Ruggiero Family Dinner

My grandparents (on my dad’s side) are snow birds.  I really wanted to see them before they headed back to California.  So I may have sent my dad a text my dad and suggest he pick a date to invite us all over to his house.  He was kind enough to take the obvious hint (with no complaining) and find a date that worked for everyone and had Alyse,  Jill, Joe, Aunt Carol, Andrew, the kids and I over.  Brad was busy in the field so he couldn't make it.  

Andrew giving my kids gifts while my dad rolls out the dough.

Nanno talking to Vincent.

Before we went to my dad’s though we stopped at Jill and Joe’s new house for a quick tour.  It was really easy to find.  It is really cute and pretty much all decorated.  I was impressed.  The kids, including Joel, made themselves right at home and had a lot of fun checking out Uncle Joel and Aunt Jill’s house. 

Nanno loving on Vincent

My dad  making the kid pizza

After the tour we went to my dad’s house.   We had a fun night of making homemade pizza.  My dad makes the best pizza dough!  There was music, visiting, joking around and just a really great stress free night.  The kids loved seeing their aunts, uncle, cousin, Nanno and great grandparents (G.G. and Nanno Nick).  Joel was very social, talked to people, gave hugs (unsolicited) and was great.  They were all very surprised by how well he did.  Normally he just steals my phone and ignores everyone.  Jill even commented that he is like a new kid!  It is so nice when other people notice the progress he is making.

The adult pizza before it was cooked.

Nanno, Joel and Vincent with the pepperoni pizza

While we were there Andrew and I were talking to my grandma about something.  She was telling us a story about someone that said something that offended her.  The story started with "Oh so and so, God rest her soul" and ended with "And then she got sick and died! (followed by laughter)."  Andrew and I were practically rolling on the floor.  Who ends a story like that, who says that and then laughs.  It was hilarious!   I don't think we were supposed to find it funny but we did.  Later my grandma was talking about not wanting a big birthday party and said "You know what happened after my dad had a big birthday party?....he got sick and died!"  Again Andrew and I lost it.  It wasn't funny, our great grandfather dying is not funny, but the way my grandma said it in such a matter of fact way and the tone in her voice just made us laugh.  My grandma has a lot of great phrases she says, but this one is quickly moving up my list as a favorite.  My current favorite is "uh huh, ok fine."  It means do or believe what you want, I think you are wrong and I am to polite to tell you so, so I will continue to do it my way.

Nanno, Joel, Cecilia, me and Vincent.

We also got to see a video that my Nanno, with the help of my uncle, had converted to DVD.  It is of my aunt’s baptism 50 years ago!  There is footage of my great grandparents and even my great great grandmother.  To see my great grandparents joking around and to see everyone’s mannerisms and movements was amazing.  It was such a blessing to be able to see that!  I only wish there was more than one video.  Here is the link to the YouTube video of the baptism.

Aunt Carol and Nanno

Everyone watching the movie.

The night ended with Alyse and Joe taking turns wrestling my children before I loaded them up in the car in their pjs for the drive home.  It was so much fun seeing my grandparents!  I am hoping I can get away some weekend this winter and go visit them.

Cecilia, Me and Grandma!

Trapeze Class

Brad, Kennidy and I went for trapeze lessons together at Belmont Harbor.  It was the first time any of us had our lessons outside.  It was a little chilly but otherwise a really pretty day.  All of our instructors were really fun and good instructors.  While we were taking our trapeze lesson Alyse and my mom watched the kids.  At first they stayed and watched, then they took the kids to the park for a little bit.  I was told that while they were there that Vincent was running around the park saying “I’m Jesus, God’s only son!’  After the park they came back to watch us and they got there just in time to see us do our catches.

Kennidy.

Kennidy listening to the instructor after her turn.

Brad and me.

Kennidy and Brad.  These two are competitive.

Kennidy and me.

Brad, Kennidy and I had a lot of fun.  Brad and Kennidy spent most of the two hours giving each other a hard time.  Somehow Kennidy turned trapezing into a competitive sport.  Usually everyone is very supportive and cheers each other on and it wasn’t that way as much this time with the competitiveness.  We all learned new tricks and we (Kennidy and I both got our catches).  Although one my catches was all wrong and I don’t know how I manage to pull it off.  Brad didn’t get caught and he was not happy about it.

We are all still in the yellow circle.

I think that is Brad...

Brad flying.

Kennidy.

Kennidy.

I would have to say that this trapeze lesson was probably one that I did the worst at.  My head was just not in the game!  Normally when we go to lessons we don’t have the kids along, we don’t’ have spectators with us and no one knows us outside of the trapeze class.  It is perfect and how I like it!  It is like a little afternoon get away from our real life.  The kids were there cheering for me which was really sweet, but really distracting.  Plus in between turns I had to return to being Mommy and managing all their needs instead of concentrating on my tricks.  Because it doesn’t matter who is supposed to be watching them, if I am around they want me!

My new trick...I can't remember the name.

That just looks funny.

Brad.

 

Kennidy doing the same trick I did.  This is step 2.  The pictures of me show step 1 and 3.

That was the last lesson in our lesson 3 pack and I would love to go again.  I don’t think Brad is sold on the idea of going again.  I might have to find someone else to go with me or just go alone!

Grandma Dawn, Cecilia and Joel watching.  They came over by us later to get a closer view.

Alyse's Birthday Dinner

After our day at Heifer Hay Day Grandma Pat, Papa, my mom, Jill, Joe, Brad, the kids, Alyse and I all met for dinner for Alyse’s birthday.  It was a very nice restaurant about an hour away and we were there for awhile but the kids did a really great job!  Having an iphone loaded with games and movies may have helped a little bit.

Joel loves my phone.  He calls it his phone.

Grandma Dawn and Joel.

Alyse and my mom were staying at a hotel near the restaurant and invited me to stay with them.  At first I said I couldn’t because we had church the next day, but they convinced me to just leave in time for church.  They claimed I would get a good night’s sleep and more sleep than I usually got, but it was just a ploy to get me to come stay with them!  We had a fun evening of walking around the resort and chatting and chatting some more.  Most of the chatting involved us quizzing Alyse about her boyfriend, she didn't seem to mind.  We are all very excited to meet him!

Kelli, Cecilia, Vincent, Alyse, Papa, Dawn, Grandma Pat, Joel, Brad, Jill, Joe

When I got home I was informed that the children didn’t take well to the idea that I wasn’t going home with them.  Vincent was upset and cried most of the way home and kept saying “I want my Mommy!”  I am told Joel would chime in a little bit too.  Cecilia would wait until the boys stopped crying and then she would start yelling “I want my mommy too!”  That would get the boys started again.  The scene repeated itself several times on the way home I am told.  I was feeling bad for Grandma and Papa who were riding home with Brad and the kids.  I figured the kids would all just fall asleep in the car, but I guess I was wrong!  They were all very happy and slept great all night long.  They were probably tired from crying all the way home.  Brad was bragging that they slept so well when he put them to bed, better than when I put them to bed.  I am completely ok with him always doing bed time so he better not brag too much.

Jill, Joe, Papa and the photographers....

Vincent showing Aunt Alyse his game.

Jill and Joe's Wedding Day!

The wedding day preparations started early at the hotel with my hair appointment at 8am!  I wasn’t happy about it being so early, but it looked great and stayed in place until well after 1 am.  After I got my hair done I took the kids to play with Elliot and Nolan while Brad got ready.  They played in the room for a while then they really wanted to ride the elevator to the 10^th floor and back down to the lobby.  The elevator had windows so you could look at everyone down below.  The kids loved it!  We rode the elevator a lot over the weekend just for entertainment purposes.  After elevator rides the boys wanted to go swimming with Nolan and Elliot.  Matt and Dana were going to be there but I wanted to find someone else to help them, because Joel needs someone to hold him, I couldn’t swim and Brad forgot his swimming suit.  Brandon was nice enough to go swimming with the kids and Brad was down there supervising.  

Kasi with her hair all ready to go

Candy helping Annie get ready

Kasi and Annie

Abby and Michelle

Kennidy being dramatic about Candy and Kasi doing her hair.

Kennidy looking beautiful.

Bridesmaids getting hair done.

My little photographer

Me and Kasi

Kennidy and me

Me and Alyse

They came back to the room after swimming Brad asked Vincent to thank Brandon again.  And Vincent said “Thank you for saving my life!”  Of course I had to inquire what that was about and Brad said Vincent went in the pool without his life jacket to rinse the foam from the hot tub off.  He ended up walking down and off the steps to get to Nolan and Elliot (we think).  Vincent can’t swim.  Dana swam toward him and Brandon jumped in the pool and grabbed him just as Dana was getting there.  She said she just saw his little nose sticking up above the water.  Brad said he looked away for a second and the next thing he knew Brandon was jumping in the water.  I am pretty sure it scared Vincent enough that he won’t go in without his life jacket.  I have always really liked Brandon, but saving Vincent made me like him even more!

The brides flowers.

Bridesmaid flowers

Alyse

Me, Dad and Alyse

My dad and me.  He was standing up 1 stair.

Currently my favorite picture of Vincent and me.

Aunt Jill and Vincent

Nanno and Vincent

After all bridesmaids got their hair done a various locations we met up at my dad’s house to finish getting ready.  He lives one block from the church, so it was a really convenient place to get ready.  My mom and Jill were getting their hair and makeup done at my dad’s.  All the bridesmaids were eating some snacks and getting our dresses ready.  I learned how to use a steamer that day and had a lot of fun using it get wrinkles out of everyone’s dress.  Jill asked me to do it to her dress too, but it looked fine to me so I mostly just stood there pretending to steam her dress.

Bridesmaids relaxing before the wedding

Jill enjoying a little drink while getting ready

Funny Jill face.

Alyse, Me and Dunkin

Jill getting her hair done.

About an hour before Jill wanted to be at the church she went to put her dress on, it took a few people to help her.  While she was getting dressed all 9 of her bridesmaid, my mom and the photographer were watching.  As my mom went to zip up the back of the dress the zipper broke, it came right out of the track!  We all reassured Jill that it was no big deal we just had to fix it and it would be fine.  Behind her back we all had a look of panic!  Jill’s godmother , Janine, is a seamstress and lives a few blocks away.  We called her and she came over to take a look.  She said she might be able to fix it and called her husband to bring some more tools.  As time went on Jill did a great job of holding it together and not freaking out or crying.  I was very proud of her!  At 3pm, the time Jill wanted to be at the church, there was a big cheer that rang out from the room where Janine and Al were working.  They had fixed the zipper and everyone was so excited!  If they didn’t get the zipper fixed they were going to sew her into the dress which would have worked too.

Cool hanger!

The beautiful wedding dress

So pretty

Broken wedding dress.  Janine trying to fix it with Jordyn and Kennidy.

My mom looks really nervous!

The dress fixed and back on!

Jill quickly got dressed.  The bridesmaids headed to the church and stopped guests from entering so that Jill could get to the bride's room and relax for a few minutes before the 3:30 start time.  The ceremony went well!  Vincent and the flower girls did a great job walking up and down the aisle.  It was fun to stand up front and see all the family and friends that were there to support Jill and Joe.  They are very blessed and have a lot of loving people surrounding them as they start their new life together.

All dressed up!

Dad and Jill

Vincent entertaining while waiting for pictures.

Cecilia in her dress

Vincent and the flower girls.

The bridal party getting photos.

This is what Joel thought of all of it!

The kid can't stop talking!

Married!