School Days - H & V

The letter sheets for H & V were fun because they had fun ways of learning the letters with drawing games. Angel likes doing the letters so then she can color the pictures. We had a coloring sheet of Saint Valentine for V and Valentines Day. Then we also made Valentine Heart (v & H) cookies and the kids LOVED decorating them. For H, I had them decorate little heart shaped boxes to put their treats in when we played a game. I cut out little hearts and put letters they knew on the front and numbers on the back. They had to Hop on the Heart when I told them a letter and then see what number was on the back and they got that many candy hearts for the box. We also had fun giving Valentine goodie bags!! Emma wants so badly to participate with everything but doesn't really have any interest in the "learning" parts yet....but she knows the letter O so I had to make sure I had enough O's in the mix for her to hop on!

School Days - F & T

We continue to do our preschool days together with a friend and Angelica loves it (Emma gets in on some of the projects too!). Our goal is to learn and practice two letters each time...read books that might go along with letters or themes we choose...and do a couple craft projects or games as well, then have lunch together. I love the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum...teaches them the correct way to write their letters but also a lot of fun ideas to help. Angelica loves the worksheets and we keep them all in a folder. For F we made Wire Pipe Flowers and I also made a fishing game. I cut out fish and taped a paper clip to them. On the fish were letters we had learned and a number. They went "fishing" for the letter we said and when they got the fish whatever number that was on it....they got to pick that many Goldfish out and put in a baggy for a snack afterwards. They loved it! For T - we had tortilla quesadillas for lunch!

Learning to Laugh

Every now and then Michaela lets out a real giggle, so cute, can't wait for more!

Papa's Girl

Hide NOT Seek

The girls LOVE to play hide and seek. However, they go and hide just fine but then when you are supposed to find them....they yell and tell you where they are so it makes it pretty easy!!

My Monkeys

This is what the girls decide to do when they are supposed to be getting dressed after their baths...I really do not want another broken bone.

Valentines Recap

We had a nice Valentines Day. The girls helped me make our Valentines Dots (sorry didn't get a final pic)...they love unwrapping the Hershey kisses (I was surprised how many they didn't eat) and putting them on the pretzels.

The girls kept calling my flowers, "Wedding Flowers"

Happy First Valentines Day Baby!!

A DELICIOUS Red Velvet Cake that my mom made (she did increase sugar to 2 cups, and used 1 cup oil instead of shortening), the frosting was the traditional red velvet cake kind and SO YUMMMY.

The girls got some bubble foam and decided it was a good idea to use BOTH cans that night in the bath!!

3 Months Old (2-10-10)

Big Sister??

...maybe not for long in size!!

Crowded

...in a good way...but this is when I wish we had a king size bed!...

Bubble Overload

....but that is the way they like it!...

Great Post on Tithing

Touching on Tithing

Some Worthy Reads

I think once you have been through pregnancy and childbirth that you love to read stories about them. Here are a few I have read recently that I would like to share:

-a funny one about feelings and appearances during pregnancy
As It Turns Out - Post Edit
-a beautiful post about childbirth especially with her third and ver premature baby
A Defining Moment
-about preparing for labor
Pain In The
-and this has been around lots of blogs lately....but one of the most honest and beautiful birth stories I have ever read about a baby born with Down Syndrome....READ IT but have tissues ready, beautiful pics too
Nella Cordelia - A Birth Story

Valentines Day Cards

The girls made their own Valentines Day Cards and we took some photos to try and get some to use on the cards: they turned out very cute!!

Silly Stories & Times with Angelica

Not thrilled

with tummy time.

Snoozin

A couple weeks ago we went to a new coffee house - indoor play area for kids in Gig Harbor called Play-A-Latte. The girls had a BLAST and Emma threw a fit when we had to leave. It is a bit pricey but nice option for when it is too cold or wet to play outside...but I would recommend being able to spend some time there and do not go on a Friday morning! Emma got a good snooze in the car at least and sunglasses are not a must-wear while we drive!

Alike

...you can tell they are sisters and related in this pic I think!...

Girls will be Girls

The girls have bath crayons that they usually like to draw all over the wall and tub with. However, Angelica decided that they would also work well as nail polish for the toes...so Emma followed suit and they now enjoy painting their nails while in the bath!!

Cradle Cap

Both Angelica and Emma had cradle cap as babies so I was expecting it to hit Michaela at some point. While it definitely is not as bad as the other two....it helps that she has a lot of hair to hide it. Burt's Bees Apricot Oil though basically clears it right up!! I just rub a good amount on her head and let it sit and soak in. Then while I give her a bath....take a baby brush and scrub the area really well....all the yucky skin will flake right off and yet the skin is soft with the oil. It works wonders and I love it...she even got to sport a little Mohawk hair-do!

Twirling with Uncle Casey

We went to Caitlin's big ultrasound day a couple weeks ago.....we are looking forward to meeting a beautiful baby GIRL in June! After that we went out to eat dinner and before we left we stopped at Caitlin and Casey's place. Emma and Angelica decided to wear Uncle Casey out by twirling around on the chair....we were all laughing because Emma would get so dizzy she could not walk straight!

Catching Up

Well, our January and February have definitely been a few weeks of colds and sniffles and trying to get better. These cold bugs have hit us hard. I had a sinus infection and since Sunday have been feeling yucky again and today think it is another sinus infection. Whenever I get a cold it settles in my tonsils and they get so inflamed and swollen and sore. I spent THREE hours at Prompt Care last week for them to say it was viral and go home! UGH. But thinking I may need some drugs now....
We also had a not-so-fun experience with poor Angel. So last month when we took the girls to Prompt Care, the doctor said she had an ear infection with her bronchitis. Well these past couple of weeks we had been joking that Angel was starting the "selective listening" game because she would not respond or was saying "what?" a lot! Well....one day she was acting a bit off and then I took her temp and she had a high fever and still the cold, plus had gotten a red rash all over her belly. So we took her to the pediatrician and they said that she now had a bi-lateral ear infection and that the right ear was REALLY bad....they said the Prompt Care doc did not write ear infection in her chart and that the meds she had been on didn't even treat the ear...so basically this infection had been there for so long and now gotten so bad and the reason for the rash on her belly. I was so mad and poor thing really couldn't hear with her bad ear infections!! Talk about mama guilt!! I guess we are not taking her to Prompt Care unless we have to, but only to pediatrician!! UGH.
I just took her in for a check up this week and ears are looking better, but still has a cold. I took Michaela in too because she has a yucky cough because of her cold. Everything from lungs to ears etc were fine though, so just the sniffles....PLEASE GO AWAY AND LEAVE US ALONE SOON. Ready to be better. Have a lot to catch up on!! It has been warm here and today the girls got to go to the park and run around and play, they loved it!!!

Good Morning Sunshine

Michaela is such a good sleeper. She has been going for 5-6 hours for several weeks now and sometimes even longer.....sometimes she needs to be cuddled but usually not fed so that is nice. She loves to be swaddled in the miracle blanket (which I like better than the swaddle mes) then cuddled into her boppy in her bassinet! So sweet. She does end up sleeping with me a lot when we fall asleep nursing...but I love waking her up in the mornings...she is all smiles...until she realizes she is hungry!!

Good Exercise for Rainy Days

Bunny Buddy

Bouncy Bed

Michaela has decided that her bouncy seat also makes a good place to take a nap these days....at least short ones for when she is just too tired to keep her eyes open!

Just Hangin Out

Everyone Needs a Potty Shot

Good Reads

Do You Make Your Husband a Better Father?

and

Do You Make Your Wife a Better Mother?

and

Mass Distraction

Sweet Innocence and Solutions

We have been praying a lot for the kids and people in Haiti recently. I have been careful explaining things to her so she has an awareness of what happened but that it doesn't become to worrisome or scary for her either, as she is one to worry and think too much about things!!!

My mom got a kick out of her last time explaining what happened: "The earth and ground shook and shook and shook and they got hurt badly and lost their homes. But I gave them money so they will get better and not be sad."

This morning after our morning prayers she told me:
"Mama, I think that the people in Haiti will get new houses because we prayed and God will give them new ones and also all their toys..."

Sweet girl, if only it was that easy...but the more prayers and trust like that the better!!

Goodbye Pull-Ups

These past couple of weeks I have still been putting Angelica in pull-ups at nights...but for 10 days now she has woken up completely dry. So with no accident in three weeks, I think it is time to say goodbye to pull ups completely...especially when this is what I am told this morning:

Angelica: "Mama, mama my bummy hurts."
Me: "Ok, run to the potty maybe you have to go."
After sitting and sitting I asked "Do you need to go?"
Angelica: "Um, I don't guess so...maybe it is just getting ready."

After another 5 minutes:
Angelica: "Mama, mama my bummy hurts again."
Me: "Angel do you need to go potty?"
Angelica: "Nope, I think it is because my bummy doesn't like the scratchy pull-ups on anymore at night night"

So I think she enjoys the soft underpants too much now that the pull ups are getting put away!

Found

Finally, Ameer and Emily, were found! You can read the article HERE, but their bodies were found in some plane wreckage and still strapped to their chairs. So we believe they must have died on impact. Thank you for all your prayers, at least now they can properly be buried and family's can have some closure. A MARINE buddy of Jason's has put in a request and plea with the MARINES to arrange them to fly Ameer's body back to NYC so his mother can have him buried. Hoping that works out. Ameer's facebook page has been inundated with people listing their memories and pictures of him, sounds like an amazing young man who could play a mean harmonica!! He will greatly be missed....I liked this poem that one of his relatives in Egypt left:

When this life I'm in is done,

And at the gates I stand,

My hope is that I answer

all His questions on command.

I doubt He'll ask me of my fame,

Or all the things I knew,

Instead,He'll ask of rainbows sent

On rainy days I flew.

Remember how the runway lights

Looked one night long ago

When you were lost and found your way,

And how-you still dont know?

And when the goals are reached at last,

When all the flyings done,

I'll answer Him with no regret-

Indeed, I had some fun.

So when these things are asked of me,

And I can reach no higher,

My prayer this day - His hand extends

To welcome home a Flyer.

Ameer Update

The search and rescue has been called off for now....updated HERE in this article. Sounds like ACE (the company) is still searching for the two pilots. A fishing boat found an empty pilot chair in the water along with the co-pilot (Emily from Seattle) backpack with her things in it. Please continue praying for these two young people's families and that their bodies can be recovered for a proper burial and family closure.
Jason spent time with Ameer in NYC where they were stationed together as MARINE C130 Flight Mechanics. One of their missions was to Greece and this picture was taken of the two of them then. They went to Gouverneto Monastery and went to mass. (Ameer is originally from Egypt and a lot of his family is still there. His mom came to US with he and his brother so they could go to school. Ameer was in the Reserves attending NYU when he got called up after 9-11). Jason and Ameer went on a big touring bike ride and the monks took them to visit the Cave of St. John the Hermit. Jason has some good memories and stories of his time serving and being friends with Ameer. Ameer had recently just gotten in touch with him about coming to visit as he was going to be doing some flights to the Seattle area. It has been sad to read his facebook page and see everyone's comments and prayers and sad to see his family in Egypt asking for updates. He sounded like a very strong, funny, friendly and caring young man who will be missed. Continued prayers for the families, for their finding, and for those who are touched and saddened by his loss especially my hubby.

Prayers Please

Tonight Jason got news of a former MARINE friend and flight mechanic. Ameer Ali has been a pilot in Alaska and last night his plane crashed. His body and that of his copilot have yet to be found and the search has been suspended. Even if they survived the crash after all this time in the water, they have almost no chance of survival. Jason was stationed with him in NYC and they served many missions together, including their time in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was hoping to see some more of Ameer as he was going to start some work around the Seattle area. Please keep all of this in prayer...so hard to lose a friend and praying he can be found!
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/rural/story/1105193.html
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/ap_alaska/story/1105205.html

Sharing..

...a yummy recipe: Our Lady of Altagracia Orange Smoothies
...a GREAT read (especially for us wives): Love, Honor and Take for Granted?
...and a beautiful picture of people marching towards the Supreme Court in defense of the unborn today!

Seven Quick Takes (volume 1)

Ok, so I have always enjoyed reading other's quick takes...but never thought I had enough note-worthy tidbits to share...but I am going to give it a go...it is a nice reflection on the week at least.
***1***

I feel confident in saying that Angelica is OFFICIALLY potty trained!! It has been TWO full weeks with not ONE accident. She is even wearing underpants during naps now and only pull ups at night. However, she has been dry for one week now in the morning so I think I am going to say bye-bye to pull-ups all together! It has been such a FREEDOM going from 3 kids in diapers to two! We tried so many training methods, I read all the different books etc. With Angelica it came down to mama going cold turkey on her and putting the "baby" diapers away and putting her right into the underpants. She went from fighting me about going potty to LOVING it!! She has LOVED her sticker chart and step chart on the back of the door....she puts a star sticker on for pee-pee and a smiley face sticker on for poo-poo. Then she marks her X's on the step chart. We definitely had to find the method that worked for Angelica and I am sure Emma will be a little different....thinking of giving her a try at it soon as she already goes some and follows Angelica around...my life will be extremely different then!! Here is an article about Potty Training today.
***2***

Going along with the above...to get her finally to go poo-poo consistently in the potty...we used the reward of money (the m&ms etc didn't work). But, being able to choose one coin from our coin basket was a HUGE hit. So every time she went she got to pick her coin and put it in her purse. The other day she commented, "Mama, I am getting rich!" And she was...so then we changed the rules to every morning if she woke up dry she got to pick a coin. Might have to change them again soon....Angelica loved going to the dollar store and using her own money to pick out a toy!

***3***

We had a second collection at church last Sunday for the relief efforts in Haiti. I was frantically trying to find my wallet in the diaper bag when Angel (who had brought her purse with her to buy a holy card after mass) said, "Mama, I can give the sad people one of my monies." A melt your heart moment....and she did, so that quarter was given with lots of love!

***4***

I (finally) attended the third meeting of our new MOMS group at church. We are doing the Full of Grace study and based on my first encounter think this will be a great support group for moms at the church and also enriching in the study and discussions we will have. Now to only get Miss Emma to stay in the child care room the whole time. On a side note, if you have never read the life and story of Edith Stein, I highly recommend it!

***5***

This week (yesterday) marked the one year anniversary since my PopPop passed away. Hard to believe a year has already gone by and in so many ways we remember him every day. Angelica still talks about her memories of him and I hope that through our pictures and stories all of my children will have a good understanding of who their PopPop was. He would definitely not be liking this rainy weather lately...

I took the girls to his grave yesterday and we said some prayers. Then Angelica started asking questions about death and Heaven, such as:

"What is a soul?", "How do we get in the ground?", "How do we die?", "Where is Heaven?". All good questions but a little difficult to think of how to explain to toddlers!!

***6***

My hubby works at Boeing and they have a point system where they get rewarded with points when they do certain jobs or get acknowledged for something. He has been racking up the points lately. Boeing has a store where then you can redeem your points for a variety of items. Well, instead of him getting a GPS or other fun items I know he wanted...he got me LOWES gift cards and yesterday my brand new item arrived:

my KitchenAid Standing Mixer
Now I just need to learn how to use it!! So excited. Thank you hon!

***7***

Some of my favorite mama time is snuggling. This morning I had all three babes in the bed and well...wasn't as fun as it used to be with one. Today I was worried about feet kicking the baby's head, about someone rolling off the bed, being a referee to who had more blankets...thinking we need a king size bed and rotations on the snuggle time!!

A Good Read & Reminder

THIS ARTICLE was a good one to remember that not only is the home where so much of our children's formation takes place, but the marriage and parental example is so important in shaping our young ones....prayers to keeping the domestic church holy, healthy and happy!

Michaela Noises