Pinstriped

Since I work, I miss out on some of the fun things that the group of mommies do. AJ and I were so glad we got to go out to Pinstripes for Mom and Tot bowling. Lisa and Nick, Jessica and Hannah, Val and Charlotte, and Tanya and Ruby met us out there for the fun.

Pinstripes really has a nice set up, and I will be going back there for some food and bowling sans toddlers in the future. We paid $5 and got shoes, fruit, yogurt and coffee included. AJ picked a sporty blue 6 lb ball and away we went. They put up the bumpers and gave us a ramp so the little people could hit the pins.

Good thing the bumpers were up...

AJ spent most of his time trying to figure out how the ball return worked.

"I'm waiting cuz it's Charlotte's turn."

The cutest part was all the little tiny bowling shoes on little tiny feet.

"Mama, where I am?"

December Baby Buddy Birthday

The folks at And Then There Were Three threw Anthony a birthday party. AJ wore his new duds and had a great time looking at the Elmo balloon ("Elno Loon") attached to one of the gifts. He ate pizza, cheese and a chocolate chip cookie. He gave Anthony some books, one of which may have made me cry when I picked it out- but I will never tell.

They live on campus at Lewis University. Katie's husband, Mush, is the Director of Residence Life over there. Because of this prime location and the fact that the campus is closed for holiday break, they threw the party in the student union. VERY COOL. In the lower level, they have a mini bowling lane, arcade, and many couches. AJ enjoyed all of these things. It was also neat to see Katie as I miss teaching with her. Mush makes a mean LIT. Very smooth. If you ever get the pleasure of meeting the "Three", ask him to mix you one.

My pictures are all out of order and I really wish to sit here and reminisce with myself about the goodness of that LIT, so I am not going to ruin that my re-ordering them.

Bowling with Daddy

Smooth.

While I sipped, AJ bowled.

Rose helped!

Mama and AJ

Anthony eating cake- an allergy free cupcake. Looked mighty good.

Anthony and Katie played with Autopino, our little mouse that rides in a car.

The Birthday Boy!

"Wee!"

We heard that there were 3 inches of snow predicted. We got the three, then four, five, six and I think a seventh snuck in there. This is a long one. Unless you really love me, you might not want to invest 3+ minutes watching my kid and husband have fun in the snow. But if you do, here it is.

This is NOT How I Remember It...

Have you read the Mitford Series by Jan Karon? If so, you fondly remember Esther's Orange Marmalade Cake. I made one way back in 2003 when I was young and fabulous and had talent. Here is a picture of the masterpiece that I created in 2003.

Something happened this year. Something very bad.

We will eat it anyway. And we. will. like. it.

Snow!

I am SO GLAD I did not have to drive to work in this snow that is falling, and has been falling, all day. It is really pretty and not too cold. Just the right kind of day to invite a friend over and go "sledding". I say "sledding" with the quotes around it because a 2 yr old and an almost 2 yr old who have never played in the snow before are not real big into the fast, downhill, wind in your hair kind of sledding that you may be imagining. They are more into the tentative, shuffle your feet, fall down, whine, yell "Mama!" and "Oh wow!" forty times and then get concerned when your hand is cold but let someone TOUCH your mitten and you freak out kind of sledding.

Hannah was very interested. AJ was very mobile once he got his "snow legs". He fell off the sled. More than once. Then we went in and had hot chocolate. Our coats are hanging on my side view mirror in the garage- waiting for the next trip outside!

Baby G!

My friends Kathy and Aldo (of Aldo Risolvo Photography) welcomed a new son, Giuseppe Michael, into their lives on Monday, December 14. We have been waiting for him for a while now. He was loved even before he was created. The folks over at And Then There Were Three, Katie and Anthony, met us over there for the big introduction.

Katie made some deelish dinner and we got to see the little guy. The happy parents look great and only slightly tired.

I know that the angels that Katie, Kathy, and I have in Heaven are watching over their little brothers. That makes me smile.

Holidays 2009

We have been enjoying the excitement and fun the holidays bring here in cold Illinois. The temps took a dip the other day and we got a little snow to cover the ground and make things look a bit more festive. AJ helped me with the Christmas lights. He thought they would look great if he jammed all of the strings behind the couch. It was real fun. My parents made the discovery that my prelit tree is missing a large section of prelit-edness. I tried to make the adjustment by placing a short string of colored lights in the dark part. The problem is that the tree has white lights on it. You, dear readers, have just discovered why there is no picture of my tree here for your enjoyment.

I keep a teenager at the ready for babysitting needs, so Mary P. came over to watch AJ while Mike and I attended the Holiday Party. We had a great time. We work so hard at teaching these days with federal law, testing, paperwork, testing, crammed schedules, testing, fill every minute with learning, testing, inservices...what did I forget? Oh yeah, testing- that is was nice to have dinner with everyone in a relaxed setting. We talked about our families, our plans, our cars, sports, told/heard corny jokes, laughed at each other, and danced. My My did we dance...I have a blister on my pinky toe. We missed Kathy and Aldo, though. They are awaiting the arrival of Little Zepe and Kathy is to do that waiting from her spot on the couch. So no dancing for them.

Seeing as the folks over at And Then There Were Three are sick, our dinner and playtime over there had to be re-scheduled for another night. Although that was a major bummer, the Albandias hit the road in search of Superdawg and tacky Christmas lights. We drove over to Lincolnwood and Sauganash where Mike remembered there were big lights when he was a kid. Apparently all those people have moved. But the hot dogs were first rate.

Sunday is on the horizon and so is caroling with the church group. AJ and Mike will have some bonding time together while I do that with my mom and good friend Stephanie.

These holidays are filled with fun for us, and we wish the same for your families! Peace, Joy and Love this season!

"Take the picture- no, not that button, the other one. Push it. Now! No, never mind."

Never mind the Holiday Picture.

The Big T-W-O

Who let AJ get so big? He's 2 now, you know. On December 3, 2007, our little 6 lb 12 oz baby boy came to meet us. The first year zipped by. His second year rocketed past, too. I remember all of it, and almost none of it, if that makes any sense.

Gramma Betty, Papa Rog, Lolo and Lola came by to celebrate this weekend. We ate shrimp, cheese, little cupcakes with pineapple, pizza, and 2 kinds of birthday cake. After the Holidazzle party on Saturday at the Phipps Place, I had no business stuffing my face as I did, but your kid is only 2 once. AJ got a little wound up and ran around. He had one time out (for throwing- Daddy TOLD him to stop). He opened up some presents and would not sit still for a photo. So take a look at these "action shots" and admire the back, side, or blur that is my 2 year old, Adrian James!

He got shy while we were singing.

AJ knows his capital letters, can identify numbers to 10,

and can tell you which shapes are circles, diamonds, and ovals.

Ok, Ok....Geez, I'll stop.

Here he is showing Gramma Betty his mad skills.

The enigma that is my father. Look at those pants. What a dashing figure.

Micky and Mike. Can you tell them apart?

I'll tell you, there was a wild thing at my house after eating all the cake...

Opening up bathtub letters

Micky Mouse Counting car. He counts backwards as well as forwards.

We heard "12, 11, 12, 11, 12" for quite a while. Yay.

Surveying his domain.

We had a great time and I gave AJ his bath, read him his books, and popped him in his warm bed 1.5 hours early! Whew...

Holiday Time is Here!

Photo by Aldo Risolvo Photography. Check out his work here and follow him on

Twitter- he's AldoRisolvo.

Take My Leftovers- Please.

I can't eat any more. I. Just. Can't.

Uncle Joe, Mireya and Mia had fun with us. AJ was a little shy until it was time for them to leave, then the two kids ran around like maniacs. AJ had a hard time getting to sleep, so I am glad it is back to the regular schedule come Monday. I'm all about letting Ms. Melba deal with the AJ crazies.

Take Two-

We are hosting another round of Thanksgiving festivities this afternoon when Uncle Joe, Mireya and Mia come over to chow down. The turkey smells great and AJ is attempting to sing an aria while he waits for the train to Sleepytown. Since AJ will be 2 this week ( I know, I can't believe it either), I decided to give the blog a new look. I am experimenting with some stuff... Here's the first option. Stay tuned.

Stick A Fork In Me, I'm DONE!

What a nice Thanksgiving! If you can spare 3 min and 3 seconds to listen to delightful music by Lorie Line (off of The Heritage Collection Volume 1) and take a look at our holiday, you just might walk away humming a tune.

Coming Soon....

Second Thanksgiving

As I write, Thanksgiving is 1 day, 5 hours and 40 minutes away. I really like my turkey. AJ and Mike really love Thanksgiving too. Today I was thinking about Thanksgivings past.

Thanksgiving 2006 was a tough one. I wondered if I would ever have a little child to bring home and the loss of our twins was raw. 2007 was spent with my parents, Mike's parents and aunt, and Chris and Joe. My mother hosted in Algonquin because I was expecting AJ any MINUTE and was very uncomfortable. I remember not being able to eat much. A random recollection: I wore my friend Jayne's shoes. I had a terrible cold for pretty much all of 2008, and Thanksgiving was no exception. I could not smell the turkey cooking or taste any of the food. Another random recollection: I cooked the giblets in the turkey. Oops. It was AJ's first Thanksgiving and he spent most of the afternoon like this:

He will be 2 in just a few days and he spends most of his days like this:

He asks for his hat with the cutest little voice and tells me "No" in not such a cute voice. He asks for help and yells, "Daddy!" when Mike comes home. He loves Wheel of Fortune and knows 20-22 letters consistently. Right now he only eats yellow foods and enjoys flushing the toilet. He likes running around naked and reading books before bed. Rough housing with Dad is always fun until someone gets hurt. He can pick out our car in a parking lot and can use my iPhone like a pro. He's such a big boy that he gave up his "Cuggy" last week, too. But that is another post for another day.

This year, we will welcome Grandma and Papa Rog, Lolo and Lola, Uncle Chris, Uncle Joe, Mireya and Mia. I will roast a 22 pounder on Thursday and a 16 pounder on Saturday. We'll eat, we'll laugh, I am looking forward to all if it. Well, not the clean up so much, but all the rest of the fun!