Switzerland, Storyland, and Everywhere in Between

We're still trying to recover from our summer trips!  Switzerland was amazing and wonderful, and I feel so very lucky that we were able to travel there with my mother.  However, along with bringing back tons of memories (and several pounds of chocolate), we also brought back a little post traumatic stress over traveling on a plane with our three kids.  That plane trip to Europe has been declared as the last time we all fly together until Luca is at least 5 years old (which is fine cause it'll take that long to financially recover from that trip, lol).  We would, however, reconsider, in situations such as reunions or weddings.  Just in case you were worried.

Here's a link to our Switzerland photo book (hope it works, click below):

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=wIatWTNwxas2rkY

In a nutshell, it was fantastic.... and it was so fun to see my cousins, and wander around in the mountains with the kids. We can't wait to go back in 4 years! 

Ok, life is a bit crazy: the kids are growing up at this super fast rate, and I can't get myself to this blog to record how Vince, Zoë, and Luca are changing every day!  So here's everything that's happened since Switzerland, that I can remember at this moment, in lightning fast speed:

-Mike turned 40 Oct 1st (haha!), we went to New Hampshire for it.  The trip did happen to center around the kids, and going to Storyland, but we all had a blast, and we got to stay in an awesome condo that my coworker owns.  It was a perfect fall weekend, with the trees turning amazing orange, yellow, and red colors, with blue skies above.  We also took a drive up Mt. Washington, and had spectacular views to forever. 

-We had fun at Halloween, with Luca finally being able to walk door to door to get candy.  The problem was he kept wanting to just stop and eat whatever was thrown into his bag... it made for a very slow move down our street. 
I absolutely could not pass up the chance to make Mike wear a hotdog costume-being that Vince was aching to have his Dad be a hotdog.  Mike was a good dad and played a hotdog with pride.

-Skipping several things I really wanted to remember to mention on the blog (like milestones, Luca saying "milk", etc.), I'll have to stick with whatever I can remember at the moment.  Unfortunately that mainly means only the disastrous calamities that we go through with the kids. 
Not sure why the first day of Zoë going to preschool this September didn't really stand out.... but maybe it was cause she just took off and joined her classmates without so much as a goodbye wave.  Before I was even able to try and reflect on my baby girl starting preschool,  I had to come to my senses and chase down Luca, who was already out the door and making his way to the parking lot.
-I do remember very vividly however, the beads of sweat that broke out on my forehead a few weeks ago, as we attempted a family photo shoot.  It was an epic failure, that not only left me and Mike with a few extra grey hairs (and some chuckles later on), but apparently also left some family in the next photo room with pictures that included our kids running in the background.  Our photographer felt so bad, she let us schedule a "re-do" shoot.  That time we got a few good ones in:

oh Vince.... 

 don't trust that smile for a second!

 -Talking about vivid memories, and that little smile above that you should NOT trust....tonight's dinner included the first food fight we've ever had.... started up by our youngest little hell raiser.  He got the idea that it would be hilarious to throw ketchup laden fish sticks at Zoë.  Despite several attempts at telling him to stop, then finally yelling... he didn't stop until Mike practically tackled him off the dinner table.  We did learn that Luca has somewhat of a good arm tonight, and we are soooo in for it with this kid.

-Ok, here's a happy milestone to celebrate.  Zoë has finally graduated to a real bed, and tonight is her first night sleeping in it!  I've been so excited for this, as now I can cuddle in bed with her and read, as we did tonight:

Other things I want to remember:
-our first fish, Swimmy-Nemo.  Named so because Vince and Zoë couldn't agree on which name it would have...so they both stuck.  
-the way Luca says 'goo-nigh' and gives kisses before bed, then waving bye bye, but with his hand backwards, so he's actually waving bye bye to his own little face. 
-the birthday party we had to have for Vince's stuffed bunny Ollie.  He's 3 now.

-Vince's first official sleep over with his friend Max.  Zoë crashed the room, but got kicked out after a while

 

-our trip to Lego Land discovery center, because even legos like to get down at a disco:

We Have The Dog Rug!!

We've been busy unpacking boxes for my mom and guess what I found! 
That dog rug made it to Boston, poor Bella. 

Also found, my old high school cheer leading outfit, and I still fit in it.  

Yes, I was pretty excited... and yes, so was Mike

JULY 2013

July was loaded full with birthdays and travel!  Starting off with the birthday of our country, to Zoë's birthday... the first part was filled with plenty of outdoor time and cooling off in the pool.  We rounded off the month with a trip to Switzerland to visit some of my family that I hadn't seen in 10 years.  Now that story could take several blog posts to get through.... I'm still working on getting photos together, which I'll post soon.  In short, since I've been back I've been wanting nothing more than to go straight back, pining for the mountains and fresh air.  But let's get through Zoë's birthday first.

Zoë turned 3 this July, and the sun shone brightly on her special day.... making the pool a much needed break from the heat, while also helping her to shine especially brightly in her new princess outfit.  Nonna sent her this beautiful princess outfit, complete with crown and wand... and hoop under the dress

 This new outfit had us laughing out loud, but also had me somewhat panicked at how grown up she will be... so quickly!  Really, I couldn't get over the little silver high heels tufted with blue feathery boa material... add the matching earrings, purse, and bracelets to that skirt and heels!? too much...

Upholding the tradition of birthday breakfast at Kristin's Diner, where there's 100 different types of pancakes.  It was Zoë's turn to wear a birthday hat and order her pancake choice.  We didn't get much of a chance to take pictures of her birthday pancake, she ate it too quickly!

The birthday princess chowing down

 

time for a dip in the pool

 it's never a pool party without the water taxi, it's been a big hit this summer.  I'm surprised the thing hasn't popped yet!

 Zoë, trying to wrap her head around the fact that she got this amazing princess/cinderella birthday cake... she was in awe

 Amazingly enough, we managed to get at least one decent family photo during the party.  That's more than we can say for Vince's party this summer.... I still haven't found anyone who has photos of his 5th birthday! 

 Before I had children, I always thought I'd just have a bunch of boys for some reason.  I felt like I'd know what to do for boys, would somehow be more comfortable mothering them, and be able to relate to them easier.  Not really sure where that came from, but maybe it stemmed from school.  Growing up I felt that I got along with boys easier, while girls tended to be 'clicky' and could generally be harder to get along with.  I always imagined that if I ever had a little girl, I wouldn't know what do with her.  Then, Zoë came along.  And that all went out the window.  My little girl.  I started day dreaming about one day when we could go get our manicures and pedicures together.  I started dressing her up like my little doll (well.. I did that with the boys too, but being able to use dresses makes it TONS more fun).  She's my little girl, and WOW... I would have never known what I was missing if I only had boys.  Granted, I would have been fine and happy if I only had boys, but a space was made for this little girl... and she fills it perfectly.  (just don't ask me how I feel about her during the hours of 5-8pm NIGHTLY).

In her short time of being 3, she has grown more independent, and sometimes fiercely defiant, than I could have ever imagined in such a tiny human!  I'll give you a few teaser pictures of Zoë in Switzerland a few weeks ago, demonstrating her mighty powers of persuasion.  Hopefully it will help get me motivated to organize the photos and recollect our Switzerland trip, which is already feeling like it was months ago!

Zoë getting personal Alp Horn training from my cousin Erika.  Convinced she was actually blowing enough air to make music out the horn, she walked around like a little proud peacock afterwards.... little did she know Christophe was in back blowing his Alp Horn at the same time

 Zoë insisted on getting a picture with the cows we saw while walking one day.  She wouldn't leave this spot till I took a photo

 She had my cousin Andri wrapped around her little finger!  She knows who to flirt with already....

 Insisting that we keep climbing, all the way to the top of the Parsenn, to see the best views, and "sit on that bench"

 

More on Switzerland soon!  Hopefully not a year from now.  Off to bed I go.

4 And 1/2 Hours....

That's how much time I have had yesterday and today, with only 1 child to take care of.  Now granted, Luca is worth 2 kids in terms of work, but he still naps a good 2hrs in the morning.....  so combine Vince and Zoë's summer camp, with Luca's nap, and holy crap I am a free woman for 2hrs!!  I'm sitting here staring at the clock, feeling heart flutters over the tough choice of what to do with the precious time.  So I come to the blog, and then get anxiety over trying to choose which blog post to work on: Vince's birthday.... oh wait, maybe my mom's final departure from California(complete with pictures of the dog rug)... or maybe Father's Day, or our anniversary.... shit! I'm so behind!  I can't be normal, I have to be messed up in the head that having total free time from any kids just makes me start breaking a sweat while I frantically try and figure out what the best use of my time is!!!

I'll start with my little girl, here's Zoë yesterday morning just before leaving for summer camp. She was so excited when she woke up!!  She wants to carry her own lunch bag; and I better help her get her backpack on or boy she gets mad!

Vince was a bit more reserved, looking at us through glaring eyes, not sure if he really wanted his lil sister tagging along to his school.  He did reluctantly grumble to agree to watch over her.... and he behaved enough for one good photo 

We got to the playground and Zoë ran for the swingset, not even looking back.  So much for my anticipated(or maybe slightly hoped for) emotional goodbye.... although I did sit in the car and watch her for little bit, feeling a pang of nostalgia for my little baby girl.  

Well, that pang of nostalgia came to (literally) a screeching halt with Luca's angry cries from the backseat..... demanding I pay attention to him. Yes buddy, time for some water and pretzels.  Life goes on.  I backed up, and drove away not to return until 1:30.

On to catching up on life.  I've been wanting to put out a little update on each kid, here's one I started on Vince a few months ago:

This is Vince, May 2013:

favorite book: One Morning in Maine
favorite food: mint chocolate chip ice cream (or any green colored ice cream)
favorite toy: anything lego, or part of lego city, or trains
favorite song: This Little Light of Mine
favorite musician: Willie Nelson when he sings Whiskey River
favorite activity: going to my friend Max's house
what I want to be when I grow up: a construction worker, working with bulldozers

Vince, right before going to his first sleep over at his buddy Max's house 

Circa April 2013

We dropped him off at Max's, and it was another story of "he ran in and never looked back to even say goodbye or goodnight"..... we had a moment of nostalgia, and then headed out to our kid free date night.

We celebrated his 5th birthday on Saturday June 15th, with about 40 kids and just as many adults.  We were incredibly lucky in that it rained all week before, and was cloudy the day after... but on Vince's party day it happened to be sunny and warm; good for the pool/piñata/pizza triple combo that happens to be the only birthday party we know how to throw.  I'm still asking around for anyone who took any pictures whatsoever, because Mike and I didn't.

We did remember to take a photo of Vince in his yearly t shirt, he's getting there!

One friend did send us a short video that he had (thanks Chris!), of both Vince and Zoë getting a shot at the piñata.  So at least we have this.  You can tell Mike is ready to be done, he's trying hard to move the kids along quickly

We've spent the last few days out in the pool, and Vince just started swimming under water himself yesterday! He just dunked his head, and stayed down for a while.... I thought for sure he didn't mean to do that, but it turns out he did! 

And let me just take care of our anniversary post while I'm at it.  It's been 7 years of amazing, difficult, happy, and really rough times.... all rolled up together, and there's no one else I'd rather be with on this roller coaster! 

Here we are enjoying dinner at the Scarlet Oak Tavern, the waitress brought us free champagne and put some candles in our dessert after she found out it was our anniversary

Here's to 7 years, and many more!!

Public Transport, with 3

For the AIDS walk in June, we decided to take the train into Boston.  We forgot to look up the schedule, so we missed the fact that half the train was down for the weekend.  This made it so we had to get on the train for part of the ride, then get off and take a bus for 3 stops, then get back on the train again, then get back off at our destination.  Try that.... while toting 3 kids, a double stroller, a diaper bag, a day pack, water, etc.  Then take the temperature up to a humid sticky 90 degree feel, and you get 5 cranky people! 

By the time we actually got to the start of the walk, we felt like we did it already..... and were ready to just lay in the grass and go to sleep! We walked about half the walk and called it quits. 

 Here's me and Vince, trying to make the best of it, still relatively happy

 Vince and Zoë always love train rides

This was the aftermath of the day.  Zoë had enough and fell asleep, Mike was DONE.  

At Least It Didn't Rain All Day on Mother's Day

For the past few years we've been going to the Arnold Arboretum to spend Mother's Day there for Lilac Sunday.  Mike goes out and buys fun things for a picnic, and we spend the day strolling around in the beautiful gardens while smelling the fragrant lilacs everywhere(and always running into friends!).  This year we had rain in the morning and into lunch time, so we changed our plans and had our picnic in the backyard ;)  It was a relaxing morning, no stress... and some good food.  

SAY CHEESE!

My morning started out with being able to sleep all the way to 8am... it was bliss (lol!).  Then I woke up to the smell of hot coffee on my nightstand, and the kids snuck in to get in bed with me and give me this super cute card which I love!  Daddy helped make the flowers into their little portraits.

Me and my 'tallest flower'

my 'middle flower'

Me with my 'shortest flower'.... anyone recognize his suit? 

from when this other little guy wore it?.... my little Vince!

Now all grown up.... here he is picking me one very large dandelion flower at the Arboretum

We were able to enjoy the afternoon at the gardens, and it cleared up perfectly!  Zoë and Vince had fun picking all the dandelion flowers and blowing their seeds.

After a few tries, we actually snapped a decent photo of me with all the kids smiling

 Then things quickly turned sour.....

 but after a little bit of fun rolling down a hill....

and a little tasty treat, everything was good again

My favorite preschool Mother's Day project from Vince! 

Here's to another great Mother's Day, next year I can't wait to get more school made gifts as Zoë will be starting preschool in the fall!