Dragon Award

…and this years Dragon Award goes to Noah Tesauro for excellence in reading!  Ok it wasn't that dramatic but I am still over the moon proud of my kid!  Noah got an award today for continually excelling at reading and improving by leaps and bounds!  Once he got the hang of it he quickly moved up to the top level reading group for the Kindergarteners.  His teacher told me that when she reads with him he asks for the longest and hardest words to sound out.  At home our routine has changed drastically too.  I used to read 2 books a night.  A while ago it turned into shared reading - I read a page then Noah read a page.  Just last week it changed again.  Now I read 1 book to Noah and he reads 1 book to me!

We were invited to join the assembly at school today to see Noah get his award.  It was very special and I'm glad Leo and I were both able to attend.  The assembly was only for Kinder and First graders.  They started by singing their school song, a few announcements and then gave out awards.  There were a few for reading, excelling at all curriculum subjects,  being kind, being a good friend, etc.  All the kids were adorable and so proud of themselves!  You could tell it meant a lot to be awarded in front of their classmates and shake the principal's hand!  Noah was 1 in 3 kids from his class to be awarded.  

just walked into the cafeteria

singing the Castlemont song

Noah's classmate talking about having the dragon in their class

Noah's teacher and Principal

Noah's name called

shaking the principal's hand

showing off his award

checking for his name

PT mama

So Leo is eager to let the cat out of the bag. No - it's not baby news. I got a part time job! It basically fell out of the sky and landed in my lap. I applied for some jobs on Thursday to see what was out there. Friday morning I got a call for a part time payroll admin gig. They scheduled me for an interview at 1:00 that day. I went with an open mind but not expecting anything. I interviewed with who would be my boss, a few co-workers, a company executive and took a tour. After an hour and a half, stunned, I walked out with an offer letter. After much debate last weekend and trying to make a square fit into a circle Leo and I decided it was manageable and a good opportunity. So Monday I will go to work part time from 9-2. I'm so happy this means I still get to be a part time stay at home mom. I won't feel like I'm missing important events, practices, or quality time! So wish me luck as I divide and conquer the best of both worlds!

Crawling!

Naomi started crawling last week!  Huge milestone!  She looks so cute and tiny moving around on the floor.  But she crawls with focus and determination.  Mostly to get to her brothers toys.  Just yesterday morning Noah and Julian were playing on the living room floor with Legos.  I was sitting with them and Naomi was intent on crawling to get the little pieces.  Noah and I kept Naomi and the Legos at a safe distance from each other.  But she never stopped trying.  I don't think the boys have any idea what they are in store for with a crawling baby.  Hope they are ready!

I just looked up when the boys started crawling.  Noah was 6.5 month and Julian was 8 months.  No wonder she seems so tiny every time I watch her playing on the floor, she just turned 6 months old!  

Big Girl

Guess who's a big girl sitting in a high chair at the dinner table? And guess who likes her broccoli mixed into her rice cereal? Starts with an N, ends with an i.

T-Ball for Julian!

Julian had his first t-ball practice yesterday.  He was so excited that he started getting dressed in his baseball gear several hours early.  Once we got there he still had that eagerness to play and be part of the team.  He joined in the stretches and played a little catch.  Then his eyes started wandering.  First he decided to play near a soccer goal that had been left up.  He got caught in the net.  I ushered him back to his team.  Then he ran off to the playground (of course we practice right next to it).  I didn't mind too much, besides he had participated a little and it was only the first practice.  Then he started wandering father and farther away, running even farther when I called to him.  It all went to hell in a hand basket and we left early.  Julian was upset that we were leaving because he wanted to bat, even though we both knew he was going to run back to the playground.  So that was fun.  Oh Julian. 


Anyways, I am still proud of him for participating a bit.  Hopefully his game this weekend and future practices will go better.  Or at least some of the other kids have breakdowns so I don't look like the only parent trying her hardest to keep her cool in the face of thrown tanbark.  


He sure did look cute out there though.  He are some pics of Julian warming up.  

Baby Food Fail

My baby girl does not like broccoli.  I wanted to try sweet potato or yams for her first veggie, but I didn't go to the store and all I had at home was broccoli.  So that's what she got.  I'm sure you can tell from my tone of voice writing that she didn't care for it.  We tried it out last night and she was a good sport but after 2 bites she started making faces.  Eventually she refused to eat any more. I tried again at lunch time today, but mixed a little bit with rice cereal.  It was the same result.  A couple bites, a couple faces.  Regardless here are the pictures.

steamed broccoli

in the baby bullet

pureed broccoli

pureed broccoli

3 containers worth plus a little extra for the first taste

here we go...

she was posing

she didn't hate it, yet

she was a good sport and had a few bites before refusing more

6th Birthday

Wow - Noah is 6 years old!  I can't believe it.  People say it all the time and it really is true….time goes by so fast.  Too fast to be more accurate.  I look at Noah and am astonished at how big he is.  It feels like I blinked and he grew into this lanky, handsome young boy.  He is absolutely amazing in every way.  He completely takes after me in the fact that he loves to excel in everything he does.  He has to be first, the best, the fastest, the smartest.  Overachiever to a fault and I don't consider this to be a bad thing - but look who's saying it Queen Bee of being the best, so take it with a grain of salt.  He also completely takes after Leo.  He is a total social butterfly, makes friends with ease, he is charming (this is a double edged sword as he frequently gets out of trouble when he turns on the charm), and everyone knows who he is.  He loves his brother and sister, practices good manners, and is overall a very sweet boy.  I hope he continues to take on our good qualities, leave behind the bad ones and stay on path to being the awesome him that he is!


We celebrated with family and friends over the weekend.  Just a small shin-dig.  Noah requested a Lego party and that's what he got.  He was extra excited when he opened his present and the majority of them were new Lego sets.  He is one happy 6 year old.  

marshmallow pops

banner

food and decorations

master chef

6 years old and really happy!

kids playing

Noah and Gianluca sharing Legos

Julian chillin' with Jack in his room

Owen and Jack

Giovanni showing off his missing teeth

Noah getting some food in his belly

Lunch time for Julian too 

Noah loves Lego pops

Daddy and Julian posing

Lego head cake, 8 layers of crooked

My boys

Making a wish

Lego cupcakes for Noah's class

Happy St. Patricks Day

May you always have walls for the winds,
A roof for the rain,
Tea beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all your heart might desire.

One of those days

Out shopping with the kids today. No easy feat. And we had to go to a plethora of grocery stores for specific items. Staples first. Disaster. Screaming, crying. My kids totally can't control the volume of their voices. Next up Costco. Another nightmare. We are in line to check out and Noah and Julian are screaming to go into the pre-built storage shed on display to see the leprechaun. Ok maybe I might have told the he was in there. So that was my bad. But they wouldn't let up. Poor young couple behind us. We probably scared them out of having kids. I had a funny vision and busted out laughing. Then I told Leo that I was imagining us in a commercial with a neon sign blinking above us saying "Use contraception folks!" Off to Safeway, wish us luck.

Biker Boyz

Noah and Julian really enjoy bike-riding time over at their Great-Grandparents house. Noah is turing into a dare-devil, showing off his biking skills by skidding to a halt, starting up from a stop and taking low motorcycle style turns.  Julian recently acquired this awesome balance bike and he's really enjoyed riding it.  It makes him feel like a big boy!  He's been quick to catch on to how it works - use your feet to get moving, then lift your feet to glide.  It doesn't bother him (or Noah) that it's pink - they just call it the pink bike and equally like riding it.  It's fun to watch them "race" and follow each other around the court.  I know as the weather gets warmer and summer arrives we will be over visiting more frequently and of course, riding bikes.  So Grandpa, you better work on a new ramp for them to practicing jumping off!

Noah and Naomi

Noah is a great big brother.  He likes to play with Naomi, talk to her, bring her toys, make her laugh.  He is especially concerned when she cries and is the first one to run to her crib to make sure she is alright.  He knows where all her necessities are;  burp cloths, teething toys, regular toys, pillows and blankets.  He makes it his business to be part of taking care of her.

Naomi is a great little sister.  She laughs at everything Noah does (thus egging him on to continue).  She always watches him to see what he is doing, where he is going.  When he notices and talks to her, she lights up like a Christmas tree.  

Sibling love...