Meet Echo

Yesterday we welcomed this sweet little pup, Echo.  He's 11 weeks old and is an Pomsky which is a mix between a Pomeranian and a Husky.  We thought now is the perfect time to get a puppy since we are all home for the Coronavirus pandemic.  We're not sure how long we'll be home, but we feel it will be a while.  The kids have wanted a puppy for so long and we were planning on getting one this summer.  His name was picked by the breeder and we liked it and it stuck so we kept his name.  I kind of wanted to name him Corona but Echo is actually perfect.

The kids are soo happy and have been doing a great job taking him out for potty breaks.  They are also trying to train him on how to sit.  He's a good dog and likes to nap on you but he's also very playful.  He does like to chew on everything which is pretty normal for a pup, but he's been a joy to everyone so far!

It's Corona Time!

Today is March 19, 2020.  I haven't blogged in years but now have the time as our world is in the middle of a pandemic.  The Corona Virus hit China and has spread to all countries around the world.  China and Italy has been hit very hard.  This virus attacks the lungs and is very dangerous for the elderly and those with asthma or don't have a good immune system. Thousands of people are dying and this disease is very contagious.  Many people are carrying it but are asymptomatic.  The kids school has closed for 3 weeks, but we're anticipating that it will most likely close the rest of the school year.  They will be doing online learning from home starting March 30th.

Corey recently left his job at Robson Forensic.  His last day was Friday, March 13th. He will be starting his new job at the end of the month.  It's a terrible time to start a new job as most businesses are closed and everyone is working from home at this point.  He will be working in the oil industry which is tanking as we speak; but our entire economy will tank due to this.  We've never seen anything like it - Disney World is closed, all restaurants are closed - they can only do carry out or delivery, all hair salons, spas, nail salons, barbershops are all closed.  We've never seen anything like it.  You can't find toilet paper, hand sanitizer and disinfectants on the store shelves.  They are all sold out.  It's such a crazy time.

This was our spring break, but our trip to Boyne Mountain to go skiing was cancelled as they closed the resort due to the Corona Virus.  The kids were really sad about it and we were, too.  With all this time, I was able to go back and read all the blogs that I would post.  It made me really sad because I was so good at posting everything.  Things the kids would say, and all the fun things we would do.  I am going to commit to writing back on this blog again as a keepsake for the kids.  I'm also going to have them write in their journals, too.

Our neighbor had the idea on St. Patrick's Day to put a four leaf clover on the door and the kids could do a scavenger hunt and find the homes that had a four leaf clover.  We ended up going for a bike ride and doing that.  Then, she had the idea to hang hearts on windows in honor of all the doctors, nurses, grocery workers and everyone on the front lines during this pandemic.  #showyourhearts

So Proud

This morning I got an email that made my day and made me so proud.  Luca received the "Faith Filled Citizen Award."  The teachers pick one student from each grade for this class and Luca was chosen.  So proud and happy!  He gets to eat lunch with the principal and they provide pizza and prizes.

He/She has been selected for this award by acting on their principles of faith.  This has been achieved by demonstrating:

• Good will toward others
• A desire to bring people together in some way
• An outward concern for the respect for human life
• An effort to join with others to make St. Andrew School, this community, or our world a better place
• A need to get involved in school/community work that clearly helps and protects others
• The strength to act on religious convictions and values
• A call to political responsibility and faithful citizenship
• Ongoing participation in the building of school-life and culture
  
  His name will also go into a drawing for Principal of the Day!  I'm so happy that he got this award, makes a mom proud for sure! :)

Khalahari

We took the kids out of school for 2 days which we never like to do, Luca has had perfect attendance all year and last year he did, too except that we left for NYC for my cousins wedding and took him out two days.  Knock on wood, but he's never had a sick day in two years.  Olivia has had 3 sick days this year.  Anyway, I didn't take any pics of Khalarhi which is the largest indoor waterpark in the US.  I was expecting it to be fun for the kids but it was SOO MUCH fun for the entire family!!  We had a blast.  We were soo excited that our kids are thrill seekers and love scary roller coasters and water slides that are fast and pitch black.  It was great that they kids are over 42" tall that they were able to go on most rides.  There were some that required you to be 48" that they weren't able to ride on, but several were 42" which was GREAT.  They had a blast. 

It was such a huge waterpark that it was easy to get lost or try to figure out which stairs went with which roller coaster.  Luca always knew where to go and he said "I have a GPS and he pointed his finger to his head."  Olivia said "I never bought that GPS!" She's too funny.  Such a great time.  We were lucky that Corey had to work for the Ohio Bar Convention so we got to go for free, some of his job perks is that his work welcomes him to bring his family since he works out of town several times a year. 

I can't wait till the get to the 48" mark and we will take them to Cedar Point.  I'm hoping by next year.  Luca needs to grow about 2 more inches and Olivia needs to grow 4 more inches. We'll see!!

Luca's 1st Break up

So as I had mentioned in previous posts, Luca told us he had a girlfriend, Addy.  The other day he told me that "they broke up." I asked him to give me the details.  He said that her friend Anna Rose came up to him and said "You're not Addie's boyfriend anymore."  So he went straight to the source and went to Addie and said "Are you my girlfriend?" She said, well your my friend that's a boy.  Luca blew it off and said OK.  But really his feelings were hurt.  He told me "it's personal, I don't want to talk about it."  It was sweet and sad, his first heartbreak.  :(

Soccer

Olivia had her best soccer game this season.  This was her third game.  She had 3 goals and 1 assist.  She played really well.  Last week, I believe she got one goal and they played in the rain!  It's a great team and they've won all their games so far and tied one game against the other St. Andrew team that they practice with.  She's very fast and is always the first one to get to the ball. She hustles and understands the game really well.  She knows how to pass and dribble the ball and Corey is soo impressed that she can kick the ball with both left and right leg.  She even scored one of her goals using her left leg which her right is dominant, that's pretty good!  We are soo proud of our little athlete. 

I've wanted a little herb garden and Corey made me one and Olivia has helped the entire way from building it to planting. She's such a good little worker. :)

In between riding his roller blades, Luca wanted to help.

Yay!  Garden is complete, we have basil, parsley, cilantro and some banana peppers.  Hoping to make some pesto with the basil and parsely and we eat a lot of guacamole so we can use the cilantro for that and I love roasted banana peppers in my eggs in the morning.  :)

Olivia said to me, take a picture of me blowing my nose! Ok! ;)

Luca Andres Giovanna!

This morning while the kids were downstairs and I was upstairs I heard a crash.  The next thing I hear is Olivia say to Luca "Luca Andres Giovanna!"  I was laughing soo hard.  Whenever I get upset I'll use the kids middle names which is Luca Joseph Andres and Olivia Giovanna Andres.  I thought it was hilarious that she called Luca Luca Andres Giovanna! She's too funny.

PINK 5 days in a ROW!!

At school they have a clip up behavior chart.  This week, Luca was on PINK 5 days in a row.  He's actually on PINK a lot, but he's never been 5 days in a row which is excellent.  Yesterday he said to us "If I get on pink tomorrow that will be 5 days in a row."  I told him if he got on pink I'd take him to Greaters for Ice Cream.  When I picked him up today he said "We get to go to Greaters today!" He was soo excited. 

Report Cards

I'm writing this in the blog so I can refer back and put this in their annual book I give them for their Birthday.

Luca and Olivia got their 3rd quarter report cards.  Luca continues to exceed the standards in ALL of the English/Language Arts category.  A plus (+) means student demonstrates superior performance with in-depth understanding of the standard, and can apply the knowledge and sills in a thorough, consistent, independent way.  This report card he even got a + in writing, religion, math, Phys Ed, Science and Social Studies.  He's doing SOO good!

Here's what his teacher had to say " Luca is continuing to do very well in all of his work  I am especially pleased how he has expanded to his book choices to inlude more nonfiction.  He has been trying to work on neater handwriting, too.  Keep up the good work at home and thank you for all of your support.

Olivia is also doing well.  She got check marks in every single subject which means she meets the standard, student has a solid academic performance and consistently demonstrates proficiency of the standard with few errors. Her teacher said " I am proud of all your hard work this quarter.  Way to go!"

Dinner/AR

Today we went out to dinner as I didn't have time to cook because I had a newborn session and tons of editing to do.  Anyway, during dinner our waitress was actually very excellent.  She asked the kids their names and would say stuff like "Is your food yummy?" Rather than How's everything? etc.  It was like she was on their level and the kids had huge smiles.  Luca said "She's really nice!' So after she asked the kids their names, she said my name is ? can't remember her name, she said "I'll be taking care of you."  About 10 minutes later, Luca says "So will our waitress be taking us to school tomorrow?" We were like what!? "Well, she said she would be taking care of us."  He's funny.

Last year in Kindergarten, toward the end of the year, Luca was in TEARS and was devastated that "he didn't get to go to the donut party."  I had no idea what he was talking about.  Later, I found out that if you read a certain amount of books and take a certain amount of tests you get to go to the AR donut party.  They have donuts and you get to pick a prize depending on how many points you have.  He was DEVASTATED.  I was also a little upset because I had no idea about it.  So, this year, I made sure to find out how many points the kids need to have to go to this donut party.  1st graders need 45 points.  Most books are worth 1/2 point.  Luca reads 3rd grade and 4th grade level books and sometimes the 10 chapter books are worth 1 point.  Well, he made a goal to have 100 points (even though 45 is the donut party goal, he aimed high).  Yesterday, he achieved his goal and I was so proud of him.  He read over 150 books and took and passed 149 of them.  He got an average of 95% correct.  He failed a 5th grade book that had big words (we realized that was too challenging for him).  He was soo excited. We told him if he achieved his goal we would let him get Shadow Fight 2 an app that he's wanted forever, but told him he still has to read and that he can only play 30 minutes a day. 

Growing up with Italian parents who only went up to 8th grade in Italy, I honestly can say I don't ever remember them reading to me.  I had a great childhood and my parents were hard workers and taught us all kinds of things, but as their English wasn't good they just never read to us.  I feel like if I was read to, that I would have been a little more successful in school.  I always did good in school, but not Excellent.  I hope by encouraging and reading with my kids every single day that this will help them become successful at school and whatever they decide to do for their future.  I'm just so proud of them.  Olivia is getting to be a better reader.  She's reading 1st grade level and is starting to take tests, too. Kindergartners goals are 10 points so about 20 books and tests that she has to pass.  She's already at 8 points so I'm very proud of her, too! 

Luca, you're smart!

Today after school, I was practicing spelling words with Luca for his test on Friday and I said to him you are soo smart!  His response "Smart, S-M-A-R-T, Smart!"  LOL Too cute!

Luca's 007 Spy Party!

Happy 7th Birthday Luca!!

I REALLY need to get better at blogging!  Today is Luca's 7th Birthday.  I just can't believe how fast 7 years have gone by so far.  He's such a sweet little boy.  Yesterday, I picked him up from school he said "Addy is my girlfriend."  It's funny because he had her in her kindergarten class and that was probably one of his only good girl-friends that he had that he got a long really well with.  He normally almost always plays with the boys.  Every time I go to school for a Valentine Party/Christmas, etc.  I always notice how nice they are to each other it's really cute.  One time after school, he said "Mommy, we have to go home and Facetime Addy."  He got home and grabbed his I-Pad and I said, "You have to know her address to be able to facetime her.  He was soo disappointed."

He told me that all the girls at school would ask him "Are you in love with Addy?" and he's always said no.  They would tell him "But you're always so nice to her."  Her last name starts with a B so they have always sat next to each other or are always in line together for the past two years.  He said that he always grabs her backpack and coat for her.  And sometimes he even helps her put her coat on.  SO SWEET!!! He also told me that she always laughs at his jokes.  So, he said he was kind of sick of all of her friends asking him if he was in love with her so he went up to her and said "Addy, are you my girlfriend?"  He said her eyes got wide open and she had a big smile on her face and she said "YES!" So apparently they are now a thing.  It's actually kind of cute at this age.  Give him a couple of years and I probably won't think it's cute and won't allow "girlfriends."

I told him that I needed to get his 7 year pictures done. Our last session (for Valentine's Day) wasn't so successful and he had a meltdown because I didn't want him to wear socks in the pic.  This time, he was was so willing and wanted to show me a ton of different poses he wanted to do. 

I just can't believe he's 7!

So handsome!

He is going to have a spy themed party tomorrow so here are some of the poses he wanted.

I like this one.  His party is just going to be his cousins.  I asked him if he wanted to invite some of his classmate friends and he said, no, it' shard for me to play with everyone and I don't want anyone to feel left out.  He did ask if he could go to Chuck E Cheese with his best friend, Ojas.  He also wanted Olivia's friend Ashlin to join so she would have someone to play with. He's so sweet.

His zen/meditating pose?

Happy Boy!  I asked him this morning if he felt like a 7 year old he said no but had a huge grin on his face.  He was so happy.

Olivia is also super sweet. The past couple of days she has brought home some drawings that said Luca on them.  I told her that was sweet and said to Luca, look your sister draw you a picture. She got so upset with me and started crying.  She said "You ruined the surprise, that was for his Birthday."  "Luca said it's ok, I haven't seen it yet!"  So this morning she put all of her drawings about 5 of them in a gift bag and she was SOO PROUD to give it to Luca.  And Luca was so sweet and looked at every picture and told her it was nice, and said to some pictures, "oh I remember that."  He even said thank you to her in a very sincere way.  It made my heart full.

Happy Birthday to my 7 year old.  Love him like crazy.

This one is my favorite of him laughing!

" 

What Olivia learned in school today...

So today in the car on the way home from school Olivia says to me "Josie and Morgan told me when I get married I have to get naked and wear bras.  I just told them ok, but I'm really not going to do that Mommy."

BIdets....

Funniest thing ever happened today, I wasn't there to witness it but when Corey told me then I asked him to write it down and I already put it in his 7 year book that I'm finishing up for him. 

L - "If we ever build a house can we get one of those things that Nonno and Nonna have that cleans your butt?
C - A bidet?
L - Yeah, those are awesome.  Have your brain take a picture of Nonno using one!
P - " I don't want to picture that!"
L - "I am doing that right now and Nonno is doing something silly." Then he stuck out his butt and was swaying it back and forth. 

He's too funny!!

Quote of the Day from Luca

While having breakfast this morning with my Mom sitting next to me, out of nowhere, Luca says "Ugh, my head hurts, I can't stop thinking of sexy girls!" Oh my gosh, my jaw dropped I was so shocked that came out of my little 6 year olds mouth.  Then I couldn't help myself from giggling a little because I was so shocked.  I played dumb and asked him "what's a sex girl?" Luca "You know, a girly girl who is hot." Well, I always try to look on the positive side of things and well, I guess this is a sign that he'll be straight? Ha!  Where do they get this stuff from!!!

Report Cards

The kids got their report cards today and Luca is doing so well, he's earned several more +'s which is exceeding the standard.  Mrs. Reo wrote a note that said "Luca has continued to do well in all of his work.  He has done well with his AR quizzes. I want him to continue his reading and taking the AR quiz.  He continues to be a leader by example.  Thank you for your continued support at home."

Olivia is doing well, too!!  Her teacher wrote "Olivia is doing a great job this quarter.  She is on sight word list 14 and I am pleased with her progress.  She has taken several ARs and her confidence seems to be growing daily!  She is a kind friend to all and an important part of our class."

My Baby Girl

My goal this year to is to try to blog more about the kiddos.  As I am putting together their yearly books, which I just got Olivia's for her 5th Birthday this month (only took me about 6 months later than normal to finish it). Blogging helps me reflect back on all their milestones and what they did and because I basically am using all my time while the kids are in school editing, I need to make sure to not neglect writing precious memories to remember. 

Anyway, a little bit about Olivia and I'll do one for Luca for the next blog post....

Olivia loves school.  Her teacher always has positive things to say about her.  She's learned tons of sight words and is reading some basic books.  She sees her brother take AR tests and begged to take one even though her teacher didn't introduce it yet.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays you are able to go to the library and enter your username and password and take a test.  She knew her password because it's her lunch code.  She's taken two tests and have passed.  She really enjoys taking them and wants to take more which I love!  She does get frustrated sometimes with her sight words if she doesn't know it, but if we go over it several times she gets it. 

She loves her babord and even got a new one a couple of months ago.  She named her Rosy because her teacher, Mrs. Greiner, has a daughter named Rosy.  She loves to do whatever I do.  If I'm in the middle of taking photos of a session she will stand outside the door and set up her babies and take pictures of her babies.  She loves to clean.  She will sweep, mop and dust on her own without me even asking her.  She also likes to help cook, too.  She's super sweet. 

She says she wants to be a spy now with her brother and her other job is going to be a hairdresser.  She said she wants four kids - 3 girls and one boy named Johnny from a character inThe Karate Kid.  Olivia makes us so happy and she really is the sweetest most thoughtful little girl. 

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!