Aunt Kennidy

Vincent wanted to write a note for Aunt Kennidy.  I told him how to spell Aunt and Kennidy.  Later in the basement I found a note that said “I love Aunt Kennidy”.  Kennidy was very excited to hear he wrote her a note.  I even sent her a picture of it. 

Writing notes is what he loves to do lately.  I find myself being asked to spell many different words.  It is really cute and I am enjoying it!

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!

Aunt Kennidy's Birthday

Due to some car troubles Kennidy was having we were able to see her on her birthday!  Her car was getting repaired and we still had my grandparent’s car here, so my mom drove her here to get their car.  It was the first time she had been to our house and we were very excited to see her.  Unfortunately she wasn’t able to stay very long.  Even though she wasn't there very long we still managed to give her a tour of the backyard (including the huge spider on the slide) and the house.  Kennidy and Grandma Dawn even went down the hill on the balance bike!  We are still hoping she will come out some time and spend the night.  She is in high school and very busy with plays, clubs, school, dance, gymnastics and work.  She doesn’t have a lot of free time!

Aunt Kennidy and Cecilia.

Big spider on the slide.

Aunt Kennidy and Cecilia.

Grandma Dawn and Cecilia.

Joel, Aunt Kennidy and Cecilia.

Swimming with Aunt Linda

After Joel’s first day of school we went to therapy and then I took the kids out to eat.  They are getting so much easier to take into a restaurant by myself.  After lunch we picked up Aunt Linda and headed to the pool.  For Joel’s birthday Aunt Linda gave us passes to a fun pool near her and we were finally able to pick a warm day when we were all available to go.  

Cecilia going down the slide

Aunt Linda and Cecilia going to get water

It was a perfect afternoon, many kids had already started school so it wasn’t very busy.  There was a kid pool that was zero depth that had a slide, fountains and other water features, and in the deep end it was only 2.5 feet deep!  It is kind of hit or miss if the kids like water and they loved it!  They had so much fun in the kid pool. 

Cecilia spilled her bucket of water.

Joel carrying a bucket of water and Cecilia following Aunt Linda to get more water.

After a little while they wanted to go to the big pool.  So we put life jackets on the boys and headed over there.  Vincent is pretty confident in his swimming skills when he has his life jacket on and was swimming all over the place.  Joel did really well and instead of gripping the side of the pool or me for dear life he let go a few times and just floated.  One time he got nervous because his face hit the water and he started freaking out, he was in absolutely no danger but he was worried.  I reached over and grabbed him and he turned and looked at me and said “Mommy, you saved my life!”  I couldn’t help but laugh a little.

Joel and Vincent filling a hole they made with water.

Cecilia trying really hard not to spill her bucket of water

Cecilia loved the water too, but her life jacket doesn’t really fit her well and she won’t stay in a floatie, so Aunt Linda and I took turns holding her in the big pool.  In the kid pool she spent almost all her time on the slide.  She is not afraid of water!

Joel having fun in the sand

At the top of every hour they have a break and during the break the kids all went to the huge sand area.  They loved it!  They wanted wet sand so they could build things so Aunt Linda was nice enough to keep filling up buckets of water for the kids.  Cecilia and Joel would carry the buckets from the water fountain to the sand on their own most of the time.  You could see how hard it was for them but they were determined!

Cecilia hard at work carrying her bucket of water

After a couple hours Joel was asleep in a towel and it was getting late, so we left.  It was a great time and maybe next year we will try to go there a few more times.  Thanks Aunt Linda for that great birthday present!

The boys having fun!