So Much to be Thankful For...

Giana is still talking about her harvest feast at school and how she got to eat with the five year old class. She wrote on her turkey hand that she was "thankful for turkey." I see where we rank.

Working hard on the Thanksgiving place cards. She completed this project with Aunt Deanna a couple weeks before Thanksgiving.


"I'm not sticking my hand in there!" I don't blame her. I wouldn't touch it either. Papa had to stuff the turkey by himself. She wouldn't eat turkey either. She told us that "she was only going to eat her lunch meat turkey." If she only knew...

Black Friday! 8AM run to Target. Giana woke us up to go shopping.

Then back home to bake some cookies, decorate Giana and Dominic's Christmas tree (They have their "own" tree. It's one of four large trees in their house. You have no idea!) and unveil the outdoor lights. (This picture doesn't even begin to show the display of lights.) Dominic grew up decorating the outside of his house and I understand why he refuses to help me put up outdoor Christmas lights...he's rebelling!




On Saturday, Ohio State beat Michigan. Just one more thing to be thankful for. GO BUCKS! Dominic's onesie says "Please change me, I smell like Michigan."

Thanksgiving was complete now that we have our little "butterball."


We had a nice Thanksgiving this year. I'm thankful for being blessed with two amazing and healthy children, a supportive husband who loves me and takes care of us and our extended family and friends for their love and support. I thank God we are all healthy and I am grateful for every day that He gives to us. May you be blessed with love, family and good health this Christmas season.

Boonshoft Museum

This past Friday, we took a trip to Dayton with the Mom's Club to visit the Boonshoft Museum. If you live locally, I highly recommend this place! It's about a 90 minute drive from Columbus and we'll definitely be going back. There is so much to do...indoor playgrounds, dancing, water, science, animal and space exploration, miniature stores, homes, jail, etc. Giana and her BFF Sarah loved the movie and learning about the stars and planets. So much fun!

Three Months Old

Our baby is already three months old! Dominic is just the sweetest little guy and we are enjoying him so much. He was a little fussy from weeks 2-7. Well, who am I kidding? He was A LOT fussy for those weeks but we made it through and he has been so pleasant. He's a happy baby and smiles all the time. He's trying to roll but hasn't had much success yet. His head and neck control are amazing, so strong. He's so alert and his eyes are bright. A few days ago, he discovered his hands and feet and thinks they are the funniest things. He's trying to cut a few teeth (ALREADY!) and he's been struggling with that lately. I just wish they would pop through so he would have some relief. He cat naps during the day and sleeps all night until about 4AM and then goes back to sleep until 7AM. Works for me! Apparently, he doesn't want to miss all the daytime action. Dominic is a healthy 13 pounds and growing so fast (6inches from birth to two months!)Is the NBA in his future? Whatever his future holds, Dominic and I love him and will always love him. We are thrilled and blessed to have our little Dominic Massimo.

First Snow of the Season!

Last weekend, Dominic and I dropped the kids off with his parents in Cleveland for a few days so we could spend some time together and catch up on some sleep. It was SO nice but we missed the kids! While they were there, it snowed 4 inches and it was only the beginning of November! Crazy! Giana was thrilled to make her snowman with Aunt Dee Dee and I made sure Dominic had his picture taken since it was his very first snow fall.

Halloween Week 2010

Notice how I said "week?" That's because we've celebrated ALL week beginning with Giana dressing up for school. My sister gave Giana a cheerleader dress up costume this past summer. It was too small for my niece so she thought Giana might like it. She did and since July, all she has talked about is that she was going to be a cheerleader for Halloween. And she was...all week.

And then we carved a pumpkin. My mom has helped us carve our pumpkin for the past few years so Giana and Mom Mom went right to work. As you can see, Giana created the face and wrote all over it.


Up next was Little Gym and the kids were able to wear their costumes. Here is a picture of Giana and her BFF Sarah before class started. Giana never took her costume off. She managed to flip, jump and run with no problem at all!

The moment Giana had been waiting for...trick or treat night. I took pictures of the kids before we left the house. It was freezing outside and Dominic was still at work, so I had to drop the baby off with my mom (oh the juggling!) then G and I headed over to my friend Cindy's house and we went trick or treating in her neighborhood. I dressed Dominic up in a cute pumpkin costume. Giana wore it for her first Halloween so I just had to put it on him, too. Dominic (my husband) felt sorry for him and said the pictures will haunt him for the rest of his life. Something tells me he might be picking out his costume next year. Giana had a blast trick or treating this year. It was so much fun to watch her and experience the fun through the eyes of my four year old. For more cute pictures, visit my friend Cindy's blog. She posted some adorable photos.

"If I could just get my hands on one piece."

Today was Halloween so I took this picture of the kids. I snapped it just in time...just before Dominic fell over. :) I love those little stinkers so much! Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

We made it to two farms this month and we had a ton of fun! Dominic's Mom, Dad and sister were in town so Giana and I took them to Freeman's Farm. The activities they had were perfect for a four year old...animals, hayride, pumpkin picking. Dominic and Dominic (there's that mouthful again) stayed behind because it was a cold day!




Our second trip was to Mad Max Farm. This was a trip with the Moms Club. We went with Cindy and Sarah and the girls had a blast. More of the same fun stuff like hayrides and pumpkin picking. Only this time, Dominic came with us...his first pumpkin patch and hayride! It was cold but I bundled him up and away we went. He slept the whole time. :)

Dominic's First "Golf" Outing

The weather was nice last weekend so we took the kids to the driving range to sneak in one final trip to the club. It was Dominic's first "golf" outing and it just had to be documented. And yes, that is Giana. I flat ironed her hair and she looks like a totally different kid!

Parent Day at Preschool

Giana's school hosted "Mom's Night" and "Dad's Night." It was a lot of fun and Giana loved showing us around. I went with her at the beginning of October and we got to play in shaving cream and make an angel by tracing our hands and using wallpaper. Giana insists it's a fairy. It's not. But we both agree that it's special. It will be put in the "special/keep forever binder" for sure.


In mid October, it was Dad's Night and Dominic had a chance to see her classroom, meet her teachers and make a couple of crafts. Giana loves her Daddy and she is still talking about "the night Daddy came to my school." Pictured are the crafts they made. The one on the left is a monster and the one on the right is...well, no one seems to know. Dominic wasn't really sure what they were supposed to be doing and Giana can't remember what it is. Hmmm, something tells me they weren't paying attention during class.

Dominic's Baptism

Dominic was baptized on October 17th at St. Paul Church in Westerville. My Mom and Dominic's Dad are his Godparents. They have been so good to him and to us. He wore the same outfit that Dominic wore when he was baptized and it looked so precious on him! We had a wonderful day. Dominic is a special little guy. We are so blessed to have him. I often wonder what we've done to be given two healthy, great kids. God is a loving and faithful God and we are blessed.

Final Summer Days

While we definitely have slowed down over the past eight weeks, we've still had a lot of fun and enjoyed the final days of summer. Just since Dominic has been born, we've managed to visit with a lot of family, swim, have some carnival fun, play dates, apple picking, birthday parties, park play, roller skating and Giana taught herself how to use a hula hoop...and she can hula hoop with the best of them! It's really unbelievable how well she does for her age. I need to post a video.
Fall is here now and I love this time of year. We have some fun plans including a trip (maybe two) to a pumpkin patch, Dominic's baptism, football Saturday's and a trip to Vegas (just Dominic and I!) I'm on the board for my local Mom's Club so I know there are other fun activities in the works. Here's hoping I can keep up the pace with two kids!

Causing Trouble In Cleveland

Dominic bought these two shirts. He tried to find one for Dominic, too but didn't have any luck finding a 0-3 month onesie. He grew up in Cleveland. Enough said. :)

Party, Party, Party!

My father in law loves to throw parties and this particular weekend, he threw two parties in a row! Giana turned 4 on September 6th, which happened to be Labor Day this year. We were in Cleveland visiting Dominic's family for the weekend and my in laws had a "Welcome/Meet Baby Dominic" party on September 5th. Dominic's family and friends came to meet the baby and it was a fun time. The following day, we celebrated Giana's actual birthday. She loved her little cake and enjoyed opening her gifts from us. Dad is already planning Dominic's 1st birthday and Giana's 5th birthday. He says they are both "big ones" so we have to celebrate big. Any reason to have a party!




The following weekend, I planned a "kid party" at our local Rec Center. It was fantastic because they handled almost everything! Giana picked out her princess theme and all we had to do was show up. This year, I needed the help since we were still settling in with the baby. Giana loved it and enjoyed her friends, games and cake.











Later that evening, we had family over to continue the celebration. We had more cake and Giana opened all of her gifts.


Finally, to top off this on going celebration, she was the birthday girl at school the following week. Grandma and Papa made cut out cookies. Giana picked apple and cake shaped cookies and she gave them out to her friends and teachers at school. This is a picture of G when I picked her up...full of sugar. I think it's safe to say that she had a great (never ending) birthday this year. She's already talking about how she will be "5 soon" and a "whole hand!"