He did it!!!

Dominick wrote this all by himself - YEA!!

The Pictures

Arghhhhh

There must be a lot of sugar in fresh apple cider.

He actually posed for this picture - not sure where he is looking though.

That seat looks fitted and comfy.

They are so cute

More pumpkins

I just wanted to put more pictures up from the pumpkin patch - it was so much fun, and I don't think that Aaron did it justice with just a few pics. Some could say that I am going overboard with pics, but I don't care.

Update:

Kambree is talking so much. When I say talking, I mean baby sign, with half words (do - for dog and such), but mostly screaming at the top of her lungs. I can't believe how loud she screams. She is so darn cute, we just can't stand it. She has learned to say "mine" and because of that, everything that she wants is "mine." Dominick and her are the cutest friends. Dominick just eats her up - literally! He is all over her. She loves the attention he gives her and vice versa. His favorite thing to do is hold her hand and take her places with him. He assures me that he can protect her and watch her. It is true though, because if she starts heading for the street, Dominick just tackles her down and lays on her until I can get her - I feel like it is working out well!

Dominick's preschool is going well too. Today, I am driving him and some other kids to their second field trip: The Fire House! Dominick has been a fireman every day this week in class and is so excited he can hardly stand it. I will post some pictures of them when I get them. He is practicing his words a ton, and making great progress. It is all in the placement of his tongue, but he is such a trooper and practices hard. Also - big exciting news, Dominick can write his own name by himself!!! "Can" being the key word. If we want him to do this, we must first offer a reward (usually consisting of sugar). Nonetheless, he did it!! His teacher tells me at school it is totally voluntary to do this, and Dominick politely tells her that he is already did it yesterday! So smart.

We are getting excited for Halloween! None more than Dominick, who asks everyday if it is Halloween today. He is going to be Captain Jack Sparrow, and Kambree (less enthusiastic to say the least) is a fairy princess, per Dominick's request. She screamed when we put on her dress, and threw herself to the ground when she saw herself in the mirror. We don't know what this means, but if she refuses that, our back-up costume is a boy!! We'll see.

Well, due to technical difficulties, blogger.com cannot upload my pictures right now. I will be back later to try again. Sorry - words are so boring without pictures.

New Duds

Kambree's new face. See, you can't say dad didn't teach her somthin'

This is going to be an ultra short fashion show/post. The kids just wanted to show off some of their new clothes. Thanks Aunt Dee Dee and Costco.

Enjoy!

It's Fall and Time for Halloween!

The leaves are going crazy!

Trust me, I didn't know my hat was on backwards...

One of these faces is not like the other (adapted from the Sesame Street classic)


I think one pair of open eyes out of three ain't too shabby!

Yesterday we went to a farm and picked a pumpkin. The day was gorgeous. It was warm (at least for a fall day). The farm was a great time, as you can see from the pictures. We ate freshly baked cider doughnuts and drank warm cider (it was an apple orchard in case you couldn't tell from the snacks they sold). We took a tractor ride around the orchard and enjoyed the multicolored landscape.

Today we used the pumpkin to carve a jack-o-lantern. Dominick thought it was the coolest thing that we could put fire inside the pumpkin.



He is excited for Halloween. He especially can't wait to be Captain Jack Sparrow.

Happy Halloween!

Creative

I didn't expect Dominick to be so creative when I told him that he needed to earn more money for his long list of Christmas wishes. This obviously is not included on his daily chore list!

Break out the Coats

These are the pics from last winter - 26" in one day! (obviously I didn't go outside to take this)

A three year olds paradise

He's my snow angel - so cute

I had to physically place him there, he couldn't walk in that suit

Happy eating snow (only the white snow)

Ha ha, that's what you get for trying to do what Dominick does

He could camp out there all day

All cleaned up and ready to run

Oh, cute.

Just the river

I can't believe that it is already coat season. Last Sunday we went on a walk to see more fall beauty, but it was so chilly outside that Kambree had to wear her coat. It was so beautiful in the country, I wish that we could keep the trees like this forever. Kambree has three molars coming in right now - which is short for I am going crazy with her all day long!! Really, I thought that I wanted Kambree to get her teeth early, unlike Dominick (first tooth at 18 months). But, I would take 10 kids teething like Dominick over a one year old girl getting molars. Sure it is really painful for her, but at least she gets drugs.

Okay, done with my complaining for the evening - because I will probably start back up in a few hours when my little darling wakes up to eat!!

Dominick is doing so well. Preschool is going good, and he is learning to write his name right now. This is a bit harder for him, not because he is slow or anything, but his jerky parents gave him a name that has three "hump" letters in in, not to mention its a three syllable name. He is practicing hard, and will get it soon. He loves the new activities in school, which include a market with cash registers to purchase your pumpkins and gourds, also (his favorite) tub of popcorn kernals. He goes on his first field trip tomorrow to a farm just up the road. He is very excited for the tractor ride and activities they will do. He is loving the trees changing, and the prospect of snow soon.

Which reminds me of how much he loves the snow. Last winter we had a record snow storm dump 26 inches in one day. It was awesome. I will post some pictures of it, because Dominick was in heaven. He actually still talks about it and can't wait for it to snow again. All through the summer, and still he has been begging for it to snow. He can't wait to take Kambree out and show her the ropes too. It will be fun, for at least a day! I wish that I had a four year old's energy, fearlessness, ambition and zeal for life.

Aaron and I are just here. We are speaking in church this Sunday, which has added to the stress in the home - luckily it will be over soon.

Where did the time go?

Dominick is so brave, touching the "cow nose rays"

As Dominick says "Kambree is Curious"

I have sharp teeth like a shark!

Ooh, look fish

Grandpa getting summoned to story time

Perfect Weather (Not!) on the Long Island Sound

Grandpa brought his glowworm to play with Kambree.

Jaws donated his false teeth...

A shell of a good time at the aquarium.

No that's not Mike Tyson, but Grandma still might lose an ear.

It has been a few days since we updated the family blog. We have been negligent for good reason. We were entertaining my (Monica) parents. It is so much fun for us to have friends and family visit. We get so worked up for it emotionally, mentally and even physically. For that reason, it always seems like the time goes so dang fast! The hardest part, is explaining to Dominick and Kambree why their newest and greatest friends always leave so soon. Plane and simple - life is hard. Dominick is the strongest little four year old I know (bias aside). He knows that despite the quick visits here and there, that our family and friends love him and are always going to be there - and that is all because of the many wonderful letters, pictures and packages sent to us. We love them, and they help us so much to feel connected.

Boring!!!

Let's start over! We had so much fun with Grandma and Grandpa Roundy. On Wednesday, despite the looming storm clouds and fierce wind we went to the beach so Dominick could show off his skills on a big bike. We also stopped in at the little local Aquarium where we were the only visitors. That was nice, because my Mom was able to get a personal class on all of the water life here. Her favorite was probably holding the star fish. Dominick and Kambree loved it also, mostly because they could run wild.

Thursday Aaron was able to take most of the day off. We went to yet another Aquarium and then to Stew Leonards for lunch and a stroll through the store. Dominick's greatest wish is to be a shark. His favorite shark right now is the Angel Shark. He tells his teacher daily that he is going to be a shark and live in the blue ocean. He soaks up as much information about sharks as his little memory will allow, and shocks everyone with how much he knows. The trip to the aquarium wouldn't be complete without Grandma and Grandpa spoiling the kids!! Dominick was specific about what shark package he needed, Kambree on the other hand was content with anything - as long as it was from Grandpa. For dinner, we all went out to The Cheesecake Factory. It was so much fun, besides Kambree dumping two full mugs of ice water in my lap - yes two, and the second one also into my purse as well! What a darling! Dominick on the other hand was a gem! He had the best manners I have ever seen from him. He buttered his bread with a knife, and used a fork to eat his meal - all except when it came to dessert. His dessert was taking so long, that he decided to eat Grandma's chocolate frosting off of her cheesecake like an ice cream cone. It was hillarious, yet I hurt his feelings by telling him to stop. I still feel bad about that - he can eat chocolate any way he likes from now on.

This was one of the sweetest things of the visit for me. Kambree and Grandpa. Kambree doesn't warm up to me easily at all. In the Summer, Jarom was the closest "Dad" look-a-like, so she warmed up to him quickly. When Kambree first saw Grandpa Roundy, it was hesitation - for about 3 minutes. Grandpa couldn't shake her if he tried. I have never seen Kambree jump out of my arms for anyone (besides Aaron when I am taking her to bed). Kambree wanted my Dad over me - well, as long as she could still see me! It was the cutest things ever. Kambree even started saying Grandpa this morning. When they were gone, I said Kambree where's Grandpa? She promptly walked over to the door and tried opening it for quite a while saying Grandpa's name. I hope they can see eachother again soon!

The trip was so much fun, and we miss them already. Dominick spent the afternoon crying, and so did Grandma. Once again - life is hard, but what a blessing to have been together at all!

These are some pictures of the fun that we had while Grandma and Grandpa Roundy were here.

Oh, and really quick I wanted to record that Aaron was too scared to scoop up Kambree's first (and hopefully last) poop in the bath. Must us mothers do everything?!?

Sorry, the actual Sunday pictures!!

Dominick getting in the water (intentionally getting wet).

Dominick telling me his shorts accidently got wet.

Kambree thinking about eating sand.

Eating sand makes babies happy!

Mother and Daughter (A Kodak Moment).

Kambree and a strong guy with hot legs.

Kambree scaring me and practicing for Halloween.

Dominick throwing rocks (yes, the distance travelled is closer to a drop than a throw).

Nothin feels better on the behind than sand and salt water.

Our family leaves its mark (we left our mark in various ways, but this was the most artistic and the least offensive).