November 2013

We're getting a little ahead of ourselves here, but weren't they so cute dressed up to see Santa?! They did that in early November, so it only seems like I'm ahead of myself.

Joe LOVES his bath!

Gianna and Mark love playing in the leaves. Can't say I blame them!

Joe fell in a basket...I guess he liked it there. 

 Thanksgiving was at Aunt Jenny's this year. 

We almost lost Joe under Nonna's couch.

Gianna lost her first tooth! Very exciting time! She was so desperate to lose one and join all her friends who've had tooth fairy visits. The tooth fairy wrote her a letter, Gianna couldn't have been more pleased.

So sweet after his bath!

Finally, our big boy turned 4! He helped make his cookies to share at school. He loves to help bake ("Tasting time is my favorite," he says). And I made a pretty awesome (if I do say so myself) wolverine cake to share with his cousins over the weekend. We love you Mark! You're the best 4 year old I know!

October 2013

October was a big month for Joe. First time in a grocery cart, first time swinging, first time walkering, and first time eating real food. He handled all of them like a champ. He became a walker speed-demon very quickly. 

Joe's first halloween. He was a monkey. Gianna and Mark, for the first time, really loved trick-or-treating. We went with the neighbors, so it was a fun time for everyone. 

Fall Saturdays

Soccer started in September too. Gianna is the smallest on her team (it's 1st and 2nd graders). But she is holding her own. And looking so cute doing it...not that that matters. She's having fun and really wants to improve every week.

 

And then we rest.

 

 

These are pumpkins grown from seeds Gianna's kindergarten teacher started for us in cups last fall. Not big enough for jack-o-laterns, but perfect for painting!

 

Gianna's 6th birthday!

It's like I blinked and my baby girl turned 6 on September 29! I still can't believe it. We decided it was finally time to do the big, location party with lots of kids and she's been excited about it since August. We had the party at a bounce place with a loose butterfly theme (i.e. butterfly cake and butterfly favors).

I wasn't that pleased with how the cake turned out, but Gianna gave me lots of positive reinforcement so if she's happy, I'm happy!



We opened presents at home first. 

One gift was a two-wheel scooter to replace her 3-wheel. She's still nervous and wobbly, but getting better every time.

And in the afternoon we partied hard.

 I'm pretty sure Gianna has been dying to sit on this throne since she first went to a birthday party at this place when she was 3. So her day was a dream come true I think. She thanked us many times for a great party...such a sweet girl! Happy birthday Gianna Bryn!
 

 

Joseph Anthony's Christening

 Joseph Anthony was baptized at our church in a private ceremony performed by Doug's uncle, Father Jude. We were so happy to have him here and to have at least one of our children baptized in a parish we've come to love! It was so nice to just be surrounded by our immediate family and have a personal ceremony just for us, well for Joseph.

The pictures don't really show it, but Joe just loved being baptized. He was smiling and laughing through the whole thing. Mark and Gianna were both about 2 months old when they were baptized, so at almost 5 months, Joe was much more "involved" in his baptism. It was adorable.

Thanks to Joseph's godparents, Aunt Jenny and Uncle Steve for being here for his special day.

First day of School

September 9th was the first day of first grade for Gianna and of preschool for Mark. They both came home happy and Mark came home tired.