Bella's Candy Shop!!!
100 pieces of Candy, counted and written out by Bella Toledo.
She brought it to school today and I can't wait to hear all about it. I know she is excited to have it displayed on the bulletin board with all her classmates projects!  We talked about, being proud of her work but not bragging about her work and to say kind words to others and their creations.
Then her big brother, Jordan helped her carry it to the car this morning and told us "make sure no one eats those candies cause when she brings it back home, i'll eat them, i love those candies."  
Candies include:

• Candy Bracelets
• Twizzler Licorice
• Gumballs
• Lollipops
• Peppermints
• Pixy Stix
• Happy 100th Day!!!
• Love you, Bella girl!

Projects ~ Projects~ Projects

Creative ~ yes. Organized ~ Hell, No! But my little love bugs have projects due and due soooooon! And though it's their projects, let's keep it real, we (the parents) end up contributing a lot to these fine projects. First, we go to Michaels and purchase all the goods and then we think up the fine ideas and then we bring the kids into the mix and all try to work together. But since video games and Monster High dolls are much more interesting these little love bugs attention wanders back to their much more interesting hobbies. So another words, we end up doing a lot of the project. But no worries, these little kids will definitely contribute because it is their

project. So let the fun begin on this Saturday morning, as we set out to accomplish these projects.

Maxwell's Project Title: A diorama of the Rainforest. Due Date: January 31, 2012 For: Ms. Petrone's Second Grade Class At: A.C. Whelan School

Isabella's Project Title: A 100th Day of School Creation Due Date: February 1, 2012 For: Mrs. Patch Kindergarten Class At: A.C. Whelan School

words for me to live by... when i want to reach for those french fries!

These words really hit me because there are so many days when I literally sit at my computer and look back at photo's of my babies when they were babies....I smile and I cry and I miss their little precious snug-a-bug, sweet baby smelling selves and then I have to realize as the saying goes "don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

And now each day as they grow and change and talk back ( that would be my oldest 2 ~ Jordan and Maxwell) and express their own opinions and make their own decisions ( on a few things, not too too many..) I take in all the new joy and love they give me and I am grateful for them, exactly as they are at this age. Here and now. I forever cherish the times we were blessed with, when they were my little baby dolls but I am all about the here and now. This year I will remind myself of these words: I want to be less melancholy that my kids are getting older. Growing up. I want to be thankful that they are healthy and happy and safe. I want to fully live in the moment of the time we've been given. Who knows when a day will be our last? I hope and pray it is far far away, but nothing is a given and aching for the past only insults the present. I want to OWN every minute of my days with a grateful heart and open hands. The future is a glorious thing but today is what we've been given and today is all we have. Be grateful.

Jordan holding his baby sister, Bella ~ November, 2005.

Jordan and Bella, on Bella's first day of Kindergarten ~ September, 2011.

Kickin it with the big bro!

Max and Bella, splish splashin in the tubby rocking the sunglasses! Sometime in 2007!!

Max and Bella, posing very posh and classy, under the Christmas tree ~ December 2011 <3

Another year has gone by....

Here it is, 2012!!! January 2, 2012 exactly one year to the day that I blogged here...wow!
That is a whole 365 days away from this blog and funny how I got the thought to blog today, of all days...this time I want to stay with the blog, so when another year rolls around, God Willing. I can really have a lot of great posts to look back on.
We'll see how I do, what I do, where we go, what we learn....
Let me review this past year of 2011 and all the fun we had and the moments we celebrated and will always remember....-

The kids had some sweet icy cold lemonade stands to help raise money for cancer research!!! So proud of them, for working it out on some hot summer days for such an important cause close to all of our hearts.
It took me four months, not because I didn't love this book, I really did Love this book but because I am such a sloooow reader and the only time I can get some reading time is, right before bedtime, so my eyes grow sleepy really fast and that leaves me with reading only 4 to 5 pages a night, but i really didn't want this book to end. Loved it and loved the movie version too!


Our Mya girl turned 2 years old, on Sept. 5th, 2011, yes she did, our baby girl who we adopted on Dec. 5th, 2009!! She had her cousins, Frankie and Ari over and they had some fabulous ice cream doggie treats and played in Gigi's backyard, what a great day!
Happy 2nd Birthday, Mya girl!!!
My Bella started Kindergarten!!! Max began 2nd grade!!! And Jordan started middle school, 6th grader!!! Watch out now!!
We had an awesome Halloween and Thanksgiving and Christmas and we are so blessed and truly grateful for all the special times we shared in 2011!!!
And look forward to many more in 2012 XOXOXOXO
Check Bella with her crossed eyes, she loves to do that for pictures, just like I did when I was a little girl, she is so me, it's scary how much she reminds me of me!