Catch up, Catch up!

Another month flew by, I used to be so good at weekly blog posts.  Well some fun things have been happening and here they are!

This hasn't been the best year for Syd. She has had a tumor on her leg, another lump burst on her back, both requiring surgery and recently some major eye issues. We are still holding out hope that they are all minor and she has many years left in her. But for now we will give her lots of extra love!

 This collage is from OCTOBER. I love seasons, so to me I wasn't a fan of the super warm weather, but when it was still 80 we went swimming! And of course it wouldn't be a swim session without a Popsicle from Grandma Barbara!

 Fun spirit days at school lately. The school wore pink to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness. When you attend a school with uniforms, this is a big deal to the kids!

 

This one is really late, it is from October. Nicole was smart and did the kids party together! Brilliant. We were so happy we could be there to celebrate 2 of our favorite buddies! Ninjerella was a success. Nicole dominated every little detail!

 

 

 Happy Birthday Aubrey & Dylan!!

 

 Gino loved his new gear. Who knew the shell could be a seat too!

  

Giada was excited to spend some time with her buddy Peyton

 Really boys...this is the best you could give me. Cousin pic fail! 

At least Cole isn't intentionally closing his eyes like Gino!

 Happy Birthday Easton! 

Always exciting when we can spend time with our Australian friends the Evangelistas! 

 One last dinner and group pic before they headed back home.  The kids thought the timer Peter did was great. Look at those smiles!  Guess they think it's funny to see an adult run and dive into their spot as we are all counting.  I will have to try that method again soon!

Unfortunately Mike was milling and unable to join the fun, but on opening crab weekend, we went with Matt and Steph to Dillon's Beach. It was so much fun, thanks for letting us tag along Towers Family! The campsite was right on the beach, the kids loved it!

 Matt and Steph's brother Justin were in charge of the crabs, I'd say it was a success!

Last but not least, random fun!

Kiddo Update

Well I haven't done a post like this in awhile, so I thought it was time to do a kid update.

Giada Michela is almost 6 in January!!! 6!!! I can hardly say it.
-She is LOVING Kindergarten and St Anne's. All day long she is wanting to write words, sound them out and count by 10's. It is fun to see all the things she is learning, as she tries to use them in the real world.  In a short time, our tricks of spelling out words so she doesn't know what we are talking about will not work!
-LOVES to draw, constantly taking a pad of paper and drawing a very detailed picture, usually with a long description. 
- Still dislikes combing her hair
-Loves animals, and lately says she wants to be a vet when she grows up.  Although with all the issues Sydney has had lately, she may change her mind. She runs and hides if a person or animal is hurt, she doesn't like to see it.  But then at the same time is so caring about it, and wants to help them heal, draws them a photo (shocker), and in Sydney's case, makes her a nice warm bed to lay in.
-Very curious about how things work... for example she asked me one day, "Mom, you know how the earth is round, I'm just wondering why the water doesn't fall off.
-Dress up  happens daily around here!
- Remains a very good eater. She asks for crab and shrimp all the time, she doesn't realize those are not every day food items.



Gino Ray is 3.5 and still constantly on the go!
-Running, jumping, side skipping, I still think it is a miracle, he doesn't fall more often!
-FORTS are big these days. In every room, anywhere we go, all day long.  He is getting better about not being upset if they fall down, or we need to take them down. I mean I am all for fun, but my entire living room can not be a fort all day every day!
- Gino loves to be read, he would sit still for 20 books to be read to him in one sitting.
- Going to bed is a little easier
-Potty training, which we had been done with for months.....is back to being a problem and TOTAL mess. I hope we can take care of this ASAP.
- Blocks, anything he can build with these days. He will make Lego duplo creations and come in and tell you a whole story of how it is a giraffe eating a tree, etc.  He will also talk to himself for a long time, playing and building.
- Dress up, every day!
-Only wants to wear shorts, and is VERY particular about what shirts he wears. This is not a problem I expected to have with a son!
-Although his speech is pretty good. He still says some funny things like  "Lesterday"
- "When I grow up I am going to put on my motorcycle costume and motorcycle gloves and get on my motorcycle but it will be a slow motorcycle so I don't fall off and get hurt"
- Very sweet, will give me as many hugs and kisses as I want and all day out of the blue will say "mom, I love you"


Last but not least Baby #3.  Not the best photos below but one of the foot/hands and face.  It's another boy! Giada was not thrilled at first, but now has decided that she won't have to share as much. Gino is thrilled and is holding strong to his name suggestion of King Kong.  They both want the baby to sleep in their room, which is sweet, but little do they know they may be in bunk beds soon. This baby needs a quiet room when the 2 older maniacs are going crazy in the evening hours. Still due early March, which seems like it will be here before we know it!  I am 6 months and feeling good so far.  Nothing still sounds too good to eat when it is meal time, but that is easy to deal with! I can't wait to go on a long run, eat some sushi and drink some wine!

October/Halloween Festivities!

October/Halloween was quite a marathon of pumpkin patches and dress up. In our house dress up is a daily occurrence, and usually more costume than one. But...as they get older, there is a little something different about Halloween.

First stop was Apple Hill. It just doesn't seem right to make applesauce if you don't go get the apples there.  We intended to pick the apples ourselves, but this was the time of the big fire, and as we drove closer we got a little nervous. SO, we stuck to the farms that were a little further out.  We also managed to fine apple donuts, apple pie and cider!

There is nothing like the farm applesauce that comes out of the machine!

Nana & Steph took the kids on an adventure to the next pumpkin patch in Elk Grove. It was a new one they hadn't been to before. Good times were had by all!

 Gino's 1st field trip to Fog Willow Farms

 Love this sweet guy. He certainly has a mind of his own these days, and can be quite particular. But most of the time he is full of hugs and kisses which I love.

 No October is complete without a trip to Phillips Farms. I had heard rumors of the pumpkin patch no longer being a part of the winery.  Although it has been paired down, I was so glad to see the tradition still alive.

 All 3 kids climb the tree, and all give us much different reactions.  Giada's new smile face involves a head tilt, and Gino did one with open eyes! Success!

 Nana and her pumpkins!

 And the good news is we were able to meet up with Marla and her boys. The annual tradition continues. The kids loved running through the corn and playing bocce!

 Halloween week finally comes along, and the dress up begins.  Mike found a Belle costume he thought Giada would like. It was a hit and the costume was ready way in advance. So I told Gino he could be the Beast. Thinking he wouldn't go along with it, but to our surprise he did. We watched the movie and tried to get him in the mood. Well,  he did wear the costume, after much convincing and Nana fixing the head piece to be softer and "not itchy"....but he only wore them for the pictures. So here you have it ladies and gents....Beauty and the Beast



Then we usually attempt a friend group shot with whoever can make it, and some cousin pics.
Some holidays got smoother than others!
 
What a difference a year makes!


Gino had lost the head piece by the time we did pictures with Cole

Then let the trick or treating begin. Everyone does it differently but I choose to spread it out all week and see a few family/friends a night so I don't have to do it all at once.   From this point on Beast was out and Batman was in!

 A visit with Grandma Carol & Patsy before letting out some energy at gymnastics!

 

 Painting pumpkins is always fun, and kept them entertained for awhile so I could watch the World Series!!

 Next stop ...Ran's and Nana's

 Well, since we are discussing the Giants and the World Series...the 'We Are Fans' shirt made one last appearance. 22 weeks with this little guy! This photo makes the belly still look small, it is not in real life!

 The pumpkin carving finally had to happen, we were running out of time. Again during a game, I carved away. They helped a little with the cleaning, but I did the dirty work!

 Halloween would not be complete with out a stop at Cinderella's, she has the best pumpkins around and gives out full size candy!

 Stella was a costume changer too...Super Stella to Sofia the First!

 Last stop of the week; the ranch. Nonni doesn't get a lot of trick or treaters, but the 4 she got were pretty cute!

 Praying Mantis's are running all over the olives this time of year...Batman was brave enough to hold one.

 Oh you thought that was enough...a long enough post.... well now it is finally real Halloween! Giada opted to be a Doctor for school. They had to be a super hero or a real hero.

 Because of the rain, Trunk or Treat was moved inside. All the classes did such a good job. Kindergarten had Candyland.

Batman got to dress up for school too. He and Stella were looking pretty cute!

 Finally the marathon has an end in sight! We handed out candy, then went to do some trick or treating on our block. I told the kids to go put on costumes and what do you know......Batman has changed his mind.  He decided to go for the giraffe, last year's costume.

No shortage of fun or candy this Halloween.  Making Memories, what more could you ask for!??