We're Your Friends the Backyardigans, you know the words

We headed into the big city today. It was a big field trip through the eyes of a 4 year old & 2 year old. The train ride brought great excitement to these little loves, as they snacked on some goldfish. Of course, we stayed in what we call "the little house", at Wellington Station, so that mighty Max wouldn't go near the yellow line, he's fast and we weren't taking any chances with my wild child! They did so well, listening and sitting through the show. Bella did get a little antsy in the second half, we got through it, rockin along to all the familiar Backyardigans songs. Gigi bought them light up wands & t-shirts as we left and then we were back on the train gang! And Bella's all-wrapped up in her towel, just got out of the tubby, ready for bed shot is mixed up in the field trip pictures.
Buenos Noches

Stephen Garbarino

Hit by a train, while riding his bike on May 25, 2008.

I did not know this little boy but I think being a Mother that in some way I knew this little boy. My heartbreaks for his Mother. I remember being at my own Mother's house on this past Sunday afternoon and hearing the excessive amount of sirens and thinking "oh my Goodness, something really bad has happened", they just kept coming and coming. I didn't hear of this tradegy until the next day, since I try not to watch the news, not out of ignorance, just because it is so depressing most of the time. In living in such a small world, someone always knows someone who knew that someone. He would began preschool next year. My Mother is a kindergarten teacher and one of her students parents coached little Stephen in t-ball. Just this past Saturday, he told the coaches wife (who my Mom spoke with) that he was so excited to be getting a new baseball glove and she said "get out on that field and get a hit" and he was such a sweet little boy. 5 years old! It really hits home and I just wish we had a remote control for life to rewind the horrific stuff and make it all go away. I posted his picture, so we can say a prayer for Stephen and his family and remember this little boy. He represents that life is but a moment so we must cherish every single moment. Rest in peace, sweet baby boy.

God Bless America & Indiana Jones

It was Famous American day in the 2nd grade, at the A.C. Whelan School today. Mr. Jordan Toledo dressed up as famous american archeologist William Henry Holmes but his kind teacher, Mrs. Doherty said he could rock the Indiana Jones look. That's all he needed to hear and he was into this project! We even went to Target this weekend to get the Indiana Jones whip that plays the theme music to the movie and makes whip sounds. And the kids did a wonderful job singing American songs on stage, my favorite being God Bless the USA, it was very touching and made me smile. It was a proud day for all second grade Mama's and Papa's at the Whelan School. Love U, my Indiana Jordan Jones.

Maybe she wants to be my baby forever, too.

Bella insisted I bring this bouncy baby back up from the basement today and I think she enjoyed it more now at 2 and a half years old then when she was 8 months old. In and out, she climbed it. She would throw her pacifier and then say "oh no, my ba ba" (aka her pacifier), then Miss Drama Queen would climb out, get the "ba ba" and hop back in. Let's just say she got a great workout and I got to take a lil rest on the couch, all while watching Noggin, of course.

What it really comes down to is, i think, she just wants to remain my baby forever, too.....

i love u Bella Lu.

We found a new friend and we shall call her Shelly

BELLA

a beautiful movie, touching, honest, real, heartbreaking,
it's a movie about hope, forgiveness & love
and
everyone of us can relate to those 3 words....
plus Eduardo Verastequi (the lead actor) is very easy on the eyes, even when he rocks the jesus beard,
he is hidden but still amazing!

what my Mother's Day was all about

Dad had his sweet 1980's boom box rockin as he planted the traditional Mother's Day flowers.
Isa picked dandylions in Gigi's front yard I tried to attempt the scooter board but Bella told me right as this picture was being taken "Mama, you're too big for me"...
We watched Gigi open her Mama's Day presents, they adore eachother, can you tell?
There was poppin bubbbles on Gigi's front lawn with straws, we never get tired of bubbles! Or as Max & Jordan do, they pretend they are fighting the bubbles, of course they gutta be rough and tumble.

I think someday they will look back on this precious shot and be glad their Mama captured this one. I love this shot! I hope they always remain this close and this happy.
The little old married couple, Macky & Ethel!!!!(sometimes we call her Ethel, cause she is like an old lady, the way she walks & talks and bosses the men in her life around, gutta love it!)
The brothers, so grateful they have eachother.
Bella just havin a good laugh, on the spare mattress in the play room at Gigi's house, that they love to bounce on.
It only took me 1 whole week to post my Mother's Day shots but the week was hectic, pick up, drop off, preschool, karate, laundry, homework, class project, more freakin laundry.... Anyways, my Mother's Day was also about Jordan falling out of the big tree in Gigi's backyard. This wasn't on the agenda or captured on film (surprisingly I didn't have the camera on hand, cause I probably would of been snapping shots, jk...) He sprained his ankle and got some scrapes. As accidents always happen so fast. One minute he's up and Gigi is warning him "get down, you're gona hurt yaself" and next minute we are not looking and he's down. Jordan milked that fall for all he could. Though I know he was hurt on Sunday when it happened. I think Monday he just milked it, to stay home from school and play some xtra xbox. We did get his ankle checked Monday and Dr. Oh said it was a sprain and to just take it easy this week. Did he? nope. Kids are resilent and bounce right back. I am grateful he wasn't badly injured, it could of been worse. Thank God it wasn't his head! I am thankful he is back to his energtic 8 year old crazy boy self. We also had yummy carvel ice cream cupcakes, they are the bomb! If you haven't had them, try them! They even put the oreo cookie crunch in the middle. Just let them defrost for 10 minutes and they are so good! And Bella did smush a few ants. She is very fascinated by ants. I am going to get her a magnifying glass and ant farm so she can really keep her eye on them. She gets a little too excited and picks them up and pretty much smushes their fragile little legs and runs over to me to show me what has become a half dead crippled little ant. But she thinks she has done something wonderful. It really is through watching her that I have learned to stop and really take it the smallest little wonders and creatures in life. She even has told me that when Senior Sam is going pee pee, she will say "look mama, Sammi is making lemonade pee pee".....

Seeing through my children's eyes is the most beautiful way of seeing life ever. Amen

My Mom, I love you.

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother. ~Abraham Lincoln