Father's Day

LOOK at these girls!  They dressed up for daddy on Father's Day without being asked to!  Check it out!  Bob enjoyed his Father's Day visiting with his mother and father and loving up on his girls.  Hope you all had a great day as well!

Father's Day 2020

Mothers Day

How did the time go by and I forgot to post about Mother's Day?  Perhaps because it was the first Mother's Day without my mother.  The firsts are always hard - Birthdays, Mother's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas.  The day just didn't seem right not seeing her beautiful smile or giving her a big HUG.  While I feel a void in my heart, they say it gets easier in time, yet you never forget your memories and what is in your heart.
While I spent Mother's Day out of sorts, my little ones made it a special day for me.  They LOVED UP on my all day long with their sweet gestures, notes and SMILES.  I was even surprised by a homemade card, bottle of wine, a plant and chocolate covered strawberries from my beautiful sister in law (who must of known exactly how I was feeling!).  It was raining that day, so we got to do some much needed relaxation and Bob even made homemade pasta noodles for our beef bolognese!  Thank you Isabella and Giselle for all of YOUR LOVE!!

Missing my Soups!!

A surprise from my sister in law!

Bob's homemade pasta or COVID beard?

The beautiful gifts I received

Every Mother's Day, I ALWAYS request a picture with my GIRLS!

I Love the homemade notes!!

Nostalgia is not LOST and ALWAYS beats TECHNOLOGY

In a world filled with so many distractions like I-phones, X-box, Nintendo Switch, Face time, T.V. and so much more..... I learned from my little girl that nostalgia is not lost.  I was writing in my office one night, as I frequently do, and Isabella wanted to know what I was doing.  "Honey!  I am writing your blog, as I have done since 2008!"

"Well, can I see?"  Sure! She spent 3 hours in the office chair next to my desk while I was writing, looking at pictures and reading all of the books.  In AWE.  In SHOCK.  She had no idea that I had been writing for years about her and Giselle.  She is at that age where she appreciates history and understands, especially her own life story.

Isabella reading a BLOG book

It was this moment, that I sat at my computer and felt grateful and blessed.  She was reading each and every page of a blog book about her, Giselle and Baxter.  I initially started the blog for fun and our family, so they could read about the girls and what was going.  I am not one to be consistent with anything, however this is the one thing I have kept up with and am glad I do.  I enjoy writing.

I enjoyed her company in the office while I was quietly writing, listening to Van Morrison, and watching her cry (with joy) as she read these books.

I just received another book in print in the mail and as of now, each girl has 3 books that cover a span of 12 years and I have printed up to July of 2019.  I am all caught up for now!

The newest book we received

The latest book that is 140 pages

So here's to you BIG GIRL - you named these books......  "Remember. Me. Each. And Every Time. Always."  12 years in the making.  I am excited that you and Giselle will have these memorable books with pictures telling your life story.   XOXOXOXOXOX Love, Mom

Hippity Hoppity Easter

Hope everyone had a nice Easter Sunday! The Easter bunny came to our house and brought Isabella a brand new bicycle (she outgrew her little bike) and Giselle scored a skateboard.  We started the day off with yummy omelettes and afterwards the girls went on a Easter egg hunt in the backyard.

Their homemade PEEP cake

Easter 2020

CANDY!!!

Opening her Easter eggs

Relaxing with Lily 

It was a relaxing day, that's for sure.  Bob worked outside on his garden fence in the morning while I cooked a honey glazed ham, scalloped potatoes, a green bean casserole and homemade butter rolls.  The girls baked their traditional Easter "Peep" cake that was chocolate with vanilla frosting topped with Peeps and jelly beans.  We were so full after our Easter meal that we all took a nap.  It sure felt nice to relax.  We are sending lots of love, kisses and hugs to you all!

Weeks of Togetherness, Worry & New Traditions

Faced with a government order to stay home until April 30th at this time due to the spread of COVID-19, we have weeks of togetherness, worry and new traditions.  I remember when the girls came home on Friday, March 13th and they had all of their books and school supplies. They informed me their teachers told them to clean out their desks and bring everything home.  They had not yet announced anything on the news and I did not understand what was going on. Later that day, the Governor announced the stay at home order.

Here we are 22 days later and we still have another 26 days to go.  Maybe even longer. For now, they have gotten the hang of e-learning.  They kind of understand why they can't go on play dates with their friends, go to school, or attend their after school activities. 

We have been taking lots of bike rides and walks together.  We're watching a lot of movies.  We're not sticking to anything resembling a schedule.  We're playing a lot of cards and board games.  We're cooking together.  We're cleaning together.  We're working out together.  You name it, we're doing it to occupy the time.

I realize they miss their friends, teachers, coaches and well, their old routine.  As siblings, they are strengthening their bond.  As for me, I am enjoying our family time together, creating memories and even new traditions.  One day, Isabella and Giselle will look back and remember the time they lived through a global pandemic.  We miss seeing all of your beautiful faces and your company.........

Bunny YOGA with Meka, Isabella & Giselle

A couple of weeks ago, I woke up and started reading an article about Meka Leach, who became the youngest certified Bhakti yoga teacher in the U.S. at the age of 10!  It took her 200 hours and over 9 months to complete her certification while also attending school and training to compete in the national fencing championship.  Meka's parents told her she was too young to be a yoga instructor and she proved them wrong.  I was absolutely moved by her hard work, dedication and drive!  I learned that she offers yoga classes in our area and she was doing a "bunny" yoga.

I asked Giselle and Isabella if they wanted to go to bunny yoga and they said YES.  They had never been to a yoga class before and couldn't believe that a 10 year old was teaching.  There were about five bunnies total that hopped around the room while Meka guided us in yoga.  At first, Giselle was really nervous about the bunnies going near her, however by the end of the class she warmed up to them and they were surrounding her.  Bella wasn't really interested in the yoga portion of the class, she just wanted to play with the bunnies.

Meka made a homemade bunny for every attendee to take home with a kind note reminding everyone to give themselves and others a compliment daily.  The girls have been giving compliments daily ever since.  We had a super special morning together and when I asked the girls if they wanted to do yoga again, Isabella said no and Giselle said yes.  Since that class, Giselle and I have taken 4 other yoga classes together.

MEKA's take home gift

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions......

From the gateway, I have always told my girls, that at any given moment in time, they can always come and talk to me about ANYTHING.  To always be proud, never be scared, fearful, nervous, shy or ashamed.  There is never a stupid question and I ALWAYS have a listening ear and will never pass judgement.  As Forest Gump says in the movie, "My momma always said, Life was like a box of chocolates,  you never know what your gonna get."

And boy is Forest's mothers quote ever so correct!  You never know what your going to get, on any given day.  The other day, Isabella came to me and asked me to take her to get her hair cut short.  I told her, sure, I will talk it over with daddy and think about it, but meanwhile, google pictures of how you want your haircut and show me.  She came back with pictures and she wanted her hair cut above her ears.  The same exact day, Giselle (who is 9 years old) came to me and wanted her ears pierced.  "Mommy!!!  All of my friends have their ears pierced and I want mine done too!!" 

There we are....back to decisions, decisions, decisions.......  We do have to pick our battles in life.  Large or Small. Daddy voted no on Isabella's haircut (he likes long hair) and no on Giselle's ear pierced.  Mommy voted yes to Isabella's haircut (hair does grow back after all and it is our own personal decision) and no to Giselle's ear piercing (you can't fix a pierced hole).

Check out Isabella's before and after of her haircut!  She got 6 1/2 inches cut off and feels super refreshed!  Swimming in chlorine water all summer long really damages the hair and she got a clean break and looks super cute!  Who doesn't after a fresh haircut, right?!  Even her new girl, Lily loves it and is enjoying while she plays the flute.

AND.....you know the old adage about hair right?  They say "When a woman changes her hair, pay attention; she's about to change her life.......   (Can't wait to see what beautiful changes you make Bella!)

As for Giselle, the only ear decorations she is getting for now is earmuffs.  See picture below.  There is no rush on getting holes in her ears.  She is 9 years old.  She is an active gymnast, soon to be an Olympian medalist and jewelry interferes with performance.  We will let her make that decision when she gets a little bit older, but for now, preserve your youth little one and don't just do something because everyone else is. XOXOXO

Front Before

Front After

Back after

6 1/2 inches cut off

Lily loves Bella's new haircut and flute playing

Giselle - Ear muffs