A Moment in Time

Tonight I looked over from my perch on the couch next to my husband and saw my little ones playing nicely by themselves and thought to myself, 'how did we luck out and get these two?' Then I wondered if every mother has a moment like that, if every 'demon child' has a moment when their mom feels lucky to have them. Maybe there is nothing I can do to preserve this moment, nothing I can do to ensure that I have the same moment tomorrow night so I'll just enjoy every moment as it comes and make the most of them.

Who am I kidding; look at these kids; they are angels.

Happy New Year!

Ok, we weren't ready to come back from vacation so soon, so we extended it by vacationing in our backyard. We went into China Town yesterday with Mary and Bill to celebrate the Chinese New Year. One of our family friends has an exchange student from China and she was really down about not being home for the celebration so we all headed into China Town to cheer her up. It was fun, definitely something we will only do once, it was crowded and a bit cold but fun!

Flying South

to warmer climates.

Like Rabbits!

Recently Ami posted her kitchen after making soup.... It definitely qualified her as a Havener. Although semi-legally I am no longer a Havener in name, I recently realized that another qualification is that when you have people over you rush around like crazy people trying to get your piles of stuff that should have been sorted through hidden. In some cases this may render an entire room unusable. (usually a bedroom)
Digging out is proving more challenging than initially anticipated. My mayhem and foolishness do not give up easily. And little hands have gotten a time out for aiding an abetting said clutter in it's escape to other rooms of the house.
This is how we know we are related... Clutter follows and multiplies around us.

Laundry ... Bah!

I would be interested to see who is also experiencing this laundry burst? I know I have not been able to do laundry for about a week, but I spent the better part of two days at my father-in-laws house last week monopolizing their washer/dryer. And now that I am starting up again at home I realized it could take me until we leave for vacation to get caught up! We are only three and a half people. Most days I don't get dressed, cause no one will see me and apparently my desire to impress and seduce my husband has taken a downturn. Claire did revisit bed wetting but only once a night and she isn't having accidents during the day. Nick, well he changes when he feels like it, usually once a day. He's not too messy yet. Jim wears, well he's the wild card, but I don't launder his work pants, But he does wear about two 'outfits' a day, work and pj type comfy clothes.... So how is it that every available space in this (I give it small) apartment is full of laundry!?
Boo hiss, I hope I win the lottery, then I will donate all my dirty clothes to the needy and buy all new stuff that doesn't need washed. I may also get a massage and something nice for my husband. (if he's nice to me)

Kisses

Cat and Mouse

Claire and Nick have been working on co-existing in our little space. Claire has discovered that by moving Nick's hands when he is pulled up on something- he falls down. And Nick has discovered that crying will save him from all situations uncomfortable especially those involving little sisters. So we have a great cycle of crying and falling... Nick is getting the short end of this arrangement mostly.
Yesterday evening we got a glimpse of what life will/would be like when/if they get along with each other. And it was Reeeeeeeaaaallly cute :)

Mommy Look What I Can Do!

All by his stinkin' self. What a shame we have to lower his crib mattress before he even got to really use it.

And Claire wanted to share this with you...

Need a Smile?

Notice that the Ingas have diapers on....

Home Again

We are home!

Ok not that home, but home enough, away from Gram's house. While we love her, she was glad to see us go. She looked like this in the beginning,

and I did not feel safe photographing her near the end. ;P
Santa came to Gram and Pap's, bringing giant smiles and a present for everyone.

We love Santa. Claire is sad to see the tree come down and even more upset about the stockings missing from the bookshelf. I guess she understands that means no more presents for a while.

Snow Babies

Yesterday was our first snow of the season and boy did it do it right. about 6.9 inches of white goodness fell overnight greeting us this morning clean and fresh. And we couldn't wait to get into it and mess it up! We bundled up and hit the 'front yard' to make some snow angels and tromp around in our new snow-pants. Nick liked it OK for about 3 min. and Claire loved it. I can't get over how much more she is able to enjoy things as she gets older. She really is our little angel.

Psalms 91:7

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

On The Move And Chatting all the Way

9 Days!? Can it Be True

Today we went to play group and we met Santa! We didn't sit on his lap, we sat with the less scary elf-lady. But we got a teddy bear for effort and even smiled a little (not that I caught that on camera....

We also made it on the news, well they were filming when we were there, but I don't know if we will be on the news or not, watch for us at 5 and 11! apparently they are low on news since our little playgroup holiday party made the cut... Overall our first Santa experience ended with no tears and two new teddy bears...
Can there really only be 9 days left till Christmas?!

Hang-Over-Day-Off

Yesterday on 'hang-over-day-off' we went to get a tree. It was bitter cold as Claire's face will tell you, but we picked what we believe to be the best tree on the lot. ('Big as Daddy and fat as Mommy' just like Claire wanted)

We got it home, stood it up and opened our much awaited train! Claire and daddy tried to figure it out, and when they did we were all smiles :) Thank you GB and Pappi!

Then of course after about an hour of messing around with the train (I forgot how much time you spend lining up little wheels as opposed to actually running the thing) We had to decorate it, the tree of course.

And take our picture in front of it.

It was a good day.

Holiday Cheer

This past weekend, the kids and I hit the road. We went to Aunt Ami's!
While there we did lots of fun stuff, like going to see a three story house shaped like a shoe and baking cookies... none of which I have pictures of. Those are on Ami's camera.
I do have pictures of our Sunday. We went to see Aunt Laurie! We helped her put up her Christmas tree.

She was THRILLED to have us...

once we figured out that she is always so jazzed we were no longer scared by her overt enthusiasm

We helped with everything, the nativity

the ornaments (ok, we let Annie put on her own)

We even made some handmade crafts to decorate our own homes with.

It was a great day of family and fun, exactly what we needed to get us in the holiday spirit.

Thanksgiving

thankful for sisters, all sorts
thankful for cookies
thankful for aunts and uncles
thankful for christmas trees
thankful for no traffic in NYC
thankful for family :)

Just an Update

We are doing well here in cold, rainy New York. Planing a trip to warmer climates? next weekend at Ami's spa and resort. (we expect warm moist towelettes after dinner) Getting in the Christmas spirit with our advent wreath, ok so we haven't actually dug it out yet, maybe tomorrow after we can get to the back of the closet. But we did advent today at lunch and it just reminded me of family, singing carols after dinner and baking cookies. It made me kind of homesick. I wonder if my mom felt that way about any of her christmas traditions, do they still make her miss her mom? The tree will come soon enough and then the surprise christmas train from GB and Pappy! Lights already sit on my floor waiting to find a place in the windows, maybe they will race... a nod to my mom. and 'Santa Baby' is in my kitchen ready to sing and dance whenever the mood strikes.
Until Christmas, we will continue to attend play group on Tues. and reading hour at the library Wed. and Thur. Nick will continue to become more mobile as the days progress, first rolling and now scooting on his face, just like his sister. :) Jim will work and work, awaiting the Christmas break when he gets to see his in-laws and perhaps sleep in past 8am. I will work feverishly to get the house in order and eagarly await the Christmas day when I get to hug my mom and dad and tell them thank you for the best christmas present ever.
What are your plans for the month?

The Last for Now

92. hole-y stromboli
93. hugs
94. my parents who are still together setting the ultimate example of love unconditional
95. my daddy
96. the ability to enjoy my kids every moment of every day
97. getting away from the kids I enjoy
98. my bathroom
99. a place all my own
100. family who are thankful for me always just the way I am thankful for them

Grazi

82. Washable carseats
83. car dealerships in Harlem
84. library books
85. water bottles
86. moms and dads (what a great idea that was God!)
87. plastic food
88. real desserts
89. family of all kinds
90. Cousin Sarah
91. Better things to do than my 'to do' list

Say That Again

Nick is thankful for dancing feet

If he could just figure out whose feet they are :)

I've Got Plenty to be Thankful For

72. tiny little braids
73. bright blue eyes in the morning
74. lips to kiss with
75. Bing Crosby
76. hide and seek
77. phone calls to say I love you
78. country music
79. my daddy who could come home for lunch
80. my mommy who taught me that cooking is not the most important thing in the day; laughing is
81. legs to dance with

A Little Happy

All of Claire's toys are suddenly, spontaneously and rather surprisingly in need of quesadillas.

Just A Little Thanks

68. looking better than at least 60% of the other moms at play group
69. husbands who love me
70. showers
71. pigtails

Over the Hump

53. sisters who visit
54. sisters who don't visit
55. terminal 8!
56. getting lost the same place twice so you know how to get un-lost the second time
57. vodka sauce
58. Mark
59. Grandpa Bill
60. zoo memberships
61. moms at the park to talk to
62. kids to have adventures with
63. parents who adventured with me (do you have a plan?)
64. dry sheets
65. chubby cheeks
66. fuzzy boots
67. pants that fit two weeks before they have to :)

Under the Hood

Upon request I have review ALL of the few pictures from this past weekend. I have posted every picture in which Ami appears. If you could tell me which ones exactly are the 'nice ones' you are referring to... I am at a loss. Apparently your face does silly thing when it sees a camera without you even knowing. I would look into that if I were you, could be disastrous come wedding day.

OK there was this ONE where your teeth came together and your eyes weren't bugged out of your head. Unfortunately it seems to be a family trait as Claire can't seem to get it together at the same time as you.

(I think she is saying BOOGER!!)

Aunt ummm... comes to visit

Ami came this weekend with Mark to visit. Plans shuffled but we had a good time, well I did. All others may speak for themselves. We went to the aquarium and saw jellyfish and seals and a walrus that ami was not very fond of.

We also went out to eat, just the adults :) such a treat, twice in one week. I am spoiled.
It was good...It was great... It was fabulous to see ami and get to know Mark. I like him from what I have seen so far. I'm not sure if he's cleared for permanence yet but he's in the running. Claire likes him. The entire time we were at the aquarium she kept saying "come on Mark". She didn't want him to miss a thing. :) Well now I must go clean up from my amazing weekend. Which also ended with the fridge from my dining room being evicted! :D
Good times.

You Don't Get What You Give

I received a call from someone the other day, they were freaking out about Christmas. That it snuck up on them this year and that they were not financially ready for the burden of gift giving this year. As I sat down to make sure we were not headed for the same freak out I realized that we were and our Christmas was also in jeopardy. Not financially, although our Christmas tree will not be knocked over by the piles of gifts, we will make it work. I am not worried so much about that (ok that's a lie, but I'm telling myself that for now). I am worried that with all the focus and stress over gift giving this year we will forget what this holiday is all about. It's not about giving it's about getting and not even about getting material things it's about getting salvation, love and time together as family. I know it's early for Christmas posts but I feel like now is the time I need to be reminded of the basics. In this case giving was not better than getting. So none of you will be getting a present. :P But feel free to give us all your gifts :P
Just kidding, but in all seriousness, I am resolving to remember this year that although it is nice to give and get that it is not about that. I am resolving to enjoy and savor the time I have with family and friends this holiday season. I am resolving to not allow the stress of the holiday's to overshadow the joy that should go with them.
Here are crossed fingers and prayers that this season is stressfree and every day ends with a smile.

A Lot to Give Thanks For

44. that my car was in the parking lot when I arrived
45. nice policemen
46. insurance agent from the South
47. husbands who worry
48. sister-in-laws
49. cute old couples
50. popcorn and a movie night with Claire
51. nephews
52. laughter among family

Alex's Thanksgiving List

... for His Love Endures Forever

33. delicious dinners
34. mother-in-laws
35. sleeping in (especially when it's everyone!)
36. TV
37. a clean house
38. anticipation of something good
39. presents
40. beautiful flowers
41. hair
42. sister-in-laws
43. time away from my babies to recharge

1 Chronicles 16:41

... with a greatful heart

21. anniversaries
22. kisses
23. hugs
24. snuggles from babies in the morning
25. doctors (so I don't have to waste time worrying about health stuff as much)
26. giving gifts
27. little girl attitude
28. smiles
29. pretty wallets
30. baby toes
31. honesty
32. a God who loves me even more than this

In Everything...

11. babies laughter
12. husbands who clean
13. friends who visit
14. cookies
15. new days, new beginnings
16. sleeping in (even if it's only one of my kids)
17. good health
18. fish
19. a place to live
20. photoshop that works :)

Things I'm Thankful For...

This month Claire and I are starting to get thankful, we are memorizing 1 Thess. 5:18 in kiddie language 'in everything give thanks' right now we work it more like a 'God is good' response thing. She reminds me many times a day. So here I go...
1. grocery stores with chocolate milk close by
2. my handsome dude
3. my beauty queen
4. my lovely husband
5. bible verses about being thankful (1 Thess. 5:18)
6. moms that taught me many useful lessons
7. Italian lessons
8. Time to take said Italian lessons
9. telephones to call family
10. Chats with wonderful aunts

Makin' Bannana Pancakes

When I was a kid my mom made pink banana pancakes, I dont know why or really when. We really just used to tease my sister who really didn't like them and ask my mom to make pink banana pancakes.
Come to think of it can any of you remember actually eating the pink banana pancakes?
I made some for Claire, she ate them, I took a bite but was not impressed,perhaps I should have called for the actual recipe, and I used raspberry jello instead of strawberry.
Fond memories that shall not be repeated. I'm thinking that's how it was in our house as kids.

Not Her Mother's Daughter

Mobile

Yesterday was a milestone day in the Iovino household. Claire learned/mastered getting out of her crib by herself and Nick mastered rolling over by himself. So now they are both a new kind of mobile. I am still surprised when I find Nick screaming because he rolled over and can't get back to his back. And it threw me when Claire showed up at our bedside this morning at 6:30am. I guess it's like my husband said, I'm just not ready for them to grow up. But here they come, I wonder what today will hold?