared and wanted to go right back up again. And she would literally go up by herself if i would let her. She was not afraid of the big girls or boys, she just wanted to be part of it. There was another girl a month younger than her and she just stayed by her mom. Kaitlyn was so brave, independent and a dare devil. Both girls had so much fun but both Ralph and I were pooped. I was specially proud of my big girl Kayla for being so well behaved, polite and nice to all the other kids and also to the parents that were there. Kaitlyn on the other hand was the bad one,lol.. But it was all good, we survived. Here are some photos that Ralph manage to take.

FAMILY FUN IN THE SNOW

Here are some pictures that we took on that big snowy day a couple of weeks ago. I forgot to upload it since it was on the other camera. Ralph was the one who took the photos seeing that i was so busy running around with a 16 month old. It had just gotten back from the big park and we decided to check out the small hill that was a couple of blocks away from the house. Kayla's friend Tamara was there with her mommy. They both had a blast! Kaitlyn even though she only had two turns down the hill she still enjoyed walking in the knee deep snow. That was a great day for us as a family.