Is May 23rd a Historic Date? Maybe?

It feels like we are living in Seattle with all this rain....It's almost Memorial Day Weekend and it just keeps raining and raining.  I don't recall a Spring such as this in quite some time!  While the weather was nice today, the girls got a chance to play outside on their play set.  I love that they LOVE to play on their play set after all of these years!
And this got me to reminiscing.  When was this play set built?  I felt like there was a coincidental date and then I looked it up.  Does a date ever come by you and you say to yourself, "I know something happened this day!" But you can't quite put your finger to it?  To my surprise, on May 23, 2011, we started assembling this play set.  8 years ago!  And it wasn't easy.  Everything came in a box and it wasn't labeled, and it took 2 whole weekends to assemble with friends and family. Isabella was 3 years old, and Giselle was 5 months old. LOOK at THEM TODAY.....Still enjoying this!  I am going to SAVOR IT!!

Some things are not coincidental, they happen for a reason : )

TODAY! Isabella @ 10 and Giselle @ 8 loving their play set!

In 2011, when we started building

HOW?  We DID IT! 2011

Pura Vida!!

For spring break this year, we traveled to Costa Rica where we learned the term "Pura Vida."  Simply translated, it means “simple life” or “pure life”, and Costa Ricans use this term to say hello, to say goodbye and not surprisingly, it has been named one of the happiest countries in the world.

We spent most of the week relaxing poolside basking in the sun and swimming.  We did manage to pry ourselves away from the pool for a day and traveled to Guanacaste for ADVENTURES!  It was there that we rode horses to and then hiked to a beautiful waterfall.  After wards, we visited a natural hot springs and then covered ourselves in volcanic mud and baked in the sun.  We took a ride on Costa Rica's longest water slide (which was super fun)!  And lastly, we went zip lining in the Rain Forest.

Before we went on our big adventure, I asked the girls which one they would like to choose and out of all of them, they chose the "Original Mega Combo."  I was surprised they picked this one.  It was the grandest adventure of them all that included 5 adventures (zip lining, riding horses, hot water springs, tubing and hiking) and a 12 hour day.  I will was feeling pretty confident as a mother that they could handle all of these.  They had taken horseback riding lessons so I knew they wouldn't be scared to ride a horse.  I had taken them to Great Wolf Lodge where we went tubing together, so I knew they wouldn't be scared of large slides.  We go hiking all the time.  The only thing I hadn't prepared for was zip lining.  They had NEVER zip lined through a rain forest way up in the sky over trees filled with monkeys.  There were 7 zip lines and we started off really good!  Both girls were cruising high in the sky.  The third line in, Isabella was crying and wanted to go back home.  The thing is.....once your in, your in.  You can't walk back home because its so high, you have to zip line home.  Once Isabella started crying, Giselle didn't want to zip line by herself anymore either.  After lots of deep breaths and wiping the tears away, a guide finished the rest of the zip lines with the girls.  I am super proud of both of them for being brave enough to try something new, even if it may have been scary.  I am also proud of Bob for being afraid of heights and trying out zip lining for the first time as well.

We enjoyed relaxing, spending time with each other and I especially enjoyed a break from not cooking for an entire week!

The food was excellent, the people were friendly, the company was even better and we would definitely go back!!  Costa Rica is truly an unspoiled destination!  Until our next vacation "adventure."

Zip Lining (Giselle is in front, Isabella is hidden behind the guide)

Fun in the Pool, Costa Rica

Lots of mammals in Costa Rica

Bella relaxing after the zip line!

A picture is worth a thousand words!

Tubing

A hike to the waterfall

Gigi is ALWAYS ready to ride!

Big Guy

It has been a while since we have talked about Baxter, I bet you are wondering how he is doing!  After all, this blog is about Isabella, Giselle and Baxter!

About a month ago, we had quite a scare with him.  I had just come home from x-rays because I sprained my ankle and just as I put my ankle up with ice, the girls said "Mommy!  Is your ankle bleeding?!  There is blood all over the floor!!"

I got up and to my surprise, there was blood all over the floor everywhere.  Baxter was fine before we went to the doctor.  He was fine when we came home.  In a matter of 15 minutes, something burst on his left eye and it wouldn't stop bleeding.

We got in the car and took him to the vet.  They treated his eye and gave us a cone and said it should be better in a few days.  A few days turned into 5 trips to the vet, 3 different medications (they told us he would have to take pills for the rest of his life) and then a chemotherapy treatment called vincristine.  They wanted to do surgery on his eye, but couldn't because his eye wouldn't stop bleeding and they didn't want him to bleed to death during surgery.  They told us that the chemotherapy treatment would stop his immune system from attacking his own cells and it should help him to stop bleeding - and it worked.

Isabella and Giselle were very upset during this time to say the least.  At one point, Isabella looked at me and said "Mommy, can you PROMISE me Baxter is going to be okay?"  Before I started to tell her yes, I thought long and hard about my answer.  And then I just looked at her and said, "No, Isabella, I cannot promise you he will be okay."  Very bravely she looked at me and said, "Well, can you promise me we will ALWAYS remember him?"  YES ISABELLA, I CAN PROMISE YOU WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER BAXTER!  Forever and ever, no matter what happens!

Here we are, a month later, and I am ecstatic to tell you that Baxter is back to himself.  He is off all medications and does not have to receive any further chemotherapy treatments.  And, we even bought him a NEW bed to sleep in that's BIGGER and FLUFFIER!!

Baxter has been with us 15 years, here is to another 15 years Baxter!  We LOVE YOU!!  Woof Woof

Baxter and his bad eye

All better

ALL SMILES that her doggie is back to normal

Happy Easter to YOU and YOURS

Happy Easter to YOU and YOURS!  We are having a beautiful day here in Illinois!  It's 77 degrees and the sun is shining on Easter!  I can't remember the last time the weather was this nice on this day!  The girls enjoyed an Easter egg hunt at the church on Saturday with over 3500 stuffed eggs.  Giselle won a GOLDEN ticket inside an egg and won a jump rope.  Last night, I gave them a bag of marshmallows and told them that if they sprinkled them all over the front lawn, the Easter Bunny would be sure to stop at our house.  I'm pretty sure they consumed half of the bag before they made it onto the lawn.  (BTW, Bob was really happy with me that I came up with that bright idea, lol.)

Wouldn't you believe those marshmallows worked??!!  The Easter bunny placed eggs all over our front yard for the girls to have a hunt and they woke up to a nice basket!

Lastly, we went out to a phenomenal Easter brunch at Capital Grille.  Our bellies our full, the weather is beautiful and it's a good day to relax and kick your feet up.  I almost forgot to tell you....Giselle and Isabella learned how to ride a bicycle today with NO training wheels!!  BIG NEWS!!  

Happy Easter everyone!!  XOXOX

Before the Easter egg hunt

Opening Easter Eggs from the hunt at church

If you leave MARSHMALLOWS all over the front yard and don't eat them all, the EASTER BUNNY WILL COME!!

Easter Morning

Easter Brunch @ Capital Grille

Boots & Bling 2019

It's a Daddy-Daughter Thing and last week, the girls dusted off their cowboy boots and went to their dance with Daddy!  This year the theme was BOOTS AND BLING!!  The girls were very excited to wear their cowboy boots and daddy even borrowed a pair to wear!  He surprised them with rose corsages, Giselle received a pink rose and Isabella received a white rose. 

They spent the evening dancing with daddy and making crafts.  Daddy was a little teary eyed, as this is his last dance with BOTH of his little ladies.  Isabella transitions to a new school next year (5th grade) and they no longer have daddy daughter dances.  Memories were created and they all had a very special night!

A snapshot BEFORE the Dance

Daddy, the Girls and Jessie (From the movie Toy Story)

Happy Girl!

Giselle making a craft

Everybody DANCING

Isabella IS VIP Student of the MONTH

Parents are the single greatest influence on children.  Bob and I are ecstatic that Isabella was awarded VIP student of the month!!!!  VIP students are students who have demonstrated excellent character, reached a recent goal, and continue to grow into a future leader by making good choices in an effort to reach a personal best.

Isabella has been doing excellent in school, exceeding her IEP goals set at the beginning of the school year and has made some wonderful gains in Math.  She was awarded a certificate by her Principal, Mrs. Gasa.  Mrs. Gasa noted that Isabella goes out of her way to be a good friend to others and help out.  To celebrate, Isabella had the honor of having lunch with Mrs. Gasa and she was treated to cheese pizza, in which she informed me that she indulged in seven slices!  All of that hard work must have made her hungry!  In addition, she also received five coupons to reward her and use throughout the month (coupons like changing desks, no homework pass, etc.).

VIP Student of the Month

Isabella also had to complete a biography speech and poster and present to her classmates.  She chose Sally Ride, the first American woman when she flew on the space shuttle Challenger on June 18, 1983.  Isabella worked very hard on her poster and speech and it shows, she scored a 99% on her speech and a 96% on her biography poster.  She even wore a space helmet while presenting and also spent over 2 hours with daddy building a space ship out of 327 LEGO pieces!  If you look at the pictures below, you can see all of the pieces of LEGO'S and the final masterpiece that she is holding.

Last week, Giselle was awarded Star Student of the Week and now Isabella VIP student of the Month!  We are TWICE BLESSED!  Keep striving to be your best ladies!  WE LOVE YOU to the MOON and BACK!!!  (Get it?  Sally Ride reference...."To the MOON and back!")

Building a LEGO Rocket ship with Daddy

Isabella's SALLY RIDE presentation

Look at that!  She scored a 96%!!

Scored a 99%!!

Giselle - Star Student of the Week & More

We are super proud of Giselle, as she was chosen out of her class as "Star Student Of The Week!"  The school chooses Star Students based on excellent behavior and it is also an opportunity for the other students to learn more about one another.  Giselle colored, attached pictures and wrote more about herself on a paper hot air balloon.  Here is what Giselle wants YOU to know about HER.....

Greatest Talent:  Dance
Favorite Subject In School:  Math
Famous Person She Would Like To Meet:  Katy Perry
If I Could Have One Wish Granted It Would Be:  Go on a Disney Cruise
My Happiest Memory:  Disney World
Favorite Book:  Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss  (My favorite too when I was little!)
Favorite Food:  Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
If The Whole World Was Listening To ME, What Would I Say?:  Be Kind and Be Respectful

I had the pleasure of being invited to her classroom to be a "mystery reader."  The students had no idea I was coming! I arrived and they all sat around in a circle and I read them two books of their choice.  After wards, Giselle presented her hot air balloon to myself and her classmates.  It made Giselle's day that I could share her special moment in the spotlight with her.  We couldn't be more proud! 

Giselle displaying her Balloon - "All about Giselle" - 2nd Grade

Secondly, Giselle tried out playing basketball for the first time ever.  Usually, she plays soccer, however she wanted to try out a new sport.  Maybe because her big sister plays basketball?  For her first season, she did great!  Her favorite position to play on the team was point guard.  In case ya all don't know what the point guard player does in basketball, they are the back court player who directs the team's offense.

We finished up the basketball season and the team was awarded a trophy.  I asked Giselle if she wanted to continue playing basketball next year and she said YES!  Now that basketball is over for Giselle, she is EXCITED to play soccer for the Spring season, 2019.

Giselle's FIRST season as a Basketball Player and her TROPHY!

Giselle and her 2018/2019 basketball team