What was your favorite gift?

I will post some photos of Christmas later, but I had to write this down before I forget....

I got one of the sweetest gifts from my kids.  Olivia LOVES to play hairdresser so I bought her a Hairdresser set with a chair and stand with mirror and a place to put all of her accessories in.  Corey asked the kids what they should get me for Christmas and he mentioned maybe a spa day to a get a massage or get my hair done.  Olivia said "I can do her hair!" So she wrote me a coupon for 100 FREE Hair do's.  Luca said "I can give her a massage!"  So he gave me ONE coupon for a free massage.  They were soo sweet because it came from their heart.  Love them so much.

I asked Olivia today, while she was doing my hair in her new hair dresser studio, what her favorite gift was and she said "My favorite Christmas gift is....LOVE."  She's seriously the sweetest!

Balloon

Olivia had a her Christmas dance recital yesterday.  Olivia's bff who lives down the street, Ashlin, goes to the same dance studio as Olivia.  Her mom and I coordinated to get them in the same class this year so we can carpool them to dance class each week.  I was bummed because the first two months, Olivia had to take a different class because her soccer practice fell on the same day as dance.  She ended up starting her dance class with Ashlin in November. I was a little nervous because she started to learn the other dance class' recital so she seemed a little behind to  me.  Last year, I had taped her recital performance during dance class and learned it myself so I could teach it to her because I didn't realize the teacher would be standing on stage with them!! So she knew the entire routine last year.  This year, I taped it and she didn't want to practice at home at all.  I was so nervous that she wasn't going to know her dance,  and she did AMAZING!  She totally stands out and her moves with her hips just make me smile!  She really is a natural.  After the recital, we went to Red Robin to have a really late lunch.  The  kids always love getting balloons there.  On our way out, Olivia fell down and her balloon popped.  She was crying not because she was hurt, but because of her balloon.  Luca did the sweetest thing and said "Here Olivia, you can have my balloon."  It made me want to cry it was soo sweet of him.  He also was very attentive and watch during her performance and even told her she did a great job.  He can be soo sweet!!!

Interim Report

We received Luca's Interim Report and I started to tear up in the car when I read the note that his teacher, Mrs. Reo, wrote.  "Luca is continuing to do quite well.  He continues to be a very good listner & a leader by example.  Thank you for your support at home."

He also had no checks which a check means that he needs improvement. 

This was soo nice to hear as sometimes Luca can be challenging and not listen at home.  I am so glad to see that he listens to his teacher and that "he is a leader by example." That brings me so much joy to hear!!

"I want to be the goverment!"

We really try to limit the time the kids have on their I-Pad and Kindles.  They actually don't play with it very much because they are involved in so many activities that they just don't have time after homework, reading and site words.  But when/if they are on it's hard to peel them away from it. 

Luca had asked us if he could get a new app which I've been avoiding "Mindcraft" I've heard it's very addicting.  This week, he started taking Ju Jitsu class which HE LOVES and he told me he wanted a ju jitsu app that he found instead of Mindcraft.  We told him if he got clipped up to Pink at school he could get it.  Well, yesterday he got clipped up to Pink.  He told his friend who is in 3rd grade that he was getting this app and his friend looked at me and said "that app is for teens!"  I had no idea. I took them to see Santa and Mrs. Claus after school (which I will post pics when I get time).  During dinner he brought up the app again and we told him that it was for kids 12+ he got so upset and said "I wish I was the government so I can make all the rules!"  It was soo funny, but he really was so upset. 

Email from Olivia's Teacher

Since I use this blog to help me put together the kids yearly scrapbook that I give to them every year on their birthday, which Olivia's birthday was in JUNE and I haven't even finished hers yet because I've been soo busy with work!! Anyway, thought I would put a sweet little note from her teacher on here so I can make sure to put it in her Shutterfly Book. 

AR = Accelerated Reading Tests.  They basically read a book then go on the computer and log in with her username and password and answer 5 multiple choice questions about the book.  She wanted to do this on her own after school because she sees Luca do it and he talks about it all the time and she was up for the challenge.  So proud of her.  She got 4 out of 5 right, she said she guessed on the 1st one because she wasn't sure what to do as she's never taken a test before. LOL

Hi Mr. and Mrs. Andres,

Just a little email to say how proud I am of Olivia.  She has been participating more and raising her hand more in group discussions.  I also noticed she was up to the challenge in taking an AR the other week!  I am going to try and start sending home some books starting next week that she might want to try for more AR points.  She is always kind to her friends and very polite (even thanking me when I am handing out work.)

Wanted to pass along a happy little note your way~

Julie Greiner 

Boo-Kini's

So awhile ago Olivia had told me for her next Birthday Party she wanted everyone to be naked.  Well, I thought maybe she had forgot about that idea....the other day I overheard her talking to Luca and they "decided" that they didn't want to do a naked party, instead, everyone can wear their bathing suits and Luca said that the girls can where Boo-kinis.  So funny!

Luca also randomly brought this up in the car today. 

Luca - Mommy, I know why girls wear bras.
Me - Why
Luca - Because it's not appropriate for girls to show their boobies.

It's just funny the things they think about!

So all of this might sound like my children are terrible, so on a more feel good note. I love that whenever Luca hears a fire engine or police siren he always says a prayer. It's so cute. As I tucked him and was walking out of his room, I heard a siren then I heard Luca talking so I stopped bc I thought he was talking to me, but instead he was saying a prayer to protect the sick and the injured.  So sweet!!

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Yesterday was Parent/Teacher conferences.  We started off with Olivia's class and her teacher had nothing but good things to say about her.  She said she knows a lot of her sight words already, which is great!  She's doing great in math and is making lots of friends.  She said she's polite, and follows directions and is a pleasure to have in class.  We are proud of her!

Luca's teacher, Mrs. Reo said she really enjoys Luca.  She complimented him that when she's instructing Luca will nod his head and smile and she knows that he's paying attention.  We received a mid-term report card a couple of weeks ago and he had two checks which was he needed to improve on staying in his seat during work time to talk to his friends.  She said since the report card and since we talked to him he has not gotten out of his seat during work time to go talk to his friends.  She said he loves taking Accelerated Reading tests (which is an optional test).  He reads about 2 books a day in school and takes a test on it.  She said that he was tested as a first grad reader who has been in school for 9 months, although, I know that he can read 3rd grade level books.  Most of the optional test he's been taking is 2nd grade level- 10 chapter books.  She said he's also doing well in math.  We are also proud of him, too! 

Hot Chicks

On Friday, after school, Luca was signed up to sell popcorn for Boy Scouts at the front of a local supermarket.  There were about 4-5 other scouts with him and he did a fantastic job asking people if they would like to buy popcorn to support his troop.  He would always have a smile on his face and even if the people would say no thank you he would still say "thanks anyway!" 

When we got home we were eating dinner and Luca was telling Corey about his day.  Here is how the conversation went.

Luca "I asked these hot chicks if they wanted to buy popcorn."
Corey and I both look at eachother thinking did he just say that?
Corey "Were they on fire?"
Luca "No, it's an expression.  They are girls who have boyfriends." 

OMG we have never heard or taught Luca "hot chicks."  But we were laughing inside.  I ended up asking him who taught him that and he said "Wessely" who is an older boy scout.  TOo funny, but had to write this down so I could remember.

We also had a "Meet the Parent" gathering for Olivia's Kindergarten class.  I met a mom who said to told me that she HAD to tell me a story about Olivia.  Her son's name is Noah and before school started they had a meet n' greet for all the kindergartners at a park.  Noah told his Mom that he wanted to make a friend and he pointed to Olivia and said "I want to meet her!" She said then her son kicked the ball towards Olivia and Olivia kicked it back to him and they became instant friends.  She said it was the cutest thing she's ever seen. I thought it was a cute story to remember.

Catholic School Week

This week is Catholic School week and I was able to bring the kids lunch today.  Of course, they picked Chipotle, their favorite place.   Anyway, the cutest little thing happened.  We were almost finished with lunch and one of Olivia's classmates, Ethan, came up to her and gave her his toy from his happy meal.  It was a bracelet.  Apparently, Olivia told me she was going to marry him and I spoke to his mom and she told me that Ethan said to her "Mom, I need to talk to you but not in front of  my brother....I have a girlfriend, her name is Olivia."  OMG seriously, these kids are 5 years old! Is this normal!? I have to admit, it was the sweetest thing that he gave his happy meal toy to her, though.  She was so happy and her face lit up. 

My Lil' Tiger Cub

Luca is a Tiger Cub and is soo excited about all the fun stuff he gets to do especially with his dad. When I first found out that he had to sell $300 in popcorn I thought to myself that I'm going to have find 30 friends that will donate at least $10 each. I was wrong! We basically walked in our neighborhood of maybe 20 homes and half the people weren't home since we did it on a Sunday and I couldn't believe that he sold $521 in about 1 and a half hours! He did soo good and wanted to do it all on his own. Olivia did help him by pulling a wagon with some popcorn tins which was sweet. The funny thing is on the other side of our gated community are estate homes and Luca REALLY wanted to sell to them because he thought they would buy a lot of popcorn. We didn't even have to go on that side of the hood, but I think he had so much fun that he still wants to sell more so maybe we will go on the fancy side of the neighborhood and see if they'll buy some, too. Not one person said no to him which I was afraid of. But how could you say no to this sweet face? :)

1st Soccer Game of the Season!

Olivia and Luca had their 1st soccer game this year. It's going to be a busy fall with 2 soccer games every Sunday. I was able to take a snap of O's game on my cell phone, but not of Luca's because I had to leave his game early for a photo session. They both did GREAT and Olivia is a beast. We knew she was going to be athletic from the time she was a baby. She was seriously on every single ball. She scored 6 goals and almost all of her team mates scored a goal, too. We lost track of the score but I think it was at least 12-0. Olivia was also goalie and saved every ball. We were so proud of her!! Luca is in a 1st and 2nd grade team this year so the team is much larger and they have less playing time but he still did great. Right before I left for my session he was goalie and he saved 3 balls! He also is very fast. I'm glad they are enjoying it so far! So proud of them.

Apple Picking!

I've always wanted to take the kids apple picking. This is something we've never done before and I'm so glad we did. It was fun and we made it in time to get the last of the honeycrisp apples, our favorite. I guess they go very fast.

Olivia picking 2 apples to give to her teachers.  On Friday, she said to me "Can I write my teacher a note to tell her she's a good teacher?"  I said of course and thought giving her an apple would be a nice old fashioned gesture, too.

This apple was on the ground and it was huge!!

Picking some more. I love how the trees are so short that the kids are able to pick their own apples.

They were delicious!

My sweet kiddos.

Yay, Mommy is in a pic!

It definitely felt like a fall day.  Olivia LOVES this dress and wants to wear it every single weekend so I put some tights and a long t-shirt so she still could wear her favorite dress. 

Luca wanted to pose like this in front of the tree.

Another pic with Mommy, wow this is a record! ;) Corey even got the farmer in the background, too!

Go Buckeyes!

I'm really not a huge football fan at all, but I think my kids are super adorable in their OSU jersey and little cheerleading uniforms. I was waiting for a newborn client to come to the house and while I was waiting I was playing with the kids and took some shots of them. As a former cheerleader, I think Olivia has a little bit of me in her blood. She loved doing stunts and here are some shots of my goofy kids having a little fun stunting!

I love Luca's face, he's trying to smile, but Olivia's really heavy!

OH NO!

They are so cute together!

Happy Happy!

She thinks she can do the splits. LOL

This stunt is a little more manageable for Luca.

Cutest kids ever! ;)

School

The kids are LOVING school.  They are the only people I know that get soo excited to wake up to their alarm to go to school.  They are doing great in the mornings where they will take a shower with minimal help, get dressed, make their beds, brush their teeth and they do it enthusiastically, too.  We get them breakfast, pack their lunches and drop them off. These kids LOVE routine. They told me that they play together at recess which I think is so sweet. 

Today when I picked up the kids (pick up is in the cafeteria) I walked to their classes just to touch base with teachers to see how their week was going and how the kids were doing.  Luca's teacher said "he's doing great!"  and Olivia's teacher told me "She's a dream!"  I was so proud to hear that.  I was also happy to see some pictures and work posted on the wall outside their classes. 

Luca said he's taken several reading tests on the computer yesterday he took 3 which is voluntary and today he took 2. They are both in soccer and they both seem to really enjoy it.  Luca has homework everyday and he says it's easy.  Today he had to write his one sentence using a vocabulary word.  He also had to read some sentences and words for me.  I really think having him do 3 worksheets a day all summer really helped as he's flying through his work at school, too.

Olivia hasn't had homework but the teacher did say that they will have math homework.  Olivia is a hugger and she's always hugging her friends goodbye, it's so cute.

They are both very tired and hungry after school. When I pick them up they are soo excited to tell me everything about school that they get upset because they both want to be the 1st one to tell me.   Once they get a snack and I let them watch a little TV they seem to be happy again.

I'm just thrilled that they are having a great school experience so far.

Olivia's 1st Day of Kindergarten!

Olivia's 1st day of school was the day after Luca's. On Luca's 1st day, Olivia had a one hour orientation. The teacher's aide gave the class a tour of the school while her teacher, Mrs. Greiner talked to all the parents about Kindergarten. When we got home I told her I was going to miss her when she's in school. Later on, she was writing all these notes and putting some in my room. She would fold them up and the front would say "Jonn" she was trying to spell my name on her own. She just forgot the 2 a's but that's ok because I love that's she trying. All of the notes said I love you Moma and some said Papa, too. So cute and so so sweet!

She had a great day and when I picked her up she said "I love school!"  She also started singing to me in Spanish by the time we went to the car.  "Buenos Dios, Como Estas."  She sang that song over and over the entire day! She said she loved music class and she liked Spanish, too. 

Luca REALLY wanted me to just drop them off in front of school because HE wanted to walk her to her class, but I told him I wanted to for her 1st day and he was soo upset.  I told him he will be able to drop her off later in the year. Olivia said she saw Luca 3 times, but he told me he saw her more than that.  They both have lunch and recess at the same time but because it rained they didn't go outside for recess.  At lunch they have to sit at separate tables.  Luca said the sweetest thing to her before we got out of the car. He said "Olivia you are going to LOVE kindergarten it is so much fun and you can play with me at recess.  We can play soccer together!"  I thought it was so nice of him. 

Luca's 1st Day of School!

I have been AWFUL with blogging lately because I have been so busy with my photography business. I can't believe I have 20 sessions this month and have a few newborns that might be born this month, too. I just had to take some time out of my day to blog about 1st day of school because I don't want to forget any of these memories. Luca was so thrilled when he found out he had Mrs. Reo for his teacher. The last week of school in Kindergarten they got to meet the 1st grade teachers and I remember him telling me "I hope I have Mrs. Reo next year." There are only 2 1st grade classes so his kindergarten class was split up in half and he seems to have a great class. He had school supply drop off on Monday which is like an Open House where you get to meet the teacher. He was soo excited to have his own desk and that there were books inside his desks. Mrs. Reo had instructions on where to put all the supplies and he was thrilled to have a task and he got so excited when he saw a lot of his friends in class, too. He told me when we got home "I can't believe I'm a 1st grader! I wish school started today, I'm so excited." It made me soo happy to hear this. The night before school started we had put an alarm clock app on his Ipad to wake him up and we were reminding him everything he would need to do, turn off the alarm, take a shower, get dressed, make your bed, brush your teeth, eat breakfast. I told him I would take a few pictures and he said "Only 1 picture Mommy!" I said that's impossible for me to take one pic so we negotiated to 15 and he counted every single pic I took. So here they are....

For the past 2 years I have chalked their grades on the driveway and took a picture.  I usually chalk the night before b/c it takes so long and I did it for Luca and of course it rained and washed off so I will have to do them next week when there is no rain!

My handsome little guy!

When I picked up Luca he said he had a great day at school and that he loved it.  He told me that Mrs. Reo read 3 books and one was about the Gingerbread Man which I can't believe I've never read that book to him out of all the books we've read at the library.  He was able to recite the riddle in the book.  He also told me that they got to do a scavenger hunt and he found the Ginergerbread Man.  H said he had gym class and he sat with his friend Mikey and Matthew at lunch.  He is soo good at telling me everything about school, I love it.  I have a feeling he's going to have a great year! :)

Shoot!

I've been soo bad about blogging because I can't keep up on pictures, I've been so busy with photography stuff that I haven't even edited my pictures from Olivia's Birthday Party, our lake pictures from our trip in Michigan and our latest trip to Pennsylvania from a couple of weeks ago. :( 

So, I had to write this down because it was kind of funny memory and conversation.

Me "Oh, Shoot!"
Olivia: Isn't that a bad word?
Luca: No, Damn it, is a bad word.

I couldn't help but laugh and I of course told him not to say that again.LOL

Potion

Luca said the cutest thing today.  "Mommy when you and Papa get really old I am going to make a potion for you to drink and it will make you young and will make you feel good so you won't feel old."

Olivia's already planning her Bday Party for next year.

So tonight when I was trying to get the kids all showered Olivia said to me "I know what kind of party I want next year for my Birthday."  In my head I was thinking she was going to say something like...Hello Kitty or Lalaloopsy or something.  Nope she said "I want a naked party!  Everybody will come naked and we'll sing Happy Buttday.  My mouth dropped, wasn't expecting that at all but on the positive side she's a very creative girl, I mean she came up with Happy Buttday?  That's pretty creative for my crazy and wild girl.  She cracks me up.

Happy 5th Birthday Olivia!!!

I love this little girl so much!! I cannot believe she is 5!! It feels like yesterday when we brought her home from the hospital. She makes me so happy and I'm so proud to call her my daughter. She is beautiful on the inside and out and she is more than the little girl I've always dreamed of having!!!

I was so happy to see these two when I picked them up from the airport yesterday from their one week trip to Florida with Corey to visit their Grammy and Poppy.  It's funny how sometimes you long for some alone time and then when you have it you start missing them.  I've never really had the entire house to myself for a week with no kids.  I kept myself busy and ended up having 5 photo sessions and edited 3 sessions from the previous weeks so I mostly worked and I did celebrate my good friend Amanda's 40th Birthday,  which her party was a lot of fun, too.  But I was very excited to see my Birthday girl and celebrate with her.  We had Chipotle for lunch and then she wanted her favorite, Mac N Cheese for dinner.  She also requested a Baskin' Robins Cake which was my favorite growing up.  Her cousin Gabriella had it in Florida and she said she wanted the same cake.  Since they don't do Frozen themed cakes I just had them frost it in Frozen Colors and added Elsa on top of the cake.  Her Birthday party is this Saturday and she is soo excited!

Corey had some great bonding time with the kids while in Florida. 

I just love this picture.  I literally had 5 minutes with her because I thought it would be cute since her Birthday theme is Frozen to have her hold 'fake' snow and blow it into the camera.  Well, when she went to blow it she took a deep breath in and sucked the plastic pieces and started choking and that ended our session pretty quickly... but she's OK and I learned that I probably should never use that stuff again for my kids or clients as it is a HUGE choking hazard!

I don't think I edited this photo and I have more that I haven't even worked on because I've been soo busy working on my clients stuff.  I am so sad, too that this is the 1st year I didn't finish her yearly book that I give them on their birthday because I've been soo busy.  I used to keep up to date with it every month but I honestly think I haven't updated it since October and haven't done her 5 year old interview yet.  I need to work on this ASAP. 

I love this one of her because she's laughing, she was shaking her booty but I just captured her laugh.  She's so sillly!

Luca's Kindergarten Graduation

Luca had his graduation this past Wednesday. It was so cute and I'm not going to lie, I did shed a few tears. Especially when they walked in and the played Canon in D.

The quality of these photos are the worst.  The lighting was so bad in there and I didn't bring my flash and we had awful seats in the back.  You can see Luca looking right at me. 

The part I loved the most is the songs they sang was so sweet.  Here he is getting his Kindergarten diploma by his principal Mr. Wickman. I loved how he got down on their level to shake their hands.

Proud boy.  He said he had happy tears. He's so sensitive that it can be cute (sometimes)!

This is why I'm usually behind the camera.  My photos are more centered the other two pics Corey's head was cut off LOL. Oh well.

Luca's teachers - Mrs. Eckhart is retiring this year and Mrs. Gallagher.  Luca loved them both and said they were always so nice. 

I think Mrs. Gallagher really liked him because she would always tell me how good of a boy Luca is.

The graduate.

The graduate and his proud sister.

She loves him so much.

I was glad that Nonno and Nonna were able to be there for this.  Luca was, too!

Olivia wanted in the picture, too. Now he's off to 1st grade in the fall!!!