More soccer...

The number 1 fan being very cute:
G playing goalie. She had a lot of fun. I still don't know what the attraction to playing goalie is, but they all wanted to play it (in both games).

Focused Goalie...

Game 1, done. Shooting lessons for the photographer, done- a little. I shot with too slow of a shutter...got a few good shots, will get more next time. But for now, here he is, focused on the game.

It's raining...it's pouring...

And Ali's tickled to get to wear her rain coat (that she didn't know she had until this morning). I think it was Caelen's?

She's thrilled to be going to school and even has her handy "lip stuff" clutched tightly. It's now safely in Mommy's purse and didn't make it into preschool.

I can't believe how big she's getting!

Big day at Casa de Fiat

I of course have other pictures- being Tre's birthday & Ali's first day of preschool. However, I'm tired. So you'll probably see them tomorrow.

Big things for today- he said it was the best birthday ever. I suspect that had something to do with the new Wii game he got. lol I'm thankful to report that Ali did not in fact break out in Sir Mixalot's big butt song on her first day of preschool. Seriously. There is a snippet of it in "Shark Tale" and just yesterday, she was singing it. Yep, that's my girl.

Finally....FDOS

The long awaited FDOS pics are *finally* here. I had a great post written out about the new "Box O' Doom-" 8 G RAM, Terrabyte HD, Quad processor and Blogger ate it. I am ofcourse behind in processing pics. The old system was really slow and didn't like RAW all that much. My very kind, thoughtful, new toy loving husband surprised me with the BOD. I now have no more excuses for slow work flow (especially since getting my tools reinstalled, but that's a whole nother thing).

It had the nerve to start raining just before our bus was due. Hence, some of my fantastic shots I had planned were all scrapped. Doesn't the garage make a stunning background?

Captain Kindergarten was thrilled to finally get on the bus this year. In case you're wondering, no, I'm not the mom that follows the school bus to the school and hovers. He's wearing a name tag with his teacher's name on it. I have great faith in our school. ;) (Not that there's anything wrong with parents going to the classroom on the first day.)

Captain Kindergarten raced into the bus and didn't look back. I do have a shot of just G's hand waving goodbye.

We stopped riding the bus after the first few days as they changed out routes/schedules this year. Our school is sharing with the new elementary school that is located in a different complex. I have no idea who thought that would be a good idea, but I'd guess they didn't think it all the way out. Changing our pickup time to 7:40 for an 8:45 school start time was just a bit unreasonable when we live 5 minutes to school. The Mommy Bus now takes everyone in the morning. I drop off at the K-1 hall. It's hilarious to watch Tre run in as not to have her walk him to his class (she has to go all the way down that hall to the 3rd grade hall).I believe this was "what *will* we do with ourselves, Mommy?!?!"Big Al starts school on Sept 3. We're going to Meet Your Teacher this week. :D

More T Ball

I'm having so much fun playing with the manual settings on my camera. The following isn't perfect (needed faster shutter, etc), but I love his expression. :)

Swimming at Doug & Steph's (Sunday afternoon)

T Ball

Watching Tre play last night was a total crack up. The facial expressions, etc.

What the grandparents really want is pictures. So, in no real order... Here he had made it to first base:

Warming up on deck. Yes, the bat is almost as tall as he is.

Psych out move? Apparently you can totally see through the holes in the glove.

Base running- notice the little guy in the back running to home.

Love this one. A moment with coach. I think this was when he was playing 1st base.

It's been far too long...

School's OUT!!! She's a 3rd grader. Officially.


Off we went to Grandma's and Grandpa's.

I have so much to post. So, for now, a little teaser:

News Flash- ALI

Ali has made it almost 24 hours without her binki. She threw it in the garbage last night and told me she was done for good.

She did mention at nap time that she was sure we had an extra binki still though. :( It was sad.

More on the big birthday...

Talking to Grandpa (my dad). He called at the perfect time. She was so excited for her presents, but had to wait for Daddy to be home. Great redirection. ;) Poor Al, binkaholic, had just gotten up from her nap.



Yummy cake. Even better, ice cream that was on clearance at Target. I didn't know, until tonight, that icecream ever went on clearance. Love those little red stickers.

Happy Birthday, Giuliana

My baby is 8. Wow. It really does seem like just yesterday. This year, she was tickled to hear about the day she was born and how we felt about her.

She chose Cici's for dinner and a white cake at Target. She's changed her favorite color, it's no longer pink, but sky blue.

Her birthday list this year explicately stated she wanted clothes. There were toys too, but she was specific on clothes and what she wanted.

My baby is growing up.

I love her birthday picture. She's showing her nails off (without prompting). Last night was chick night. :)

Little Soccer Power House

Little did we know just how closely Tre had watched Giuliana play soccer last year. He gets it. He gets that the white lines are out of bounds and that you stop and kick away from them. He gets that even though there is no goalie in PreK soccer, someone should stop the ball from getting in the goal (yes, self appointed goalie).

Today, the whistle stopped for half time and he continued to kick it into the goal.

A couple of his corner kicks were dribbles out and to the goal. We'll have to work on what a corner kick is.

"Hey guys, follow me to the GOAL!"

Yep, that's my kid without shin guards. Seriously. What what I thinking? It's not that we didn't already have them bought either. Nope, they were sitting in our closet, still in the bag.

But he's got great moves.

A guy's got to rest some time. :)

Baby's 1st Head Split

It has finally happened. He crashed into a wall and split his head. I was relieved in that it didn't appear to need stiches- it's but a flesh wound. His eyes on the other hand had the symptoms of "head to the ER." Angelo of course offered to take him. Uhm, no. Mama bear wasn't about to allow the injured cub out without her. I am guilty however of saying "here, hold this (ice & gauze)" as I snapped a picture.

If it's going to gross you out, scroll quickly. Really, it's not that bad.

The ER waiting room was quite, uhm, educational. Tempting to take the camera out a times. I figured out a "trick." If you are really loud, obnoxious and distracting, they will totally triage you just to get you out of the way. Then again, the guy might have just been mental- security had to escort him after he charged through the open (security) door. Then there was a diaper rash (kidd you not), a "we heard a funny sound when he fell" (uhm, he has no pain and isn't acting altered in any way, he probably doesn't need the ER) and a girl that had cut her finger with a nasty pair of scissors. The cut and the mental guy were the only 2 that really looked like they needed to be there- but, not being the doctor, who am I to say. The doctor was a piece of work and mocked me when I mentioned the cut. Well, duh. It's not the cut I brought him in for.

See all the equipment behind him in this pic? There's also a bunch of stuff hanging from the ceiling. I got to explain just about everything in the room. I was at a loss though in regards to what they use "medical air" for. I just couldn't come up with an appropriate 5 year old answer.

Giuliana chooses glasses...

Yes, I took all three with me. G did a great job and it really wasn't all that painful. ;)

These are the final two. She chose the bottom one because it had bling. Her frames will be purple though (instead of blue).

Other Giuliana milestones...

Earlier today, Giuliana became the owner of her very own LIBRARY CARD!!!! Here (above) she is signing the paper card that goes into their system. She even got to check out all her own materials today.
In other news, we were informed at the eye doctor's today that she also needs glasses. She is near-sighted. I was beyond tickled to find out that our change of vision coverage this year will cover her glasses completely. :)

Big Wheel keep on turnin'....3.16

No tummy aches tonight! Being himself, he made sure to pose for me a couple times.

Much more confidence here. And, thankfully to mommy, not in her new sweat pants this time. Soon, we'll be using the bike she currently fits (we know this one's too small- it's just a balance thing for learning).

Look out world, she's discovered the Big Wheel! Same game as last night. Easier on Mommy- less distance to fall and ofcourse, bigger smiles.

"Just like riding a bike." 3.15.09

Poor Tre, at dinner, he complained of a tummy ache. Combing that with the fact that he was starting to smell, I threw him in the shower. :) Just as he was getting out, Daddy had decided it was a good time to take the girls out front. It proved a perfect time for the boy to have some Wii time.

Before the last season change, Giuliana had learned to ride without training wheels. Here she is getting ready.

She picked it up again, fairly quickly. We had a couple minor crashes- the final being a little on the muddy side. She just needed to build her confidence. Daddy, as usual was right there to help her.

No surprise, raring to go!

Here she is coasting down the drive way to Daddy. Little Miss "Life's a Party" apparently also has no fear. She was royally torked with me when I had her come inside to get ready for bed.