words...

Got this sign for my baby girl, who will be getting her very own room within the next year!!! WooooWhoooooo...for 6 years now, we have shared my bedroom.  I have to say, my husband has been such a good sport about it because most nights he falls asleep, snoring on the couch and we are all snug-a-bug in the room, along with our baby girl, Mya ( our 2 year old Boxer/Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue Baby). 

The walls are pink, the room is filled with lots of Lala Loopsy's and Monster High Dolls and we squeezed in an IKEA bunk bed, which she just recently started sleeping in, you know what, I miss her right next to me.  The bed feels so empty and big.  

Ok, so I am having a hard time letting go. She is my baby girl and I am so excited for her to have her own room, her own space and it will be super awesome for her.

But I will miss sharing my room with you, Bella Girl (:

So I leave you with these words. I may frame this for all my children. But especially my Bella because it's just tougher being a girl and she will need to be reminded.

 And though it maybe too deep for them now, someday they will get it.......

MAX'S RAINFOREST

Here's my little man working hard on his school project, Rainforest Diorama style!

And here is the
finished product:
Very cool and daddy really hooked it up with the amazing waterfall effects.
Max was very excited when he saw that waterfall and loved glueing all the animals into cool places, like the red"tree frog" right on top of the tree.  And he camoflouged the snake up in another tree and the iguana hidden in the grass. Plus his very own snake ( climbing up the mountain) and gorilla made out of claydoh.  I love his precious mind and imagination. He always amazes me.

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