Diary of a Momaholic

Nina's Birthday - Part 2 - A Birthday Breakfast

Dear Diary,

Nothing says, "Happy birthday" in the morning, like a chocolate donut with a number "2" candle in it. She LOVED it!

Nina's Birthday - Part 1 - An Open Letter

Dear Nina,

Yay! You're two! But you can't be. In a short amount of time, you went from infant to toddler. I'm not going to sit here and tell you you were a difficult baby or that you were an easy baby or that you had colic or that you were blah blah blah. Because, you weren't any of those things. You were Nina. Just like Joshua was Joshua and Hayden was Hayden. You each were VERY different babies and I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of kids.

So, WHO is Nina? Well, Nina, you are a very passionate 2 year old who loves:

• to be outside - any and every opportunity you get to go out, you take it!
• to dance - you were a dancing machine at Uncle Stephen and Aunt Emily's wedding. And every time we have music on at home you like to ask Daddy and/or me to dance. Very sweet.
• to listen to music - probably because it leads you to dance, but either way, you've got an ear for music, listening and playing!
• food - you may remember I wrote about your passion for food here. 
• her brothers - but, like all siblings there are times when you can't get enough of them and there are times when you desperately need a break from them.
• to "read" - some of your favorite books are/were: Mother Goose (nursery rhymes), Caillou -My Book of Great Adventures, Strawberry Shortcake Storybook Treasury, and Mini Masters boxed set, just to name a few.
• chocolate - you even try to sneak it like someone with an addiction.
• to visit with her Nanny - about once a day you ask to go downstairs to visit and play with Nanny, and before you go down, you insist we put on your slippers.
• the beach - as seen here.
• to go on nature walks - ever since Yiayia took you for a walk last year to collect leaves and pine cones, you've been on a mission of your own to pick up anything you find intereting.
• to watch Strawberry Shortcake and Caillou shows on TV - whenever you get the urge to unwind, you ask to watch one of these shows.

There are MANY more things that drive who you are, but these are the one's that stick out the most. For now, here's my wish for you: Dare all your dreams, always believe in yourself, uncover hidden talents, go on adventures, have fun and be happy, treasure tiny miracles, embrace life and reach for the stars.

May all your dreams come true, today and always. Happy Birthday to Wonderful You!

And remember, "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you know."

All my heart,

Mommy

 

 

 

 

October is Fire Safety Month

Dear Diary,

So, it only seemed appropriate that Hayden's class would take a field trip to the Westmont Fire Department for a tour. It was during that tour that the kids got to learn, see, inspect, touch and ask anything and everything about the firefighters and their equipment. We got to see where they sleep, eat and watch TV. We got to see the inside of an ambulance and learn the difference between a fire truck and a fire engine. Did you know that the fire truck is the one with the BIG ladder and the fire engine is the one with the pump, water tank and hoses?

The part of the tour I found to be the most beneficial, was when one of the firemen put on his entire gear and showed the kids what one looks like close-up. That way, if and whenever (Let's hope NOT in their lifetime.) they were trapped in a burning house or building they wouldn't be afraid of the firefighters or try to hide from them.

Nina and I got to come along on this special trip, but she wanted to have nothing to do with it. She played with rocks and found the walnuts from the trees WAY more fascinating.

Thank you, men and women of the Westmont Fire Department for your time, service and dedication to our town.

Happy 5th Birthday, Hayden!

Dear Hayden,

You’re 5!! Yet, it feels like only yesterday that you came into this world. Now, I have to answer all kinds of questions and we discuss a lot of things. Things like; dinosaurs, rocks and minerals, volcanoes, bugs, spiders, Harry Potter, Legos, Star Wars, and Batman, among other things.

You’re creative and articulate. You’re able to piece things together rather quickly and I never have to explain myself twice. (Please don’t lose that ability; it will come in very handy more often as you grow up.) Sometimes, when I’m talking to Joshua and asking him questions he should know, you come up with the answers before he does. :)

I love how you enjoy a variety of music. Right now, your favorite songs are: Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts, Flower Child by U2, Indian Outlaw by Tim McGraw, You’ve Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman, Lost Highway by Bon Jovi, and as of lately, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Bare Naked Ladies.

I love it when you ask me to lay with you at night and how you never want me leave. And when I do, you give me the best hugs. I have to admit that sometimes I want to freeze time – so that you will always be my little boy, but I know that’s impossible.

Most mornings you wake up full of vigor and greet me with the biggest smile and warm “Good morning, Mom!” Most of the time, I just respond with a look that says to you, “I’m not up yet.” I will have to work on that because you deserve a much better greeting from me than that.

You’ve been enjoying school immensely. You talk about a girl in your class all.the.time. Her name is Autumn. She’s cute and sweet and fun and I can see why you like her. We plan to have her over for a play-date soon, because if we don’t I’m afraid you’re going to sneak out one night just to see her. You struggled, at first, with your grip on your pencil, but with determination and practice, you finally got it! Your teachers (Mrs. Sharma and Mrs. Foley) tell me that you are a sweet boy who is well mannered, caring and polite.

Thank you for coming into our lives five years ago. Thank you for accepting us as your family, with all our strengths and our flaws. Thank you for adding to our joy and love. Thank you for bringing a little piece of heaven down to earth and reminding us, everyday, what real faith in God looks like.

We live our life in phases and when one ends, another begins. Change is constant and life is short. So, seize the moment and live life to the fullest with no regrets.

Love you always,

Mommy

Some of the gifts you got on your birthday were:

A volcano making kit - from Yiayia and Papou (One of many gifts from them.)

Digging for Dinosaurs DS game - from Joshua

Lego Star Wars Zip Bin - from Nina

Encyclopedia Prehistorica Mega-Beasts Book - from Nana and Grandpa Bill (One of many gifts you got from them.)

And a ton of vintage Star Wars action figures, including Darth Vader's Tie Fighter, Jaba the Hutt's throne, Laser Riffle carrying case and Imperial Tie Fighter. All of these things were your daddy's. You were SO excited to get them and add them to your collection.

And in keeping with the Star Wars gift theme, I ordered you your favorite kind of cake - chocolate on chocolate on chocolate - decorated in true Hayden fashion.

Nina was NOT very happy with us because we made her wait to have a piece of cake until after we sung Happy Birthday to you.

 

Happy birthday, Hayden...keep on smiling!

A Night Out with Mom

Dear Diary,

What a night! I had one of the third best concert experiences in my life. (The other two being, Bon Jovi in the summer of 2003 and Josh Groban this past July. If I had to rank a fourth, I would go with Jimmy Buffet, summer of 2000.) 

We saw Il Volo, that's Italian for "In Flight." They're a trio group of guys ages, 18, 17 and 16 years old!! When my mom asked me if I wanted to go with her earlier this summer, I had NO idea who they were. She kept telling me to find their music online and listen to them. I never did. Then, one night, while watching the season finale of Entourage, I heard the most beautiful music being played during the episode, and I knew. I knew it was them. I ran to my computer and did a little research and found I WAS RIGHT! Three weeks before the concert and hearing only one song, I was EXCITED to see these guys in person!

And they didn't let me down! They were FANTASTIC! It was during the concert that I was even more proud to be Italian. I know it's silly, (How can you be more proud?)but their voices, their accents, their demeanor, had me longing to visit Italy. To see the sights, the sounds, the food and the people. It's a beautiful thing to have music do that to a person. And that's why I think I'm making the Il Volo concert from the summer of 2011, my #1 concert going experience!

See and hear for yourself. You might not (in fact you probably won't) feel the same way I do about them, but at least you can say, "Hey, I know those guys, I've heard them before. They're pretty good."

(This video is NOT from the concert, it's from when they performed on American Idol.)