Thank You & Happy New Year!

Christmas 2014

We had a super awesome Christmas Eve at Grammy and Popi's house. Their tree always looks spectacular and the house is filled with so much love when everyone is there. 

Below photos are NEVER going to happen... We tried!

When we got home, we sprinkled Reindeer Food on the lawn and went to bed!

Looks like Santa came! 

We opened presents and had a great morning!

I'm sad that Christmas has come and gone, but I am looking forward to a great New Year! 

Visit with Santa

We always have the best visits with Santa Claus here in Chino Hills. There wasn't a long line and he really takes time to talk to the kids and ask them what they want, etc. Bella was scared she was too big to sit on Santa's lap but he said, 'nonsense' and got her right up there. Such a happy time with the kids!

Team Party

Saturday we had the Frost Bite team party at our house. We had a great group of girls and parents for the tournaments we were in and wishing it lasted longer than it did. See them all on the field!

Christmas Parties

Tuesday of the week we went on break, we had Courtney, Ava and Zoe over! The kids ate lunch, colored and played! 

Friday we had our Christmas Parties at school. In the morning we had Vincent's party!

And in the Afternoon we had Bella's party!

On Monday, we had Bella's girlfriends over for Waffles and Hot Cocoa. 

We've also had the Piraino Family Christmas Party. It is always so much fun to see our family. Here are the Cousins/Spouses and 2nd Cousins. 

Birthday Cake for Jesus

Earlier in November, Isabella asked if Aunt Liz could come and help bake the Birthday Cake for Jesus. They decided on a Cross with Roses. It turned out so beautiful and they had special bonding time together! Thank you Aunt Liz for all of your help instructing this Little Girl's passion!

Frost Bite

Oh Bella Ruth! She kills me with singing her Softball cheers around the house every day (and making me do the chorus!!)! It is hard going from practice to batting cages to more practice and games, but it is all worth it to watch her play and to see her swing. Looking forward to the Spring Season coming up. Assessments are already the 10th of January!

Vincent Turns 6

On December 2nd, little Vincent Guy turned six years old. We were worried that Sissy wouldn't make it to his bday party because of her tournament, but it all worked out and he had a wonderful time bowling with his friends and family. Isabella "allowed" her Brother to have a bowling party, only if she could make the cake and cupcakes. She did a wonderful job with some help of her personal teacher, Aunt Liz. If you want to hear the story of Mom, myself and three little kids driving in the pouring rain from Santa Fe Springs, to home to the bowling alley in just enough time to set up, let me know. Haha!

The next morning was his Birthday and he told me the night before, "Mom... don't forget you have to wake up early, bake me that bread with a candle in it and come in my room singing Happy Birthday!" So love that the Birthday Toast tradition already means something to him!

Vincent got to be the star in his class and I loved being there to watch the class mates sing him their Birthday Song.

 After school we had a special treat of Icees and Popcorn at Target with friends. What better Bday lunch is there? Presents and cake at home and there you have it...a very handsome, loving and wonderful SIX year old!

Thanksgiving 2014

Expect some updates from this year before we end out the year tomorrow! One of my goals will be to be on top of this blog. I love to read Amanda's (she is about the only one who does hers weekly) and to see Holly's pictures on Wednesdays! I also love to share our pictures because Lord knows I take enough of them.

I'm only about a month behind. Here we are celebrating a lovely Thanksgiving with our family! Mom gave Samantha her Grandmother's Wedding Ring being that she is the first Granddaughter to get married. It was very sweet!

Monster Mash

Mother-Son Monster Mash at school was so much fun! Vincent wore his Halloween costume and I was Robin! We ate Chick Fil A and Snow Cones and danced to the DJ. My boy rocks!

10th Anniversary

We had a great time on our little Anniversary celebration to Las Vegas. Yes we go there all the time and could have good several other places, but I wanted to go somewhere familiar so we could relax and not worry about "seeing or doing everything". We ate and drank a lot, met up with our friends and even brought home a treat from Carlos for Isabella. Love my Husband and our fabulous 10 married years!  

Taylor's 4th Birthday!

A few weeks ago we met Taylor and family to celebrate his birthday!! Even though we were so late due to practice and traffic, the kids had a great time building their own cool car and enjoying cupcakes! Thank you Holly and Gus!!!

End of Pitch Perfect ... Star of FrostBite

A couple weekends ago we were on a high by going to the semi-finals and beating an excellent team. Unfortunately, we lost last weekend to a team we should have won. It happens and we are still proud of all the girls! 

Bella has also joined a tournament team that will play in three tournaments starting the weekend after Thanksgiving. That is pretty much taking up our life right now, but she loves it and we are looking forward to seeing her play. This is a great group of girls with a great group of parents (that so makes a difference!). We would love to have anyone come watch who has time. I will let you know when I have the schedule! GO BELLA "RUTH" #1!

Soccer... "NEVER AGAIN!"

Well the picture in the middle about sums up poor little Vincent's soccer season. He did not "love" the sport and in fact said he would "NEVER AGAIN" be playing soccer. We will see if he changes his mind. He got the hang of it the last two games - scoring two goals at each game to earn himself some Pokemon cards. If anything else, this boy gives us some great laughs!

Kindergarten Field Trip

Last Friday, we had a wonderful field trip to Amy's Farm! Vincent and his friends enjoyed brushing the Cow and Horse, taking an adventure through the crops, milking a cow and picking out a pumpkin. It was the perfect field trip for these little ones. 

Cal Poly Pumpkin

Sunday morning we met our friends, the Ertles for Starbucks and a trip to the Cal Poly Pumpkin Festival. The kids had so much fun together and even indulged us for some pictures. So blessed to have met such a wonderful family through Softball! 

Breast Cancer Walk || Girl Scouts + Softball friends

Isabella had the opportunity to walk with Girl Scouts and some Softball friends in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk on Saturday morning! She had a wonderful time and I am so happy she went and got to spend time with some fabulous friends and women! Thank you Raquel for taking her! 

Playing Catch Up...

Wow, the last time I blogged was 1 month ago! That is so unlike me, but honestly I barely get to sit down at my computer now a days, even though I have a ton of work to be doing. A lot has been going on here, but most of it just every day life. Homework, soccer practice, softball practice, batting cages, games, helping in the classrooms, family time, etc etc. I have a big wedding coming up on November 1st so I will be praying to make it through the next couple of weeks getting everything done in a timely matter and the flowers going off without a hitch. After the Wedding, I am in charge of the Veteran's Day Program at school! Oh, and I can't forget our 10th anniversary in there... WOW! So much coming our way that I will try to stay in the moment and enjoy the blessings.

For now, here are the pictures stored up on my computer in no particular order ...

I was able to go on the 4th grade field trip to the OC Fair!

Love these pictures of Bella swinging away and also Daddy helping out!

In class, Vincent had a Teddy Bear Picnic. The bears got to spend the night and made a huge mess in the classroom. They played games, did crafts and had snacks. I remember this event when Bella was in Kinder. 

We had College Day at school. Love my Future Bruins!

Vincent also got to bring home Skippy John Jones and we took pictures of him and Vincent. He came home on our one free night so they got to play around, watch TV and the Ipad, meet Sissy and the collection of Beanie Boos. But my favorite picture is holding hands for prayer time! 

Isabella gets really bad headaches to the point of tears at practice, so we bought her some really cool sunglasses and I am happy to say the headaches have been better.

Made a trip to the dentist - we won't elaborate on that.

Always having school pride and fun with our friends!

And finally, Isabella and Leila did a Community Service project and made it onto the Leadership team! I am so proud of the both of them. 

Pitch Perfect

We started the season with a bang on Friday by playing a double header. We lost both games but that's okay. Girls played hard and well with only two practices and one batting cage session. Looking forward to the rest of the short Winterball season.

Meet the Teacher

I am way out of order here but I think I finally caught myself up on all the Calagna happenings. These pictures were from last Thursday when we met our Teachers and then had a Yogurtland date. Love these two! 

Bella the Baker

 A few Saturday's ago, Aunt Liz came down and gave Isabella a decorating lesson. She started with how to make traditional Buttercream icing and decorating stars. She loves it so much and has since made two cakes. Even a "Back2School" cake with a W for Wickman Wildcats. I would love her to start a kids baking/cooking blog and she is over the moon about the idea. Who knows, maybe she will get on Rachel and Guy's Kids Cook-Off.