The Life and Times of Both Sprogs 1 and 2

Vero has her first Communion...NOT!

2011-08-12T23:36:00.000-07:00

Vero is so into dressing up. She asked me for a piece of lace and immediately used it for a veil with the tutu that I made her. She pretends she is a bride, princess and queen, all at one time. She is such a girl.

Summer Fun

2011-07-13T22:27:00.000-07:00

Little Campers

2011-07-12T21:39:00.000-07:00

This year marks the first time that the kids have taken a day camp. They attended a week in June and will attend a week in July and August. I scarcely know what to do with my 2.5 hours of free time. This morning, I got my hair done, tomorrow I go to the PT for my knee.
I enjoy the free time but cannot wait to get back to the kids as well.

Little Hikers

2011-07-12T21:37:00.000-07:00

This summer we have begun to take the kids hiking. So far this summer they have been on 4 hikes of varying lengths. 1-3 miles each. Most of the times, we have had friends with us and that makes the trip so much for fun. The kids get to talk with their buddies and we get a chance to chat with the adults.

Growing up on an island was a wonderful experience and I think that the kids are learning a lot about appreciating the outdoor when we take them hiking.

Summer Gelato

2011-07-10T08:20:00.000-07:00

Vero Ballet 2

2011-06-27T20:09:00.001-07:00

Vero Ballet 1

2011-06-27T20:09:00.000-07:00

New Car Old Car

2011-06-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

Here are the kids in the new van. I have been working a bit with other kids here and there so I love having the extra space. Part of me however is really going to miss the Volvo. After 4 great years, it is time to send it to another family.

Super Girl at Home

2011-05-29T16:36:00.000-07:00

A Little Mini Me

2011-05-29T16:25:00.000-07:00

Lorenzo has really gotten to be a really industrious little boy lately. He is very much interested in all types of tools and their uses. One weekend, he watched Demetrio take the bathtub apart to fix a faulty valve. He was all eyes and ears as Deme sawed his way into the tub and fixed the problem.

Gymnastics at Home

2011-04-27T13:13:00.000-07:00

A great way to get the kids tired before nap time. I love these action shots, they remind me that childhood is fun.

Oldies of Lorenzo

2011-04-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

This photo says it all! My boy.

Vero as Grass Lawn Park

2011-04-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

Vero played near me and occasionally drifted off to the merry go round on her own. Towards the end of the outing she grabbed hold of a swing and was about to hop on when a larger girl, grabbed onto the other side and held fast. They grappled a bit then the other girl flung the swing towards Vero and it hit her in the mouth. Her lips began bleeding, I saw the whole thing and went to console Vero. I looked at the other girl and said, 'you were too rough, look at what happened.' The girl looked at me and said 'sorry', as I glanced at her I could see she was a special needs child. I told Vero it was an accident and she did not realize how rough she had been. We went home after a long hug and several bloody kisses.

Lorenzo at Grass Lawn Park

2011-04-22T22:00:00.000-07:00

It was a cold but sunny day today. The kids and I headed out to the park. Within minutes Lorenzo was digging his shovel into the sand and dumping at my feet. As I spoke to a fellow mom, he disappeared towards the climbing structure. He climbed and jumped non stop for almost an hour until it was time to go.

Vero's first note to mamma and papa'

2011-04-21T22:16:00.000-07:00

I found this adorable. It says 'mom dad, i love you too.'

More nightime with Papa'

2011-04-21T22:14:00.001-07:00

Night time with Papa

2011-04-14T20:55:00.000-07:00

Deme is the best bedtime story reader ever! The kids love when he reads in Italian and makes scary voices when he pretends to be villians.

Veronica and her Antics

2011-04-14T17:02:00.000-07:00

Vero is maturing slowly but surely. She is now getting ready to take her early entrance into kindergarden next week. I hope makes it but we won't be devastated if she doesn't.

Lorenzo and his antics

2011-04-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

Lorenzo is growing up to be a cute little man. He dresses himself every
morning and even sets out his outfits the night before.

Veronica's Lessons

2011-03-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

Vero is doing really well with her preparations for the early kindergarten test. Here is a sample.

Reno Visit 2

2011-03-08T19:18:00.000-08:00

This is a photo of Bella's neck even after the surgery. It seems as if the site has become a bit infected. It did not help that she fell backwards out of a chair and hit herself right on that exact spot. Ouch! She is strong and a real trooper though! A real inspiration.

This is the adorable new addition to our family, Amelia. She is 10 weeks old and loves to smile and blow bubbles. What an angel.

Vero's Favorite Haircut

2011-03-08T19:16:00.000-08:00

So far this little short bob has been Veronica's favorite haircut. Believe it or not, even her short hair gets tangles in the back. She complains when I comb it out sometimes, I cannot imagine how many rats' nests I might find if her hair were longer.

Gingerbread House 2

2010-12-18T09:04:00.000-08:00

After we put the gingerbread houses together and they were dried appropriately, I told the kids they could eat a few pieces of candy from the houses after their meals. In a week both kids ate all the candy from the top of their houses and we are now working on eating the walls.

Gingerbread House 1

2010-12-18T09:02:00.000-08:00

This was the first year we have gotten a Christmas tree for the kids and we thought it would be nice to start other Christmas traditions as well, like making gingerbread houses. Both kids really liked this project and went at it with gusto. Veronica's house was elegant and Lorenzo's house was over the top with lots of candy on the roof.

The Little Chef

2010-12-18T08:59:00.000-08:00

We have been doing a lot of holiday baking and the kids love helping me. On this day we were making chocolate chip cookies. The kids adored the creamed butter and sugar so much they ate a good amount before we even added the chocolate chips.

Veronica Plays Music

2010-11-22T21:26:00.000-08:00

This was a funny game. Both kids went and grabbed their instruments. They played along with K'naan and his song "Waving Flag" on YouTube, a great song, you should look it up. Then they grabbed baskets and wanted me to throw fake money into them. They like the idea of giving money to people who play music, we do this at the Pike Place Market whenever we visit.

The Kids Play Vet

2010-11-22T21:24:00.001-08:00

Veronica's Art

2010-11-22T21:24:00.000-08:00

Veronica is getting more artistic by the day. She can draw, paint and really decorate her pictures. Notice the stick on yellow foam stickers on the girl. So adorable.

Lorenzo does the Hula

2010-11-03T23:13:00.001-07:00

Its funny to see that Lorenzo is the only one facing backwards.

Kids Play at the Fountain in Kauai

2010-10-25T00:32:00.000-07:00

I love the way Lorenzo holds his feet up to the water, so adorable.

Happy Birthday Babies!

2010-10-25T00:26:00.000-07:00

Today we had a giant double birthday party for Veronica and Lorenzo! It was a wild and fun filled morning with all out best friends. Thank you to everyone who came and helped us celebrate.

This was Lorenzo's cake. He wanted a Toy Story cake so I ordered the edible photo on the Internet and made the cake. Lorenzo helped to hold the pastry bag open as I filled it with blue frosting.

Veronica asked for a pink cake with The little mermaid on it. She adores mermaids now and love anything that has to do with the sea. We dyed some shredded coconut purple and used that to sprinkle all over the side of the cake.

Lorenzo is all smiles when he sees his friends.

Asher, Indie and Lorenzo sit in a circle and wait for the next game to start in the play gym.

Veronica sits next to her good friends.

Everyone gets a chance to take part in an obstacle course.

Lorenzo and Veronica take center stage at the end of the play time.

Mamma and her babies.

Zia Kentra and the kids.

Veronica and her Face Painting

2010-10-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

Face painting happens to be one to the things that Veronica loves best in this world. She adores going to the Kids Quest Children's museum in Factoria for just this reason. I think it is time to get her a face painting set for Halloween.

Veronica Gets Sporty

2010-09-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

This summer Vero fell in love with the monkey bars. If they are low enough she can do them herself and if they are too high, I pick her up, she attaches to them and can still manage a few rungs on her own. She is really growing up and getting the hang of her body.

Here Vero is mid-dribble. She loves to throw balls in the air and watch where they land. I think it is wonderful she is a tom boy and a girlie girl all at the same time.

More hanging tricks from Veronica. She adores dangling upside down.

At a recent birthday, Vero got to try her hand at hitting a ball off a T, she might be ready for T-ball soon.

Non-Chinese Mermaid

2010-09-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

This is a funny one. Auntie Kentra bought Vero a craft that involves wax sticks and strings. Vero wanted to make a mermaid just like on the cover of the box. We set out counting how many colors was strings were need for each part of the mermaid, it was a quick and east thing to do. I followed the directions and put the mermaid together, once we got to the face Vero said she did not want a slanted eyes on her mermaid b/c it was not Chinese.

New Trick at the Park

2010-09-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

Veronica is very proud of her new trick on the monkey bars, she can now climb and flip all on her own. She is very independent and loves to show off when she has mastered a new skill.

Bed Time Buddies

2010-09-05T22:04:00.000-07:00

Lorenzo at his therapy session

2010-09-05T22:03:00.000-07:00

Lorenzo has been doing really well at his therapy sessions. In fact he is excelling and really taking on hard 'jobs' that are in fact lots of fun for him. Here he is play with a zip line with his morning therapist, and she is having him drop onto a crash pad below.

This is Lorenzo climbing up a rope to get to the little kitten stuck at the top. His climbing helps him to strengthen his muscles as well as develop motor planning (for example, he 'learns' via practice where his hands and feet go and what they need to do for him to complete a task.) Way to go!

Lorenzo and his crash pad

2010-09-04T13:29:00.001-07:00

Lorenzo Close Ups

2010-09-04T08:58:00.000-07:00

Daddy and Son Bond

2010-08-25T21:05:00.001-07:00

There is a bit of sound in the background but you really don't need it at all.

Veronica and Lorenzo Jumping in the Pool

2010-08-25T20:37:00.000-07:00

Misc. Summer Photos

2010-08-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

Veronica has really begun to start writing and drawing. We took a couple of art classes this month and during one class, we made a turtle out of a paper plate and a paper bowl. The inverted bowl was the turtles shell and the plate was where we glued the legs, tail and head before stapling it to the shell. Now my girl is obsessed with turtles.

This is Veronica looking shockingly grown up. Oftentimes I have to do a double take when I look at her. She's tall 43 inches tall, 109 cm and speaks so eloquently, I often mistake her for a 5 year old. I am constantly in awe of her kindness and maturity, sometimes I am even sad she is moving away from being my first baby and onto being a little girl.

These days Lorenzo is spending many of his days running around naked. Summer has been mild and it is a great time to potty train him. He is motivated on most days but still quite the 2 year old. Here he is eating steak and driving in the Formula 1, at the same time mind you.

Seattle Aquarium Trip

2010-08-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

This week we are having a heat wave. 90+ degrees in the shade. We decided to spend our Sunday at the Seattle Aquarium, enjoying the crowds and staying out of the hot sun.

Lorenzo has a vast collection of Hawaiian shirts, thanks to mom, and here he is showing one off. Doesn't he look like an island boy?

Veronica makes a cute octopus doesn't she?

Here is the real giant octopus, you may not be able to tell by the photo but when the octopus is curled up it is the size of a small child.

Here Veronica is being attacked by a giant octopus.

Face painting, she chose the sea otter.

Veronica can write her name

2010-08-09T19:06:00.000-07:00

This picture is currently on our fridge. Notice Veronica's name and the different eyes on the members of her family. The last little member is her dolly. It seems that 2 people have Asian eyes and 3 do not.

A Day at GrassLawn Park

2010-08-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

Veronica is deathly afraid of heights but she has gotten much braver and strong these past 3 months or so. She now attempts the monkey bars and other climbing feats on her own. Here her auntie Kentra is helping her to climb to the top of a very tall slide. She looks unsure but after 2-3 times she begins to feel more confidant.

At the park there are small rocks that one can climb, I am on this one and Kentra is on the one below.

Veronica and one of her best friends, Indie.

Lorenzo's Cappuccino Mustache

2010-08-08T00:07:00.000-07:00

This child of mine really likes cappuccinos, now he knows how to order them at the cafe too. He says 'short, latte, not to hot please.' It makes me giggle every time.

Blueberries and Snakes

2010-08-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

The kids and I went blueberry picking at a farm last week. Usually the kids don't get many blueberries in the bucket but this year they did a great job and we ended up with almost a pound. While we were on our way back to the car, we say three garden snakes sunning themselves in the grass. Veronica and Lorenzo were not afraid but intrigued and very interested. After the snakes spotted us, they headed for cover.

Lorenzo and his Cappuccino

2010-08-03T21:41:00.000-07:00

Poor Lorenzo looks like an insomniac so I had to airbrush away the bags from under his eyes. I really do not want people to think we keep him up all night then have to feed him coffee in the morning so he can function. Here is he enjoying his morning cappuccino.

Watermelon Yumminess

2010-08-03T21:39:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful time at auntie Gia's and soon to be uncle Paul's place about a week ago. They invited us over for a little BBQ, seeing that they bought a new grill and Gia basically wanted to show it off. Deme was so impressed at the clever design features that he now wants one too.

After lunch the kids ran around, played in the box the grill came in, fell down and skinned knees, went on walks and ate a whole lotta watermelon. My kids are suckers for watermelon, Deme hates it but nonna Stefania and I both love it! Here are the highlights:

Lorenzo's First Soccer Goal

2010-07-23T23:01:00.001-07:00

We were super proud of our little guy. He is wearing his Roma uniform and I cannot tell who is more excited in the video, Deme or Lorenzo.

Vero and Her Bubbles

2010-07-23T22:57:00.000-07:00

A few photos courtesy of Auntie Tia of Vero at the beach with her bubbles.

Vero and the Shark Kite

2010-07-23T22:56:00.000-07:00

We bought this kite a year ago at the Oregon Coast. It is an amazing kite in that it practically flies itself. With the tiny breeze this kite will take to the air and stay up there. Vero did a great job flying one afternoon at the beach. She is a natural.

Stroller Repaired!

2010-07-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

Last week as a friend was trying to help me lift up my stroller onto a curb, the frame snapped. I groaned at the company i bought the stroller folded about 2 years ago. Even though the frame has a life time warranty, I knew I would not be able to get it repaired by the manufacturer.

I 'Googled' like crazy for a week and found a welder near me. He is a retired machinist and for $35 he fixed the stroller. If my dad was here, I bet it would not have cost me anything as my dad is a great welder!

Veronica and Her Seaweed/Driftwood Creation

2010-07-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

After a short ferry ride from Kingston to Edmonds, we decided to stop and relax at the beach in downtown Edmonds. This great sandy beach is where Deme dives. There is an underwater nature preserve marked by white buoys and Deme says there are great things to see underwater. About 2 months ago, a grey whale was hanging out near shore too.

I gathered lots of driftwood for Veronica to build a shelter for her sea animals. In total, we found jellyfish (medusa), crabs, a 15 foot strand of kelp, fish or octopus eggs, colorful and strand like seaweed as well as an anemone. It was a wonderful afternoon of exploration, my biology side really came out and the kids enjoyed it immensely.

Hood Canal Boat Trip

2010-07-13T09:34:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of us on Lake Cushman. We rented a motor boat to take a short spin around this lake, it is 11 miles long. Deme drove the boat but towards the end of the ride, Lorenzo got to take the helm. The water was cold as you can see from the background the lake is fed with cold water from Mt. Washington in the back drop.

Grattachecca Per Tutti

2010-06-07T23:58:00.000-07:00

I hope I am spelling 'grattachecca' correctly. The word means shaved ice, in Italian, I am not sure if it is in Roman dialect or not but my kids LOVE it.

When it is warm, there are shaved ice stands around town and we always get the kids one on a hot day. Both kids adore the sun, just like their mom, and look super cute in their sun hats and bathing suits.

Garden Bounty 1

2010-06-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

Last week amidst the rain and drizzle we stomped over to our garden to harvest fresh spinach; Veronica did all the harvesting. I picked burgundy oak leafed lettuce that Deme and I had in a salad with tomatoes, avocados and white wine vinaigrette. yummy!

Towers, Towers, Towers

2010-06-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

Veronica is a master builder with daring designs. Check this one out!

Both kids are really into building towers. Lorenzo can build a giant towers with all the duplo blocks in his collection. The end result is a tall creation, taller than he is that he must stand next to and support or else it becomes unsteady and comes crashing down.

Lorenzo's New Obsession

2010-06-02T23:42:00.000-07:00

We have no doubt in our mind now that this kid is left handed. He strums his guitar with his left hand then turns the guitar over and taps on the back as a drum too. You should see him strumming his guitar with his microphone under his arm pit and his piano in front of him.

Painting Party at the D'Ambrosi's

2010-05-28T19:44:00.000-07:00

This week's weather and last weeks as well was rainy and cool. We decided to have a painting party at our place with some of our favorite friends. I placed a twin bed sheet over the dining room table and taped large sheets of paper to the table top.

All the kids wanted to 'feel' the paint and ended up finger painting, luckily everything was washable.

I also taped sheets of paper to a low wall in the living room and lined the floor below with plastic baby tarps. Everyone was super creative and made some gorgeous take home art.

Lorenzo takes a break from painting to play his guitar.

We have a an art easel on our little balcony so the kids and really make 'hands on' art. When they are done, they get a dunk in the baby pool.

More Trampoline Jumping

2010-05-24T22:20:00.000-07:00

I just cannot tell you how much the kids love jumping on trampolines. I guess it is just a kid thing, they adore bouncing, being chased, falling, laughing, jumping into the foam pit, falling on top of one another. It is pure laughter and joy whenever we go.

Peter Kirk Park Outing

2010-05-13T13:41:00.000-07:00

The kids adore being outside. I always thought that I wanted to get into a house ASAP but now I have changed my mind. I really do not think we want more of a mortgage. We have so many parks in Kirkland that we have a giant backyard right outside our door.

A Bit of Sun in May

2010-05-07T23:26:00.000-07:00

It has been fairly warm the past 3 days and the kids keep asking me if it is summer yet. They cannot wait to get their sandals and bathing suits on. When the sun shines brightly outside, both kids run into their rooms and try on bathing suits. Lorenzo adores his older sister and imitates her in almost every way. He wanted his own bathing suit too, not boys swimming trunks.

A Day at the Zoo with Zia Kentra

2010-04-26T19:50:00.001-07:00

The kids finished off the day with a ride on the carousel. I kept and eye on Lorenzo and Veronica went with Kentra. It was a fun day!

Spring Strangeness

2010-04-26T19:50:00.000-07:00

You might think this is a professional photograph, it is not. It was taken by a friend at a backyard play date. Lorenzo decided on a warm spring day to wear his heavy winter sweater. While all the other kids were blowing bubbles and playing 'Simon says', this little guy found a broom and wanted to pose with it. What a ham!

Veronica got a new microphone and has been singing up a storm for the past couple of weeks. She found a hat of mine and is doing a MJ impersonation.

Newest Photos and Videos

2010-04-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

Lorenzo got a balloon at a birthday party and the cord was cut a bit short. He was very persistent in climbing up on the step stool to get to his balloon whenever it got away from him.

My kids like to share most of the time. Here Veronica give Lorenzo a lick of a lollipop.

He in turn gives her a lick.

Then they both decide to part ways and enjoy their own treats. I love to see them sharing. Surprisingly they are not very possessive of food but a bit more so of toys and other playthings.

Lorenzo and Veronica have been enjoying a place called Sky High Sports, it is a trampoline jumping gym with walls and walls of jumping fun.

At first I did not think the kids kids would spend much time jumping, as they charge by the hour, after the first two times, I knew they were hooked.

After lunch with papa at his office one day, the kids play outside on an art installation. Yes it was a warm sunny day and yes my husband is under-dressed for work.

Lorenzo's Bed

2010-04-14T18:16:00.000-07:00

Lorenzo tosses his broom, dustpan and giant bear into his bed before he takes naps and before he lays his head down for the night. What a strange kid!

Lorenzo has so much junk in his bed that there is almost no room for him. Yet he memorizes all the 'stuff' he has in there and if you try to clear out a few items, he will end up calling for them in the middle of the night.

Best Friends

2010-04-05T20:54:00.000-07:00

These two kiddies of mine really get along well. Aside from the occasional tussle, they play together, take a shower together (sharing toys, soap etc...), they love to 'take a bite' of each others' snacks and treats too. It is a really great thing to have kids that love one another and show it everyday.

Easter with the D'Ambrosi's 2010

2010-04-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

This year we had our first Easter Party. In this part of the country April is still a rainy month. We rented a heated pavilion and a Tumble Bus for the kids just in case the weather turned foul. The day began cloudy and happily stayed that way. It poured cats and dogs yesterday so I was happy with just clouds and 50+ degrees outside.

Everyone brought a goodie to share which was wonderful. After the kids ate, the tumble bus came. It is a full sized school bus with all the seats taken out. Instead of seats there is a mini gymnastics studio inside, complete with monkey bars, trapeze, trampoline and other climbing apparatus. Everyone had tons of fun, we stayed warm off the body heat of a dozen kids. While the kids were playing with the teachers in the bus, the adults got to eat, chat and socialize, my favorite part of the party.

Here is Lorenzo on the parallel bars in the tumble bus.

Veronica crawls over a padded obstacle in the tumble bus.

While the kids were in the tumble bus, we adults ran around the park and hid about 7 dozen eggs. We had a egg dying party two days ago and the kids created some beautiful and colorful eggs. Lorenzo threw quite a few on the floor but we warned the kids not to eat them.

Veronica finds some eggs with her friend Jacqui.

At the end of the egg hunt, we gave all the kids a big bite of a chocolate bunny. I cracked the poor bunny and dished out pieces to the kids. Everyone had a great time and our party was a success. All the food was eaten including my 2 colomba loaves. No photo, they went too fast!

Zia Gia drew bunny whiskers on both Vero and Lorenzo so they would look like little bunnies. It was super cute.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Mamma and Didi

2010-04-02T21:53:00.000-07:00

No one ever takes photos of the kids and I so I decided to take some myself via Monster Pod.

Raining in the House?

2010-04-02T21:38:00.000-07:00

Lorenzo with his new umbrella and his new shoes.

I think this photo is hilarious. It reminds me of 'rain man.'

Veronica in my shoes, she looks like a little diva here.

Face Painting at Home

2010-03-27T14:11:00.000-07:00

Veronica shows off one of her favorite outfits. A party dress with matching tights. She loves these tights which were a gift b/c there is a little teddy bear on the seat of them.

Veronica looks like she ran into Lorenzo's head again, but she did not. She copied him and painted her face with some markers. By the way, she has had 2 nosebleeds so far as a result of running into Lorenzo's head.

Scary, green nosed, monster boy!

The coincidence is scary, Lorenzo's nose matches his shirt today.

Scary, green nosed monster boy is great at cleaning up cut paper from art projects at home.

Lorenzo makes lunch for his friends

2010-03-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

When Lorenzo and I are alone, I notice that more of his imagination come out. I guess that is because Veronica is not around for him to play with. Here he is making a lunch for his buddies. I was wondering if I should give these large stuffed animals away but now I know the answer is no.

Lorenzo Goes to Bed in His New Pajamas

2010-03-22T20:27:00.000-07:00

This child of mine really has an infectious smile. He has been a real challenge lately as he is really hitting the terrible 2's. Most of the time he is agreealbe and loveable, sometimes though he really can get grumpy. When he is feeling out of sorts the best things to leave him alone. He's a bit like a hurricane that needs to run its course.

Veronica's Family

2010-03-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Veronica and Lorenzo love to draw. Her first recognizable picture has been saved in our family archives. Once in a while she produces pictures that have a story like this one does. She told me this is a picture of our family. The biggest face is mine, the next one hers then on down the line including the dog. She counted out the right number of family members 5 and gave us all eyes, a nose, a mouth and gave her brother and Zavier whiskers. ha ha.

Test Colomba #1

2010-03-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

I am trying very, very hard to produce a traditional Italian sweet bread for Easter called a Colomba. The names means dove since the bread is in the shape of a dove. These are from the first recipe I've tried, I actually have 2 more recipes to test. The crust on these loaves were very good, just like in Italy but the bread was a bit dense. I guess I will have to keep testing.

Lorenzo and His Broom

2010-03-07T16:43:00.000-08:00

Lorenzo does not do anything without his broom, not even go to the potty.

Kids and Shoes 1

2010-03-03T20:10:00.000-08:00

Cupcake Treats!

2010-03-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

In the small downtown in Kirkland there is a cute bakery that makes adorable cupcakes. The kids and I like to walk past the store window to see what they have for sale. Most of the times we don't buy anything but today the kids were sooooo great, I thought they deserved a treat.

Lorenzo picked a mini red velvet cupcake, I am telling you that my prediction that he will be a stylist to the stars will come true.

Here is Veronica with her black eye. We have no idea where she got it and she claims it was at gymnastics when she got into a fight with a yoga ball. Each day it looks worse as she is fair skinned but hopefully it will fade soon.

This photos is too cute for words. I got the kids' haircut a couple of days ago. Lorenzo ended up with basically a buzz cut, not too attractive but it will grow out soon enough.

Veronica Finishes Ski School

2010-02-28T08:23:00.000-08:00

Veronica and Matilda spent about 8 weeks skiing this season. The mountain was only an hour way so both girls got to keep each other company while they carpooled with their daddies. Veronica learned how to glide on skis, go fast, slow down, stop and turn. I wish I would have take some video of her on her skis. Most weekends I stayed home with Lorenzo but next year they both get to take lessons.

Summer in Feb?

2010-02-25T22:23:00.000-08:00

We have had a few weeks of great weather, lots of sun and warm all around. Veronica and Lorenzo have been loving each other but has been at odds lately as well. Now that they are older, they have gotten into the habit of really pushing one another's buttons. I am hearing 'don't talk to me' 'don't say that' 'don't get my scopa (broom)''don't turn the fan on''don't look at me'. Most of the time they hug and kiss one another and I am afraid those days might get rarer and rarer.

Lorenzo as a Boa Constrictor

2010-02-25T22:20:00.000-08:00

There is a cafe we go to with the kids and everytime we are there, Lorenzo asks to put on one of their costimes. Here he is on a favorite: the boa constrictor

A New Way to Learn Your Letters

2010-02-10T20:05:00.000-08:00

We love making the kids cappuccinos during the week and I think this might be a great way to teach Lorenzo his letters. He will go to preschool in about 7 months and I want him to know his letter and numbers by then.

Some Jumping at Jump Planet

2010-02-10T19:57:00.000-08:00

Both kids have been to jump planet before. The first time Lorenzo was really scared and I held him most of the time, that was 3 months ago. This time he was much braver and got a great work out climbing jumping all over the place. I still had to climb all the large slides but I enjoyed it too.

2 New Videos

2010-02-01T19:03:00.001-08:00

Veronica has been feeling sick and today was the first day she woke up without a fever. We went for a walk this morning and although she won't go to school tomorrow, we will finally be able to go out and have some real fun. The kids were singing today and consented to be in a video. Here it is.

January Post

2010-01-28T18:19:00.001-08:00

Babbo Natale aka Santa Clause brought Lorenzo a cleaning trolley for the holidays. It comes complete with mop, broom, dust pan, sponge and sprayer. The best thing about the entire gift is a vacuum cleaner with dust buster attachment. He is in love with every single piece.

A couple of weeks ago Veronica asked to have her hair cut. She said ' mom, i want it short.' When I asked her if she wanted it as short as a boy she said no. She wanted it as short as Anna, the little Italian girl who stayed with us for 2 weeks. So here is her new hair cut. As we left the haircutting salon, she complains in the car. 'mom, this is short but not short enough.' It looks like we have to go back in a couple of months for a more drastic change.

Late December and Early January Update

2010-01-28T18:13:00.000-08:00

Here Veronica is watching TV in her new tutu. I looked all over town for a cheap tutu for Veronica and decided to try to make one myself. It looks beautiful but after all the fabric and notions were purchased, the cost was about double. I chalked this experiment up to experience but won't be making this type of tutu again, too complicated and expensive.

Lorenzo got another haircut a mere 6 weeks after his last one. His hair is growing extremely fast. With long and wild hair he looks like a savage so we decided to give him a short and cleaned up look. Here is at the Childrens' Museum in Factoria. The moon sand that he is playing with really is a great way for kids to sculpt and build without making too much of a mess.

Poor Lorenzo needs a tan, I have noticed that lately he has been a bit pale. It took about 18 months for his tan from Guam to fade but now it has. We cannot wait until summer comes around again.

Lorenzo in a shirt auntie Kentra got him, it says 'here comes trouble." How true it is.

A close up with Lorenzo's bags under his eyes photoshopped out. He looks so much better and well-rested. What a cutie.

The kids play on the marimba

2010-01-16T19:07:00.000-08:00

The Flight Musuem1

2009-12-30T19:31:00.000-08:00

I guess Deme is Tom Cruise and Lorenzo is his wing man here.

Both kids were super excited to climb up the stairs and get behind a mini replica of a Blue Angels stunt plane.

Once they got their hands on the stick both of them tilted the plane as if doing aerial maneuvers.

Can you believe we can actually can get around with only one stroller nowadays, Veronica is great about walking.

The Museum of Flight 2

2009-12-30T19:30:00.000-08:00

Veronica and Lorenzo get a chance to drive a little mini kiddie plane in the play area of the museum.

It was quite a cold and windy day but Veronica decided to dress herself in leggings. She is really beginning to exert her will and insert her opinion in what she wears each day.

Deme and Lorenzo get a chance to fly and try to land a virtual hand glider. I tried several times but only crashed into trees.

Late Christmas Post

2009-12-27T14:10:00.000-08:00

Christmas this year was very low key. We were on our own since we did not have family in town. Nonna Helen was planning on coming but her plans fell through. We got the kids a tiny live tree, which Veronica placed some handmade ornaments from school.

This year the kids got 1 large gift each and a few tiny ones. I love the fact they really play with their Christmas gifts and do not have many things they just toss aside. I think this will be a new tradition for us.

Here is Lorenzo modeling next to his cleaning trolley. He loves the thing and asks about his mops and brooms first thing in the morning.

Super Cold 2 Weeks in Seattle

2009-12-21T20:48:00.000-08:00

The 10 days that nonna Stefania were here were the coldest in recent memory. The daytime temperature dropped into the 20's and the nighttime temps were in the single digits. We spent a lot of time at home and doing indoor activities. We must have visited every museum in the great Seattle area those 2 weeks.

Here Lorenzo is pretending to be an astronaut on a mission. He adores pushing all the buttons and flipping all the switches of the space module. We basically had to drag him out of there.

Veronica, Lorenzo and I headed to the zoo one Friday. Everyone was bundled up. We played quite a bit at their indoor play area then explore the tropical rain forest and reptile house. Thank goodness it was warm in those exhibits.

Holiday Train at Redmond Town Center

2009-12-07T21:44:00.000-08:00

One of the really great things about roaming around town with the kids is to watch the delight and awe they express when they encounter something fun and new. The mini-train at the local mall made them giddy with excitement. They adored the fact it was all lit up, had Christmas decorations throughout and mostly had a real hootin' tootin' train whistle. It was bitterly cold that night but both kids kept their mittens on and had a great time.

Kids in Daddy's Shoes

2009-12-03T15:01:00.001-08:00

These two photos are just hilarious!

Veronica at Play

2009-12-03T15:01:00.000-08:00

Last week we went to the children's museum with the kids. They loved playing with sand and making drawings. Veronica is wearing a handmade necklace she made at school.

Veronica and Lorenzo love to play together. Once in a while when they dress alike they seem like twins.

Happy girl!

We make our own Play-Doh and both kids like to fashion cakes and tarts with birthday candles in them.

Pint Sized Picasso

2009-11-20T20:51:00.000-08:00

Both kids love to draw and create art. Luckily for me they see the benefit of helping their artistic visions come alive on paper and not the walls.

Lorenzo is great at drawing circles and shapes right now. He blends quite a few colors to make mini-collages.

With his new short hair cut he looks like he just woke up, but he looks like this all the time!

Veronica takes her art seriously and always asks for her art smock before she gets creative.

More fake phone conversations with Veronica.

A Pirouette, Very Fast

2009-11-15T17:36:00.000-08:00

Lorenzo obviuosly adores his big sister. She has learned how to pirouette from watching a short clip on Sesame Street. Once she began to show her new dance move off, he picked it up right away. Listen to him say 'Huggie' as he gives her a bear hug and 'very fast, pirouette, as he twirls away. Is French going to be his next language. His nonna would be very proud.

The Kids Love The Black Eyed Peas

2009-11-11T21:45:00.000-08:00

The kids love music and this is the best dance movie they have made so far. Pay special attention to Lorenzo, he is super cute.

Lorenzo is Two

2009-11-11T21:07:00.000-08:00

On Lorenzo's actual birthday we took the kids out to spend some time in Seattle at the Childrens' Museum. The little guy seemed a bit confused when we kept mentioning it was his birthday. He did not seem as interested as Veronica was but he for surely knows he is two years old, both in Italian and English.

Having a full blooded boy in the family has been wonderful. He has a great sense of humor and countless energy really make our household lively. He is quite expressive even if he only speaks in 1-3 word phrases. He is the perfect little brother to Veronica. He adores the air she exhales and worships the ground she walks on. Watching the kids grow up and being a stay at home mom is a real joy, I don't have to wonder where my kids pick up new words or habits, I know I am their life's' teacher and they make me proud everyday.

Lorenzo's First Professional Haircut

2009-11-11T21:05:00.000-08:00

Lorenzo was looking scruffy after about 5 mommy haircuts. I have tried to cut his hair in the bathtub, in the highchair, while he is having a bottle and in a few other strange places. Today we finally decided to get him in a hair chair.

The little guy did really well, I had to bribe him to stay still with mints but all in all they were quick and the process was painless.

He looks very handsome and more like a little man than a baby.