broken pizza

for the longest time, that's how natalie would pronounce, BROOKLYN pizza, our friday night family spot. i think she might say it correctly now but we certainly got a kick out of hearing her say it the wrong way. i never wanted to correct her :)

a few other things about natalie:

she pronounces "regular" regleeur -- no matter how many times i tried to correct her and get her to say it right, she just couldn't. so i decided to let it go for now. if you ever hear her say it, you just might think it's the cutest thing ever. i know i do.

when she smells something in the air (for example, brownies cooking in the oven) she says: "I smell like [brownies]"

she has been making up songs to sing for no reason, just to sing a song about whatever she is doing in particular, or whatever is on her mind.

at the park with the cousins

big cousins shelby and cheryl spent the night at nana & papa's house (across the street) a few days ago and we all took a trip to the park together.

russell being shy:

russ flying the kite.

it took awhile but he finally got it up in the air, higher than i expected!

last night natalie really wanted us to read her favorite snow white book at bedtime, but it is a really long book and it was really late, past their bedtime. so i told her that if she reminded me tomorrow, i would read it to her before she went to school.

so morning time comes and i am awoken by natalie calling out "mom!" from her bed. she eventually gave up the yelling and climbed into bed with us. the first thing she said to me is "here mommy" as she threw her snow white book into my half asleep face. (thanks natalie). she must have been dreaming about it all night.

hello out there!

just wondering if anybody is still listening...

i've been feeling a little stressed lately between russ's new business and trying to manage our expenses, but russ always reminds me that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and i'm doing my best to maintain a sense of hope.

i know i haven't been on here lately but i just wanted to break the ice and finally get something written since it's been so long!

today was pretty much an ordinary day which ended a little chaotic, as it always does when russ gets the kids hyped up RIGHT before bed time. that's what daddy's are for though, right? so after he hyped the kids up from playing hide and seek, he bathed them (thanks hon!) and left to meet up with the guys for bible study. i had two wound up munchkins who were only interested in running around and making each other laugh. not that i'm against laughing or anything (contrary to some people's beliefs) but it was time to settle down and get calm so that the kids could get into "sleep" mode. well, that wasn't exactly what happened and the kids ending up losing a few privileges tonight. they are finally sound asleep and i'm about to start my workout, then sit down at the computer to work (thank the lord i finally have some--it's been so slow lately), but before i did i felt the need to document some of these feelings on my blog. particularly, the highlight of my day, which was when natalie and i played chutes and ladders this afternoon. we were honored to have snow white, herself, play with us (natalie's doll, of course) and guess who won [the longest game in the history of long kids' games] -- none other than snow white! natalie was delighted and, for me, it was a delight to watch. i love my kids.

happy monday everyone :)

la playa 2010

our first trip to the beach this year.

it was a lot cooler than we expected, despite the high temps inland. the water was cold but the kids didn't care. they were too busy playing in the sand anyway. we did see a gigantic squid that was washed up in a tide pool, but other than that, it was a very relaxing trip to the beach. can't wait to do it again!

natalie randomly breaks out in dance, and i was able to catch her sillyness on film...ENJOY!

Easter, Part 2

Easter Egg hunt after church:

watching and waiting to see what is inside the REAL egg. natalie predicts it's a baby chick...

hmmmmm NOT EXACTLY.

but they were both pleasantly surprised and wanted to eat them all.

later that afternoon, the calascione klan took a drive out to Palm Coast for a picnic at Washington Oaks State Park.

that park was gorgeous! everything was perfect about it: a place for papa and uncle phil to fish, a playground for the kiddos, picnic tables galore, LOTS of beautiful trees and shade, beach access to the ocean and the mantanzas river, a garden trail... it was worth the drive, and definitely worth going back!

the kids enjoyed getting their feet wet in the river:

jumping boat waves:

shelby & uncle russ

this occupied a good hour of their time:

then they decided to pull me. i wasn't complaining.

Easter, Part 1

dying easter eggs!

easter craft from the library:

goodies from the easter bunny:

ready for church:

natalie's first field day at school

i remember how fun field day was back when i was in grade school, so when i heard they were having it at natalie's school i got really excited. i was able to spend the whole day with natalie and her class while my dad watched russell for me. watching the little pre-schoolers participate in some (okay, maybe ALL) of these events was quite hysterical, to say the least. but they were trying their hardest and it was good practice for next year!

relay jump rope:

they kids were "out" and had to sit down if they dropped the ball and about 95% of them went down after the first throw (LOL)

natalie & ava

natalie's class: