Grandparents here!

My parents Mom and Dad LaBarbera (Pop and Grandma) came to visit last week!  This week, they stayed at the Hampton Inn in Gainesville where the kids "camped out" with their Grandparents for 3 days while Mommy got a couple nights of R&R without the kids.  Whew!  

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

So anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE LOVE LOVE Holidays. I get totally into them. That includes good old' St. Patty's Day.  So this morning the kids woke up to our tradition of having the house messed up, Finnigan the leprechaun must have come!  He overturns furniture, pillows on the floor, and we set up our leprechaun trap to catch him.  We left treats under the trap and in return he left treats for us.  So Finnigan is actually always good.  We clean up the pillows, and notice he went wee-wee in our toilet!  The toilet water is green (this will be a new tradition-Thanks Erika!) and there are  also white little tracks around the house where he's pitter-pattered around.  Such great fun!  Holidays are GREAT with kids. Memories and traditions I never want to end.  Even when I'm full grown.

Biggest Loser 2nd place!

For the past 10 weeks, (Since January 3rd) I've been dieting.  And I won 2nd place in our challenge!  The diet ended yesterday and I lost 20 lbs  and got down to 126 lbs.  (13.36%) and I won $50!  Yahoo!  Bring on the Chipotle and chocolate.

Check it out on:

www.gainesvillebiggestloser.com

Fair Oaks

I love the Fair Oaks area.  The mall, the hospital, it's where we lived when we first moved to Virginia-right next to Fairfax Corner.  The mall there has all the wonderful amenities for shopping with kids-pottery barn where they can play, Gymboree where they watch TV while you shop, a Chick-fil-a, Cold Stone, does it get any better?

Fires and Chickens

On Thursday for Ash's little preschool, we went to visit the new Haymarket Fire Station.  Then we hit the new Chik-fil-A restaurant in Gainesville.   There's so many reasons that I love Gainesville, VA.  Chik-fil-A opening just made my paradigm shift.  And when Chipotle opens, gosh, I don't think I'll ever leave my 4 mile radius world.

Cartoon Cuts

This is the Ikea bookshelf I put together for Ash's room!  Although in the end, I ended up with 2 extra screws and when I moved it against the wall a couple of pieces came apart, I told Ash this is strictly a bookshelf and to not climb in it or...it could fall apart.  Although it serves its purpose for now.

The kids and I have many "parties" downstairs with each other with a special movie and its so cute because the kids cuddle up together in one chair instead of using the couch.  I hope they always stay close.  

Jonathan came home for 2 days.  We hadn't seen him in over a month and he left again and comes back April 1.  We had a great time together!! 

Ash got her hair cut at Cartoon Cuts at Fair Oaks mall last week!  She loved the pampering!!!  

The passing away of Sammy

Sammy.  Our beloved Beta fish that has been alive for over 3.5 years.  What fish lives for over 3.5 years?  Sammy does.  In fact we called him Samurai Sammy because he was such a tough warrior. We'd taken care of Sammy, neighbors have fed Sammy while we were away on vacations, he was much loved.  He was gift to Austin before Ashley was even born given by Grandma and Pop LaBarbera.  Well, Sammy moved on to a better place on Saturday night.  We think its because of natural causes, but murder is still an option.  I came downstairs and Ashley was on the counter top with sammy in her hand and said, 'Sammy died.'  But even if it was murder, it was Sammy's time to go.  He had slowed down quite a bit the past couple months. The funeral was sad as the pictures show.  We love you Sammy!  To the best fish ever!

7-11

We drove by a new 7-11 store and saw the Geico lizard standing and waving and the kids love this lizard.  We then saw that this 7-11 store was having its grand opening.  Upon going inside, they handed all the kids a bag to fill with all sorts of free goods!  Twinkies!  Sub sandwiches! Ice cream cones!  Potato chips! Junk galore!!!  There were also drawings and a clown doing face painting and balloons.  The kids had thought they'd gone to the circus.  And all free for me.

She found the Binki!

Valentines Day 2009

We had a super-fun Valentine week!  Between a preschool Valentine party at Burger King, (Ash of course used Princess Valentines) and Austin's 100th day of school/Valentine party we had a great week!  Mom enjoyed enrichment night, running outside in the 50-60 degree weather we've had here this week.  Dad is in Austin TX this week.  Dr. Rice is doing all of her farewell speeches and I'm super jealous he's in TX without me!  Hope you had a great lovey hearts day.

Olga the Great

So since Jonathan's been gone I've decided not to shave my legs.  I don't know why I've decided this.  Maybe for the same reason that men grow out their beard when they're away.  The longest I've been w/out shaving my legs in the past has been 1 week.  I love the feeling of smooth legs. But I'm going all natural.  Grunt grunt.

Magna Cum Laude

Kidding.  Annie did graduate though last night from her final obedience class! She's doing great!  Next is intermediate training.  Yeah! Woof!

Lady and the Tramp

Okay, this is a grotesque version of Lady and the Tramp.  I don't know if you can see in the picture here, but Ashley actually has spaghetti in her mouth that she is sharing with the dog.  Ewww!  I don't know what's grosser-that, or the fact that I didn't stop it immediately and laughed and took a picture!  This pic will be seen by her future husband...he'll see what all she's kissed in her lifetime!

Obviously last week was the first snow of the season.  Yeah!  School was closed and another morning delay due to the ice.  The kids had a great time.  At least Austin did.   Ash is like her mom.  We like it in the warm, looking outside.  

Here's to winter finally here!