A Few More Days!

Isabella is such a lucky girl! Today Daddy wanted to spend some time with his girl, so he and Bella had a "Daddy Date" to see Bolt...two trips to the movie theater in two days! Wow! While they were at the movies, Mommy found some more last minute things to do (of course!).

Daddy and Bella after their movie date.

Putting on Makeup. "Like my cheekies Mother?"

Grammy and Aunt Diane putting together the travel swing.

Isabella took this picture tonight. Ready to go :)

Hanging Out!

Since most of our errands are done, the house is clean and we are just waiting around for Brother, Isabella and Mommy had a date to the movies this morning - we saw Madagascar 2 and had a great time! After we got home from the movies, Sara brought the kids over to say "goodbye to my pregnant belly"! The kids enjoyed playing for a while and of course were so cute. When they left, Papa and Grammy came over and brought Brother's dresser that Papa painted and some leftovers for Daddy (who is on vacation for 3 weeks!). We put together the baby's bassinet...now everything seems to be done and we have just a few more days until we become a family of four!

Bella and Mother waiting for the movies to open!

It was early, but she got a kids pack!

Drew and Bella playing!

Papa and Bella get in so much trouble together...when Mommy was putting together the bassinet, Papa cut holes for Bella in the box and put her inside. Silly!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! We had a great time with our family yesterday. It is always wonderful to be together and share a time of true thanksgiving for all of the blessings in our lives. We hope everyone had a chance to reflect on their own blessings and had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving holiday!

Bella painting her nails and toes getting ready!

Helping Mother make Cranberry Mold...YUM!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Playing piano with Pop...she loves it! Ready for lessons :)

Feasting!

Bella and Cousin Camryn!

Isabella and The Computer!

This is what Isabella has been up to lately. Her favorite spot actually...playing games on the computer! She LOVES it. Right when she wakes up in the morning she asks to play "games". It really amazes me how computer savvy and smart a three year old can be! "Pbs Org" (Pbskids.org) and My Little Pony are her favorite, but she also loves Barney.com and the Disney games.

David Turns 40!

Last Saturday was my brother's 40th birthday party! That was also the day the fires started, so most of the roads were closed and it took Chris and I two hours to get there...but I didn't want to miss the celebration!! Julie did a wonderful job on the party! Here are a few pictures.

David Hansen wine!

The Hansens'... give me a break because I'm pregnant! :)

Happy 40th Brother!

Guy F. and David playing a couple tunes at the end of the night!

Brother Update!

As of Friday, Brother looks great and is doing well! He weighs approximately 6lbs 7 ozs. The Doctor gave her guess at 7lbs 3oz since Isabella was 7 and a half and she was a week overdue. Only 2 weeks today and counting...I go next Wednesday for all of my pre-op blood work and admittance paper work, which they told me should take about 2-3 hours. Then we will be all set to show up at 5:30am on December 2nd to have our little boy at 7:30. Time is moving fast and I wouldn't mind if it slowed down just a tiny bit so I can get everything done in these last few days. Thanks everyone for thinking about us and keeping us in your prayers for a safe delivery!

Happy Veterans's Day!

I found this picture and poem on the Internet - perfect for today! Thank you to my Dad, Father-in-law, Grandfathers and all the Veteran's out there who have fought for our freedom...you are true heroes!

They Did Their Share

On Veteran’s Day we honor
Soldiers who protect our nation.
For their service as our warriors,
They deserve our admiration.

Some of them were drafted;
Some were volunteers;
For some it was just yesterday;
For some it’s been many years;

In the jungle or the desert,
On land or on the sea,
They did whatever was assigned
To produce a victory.

Some came back; some didn’t.
They defended us everywhere.
Some saw combat; some rode a desk;
All of them did their share.

No matter what the duty,
For low pay and little glory,
These soldiers gave up normal lives,
For duties mundane and gory.

Let every veteran be honored;
Don’t let politics get in the way.
Without them, freedom would have died;
What they did, we can’t repay.

We owe so much to them,
Who kept us safe from terror,
So when we see a uniform,
Let’s say "thank you" to every wearer.

By Joanna Fuchs

Happy 4th Anniversary!

Today, in about an hour, Chris and I have been married 4 years!! We have been together for 9 years and 4 1/2 months. Wow...Comin' up on 10 years!! Boy, time does fly when you are having FUN! In a blink of an eye we went from college students to parents of two (almost) children. A lot has changed in those years, but I wouldn't trade my life for anything...I am truly blessed because the man that I married proved to be everything and even more than I thought he was. There isn't a day that I don't think about our wedding, the love that we share and the love of those friends and family that stood by our side. And Thank You Chris for sharing yourself with me and being my best friend.

This is the first year we have been home on our anniversary! We have been in Hawaii, Texas and Napa...but due to the timing (Brother) we won't be headed anywhere. That is okay with us though...we will find some time together this weekend to celebrate :) It was so adorable last night (I wish I had a picture)...Daddy brought me flowers home and Isabella thought they were for her! She gushed, "OH THANK YOU DADDY...Thank you so much for bringing me flowers!!!" And she ran to give him a hug and a big kiss. She twirled around with the bouquet of flowers smelling them. So sweet!!!

Due Date!

We found out today that our c-section for Brother is scheduled for December 2nd! I am so excited because that is also Aunt Diane's birthday and she is going to be here to celebrate with us and meet little Vinnie Guy! So, provided that he cooperates and we don't go into labor on our own, we get to meet our new addition in 27 days! Countdown has begun....

The Invisible Mother

I thought I would share this inspiring story I recieved via email with all of my wonderful Mother friends ... I promise when they are old enough to realize, your children will be thankful for all your sacrafices and you will have built a wonderful cathedral (family)!

The Invisible Mother

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom...

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this ? Can you tie this? Can you open this?? Some days I'm not a pair of hands ; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer,'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please...

'I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!?...

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees...

'In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths,after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it. And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'...

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become...

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride...

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree...

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'...

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.Aren't you thankful for this great task we've been given as mothers (builders)? ...

Our Fun HalloweenTime!

Thursday night Isabella and I started off our festivities by making Halloween Rice Krispy Treats and No-Bake Chocolate cookies for our Friday night guests! We love to bake together and Isabella is such a BIG helper now! Friday morning we took a trip to the nail salon. Isabella picked out purple nail polish and the lady painted spiders on her thumbs and pumpkins on her big toes. She was so happy and such a good girl. She sat and colored while the ladies finished up with Mommy. After a few errands to the store, starting the chili and cornbread and a much needed nap, Bella woke up with Papa and Grammy already at our house! She said she didn't feel good (and was super hot) but she carved her Pumpkin with Grammy and Papa and played Ponyville (My Little Pony board game). The Calagna family also joined us for the fun and when Daddy got home from work we started Trick or Treating. No friends were able to go out with us this year, but Bella had a fun time with her Grandpas, Daddy and Mommy (Grandmas and Uncle Nick stayed to man the candy bucket)! Isabella was hilarious while we were out...She wouldn't let anyone go up to the door with her. She told us, 'I can do it myself!'. So she would ring the doorbell, say Trick or Treat and say Thank you all on her own. What a BIG GIRL! After only 10 or so houses that were home, her basket was full! She still wasn't feeling good and asked to be carried home, which Mother was unable to do, so she settled for a ride on Papa Joe's shoulders. We had an early evening. We got home around 8pm, gave Isabella some medicine and she crawled up on the couch and fell asleep with her Halloween My Little Pony. I was worried that she wouldn't be able to make her Ballet class Halloween party today. She woke up this morning and said she was still sick and laid back down, but a few minutes later she sat up and wanted to go anyway. She opted for her 50's girl costume instead of her witch costume and it looked adorable! We are glad she didn't miss the party! October came to an end and a very busy, but exciting, November begins...