Summer continues...

After last week, this past weekend was a breath of fresh air.  Vince was able to fix our plumbing problem Friday morning before he left for work eliminating the stinky water smell and the need for a plumber which made our day start so much better!  When he got home from work that night, we had our usual pizza and a movie night.  Bella chose the Ramona & Beezus movie which was really great, but it had me crying like a hormonal pregnant lady throughout.  There was a lot of Daddy/Daughter fun times that really made me miss my Dad, but it also made me remember all the fun I had with him too.  At the end though, when he danced with his little girl at a wedding, I was a snotty, teary mess.  These hormones are intense!

On Saturday, Vince took Bella to the pool where she conquered two of her biggest fears... the diving board and the water slide.  Now she can't get enough of either!  It's quite amazing really because she went from being terrified to even consider it, to doing each 10 times with determination.  I gotta say, I'm way impressed.  That night, B spent the night with her grandparents so that Vince and I could go see "Legally Blonde" at Jen's theatre.  We had box seats, and the show was amazing and super hilarious!  Loved it!

Sunday was a low key day for me.  V took B to the pool early, and I stayed home to finish a VF project and just relax.  It was nice, and the outfit I was working on, turned out really adorbs which always makes me happy.  The rest of the day was spent doing a little yard work, and running a few errands in order to prep for the week.  All in all, it was a quiet Sunday.

Now onto this week... It has been good and bad, but such is life.  The pool is closed on Mondays, so Bella and I spent the day reading, sewing, painting, and cleaning.  Her room is still in progress due to the fact that I haven't sold the sleeper sofa yet, but I may have an offer, so fingers crossed that it may be out of here by the weekend.  I am so ready to paint her new room and set it all up for her so that I can then move on to readying the nursery for Mr. Franklin <3  Tuesday was a fun day.  We picked up B's friend Marty in the morning, went to Discovery Place, had lunch, and then were pool rats for the rest of the afternoon.  The girls had a blast, and it reminded me of being a kid and spending my days at Wyndyke country club all summer.  Wednesday.  Well Wednesday started out ok with a trip to the bank.  Let me back up a bit... During the play date the day before, Marty and Bella were discussing Monster High dolls, Marty's passion, and during this discussion, Bella decided that she really wanted one.  I told her that was fine, but she had to use her own money.  When we got home from the pool, she proceeded to dump out the contents of her piggy bank onto a towel, and then she dragged it into the living room where she was going to count out $25 to purchase a MH doll.  I told her we would take her change to the bank in the morning to the change machine to turn it into paper money, and then she could use $25 to get her MH doll, but the rest she had to deposit into her savings account to which she happily agreed.  So we went to the bank, and the kid had $86!  So I let her keep $26 and the remaining $60 she put in her account so that, her words not mine, her money could grow.  (We watched a Biz Kidz episode on PBS the day before on compound interest and it seemed to sink in.)  She is all about saving right now, so I am certainly going to encourage the hell out of this habit!  She picked out a MH doll, and couldn't  be more happy.  Here is where things begin to fall apart... Once home, I was doing a little VF work when Vince messaged me that a huge client had just fired him and he was extremely bummed.  This has been a very difficult client from the start, and Vince has done nothing but jump through hoops for them from the start, so to say that he was disappointed is an understatement.

Well, to get my mind off of that, I decided to make Bella a little carrying case for her new MH doll that she had asked for earlier that day.  I designed it myself, picked material, and knocked it out in less than an hour. Well, I guess it wasn't exactly what she imagined so she wasn't as thrilled about it as I would have liked which immediately hurt my feelings.  We had a little tiff about it, in which she went to her room and slammed the door, and I went to my room and cried for a brief moment.  After some deep breaths, and a bit of clarity, I came up with a solution.  I gave her one of my favorite zippered pouches from when I was a kid for her to use to keep accessories for her dolls in, and I solved the issue she had with her new bag, which she now loves.  Whew... crisis averted.  By the time we solved all of that, Vince's client had rehired his firm post a conversation with his boss.  Why this client chose to call Vince instead of the boss lady to let them know of the firing is beyond me, but for now it is has been fixed, thank God!  We ended our evening with noodle night, and on the way home, Bella zonked in the car and Vince carried her straight to bed.  Kiddo was out, and didn't fight it one bit.  Now a little funny moment... At 3 a.m. Bella woke up in tears, and here is why.  She missed "So You Think You Can Dance" because she fell asleep.  She and I watch it together on Wednesday nights because she loves the dancing, and she was devastated thinking she had missed it.  I calmly explained that we could watch it online in the morning, and that I hadn't watched it either so we could watch it together.  Problem solved.  Oh to be 6.5 again.

Now it's Thursday, and we don't have much on the agenda except for maybe an afternoon visit to the pool.  Oh, and my Mom's surgery went fantastically smooth on Tuesday, and the best news of all is that her lymph nodes are clear!  Hallelujah!  Now we can start to put all this mess behind us like it was all a bad dream.

Only 4 more weeks until school starts!  No, I'm not counting or anything... xoxox

Follow up...

My Mom spoke with her doctor on Tuesday, and we got good news.  He said they caught it early, and he's positive she can beat this.  She is having a lumpectomy next Tuesday, and they will also test her lymph nodes to make sure it has not spread to them.  Post surgery, she will more than likely have 6 weeks of radiation, and she may be on an anticancer drug for a couple of years after that.  He is very optimistic that it is only in the one area, and more importantly, that it can be taken care of relatively easily.

Whew!  Big.Sigh.of.Relief.  Of course, we aren't out of the woods yet, but it is a very positive outlook that all will be well.

My Mom is remaining positive, and has even joked that she may be getting that much wanted boob job after all.  Dear Lord!

So, for now, I have calmed down, taken many deep breaths, and am looking forward to putting this all behind us.  This week is turning out to have a much better ending than start, and thankfully it is almost the weekend.

Stay tuned for a post about Bella's bedroom makeover because it will be awesome!

Upset & Pissed Off

So my Mom got her biopsy results back yesterday, and what I didn't want to hear is happening.  She has breast cancer, and I'm pretty upset about it all.  Right now, her doctor thinks it's localized, and it can be treated with surgery and a little radiation, but we won't know for sure until she talks to her doctor this afternoon and comes up with a plan.

I am so tired of all of this.  I was thinking this year would be full of nothing but good news.  I mean, we are having a baby boy in December, and my Mom found Bill and just got married last weekend.  Now this?!  To say I'm frustrated is an understatement...

For now, all I can do is pray and stay positive.  I am SO happy that Bill is there with her for all of this, and that she is keeping a very positive attitude about it all.  Her exact words were, "Don't worry Suzy, I'm going to beat this."

I really hope so because I can't lose my Mother right now.  I need her...

June and July

Where to begin?  Well, June 10th, my baby girl finished Kindergarten.  She didn't just complete it, she killed it if I'm being honest.  Almost all 4's with a sprinkling of 3's here and there, and I could not be more proud of her!  Look out first grade!

The first week after school got out, Bella went to horse riding camp.  She told me that it was the best week of her life, and she wished she could do a week of horse camp every month!  It was so fun to see how passionate she was about it all, and she really did learn a lot about horses.  One day, she fell off her horse, but this did not deter or scare her.  She stood up, brushed herself off, and climbed right back on as if nothing happened. Amazing.  At the end of the week, they put on a show for us to show us what they had learned.  I was in awe, watching my 6 year old control and direct her huge horse Mick.  You could just see the determination and love for it all oozing out of her pores.  So, hopefully next month, Bella is going to start horse riding lessons as well as continuing to attend Clover Buds the first Tuesday of every month. (It's the precursor to 4-H club)  She deserves it, and couldn't be more excited.

A few days after horse camp was over, we drove up to Virginia Beach to meet up with the Schmitt clan  for some beach time fun.  Bella and Allie had not seen each other for months, and they couldn't be more happy to have a few days to hang out together.  We spent long days just relaxing on the beach, and soaking up the sunshine and waves.  B-bo even got the hang of boogie boarding this year, as well as Dominick, and it was cool to see the lightbulb moment that they had figured it out.  At night, after the kids were tucked into bed, Laura and I would spend a few hours watching stupid tv, laughing, and just enjoying hanging out.  We also had not seen each other in a couple of months, and it was really great to hang out with my friend <3  We headed home on a Thursday feeling refreshed with perfect sun kissed hair and golden skin.  It was a great trip.

The Friday after we got back, I had to get ready for my Mom's big visit.  A little back story here is in order.  My Mom met a man a few months ago, and on Memorial Day weekend her proposed to her.  There is more to the story, but I'm not going to go into all of that here.  I, to say the least, was shocked because I had no idea she was even talking to anyone.  Well, she had flown out to Virginia to help him finish packing, and then drive across the country with him back to California because he was moving in with her.  We were their first stop on their cross country trek so that we could meet Bill, and feel better about things.  I was extremely apprehensive about it all, but in the end it all turned out to be just fine.  Bill is a very kind and caring man, and I could tell that he really loves my Mom.  So I am extremely happy that they found each other, and I haven't seen my Mom this happy in 5.5 years.  My Dad would be so happy for her too because he would not want her to spend the rest of her life alone, and I have a feeling he may have had a little something to do with getting them together, at least I would like to think that anyway :)  So, this Saturday, July 14th, they are getting married in Vegas at the Venetian, and I couldn't be more happy/excited for them.  Then next year, on their one year anniversary, they are going to have a ceremony in Cali for family and friends.  One stipulation though, they have to take us all to Disneyland while we are there, so Bella is looking forward to being a flower girl again and visiting one of our very favorite places... Disneyland!

Now onto the 4th of July.... We made our way down to Atlanta the night before loaded with fireworks and excitement.  Each year, we stop in South Carolina to purchase legal/awesome fireworks for the show Vince puts on in his sister's backyard.  With each year that passes, it gets bigger and more amazing, and this year did not disappoint.  The grand finale was called Shotgun Wedding (in honor of BB and Bill) and it was spectacular!  Thankfully, it had rained a few hours before our show taking away any concern about setting the yard on fire which always puts my brother-in-law, Bill, a bit more at ease.  Post show, we played a few rounds of Apples to Apples while watching the show in Washington DC before calling it a night.  It was a great celebration, and we always have fun in Atlanta with V's sister and crew :)

Our next big day was July 11th... the day we found out if we were having a boy or a girl!  I was so excited I could hardly stand it!  Bella and I were convinced we were having a girl, while Vince was pretty sure it was a boy.  Well, it's a BOY!!!  When the ultrasound whispered it into Bella's ear for her to tell V and I, instead of telling us, she just started crying :(  She really wanted a baby sister.  But, after we talked about it for a bit, and I explained that Frankie would never steal her clothes, hog the bathroom, or put a dent in her special bond that she has with Pap Pap and BB, she decided that a baby brother would not be so bad :)  Now she is super excited, and can't wait to meet her sibling, Franklin Miller Ammirato, this December.  I am over the moon excited to meet our little guy, and he will have a December birthday like his Mama.  It's all just so exciting.

Now, we are just enjoying the rest of our summer, which seems to be zooming by at an alarming rate, with lots of swimming, play dates, Discovery Place trips, sleepovers, homemade slip-n-slides, cardboard houses, fence painting, plays at Jen's theater, and fun!  Time goes by so fast, and I just want to enjoy every minute of it because our kids just don't stay little long enough.

This weekend, we will continue to work on Bella's new room which is going to have a turquoise/orange color scheme with a horse theme.  Once we get her stuff moved and situated, we can then fix up the nursery for Mr. Franklin.  In other words, lots of fun stuff is going on in our world, and I'm just trying to soak it all up.

Happy Summer to you All!

8 Weeks

Just before we left for Spring Break, I found out that I am pregnant!  Well, yesterday I had my first Dr.'s appointment, and things are progressing nicely.  My doctor told me that my uterus is nice and plump, which made my husband giggle.  He then said if he ever said anything about me was plump he would probably get punched ;)  I would of course not hit him, but I might throw him a look that could kill...  So, we are very excited and can't wait to meet the newest addition come early December.  Bella is especially excited, and is dreaming of a little sister.  We shall see...

Spring Break 2012 + Easter

Our Spring Break this year was amazing!  On Friday, March 30th, we flew to California to begin our vacation.  My Mom picked us up at the airport around 11 a.m., and from there the fun began starting with a much awaited hair appointment she had set up for me in advance.  I got it evened out and recolored a rich reddish brown with some long bangs added in and I love it!  After that, we stopped at the store to pick up some stuff for dinner, and then headed back to her house to relax and get ready for the next few days.  We only had one hiccup.  Bella threw her guts up Friday night, but luckily she got it all out then, and we didn't have anymore problems :)  That is the first time she has ever puked, and she did not like it.  I'm just thankful she didn't inherit my sensitive gag reflex.  My Mom helped me get her all cleaned up, and then we all went to bed because we had an early start in the morning.

Saturday morning, Vince and I headed to L.A. to catch a boat to Catalina Island, while my Mom and Bella headed to the San Diego Zoo for a day filled with animals and a behind the scenes tour which my child absolutely loved.  She got to feed a rhino, pet all sorts of animals, and in all the pictures taken, her giant smile proves she was having the time of her life.  Meanwhile, Vince and I arrived at Catalina Island which is about an hour west off the coast of L.A., walked to our adorable/modern bed & breakfast, checked in, and then we took a glorious 3 hour nap.  When we woke up, we ventured out to find some yummy dinner, and then we walked around the island a bit before calling it a night.

Sunday.  Today, Mom and Bella went to Disneyland, and had a blast.  There was no wait for any of the rides, and they rode about 30 and just did whatever they wanted.  Bella was in Heaven, and so was BB.  Vince and I had breakfast in our room, then we did a little shopping before lunch.  That afternoon, we rented powered bikes and rode all over the island.  The views were breathtaking, and I'm glad the bikes were powered because if not, the hills would have been brutal!  It was so fun zooming all around and checking things out.  After dinner, we walked to the Grand Casino to see The Hunger Games.  The building is no longer a casino, but is now a museum and they show a movie nightly in the grand ballroom.  It was really neat.  Instead of commercials on the screen when you walked in, there was a man playing the organ down front next to the stage.  The domed ceiling was covered in a beautiful mural that was done in the 20's, and when they dimmed the lights to begin the movie, the entire ceiling sparkled with tiny stars while the previews played.  So cool!  All in all, we had a wonderful time in Catalina and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a cool place to visit.


On Monday, we met up with BB and Bella at Legoland.  We got there around 3 in the afternoon, and since they had already been through the park that day, we decided to head to the hotel pool to eat and relax for a few hours.  It was just what we needed.  After swimming, my Mom and I went down to the hotel restaurant to have a glass of wine, while Bella and Vince ordered room service for dinner.  B ended up falling asleep before the food arrived because it took forever, and Vince sent it back because she was out.  Long story short, my Mom ended up getting a free weekend stay in the future out of it which we were all happy about because she can go back and enjoy the spa.

Tuesday, we all went to Legoland and had a blast.  What a cool amusement park!  It's just amazing what they have built out of legos, unbelievable actually.  We spent a good 4 hours roaming around and checking everything out before loading up and heading back to BB's house.  We were all asleep by 9 p.m. which was fine because we were headed home the next day.  All in all, it was a fantastic Spring Break!

Easter.  Vince's sister and crew were in town, as well as Diane's niece from Pennsylvania.  We spent 4 days hanging out with the Ammirato family having a great time.  The kiddo's played tennis, dyed Easter eggs, played hide & seek, and of course hunted for Easter eggs on Sunday after church.   It was a beautiful Easter Sunday, and it was really nice to spend it with family.


And there you have it!  So far, Spring has been great and I am now looking forward to a fun filled summer!

High and Low.

Last week was up and down to say the least.  It had its really great moments, but I also struggled a bit emotionally this week, and I will get to that in a bit.

                                               








              Tuesday was Valentine's Day.  I know that a lot of people don't like this day, and just see it as a holiday forced upon us by Hallmark, but I really like it, and it was always a fun day when I was a kid.  Bella and I spent 3 hours the night before creating paper animals out of heart shapes before placing them in woven Danish hearts for her friends.  She did not complain once that it was taking too long, in fact it was me wondering if we were ever going to finish :)  They turned out adorable, and she was so excited to give them out to her friends.  For dinner, the 3 of us went to our new favorite local spot, The Hill Grill, for all you can eat wings for V & I, and a yummy grilled cheese sandwich for the Bsters.  All in all, a very lovely day.

On Wednesday, I got a new car!  Here's where things got a little emotional for me.  So, my car, Lou Corrolla, was my Dad's car.  It's a 2003 with a lot of miles on it, and the struts need to be replaced for a smoother ride and slower tire wear.  Well, I really didn't want to spend $1200 to get Lou fixed, and was wondering what to do.  My Dad always took care of my car, made sure I was getting the oil changed, buying me new tires, etc.  Well, it seems, he still is.  Without my in-laws knowing my car situation, Diane told me that she was getting a new car, and would I like her CRV instead of trading it in.  It's a 2000 in excellent condition, and it has literally been driven like a grandma it's whole life.  She wasn't planning on getting a new car until closer to this summer, but she ended up finding what she wanted much sooner and Wednesday, Frank helped me get all the paperwork together to transfer the CRV to me.  Here's where I am having a hard time.  Lou was my Dad's car.  The steering wheel has indentions in it from his hands, the driver's seat has his impression, I can still feel my Dad when I drive Lou.  I know that Lou is just a car, and that letting it go doesn't mean I am letting go of my Dad.  It just had physical reminders of him all over it, and it has been very comforting driving Lou for 4.5 years.  On the flip side, I have a new/safer car and I know that my Dad is smiling in Heaven because of it.

Friday was class picture day.  Bella wore my favorite dress of the moment which happened to be very similar to the dress I wore for Kindergarten class pictures.  I can't wait to compare last year's picture to this year's because she really has grown a lot in a year.

As for the rest of the week, if it wasn't raining, we were hanging outside.  The first thing Bella does when she gets home from school is rush out to the backyard to swing and play in her wisteria fort until dinner time.  Once we get our new fence built, the dogs will be able to hang out too because right now we really can't let them out of their pen because Jane likes to jump our current fence and terrorize the neighborhood.  Bella loves her dogs though, and is ready to be able to play with them more.

Yesterday afternoon, my friend Liz and I went to see Cabaret at CPCC where Jen Hamilton is stage manager.  It was a really great performance!  After the show, we went to Common Market for a few glasses of wine and conversation.  It ended up also being BINGO night, so we played a few fun rounds, had some laughs, and won nothing :)  I got home around 8, chatted with Vince for a bit, and then promptly fell asleep on the sofa.  V says he tried to wake me up 3 times to get me to come to bed, but he was unable to rouse me and I eventually stumbled to bed around 3 a.m. I think.

It was a great week filled with fun, a touch of sadness, and lots of love from family and friends.

Now, it's a new week.  B is out of school for the first 2 days of it, and she requested a trip to Ikea today.  Why not?!  Besides that, I will be doing some laundry/clean-up, but not before I have a second cup of coffee.


Have a great week everyone!