What's been going on this last week...

Well, I just thought I'd put up a few pictures of this last week. We celebrated Betsy's B-day at Cheescake Factory. It was a blast as usual. And the rest of the week has just been more of me convincing the Dude that he has to go to school, trying to keep up with the ongoing mess that my house is, and trying to get back in the habit of excercising. I ran 1.5 miles today and it actually didn't kill me. I think I'll try for two miles on Friday. I guess my asthma is getting better, or I'm learning how to control it. Maybe it's all of that Yoga that is helping me "be in tune with my body". Actually I really love taking Yoga. Well, Yoga Urbana that is. It is more of a fluid movement yoga and meditation, rather than just holding poses. So anyways, that's it for me. Have a good weekend!



Here we are at the Cheescake Factory. On the far left it goes Sara, Betsy, me and on the right are Kristin and Trina.



Just needed to add Brooke in. She came a little late.



Having a bad hairday anyone!!! I couldn't stop laughing when I went in to get Allegra out of her crib. She must have had a wild night!



Here are the kids just hanging out watching Saturday morning cartoons. They're so cute. They just love eachother! I asked Gianluca what was the favorite part of his day today and he said "playing with sis". Gotta love those moments!

Birthday Shoutouts!!!

Alright, I have two B-day Salutes to make today. The first one is for my amazing friend Betsy who's birthday is today! She is turning the big 30 and I think it is great!

So here are some things I love about Betsy:



1) She has great fashion sense.
2) She is always ready to go have fun when I need to get out of the house.
3) She is real. I can be completely open with her how I feel about things and she doesn't judge me.
4) She is very athletic! I am always amazed at the drive she has to go and work out and be healthy.
5) She is a great mom and wife (despite what you may think Bets, you are!!!)
6) She makes a mean hot cocoa and buckeyes!
7)She is educated and is in the know of what's going on w/ politics.... and of course pop trivia!
8) She can laugh at herself!
9)She is the first person I call after I watch Project Runway!
10) Betsy is a beautiful person inside and out, who is usually too hard on herself, but whether she knows it or not, she is fabulous!!! She is down to earth, fun, and a good friend. I love you Betsy and I am so happy we have so much in common!!!! Happy Birthday!!!

My second B-day Tribute is much belated, but I wanted to let her know how I feel about her... My big sister Darci who is always young at heart!



(Darci is the furthest one on the left hand-side) (order is Darci, Kim, Ryan, and bad picture of me)


(Just had to throw in this picture of my parents obvious inspiration of cutting my hair into a bowlet (Bowl cut mullet) like Darci's!



Here is the proof!!! This is child abuse people!

Okay here is what I love about Darci!

1)She's always been a second mom to me!
2) She fits the first child role of taking care of everyone. She is very nurturing and loving and sweet!
3) I love her laugh, especially when she snorts. I just love laughing with my sisters! We all have the cackle!
4) She has been through a lot and has a lot of good advice because of it.
5) She is very spiritual.
6) She is very dependable!
7) She is great at organizing family functions,whether she likes to or not. She is just a take charge type of gal.
8) She is fun to shop with!
9)She makes a mean hot fudge! Excellent cook I'd like to add.
10) She has an amazing family who I adore and miss very much. You always make me feel at home! I think you make everyone feel at home!
11) You stay strong through your trials. Lots of inner strength.
12) Great house keeper. I know that sounds dumb, but some people really have this knack, and I am pretty mediocre at it.
13)She is very sensitive to others feelings.
14) She is beautiful! Seriously, inside and out.
15) I just love Darci! Who doesn't? She is just a great amazing woman and mother and sister! I'm pretty sure Kim and Ryan would agree with me on this one! Happy belated Birthday... your still 21 and holding right?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LADIES! YOU ARE BOTH VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN MY LIFE!!!

Love, Sid

The Dude's First Experience Ice Skating

Oh, I wanted to also post this of the Dude learning to ice skate. They have these cool little walkers for the little kids to use so they don't fall. Unfortunatley my battery died after only two times around. By the end he was skating like a pro without dad pushing him around the rink. He loved it. Oh and I'm sorry you have to hear Joel being a baby about how the skates "hurt my feet". Get over it you big baby! Suck it up and be a man already!!! Okay, I just love to harass him. It comes from my father. I love you babes!

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Not much going on....

Hey, well as you can tell, life has been pretty low-key and we've been doing a lot of nothing! Gianluca is back in school and always says "School's Boring" he says that about church too. But once he gets there he has fun. Allegra is getting more of an attitude. She is starting to throw temper tantrums and saying "NO NO! AND MMMMH MUH! (I don't know how to spell it) I have to remind myself that she isn't a baby anymore, but a toddler! I can't believe it. Gianluca is in Sunbeams and Allegra's in nursery! It is crazy.

Joel has started his new job and is loving it! I've been helping watch friends kids, and going back to the YMCA. It's nice to get back into a routine after a two month hiatus! Now we are just getting over colds. So I know this is boring, but I thought I'd just keep ya'll (I'm becoming a Texan!) updated. Here's some new pics.





My kids love to take baths in my tube. We put bubbles in there, but once the jets go on, the bubbles go crazy. So here are my floating heads! Don't worry I supervise them in the tub.



Here is a picture of my kids hiding out under Gianluca's bed with some chocolate they found. I knew they were being way too quiet!



Gianluca got his face painted at the YMCA w/ Joel. When he got home and I saw him, it almost scared me! He's a pretty fierce Spider man!



Look at all my beautiful teeth!

Quality mom and son time!

I meant to put these pics on the blog earlier this month. Gianluca's preschool had a field trip to the Red Caboose. It's a Christmas tree farm not to far from here. There was a hay ride, turkeys, bunnies, goats, miniature pony, and a goat without an ear. Then Gianluca got to ride this little train which he thought was the coolest thing ever. It was fun spending time with my little man. He is so sweet and funny. I can't believe half of the things that comes out of his mouth. I am in big trouble for sure! He is definitely 4(in a few weeks) going on 18!






I also took the dude to Alvin and the Chipmunks on Christmas day. It was such a fun little mommy-son date. When we got there, the kid in the booth said it was sold out and we were both so disappointed! Then I got the idea of going inside to buy tickets at the kiosk and sure enough, we got tickets! Of course he had to sit on my lap the whole time, but it was so fun. We went to the bathroom right before it started and Gianluca said "Mom, that boy said it was sold-out, but he was wrong. He was just wrong!!!" We had a blast. This show is adorable. We laughed the whole time. Now every time he sees a chipmunk on TV, he says "look its Alvin and the Chipmunks!" Go see it! We didn't have time to get popcorn before the show started, so I got some for him afterwards and he brought it home and ate it and played his little game boy. These guys grow up too fast!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, yada yada yada!!! J/K!

Okay, I've been getting in trouble lately for being such a slacker and not updating my blog for a month!!! I know everyone always says, "The holidays are so busy and I just don't have time" but it is true. I've had Joel's family in town for the past two weeks and between that and Christmas shopping, programs, party's, I just have been too tired by the end of the night to be a faithful blogger. SORRY!

Now for the most important info and best Christmas present we could have got this year....(drum roll please) CONGRATS JOEL FOR GETTING THE NEW JOB!!!! Joel got a job at an energy company called Dynegy. It's one of the largest in the country. It is such a huge blessing as we've been needing some extra income and this was a massive answer to our prayers. Thanks to all of you who prayed with us. You are true friends! Joel will be a scheduler and basically schedule shipments of coal and I don't know what else, but it is going to be a big nice change from his old job and he is super excited. He will be working in downtown Houston on the 66th floor! Yikes! He'll be taking the bus downtown everyday. But that will be nice since he has to be at work at 6:30! No more late nights babe!!! He will then get home around 5:45ish. So I think this is a great start for the new year for us. YOU DESERVE IT JOEL AND I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!

What else, what else.... I permed my hair!! I know you are thinking "what in the... is she thinking?!" Well my cousin Kristy said she gets a body wave every now and then to give her hair more volume, so I did it and now I don't know what to do with it! So Kristy, if you are reading this... I need help!!! Do I blow-dry it straight, do I let it air dry, do I look like a poodle??? I don't know!!!!

As far as Christmas goes, Joel's parents got us a new table! It is black and oval and sits up to 6-8 people. We got some I-pods! Finally. I'm so happy to have one. With the help of mom and dad's Christmas dinero we were able to get them. Thank you! And the regular, a few clothes. Gianluca asked Santa for a pirate ship and a robot and couldn't be more thrilled with them! He keeps thinking Santa is coming in a couple days to give him more presents. Allegra got a bounce and spin zebra and a doll stroller (which she thinks she should sit in, not push) and a baby. She is so cute! She loves having a little purse to carry around and a little bracelet on her wrist. She is very feminine!!!

We loved having Christian, Maggie and Norby here! Congrats to Christian (Joel's bro) for graduating w/ you MBA! We are proud of you and excited for your future. Maggie and Norby, thank you for all you do for us!!! We love you all!

Anyways, I just want to say how grateful we are to have wonderful friends and family. We are truly blessed and know that without Christ our Savior, we would not have all of the many beautiful blessings we have in our lives. I pray you all have a wonderful new year and rededicate yourselves to loving, laughing, and living more than you ever have!!!

Love, Sid

p.s. here is a montage of our Christmas!!! Don't forget to push the pause button under My Music on the right hand side.

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