Grandparents Day!

In November Vincent's school had Grandparent's Day for the preschool and kindergarten classes.  Vincent was lucky enough to have 5 grandparents there: Craig and Diane, my mom and Dave, and my dad.  He thought he was pretty cool and was excited to see them.  Kasi was home on Thanksgiving break and came to spend time with Cecilia, Joel and I.  Afterwards we met up with everyone at Culver's for lunch.  It was a lot of fun and really does it get much cooler for the kids than to be spoiled by 5 grandparents at once?!

Vincent and Nanno

Nanno, Grandma Dawn and Vincent

Vincent and Grandma Dawn

Nanno and Vincent

Grandma Dawn, Vincent, Papa Razzi

Grandpa Craig, Grandma Diane and Vincent

Konow's Farm

The kids all had a day off in October so we went to Konow’s Farm.  They have corn mazes, a petting zoo, mechanical bull, corn pit, pile of straw to climb on, jumping pillow, pedal tractors, a cow train, pumpkins, etc.  It is a really fun place and kind of busy on a day the kids are off school.  Diane and Keith came with us and we met up with Kristy, Brett and Luke and the Kirk’s.  Due to the timing of everything we only had 2 hours there, because I had to be at Bible Study and they all needed to get some sleep before school the next day.  I told my carload of kids when we got there that we only had 2 hours and if they wanted to see everything I could keep telling them when it was time to switch activities or they could decide on their own.  They wanted my help.  I also told them that we were not going on the pony rides or the hayrides or the bigger corn maze.  They were all fine with that.  In reality it was only Keith and Vincent that cared about anything I was saying.

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Joel looking at the deer.

Cecilia and the goats.

Sweet piglets!  I love pigs!

Grandma Diane and Cecilia

Brett and Luke trying to climb in with the goats.

A jumping pillow.

Joel riding a tractor.

Cecilia and Maggie!

Diane and Joel.

We had fun at the petting zoo and jumping pillow and then headed to the cow train.  They were almost out of cows to ride in, but had one left.  It wasn’t big enough for me to ride with Joel, but the guy in the cow next to Joel was very nice and kept an eye on him for us.  Joel did great!  Cecilia rode on Jackie’s lap and Vincent and Austin were quick to grab the cow’s at the front of the train.  When the train came back Kristy, Brett and Luke went on it and Vincent sat with Brett! 

Jackie, Tyler, Vincent, Keith, Joel, Austin, Cecilia, and Maggie.

Amy, Maggie, Cecilia and Jackie

Vincent being a goof and Austin.

Tyler and Keith.

Joel and his new friend.

The cow train!

Brett, Luke, Kristy and Vincent.

Our fearless leaders in the corn maze!

Jackie and Cecilia going down the really fast slide.

Keith's turn!

The maze was ok, I am not sure we went all the way thru it because we came out the entrance, but the kids had fun.  Tyler grabbed Joel’s hand and kept an eye on him without anyone asking and Joel was happy to be with the big kids.  After that we headed to the straw pile that had a really fast slide that was a lot of fun!  Even Cecilia and I went down it!  From there we met up with Kristy, Brett and Luke in the corn pit.  I jumped in with the kids and somehow they decided it would be fun to bury me.  I ended up with corn in my pockets, my pants, and my underwear.  If you were wondering having corn kernels in your underwear is not very comfortable.  All the kids (except Maggie) seemed to love the corn pit.

Tyler helping Joel.

Cecilia following Joel into a long dark tunnel.

Cecilia wasn't happy until she made it all the way to the top.

The corn pit!

Joel.

Cecilia getting buried.

She loved it!

Keith getting buried.  Brett was helping too!

Luke and Vincent.

It is hard to remember what we did after the corn pit but we did a couple more activities and then left.  We stopped and grabbed food along the way and Keith had to work to earn his supper.  He was in the back with the kids so he had to keep handing them food.  It’s hard work being the oldest!  It is probably very different for Keith going from being the youngest in his family to the oldest when he spends time with us.  We were running late so they dropped me off at Bible Study on the way home.  While I was there I spent a good portion of the night picking up corn kernels that kept falling out of my pockets!  It was a fun afternoon!

Adorable Luke!

Maggie did NOT like the corn.

Vincent buried.

Brett had fun burying Vincent.

Cecilia and Mommy.

Austin jumping.

Brett and Vincent getting ready to jump.

Keith, Jackie, Joel and Austin....the sun was really bright.

Vincent, Austin, Keith, Cecilia and Tyler

Diane, Amy and Maggie.

Joel and his big buddy Tyler.

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!