December 2013

I'm too lazy to put these in order and blogger makes it too difficult anyway, so here's our Christmas cheer in no particular order. 

Our three munchkins by our decorated tree. 

Joe in his Santa hat. He kept it on forever, much to our surprise. 

Mark decorated a gingerbread house at his school's annual event. It's so fun sampling putting on the decorations!

Gianna had pajama day at school. Looks comfy!

Mark's class had a little concert. Gianna did the same thing when she was in preschool. It's so adorable.

Their happy place! Joe just loves being with Mark and Gianna...especially in Gianna's bed!

Christmas morning!

 We left right after Christmas to go to Binghamton. Visiting cousin Tino and Great Grandpa (among others) is always a fun time!

 And now, back to decorating the tree. 

Joe gives Christmas a round of applause.

Decorating the gingerbread man. He's so delicious!

This little guy is pretty mobile for just being an army-crawler!

He sure loved these shakers. 

Nonna and Pop-pop came on Christmas Eve for the big feast (along with some dear friends of ours, and I, of course, took no pictures) and so were here for the big reveal Christmas morning. Grandma and Grandpa met us at Mass Christmas day so we could have more presents after they arrived! All followed by another delicious meal. 

It was a lovely Christmas. Our first one in our own home since before we had kids. I have to say, I missed the chaos of all driving and visiting we do in Virginia to see lots of family and friends, but it was definitely nice to have a very relaxing couple of days at home. 

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!