Albanian Women's Day @ Church - March 2011

Finally got a great picture of the kids - YAY!

Inside the house!

We also got a dishwasher 2 weeks ago and of course, that was the morning play toy and highlight of their fun! Hundreds of dollars of toys - we could just give them boxes!








Alexandra started walking on Feb 12th - We have a blast playing with her and Michael, but sometimes we just need to get out of the house!



Today, I took the kids outside to play since the sun was out and news said 70 degrees. Little did I know that on our brief walk to the mailbox we would have to dodge trash and trash cans from the street! No pics of that though!

More Puerto Rico - Old San Juan

Our last day, we went to Old San Juan and hiked for about 10000000 miles - around the beautful Castillo de San Cristobol - a fort in San Juan.

Got back and went to the office to work this Tuesday - sat in a chair at a desk and changed the calendar from January to February - what was up on the picture for February - the exact spot we were at in Old San Juan....hmmm, maybe we should move?

Puerto Rico

Not counting our quick Florida trip about 4 years ago, this is our first REAL vacation since our honeymoon. Mike & I were planning on a cruise paid for by his company, however, that was cancelled and this was a quickly booked replacement - for the better:)

We came in yesterday afternoon and are here through Friday. The timing was tricky because its the start of semester 2 for me at work - a super busy week, and Mike is still covering 2 territories at work, however, we needed this break - some time alone. My mom is watching the kids and Bailey - boy I hope she gets some relief - as Timmy. Laura, Dan & Alison are planning to spend some time with them as well.

We have already consumed much alcohol, as my dad set us up with 2 full water bottles filled with Vodka & Jack Daniels - they made it here - he wrapped and tested them very nicely - THANKS DAD!

We have been lounging by the pool and eating a whole lot (definitely need to go back on WW strictly) - one of the highlights is a burger place a few blocks from the hotel on the beach, the other was in Old San Juan last night at Raices - where we ate Mofongos - plantains with chicken for me, and a mix of shrimp and mahi mahi for Mike. Delicious.

Great time so far - we miss our Queen Alexandra, as she is going to probably be walking either when we get home or shortly after; and of course, Michael G - who looks like he is giving my mom a run for her money:) We face time them from the iphone to my moms iphone - what a great thing it is to see them and for them to see us!

We will post more pics of this beautiful place soon!

Our little girl turned 1 on Saturday!

Saturday was Alexandra's 1st Birthday! She has grown from such a tiny little miracle into an adorable, precious, healthy looking little baby girl! From 4lbs 10 oz at birth, she is now 24lbs 12oz at one year old!

We had a beautiful day with the family who helped us celebrate her birthday - Michael was OUTSTANDING all day - he played with toys, helped blow out candles and even helped open a few gifts. She had an outfit change, of course from an adorable 12 month sized dress that JUST fit her into her little minnie mouse 1st birthday shirt and pink tutu.

Brianna's Birthday Party

Today, we went to Chuckie Cheese in Deptford to help Brianna celebrate her 3rd birthday! Michael was quiet at first but loved playing skeeball. He kept saying "Daddy likes skeeball!"
The place was a zoo but we survived!

Then we went to Aunt Diane's house to have our very belated Christmas - Michael & Alexandra got nice presents and had fun - but no naps for either caused it to be a little hectic!
Alexandra will eat anything - today she had pizza, then meatballs.
She found a roll on the table at my Aunt Diane's that her cousin Brianna dropped a few seconds before she picked it up. But she didnt care - picked it up, sat down and ate it!

Mom looked beautiful today - a little glowing, maybe she had some really good sleep last night after spending Thursday night and Friday with the kids together!


Mom & Aunt Diane(left)



Michael showing Brianna his new fire engine - he carried the box around all night!
Too many little pieces to open it at Aunt Diane's house


Mom feeding little Leko some pizza.


Alexandra's Roll - see the video too!


Roll Video!



Cousins Nicole & Linette


There is the roll coming into the room - Alexandra smells it, I know it.


Mommy & kiddos!

Sledding Fun

Today, we added another 3 or so inches to our 2-3 inches from yesterday's snow!

Bailey & Michael G were the bigger fans - Alexandra just took it all in, but seemed slightly torn as to if she likes snow. She started crying about 10 mins into our walk, so I picked her up and she was beginning to fall asleep - she is zonked!

Michael, daddy & Bailey walked through the field, but didnt find a good hill to sled on in the park, so we took a trip in the car to the dry cleaners and came home for naptime for almost everyone!

A nice, quiet Saturday for the family!

Michael really comes out with some things.....and Alexandra is a little toughie!

So, tonight, I was reading a Curious George book to Michael, and we are constantly reminding him to take his thumb out of his mouth! So, I said "Michael, no thumb." He turns and dead serious, looks at me to say, "No, mom, I am not done yet, Ill take it out in a few seconds." He is a riot! I love his handsome haircut - but I miss his curls too! He makes us laugh, but he makes us cry too - especially when he tries every day to run around th house and we have to yell at him! But he is being very patient with his sister - and very tolerant of her exploring - he is sharing very nicely and Im proud of him.



Now, Alexandra, she is hysterical as well, but she doesnt take no for an answer!
Today, at her sitter's house, she decided to try to crawl up the 2 steps leading to the kitchen, and in the short 10 minutes that I was there talking with Mary Jean, she went up one, and slammed her head right on the next one, which stopped the carpeting - it was the wood floor. So she SCREAMED for about 10 seconds and then was fine when Mary Jean put ice on her head and fed her PUFFS - she didnt care as long as she was eating her puffs - she is a little toughie and I love her face - when she gives kisses, its the best thing ever:)


We have really been blessed with a super special family!

What a wonderful Holiday!

Exhausted but very much worth it would describe this holiday season! Mike & I had a beautiful Christmas with our families and friends. We started by having Mike & Vicki Kilgus over the week before the hoidays and their boys, Michael & Patrick - so well behaved and such manners! They played super well with Michael - even after Michael's shyness in the beginning. They were trying to jump off of the sofa by the end of the night - but we nixed that right away;)
Christmas Eve was nice - we missed Camille, but having Sam, Sal & Maureen over was nice. Camille sent her love with gifts for the kids and cookies! The calamari was out of this world - and I HIGHLY recommended it to everyone! Sam got the most adorable outfits for Alexandra and Michael got a personalized craft box with tons of crayola supplies! Michael got GEOTRAX from Gramps & Maureen & they bought Alexandra a ton of outfits!
Then although Michael was awake for some of the overnight hours of Christmas Eve - both kids and us arrived downstairs to see the gifts from Santa around 7:30-8am. Mike made breakfast and we played until grandmom & grandpop came over wit even MORE presents!! Then Uncle Dan & Alison brought even MORE!!! We had a great day together....Mike & I and the kids bought an ipad for my mom - she so deserves it - and she is becoming an expert with that and her new iphone 4! FACETIME with the kids is so much fun!
The next day is always reserved for the Langellos - but it snowed and we cancelled heading to my mom's for dinner - Dan & Tim went though - they had a nice, peaceful dinner:)
Uncle Tim & Aunt Laura came during the week - and brought more gifts for the kids - and some much needed PJ's for them as well. Mike got a stylus for his ipad from them and I received such a great calendar of the kids pics.
New Years Day is the new tradition for our "Christmas" with the Ferrara's - Sal, Jean, Jake, Denise & Matt. They came over and we had a GREAT day - opening gifts and eating so much FOOD! It was relaxing and the kids love to play with everyone - their uncle, aunt & all of their cousins - Sam cant get enough of them - she even drove straight here for the day after her New Year's Eve night out!
A truly beautiful Christmas with the kids - they amaze us - and today, even after all of the exhaustion, Alexandra started taking her first steps - she is something else - Michael's potty use is becoming such a habit - he is doing great! Slowly, but we are getting there!
Enjoy some of our family pics!




Matt & Michael - New Years Day


Sam, Matt, Jake, Denise, Alexandra & Michael - New Years Day

Uncle Tim & Aunt Laura visit - PEAS!

Uncle Tim & Aunt Laura

Uncle Dan & Alison - Christmas Day


Waiting to see if Santa brought gifts!


Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas Eve - Alexandra's new boots!