Personal (minor) Victory

Saturday was a busy day as is the case with most of us, I am sure. I started the day with a little sleeping in, very little, and then a pancake breakfast with the family. I had promised Arianna some one-on-one time so we headed out to do some shopping for some fall clothes as soon as Massimo was fed and down for his nap. I could have gotten ready before heading out but that would have cut our time shopping short, so I didn't. Threw my hair back in a pony tail and brushed my teeth and got dressed.
We got home in time to change Arianna into her soccer uniform before heading out for the game. I could have gotten ready then, but that would have meant I would have been less helpful while everyone scurried to get ready to head out. Used a bit of lip gloss and we were off.
After the game I had a baby to feed and get back to napping before heading out with lunch w/ some girl friends. Now I REALLY should have gotten done up, but it was Massimo getting down calmly or me looking less scary. Yup, Massimo won. Before he was quite done feeding my ride had arrived so I headed out the door. I had a great time and even forgot that I had never gotten ready for the day until I passed a mirror-yikes! Oh well.
Got home to a bit of a mess. Cleaned house, bathed kids and got things packed up quickly to head over to a friends house for dinner and games. Again, should have gotten ready, could have left something else undone, but I chose myself.
Now, this is not a significant victory, I am WELL aware of that. However, as I got ready for bed that night and I noticed that I had gone through the whole crazy day w/o makeup I felt a bit victorious inside. Not because I am naturally beautiful, I am not; not because make up is bad, it is not; but because I could be OK without it for the day. I was glad that I could choose to do other things that felt more important to me and let myself go, especially on a day when I was out and about so much. I mean, I have cleaning days at home when I don't get all that ready, but I don't expect to see many people. :) I quite like those relaxed days!
I got all ready for church come sunday; I got ready today; but on saturday, I just chose something else. I was glad I could.
I know, I know, if only I would have gotten up earlier or passed on any one of the days' activities I could have made myself a bit more presentable, but why? It turned out to be a wonderful day, just the way it was.
Call me crazy!
I'd attach photos of the crazy day, but I KNOW you'd rather not see!!

Makes Perfect Sense

A: Enzo, you put your BYU hat in my shoe box. Why did you?
E: Because
A: Because why?
E: BeCUZ
A: But WHY?
E: Because, because.
A: Was it because you couldn't reach the hooks? (Arianna is just SURE she found the reason)
E: No
A: Well then WHY?
E: Because I wanted to.
A: But why?

Two minutes later outside I find my cell phone lying in the grass.
Me: Why is my cell phone out here.
E: Because Arianna brought it out here.
M: Why?
E: Because.
M: But why?
E: Because she did.
M: I know she did, but why (egging him on a bit)?
E: She did because she did.

I guess we'd better find better question words with this guy. Isn't it usually the other way around...isn't HE supposed to be asking 'why' incessantly? He's got us figured.

Little Sponges

Today Arianna was playing her math meatballs game. She discovered that 7 minus 4 was three after some meatball counting. We talked about how she'll start to get familiar with some of these math equations so she wont have to count any more. She was pretty excited about that. Then she repeated a time or two, "7 take away 4 is three!" Then she turned to me and said, "I already have some STUCK under my belt!" She cracks me up! I don't know why I used that 'under your belt' phrase, it was sometime last week, but she thought it was worth repeating...kind of.


And Enzo, his vocabulary cracks me up at times. Aunt Lor was lifting the kids up on a bar as they hung from it and Arianna decided she wanted to try to lift Enzo as well; she is VERY convinced that she is VERY strong. (She tells me all the time that she can do more push ups than I...Marco is trying to teach her what that REALLY consists of.) So she tried with all her might to lift her brother on this make-shift pole. He didn't budge. After letting her try it for just a minute he said, "You really can't do that at all" in his best disappointed voice and with his most apologetic face. He is a funny guy, loves to belt out "Jingle Bells" during coloring time at 'school' or "You're a grand ol' flag" for all his nursery buds. But it is great to see him coming up with his own expressions!

Happy Birthday Princess!

Arianna was worried the night before her birthday. She hadn't told me yet what she wanted for her birthday breakfast. Of course, I already knew, but she felt compelled to get her wish list in before it was too late. She makes life so easy for me, always has, she wanted Lucky Charms. Ahhh, I can handle that! So I filled a bowl of her favorite cereal, stuck a candle in a big old strawberry and put it on a tray with some balloons and OJ. She had fun eating in bed with all of us around. Good mornin' Princess.

Her 'favorite' dinner was just about as simple, she said she wanted fried eggs, beans and blueberry muffins with a red, white and blue cake. So we did a blueberry cake with whipped cream and strawberries. She opened a few gifts and then her daddy sent her on a treasure hunt for a...


bike with a kick stand! She is done with training wheels so she wanted something a bit bigger, and she felt she needed something to store her things in while she rides (not sure what things, but oh well). She LOVES to ride and is getting so good at it. She wants me to get a bike so we can bike to school in the mornings, I like the sound of that!

But nothing compared to the lollipop her brother gave her...whoa! When she opened it you'd have thought she'd won a million bucks!

And she was so good to share it too!

I thought that Arianna would want a princess party when she turned 3, forget about it! Maybe at 4? Not happenin'! I never tried to sway her decisions, whatever kind of party she'd like is just perfect. But for her 5th, she was all about it. Kind of fun! She and I had great fun decorating a castle cake and preparing for a very pink and purple party.
Thanks for so many fun and exciting gifts from so many of you. She has had so much fun playing and painting and drumming and changing and coloring and gaming, so thank you!
Happy Birthday my sweet girl! Here's to another year of great accomplishments and lots of laughter! We love you!

Going on 6

This little guy is now 1/2 a year old! He is such a happy critter!

Says 'mama' eats pears, peaches and sweet potatoes without TOO much trouble. Rolls over like crazy (read, nearly impossible to change his diaper) and is sitting up for shorts stints of time. Smiles and laughs whenever someone is around to smile and laugh with him. Still wont take a bottle, though he does likes to play with them. Go figure!
We sure love this guy! So sweet and peaceful, always has been. And such a trooper as we drag him to school and gymnastics and school and shopping and school again. Love you bud!