Visit to Santa

Jonny cakes. This is my sis-in-law Jonny. She is great! I never showed a picture of the wreath she made me!! She is super talented and makes these and sells them at Farmers Markets. Isn't it adorable? This gorgeous wreath has been on my door since October 22nd when she came out here to visit. I still don't want to take it off!

So this week I took the kids to Chik-fil-A to meet Santa. And I think this was the real Santa! He took his time, talked to the kids, really inquired about them, what they liked, school, past times, he was great!

Ashley wanted a "Baby Alive" that really goes potty.

Austin requested from Santa, "I want Rudolph".

Austin confessed to Santa that he liked iCarly, but that he still has a wife. Madeliene.

Last week we went to the Gainesville Gateway tree lighting and enjoyed the local festivities. This is my most favorite time of year.

Christmas Pictures

So since Jonathan is gone this year, the Christmas pictures are only going to be of the two kiddos. And as soon as I staged the pic, the kids started wrestling. Tackling each other. Grass stains, wet marks on knees. Noooo!!!

So things looked so placid when I told them how to stand, how to smile, etc. So I decided to just not say a word and just let them goof around. Those pictures seemed to capture their personality best.

Thanksgiving

This year we were so fortunate to have Aunt Reghan and Uncle Rocco (Aaron) come up and visit us from Los Angeles! We went over to the Turners home for a monstrous Thanksgiving feast. They host the best dinners ever. After dinner we had a few hours to let the bird digest and the kids did a Christmas book exchange. We then dug into dessert.

There's no Thanksgiving like a LaBarbera Thanksgiving.

We even took advantage of Black Friday shopping!!

Only 10 adults and over 10 desserts....yum.

While Aaron was here we wen to see the Christmas Carol movie and the kids enjoyed wrestling with their Uncle and being together. We had a great time! Thanks Reghan and Rocco for making the visit. We love you guys.

Soccer Gal

Austin got his new orthotics we call his "boots" to wear everyday now so he can train himself to stop walking on his tippy toes. This is a habit that started when he took his very first steps at 13 months old. He never got off his tippy toes when walking from that point on. So now at 7, we're once again trying to break the habit. (At age 3 Austin had 2 sets of casts made, orthotics physical therapy and even botox injections in his ankles to relax his achilles heal.) So this time around, Austin has the desire to stop walking on the toes. We'll get there. He's doing great.

At Mountain View Elementary school, the PTO had a great little Santa's workshop where the kids could buy their own gifts for their parents, siblings etc with their own money. Austin loved doing his "own" shopping.

Ashley had her end of soccer season party at Wegmans with donuts and received her trophy.

This was a great group of kids she played soccer with.

Little Gym Birthday Party

Austin and Ashley had a small joint birthday at the Little Gym of Gainesville. They both did classes there and love the gym.

Ash received an electric guitar from one of her friends-or maybe this is Ozzy?

This year Austin wanted to be "special agent Austin" and "princess Ashley" on the cake.

Austin Turns 7

November 13, Austin turned 7. WOW! Being 6 still seemed so young. But 7? I wish they wouldn't grow up so fast. Pop and Grandma were here visiting during Austin's birthday. Yeah!

The Cold Stone ice cream pie....I asked what he wanted on his cake and he said, "Daddy..a Superhero!" And Snake Eyes from GI JOE. So I put their pictures on the cake!

Austin was really into GI Joe and LEGOS this year. And still has the love for the Bakugans.

Mom making the homemade LaBarbera spaghetti sauce. So tasty I had her make a huge batch and I froze half of it for later use!

So turning 7 years old, I allowed Austin to have his first friend spend the night. Of course he chose Cameron. His best little friend. They played all night long! I didn't think they would stay up past 11, since Austin normally goes to bed at 7pm. But they were up till , well, till 1 am. The boys had a great time! At midnight I told them they don't have to go to sleep, but that they do have to turn out the lights. So the flashlights were on. Then at around 1, I heard nothing. Everyone's asleep. Until 6 am..Then chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.

Austin kept telling me all night as his buddy was there and it was his birthday, "Mom, I'm so happy." Ahh the words you always want your kids to say. It made me even happier.

Love is in the Air..

Ashley went to Coleman's 4th Pirate birthday party this week and had a great time! Talk about a pirate party. The kids had a great time! The Turner's sure know how to throw a party!

The kids getting ready for church...they're getting so grown up. Austin picked out one of Daddy's ties...we do this every Sunday.

Austin proposed to Ashley after Ash 'married' Gavin Johnson. Austin was feeling a little jealous.

This week, Ashley had her first kiss. Oh, and got married. Gavin Johnson. XOXO

I would be completely happy if Ashley grew up and married Gavin. I now understand arranged marriages. If you love the family, shouldn't it make sense your kids should grow up to love one another? Too good to be true.

Last Football Game/Party

Today was Austin's last flag football game with the Gainesville Grizzlies. What a great fall season. Here are pics from the Tailgate pizza party after the game. We had a great year with an awesome Team Mom, Coaches and enthusiastic players! Austin even got in a 40 yd line run as an Offensive Lineman!

Very excited when Coach Carroll called his name for his trophy!

Why I love my kids...Austin's pushing Ash on the swing. They play so nice together. Sometimes...

My little Grizzly. So proud.

Awesome Coaches. Jon and Steve Caroll.

Ashely is right by Austin's side.

Cool Trophies, huh?

It's all about the halftime oranges, snacks afterwards and of course, the TROPHY.