May Crowning

Today my mom's group had a May crowning. This is May, the month we honor Mary! So all the little ones got to take a rose to put in a vase near a statue of her. Gianna was at school so it was just Elia and I. We got a little dressed up too! Here are some great pics of her, with her new haircut too!

 

Very intent on getting to the vase!

Aunt Colleen's Visit

We had such a wonderful visit with Aunt Col this week. She babysat for us all day while we were at work on Friday, went to the parade on Saturday, babysat again for a date night on Sunday, followed us around at the Arboretum on Monday, hung out at the hiking park on Tuesday, and finally helped me host my church's playgroup on Wednesday. I was sad to see her go when we dropped her off at the airport this evening. The girls love her, and it shows in the pictures. We can't wait to see her again in June! Love you Col!

At the parade:

Gianna asked her to draw a pteranadon (flying dino) and so she looked up a pic on her computer and sketched it.

Hiking Park:

Hanging out:

Ain't she pretty? :)

Halloween Fun Part 2

So Thursday I switched the costumes up a bit. Gianna went as Tinkerbell (um, its an 18 month size, used for the 3rd consecutive year!) and Elia went as a Giants Fan. They were dressed up for Elia's pta playgroup. There were quite a few naysayers, as the Rangers were slaughtered by the Giants the night before. (11-6?) But we still had a good time.

Giants Fan. Mid- teething tantrum.

Tinkerbell. Sweet new sparkly shoes.

Friday was Gianna's last cooking class. Gianna was a cat this time, and I think she looked just adorable. She actually sat there and let me draw on her face unlike squirmy Elia.

And of course Fiday came to a close with pumpkin carving time.

Can't wait for Halloween night!

Halloween Fun Part 1

I know I have said it before, but I just love Halloween! This has been a great week. (Well minus the whole 2 nights in a row scream-fest from Elia-that has been no fun. I checked her mouth this morning and not only does she have 2 molars coming in, but also a tooth on the other side coming in- its like the perfect storm of teething!) On Tuesday, Gianna had her little preschool playdate. Jo Shabo was the teacher, and she blogged about their little date. She didn't talk about this, but one thing I thought was SO cute- orange jack-o-lanterns! Literally, they made an orange look like a jack-o-lantern, hollowed it out, and drank juice out of it. We brought it home and drank out of it for the rest of the day. Gianna loved it.

Then on Wednesday, we had my church's playgroup Halloween party. All the kiddos came dressed in their Halloween costumes. Elia was a cat, and Gianna was a witch. We listened to Halloween stories, did a pumpkin craft, and played pin the tail on the cat. We still have 4 more days until the actual holiday, so there is definitely more fun to come!

Gianna's Little Quirks

Gianna's personality has long been taking shape, but lately she has shown quite a few little quirks I thought worth sharing:

Red Light Green Light

When we are walking around in the stroller, she will say "red ahead, stop!" and so Mom has to stop pushing the stroller. Then she will say "Green ahead! Go!" and I can start pushing again. When we are in the car and she sees a red light, she will say red ahead, stop! and same goes for a green light. But her newest quirk is that if I turn left through a green light, she gets REALLY upset! She will sometimes cry and say you have to go ahead, you can't turn when its green!

Philosopher?

G has started the dreaded why, why WHY???? When I ask her to do anything, she always responds with a why. Why do I have to put my shoes on? Why are we going to the store? Oh why? why? why? why? Last week we were on a hike and she picked up a rock and asked, "why is this a rock?" I think she is all ready for UD!

Nakey

Last week, I hosted my church's playgroup. While all the mamas pray the rosary, the little ones wander around the house and play. At one point, Gianna decided to take her pants off. And when I went in the room to make her put them back on, all she could say was why? why? why?

But now I have her pretty convinced that when friends are over, we need to be er, clothed!

All Aboard!!!!

Her latest thing to play is all aboard the train. She will come up to me and say do you want to all aboard the train with me? And of course I can't refuse, its just so cute! She lines up all her chairs, and the bumbo for Elia and then we sit all in a row.

Dad, get your shotgun!

Gianna is absolutely obsessed with Uncle Tim's girlfriend. When she hears that Actually (Ashley) is coming over, she goes crazy. I started babysitting another little family of 2 little boys last week, one who is Gianna's age. After they were playing for a little bit together, Gianna ran up to me and said "mom, I have a boyfriend just like Ashley!!!" I didnt realize that interest in boys would happen at such a young age!!! ;)

I love my angel girl!

Busy week!

We have not sat down all week! On Sunday, we did the usual- church and football, and of course the uncles came over. That is always a special treat for Gianna and Elia, because they get so much extra love! Monday I whisked the girls off early morning to Gianna's pta playgroup. We did an activity swap- similar to this idea. Every mom came up with a craft to do with a 2 year old, made 20 of the same sets in a bag, and brought them to play group. Then we all passed ours out and presto- I have 20 different fun activities to do with G! I pulled one out tonight to do with her but everything requires glue and we dont have any-bummer.
On Tuesday we hung out with G's BFF "Lynn". We saw Lynn in December, and she had no interest in potty training. Well, she is potty trained now! So that sort of inspired me to take it back up again- uggg. So far its going ok- I have realized that you have to be ok with the messes or she won't be trained until she is 20! Lynn and Gianna played nicely and we enjoyed lunch together as well.
Wednesday I hosted my church's play group, and that was a ton of fun too! G's other BFF Soph, joined us and it was just a big party! I love getting together with my friends from church- hanging out with mom's that have the same faith as I is VERY refreshing! We are hoping to expand our little playgroup, so if there are any mamas out there that want to pray the rosary while the kiddos play in the North Texas Area (Carrollton Farmers Branch more specifically)- let me know!
Thursday we went to Elia's pta playgroup, which was hosted at the indoor playground at the mall. Gianna loves coming here and climbing all over the plastic structures. This was Elia's first time since she has learned to scoot- so she had a blast too. Then home and straight into the bath- I get nervous that those sort of indoor places are teeming w swine flu and chicken pox, etc. I have started doing baths with the girls during the day- it is something really fun for them to do and perfect when we can't go outside/get out of the house due to weather! Also, I feel like bath time wastes precious daddy time at night, so mornings work for us! Bath time lasted quite a while today! We made it to the mall and back with no accidents- this is awesome for me to report!
Friday we spent the morning with Gianna's friends, "Adam" and "Eve." Adam loves to be the boss and show Gianna what to do, and for the most part, G follows ;). Back home for lunch and nap- this week was full! I made Gianna a potty chart to motivate her for the potty- she puts a sticker up everytime she goes, and when she gets to the star, she gets to go get ice cream with daddy- which is an EXTRA special treat for her. The potty training process is a bit tedious. I have to constantly remind her and actually put her on the potty, and it seems when I get the tiniest bit distracted, thats when we have an accident!




Elia is scooting everywhere, much to Gianna's dismay. Gianna is always "making a gate"- putting a rolled up blanket or a pillow in her way so that she can't get to her toys. And just today she started going from her belly to sitting up on her own, so that means this weekend we have to lower the crib! My baby just won't stop growing up! Its going to be a cold weekend, so we are going to do lots of family time indoors.