Back to School 2010

It's that time of year again and Jillian was very ready to return to "school." We visited last week and met their new teachers and Rocco was less than thrilled. He could smell a change in the air and has been uneasy ever since.

This year I am not paying the extra money for breakfast so that means I have to get their breakfasts ready in the morning (like I don't have enough to do). But both Jillian and Rocco love packing their backpacks in the morning with food and sippy cups full of milk.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Again Jillian was so happy and practically sprinting through the parking lot to get to the door. However Rocco was a whole 'nother story. His goes along the line of hysterical screaming as soon as we drove into the parking lot and continued screaming and kicking until I get him into his room and into the teacher's waiting arms. I am told that he cries for about 5-10 minutes and then he perks up. I have yet to get a picture of the screaming/crying fit because carrying 28 lbs and kicking/squirming toddler is hard enough by itself.

Otherwise, Jillian has been trying the dance class at the Little Gym. She loves the tapping and will about tap us crazy before the class is over.

Mr. Roc was interested in the ballet shoes. Maybe we have a Billy Elliott on our hands???

As for me, I am back to work and it is kicking my tail. The kiddos come on Monday!

New Pics

This one was a doozy! This was by far the hardest picture session yet. Jillian did not approve of the outfits. She did not want to wear a bow. Rocco was not "in the mood" for pics and Jillian was trying to be a little "too helpful." BUT somehow we managed a couple of good shots.....

Jillian 3 1/2 years

Rocco 18 months (Will he ever stop drooling??)

The poser...

The ham..

Port A 2010

Soooooooo, I have totally been MIA. I really have several excuses but really the main one is that I have had no motivation to blog. There I said it. However, with work just 3 days away, I promise to get back into it!!!

This summer, we had a great time at the beach. Jillian loves everything about the beach. Rocco is fine as long as he has his shoes on. Even though this is his 4th trip to the beach in his short 18 months, he still does NOT like the feel of the sand.

We really had a ball. Grammie, Poppy and Aunt Masure joined us for a few days. We saw tons of fish, crabs, turtles, porpi, and several kinds of jellyfish.

The kids are no longer watching the Thomas the Train video I used to distract them so I will have to finish this post later!!!!!!

18 months

Where did the time go?? Rocco is officially 18 months. Half-way to 2!!!! Break my heart!!!

On Thursday, he had his official well-baby check and his stats are

Head = 90th percentile (in other words, big)

Height = 34 inches 90th percentile (in other words, tall)

Weight = 27 lbs 6 ozs 70th percentile (in other words, just 4 pounds shy of Jillian, JEEZ!)

The doc said he is the model of an active, healthy baby boy!!!

At 18 months, Rocco likes to get into EVERYTHING and TEAR IT DOWN!!!! Very different than my sweet Jilli at 18 months.

He is my champion eater and will eat just about anything I put in front of him. He is not picky. He will eat fruits and veggies and meats.

He sleeps consistently from 7 to 7 in his new room!!! Naps this summer have been a little off because of the move and the new room but he usually naps from an hour to two hours.

With the new house, we have conquered stairs! He will climb them and slide down but he would much rather you carry him.

I have not cut his hair even though I get all kids of comments. But I absolutely ADORE his blond curls and I am not ready to say good-bye yet!!! I am ready to accept whatever comments come our way!!!

He is very sensitive!!! If you tell him no about anything, this is what he does.....

That's right. He throws himself on the ground and cries. It doesn't matter how gentle you say the "no" he doesn't like hearing it!!!

Rocco understands everything you say and will do most of what you ask him. He will point to all of his body parts correctly. He will point to lots of animals in books correctly. BUT he will not say a word. With Jillian, it was the opposite. We couldn't shut her up! She was saying all the body parts and saying all of the animals and the animals sounds.

He can say Mama (but this means either me, Grammie or Poppy),

Dada (which means only Daddy - go figure)

bapple (for apple)

On occasion, he has said - up, clock, more, gog (dog), and cac (cat) and this cracks me up but he can say caffle (which means cold Eggo waffle which he and Jillian love - GROSS!!!)

Doc said not to worry. With the combo of boy and 2nd child and Jillian's motor mouth, Rocco's speech will eventually catch up!!!

He really is a joy and a happy kid!! This is his serious face!

Ok, Mama, I'll give you a smile!

Please stop taking pictures and take me to play in Poppy's truck!!! This is his all-time favorite activity!!!

He is such an adorable little rascal!!

Time Stands Still

Kiddie Park is a long-standing park in downtown San Antonio. Everybody who has lived here since time began has been to Kiddie Park.

This is us in November 1981. My Mom has very specific memories of taking us here because she said a lady attacked her. Summer was two months old and the lady fussed at my Mom telling her she should not have such a little baby at the park.

While my Mom was upset over the crazy lady, I was having a ball riding the boats....

and the cars.....

and the spaceships.

And now 29 years later, my kids are still enjoying Kiddie Park. It is honestly very scary how everything looks EXACTLY the same. But it is the perfect park for kids aged 1-5!!!!

Jillian and her friend Maddie on the boats.

Rocco and Gavin on the boats.
Practicing for the Kentucky Derby!!! (Notice how Jillian is holding the reigns!! Lots of control issues for that one!!)

Riding the carousel.

All 4 on the Ferris Wheel. Rocco lasted one rotation and then had to be let out but the other three enjoyed the heights!

Can you see the meltdown??

I could not believe how fast the spaceships went! I could not believe the kids were not scared! Well, Rocco was but the older kids loved it!!

They had lots of fun riding the cars. Can you believe Gavin is sitting in the same one that I am riding 29 years ago



Finally, they rode the school bus. They rode it 10 times! It literally is on a track that goes around in a circle! But they loved it!

We're Almost In!!!

We have been working so hard for the past three weeks. Well, Frank, the painter has been working so hard and it is all paying off.

Remember the wretched green fireplace and the tacky green ivy on the wall....


Gone!!!! And replaced by beautiful classy shades of gray-blue.




Remember the tacky bright blue kitchen with the horrible flag border and florescent lighting???


Gone!! Replaced with gorgeous bright white walls and beautiful fixtures done by Bryan. (Sorry this photo is dark but trust me when I say this is an awesome cheery bright kitchen now!!)



Remember the electric purple master bedroom?? With tacky white fan? How could you forget the electric purple??



Gone!! Replaced by cream walls (painted by Mom and I) and a pretty wood fan (installed by Bryan over a 4 hr period). Hey, but it is done right!!!



Remember the tacky disgusting carpet in the master bath?? Who does that???

Gone!!! Replaced by beautiful tile!!!

We also had the nasty vinyl replaced in the kids' bathroom with beautiful tile!!

The nursery is now a soft shade of green (again done by Mom and I).

Jillian's room is now a pretty shade of yellow. She really wanted pink walls but she got vetoed. There are plenty of years ahead for her to convince me to give her pink walls.

Finally, Bryan replaced almost every fixture in the house. This is the great chandelier that is now over our staircase.

So as you can see, we have been very, very busy!!! But the house now looks fantastic!!!! Moving day is set for Monday!!!!! We are very excited to be in our new place!!!!!

Happy 4th!!

We had an ordinary day filled with all things American.

Red, white and blue....

First a family outing to church....

with lots of funny faces for the camera.

with one sweet face from the almost 3 1/2 year old.

Then some swimming and some yummy watermelon.

Rocco LOVED the watermelon..... He started out calm and then....

Then he got CRAZY with the watermelon!!!!

Seriously, I mean CRAZY!!!!