Monday, December 31, 2012

Merry Christmas, and, Happy New Year!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and Evan and Eliana pose with the snowmen that were once the same size as them.

Christmas Morning! Evan tore through his gifts in just under 10 minutes. 

Eliana on a mountain of gifts.

Eliana very excited about her dolly.



I AM IRON MAN!

Elvis was none too pleased about the Santa outfit.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Merry Christmas!

If we sent out a Christmas cards this year, it probably would have been this photo. This was a tough moment. Evan told us when we got in line that he did not want to meet Santa. But we waited anyway in the hopes that he would change his mind by the time we got to the front of the line. Eliana was fine! She just sat right in Santa's lap and was ready for her picture. Evan started crying and wouldn't look at or talk to Santa. Santa himself was very cool about it and still asked me what Evan wanted for Christmas. A Monster Truck!





Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Believe in Santa!

"After 10 years, 7 months, 23 hours and 14 minutes, I finally found out."

I found this little gem that I wrote back in 1983. I guess someone broke the news to me about Santa.
I couldn't believe it. Worse yet, why would someone want to ruin my Christmas? As I recall, they seemed to take pleasure in the fact. I'm just glad no one burst my Santa bubble before I was 10. Believe in Santa Claus!

P.S. If my calculations were correct, it would have been Nov 9th, 1983.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Evan's Christmas Creations

Evan has been making some great Christmas decorations at school. Check it out!
This one is great. Evan's photo is priceless.

It's his hand as a Christmas Tree!

Evan took this photo of the candy cane he made. So proud!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Unthinkable.

Unthinkable. Unspeakable. Unimaginable. You quickly run out of words to describe what happened today because there are none. There have been many of these mass shootings over the years, even recently, but the news of this one rocked me to the core, and I think most of the country as well. I felt sick to my stomach all day and still do. I hate to say it, but I think it even called my faith into question.
I think that if our kids aren't safe, then we've failed as a society, something has to be done. This should have never happened and it should never happen again.

I picked up Evan today at 11:45am this morning, and I never thought anything at the time of the Police Officers who came to up their kids this morning. They must have known. I did not until about Noon. I took Evan and Eliana over to my place and we just watched cartoons and Spongebob. I didn't want them to see the news. I tried to follow what was going on from my computer and from people's Facebook updates. One of my friends from High School, Lisa Valentini, has two children that were at the school today when the incident occurred. Luckily, they are safe. I keep hugging Evan and Eliana tonight telling them how much I love them. Thinking about those poor beautiful children and their families tonight. I can't imagine what they must be feeling tonight.

Eliana's First Haircut!

 Eliana had her FIRST HAIRCUT today with Aunt Andi! And she was really, really good. No crying or anything.

She does look a little unsure here though. She had Mommy's phone to play her Toca Hair Salon game.

Eliana plays her game while Aunt Andi trims her curls.

All finished! Evan got his haircut too!



Monday, December 10, 2012

Snow on Main St USA


After "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party" at Disney World, snow begins to fall on Main St USA while Christmas Music plays. The kids love dancing to the music and trying to catch 'snowflakes.'
The park was closing and it was a fitting end to a great night at Disney World.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

What Season is It???

Well I tool the kids to the local playground today, and you'd think it was April or May outside. Couldn't tell if it was Spring or Fall. Either way, it was beautiful, and the kids had fun spending a few hours on the playground on an unusually warm December afternoon. Not that I'm complaining. Makes you wonder about the weather though.



No Way is that Sand Touching My Feet!


No Way. No How.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Family Fun

Genevieve and I spent a really nice day with the kids in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia this weekend. Genevieve knew about a really neat playground and we took the kids there for some play time. There was a mural there, and somehow the photo Gods aligned and Evan and Eliana posed for this really cool picture. After that we checked out a local toy store, then spent the better part of an hour looking for the nearest Panera Bread no thanks to Apple Maps! Can't even talk about it. I want my Google Maps back!!! All in all, we had a really fun day, and it was great to feel like a complete family. We finally found a Panera and we had Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup, which is always perfect on a cold winter day.


Sunday, December 2, 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

Evan in "Gagnam Style!"

Check out Evan in his music video debut with "Gangnam Style." Sure to be a huge hit. Eliana may want to turn away from the computer, she doesn't like heads being put on other people's bodies or talking dogs.

"Pinky" and "Morton the Caterpillar"


While waiting for our seats at the House of Blues in Orlando, Davey Rocker was nice enough to sing a few songs for us, including one he wrote on the spot for "Pinky" and her "Big Brother."

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Back Home

After a road trip of 1,265 miles, we finally made it back home last week. Took nearly a week to recover!
Evan and Eliana saw some neat cars in the parking lot of the Ihop in Kingsland, Georgia.

Posing with life size elephants in front of Papa Joe's Fireworks in Hardeeville, SC.

The kids were really good to say what a long car ride it was.

Of course we had to stop at South of the Border in Dillon, SC for an Arcade pit stop! The kids wanted their photo in front of this giant gorilla.


Saturday, November 17, 2012

Visiting Nan & Poppy

We had a great visit with Nan & Poppy that went by too quickly.



One Last Beach Day


We finally squeezed in a beach day today. We weren't sure when we woke up, because it looked cloudy and was kind of chilly, (by Florida standards.) Later in the afternoon, the skies cleared up and the sun came out, so we headed over to Naples Beach to get some beach time in before sunset.



Ms. Eliana testing her toes in the sand.




They really enjoyed the beach. They spent a lot of time dodging waves and playing in the sand. Evan even met a few lady friends to play with on the beach, his age, maybe younger.

Eliana was as fearless as ever. In and out of the waves, chest deep in the water, no fear. 


Sunset tonight at Naples Pier. A great ending to a really nice day.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Naples Zoo

Yesterday, we went to the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. The kids truly had a great time here. One of the best thing to do there is feeding the giraffes. You can really get up close to these amazing creatures. See the video below.




Leopard

Hey! Where ya goin? I'm still hungry!

Banyan Tree

Malayan Tiger

Male Lion

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Surprise Nan!

My family was throwing a surprise birthday party for my Mom, in Naples, FL. Which is the main reason we drove down. We left Disney World early in the morning and had more than a 3 hour drive ahead of us to get to Naples before noon so that we could be there to surprise my Mom, who had no idea we were coming. To complicate things further, I didn't know I had to wear formal clothes, since the party was at a country club. When we got into the Naples area, I had to stop at the stores to quickly try on and buy an outfit, wear it out of the store, and race down to the country club where the party was being held. Meanwhile, Genevieve was trying to get the kids, and herself dressed. No small task. 

With only minutes to spare, we got there right before my parents, and had to hide out on the side of the building so they wouldn't see us. We decided it would be better to wait for the initial surprise, and then we could come in afterwards. It worked great. My Mom sure was surprised to see us all the way from Pennsylvania! (These were the photos Mommy took while we waited for Nan to go inside.)

Eliana was still feeling a bit shy in the first few minutes of the party. But she soon warmed up and had fun running around with her cousins.

Evan and Eliana surprised Nan with nice big pink flowers!


Here's the whole gang, Eliana can be seen streaking by on the left, Evan didn't want to be in the picture.

Evan and Eliana have SO much fun hanging around with their cousin Chandler.

Mickey's Christmas Party

Friday night was "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party." A little early for Christmas, I know, but it was our only shot at going to the party, which is always a lot of fun. 

It's all about Eliana.

Eliana got to meet her favorite: Tinkerbell.

Tinkerbell had friends.

Evan really danced it up at Woody's Dance Party.

Eliana and Evan wait to meet Mickey and Minnie after the parade.

It's our turn next!

Yay! Mickey and Minnie!